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BRISBANE: Recently retired Usman Khawaja marked his return to the Big Bash League (BBL) in style, producing a commanding knock to lead Brisbane Heat to a dominant victory over bottom-placed Sydney Thunder at The Gabba on Saturday.

The win kept the Heat firmly in the playoff hunt. Starting the day seventh on the BBL 15 points table, the home side climbed to fifth with the crucial result, while Thunder’s miserable campaign continued as they remained rooted to the bottom.

Thunder captain David Warner won the toss and opted to bat, becoming the first skipper to do so this season. He justified the decision with a fluent innings at the top, even as his side lost early wickets and slipped to 49-2 inside seven overs.

Warner found solid support in Sam Billings, with the pair adding 84 runs from 50 balls for the third wicket.

Warner dominated the stand with aggressive stroke play before his innings ended via a run-out. He top-scored for Thunder with 82 off 56 balls, laced with eight fours and three sixes.

Billings followed soon after, scoring 34 off 26, while Nic Maddinson added a quick 21 off 14.

However, Thunder failed to capitalise in the latter stages and were restricted to 180-6 in their allotted 20 overs.

Matt Renshaw picked up two wickets for Heat, with Xavier Bartlett, Matthew Kuhnemann and Thomas Balington claiming one apiece.

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In reply, Brisbane Heat came out firing as Jack Wildermuth and captain Usman Khawaja smashed 57 runs in just 23 balls to give the chase early momentum.

Daniel Sams broke the opening stand by dismissing Wildermuth, who hammered 39 off 15 deliveries, including three sixes and four fours.

Nathan McSweeney made a brief stay, scoring 12 off 10, before Khawaja combined with Renshaw to put the result beyond doubt. The duo added 93 runs from 56 balls for the third wicket in a decisive partnership.

Khawaja fell with only five runs required, denied a match-winning finish, but he had already done the damage with a superb 78 off 48 balls, featuring ten boundaries, seven fours and three sixes.

Renshaw remained unbeaten on 42 off 26, while Max Bryant sealed the win in emphatic fashion by smashing the first ball he faced for a six, as Heat crossed the line with 22 balls to spare.

For Thunder, Wes Agar, Daniel Sams and Chris Green picked up one wicket each, but the bowlers were unable to halt Heat’s charge on the night.

READ: Martin Guptill ‘excited’ after Kingsmen acquire PSL new team

Hosts Morocco beat Cameroon 2-0 in their Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final on Friday to stay on course to win the continental title for the second time in their history.

Brahim Diaz and Ismael Saibari scored the goals either side of half-time as Morocco set up a semi-final against the winners of Saturday’s last-eight clash between Algeria and Nigeria.

Real Madrid winger Diaz got the decisive touch to Ayoub El Kaabi’s 26th-minute header in front of more than 64,000 fans at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in the capital Rabat.

Diaz’s fifth goal in five matches at the tournament was followed by Saibari’s strike in the second half, with Morocco well worth their victory as they progress to a semi-final against the winner of Saturday’s clash between Algeria and Nigeria.

“It is historic. Moroccans have not seen their team in the semi-finals of an AFCON for 22 years,” said coach Walid Regragui.

“They deserve it, but we need to keep our feet on the ground and make this even more historic.”

Regragui was also full of praise for Diaz, adding, “Today he was the X-factor of my team. He has been amazing during the competition. Tonight, the way he ran and fought send out a message to the rest of the team.”

The semi-final promises to be a stiffer test for Morocco than that posed by Cameroon, who were hoping to spring an upset, having already exceeded expectations in coming this far after a troubled build-up to the tournament.

The Indomitable Lions, five-time African champions, created little with Manchester United forward Bryan Mbeumo struggling to make an impact.

Recently-appointed Cameroon coach David Pagou was nevertheless proud of his side in defeat.

“We are satisfied with how the boys played. We only started working with the team on December 16, not even a month ago, but they gave joy to the people of Cameroon,” Pagou said.

Morocco, Africa’s top-ranked team and World Cup semi-finalists in 2022, are under enormous pressure to win the Cup of Nations in front of their own fans, half a century after their last continental title.

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There have been doubts as to whether they can handle the weight of expectation, but they remain on course to achieve their objective.

