Category: Sports

Australia’s ace pacers Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood are likely to miss start of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 due to Cricket Australia’s (CA) workload management plan.

According to a report by Cricinfo, CA will be monitoring the workloads of their ace fast bowlers ahead of a packed international calendar.

Their unavailability means (Mitchell Starc) Delhi Capitals and (Josh Hazlewood) Royal Challengers Bangalore will be without their services, adding to the growing list of Australian cricketers who are not available for part or all of the upcoming season.

Pat Cummins will also miss the start of the IPL, as Ishan Kishan has been named as the captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Jack Edwards (Sunrisers Hyderabad) was completely ruled out on Friday, and Nathan Ellis (Chennai Super Kings) is also expected to be sidelined due to a hamstring injury.

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Cummins featured in one Ashes Test in the Australian summer due to a stress injury, while Hazlewood was ruled out of the entire Ashes and T20 World Cup 2026.

Mitchell Starc, who topped the wickets charts in the Ashes and played all five Tests, is already retired from T20Is. Hence, he was not part of the Australia squad that exited the group stage. Cummins and Hazlewood missed the mega as well.

For those unware, Australia will play up to 21 Tests from August 2026 to July 2027.

The IPL 2026 will run from March 28 to late May.

READ: PSL 11 trophy reaches Lahore as part of tour

Mikel Arteta has urged his Arsenal team to “bring it home” as he prepares for Sunday’s League Cup final against Manchester City, desperate to shed the Gunners’ tag as nearly men.

Arsenal are on course for an unprecedented quadruple, nine points clear of second-placed City in the Premier League and with favourable quarter-final draws in the Champions League and FA Cup.

But without a trophy for six years and after three consecutive second-placed finishes in the Premier League, Arteta acknowledged his side must prove they can get over the line.

“When it comes to the crucial moments and when it comes to the moment to attack a trophy and take it and bring it home, that’s when you need your big players to step up and make the difference,” he said at his pre-match press conference.

The Spaniard said the Wembley final would be one of the “defining moments” of Arsenal’s season, expressing his confidence that his side can triumph.

“At the end of the day, it is about whether you win the trophy or not,” he added. “That is the most important thing once you get to the final.

“But in order to be there you have to do a lot of things. There are a lot of things the team has done so far, but we need to prove that point, that’s clear, and it has to be done on the pitch.”

Arteta has transformed Arsenal’s fortunes since leaving his job as Pep Guardiola’s assistant at City to take charge at the Emirates in 2019.

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But he has won just one major trophy during his reign — leading his team to FA Cup glory in 2020 at an empty Wembley during coronavirus restrictions.

Guardiola said in his own pre-match press conference his relationship with Arteta had changed over time, but played down talk of any friction now they are title rivals.

The Arsenal boss said he is forever grateful for the opportunity he had to learn alongside Guardiola early in his coaching career.

“The fact we are never together and can never spend time together is important in our relationship, but it is not the most important,” said Arteta.

“How I feel about him and the time we had together and what he did for me, the inspiration he’s been… that is never going to change.”

Arteta hopes captain Martin Odegaard and Jurrien Timber will be fit enough for Wembley after missing the 2-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen in midweek due to injury.

And he refused to confirm who would start in goal.

Guardiola said James Trafford will keep his place for City instead of number one Gianluigi Donnarumma after starting all his side’s domestic cup games this season.

Kepa Arrizabalaga has been Arsenal’s goalkeeper in domestic cup competitions, but plays second fiddle to David Raya in the Premier League and Champions League.

READ: PSL 11 trophy reaches Lahore as part of tour

LAHORE: Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 trophy ‘Infinity’ arrived here on Friday as part of a nationwide tour ahead of the landmark Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11.

The historic season 11 is scheduled to be played from March 26 to May 3 across six venues in the country.

The trophy was displayed at Minar-e-Pakistan and Lahore Fort, creating a buzz among cricket fans.

The silverware will be transported to Hyderabad on Friday, where it is planned to be displayed at Niaz Stadium and various other spots throughout the city.

For those unaware, the glittering silverware was unveiled at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi last week.

