Platinum category renewals announced ahead of PSL 11 player auction

LAHORE: The Pakistan Super League (PSL) on Wednesday revealed the Platinum category renewals ahead of the league’s first-ever player auction, set to take place on February 11.

A total of 16 players have been listed in the PSL 11 Platinum category, with Islamabad United dominating the renewals by naming six players, the most among all franchises.

Lahore Qalandars and Quetta Gladiators have three players each in the category, while Peshawar Zalmi named two. Karachi Kings and Multan Sultans have named one player each in Platinum.

The renewals also confirmed major category movements, with five local players promoted to Platinum, including Pakistan T20I captain Salman Ali Agha, Sahibzada Farhan, Mohammad Nawaz, Hasan Ali, and Abrar Ahmed.

Interestingly, Farhan is the only player who made the jump from Gold, while the remaining four were previously part of the Diamond category.

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Meanwhile, several high-profile names have retained their Platinum status after featuring in the same category in PSL 10.

The list includes Shadab Khan, Naseem Shah, Imad Wasim, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Babar Azam, Saim Ayub, Mohammad Rizwan, Faheem Ashraf and Mohammad Amir.

Before the Platinum renewals were made official, the PSL had already confirmed category renewals in Silver, Gold, Diamond and Emerging, with a total of 89 players having their categories locked in ahead of the retention process.

Under the new structure, each franchise will be allowed to retain a maximum of four players, with the condition of one player per category.

After the retention window closes, franchises will move into the league’s historic first-ever auction on February 11 to complete their rosters.

PSL 11 Category Renewals (Retentions)

Platinum

  • Islamabad United: Shadab Khan, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha, Mohammad Nawaz, Imad Wasim

  • Karachi Kings: Hasan Ali

  • Lahore Qalandars: Shaheen Shah Afridi, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf

  • Peshawar Zalmi: Babar Azam, Saim Ayub

  • Multan Sultans: Mohammad Rizwan

  • Quetta Gladiators: Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Amir, Abrar Ahmed

Emerging

  • Islamabad United: Saad Masood, Mohammad Shahzad, Ghazi Gouri

  • Peshawar Zalmi: Abdullah Fazal, Ali Raza, Maaz Sadaqat

  • Karachi Kings: Razaullah, Fawad Ali, Saad Baig

  • Multan Sultans: Shahid Aziz, Mohammad Zulfikar

  • Quetta Gladiators: Mohammad Zeeshan, Shamyl Hussain

  • Lahore Qalandars: Momin Qamar

Silver

  • Multan Sultans: Yasir Khan, Amir Barki, Mohammad Junaid, Humayun Altaf, Ali Imran, Jahanzaib Sultan, Ubaid Shah

  • Lahore Qalandars: Mohammad Akhlaq, Mohammad Naeem, Mohammad Azab

  • Islamabad United: Mohammad Faiq, Hunain Shah

  • Peshawar Zalmi: Arif Yaqoob, Mehran Mumtaz

  • Quetta Gladiators: Ali Majid

Gold

  • Multan Sultans: Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Faisal Akram, Akif Javed, Tayyab Tahir

  • Lahore Qalandars: Zaman Khan, Jahandad Khan, Asif Afridi, Asif Ali

  • Islamabad United: Azam Khan, Haider Ali, Salman Irshad, Rumman Raees

  • Peshawar Zalmi: Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Ali, Abdul Samad, Hussain Talat, Sufyan Muqeem, Ahmed Daniyal, Ihsanullah

  • Quetta Gladiators: Khurram Shahzad, Haseebullah Khan, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay, Hassan Nawaz, Danish Aziz

  • Karachi Kings: Khushdil Shah, Aamer Jamal, Irfan Khan Niazi, Mir Hamza, Zahid Mahmood, Omair bin Yousuf, Shahnawaz Dahani, Arafat Minhas

Diamond

  • Karachi Kings: Abbas Afridi, Shan Masood

  • Lahore Qalandars: Abdullah Shafique, Mohammad Salman Mirza

  • Peshawar Zalmi: Sufiyan Muqeem

  • Multan Sultans: Usama Mir, Iftikhar Ahmed, Usman Khan

  • Quetta Gladiators: Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Usman Tariq

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

Pegula edges past Anisimova to set up semi-final against Rybakina

Jessica Pegula edged past Amanda Anisimova to set up an Australian Open semi-final clash against Elena Rybakina, where Novak Djokovic hopes to join them later Wednesday in his latest history bid.