It is the first time Morocco have reached the AFCON semi-finals since they lost the 2004 final to Tunisia.

The hosts were unchanged from their 1-0 last-16 win over Tanzania as they looked to continue an unbeaten record going back to their defeat by South Africa at the 2024 AFCON.

Fresh from knocking out South Africa in the last round here, Cameroon were clearly banking on frustrating Morocco as much as possible in an attempt to turn the crowd against the home side.

Morocco were beaten by the Cameroonians in the semi-finals the last time they hosted AFCON in 1988, but a repeat outcome never really looked likely.

Cameroon were not helped by the early loss of right wing-back Jackson Tchamadeu, who tried to carry on after Noussair Mazraoui landed heavily on his knee before eventually being stretchered off.

Moments after that, Morocco scored. Achraf Hakimi sent in a corner from the right, which was headed towards goal by El Kaabi at the near post, and the ball struck Diaz in the groin before going in.

That calmed a frenetic home support, who cheered their team off at the break after seeing Abde Ezzalzouli and El Kaabi come close to adding further goals.

Morocco were on top, and Cameroon’s response was to change formation after the break, from a back three to a 4-2-3-1, in an attempt to create more danger.

Ezzalzouli headed just over from a Hakimi corner, and then a cross by the Paris Saint-Germain star caused havoc in the Cameroon box as Samuel Kotto hooked the ball away from the line.

Mbeumo had appeals for a penalty dismissed by the Mauritanian referee before PSV Eindhoven’s Saibari fired in the killer second goal on 74 minutes after controlling Ezzalzouli’s dead-ball delivery, as Morocco march on to Wednesday’s semis.

READ: Aryna Sabalenka into third straight Brisbane final ahead of Australian Open

Aryna Sabalenka beat Karolina Muchova in straight sets to reach her third Brisbane International final in a row on Saturday, a week ahead of the Australian Open.

Sabalenka looked in great touch against the tricky Czech, who had won their last three meetings and went into the match as one of the few players with a winning record over the world number one.

But Sabalenka showed her class and power as she broke Muchova once in each set to take the semi-final 6-3, 6-4 in 89 minutes.

“I struggled against her a couple of times (in the past),” Sabalenka said.

“I’m happy that today I was focused from the beginning and I was able to show such great tennis and put her under so much pressure and get the win in straight sets. That’s just super great.”

The 27-year-old Belarusian said she could feel her level getting better with every match in Brisbane, where she is yet to drop a set.

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She said that with seven of the world’s top 10 having entered, it was ideal preparation for the Australian Open, which begins in Melbourne on January 18.

Aryna Sabalenka is aiming to win a third Australian Open in four years.

“I definitely feel that compared to the first match here, I’m playing better and better,” she said.

“That’s really important heading to Melbourne, to build that level, and to play some great matches against great opponents.

“So I’m super happy with the performance so far and cannot wait to play my final match here.”

Sabalenka, the defending champion, will play either fourth seed Jessica Pegula or Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk in Sunday’s final.

READ: Senegal outplay 10-man Mali to reach AFCON semi-finals

Recalled striker Iliman Ndiaye scored in the first half to give Senegal a 1-0 victory over 10-man Mali in Tangiers on Friday in the first Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) quarter-final.

Mali’s hopes were dealt a severe blow in first-half added time when Yves Bissouma was sent off after being shown a second yellow card.

The only goal followed a blunder by Mali goalkeeper Djigui Diarra, who then made a string of superb saves to prevent Senegal from increasing their lead.

Senegal now faces defending champions Ivory Coast or record seven-time winners Egypt, who meet on Saturday, in the semi-finals.

Malian Lassine Sinayoko appealed for a penalty just three minutes into the first half, alleging he was fouled by Senegal captain Kalidou Koulibaly, who was back after a one-match suspension.

However, the South African referee waved play on, and VAR confirmed his decision was correct. Big-screen replays showed Sinayoko was guilty of simulation.

Mali captain Bissouma was yellow-carded midway through the half for fouling veteran Senegal striker and twice African player of the year Sadio Mane.

Sinayoko then broke clear only to be foiled by a superb sliding tackle from fellow French Ligue 1 player Krepin Diatta.

The deadlock was broken after 27 minutes on a cold, cloudy evening in the Mediterranean city thanks to Ndiaye.

