Category: Top News

Openers Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickelton hit attacking knocks as Mumbai Indians beat Lucknow Super Giants by six wickets to keep their slim playoff hopes alive in the IPL 2026 on Monday.

Rohit, who hit 84, and the left-handed Rickelton (83) put on 143 runs to lay the foundations for Mumbai’s chase of 229 with eight balls to spare at the Wankhede Stadium.

Five-time champions Mumbai, who were without unwell captain Hardik Pandya, stay in the 10-team table with three wins in 10 matches.

Lucknow, led by Rishabh Pant, languish at the bottom and are nearly out of the race for the playoffs.

The top two teams at the end of the league stage will qualify for the playoffs.

The 39-year-old Rohit returned from an injury after missing five matches to hit his second fifty of the season as he struck six fours and seven sixes in his 44-ball knock.

South Africa’s Rickelton kept up his blazing form in his 32-ball blitz to pummel the opposition attack before his departure in the 11th over.

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Rohit, who came in as an impact substitute after Lucknow’s batting innings of 228-5, kept up the momentum with his trademark pull shot and wristy flicks to entertain the home crowd.

He finally fell to Manimaran Siddharth’s left-arm spin and Tilak Varma soon fell for 11 to raise Lucknow’s hopes.

Stand-in-skipper Suryakumar Yadav departed for 12 before Naman Dhir, who made 23, and Will Jacks, who hit the winning six in his 10, steered the team home.

Earlier Lucknow’s West Indies star Nicholas Pooran struck form with a 21-ball 63 to put Lucknow on course to a big total.

Australian opener Mitchell Marsh provided the early impetus with his 44 off 25 balls and put on 94 runs for the second wicket with the left-handed Pooran.

Pace bowler Corbin Bosch dismissed Pooran and Marsh in the ninth over to hit back for Mumbai, but Lucknow kept pace with unbeaten knocks from Aiden Markram and Himmat Singh.

Markram, who hit 31, and Himmat, who top-scored with 40, put on 68 runs for the sixth wicket to boost Lucknow’s score, which ultimately proved insufficient.

READ: Pakistan seal comfortable win over Zimbabwe in ODI series opener

KARACHI: Sadaf Shams’ 98 and a resounding bowling performance sealed a 168-run victory for the Pakistan women’s team over Zimbabwe at the National Bank Stadium on Monday.

Chasing a massive 331 run target, Zimbabwe fell way short and were bowled out for 162 in 36.4 overs.

The 168-run victory was Pakistan women’s second-biggest winning margin.

Fatima Sana started the proceedings for Pakistan, removing Christine Mutasa for one in the second over.  After an early wicket, Kelly Ndiraya and Kelis Ndhlovu added a brief 28-run partnership to put the chase back on track.

However, Sana struck again, removing Ndirya (11), sparking a collapse that Zimbabwe never recovered from. Beloved Biza showed some resistance with 53 off 53 deliveries with the aid of eight fours.

 

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For Pakistan, Fatima Sana, Syeda Aroob Shah, and Tasmia Rubab picked up two wickets each.

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Earlier, after being asked to bat first, Pakistan racked up 330 for five in 50 overs, thanks to a solid opening partnership between Gull Feroza and Sadaf Shams. The duo shared a 162-run stand in 28.2 overs, laying a strong foundation for a big total.

Gull Feroza hit five fours in her half-century from 60 balls. Meanwhile, Shams continued on, putting on a brief 33-run partnership with Sidra Amin. She was eventually caught on 98 from 130 balls, peppered with 17 fours.

Zimbabwe made a comeback in the middle phase of the innings, taking quick wickets to leave Pakistan four down for 219 in 39.1 overs.

But it was Sidra Amin and Najiha Alvi’s brisk 96-run stand from just 58 balls that took them past the 300-run mark. Sidra struck nine fours in her 67, whereas Najiha Alvi remained unbeaten on 56 off 30, hitting a six and eight fours.

For Zimbabwe, Precious Marange picked up three wickets.

The second ODI of the three-match series will be played at the same venue on May 6.

READ: WATCH: Pakistan training session in Dhaka ahead of Bangladesh series

Nottingham Forest took a huge step towards Premier League survival with a 3-1 win at Chelsea on Monday that dealt a major blow to the Blues’ hopes of qualifying for the Champions League.

Taiwo Awoniyi marked his 100th Forest appearance with the early opener at Stamford Bridge and Igor Jesus’s penalty doubled their advantage soon afterwards.

Cole Palmer compounded Chelsea’s misery when he missed a penalty late in the first half.

