Author: Shahid Hashmi

LAHORE: In the aftermath of Pakistan’s T20 World Cup exit, former international umpire and national selection committee member Aleem Dar has decided to step down from his role.

According to the sources privy to the matter, Dar, 57, decided to leave the role after Pakistan’s poor performance in the T20 World Cup.

Aleem Dar was appointed as a selector on October 11, 2024, alongside former pacer Aqib Javed, ex-Test captain Azhar Ali, and analyst Hasan Cheema in a revamped selection panel.

It is worth mentioning that Aleem Dar officiated in a record 435 men’s Tests, ODIs, and T20Is, including four World Cup finals, before calling time on his career.

Earlier in the day, it was reported that the Pakistan Cricket Board has also imposed a fine of Rs5m on each player following a disappointing campaign in the mega event.

Sources confirmed that the board made it clear to the players that financial benefits will now be strictly tied to performance.

Pakistan failed to qualify for the semi-final as their campaign ended in the Super Eights stage of the tournament.

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In their final match, the Green Shirts secured a narrow five-run victory over Sri Lanka but failed to progress to the semi-finals as New Zealand advanced on the basis of a superior run rate.

Earlier, in the group stage, Pakistan won three out of their four matches. They opened their tournament with an unconvincing win against the Netherlands, following it up with a decisive victory over USA. However, they were completely outplayed by their bitter rivals, India, by 61 runs.

They won their last fixture against Namibia to advance to the Super Eights. But a washout against New Zealand and a subsequent defeat to England ultimately left their semi-final hopes hanging in the balance.

READ: Pakistan players fined Rs5m after World Cup exit: sources

KANDY: Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha has addressed his captaincy future following his side’s elimination from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, despite a narrow win over Sri Lanka in their final Super Eight fixture on Saturday.

The 2009 champions entered the contest knowing that victory alone would not suffice; they needed a massive margin to overhaul New Zealand’s superior net run rate (NRR) and join England in the semi-finals.

Pakistan posted an imposing 212-8 in their 20 overs and went on to secure a five-run win. However, they were required to restrict Sri Lanka to 147 or below to qualify. Falling short of that benchmark meant their campaign ended at the Super Eight stage.

Reflecting on the tournament, Salman Ali Agha did not shy away from criticism, admitting that Pakistan underperformed across departments.

“If I have to sum up the whole tournament, I think we played below-average cricket,” he said at the post-match press conference.

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“We couldn’t bat well throughout the tournament. If Sahibzada Farhan had more support, it would have been better. The middle order has been a problem for a few years now, and we’ll have to look at that.”

He also stated that both he and head coach Mike Hesson would take full responsibility for the team’s performance.

“We haven’t qualified for the semi-finals in the last four ICC tournaments because we haven’t made the right decisions at crucial moments. The coach and I will take full responsibility for this performance,” he said.

Salman Ali Agha also made it clear that he will not make an immediate decision on his captaincy.

“If I decide about my captaincy right now, it would be an emotional decision. I will go back, take a few days, and then see what decision I make,” he said.

READ: Daren Sammy hopes to repeat 2016 script in India T20 World Cup clash

COLOMBO: Pakistan all-rounder Shadab Khan responded to criticism from former cricketers following the team’s loss to India in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, insisting the focus remains on the bigger goal of winning the tournament.

Speaking after the match against Namibia, Shadab reminded that they have achieved what many former cricketers could not — defeating India in a World Cup match.

“Criticism is not in our hands. Former cricketers have their own opinions. They were legends, but even they could not do what we have done. We have beaten India in a World Cup,” he said to reporters.

The skipper insisted the team remains focused on winning the tournament rather than dwelling on a single defeat that has dominated discussion.

“There has been too much talk about one match. It was a big game and we should have won it. We made mistakes that should not have happened. But our goal is to win the World Cup and we are following our process,” Shadab Khan added.

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He stressed that Pakistan are moving in the right direction and must continue the positives, particularly with the bat.

