Category: Sports

KARACHI: Sameer Minhas composed a half-century, and a clinical bowling effort sealed a comfortable eight-wicket win for Islamabad United over Karachi Kings in the 25th match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 here at the National Bank Stadium on Thursday.

Islamabad United chased down the 151-run target in 16 overs, thanks to a strong opening partnership.

Sameer Minhas and Devon Conway made the light work of the chase, adding 93 for the opening wicket in the first 10 overs.

Minhas remained the core aggressor and reached his third half-century in PSL 11. Meanwhile, Conway milked the bowlers around.

Minhas was eventually stumped for a well-made 58 from 36 balls, peppered with 10 fours.  The second wicket was off Mohammad Faiq, who only made five.

At this stage, Islamabad United 110-2 in 12.3 overs.

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With a run a ball required, skipper Shadab Khan and Devon Conway added an unbeaten 43 runs from 21 balls to seal victory for their side.

Shadab made a quick-fire 31 off 16, including two sixes and a four, while Conway’s unbeaten half-century featured six fours and a maximum.

For Karachi Kings, Hasan Ali and Moeen Ali picked one wicket each.

Earlier, Reeza Hendricks’ fifty guided Karachi Kings to a 150-6 in 20 overs.

Asked to bat first, the Kings were jolted early in the form of promoted batter Saad Baig. The left-hander holed out to square leg position after scoring six runs.

Following an early blow, Jason Roy — playing for the first time in PSL 11- built a 62-run partnership with Reeza Hendricks.

Roy batted fluently for his 39 off 27 balls and did not look rusty either. The right-hander struck two sixes and three fours. Meanwhile, Hendricks nudged the bowlers around.

Catch all the PSL 11 updates here!

The partnership took the score to 69 in 8.4 overs before Shadab Khan removed Roy, who miscued one and was caught at long-off by Mark Chapman. The third wicket also came in quick time as Salman Ali Agha went back for only four.

With Kings reeling at 77-3, Azam Khan joined hands with Reeza Hendricks and stabilized the innings with a gritty 54-run partnership.

The Kings were ready to go big at the death overs, but Islamabad United’s impressive bowling curtailed the scoring rate.

Azam Khan hit a maximum and three fours on his way to 34 from 29, while Hendricks remained unbeaten on 51 off 44 balls, including four boundaries.

For Islamabad United, Shadab Khan and Richard Gleeson took two wickets each.

READ: PSL 11: Glenn Maxwell creates history with rare T20 milestone

Bernardo Silva will leave Manchester City when his contract expires at the end of the season, the Premier League club announced Thursday as they hailed his “incalculable” contribution to our “greatest sustained period of success”.

The 31-year-old Portuguese playmaker, who is the current club captain, joined City from Monaco for £43 million ($58 million) in 2017.

He has gone on to make over 450 appearances for manager Pep Guardiola’s side, winning 15 major trophies, including six Premier League titles and one Champions League as well as this season’s League Cup.

He has also scored 76 goals and provided 77 assists to date, with Silva also involved as City won the ‘treble’ of Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League in the 2022/23 season.

Silva recently moved into the top 10 of all-time City appearance holders, overtaking several notable former players, including David Silva, Paul Power and Willie Donachie.

“Manchester City can confirm Bernardo Silva will leave the club this summer,” said a City statement.

“Bernardo will now focus on seeking to try and ensure his remaining time at City ends with even more silverware, with Pep Guardiola’s side still very much in the hunt to win both the Premier League title and the FA Cup.

“In short, he will be deservedly remembered both as one of City’s finest and most popular players of all time.”

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Confirming his departure from the Etihad on his Instagram page, Silva wrote: “When I arrived nine years ago, I was following a dream of a little boy, wanting to succeed in life, wanting to achieve great things.

“This city and this club gave me much more than that, much more than I ever hoped for. What we won and achieved together is a legacy that will forever be cherished in my heart.

“The Centurions, the domestic quadruple, the Treble, the Four In A Row and much more… It wasn’t that bad.

“In a few months, it’s time to say goodbye to the city where not only we won so much as a football club, but also where I started my marriage and my family. From the bottom of my heart, Ines and Carlota, thank you!”

Silva, who thanked fans for their “unconditional support” and said he would leave the Etihad as a “Man City supporter for life”, added: “To the club, Pep, the staff and all my team-mates these nine years, thank you for all the memories and for letting me be a part of this journey for so long.

“The atmosphere we created every day in the training ground made me feel at home and a part of a big family. Let’s enjoy together these last weeks and fight for what this season still brings us.”