Awoniyi struck again after the interval and Joao Pedro’s eye-catching bicycle kick in the closing stages was no consolation for lacklustre Chelsea.

Languishing in ninth place, Chelsea’s wretched run has left them on the verge of failing to reach next season’s Champions League.

Chelsea have lost six consecutive league games for the first time since 1993.

Scoring for the first time in six league matches was the only positive in a shambolic display.

Calum McFarlane’s team are 10 points behind fifth-placed Aston Villa, with only nine points available in the race for the top-five finish that secures Champions League qualification.

However, sixth will also earn a Champions League berth if Villa finish fifth and win the Europa League, leaving Chelsea — currently four points adrift of sixth-placed Bournemouth — still with a slender chance.

Forest’s third successive league victory moved them six points clear of the relegation zone, with four more points needed to guarantee survival.

There are just three games left for each club in Forest’s scrap with fourth-bottom Tottenham and third-bottom West Ham.

Pereira made eight changes from Forest’s previous league game as he prioritised holding onto their 1-0 lead in Thursday’s Europa League semi-final second leg at Aston Villa.

The gamble paid off and Pereira’s side, unbeaten in their last 10 games in all competitions, can now focus on finishing off Villa to reach their first European final since 1980.

McFarlane last week insisted Chelsea remain an attractive club for prospective managers despite their latest turbulent campaign.

Liam Rosenior was sacked in April, just 106 days after arriving from Strasbourg to replace Enzo Maresca, whose 18-month reign ended in January following hints of a lack of support from Chelsea’s hierarchy.

Potential replacements for Rosenior might disagree with McFarlane’s spin after such a moribund performance.

Even Forest’s understudies were too strong for lethargic Chelsea.

They took the lead after just 97 seconds when Dilane Bakwa evaded Marc Cucurella for a cross that reached Awoniyi, who punished Chelsea’s sloppy marking with a powerful header from six yards.

Chelsea were inches away from a quick-fire equaliser as Enzo Fernandez’s low curler cannoned off the far post from the edge of the penalty area.

But the Blues lost their composure again when Gusto needlessly conceded a 15th minute penalty.

Awoniyi’s shirt was tugged by the Chelsea defender as they contested Bakwa’s cross and although Anthony Taylor ignored Forest’s initial appeals, the referee changed his decision after consulting the pitch-side monitor.

Jesus stepped up to fire the penalty straight down the middle for his 16th goal in all competitions this season.

Chelsea earned a penalty in first-half stoppage time after teenager Jesse Derry was felled by Forest’s Zach Abbott in a nasty collision that forced the Blues youngster to be stretchered off with a head injury.

But adding insult to injury, Palmer’s spot-kick was superbly saved by Matz Sels as jeers rained down from the stands.

Back from a serious knee injury, Chelsea defender Levi Colwill came on at half-time for his first appearance since July.

But Forest still bagged their third in the 52nd minute when Morgan Gibbs-White picked out Awoniyi and he tapped in as Chelsea appealed in vain for offside.

By the time Joao Pedro scored with a spectacular overhead strike from 10 yards in added time, the Bridge was virtually empty in a fitting backdrop to another calamitous afternoon.

READ: WATCH: Pakistan training session in Dhaka ahead of Bangladesh series

DHAKA: Pakistan Test squad held a training session at the Shere-Bangla National Stadium ahead of the two-match Test series against Bangladesh, set to begin on May 8.

The first of the two matches – part of the ICC World Test Championship will be played at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka from 8 to 12 May, while Sylhet International Cricket Stadium will host the second Test, which will be played from 16 to 20 May.

Players took part in net sessions that emphasized both batting and bowling under the guidance of the coaching staff. Additionally, the team performed physical drills and fielding exercises to enhance their fitness and improve their on-field skills.

 

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Meanwhile, ace batter Babar Azam and fast bowler Khurram Shehzad are set to join the national team after the conclusion of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11. Both players left for Bangladesh earlier today.

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Prior to departing for Bangladesh, Pakistan organized a five-day training camp at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi, during which players refined their skills ahead of the series.

For the unversed, Pakistan currently sit fifth in the WTC standings with 12 points, having played only two matches in the current cycle against South Africa at home in 2025.

Pakistan squad for Bangladesh Test series:

Shan Masood (c), 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: Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi named in PSL 11 Team of the Tournament

Mystery spinner Sunil Narine added another feather to his cap by becoming the third bowler in T20 history to claim  200 wickets for a single franchise. 

Narine achieved the feat while playing for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. The 37-year-old, who made his debut for the outfit in 2012, remains one of the most consistent performers in the league.

