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SYDNEY: Babar Azam was left furious following his dismissal during the high-octane Big Bash League (BBL) 15 encounter between Sydney Sixers and Sydney Thunder here at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday.

The right-hander made 47 from 39 deliveries, hitting seven boundaries before getting cleaned up by Nathan McAndrew.

He was involved in a 141-run stand in just 74 balls with Steve Smith, who scored 100 from 42 balls.

However, Babar was visibly angry with himself after losing his wicket and was seen striking the boundary cushion with his bat.

 

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“Wasn’t happy, Babar. Drama in the middle of the SCG after Steve Smith knocked back a run from Babar Azam, so he could take strike during the Power Surge,” the official BBL handle posted the video on its social media handle.

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Before getting dismissed, Babar Azam was denied a single from Steve Smith after the former had faced three consecutive dot balls.

In the very next over, Steve Smith fully capitalized on Power Surge — a strategic, two-over period the batting team chooses after the 10th over, where fielding restrictions are eased with only two fielders allowed outside the inner circle, hitting 32 runs in the over.

Eventually, Sydney Sixers romped to a five-wicket victory while chasing 190 run target.

Steve Smith starred with the bat, scoring a sublime 100 off 42 balls, striking nine sixes and five fours.

The emphatic win lifted the Sixers to fourth place on the BBL 15 points table, putting them firmly on course for a playoff berth.

They will now face fifth-placed Brisbane Heat in their final group-stage fixture on Sunday, with the result set to determine the last team to qualify for the playoffs.

READ: Steve Smith, Babar Azam star as Sydney Sixers outclass Thunder

MIRPUR: Shoriful Islam’s five-wicket haul, backed by brisk knocks from Mahedi Hasan and Asif Ali powered Chattogram Royals to victory over Noakhali Express in the 25th fixture of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2025-26.

Royals chased down 127 on the loss of five wickets with 18 balls to spare.

Ihsanullah and Hasan Mahmud made early inroads with the ball to provide Noakhali Express a strong start.

Mahmudul Hasan Joy was the first wicket to fall, gone without scoring in the first over, followed by Mohammad Hari’s dismissal, who was caught for seven.

Ihsanullah struck again to remove Mahfijul Islam for duck quickly, followed by Mohammad Naim, who made 18 off seven with the aid of two fours and a six.

As a result, Chattogram Royals were reduced to 29-4 in 4.2 overs.

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However, a brief partnership of 40 runs between Hasan Nawaz and skipper Mahedi Hasan put the chase back on track.

The duo took the score to 69 in 9.3 overs before Nawaz was stumped for 11, leaving Royal five down.

The match was widely open, with Noakhali Express bowlers tailing up. But it was Asif Ali’s arrival at the crease that brought their side respite.

The recently retired Pakistani pinch hitter stitched an unbeaten 59* run stand with Mahedi and helped their side cross the finishing line.

Asif hit two sixes and two fours in his 36* off 30 while Mahedi remained one shy of a well-deserved half-century. He hit four boundaries and two sixes in his knock that put their side on top of the points table.

For Noakhali Express, Ihsanullah picked up two wickets.

Earlier, given the oppurtunity to bat first, Noakhali Express batters demonstrated a shambolic display as Chattogram Royals skittled them for 126 in 18.5 overs.

Hassan Eisakhil and Soumya Sarkar started positively with a 34-run stand in 3.1 overs.

Eisakhil and Sarkar made 25 and 14, respectively, and Express were 49-2 at the end of the powerplay.

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Despite two wickets in quick time, Noakhali Express was going steadily as Jaker Ali and Haider Ali launched a recovery with a 29-run partnership.

The pair brought the total to 78 in 9.4 overs before Mahedi Hasan and Shoriful Islam wreaked havoc with the ball.

The bowling pair sparked a collapse, with Noakhali Express slumping to 91-6 from 78-2 in 13.1 overs.

Eventually, the whole team was bundled out with Shoriful Islam picking up a five-wicket haul while giving away just nine in 3.5 overs.

READ: Steve Smith, Babar Azam stars as Sydney Sixers outclass Thunder

Steve Smith and Babar Azam produced a batting masterclass to guide the Sydney Sixers to a commanding victory over the Sydney Thunder in a high-octane Big Bash League (BBL) 15 encounter at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday.

The emphatic win lifted the Sixers to fourth place on the BBL 15 points table, putting them firmly on course for a playoff berth.

They will now face fifth-placed Brisbane Heat in their final group-stage fixture on Sunday, with the result set to determine the last team to qualify for the playoffs.

