Category: Cricket

Quetta Gladiators have announced their retentions for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11, which begins on 26 March.

The outfit announced the retentions on their social media handles.

Among those retained are Abrar Ahmed (platinum), Usman Tariq (Diamond), Hassan Nawaz (Gold), and Shamyl Hussain in the emerging category.

“Retained. Reloaded. Ready,” Quetta Gladiators social handle wrote in an animated reel.

The winners of the 2019 edition had earlier revealed their category renewals, which included Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Amir, and Abrar Ahmed in the Platinum category.

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The emerging category included Mohammad Zeeshan and Shamyl Hussain. While Khurram Shahzad, Haseebullah Khan, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay, Hassan Nawaz, and Danish Aziz were named in the Gold category.

The diamond category included Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Wasim Jr and Usman Tariq.

It is worth noting that PSL is set to move to an auction format, marking a shift from the traditional draft system.

Under the new structure, each franchise is allowed to retain up to four players, with one player per category.

Moreover, this time around, teams could not retain up to eight players, along with additional provisions such as mentors, brand ambassadors, and the Right to Match (RTM) option.

The PCB has also abolished the mentor, brand ambassador, and RTM clauses altogether, streamlining the squad-building process ahead of the auction.

For the unversed, the PSL 11 will get underway on March 26, 2026, and will mark Faisalabad’s first-ever stint as a host city. The venue will join Karachi, Lahore, Multan, and Rawalpindi, expanding the league to five host cities.

READ: Islamabad United retentions revealed ahead of PSL 11

Fast bowler Hasan Ali has been retained by the 2020 winners of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) Karachi Kings ahead of the historic auction, scheduled to be held on February 11.

The Kings shared the retentions update in an animated poster on their social media accounts.

“Core secured. The KingsSquad starts strong as we present our top four retentions for HBL PSL 11,” the caption wrote.

 

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Hasan and Abbas Afridi are retained in the Platinum and Diamond categoryies respectively. All-rounder Khushdil Shah is retained in Gold, while Saad Baig is in the Emerging category.

The Kings have picked Khushdil Shah among the other players in Gold — Aamer Jamal, Irfan Khan Niazi, Mir Hamza, Zahid Mahmood, Omair bin Yousuf, Shahnawaz Dahani, and Arafat Minhas.

All-rounder Abbas Afridi was picked over Test skipper Shan Masood, whereas Saad emerged as a pick in the emerging category, which included Riazahullah, Fawad Ali, and Saad Baig.

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Under the new structure, each franchise may retain up to four players, with one player per category.

This time, teams are not allowed to retain up to eight players, and have other provisions, such as mentors, brand ambassadors, and the Right to Match (RTM) option, which has been in the rules since the inception of PSL.

For the upcoming season, the PCB has also abolished the mentor, brand ambassador, and RTM clauses altogether, streamlining the squad-building process ahead of the auction.

The PSL 11 will get underway on March 26, 2026, and will mark Faisalabad’s first-ever stint as a host city. The venue will join Karachi, Lahore, Multan, and Rawalpindi, expanding the league to five host cities.

READ: Islamabad United retentions revealed ahead of PSL 11

Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Islamabad United has announced its retentions ahead of the landmark auction, scheduled for February 11.

The three-time PSL winners, United, have announced their retentions via their social channels.

Among those retained are skipper Shadab Khan, Andries Gours, and Salman Irshad.

“More big news coming soon. @shadab0800 – Platinum @salman150kph – Gold
@gousie08 – Silver. These are the 3 retentions for #HBLPSL season 11,” the caption of the post read.

 

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In the Platinum category, Islamabad had named six players — Shadab Khan, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha, Mohammad Nawaz, and Imad Wasim, the most among all franchises.

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In the Gold category, United have picked pacer Salman Irshad, a list which included Rumman Raees, Azam Khan, and Haider Ali. While they have decided to retain USA Andries Gous in the Silver category.

For the unversed, the PSL 11 will get underway on March 26, 2026, and will mark Faisalabad’s first-ever stint as a host city. The venue will join Karachi, Lahore, Multan, and Rawalpindi, expanding the league to five host cities.

It is worth noting that PSL is set to move to an auction format, marking a shift from the traditional draft system.

Under the new structure, each franchise are allowed to retain up to four players, with one player per category.

Moreover, this time around, teams could not retain up to eight players, along with additional provisions such as mentors, brand ambassadors, and the Right to Match (RTM) option.

For PSL 11, the PCB has also abolished the mentor, brand ambassador and RTM clauses altogether, streamlining the squad-building process ahead of the auction.

READ: Is Steve Smith joining Sialkot Stallionz for PSL 11?

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) on Monday confirmed that it has approved five bidders for the auction of the owner-less Multan Sultans ahead of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11. 

The PCB confirmed the bidders in a press release following the technical evaluation of the proposals.

