Category: Sports

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

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

“It’s quite unusual for me,” Sinner told Tennis TV about his early kick-off.

“I don’t know the last time I played at 11. But for me it doesn’t matter what time. I try to do my best. For me, there was a question if it would be me or Jodar to play at 4. But I think it’s right he plays at 4, because he finished very, very late.

“But at the same time, I feel like we need to make some adjustments to the scheduling of the day. Two matches (starting) from 8pm is very late.

“Even though you have one day in between. But still it’s very, very late. You finish at 1:30am, and you need to eat, you need to have treatment, so it’s very late. But we try to adapt ourselves, our bodies, our minds, so from my side it was a good performance today.”

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In his first-ever meeting with Norrie, Sinner won 81 per cent of his first-serve points, and 63 per cent of the points behind his second delivery on his way to notching a 25th consecutive victory at the Masters 1000 level.

“We know each other quite well. We practised a lot in the last tournaments, also. So, we both knew what to expect. I was serving well today in the important moments,” said Sinner, who awaits Jodar of Vit Kopriva in the last-eight stage.

The Italian world number one is just the second man in series history to win his first 20 Masters 1000 matches of the season, joining Novak Djokovic, who achieved that feat twice, in 2011 and 2015.

Sinner is competing in Madrid for just the fourth time in his career and is bidding to reach the semi-finals for the first time in the Spanish capital.

“This surface is very, very different than all the other surfaces, so it’s very tough to get the right feedback,” Sinner said after his win over Norrie.

“Sometimes you feel like you’re not playing your best but from the outside it seems that you are, and sometimes it’s also the opposite. But I’m very happy to be in the quarters again. It’s a tournament I haven’t played a lot, so it means a lot to me and I’m happy to be through in two sets.”

Meanwhile, last week’s Barcelona champion Arthur Fils advanced to the quarter-finals at the Caja Magica with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Argentine 25th seed Tomas Martin Etcheverry.

Fils, seeded 21 in Madrid, has made the quarter-finals in six of the seven tournaments he has contested so far in 2026.

The Frenchman will take on Lorenzo Musetti or Jiri Lehecka for a place in the final four.

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

LONDON: England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have named a 15-member squad for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026.

Vetera all-rounder Nat Sciver-Brunt will lead the side in his seventh World Cup appearance. The tournament is scheduled to run from June 12 to July 5 across England.

Among the first-timers are 18-year-old spinner Tilly Corteen-Coleman and the pace duo of Issy Wong and Lauren Filer.

Following the squad announcement, the Three Lions head coach, Charlotte Edwards, reflected on the player selection for the mega event, noting that naming the final squad was extremely challenging.

“The waiting and wondering is over,” Edwards said in a press release.

“We have named our ICC Women’s T20 World Cup squad and there is no doubt that it has been incredibly tough to get to these 15 names,” she continued.

“This is the hardest set of selection meetings I have been a part of because the pool of players to choose from is so strong and so many talented players have put their hand up to be a part of the squad, which is exactly what we want. That is the nature of world-class sport, and it is a privilege we don’t take lightly to be able to make these difficult decisions,” the head coach concluded.

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Meanwhile, skipper Sciver-Brunt termed the oppurtunity an honor to lead the side in a home event and expressed confidence in her team’s chances of lifting the trophy.

“It is a huge honour to be leading England into a T20 World Cup at home in front of family and friends and all our passionate supporters,” she said.

“We have all been looking forward to this summer and this tournament for some time now and the naming of the squad means it is almost here, and we can’t wait to get out onto the field and give it everything to win this World Cup again,” she added.

England Squad for T20 World Cup 2026

Nat Sciver-Brunt (c), Lauren Bell, Alice Capsey, Tilly Corteen-Coleman, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer, Dani Gibson, Amy Jones, Freya Kemp, Heather Knight, Linsey Smith, Issy Wong, and Danni Wyatt-Hodge.

READ: England, Sri Lanka could tour Pakistan for ODI tri-series: sources

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is reportedly in discussions to host an ODI tri-series featuring England and Sri Lanka later this year, sources revealed on Tuesday.

According to early indications, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has agreed in principle to take part in the proposed series, which is being planned for the October-November window.

However, final confirmation from Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is still awaited before the schedule is formally locked in.

If finalised, the tri-series would add another high-profile limited-overs event to Pakistan’s packed international calendar, with discussions ongoing over venues and match timings.

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As per the ICC Future Tours Programme (FTP), Sri Lanka are already scheduled to tour Pakistan later this year for a multi-format assignment, which includes three T20Is followed by a two-match Test series.

The T20I leg is expected to be played in October, potentially serving as a lead-in to the proposed tri-series. The Test series between Pakistan and Sri Lanka is then likely to follow in November.

For the unversed, Pakistan featured in two T20I tri-series, one involving UAE and Afghanistan, and another on home soil featuring Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.

