Mir Hamza Archives

Karachi Kings sign Adam Zampa in PSL 11 Player Auction

LAHORE: Karachi Kings continued to strengthen their squad at the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 Player Auction by signing Australian leg-spinner Adam Zampa and left-arm fast bowler Mir Hamza.

Mir Hamza, 33, was secured for PKR 2.4 crore, marking another chapter in his long association with the franchise.

The experienced pacer has been part of Karachi Kings for the past four seasons and has represented the side in five PSL editions overall, in addition to four appearances for Quetta Gladiators.

Across 29 PSL matches, Hamza has claimed 33 wickets at an impressive average of 23.57.

Australian leg-spinner Adam Zampa is set for his maiden stint in the PSL, having never previously featured in the tournament.

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Currently representing Australia in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, Zampa was picked for PKR 4.5 crore.

One of the leading white-ball spinners in world cricket, he has taken 139 wickets in T20 Internationals at an average of 20.99, while his overall T20 record stands at 401 wickets in 323 matches at an average of 21.39.

Karachi Kings also added Aqib Ilyas to their roster for PKR 60 lakh, further enhancing the squad’s balance.

Earlier in the auction, the Kings bolstered their lineup with the signings of David Warner, Pakistan T20I captain Salman Ali Agha, and wicketkeeper-batter Azam Khan.

Warner returned to the franchise for PKR 7.9 crore after captaining the side in PSL 10, while Azam Khan was secured for PKR 3.25 crore and Salman Ali Agha for PKR 5.85 crore.

Prior to the PSL 11 Player Auction, Karachi Kings retained a strong core featuring Hasan Ali (Platinum), Mohammad Abbas Afridi (Diamond), Khushdil Shah (Gold), and Saad Baig (Emerging).

The franchise also strengthened its squad with the direct signing of England all-rounder Moeen Ali.

READ: Adam Zampa stars as Australia crush Ireland in statement win

PSL 10: Karachi Kings’ Mir Hamza confident ahead of Eliminator against Qalandars

LAHORE: Karachi Kings’ fast bowler Mir Hamza has expressed optimism ahead of a high-stakes encounter against arch-rivals Lahore Qalandars in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10 eliminator.

Karachi Kings will face Lahore Qalandars on Thursday in the Eliminator of PSL 10 at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.

Talking to the media here on Wednesday, Mir Hamza, who suffered an injury scare during the clash against Peshawar Zalmi, declared himself fully fit ahead of the highly anticipated match.

“I’m completely fit. Everyone had been asking about my fitness,” Hamza told reporters.

Despite an injury scare, Hamza featured in the game against Islamabad United, returning with the figures of one for 41 in his four overs.

Catch all the PSL 10 updates here!

“I’ve played a game since returning from injury, and I’m feeling good. Lahore vs Karachi games are always exciting — both teams are major PSL rivals,” he remarked.

Looking ahead to the contest, Mir Hamza said the atmosphere will be thrilling while mentioning the weather and pitch conditions.

“Tomorrow’s game will be good. We’ll enjoy it. The whole of Pakistan is our home ground, so the pressure of home and away doesn’t affect us much.”

“Lahore’s team is good, and they’ve been playing here consistently. But conditions might have changed now; the weather has shifted quite a bit,” Mir Hamza observed.

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The left-arm pacer stressed that both bowlers and batters will have to perform well in the knockout encounter. He also emphasized national selection, admitting that he is ready for the opportunity.

“It’s an important match. Bowlers and batters both have to deliver.”

“Earlier, I used to worry about not being selected for the national team. But not anymore. Now the focus is on staying fit and being ready whenever the opportunity comes,” Mir Hamza said.

Hamza hailed Karachi Kings captain David Warner, stating that the team is also getting deeper insight into the Australian mindset.

“David Warner is a big name in cricket. Sharing the dressing room with him gives us the chance to learn positive things. We’re also getting insight into the Australian mindset,” he concluded.