He was involved three times in a move which ended with goalkeeper Djigui Diarra allowing a Krepin Diarra cross to slip under his body, and Ndiaye struck the loose ball into the net.

While the goal was a gift, it gave Senegal a deserved lead as they had dominated possession in only the second AFCON clash between the countries. The first was drawn at the group stage in 2004.

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Pape Gueye, who scored twice for Senegal in the last-16 victory over Sudan, was just off target with a shot from outside the box.

Then, for the second successive knockout match, Mali were reduced to 10 men before half-time with Bissouma shown a second yellow card, followed by a red.

The Tottenham Hotspur midfielder fouled Idrissa Gueye in midfield and Malian pleas for the incident to be reviewed by VAR were rejected.

Mali displayed tremendous spirit when reduced to 10 men against Tunisia in the round of 16, and it was evident again against the Senegalese as the second half progressed.

They came close to levelling on 55 minutes when defender Abdoulaye Diaby advanced for a free-kick. His close-range shot brought a reflex save from former Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.

Diarra atoned for his first-half blunder by making several superb saves to keep alive Malian dreams of winning a maiden AFCON title.

With 15 minutes of regular time remaining, scorer Ndiaye was substituted. In his place came 17-year-old Paris Saint-Germain forward Ibrahim Mbaye, whose goal sealed victory over Sudan.

Diarra rescued Mali again as time ticked away, blocking a shot from substitute Pathe Ciss, who had broken clear.

The Malian goalkeeper made another outstanding save during seven minutes of added time by pushing away a Lamine Camara volley.

READ: Liam Rosenior aims to take Chelsea to ‘next level’

ISLAMABAD: The owners of the new franchises in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif here at the PM house on Friday.

The owners were accompanied by the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Mohsin Naqvi.

While the meeting was also attended by the Federal Minister for Information, Attaullah Tarar, the PSL CEO, Salman Naseer, and the PCB Chief Operating Officer, Syed Samir Ahmed.

“Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif meets and congratulates PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, COO Sumair Ahmed and CEO PSL Salman Naseer, along with the new HBL PSL team owners, FKS Group (Hyderabad) and OZ Group (Sialkot), on the successful HBL PSL Teams Auction,” the video caption wrote on PCB’s social handle.

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For the unversed, PSL officially expanded ahead of season 11, with Hyderabad and Sialkot confirmed as the two new franchises following a high-stakes auction held at the Jinnah Convention Centre on 8 January.

The two teams will make their debut in PSL season 11, joining the existing six franchises: Karachi Kings, Lahore Qalandars, Peshawar Zalmi, Quetta Gladiators, Islamabad United, and Multan Sultans.

The official names of the Hyderabad and Sialkot teams will be announced at a later stage.

The Hyderabad franchise was secured by the FKS Group, owned by Fawad Sarwar, after a successful bid of Rs 1.75 billion.

Later, OZ Developers, owned by Hamza Majeed, clinched the Sialkot franchise with a record-breaking bid of Rs1.85 billion, the highest figure of the auction.

PSL 11 is set to be the biggest edition of the tournament to date with the addition of two new franchises.

The upcoming edition will be played from March 26 to May 3, 2026.

READ: Haider Ali’s Noakhali Express register first BPL win in seven attempts

SYLHET: Hasan Mahmud’s four-wicket haul helped Noakhali Express edge past Rangpur Riders by nine runs in the 20th match of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2025-26  here at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Friday.

Set stiff 149, Riders fell short and could only muster 139-9 at the end of their 20 overs.

Dawid Malan and Litton Das added 21 on the opening wicket partnership before both were back in the hutch in successive overs.

Malan scored seven while Das hit three boundaries before getting bowled for 15 off 13.

As a result, Rangpur Riders were in early trouble with 23-2 in four overs.

With his side in trouble, Iftikhar Ahmed and Towhid Hridoy launched a recovery with a 63-run partnership, although it was on the slower side, taking 51 balls.

Watch BPL 2026 matches LIVE Here!

The pair’s calculated batting brought the total to 86 in 12.3 overs before Iftikhar got caught. The right-hander remained the top scorer with 37 from 31 balls with the help of six fours.

Hridoy and Mahmudullah added 14, but a lower middle order collapse slumped them to 112-6 in 16.5 overs.

