Category: Cricket

Hyderabad franchise owner Fawad Sarwar has provided an update regarding the team’s name and logo reveal ahead of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 11.

Speaking to local media, Sarwar revealed that while the coaching staff has already been announced, the management had deliberately held back the public reveal of the team identity.

He confirmed that the team is planning a massive launch event around the PSL Player Auction on February 11.

“We’re planning a big event for the launch,” Sarwar said.

On the topic of team leadership, Sarwar made it clear that the captaincy will not be handed out based on seniority or reputation alone.

“No player, whether Pakistani or foreign, has any inherent right to leadership simply because he is a big name or senior player,” he explained.

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“We have our own selection process, and after due consultation, we’ll decide. A captain can be anyone; the key is to be a good leader. Whoever fits that profile will get the role.”

The Hyderabad owner also expressed admiration for former Pakistan captain Babar Azam, calling him his favourite cricketer and expressing a desire to have him in the squad if circumstances allow.

“Of course, every team would want him. For now, we haven’t thought about any other players. We’ll make decisions once we know which players have been retained by their current franchises,” Fawad Sarwar added.

The Hyderabad franchise, one of two new teams joining PSL 11 alongside the Sialkot Stallionz, was secured by Sarwar’s Kingsmen Group through the auction with a winning bid of Rs 1.75 billion ($6.25 million).

READ: U19 World Cup: Pakistan, India semi-final qualification scenario explained

BULAWAYO: Pakistan and India are set for a high-stakes showdown on Sunday, February 1, in what has effectively become a virtual knockout for a place in the ICC Men’s U19 World Cup 2026 semi-finals.

While fans are already dreaming of a potential Pakistan vs India final, the reality is that both teams qualifying from Super Six Group 2 is highly unlikely, though not impossible.

The outcome hinges on the result of England vs New Zealand, scheduled for Friday, January 30.

England currently lead their Super Six group, boasting an unbeaten 3-0 record, which includes wins carried forward against Pakistan and Zimbabwe from the group stage.

If England beat New Zealand, they will finish on eight points, securing a semi-final spot and leaving only one place for either Pakistan or India.

However, if New Zealand manage to turn things around and pull off an upset, the door opens for both Pakistan and India.

In that scenario, a Pakistan win over India on Sunday would create a three-way tie at six points, with Net Run Rate (NRR) deciding the top two teams to advance.

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At present, England’s NRR is 1.989, while Pakistan sits at 1.484 and India at 3.337. Pakistan can improve its NRR significantly with a dominant performance against India, potentially pipping England and qualifying for the semi-final with India.

However, in case of England’s victory, Pakistan not only have to defeat India, but to win in a manner to surpass their arch-rivals in NRR to make it to the semi-finals.

Currently, India hold the advantage with six points and a better NRR; however, the NRR gap may look daunting, but it’s not as impossible as it seems.

If Pakistan bat first and post a total of 300, they would need to win by at least 85 runs to surpass India’s NRR.

If Pakistan bowl first and restrict India to 200, they would need to chase the target in roughly 31.5 overs.

For a target of 251, Pakistan would need to finish the chase in about 33.2 overs.

READ: Finch, Clarke stunned over Haris Rauf’s exclusion from Pakistan T20I squad

LAHORE: Pakistan have won the toss and opted to bat first in the first T20I against Australia here at the Gaddafi Stadium on Thursday.

Playing XIs

Pakistan have been placed in Group A alongside India, USA, the Netherlands and Namibia, while Australia will feature in Group B with Sri Lanka, Ireland, Zimbabwe and Oman.

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HEAD TO HEAD

Pakistan and Australia have played a total of 28 T20I matches. Australia have a slight edge with 14 victories while Pakistan have come out victorious in 13 games. One match ended without a result.

Matches 28, Pakistan 13, Australia 14, NR 1

READ: Grant Bradburn joins Jason Gillespie in Hyderabad coaching staff

Former Pakistan head coach Grant Bradburn has become the latest addition to the coaching setup of Hyderabad, one of the newest franchises introduced ahead of the upcoming Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 11.

