Category: Cricket

Former South Africa opener Gary Kirsten opened up about his brief stint as the Pakistan cricket team’s coach.

Gary’s appointment as ODI and T20I coach of the Pakistan team came in April 2024 alongside Jason Gillespie, who was handed the reins of the Test side.

However, despite signing a two-year contract, his tenure lasted only six months before he tendered his resignation. The resignation followed a rift with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) over selection issues.

In an interview with TalkSport, Kirsten spoke candidly about the challenges he faced during his stint.

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The 58-year-old also highlighted the outside noise and tough environment that contributed to his resignation, adding that he had never encountered anything like it before.

“What really stood out to me was the sheer level of interference. I’ve never encountered anything like it before. Did it catch me off guard? Maybe, but it was definitely notable,” he revealed.

“It’s really challenging for a coach to establish a system with the players when there’s nonstop interference from outside. It was a tough environment, with many punitive measures for poor performance and similar issues,” he continued.

Kirsten further stated that coaches are always in the firing line when a team ends on the losing side. He noted that removing coaches is often seen as the easiest option and questioned the very purpose of appointing them.

“As a coach, you’re often the first to be blamed when the team struggles. People say things like ‘let’s remove the coach’ or ‘let’s impose restrictions on the coach’ because it’s the easiest way to react—but in my opinion, it’s completely counterproductive. If that’s the approach, why even hire a coach?” he concluded.

READ: WATCH: Babar Azam turns chef on Eid-ul-Fitr

LAHORE: Pakistan star batter Babar Azam amused fans with his cooking skills on the auspicious occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr.

The batter was seen in chef attire in a video shared on his Instagram handle.

“Meethi Eid Signature,” the caption of the post read.

Babar was actively involved in the cooking process, carefully preparing a dish as part of his Eid celebrations. The star batter was seen making Sheer Khurma, a vermicelli-based dessert closely associated with Eid-ul-Fitr.

The video quickly went viral, with fans flooding the comments with Eid wishes and praise for his effort.

For those unaware, Babar has been away from professional cricket since the conclusion of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 due to an injury disclosed by National High Performance Director (NHPC) Aqib Javed.

 

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He was not part of the Pakistan ODI squad for the three-match series against Bangladesh and also missed the National T20 Cup.

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However, neither the selection committee nor Babar provided an update regarding his fitness.

It is worth mentioning that Babar Azam is set to lead Peshawar Zalmi in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10.

For those unaware, PSL 11 will begin on March 26 across six venues in Pakistan, marking the start of a new era with the addition of two new teams.

Overall, 44 matches will be played, with the opening match scheduled between Lahore Qalandars and Hyderabad Kingsmen at Gaddafi Stadium.

Each team will play 10 matches, with the top 4 teams advancing to the playoffs. The final of the event will be played on May 3 at Gaddafi Stadium.

The fixture list includes six double-headers, three of which will be played at Gaddafi Stadium. This will also be the first time that Faisalabad and Peshawar will be staging matches alongside Karachi, Lahore, Multan, and Rawalpindi.

READ: Hazlewood, Starc likely to miss start of IPL 2026

Pakistan men and women cricketers warmly greeted fans with heartfelt Eid-ul-Fitr wishes, sharing messages of joy, health, and prosperity on the festive occasion.

In a special video message released by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), several Men in Green—including T20I captain Salman Ali Agha, ODI captain Shaheen Afridi, all-rounder Faheem Ashraf, wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan, and opener Sahibzada Farhan—sent best wishes to fans in Pakistan and worldwide.

“Pakistan cricket team, and I wish you a happy Eid. Take care of yourselves and enjoy the occasion with your friends and family,” Shaheen said.

Meanwhile, women cricketers Sidra Amin, Muneeba Ali, Nashra Sandhu, and Tuba Hassan also extended heartfelt Eid greetings.

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Women’s cricketers are on a break with their next assignment scheduled in May– a T20I tri-series featuring West Indies and hosts Ireland.

The series will serve as a preparatory ground ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, scheduled to run from June 12 to July 5.

Meanwhile, Pakistan men’s cricketers are gearing up for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11, scheduled to run from March 26 across six venues in Pakistan.

Overall, 44 matches will be played in the tournament, with the opening match scheduled between the defending champions, Lahore Qalandars, and Hyderabad Kingsmen, making their debut.

READ: PSL 11 squads locked in as trade window closes

Australia’s ace pacers Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood are likely to miss start of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 due to Cricket Australia’s (CA) workload management plan.

According to a report by Cricinfo, CA will be monitoring the workloads of their ace fast bowlers ahead of a packed international calendar.

Their unavailability means (Mitchell Starc) Delhi Capitals and (Josh Hazlewood) Royal Challengers Bangalore will be without their services, adding to the growing list of Australian cricketers who are not available for part or all of the upcoming season.