“A total of six proposals were received from interested parties within the stipulated deadline. The PCB bid committee then carried out a thorough and transparent evaluation process,” the PCB said.

“Out of the six proposals, five (5) bidders have been termed technically qualified, who will now take part in the Auction process of the Multan Sultans. The date and venue for the Auction will be shared in due course,” it added.

Following the announcement, the Chief Executive Officer of PSL, Salman Nasee,r expressed his excitement and shared his thoughts on the evaluation process.

“We are delighted to receive such keen interest in the sale of Multan Sultans’ Franchise Rights,” he said.

“The HBL PSL congratulates the technically qualified bidders and appreciates all parties who engaged with us through-out the tender process; with whom we will continue to explore other exciting opportunities,” he added.

He mentioned the league’s new era and expressed confidence ahead of the PSL 11 auction.

“I’m sure the fans are equally excited for another thrilling Team Auction before the focus shifts to all important Player Auction for HBL PSL 11. The final lineup of the eight HBL PSL team owners is going to set the ball rolling for the New Era of the HBL PSL 11,” he concluded.

For the unversed, the process began after the departure of Multan Sultans’ former owner, Ali Tareen, who announced in November that he was stepping away from the franchise.

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The reason for Tareen’s departure was strained relations with the PCB that had persisted for over a year, ultimately reaching a point of no return.

Subsequently, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi announced that the board would assume control of the franchise upon expiry of the existing ownership agreement on December 31, 2025.

The initial plan was for the PCB to operate the team for a year before auctioning it in 2027.

However, strong valuations achieved in the recent auction are understood to have encouraged the PCB to proceed with the sale of Multan Sultans earlier than planned.

The landmark auction, held at the Jinnah Convention Centre last month, saw FKS Group and OZ Developers acquire the newly added franchises from Hyderabad and Sialkot for Rs1.75 billion and Rs1.85 billion, respectively, expanding the PSL to eight teams from season 11.

READ: Hosts Sri Lanka unveil T20 World Cup 2026 squad

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) on Monday announced a 15- member squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, set to commence on February 7.

The event will run until March 8, with Sri Lanka jointly hosting it alongside India.

All-rounder Dasun Shanaka, who was named as their skipper in their preliminary squad in December, will captain the team.

Overall, the squad is balanced with several experienced inductees. The batting lineup will be bolstered by Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Charith Asalanka, and Pathum Nissanka.

Whereas the bowling lineup comprises fast bowlers Matheesha Pathirana, Eshan Malinga, and Dushmantha Chameera, who will be strongly supported by ace spinners Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana.

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Notably, the Test skipper Dhananjaya de Silva, who was called up for the England series, has been left out, with in-form batter Pavan Rathnayake taking his place.

The 2014 champions are placed in Group B alongside Australia, Ireland, Oman, and Zimbabwe. They will begin their campaign on February 8 against Ireland, followed by a fixture against Oman on Feb 12.

They will face Australia on Feb 16, with their final group-stage fixture against Zimbabwe.

Sri Lanka Squad for T20 World Cup 2026:

Dasun Shanaka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis, Kamindu Mendis, Kusal Janith Perera, Charith Asalanka, Janith Liyanage, Pavan Rathnayake, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Matheesha Pathirana, Eshan Malinga

Sri Lanka’s group stage fixtures:

February 8: v Ireland, Colombo

February 12: v Oman, Pallekele

February 16: v Australia, Pallekele

February 19: v Zimbabwe, Colombo

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

Pakistan’s boycott of the high-stakes India clash in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 could lead to substantial losses for Indian broadcasters and disrupt the global cricket landscape.

A day earlier, the government of Pakistan approved the men’s cricket team’s participation in the T20 World Cup after weeks of uncertainty, but instructed them not to take the field against India on 15 February.

According to a report by NDTV, the overall commercial worth of a single India-Pakistan T20 fixture is estimated at around $500 millions (approximately Rs 450 billion), encompassing broadcast rights, advertising premiums, sponsorship activations, tickets, and related commercial activities.

The report further states that advertising slots during an India-Pakistan T20 match are priced at around Rs 2.5 million and Rs 4 million for a 10-second spot, which is higher than for knockout fixtures featuring India against other top teams.

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One of the major sufferings would be borne by the official broadcast rights holder, with advertising revenue from India and Pakistan alone projected at Rs 3 billion, the report cites.

Additionally, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is expected to incur an immediate loss of approximately Rs 2 billion.

Meanwhile, former Pakistan wicket-keeper batter Rashid Latif has highlighted the rationale for not playing India and how the decision could affect finances.

“Whether it is in India or Pakistan, 60–70 percent of people watch the World Cup because of India-Pakistan matches,” he said during an exclusive interview with Times of India.

“When a market of this size is shaken, the impact is not limited to one broadcaster,” Latif added. “India is affected, the BCCI is affected, and ultimately the ICC is also affected.”