The mystery spinner delivered a disciplined spell, finishing with figures of 2/31 in his four overs against SRH.

With this, Narine entered an elite list, featuring David Payne for Gloucestershire and Chris Wood for Hampshire, who are the only ones to have taken 200-plus wickets for a single franchise in T20 cricket, both in the T20 blast.

Most wickets for a single franchise in T20 Cricket

Sunil Narine (KKR) — 201 wickets in 197 matches

David Payne (GL) — 210 wickets in 156 matches

Chris Wood (HAM) — 210 wickets in 192 matches

Moreover, the right-arm spinner also became the first overseas bowler, and the third overall, to take 200 wickets in the IPL.

Most wickets in IPL history

Yuzvendra Chahal — 228 wickets in 183 matches

Bhuvneshwar Kumar — 215 wickets in 199 matches

Sunil Narine — 201 wickets in 197 matches

Narine’s impact on KKR has been immense over the years. He played a pivotal role in the franchise’s title-winning campaigns in 2012, 2014, and 2024, delivering match-winning performances with both ball and bat.

In addition to his bowling exploits, Narine has also contributed as a handy batter at the top of the order in recent seasons, further enhancing his value as an all-rounder.

Overall, in T20 cricket, he has scored 4783 runs at a strike rate of 148, including a century and 17 half-centuries.

READ: Sameer Minhas leads PSL 11 Emerging Team of the Tournament

Virgil van Dijk hit back at Liverpool’s holiday claim after a 3-2 defeat to Manchester United dented their Champions League qualification push.

The Reds’ loss against their bitter rivals on Sunday left them in fourth place in the Premier League.

Arne Slot’s side, crowned champions 12 months ago, have mounted a dismal title defence, forcing them to settle for fighting to reach next season’s Champions League.

After their 18th defeat in all competitions this term, Liverpool still need four points from their remaining three games to seal a place in Europe’s elite club competition via a top five finish.

Slot was without star forwards Mohamed Salah, Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak, as well as two goalkeepers, through injury against United.

But Liverpool captain Van Dijk conceded fitness issues could not be used as an excuse for such a turbulent campaign.

“I’m not here to make excuses. It’s been a very disappointing season, an unacceptable season for us, and it’s tough,” he said.

“We shouldn’t feel sorry for ourselves whatsoever. We have to work, we have to turn this around and make sure that next season these things don’t happen because it’s not Liverpool.”

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Van Dijk hit back at criticism of Liverpool players’ use of their free time after several were pictured abroad before the United game.

“I’m not sure it’s a holiday. It’s a city trip,” the Dutch defender said.

“But I think if you have one day off, and you don’t have many days off, they decide what they want to do with their families. We are not kids. Everyone is an adult.”

Put to him that some critics believes the team has too much time off, Van Dijk said: “Really? I wish we had a couple more days off at times because I think it works both ways.

“You see Pep Guardiola giving (Manchester City) three days off, for example, the last weeks in a row and they are doing pretty well. It is finding the right balance.”

Slot is under fire for failing to keep Liverpool in the title race in a season that will end without silverware.

And Van Dijk, who has won the Premier League and Champions League during his time at Anfield, is determined to ensure Liverpool don’t endure a repeat of their frustrating form next season.

“Like anyone else, obviously, personally I want this to be solved. I want us to be what I’ve experienced over my time here. I want to be successful,” he said.

“Consistency is the most difficult thing in any job, in anything you do, but it is the best way to get results and also be successful. That’s what we have to try and find.

“We have to realise that next season we can’t repeat (this). It’s unacceptable.”

READ: Sameer Minhas leads PSL 11 Emerging Team of the Tournament

LAHORE: PCB on Monday announced the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 Emerging Team of the Tournament, with young batter Sameer Minhas named captain.

The team selected by a five-member committee from the commentary panel includes two players from Peshawar Zalmi, Hyderabad Kingsmen, and Multan Sultans, and one player each from Lahore Qalandars, Karachi Kings, Islamabad United, and Rawalpindiz.

Sameer finished as the highest run getter for United, collecting 349 runs at an impressive strike rate of 155.80.

He is followed by the best fielder of the tournament, Farhan Yousuf, and Ali Raza — the lone hat-trick taker of PSL 11.

Momin Qamar serves as the main spinner, supported by Ubaid Shah from Lahore Qalandars.

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Hunain Shah from Hyderabad Kingsmen and Mohammad Ismail from Multan Sultans form a strong pace attack.  Saad Masood is positioned at number 6, recognized for his impressive all-round skills.

