Author: A Sports

SYLHET: Hasan Nawaz produced a match-winning performance to guide Chattogram Royals to a dramatic two-wicket victory over Rajshahi Warriors on the final ball of their Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2025-26 clash on Friday.

After opting to bowl first, Chattogram Royals delivered a disciplined bowling display to restrict Rajshahi Warriors to a modest 128 for 9 in their allotted 20 overs.

The Warriors never found momentum with the bat, as wickets fell at regular intervals and no batter managed to post a significant score.

Muhammad Waseem and SM Meherob were the joint top-scorers with 19 runs apiece, while Akbar Ali and veteran Mushfiqur Rahim chipped in with 17 and 15, respectively.

Aamir Jamal led the Royals’ bowling effort with three wickets, while Shoriful Islam and Tanvir Islam claimed two each.

Captain Mahedi Hasan and Hasan Nawaz also contributed with a wicket apiece to complete a collective bowling effort.

The chase, however, was far from straightforward for Chattogram Royals. They were rocked early and found themselves struggling at 28 for 4 inside the power play.

Hasan Nawaz then combined with skipper Mahedi Hasan to steady the innings, adding 40 runs for the fifth wicket and briefly shifting momentum back in the Royals’ favour.

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Just as Chattogram looked set to take control, Sandeep Lamichhane dismissed Mahedi Hasan for 28 to reopen the contest.

Asif Ali followed with a crucial 27 off 25 balls, keeping the chase alive alongside Nawaz, but Binura Fernando’s breakthrough once again tilted the balance towards Rajshahi.

The match went down to the wire, with Chattogram needing 10 runs in the final over.

Nawaz rose to the occasion, striking eight runs off the first three deliveries.

Despite two consecutive dot balls from SM Meherob, Nawaz kept his composure and scampered back for a decisive double off the final delivery to seal a thrilling win.

Hasan Nawaz remained unbeaten on 35 off 36 balls, anchoring the chase under pressure and proving decisive with both bat and ball.

With this victory, Chattogram Royals consolidated their position at the top of the BPL points table, while Rajshahi Warriors remain fourth as the league stage intensifies.

READ: Martin Guptill ‘excited’ after Kingsmen acquire PSL new team

Former New Zealand batter Martin Guptill has expressed his joy after Kingsmen (FKS) Group secured the new outfit in the Pakistan Super League (PSL). 

On Thursday, 8 December, PSL officially expanded ahead of season 11, with Hyderabad and Sialkot confirmed as the two new franchises following a high-stakes auction held at the Jinnah Convention Centre.

The two teams will make their debut in PSL season 11, joining the existing six franchises, Karachi Kings, Lahore Qalandars, Peshawar Zalmi, Quetta Gladiators, Islamabad United, and Multan Sultans.

The official names of the Hyderabad and Sialkot teams will be announced at a later stage.

The Hyderabad franchise was secured by the FKS Group, owned by Fawad Sarwar, after a successful bid of Rs 1.75 billion.

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Later, OZ Developers, owned by Hamza Majeed, clinched the Sialkot franchise with a record-breaking bid of Rs1.85 billion, the highest figure of the auction.

Guptill, who has represented three franchises in the PSL from 2020 to 2024, shared his excitement on Instagram.

The 39-year-old posted a picture of Hyderabad owners receiving keys from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, on his story.

“Kingsmen Cricket USA, how good is this,” the caption of the post read.

For the unversed, PSL 11 is set to be the biggest edition of the tournament to date with the addition of two new franchises.

The PSL 11 is scheduled to run from March 26 to May 3, 2026.

READ: Afghanistan unveil squad for U19 World Cup 2026

KABUL: Afghanistan have announced their 15-member squad for the ICC Men’s Under-19 World Cup 2026, set to begin on January 15 in Zimbabwe and Namibia, with Mahboob Khan appointed as captain.

Khan, who recently turned 19, brings valuable leadership experience to the team, having led Afghanistan in both the 2024 and 2025 U19 Asia Cup tournaments.

He will be supported by a spin-heavy bowling attack, a hallmark of Afghan cricket at all levels.

Wahidullah Zadran, the 18-year-old offspinner who has already impressed at the senior level with the Gulf Giants in last year’s ILT20, is the standout in the bowling unit.

Zadran, who also entered the IPL auction in December as one of the youngest entrants, will be backed by left-arm spinner Zaitullah Shaheen and legspinner Hafeez Zadran.

The batting lineup features promising young talents, including Khalid Ahmadzai, who has a first-class century to his name, and Uzairullah Niazai.

