Category: Top News

PAARL: Aiden Markram’s 86* from 47 balls and George Linde’s clinical three-wicket haul sealed a commanding nine-wicket victory for South Africa over West Indies in the opening T20I fixture of the three-match series here at the Boland Park.

South Africa chased down 174 run target with ease, losing only one wicket with 13 balls to spare.

Lhuan-dre Pretorius and skipper Aiden Markram made light work of the chase with a 83 run opening stand in 7.5 overs.

Pretorius eye catching 44 from 28 balls featured half a dozen boundaries and a maximum.

After losing a wicket, Markram and Ryan Rickelton guided South Africa in the chase, forging an unbeaten 93* stand that took them over the line. 

The skipper struck three sixes and nine fours in his 86 from 47, whereas Ryan Rickelton made 40 off 32 with the help of two sixes and a boundary.

For West Indies, Roston Chase remained the solitary wicket taker.

Earlier, Shimron Hetmyer’s brisk half-century powered West Indies to a strong total

Put into bat first, West Indies racked up 173-7 at the end of their allotted 20 overs.

Brandon King and Johnson Charles provided the visitors a rapid start, adding 39 in first 3.5 overs.

However, once Keshav Maharaj was introduced into the attack, things slowed down for West Indies.

The ace left-arm spinner provided South Africa with the first breakthrough, castling Charles for 13. He then followed it up by dismissing Sherfane Rutherford.

Meanwhile, King, who was looking good, also sent back to leave his side in a mess. The right-hander made 27 off 17, striking five fours and a six.

As a result, West Indies were reduced to 50-3 in 5.4 overs.

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After a vivid start from South Africa bowlers, they held back the West Indies batters till the halfway stage of the game.

At one stage, West Indies were 95-5 in 11.1 overs before Shimron Hetmyer and Rovman Powell steadied the innings with a 74-run stand.

The pair brought the total to 169 in 19.2 overs, with Hetmyer caught on the boundary rope, thanks to an excellent catch from Dewald Breivis.

The soutpaw tonked three sixes and four boundaries in his 48 from 32 balls.

Meanwhile, Powell remained unbeaten on 29 from 25, striking a six and two fours.

For South Africa, George Linde starred with a three-wicket haul while Corbin Bosch and Keshav Maharaj took a brace.

Playing XIs

South Africa: 1 Aiden Markram (capt), 2 Lhuan-dre Pretorius, 3 Ryan Rickelton (wk), 4 Dewald Brevis, 5 Rubin Hermann, 6 Jason Smith, 7 George Linde, 8 Corbin Bosch, 9 Kagiso Rabada, 10 Keshav Maharaj, 11 Kwena Maphaka

West Indies: 1 Brandon King, 2 Roston Chase (capt), 3 Johnson Charles (wk), 4 Shimron Hetmyer, 5 Rovman Powell, 6 Sherfane Rutherford, 7 Romario Shepherd, 8 Jason Holder, 9 Matthew Forde, 10 Jayden Seales, 11 Akeal Hosein

READ: U19 World Cup: India crush Zimbabwe to claim top spot

Mikel Arteta promised that Arsenal would play with “courage and conviction” for the rest of the season after their surprise defeat by Manchester United slowed their Premier League title charge.

Arsenal, who remain four points clear of second-placed Manchester City, host Kazakhstan’s Kairat Almaty in the Champions League on Wednesday, aiming to complete the tournament’s league phase with a perfect record.

The Gunners, who have seven wins out of seven in Europe this season, have already secured a place in the last 16, meaning they avoid a potentially tricky play-off next month.

They are also still alive in both domestic cup competitions.

Arsenal boss Arteta was asked at his pre-match press conference on Tuesday about his team’s reaction to Sunday’s surprise 3-2 defeat against United — a first home loss of the season.

“The reaction has been excellent,” said the Spaniard. “We took a moment to bring the temperature down, to pause and to reflect and ask two questions.

“One is, how do we feel and how do I feel myself? And then, how we are going to live the next four months?

“And it was so encouraging and beautiful because what came out of that is very simple — we have earned the right to be in a great position in four competitions.”

