Category: Sports

Rawalpindiz owner Ahsan Tahir has opened up on the future of Mohammad Rizwan as captain amid their disappointing Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 campaign.

Pindiz are winless in their maiden Pakistan Super League (PSL) season, losing all seven games, and are already out of the playoff race.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with PakPassion, he highlighted Rizwan’s leadership and explained the franchise notion behind appointing the wicket-keeper batter as captain.

“Personally, this experience comes from us also leading an organization that is more than 500 people. We are in the business of developing teams and implementing improvements. Corporate teams operate much more differently as compared to sports teams,” he said.

“Still always comes down to the value system of the person leading the team. It is about how that person acts under pressure, how he behaves when the team wins, and how he responds when the team loses,” he added.

Catch all the PSL 11 updates here!

He said Mohammad Rizwan brings the culture and leadership values he was seeking, while highlighting his strong influence in maintaining a positive atmosphere in the dressing room.

“That entire value system, that persona or aura around the individual, is what we have always been looking for,” he explained.

“Everybody would actually have a subjective opinion on the reality, but nobody ever questions the environment of the dressing room when Rizwan is there. The environment in the dressing room is absolutely different compared to any other captain.”

The owner said that he was focused on the dressing room environment rather than individual performances.  He further remarked that results take time and the process is often painful.

“I am after that environment in the dressing room. I am not after how a person performs individually,” he maintained. “Things will change, conditions change, grounds change, contexts change, but if the value system is there, you will get a champion team.”

“The results take time, and it is a painful process. So, I need a guardian, a custodian who can take a painful journey with you. For me personally, Rizzi [Rizwan] is the embodiment of that value system.

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“I am sure under Rizwan’s captaincy, we will develop a champion team, and that will be for years to come. I am very confident of that.”

The founder and CEO of Walee Technologies also lauded Rizwan’s analytical mindset, noting his ability to assess multiple match scenarios and guide the team with clarity.

“As a captain, he has a very analytical mind. If you sit alongside him, he will look at the permutations of all the scenarios,” Ahsan said.

“If you have a good leader who can act as a guardian and a custodian to the young talent that’s coming up, so he is a very right fit in there. The whole franchise, as of now, is designed around him. We want to take that value system of the city in the future as well,” he concluded.

READ: Hasan Ali embraces responsibility as Karachi Kings senior pacer in PSL

LAHORE: Rawalpindiz have won the toss and have decided to bat first against Multan Sultans in the 31st match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 here at the Gaddafi Stadium on Tuesday.

Head to Head

Multan Sultans and Rawalpindiz have played each other only once as the latter is making inaugural appearance in the tournament. Sultans defeated Pindiz by seven wickets in the first encounter.

Playing XIs

Rawalpindiz Mohammad Rizwan (c), Shahzaib Khan, Yasir Khan, Daryl Mitchell, Sam Billings, Dian Forrester, Saad Masood, Razaullah Khan, Asif Afridi, Mohammad Amir, and Ben Sears

Multan Sultans Sahibzada Farhan, Steven Smith, Ashton Turner (c), Shan Masood, Josh Philippe, Arafat Minhas, M Imran, Peter Siddle, M Wasim Jnr, and Momin Qamar

Fast bowler Hasan Ali opened up about the responsibility of leading the bowling attack as a senior player for Karachi Kings in the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

The pacer, known for his 2017 Champions Trophy heroics, appeared in the PSL feature, where he shed light on various aspects of the game.

“There’s always pressure and responsibility, but at the same time, it feels good to be among the leading wicket-takers, and it is always enjoyable to take on the role of a senior bowler,” he remarked.

Hasan emphasized his role with the Karachi Kings, noting the evolving nature of the game.

Catch all the PSL 11 updates here!

“In Karachi Kings, my role has evolved over time. You have to be ready for every challenge. Over the past two years, I have bowled with the new and old ball and at the death as well,” said the 31-year-old.

“Wherever the team needs me, I am always ready to serve.”

Hasan Ali also discussed his famous celebration, revealing that his celebration plays a big role in his performance.

“My celebration style plays a big role in my performance. I enjoy celebrating after taking wickets. It adds to my passion, energy, and efforts. My teammates and so do the fans enjoy it. My go-to ball is the yorker. If executed well, it’s one of the best deliveries of the game,” he continued.

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The fast bowler concluded by advising young cricketers to stay disciplined and committed to hard work.

“My message to young cricketers is that talent is one percent, and 99 percent is your hard work. Keep working hard and stay focused. There is no shortcut to success. To achieve something, you need dedication, discipline, sacrifice, and passion,” he concluded.