Pakistan went on to win both events, first defeating Afghanistan in the final in August 2025 in the UAE, and later overcoming Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi in November to lift the second tri-series title.

READ: PCB unveils match officials for PSL 11 Qualifier and Eliminators

Manchester United moved within touching distance of qualifying for the Champions League as Casemiro and Benjamin Sesko sealed a 2-1 win against Brentford on Monday.

Casemiro put United ahead in the early stages at Old Trafford, and Sesko doubled their lead before the interval. Mathias Jensen’s late strike couldn’t stop United from cementing their grip on third place in the Premier League.

They are 11 points clear of sixth-placed Brighton, with the top five guaranteed to reach next season’s Champions League.

Michael Carrick’s side need just two points from their last four matches to ensure their return to Europe’s elite club competition for the first time since 2023-24.

On Sunday, United host bitter rivals Liverpool, who sit three points behind them in fourth, in a clash that will go a long way to deciding who finishes third.

Interim boss Carrick, who replaced the sacked Ruben Amorim in January, is still waiting to discover if he will land the United job permanently.

The former Manchester United midfielder has made a strong case by steadying the ship after Amorim’s turbulent reign.

Leading United into the Champions League would be another persuasive argument as co-owner Jim Ratcliffe considers his options.

A 1-0 win at Chelsea in their previous match had reinvigorated United’s top-five charge after a home defeat against Leeds and a draw at Bournemouth.

Brentford last won at Old Trafford in 1937, and they paid the price for a slow start on their latest fruitless visit.

Kobbie Mainoo scythed through the Brentford defence with a superb run in the second minute, but Amad Diallo wasted the chance with a close-range shot that was cleared off the line by Sepp van den Berg.

Harry Maguire was inches away from marking his return from suspension with a goal when the United defender’s towering header was clawed off the line by Brentford keeper Caoimhin Kelleher.

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United’s pressure was rewarded in the 11th minute as Casemiro finished off a well-worked corner routine.

Bruno Fernandes whipped the set-piece to Maguire, and his looping header evaded a gaggle of Brentford defenders at the far post as Casemiro rose highest to head home from an acute angle.

Casemiro’s fourth goal in his last six games underlined the enduring value of the veteran Brazil midfielder, who is set to leave when his contract expires at the end of this season.

He celebrated by kissing the badge on his shirt as United fans implored him to stay by chanting “one more year”.

Michael Kayode nearly silenced the love-in with a header that Manchester United keeper Senne Lammens pushed away at full stretch.

Igor Thiago’s muscular power was a thorn in United’s side, but the Brazilian couldn’t finish, scuffing one chance under pressure from Diogo Dalot before Kelleher saved his close-range drive.

Ayden Heaven’s last-ditch attempt to deny Thiago almost ended in an own goal, but Lammens spared the United teenager’s blushes with a fine save.

United took advantage of those misses to double their advantage in the 43rd minute.

Diallo’s determination to win a tackle deep inside his own half started the move before Fernandes drove towards the Brentford area, slipping a pass to Sesko, who lashed home from 10 yards.

Fernandes has 19 assists this season as he chases the Premier League record of 20 in a single campaign set by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne.

United were less dominant in the second half, and Jensen whipped an eye-catching curler past Lammens from 20 yards in the 87th minute to set up a tense finale.

Carrick’s men wobbled but just about held firm as Mikkel Damsgaard’s header was clutched by Lammens in stoppage-time.

READ: Aryna Sabalenka reaches Madrid Open quarter-finals

World number one Aryna Sabalenka overcame Naomi Osaka 6-7 (1/7), 6-3, 6-2 in a gripping battle on Monday to reach the Madrid Open quarter-finals.

Sabalenka, who has claimed titles at Miami, Indian Wells and Brisbane this year, was tested by her Japanese opponent but came back from a set and a break down to triumph.

“I’m really happy that I didn’t give up and I was pushing until the very last point,” said Sabalenka on court.

She later told reporters: “When (she) put me under pressure, I was able to pull out really incredible shots and incredible tennis. So I’m happy.”

The first set between the two four-time Grand Slam winners was tight, with only one break point forced by Sabalenka, which Osaka saved to hold for 2-1.

Osaka dominated in the tie-break, ripping into a 5-0 lead and then triumphing when Sabalenka lashed a return wide.

Reigning champion Sabalenka stepped up a gear in the second frame, although world number 15 Osaka dug deep to survive three break points and then managed to engineer a break for herself to take a 2-1 lead.

However, the Belarusian immediately broke to love and then again in the eighth game, serving out to take the second set.

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Only Elena Rybakina has beaten Sabalenka this year, in the Australian Open final, and the 27-year-old dominated in the third set, securing breaks in the fifth and seventh games while Osaka could not put pressure on her opponent’s serve.