READ: Liverpool confirm Hugo Ekitike out for season, will miss World Cup

KARACHI: Islamabad United have won the toss and decided to bowl first against Karachi Kings in the 25th match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 here at the National Bank Stadium on Thursday.

Head to Head

Kings and United have played each other 24 times, with the latter winning 18 games, while the 2020 winners secured six wins.

Playing XIs

Karachi Kings: Saad Baig, Jason Roy, Reeza Hendricks, Salman Ali Agha, Moeen Ali (c), Khushdil Shah, Azam Khan (wk), Abbas Afridi, Hassan Ali, Adam Zampa, Mir Hamza

Islamabad United: Mohammad Hasnain, Devon Conway (wk), Faheem Ashraf, Mark Chapman, Chris Green, Muhammad Faiq, Sameer Minhas, Haider Ali, Imad Wasim, Richard Gleeson, Shadab Khan (c)

READ: PSL 11: Glenn Maxwell creates history with rare T20 milestone

KARACHI: Hunain Shah and Mohammad Ali combined to rattle Rawalpindiz batting lineup before Irfan Khan and Kusal Perera took Hyderabad Kingsmen over the line in a nervy chase in the 24th match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11.

Set mere 122, Hyderabad Kingsmen hit the winning runs on the third ball of the 16th over, losing five wickets in the process.

Hyderabad Kingsmen had a similar start to Rawalpindiz, losing the first three wickets inside the powerplay. After an early hiccup, captain Marnus Labuschagne stabilized the innings with a 39-run partnership alongside Kusal Perera.

As a result, the Kingsmen’s scorecard read 68 in nine overs. However, Rawalpindiz came back into the match with quick wickets of Glenn Maxwell and Saad Masood.

Consequently, Hyderabad Kingsmen were in deep trouble with five down for 69, with Irfan Khan and Kusal  Perera at the fore.

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The duo not only soaked up the pressure but stitched a match-winning 54* run partnership to take their side home. Irfan made 34 from 29 balls with the aid of a six and three fours, whereas Perera remained unbeaten on 32 off 24 balls, striking a six and three fours.

For Rawalpindiz, Asif Afridi picked up two wickets.

Earlier, Pindiz were restricted to 121-9 in 20 overs courtesy after being put in to bat first.

Rawalpindiz had a poor start, losing three wickets in the first five overs. Glenn Maxwell laid the first blow in the shape of Usman Khawaja’s wicket, who was bowled for two.

The second wicket was off Mohammad Rizwan, who was bowled by Mohammad Ali. The skipper’s poor form continued as he made 15 from 16 balls.

Hyderabad Kingsmen bowlers squeezed runs and took wickets at regular intervals. None of the opposition batters stayed for a long time. Sam Billings top-scored with 26 from 22 deliveries, striking a four and a six.

For Hyderabad Kingsmen, Hunain Shah and Mohammad Ali shared six wickets between them.

Playing XIs

Hyderabad Kingsmen: Maaz Sadaqat, Marnus Labuschagne (c), Usman Khan (wk), Saim Ayub, Kusal Perera, Glenn Maxwell, Irfan Niazi, Hassan Khan, Asif Mehmood, Hunain Shah, and Mohammad Ali.

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

READ: PSL 11: Glenn Maxwell creates history with rare T20 milestone

KARACHI: Hyderabad Kingsmen all-rounder Glenn Maxwell on Thursday became the second player in T20 cricket history with 10, 000 runs and 200 wickets.

Maxwell reached the milestone during Rawalpindiz clash in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 here at the National Bank Stadium.

The right-arm off-spinner dismissed compatriot Usman Khawa in the third over, marking his 200th wicket in limited-overs cricket. With this, he joined West Indies all-rounder Kieron Pollard as the other player to reach the mark.

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Players with 10,000 runs and 200 wickets in T20 cricket

• Glenn Maxwell 11009 runs, 200 wickets in 505 matches
• Kieron Pollard 14482 runs, 333 wickets in 735 matches

Notably, his 11,009 runs in T20s were scored at a stunning strike rate of 154.12; meanwhile, his 200 wickets have come at an average of just over 30.

The right-handed batter boasts an impressive T20I record, having scored 2897 runs in 129 matches at a remarkable strike rate of 154.42, including five centuries and 12 half-centuries.

His all-round credentials further strengthen his value, with 49 wickets to his name in the format.

Catch all the PSL 11 updates here!

Interestingly, this is Maxwell’s first appearance in the PSL. Yet, despite not producing a standout individual performance so far, his presence seems to have shifted something within the Hyderabad Kingsmen camp.