READ: Karachi Kings rope in Zahid Mahmood for remainder of PSL 11

LAHORE: Fakhar Zaman delivered a record-equalling performance in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 11 clash against Quetta Gladiators, smashing a breathtaking century to guide Lahore Qalandars to a commanding total at Gaddafi Stadium on Tuesday.

The left-handed opener blazed his way to 103 in just 51 deliveries, registering his third century in the league and drawing level with Babar Azam for the most centuries in PSL history.

With this milestone, Fakhar joins an elite group of batters, including Babar, Usman Khan, Kamran Akmal and Rilee Rossouw, who have each scored three centuries in the tournament.

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Notably, Babar Azam scored his third century to reach the landmark on Sunday, also against the Gladiators.

Fakhar’s innings not only powered Qalandars to 197-6 but also saw him achieve another significant feat, becoming the first batter to score 1000 PSL runs at Gaddafi Stadium, the home venue of the franchise.

The aggressive opener further strengthened his legacy with Lahore, extending his record as the highest run-scorer for a single franchise in PSL history.

Catch all the PSL 11 updates here!

Having represented Qalandars since 2017, he has now amassed more than 3,200 runs exclusively for the side.

On the overall PSL run charts, Fakhar currently sits second with 3246 runs, trailing only Babar Azam, who leads the list with 3792 runs across stints with multiple franchises, including Peshawar Zalmi, Karachi Kings and Islamabad United.

READ: Dasun Shanaka breaks silence on his PSL ban

LAHORE: Fakhar Zaman’s sublime century powered Lahore Qalandars to a victory over Quetta Gladiators in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 clash at Gaddafi Stadium on Tuesday.

Chasing a stiff 199, Gladiaotrs fell short by nine runs, ending their innings on 188 for seven in 20 overs.

The chase started with a 49-run partnership between Saud Shakeel and Shamyl Hussain. The latter capitalized on the power play, bringing the team’s score to 49 in 5.4 overs before Sikandar Raza removed Saud. He was caught after scoring 17.

The wicket brought seasoned batter Rilee Rossouw to the fore, who counterattacked alongside Shamyl to keep the Gladiators in the hunt. Shamyl batted beautifully and notched his third half-century of the season.

However, he was back to the pavilion, courtesy of a run out in the ninth over of the innings. The soutpaw made 53 off 31, including three sixes and five fours.

Lahore were back in the game as Haris Rauf removed Hassan Nawaz for a duck in the same over, leaving Gladiators 88-3 in 9.5 overs. Despite the wickets, Rossouw continued to attack, keeping the required run rate in control.

Catch all the PSL 11 updates here!

He was joined by Khawaja Nafay (12) as Rossouw stitched a 40-run partnership with the South African batter doing the bulk of the scoring.

Quetta Gladiators were in control until Rilee Rossouw’s dismissal on the ball of the 14th over. The left-hander had accumulated 21 runs from Ubaid Shah’s over before getting caught. He remained top-scorer, striking five sixes and five fours in his 62 from just 29 balls.

His wicket sealed the deal for the defending champions as Abrar Ahmed remained unbeaten on 24 from 14, which reduced the margin of defeat for Gladiators.

For Lahore Qalandars, Haris Rauf took two wickets in his quota of four overs.

With this loss, the chances of Quetta Gladiators are now slim as they now sit on six points with only one game left.

Earlier, Fakhar Zaman smashed a blistering century to propel Lahore Qalandars to an imposing 197-6 against Quetta Gladiators in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 clash at Gaddafi Stadium on Tuesday.

The left-handed opener dominated proceedings with a blistering 103 off 51 deliveries, marking his third century in the league and laying the foundation for Qalandars’ massive total.

Qalandars endured an early setback when Mohammad Farooq departed for just four in the second over. Fakhar, however, quickly took control and stitched a 57-run stand with Abdullah Shafique, contributing the bulk of the runs before Shafique was dismissed for 14 by Abrar Ahmed.

Fakhar then found an able partner in Charith Asalanka as the duo added 96 runs for the third wicket. The aggressive opener continued to dictate terms, reaching his century during the partnership while keeping the Gladiators’ bowlers under constant pressure.

The stand was eventually broken by Brett Hampton, who removed Asalanka for 31 off 24 balls, leaving the score at 160-3 in 15.3 overs.

Fakhar’s innings soon ended in the following over, but not before he had struck 11 fours and six sixes in a match-defining knock.

