Category: Sports

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Wednesday announced the ticket prices for the Eliminator 1 & 2 as well as the final of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11, all set to be played at the Gaddafi Stadium.

Fans can secure their seats through pcb.tcs.com.pk, while physical tickets will be available at 18 designated TCS Express Centres in Lahore

The Eliminator 1 will be played between Hyderabad Kingsmen and Multan Sultans on Wednesday. The winner will progress to Eliminator 2, where they will face Islamabad United on Friday, May 1.

Meanwhile, Peshawar Zalmi have already secured their place in the final after defeating Islamabad United in the Qualifier, and will now await the winner of Eliminator 2 for the title clash scheduled on Sunday, May 3.

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For the much-anticipated final, fans can buy VIP enclosures (Fazal Mahmood and Imran Khan) tickets for PKR 6,000, while the premium enclosures (Rajas and Saeed Anwar) will be available for PKR 4,000.

First class enclosures, which comprise Abdul Hafeez Kardar, Abdul Qadir, Javed Miandad and Sarfaraz Nawaz, are priced at PKR 2,000.

Seats in the Hanif Mohammad, Imtiaz Ahmed, Saeed Ahmed and Inzamam-ul-Haq, which are categorised as General enclosures, will be available for a minimum of PKR 1,500.

The thrilling action of the PSL 11 final can also be enjoyed from the VVIP enclosure (Waqar Younis) at the Iqbal End, whose tickets can be bought for PKR 8,000.

The tickets for Zaheer Abbas enclosure at the Jinnah End will carry a price of PKR 10,000. The PCB Gallery tickets are priced at PKR 12,000.

For Eliminator 1, ticket prices have been set to accommodate a broad range of spectators, starting from PKR 500 for general enclosures.

First Class tickets are priced at PKR 1,000, Premium at PKR 2,000, and VIP at PKR 3,000. Higher-tier seating includes VVIP Far End at PKR 4,500, VVIP New Pavilion at PKR 5,500, while Gallery seats are available for PKR 7,000.

Ticket prices increase for Eliminator 2, with general enclosure seats starting at PKR 1,000. First Class tickets are priced at PKR 1,800, Premium at PKR 3,000, and VIP at PKR 4,000.

VVIP Far End tickets are available for PKR 5,000, while VVIP New Pavilion seats are set at PKR 8,000. Gallery tickets for the second eliminator are priced at PKR 10,000.

READ: Babar Azam breaks multiple records with century against Islamabad United

Hailey Baptiste defeated defending champion Aryna Sabalenka on Tuesday to halt the world number one’s 15-match winning streak with a 2-6, 6-2, 7-6 (8/6) victory in the Madrid Open quarter-final to deliver the biggest shock of the tournament so far.

The American saved five match points at 4-5 in the decider and a sixth in the tiebreak before she handed Sabalenka just her second defeat of the year, and her first since the Australian Open final three months ago.

Sabalenka is a three-time champion in Madrid and reached the final in the Spanish capital in each of the last three editions of the event, but was unable to shake off the 30th-seeded Baptiste, who peppered her with huge serves and ultra-aggressive groundstrokes to reach a maiden WTA 1000 semi-final.

Baptiste came up with huge serves in several crucial moments, finishing the duel with a total of 12 aces and 10 double faults, and even saved a match point with a bold serve-and-volley approach on her way to a memorable two-hour 30-minute triumph.

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Next up for the 24-year-old Baptiste is ninth-seeded Mirra Andreeva, who gave herself an early birthday gift by defeating Canadian Leylah Fernandez 7-6(7/1), 6-3 to reach her first Madrid semi-final.

The Russian teenager, who turns 19 on Wednesday, was a recent champion in Linz and improved her clay-court record to 11-1 this season.

Earlier in the day, Jannik Sinner suggested the Madrid Open organisers should reconsider their tournament scheduling to avoid late-night finishes like the one Rafael Jodar experienced in the third round on Sunday.

In a rare 11:00 am start on Tuesday, Sinner moved past British 19th seed Cameron Norrie 6-2, 7-5 to reach the quarter-finals.

