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Delhi Capitals rode on blistering half-centuries from skipper Axar Patel and David Miller to mount a record chase and keep their IPL 2026 qualification hopes alive following a stirring three-wicket victory over Punjab Kings on Monday.

A furious early onslaught by opener Priyansh Arya was the bedrock around which Punjab, coming off a hat-trick of losses, posted a commanding 210-5 at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala, where no total in excess of 200 had been chased down successfully previously.

Punjab seemed to have things under control when Arshdeep Singh and Yash Thakur reduced Delhi to 33 for three inside the first five overs.

Axar and Miller reignited their hopes with a 64-run stand for the fifth wicket, after which impact player Ashutosh Sharma and Madhav Tiwari, playing his first game of the season, tore into the Punjab bowling to secure victory with six deliveries to spare.

Axar came into this game with just 44 runs from eight previous innings but found form when it mattered most, unleashing a flurry of boundaries that unsettled the pace-heavy Punjab attack.

With the ball becoming greasy, thanks to a damp outfield, the bowlers had trouble gripping it and Axar and Miller made merry, picking off fours and sixes at will to keep their team in the hunt.

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Both fell not long after bringing up their respective fifties but Delhi weren’t done yet.

Ashutosh and Tiwari embarked on a six-hitting spree against the Australian duo of Ben Dwarshuis and Marcus Stoinis, and Auqib Nabi brought up a much-needed victory by slamming Thakur for a straight six.

Punjab had earlier shown no signs of the pressure they must have felt after three successive losses as Arya got the match off to a stunning start by driving the first ball, from Mitchell Starc, over point for six.

The Australian paceman conceded 22 in the first over, a sign of things to come with the Delhi bowlers going too full in looking for non-existent swing.

Once they pulled their lengths back a little, the quick bowlers were harder to hit and the Punjab innings wobbled briefly before skipper Shreyas Iyer and Cooper Connolly rode to their rescue with a stand of 83 for the third wicket.

Suryansh Shedge then weighed in with 21 off only eight deliveries, but Delhi’s resolve proved stronger as they staved off elimination with their fifth win of the season.

READ: President’s Trophy Grade-II Gold to commence tomorrow

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday announced the schedule of the President’s Trophy Grade-II Gold, set to be played across four cities — Abbottabad, Haripur, Islamabad, and Rawalpindi.

This will mark the first time the tournament is divided into two tiers — Gold and Silver. The tournament will run from May 12 to June 21.

“The tournament, which serves as qualification pathway for the first-class President’s Trophy Grade-I and List-A President’s Cup, has been split into Gold and Silver tiers for the first time, with 14 top ranked of the 27 teams from the previous edition are set to be in the Gold tier,” the PCB announced in a statement.

“A total of 10 teams will take part in the Silver tier of the tournament scheduled to start from Monday, 18 May. The winner and runners up of the Silver will be promoted to Gold tier, while that of the Gold will move up to the Grade-I first-class and List A tournaments,” it added.

Pool A includes Eshaal Associates, JDW Sugar Mills, MIT Solutions, PHA Rawalpindi, Railways, Ahmed Glass, and Kingsmen Academy.

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Meanwhile, Pool B comprises the Higher Education Commission (HEC), Kingsmen, Wing 999 Sports, Ghani Institute, Sardar Group, Port Qasim, and Vital Tea

Pool A matches will be held at Railway Cricket Stadium, Haripur, Abbottabad Cricket Stadium, and National Cricket Ground in Islamabad. Pool B games will be hosted at the Diamond Cricket Ground in Islamabad, Shoaib Akhtar Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi, and Marghzar Cricket Ground in Islamabad.

Each team will play a total of six non-first-class three-day matches in their pool before the top two teams from each group will advance into the semi-finals, which are set to be played simultaneously from June 14 to 16.

The final of the 14-team tournament will take place over four days, from June 18 to 21. The venues for the three knockout matches are still to be decided.

The team that wins the President’s Trophy Grade-II Gold will receive a cash prize of Rs5 million, and the runners-up will get Rs2.5 million.

Pool A

Eshaal Associates, JDW Sugar Mills, MIT Solutions, PHA Rawalpindi, Railways, Ahmed Glass, Kingsmen Academy

Pool B

Higher Education Commission, Kingsmen, Wing 999 Sports, Ghani Institute, Sardar Group, Port Qasim, Vital Tea

READ: Trophy unveiled for Pakistan-Zimbabwe T20I series

Jannik Sinner breezed into the last 16 of the Italian Open on Monday after swatting aside Alexei Popyrin in straight sets, 6-2, 6-0, to continue his bid for a first title in Rome.