Shamyl Hussain, Maaz Sadaqat, and wicketkeeper-batter Saad Baig form the top four for the Emerging team of the tournament.

PSL 11 Emerging Team

Sameer Minhas (IU), Shamyl Hussain (QG), Maaz Sadaqat (HK), Saad Baig (KK) (wk), Farhan Yousuf (PZ), Saad Masood (Rawalpindiz), Hunain Shah (HK), Ali Raza (PZ), Mohammad Ismail (MS), Ubaid Shah (LQ), Momin Qamar (MS), Mohammad Farooq (LQ) (12th)

READ: Babar Azam opens up on future plans after PSL 11 triumph

LAHORE: Pakistan ace batter Babar Azam has underlined his commitment to all three formats, admitting that players learn from mistakes. 

After enduring a poor run in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, Babar returned to form in dominant fashion, guiding Peshawar Zalmi to a PSL 11 triumph. He played a pivotal role in his side’s success, finishing as the top scorer with 588 runs in 11 matches, including two centuries.

Speaking to the media after leading Peshawar Zalmi to PSL 11 triumph, he mentioned that his focus is on all three formats, emphasizing that a batter should engage in every form of cricket.

“My focus is on all three formats. I feel a batter should play all cricket and should not limit himself to white-ball cricket,” he told reporters.

“Red-ball cricket teaches you the art of batting long and instils patience in you. It helps you to understand how you can score big runs and all the learnings from the red-ball game help you in white-ball cricket,” he added.

The skipper admitted to struggles and failures to rise on different occasions, revealing that he worked closely with his coaches to address his weaknesses.

“I was not up to my own expectations, but it is normal for a batter to struggle with his execution. You have to take a few steps back and assess where you are going wrong and correct it,” he admitted.

“You need support in such times, and my family and close friends kept me motivated. I discussed the areas of improvement with the coaches who are close to me and worked on them.”

He concluded by saying that life is like a rollercoaster, with constant changes, and that we learn from both our good and bad experiences.

“Life is like a rollercoaster, and things never stay the same. You learn from your good and bad experiences. That is how life goes.”

READ: Babar Azam misses out on breaking all-time PSL record

LAHORE: Peshawar Zalmi all-rounder Iftikhar Ahmed credited team management after lifting the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 trophy.

Zalmi chased down a partly 130 in 15.3 overs, thanks to Hardie’s unbeaten half-century.

The highlight of the match was a decisive 85-run partnership between Abdul Samad and Aaron Hadie. He scored a brisk 48 off 34 deliveries, including four sixes, before falling in the 15th over.

This ends a nine-year wait for Zalmi since their maiden triumph in 2017. The victory also marked the first major trophy as captain for star batter Babar Azam.

Speaking after the match, Iftikhar recalled the 2017 edition while praising the team’s effort after a strong all-round performance in the final.

“I was there in 2017 as well and at that time we had a very strong team. This time I think the team that has been built is excellent,” he said.

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He credited the team management for assembling a winning combination, highlighting the depth in Zalmi’s squad.

“In my opinion, the credit goes to the team owners and management for the way they have created the combination. We have fast bowlers, strong middle-order batters, a solid top order, and finishers as well,” he said.

The 35-year-old further said that when a squad has such a balance and all key areas are covered, the chances of qualifying and winning the title are very high.

“When you have such balance in your squad and all your key areas are covered, your chances of qualifying and becoming champions are very high. That is why this time we have a strong chance to win the trophy,” the all-rounder concluded.

READ: Babar Azam misses out on breaking all-time PSL record

LAHORE: Peshawar Zalmi skipper Babar Azam fell just short of breaking Fakhar Zaman’s all-time record for most runs in a single edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

The right-hander was caught on the first ball he faced under lights at the Gaddafi Stadium, attempting a cut shot off a wider delivery from Mohammad Ali.

Before coming into the fixture, his score was tied with Zaman’s tally of 588 runs, recorded in 2022.

Most runs in a PSL season:

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

Nonetheless, Babar remained in supreme form during PSL 11, amassing 588 runs in 11 matches at an average of 73.50, including two centuries and three fifties.

Furthermore, the 31-year-old player matched two major records in this edition of the tournament with a blazing century against Islamabad United during the Qualifier.

Babar Azam top-scored with an explosive 103 off just 59 balls, including 12 fours and four sixes, which helped his team set a formidable total of 221-7 in 20 overs.

His 57-ball century — second of the tournament, made him the second player to achieve this milestone, joining Usman Khan, who recorded the feat in PSL 9.

READ: WATCH: Babar Azam falls for golden duck in PSL 11 final