READ: Ben Stokes urges England to be smarter with their comments

Mir Hamza provides update on his injury after match against Peshawar Zalmi

Karachi Kings pacer Mir Hamza has provided an update on his injury following the match against Peshawar Zalmi in Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10.

Mir Hamza suffered an injury scare during the clash against Peshawar Zalmi in the 17th over of the innings when a powerful shot from Max Bryant struck his toe on the last ball of the over.

The left-arm pacer was seen in visible pain following the incident.

However, Mir Hamza has now provided an update on the X platform (formerly Twitter), stating his condition.

“Alhamdulillah, I am fine now and back to normal. Thank you all for your concern, he wrote.

Catch all the PSL 10 updates here!

Mir Hamza returned with figures of one for 33 in his four overs in a high-scoring fest.

Karachi Kings stormed into the playoffs of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10 with a dominant 23-run victory over Peshawar Zalmi.

The highlight of the match was a blistering unbeaten 43 off just 15 balls from Khushdil Shah, who, alongside Mohammad Nabi (26* off 10), stitched together a game-changing 70-run stand in just 24 balls to take Kings to an imposing 237-4.

Chasing a mammoth 238-run target, Peshawar Zalmi put up a spirited fight but eventually fell short, managing 214/5 in their 20 overs.

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The silver lining for Peshawar Zalmi was Babar Azam, who scored a valiant 94 off 49 balls, featuring 10 fours and 4 sixes.

For Karachi Kings, Abbas Afridi led the charge with 2/48 in his four overs. Hasan Ali and Mir Hamza chipped in with one wicket each.

Karachi Kings will now face Islamabad United in the last league match on 19 May at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. The winner of the match will determine the matchup scenarios for the playoffs.

READ: Worked on my weaknesses: Hasan Nawaz on match-winning knocks in PSL 10

Mir Hamza hails collective performance after victory over Quetta Gladiators

Left-arm pacer Mir Hamza, who returned to the playing XI for Karachi Kings in Friday’s clash against Quetta Gladiators, credited a complete team performance for their 56-run win at the National Bank Stadium.

Playing his first match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10, Hamza made an instant impact by dismissing Finn Allen in the very first over.

His early breakthrough set the tone for Karachi’s bowling attack, which restricted the Gladiators to just 119-9 while defending a target of 176.

Speaking at the post-match press conference, Mir Hamza expressed his delight over the victory and praised the team’s all-around effort.

“Whenever you win, there’s obviously happiness. We’ve won two out of our three matches so far, and what’s most encouraging is the manner of our wins—by big margins,” he said.

“Whether you look at our top order, middle order, or the bowling, everyone has contributed well. Our fielding has been excellent too.

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“When every player makes small but meaningful contributions, it builds confidence going into the next matches. That’s a very positive sign for any team.”

Reflecting on the playing conditions and team strategy, Hamza said the pitch played differently compared to the previous two games, and the team had to adjust accordingly.

“Today’s pitch was different from the last two matches. Our main target while batting first was to somehow get to 170-180, and we managed to achieve that,” he added.

“The pitch was slow, and once the ball got older after the powerplay, back-of-length deliveries weren’t coming on to the bat nicely.

“That’s why our plan while batting was to get to 170-180, and we were successful. In bowling, too, we executed the same plan, knowing those kinds of deliveries would be harder to play. Overall, everything went well today.”

Catch all the PSL 10 updates here!

When asked about the low turnout of fans in Karachi and what Karachi Kings are doing to bring the crowd back, Mir Hamza responded with a smile:

“Right now, we’re trying to bring the crowd back by winning matches. We’ve won two out of three, and I think the way we’ve started, hopefully the crowd will show up in greater numbers in the upcoming games.”

He was also full of praise for new captain David Warner, highlighting his leadership qualities and the environment he has created in the dressing room.

“It’s been a really good experience playing under David Warner. The best thing about him is how he backs his players, maintains a great dressing room atmosphere, and trusts everyone,” he said.

“These things become especially important when a team loses. When we lost a match, he was still backing both batters and bowlers – and that kind of support is a huge positive for any team. Warner is not just a great captain, but also a great leader and team man.”