The world number one easily won his 25th straight match, taking just over an hour to see off Australia’s Popyrin and set up an Italian derby with Andrea Pellegrino in the next round.

Pellegrino, 29, who beat 20th seed Frances Tiafoe 7-6 (10/8), 6-1, is a qualifier ranked 155 in the world who before this week had never played in the main draw of a Masters 1000 tournament.

“It’s fun to play a derby in Italy, he’s having an incredible tournament with a lot of victories against some really good oppoonents,” Sinner told reporters.

“We’ve played each other a long time ago (in 2019 in an ITF tournament), but he was a different player, and I was a different player.”

Sinner, meanwhile, is trying to extend his own record-breaking run of overall victories in the ATP’s top-ranked events after having won his last five.

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The 24-year-old joins Novak Djokovic as the only player to win a year’s first 25 Master 1000 matches, with the Serbian tennis icon’s record run stretching to 31 matches in 2011.

Popyrin was suffocated by Sinner and made 23 unforced errors on his way to a comprehensive defeat.

The world number 60 only got 48 percent of first serves into play and that allowed Sinner to break five times and close out a match which was barely a contest.

“He’s a big server so his percentage was not very high, which helped me for sure a little bit, but I’ve been returning very well the second serves,” said Sinner.

Should Sinner prevail at the Foro Italico he will be the first Italian to win there since Adriano Panatta 50 years ago, and would complete his collection of Master 1000 tournaments.

With great rival Carlos Alcaraz out injured and Novak Djokovic eliminated early, Sinner will be red-hot favorite as he builds towards completing the career Grand Slam at the French Open, which starts next week.

READ: Iran seizes assets of former football captain Ali Karimi

KARACHI: The Trophy for the three-match T20I series between Pakistan and Zimbabwe was revealed here on Monday.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) posted the trophy-unveiling video on its social media handles.

“Captains with the T20I prize,” the caption of the post read.

Pakistan skipper Fatima Sana and Zimbabwe captain Nomvelo Sibanda posed with the trophy.

The series will begin tomorrow at the National Bank Stadium with the second and last T20I to be played on May 14 and 15, respectively.

The limited-overs series is a vital preparatory ground for both teams ahead of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, set to be played in England from June 12.

Before T20Is, Pakistan clean-swept Zimbabwe in a three-match ODI series. The Green Shirts remained clinical in all forms of the game and sealed an emphatic series win.

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Speaking exclusively to the PCB digital, skipper Fatima hailed her side’s consistency and expressed confidence in carrying the same momentum into the T20I series.

“We are pleased with the way the team performed in the ODI series, and the players showed great discipline and consistency throughout the series. The T20I format brings different challenges, but the momentum and confidence from the ODI series will definitely help us going into this leg of the tour,” Fatima said.

She also highlighted the importance of the T20Is series ahead of the mega event and upcoming international fixtures.

“It is encouraging to see young players getting opportunities through domestic performances, while the return of experienced players also strengthens the squad. These matches are important for us as we continue our preparations for upcoming international assignments, including the Ireland tri-series and the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.”

Pakistan squad for Zimbabwe T20Is:

Fatima Sana (c), Amber Kainat, Aliya Riaz, Ayesha Zafar, Eyman Fatima, Gull Feroza, Iram Javed, Muneeba Ali (wk), Nashra Sundhu, Natalia Parvaiz, Rameen Shamim, Sadia Iqbal, Saira Jabeen, Tasmia Rubab and Tuba Hassan.

Reserves: Diana Baig, Momina Riasat, Sadaf Shamas, Sidra Amin and Syeda Aroob Shah

READ: South Africa overtake Pakistan in ICC annual ODI rankings

DUBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Monday released the annual ODI rankings, with Pakistan slipping one place.

According to the ICC, the Champions Trophy 2025 winners, India, held firm in the top spot with their lead over New Zealand reduced from eight to five points.

“India have slipped from 119 to 118 points even as New Zealand have gained two points to move up to 113, with reigning World Cup champions Australia third with an unchanged 109 points,” the press release said.

Overall, there was only one change in the top 10, with South Africa moving ahead of fourth-placed Pakistan (98) to fourth position. The Proteas finished in fourth place with 102 rating points.

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In the women’s ODI rankings, the Pakistan team dropped one spot to eighth position with 72 rating points. The Green Shirts are on eighth spot in the T20I rankings.

Another noticeable change in the men’s ODI rankings was the gap between ninth-place Bangladesh and the West Indies, which increased to 10 points.