He explained that he was scheduled first at Manolo Santana Stadium so that Jodar, his potential next opponent, would be scheduled in the afternoon, giving the Spaniard time to recover from his three-set win over Joao Fonseca, which ended at 1:00 am on Monday morning.

READ: PSG edge Bayern Munich in nine-goal Champions League semi-final

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Ousmane Dembele scored twice each as Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) beat Bayern Munich 5-4 in an epic first leg of their Champions League semi-final on Tuesday, an extraordinary encounter that was the highest-scoring match ever at this stage of the competition.

The first half alone was crazy, with Harry Kane giving Bayern the lead from a penalty, only for Kvaratskhelia to equalise before Joao Neves headed the hosts in front at an enthralled Parc des Princes.

Michael Olise made it 2-2, but a Dembele penalty in first-half stoppage time had the reigning champions back ahead at the interval.

Kvaratskhelia, surely the standout player in this season’s Champions League, and Dembele both then scored again to have hosts PSG seemingly out of sight, only for Dayot Upamecano to pull one back before Luis Diaz made it 5-4.

An unforgettable game, perhaps better even than last season’s semi-final between Inter Milan and Barcelona, leaves the tie between the continent’s two best teams of the moment wonderfully poised for next Wednesday’s return at the Allianz Arena, with a place in the final in Budapest on May 30 on the line.

“I’m sure everyone who loves football really enjoyed watching that. It was a real pleasure to play in that game, the kind of game we dream of playing as kids,” PSG captain Marquinhos told broadcaster Canal Plus.

His team will be returning to Munich, scene of their 5-0 win over Inter in last year’s final, with the advantage, but Bayern will be confident they can overturn the narrow deficit at home.

“We fought, and we clawed, and we’re back in the tie,” Kane told Amazon Prime. “I thought there was amazing defending even though there were nine goals.”

The French champions are seeking to become just the second side in the modern Champions League era to retain the trophy, while Bayern Munich are hoping to reach the final for the first time since 2020, when they defeated PSG to lift the trophy for the sixth time.

Vincent Kompany’s team arrived in Paris having scored 167 goals this season, led by the remarkable Kane and his 53 goals in 45 appearances.

This tie had a lot to live up to, after Bayern’s spectacular win over Real Madrid in the quarter-finals, but it was an instant classic as both teams showcased their devastating firepower.

Bayern Munich went ahead in the 17th minute as Willian Pacho chopped down Diaz, and Kane converted the resulting penalty for his 54th of the campaign.

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The visitors won 2-1 here in November in the league phase thanks to a Diaz double, and they were the better team early on this time.

But their front-foot approach made them vulnerable to the counter-attack, and PSG’s leveller came just after the midway point in the first half.

The brilliant Kvaratskhelia broke clear of Josip Stanisic down the left before cutting inside and firing into the far corner.

A classic Kvaratskhelia goal was followed by Neves heading in Dembele’s corner on 33 minutes.

The action was only just getting started, however, as French international Olise drove towards the PSG box before smashing in for 2-2.

PSG then won a penalty at the end of the first half when a Dembele cross struck the arm of Alphonso Davies, the Canadian making his first start in the Champions League this season after injury.

It was given by the Swiss referee after a VAR check, and Dembele beat Manuel Neuer to make it 3-2 at half-time, a lead which PSG added to after the restart, leaving Bayern stunned.

Achraf Hakimi’s assist was swept in by Kvaratskhelia for 4-2 on 56 minutes, the Georgian getting his seventh goal in seven games in the knockout phase.

Bayern were not able to reset before Dembele surprised Neuer with a shot in off the near post to make it 5-2 with his second of the night.

But Bayern were not done, as Upamecano headed in Joshua Kimmich’s free-kick to take Kompany’s side to 170 for their season tally.

Diaz, who was sent off in the November meeting, then dribbled past Marquinhos before slotting in for the night’s final goal, making it 5-4.

Kompany, watching from the stands due to suspension, would have been delighted with his team’s response, even if they were relieved to see Senny Mayulu’s late strike for PSG come back off Neuer’s crossbar.