READ: ‘Too shy to seek advice’: Former Pakistan legend comments on Babar Azam’s struggles

Karachi Kings pick Mir Hamza and Litton Das in Silver Category

LAHORE: Karachi Kings picked pace bowler Mir Hamza and Bangladesh wicket-keeper Litton Das in the Silver category of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10 Player Draft here on Monday.

Mir Hamza, a talented fast bowler who was recently released by Karachi Kings in preparation for the PSL 10 Draft, made a triumphant return as the first selection in the Silver Category when the Kings decided to bring him back into their fold.

Known for his skill in swinging the new ball, Hamza has established himself as a valuable asset in the league. Throughout his PSL career, he has taken an impressive 23 wickets in just 20 matches, showcasing his effectiveness and potential.

Karachi Kings followed up this strategic acquisition by securing the services of the Bangladeshi batter Litton Das as their second pick. At 30 years old, Das is celebrated for his calm and composed demeanour at the crease, making him a formidable presence in the batting lineup.

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With a noteworthy career tally of 2020 runs in international T20 matches, he has demonstrated his capacity for aggressive batting, underscored by his 11 half-centuries in 95 T20I appearances for Bangladesh. Overall, his experience shines through with an impressive total of 5123 runs accumulated across 227 T20 games, highlighting his prowess as a dynamic and prolific run-scorer in the format.

It’s worth noting that Mir Hamza and Litton Das have joined young all-rounder Arafat Minhas, New Zealand batter Tim Seifert and leg-spinner Zahid Mehmood, who were retained ahead of the draft.

Arafat Minhas, the talk-of-the-town all-rounder, has been retained in the Silver category. In addition to his on-field contributions, he will serve as the Kings’ brand ambassador, exemplifying the multifaceted role of a modern cricketer who excels both on and off the field.

Watch PSL 10 Players’ Draft Live HERE

Tim Seifert, a versatile wicketkeeper-batsman, adds depth and flexibility to the squad. His ability to fortify the top order and enhance the wicketkeeping department ensures a robust team structure, ready to tackle the challenges of the season.

Zahid Mehmood was impressive last season and the experienced wrist spinner has been retained to strengthen the spin department of Karachi Kings.

READ: Karachi Kings pick Khushdil Shah in Diamond Category

Mir Hamza released from Pakistan’s Test squad

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan pacer Mir Hamza has been released from the Test squad for the ongoing series against England owing to his injury.

The left-arm pacer experienced mild discomfort in his right leg before the ongoing third Test. The injury occurred during a practice session, where Hamza was unable to bowl, raising concerns about his fitness.

As a precautionary measure, he will complete his recovery and rehabilitation process in Karachi with the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) medical team.

It’s worth noting that the three-match Test series is currently levelled 1-1 and the deciding third match is currently underway at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

Pakistan suffered a humiliating defeat by an innings and 47 runs in the series opener, consequently, the home side made an array of changes including dropping their star batter Babar Azam and ace pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi.

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Domestic performer Kamran Ghulam made his long-awaited debut, while spin bowlers Sajid Khan, Noman Ali and Zahid Mahmood made their return to the Test side.

The changes proved fruitful as Kamran scored a century on his debut, while Sajid and Noman shared 20 wickets to steer Pakistan to their first Test victory at home since February 2021.

It’s worth noting that Pakistan have announced an unchanged Playing XI for the ongoing match, while England have added an additional spinner to take advantage of the conditions.

Pakistan Playing XI: Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Shan Masood (c), Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel (vc), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Ali Agha, Aamir Jamal, Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Zahid Mahmood.

England Playing XI: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Gus Atkinson, Rehan Ahmed, Jack Leach, Shoaib Bashir.

READ: Asalanka steers Sri Lanka to series-clinching victory over West Indies

Pakistan suffer major blow ahead of third England Test

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan has suffered a major blow to their preparations for the upcoming third Test against England as pace bowler Mir Hamza is unlikely to participate in the match due to an injury.