Bradburn will work as the fielding coach under newly-appointed head coach Jason Gillespie, as Hyderabad continue to build its coaching staff ahead of the historic 11th edition of the marquee league.

The franchise confirmed Bradburn’s appointment through the Kingsmen Cricket social media handle, sharing a graphic alongside an official statement.

“Leveling up every move. Hyderabad welcomes Grant Bradburn as Fielding Coach! From drills to practice, he brings world-class experience to every corner of the field,” the post read.

Hyderabad are one of the two new franchises added to the PSL roster ahead of season 11, with Sialkot Stallionz being the other new entrant.

The franchise is owned by Fawad Sarwar’s Kingsmen group and was secured through the PSL auction after the group placed the winning bid of Rs 1.75 billion ($6.25 million).

Bradburn brings significant experience to the role, having served Pakistan in multiple capacities in recent years.

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The former New Zealand cricketer was appointed head coach of the Pakistan men’s national team in 2023.

Before that, Bradburn also served as Pakistan’s fielding coach from 2018 to 2020, and later moved to the National Cricket Academy, where he worked on coach development.

He has also coached internationally, having previously worked as the head coach of Scotland’s men’s team.

READ: Australia name three debutants in Playing XI for first Pakistan T20I

LAHORE: Cricket Australia (CA) on Thursday announced their Playing XI for the opening T20I against Pakistan, set to be played later today at the Gaddafi Stadium, with three uncapped players included in the lineup.

Australia will be led by opener Travis Head, who is set to captain the side in the series opener as regular skipper Mitchell Marsh has been rested to manage his workload.

Marsh has been on the go for several months and recently played the entire Big Bash League (BBL) season for champions Perth Scorchers, before arriving late in Pakistan after playing the season finale.

Meanwhile, Mahli Beardman and Jack Edwards are set to make their international debuts, while Matthew Renshaw will play his first-ever T20I for Australia.

The 29-year-old left-handed batter has already represented Australia in 14 Tests and three ODIs since making his international debut in 2016, but Thursday’s fixture will mark his first appearance in the shortest format at the international level.

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The remaining two matches of the three-game series will also be played at the same venue on January 31 and February 1, respectively.

The matches are scheduled to begin at 4:00pm PKT, with the toss taking place at 3:30pm PKT.

Notably, the series serves as key preparation for both sides ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, set to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8.

Pakistan have been placed in Group A alongside India, USA, the Netherlands and Namibia, while Australia will feature in Group B with Sri Lanka, Ireland, Zimbabwe and Oman.

Australia Playing XI vs Pakistan

Travis Head (c), Matt Short, Cameron Green, Matthew Renshaw, Cooper Connolly, Mitchell Owen, Josh Philippe, Jack Edwards, Xavier Bartlett, Mahli Beardman, Adam Zampa.

READ: Finch, Clarke stunned over Haris Rauf’s exclusion from Pakistan T20I squad

Former Australian captains Aaron Finch and Michael Clarke have expressed surprise over the exclusion of Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf from the squad for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

Rauf was one of the standout performers in the recently concluded Big Bash League (BBL) season 15 for the Melbourne Stars, finishing as the highest wicket-taker with 20 wickets in 11 matches, averaging 16.75.

However, the right-arm speedster failed to make Pakistan’s T20 World Cup squad for the mega event, scheduled to be played in India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8.

During a recent discussion on a local sports platform, Finch admitted he was taken aback when he saw Rauf’s name missing from the squad, stressing that T20 cricket often comes down to match-winning “impact” players.

“Yeah, I thought… I was really surprised when I saw that he wasn’t in the squad. I thought he brings that X-factor,” Finch said.

The former Australia opener further explained that even if a bowler can be expensive at times, having someone who can take wickets in every phase of the innings is a massive asset in the shortest format.

“Yes, he can be costly at times, but when you’ve got a genuine wicket-taker in all three phases of the game, that is the most important thing for me in T20 cricket, finding a way to get wickets, particularly on some flat surfaces as well. So, yeah, I was really surprised by that,” he added.

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Meanwhile, Michael Clarke also admitted the decision was unexpected but suggested the omission likely reflects Pakistan’s selection approach, prioritising conditions and specific roles over performances in overseas domestic leagues.

