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KARACHI: Rilee Rossouw’s half-century and a dominant bowling performance helped Quetta Gladiators defeat Rawalpindiz by 61 runs in the 18th match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 here at the National Bank Stadium on Friday.

Set a stiff 183 to chase, Rawalpindiz innings folded on a mere 121 run total in 17.3 overs.

The chase started on a shaky note as skipper Mohammad Rizwan was sent back for a golden duck on the first ball of the innings.

After an early wicket, opener Yasir Khan decided to take on the bowlers and accumulated 14 runs in the second over.

Rawalpindiz were 27 in 2.5 overs before Usman Khawaja (7) was run out, putting them in further trouble.

Meanwhile, Yasir continued on as Rawalpindiz reached 45 in the fifth over. However, his innings ended on 22 after holing out to deep wicket.

With Rawalpindiz in deep trouble, Daryl Mitchell and Abdullah Fazal came to the fore, putting the chase back on track with a 33-run partnership.

Catch all the PSL 11 updates here!

The scorecard read 77 in 11 overs when Usman Khan removed Abdullah Fazal ( 20) to break the threatening stand.

In the very next over, Saud Shakeel picked up two wickets, removing Daryl Mitchell (30 off 32) and Sam Billings for one run to put Quetta Gladiators into a winning position.

Rawalpindiz innings quickly unraveled after the quick wickets as they lost control of the game and were bowled out for a modest score.

For Quetta Gladiators, Saud Shakeel, Usman Tariq, and Jahandad Khan picked up two wickets each.

Earlier, Rilee Rossouw composed half-century and Hassan Nawaz’s blistering knock powered Quetta Gladiators to a strong total.

Asked to bat first, Quetta Gladiators managed to post 182-6 on the board in their 20 overs.

After a quiet power play, Rilee Rossouw and skipper Saud Shakeel added 87 off 67 balls for the second wicket partnership to put the Gladiators in a strong position.

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Rossouw made 53 off 42 with the aid of six boundaries and a maximum before getting caught off Mubasir Khan’s bowling.

Saud Shakeel soon followed him after scoring 42 from 39, including three boundaries.

At this stage, Gladitors were 123-3 in 15.3 overs with Hassan Nawaz at the fore.

The right remained instrumental in helping his side reach a commendable total. He struck five sixes on his way to 39 from only 16 balls.

For Rawalpindiz, Ben Sears picked up three wickets in his quota of four overs.

READ: Abrar confident of Quetta Gladiators comeback after shaky start

KARACHI: Rawalpindiz have won the toss and have decided to bowl first against Quetta Gladiators in the 18th match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 here at the National Bank Stadium on Friday.

This will be the first time the two teams will be facing each other, with Rawalpindiz playing in the tournament for the first time.

Quetta Gladiators have won only one out of three matches while Pindiz are in search of their first win.

Playing XIs

Quetta Gladiators: Saud Shakeel (capt), Sam Harper, Hasan Nawaz, Khawaja Nafay (wk), Bevon Jacobs, Rilee Rossouw, Jahandad Khan, Khalil Ahmed, Abrar Ahmed, Kashif Bhatti, Usman Tariq

RawalPindiz: Mohammad Rizwan (capt & wk), Usman Khawaja, Yasir Khan, Daryl Mitchell, Sam Billings, Abdullah Fazal, Saad Masood, Mubasir Khan, Asif Afridi, Ben Sears, Mohammad Amir

READ: Abrar confident of Quetta Gladiators comeback after shaky start

KARACHI: Babar Azam etched his name deeper into the record books on Thursday, becoming the fastest batter in men’s T20 history to reach 12,000 runs, surpassing the long-standing mark held by Chris Gayle.

The milestone came during Peshawar Zalmi’s high-scoring Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 clash against Karachi Kings at the National Stadium.

Babar, who needed just 13 runs before the match, brought up the landmark in style by launching Khushdil Shah for a six over mid-on in the fourth over.

Catch all the PSL 11 updates here!

In doing so, the Zalmi skipper became the 12th player in men’s T20 cricket to cross the 12,000-run mark, joining an elite list featuring the likes of Kieron Pollard, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, David Warner and Shoaib Malik.

Babar reached the milestone in just 338 innings, bettering Gayle’s previous record of 343 innings, while Kohli sits third on the list, having taken 360 innings to get there.