Pat Cummins will also miss the start of the IPL, as Ishan Kishan has been named as the captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Jack Edwards (Sunrisers Hyderabad) was completely ruled out on Friday, and Nathan Ellis (Chennai Super Kings) is also expected to be sidelined due to a hamstring injury.

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Cummins featured in one Ashes Test in the Australian summer due to a stress injury, while Hazlewood was ruled out of the entire Ashes and T20 World Cup 2026.

Mitchell Starc, who topped the wickets charts in the Ashes and played all five Tests, is already retired from T20Is. Hence, he was not part of the Australia squad that exited the group stage. Cummins and Hazlewood missed the mega as well.

For those unware, Australia will play up to 21 Tests from August 2026 to July 2027.

The IPL 2026 will run from March 28 to late May.

READ: PSL 11 trophy reaches Lahore as part of tour

LAHORE: Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 trophy ‘Infinity’ arrived here on Friday as part of a nationwide tour ahead of the landmark Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11.

The historic season 11 is scheduled to be played from March 26 to May 3 across six venues in the country.

The trophy was displayed at Minar-e-Pakistan and Lahore Fort, creating a buzz among cricket fans.

The silverware will be transported to Hyderabad on Friday, where it is planned to be displayed at Niaz Stadium and various other spots throughout the city.

For those unaware, the glittering silverware was unveiled at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi last week.

The trophy showcases an elegant, modern design with a tall, sleek golden structure emerging from a round base.

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The central section features sparkling stones or crystals in vertical arrangements, creating a glittering effect when lit. Two curved golden arms rise from the sides and converge at the top.

The top of the trophy features a prominent crescent and star, drawing inspiration from Pakistan’s national flag.

The crescent features small crystals embedded within, and a polished metallic star rests just above it, forming a visually striking and symbolic crown.

The trophy’s base is gold-plated and sits on a black cylindrical pedestal featuring PSL branding.

The 11th edition of the tournament will be played from March 26 to May 3 across six venues in Pakistan.

Overall, 44 matches will be played in the tournament, with the opening match scheduled between the defending champions, Lahore Qalandars, and Hyderabad Kingsmen, making their debut.

READ: Gautam Gambhir moves to court over AI misuse

India cricket team head coach Gautam Gambhir has submitted a petition in the Delhi High Court over alleged use of his identity through Artificial Intelligence (AI) and deepfake technology.

According to Indian news outlets, Gambhir has stated in his petition that his name, voice, image, and overall persona have been widely exploited across social media platforms and e-commerce websites without his consent.

The plea submitted against 16 defendants, including social media accounts, intermediaries, and e-commerce platforms, requests a permanent ban from using or commercialising his identity without authorisation.

Gautam Gambhir has also sought interim relief, requesting that the court order the takedown of all infringing content and prevent its further circulation.

Moreover, the 44-year-old is also seeking damages of Rs25 million.

According to the petition, there has been a notable increase in false digital content created with AI tools such as face-swapping and voice cloning at the end of 2025.

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The plea mentioned several fake videos that falsely depict him announcing his resignation and making fabricated remarks about senior cricketers.

These videos have reportedly garnered millions of views, diverting the public and damaging his reputation.

Gambhir further alleged that his identity has been commercially exploited through the sale of unauthorised merchandise online without any licensing or approval.

He argued that his persona has been “weaponised” by anonymous accounts to spread misinformation and generate revenue, raising serious concerns about dignity and legal protection in the AI era.

The petition also invokes provisions of the Copyright Act, the Trade Marks Act, and the Commercial Courts Act, while relying on judicial precedents recognising personality and publicity rights.

READ: PSL 11: Javed Afridi confirms full availability of Peshawar Zalmi’s overseas players

Peshawar Zalmi owner Javed Afridi has put an end to speculation surrounding the availability of key overseas players ahead of the upcoming Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 11, confirming that all contracted foreign stars will be available for the full tournament.

In a recent Instagram Q&A session, Afridi dismissed widespread reports suggesting limited participation of several players.

Rumours had indicated that Nahid Rana would feature only in the initial matches, Aaron Hardie might miss the season entirely, while Kusal Mendis and Michael Bracewell were expected to be unavailable for parts of the competition.

However, Afridi categorically rejected those claims with a brief but clear response, confirming that all four players will be available throughout the tournament.

The development comes as a significant boost for Zalmi, who are aiming to mount a strong campaign in the expanded eight-team edition of the league, scheduled to run from March 26 to May 3.

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Adding to the excitement, Zalmi are also set to mark a historic milestone this season. For the first time, the franchise will play a home fixture in Peshawar, with the Imran Khan Stadium hosting its maiden PSL match.

The landmark encounter is scheduled for March 28, when Zalmi will take on Rawalpindiz in an afternoon clash.

