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LAHORE: Defending champions Lahore Qalandars have been dealt a significant blow after opener Fakhar Zaman was suspended for two matches in the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 following a Level 3 breach of the tournament’s Code of Conduct.

The decision was confirmed by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday after an incident during Lahore’s high-intensity clash against Karachi Kings at the Gaddafi Stadium.

According to the PCB, Fakhar was found guilty of violating Article 2.14, which relates to altering the condition of the ball in breach of the league’s playing conditions. The offence occurred in the closing stages of the match, shortly before the final over of Karachi’s run chase.

During that moment, the on-field umpires inspected the ball, ruled that its condition had been changed, and imposed a five-run penalty on Lahore Qalandars, in addition to replacing the ball, a decision that proved crucial in Karachi’s narrow victory.

The charge was brought forward by umpires Shahid Saikat and Faisal Khan Aafreedi, along with TV umpire Asif Yaqoob and fourth umpire Tariq Rasheed.

Fakhar Zaman denied the ball-tampering allegation and opted for a full disciplinary hearing.

Match referee Roshan Mahanama conducted the proceedings, reviewing the evidence and granting the player a personal hearing before reaching a final verdict. Lahore captain Shaheen Shah Afridi, team director Sameen Rana and manager Farooq Anwar were also present during the hearing.

Under PSL regulations, a Level 3 offence carries a minimum penalty of a one-match ban and can extend up to two matches, with Fakhar receiving the maximum sanction.

The suspension means Fakhar will miss Lahore’s upcoming fixtures, including their clash against Multan Sultans on April 3 at Gaddafi Stadium and the subsequent encounter against Islamabad United on April 9 in Karachi.

READ: Erin Holland comments on her absence from PSL 11

LAHORE: Pakistan pacer Naseem Shah has issued a public apology after being fined Rs. 20 million by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for breaching clauses of his central contract and social media guidelines following a controversial post on X.

The 23-year-old addressed the matter shortly after the PCB announced the outcome of a disciplinary hearing, clarifying that the post in question was shared by his management team and did not reflect his personal views.

“A recent post from my account was made by my management team and does not reflect my views,” Naseem stated. “I take full responsibility for my platform and have implemented the necessary changes to ensure this does not happen again. I sincerely apologise to everyone affected.”

The incident traces back to the opening match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, where Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz attended as the guest of honour.

During the ceremony, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi welcomed her and introduced her to franchise owners.

Shortly after, a post from Naseem’s X account, quoting a PCB upload, sparked widespread debate. The now-deleted message questioned the treatment of the chief minister, drawing strong reactions across social media.

The fast bowler initially claimed that his account had been hacked, stating it had since been recovered. However, following a formal inquiry, the PCB concluded that multiple contractual and digital conduct clauses had been violated.

According to the board, a show-cause notice was issued on March 27, followed by a personal hearing conducted by a three-member disciplinary committee after reviewing Naseem’s response.

Despite noting his unconditional apology, the PCB imposed a fine of Rs20 million. The board further confirmed that Naseem had terminated his social media adviser, who has now been blacklisted from working with any players under PCB’s jurisdiction.

READ: Cameron Green barred from bowling in IPL 2026 amid injury concerns

LAHORE: Karachi Kings spinner Adam Zampa delivered a match-winning performance to guide his side to a thrilling four-wicket victory over Lahore Qalandars in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 at the Gaddafi Stadium.

Zampa was named Player of the Match for his outstanding spell of 2-11 in four overs, including a maiden, playing a key role in restricting Lahore Qalandars to a modest total.

Reflecting on his performance, Adam Zampa emphasized the importance of reading conditions and adapting accordingly.

“I guess just summing up the wicket today. I think it was a pretty used wicket, lowish, slowish, with a little bit of spin. So I tried to use my strengths as much as possible, hit the stumps, and get the ball to slide on here and there as well. So it suited me.”

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The experienced leg-spinner highlighted how understanding conditions plays a vital role in modern T20 bowling.

“I think it’s part of becoming a universal bowler — summing up the conditions. I’ve played here plenty of times, and you know when it’s used. After a couple of balls, you can kind of sum up the best way to go about it. You tend to keep things pretty simple.”

