Category: Cricket

LAHORE: Kusal Mendis continued his rich vein of form as Peshawar Zalmi eased past Karachi Kings in Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 11 clash at Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday.

Unbeaten Zalmi chased down a stiff target of 183 inside 18 overs, losing only three wickets in the process.

The opening pair of James Vince and Babar Azam added 37  in the first five overs before both batters were sent back in successive overs.

Babar was caught after scoring 25 from 19, whereas Vince was caught behind on 16.  The wickets brought Aaron Hardie and Kusal Mendis on the crease. The pair tried to arrest the slide with a brief 22-run partnership. However, Hardie fell prey to Khusdil Shah, putting Karachi Kings in pole position.

At this stage, the scorecard read 67-3 in 7.4 overs with Farhan Yousaf joining Mendis. The pair launched a recovery and took their side out of trouble. Both batters batted briskly, soaking up all the pressure.

Catch all the PSL 11 updates here!

Mendis and Yousaf took the game away from Karachi Kings in the last five overs, taking the attack to the bowlers. The pair finished with an unbeaten 119-run partnership from 69 balls, propelling Zalmi to their eighth win on the trot.

Mendis — the leading run scorer of the tournament- struck four sixes and five fours in his 80* off 43 balls. Yousaf, on the other hand, scored his maiden half-century, hitting three sixes and five fours. He made 58 off 36 deliveries.

For Karachi Kings, Abbas Afridi, Khushdil Shah and Hasan Ali picked up one wicket each.

Earlier, Peshawar Zalmi seamer Ali Raza produced a sensational hat-trick to derail Karachi Kings after an aggressive half-century by Jason Roy.

Batting first after winning the toss, Karachi Kings had a mixed outing despite a strong start from opener Jason Roy, who anchored the innings with a fluent 85 off 51 deliveries, striking 11 fours and two sixes.

Captain David Warner struggled at the top, managing just 11 off 13 balls before being bowled by Raza early in the innings.

Roy, however, kept the scoreboard moving and built short partnerships of 36 and 27 with Salman Ali Agha and Reeza Hendricks, respectively, maintaining Karachi’s momentum through the middle overs.

The real turning point came when Azam Khan joined Roy and counterattacked brilliantly. The Karachi Kings duo added 63 runs in just 32 deliveries, putting Peshawar Zalmi under pressure before Iftikhar Ahmed broke the stand by dismissing Azam for a quickfire 35 off 19 balls.

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Roy soon followed, falling to Mohammad Basit after completing a well-compiled knock that had kept Karachi in control for most of the innings.

From there, the innings collapsed dramatically as no batter managed to offer resistance. Karachi Kings managed to score 182-9 in their 20 overs.

Ali Raza returned in death overs to tear through the lower order, taking his first PSL hat-trick and finishing with four wickets in total. He was supported by Mohammad Basit, Iftikhar Ahmed, Sufiyan Muqeem, and Aaron Hardie, who claimed one wicket each.

READ: Will Nahid Rana, Mustafizur Rahman return to PSL 11?

Bangladesh fast bowler Nahid Rana is unlikely to return to the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 11, while his fellow pacer Mustafizur Rahman is expected to rejoin the Lahore Qalandars squad for the remainder of the tournament.

The right-arm pacer, who was representing Peshawar Zalmi, had been cleared by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to feature in the league until April 13. He later returned home alongside other Bangladesh players after being called up for national duty during the ongoing white-ball series against New Zealand.

According to the latest reports, the right-arm pacer has not applied for an extension to rejoin PSL 11, effectively casting serious doubt over any comeback this season.

He was part of Bangladesh’s ODI squad against New Zealand but was not selected for the first two T20Is, with selectors reportedly prioritising workload management ahead of a busy Test calendar.

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Rana is expected to be rested with an eye on the upcoming two-match Test series against Pakistan, part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025–27 cycle. The series will begin on May 8 in Dhaka before moving to Sylhet for the second Test.

During his brief PSL stint, Rana made a strong impression, picking up seven wickets in four matches at an economy rate of 5.42 for Zalmi.

Meanwhile, Mustafizur Rahman is set to rejoin the Qalandars camp. He was initially granted clearance until April 12 and later received a second NOC from April 24 onwards, following international commitments.

