Category: Sports

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

KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), on Tuesday, revealed match officials for the Qualifier, Eliminator 1, and Eliminator 2 of the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11.

Member of ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees Sir Richard Richardson will lead the Playing Control Team for the Qualifier between Peshawar Zalmi and Islamabad United at the National Bank Stadium, Karachi.

Earlier, he made his PSL debut as a match referee on 15 April and will bow out for this season, having officiated 10 games.

Christopher Gaffaney of New Zealand will be joined by Alexander Wharf of England as on-field Umpire for the Qualifier. Both are part of the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires.

Faisal Khan Aafreedi, ICC International Panel Umpire, will serve as the third Umpire, while PCB’s National Elite Panel Umpire Zulfiqar Jan will be the fourth Umpire.

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Roshan Mahanama of Sri Lanka will lead the Playing Control Team in both the Eliminators. He has the honour of officiating in all 11 PSL seasons, and his tally of games as match referee in the league currently stands at 127.

In the Hyderabad Kingsmen v Multan Sultans Eliminator 1 in Lahore, ICC Elite Panel Umpire Shahid Saikat from Bangladesh will join ICC Emerging Panel Umpire Asif Yaqoob as on-field Umpire, while Rashid Riaz Waqar of ICC Emerging Panel of Umpires will be the third Umpire.

Nasir Hussain of ICC International Panel of Umpires will perform duties as the fourth Umpire.

The Eliminator 2 on 1 May between the winner of Eliminator 1 and the losing team of Qualifier will be officiated on-field by ICC Elite Panel Umpires Ahsan Raza and Shahid Saikat, while Asif Yaqoob and Rashid Riaz will carry out the duties of third and fourth Umpire, respectively.

The Match officials for the highly-anticipated 3 May final will be announced in due course.

Match officials for PSL 11 playoffs

Qualifier (28 April)

On-field umpires: Christopher Gaffaney and Alexander Wharf

Third umpire: Faisal Khan Aafreedi

Fourth umpire: Zulfiqar Jan

Match referee: Sir Richie Richardson

Eliminator 1 (29 April)

On-field umpires: Shahid Saikat and Asif Yaqoob

Third umpire: Rashid Riaz

Fourth umpire: Nasir Hussain

Match referee: Roshan Mahanama

Eliminator 2 (1 May)

On-field umpires: Ahsan Raza and Shahid Saikat

Third umpire: Asif Yaqoob

Fourth umpire: Rashid Riaz

Match referee: Roshan Mahanama

READ: PSL 11 Qualifier ticket sales paused amid heavy demand

KARACHI: Ticket sales for the first playoff of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 were briefly suspended on Tuesday after an overwhelming rush of fans caused the online system to crash.

The Qualifier 1 clash between Peshawar Zalmi and Islamabad United is scheduled to take place later today at the National Bank Stadium, marking the return of spectators to the tournament following the late approval from the government.

According to organisers, the e-ticketing service was temporarily paused due to simultaneous traffic on the booking website, with assurances that the system would resume shortly.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has set a flat ticket price of PKR 500 for all enclosures, allowing fans across the city to attend the high-stakes encounter at an affordable rate.

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Tickets are available online pcb.tcs.com.pk, while additional arrangements have been made to facilitate physical sales.

Fans can purchase tickets from designated courier outlets, including centres near the Expo Centre, Gulshan-e-Iqbal and Johar Morr, starting from 10:00 a.m. A dedicated box office has also been set up at China Ground, opposite the stadium, where tickets will be available from 12pm onwards.

The surge in demand comes just a day after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif approved public attendance for all three playoff matches, easing restrictions that had kept the tournament behind closed doors due to ongoing austerity measures.

READ: PSL 11 playoffs to be played with crowd after PM Shehbaz’s approval

KARACHI: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has approved public attendance for all three playoff matches of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11, confirmed Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi on Monday.

The development was shared by the PCB chairman following a meeting with the premier, where the board secured permission to allow fans back into stadiums for the knockout stage of the tournament.

The playoffs are set to begin with Qualifier 1 between Peshawar Zalmi and Islamabad United at the National Bank Stadium on Tuesday.

Naqvi, however, highlighted that the approval comes with a key condition, as part of ongoing national austerity measures. Fans attending the matches have been strongly encouraged to use public transport or minimise fuel consumption.