READ: Sri Lanka cricket board quits at government’s request: officials

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) stepped down on Tuesday after the government asked the sporting body’s executive committee to make way for a new board, officials said.

SLC is the country’s richest sporting body, but it has been plagued by allegations of corruption and mismanagement. A board official said that its president, Shammi Silva, convened a special meeting to announce his resignation, with 11 months remaining in his fourth two-year term.

“The committee resigned to make way for an interim management team headed by a former investment banker, who is also an opposition politician,” the official told AFP, asking not to be named.

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A government official said Sri Lanka’s President Anura Kumara Dissanayake had met with Silva over the weekend to discuss the future of the board under new management.

Sri Lanka made an early exit from the T20 World Cup 2026, which it co-hosted with India in February–March.

The International Cricket Council (ICC), the sport’s world governing body, suspended Sri Lanka’s membership in November 2023, citing political interference in the running of the national board.

That suspension had been lifted at the end of January 2024, and Silva’s committee was restored. He subsequently won a fourth term uncontested as president.

READ: Hasan Nawaz’s India comments go viral after ‘hate’ remark

KARACHI: Peshawar Zalmi captain Babar Azam reflected after his team romped into the final of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 at the National Bank Stadium on Tuesday.

Babar starred with a match-winning 103 from 59 balls, propelling his side’s total to 221 in 20 overs against Islamabad United.

In reply, United were bowled out for 151 in 18.4 overs, showcasing a clinical bowling performance.

Speaking at the post-match press conference, Babar underscored the importance of the Qualifier and said it was a fortunate occasion for fans present at the stadium.

“It was like a semi-final for us. The fans were fortunate to witness my century,” he told reporters.

“It is important that performance remains consistent at all times. I have belief in myself, and the goal is to perform better and better. With the passage of time, I have learned and understood a lot more,” the right-hander added.

With a two-match Test series against Bangladesh coming up, the skipper also emphasized mental preparation.

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“I know that in a few days I have to start preparing for Test cricket. You have to be mentally prepared for every format,” Babar said.

He revealed that he is now more disciplined while downplaying the external noise.

“Nothing much has changed; I have just worked more on discipline. I do not think too much about what people say about me.”

“I am often told that I don’t know how to finish matches. My focus remains only on cricket. I do not keep track of records or know which one is broken. I watch my old videos to improve my performance,” he said.

He also believed that working on his power-hitting skills was paying off, while hailing his batting partner, Kusal Mendis.

“I am working on power-hitting, and it is paying off. Kusal Mendis is one of the best batters from Sri Lanka. I keep talking to Mendis for tips and advice.,” he concluded.

READ: Babar Azam breaks multiple records with century against Islamabad United

John Stones said he had lived “all my dreams out” as he announced on Tuesday he would be leaving Manchester City at the end of the season after 10 trophy-laden years at the Etihad.

The defender, 31, joined City from Everton in 2016, becoming manager Pep Guardiola’s second signing, and has made 293 appearances to date, scoring 19 goals.

The England international has won six Premier League titles and the Champions League among multiple trophies and there may be more silverware to come this season, with City chasing a domestic treble.

Guardiola’s men, who have already won the League Cup, are battling with Arsenal for the Premier League title and will face Chelsea in next month’s FA Cup final.

“It has been my home for the past 10 years and it will be my home for the rest of my life,” Stones said in an emotional social media post.

“It’s been a rollercoaster in many ways.

“I came as a kid and I’m now leaving as a man — becoming a father, a husband and, on the pitch, a very fulfilled player I suppose in living all my dreams out and lifting all the things that I came here to achieve.

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“At the start of my career here I never would have thought I would be in this position. Firstly, to achieve everything but to have the love, the bond with everyone. Every dream has been smashed out of the park.”

The centre-back joined City for £47.5 million ($64 million), a fee that made him the world’s second-most expensive defender at the time.

Stones, whose contract expires at the end of the season, hailed City boss Guardiola as the best manager in the world.

“I don’t think it would have been anywhere near as successful… if it wasn’t for him,” he said.