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Late contribution from Daniel Sams, who remained unbeaten on 18 off 12 deliveries, ensured Qalandars finished strongly at 197-6 in their allotted 20 overs.

For the Gladiators, Khalil Ahmed was the pick of the bowlers with two wickets, while Abrar Ahmed, Hampton and Usman Tariq chipped in with one apiece.

READ: Karachi Kings rope in Zahid Mahmood for remainder of PSL 11

LAHORE: Karachi Kings have bolstered their squad for the decisive phase of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 11 by bringing in experienced leg-spinner Zahid Mahmood.

The Karachi-based franchise confirmed the development in an official statement, highlighting the veteran spinner’s ability to deliver breakthroughs during the middle overs.

Catch all the PSL 11 updates here!

“Mahmood, known for his sharp turn and deceptive googly, has been a part of Kings’ squad in 2024 and 2025 seasons too. With the tournament entering its business end, his ability to provide breakthroughs in the middle overs is expected to be a vital asset for the franchise,” the franchise stated.

The 38-year-old has been a familiar face in the league, having represented multiple teams over the years, including Quetta Gladiators and Islamabad United, alongside his stints with the Kings.

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During the PSL 9, he featured in six matches for Karachi, picking up eight wickets, while his overall PSL tally stands at 15 wickets in 15 appearances.

Karachi Kings currently find themselves in a tight mid-table battle, sitting on six points after seven matches.

The Kings are set to face Peshawar Zalmi in their next fixture, scheduled to be played at Gaddafi Stadium, as they look to strengthen their position in the standings.

READ: Dasun Shanaka breaks silence on his PSL ban

LAHORE: Defending champions Lahore Qalandars have won the toss and decided to bat first against Quetta Gladiators, in the 30th match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 11 here at Gaddafi Stadium on Tuesday. 

Playing XIs

Quetta Gladiators: Shamyl Hussain, Saud Shakeel (c), Rilee Rossouw, Hassan Nawaz, Brett Hampton, Bevon Jacobs, Khawaja Nafay (wk), Khalil Ahmed, Alzarri Joseph, Abrar Ahmed, Usman Tariq

Lahore Qalandars: M. Farooq, Fakhar Zaman, Abdullah Shafique, Charith Asalanka, Haseeb Ullah (wk), Sikandar Raza, Daniel Sams, Shaheen Afridi, Usama Mir, Ubaid Shah, Haris Rauf

HEAD TO HEAD

Qalandars and Gladiators have faced each other 22 times, with the holders leading the head-to-head record with 11 wins. The 2019 champions have secured ten victories, and one match ended in a no result.

Matches 22, Lahore Qalandars 11, Quetta Gladiators 10, NR 1

LONDON: The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have officially revealed England’s new white-ball kits for the 2026 season, drawing inspiration from the team’s iconic designs of the past.

The newly launched collection includes One Day International (ODI), T20 International (T20I) and training kits, which will be worn by England’s men’s, women’s and mixed disability teams during a packed home summer that also features the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026.

Blending nostalgia with modern design, both the ODI and T20I shirts carry a retro theme influenced by England’s colour-blocked kits from earlier eras.

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The T20I strip revives the classic red and blue palette reminiscent of the mid-2000s, while the ODI kit features a refreshed blue pattern. Both designs incorporate an engineered rib collar, adding to the vintage aesthetic.

The kits were introduced through a promotional video titled ‘We’re All In’, which features current England stars alongside former fast bowler Darren Gough, who played a key role in England’s first-ever T20I against Australia in 2005 and finished his international career with nearly 500 wickets.

ECB’s Head of Commercial Partnerships, Ben Bradley, expressed enthusiasm over the unveiling, highlighting the significance of the design direction in a major year for the sport.

“It’s always a really exciting day to unveil our new kits for a season, and I’m delighted with what we’ve worked on alongside Castore,” Bradley said.

“The retro design of the white-ball kits reflect the legacy of IT20 and ODI cricket in what is a landmark year for women’s cricket, particularly, and I’m sure our fans will enjoy being a part of that this summer.”

READ: Bangladesh call up key pacer for series decider against New Zealand

CHATTOGRAM: Bangladesh have bolstered their pace attack ahead of the series-deciding third ODI against New Zealand by adding fast bowler Tanzim Hasan Sakib to the squad.

The 23-year-old, who was sidelined during last month’s series against Pakistan due to a back injury, was initially left out of the squad for the first two matches against New Zealand.

However, with the three-match series level at 1-1 and fast bowlers playing a key role, the hosts have opted to include Tanzim in the squad for Thursday’s decider at the Bir Sreshtho Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium.