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Arsenal’s slip-up against Michael Carrick’s resurgent United followed 0-0 draws against Liverpool and Nottingham Forest.

But Arteta promised that the Gunners would be fearless as they chase a first Premier League title since 2004.

“In the next four months, we are going to live and play with enjoyment, with a lot of courage and with the conviction that we are going to win it,” he said.

“And this is going to be the mindset and where we are going to put the energy and I’m just hoping that everybody that is related to this club, especially our supporters, jump on the boat.”

William Saliba and Jurrien Timber are not available to face Almaty due to “slight niggles” while Mikel Merino and Declan Rice are suspended.

READ: U19 World Cup: India crush Zimbabwe to claim top spot

BULAWAYO: Vihaan Malhotra’s sublime century backed by an all-round bowling effort sealed a 204 run victory for India over Zimbabwe in their Super Six encounter of the ICC Men’s U19 World Cup 2026 here at the Queens Sports Club on Tuesday.

Set daunting 353, Zimbabwe innings folded for mere 148 run total in 37.4 overs.

Pacers RS Ambrish and Henil Patel made early inroads, removing Nathaniel Hlabangana and Dhruv Patel  inside first three overs.

The third wicket fell in the eighth over as the hosts were reduced to 24-3.

However, Leeroy Chiwaula and Kian Blignaut arrested the slide with a 69 run stand. The pair brought the total to 93 in 26.5 overs.

Blignaut was cleaned bowled for 37 off 73 balls which included four boundaries.

Despite the wicket, Chiwaula held one end and stitched a 49 run partnership to keep Zimbabwe afloat.

But both batters were removed in successive overs, sparking a collapse which the side could not recover from.

Chiwaula top scored with 62 from 77 balls which included a six and seven boundaries.

For India, Ayush Mhatre and Udhav Mohan shared six wickets between them. Meanwhile RS Ambrish also managed to took two wickets.

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Earlier, put into bat first, India managed to put 352-8 on the board at the end of their 50 overs.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi laid a strong foundation with a brisk half-century, scoring 52 from just 30, hitting four boundaries and same number of maximums.

After a steady start, Vihaan Malhotra and Abhigyan Kundu forged a 113 run partnership, to propel India to a big total.

Malhotra scord unbeaten 109 from 107 balls which was laced with seven fours while Kundu’s 61 from 62 included five fours and a six.

For Zimbabwe, Tatenda Chimugoro remained the stand out bowler with three wickets to his name.

With this victory, India moved to top position in the Group 2 with six points.

READ: Silver, Gold category players revealed ahead of PSL 11 auction

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Tuesday released the list of player placed in the Silver and Gold category ahead of the upcoming Pakistan Super League’s (PSL) 11 auction.

A total of 16 players, including a number of renowned names are listed in the Silver category ahead of the PSL 11 player auction. Among the franchises, Multan Sultans has listed six players in the Silver category.

Meanwhile, Quetta Gladiators and Karachi Kings have listed one player in the respected category.

 

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Peshawar Zalmi and Islamabad United have included two players. On the contrary, Lahore Qalandars have included three players in the silver category.

In Gold category 33 players have been named, including a number of renowned names who have represented Pakistan at the international stage.

 

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The strategic shift is aimed at enhancing competitive balance, increasing transparency, and providing players’ greater earning opportunities.

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Under the revised framework, each franchise will be allowed to retain a maximum of four players, with only one retention permitted per category.

This marks a sharp departure from previous seasons, where teams could retain up to eight players, along with additional provisions such as mentors, brand ambassadors and the Right to Match (RTM) option.

For PSL 11, the PCB has abolished the mentor, brand ambassador and RTM clauses altogether, streamlining the squad-building process ahead of the auction.

The two newly inducted franchises, Hyderabad and Sialkot, will also be granted special provisions, allowing them to select and retain four players from the available pool before the player auction.

In addition, every team will be permitted one direct signing of a foreign player who did not feature in PSL 10, a move designed to inject fresh international talent into the competition.

The PSL 11 will get underway on March 26, 2026, and will mark Faisalabad’s first-ever stint as a host city. The venue will join Karachi, Lahore, Multan and Rawalpindi, expanding the league to five host cities.