“I’m so grateful that I’ve been able to spend so long with him, win everything with him and share and have so many incredible moments together,” he added. “I feel lucky and grateful for what he’s done.”

Stones, expected to be in England’s World Cup squad, is the second long-serving player at City to announce his impending departure after club captain Bernardo Silva.

Injuries have restricted Stones to just 16 appearances in all competitions this season.

City paid tribute to the player on their website, saying: “The 31-year-old’s huge contribution across the most sustained and successful era in the club’s history stands without question.

“Now the club and all of our supporters will take the time to deliver a fitting tribute and farewell to a superb servant of Manchester City at the end of the season.”

READ: Babar Azam breaks multiple records with century against Islamabad United

KARACHI: Peshawar Zalmi captain Babar Azam shattered multiple records with a century against Islamabad United during the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 Qualifier at the National Bank Stadium on Tuesday.

The right-hander remained instrumental in propelling the team’s total to 221 at the end of 20 overs.

Babar made 103 from 59 balls, smashing 12 fours and four sixes to register his second century of the season. With this knock, he joined Usman Khan as the only other batter to have four centuries to their name in the tournament.

Most Centuries in PSL

Usman Khan — Matches: 35 | Centuries: 4
Babar Azam — Matches: 110 | Centuries: 4
Kamran Akmal — Matches: 75 | Centuries: 3
Rilee Rossouw — Matches: 104 | Centuries: 3
Fakhar Zaman — Matches: 105 | Centuries: 3

Moreover, he also became only the second batter after Usman Khan to hit two tons in a single PSL season. Usman achieved the feat in the 2024 edition.

Most Centuries In a Single Edition of PSL

Usman Khan — 2 in 2024

Babar Azam — 2 in 2026

In addition to this, Babar also became the first batter to amass 500 runs in a single PSL edition for the fourth time — 2021, 2023,2024,2026.  The 31-year-old now levels with Fakhar Zaman for most runs in a single season.

Before heading into the fixture, the right-hander had amassed 485 runs in 10 innings.

Most Runs in a PSL Season

Fakhar Zaman (Lahore Qalandars) – 588 runs in 2022
Babar Azam (Peshawar Zalmi) – 588 runs* in 2026
Babar Azam (Peshawar Zalmi) – 569 runs in 2024
Babar Azam (Karachi Kings) – 554 runs in 2021
Mohammad Rizwan (Multan Sultans) – 550 runs in 2023
Mohammad Rizwan (Multan Sultans) – 546 runs in 2022
Babar Azam (Peshawar Zalmi) – 522 runs in 2023
Kusal Mendis (Peshawar Zalmi) – 502 runs* in 2026
Mohammad Rizwan (Multan Sultans) – 500 runs in 2021

The record for most runs in a single edition belongs to Fakhar Zaman — 588 runs in 2022. Babar Azam could now easily surpass the tally with up to two matches remaining if Zalmi lose the Qualifier and play the eliminator, or progress to the final.

READ: Hasan Nawaz’s India comments go viral after ‘hate’ remark

KARACHI: Babar Azam swashbuckling century propelled Peshawar Zalmi into the final of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 with a decisive victory over Islamabad United in the Qualifier at the National Stadium on Tuesday.

Set a massive 222 run target, United batting lineup faltered under pressure and were bowled out for 151 in 18.4 overs.

In pursuit of a big chase, United openers — Sameer Minhas and Devon Conway came out with intent. The pair took complete advantage of the fielding restrictions, putting on 58 at the end of five overs.

Minhas remained the core aggressor while Conway fell after managing 20 off 14, striking a boundary and two sixes.

After the first wicket, Zalmi slowed things down. Mohsin Riaz joined Sameer, adding a brief 23 runs before latter’s wicket opened the door.

Sameer Minhas was going well until a short of a length ball from Aaron Hardie got big on him. He made 44 from 23 deliveries, hitting a six and seven fours.

The wicket broke United’s momentum as their slide continued until the very end. As a result, they slumped from 81-2 to 113-7 in 13.5 overs.

Imad Wasim (22 off 15) resisted till the penultimate over, which only reduced the margin of defeat for them.