Pace options include Nooristani Omarzai, expected to provide the team with crucial breakthroughs.

Afghanistan earned their spot in the U19 World Cup by finishing unbeaten in last year’s Asia Qualifier, highlighting their growing strength at the youth level.

They have been drawn in Group D alongside South Africa, Tanzania, and West Indies.

Afghanistan Squad:

Mahboob Khan (c), Khalid Ahmadzai, Osman Sadat, Faisal Khan, Uzairullah Niazai, Aziz Mia Khil, Nazif Amiri, Khatir Stanikzai, Nooristani Omarzai, Abdul Aziz, Salam Khan, Wahidullah Zadran, Zaitullah Shaheen, Rohullah Arab and Hafeez Zadran.

Reserves: Aqil Khan, Fahim Qasemi and Izat Noor.

Group Stage U19 World Cup Fixtures:

• January 16: vs South Africa, Windhoek
• January 18: vs West Indies, Windhoek
• January 21: vs Tanzania, Windhoek

READ: Manchester City win race to sign Antoine Semenyo

Pakistan seam bowler Mohammad Ali is set for his first stint in county cricket after signing a short-term, multi-format contract with Nottinghamshire for the closing phase of the 2026 English domestic season.

The 33-year-old will link up with the Trent Bridge outfit at the start of August and remain available for selection over the final two months of the campaign, featuring in both the County Championship and the One Day Cup.

Ali arrives in England with an impressive body of work behind him, having claimed 340 wickets across his professional career.

His international experience includes appearances in four Tests, three T20 Internationals and one One-Day International, with his most recent outing for Pakistan coming on ODI debut against New Zealand in March last year.

Speaking after the move was confirmed, Mohammad Ali described the opportunity as a long-held ambition.

“I’ve always wanted to play county cricket and test myself in English conditions, so this is a really special opportunity for me,” he said.

“Playing at a venue like Trent Bridge is something every cricketer dreams of, and I’m eager to contribute in both red-ball and white-ball cricket during an important stage of the season.”

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Mohammad Ali is no stranger to the Nottinghamshire setup, having previously worked with assistant head coach Paul Franks during the 2022–23 domestic season in Pakistan, where Franks was involved with Central Punjab.

That campaign proved a successful one for the fast bowler, as he finished as the fifth-highest wicket-taker in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, claiming 24 wickets at an average of 25.54.

He also played a vital role in Central Punjab’s domestic 50-over title-winning run, picking up six wickets in five matches, including figures of 2 for 31 in the final.

Franks welcomed Ali’s arrival, highlighting not only his on-field ability but also his character and work ethic.

“Mohammad really impressed me with his personality and professionalism during our time together in Pakistan,” Franks said.

“We’ve kept in touch since then and looked at opportunities to bring him to Nottinghamshire before. This felt like the right moment, and he’s someone who is a pleasure to have in the dressing room.”

READ: Real Madrid’s Mbappe fit to play Super Cup final: Alonso

The U17 and U-19 National Wrestling Championship has officially commenced across Pakistan under the joint collaboration of the Pakistan Army and the Pakistan Wrestling Federation (PWF).

The championship aims to identify and promote young and talented wrestlers at the national and international levels.

In this regard, trials for District Gujranwala will be held on Friday, 9 January 2026, at the Gujranwala Sports Complex.

 

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The national event will feature the participation of international wrestlers, national medalists, and emerging young talent.

The event will also provide young athletes with an opportunity to make a case for selection in the national team.

The National Wrestling Championship eligibility criteria and weight classes to ensure fair play are mentioned below.

U-17 Division:

This category is open to athletes born in 2009 or later. It focuses on younger competitors with five specific weight categories: 30 kg, 35 kg, 40 kg, 45 kg, and 50 kg.

U-19 Division:

This category is designed for older youth athletes born in 2007 or later. Because these athletes are more developed, the weight classes are much broader, ranging from light-heavy to heavyweight.

The categories include 57 kg, 61 kg, 65 kg, 70 kg, 74 kg, 79 kg, 86 kg, 92 kg, 97 kg, and 125 kg.

READ: Anthony Joshua pays tribute to close friends killed in crash

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi has expressed confidence in Multan Sultans’ financial prospects, stating that he wants to run the outfit for at least a year to prove it is a profitable venture.

Earlier today, PSL officially expanded ahead of season 11 in a historic auction, with Hyderabad and Sialkot confirmed as the two new franchises following a high-stakes auction held at the Jinnah Convention Centre in Islamabad.