Before his arrival, the team had lost four matches on the bounce and were struggling at the bottom of the table. However, since Maxwell joined the squad, they have won three consecutive games and climbed to fourth place.

READ: Quetta Gladiators rope in Sri Lanka veteran as Bevon Jacobs replacement

Liverpool followed France in confirming on Thursday that forward Hugo Ekitike will miss the remainder of the Premier League season and the FIFA World Cup 2026 after suffering a serious injury in a Champions League loss to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).

The 23-year-old crumpled in a heap holding his lower right leg during the first half of Liverpool’s 2-0 quarter-final second-leg defeat by European champions PSG at Anfield on Tuesday and had to be substituted.

A brief statement issued by Premier League champions Liverpool on Thursday said scans had subsequently confirmed a “rupture of the Achilles tendon”.

The statement added: “Ekitike will therefore be sidelined for the remaining weeks of the club season and unable to participate at this summer’s World Cup with France.”

Liverpool gave no timescale for Ekitike’s recovery, saying only “further updates will be provided at the appropriate time, with Hugo receiving the full support of everyone at LFC”.

Liverpool’s statement followed Wednesday’s announcement by France coach Didier Deschamps that Ekitike was out of the World Cup.

“Unfortunately, the severity of (Ekitike’s) injury will prevent him from finishing the season with Liverpool and taking part in the World Cup,” Deschamps said in a statement released by the French football federation.

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“This injury is a huge blow for him, of course, but also for the French national team.

“I wanted to express my full support for him, as well as that of the entire coaching staff.”

Ekitike has scored 17 goals in 45 matches in all competitions for Liverpool since arriving at Anfield for a fee of £79 million ($105.5 million) last summer from German side Eintracht Frankfurt.

Since winning his first France cap in a World Cup qualifier in September last year, Ekitike has been a regular, scoring two goals and providing one assist in his eight caps.

“It looks really bad, but difficult for me to say how bad,” Liverpool manager Arne Slot said after Tuesday’s match.

Injuries have been a major factor in a disastrous season for Liverpool as they sit fifth in the Premier League and will end the campaign without silverware.

“Losing a player is something we have had many times this season, but it is especially hard for him because you never want to be injured, especially at this time of the season,” added Slot.

READ: Quetta Gladiators rope in Sri Lanka veteran as Bevon Jacobs replacement

KARACHI: Quetta Gladiators have strengthened their squad for the remainder of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 11 by bringing in experienced Sri Lankan batter Dinesh Chandimal as a replacement for Bevon Jacobs.

Jacobs has left the tournament to join New Zealand’s national squad ahead of their upcoming T20I series against Bangladesh, scheduled to begin on April 27.

The right-handed batter featured in three matches during his debut PSL campaign, scoring 52 runs, including an unbeaten 49 against Multan Sultans.

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Chandimal, a seasoned campaigner in international cricket, is set to arrive in Pakistan later today and will link up with the Gladiators squad immediately.

The wicketkeeper-batter is no stranger to the franchise, having made a brief appearance in the previous edition of the league. He played three matches in PSL 10, scoring 87 runs, with a top score of an unbeaten 48.

At the international level, Chandimal has represented Sri Lanka in 69 T20Is, accumulating 1,066 runs with six half-centuries to his name.

Catch all the PSL 11 updates here!

He was also part of Sri Lanka’s triumphant squad in the 2014 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, adding valuable experience to the Gladiators’ dressing room.

Quetta Gladiators currently sit fifth on the PSL 11 points table, with two wins from six matches.

Quetta Gladiators squad: Saud Shakeel (c), Abrar Ahmed, Usman Tariq, Hasan Nawaz, Shamyl Hussain, Alzarri Joseph, Rilee Rossouw, Ahmed Daniyal, Jahanzaib Sultan, Jahandad Khan, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay, Khan Zeb, Bismillah Khan, Saqib Khan, Ahsaan Ali, Brett Hampton, Sam Harper, Dinesh Chandimal, Ben McDermott, Tom Curran

READ: PSL 11 observes Pink Day to raise breast cancer awareness

KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has dedicated Thursday to a breast cancer awareness initiative during the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 11, marking the occasion as ‘Pink Day’ in a bid to use cricket’s platform for a wider social cause.

The campaign forms part of the board’s corporate social responsibility efforts, aiming to spread awareness about one of the most prevalent health challenges facing women in Pakistan.

In the double-header scheduled for today, Hyderabad Kingsmen will take on Rawalpindiz in the first match at 2.30pm PKT, while Karachi Kings and Islamabad United will go head-to-head in the afternoon game.