Fastest to 12,000 Runs in Men’s T20s

• Babar Azam – 338 innings
• Chris Gayle – 343 innings
• Virat Kohli – 360 innings
• David Warner – 368 innings
• Jos Buttler – 405 innings

Despite losing the record, Gayle continues to lead the all-time T20 run charts with 14,562 runs, followed closely by Pollard.

Babar Azam capped off his milestone performance with a dominant unbeaten 87, powering Zalmi to a formidable total of 246 for 3.

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The bowlers then completed a comprehensive performance, skittling Karachi Kings for just 87 to seal a massive 159-run victory.

The emphatic win lifted Zalmi to second place on the PSL 11 points table, with three wins from their first four matches, further underlining their strong start to the campaign.

READ: Sahibzada Farhan released from Multan Sultans squad

KARACHI: Babar Azam and Kusal Mendis’ sublime batting backed by a disciplined bowling effort powered Peshawar Zalmi to a resounding 159-run victory over Karachi Kings in the 17th match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 here at the National Bank Stadium on Thursday.

Set a massive 247 to chase, Karachi Kings’ batting lineup faltered and were bowled out for 87 in 16.1 overs.

Kings were in early trouble right from the start as they lost both of their openers, Mohammad Waseem and David Warner, for ducks.

They were further pegged back when Salman Ali Agha was trapped lbw for five by Iftikhar Ahmed. As a result, they were reduced to 8-3 in 2.1 overs.

Following the early trouble, Saad Baig (14) and Azam Khan (25) tried to stabilize the innings with a brief 27-run partnership. However, a caught and bowled from Nahid Rana sent the former back to the pavilion.

The wickets continued to tumble as Kings never recovered in their big chase.

Eventually, Peshawar Zalmi bowled them out for a modest total and handed Kings their first defeat of the season.

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For Peshawar Zalmi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Nahid Rana, and Iftikhar Ahmed shared nine wickets between them.

Earlier, Peshawar Zalmi posted a mammoth 246 runs total in a commanding batting display after being invited to bat first.

The cornerstone of the big total was the record 191-run stand between Babar Azam and Kusal Mendis. The duo put on a batting masterclass after the early loss of Mohammad Haris, who was removed for a duck on the second ball of the opening over.

Catch all the PSL 11 updates here!

Babar scored 87 from 51 balls with the aid of two sixes and 10 fours, while Mendis scored his maiden PSL century, an innings of 109 off 52 deliveries, laced with 14 fours and four sixes.

Peshawar Zalmi were 197-4 in 17 overs when Abdul Samad provided a late surge. He smashed 40 off just 12 balls with the help of four sixes and three boundaries, propelling the total beyond the 240-run mark.

For Karachi Kings, Abbas Afridi picked up two wickets while giving away 55 in his quota of four overs.

READ: Devon Conway leads Islamabad United to victory over Lahore Qalandars

KARACHI: Devon Conway produced a composed unbeaten half-century to guide Islamabad United to a commanding nine-wicket victory over Lahore Qalandars in a low-scoring Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 clash at the National Bank Stadium on Thursday.

Chasing a modest 101-run target, United made light work of the total, reaching it inside 11 overs with 58 balls to spare.

The only hiccup in the chase came early when Sameer Minhas was dismissed for five by Shaheen Shah Afridi in the third over.

From there on, Conway took complete control of the innings. The left-hander stitched together an unbeaten 93-run partnership with Mohammad Faiq, ensuring there were no further setbacks.

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Devon Conway remained unbeaten on 59 off 35 deliveries, striking seven fours and three sixes, while Faiq played an equally fluent hand with a 19-ball 34, laced with six boundaries.

Earlier, Islamabad United’s bowlers laid the foundation for the comfortable win by bundling Qalandars out for just 100 in 18.3 overs.

The innings unravelled right from the start when Imad Wasim dismissed Mohammad Naeem for a first-ball duck.

Although Haseebullah Khan (19) and Abdullah Shafique (10) attempted to stabilise things with a brief stand, regular breakthroughs kept Lahore on the back foot.

Catch all the PSL 11 updates here!

Imad struck again to remove Shafique, before Chris Green and captain Shadab Khan further dented the innings with timely wickets.

