Category: Cricket

KARACHI: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), on Tuesday, announced a comprehensive public transport and traffic plan ahead of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 Qualifier 1, as spectators prepare to return to the stands following government approval.

The high-stakes clash between Peshawar Zalmi and Islamabad United will be played later today at the National Bank Stadium, marking the first playoff fixture of the tournament with crowd attendance.

In line with directives from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to minimise fuel consumption, the PCB has arranged city-wide public transport services to facilitate fans travelling to the venue.

Special shuttle options, including red buses, electric buses and coaches, will operate on key routes across Karachi, dropping spectators directly at the stadium gates.

The red bus service will run from Liaquatabad via Shahrah-e-Faisal, while electric buses will operate between Numaish and Safora. Additionally, buses numbered 51 and 52 will cover the Malir to Numaish route.

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A detailed traffic management plan has also been issued to ensure smooth flow around the venue. Major arteries, including Sir Shah Suleman Road, will remain open for regular traffic, while designated parking areas have been established at the National Coaching Centre and China Ground.

Commuters arriving from different parts of the city, including Karsaz, Millennium and New Town, have been advised specific routes to access parking zones, with authorities urging fans to avoid parking on main roads and instead use the allocated spaces.

Heavy traffic will be restricted on key routes surrounding the stadium, including corridors from Sohrab Goth to NIPA, Liaquatabad No. 10 to Hassan Square, and along University Road towards Karsaz.

Traffic police have also urged the public to cooperate with law enforcement agencies and follow instructions to avoid inconvenience. Assistance will be available via helpline 1915, social media platforms and FM radio updates.

The arrangements come a day after the government allowed spectators for all three PSL playoff matches, ending a no-crowd policy implemented earlier due to austerity measures.

READ: PCB unveils match officials for PSL 11 Qualifier and Eliminators

KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), on Tuesday, revealed match officials for the Qualifier, Eliminator 1, and Eliminator 2 of the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11.

Member of ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees Sir Richard Richardson will lead the Playing Control Team for the Qualifier between Peshawar Zalmi and Islamabad United at the National Bank Stadium, Karachi.

Earlier, he made his PSL debut as a match referee on 15 April and will bow out for this season, having officiated 10 games.

Christopher Gaffaney of New Zealand will be joined by Alexander Wharf of England as on-field Umpire for the Qualifier. Both are part of the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires.

Faisal Khan Aafreedi, ICC International Panel Umpire, will serve as the third Umpire, while PCB’s National Elite Panel Umpire Zulfiqar Jan will be the fourth Umpire.

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Roshan Mahanama of Sri Lanka will lead the Playing Control Team in both the Eliminators. He has the honour of officiating in all 11 PSL seasons, and his tally of games as match referee in the league currently stands at 127.

In the Hyderabad Kingsmen v Multan Sultans Eliminator 1 in Lahore, ICC Elite Panel Umpire Shahid Saikat from Bangladesh will join ICC Emerging Panel Umpire Asif Yaqoob as on-field Umpire, while Rashid Riaz Waqar of ICC Emerging Panel of Umpires will be the third Umpire.

Nasir Hussain of ICC International Panel of Umpires will perform duties as the fourth Umpire.

The Eliminator 2 on 1 May between the winner of Eliminator 1 and the losing team of Qualifier will be officiated on-field by ICC Elite Panel Umpires Ahsan Raza and Shahid Saikat, while Asif Yaqoob and Rashid Riaz will carry out the duties of third and fourth Umpire, respectively.

The Match officials for the highly-anticipated 3 May final will be announced in due course.

Match officials for PSL 11 playoffs

Qualifier (28 April)

On-field umpires: Christopher Gaffaney and Alexander Wharf

Third umpire: Faisal Khan Aafreedi

Fourth umpire: Zulfiqar Jan

Match referee: Sir Richie Richardson

Eliminator 1 (29 April)

On-field umpires: Shahid Saikat and Asif Yaqoob

Third umpire: Rashid Riaz

Fourth umpire: Nasir Hussain

Match referee: Roshan Mahanama

Eliminator 2 (1 May)

On-field umpires: Ahsan Raza and Shahid Saikat

Third umpire: Asif Yaqoob

Fourth umpire: Rashid Riaz

Match referee: Roshan Mahanama

READ: PSL 11 Qualifier ticket sales paused amid heavy demand

KARACHI: Ticket sales for the first playoff of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 were briefly suspended on Tuesday after an overwhelming rush of fans caused the online system to crash.

The Qualifier 1 clash between Peshawar Zalmi and Islamabad United is scheduled to take place later today at the National Bank Stadium, marking the return of spectators to the tournament following the late approval from the government.