“Surprised, but again, it’s another indication that playing in Australia is very different from playing in Sri Lanka and India,” Clarke said.

“You pick your squad for conditions, for the role you’re going to play in that team. So they obviously don’t see him playing a role like he did in the BBL.”

However, Clarke also pointed out that current form and momentum should still matter when finalising squads for ICC events.

“But I think form is important as well. When you’re picking a World Cup squad, you’d rather have players going into the tournament with some cricket and good form under their belt. So let’s see what happens,” he added.

Notably, Haris Rauf last played a T20I for Pakistan in the Asia Cup final against India on September 28, 2025, where he endured a tough outing, conceding 50 runs in 3.4 overs while defending a target of 146.

Since then, the pacer has remained out of the T20I setup, having been excluded from Pakistan’s squads for the away series against Sri Lanka, the upcoming home series against Australia, and now the T20 World Cup 2026 as well.

READ: Hesson reveals reason behind Haris Rauf’s T20 World Cup exclusion

Pakistan men’s team’s only warm-up fixture ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 has been confirmed, with the Green Shirts set to take on Ireland in Colombo.

The match will be played on February 4 at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, which will also serve as Pakistan’s early base during the tournament.

Notably, the same venue will host two of Pakistan’s group-stage matches, including clashes against the Netherlands (February 7) and the USA (February 10), making the warm-up an important chance for the Green Shirts to settle into conditions in Sri Lanka before the main event begins.

The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 will be held across India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8.

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Notably, Pakistan are not the only side playing a single warm-up match. Hosts and defending champions India will face South Africa in their lone warm-up fixture on February 4 at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.

Meanwhile, an India A team will also feature in the warm-up schedule, playing the USA in Navi Mumbai and later facing Namibia in Bengaluru on February 6, just a day before the tournament begins.

Interestingly, several top-ranked teams have decided to opt out of warm-up matches, including Australia, England and New Zealand.

Australia’s final competitive outing before the World Cup will be their three-match T20I series against Pakistan, which is set to begin later today.

England, on the other hand, are currently engaged in an ODI series against Sri Lanka, while New Zealand are currently in India for a T20I series.

ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 warm-up fixtures

February 2

• Afghanistan vs Scotland – Bengaluru – 3 PM

• India A vs USA – Navi Mumbai – 5 PM

• Canada vs Italy – Chennai – 7 PM

February 3

• Sri Lanka A vs Oman – Colombo – 1 PM

• Netherlands vs Zimbabwe – Colombo – 3 PM

• Nepal vs UAE – Chennai – 5 PM

February 4

• Namibia vs Scotland – Bengaluru – 1 PM

• Afghanistan vs West Indies – Bengaluru – 3 PM

• Ireland vs Pakistan – Colombo – 5 PM

• India vs South Africa – Navi Mumbai – 7 PM

February 5

• Oman vs Zimbabwe – Colombo – 1 PM

• Canada vs Nepal – Chennai – 3 PM

• New Zealand vs USA – Navi Mumbai – 5 PM

February 6

• Italy vs UAE – Chennai – 3 PM

• India A vs Namibia – Bengaluru – 5 PM

READ: Real Madrid face Champions League play-off after Benfica loss

Spin-bowling allrounder Sophie Molineux was named captain of the all-conquering Australia women’s cricket team across all three formats on Thursday, replacing the retiring Alyssa Healy.

The 28-year-old will take the reins of the T20 side when Australia hosts India next month, before assuming the one-day and Test duties for their tour of the Caribbean in March.

“It’s a real honour to be named Australian captain and something I’m incredibly proud of, especially following on from Alyssa, who’s had such a huge impact on this team and the game,” said Molineux, who captains Victoria and the Melbourne Renegades.

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“We’ve got a really strong group with plenty of natural leaders, alongside a lot of exciting talent coming through, and I’m really looking forward to working together as we keep evolving and pushing ourselves to the next level, while staying true to the identity that makes this team so special.

“I’m incredibly grateful for the trust that’s been shown in me, and I’m excited to grow alongside this group of players and see what we can achieve together with Tahlia, Ash and the rest of the team.”

