Author: shahzad.malik

LAHORE: Pakistan’s star javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem has shifted his focus to the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and the Diamond League after clinching gold at the Islamic Solidarity Games earlier this month.

Arshad lit the torch for the 35th National Games in the Punjab Stadium on Wednesday.

During the event, he spoke to the media and expressed gratitude for the support he has received and outlined his major international targets for the upcoming season.

“I am thankful to Allah for winning a medal at the Islamic Solidarity Games,” Arshad said, adding that being part of the torch relay ceremony was a moment of pride for him.

He also acknowledged the role of the Sports Board Punjab for providing training facilities and continuous backing throughout his journey.

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Arshad’s latest triumph came on November 19 at the Prince Faisal Bin Fahad Stadium, where he dominated the men’s javelin final with a best throw of 83.05 metres on his second attempt.

After a modest 74.00m opening throw, the Pakistani ace crossed the 80-metre mark with authority and never looked back. His series also included efforts of 77.06m, a foul on the fifth attempt, and a final throw of 77.98m.

Pakistan enjoyed a one-two finish in the event as Muhammad Yasir Sultan claimed the silver medal with a throw of 74.43m, while Nigeria’s Samuel Kure settled for bronze with a 75.46m effort.

Notably, Arshad was the only athlete in the competition to cross the 80-metre barrier, underlining his dominance on the day.

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The Pakistan hockey team received a warm welcome at Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport on Tuesday after returning from Dhaka, where they swept Bangladesh 3-0 in the pre-World Cup qualifier series.

Families, friends and supporters gathered in large numbers to celebrate the team’s emphatic run, which secured a place in the FIH Hockey World Cup Qualifiers 2026.

Pakistan wrapped up the series in style with a resounding 10-3 victory in the final match at the Maulana Bhashani Stadium on Sunday.

Having already sealed qualification with commanding 8-2 and 8-0 wins in the opening fixtures, the Green Shirts maintained their dominance throughout the tour.

In the final clash, Pakistan struck five goals in the first half and continued their relentless scoring in the second, leaving the hosts far behind.

The series also brought individual accolades for the visitors. Sufyan Khan finished as the Top Scorer, while Ammad Butt was named the Best Player of the Tournament.

The Dhaka series was arranged by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) after Pakistan were forced to miss the Asia Cup in India earlier this year due to political tensions.

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The successful outing now serves as crucial preparation for what lies ahead: the FIH Hockey World Cup Qualifiers 2026, scheduled in Belgium from February 28 to March 8.

The team will now shift focus to their next major assignment, Pakistan’s debut appearance in the FIH Pro League.

The national camp for the league will begin in Islamabad in the coming days, followed by two practice matches in Spain on November 29 and 30.

The seventh edition of the Pro League, starting in early December in Argentina, will feature nine teams: Argentina, Australia, Belgium, England, Germany, India, the Netherlands, Spain and Pakistan.

The Green Shirts open their campaign in Rosario, taking on the Netherlands on December 10 and hosts Argentina on December 12.

Pakistan hockey team will play 16 matches across four international legs, including tough outings against Germany and Australia in Hobart, and marquee European fixtures in Belgium and Spain.

A highlight for fans will undoubtedly be the highly anticipated clashes against arch-rivals India in London on June 23 and 26 next year.

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LAHORE: Former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed has been handed a key role in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), sources said on Sunday.

According to sources, the wicket-keeper has been assigned to oversee matters regarding the Pakistan Shaheens and the Pakistan Under-19 teams.

The role will involve looking after squads, including coordination with coaches, squad management, and arrangements for domestic and international tours. Additionally, Sarfaraz could also travel with the teams on their tours.

It is pertinent to note that this will be the second time the 38-year-old has been assigned a role in the PCB. Previously, he had served as the mentor of the Dolphins team in the Champions Cup, which was held last year.

Earlier, Sarfaraz Ahmed, as Team Director of Quetta Gladiators in the PSL 10, opened up on the challenges of transitioning to the coaching role.

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The wicket-keeping batter led the side for eight years and in a record 80 matches since the inception of the PSL in 2016, and played as a player in the previous edition of the league.

In an interview with PCB Digital, Sarfaraz Ahmed said: “It is an exciting role for me, and I am trying to learn as I have previously worked as a mentor in the two Champions Cup events for team Dolphins”.

Sarfaraz Ahmed added, “It’s not easy for a player to transition into a coaching role, especially after being involved as a player on the field, but over time you need to evolve your skillset and adapt to new responsibilities. I have been with Quetta since the start of the HBL PSL.”

Recalling Quetta Gladiators’ triumph in the 2019 edition, the former Pakistan captain called it a memorable moment after reaching finals and playoffs for three years.

For the unversed, Sarfaraz is a vastly experienced player, having represented Pakistan in 54 Tests, 117 ODIs, and 61 T20Is.

He also brought several accolades to Pakistan, as he led the national team to victories in the ICC U19 World Cup 2006 and the ICC Champions Trophy 2017.