The trophy showcases an elegant, modern design with a tall, sleek golden structure emerging from a round base.

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The central section features sparkling stones or crystals in vertical arrangements, creating a glittering effect when lit. Two curved golden arms rise from the sides and converge at the top.

The top of the trophy features a prominent crescent and star, drawing inspiration from Pakistan’s national flag.

The crescent features small crystals embedded within, and a polished metallic star rests just above it, forming a visually striking and symbolic crown.

The trophy’s base is gold-plated and sits on a black cylindrical pedestal featuring PSL branding.

The 11th edition of the tournament will be played from March 26 to May 3 across six venues in Pakistan.

Overall, 44 matches will be played in the tournament, with the opening match scheduled between the defending champions, Lahore Qalandars, and Hyderabad Kingsmen, making their debut.

READ: Gautam Gambhir moves to court over AI misuse

India cricket team head coach Gautam Gambhir has submitted a petition in the Delhi High Court over alleged use of his identity through Artificial Intelligence (AI) and deepfake technology.

According to Indian news outlets, Gambhir has stated in his petition that his name, voice, image, and overall persona have been widely exploited across social media platforms and e-commerce websites without his consent.

The plea submitted against 16 defendants, including social media accounts, intermediaries, and e-commerce platforms, requests a permanent ban from using or commercialising his identity without authorisation.

Gautam Gambhir has also sought interim relief, requesting that the court order the takedown of all infringing content and prevent its further circulation.

Moreover, the 44-year-old is also seeking damages of Rs25 million.

According to the petition, there has been a notable increase in false digital content created with AI tools such as face-swapping and voice cloning at the end of 2025.

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The plea mentioned several fake videos that falsely depict him announcing his resignation and making fabricated remarks about senior cricketers.

These videos have reportedly garnered millions of views, diverting the public and damaging his reputation.

Gambhir further alleged that his identity has been commercially exploited through the sale of unauthorised merchandise online without any licensing or approval.

He argued that his persona has been “weaponised” by anonymous accounts to spread misinformation and generate revenue, raising serious concerns about dignity and legal protection in the AI era.

The petition also invokes provisions of the Copyright Act, the Trade Marks Act, and the Commercial Courts Act, while relying on judicial precedents recognising personality and publicity rights.

READ: PSL 11: Javed Afridi confirms full availability of Peshawar Zalmi’s overseas players

Injured Cristiano Ronaldo has been left out of the Portugal squad to play pre-World Cup friendlies against tournament co-hosts Mexico and the United States later this month.

The 41-year-old has not played for his Saudi club Al-Nassr since the end of February but Portugal coach Roberto Martinez insisted that Ronaldo’s participation at what would be a record sixth World Cup was “not at risk”.

“It’s a minor injury,” Martinez said at a press conference, adding that the five-time Ballon d’Or winner could be back “within one or two weeks”.

“Everything Cristiano has done physically during this season shows that he’s going through an excellent spell and that there are no physical problems.

“At the World Cup, the centre-forward position will be for Cristiano Ronaldo and Goncalo Ramos. We are looking for a third striker with a different profile.”

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Portugal will face Mexico on Saturday, March 28, in Mexico City, and the United States three days later in Atlanta.

“This is the last chance to experiment, because it’s the final training camp before the World Cup squad is named,” said Martinez.

At the World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada from June 11 to July 19, Portugal have been drawn in Group K with Colombia and Uzbekistan.

The other team in this group will come from a play-off that could see New Caledonia, Jamaica, or the Democratic Republic of Congo qualify.

READ: Liverpool dealt Salah blow in Champions League race

Mohamed Salah will miss Liverpool’s trip to Brighton on Saturday with a muscle injury — a major blow for manager Arne Slot as he hunts a Champions League place next season.

The Egypt forward was forced off at Anfield on Wednesday after scoring in Liverpool’s 4-0 victory against Galatasary, which sealed their place in the quarter-finals of this year’s Champions League.

In-form Mohamed Salah, 33, has scored in three of his past four starts after an uncharacteristic lean spell.