Nonetheless, with 15 required off the last over, Hasan Mahmud delivered an impressive over, picking up three wickets while giving away only five runs, sealing the first win of the tournament for his side.

Earlier, put into bat first, Rangpur Riders bowlers did well to bundle out Noakhali Express for 148 in 19.4 overs.

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Soumya Sarkar and Shahadat Hossain were off the blocks quickly, adding 25 in 2.1 overs.

But Mustafizur Rahman broke the threatening stand with Hossain’s wicket, who scored 14 from eight.

Meanwhile, Sarkar and Habibur Rahman Sohan steadied the innings as they stitched a 43-run partnership, which brought the total to 68 at the end of seven overs.

Sohan’s brisk 30 off 16 included two sixes and three fours.

With Noakhali Express cruising, Riders’ bowlers made a roaring comeback with quick wickets in the middle overs.

Jaker Ali remained the top-scorer with 38 off 37 while Mahidul Islam Ankon hit a six and a four to lift them to a competitive total.

For Rangpur Riders, Mustafizur Rahman and Mrittunjoy Chowdhury shared six wickets each.

READ: BCB official faces backlash for calling Tamim Iqbal ‘Indian agent’

Liam Rosenior said that his challenge is to carry Chelsea to the “next level” as he prepares to take charge of the Blues for the first time on Saturday.

The 41-year-old has been parachuted into one of the most high-pressure jobs in English football after a successful spell at Strasbourg, who are also run by Chelsea’s owners, BlueCo.

Enzo Maresca left Stamford Bridge on January 1 despite winning two trophies — the Club World Cup and Europa Conference League — during his first season in charge.

But Chelsea have won just one of their past nine Premier League games to slip to eighth in the table and the pressure is on Rosenior to secure Champions League qualification next season via a top-four finish.

“The talent levels I have seen over the last few days — the ability levels are world class,” Rosenior said on the eve of Chelsea’s FA Cup trip to second-tier Charlton.

“The previous coach Enzo has done a good job tactically and it is my job to take it to the next level, and me and my staff are going to work very hard to do that.

“If you are scared or fearful, there is no point being a coach. I am going to work 24 hours a day. I am going to push them to try and be successful.”

Rosenior watched from the stands as Chelsea lost 2-1 at west London neighbours Fulham on Wednesday.

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There were banners and chants amongst the visiting fans at Craven Cottage, lashing out at BlueCo’s running of the club.

Maresca became the fourth permanent manager to depart the club in three and a half years since the American-backed consortium took control of Chelsea.

Rosenior rejected suggestions, though, that he has been hired to toe the line of his superiors.

“I don’t think it is possible to be in this job and not be your own man,” he said.

“I understand, I am not an alien and I know what is being said in the press, but there is no way you can be a manager if you don’t make the decisions for yourself.

“We have had huge success at Strasbourg and I intend to work the same way here.”

Under BlueCo, Chelsea’s model has focused on hoovering up young talent from around the globe.

But amongst Maresca’s complaints was a lack of experience that resulted in inconsistent performances.

Rosenior said that he is confident that the approach can succeed from his time at Strasbourg.

“A club of this stature, the fans want success and they have every right to want success now. My job, to win over the fans, I have to win football games,” he said.

“We’re trying to build things here in a different way. I’m very confident that in time we will show everyone why we have done it in this way.”

READ: Ireland reveal squad for ICC T20 World Cup 2026

DUBLIN: Ireland have named an experienced 15-member squad for the ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup 2026, set to be co-hosted by Sri Lanka and India.

Paul Stirling will lead the side, with wicket-keeper Lorcan Tucker named as his deputy.

The squad’s 12 out of 15 members have featured in the 2024 edition, whereas Tim Tector, Ben Calitz, and Matthew Humphreys will play in the mega event for the first time.

Ireland’s highest run-getter, Stirling, will bolster the batting unit alongside the likes of George Dockrell, Curtis Campher, and Harry Tector.

The bowling attack will be spearheaded by Mark Adair and Josh Little.

The Irish side will be appearing in their ninth T20 World Cup, with their best coming in 2009 and 2022 when they advanced to the second round.

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Following the announcement, Ireland’s men’s selector, Andrew White, aims to deliver improved performances in a challenging event.