The left-arm pacer has complained of a hip injury, which has cast doubt over his participation in the Rawalpindi Test.

The injury occurred during a practice session, where Hamza was unable to bowl, raising concerns about his fitness. The team management is closely monitoring his condition.

The three-match Test series is currently levelled 1-1 and the deciding third match will be played from 24 October to 28 October at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

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Experienced wicketkeeper batter Sarfaraz Ahmed and Naseem Shah were the other two key players dropped from the national team’s squad for the remainder of the series.

Domestic performer Kamran Ghulam made his long-awaited debut, while spin bowlers Sajid Khan, Noman Ali and Zahid Mahmood made their return to the Test side.

The changes proved fruitful as Kamran scored a century on his debut, while Sajid and Noman shared 20 wickets to steer Pakistan to their first Test victory at home since February 2021.

Squads:

Pakistan: Shan Masood (c), Saud Shakeel (vc), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Haseebullah (wk), Kamran Ghulam, Mehran Mumtaz, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Huraira, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha and Zahid Mehmood.

England: Ben Stokes (c), Rehan Ahmed, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Jordan Cox, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jack Leach, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes.

READ: PCB announces free entry on first day of third Pakistan-England Test

Mir Hamza highlights importance of red-ball bowling for white-ball success

Pakistan Test pacer Mir Hamza has recently highlighted the importance of playing red-ball cricket to achieve success across all formats.

Mir Hamza, who is currently representing Dolphins in the ongoing Champions One-Day Cup, shared that the longer format requires adapting to different situations in the match, which can help a bowler in shorter formats as well.

“A bowler with red-ball experience knows how to adapt to different situations and execute the right delivery at the right time,” he said during an interview with a local news channel.

Hamza also shared that he is satisfied with his recent performances in the Test series Bangladesh as well as the Champions Cup.

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“I enjoy my performance most when it benefits the team,” said Hamza. “I’ll be focusing on helping the team win the remaining matches.”

He further shared that he focuses more on the team’s victory rather than winning individual accolades.

“I never play with the mindset of topping the charts or securing a spot. My goal is always to contribute to my team’s success,” he said.

However, Mir Hamza also expressed his desire to lead Dolphins to victory with his bowling and win a Man of the Match award.

“In the Champions Cup, I hope to at least win the man-of-the-match award in one of the games,” he added.

READ: Australia bans former Sri Lanka Test cricketer for 20 years

Pakistan lose two wickets after bundling Bangladesh for 262

RAWALPINDI: Bangladesh pacer Hasan Mahmud took two wickets to leave Pakistan struggling at Stumps on Day 3 of the second Test after the visitors were bundled for 262.

Saim Ayub remained unbeaten at six, with the scoreboard reading 9-2 as Pakistan lost opening batter Abdullah Shafique and nightwatchman Khurram Shahzad in the dying minutes of the third day.

Prior to that, Salman Ali Agha took the final two wickets, including top-scorer Litton Das, to book Bangladesh for 262.

Khurram led Pakistan’s bowling charts with figures of 6-90, while Mir Hamza and Salman bagged two each.

Litton scored a gutsy century as he singlehandedly Bangladesh’s total from 193 to 262, courtesy of a 69-run stand with Hassan Mehmud (13).

The wicketkeeper top-scored with 138 runs from 228 balls with the help of 13 boundaries and four sixes.

He was unbeaten at 83 as Bangladesh went to Tea with 193-8 on the board after dominating the second session against Pakistan.

Litton along with Mehidy Hasan Miraz helped Bangladesh recover from 26-6 as they stitched a partnership of 165 runs, scoring their individual half-centuries.

They attacked Pakistani bowlers and scored boundaries across all parts of the ground before Khurram caught and bowled Mehidy.

The all-rounder departed after scoring 78 runs from 124 balls with the help of twelve boundaries and one six. Meanwhile, Taskin Ahmed also fell to Khurram on the stroke of Tea on Day 3.

Earlier, Bangladesh openers Shadman Islam and Zakir Hasan started the day with 10/0 on the board.