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LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has shortlisted six cities for the two new teams, which are set to join Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 in 2026, ARY News reported on Friday.

The shortlisted cities, Hyderabad, Sialkot, Muzaffarabad, Faisalabad, Gilgit and Rawalpindi, represent a diverse geographical spread, signalling the board’s intention to broaden the league’s national footprint.

The development comes alongside the PCB’s completion of the long-awaited independent valuation process for all existing PSL franchises and key commercial assets.

With the exercise now concluded, the board has issued renewal offer letters to compliant franchises, outlining revised financial terms for the next 10-year cycle.

Teams have been asked to communicate their decisions within the assigned deadline, a move that marks a major commercial milestone for the league.

In an effort to maintain complete transparency, the PCB has set up both collective and individual meetings between franchise owners and the independent valuation firm, EY MENA.

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These sessions will give teams an opportunity to understand the valuation methodology in detail and raise queries before finalising their commitments.

Alongside the renewal process, the PCB has also received valuation reports for the two expansion teams, effectively setting the stage for the next phase of PSL growth.

The tender process for the sale of the new franchises is expected to begin soon, adding momentum to what is poised to be one of the most significant structural upgrades in the league’s history.

The confirmation aligns with what PSL CEO Salman Naseer stated earlier in October during a press conference at the National Bank Stadium, where he revealed that an auction would be held for the two new teams.

“An auction will be held for two new PSL franchises, and bidding parties will be given a pool of city names from which they can select,” he said.

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LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has cleared the air on former pacer Wahab Riaz’s role following the reports of his appointment as a consultant of the national women’s team.

The board’s spokesperson clarified that Wahab is currently working as a consultant with the board and is overseeing various departments.

Besides this, the 40-year-old has not been given any additional responsibilities, the spokesperson reiterated.

This comes after reports have emerged that he has been named as the consultant of Pakistan’s women’s team.

Currently, the women’s team is without a head coach after the conclusion of Muhammad Wasim’s tenure.

On Monday, November 3, PCB had officially parted ways with Muhammad Wasim, bringing an end to his tenure following a disappointing World Cup 2025 campaign.

The development was confirmed by the board on Monday through an official press release, stating that the search for a new head coach is already underway.

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“The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced the completion of Mohammad Wasim’s tenure as Head Coach of the Pakistan National Women’s Cricket Team,” the statement read.

“The process to appoint a new head coach is currently underway, and the announcement regarding his successor will be made in due course,” it added.

Wasim’s departure comes on the back of a winless World Cup run, where Pakistan finished at the bottom of the points table.

The team lost four of their seven matches, while three fixtures were washed out due to rain.

Following the team’s early exit, speculation had been rife that the PCB was considering changes in the coaching setup to revamp the women’s cricket structure ahead of future assignments.

In its statement, the PCB reiterated its long-term commitment to developing the women’s game in the country.

“The PCB remains committed to strengthening women’s cricket in Pakistan and ensuring the team receives the best possible support to achieve continued success on the international stage,” the board said.

Notably, Muhammad Wasim was appointed as the women’s team head coach ahead of the ACC Women’s Asia Cup in June 2024.

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Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan has reportedly declined to sign his central contract, making him the only player among the 30 contracted cricketers who has yet to do so, sources revealed on Tuesday.

According to details, all other players have signed their respective contracts, but Rizwan has withheld his signature after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) allegedly turned down a few of his personal demands.

“There’s currently no indication that the PCB will revisit Rizwan’s requests,” said one source familiar with the development.

For the unversed, Rizwan was included in Category B of the new central contracts, which also features nine other players, including star batter Babar Azam.

Notably, no cricketer was placed in Category A this time around.

The development comes shortly after Rizwan’s removal as Pakistan’s ODI captain, with Shaheen Shah Afridi taking charge ahead of the upcoming home series against South Africa.

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Mohammad Rizwan was appointed Pakistan’s white-ball captain in October 2024, replacing Babar Azam.

He initially impressed with a series of strong results, including ODI series victories against Australia and South Africa away from home.

However, his stint in the T20I format faltered as Pakistan lost all four matches under his leadership, prompting the PCB to strip him of that role while retaining him as ODI captain.

His ODI captaincy tenure also came under scrutiny after Pakistan failed to qualify for the knockout stage of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, followed by a 3-0 whitewash against New Zealand and a 2-1 series defeat to the West Indies.

In total, Rizwan captained Pakistan in 20 ODIs, winning nine and losing 11, finishing with a 45% win ratio.

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LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reportedly created a backup plan for the potential termination of the Multan Sultans franchise due to ongoing tensions with the franchise owner, Ali Tareen.

According to sources, the PCB has initiated contact with one to two potential investors who have expressed interest in acquiring the Multan Sultans franchise, should the current ownership situation deteriorate further.

“If matters are not settled with the existing management, the franchise could be sold to a new owner,” insiders revealed.

The board, however, is reported to be moving forward with great deliberation.