Adam Zampa also credited clarity and experience as key factors behind his effectiveness, particularly when it comes to deceiving batters.

“I guess it’s just using experience now. I know what I’m doing when I get out there. I’ve got a lot of clarity in my mind. There’s not really a mystery to my bowling, but I think it’s more about knowing what works in different situations.”

READ: “We Did It the Hard Way”: David Warner Reflects on Gritty Win Over Lahore Qalandars

LAHORE: Karachi Kings captain David Warner praised his side’s resilience after they secured a hard-fought four-wicket victory over Lahore Qalandars in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 clash at the Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday.

Speaking at the post-match presentation, Warner admitted the win did not come easily but highlighted the importance of grinding out results in tight contests.

“We did it the hard way. As you just said, Shaheen Shah Afridi bowled absolutely outstanding. A great spell, four wickets. But look, it was a bit tighter than I would like. But it’s good to have two wins from two,” Warner said.

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Reflecting on the high-intensity contest between the two rivals, Warner described it as a perfect showcase for the tournament.

“It’s a great game for the tournament, actually, Lahore versus Karachi on a Sunday night. We absolutely loved it,” he stated.

The Karachi Kings skipper also credited his bowling unit for setting up the victory, particularly highlighting the combined effort of the spin and pace departments.

Catch all the PSL 11 updates here!

“Our spinners bowled fantastically in tandem. And I think [pacers] [Mir] Hamza and Hasan [Ali] were fantastic as well. Us squeezing in the middle and bowling in partnerships, which is really helping us at the moment. I think the spinners are licking their lips,” he said.

David Warner also acknowledged the challenges posed by varying conditions across venues, while appreciating the efforts behind pitch preparation.

“As batsmen, you can take a few balls to adjust and adapt. It is what it is; it’s the nature of the beast when you’re playing at two venues. Credit to the curators for preparing surfaces like this and for us to come out and play,” Warner said.

READ: Shaheen Afridi comments on five-run penalty over altering ball condition

LAHORE: Lahore Qalandars captain Shaheen Shah Afridi has addressed the five-run penalty over the changing of the condition of the ball in his side’s narrow defeat to Karachi Kings during their Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 clash at the Gaddafi Stadium.

The incident unfolded just before the final over of the Kings’ run chase, when on-field umpires inspected the ball and ruled that its condition had been altered.

Consequently, Qalandars were handed a five-run penalty, reducing the Kings’ target from 14 runs to just nine in the final six deliveries.

The momentum shift proved decisive, as Abbas Afridi struck a boundary and a six early in the over to guide Karachi Kings to a dramatic four-wicket win.

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Speaking after the match, a visibly disappointed Shaheen admitted he was unsure about the circumstances surrounding the decision and refrained from making immediate conclusions.

“I don’t know about this [ball tampering], and we will discuss it,” Shaheen said.

“We’ll review the footage and talk about it later. The five-run penalty does hurt, but I can’t say much right now.”

Despite the controversy, the left-arm pacer reflected positively on his team’s overall effort, particularly highlighting the competitive nature of the contest.

Catch all the PSL 11 updates here!

“It was actually a good game. We tried our best and fought till the last ball, which is what we expect from ourselves,” he said.

“Both teams were in a similar position. A total of around 120 is usually chased comfortably, but the way our bowlers fought showed the effort from the side.”

Shaheen Afridi also dismissed suggestions of a psychological disadvantage against Karachi Kings, who extended their head-to-head lead over Lahore with the victory.

“There is no mental block. My team fought till the final ball, and that’s what matters to me,” he concluded.

READ: Karachi Kings edge Lahore Qalandars in low-scoring thriller

Renowned Australian presenter Erin Holland has addressed her absence from the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 11, revealing that medical commitments prevented her from being part of the tournament this year.

Holland, a familiar face in the PSL broadcast team since 2019, was notably missing from this season’s presenter line-up, prompting widespread curiosity among fans.

Many took to social media to inquire about her whereabouts, with messages pouring in expressing concern and support.

