Category: Top News

Multan Sultans have announced Australia’s Ashton Turner as the new captain of the franchise ahead of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 11, set to run from March 26 to May 3.

The appointment was confirmed via the team’s official social media channels, alongside the signing of the seasoned middle-order batter and five-time Big Bash League (BBL) champion.

Turner, 33, has established himself as a T20 specialist across multiple global leagues, including the BBL, Men’s The Hundred, IPL, SA20, and the CPL.

In his T20 career so far, he has amassed 4,103 runs in 252 matches at a strike rate of 142.56, including 17 fifties, while also claiming 38 wickets.

Internationally, Turner has featured in 19 T20Is for Australia, scoring 110 runs and taking four wickets.

Turner previously played for Multan Sultans in the last PSL season, appearing in three matches and scoring 15 runs.

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He now succeeds Mohammad Rizwan, who captained the Sultans in 58 matches, winning 33 and losing 25, with a win percentage of 56.89%.

Rizwan notably led the team to their maiden PSL title in 2021, defeating Peshawar Zalmi in the final. However, in PSL 11, Rizwan will be leading the new PSL franchise Pindiz.

Notably, the revival of Multan Sultans for PSL 11 comes after a series of last-minute franchise changes.

The original Sultans franchise was acquired by the Walee Group and rebranded as Pindiz, initially raising doubts about the team’s participation.

However, on March 3, the PSL franchise formerly known as Sialkot Stallionz was rebranded as Multan Sultans following a majority takeover by CD Ventures.

Gohar Shah, CEO of CD Ventures, acquired the majority stake from OZ Developers, who had purchased the franchise for PKR 1.85 billion, raising the franchise’s annual valuation to PKR 2 billion.

READ: BCCI announces massive cash reward for India’s T20 World Cup-winning side

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced a whopping INR 131 crore cash reward for the Indian squad following their record-breaking defense of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 title.

India etched their name in history by defeating New Zealand in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium, successfully retaining the T20 crown and becoming the first team to win the tournament three times.

With this victory, India also became the first nation to lift successive men’s T20 World Cups, breaking a trend where no defending champion had previously even reached the final.

The BCCI’s announcement did not specify the exact distribution, but the reward is expected to be shared among players, support staff, and selectors.

“The Board congratulates the players, support staff and selectors once again on this historic achievement and wishes them continued success in the future,” the BCCI said in a statement.”

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India’s dominant final performance saw them post 255 for 5, with half-centuries from Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, and Ishan Kishan.

In response, New Zealand’s chase was dismantled by Jasprit Bumrah, who returned figures of 4 for 15 in four overs, as the hosts secured a 96-run victory.

This cash reward surpasses the INR 125 crore handed out after India’s 2024 T20 World Cup triumph, where each of the 15 players received INR 5 crore, the coaching staff received INR 2.5 crore each, and the five-member senior selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, was awarded INR 1 crore apiece.

With this win, India now hold both the Champions Trophy and the T20 World Cup titles, and will eye the ODI World Cup next year to complete a remarkable collection of major ICC trophies.

WATCH: New Zealand bowler makes history with triple hat-trick

Captain Suryakumar Yadav said gold in 2028 on cricket’s return to the Olympics was India’s next big aim after extending their T20 domination with back-to-back World Cup titles.

Co-hosts India hammered New Zealand by 96 runs in the final in Ahmedabad on Sunday to be the first team to retain the T20 world crown and first to win it three times.

It was also the first time a team have won the title on home soil, and they did it with a brand of fearless, attacking cricket.

“It has been very special,” Suryakumar told reporters at a celebratory midnight press conference, as fans across the country flooded into the streets.

“And definitely the next goal is Olympics, Olympic gold and also the T20 World Cup that year.”

Los Angeles 2028 will see cricket return to the Olympics for the first time since 1900.

Led by then captain Rohit Sharma, India won the T20 World Cup two years ago in Barbados for their first major title since the 2013 Champions Trophy.

Rohit and fellow stalwart Virat Kohli retired from the shortest format after the final against South Africa and Suryakumar took over as captain.

“I think that drought ended in 2024 after a really long time and from there we never looked back,” said the 35-year-old.

“We played a different brand of cricket in 2024, and from there we understood how this team needs to work (going) forward.

“And it’s been a wonderful journey since then.”

Suryakumar added: “We wanted to do something special in front of the home crowd. We want to continue doing that… and never stop.”

India won the 50-over World Cup in 2011 at home under M.S. Dhoni, who led the team to a T20 World Cup in the inaugural edition in 2007.

After that was a comparative drought in the biggest events by India’s sky-high standards.

Two-time World Cup winner Gautam Gambhir, who succeeded Rahul Dravid as coach after the 2024 World Cup win, wants to carve out his own legacy.

“I don’t believe in inheriting anything, I believe in creating something,” said Gambhir, who has not always been universally popular with fans and pundits as the coach.

