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FIFA president Gianni Infantino told AFP on Tuesday that Iran “will be at the World Cup” and will play their group matches in the United States of America (USA) as scheduled, despite the Middle East war.

“Iran will be at the World Cup,” Infantino said at half-time as Iran beat Costa Rica 5-0 in a friendly in southern Turkey. “That’s why we’re here. We’re delighted because they’re a very, very strong team, I’m very happy.”

“I’ve seen the team, I’ve spoken to the players and the coach, so everything is fine,” added Infantino, whose attendance at Tuesday’s game was unannounced.

Infantino went on to stress that Iran’s “matches will be played where they are supposed to be, according to the draw”.

The World Cup, being hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, starts on June 11.

Iran are set to play their first Group G game against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15. They are then scheduled to play Belgium in Los Angeles on June 21 and Egypt in Seattle on June 26.

Iran’s participation had been thrown into doubt by the war with the USA and Israel that broke out on February 28.

“For us, what matters most are FIFA’s rules and regulations. We will comply with whatever FIFA decides. Every host country has made commitments to FIFA and must honour them,” Mehdi Mohammad Nabi, the vice president of the Iranian Football Federation (FFIRI), told AFP at the match.

The FFIRI had said earlier this month it was “negotiating” with FIFA to relocate the country’s World Cup matches from the United States to Mexico.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum also said that her country is prepared to host Iran’s first-round matches at the tournament if needed.

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Infantino initially said that US President Donald Trump had given assurances that the Iranian team would still be welcome. But Trump then stated that Iran’s team should not travel to the tournament “for their own life and safety”.

Iran hit back at Trump’s comments, saying that “no one can exclude Iran’s national team from the World Cup”.

On Tuesday, Mohammad Nabi said Infantino had been en route from Mexico to Qatar.

“Having learnt that we were organising friendly matches here, he came to see us in person, and we had a fruitful discussion,” Mohammad Nabi said.

“Given our history in this competition, it is only natural that FIFA should support the Iranian team. Mr Infantino is providing the necessary support to our national team and has given our players a great boost.”

Asked before the game if Iran would be at the World Cup, back-up striker Dennis Eckert Ayensa told AFP: “Inshallah” (god willing).

Iran, who also played a friendly against Nigeria in the Turkish town of Belek last Friday, crushed Costa Rica, who have not qualified for the World Cup 2026, 5-0 on Tuesday.

Skipper Mehdi Taremi, with two penalties, Ali Gholizadeh and Mohammad Mohebbi put Iran four goals up by the break. Half-time substitute Mehdi Ghayedi added a fifth in the 51st minute, by which time coach Amir Ghalenoei had started to empty his bench.

Before the game, Iran’s players wore black armbands and posed with photos of what officials said were young victims of the war, including those killed in an airstrike on a primary school in Iran on the first day of the conflict.

READ: PSL 11: Islamabad United vs Peshawar Zalmi clash abandoned

LAHORE: The Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 fixture between Islamabad United and Peshawar Zalmi has been abandoned without a ball being bowled due to a wet outfield at the Gaddafi Stadium on Tuesday, with both teams sharing points after no play was possible.

The weather had already delayed proceedings, with the toss initially postponed due to steady rainfall.

However, conditions failed to improve in time for even a shortened contest, prompting match officials to eventually call off the seventh match of the tournament.

Zalmi, led by Babar Azam, had entered the fixture on the back of an impressive five-wicket victory over tournament debutants Rawalpindiz.

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Chasing a daunting 215, Peshawar produced a collective batting effort, highlighted by Mohammad Haris’s 47 off 28 deliveries, alongside valuable contributions from Babar (39) and Michael Bracewell, who remained unbeaten on 35.

In contrast, Islamabad United were looking to bounce back after suffering a five-wicket defeat against Multan Sultans in their previous outing.

Despite setting a competitive 172, United were outplayed as the Sultans chased down the target comfortably, powered by Josh Philippe’s half-century and an unbeaten knock from captain Ashton Turner.

SQUADS

Peshawar Zalmi: Babar Azam (c), Sufiyan Muqeem, Abdul Samad, Ali Raza, Aaron Hardie, Aamir Jamal, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Haris, Khalid Usman, Abdul Subhan, Tanzid Hasan, Michael Bracewell, Kusal Mendis, Iftikhar Ahmed, Nahid Rana, Kashif Ali, Shahnawaz Dahani, Farhan Yousuf, Brian Bennett, Mohammad Basit, Shoriful Islam

Islamabad United: Shadab Khan (c), Salman Irshad, Andries Gous, Devon Conway, Faheem Ashraf, Mehran Mumtaz, Mark Chapman, Nisar Ahmed, Mir Hamza Sajjad, Sameen Gul, Sameer Minhas, Imad Wasim, Richard Gleeson, Haider Ali, Mohammad Hasnain, Dipendra Singh Airee, Mohammad Faiq, Mohsin Riaz, Chris Green, Mohammad Salman Mirza

READ: PSL 11: Fakhar Zaman handed a two-match ban over ball-tampering

LAHORE: The toss for the seventh match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 between Islamabad United and Peshawar Zalmi has been delayed due to persistent rain at Gaddafi Stadium here on Tuesday.

