Author: Web Desk

KARACHI: Babar Azam-led Peshawar Zalmi shattered multiple records against Quetta Gladiators in the 29th match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 played here at the National Bank Stadium on Sunday night.

Put into bat first, Zalmi racked up 255 for the loss of three wickets in their 20 overs, largely due to a 135-run stand between Babar Azam and Kusal Mendis.

The total was the 2017 champions’ highest in PSL history and overall third in the tournament’s history. Earlier in the tournament, Zalmi had recorded 246-3 against Karachi Kings.

Highest totals in PSL history

Quetta Gladiators – 263/3 against Islamabad United in 2025
Multan Sultans – 262/3 against Quetta Gladiators in 2023
Peshawar Zalmi – 255/3 against Quetta Gladiators in 2026
Quetta Gladiators – 253/8 against Multan Sultans in 2023
Islamabad United – 251/5 against Karachi Kings in 2025

The foundation for a big total was laid by Babar, who scored an unbeaten 100 off only 52 balls, striking six fours and four sixes.

His 52-ball century, the fastest he has made in this prestigious league, allowed him to match the record for most PSL centuries, joining Kamran Akmal, Rilee Rossouw, and Usman Khan.

Additionally, Babar shared a 135-run partnership for the second wicket with Mendis, which also tied him with India’s Virat Kohli for the most century-plus stands in T20s.

Most 100 partnerships in T20 cricket

47 – Virat Kohli (India)
47 – Babar Azam (Pakistan)
46 – Chris Gayle (West Indies)
45 – David Warner (Australia)
40 – Faf du Plessis (South Africa)

Notably, Babar Azam only played one dot ball during his 52-ball innings. According to the ball-by-ball database, which includes over 3,000 innings of 50 or more balls in T20s worldwide, no batter has ever had as few as one dot ball in such an innings.

READ: PSL 11: Babar, Mendis and bowlers sink Quetta Gladiators

The most anticipated fixture in world cricket is set to ignite the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, with Pakistan and India expected to face off on February 15 in Colombo, according to a report by ESPNcricinfo.

The report reveals a tentative schedule for the tournament, which will run from February 7 to March 8 and be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.

Pakistan will play all their matches in either Colombo or Kandy under the hybrid model, a mutually agreed arrangement ensuring that India and Pakistan do not tour each other during ICC events.

This model has previously been applied in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, when the UAE co-hosted India’s matches, and during the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025, with Sri Lanka joining as co-hosts.

The 2026 tournament format will mirror the 2024 T20 World Cup, with 20 teams divided into five groups of four.

The top two teams from each group will advance to the Super Eight stage, before progressing to the semi-finals and ultimately the final.

According to the report, the blockbuster Pakistan–India clash will take place at the R Premadasa Stadium, with both teams placed in the same group alongside the USA, the Netherlands, and Namibia.

The 20-team tournament also features Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, South Africa, West Indies, New Zealand, Ireland, Canada, Italy, Zimbabwe, Nepal, Oman, UAE, and Sri Lanka.

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Sri Lanka, Australia, Zimbabwe, Ireland, and Oman are reportedly grouped together, while England, West Indies, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Italy form another group, and South Africa, New Zealand, Afghanistan, UAE, and Canada make up the remaining group.

Hosts and defending champions India will open their campaign against the USA in Mumbai on February 7, followed by matches against Namibia in Delhi on February 12, Pakistan in Colombo on February 15, and the Netherlands in Ahmedabad on February 18.

Notably, the group stage is expected to feature three matches per day.

If India progress to the Super Eight, their matches are likely to be held in Ahmedabad, Chennai, and Kolkata, with a semi-final in Mumbai.

The second semi-final is expected to be hosted in either Colombo or Kolkata, depending on whether Pakistan and Sri Lanka qualify.

The final is scheduled for Ahmedabad unless Pakistan reach the title clash, in which case Colombo is expected to host the decider.

The ICC is expected to officially announce the full schedule later this week.

READ: Salman Ali Agha breaks world record, surpasses Dravid, Yousuf, Dhoni

Pakistan, led by young pacer Abbas Afridi, has touched down in Hong Kong for the upcoming Hong Kong Sixes 2025, set to take place from November 7 to 9.