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“Just had a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and I’m pleased to share that we have secured his approval for public attendance in all three PSL playoff matches as well,” Naqvi wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

“However, this comes with an important condition from his side that fans are strongly encouraged to use public transport or [minimise] fuel consumption while attending the matches, in line with the ongoing national austerity efforts.”

The PSL 11 had previously been staged without spectators due to government-imposed restrictions aimed at conserving resources amid a broader fuel crisis. The latest decision marks a further relaxation, following earlier approval for limited crowd presence in the final.

The PCB chief also conveyed that the prime minister extended his best wishes to all four teams involved in the playoffs, Peshawar Zalmi, Islamabad United, Multan Sultans and Hyderabad Kingsmen, expressing hope for an exciting conclusion to the tournament.

READ: FIFA likely to increase prize money for World Cup 2026

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk is certain Mohamed Salah will get the send-off his glittering career deserves, even if injury prevents the Egyptian from playing again for the Reds.

Salah, who will leave Anfield after nine years at the end of the season, was forced off with a suspected hamstring injury in Saturday’s 3-1 win over Crystal Palace.

Liverpool are awaiting the results of a scan to determine the extent of the problem, but with just four games of the campaign remaining, the 33-year-old may not feature again this season.

“If you get injured at this stage of the season, especially in the situation he is in, there are only two more home games left for him. It’s a combination of feelings that go through your mind,” said Van Dijk.

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“He will get the send-off regardless. I don’t think that is the thing at this point; we shouldn’t think too far ahead.

“Knowing Mo, he is a quick healer and with the right people around him, let’s see.”

Mohamed Salah has scored 257 goals in 440 appearances since his arrival in 2017, behind only Ian Rush and Roger Hunt in Liverpool’s list of leading goalscorers.

The winger has been integral to the club’s rise back to the top of English and European football, winning the Champions League and two Premier League titles among a clutch of trophies.

Salah also scooped the players’ player of the year award a record three times and was the Premier League’s top scorer on four occasions.

READ: Mbappe doubtful for Clasico after Real Madrid confirm thigh injury

Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe is a doubt for the El Clasico on May 10, against arch-rivals Barcelona, after his club confirmed Monday he has sustained a thigh injury.

“He has been diagnosed with an injury to the semitendinosus muscle in his left leg,” said Los Blancos in a statement, after the France captain went off hurt during Madrid’s 1-1 draw against Real Betis in La Liga last Friday.

Madrid, second in the Spanish top flight by 11 points from leaders Barcelona, face Espanyol on Sunday before taking on the Catalan giants the following weekend.

Real Madrid initially indicated Mbappe had suffered a muscular overload, but further tests showed their top goalscorer was injured.

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If Madrid drop points against Espanyol without him and Barcelona defeat Osasuna on Saturday, Hansi Flick’s side will be crowned champions for a second successive season.

Kylian Mbappe has been troubled by injury this season, generating concern in France with the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico starting on June 11.

The 27-year-old, a world champion in 2018, was dogged by a knee issue which lasted for two months, the longest absence of his career, and admitted it caused him “frustration, anger and anxiety”.

READ: Xavi Simons out of World Cup and Spurs relegation fight

Tottenham Hotspur confirmed on Monday that “heartbroken” Xavi Simons had ruptured an anterior cruciate ligament, forcing him out of the club’s relegation scrap and the FIFA World Cup 2026.

The 23-year-old Dutch midfielder clutched his right knee and was stretchered off in distress in the second half of Tottenham’s crucial 1-0 win at already relegated Wolves on Saturday.

In an emotional post on social media late Sunday, Simons said his season was over.

“They say life can be cruel and today it feels that way,” Simons, who has played 34 times for his country, wrote on Instagram.

“My season has come to an abrupt end and I’m just trying to process it. Honestly, I’m heartbroken. None of it makes sense.

“All I’ve wanted to do is fight for my team and now the ability to do that has been snatched away from me, along with the World Cup. Representing my country this summer, just gone.”

 

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Spurs issued a statement saying Simons had ruptured the ACL in his right knee.

“Xavi will undergo surgery in the coming weeks and, following that, will then begin his rehabilitation with our medical team,” the club said.

“Everyone at Tottenham Hotspur sends Xavi our love and support — we will be with him every step of the way.”

Simons’ injury is a major blow to new Spurs boss Roberto De Zerbi, whose side are two points from Premier League safety with four matches remaining.

He would also have played a key role for the Netherlands at the World Cup in North America, starting on June 11.