According to organisers, the e-ticketing service was temporarily paused due to simultaneous traffic on the booking website, with assurances that the system would resume shortly.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has set a flat ticket price of PKR 500 for all enclosures, allowing fans across the city to attend the high-stakes encounter at an affordable rate.

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Tickets are available online pcb.tcs.com.pk, while additional arrangements have been made to facilitate physical sales.

Fans can purchase tickets from designated courier outlets, including centres near the Expo Centre, Gulshan-e-Iqbal and Johar Morr, starting from 10:00 a.m. A dedicated box office has also been set up at China Ground, opposite the stadium, where tickets will be available from 12pm onwards.

The surge in demand comes just a day after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif approved public attendance for all three playoff matches, easing restrictions that had kept the tournament behind closed doors due to ongoing austerity measures.

READ: PSL 11 playoffs to be played with crowd after PM Shehbaz’s approval

KARACHI: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has approved public attendance for all three playoff matches of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11, confirmed Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi on Monday.

The development was shared by the PCB chairman following a meeting with the premier, where the board secured permission to allow fans back into stadiums for the knockout stage of the tournament.

The playoffs are set to begin with Qualifier 1 between Peshawar Zalmi and Islamabad United at the National Bank Stadium on Tuesday.

Naqvi, however, highlighted that the approval comes with a key condition, as part of ongoing national austerity measures. Fans attending the matches have been strongly encouraged to use public transport or minimise fuel consumption.

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“Just had a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and I’m pleased to share that we have secured his approval for public attendance in all three PSL playoff matches as well,” Naqvi wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

“However, this comes with an important condition from his side that fans are strongly encouraged to use public transport or [minimise] fuel consumption while attending the matches, in line with the ongoing national austerity efforts.”

The PSL 11 had previously been staged without spectators due to government-imposed restrictions aimed at conserving resources amid a broader fuel crisis. The latest decision marks a further relaxation, following earlier approval for limited crowd presence in the final.

The PCB chief also conveyed that the prime minister extended his best wishes to all four teams involved in the playoffs, Peshawar Zalmi, Islamabad United, Multan Sultans and Hyderabad Kingsmen, expressing hope for an exciting conclusion to the tournament.

READ: FIFA likely to increase prize money for World Cup 2026

DHAKA: Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has announced a 15-member squad for the opening Test against Pakistan, set to begin on May 8 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium as part of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) cycle.

Najmul Hossain Shanto will continue to lead the side, with Mehidy Hasan Miraz appointed as vice-captain for the series opener.

The squad includes two uncapped players, Tanzid Hasan and Amite Hasan, both rewarded for their recent performances.

Tanzid, already a regular in white-ball formats, has featured in 34 ODIs and 45 T20Is, scoring over 1,900 runs, and will now look to establish himself in the longer format.

Amite, a 24-year-old middle-order batter, earns his maiden call-up on the back of consistent domestic returns, boasting a first-class average close to 50 since his debut in 2019.

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Bangladesh have also bolstered their bowling attack with the return of pace duo Taskin Ahmed and Shoriful Islam, who last featured in Tests in late 2024. Spinner Nayeem Hasan has also been recalled to the red-ball setup.

In the current WTC standings, Bangladesh are placed eighth, having registered one defeat and one draw from two matches, with a win percentage of 16.67.

Pakistan, meanwhile, sit fifth with one win and one loss, holding 12 points and a 50 percent win ratio.

The two-match series will continue with the second Test scheduled from May 16 to 20 at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.

Bangladesh squad: Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Shadman Islam, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz (vc), Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Ebadot Hossain, Shoriful Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Nahid Rana, Tanzid Hasan, Amite Hasan.

Pakistan squad: Shan Masood (captain), Abdullah Fazal, Amad Butt, Azan Awais, Babar Azam, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wk), Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel and Shaheen Shah Afridi

READ: Ticket sales open for PSL 11 final today

Global football governing body FIFA is considering a further increase in prize money for all 48 teams set to compete at the upcoming World Cup 2026, with discussions currently underway with national associations.

The proposal is expected to be reviewed at the upcoming FIFA Council meeting, scheduled ahead of the 76th FIFA Congress in Vancouver, where a final decision could be taken.

Earlier in December, FIFA had already announced a significant financial uplift for the 2026 tournament, confirming a prize pool of $655 million, a 50% increase compared to the previous edition. That figure formed part of a broader $727 million financial commitment to the expanded World Cup.

However, fresh talks suggest the governing body is now exploring an even higher payout structure, backed by strong financial growth.

FIFA is projected to surpass $11 billion in revenue during the 2023–2026 cycle, placing it in what officials describe as its strongest financial position to date.