Tanzim has featured in 15 ODIs since making his debut during the 2023 Asia Cup and has claimed 24 wickets at an average of 27.29.

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His inclusion comes on the back of an impressive showing from fellow pacer Nahid Rana, who delivered a match-winning performance in the second ODI on Monday, picking up five wickets to dismantle New Zealand’s batting line-up and level the series.

New Zealand had earlier taken the lead with a 26-run victory in the opening ODI in Dhaka on April 17, before Bangladesh bounced back with a convincing six-wicket win in the second match on April 20.

Updated Bangladesh squad:

Mehidy Hasan Miraz (c), Soumya Sarkar, Saif Hassan, Tanzid Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Towhid Hridoy, Litton Das, Afif Hossain, Mahidul Islam, Rishad Hossain, Tanvir Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Nahid Rana and Tanzim Hasan Sakib

READ: Leicester fairytale turns sour as relegation to third tier looms

Ten years after authoring the ultimate sporting fairytale, former Premier League champions Leicester are on the brink of a humiliating relegation to the third tier.

If Gary Rowett’s side fail to beat Hull on Tuesday, they will be condemned to League One for only the second time in their history.

Languishing eight points from safety with only three games left, the Foxes appear destined to plunge into the third tier for the first time since 2008-09 following an astonishing decline over the last five years.

It would be a third relegation in four seasons for Leicester, who dropped out of the Premier League in 2023 and 2025.

After Jamie Vardy, Riyad Mahrez, N’Golo Kante, and company defied 5,000-1 odds by winning the Premier League in 2016, Leicester reached the Champions League quarter-finals the next season and won the FA Cup in 2021.

But Leicester’s golden era is a distant memory as they face the unpalatable prospect of playing the likes of Bromley, Mansfield and Wycombe next season.

Crashing out of the Premier League limply three years ago should have been a wake-up call for Leicester’s Thai owner, Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha and much-maligned sporting director Jon Rudkin.

However, Leicester’s hierarchy was painfully slow to address numerous flaws on the pitch, while the club’s ruinous finances have cost them a six-point deduction this season for breaching spending rules.

Vardy’s departure at the end of last season severed the last tie with the title-winning squad.

Marti Cifuentes, hired to lead a promotion push, struggled to rebuild an unbalanced and inexperienced squad before his sacking in January.

Interim boss Andy King was unable to turn the tide, and relegation fears began to mount after Leicester blew a 3-0 half-time lead in a dismal 4-3 defeat against Southampton.

By the time Rowett was hired in February, the Foxes were two points from safety, and the former Leicester defender has mustered only one win from his 11 matches since.

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But it is his players that have taken the brunt of the blame, with fans chanting “you’re not fit to wear the shirt” and engaging in an altercation with midfielder Harry Winks after last weekend’s loss at Portsmouth.

“A lack of fight is something that’s been labelled at the team over the course of a season. I don’t know whether that’s fair, but I think we’ve shown a lack of quality,” Rowett acknowledged.

Boardroom blunders have been the defining influence on Leicester’s plummet towards League One.

Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha has struggled to fill the shoes of his father, Vichai, who was killed in a helicopter crash at the King Power Stadium in 2018.

Claudio Ranieri, architect of their title-winning campaign, was sacked just months after lifting the trophy, with Craig Shakespeare and then Claude Puel proving inadequate replacements.

Brendan Rodgers, who masterminded the club’s FA Cup triumph and two fifth-placed finishes in the Premier League, was dismissed as relegation beckoned in 2023.

Even when Enzo Maresca led Leicester to promotion in 2024, he immediately departed for Chelsea, necessitating the unpopular and unsuccessful appointment of Steve Cooper, who previously managed rivals Nottingham Forest.

Rudkin’s recruitment has been no better, with expensive flops Patson Daka, Oliver Skipp, Jannik Vestergaard and Harry Souttar adding to a wage bill that topped £200 million ($270 million) in 2023 and reportedly contained no clauses to reduce salaries upon relegation.

Foreshadowing Leicester’s descent, Aiyawatt said in January: “In almost 16 years, we have won five trophies, we’ve had two relegations, three times in Europe. It’s like a movie. It’s like a super drama on Netflix.

“We grew bigger and bigger, and we forgot what we were before. We thought we are here and that is the most dangerous position to be in.”

On the precipice of relegation, Leicester will hope for another against-the-odds miracle, but the bleak reality of their situation is impossible to ignore.

READ: Wolves relegated from Premier League