READ: Zaragoza goalkeeper faces ban for punch which sparked brawl

Real Zaragoza goalkeeper Esteban Andrada faces a long ban for punching a Huesca player in the face, having already been sent off in a match in Spain’s second tier on Sunday.

The Argentina international, 35, pushed over Jorge Pulido and was dismissed for the incident, and then became enraged, running to hit Pulido and sparking a brawl on the pitch in stoppage time of the derby clash.

Huesca goalkeeper Dani Jimenez and Zaragoza’s Dani Tasende were also sent off in the aftermath, with hosts Huesca holding on for a 1-0 win.

Andrada, on loan from Mexican side Monterrey, could be banned for up to 12 matches for the punch, as well as the obligatory one-match sanction for his red card.

“We witnessed scenes unbecoming of this sport and which should never have occurred,” said Zaragoza in a statement.

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“The club strongly condemns what happened in that moment, which has unacceptably tarnished a football match of special importance for our region, something that is unacceptable.

“Regarding our player Esteban Andrada, the club will analyse the events that occurred and take the appropriate disciplinary measures.”

Both Zaragoza and Huesca are in the relegation zone and fighting demotion to Spain’s third tier.

READ: FIFA likely to increase prize money for World Cup 2026

DHAKA: Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has announced a 15-member squad for the opening Test against Pakistan, set to begin on May 8 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium as part of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) cycle.

Najmul Hossain Shanto will continue to lead the side, with Mehidy Hasan Miraz appointed as vice-captain for the series opener.

The squad includes two uncapped players, Tanzid Hasan and Amite Hasan, both rewarded for their recent performances.

Tanzid, already a regular in white-ball formats, has featured in 34 ODIs and 45 T20Is, scoring over 1,900 runs, and will now look to establish himself in the longer format.

Amite, a 24-year-old middle-order batter, earns his maiden call-up on the back of consistent domestic returns, boasting a first-class average close to 50 since his debut in 2019.

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Bangladesh have also bolstered their bowling attack with the return of pace duo Taskin Ahmed and Shoriful Islam, who last featured in Tests in late 2024. Spinner Nayeem Hasan has also been recalled to the red-ball setup.

In the current WTC standings, Bangladesh are placed eighth, having registered one defeat and one draw from two matches, with a win percentage of 16.67.

Pakistan, meanwhile, sit fifth with one win and one loss, holding 12 points and a 50 percent win ratio.

The two-match series will continue with the second Test scheduled from May 16 to 20 at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.

Bangladesh squad: Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Shadman Islam, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz (vc), Taijul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Ebadot Hossain, Shoriful Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Nahid Rana, Tanzid Hasan, Amite Hasan.

Pakistan squad: Shan Masood (captain), Abdullah Fazal, Amad Butt, Azan Awais, Babar Azam, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wk), Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel and Shaheen Shah Afridi

READ: Ticket sales open for PSL 11 final today

Global football governing body FIFA is considering a further increase in prize money for all 48 teams set to compete at the upcoming World Cup 2026, with discussions currently underway with national associations.

The proposal is expected to be reviewed at the upcoming FIFA Council meeting, scheduled ahead of the 76th FIFA Congress in Vancouver, where a final decision could be taken.

Earlier in December, FIFA had already announced a significant financial uplift for the 2026 tournament, confirming a prize pool of $655 million, a 50% increase compared to the previous edition. That figure formed part of a broader $727 million financial commitment to the expanded World Cup.

However, fresh talks suggest the governing body is now exploring an even higher payout structure, backed by strong financial growth.

FIFA is projected to surpass $11 billion in revenue during the 2023–2026 cycle, placing it in what officials describe as its strongest financial position to date.

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A FIFA spokesperson confirmed the ongoing discussions, stating that the organisation is looking at increasing overall financial contributions, including payments to participating teams as well as development funding for its 211 member associations.

Under the previously announced model, the bulk of the prize pool was allocated as performance-based earnings, with the tournament winners set to receive $50 million and the runners-up $33 million.

Teams eliminated in the group stage were to earn $9 million each, while every qualified nation would also receive $1.5 million to cover preparation costs.

The 2026 edition will be the first to feature 48 teams, marking a significant expansion in the tournament’s history. It is scheduled to run from June 11 to July 19 across the United States, Mexico and Canada.

READ: Sevilla move closer to La Liga relegation after loss against Osasuna