Officials have stressed that no action will be taken near the league’s valuation process, as the PCB wants to avoid any disruption that could affect the Pakistan Super League’s (PSL) credibility.

Relations between the PCB and the Multan Sultans management have reportedly soured over several issues in recent months.

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The latest flashpoint came when the board issued a legal notice to Ali Tareen for allegedly violating the PSL code of conduct and franchise agreement.

The notice warned of potential termination of the franchise and blacklisting of Tareen from future league involvement.

In response, Tareen released a sarcastic “apology” video on his social media platforms, mocking the PCB’s handling of the situation while publicly tearing up the legal notice.

“I didn’t receive a single call, message, or invitation to resolve this matter,” Tareen said in the video. “Instead, I was served a legal notice. If you were more competent, you’d know these matters aren’t handled this way.”

Although Tareen’s video was framed as an apology, it was filled with biting irony. The video concluded dramatically with Tareen tearing the legal notice in half, stating, “So, I hope you like my apology video.”

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Pakistan all-rounder Abbas Afridi has been appointed captain of the national squad for the upcoming Hong Kong Cricket Sixes 2025, scheduled to take place from November 7 to 9.

Pakistan will depart for Hong Kong on November 5 to take part in the 21st edition of the fast-paced tournament, which will feature 12 teams divided into four pools.

The Men in Green are placed in Pool C alongside India and Kuwait, with both group-stage matches set to be played on Friday, November 7.

The tournament promises high-octane entertainment as teams compete in six-a-side contests over three action-packed days.

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Defending champions Sri Lanka will look to retain their crown, while Pakistan, the most successful team in the competition’s history with five titles, will aim to add another trophy to their storied record.

Pakistan’s squad features a blend of young talent and experience, with Abbas Afridi (captain) joined by Abdul Samad, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay, Maaz Sadaqat, Mohammad Shahzad, Saad Masood, and Shahid Aziz. Danish Aziz and Mohammad Faiq have been named as non-travelling reserves.

Known for its fast-paced, fan-friendly format, the Hong Kong Cricket Sixes has long been regarded as one of the most entertaining events in world cricket.

This year’s edition is expected to draw large crowds and international attention as the format returns after recent global disruptions.

Pakistan squad for Hong Kong Sixes

Abbas Afridi (captain), Abdul Samad, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay, Maaz Sadaqat, Mohammad Shahzad, Saad Masood, and Shahid Aziz.

Non-travelling reserves: Danish Aziz and Mohammad Faiq.

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LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reportedly been considering shaking the women’s team’s coaching setup amid their underwhelming performance in the ongoing World Cup 2025.

According to insiders, the board is considering a comprehensive overhaul of the women’s coaching staff following the team’s disappointing run in Sri Lanka, where they remain winless after five matches.

Head coach Mohammad Wasim is likely to be replaced after the tournament, with discussions already underway regarding potential candidates.

The PCB is also expected to appoint foreign strength and conditioning coaches to enhance the team’s physical and technical standards.

In addition, efforts are being made to expand the player pool and increase international exposure through more frequent overseas tours for both the senior and U19 women’s teams.

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Sources further indicated that the board aims to strengthen ties with other cricket boards to secure more opportunities for Pakistani women cricketers in foreign leagues, a move seen as vital for bridging the competitive gap at the global level.

Pakistan currently sit at the bottom of the Women’s World Cup points table with just two points from five matches.

Their only bright moment came in a rain-hit encounter against England, where they restricted the defending champions to 133-9 in a 31-over contest and made a promising start in reply before the match was washed out.

The Women in Green now face an uphill battle, needing victories in both of their remaining fixtures against South Africa and hosts Sri Lanka, along with favourable results from other matches, to keep their faint semifinal hopes alive.

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LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to enhance security around the dressing room area at Gaddafi Stadium after a fan managed to breach the players’ zone in an attempt to meet his idol, Babar Azam.

According to sources, the board has approved the installation of an iron fence between the spectator enclosures and the dressing room area to prevent similar incidents in the future.

“The new fencing will ensure fans cannot directly access the players’ zone again,” a PCB source confirmed.

The incident occurred during the first Test between Pakistan and South Africa when a teenage fan climbed over the barrier from the Majid Khan Enclosure and made his way toward the dressing room.

He managed to slip past the stands and approach the players’ area before being spotted by members of the support staff, who immediately alerted security personnel.

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The intruder was detained and handed over to the police. Officials said the teenager confessed to entering the restricted area solely to take a selfie with Babar Azam.

A case was later registered against him for trespassing and interfering in official matters.

The incident briefly shifted attention away from Pakistan’s 93-run victory over South Africa, which gave the hosts a 1-0 lead in the two-match Test series.

Despite enduring a lean run with the bat in recent months, Babar Azam remains Pakistan’s most followed and admired cricketer.

His overall career numbers, more than 14,000 international runs across formats, continue to reflect his stature as one of the modern greats, inspiring unwavering loyalty among fans.

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