Pakistan Sports News & Cricket Updates

Sunil Gavaskar breaks silence on Pakistan–India group draw

January 28, 2026 by Pakistan Desk

Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar has revealed the reason behind placing Pakistan and India in the same group for major international tournaments.

In a column written for a digital platform, Gavaskar said the primary objective of grouping the two arch-rivals together is to ensure at least one high-profile clash between them during the event.

He explained that, similar to previous mega tournaments, Pakistan and India have not only been placed in the same group but also in a comparatively easier pool to increase the likelihood of both teams progressing to the next round — setting the stage for further high-intensity encounters.

In the upcoming T20 World Cup, scheduled to begin next month, Pakistan and India have been drawn in Group A alongside Namibia, the Netherlands, and the United States.

Gavaskar further noted that the United States could emerge as a competitive side in the tournament, having gained valuable experience through participation in Major League Cricket (MLC).

BCB alleges ICC’s ‘unfair scheduling’ led to U19 World Cup exit

January 28, 2026 by Pakistan Desk

DHAKA: The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has blamed the International Cricket Council (ICC) for its under-19 team’s early exit from the U19 World Cup, citing unfair scheduling and logistical challenges as key reasons.

According to Bangladeshi media, the BCB revealed that the team had to travel at its own expense due to the demanding schedule.

Habib Al-Bashar, BCB’s Game Development Coordinator, said the team’s performance suffered because of the way matches were scheduled.

“Our approach against England and India was misjudged, but the travel schedule affected the team the most,” Al-Bashar said. He described the schedule as “completely unfair”, explaining that the team was originally supposed to play two warm-up matches in Masango, then travel to Bulawayo. However, the ICC suddenly changed the schedule, forcing the matches to be held at two separate venues.

The BCB requested that the ICC adjust the fixtures to reduce travel burden, but the request was reportedly ignored.

Bangladeshi media reports stated that the team traveled from Masango to Bulawayo by road, a journey of several hours, for matches on January 10 and 13.

During the World Cup, domestic flights were restricted by the ICC, requiring teams to travel by bus. The Bangladesh team faced a 9-hour road journey from Harare to Bulawayo for group matches during the monsoon season.

To ease fatigue, the BCB personally arranged flights for matches against New Zealand and India, covering the expenses themselves.

Bangladesh was ultimately eliminated from the tournament following a defeat against England.

PSL 11: Franchises announce updated retention categories

January 27, 2026 by Pakistan Desk

LAHORE: Pakistan Super League franchises have released the revised retention category lists for the 11th edition of the tournament, outlining player placements across Diamond, Gold, Silver and Emerging categories ahead of the PSL 11 draft process.

The updated lists provide clarity on player movements, promotions and possible retentions before the official auction.

Silver Category

According to the revised list, the following players have been placed in the Silver category:

Islamabad United: Mohammad Faizan, Haneen Shah

Peshawar Zalmi: Arif Yaqoob, Mehran Mumtaz

Karachi Kings: Mirza Mamoon Imtiaz

Quetta Gladiators: Ali Majid

Lahore Qalandars: Mohammad Akhlaq

In addition, Mohammad Naeem, Mohammad Aazib, Yasir Khan, Aamir Barki, Mohammad Junaid, Mohammad Altaf, Ali Imran, Jehanzaib Sultan and Ubaid Shah have also been included in the Silver category.

Emerging Category

The Emerging category includes:

Islamabad United: Saad Masood, Mohammad Shehzad, Ghazi Ghori

Karachi Kings: Riyazullah, Fawad Ali, Saad Baig

Lahore Qalandars: Momin Qamar

Peshawar Zalmi: Abdullah Fazal, Ali Raza, Moaz Sadaqat

Multan Sultans: Shahid Aziz, Mohammad Zulkifal

Quetta Gladiators: Mohammad Zeeshan, Shamil Hussain

Diamond Category

Ahead of PSL 11, franchises have also confirmed the updated Diamond category list.

Karachi Kings: Abbas Afridi, Shan Masood

Abbas Afridi has been downgraded from Platinum to Diamond.

Lahore Qalandars: Abdullah Shafique, Salman Mirza

Multan Sultans: Usama Mir, Usman Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed

Quetta Gladiators: Saud Shakeel, Wasim Jr, Usman Khan

Peshawar Zalmi: Sufiyan Muqeem

Sufiyan Muqeem was promoted from Gold to Diamond at the final stage.

Gold Category

The revised Gold category list has also been issued, with franchises allowed to retain one Gold player prior to the auction.

Lahore Qalandars: Jahandad Khan, Zaman Khan, Asif Ali, Asif Afridi

Asif Ali and Asif Afridi were part of the Silver category last season.

Islamabad United: Azam Khan, Haider Ali, Salman Irshad, Rumman Raees

Azam Khan was previously in the Diamond category, while Rumman Raees featured in Silver.

Karachi Kings: Khushdil Shah, Aamir Jamal, Irfan Niazi, Mir Hamza, Zahid Mahmood, Umair Bin Yousuf, Shahnawaz Dahani, Arafat Minhas

Peshawar Zalmi: Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Ali, Abdul Samad, Hussain Talat, Sufiyan Muqeem, Ahmed Daniyal, Ehsanullah

Quetta Gladiators: Khawaja Nafay, Haseebullah Khan, Khurram Shahzad, Hasan Nawaz, Danish Aziz

Multan Sultans: Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Faisal Akram, Aakif Javed, Tayyab Tahir

Possible Platinum Category Players

Franchises have also shared provisional lists of Platinum-category players ahead of official confirmation by the Pakistan Cricket Board.