READ: Emerging category retentions revealed ahead of PSL 11 auction

LAHORE: The Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 on Tuesday announced the renewals for Silver and Emerging categories ahead of the landmark player auction, set to be held on 11 February.

The Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 has announced the renewals for its Silver and Emerging categories ahead of the landmark player auction, scheduled for 11 February.

The announcement was made on PSL social media handles, with the existing six outfits revealing their retained names.

Three times PSL winners Islamabad United retained all-rounders Saad Masood and Mohammad Shahzad, alongside wicket keeper Ghazi Ghouri.

Meanwhile, the 2020 edition winners Karachi Kings retained pacers Riazullah and Fawad Ali, as well as wicket keeper-batter Saad Baig.

 

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Peshawar Zalmi held on to opening batter Abdullah Fazal, fast bowler Ali Raza and Maaz Sadaqat.

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The PSL X winners Lahore Qalandars have named just one player in the emerging category, retaining left-arm wrist spinner Momin Qamar.

Multan Sultans also have retained medium pacer Shahid Aziz and wicket keeper Mohammad Zulkifal.

Similarly, Quetta Gladiators chose fast bowler Mohammad Zeeshan and opener Shamyl Hussain as their emerging category retentions.

It is worth mentioning that this will be the first time since PSL’s inception that a player’s auction will be held instead of the traditional Draft system.

The strategic shift is aimed at enhancing competitive balance, increasing transparency, and providing players’ greater earning opportunities.

Under the revised framework, each franchise will be allowed to retain a maximum of four players, with only one retention permitted per category.

This marks a sharp departure from previous seasons, where teams could retain up to eight players, along with additional provisions such as mentors, brand ambassadors and the Right to Match (RTM) option.

For PSL 11, the PCB has abolished the mentor, brand ambassador and RTM clauses altogether, streamlining the squad-building process ahead of the auction.

The two newly inducted franchises, Hyderabad and Sialkot, will also be granted special provisions, allowing them to select and retain four players from the available pool before the player auction.

In addition, every team will be permitted one direct signing of a foreign player who did not feature in PSL 10, a move designed to inject fresh international talent into the competition.

The PCB also confirmed that PSL 11 will get underway on March 26, 2026, and will mark Faisalabad’s first-ever stint as a host city. The venue will join Karachi, Lahore, Multan and Rawalpindi, expanding the league to five host cities.

READ: Former New Zealand cricketer named Islamabad United new head coach

Islamabad United have appointed former New Zealand wicket-keeper Luke Ronchi as the new Head Coach for the upcoming Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 11.

Ronchi’s contribution to the PSL goes far beyond numbers, read the statement from Islamabad United.

Ronchi played a central role in United’s most memorable campaigns, producing performances that have become part of PSL folklore and creating a deep connection with the United fanbase that has remained strong long after his playing days.

Following the announcement, Ali Naqvi, Owner of the United expressed his views, highlighting Ronchi’s impact in the league.

“Luke Ronchi is Islamabad United through and through, a true sheru. He’s one of the most iconic and impactful overseas players this league has ever seen, and his bond with Islamabad United is unique. As we say, once a sheru always a sheru,” he said.

 

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“We are delighted that Ronchi became available this season. He understands our culture, our standards, and what it truly means to represent Islamabad United. We’re excited to welcome him back this time as Head Coach,” he added.

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Meanwhile, Luke Ronchi also shared his excitement on the appointment, noting that he is eager to contribute towards the growth of the franchise.

“Islamabad United has always felt like home to me. The bond I share with this team, the owners, the fans, and the entire ISLU family is something genuinely special. I’ve always carried that connection with pride,” he said

“To return now as Head Coach is a huge honour. Islamabad United stands for fearless cricket, character, and a winning mindset. I’m excited to carry that legacy forward and help develop the next group of leaders and match-winners for this great team.”

Islamabad United have always believed in building more than just squads — the team has built leaders. Ronchi’s appointment reflects that DNA, as another former Islamabad United player now takes on a leadership role.