“We are on the right track. We need to continue the good things we have been doing. Our batting must carry on in the same way. Sahibzada Farhan is in good form,” Shadab said.

Looking ahead to the Super Eight stage, Shadab acknowledged the competition they will face from other teams.

“The Super Eight will be difficult. These will be high-pressure matches.”  “Ramadan has begun, and it will be like our 12th player,” he concluded.

Earlier, Pakistan defeated Namibia by a hefty margin of 102 runs to qualify for the Super Eight of the mega event.

The Green Shirts will play New Zealand, England and Sri Lanka in their Super Eight fixtures.

READ: Pakistan Super Eight schedule confirmed after Namibia rout

Pakistan men’s cricket team is set to tour Bangladesh following the conclusion of the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, with a three-match ODI series scheduled in March.

The ODI series will be played in Dhaka on March 12, 14 and 16, marking the start of Pakistan’s white-ball assignment in Bangladesh.

The Green Shirts will return home and will tour Bangladesh again in May after the completion of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 11.

The two sides will meet for a two-match Test series in May, part of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025–27 cycle.

The first Test is slated to take place in Dhaka from May 8 to 12, while the second Test will be held in Chattogram from May 16 to 20.

Pakistan’s visit forms part of Bangladesh’s packed home international calendar for the 2026 season.

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The Tigers are scheduled to host four Tests, 12 ODIs and nine T20Is across the year, beginning with Pakistan’s tour immediately after the T20 World Cup.

After Pakistan ODIs, the New Zealand men’s cricket team will arrive for a white-ball series starting April 17.

Later in the season, Australia are also set to tour Bangladesh for three ODIs and three T20Is, with matches scheduled around mid-June.

Bangladesh are further expected to host India for a limited-overs series in August-September 2026, featuring three ODIs and three T20Is, following a two-match Test series against the West Indies men’s cricket team under the WTC.

However, uncertainty surrounds India’s tour after recent tensions, including Bangladesh’s withdrawal from the T20 World Cup in India, where they were replaced by Scotland.

Schedule of Pakistan-Bangladesh series

• First ODI – March 12
• Second ODI – March 14
• Third ODI – March 16
• First Test – May 8 to 12
• Second Test – May 16 to 20

READ: Ganguly downplays excitement over India-Pakistan match

Australia-based Alpha Sports Group on Monday decided to partner with OZ Group, which bought the newly inducted Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Sialkot Stallions at the league’s team auction held on January 8.

Alpha Sports Group is Australia’s largest wholesale distributor of sports medicine, physiotherapy, injury prevention, rehabilitation, and first aid products.

The Group has acquired a 75 per cent stake in Sialkot Stallions.

Following the partnership, Alpha Sports and OZ Group will work together on the franchise’s overall growth, team formation, and performance improvement.

Following the announcement, Alpha Sports Group expressed excitement about the partnership, noting that both partners will aim to build Stallionz into a strong, competitive team.

It is worth noting that both Alpha Sports Group and OZ Group are based in Australia and hold prominent positions in the sports management and investment sectors.

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The new partnership is being termed a positive and welcome development for the PSL’s upcoming seasons, with the move generating fresh excitement among Sialkot Stallions fans.

For those unware, the development came just weeks after Sialkot Stallionz were officially introduced as one of the two new franchises ahead of the PSL 11.

The team’s ownership rights were acquired by OZ Developers, owned by Hamza Majeed and Kamil Khan, during the historic PSL 2026 auction held at the Jinnah Convention Centre on January 8.

OZ Developers sealed the deal with a record bid of Rs 1.85 billion, making it the most expensive franchise purchase in PSL history.

The eighth team, PSL 11, is set to start on March 26 across five venues in the country.

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The Pakistan Super League’s (PSL) newest franchise, Sialkot Stallionz, have reportedly secured the services of former Australia captain Steve Smith ahead of the 11th edition of the marquee league, sources told on Tuesday.