He further noted that the decision will also impact Australia and England.

“Now that Pakistan has joined, it will impact Australia and England financially as well,” he concluded.

READ: WATCH: Pakistan squad touches down in Sri Lanka for T20 World Cup

COLOMBO: The Pakistan cricket team on Monday reached Sri Lanka for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, scheduled to begin on February 7.

In a post on X, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed the team’s arrival in Sri Lanka.

“The national squad reached Colombo from Lahore. The team will take rest tommorow and will play a warm-up fixture against Ireland on February 4,” the caption of the post read.

The 15-member squad, led by captain Salman Ali Agha, includes key names such as Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Fakhar Zaman, as Pakistan begin preparations for their opening match of the tournament.

The T20 World Cup is set to begin on Feb 7 across Sri Lanka and India.

 

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The Green Shirts are scheduled to play a warm-up game against Ireland on 4 February at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground in Colombo.

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The same venue will also host Pakistan’s first two group-stage fixtures, where the 2009 champions will begin their campaign against the Netherlands on 7 February, followed by a clash against the USA on 10 February.

Pakistan’s third group match will be against Namibia on 18 February.

However, Pakistan’s World Cup campaign will remain overshadowed by the political situation surrounding the high-profile clash against India.

The Green Shirts are set to boycott their group-stage match against arch-rivals India on 15 February, following directives issued by the Government of Pakistan.

Pakistan T20 World Cup Squad

Salman Ali Agha (c), 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.

READ: Is T20 World Cup in India to be moved amid Nipah virus outbreak?

The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 is set to begin on 7 February across Sri Lanka and India; however, reports are swirling over potential schedule changes due to the Nipah virus outbreak in West Bengal.

Last week, Indian media reported an outbreak of the Nipah virus in West Bengal, prompting authorities to quarantine around 100 people as part of an emergency health response.

The Nipah virus is a bat-borne zoonotic disease — it can be spread from animals to humans, and is regarded as particularly lethal, with high fatality rates in severe cases.

Concerns about the virus intensified after several media outlets reported that England and Australia had advised against travel to India due to the outbreak.

However, the reports were downplayed after the Indian Ministry of Health released an official statement.

“Enhanced surveillance, laboratory testing, and field investigations were undertaken through coordinated efforts of Central and State health agencies, which ensured timely containment of the cases,” the Ministry said in an official statement.

“No additional Nipah Virus Disease cases have been detected so far. The situation is under constant monitoring, and all necessary public health measures are in place,” it added.

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The official from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has also rejected any proposal to relocate the T20 World Cup fixtures.

“We take any potential health risk seriously, especially ahead of major tournaments. At this stage, we have not identified any credible threat. If the situation changes, decisions will be taken in consultation with local authorities and the government,” a BCCI official told an Indian sports outlet.

“There is absolutely no question of moving matches away from Kolkata,” he added.

The official also dismissed concerns about the virus and stated that no discussions had been held about the intact mega-event schedule.

“Everything is safe at the moment. If the government or local administration advises otherwise, we will respond accordingly. For now, there is no discussion about changing World Cup plans due to Nipah virus concerns,” he concluded.

READ: Bids roll in for Multan Sultans ahead of PSL 11 auction

LAHORE: The ownerless franchise of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) Multan Sultans has received six bids ahead of the auction, the league’s social media handle confirmed on Monday.

The announcement was made via PSL’s social media accounts, revealing the total number of bidders for the franchise auction.

“The numbers are in. Six bids submitted for Multan Sultans,” the caption of the post read.

On 14 January 2025, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) formally initiated the process to sell the ownership rights of the PSL franchise Multan Sultans, issuing an advertisement inviting interested parties to submit bids for the auction.

The PCB confirmed that bids are being sought for the franchise rights of the 2021 PSL champions. The deadline for submitting documents for the technical proposal was originally set for January 30 and was later moved forward.

The process began after the departure of Multan Sultans’ former owner, Ali Tareen, who announced in November that he was stepping away from the franchise.

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The reason for Tareen’s departure was strained relations with the PCB that had persisted for over a year, ultimately reaching a point of no return.

Subsequently, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi announced that the board would assume control of the franchise upon expiry of the existing ownership agreement on December 31, 2025.

The initial plan was for the PCB to operate the team for a year before auctioning it in 2027.

However, strong valuations achieved in the recent auction are understood to have encouraged the PCB to proceed with the sale of Multan Sultans earlier than planned.

The landmark auction, held at the Jinnah Convention Centre last month, saw FKS Group and OZ Developers acquire the newly added franchises from Hyderabad and Sialkot for Rs1.75 billion and Rs1.85 billion, respectively, expanding the PSL to eight teams from season 11.

For the unversed, the PSL 11 is set to kick off from 26 March with the auction to take place on 11 February.

READ: Lahore Qalandars’ David Wiese set to miss PSL 11