Moscow-born Kazakh Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, stunned second seed Iga Swiatek 7-5, 6-1 in Melbourne to book her spot in the last four.

Pegula swept aside an error-strewn Amanda Anisimova 6-2, 7-6 (7/1) in an all-American quarter-final.

Rybakina has made the Melbourne final once before, in 2023, when she lost in three tough sets to Aryna Sabalenka.

The 26-year-old fifth seed took her latest victory in her stride, saying a calmer mindset helped in the heat of battle.

“In the beginning, when it’s the first final, and you go so far in a tournament, of course, you are more emotional,” said Rybakina.

“Now I feel like I’m just doing my job, trying to improve each day. So it’s kind of another day, another match.”

Defeat denied Swiatek in her latest bid for a career Grand Slam of all four majors, having already won Wimbledon, the French Open and the US Open.

Sixth seed Jessica Pegula and Elena Rybakina have shared three wins each in their six matches so far.

Pegula is yet to drop a set this year in Melbourne and is arrowing in on her first major crown at the age of 31.

“It’s awesome,” Pegula said of reaching her first Australian semi-final, having beaten defending champion Madison Keys in the previous round.

She was helped by an error-riddled display from fourth seed Anisimova, who racked up 44 unforced errors to Pegula’s 21.

Her frustrations boiled over at the end as her hopes of reaching a third major title in a row melted away in a blur of mistakes.

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Two-time champion Sabalenka faces Ukrainian 12th seed Elina Svitolina in the other semi-final.

Also on day 11 at Melbourne Park, where temperatures were far more comfortable than the 43 °C on Tuesday, Djokovic faces Lorenzo Musetti of Italy.

The winner will meet two-time reigning champion Jannik Sinner or all-action Ben Shelton of the United States in the last four.

Djokovic has won a record-equalling 24 Grand Slam titles, 10 of them in Melbourne.

But a 25th has remained agonisingly out of reach since triumphing at the US Open in 2023.

Djokovic got a free ride into the Musetti showdown when rising Czech star Jakub Mensik pulled out injured, giving the 38-year-old Serb an extra day’s rest.

“Pretty sure he won’t be tired,” said the fifth-seeded Italian Musetti. “But hopefully the rhythm that I have right now… will bring me luck for the next one. I feel ready to try to push him to his maximum.”

The odds are stacked against Musetti, who is into the last eight at Melbourne for the first time, with clay and grass his usual forte.

He has played Djokovic 10 times before — and only beaten him once, back in 2023.

Sinner is bidding to win the Melbourne crown for a third time in a row, something only Djokovic has done in the Open era (since 1968).

He has a tough opponent in Shelton, who reached the semi-finals last year, where he lost in straight sets to Sinner.

The pair have met nine times, with the world number two winning eight of them. But Shelton is a fan favourite and is hoping to harness the energy of a “rowdy” crowd to pull off a shock.

“I’m definitely a competitor, I’m rowdy on court, I look forward to rowdy crowds,” he said.

READ: Brook’s 57-ball century seals 2-1 series win for England

Brook’s 57-ball century seals 2-1 series win for England

Harry Brook’s blistering 57-ball hundred proved the difference as England romped to a famous 53-run victory over Sri Lanka on Tuesday to clinch the series and end the hosts’ five-year-long unbeaten ODI home run.

Sri Lanka had gone 12 series unbeaten at home, winning 11 and drawing one, but Brook’s counter-punch knocked them off their perch and swung the momentum decisively England’s way.

“It was a lot better pitch than we expected. It was an awesome effort from everyone involved,” said Brook, the England captain.

“Joe Root in particular was sensational. We are pretty pleased with the way the spinners went about things and that’s a good sign ahead of the World Cup.”

Chasing a daunting 358 at Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium, the hosts came out all guns blazing, racing to 104 inside ten overs of the Powerplay.

But once the field spread, the boundaries dried up.

In a bid to keep up with the required run-rate, Sri Lanka’s batters took the aerial route and paid the price, as England snapped up catches with sharp work in the deep.

Young Pavan Rathnayake stood tall amid the collapse, unfurling a maiden international hundred that underlined his promise.

He was the last man out for 121 off 115 balls, striking 12 fours and a six, as Sri Lanka were bowled out for 304 in 46.4 overs.

England, who had stumbled in the opening ODI, found their rhythm as the series wore on, adapting quickly to oppressive heat and turning tracks.