“And hopefully we’ve created something which probably all of you guys could be proud of, that the kind of brand of cricket we’ve played.”

DOHA: The key meeting of the International Cricket Council (ICC)  scheduled for March 25-27 has been postponed due to rising tensions in the Middle East. 

The decision was shared with member nations on Saturday, ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 final, in a press release.

“The ICC’s support of and collaboration with the Qatar Cricket Association and Olympic Committee, Cricket in Qatar has fuelled remarkable progress for the sport in recent years,” the ICC had said.

The Doha meetings were aimed to bring together the ICC Board Directors, Chief Executives, Committee Members, and senior leadership as part of the organisation’s regular governance calendar.

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The meeting was considered vital to discuss the important matters regarding the present and future of the global game.

Although the meetings are likely to be rescheduled for a date in April, an exact date has not been announced yet.

Meanwhile, there is no immediate information confirming Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Aminul Islam’s attendance at the meeting, as he is believed to be in Melbourne.

Additionally, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman, Moshsin Naqvi, will not be present.

Meanwhile, a host of ICC officials also attended the final in Ahmedabad, the home city of Jay Shah, the chair of the ICC.

India lifted the T20 World Cup for a record third time after defeating New Zealand by 95 runs.

Sanju Samson and Jasprit Bumrah starred for the Men in Blue in the final.

READ: Kohli reacts after India lift T20 World Cup 2026 trophy

Ace batter Virat Kohli shared his joy after India defeated New Zealand to win the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. 

The Men in Blue annihilated New Zealand in a dominant display, sealing a 95-run win to lift their third T20 World Cup title.

Put into bat first, the hosts posted a mammoth total of 255 for 5 in their 20 overs, thanks to half-centuries from Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, and Ishan Kishan.

In reply, New Zealand were bowled out for 159 in 19 overs with Jasprit Bumrah starring with the ball, taking a four-wicket haul. For his outstanding bowling, he was named the player of the match.

Following the triumph, reactions poured in from former cricketers, including Virat Kohli, who played a pivotal role in the 2024 World Cup campaign.

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“Champions.Phenomenal win for Team India in Ahmedabad. Absolutely no match for the explosive cricket played by us throughout the tournament,” he wrote on X.

“Brilliant character shown by the boys to keep fighting in tough situations and become world champions once again. Congratulations to all the players and all the members of the management for achieving this feat,” he said.

For the unversed, India became the first team to win the T20 World Cup three times and also the first to successfully defend the title.

Notably, this is also the first time that a host nation has lifted the limited-overs trophy.

READ: India crush New Zealand to win record T20 World Cup title

AHMEDABAD: India opener Sanju Samson on Sunday broke multiple records with an epic knock against New Zealand in the final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 here on Sunday. 

The right-hander top-scored with 89 from 44 balls, playing a pivotal role in the team’s mammoth total of 255 runs in 20 overs.

After scoring 89, he became the third batter to record consecutive half-centuries in the semi-final and final of the mega event.

He joined former Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi and his compatriot Virat, who registered the feat in 2009 and 2014, respectively.

Half-century in semi-final and final of T20 World Cup

Shahid Afridi (Pakistan) – in 2009

Virat Kohli (India) – in 2014

Sanju Samson (India) – in 2026

Moreover, his 89 is now also the highest score in the final of the T20 World Cup, surpassing Marlon Samuels’ record of 85 against England in 2016.

Highest individual scores in T20 World Cup final:

Sanju Samson (India) – 89 against New Zealand in 2026

Marlon Samuels (West Indies) – 85 against England in 2016

Kane Williamson (New Zealand) – 85 against Australia in 2021

Marlon Samuels (West Indies) – 78 against Sri Lanka in 2012

Virat Kohli (India) – 76 against South Africa in 2024

Besides this, the wicket-keeper batter is only the third batter to hit three consecutive 80-plus scores in the T20I format.

Samson has been in sublime form, having scored 97, 89, and 89 in his last three innings.

Consecutive 80-plus scores in T20Is

Mahela Jayawardene, (SL) 2010

Gustav Mckeon, (FRA) 2022

Sanju Samson, (IND) 2026

READ: WATCH: New Zealand bowler makes history with triple hat-trick

AHMEDABAD: India’s left-handed opener Abhishek Sharma smashed the fastest half-century in an ICC T20 World Cup final with just 18 balls, guiding his team to a blazing start against New Zealand in the 2026 finale here on Sunday.

Sharma, ranked No.1 in the ICC T20I Batting Rankings, had endured a difficult tournament before the final, leaving him with only 89 runs at an average of 12.71 heading into the summit clash.

However, the 25-year-old staged a stunning turnaround in the final. Launching an aggressive assault from the outset, Sharma reached his half-century in just 18 deliveries, surpassing Heinrich Klaasen’s 23-ball fifty set in South Africa’s unsuccessful run chase in the previous edition’s final.