“The Pink Day will include a brace of activities and initiatives at the National Bank Stadium. All the players of the four teams in action today, the match officials, the PCB officials, the team owners will wear pink caps and ribbons,” the cricket board said in a statement.

The National Bank Stadium will reflect the theme, with pink stumps and specially designed broadcast graphics reinforcing the message.

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Breast cancer is the most common form of the disease in Pakistan, accounting for 16.5 per cent of all cancer patients in the country, according to the available online surveys.

One in nine women in Pakistan develops breast cancer, putting the country at the highest rate of occurrence in Asia.

It can be cured and addressed better when society comes together to first raise awareness about the disease and then to stand steadfast with the patients and their families.

The PSL and PCB have organised the Pink Day in partnership with the Pink Ribbon Hospital in Lahore, which is Pakistan’s first Breast Cancer Charity Hospital. The PCB and Pink Ribbon Hospital have also arranged free-of-cost screening for women from 13 to 18 April in Lahore.

At 8pm PKT, the Pakistan Cricket fraternity is set to come together to share their messages and thoughts regarding Breast Cancer Awareness on X using the official hashtag of the day #GoPink.

Catch all the PSL 11 updates here!

The fans are also encouraged to express their views and thoughts regarding the Pink Day using the official hashtag.

In a notable gesture, Pakistan women’s team captain Fatima Sana, along with players Syeda Aroob Shah, Rameen Shamim and Muneeba Ali, will participate in pre-match activities to further highlight the importance of the cause.

PSL Chief Executive Officer Salman Naseer emphasised the league’s commitment to social impact, stating that the platform provides a powerful opportunity to educate the public and stand in solidarity with those affected.

“The HBL Pakistan Super League takes a lot of pride in standing up to raise awareness around breast cancer. Through the vehicle of sport and the sheer popularity of the HBL PSL as a brand, the PCB aims to go above and beyond to fulfil its corporate social responsibility,” he said.

“Through the HBL PSL 11 and this specially arranged Pink Day, we want to not only educate the masses about the disease but also to send out a strong message of solidarity to the patients, their families and the loved ones. We are thankful to the Pink Ribbon Hospital and the whole cricket fraternity for coming together to weave a net of security and empathy for women suffering from this disease in our society.”

READ: Rilee Rossouw sets PSL record during Peshawar Zalmi clash

Arsenal reached the Champions League semi-finals after riding their luck in a nervous goalless draw against Sporting Lisbon that clinched a 1-0 aggregate victory on Wednesday.

Mikel Arteta’s team were well below their best in the quarter-final second leg at the Emirates Stadium. But they held onto their slender first-leg advantage as Sporting failed to make them pay for the latest in a growing list of angst-ridden performances.

The Gunners will face Atletico Madrid for a place in the final after the Spanish club went through 3-2 on aggregate against Barcelona on Tuesday.

Arsenal crushed Atletico 4-0 in the group stage at the Emirates in October, but they will have to improve significantly to reach the final for the first time since 2006.

Arsenal have reached the Champions semi-finals in two consecutive seasons for the first time in their history.

Yet after losing three of their last five games in all competitions and winning just once, they remain a puzzling side in the midst of an untimely stumble.

Arteta had challenged Arsenal to play with “pure fire” and “zero fear” in an unusually passionate press conference on Tuesday.

The response was hardly emphatic as Arsenal quickly retreated into their shell in another display lacking cohesion and quality in the final third.

Arsenal haven’t lifted the Premier League since 2004 and have never won the Champions League.

The Premier League leaders are on course to achieve both targets, but the flaws in Arteta’s side have become increasingly clear in recent weeks.

Losing the League Cup final against Manchester City and the FA Cup quarter-final against second-tier Southampton was bad enough.

But a shock 2-1 home defeat against Bournemouth in the Premier League on Saturday left Arteta facing pointed questions about Arsenal’s character that remain unanswered.

Arsenal are just six points ahead of second-placed City, who have a game in hand and host the Gunners in a seismic showdown on Sunday.

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The north Londoners have finished Premier League runners-up for the past three seasons, twice blowing substantial leads to City in 2023 and 2024, and the nerves are mounting.

Responding to Arteta’s call for a fiery performance, Arsenal pressed furiously in the opening 10 minutes but couldn’t make the breakthrough.

Once that initial assault petered out, Arsenal wobbled at the back, and William Saliba’s wayward pass led to Francisco Trincao curling wide from the edge of the area.