Catch all the PSL 11 updates here!

Responding to the queries, Holland shared that she was “devastated” to miss the tournament but had no choice due to closely scheduled medical appointments.

“Thank you so much for the many messages wondering where I am this PSL — I am devastated to be unable to take part this year,” she wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

“This was due to medical appointments close together that never allowed for a decent stint at the tournament. Missing everyone & I hope to be back soon.”

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Her absence marks a rare break from the league, where she has been a consistent presence and a fan favourite over the years.

In her place, the organisers have introduced fresh faces to the broadcast panel, with Neroli Meadows and Jess Crowe making their PSL debuts. They have joined regular presenters, including Sikandar Bakht and Zainab Abbas.

READ: Quetta Gladiators outclass Hyderabad Kingsmen to claim first PSL 11 win

Four-time world champion Max Verstappen suggested he could quit Formula One at the end of the season after enduring another frustrating race on Sunday in Japan.

The Red Bull driver finished eighth in Suzuka, ending his four-year reign as Japanese Grand Prix champion in ruthless fashion.

He told the BBC that he was “not enjoying the whole formula behind” this season’s championship, which has brought in sweeping new regulations.

“You just think about, is it worth it?” he said. “Or do I enjoy being more at home with my family? Seeing my friends more when you’re not enjoying your sport?”

Verstappen has repeatedly railed against the new regulations, which see a 50-50 split between conventional and electrical power.

He labelled his car “undriveable” after qualifying in a lowly 11th for the Japan race. When asked if he could walk away from the sport, he replied that he was “thinking about everything inside this paddock”.

“It’s really anti-driving. Then at one point, yeah, it’s just not what I want to do,” he said. “And of course, you can look at it and make a lot of money. Great. But at the end of the day, it’s not about money any more because this has always been my passion.”

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Max Verstappen sought a change of scenery by competing in a four-hour race in Germany before the Japanese Grand Prix.

He will not compete again in F1 until the Miami Grand Prix on May 3, after the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia races scheduled for April were cancelled because of the war in the Middle East.

When asked how he would fill his time during the break, Verstappen answered: “I’ll do some more racing, some stuff that makes me smile.

“And at the same time speak to the team as well, to try and find more pace and some more stable balance because this is not sustainable for us as a team,” he added.

Verstappen is in ninth place in the championship standings, 60 points behind leader Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes after three races.

He finished sixth in the season opener in Australia and retired from the grand prix in China because of a cooling issue.

“I want to be here to have fun and have a great time and enjoy myself. At the moment that’s not really the case,” he said. “I’m trying. I keep telling myself every day to try and enjoy it. It’s just very hard.”

READ: Youngest F1 title leader Antonelli to keep ‘raising bar’ after Japan win

Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli vowed to “keep raising the bar” after winning Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix to become the youngest driver in Formula One history to lead the championship standings.

The 19-year-old Italian took advantage of a mid-race safety car to jump into the lead after a dreadful start from pole position, crossing the line ahead of McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.

Antonelli’s Suzuka victory came two weeks after the first grand prix win of his career in China, and sent him top of the championship standings after three races, nine points ahead of team-mate George Russell.

Mercedes are struggling to contain the excitement building around their young driver, even if Antonelli said he was “not thinking too much about the championship”.

“Of course it’s great but it’s still a long way to go and I need to keep raising the bar, because George is very quick,” he said. “For sure he’s going to be back at his usual level and also competitors will eventually get closer.”

Antonelli led home Piastri by 13.722sec, with Leclerc a further 1.548sec back in third.

Russell finished fourth to drop to second in the championship standings on 63 points. Leclerc is third on 49.

Russell battled Piastri for the lead over the first half of the race, but pitted just before the safety car, which dropped him out of contention for the win.

Piastri secured second in his first grand prix start of the season, after crashing on his way to the grid in the opener in Australia and missing the race in China because of a technical problem.

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Piastri led for the first half of the race before the safety car gave Antonelli his chance.

“It would have been really interesting to see what would have happened without that,” said Piastri. “A shame that we never got to see what would have happened, but I think for us to be disappointed at this point about finishing second is a pretty good place to be.”

