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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.

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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

SYLHET: Hasan Nawaz produced a match-winning performance to guide Chattogram Royals to a dramatic two-wicket victory over Rajshahi Warriors on the final ball of their Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2025-26 clash on Friday.

After opting to bowl first, Chattogram Royals delivered a disciplined bowling display to restrict Rajshahi Warriors to a modest 128 for 9 in their allotted 20 overs.

The Warriors never found momentum with the bat, as wickets fell at regular intervals and no batter managed to post a significant score.

Muhammad Waseem and SM Meherob were the joint top-scorers with 19 runs apiece, while Akbar Ali and veteran Mushfiqur Rahim chipped in with 17 and 15, respectively.

Aamir Jamal led the Royals’ bowling effort with three wickets, while Shoriful Islam and Tanvir Islam claimed two each.

Captain Mahedi Hasan and Hasan Nawaz also contributed with a wicket apiece to complete a collective bowling effort.

The chase, however, was far from straightforward for Chattogram Royals. They were rocked early and found themselves struggling at 28 for 4 inside the power play.

Hasan Nawaz then combined with skipper Mahedi Hasan to steady the innings, adding 40 runs for the fifth wicket and briefly shifting momentum back in the Royals’ favour.

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Just as Chattogram looked set to take control, Sandeep Lamichhane dismissed Mahedi Hasan for 28 to reopen the contest.

Asif Ali followed with a crucial 27 off 25 balls, keeping the chase alive alongside Nawaz, but Binura Fernando’s breakthrough once again tilted the balance towards Rajshahi.

The match went down to the wire, with Chattogram needing 10 runs in the final over.

Nawaz rose to the occasion, striking eight runs off the first three deliveries.

Despite two consecutive dot balls from SM Meherob, Nawaz kept his composure and scampered back for a decisive double off the final delivery to seal a thrilling win.

Hasan Nawaz remained unbeaten on 35 off 36 balls, anchoring the chase under pressure and proving decisive with both bat and ball.

With this victory, Chattogram Royals consolidated their position at the top of the BPL points table, while Rajshahi Warriors remain fourth as the league stage intensifies.

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

Former New Zealand batter Martin Guptill has expressed his joy after Kingsmen (FKS) Group secured the new outfit in the Pakistan Super League (PSL). 

On Thursday, 8 December, 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.

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.

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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.

Guptill, who has represented three franchises in the PSL from 2020 to 2024, shared his excitement on Instagram.

The 39-year-old posted a picture of Hyderabad owners receiving keys from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, on his story.

“Kingsmen Cricket USA, how good is this,” the caption of the post read.

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

The PSL 11 is scheduled to run from March 26 to May 3, 2026.

READ: Afghanistan unveil squad for U19 World Cup 2026

KABUL: Afghanistan have announced their 15-member squad for the ICC Men’s Under-19 World Cup 2026, set to begin on January 15 in Zimbabwe and Namibia, with Mahboob Khan appointed as captain.

Khan, who recently turned 19, brings valuable leadership experience to the team, having led Afghanistan in both the 2024 and 2025 U19 Asia Cup tournaments.

He will be supported by a spin-heavy bowling attack, a hallmark of Afghan cricket at all levels.

Wahidullah Zadran, the 18-year-old offspinner who has already impressed at the senior level with the Gulf Giants in last year’s ILT20, is the standout in the bowling unit.

Zadran, who also entered the IPL auction in December as one of the youngest entrants, will be backed by left-arm spinner Zaitullah Shaheen and legspinner Hafeez Zadran.

The batting lineup features promising young talents, including Khalid Ahmadzai, who has a first-class century to his name, and Uzairullah Niazai.

Pace options include Nooristani Omarzai, expected to provide the team with crucial breakthroughs.

Afghanistan earned their spot in the U19 World Cup by finishing unbeaten in last year’s Asia Qualifier, highlighting their growing strength at the youth level.

They have been drawn in Group D alongside South Africa, Tanzania, and West Indies.

Afghanistan Squad:

Mahboob Khan (c), Khalid Ahmadzai, Osman Sadat, Faisal Khan, Uzairullah Niazai, Aziz Mia Khil, Nazif Amiri, Khatir Stanikzai, Nooristani Omarzai, Abdul Aziz, Salam Khan, Wahidullah Zadran, Zaitullah Shaheen, Rohullah Arab and Hafeez Zadran.

Reserves: Aqil Khan, Fahim Qasemi and Izat Noor.

Group Stage U19 World Cup Fixtures:

• January 16: vs South Africa, Windhoek
• January 18: vs West Indies, Windhoek
• January 21: vs Tanzania, Windhoek

READ: Manchester City win race to sign Antoine Semenyo

Manchester City added to their attacking arsenal on Friday with the signing of Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth for a reported £65 million ($87 million).

The 26-year-old, who has scored 10 Premier League goals this season, has signed a five-and-a-half-year deal.

Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham were amongst the other clubs interested in the London-born Ghana international, who had a buyout clause that would reportedly expire on Saturday.

“I am so proud to have joined Manchester City,” said Semenyo.

“I have watched City over the last decade under Pep Guardiola, and they have been the dominant team in the Premier League as well as achieving amazing things in the Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup.

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“They have set the highest of standards, and it’s a club with world-class players, world-class facilities and one of the greatest managers ever in Pep.”

His final act after three years with the Cherries was scoring a stoppage-time winner to beat Tottenham 3-2 and end an 11-game winless run on Wednesday.

Manchester City are hoping Antoine Semenyo can boost their challenge for silverware on four fronts in 2026.

Pep Guardiola’s men trail Arsenal by six points at the top of the Premier League and have FA Cup, League Cup and Champions League fixtures in the coming weeks.

READ: Pakistan seamer Mohammad Ali joins Nottinghamshire