Fastest half-centuries in ICC Men’s T20 World Cup finals

• Abhishek Sharma (India) – 18 balls vs New Zealand, 2026

• Heinrich Klaasen (South Africa) – 23 balls vs India, 2024

• Daryl Mitchell (New Zealand) – 31 balls vs Australia, 2021

Sharma’s 52-run knock came off 21 balls, featuring six fours and three sixes, before he was caught behind off Rachin Ravindra in the eighth over.

Although he couldn’t convert the rapid fifty into a century, his explosive innings set the tone for India’s mammoth total of 255-5.

Notably, the fastest fifty in any T20 World Cup match remains with Sharma’s mentor, Yuvraj Singh, who smashed a 12-ball half-century against England in 2007.

READ: Jacob Kiplimo regains half marathon world record

Ugandan Jacob Kiplimo reclaimed the men’s half marathon world record on Sunday winning in Lisbon in 57 minutes and 20 seconds, to take 10 seconds off the time set in 2024 by Yomif Kejelcha.

Kiplimo had previously set the record in Lisbon in 2021 before Ethiopian Kejelcha shaved off one second in Valencia.

In a race without pacemakers, Kiplimo covered the first five kilometres in a rapid 13:28 with Kenyans Nicholas Kipkorir and Gilbert Kiprotich on his heels.

After the trio reached 10km in 27:00 Kiprotich faded.

When the pace dropped as the leaders passed 15km in 40:52, Kiplimo, who had an eye on the record, accelerated and ran the next 5km in 13:31, a pace he kept up to the end.

“After the first 10km, I thought the world record was possible. I tried to keep pushing the pace in the final two kilometres,” he said at the finish.

Kipkorir crossed the line 48sec behind with Kiprotich a distant third.

Kiplimo ran 56:42 in Barcelona last year, but World Athletics refused to ratify the record because, it said on Sunday, “the race conditions were not fully compliant with World Athletics rules”.

Ethiopian Tsige Gebreselama retained the women’s title in 1:04:48.

READ: WATCH: New Zealand bowler makes history with triple hat-trick

An unheralded New Zealand domestic bowler Brett Randell on Sunday became the first player in the 254-year history of first-class cricket to take five wickets in five successive deliveries.

Randell achieved the feat bowling for Central Districts against Northern Districts on day two of a Plunket Shield four-day match in front of a sparse crowd at Napier’s McLean Park.

Records held by the Association of Cricket Statisticians and Historians show the feat hasn’t been achieved since what it and many other historians recognise as the first documented first-class match, played in 1772.

Ireland international Curtis Campher took five wickets in five balls in a domestic Twenty20 match last year, becoming the first player to do so in a professional game.

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Randell’s right-arm seamers scythed through the ND top order.

The 30-year-old clean bowled Henry Cooper with the final delivery of his second over before removing fellow-opener and former New Zealand Test batsman Jeet Raval at the start of his third over.

Three more wickets fell from successive balls, including the record-breaking delivery, when international all-rounder Kristian Clarke was bowled.

Randell took two further wickets in his following over as ND were skittled for 82 in response to CD’s 373.

Randell claimed 7-25, his best figures in a 38-match first-class career that spans nine years.

READ: West Indies, England, South Africa set to depart India on charter flights

MUMBAI: Several teams participating in the T20 World Cup 2026 are set to leave India over the weekend on charter flights arranged by the International Cricket Council (ICC) after being stranded due to disruptions in air travel caused by the ongoing military conflict in the Middle East.

According to a report by ESPNcricinfo, England, South Africa and West Indies were among the sides unable to depart the country following their elimination from the T20 World Cup.

England, who suffered a semi-final defeat against India on Thursday, are scheduled to leave Mumbai on Saturday evening aboard a charter flight bound for London.

Meanwhile, South Africa and the West Indies will depart from Kolkata on a separate charter flight.

Both teams are expected to travel to Johannesburg first before the West Indies squad continues onward to Antigua. While the exact departure time is yet to be finalised, both teams are expected to leave on Sunday.

South Africa and the West Indies have remained in Kolkata since their exits from the tournament.

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South Africa were knocked out after losing to New Zealand in the first semi-final on March 4, while the West Indies have been in the city since their defeat against India in their final Super Eight fixture on March 1.

West Indies head coach Daren Sammy even took to social media to highlight the delay, posting “Day 6” on his X account on Saturday, a reference to the number of days the team had been waiting to travel after their last match.

Some members of the South African contingent will have a tight turnaround after leaving India.

Team management members, along with players Keshav Maharaj, Jason Smith and George Linde, are scheduled to travel to New Zealand on Sunday for a limited-overs tour that begins on March 15.

Zimbabwe also experienced travel delays after playing their final match of the tournament on March 1, though parts of their squad were able to depart India on March 4.

The ongoing T20 World Cup, which began on February 7 across venues in India and Sri Lanka, will conclude on Sunday with the final between India and New Zealand in Ahmedabad.

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