Sri Lanka stayed in sixth place in the annual update with 96 points, with Afghanistan and England close behind on 93 and 89 points, respectively.

Bangladesh remains in ninth place with 84 points, while the West Indies occupy the tenth position with 74 points.

In addition to this, Ireland have leapfrogged Zimbabwe to reach 11th position. The USA has moved up to 13th, above Scotland. Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates now ranks above Canada in 19th position.

India are also the top-ranked team in the ICC Men’s T20I Rankings following the annual updates last week, while Australia leads the Test rankings. Australia holds the No. 1 position in both the Women’s ODI and T20I lists.

READ: Agha reveals Pakistan’s bold chase plan in Bangladesh Test

Iranian authorities on Monday announced the seizure of six properties allegedly linked to the former captain of the national football team, Ali Karimi, who now lives in exile and is vehemently critical of the Islamic republic.

The judiciary has repeatedly warned that people deemed to be acting against national security face asset seizures in the wake of January protests and against the backdrop of the war against Israel and the United States.

Karimi, who played for Bayern Munich during his career and was dubbed the “Asian Maradona” for his wizardry on the pitch, has in social media posts backed protests against the clerical authorities and also voiced support for the monarchy ousted by the Islamic revolution.

The Iran judiciary’s Mizan news agency described Karimi as “one of the traitors to the homeland who has been extensively active in supporting the enemy in recent years”.

It said two commercial units and four residential units belonging to Karimi “have been identified and seized by judicial order for the benefit of the people”.

Karimi, who is now believed to be based in the Gulf after leaving in Iran in 2022, has yet to comment.

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In 2022, he was charged by Iranian authorities in absentia for supporting the protests that erupted that year over the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, who had been arrested for allegedly violating the strict dress code for women.

In April, the judiciary said authorities had released the assets of Zahra Ghanbari, the captain of the Iranian women’s football team, which had been seized after she made and then withdrew an asylum claim in Australia.

She was among a group of six players and one backroom staff member who sought asylum in Australia in March. Five of them, including Ghanbari, later changed their minds and returned home.

The Iranian men’s team is due to play in the World Cup in the United States in June, in a trip under high scrutiny due to the war.

READ: Agha reveals Pakistan’s bold chase plan in Bangladesh Test

MIRPUR: Pakistan all-rounder Salman Ali Agha has laid out an aggressive game plan for the final day of the opening Test against Bangladesh, backing his side to chase a challenging target if given the oppurtunity. 

Speaking in the press conference at the end of the day’s play, Agha outlined Pakistan’s bold strategy for the final day of the series opener.

“We just want to get [Bangladesh] them out as quickly as possible. That’s our strategy,” he told reporters.

He remarked that Pakistan is ready to chase around 260 in 70 overs, while saying he does not think Bangladesh are brave enough to take on the challenge.

“We will go for the win. If they are brave enough to do that, give us 70 overs and 260, we will definitely go for the chase. I don’t think so, they will do that,” he added.

The right-hander also reflected on the rain-hit fourth day, noting that Bangladesh will need to score quickly if they want to put Pakistan out of the game.

“They have to score 100 in 20 overs. If they want to do that, it’s brilliant — it’s going to be very risky. Personally, I want them to do that, give 260 or 270 in 70 overs. Somehow I think they won’t.”

“They haven’t scored quicker after the rain, but there was enough time after the rain. I don’t know what target they will set for us tomorrow,” he concluded.

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Earlier on Monday, Bangladesh finished the day at 152-3 in their second innings, stretching their overall lead to 179 runs with one day remaining in the contest.

Najmul Hossain Shanto produced another composed innings under pressure at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.

He remained unbeaten on 58 at stumps, while veteran batter Mushfiqur Rahim was accompanying him on 16 after the pair safely negotiated the closing stages.

The day, however, was heavily disrupted by the weather as persistent rain wiped out the entire second session after Lunch.

Play had resumed briefly in the third session, where Bangladesh continued to frustrate Pakistan through the experienced duo of Shanto and Mominul Haque.

The pair extended their third-wicket stand to 105 runs, and both completed well-crafted half-centuries to put Bangladesh firmly in control.

Pakistan eventually found a breakthrough, thanks to Shaheen Shah Afridi, who dismissed Mominul for a patient 56 off 120 deliveries.

Following the dismissal, Mushfiqur joined his captain at the crease, and the duo ensured Bangladesh suffered no further damage before bad light ended proceedings early.

READ: England explore options for historic Nepal tour

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is mulling options for a maiden tour of Nepal in the next FTP cycle.