“It’s unusual,” Slot said at his pre-match press conference on Friday. “As a result of that I think you can expect the outcome. So, (he’s) not available for tomorrow.”

Slot gave no timeframe for Salah’s recovery.

“The good thing for Liverpool and for us is that we go to an international break,” he said. “The bad thing for Egypt is that he can’t go there.

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“We are hoping also with what Mo has shown in the past that he can recover faster than other players might in similar situations because he takes such good care of his body. History has shown that he can be earlier back than some others.

“But it’s only two weeks until we go again so let’s hope in that period of time he can be back.”

Salah, who is rarely absent through injury, is firmly back in the fold at Anfield after a dramatic fallout with Slot earlier in the season, when he was dropped for several games.

Despite his recent good form, the Egypt forward has scored just five Premier League goals this season, compared with 29 in Liverpool’s title-winning campaign in 2024/25.

Slot, whose team dropped valuable points in a 1-1 draw against Tottenham last week, admitted his side were not sharp enough in attack.

“We’re struggling to score goals,” said the Dutchman. “Not that we don’t score them, but with all the chances we create, it’s unbelievable that we don’t score, especially looking at the quality we have up front and throughout the whole team.”

Liverpool are fifth in the Premier League, two points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa, with the top five teams almost certain to qualify for next season’s Champions League.

Slot’s men face Manchester City in the FA Cup quarter-finals on April 4 and will meet defending champions Paris Saint-Germain in the last eight of the Champions League.

READ: PSL 11: Javed Afridi confirms full availability of Peshawar Zalmi’s overseas players

Peshawar Zalmi owner Javed Afridi has put an end to speculation surrounding the availability of key overseas players ahead of the upcoming Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 11, confirming that all contracted foreign stars will be available for the full tournament.

In a recent Instagram Q&A session, Afridi dismissed widespread reports suggesting limited participation of several players.

Rumours had indicated that Nahid Rana would feature only in the initial matches, Aaron Hardie might miss the season entirely, while Kusal Mendis and Michael Bracewell were expected to be unavailable for parts of the competition.

However, Afridi categorically rejected those claims with a brief but clear response, confirming that all four players will be available throughout the tournament.

The development comes as a significant boost for Zalmi, who are aiming to mount a strong campaign in the expanded eight-team edition of the league, scheduled to run from March 26 to May 3.

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Adding to the excitement, Zalmi are also set to mark a historic milestone this season. For the first time, the franchise will play a home fixture in Peshawar, with the Imran Khan Stadium hosting its maiden PSL match.

The landmark encounter is scheduled for March 28, when Zalmi will take on Rawalpindiz in an afternoon clash.

Led by Babar Azam, Zalmi’s squad features a mix of international experience and domestic talent, including names such as Hardie, Bracewell, Mendis, James Vince and Iftikhar Ahmed.

Peshawar Zalmi squad for PSL 11

Babar Azam (c), Sufiyan Muqeem, Abdul Samad, Ali Raza, Aaron Hardie, Aamir Jamal, Mohammad Haris, Khalid Usman, Abdul Subhan, James Vince, Michael Bracewell, Kusal Mendis, Iftikhar Ahmed, Nahid Rana, Mirza Tahir Baig, Shahnawaz Dahani, Farhan Yousaf, Muhammad Basit and Shoriful Islam.

READ: PSL 11 squads locked in as trade window closes

The squads for all eight franchises competing in Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 11 have been finalised following the conclusion of the week-long trade window, setting the stage for the historic eight-team tournament.

The window, which opened on March 12, allowed teams to reshuffle combinations through player trades, direct signings and replacements under the league’s regulations.

It proved particularly active for Multan Sultans, who were involved in multiple deals across franchises.

Multan completed a player swap with Quetta Gladiators, bringing in Ahmed Daniyal and Jahanzaib Sultan in exchange for Faisal Akram and Arafat Minhas.

They also secured Mohammad Wasim Jr from Islamabad United, while sending Salman Mirza and Nisar Ahmed the other way.