READ: Mohammad Nawaz under PCB scrutiny after positive drug test: report

All-rounder Mohammad Nawaz is under investigation by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) after testing positive for recreational drug use, ESPNcricinfo reported on Wednesday.

The 32-year-old all-rounder, who is currently representing Multan Sultans in the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11, was reportedly flagged during testing conducted at the T20 World Cup earlier this year.

A PCB spokesperson confirmed that the matter has been formally taken up after communication from the International Cricket Council (ICC).

“The International Cricket Council (ICC) has informed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) about this matter, and PCB has begun the due process. The results of this process will be communicated to the ICC today,” the spokesperson stated.

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While the ICC has refrained from commenting publicly, reports suggest the positive result stems from samples taken during the global tournament, where Nawaz featured in all seven matches for Pakistan.

He scored 15 runs and claimed seven wickets as the team exited at the Super Eight stage.

The development has also impacted Nawaz’s participation in the T20 Blast. His proposed stint with Surrey County Cricket Club for the upcoming season has been called off.

The left-arm spinner had earlier secured a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) from the PCB and was expected to feature throughout the competition, scheduled from late May to mid-July.

However, following the positive test, the deal has fallen through, with Surrey opting not to proceed with the signing. The English county has declined to comment on the matter.

READ: Rawalpindiz owner breaks silence on Mohammad Rizwan’s captaincy

Notably, in the last outing between the two teams, Zalmi thumped Kings by a massive 159-run margin. The Babar Azam-led franchise set a 247-run target, courtesy of Kusal Mendis’ blistering century.

In response, Karachi Kings were bundled for a mere 87, with Iftikhar Ahmed, Nahid Rana and Sufiyan Muqeem claiming three wickets apiece.

READ: WATCH: Lahore Qalandars fulfil cancer-stricken child’s wish to meet Shaheen Afridi

Lahore Qalandars delivered a heartwarming moment during the Pakistan Super League season 11 by making a young cancer-stricken fan’s dream come true, arranging a special meeting with captain Shaheen Shah Afridi.

The fan, Farzan from Gujranwala’s Qila Didar Singh, has been battling a tumour for the past four years. His emotional video message, in which he expressed his wish to meet Afridi, quickly went viral and caught the attention of the franchise.

“My name is Farzan, and I am a huge fan of Lahore Qalandars. My greatest wish is to meet Shaheen Shah Afridi. Does he have time for me?” he said in the clip that resonated widely across social media.

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Touched by the request, the Qalandars invited Farzan to Lahore as a special guest. He watched the team’s clash against Quetta Gladiators at Gaddafi Stadium, where he finally met his idol and spent time with the players.

Afridi presented the young fan with a signed shirt and cap, while the franchise celebrated his courage, calling him a “special Qalandar” in their social media tribute.

“A very special Qalandar is in the house to support us today. Farzan, who has been fighting cancer for four years, wanted to meet his hero, Shaheen. Today, he got his wish fulfilled,” the post captioned.

 

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Farzan also enjoyed the match from the owners’ enclosure and witnessed Qalandars edge past the Gladiators in a closely fought contest. The franchise later described him as their “lucky charm,” sharing a video of his visit and interaction with the team.

 

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His father expressed gratitude to the management for the gesture and extended his best wishes to the franchise owners, acknowledging the effort made to lift his son’s spirits during a difficult time.

READ: Jude Bellingham buys stake in Hundred franchise Birmingham Phoenix

Jude Bellingham has expanded his sporting footprint beyond football by acquiring a minority stake in The Hundred franchise Birmingham Phoenix, marking a notable crossover investment into cricket from one of England’s biggest stars.

The Real Madrid midfielder, who was born in Stourbridge and raised in Birmingham, has purchased a 1.2% share in the franchise.

The stake has been split evenly between Warwickshire County Cricket Club and Knighthead Capital Management, the latter already a major investor in the team and owner of Birmingham City FC.

Warwickshire continue to hold majority control of the franchise with 50.4% ownership, while Knighthead’s share now stands at 48.4%.

The move further strengthens the Phoenix’s local identity, with Bellingham becoming one of the most high-profile athletes to invest in The Hundred.