“His transition from a player to Head Coach is a statement of continuity — ensuring the values that shaped Islamabad United’s identity continue to drive the team forward into a new HBLPSL era,” the franchise said.

In addition to this, Ronchi brings valuable international coaching experience, having been part of New Zealand’s coaching setup, where he worked within a high-performance environment and contributed to the development and success of New Zealand’s national men’s team.

His global exposure, combined with his deep understanding of the PSL ecosystem, makes him ideally positioned to guide United in the upcoming season.

READ: ICC clears the air on denying Bangladesh journalists T20 World Cup accreditation

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has sought to clarify the controversy surrounding the accreditation of Bangladeshi journalists for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026, amid tensions between the global body and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB).

Earlier, multiple journalists from Bangladesh reported that their accreditation applications were rejected, effectively barring them from covering the tournament in India and Sri Lanka.

The issue gained prominence after Bangladesh were replaced by Scotland in the World Cup following their refusal to travel to India due to security concerns.

According to sources quoted by the Press Trust of India (PTI), the ICC is now reworking the media accreditation process for Bangladeshi journalists, following the withdrawal of their national team from the tournament.

“There is a reworking of the process since there is a change in the number of requests and the schedules. The accreditation lists are being worked out accordingly,” ICC sources told PTI.

The sources said the situation for Bangladeshi journalists changed after Scotland replaced Bangladesh in the tournament.

The ICC is reportedly revising the application process and reassessing the accreditation requests based on the new tournament dynamics.

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A key point highlighted by the sources is that accreditation numbers are capped by country quota, and the ICC cannot exceed this limit.

“If you go by country quota, you can’t exceed the number beyond 40. The ICC goes by the recommendations of the home board and accordingly takes a call on applications,” the sources said.

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) media committee chairman Amzad Hossain confirmed that all accreditation applications from Bangladeshi journalists were rejected.

He also said that the BCB has already raised the issue with the ICC and is awaiting an explanation.

“The decision came only yesterday, and we have sought to know [the details]. An explanation has been requested,” he told reporters in Dhaka.

“This is an internal and confidential matter, but to summarise, we wanted to know why this was done,” he told reporters in Dhaka.”

ICC sources revealed that Bangladesh media members will now have to reapply for accreditation, which will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

READ: U19 World Cup: Pakistan’s semi-final qualification scenario explained

Australia pacer Kane Richardson has announced his retirement from professional cricket, bringing down the curtain on a 17-year-long career.

The 34-year-old revealed his decision on Tuesday, sharing the news first through an Instagram post before issuing an official statement via the Australian Cricketers’ Association.

Richardson had signed a one-year deal with the Sydney Sixers ahead of the recently concluded Big Bash League (BBL) season 15 but was limited to just two appearances, picking up a solitary wicket.

Richardson was among the original cast of the BBL, having been part of the league since its first season. He enjoyed lengthy stints with Adelaide Strikers and Melbourne Renegades, lifting the title with the Renegades in the 2018-19 season.

Over the years, Richardson became one of the most reliable fast bowlers in the tournament. He finished his BBL career as the fifth-highest wicket-taker, claiming 142 wickets at an average of 23.21 and an economy rate of 7.87.

Reflecting on his decision, Richardson said he had given his all throughout his career and felt it was the right time to move on.

“From making my debut back in 2009 until now, I feel like I have squeezed every drop out of myself, and it is the right time to finish such an enjoyable part of my life,” he said.

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He also thanked coaches, administrators, and teammates who helped shape his journey, particularly those from his early days in South Australia and the Northern Territory.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to represent my country, along with many franchise teams around the world, and in Australia,” Richardson added.

“I have never taken the opportunity lightly, and I hope the people watching knew that I had dreamt about being a cricketer since I was a kid in Darwin.”

Kane Richardson’s international career included 25 ODIs and 36 T20Is for Australia, yielding 84 wickets across both formats.

He was part of the Australian squad that won the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 in the UAE, and also featured in the 2019 ODI World Cup.

His franchise career was equally impressive, featuring in four IPL seasons and stints in the T20 Blast, The Hundred, and ILT20.

Overall, Richardson retires with 241 wickets in 201 T20 matches across domestic and franchise competitions, maintaining an average of 23.58.