The two teams will make their debut in PSL season 11, joining the existing six franchises: Karachi Kings, Lahore Qalandars, Peshawar Zalmi, Quetta Gladiators, Islamabad United, and Multan Sultans.

However, Former Multan Sultans owner Ali Tareen decided to sit out the auction for two new PSL franchises.

Tareen, whose group was notably absent from the list of 10 qualified bidders, took to X (formerly Twitter) to clarify the move, emphasizing the emotional connection his family shared with the Multan Sultans franchise.

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“After careful consideration, my family and I have decided not to participate in today’s PSL franchise auction,” Tareen wrote.

“Our time with Multan Sultans was never just about owning a cricket team. It was about South Punjab. About giving a voice to a region that had been overlooked for too long. That’s what drove everything we built.”

Speaking at a press conference alongside the new team owners after the auction, Mohsin reflected on the challenge of managing Multan Sultans.

He hinted at skepticism about the team’s finances, noting that management aimed to demonstrate the league’s commercial potential ahead of the auction.

“I took a challenge, and that is that there were a lot of claims on social media that the team was in losses. So I, and all of the team, decided that we will show you how much profit this business offers, publish the numbers before going for the auction,” Naqvi stated.

Naqvi added that while there is external pressure and speculation about the future of the team, his focus remains on running the Sultans for at least a year and proving that it can be a profitable venture.

“The pressure has started to be built up on me to sell out the team,” he said in a light-hearted manner while referring to Naseer.

“But my wish is to operate Multan Sultans for one year, and I’m very much hopeful that we would leave it in profit so the world gets to know that it’s a plus-plus business.”

READ: Moeen, Salman star in Sylhet Titans win over Dhaka Capitals

SYLHET: Moeen Ali’s all-round brilliance and Salman Irshad’s three-wicket haul powered Sylhet Titans to a 20-run victory over Dhaka Capitals in the 18th match of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2025-26 here at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Thursday.

Set 181, Capitals fell short, ending on 160-8 after their 20 overs despite a strong start.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Abdullah Al Mamun added 56 in 5.5 overs before quick wickets jolted their chase.

Mamun made 24 from 11 with the help of five fours.

Titans bowlers made a comeback with the wickets of Nasir Hossain and Shamim Hossain, both dismissed for three and one run respectively.

As a result, Dhaka Capitals were reduced to 67-3 in 8.5 overs.

Watch BPL 2026 matches LIVE Here!

But it was Gurbaz who held firm and kept the scoreboard ticking. The right-hander stitched a 37-run stand with Saif Hassan to put the chase back on track.

Gurbaz reached his half-century, but Azmatullah Omarzai and Salman Irshad struck in successive overs, which removed both of the set batters.

The opener remained the top scorer with 51 off 44, striking two sixes and three fours, whereas Saif’s 22 off 14 included a boundary and a six.

With the asking rate mounting, Salman Irshad kept chipping with the ball and dented the Capitals’ chase. Consequently, they slumped to 113-6 from 104-3 in 14.3 overs.

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Eventually, Capitals fell short with Sabbir Rahman remaining unbeaten on 25 off 16 with the aid of two sixes.

For Sylhet Titans, Salman Irshad topped the wickets chart with three wickets. Moeen Ali also delivered with the ball, picking up two wickets.

Earlier, put into bat first, Sylhet Titans managed to put `180 for 6 on the board in their allotted 20 overs.

The highlight of Sylhet Titans innings was Moeen Ali’s fireworks late down the order as he hit 28 off just eight deliveries, laced with three sixes and two fours.

Meanwhile, Ariful Islam and Parvez Hossain Emon were the other notable contributors with the bat, scoring 32 and 38 runs, respectively, which helped Titans reach a winning total.

For Dhaka Capitals, Ziaur Rahman was the pick of the bowlers, scalping three wickets.

Earlier in the day, Rajshahi Warriors defeated Noakhali Express by four wickets in the 17th fixture of the BPL.

Warriors chased down 152 run target in the final over, losing six wickets in the process.

Muhammad Waseem starred with the bat, scoring 60 off 35, studded with four sixes and four boundaries.

Mehedi Hasan Rana picked up three wickets for Noakhali Express.

READ: Hyderabad, Sialkot join PSL ahead of landmark season 11

England Test vice-captain Harry Brook has issued a public apology following the late-night altercation with a bouncer during the New Zealand tour.