A short resistance from Sikandar Raza (25) and Asif Ali (15) failed to shift momentum, as the Qalandars kept losing wickets at regular intervals.

Green was the pick of the bowlers with impressive figures of 3 for 19 in his four overs, while Imad, Shadab and Richard Gleeson chipped in with two wickets apiece to wrap up the innings.

READ: Tamim Iqbal-led BCB announces major pay hike for domestic cricketers

KARACHI: Babar Azam chose to steer clear of comparisons with Virat Kohli, responding firmly to a question on the subject after his team, Peshawar Zalmi, registered a tense last-ball victory over Hyderabad Kingsmen in the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 at the National Bank Stadium.

Chasing a modest yet tricky 146-run target, Zalmi were pushed to the limit on a challenging surface before eventually getting over the line on the final delivery with four wickets in hand.

Babar played a key role in the chase with a composed 43 off 37 balls but fell at a crucial juncture, leaving his side needing 30 runs from the final five overs.

The post-match press conference, however, shifted focus from the result to an all-too-familiar debate of Babar’s ability to finish games and his frequent comparisons with Kohli.

Catch all the PSL 11 updates here!

The Zalmi skipper appeared unimpressed with the line of questioning and quickly dismissed the comparison.

“Leave that topic. You can end it there,” Babar said, cutting short the question before elaborating on his approach instead.

He emphasised that match situations, rather than comparisons, dictate his style of play, highlighting the importance of reading conditions and building partnerships.

“The main thing is the scenario, what the team requires, what the run rate is, how to play, and how the pitch is behaving. You have to plan your game accordingly and build partnerships for the team,” he explained.

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Babar Azam also pointed out that execution is not always straightforward, especially on difficult surfaces where even well-timed shots may not yield results.

“Sometimes you think it is an easy pitch, but you cannot execute, shots are hit, but not finding the gaps. You try but do not get the runs,” he said.

Reflecting on criticism around his finishing ability, the right-hander insisted that improvement is a gradual process and backed his record in pressure situations.

“In those moments, I remind myself of my strengths and my game plan, my best way of playing. Improvement comes with time; sometimes it takes months. I have finished a lot of matches; you may think I have not, but I have finished many,” he added.

READ: Hassan Khan breaks silence on decision to leave Pakistan for USA

The injury-hit Rawalpindiz have moved swiftly to reinforce their pace attack, announcing the signing of New Zealand fast bowler Ben Sears ahead of their upcoming fixtures in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11.

The development comes in the wake of injuries to frontline pacers Naseem Shah and Zaman Khan, forcing the franchise to seek immediate reinforcements.

Sources revealed that Sears, currently touring Sri Lanka with New Zealand A, is expected to link up with the squad soon, pending necessary clearances.

The right-arm pacer is set to make his PSL debut, bringing with him limited franchise experience, having previously featured in Major League Cricket (MLC) for the Washington Freedom.

On the international stage, Sears has represented New Zealand in 27 T20Is, claiming 31 wickets, in addition to picking up 10 wickets in just four ODIs.

Rawalpindiz’s bowling concerns have deepened following confirmation that Naseem Shah has been ruled out for the foreseeable future after sustaining a side injury during a recent clash against Karachi Kings.

While the pacer remains part of the squad, he is undergoing rehabilitation, with further medical assessments scheduled for April 15 to evaluate his recovery timeline.

Earlier, Zaman Khan was sidelined after suffering a dislocation of the acromioclavicular (ACJ) joint in his right shoulder during the National T20 Cup. He has since been replaced in the squad by Jalat Khan.

Led by Mohammad Rizwan, Rawalpindiz will now be hoping that Sears can provide immediate impact as they prepare for their next encounter against Quetta Gladiators on April 10.

READ: Hassan Khan breaks silence on decision to leave Pakistan for USA

The Rawalpindiz have suffered a significant setback in the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 after premier fast bowler Naseem Shah was ruled out of action due to injury.

According to a statement issued by the franchise, the right-arm pacer sustained a side strain during their recent match against Karachi Kings, forcing him to be sidelined for the foreseeable future.

The team’s medical staff are currently monitoring his recovery closely, with management hoping for a potential return towards the latter stages of the tournament, subject to progress in rehabilitation and final fitness clearance.