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A FIFA spokesperson confirmed the ongoing discussions, stating that the organisation is looking at increasing overall financial contributions, including payments to participating teams as well as development funding for its 211 member associations.

Under the previously announced model, the bulk of the prize pool was allocated as performance-based earnings, with the tournament winners set to receive $50 million and the runners-up $33 million.

Teams eliminated in the group stage were to earn $9 million each, while every qualified nation would also receive $1.5 million to cover preparation costs.

The 2026 edition will be the first to feature 48 teams, marking a significant expansion in the tournament’s history. It is scheduled to run from June 11 to July 19 across the United States, Mexico and Canada.

READ: Sevilla move closer to La Liga relegation after loss against Osasuna

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced that tickets for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 final, scheduled for 3 May, will be available for purchase from 4 pm today (Monday).

Fans can secure their seats through pcb.tcs.com.pk, while physical tickets will be available at 18 designated TCS Express Centres in Lahore from Tuesday at 10am.

Fans should aim to reach the stadium by 18:30 PKT to witness the Curtain Closing Ceremony before the Final Match of the Tournament.

Fans can buy VIP enclosures (Fazal Mahmood and Imran Khan) tickets for PKR 6,000, while the premium enclosures (Rajas and Saeed Anwar) will be available for PKR 4,000.

Catch all the PSL 11 updates here!

First class enclosures, which comprise Abdul Hafeez Kardar, Abdul Qadir, Javed Miandad and Sarfaraz Nawaz, are priced at PKR 2,000.

Seats in the Hanif Mohammad, Imtiaz Ahmed, Saeed Ahmed and Inzamam-ul-Haq, which are categorised as General enclosures, will be available for a minimum of PKR 1,500.

The thrilling action of the PSL 11 final can also be enjoyed from the VVIP enclosure (Waqar Younis) at the Iqbal End, whose tickets can be bought for PKR 8,000.

The tickets for Zaheer Abbas enclosure at the Jinnah End will carry a price of PKR 10,000. The PCB Gallery tickets are priced at PKR 12,000.

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For the unversed, the ongoing edition of the tournament has been played behind closed doors due to government-imposed austerity measures aimed at reducing fuel consumption amid a broader regional crisis.

Matches were also limited to fewer venues, with Karachi and Lahore hosting fixtures instead of the originally planned six-city format.

However, Chairman PCB Mohsin Naqvi personally requested Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to reconsider the no-spectator policy.

While the government remained cautious due to ongoing resource conservation efforts, an exception has now been made for the final.

READ: PSL 11 playoff schedule confirmed as top four teams locked in

KARACHI: The playoffs for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 are confirmed as the final four teams secured their spots after Islamabad United defeated Multan Sultans in the last league fixture at the National Bank Stadium on Sunday.

Peshawar Zalmi finished the round-robin stage as the top team with 17 points, winning eight of their 10 games.

Zalmi will now play Islamabad United — second on the table with 14 points — on Tuesday, April 28 at National Bank Stadium.

Peshawar Zalmi and United have two chances of qualifying for the PSL 11 final after finishing in the top two of the points table.

Catch all the PSL 11 updates here!

The loser of Qualifier 1 will take on the winner of Eliminator 1 on May 1 at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.

The eliminator will be played between Hyderabad Kingsmen and Multan Sultans on Wednesday, April 29, in Lahore.

PSL 11 Playoff Matches

Peshawar Zalmi vs Islamabad United — Qualifier 1
Multan Sultans vs Hyderabad Kingsmen — Eliminator 1
Eliminator 1 Winner vs Qualifier 1 Runner-up
Final

Earlier today, Islamabad United sealed a four-wicket win over Multan Sultans to seal a top-two berth, thanks to a gutsy half-century from Mark Chapman, who hit 69* from 33 balls, smashing six maximums and four boundaries.

The left-hander was instrumental in the 193-run chase alongside captain Shadab Khan, who also chipped in with his 36 from 28 balls.

On the contrary, playing in their debut season, Hyderabad Kingsmen thrashed Rawalpindiz by a massive margin of 108 runs to seal a berth in PSL 11 playoffs.

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The Kingsmen required to chase down any target in 10 overs or limit the opposition to 158 or less.

The victory was built on several contributions, notably Glenn Maxwell, who hit 70 on just 37 balls, including three sixes and eight fours, propelling them to a total of 244 in 20 overs.

In pursuit of the target Rawalpindiz batting lineup faltered as they were bowled out for 136 in 17.1 overs.

The remarkable bowling performance was spearheaded by Hunain Shah, who earned the player of the match award for his four-wicket haul.

