Category: Sports

LAHORE: A composed late assault from Moeen Ali, followed by a decisive four-wicket haul from Hasan Ali, powered Karachi Kings to a hard-fought 14-run victory over Quetta Gladiators in a thrilling Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 11 clash at the Gaddafi Stadium on Friday.

Defending a competitive 182-run target, Karachi held their nerve to restrict Quetta to 167-7 despite a blazing start from the Gladiators’ top order.

Chasing the total, Quetta came out aggressively as opener Shamyl Hussain and captain Saud Shakeel stitched together a rapid 79-run stand in just seven overs.

Hussain led the charge with a scintillating 52 off 24 deliveries, laced with boundaries all around the park, before his dismissal triggered a shift in momentum.

The Kings struck back quickly through Salman Ali Agha and Adam Zampa, removing Hussain, Khawaja Nafay (3) and Shakeel in quick succession. Shakeel managed a steady 33 off 25 balls but struggled to maintain the required tempo.

A brief rebuilding effort from Rilee Rossouw and Hasan Nawaz added 29 runs, but the innings never truly regained control.

Hasan Ali then turned the contest decisively in Karachi’s favour with a match-defining penultimate over, dismissing Nawaz before removing Tom Curran and Ahmed Daniyal in quick succession.

Despite a late cameo from Ben McDermott (25*), Quetta fell short as Karachi Kings closed out a tense finish.

Hasan Ali finished as the standout performer with figures of 4-27, while Zampa, Moeen and Agha bagged one wicket each.

Earlier, Karachi Kings posted 181-7 after being put into bat, thanks to Moeen Ali’s quick cameo.

The Kings endured an early setback when Muhammad Waseem was dismissed for a three-ball duck in the opening over, leaving the side reeling at 3-1.

Catch all the PSL 11 updates here!

Salman Ali Agha and captain David Warner then steadied the innings with a 41-run stand. Agha struck a quickfire 22 off just 10 deliveries before being trapped lbw by Ahmed Daniyal.

Warner then anchored the innings alongside Saad Baig, adding 43 runs for the third wicket. Baig’s 30 off 23 balls ended at the hands of Daniyal, while Warner followed soon after with a measured 35 from 22 deliveries, featuring four boundaries and a six, as Karachi slipped to 100-4 midway through the innings.

The middle order, however, struggled to build sustained momentum. Azam Khan fell for 14 after being bowled by Usman Tariq, leaving the Kings in need of a late surge.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

That impetus came through Moeen Ali, who took control in the latter stages of the innings. He forged a crucial 39-run partnership with Khushdil Shah (12) before accelerating in the death overs.

Moeen remained unbeaten on a fluent 48 off 29 deliveries, striking four fours and three sixes, ensuring Karachi finished strongly at 181-7.

For Quetta Gladiators, Ahmed Daniyal was the standout performer with the ball, claiming three wickets for 36 runs in his four overs. Alzarri Joseph provided solid support with two wickets, while Usman Tariq and Abrar Ahmed chipped in with one apiece.

READ: Argentina head coach opens up on Messi’s 2026 World Cup participation

Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni has confirmed that captain Lionel Messi is yet to make a final call on his participation in the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026, with just over 80 days remaining before the defending champions begin their title defence.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Scaloni made it clear that while he is keen to have Messi lead the side once again, the ultimate decision rests solely with the player.

“As far as I’m concerned, you already know where I stand,” Scaloni said.

“I’ll do everything I can to make sure he’s there. I believe that, for the sake of football, he has to be there. It’s not me who decides. It’s up to him, his state of mind, his physical condition.”

The Argentina boss stressed that Messi has earned the right to take his time and decide his international future without external pressure, adding that the team will respect whatever choice he makes.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Messi, who captained Argentina to World Cup glory in 2022 and won the Golden Ball, remains the country’s all-time leading scorer with 115 international goals. His potential participation in the 2026 edition, set to be hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico, continues to be a major talking point in world football.

Scaloni also highlighted the global anticipation surrounding Messi’s decision, noting that fans across the world, not just in Argentina, are eager to see the iconic forward grace the tournament once again.

Despite the uncertainty over the World Cup, Messi is expected to feature in Argentina’s upcoming international friendlies against Mauritania and Zambia at the iconic La Bombonera, although it remains unclear whether he will start.

Meanwhile, a proposed Finalissima clash between Argentina and Spain in Qatar has been shelved due to the ongoing geopolitical situation in the Middle East.