The prestigious six-a-side tournament will feature 12 teams, divided into four groups of three, with Pakistan placed in Pool C alongside India and Kuwait.

The Men in Green will open their campaign on the opening day against Kuwait before locking horns with arch-rivals India in one of the most anticipated fixtures of the competition.

Pakistan will then face South Africa in the second quarter-final on November 8.

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The upcoming edition marks the 21st staging of the Hong Kong Sixes since its inception in 1992.

Known for its high-energy format and crowd-pleasing entertainment, the tournament remains one of the most exciting events on the global cricket calendar.

Defending champions Sri Lanka will look to retain their crown, while Pakistan, five-time winners and one of the most successful sides in tournament history, will aim to extend their dominance and capture a record sixth title.

Pakistan Squad for Hong Kong Sixes 2025: Abbas Afridi (captain), Abdul Samad, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay, Maaz Sadaqat, Mohammad Shahzad, Saad Masood, and Shahid Aziz.

Non-travelling reserves: Danish Aziz, Mohammad Faiq.

READ: Australia announce squad for first Ashes Test squad

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan’s white-ball head coach Mike Hesson has opened up on the exclusion of wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Haris from the T20I squad for the series against South Africa.

The 24-year-old, who debuted in 2022, has featured in 35 T20Is, scoring 555 runs at an average of 17.34, including one century and a fifty.

He was part of the Pakistan squad in the recent ACC T20 Asia Cup 2025, where he began brightly with a half-century against Oman but could not sustain his form, finishing the tournament with 131 runs in six innings at 21.83.

Mike Hesson, while speaking to reporters at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday, said Haris had been given “ample opportunities” to cement his place in the national side but failed to make them count.

Catch Pakistan vs South Africa news updates here!

“Mohammad Haris has had plenty of chances, and even he would admit he hasn’t made the most of them,” Hesson remarked.

He also advised the wicketkeeper-batter to focus on improving his decision-making when playing his shots.

“I wouldn’t say his career is over, but he needs to improve his decision-making with the bat. Even in domestic cricket, his batting average is around 17, the same as in international cricket,” he added.

Notably, Haris has now been replaced by Usman Khan, who returns to the side after last playing in the T20I series against New Zealand earlier this year.

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Hesson explained that Usman’s inclusion was based on conditions and team balance ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026.

“Usman Khan is a very good player of spin,” Hesson said.

“We see a wicketkeeper batting more through the middle than at the top, and with the World Cup in Sri Lanka, handling spin will be crucial. That’s why Usman was given the opportunity.”

Usman, who has represented Pakistan in 19 T20Is, has 239 runs at an average of 14.93 and a strike rate of 121.93, with one half-century to his name.

READ: PCB reveals pink kit for first T20I against South Africa

RAWALPINDI: The South Africa T20I squad has arrived here on Friday ahead of their three-match series against Pakistan, set to begin on October 28 at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed the team’s arrival through a video shared on its official social media channels, showing Proteas players checking into their hotel ahead of the series opener.

🛬 South Africa T20I team arrives in Pakistan ahead of the 3-match series starting 28 Oct in Rawalpindi 🏏#PAKvSA | #GreenPeYaqeen | #BackTheBoysInGreen pic.twitter.com/P5SGprRAU3

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) October 24, 2025

However, the visitors’ preparations have been dented by injuries to two key players, experienced batter David Miller and pacer Gerald Coetzee, both of whom have been ruled out of the white-ball series.

According to Cricket South Africa (CSA), Miller, who was slated to captain the side in the T20I series, sustained a grade one right hamstring strain. Scans conducted earlier this week confirmed the injury, forcing him to withdraw from the tour.

Meanwhile, Coetzee suffered a pectoral muscle injury during South Africa’s one-off T20I against Namibia earlier this month, ruling him out of both the ODI and T20I series.

Catch Pakistan vs South Africa news updates here!

In response, CSA has made several changes to the touring party.