Alyssa Healy, 35, announced earlier this month that she would retire in March, having taken over as captain in 2023 from Meg Lanning.

Tahlia McGrath, who had filled in for Healy before and was tipped by many as her successor, remains vice-captain alongside Ashleigh Gardner.

Australia is the top-ranked ODI and T20 team in the world.

READ: Gillespie reacts to appointment as Hyderabad coach for PSL 11

LAHORE: Australia T20I skipper Mitchell Marsh has expressed his excitement ahead of Pakistan T20I series, stating that he is looking forward to the challenge of playing against Babar Azam.

Speaking in the pre-series press conference, Marsh talked about Pakistani players playing in the Big Bash League (BBL) 15 and praised Babar Azam.

“It was great to see some Pakistan players playing the Big Bash; it brought a whole new audience, and I’m hopeful that they enjoyed their time in Australia,” Marsh told reporters.

Marsh also mentioned sub continent conditions, noting that Babar Azam had been a world-class performer for Pakistan for a long time. He added that Babar remained a different challenge and that they were well aware of it.

“Babar’s been a world-class player for a long period of time for Pakistan, so we have great respect for him, and we know that in these conditions he’s one of the best players in the world still so we look forward to that challenge,” he added.

The skipper also tipped the series as a vita preparatory platform for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026.

“It’s a really important time in both teams’ preparations for the World Cup. Most of the squad has been in Dubai for the last four days training and getting together,” he maintained.

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“Some of us have obviously flown in a little bit later due to Big Bash commitments, but we’re certainly ready to go, and we’re looking forward to a great series,” he explained.

The 34-year-old admitted he had not packed many jumpers, saying he was unaware how cold it could get in Pakistan but would be better prepared next time

“Yes, I must admit I didn’t pack too many jumpers. I wasn’t aware that Pakistan got this cold, so I’ll know for next time, but I think one of the things about our group and most international teams now is that preparation can look different for every tour,” Marsh concluded.

READ: Seifert, Santner shine in New Zealand consolation win over India

A half-century by Tim Seifert and skipper Mitchell Santner’s three wickets steered New Zealand to a 50-run consolation win over India in the fourth T20 international on Wednesday.

New Zealand posted 215-7 after being put in to bat thanks to a century stand between openers Seifert, who hit 62 off 36 balls, and Devon Conway, who struck 44, in Visakhapatnam.

Santner led the bowling attack with figures of 3 for 26 as New Zealand dismissed India for 165, pulling one back after the hosts had sealed the five‑match series in the third game.

The two teams now head into the fifth match on Saturday, the final tune-up ahead of the T20 World Cup starting February 7 in India and Sri Lanka.

New Zealand started strongly with Seifert taking on Arshdeep Singh in the opening over with three successive fours and keeping up the attack in the next over off Harshit Rana.

Conway joined the charge as New Zealand raced to 100 in 8.1 overs and Seifert reached his fifty in 25 balls.

Left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav broke through as he removed Conway with Rinku Singh taking his first of four catches in the innings.

Jasprit Bumrah dismissed Rachin Ravindra, caught and bowled for two, in the next over and soon Arshdeep cut short Seifert’s knock with his left-arm pace.

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Kuldeep had Glenn Phillips out for 24 off 16 balls and suddenly New Zealand seemed to lose their way before Daryl Mitchell stepped in.

Mitchell struck an unbeaten 18-ball 39 and hit two fours and three sixes to boost the Kiwi total.

In reply, India lost swashbuckling opener Abhishek Sharma on the first ball with Matt Henry drawing a top edge to third man.

Skipper Suryakumar Yadav fell in the next over, caught and bowled for eight off Jacob Duffy.

Santner’s left-arm spin then accounted for Sanju Samson (24) and Hardik Pandya as India slipped to 63-4.

Shivam Dube hit back in his 23-ball 65, clubbing seven sixes and three fours as he reached his fifty in just 15 deliveries.

But he was run out in an unlucky manner when a shot from Rana grazed Henry’s hand and deflected onto the stumps at the non-striker’s end.

Wickets kept tumbling and the Indian innings folded in 18.4 overs.

READ: Stokes, Moeen added to England Lions coaching staff for Pakistan series