Kimi Antonelli had become the youngest pole-sitter in F1 history in China and again was at the head of the grid. But he suffered a shocking start and was down in sixth by the first corner.

Piastri took the early lead ahead of Leclerc, with Norris, Russell and Hamilton all sweeping past Antonelli.

“It’s an area where I need to work a lot because it’s definitely not good enough,” said Antonelli. “I’m just making my life a lot harder.”

The young Italian had made up some of the lost ground when a crash by Haas driver Ollie Bearman brought out the safety car during the pit stop window.

Piastri had already pitted, but Antonelli was able to dive in for fresh tyres moments after the safety car was deployed and emerged in front of the Australian, a stroke of luck that effectively won him the race.

“I was very lucky with the timing of the safety car,” said Antonelli.

Formula One now takes an extended break until the Miami Grand Prix on May 3. The Bahrain and Saudi Arabia races scheduled for April have been cancelled because of the war in the Middle East.

READ: Aryna Sabalenka sinks Coco Gauff to win second straight Miami Open title

Legendary spinner Ravichandran Ashwin will become the first Indian international to ply his trade in Major League Cricket (MLC) after signing a deal with the San Francisco Unicorns, the club said Saturday.

The 39-year-old right-arm off-spinner, who retired from international cricket in 2024, will head to the United States after an agreement to join Australia’s Big Bash League fell through due to a knee injury.

“(Major League Cricket) has proven over recent seasons that it can put on a show, bringing in world-class players and offering significant exposure to US domestic cricket talent, and the opportunity to be a part of it with the San Francisco Unicorns was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up,” Ashwin said in a statement released by the club.

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“Taking on the mantle as the first Indian-capped player to compete in Major League Cricket is a major responsibility that I fully embrace,” he added. “My absolute focus is to help this franchise win games and push for its first Championship.”

Major League Cricket is a T20-format featuring six teams that play in a condensed month-long tournament. San Francisco’s season gets underway on June 19 with a clash against the LA Knight Riders at Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium near Dallas, Texas.

Ashwin amassed some 765 wickets across 287 appearances for India in Test, one-day, and T20 cricket during his career, and was a member of the squad that won the 2011 World Cup.

READ: Momin Qamar reacts after match-winning performance on PSL debut

LAHORE: Emerging left-arm wrist spinner Momin Qamar credited smart planning and backing from team management after delivering a standout performance on his Pakistan Super League (PSL) debut, helping Multan Sultans secure a comprehensive win over Islamabad United at the Gaddafi Stadium.

The 19-year-old, who was named Player of the Match, returned figures of 3 for 24 in his three overs to play a decisive role in restricting United to 171-8. Multan later chased down the target comfortably to register a five-wicket victory.

Speaking after the match, Qamar revealed the thought process behind one of his key breakthroughs, the dismissal of Islamabad captain Shadab Khan.

“I was trying to bowl as well as I could,” he said. “I had planned Shadab’s wicket. I noticed he was coming down the pitch, so I thought of bowling him away from his body. I adjusted my angle accordingly and managed to get him out.”

Catch all the PSL 11 updates here!

Qamar’s impact spell began in the 10th over when he removed the well-set Sameer Minhas for 28 with just his third delivery. He then struck again in his next over to dismiss Shadab, before claiming his third wicket by removing Haider Ali.

Despite his immediate success, the young bowler maintained that he is not targeting any specific player this season.

“There’s no particular player in mind. My goal is to use my skills to the best of my ability and help Multan Sultans win the PSL,” he stated.

Momin Qamar also reflected on his journey, having been part of the Lahore Qalandars last season but not getting an opportunity to feature.

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“There’s no major difference between franchises; all teams are good,” he said.

“Unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance to play for Lahore because there were many big players. But here, I got my opportunity in the first match and managed to take wickets.”

He further praised the environment within the Multan Sultans camp, highlighting the support he has received since joining the side.

“The team management and players here are very supportive. That has made a big difference for me, and it feels great to contribute,” he added.

READ: Philippe, Turner power Multan Sultans to clinical win over Islamabad United