READ: Mohammad Rizwan seeks mystery player’s advice to regain form

Rawalpindiz captain Mohammad Rizwan has revealed that he is consulting a player to address his form issues after a disappointing Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 campaign.

The wicket-keeper batter addressed the media in the post-match press conference after Pindiz concluded their last fixture against Hyderabad Kingsmen.

Rizwan admitted that he has struggled for form and stressed that hard work is the only way to bounce back.

Catch all the PSL 11 updates here!

“My form has not been good, but I do not believe in form. I believe more in hard work, and perhaps there has been some shortcoming in my effort,” he told reporters.

“I am the kind of person who, if my hard work and standards are not where they should be, I remain honest with myself and with Pakistan as well,” he added.

The 33-year-old called for more professionalism and awareness within the team, adding that he is working on his flaws through discussions with a fellow player.

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“Professionalism should come into our players, and awareness needs to improve. As far as I am concerned, I will do everything I can to overcome my shortcomings,” Rizwan continued.

“I am in touch with one player and keep speaking with him. When things become better, I will let you know which player it was,” he said.

Earlier on Sunday, Rawalpindiz dismal PSL 11 campaign ended with an 108-run thrashing at the hands of the Hyderabad Kingsmen. The win propelled Kingsmen into the playoffs.

Kingsmen piled up a massive 244 in their 20 overs before bundling them out for 136 in 17.1 overs, marking their ninth loss in 10 matches.

Mohammad Rizwan also endured a poor run, managing only 204 runs from 10 matches at a meager average of 20.40 without a single half-century.

READ: Hyderabad Kingsmen knock Lahore Qalandars out of PSL 11 with big win

KARACHI: A resounding batting performance against Multan Sultans sealed a top-two finish for Islamabad United in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 clash at the National Bank Stadium on Sunday.

IslamUnited aced the 193 run target inside 18 overs, thanks to an all round batting display headlined by Mark Chapman’s unbeaten knock.

United started shakily in pursuit of a big chase, losing Sameer Minhas and Devon Conway in the first five overs.

After an early blow, Mohsin Riaz and Shadab Khan batted aggressively, particularly the former, who took off from where he left off in the previous game.

Riaz hit five fours in his 25 off 17 before Faisal Akram was introduced into the attack to break the threatening 31-run stand.

The scorecard read 72 in 7.3 overs when Chapman joined skipper Shadab to steady United’s ship. The duo’s brisk batting kept the Sultans bowlers away and brought the team’s total to 135 in just 14.3 overs.

Shadab scored 36 on 28 balls with the aid of five boundaries.

Catch all the PSL 11 updates here!

Despite Sultan’s quick strikes, Mark Chapman remained steady and finished the match in style with a boundary on the third ball of the penultimate over. The New Zealander hit six towering sixes and four crisp boundaries in his unbeaten 69 from 33 balls.

For Sultans, Faisal Akram took two wickets.

With this victory, United finished on 14 points and now will play Peshawar Zalmi on April 28 at the same venue.

Earlier, Shan Masood’s gutsy knock, backed by Arafat Minhas and Mohammad Wasim’s cameo, lifted Multan Sultans to a strong total.

Asked to bat first, Sultans managed to put 192-7  in 20 overs.

The inform duo of Sahibzada Farhan and Steve Smith gave a blazing start, bringing the team’s total to 60 before United made a comeback with wickets in quick succession.

Smith was caught behind on the last ball of the power play, whereas Farhan was removed on the first ball of the sixth over. Both players departed for identical scores of 30, hitting four boundaries and a six each.

The scorecard read 60-2 in 6.1 overs with two new batters — Shan Masood and Josh Philippe at the crease. The pair launched a recovery and forged a 42-run partnership off 34 balls.

United bowlers did well to stem the flow of runs after being tonked all around the park. But it was a similar pattern that haunted the Sultans as they lost wickets in quick succession.

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Philippe’s scratchy 11 off 13 balls ended in the 12th over, with Chris Green taking a fine catch. The setback was compounded an over later, when skipper Ashton Turner (9) was caught and bowled.

The slide continued as Shan Masood fell two overs later, while Mohammad Imran managed just five before being dismissed in the next over, reducing the Sultans to 136-6 in 16.3 overs.

However, Mohammad Wasim and Arafat Minhas combined to inject late impetus in the innings with a quick-fire 56-run partnership.

Wasim hit two sixes and two fours in his 26* from just nine, while Minhas tonked three sixes and a four in his unbeaten 31 off 19.

For Islamabad United, all six bowlers used picked up a wicket each, with Imad Wasim remaining the standout for his economical bowling.

READ: Hyderabad Kingsmen knock Lahore Qalandars out of PSL 11 with big win