Former Sporting striker Viktor Gyokeres has endured an erratic debut season with Arsenal, and once again, he struggled to make an impact.

Gyokeres had only one serious sight of goal after a burst into the Sporting six-yard box, but he didn’t get his shot off in time and Goncalo Inacio’s tackle snuffed out the danger.

Without the injured Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard, Arsenal were too often slow and unambitious in attack.

They grew increasingly edgy in a first half played out to a soundtrack of anxious groans from their frustrated fans.

Gunners ‘keeper David Raya nearly gifted Sporting a goal with a woeful pass that was intercepted by Trincao, whose miscued attempt to find Luis Suarez in the penalty area let Arsenal off the hook.

Geny Catamo was inches away from punishing Arsenal’s lethargy when he volleyed against the far post from an acute angle just before half-time.

Eberechi Eze’s drive whistled narrowly wide after the interval, before Gabriel Martinelli blasted just over and Noni Madueke shot into the side-netting.

Arteta responded by sending on Kai Havertz for Gyokeres, while Max Dowman replaced the injured Madueke.

Sporting appealed in vain for a penalty after Cristhian Mosquera’s slight push on Maxi Araujo.

Arsenal were creaking, but they held firm as Arteta breathed a sigh of relief.

READ: Bayern Munich sink Real Madrid to reach Champions League semis

Late strikes from Luis Diaz and Michael Olise sealed a dramatic 4–3 win for Bayern Munich over Real Madrid on Wednesday, clinching a 6–4 aggregate victory and setting up a Champions League semi-final with holders Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).

The tie was level at the break in the second leg after a scintillating opening half, with record 15-time European champions Real going ahead three times on the night.

Bayern won 2-1 last week in the Spanish capital, but Arda Guler pounced on a loose Manuel Neuer pass to put the visitors ahead after just 34 seconds at the Allianz Arena. He scored again from a free-kick after Aleksandar Pavlovic equalised.

Harry Kane put Bayern back ahead in the tie only for Kylian Mbappe to restore parity overall when he put Madrid 3-2 up before half-time.

Eduardo Camavinga was sent off for a second yellow card with four minutes left, and Bayern pushed forward, Diaz blasting into the corner from outside the box after a crucial deflection.

With Real pressing for an equaliser, Olise curled in a magnificent shot to rubberstamp Bayern’s ticket to the last four and keep alive their quest for a seventh European crown. They will head to Luis Enrique’s PSG at the end of the month.

Tempers boiled over after the final whistle, with Guler picking up a straight red for confronting the referee.

The defeat for Real Madrid effectively ended their season as they look set to finish without a major trophy for the second year running. Barcelona hold a nine-point lead in La Liga and Real suffered a shock last-16 exit in the Copa del Rey.

For the first time in Real’s long history in the Champions League, their starting XI did not contain a single Spanish player. Jude Bellingham, who impressed off the bench in the first leg, was one of four changes to the line-up made by Arbeloa.

Neuer, widely lauded after a vintage performance in Madrid, gifted Real an opener. The Bayern goalkeeper miscued a pass directly to Guler, who floated a first-touch shot into the unguarded goal in the first minute.

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Bayern Munich looked stunned but struck back almost immediately when Pavlovic headed in a Kimmich corner after Real goalkeeper Andriy Lunin failed to read the flight of the ball.

The match had barely time to settle before Real were ahead once more thanks to a Guler goal, with Neuer again not at his best.

The Turkey international whipped a free-kick into the top corner which Neuer got a hand to but was unable to keep out.

The match continued to swing back and forth before the break, as Kane struck first before Mbappe responded by getting himself on the scoresheet.

Kane slotted clinically into the bottom corner in the 38th minute to again haul Bayern level on the night, and ahead in the tie, before Mbappe ran onto a Vinicius Junior pass and slotted home to level the tie 4-4 on aggregate.

With Real regularly cutting into Bayern’s high line, coach Vincent Kompany responded by introducing the pace of Alphonso Davies at the interval.

Both sides traded chances in the second half, with Olise particularly dangerous, forcing a fingertip save from Lunin with 20 minutes left.

Camavinga came on midway through the half but picked up two yellow cards in quick succession to leave his team a man down in the closing stages.

It proved a turning point as Bayern Munich struck three minutes later when Diaz’s effort took a touch off Eder Militao and flashed beyond Lunin.

Olise made certain of Bayern’s progress deep into stoppage time as the German giants took down Real in a knockout clash for the first time since 2012.

READ: Longtime Messi friend Guillermo Hoyos unveiled as Inter Miami coach