Sabalenka sealed her victory by serving to love with an ace to reach the last eight, where she will face American Hailey Baptiste, who beat Belinda Bencic in three sets, including losing a tie-break 16-14 in the second.

Osaka said she was happy with pushing Sabalenka to the wire after going down in straight sets when they met at Indian Wells.

“I feel like every game was super close. I think… I could potentially match her in power,” said Osaka.

“I feel like in Indian Wells I was a little overwhelmed. Here I did a little bit better.

“Obviously she’s the number one player in the world, so it was a really cool match for me to know that I’m kind of there.”

World number three Gauff, who had been dealing with a stomach bug this week, fell to a 6-4, 1-6, 7-6 (7/5) defeat by Noskova.

The Czech earned a decisive break in the fifth game of the first set, but American Gauff secured two of her own to claim the second.

Gauff moved two breaks up in the third but let the match slip away from her as Noskova pulled back to level 4-4.

The American led 3-0 in the tie-break before again she could not hold on.

READ: David Warner shuts down Indian fan over IPL comeback suggestion

Karachi Kings captain David Warner has responded firmly to a fan suggestion that he should return to the Indian Premier League (IPL), following his side’s exit from Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11.

Warner, who took to Instagram after Karachi Kings’ campaign came to an end, reflected on the franchise’s performance and praised the squad for their effort despite an inconsistent season.

He highlighted the “passion, resilience, and attitude” shown by the team throughout the tournament, noting that the challenges of franchise cricket often go beyond what is visible on the field.

“Not the result we were hoping for, but the passion, resilience, and attitude shown by this group were incredible. Unless you’ve been part of a franchise team or environment, it’s hard to truly understand the level of commitment and dedication involved,” he posted.

The former Australian opener also expressed gratitude to fans for their continued support, while acknowledging the organisers for their hospitality during the season.

“Wishing the very best to everyone moving forward. To our fans, thank you, as always, for your unwavering support,” he added.

 

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He further appreciated the role of security personnel and law enforcement agencies in ensuring smooth conduct of the tournament amid crowd and logistical challenges.

“Appreciation to the security and police for taking care of us, and to everyone for your patience during the traffic delays. Hopefully, we’ll see you all at the stadium again soon,” he further stated.

In a lighter moment in his post, Warner suggested that future editions of the league could include more recreational activities such as padel or golf, while expressing hope for stronger crowd turnout in upcoming seasons.

However, his post drew attention after a social media user advised him to quit the PSL and return to the Indian Premier League, suggesting it would be a better fit for him.

“It’s better for you to quit PSL and return back in IPL,” the fan commented.

David Warner responded briefly but firmly, shutting down the speculation with a straightforward reply: “No need for that now.”

Karachi Kings, the champions of the 2020 edition, were eliminated from PSL 11 following Lahore Qalandars’ victory over Peshawar Zalmi on Saturday.

However, the Qalandars were also eliminated the next day when the Hyderabad Kings defeated Rawalpindi by 108 runs, surpassing the Qalandars with a superior net run rate.

READ: PCB rolls out public transport, traffic plan for PSL 11 Qualifier in Karachi

KARACHI: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), on Tuesday, announced a comprehensive public transport and traffic plan ahead of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 Qualifier 1, as spectators prepare to return to the stands following government approval.

The high-stakes clash between Peshawar Zalmi and Islamabad United will be played later today at the National Bank Stadium, marking the first playoff fixture of the tournament with crowd attendance.

In line with directives from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to minimise fuel consumption, the PCB has arranged city-wide public transport services to facilitate fans travelling to the venue.

Special shuttle options, including red buses, electric buses and coaches, will operate on key routes across Karachi, dropping spectators directly at the stadium gates.

The red bus service will run from Liaquatabad via Shahrah-e-Faisal, while electric buses will operate between Numaish and Safora. Additionally, buses numbered 51 and 52 will cover the Malir to Numaish route.

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A detailed traffic management plan has also been issued to ensure smooth flow around the venue. Major arteries, including Sir Shah Suleman Road, will remain open for regular traffic, while designated parking areas have been established at the National Coaching Centre and China Ground.

Commuters arriving from different parts of the city, including Karsaz, Millennium and New Town, have been advised specific routes to access parking zones, with authorities urging fans to avoid parking on main roads and instead use the allocated spaces.

Heavy traffic will be restricted on key routes surrounding the stadium, including corridors from Sohrab Goth to NIPA, Liaquatabad No. 10 to Hassan Square, and along University Road towards Karsaz.

Traffic police have also urged the public to cooperate with law enforcement agencies and follow instructions to avoid inconvenience. Assistance will be available via helpline 1915, social media platforms and FM radio updates.

The arrangements come a day after the government allowed spectators for all three PSL playoff matches, ending a no-crowd policy implemented earlier due to austerity measures.

READ: PCB unveils match officials for PSL 11 Qualifier and Eliminators