Matthew Breetzke and uncapped Tony de Zorzi have been drafted into the T20I squad, while Donovan Ferreira will lead the side in Miller’s absence.

Additionally, Ottneil Baartman has been named as Coetzee’s replacement in the ODI squad.

Following the Rawalpindi opener, the second and third T20Is will take place at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on October 31 and November 1, respectively.

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The tour will then shift to Faisalabad, where both teams will contest a three-match ODI series from November 4 to 8 at the Iqbal Stadium, marking the city’s first international fixture in over 17 years.

Faisalabad last hosted an ODI on April 11, 2008, when Pakistan defeated Bangladesh by seven wickets.

Updated South Africa squads for Pakistan tour

T20I squad: Donovan Ferreira (c), Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Nandre Burger, Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, George Linde, Kwena Maphaka, Lungi Ngidi, Matthew Breetzke, Nqaba Peter, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Tony de Zorzi, Andile Simelane, Lizaad Williams.

ODI squad: Matthew Breetzke (c), Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Nandre Burger, Ottneil Baartman, Quinton de Kock, Tony de Zorzi, Donovan Ferreira, Bjorn Fortuin, George Linde, Kwena Maphaka, Lungi Ngidi, Nqaba Peter, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Sinethemba Qeshile.

READ: Pakistan to don special kit in first T20I against South Africa

Pakistan all-rounder Aamir Jamal has shared the heartbreaking news of the passing of his newborn baby daughter with his fans and the cricket fraternity.

The announcement, made through an emotional post on his official Instagram account, has left the sporting community in mourning.

The post featured a tender photo of Jamal holding his baby’s tiny hand, alongside a deeply moving caption that read:

“From Allah, to Allah. I couldn’t hold you longer, my lil angel. Baba & Mama will miss you. May you stay in higher ranks in Heaven.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Aamir Jamal (@aamir.jamal)

Within hours, the post went viral, drawing thousands of messages of love, prayers, and condolences from across Pakistan and beyond.

Former Pakistan captain Sana Mir was among those who expressed sympathy, praying for patience and strength for the grieving couple.

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Fans, too, flooded social media with heartfelt messages, calling the news “unimaginable” and “devastating.”

Aamir Jamal has represented Pakistan in eight Tests, three ODIs, and six T20Is, taking 21 wickets in the longest format and five across limited-overs cricket.

In domestic cricket, he continues to impress, claiming 99 wickets in 40 first-class matches, and is currently part of Lahore Region Whites in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2025-26.

READ: Babar, Rizwan make gains in ICC Test Batting Rankings

The Swedish Football Association said on Monday that ex-Chelsea manager Graham Potter had been appointed national team coach after Jon Dahl Tomasson was sacked last week following three straight losses in World Cup qualifying.

Sweden terminated Tomasson’s contract on October 14 after his team only managed to win a single point in the first four games of the qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup.

The Swedish FA said Potter, who was sacked by Premier League club West Ham in September, would be tasked with turning around a team containing star strikers Alexander Isak and Viktor Gyokeres and attempt to qualify for the finals in the US, Canada and Mexico.

“The goal is to create the optimal conditions to reach the World Cup in the summer of 2026,” the Swedish FA said in statement.

The FA said the contract with Potter covered the ongoing qualifying period, with games against Switzerland and Slovenia in November, as well as a potential playoff in March.

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The contract would automatically be extended to the World Cup finals themselves if Sweden qualify.

“I am very humble facing this assignment, but also incredibly inspired. Sweden has fantastic players who deliver week after week in the world’s best leagues,” 50-year-old Potter was quoted saying.

Despite having £125 million ($168 million) Liverpool striker Isak and Arsenal’s £73 million Gyokeres starting together up front, Sweden has failed to even score in their last three matches and sit bottom of Group B.

Potter managed Swedish team Ostersund FK between 2011 and 2018, bringing it up to Sweden’s top league.

He has since managed Swansea City, Brighton and Hove Albion, Chelsea and West Ham.

He was once regarded as one of English football’s brightest coaching talents but was sacked by Chelsea in April 2023 after the team’s form nosedived. There then followed a difficult nine-month stay at West Ham.