In a separate move, the Sultans executed a player-for-money trade, transferring emerging all-rounder Saad Masood to RawalPindiz for PKR 500,000.

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Franchises were permitted three types of trades during the window: player-for-player, player-for-money, and hybrid deals, giving teams flexibility to fine-tune their squads ahead of the new season.

Beyond trades, several teams strengthened their line-ups through direct signings.

Multan added all-rounder Imran Randhawa, while Peshawar Zalmi brought in U19 captain Farhan Yousuf alongside Bangladesh pacer Shoriful Islam.

Injury replacements also saw movement, with Lahore Qalandars and RawalPindiz drafting in Shahab Khan and Jalat Khan respectively.

PSL 11 marks a historic expansion to eight teams, with new entrants RawalPindiz and Hyderabad Kingsmen joining the competition.

The 44-match tournament will run from March 26 to May 3, with each team playing 10 matches in the league stage before the top four progress to the playoffs.

PSL 11 Squads

Lahore Qalandars: Shaheen Shah Afridi (c), Abdullah Shafique, Sikandar Raza, Mohammad Naeem, Mustafizur Rahman, Haris Rauf, Usama Mir, Fakhar Zaman, Ubaid Shah, Haseebullah, Mohammad Farooq, Dasun Shanaka, Parvez Hussain Emon, Asif Ali, Hussain Talat, Tayyab Tahir, Dunith Wellalage, Rubin Hermann, Maaz Khan and Shahab Khan.

Hyderabad Kingsmen: Marnus Labuschagne (c), Usman Khan, Akif Javed, Maaz Sadaqat, Saim Ayub, Mohammad Ali, Kusal Perera, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Hassan Khan, Shayan Jahangir, Glenn Maxwell, Hammad Azam, Riley Meredith, Sharjeel Khan, Asif Mehmood, Hunain Shah, Rizwan Mehmood, Saad Ali, Tayyab Arif and Ahmed Hussain.

Islamabad United: Shadab Khan (c), Salman Irshad, Andries Gous, Devon Conway, Faheem Ashraf, Mehran Mumtaz, Max Bryant, Mark Chapman, Nisar Ahmed, Mir Hamza Sajjad, Sameen Gul, Sameer Minhas, Imad Wasim, Richard Gleeson, Haider Ali, Mohammad Hasnain, Dipendra Singh Airee, Mohammad Faiq and Mohammad Salman Mirza.

Karachi Kings: David Warner (C), Hasan Ali, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Khushdil Shah, Saad Baig, Moeen Ali, Azam Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Shahid Aziz, Mir Hamza, Adam Zampa, Mohammad Hamza Sohail, Aqib Ilyas, Khwaja Bin Tanveer, Johnson Charles, Muhammad Waseem, Ihsanullah and Rizwanullah.

Quetta Gladiators: Saud Shakeel (c), Usman Tariq, Hasan Nawaz, Shamyl Hussain, Alzarri Joseph, Rilee Rossouw, Ahmed Daniyal, Jahanzaib Sultan, Jahandad Khan, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay, Wasim Akram Jnr, Khan Zeb, Bismillah Khan, Saqib Khan, Brett Hampton, Sam Harper, Bevon Jacobs, Abrar Ahmed, Ben McDermott and Tom Curran.

Multan Sultans: Ashton Turner (c), Mohammad Nawaz, Shehzad Gul, Faisal Akram, Imran Randhawa, Arafat Minhas, Sahibzada Farhan, Steve Smith, Peter Siddle, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lachlan Shaw, Delano Potgieter, Josh Phillippe, Shan Masood, Momin Qamar, Muhammad Awais Zafar, Muhammad Shahzad, Arshad Iqbal, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Muhammad Ismail and Atizaz Habib Khan.

Peshawar Zalmi: Babar Azam (c), Sufiyan Muqeem, Abdul Samad, Ali Raza, Aaron Hardie, Aamir Jamal, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Haris, Khalid Usman, Abdul Subhan, James Vince, Michael Bracewell, Kusal Mendis, Iftikhar Ahmed, Nahid Rana, Mirza Tahir Baig, Kashif Ali, Shahnawaz Dahani, Farhan Yousuf and Shoriful Islam.