For Zalmi, it was Aaron Hardie, who starred with the ball, taking three wickets in his four overs. Sufiyan Muqeem and Mohammad Basit shared four wickets between them.

Earlier, Babar Azam’s sublime century headlined a dominant batting display by Peshawar Zalmi.  Asked to bat first, Zalmi piled up 221-7 in 20 overs, thanks to Babar Azam’s 103 from 59 balls.

The opening pair of Mohammad Haris and Babar Azam came out all guns blazing, finishing the powerplay at 68 for nought.

Soon after the fielding restrictions were lifted, Shadab Khan, bowling his opening over, removed dangerous Haris — caught at cover brilliantly after scoring 35 off 16 balls, including five fours and two sixes.

Despite the wicket, Babar Azam, who was joined by Kusal Mendis — both topping the runs chart in PSL 11, forged 84 off 51 balls for the second wicket partnership.

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The inform duo pounded anything loose with disdain, bringing the total to 156 in just 14.5 overs. However, the stand eventually culminated with Mendis’ wicket. The right-hander struck four boundaries and a maximum.

Mendis wicket brought United back into the game as Shadab struck twice in the next over to halt Zalmi’s progress. Michael Bracewell (2) and Abdul Samad (0) were sent back on successive deliveries.

As a result, they were 164-4 in 16 overs.

Yet, Babar continued to motor on from the other end as he smashed three boundaries in Faheem Ashraf’s next over and then followed up with two fours and a six to complete his majestic century — fourth in PSL history.

The 31-year-old was eventually caught on the boundary after hitting 12 fours and four maximums.

For Islamabad United, Shadab Khan stood out with three wickets to his name.

READ: Hasan Nawaz’s India comments go viral after ‘hate’ remark

LAHORE: Pakistan top-order batter Hasan Nawaz opened up about the challenge of facing India bowlers, emphasizing the added intensity and motivation that comes with cricket’s biggest rivalry.

In an interview, Hasan emphasized the emotional and competitive edge of playing against India, revealing that there is always an extra motivation when facing the arch-rivals.

“When playing against India, of course, there’s extra motivation. You naturally feel like you want to attack their bowlers. I hate all their bowlers, to be honest. And InshaAllah, if given the chance, we’ll try to do that going forward,” Nawaz said.

“It doesn’t work like that. Everything depends on the situation. For example, if the required run rate is 10, 12, or even 15 runs per over, then no matter who the bowler is, you try to score as many runs as possible,” he added.

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He also highlighted the importance of planning in international cricket, saying players must prepare well to get the best out of themselves.

“At this level, all players are top-quality and world-class, so you prepare plans for everyone. There’s no single bowler in mind that you especially target,” he added.

The statement created a buzz online with fans sharing different opinions about the batter.

For those unaware, Hasan made headlines after scoring a record ton in his debut T20I series against New Zealand in 2025.

However, despite playing a vital role with the bat for the national side in several games, his form later dipped, eventually resulting in his omission from the national team.

Overall, he has played 25 T20Is for Pakistan, amassing 457 runs at an average of 20 with the aid of a century and two fifties.

The right-hander’s only appearance against India came in the Asia Cup 2025, where he scored five runs.

READ: England name ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 squad

KARACHI: Islamabad United have won the toss and decided to bowl first against Peshawar Zalmi in the Qualifier of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 at the National Stadium on Tuesday

Head to Head

Peshawar Zalmi and Islamabad United have faced each other 27 times in the tournament’s history, with both teams tied on 13 wins, while one match ended in a no-result.

Playing XIs

Peshawar Zalmi: Babar Azam (c), Sufiyan Muqeem, Abdul Samad, Aaron Hardie, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Haris, Michael Bracewell, Kusal Mendis, Iftikhar Ahmed, Farhan Yousuf, Mohammad Basit

Islamabad United: Shadab Khan (c), Devon Conway, Faheem Ashraf, Mark Chapman, Sameer Minhas, Imad Wasim, Richard Gleeson, Haider Ali, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohsin Riaz, Chris Green and Mohammad Salman Mirza.

READ: England name ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 squad