“To say we are very much looking forward to this T20 World Cup is an under-statement,” he said.

“After a memorable 2022 tournament, we probably weren’t at our best in 2024 – and have been waiting to rectify that ever since,” he added.

“There is no doubt we are in a highly competitive group, which includes playing the tournament hosts but we have played these sides recently enough in previous editions of this tournament, and will go into these matches with no fear,” White concluded.

Ireland is slotted against Sri Lanka, Australia, Oman, and Zimbabwe in Group B and will start their campaign against the hosts in Colombo on February 8.

Ireland Squad for T20 World Cup

⁠Paul Stirling (c), Mark Adair, Ross Adair, Ben Calitz, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Matthew Humphreys, Josh Little, Barry McCarthy, Harry Tector, Tim Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Ben White, Craig Young

READ: BCB official faces backlash for calling Tamim Iqbal ‘Indian agent’

Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) finance committee chairman M Nazmul Islam landed in hot water after calling former captain Tamim Iqbal an ‘Indian agent’.

Nazmul took to Facebook and wrote about Tamim after his interview, in which the latter suggested that BCB should keep all options on the table before boycotting the national team’s participation in the forthcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2026.

The official called Tamim is an Indian agent in his post, which has now been removed from his account.

“This time, the people of Bangladesh witnessed, with their own eyes, the emergence of yet another proven Indian agent,” he wrote.

Following that, the Cricketers’ Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB) expressed disappointment over the statement in a press release.

“A comment made by BCB director M Nazmul Islam regarding former national captain Tamim Iqbal has come to the attention of the Cricketers’ Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB). We are stunned, shocked, and outraged by it,” the statement wrote.

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“Such a remark by a board official about the most successful opener in Bangladesh’s history, who represented the country for 16 years, is utterly condemnable.

Not only because it concerns a player like Tamim, but such comments about any cricketer of the country are unacceptable and insulting to the entire cricketing community,” CWAB said in a statement,” it concluded.

Meanwhile, several Bangladesh cricketers have also criticized Najmul Islam’s remarks.

“I am shocked by the statement made by BCB director M Nazmul Islam regarding former national captain Tamim Iqbal.

Such choice of words by a board director about a national team cricketer is not only tasteless, but completely unacceptable and contrary to our cricketing culture,” said Test spinner Taijul Islam.

Test cricketer Mominul Haque also shared his views on the statement, noting that the remarks are not acceptable.

“The comment made by BCB director M Nazmul Islam regarding former national captain Tamim Iqbal is completely unacceptable and insulting to the country’s cricketing community. Such behaviour towards a cricketer is in direct conflict with the board’s responsibility and ethics,” said Mominul.

Fast bowler Taskin Ahmed urged the authorities to take the matter seriously amid the broader interests of national cricket.

“Cricket is the life of Bangladesh. A recent comment surrounding a former national captain who has made a major contribution to the game has caused many to reflect.

I believe that such remarks directed at a former cricketer of the country are not helpful in the interest of Bangladesh cricket. I hope the concerned authorities will consider the matter seriously and adopt a more responsible stance in the future,” he said.

READ: Hasan Nawaz holds nerve as Chattogram Royals edge Rajshahi Warriors

DAMBULLA: The second T20I of the three-match series between Pakistan and Sri Lanka has been called off due to rain here at the Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium.

The persistent rain had delayed the toss, and heavy rain had led to the fixture being canceled.

The third T20I will be played on Sunday, 11 January at the same venue.

Pakistan are 1-0 up in the series, having secured the victory in the opening T20I with a dominant performance.

The Green Shirts were clinical with the bat and ball as returning Shadab Khan delivered an all-round performance.

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The three-match T20I series serves as a preparatory platform for the forthcoming ICC T20 World Cup, which will begin on 7 February in Sri Lanka and India.

Squads

Pakistan: Salman Agha (capt), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmad, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Nafay (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan (wk), Usman Tariq

Sri Lanka: Dasun Shanaka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Janith Liyanage, Kamindu Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushan Hemantha, Traveen Mathew, Dushmantha Chameera, Matheesha Pathirana, Nuwan Thushara, Eshan Malinga.

READ: Martin Guptill ‘excited’ after Kingsmen acquire PSL new team