READ: Klopp hails Salah as one of Liverpool’s ‘all-time greats’

LAHORE: Quetta Gladiators have won the toss and decided to bowl first against Karachi Kings in the second match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 11 here at Gaddafi Stadium on Friday. 

PLAYING XIs

Karachi Kings: David Warner (c), Muhammad Waseem, Salman Ali Agha, Saad Baig, Moeen Ali, Azam Khan (wk), Khushdil Shah, Shahid Aziz, Hasan Ali, Adam Zampa and Mir Hamza.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Quetta Gladiators: Saud Shakeel (c), Shamyl Hussain, Rilee Rossouw, Hassan Nawaz, Khawaja Nafay, Ben McDermott (wk), Tom Curran, Ahmed Daniyal, Alzarri Joseph, Abrar Ahmed and Usman Tariq.

HEAD TO HEAD

Karachi and Quetta have faced each other in 20 matches, with the latter holding a lead with 13 victories. Meanwhile, the Kings have secured seven wins.

Matches 20, Karachi Kings 7, Quetta Gladiators 13

LAHORE: Karachi Kings fast bowler Abbas Afridi has set his sights on delivering another impactful season as he aims to play a key role in the franchise’s title push in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11.

Speaking ahead of the team’s opening match against Quetta Gladiators, Abbas expressed his desire to replicate last year’s performances and contribute significantly to the team’s success.

“My goal for PSL 11 is simple: to perform the way I did last season and deliver consistent performances for my team,” Abbas said.

The right-arm pacer was instrumental in Karachi Kings’ campaign in PSL 10, where the side reached the playoffs under the captaincy of David Warner.

Catch all the PSL 11 updates here!

In his debut season for the franchise, Abbas picked up 17 wickets in 11 matches at an average of 23.52, emerging as one of the team’s key bowlers.

Reflecting on the team environment, Abbas Afridi highlighted the positive morale within the squad and the collective ambition to lift the trophy.

“The team’s morale is high. We will try to give our best performances and aim to win the PSL title this season,” he added.

Abbas emphasized that his primary focus remains on his bowling, with the objective of contributing to the team’s victories through strong individual performances.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

“My focus is on my bowling, to perform as well as I can and play my part in the team’s success,” he said.

The 24-year-old also backed Karachi Kings to make the most of their home conditions, pointing out the familiarity and advantage it brings.

“Karachi is our home ground, and the conditions suit us. InshaAllah, we will try to deliver strong performances there,” he noted.

Abbas further underlined his personal ambition for the season, making his intentions clear ahead of PSL 11.

“My personal goal is to help Karachi Kings win the title with my bowling,” he concluded.

READ: PSL 11: Peshawar Zalmi appoint Azhar Ali as fielding coach

LAHORE: Former champions Peshawar Zalmi have bolstered their coaching setup for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 11 by appointing former national captain Azhar Ali as their fielding coach.

The franchise confirmed the development through their official social media platforms shortly after the tournament opener, welcoming the experienced batter into their setup for the upcoming edition.

“We are pleased to welcome Azhar Ali, former Pakistan captain, as our fielding coach for PSL 11,” the franchise announced.

Highlighting his credentials, Zalmi added, “Armed with a compact technique and immense patience, Azhar Ali brings a composed and disciplined approach, along with vast international experience that will strengthen our fielding unit and elevate our intensity on the field. We are delighted to have you join the Zalmi family as we continue to raise the bar.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Peshawar Zalmi (@peshawarzalmipk)

Peshawar Zalmi are set to begin their campaign against tournament debutants Rawalpindiz on Saturday at the Gaddafi Stadium.

Despite his long and decorated international career, Azhar’s involvement in the PSL as a player was limited to the inaugural edition, where he represented Lahore Qalandars.

He featured in seven matches, scoring 183 runs at a strike rate of 106.39, including one half-century, while also leading the side during that season.

READ: Marnus Labuschagne breaks silence on Maaz Sadaqat’s exclusion

World number one and defending champion Aryna Sabalenka powered past second-ranked Elena Rybakina 6-4, 6-3 on Thursday to line up a Miami Open title clash with Coco Gauff.

Sabalenka, who fell to Rybakina in the Australian Open final before turning the tables on the Kazakh in the Indian Wells title match earlier this month, broke the big-serving Rybakina twice in each set to come out on top in the blockbuster semi-final and keep her bid for the “Sunshine Double” of Indian Wells and Miami on track.

“I think I did everything right,” said Sabalenka, who applied ruthless pressure on Rybakina’s serve while delivering a sterling service performance that featured nine aces — including four in a row across the seventh and ninth games of the opening set.