Led by Babar Azam, Zalmi’s squad features a mix of international experience and domestic talent, including names such as Hardie, Bracewell, Mendis, James Vince and Iftikhar Ahmed.

Peshawar Zalmi squad for PSL 11

Babar Azam (c), Sufiyan Muqeem, Abdul Samad, Ali Raza, Aaron Hardie, Aamir Jamal, Mohammad Haris, Khalid Usman, Abdul Subhan, James Vince, Michael Bracewell, Kusal Mendis, Iftikhar Ahmed, Nahid Rana, Mirza Tahir Baig, Shahnawaz Dahani, Farhan Yousaf, Muhammad Basit and Shoriful Islam.

READ: PSL 11 squads locked in as trade window closes

The squads for all eight franchises competing in Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 11 have been finalised following the conclusion of the week-long trade window, setting the stage for the historic eight-team tournament.

The window, which opened on March 12, allowed teams to reshuffle combinations through player trades, direct signings and replacements under the league’s regulations.

It proved particularly active for Multan Sultans, who were involved in multiple deals across franchises.

Multan completed a player swap with Quetta Gladiators, bringing in Ahmed Daniyal and Jahanzaib Sultan in exchange for Faisal Akram and Arafat Minhas.

They also secured Mohammad Wasim Jr from Islamabad United, while sending Salman Mirza and Nisar Ahmed the other way.

In a separate move, the Sultans executed a player-for-money trade, transferring emerging all-rounder Saad Masood to RawalPindiz for PKR 500,000.

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Franchises were permitted three types of trades during the window: player-for-player, player-for-money, and hybrid deals, giving teams flexibility to fine-tune their squads ahead of the new season.

Beyond trades, several teams strengthened their line-ups through direct signings.

Multan added all-rounder Imran Randhawa, while Peshawar Zalmi brought in U19 captain Farhan Yousuf alongside Bangladesh pacer Shoriful Islam.

Injury replacements also saw movement, with Lahore Qalandars and RawalPindiz drafting in Shahab Khan and Jalat Khan respectively.

PSL 11 marks a historic expansion to eight teams, with new entrants RawalPindiz and Hyderabad Kingsmen joining the competition.

The 44-match tournament will run from March 26 to May 3, with each team playing 10 matches in the league stage before the top four progress to the playoffs.

PSL 11 Squads

Lahore Qalandars: Shaheen Shah Afridi (c), Abdullah Shafique, Sikandar Raza, Mohammad Naeem, Mustafizur Rahman, Haris Rauf, Usama Mir, Fakhar Zaman, Ubaid Shah, Haseebullah, Mohammad Farooq, Dasun Shanaka, Parvez Hussain Emon, Asif Ali, Hussain Talat, Tayyab Tahir, Dunith Wellalage, Rubin Hermann, Maaz Khan and Shahab Khan.

Hyderabad Kingsmen: Marnus Labuschagne (c), Usman Khan, Akif Javed, Maaz Sadaqat, Saim Ayub, Mohammad Ali, Kusal Perera, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Hassan Khan, Shayan Jahangir, Glenn Maxwell, Hammad Azam, Riley Meredith, Sharjeel Khan, Asif Mehmood, Hunain Shah, Rizwan Mehmood, Saad Ali, Tayyab Arif and Ahmed Hussain.

Islamabad United: Shadab Khan (c), Salman Irshad, Andries Gous, Devon Conway, Faheem Ashraf, Mehran Mumtaz, Max Bryant, Mark Chapman, Nisar Ahmed, Mir Hamza Sajjad, Sameen Gul, Sameer Minhas, Imad Wasim, Richard Gleeson, Haider Ali, Mohammad Hasnain, Dipendra Singh Airee, Mohammad Faiq and Mohammad Salman Mirza.

Karachi Kings: David Warner (C), Hasan Ali, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Khushdil Shah, Saad Baig, Moeen Ali, Azam Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Shahid Aziz, Mir Hamza, Adam Zampa, Mohammad Hamza Sohail, Aqib Ilyas, Khwaja Bin Tanveer, Johnson Charles, Muhammad Waseem, Ihsanullah and Rizwanullah.

Quetta Gladiators: Saud Shakeel (c), Usman Tariq, Hasan Nawaz, Shamyl Hussain, Alzarri Joseph, Rilee Rossouw, Ahmed Daniyal, Jahanzaib Sultan, Jahandad Khan, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay, Wasim Akram Jnr, Khan Zeb, Bismillah Khan, Saqib Khan, Brett Hampton, Sam Harper, Bevon Jacobs, Abrar Ahmed, Ben McDermott and Tom Curran.