Chasing a challenging target of 190, the Sixers got off to a flying start as Smith and Babar combined aggression with composure in a dominant opening partnership.

Smith took on the role of chief aggressor, while Babar provided stability, as the duo stitched together a 141-run stand in just 74 balls.

The partnership finally ended when Nathan McAndrew dismissed Babar, who scored a fluent 47 off 39 deliveries, including seven boundaries.

Smith continued his onslaught, racing to a blistering century off just 41 balls, peppering the boundary with nine sixes and five fours.

His innings came to an end immediately after reaching the landmark, as he was stumped off Tanveer Sangha, but not before putting the Sixers firmly in control of the chase.

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Despite losing a few quick wickets, the Sixers crossed the line comfortably with 16 balls to spare.

Jack Edwards remained unbeaten on 17 off eight balls, smashing two sixes, while Lachlan Shaw chipped in with a brisk 13 off seven to seal the win.

Earlier, Sixers skipper won the toss and opted to field, a decision that initially appeared costly as Thunder captain David Warner launched a fierce counterattack.

Warner added 56 runs for the opening stand with Matthew Gilkes, who scored 12 off 12, before Mitchell Starc broke the partnership in his first BBL appearance since the league’s fourth season.

Warner continued his assault and found solid support in Nic Maddinson, with the pair adding 84 runs in 47 balls.

Maddinson struck 26 off 16 before falling on the first ball of the final over, while Warner was left stranded at the non-striker’s end as Thunder finished on 189 for six.

The Thunder skipper remained unbeaten on a superb 110 off 65 balls, featuring 11 fours and four sixes.

For the Sixers, Sam Curran led the bowling effort with three wickets, while Starc, Edwards and Ben Manenti picked up one wicket apiece.

READ: New Zealand batter Tim Seifert set to miss PSL 11

New Zealand wicketkeeper-batter Tim Seifert will not feature in the upcoming season 11 of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), confirming that he has decided to sit out the upcoming season due to other professional commitments.

Seifert, who has been a regular presence for Karachi Kings in recent PSL editions, shared the update during an interview with a sports platform following Melbourne Renegades’ match against Perth Scorchers.

While expressing his fondness for the league, the 31-year-old made it clear that scheduling priorities have forced him to miss PSL 11.

“I love playing in the PSL, it’s always fun,” Seifert said. “At the moment, I’ve got an opportunity elsewhere, so I’ll be missing this year’s edition. But I really enjoyed my last two years in the PSL.”

The New Zealand batter has played a significant role for Karachi Kings in previous seasons, appearing in 17 matches and scoring 424 runs at an average of 24.94.

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He maintained an impressive strike rate of 141.33, often providing stability and momentum at the top of the order.

Tim Seifert brings extensive franchise experience, having featured in major T20 leagues around the world, including the Big Bash League (BBL), Caribbean Premier League (CPL), ILT20, Lanka Premier League (LPL) and the Indian Premier League (IPL).

At the international level, the right-handed batter has represented New Zealand in four One-Day Internationals and 77 T20 Internationals

In the shortest format, he has accumulated 1,850 runs at a strike rate of 142.52, with 12 half-centuries to his name.

READ: Key matters on agenda as PSL governing council meets today

Four-time world champion Max Verstappen said he’s keen to get to grips with the new car Red Bull unveiled on Thursday for a 2026 Formula One season of massive change.

The team unveiled the livery for their new cars before a few hundred guests at Detroit’s Michigan Central Station, less than two months before the season opens in Melbourne on March 7.

New rules for 2026 see aerodynamic changes to make cars lighter and smaller, along with modifications to engine specifications to make for a greater contribution from electric power in the hybrid units.

“There is a lot of unknown, there are big changes in the engine, in the car,” Verstappen said. “Initially, I’ll take time to adjust during test days. The motivation is very high.”

“It always takes a bit of time to get used to things,” he added. “You need to understand where the most performance is to be found, and get comfortable in the car.

“Also, with the new engine now as well, that will take a bit of time.”

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Red Bull, which has previously relied on Honda engines, took the gamble in 2023 of developing its own engine for 2026 in partnership with automotive giant Ford, which will return to F1 22 years after its departure.

Verstappen’s run of four straight world titles ended in 2025 as McLaren’s Lando Norris claimed the prize.

But despite an inferior car, the Dutch driver battled back from a massive deficit in the standings to challenge for the title, snatching eight wins, more than either Norris or teammate Oscar Piastri.

This year, Max Verstappen will be joined by French driver Isack Hadjar, promoted to the team’s Number 2 seat after a successful rookie season with Racing Bulls.