READ: U19 World Cup: Pakistan’s semi-final qualification scenario explained

HARARE: Pakistan have kicked off their Super Six campaign at the ongoing ICC Men’s U19 World Cup 2026 against New Zealand, with an aim to book their place in the semi-final.

The ongoing match against New Zealand is a virtual knock-out for Pakistan, knowing that a slip-up could seriously dent their qualification hopes in a tightly-packed Super Six Group 2.

For the unversed, the tournament structure sees the top three teams from each group advancing to the Super Six stage, but teams do not start on equal footing. Points earned against fellow Super Six qualifiers during the group stage are carried forward.

At this stage, each team plays only two matches, both against teams from the other group whose group-stage ranking differed from their own.

This means a team that finished second in its group will not face the team that also finished second in the other group.

Groups B and C have combined to form Super Six Group 2, while Groups A and D make up Super Six Group 1. The top two teams from each Super Six group will progress to the semi-finals.

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Pakistan finished second in Group C, behind England, while Zimbabwe also progressed from the group.

As a result, Pakistanare set to face Group B toppers India and Group B third-placed New Zealand in the Super Six stage, but will not play Bangladesh, who finished second in Group B.

Pakistan sit third in Super Six Group 2 with a 0.629 net run rate, while England occupy the top spot after their dominant seven-wicket win over Bangladesh yesterday, which significantly boosted their NRR to 1.989.

India, who entered the Super Six with an already strong NRR of 2.751, are sitting at second position.

Considering Pakistan’s low net run rate, they must defeat New Zealand and then overcome an in-form India on February 1 by substantial margins to leapfrog into the top two.

READ: Bangladesh journalists denied ICC accreditation for T20 World Cup

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has denied accreditation applications from Bangladesh journalists aiming to cover the T20 World Cup 2026, effectively preventing media representatives from the country from accessing on-ground coverage of the tournament.

The development comes amid already strained relations between the ICC and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) following their refusal to travel to India for the World Cup, citing security concerns, a decision that eventually led to their replacement by Scotland.

BCB media committee chairman Amzad Hossain confirmed the matter on Monday, revealing that none of the Bangladeshi journalists who applied were granted accreditation.

“As far as I know, all Bangladeshi journalists were rejected. Around 130 to 150 journalists applied this year, but none received accreditation,” Amzad said.

The situation has further fueled controversy after several Bangladeshi journalists claimed their accreditation approvals were initially granted and later withdrawn.

A handful of photojournalists reportedly received confirmation emails and visa support letters in mid-January, only to be informed days later that their applications had been rejected.

Local journalist Mir Farid said he was among those affected.

“I received an approval email from the ICC media department on January 20, which included a visa support letter. But today I received another email saying my application was rejected,” he said.

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Bangladeshi journalists have consistently covered ICC events since the country’s involvement in World Cups began in 1999, regardless of whether Bangladesh were active participant in the tournament.

Veteran journalist Arifur Rahman Babu, who was among the Bangladeshi reporters covering the 1996 World Cup, expressed strong disappointment over the ICC’s move.

“Even if a team is not playing, journalists from an ICC Associate Member nation can still receive accreditation. I find no reason why everyone was rejected. I am surprised, and I strongly condemn and protest this decision,” said Arifur, who is also the president of the Bangladesh Sports Journalists Association (BSJA).

Arifur further indicated that the BSJA would consult with the Bangladesh Sports Press Association (BSPA) and the Bangladesh Sports Journalists Community (BSJC) to decide on a collective response.

“It appears the ICC is unhappy that Bangladesh are not participating and has shut the door on Bangladeshi sports journalists. This goes beyond courtesy and professionalism. I believe this episode has exposed a dark side of the ICC,” he said.

He also suggested that alternative arrangements could have been made, particularly with Sri Lanka being a co-host.

“A strong protest letter should be sent to the ICC through the Ministry of Information and the BCB, seeking an explanation. Since Sri Lanka is a co-host, arrangements could have been made for us there,” he added.

READ: Last-minute entrants Scotland name squad for T20 World Cup 2026