Multan Sultans: Ashton Turner (c), Mohammad Nawaz, Shehzad Gul, Faisal Akram, Imran Randhawa, Arafat Minhas, Sahibzada Farhan, Steve Smith, Peter Siddle, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lachlan Shaw, Delano Potgieter, Josh Phillippe, Shan Masood, Momin Qamar, Muhammad Awais Zafar, Muhammad Shahzad, Arshad Iqbal, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Muhammad Ismail and Atizaz Habib Khan.

Peshawar Zalmi: Babar Azam (c), Sufiyan Muqeem, Abdul Samad, Ali Raza, Aaron Hardie, Aamir Jamal, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Haris, Khalid Usman, Abdul Subhan, James Vince, Michael Bracewell, Kusal Mendis, Iftikhar Ahmed, Nahid Rana, Mirza Tahir Baig, Kashif Ali, Shahnawaz Dahani, Farhan Yousuf and Shoriful Islam.

RawalPindiz: Mohammad Rizwan (c), Sam Billings, Jalat Khan, Yasir Khan, Naseem Shah, Rishad Hossain, Daryl Mitchell, Mohammad Amir, Abdullah Fazal, Amad Butt, Dian Forrestor, Laurie Evans, Asif Afridi, Kamran Ghulam, Fawad Ali, Mohammad Amir Khan, Shahzaib Khan, Jake Fraser-McGurk and Saad Masood.

READ: England cricket chiefs to face media over Ashes debacle

England cricket chiefs Rob Key and Richard Gould will speak to the media at Lord’s on Monday regarding a post-Ashes review into the team’s series loss in Australia.

Key, the managing director of men’s cricket, will appear alongside England and Wales Cricket Board chief executive Gould to discuss events on and off the field during a woeful 4-1 reverse over five Tests ‘Down Under’ in 2025/26.

In addition to their poor on-field performance, concerns about the culture of an England squad led by Ben Stokes and coached by former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum emerged during a break in Noosa, an Australian resort, where there were reports of excessive drinking by players.

This was followed by revelations that vice-captain Harry Brook had had an altercation with a nightclub bouncer on the pre-Ashes visit to New Zealand.

The ECB briefly attempted to block England contracted players from fielding questions about the tour at pre-season county media days, in the hope this would first allow team management to discuss the circumstances of a deeply disappointing trip.

But following a public outcry, the ECB quickly reversed its position, with the England trio of Ollie Pope, Jamie Smith, and Gus Atkinson all taking part in Surrey’s event at the Oval earlier this week.

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While no formal review is expected to be published, Key and Gould are set to offer major conclusions ahead of a home season, which could lead to a reset for the under-fire coaching regime.

The position of McCullum, who reiterated his post-Ashes desire to continue as England coach following the white ball team’s semi-final exit at the recent T20 World Cup, remains a major talking point.

McCullum has been angered by suggestions he runs a “casual operation” with the England hierarchy also facing widespread criticisms regarding the team’s warm-up schedule, preparation, and overall selection policy.

There has also been mounting frustration within English county cricket concerning the seeming disregard the England management have for the first-class game.

Pope, however, insisted that winning back the hearts and minds of fans was important to the England side.

“The misconception might be that we weren’t as fussed as it came across,” he said. “Of course we want to be a well-liked team, on and off the pitch, and unfortunately our performance didn’t allow that to happen in Australia.”

READ: WATCH: PSL 11 trophy ‘Infinity’ reaches Peshawar

PESHAWAR: The glittering trophy of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 ‘Infinity’ arrived in the city of flowers here on Thursday.

‘Infinity’ was presented for the exhibition as part of the PSL 11 trophy tour.

The silverware was displayed at the iconic Imran Khan Cricket Stadium and other notable places in Peshawar.

The PSL 11 trophy tour officially began last week with its first stop at the Quaid-e-Azam Mausoleum, where a special photoshoot of the trophy was also held.

The trophy will be transported to Hyderabad on Friday, where it is planned to be displayed at Niaz Stadium and various other spots throughout the city.

 

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A post shared by Pakistan Super League (@thepsl)

For those unaware, the glittering silverware was unveiled at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi last week.

The trophy showcases an elegant, modern design with a tall, sleek golden structure emerging from a round base.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

The central section features sparkling stones or crystals in vertical arrangements, creating a glittering effect when lit. Two curved golden arms rise from the sides and converge at the top.

The top of the trophy features a prominent crescent and star, drawing inspiration from Pakistan’s national flag.

The crescent features small crystals embedded within, and a polished metallic star rests just above it, forming a visually striking and symbolic crown.

The trophy’s base is gold-plated and sits on a black cylindrical pedestal featuring PSL branding.

The 11th edition of the tournament will be played from March 26 to May 3 across six venues in Pakistan.

Overall, 44 matches will be played in the tournament, with the opening match scheduled between the defending champions Lahore Qalandars and Hyderabad Kingsmen, making their debut.

READ: Paul Stirling quits as Ireland T20I captain