Hadjar was also on hand for Thursday’s splashy big reveal, as was Red Bull boss Laurent Mekies, who said the sweeping regulatory changes and a new engine would make for a steep learning curve.

“I think it would simply be naive of us to think we could build our engine from scratch… and be more competitive right from the start than people who’ve been doing it for 95 years,” he told AFP.

READ: PCB to revise match timings for Australia T20Is: sources

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has opted to revise the match timings for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Australia, with an official announcement expected soon, sources confirmed on Friday.

The move has been prompted by extreme weather conditions in Lahore, which have led the PCB to bring forward the start time of all three matches.

Each T20I will now begin at 4:00 PM local time, with the toss scheduled for 3:30 PM. Earlier, the matches were set for a 6:00 PM start, with the toss at 5:30 PM.

Pakistan and Australia are set to face off at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on January 29, January 31 and February 1.

The series will serve as an important build-up for both sides ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, which will be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8.

At the upcoming World Cup, Pakistan have been placed in Group A alongside arch-rivals India, as well as the USA, the Netherlands and Namibia.

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Australia, meanwhile, will compete in Group B, featuring Sri Lanka, Ireland, Zimbabwe and Oman.

The tour will mark Australia’s third visit to Pakistan since their landmark return in March–April 2022, when they played a historic Test series, followed by an ODI leg and a solitary T20I.

More recently, Australia also featured in three matches of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 held in Pakistan.

Pakistan and Australia share a competitive T20I rivalry, having faced each other 28 times in the shortest format.

Australia hold a slight edge with 14 wins, while Pakistan have claimed 12 victories. One match ended in a tie, with another producing no result.

Pakistan vs Australia series revised schedule

• 1st T20I – Thursday, 29 January – 4pm PKT
• 2nd T20I – Saturday, 31 January – 4pm PKT
• 3rd T20I – Sunday, 1 February – 4pm PKT

READ: Barcelona edge Racing Santander to reach Copa del Rey quarters

Ferran Torres and Lamine Yamal fired Barcelona to a 2-0 win over Racing Santander and into the Copa del Rey quarter-finals on Thursday.

The Spanish internationals’ strikes helped holders Barca defeat second division leaders Racing to progress from a surprisingly tight last 16 clash and record an 11th consecutive victory across all competitions.

The hosts had two goals disallowed for offside, and record 32-time winners Barca did just enough to claim victory.

“We didn’t think they would be so hard to break down,” admitted Torres to Movistar. “We knew that we had to stretch the game, be calm, and in the end it went well.”

Having seen Real Madrid eliminated at second-tier Albacete on Wednesday, Barcelona coach Hansi Flick named a fairly strong side, including teenage star Yamal.

After a 15-minute delay with some fans stuck outside, the match kicked off at Racing’s Sardinero stadium, and Barca quickly took control of the ball.

The Catalans struggled to turn possession into a meaningful opening, though, and when they finally did, Dani Olmo missed his kick from Marcus Rashford’s dangerous cross.

Racing looked to breach Barcelona’s high defensive line, but when they did get in behind, the visitors managed to mop up well.

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Giorgi Guliashvili’s low effort from range was fielded comfortably by Joan Garcia, and that was as close as the hosts came.

Barcelona continued to push forward in the second half, and Rashford had a shot tipped away and also drilled narrowly wide.

Eventually, the Spanish champions took the lead through Torres, after Fermin Lopez sent him through on goal. The Spain international rounded Racing goalkeeper Jokin Ezkieta and rolled home.

The hosts were forced on the offensive and twice had the ball in Barcelona’s net, but both of Manex Lozano’s goals were ruled out for offside.

Barcelona goalkeeper Garcia made a superb save to thwart Lozano one-on-one deep in stoppage time and avoid the game going to extra time.

The Catalans wrapped up their win with the last kick of the match, Yamal tapping in Raphinha’s cross at the back post.

“We played the game we had to play, we played a 10 out of 10 match, (with) two offside goals and the chance at the end… it’s okay, it’s football,” said Racing defender Alvaro Mantilla.

Elsewhere, Valencia won 2-0 at Burgos to reach the last eight.

READ: BPL 2026 set to resume as cricketers call off nationwide boycott

The Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2026 is set to resume on Friday after the nationwide cricket boycott was officially called off following a late-night agreement between the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the Cricketers’ Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB).

The standoff, which brought all cricketing activity in the country to a halt on Thursday, ended after the BCB met the primary demand of the players by removing M Najmul Islam from his position as chairman of the board’s finance committee.

As a result, Thursday’s postponed BPL matches will be played on Friday, with Chattogram Royals taking on Noakhali Express in the first match of the day, followed by Rajshahi Warriors facing Sylhet Titans later in the evening.