According to reliable sources, Smith has been directly signed by the Sialkot-based outfit before the PSL’s first-ever player auction, which is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, February 11.

The development comes just weeks after Sialkot Stallionz were officially introduced as one of the two new franchises in the PSL.

The team’s ownership rights were acquired by OZ Developers, owned by Hamza Majeed and Kamil Khan, during the historic PSL 2026 auction held at the Jinnah Convention Centre on January 8.

OZ Developers sealed the deal with a record bid of Rs 1.85 billion, making it the most expensive franchise purchase in PSL history.

The Stallionz had earlier appointed former Australia wicketkeeper-batter Tim Paine as their head coach, and sources suggest Smith will now play under his former international teammate in PSL 11.

Notably, Smith has never featured in the PSL before.

However, the veteran batter arrives with strong T20 form, having enjoyed a sensational outing in the recently concluded Big Bash League (BBL) season 15, where he represented Sydney Sixers.

Smith played six matches, scoring 299 runs at an average of 59.80 and a strike rate of 167.97, including a blistering 42-ball century.

Overall, Smith has played 272 T20 matches, scoring 6,242 runs at an average of 32.68 and a strike rate of 131.38, including five centuries and 30 half-centuries.

It is pertinent to note that under PSL 11 regulations, each franchise is allowed one direct signing of a foreign player who did not feature in PSL 10, a clause that appears to have been utilised by Sialkot Stallionz to land the Australian star.

READ: T20 World Cup: $500m at stake if Pakistan skips India clash

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi is set to hold a meeting with the national cricket team, recently picked for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, which is slated to start next month.

According to the sources, the chairman will brief the players about participation in the World Cup and share the strategy with them.

The decision on Pakistan’s participation in the T20 World Cup will be made after consultation with the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

A day earlier, Mohsin Naqvi said that the final call on the national team’s participation in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 will be taken by the federal government.

Naqvi’s remarks came after International Cricket Council (ICC) had replaced Bangladesh with Scotland for the upcoming World Cup following Bangladesh’s refusal to travel to India for the event.

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The ICC and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) had been engaged in prolonged discussions over the issue, resulting in the latter’s pull out from the mega event.

Against that backdrop, sources had suggested that Pakistan could also consider boycotting the tournament after Bangladesh’s decision.

Speaking to the media in Lahore, Mohsin Naqvi made it clear that the PCB would not act independently on the matter and would align itself with the government’s position.

“The prime minister [Shehbaz Sharif] is currently not in the country. Once he returns, we will announce a final decision,” Naqvi said when asked about Pakistan’s stance following the ICC’s decision on Bangladesh.

The PCB chairman openly criticised the ICC’s handling of the situation, accusing the governing body of applying double standards and treating Bangladesh unfairly.

“Bangladesh has been treated unjustly. I raised the same point during the ICC board meeting,” Naqvi said.

“You cannot have a situation where one country is allowed to make decisions whenever it wants, while another is denied the same consideration.”

Earlier today, Pakistan revealed their 15 member squad for the T20 World Cup 2026. The mega event will be played from 7 February to 8 March across Sri Lanka and India.

Pakistan T20 World Cup Squad

Salman Ali Agha (Captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay (WK), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan (WK), and Usman Tariq.

Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi has been declared fully fit after successfully clearing his fitness test, sources confirmed on Thursday.

The news came as a major boost to Pakistan’s preparations for the upcoming home T20I series against Australia and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

According to sources, Shaheen underwent a comprehensive physical fitness test two days ago, conducted with a specific focus on his workload management and long-term availability for the Australia series and the global tournament.

The left-arm pacer has now been deemed fit to return to competitive cricket and is expected to feature in Pakistan’s plans going forward.

Shaheen Afridi had suffered a knee injury during the Big Bash League (BBL) 15 while representing Brisbane Heat in a match against Adelaide Strikers on December 27.