RawalPindiz: Mohammad Rizwan (c), Sam Billings, Jalat Khan, Yasir Khan, Naseem Shah, Rishad Hossain, Daryl Mitchell, Mohammad Amir, Abdullah Fazal, Amad Butt, Dian Forrestor, Laurie Evans, Asif Afridi, Kamran Ghulam, Fawad Ali, Mohammad Amir Khan, Shahzaib Khan, Jake Fraser-McGurk and Saad Masood.

READ: England cricket chiefs to face media over Ashes debacle

England cricket chiefs Rob Key and Richard Gould will speak to the media at Lord’s on Monday regarding a post-Ashes review into the team’s series loss in Australia.

Key, the managing director of men’s cricket, will appear alongside England and Wales Cricket Board chief executive Gould to discuss events on and off the field during a woeful 4-1 reverse over five Tests ‘Down Under’ in 2025/26.

In addition to their poor on-field performance, concerns about the culture of an England squad led by Ben Stokes and coached by former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum emerged during a break in Noosa, an Australian resort, where there were reports of excessive drinking by players.

This was followed by revelations that vice-captain Harry Brook had had an altercation with a nightclub bouncer on the pre-Ashes visit to New Zealand.

The ECB briefly attempted to block England contracted players from fielding questions about the tour at pre-season county media days, in the hope this would first allow team management to discuss the circumstances of a deeply disappointing trip.

But following a public outcry, the ECB quickly reversed its position, with the England trio of Ollie Pope, Jamie Smith, and Gus Atkinson all taking part in Surrey’s event at the Oval earlier this week.

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While no formal review is expected to be published, Key and Gould are set to offer major conclusions ahead of a home season, which could lead to a reset for the under-fire coaching regime.

The position of McCullum, who reiterated his post-Ashes desire to continue as England coach following the white ball team’s semi-final exit at the recent T20 World Cup, remains a major talking point.

McCullum has been angered by suggestions he runs a “casual operation” with the England hierarchy also facing widespread criticisms regarding the team’s warm-up schedule, preparation, and overall selection policy.

There has also been mounting frustration within English county cricket concerning the seeming disregard the England management have for the first-class game.

Pope, however, insisted that winning back the hearts and minds of fans was important to the England side.

“The misconception might be that we weren’t as fussed as it came across,” he said. “Of course we want to be a well-liked team, on and off the pitch, and unfortunately our performance didn’t allow that to happen in Australia.”

READ: WATCH: PSL 11 trophy ‘Infinity’ reaches Peshawar

PESHAWAR: The glittering trophy of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 ‘Infinity’ arrived in the city of flowers here on Thursday.

‘Infinity’ was presented for the exhibition as part of the PSL 11 trophy tour.

The silverware was displayed at the iconic Imran Khan Cricket Stadium and other notable places in Peshawar.

The PSL 11 trophy tour officially began last week with its first stop at the Quaid-e-Azam Mausoleum, where a special photoshoot of the trophy was also held.

The trophy will be transported to Hyderabad on Friday, where it is planned to be displayed at Niaz Stadium and various other spots throughout the city.

 

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For those unaware, the glittering silverware was unveiled at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi last week.

The trophy showcases an elegant, modern design with a tall, sleek golden structure emerging from a round base.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

The central section features sparkling stones or crystals in vertical arrangements, creating a glittering effect when lit. Two curved golden arms rise from the sides and converge at the top.

The top of the trophy features a prominent crescent and star, drawing inspiration from Pakistan’s national flag.

The crescent features small crystals embedded within, and a polished metallic star rests just above it, forming a visually striking and symbolic crown.

The trophy’s base is gold-plated and sits on a black cylindrical pedestal featuring PSL branding.

The 11th edition of the tournament will be played from March 26 to May 3 across six venues in Pakistan.

Overall, 44 matches will be played in the tournament, with the opening match scheduled between the defending champions Lahore Qalandars and Hyderabad Kingsmen, making their debut.

READ: Paul Stirling quits as Ireland T20I captain