READ: Kane Williamson returns to New Zealand squad for England ODIs

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has confirmed that the upcoming home T20I tri-series will go ahead as planned, despite the withdrawal of Afghanistan following cross-border tensions.

A PCB spokesperson told a local news channel on Saturday that the series, scheduled from November 17 to 29, will proceed according to the original timeline.

The board is currently exploring options to bring in a replacement team, with a final announcement expected soon.

According to sources, Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) has been approached as a potential participant to fill the void left by Afghanistan.

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The series was originally set to feature Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan.

The withdrawal from Afghanistan came late on Friday, reportedly in response to recent cross-border unrest that resulted in the deaths of three local cricketers in the Urgun district.

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) stated that the players had travelled from Urgun to Sharana, in Paktika province near the Pakistan border, to take part in a friendly match when the attack occurred.

Despite the setback, the PCB remains committed to hosting the series and ensuring uninterrupted international cricket at home.

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Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has thrown his weight behind wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson, insisting that he should feature in the starting XI for the ACC Asia Cup 2025 rather than remain in the reserves.

Speaking to Indian media on Friday, Gavaskar said excluding a player of Samson’s calibre would be a mistake, stressing his ability to adapt across the batting order.

“If you include Sanju Samson in the core squad, then you can’t have him sitting in the reserves,” Gavaskar said. “He’s someone who can bat at number three if needed, or even drop down the order as a finisher.”

The legendary opener acknowledged that India also has options in Jitesh Sharma, who impressed during the latest IPL season, but called it a “good headache” for the selectors.

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“My feeling is that Samson might get the nod ahead of Jitesh for the first couple of games, and then it depends on his form for the rest of the tournament,” Sunil Gavaskar predicted.

He also suggested that the management could experiment with Samson at number three, leaving Tilak Varma and Hardik Pandya to provide finishing power in the middle and lower order.

India will begin their Asia Cup campaign on September 10 against the UAE in Dubai, before facing arch-rivals Pakistan on September 14. Their final group-stage fixture will be against Oman on September 19 in Abu Dhabi.

India’s Asia Cup 2025 squad

Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Shubman Gill (vice-captain), Hardik Pandya, Arshdeep Singh, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Rinku Singh, Sanju Samson.

READ: Babar Azam named in PCB’s red-ball training camp for South Africa series

Former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja has heaped praise on Salman Ali Agha for his match-winning innings while slamming the middle order for their reckless approach in the opening game of the T20I tri-series against Afghanistan in Sharjah.

Batting at No.4, Salman played a composed yet attacking knock of 53* off 36 balls, striking three fours and three sixes to lift Pakistan to 182-7.

Afghanistan, in reply, were bundled out for 143 courtesy of Haris Rauf’s brilliant four-wicket haul, as Pakistan sealed a 39-run win.

Speaking on his YouTube channel after the match, Raja said that at one stage the game was slipping away from Pakistan, and it was Salman’s innings that bailed them out.

“Pakistan made 182 on this pitch, but even then Afghanistan looked very much in the contest because conditions hadn’t changed much. If Salman Ali Agha had failed, Pakistan would have been in serious trouble,” he said.

Criticising the batting unit, the former PCB chairman noted that no player apart from Salman showed the required temperament.

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“After putting the opposition under pressure, giving away wickets so cheaply is baffling,” he added.

“The top order showed intent, but no one played a substantial innings. Some got out for 10, 15, 20, when you had Afghanistan on the back foot, why throw it away so easily?” he questioned.

Ramiz Raja credited Salman Ali Agha for displaying the maturity others lacked.

“In such situations, you have to bat smartly, and Salman did just that. Without his innings, Pakistan would have struggled to even cross 150, and Afghanistan would have been right in the game,” he added.

The former cricketer also pointed out that Sharjah’s surface is no longer the traditional slow, turning track that once heavily favoured Afghanistan’s spinners.

“This wasn’t the typical Sharjah pitch. Afghanistan threatened Pakistan, but Pakistan were more professional on the day. Full credit goes to Salman Ali Agha for setting the platform,” he concluded.

READ: Irfan Pathan backs THIS bowler as India’s next pace star