The incident took place before the third ODI in Wellington, as Brook was denied entry to a nightclub because he was suspected of being too drunk.

The batter was involved in an argument with a bouncer and was not injured by the physical contact.

Brook, who is set lead England in the T20 World Cup 2026, self-reported the incident to the team’s security, and later on, he was fined £30,000 by the English Cricket Board (ECB).

The 26-year-old has now issued a public apology for his behaviour during the New Zealand tour.

“I want to apologise for my actions. I fully accept that my behaviour was wrong and brought embarrassment to both myself and the England team,” he said in a personal statement.

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“Representing England is the greatest honour of all, which I take seriously, and I am deeply sorry for letting down my team-mates, coaches and supporters. I have reflected on the lessons it has taught me about responsibility, professionalism, and the standards expected of those representing your country.

Meanwhile, the ECB acknowledged the apology and revealed that the incident was dealt with a confidential inquiry process.

“We are aware of this incident and it has been dealt with through a formal and confidential ECB disciplinary process. The player involved has apologised and acknowledged their conduct fell below expectations on this occasion,” the board said.

For the unversed, Australia defeated England in the Sydney Test to seal a 4-1 Ashes series win, extending their record dominance at home since England’s 2011 triumph.

READ: Sarfaraz Ahmed reacts to inclusion of new teams in PSL

Former Pakistan captain and U19 team manager Sarfaraz Ahmed has hailed the inclusion of two new teams in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) ahead of the landmark 11th season.

Sarfaraz took to his X account and extended congratulations to the new team owners and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

“Well done, PCB and PSL, on a successful auction. Congratulations to KingsmenCricket and OZGroupOfficial on their bids,” he wrote.

“Great to see the league expand to 8 teams—welcome Hyderabad and Sialkot. Pakistan Zindabad,” he added.

Earlier today, PSL officially expanded ahead of season 11, with Hyderabad and Sialkot confirmed as the two new franchises following a high-stakes auction held at the Jinnah Convention Centre in Islamabad.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

The two teams will make their debut in PSL season 11, joining the existing six franchises, Karachi Kings, Lahore Qalandars, Peshawar Zalmi, Quetta Gladiators, Islamabad United, and Multan Sultans.

The official names of the Hyderabad and Sialkot teams will be announced at a later stage.

The auction saw intense competition among qualified bidders, with aggressive bids reflecting the league’s growing commercial value.

The Hyderabad franchise was secured by the FKS Group, owned by Fawad Sarwar, after a successful bid of Rs 1.75 billion.

Later, OZ Developers, owned by Hamza Majeed, clinched the Sialkot franchise with a record-breaking bid of Rs1.85 billion, the highest figure of the auction.

PSL Teams Auction LIVE HERE

As per PSL auction rules, successful bidders were given the option to choose their home cities from a PCB-approved list that included Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Hyderabad, Sialkot, Muzaffarabad, and Gilgit.

Hyderabad and Sialkot ultimately emerged as the preferred choices.

With the addition of two new teams, PSL 11 is set to be the biggest edition of the tournament to date. The upcoming season is scheduled to run from March 26 to May 3.

READ: Hyderabad, Sialkot join PSL ahead of landmark season 11

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Super League (PSL) officially expanded on Thursday ahead of season 11 as Hyderabad and Sialkot were confirmed as the two new franchises following a high-stakes auction held at the Jinnah Convention Centre.

The two teams will make their debut in PSL season 11, joining the existing six franchises, Karachi Kings, Lahore Qalandars, Peshawar Zalmi, Quetta Gladiators, Islamabad United and Multan Sultans.

The official names of the Hyderabad and Sialkot teams will be announced at a later stage.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

The auction witnessed intense competition among qualified bidders, with aggressive offers reflecting the growing commercial value of the league.

The Hyderabad franchise was secured by the FKS Group, owned by Fawad Sarwar, after a successful bid of Rs 1.75 billion.

Later, OZ Developers, owned by Hamza Majeed, clinched the Sialkot franchise with a record-breaking bid of Rs1.85 billion, the highest figure of the auction.

PSL Teams Auction LIVE HERE

As per PSL auction rules, successful bidders were given the option to choose their home cities from a PCB-approved list that included Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Hyderabad, Sialkot, Muzaffarabad and Gilgit.

Hyderabad and Sialkot ultimately emerged as the preferred choices.

With the addition of two new teams, PSL 11 is set to be the biggest edition of the tournament to date. The upcoming season is scheduled to run from March 26 to May 3.

READ: ICC reveals Men’s Player of the Month nominees for December