Despite his global football commitments, the 22-year-old has never hidden his affection for cricket. Having played junior cricket at Hagley Cricket Club during his teenage years, Bellingham has often spoken about his admiration for the sport, even once naming Ben Stokes as the athlete he would swap careers with for a day.

Speaking after the investment was confirmed, Jude Bellingham underlined his emotional connection to the city and his desire to give back.

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“I love Birmingham. I’m very grateful for what the whole city of Birmingham has done for me. I love cricket as well, so when I got the opportunity to get involved, I didn’t really think twice about it, so I’m so happy to be on board,” he said.

“I’m so grateful to Birmingham, the Stourbridge area and the West Midlands as a whole. I got the best upbringing into football, into life through Birmingham City. I feel like I owe the city something. Right now, it’s difficult with how busy I am with football, but if there’s a way in which I can help then I want to and this feels like a good way.”

Beyond the financial aspect, his role is expected to extend into community engagement and social initiatives.

Warwickshire highlighted that Bellingham will contribute to projects aimed at increasing sports participation across Birmingham, particularly among young people.

“I think it’s so important to get kids out there playing sports. I think it’s crucial and the opportunity of me being a part of Birmingham Phoenix is to try and help people realise there’s different avenues,” he added.

“Some people will enjoy football, some will enjoy cricket — it’s about creating opportunities.”

READ: Rawalpindiz owner breaks silence on Mohammad Rizwan’s captaincy

KARACHI: Mohammad Rizwan shared his thoughts after Rawalpindiz eight consecutive defeat in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11.

Rawalpindiz posted 166 in their 20 overs, thanks to a half-century from Daryl Mitchell and a late cameo from Dian Forrester.

In reply, Sultans chased down the target within 18 overs, losing four wickets in the process.  Steve Smith starred with the bat, scoring 56 off 31 balls with the aid of three sixes and five fours.

The loss marked Mohammad Rizwan’s Rawalpindiz eighth consecutive loss in the tournament.

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Following the match, Rizwan highlighted the shortcomings and praised Steve Smith for his half-century.

“We had targeted 170 on this pitch, but credit to Steve Smith for his [match winning] innings,” he said to the presenter.

“We had them under pressure, but it was his knock which took them over the line. We are looking for a win despite losing eight out of eight,” he added.

Catch all the PSL 11 updates here!

Rizwan remained confident of sealing their maiden win in the tournament while rueing dropped chances and luck.

“We are making mistakes and at times things are also not going in our favour, like a dropped catch today. We will try to win our next match against Islamabad United,” he concluded.

Rawalpindiz will play Islamabad United on April 23 at the same venue.

READ: Steve Smith reflects after Multan Sultans win over Rawalpindiz

KARACHI: Multan Sultans batter Steve Smith reflected on his half-century against Rawalpindiz in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 clash at the National Bank Stadium on Tuesday.

Smith scored 56 off 31 balls, leading Sultan to beat Rawalpindi by six wickets and chase down a challenging 167-run target inside 18 overs.

The right-hander hit three fours and two sixes in his second half-century of the season. Smith, playing in the PSL for the first time, has amassed 231 runs in eight matches at an average of 28.87.

Speaking in the post-match press conference, Smith said he is enjoying his time in Pakistan and is happy with the overall experience

“I am very happy here and enjoying myself,” he told reporters.

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He said the team’s goal is to finish in the top two and praised Multan Sultans for playing high-quality cricket. He added that playing in Karachi required extra effort, especially in conditions where batters had to work hard for runs, and said it took time for him to settle into a rhythm.

“Our goal is to finish in the top two. Multan Sultans are playing very good cricket. PSL is proving to be a good event. In Karachi, you really had to put in a lot of effort to hit the ball,” he added.

The cricketer noted that several players have impressed him in the tournament, saying there is plenty of talent in Pakistan and that every team is trying to deliver quality performances.

The 36-year-old expressed disappointment that fans could not attend the match in the stadiums.

“It is disappointing that fans are not present in the stadiums to watch us,” he concluded.

READ: Wasim Khan to leave role as ICC General Manager

Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief executive Wasim Khan is set to step down as International Cricket Council (ICC) General Manager after four years in the position.