After squaring the contest on Saturday, they delivered a polished all-round display when it mattered most.

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The defeat saw Sri Lanka slip one place to sixth in the ICC ODI rankings, with South Africa moving up to fifth.

Brook’s brutal 136 not out off just 66 balls was an exhibition of clean hitting that left the home attack gasping for air and the 4,000-strong English contingent of supporters in raptures as the tourists finished on 357 for three, having opted to bat first.

Brook’s 11 fours and nine sixes was power hitting with a surgeon’s precision, a blend of muscle and timing that gave England the advantage.

Brook had walked into the series under the microscope following revelations that he was fined £30,000 after a nightclub altercation in New Zealand last October.

But he looked to have put the incident behind him in posting his third ODI hundred.

The platform was laid by an unbroken 191-run stand with former skipper Joe Root for the fourth wicket, a partnership that gave England total control.

With 130 runs scored in the last 10 overs, England turned a strong total into a mountainous one.

Root’s own milestone, his 20th ODI hundred, was overshadowed by Brook’s masterclass.

The former captain remained unbeaten on 111, continuing his role as Sri Lanka’s chief tormentor after half centuries in the first two ODIs.

Earlier, a 126 run stand between Root and Jacob Bethell for the third wicket had set the stage for the late innings carnage.

Sri Lanka’s bowlers simply had no answers.

It was England’s highest score against Sri Lanka in ODIs.

It was also the fourth-highest score at the venue, where anything north of 300 is usually a match-winning one.

“Harry Brook just took the game away from us. It was a stunning knock,” said Sri Lanka skipper Charith Asalanka.

“But (there were a) lot of positives for us. Pavan Rathnayake has been scoring heavily in domestic cricket and he showcased what he can do today.”

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

Markram stars as South Africa humble West Indies in T20I series opener

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

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

Arteta shares roadmap for Arsenal after Man United defeat

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

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

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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For those unaware, the groundbreaking PSL 11 auction will be held on 11 February, the event marking the shift from its traditional Draft system.

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

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

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.

“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

U19 World Cup: Dominant Pakistan thump New Zealand in Super Six

HARARE: Abdul Subhan’s four-wicket haul, followed by Sameer Minhas’ blistering knock, powered Pakistan to a dominant eight-wicket victory over New Zealand in their Super Six encounter of the ICC Men’s U19 World Cup 2026 at the Harare Sports Club on Tuesday.

Chasing a modest 111-run target, Sameer Minhas steered Pakistan across the line with 32.5 overs to spare, thanks to his brilliant knock of 76 runs.

The Green Shirts, however, did not get the desired start to the run chase, losing Hamza Zahoor in the third over with 18 runs on the board.

Minhas was joined by Usman Khan, who scored a cautious 15 off 24, and together they put Pakistan in the driving seat with a 67-run partnership.

Luke Harrison broke the stand, removing a struggling Usman, only to bring out skipper Farhan Yousaf to the crease, who added finishing touches to the run-chase.

Yousaf scored 11 off 9 while Minhas continued his strokeplay to help Pakistan cross the finishing line without further loss.

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Earlier, New Zealand were bundled for mere 110 runs after being invited to bat first.

The Black Caps never recovered from an early blow when opener Marco William Alpe was trapped by Ali Raza for just 2, leaving the side reeling at 7-1 in the third over.

A brief recovery seemed possible when Hugo Bogue and captain Tom Jones stitched together a 48-run partnership, but the stand was broken by Mohammad Sayyam, who dismissed Bogue for 39 off 27 balls.

The right-hander’s knock featured six boundaries and two sixes, yet his dismissal proved to be a turning point.

The momentum shifted further in the next over when Subhan struck, removing skipper Jones for 15, and New Zealand’s innings collapsed dramatically thereafter.

The Blackcaps slipped from 59-2 to 67-7, as Pakistan’s bowlers applied relentless pressure. Ali Raza and Abdul Subhan were the architects of the collapse, leaving New Zealand’s lower order scrambling for survival.

The tail tried to offer resistance, but it was short-lived. Callum Samson added just 10 before falling to spinner Momin Qamar, while Mason Clarke managed 17 off 48 balls before becoming Subhan’s fourth victim.

Hunter Shore contributed 13 but was run out, bringing the innings to a close at 110.

Subhan finished as the standout bowler with 4-11 in 6.3 overs, while Ali Raza supported him with 3 wickets. Mohammad Sayyam and Momin Qamar also chipped in with one wicket each.

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