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The 25-year-old was forced to leave the field during the 14th over after experiencing discomfort in his right knee and was subsequently ruled out of the remainder of the tournament.

Brisbane Heat later named Zaman Khan as his replacement.

The injury also kept Shaheen out of Pakistan’s recent T20I series against Sri Lanka, as he failed to regain full fitness in time for the assignment.

However, his recovery now appears to be on track, with the pacer reportedly set to make his return during the upcoming three-match T20I series against Australia, scheduled to be played at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, on January 29, 31 and February 1.

The series is being viewed as vital preparation for both sides ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

READ: Dominant Pakistan bundle Zimbabwe for 128 in U19 World Cup

The Pakistan Kabaddi Federation (PKF) has called an emergency meeting of its general council on 27 December to inquire into the participation of national player Ubaidullah Rajpur in a private tournament held in Bahrain.

The issue arose after Rajput, who is a prominent international Kabaddi player, was seen wearing an Indian jersey and waving the Indian flag.

Videos and images of Ubaidullah wearing the Indian kit during the GCC Kabaddi Cup held on December 16 at the Gulf Air Club in Salmabad went viral on social media.

Following this, PKF secretary Rana Sarwar took strong exception to the incident, stating that teams were given names despite the event being private.

“No official Pakistan team was sent and no permission was granted,” he said.

“Action would also be taken against those who falsely represented a ‘Pakistan’ team at the tournament,” he said.

Meanwhile, PKF chairman Chaudhry Shafay Hussain ordered an investigation into the matter and vowed to take action against those responsible.

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Ubaidullah, on the other hand, issued a public apology on social media, stating that he was unaware that the private team he had been invited to join would be labelled as ‘India’.

He explained that it was a local annual cup and not an official India-Pakistan contest.

“I only realised how the match was being portrayed after hearing slogans from the crowd,” he remarked in a video statement.

Ubaidullah further requested the commentator to clarify that the match was a club-level event rather than a bilateral contest.

“It was just a cup, not a World Cup, and this is not how a World Cup happens. If it had been a World Cup, I would definitely have played for Pakistan. I am Pakistani,” he reiterated.

“If my actions have hurt anyone’s feelings, I apologize.” “I apologize to my federation, my coach, and my supporters,” Ubaidullah concluded.

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Pakistan and Sri Lanka are set to lock horns in a three-match T20I series in January, with both boards reportedly finalising the schedule as part of their preparations for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

The series is expected to be played from January 8 to 12, with all three matches scheduled at the Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium.

The upcoming World Cup will be held from February 7 to March 8 in India and Sri Lanka, with Pakistan set to play all their matches on Sri Lankan soil under the Hybrid Model.

This arrangement ensures that Pakistan and India do not tour each other during ICC events and instead compete at neutral venues.

Sources close to the development have revealed that officials from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) were in constant discussions over the short series, which has now reportedly been confirmed.

The series will provide Pakistan crucial match practice in local conditions just weeks ahead of the global event, allowing the team to fine-tune combinations and acclimatise to pitches similar to those they will encounter during the World Cup.

The decision to stage all three matches in Dambulla has been taken due to ongoing upgradation work at both the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo and the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in preparation for the mega event.

Due to similar reasons, SLC was also forced to postpone the sixth edition of the Lanka Premier League (LPL), which was originally scheduled for the November-December window.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka are currently touring Pakistan for the ongoing T20I tri-series, where they are engaged in a tight qualification race for the final.

Pakistan have already secured their place in the final, while Sri Lanka must win their final group match by a big margin to stay alive in the competition.

Zimbabwe currently sit second on the points table with one win from four games and a net run rate of -0.522, while Sri Lanka remain third with a net run rate of -1.324.

Tentative schedule of Pakistan’s tour of Sri Lanka

• 1st T20I – 8 January 2026, Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium
• 2nd T20I – 10 January 2026, Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium
• 3rd T20I – 12 January 2026, Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium

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