Wasim assumed the office in May 2022, taking over from Geoff Allardice after serving as the PCB’s CEO.

During his tenure in PCB, he oversaw administrative reforms, commercial growth, and the successful hosting of international cricket in Pakistan following the gradual return of foreign teams.

He was also instrumental in the return of international cricket to Pakistan, overseeing the successful hosting of series involving teams such as South Africa, New Zealand, and England. In addition, he supported the growth of domestic cricket structures and the continued expansion of the Pakistan Super League.

Following his retirement from cricket in 2002, he made a reputation as an impressive administrative career, The 55-year-old has started his administrative career, serving as CEO for Leicestershire County and the Cricket Foundation.

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One notable aspect of Wasim’s tenure as ICC General Manager was the increase in international fixtures despite an already packed cricket calendar. The latest Future Tours Program (2023–27), finalized during his time in office, featured an expanded international cricket schedule. Moreover, the first-ever women’s FTP was also introduced during his tenure.

He will remain in the role till the end of June, marking another departure of senior officials from the cricketing governing body over the past two years.

For the unversed, Wasim was born in Birmingham in 1971 and became the first British-born Muslim to play county cricket, featuring in 58 first-class matches and 30 List A matches collectively for Warwickshire, Sussex, and Derbyshire.

READ: Rawalpindiz owner breaks silence on Mohammad Rizwan’s captaincy

KARACHI: Steve Smith scored a brisk fifty as Multan Sultans outplayed Rawalpindiz by six wickets in the 31st match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 here at the National Bank Stadium on Tuesday.

After limiting Pindiz to 166, Sultans chased down the target within 18 overs, losing four wickets in the process.

The opening wicket added 29 in 3.3 overs before Asif Afridi castled Sahibzada Farhan, who made 20 from 17 balls.

After an early wicket, Steve Smith took control of the innings, forging a 69-run stand with compatriot Josh Philippe. The pair made light work of the chase and brought the team’s total to 98 at the halfway mark of the innings.

Smith took young bowler Razaullah to the cleaners, smashing him for a four and three consecutive sixes. However, Afridi provided Pindiz the much-needed breakthrough in the form of Philippe’s wicket, who made 17 from 19 balls.

In the next over, Saad Masood snared Smith to revive Pindiz’s hopes of sealing a first win. Suddenly, the scorecard read 100-3 in 11.3 overs.

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The quick wickets brought two new batters — Shan Masood (20 off 22 balls) and Ashton Turner at the crease. Both batters soaked up the pressure, adding a 57-run partnership that took their side close to the finishing line.

Turner remained unbeaten at the end, hitting three fours and a six in his calculated knock.

For Rawalpindiz, Asif Afridi took two wickets each.

Earlier, A fighting half-century from Daryl Mitchell and a late cameo from Dian Forrester propelled Rawalpindiz to a fighting total

Opting to bat first, Rawalpindiz managed to post 166-4 in 20 overs, despite a sluggish start.

Mohammad Imran Randhawa and Veteran Peter Siddle combined to jolt winless Pindiz in the opening overs. Shahzaib Khan was caught behind without scoring, while Yasir Khan only managed four.

At the end of the powerplay, Rawalpindiz were reeling at 33-2 with Mohammad Rizwan and Daryl Mitchell at the crease.

Catch all the PSL 11 updates here!

The pair took their side out of trouble with a 63-run partnership, albeit coming off 50 balls. The scorecard read 69 in 10.2 overs when Rizwan departed after scoring 26 from 29 balls.

Meanwhile, Mitchell kept the scoreboard ticking, stitching a half-century stand with Sam Billings that took the score over the 100-run mark. Billings made 29 off 20 with the aid of two fours and a six.

The highlight of the Rawalpindiz innings was an unbeaten 45* run partnership between Mitchell and Forrester that propelled the team’s total from 121 to 166 in 20 overs.

Mitchell scored 58 off 46 deliveries, striking two sixes and three fours. On the contrary, Dan Forrester hit three maximums and three fours in his 37 off just 15 balls.

For Multan Sultans, it was an all-round bowling show with Imran Randhawa remaining the pick of bowlers. He finished with one for nine in three overs.

READ: Rawalpindiz owner breaks silence on Mohammad Rizwan’s captaincy