The Babar Azam-led Zalmi are coming off a dominant five-wicket victory over tournament debutants Rawalpindiz. Peshawar Zalmi chased down the massive target of 215 runs, thanks to a combined batting effort.

Mohammad Haris top-scored with a 28-ball 47, while skipper Babar (39) and New Zealand’s Michael Bracewell (35*) were other notable run-getters.

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Meanwhile, the three-time PSL champions Islamabad United suffered a thumping five-wicket defeat at the hands of a new-look Multan Sultans, led by Australia’s Ashton Turner.

The Sultans chased down the target of 172 runs with ease, thanks to Josh Philippe’s 55 and Turner’s unbeaten 43.

SQUADS

Peshawar Zalmi: Babar Azam (c), Sufiyan Muqeem, Abdul Samad, Ali Raza, Aaron Hardie, Aamir Jamal, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Haris, Khalid Usman, Abdul Subhan, Tanzid Hasan, Michael Bracewell, Kusal Mendis, Iftikhar Ahmed, Nahid Rana, Kashif Ali, Shahnawaz Dahani, Farhan Yousuf, Brian Bennett, Mohammad Basit, Shoriful Islam

Islamabad United: Shadab Khan (c), Salman Irshad, Andries Gous, Devon Conway, Faheem Ashraf, Mehran Mumtaz, Mark Chapman, Nisar Ahmed, Mir Hamza Sajjad, Sameen Gul, Sameer Minhas, Imad Wasim, Richard Gleeson, Haider Ali, Mohammad Hasnain, Dipendra Singh Airee, Mohammad Faiq, Mohsin Riaz, Chris Green, Mohammad Salman Mirza

READ: PSL 11: Fakhar Zaman handed a two-match ban over ball-tampering

Cricket Australia (CA) has confirmed that all-rounder Cameron Green will not bowl for the time being in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 due to a managed lower-back injury, with his franchise, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), fully informed of the situation.

The 26-year-old, who became the most expensive overseas signing in IPL history after being picked by KKR for INR 25.2 crore, is currently undergoing a phased recovery plan. According to a Cricket Australia spokesperson, Green has been advised to temporarily refrain from bowling as part of his rehabilitation.

“Cameron has a lower-back injury, which is being managed, but requires him to abstain from bowling for a short period,” the board said. “He is rebuilding his bowling loads in India and is expected to return to bowling in around 10 to 12 days.”

The clarification comes shortly after KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane deflected questions regarding Green’s absence with the ball during their recent six-wicket defeat to the Mumbai Indians, suggesting the matter be directed to Cricket Australia (CA).

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Despite the setback, Rahane remained optimistic about Green’s eventual return as a full all-rounder, highlighting the balance he could bring to the side.

“Once Green starts to bowl, the combination will look different,” Rahane said. “Right now, we have to assess the balance, particularly with the bowling options. Hopefully, he resumes soon so we can finalise the right combination.”

For the unversed, Cameron Green has not bowled competitively since the conclusion of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 earlier this month. His workload has been carefully managed following a prolonged injury history, including a stress fracture that ruled him out of bowling for over a year between September 2024 and October 2025.

READ: Lionel Messi to start for Argentina in World Cup send-off: Scaloni

Lionel Messi will start for Argentina in a friendly against Zambia on Tuesday in what is the reigning world champions’ final game on home soil before they defend their FIFA World Cup crown.

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said Messi, who began on the bench for Friday’s lacklustre 2-1 win over Mauritania, will spearhead what is expected to be a full-strength side against Zambia.

“Messi will be in the starting lineup tomorrow,” Scaloni said.

Messi, 38, has not formally confirmed whether he plans to play in the 2025 World Cup, but he played a full part in Argentina’s qualification campaign for the finals.

Scaloni indicated that he expects Messi to be part of his squad for what would be the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner’s sixth World Cup appearance.

“The important thing is that he comes and enjoys being at a World Cup — which, theoretically, will be his last,” Scaloni said of Messi. “We want him to enjoy it, because later on, you really miss playing in events like these.”

Scaloni said Messi on Tuesday will be surrounded by the established core of the team, which topped South American qualifying, and that will start the World Cup among the favourites for the title.

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“Most of the players we know well will be playing. This will be the final test,” Scaloni said.

“Later, we’ll make some changes to take a look at some of the younger guys, but the idea is to field our most familiar lineup,” he said, emphasising that Friday’s scrappy win over Mauritania was not representative of his squad.

“I am convinced that the team’s performance level is not what we saw the other day,” Scaloni said. “If we see that the team isn’t quite there, we’ll look for other options. But they deserve a vote of confidence.”

Scaloni has already submitted a preliminary 55-player list to the Argentina Football Association, with the final 26-man squad to be confirmed at the end of May.

“I have the list pretty well figured out, but if performance levels aren’t up to par, we’ll take measures to ensure we bring the absolute best squad possible; we are striving for something as close to perfection as we can get,” he said.

“The players who have been with us for a while hold a slight advantage simply because we know them well; however, they have to maintain that advantage — and everyone knows what happened the other day (against Mauritania) cannot be repeated.”

READ: PSL 11: Fakhar Zaman handed two-match ban over ball-tampering

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