However, they could not add much to the total as Khurram Shahzad bowled a brilliant spell of classic pace bowling, leaving the Bangladesh batters completely bewildered.

In just the fourth over of the day, he took out Zakir with a skilful delivery on the last ball courtesy of an easy catch by Abrar Ahmed.

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On the first ball of his next over, Khurram cleaned up Shadman with an inswinger. He missed the hat trick but he castled Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto in the same over.

Mir Hamza also joined the party as he dismissed Mominul Haque in the next over.

Bangladesh veterans Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib Al Hasan then fell prey to Mir and Khurram respectively with the scoreboard reading 26-6.

Litton Das and Mehidy Hasan Miraz showed resistance as they knitted a gutsy 49-run stand for the seventh wicket to push the team’s total to 75-6 runs at the end of the first session without further damage.

Earlier on Day 2, Bangladesh bowlers bowled out Pakistan on 274, with Mehidy Hasan Miraz leading the pack.

Mehidy was the pick of the bowlers for Bangladesh with a five-fer, followed by Taskin Ahmed, who bagged three wickets. Nahid Rana and Shakib Al Hasan shared two wickets between them.

From Pakistan, Salman Ali Agha offered a notable fight against the momentum-filled Bangladesh bowling attack with his 54 off 95 deliveries, laced up with three fours and two sixes.

Prior to that, Pakistan found themselves in a state of bother when Taskin Ahmed cleaned up their right-handed opener Abdullah Shafique a duck with an in-dipper.

Following the early hiccup, Masood joined Ayub in the middle and launched an astounding recovery.

The pair batted sensibly against in-form Bangladesh bowlers with Masood leading the charge.

Masood scored 57 off 69 deliveries with the help of two boundaries, while Ayub played a 58-run knock which featured four fours and two sixes.

For the unversed, the opening day of the second Test between Pakistan and Bangladesh was called off due to persistent rain here on Friday.

Playing XIs

Bangladesh: Shadman Islam, Zakir Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Mominul Islam, Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das (wk), Shakib Al Hasan, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Nahid Rana.

Pakistan: Abdullah Shafique, Saim Ayub, Shan Masood (c), Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Ali Agha, Abrar Ahmed, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Ali, Khurram Shahzad.

READ: Aakash Chopra picks two Pakistan pacers with best Yorkers

Shan Masood reveals reason for dropping Mir Hamza

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Test captain Shan Masood has revealed the reason behind dropping pace bowler Mir Hamza from the Playing XI for the first Test against Bangladesh.

The first of the two-match Test series is set to commence tomorrow at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium and Shan Masood-led Pakistan will go with an all-pace attack.

The team management decided to include Mohammad Ali instead of Mir Hamza as the fourth fast bowler, alongside Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Khurram Shehzad.

The skipper provided insight into the decision to leave out Mir during the pre-match press conference on Tuesday.

He rejected the idea that Ali is considered a better bowler, instead highlighting the impact of playing conditions and the overall team composition as the basis for Mir’s omission.

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“We considered who could best support Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah, who will hopefully take the new ball tomorrow. We believe Mohammad Ali is well-suited for this role,” Shan explained.

“He [Ali] hits the deck hard, can move the ball in the air with the seam, and has that extra pace. It’s not about one bowler being better than another, but rather about who fits the conditions best,” he added.

The first Test against Bangladesh marks only the second instance when Pakistan will field an all-pace attack in a home Test in 28 years.

The last time Pakistan went with an all-pace attack was at the same venue in 2019 against Sri Lanka.

The two-match series part of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) will run from August 21 to September 4 with both matches to be played at the same venue.

The second match of the series, however, was originally scheduled to take place at National Stadium, Karachi.

However, owing to the renovation work currently underway at the venue, the PCB, in consultation with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) decided to shift the match to Rawalpindi.

Pakistan’s Playing XI for the first Bangladesh Test: Abdullah Shafique, Saim Ayub, Shan Masood (c), Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Khurram Shehzad, Mohammad Ali.

READ: Here’s why Naseem Shah does not let his father watch his matches