Catch all the PSL 11 updates here!

Despite the setback, the franchise expressed full support for the 23-year-old, describing him as a key member of the squad and stressing their commitment to his recovery process.

The management added that they are hopeful of seeing him return stronger once fully fit.

Naseem’s injury comes at an unfortunate time, as he endured a difficult start to the campaign, managing just one wicket in his outing against Karachi Kings after going wicketless while conceding 51 runs in the opening match.

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The development further compounds a challenging start for Rawalpindiz, who have struggled for form in PSL 11.

The side has lost all three of their opening fixtures and currently sit seventh on the points table, just above fellow winless debutants Hyderabad Kingsmen.

Rawalpindiz squad: Mohammad Rizwan (c), Sam Billings, Jalat Khan, Yasir Khan, Naseem Shah, Rishad Hossain, Daryl Mitchell, Mohammad Amir, Abdullah Fazal, Amad Butt, Dian Forrestor, Asif Afridi, Kamran Ghulam, Razaullah, Mohammad Amir Khan, Shahzaib Khan, Cole McConchie, Usman Khawaja, Saad Masood

READ: Abbas Afridi opens up on Umar Gul’s influence on his career

KARACHI: Karachi Kings are set to receive a timely boost as United Arab Emirates (UAE) players Muhammad Waseem and Khuzaima Bin Tanveer are expected to rejoin the squad ahead of their next fixture in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11.

Team director Haider Azhar confirmed that both players will arrive back in Karachi on Tuesday and will be available for selection for the Kings’ upcoming clash against Peshawar Zalmi at the National Bank Stadium on Thursday.

The duo had earlier left the PSL midway after being recalled by the Emirates Cricket Board to participate in the domestic D50 tournament.

The directive required both players to return immediately and feature in the ongoing 50-over competition in the UAE.

However, in a development that comes as a relief for the Kings, Waseem and Khuzaima have now been granted permission to rejoin their franchise after completing two matches in the domestic tournament.

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Waseem has already featured in three matches this season, registering mixed returns with scores of 0, 38 and 23. Meanwhile, Khuzaima is yet to make his debut in the ongoing edition.

The return of the two players strengthens an already in-form Karachi Kings side, led by David Warner, who currently sit in the second position of the points table with three wins from three matches and a net run rate of 0.486.

READ: Pakistan’s Samar Khan finishes 300km Fjällräven Polar 2026 expedition

LAHORE: A blistering half-century from Mohammad Naeem propelled Lahore Qalandars to a commanding victory over Multan Sultans in a rain-shortened Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 clash at the Gaddafi Stadium on Friday.

In a contest reduced to 13 overs per side due to persistent rain, the Qalandars produced a batting masterclass to post a daunting 185-5 after being put into bat by Sultans skipper Ashton Turner.

The defending champions came out all guns blazing, with Naeem and Parvez Hossain Emon dismantling the Sultans’ bowling attack in a breathtaking opening stand. The duo racked up 86 runs in just five overs, setting the tone for a massive total.

Catch all the PSL 11 updates here!

Emon was eventually dismissed for a fiery 45 off 19 deliveries, but Naeem continued the onslaught, anchoring the innings with a rapid 60 off 28 balls, laced with boundaries and clean hitting.

He found further support in Abdullah Shafique, who chipped in with a quickfire 33, as the Qalandars maintained their aggressive tempo.

Despite a couple of late breakthroughs, Lahore finished strongly, thanks to Sikandar Raza (13*), who ensured the total remained well beyond par in a shortened contest.

In reply, Multan Sultans struggled to keep pace despite a spirited effort. Early setbacks saw Steve Smith (9) and Josh Philippe (1) depart cheaply, putting the chase on the back foot.

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A counter-attacking knock from Shan Masood briefly revived hopes, as he struck a brisk 44 off 18 balls, while Sahibzada Farhan added 24. However, regular wickets prevented the Sultans from building sustained momentum.

Captain Turner led from the front with an unbeaten 52 off 22 deliveries and shared a fighting stand with Arafat Minhas, but the required rate proved too steep in the end as the Sultans finished on 165-5.

The defeat marked Multan’s first loss of the season, dropping them to third on the table, while Lahore Qalandars climbed to second with their second win.

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