“She’s an incredible player, always pushes me to the limit,” Sabalenka said. “With her, you have to bring your best tennis, and that’s why I was able to pull out such great tennis today.”

Sabalenka had to save a match point to beat Rybakina in Indian Wells, but she was on the front foot on Thursday, seizing a break for a 3-1 lead in the opening set.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Rybakina recouped the break immediately, but Sabalenka broke again to pocket the set and took command in the second with a break for 2-0 in a game which Rybakina led 40-0.

Trailing 0-4, Rybakina clawed back a break for 4-1, but Sabalenka wouldn’t flinch again. Rybakina saved one match point on her own serve before Sabalenka served it out with a love game punctuated by a fierce forehand winner.

The match marked the first time outside the WTA Finals that the world’s two top-ranked players met before a final since Martina Hingis and Jana Novotna in the 1998 US Open semi-finals.

It could only come about because Rybakina was seeded third, her rise to second in the rankings on Monday coming a day after the Miami draw was made.

READ: Klopp hails Salah as one of Liverpool’s ‘all-time greats’

Jurgen Klopp believes Mohamed Salah will leave Liverpool as one of the “all-time greats”, with his “unmatched numbers” likely to prove tough to top for future generations at Anfield.

Egypt forward Salah announced on Tuesday he would bring the curtain down on a brilliant nine years with Liverpool at the end of the season.

The 33-year-old arrived from Roma in 2017 and has made 435 appearances for Liverpool to date, scoring 255 goals to be third on the club’s list of all-time goalscorers behind Ian Rush and Roger Hunt.

“In the moment when you work with him, it is the same as every other player: ‘You can’t lose the ball here, you have to defend here’, all these kind of things,” Klopp told the Anfield Wrap on Thursday.

“But with the bigger view, it is just ridiculous. Unmatched numbers — will we be talking in 10 years and someone else has them? (Hugo) Ekitike or whoever. I think it will be really difficult (to surpass Salah).

“I think he is one of the all-time greats.”

Under Klopp, Salah won the Champions League, Premier League, three domestic cups, the UEFA Super Cup, and the Club World Cup.

The bulk of those trophies came with Salah on the right of a front three also featuring Brazilian Roberto Firmino and Senegal’s Sadio Mane.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Together, the trio scored 338 goals in five seasons. Mohamed Salah led the way with 156 of those goals,  49 more than Mane and 81 ahead of Firmino.

“He (Salah) was part of the best front three in world football for a long time — the one with the most numbers. That says something,” said Klopp.

“It is not easy to be slightly above the other two guys. They all had their specific skills, but Mo was the one for the final moment. He wanted it more than anybody.”

Klopp stunned Liverpool fans two years ago by announcing he would resign at the end of the 2023/24 season after “running out of energy”.

He went on to receive an emotional farewell from the Anfield faithful following his last game in charge, at home to Wolves.

Klopp now hopes Salah gets a similar reception come his last game for Liverpool.

“We (Salah and Klopp) texted last night,” said the former Reds boss. “I really hope he enjoys the rest of the season. I know Mo will only enjoy it if he is winning football games and scoring.

“I hope on this last matchday you (Liverpool fans) all will have a smile on your face and just be happy and thankful that you were part of one of the most incredible careers we will ever be part of.”

READ: Marnus Labuschagne breaks silence on Maaz Sadaqat’s exclusion

LAHORE: Hyderabad Kingsmen captain Marnus Labuschagne has clarified the absence of promising youngster Maaz Sadaqat from his side’s playing XI in their Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 opener, confirming the batter was ruled out due to injury.

The Kingsmen made their much-anticipated debut against defending champions Lahore Qalandars at the Gaddafi Stadium on Thursday but endured a difficult start, suffering a heavy 69-run defeat.

However, the omission of Maaz Sadaqat, one of Pakistan’s most talked-about emerging talents, drew significant attention even before the first ball was bowled.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

The top-order batter, known for his aggressive stroke play and useful spin bowling, has been making headlines following his performances for Pakistan Shaheens and his recent ODI debut.

Addressing the situation in the post-match press conference, Labuschagne confirmed that the youngster was unavailable due to a side strain.

“Yeah, he was injured with… I don’t know if I’m meant to say what sort of injury that was,” Labuschagne said.
“A side. He had a side strain. I don’t know the severity, but hopefully we’ll have him back very soon.”

Catch all the PSL 11 updates here!

Hyderabad’s struggles on the field only amplified the impact of his absence, as their batting unit faltered in pursuit of a daunting 200-run target.