England could become the biggest international team to tour Nepal, with the ECB exploring the possibility of a T20I series in the 2027-31 international cycle.

The development comes after Nepal’s impressive performances in recent times, including a series win over the West Indies for the first time in UAE.  However, they are yet to host a Test-playing nation for a full international tour.

England and Nepal played for the first time at the T20 World Cup in February, with the former winning the thriller on the final ball.

After a closely fought encounter, Nepal skipper and CAN secretary Paras Khadka held discussions with ECB officials regarding the future of Nepal cricket.

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It is worth mentioning that the ECB has been working on the international calendar for the next cycle with several other boards. The final schedule has yet to be confirmed and depends on the ICC’s decision on the new World Test Championship (WTC) format.

Although England’s international schedule is already congested, the board is seriously considering a brief men’s tour of Nepal.

The series could likely take place before England’s white-ball assignment in Asia, such as India, and serve as valuable preparatory ground.

The England cricket team is set to host Australia for the Ashes in 2027, while Pakistan and New Zealand are also expected to tour for white-ball series in June and September, respectively.

READ: Shaheen Afridi joins Pakistan’s elite wicket-takers club

MIRPUR: Left-arm pacer Shaheen Afridi became the ninth bowler from Pakistan to take 400 wickets in international cricket during the first Test against Bangladesh at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Monday.

Shaheen dismissed half-centurion Mominul Haque on the fourth day to reach the landmark feat.  With this, he joined Wasim Akram, Waqar Younas, and several other greats on the legendary list.

The 26-year-old completed the feat in his 211th international match, moving to ninth place on Pakistan’s all-time top wicket takers list across formats.

Most wickets for Pakistan in International matches

• Wasim Akram – 916
• Waqar Younis – 789
• Imran Khan – 544
• Shahid Afridi – 538
• Saqlain Mushtaq – 496
• Saeed Ajmal – 447
• Shoaib Akhtar – 438
• Umar Gul – 427
• Shaheen Afridi – 400*

In 74 ODIs, Shaheen has picked up 139 wickets, while in 103 T20Is, he has taken 136 wickets.

Earlier on day one, he also became the first Pakistani bowler to complete 100 wickets in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC).

Among Pakistan’s leading wicket-takers in the WTC, Afridi stands at the top with 103 wickets, followed by Noman Ali (89), Sajid Khan (63), Naseem Shah (60), Abrar Ahmed (46), Yasir Shah (41), Hasan Ali (35), and Mohammad Abbas (34).

Most wickets for Pakistan in the ICC World Test Championship

• Shaheen Afridi – 100*
• Noman Ali – 89
• Sajid Khan – 63
• Naseem Shah – 60
• Abrar Ahmed – 46
• Yasir Shah – 41
• Hasan Ali – 35
• Mohammad Abbas – 34

READ: Australia’s Mitchell Starc aims to feature in World Cup 2027

FC Barcelona legend Lionel Messi congratulated his former club on social media after the Catalans defeated arch-rivals Real Madrid 2-0 in El Clasico to secure the La Liga title at a packed Camp Nou.

Goals from Marcus Rashford and Ferran Torres in the first half guided Hansi Flick’s side to their 29th league crown and a second consecutive La Liga triumph.

The victory moved Barcelona 14 points clear of second-placed Real Madrid with only three matches remaining, confirming the title and condemning Los Blancos to a trophyless campaign.

Shortly after the final whistle, Messi shared his reaction on Instagram, posting a story with the words “Champion” and “Visca Barca,” meaning “Long live Barcelona.”

The Argentine icon spent 18 remarkable years at Barcelona and remains the club’s all-time leading scorer with 672 goals in 778 appearances.

Messi won every major trophy during his legendary spell at Camp Nou before leaving the club in 2021 in emotional circumstances to join Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). He later moved to Inter Miami, where he guided the MLS side to the 2025 MLS Cup title.

Barcelona entered the Clasico needing only to avoid defeat to secure the title, but the Catalans showed attacking intent from the start in front of a jubilant 62,000-strong crowd at Camp Nou.

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It marked the first Clasico at the stadium since its reopening, and the hosts responded with a dominant first-half display.

Rashford opened the scoring with a stunning free-kick from around 20 yards out, curling the ball into the top-left corner to spark wild celebrations.

Torres then doubled Barcelona’s advantage before halftime to put the champions firmly in control.

The match also carried historical significance as it was only the second time a La Liga title had been decided directly through the result of an El Clasico.

READ: Australia’s Mitchell Starc aims to feature in World Cup 2027