Notably, this situation has moved every match one day ahead, which means Friday’s matches will be moved to Saturday, and the group stage will now conclude on Sunday.

For context, two BPL matches and four Dhaka Cricket League games were abandoned on Thursday after teams refused to turn up for the toss, acting on CWAB’s call for a nationwide boycott.

The protest was sparked by remarks made by Najmul Islam, which players deemed disrespectful and humiliating.

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Earlier in the day, CWAB had made Najmul’s removal a non-negotiable condition for any dialogue with the board.

The BCB responded by stripping him of the finance committee chairmanship, although he remains a board director pending the outcome of an internal inquiry.

While the players welcomed the board’s move, discussions are still ongoing over CWAB’s demand for a public apology from Najmul, a point on which differences remain between the players’ body and BCB president Aminul Islam.

Speaking at a late-night press conference at the BCB headquarters, CWAB president Mohammad Mithun confirmed the decision to end the boycott, stressing that the choice was made in the broader interest of the game.

“Keeping the greater interest of cricket in mind, we will resume playing tomorrow (Friday). The BCB has assured us that they will reach out to him and fulfil our demands as early as possible,” Mithun said, referring to Najmul Islam.

READ: ‘Excited’ Alcaraz hungry to break Australian Open title drought

Carlos Alcaraz warned Friday that he was “hungry” to break his Australian Open title drought and become the youngest man to complete a career Grand Slam, calling it his primary target in 2026.

The world number one from Spain is the title favourite, along with two-time defending champion and great rival Jannik Sinner.

The Melbourne Park crown is the only one of the four majors that Alcaraz has never won; his best performance was the quarter-finals in 2024 and 2025.

If he goes all the way this year, he will surpass fellow Spaniard Rafael Nadal as the youngest man to win all four majors. Nadal was 24 when he achieved the feat.

The 22-year-old Alcaraz, who begins his title assault against Australia’s 79th-ranked Adam Walton, said he could not wait to get going.

“I think this is my main goal for this year,” said Alcaraz, whose only warm-up was a win against Italy’s Sinner in a light-hearted exhibition match in South Korea.

“So it’s going to be really interesting for me how I prepared, which I think I just made a really good pre-season, just to be in good shape.

“I’m just hungry for the title, hungry to do a really good result here. I’m just getting ready as much as I can. I’m really excited about the tournament beginning.”

Alcaraz was asked by reporters if he would swap titles at all three of the other majors this year for one Melbourne crown.

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Underlining just how important winning the Australian Open and nailing the career Grand Slam is to him, he said he could not decide.

“I don’t know which one I would choose,” he said, smiling broadly. “Obviously complete the career Grand Slam is something amazing to do, be able to be the youngest that has done it before, you know, is even better.”

There has been much focus on Alcaraz’s coaching team in the build-up to Melbourne.

In December, the six-time major champion abruptly announced that he was splitting from coach Juan Carlos Ferrero after seven hugely successful years together, with assistant Samuel Lopez taking over.

Carlos Alcaraz began working with Ferrero, a former world number one, when he was a teenager.

Quizzed by reporters for the reasons behind the surprise split, Alcaraz said that it felt like the right time to end the partnership and was a mutual decision.

“With Juan Carlos, we decided to do it. I’m just having plenty of confidence in the team that I have right now,” he said.

“As I said, practice has been really good. I’m just feeling well. So, just excited about the tournament beginning with the team that I have right now.”

READ: Key matters on agenda as PSL governing council meets today

LAHORE: The Pakistan Super League (PSL) Governing Council is set to hold an important meeting on Friday to discuss several key issues related to the upcoming season 11, sources revealed.

The meeting, which will be conducted virtually, was initially scheduled for Thursday but was later postponed by a day.

It will mark the first Governing Council session since the inclusion of two new franchises, expanding the league from six to eight teams.

According to sources, the agenda will focus on finalising major operational and commercial matters ahead of PSL 11.

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Discussions are expected to include player retentions, the players’ draft, auction-related issues and the overall tournament schedule.

Notably, PSL Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Salman Naseer has recently revealed that the possibility of conducting a players’ auction will be discussed with the franchises.

Sources further revealed that proposals to increase players’ remuneration and introduce direct signings could also be taken up during the meeting, with the possibility of key decisions being finalised.

The Governing Council is also likely to deliberate on various options for the draft date, while members may be asked to give their views on holding the players’ draft before the bidding process for the Multan Sultans franchise.

READ: BCB sacks Najmul Islam following cricketers’ boycott