Labuschagne himself top-scored with a cautious 26 off 22 deliveries, while Riley Meredith contributed an unbeaten 19 from the lower order. Apart from them, only Saim Ayub (17), Hammad Azam (10) and Mohammad Ali (10) managed to reach double figures in an underwhelming chase, as the Kingsmen were bundled out for 130.

READ: Dominant Lahore Qalandars thump Hyderabad Kingsmen in PSL 11 opener

LAHORE: Defending champions Lahore Qalandars began their Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 campaign in commanding fashion, registering a comprehensive 69-run victory over debutants Hyderabad Kingsmen at the Gaddafi Stadium on Thursday.

Chasing a daunting 200-run target in their maiden PSL outing, the Kingsmen never found momentum and were eventually bowled out for 130 in their 20 overs.

Captain Marnus Labuschagne top-scored for Hyderabad with a modest 26 off 22 deliveries, while No.9 batter Riley Meredith remained unbeaten on 19.

Apart from them, only Saim Ayub (17), Hammad Azam (10) and Mohammad Ali (10) managed to reach double figures in an otherwise underwhelming chase.

Catch all the PSL 11 updates here!

For Lahore, the bowling effort was evenly shared, with Haris Rauf, Sikandar Raza and Ubaid Shah claiming two wickets apiece, while Mustafizur Rahman and skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi chipped in with one each.

Earlier, opting to bat first, Lahore Qalandars posted an imposing 199-6, thanks largely to a fluent half-century from Fakhar Zaman and a strong finish from the middle order.

The hosts made a flying start as Fakhar and Mohammad Naeem stitched together an 84-run opening stand, putting immediate pressure on the Kingsmen bowlers.

Naeem’s brisk 30 off 19 balls, featuring four boundaries and a six, set the tone before he was dismissed by Hassan Khan in the ninth over.

The innings, however, briefly lost momentum as Lahore suffered a mini-collapse, losing Abdullah Shafique to a run-out and then Fakhar shortly after he completed his half-century. The left-hander remained the standout performer, scoring 53 off 39 deliveries, laced with nine fours.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

A steady 37-run stand between Haseebullah Khan and Parvez Hossain Emon helped stabilise the innings before the latter departed for 14.

Lahore then accelerated in the death overs, with Haseebullah combining with Sikandar Raza for a quick 45-run partnership. Raza provided the late impetus with a 10-ball 24, striking two sixes and two fours, while Haseebullah remained unbeaten on a well-crafted 40 off 28 deliveries.

Cameos from Asif Ali (9) and Shaheen Afridi (12 not out) ensured the Qalandars finished just one run short of the 200-mark.

For Hyderabad, Riley Meredith and Hassan Khan picked up two wickets each, while Mohammad Ali accounted for one dismissal.

READ: PSL 11 final squads revealed

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) said on Thursday it was reintroducing testing for gender, starting from the 2028 Los Angeles Games, to determine eligibility to compete in the female category, preventing transgender women from competing.

The screening will mean Olympic women’s sports at the 2028 Los Angeles Games will be limited to biological females, which would also rule out those with differences in sexual development (DSD) from competing.

The IOC is abandoning rules it brought in in 2021 which allowed individual federations to decide their own policy and implementing a policy across all sports.

“Eligibility for any female category event at the Olympic Games or any other IOC event, including individual and team sports, is now limited to biological females, determined on the basis of a one‑time SRY gene screening,” the IOC said in a statement.

The test will be carried out through a saliva sample, cheek swab or blood sample.

IOC president Kirsty Coventry said: “The policy we have announced is based on science and has been led by medical experts.

“At the Olympic Games, even the smallest margins can be the difference between victory and defeat.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

“So it is absolutely clear that it would not be fair for biological males to compete in the female category. In addition, in some sports it would simply not be safe.”

The IOC is bringing in the new policy after the women’s boxing competition at the 2024 Paris Olympics was rocked by a gender row involving Algerian fighter Imane Khelif and Lin Yu-ting of Taiwan.

Khelif and Lin were excluded from the International Boxing Association’s 2023 world championships after the IBA said they had failed eligibility tests.

However, the IOC allowed them both to compete at the Paris Games, saying they had been victims of “a sudden and arbitrary decision by the IBA”.

Both boxers went on to win gold medals.

Lin has since been cleared to compete in the female category at events run by World Boxing, the body that will oversee the sport at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Gender testing was first introduced at the 1968 Olympics and last used at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta but then scrapped after criticism from the scientific community.

READ: ‘Get out’: Max Verstappen removes reporter from Japan press conference