Islamabad United: Shadab Khan, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Agha, Mohammad Nawaz, Imad Wasim

Karachi Kings: Hasan Ali

Lahore Qalandars: Shaheen Shah Afridi, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf

Multan Sultans: Mohammad Rizwan

Peshawar Zalmi: Babar Azam, Saim Ayub

Quetta Gladiators: Mohammad Amir, Faheem Ashraf, Abrar Ahmed

The PCB is expected to officially announce the final list of Pakistani Platinum-category players on Wednesday.

Foreign Players’ Retention

Meanwhile, the retention categories for foreign players will be finalized after the completion of auction registration.

According to PSL regulations, the retention category for overseas players who featured in the previous season will be determined based on their base price during registration. However, franchises and players may mutually agree on retention categories for PSL 11.

Under the rules, each of the six PSL franchises will be allowed to retain one player in each of the four categories.

Nipah virus cases emerge in India ahead of ICC T20 World Cup

January 27, 2026 by Pakistan Desk

MUMBAI: As the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup approaches, reports of Nipah virus cases have emerged in India, raising health concerns just weeks before the event. The tournament is scheduled to be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8.

According to Indian media, at least five Nipah virus cases have been reported in West Bengal, prompting authorities to place approximately 100 individuals under quarantine as part of emergency medical measures.

The infected individuals include healthcare personnel, with two nurses from Kolkata reportedly in serious condition.

The outbreak comes at a time when international teams and large numbers of cricket fans are expected to arrive in India for the T20 World Cup.

Nipah virus is a highly dangerous zoonotic disease transmitted primarily by fruit bats. It can also spread through contaminated food and close contact with infected individuals. The virus is considered deadly, with reported fatality rates reaching up to 75 percent in some cases.

India’s Kerala state has previously reported dozens of deaths due to Nipah virus since 2018. The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified Nipah virus as a “Priority Pathogen” due to its potential to cause a global outbreak.

Authorities are monitoring the situation closely and have urged caution as the World Cup draws near.

Sharma’s 14-ball fifty steals spotlight, Yuvraj Singh’s comment goes viral

January 26, 2026 by Pakistan Desk

GUWAHATI: India opener Abhishek Sharma stunned cricket fans with a blistering 14-ball fifty as India defeated New Zealand by 8 wickets in the third T20I, taking a 3-0 lead in the five-match series.

Chasing a target of 154, India reached it in just 10 overs, losing only two wickets. Sharma remained not out on 68 off 20 balls, powering the chase with his explosive batting.

Earlier, New Zealand posted 153 for 9, with Glenn Phillips top-scoring with 48 runs. Jasprit Bumrah was the pick of the Indian bowlers, claiming 3 wickets for 17 runs, and was later named Player of the Match.

The rapid fifty by Sharma also caught the attention of former Indian star Yuvraj Singh, who humorously posted on social media with a smiling emoji: “Still can’t make 50 in 12 balls, can you? Well played, keep it up.”

Still can’t get a 50 off 12 balls, can you? 🤪 Well played – keep going strong! 💪🏻 @OfficialAbhi04 #IndVSNz pic.twitter.com/6MQe1p6sx4
— Yuvraj Singh (@YUVSTRONG12) January 25, 2026

India’s dominant performance in Guwahati highlighted the team’s aggressive approach, with Sharma’s innings being the standout.

Pakistan’s T20 World Cup participation decision expected on Friday or Monday

January 26, 2026 by Pakistan Desk

ISLAMABAD: The final decision regarding Pakistan’s participation in the ICC T20 World Cup is expected to be announced by Friday or next Monday, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi confirmed.

Naqvi met with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to discuss the matter, during which all available options were considered. The Prime Minister directed Naqvi to resolve the issue while taking all aspects into account.

Speaking on social media platform X, Naqvi said he briefed the Prime Minister on the current ICC situation, and that the decision on Pakistan’s participation would be made after careful consideration.

Sources revealed that during the meeting, Naqvi highlighted the ICC’s double standards, stating that the organization applies one set of rules for India and another for other countries.

He recalled that India had previously refused to play in Pakistan during the Champions Trophy, after which a neutral venue was provided.

Naqvi also noted that Bangladesh had informed the ICC of security concerns, declining to tour India, but was instead excluded from the World Cup rather than being offered an alternative venue.

The PCB chairman further stated that if Pakistan decides not to participate, it would forfeit the significant participation revenue, but refusing to play against India would inflict greater losses on India.

Scotland replaces Bangladesh in T20 World Cup 2026

January 24, 2026 by Pakistan Desk

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has decided to include Scotland in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, replacing Bangladesh, following the latter’s refusal to play matches in India.

According to Indian media reports, the decision was taken after Bangladesh declined to tour India for the tournament. The ICC had earlier granted the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) a 24-hour deadline to resolve the issue, but the matter remained unsettled within the given timeframe.

Sources revealed that the ICC Chief Executive informed the ICC Board in writing on Saturday morning that Bangladesh’s demands were not in line with ICC policies.

The letter stated that Bangladesh failed to comply with the ICC Board’s decision, prompting the council to take final action.

The same communication was also sent to BCB President Aminul Islam, who is a member of the ICC Board.

Meanwhile, the ICC has formally extended an invitation to Cricket Scotland to participate in the tournament. However, no immediate response has been issued by Cricket Scotland’s Chief Executive.

Sources said Scotland was selected based on its strong performances in previous ICC events and its current ICC men’s T20I ranking of 14th.

In the 2024 T20 World Cup, Scotland finished third in Group B, while in the 2021 edition, the Scottish side stunned the cricketing world by defeating Bangladesh — a result still remembered as one of the tournament’s biggest upsets.

Grand Slam milestone: Djokovic becomes first player to 400 wins

January 24, 2026 by Pakistan Desk

MELBOURNE: Serbian tennis superstar Novak Djokovic has etched his name in history by becoming the first player ever to win 400 matches in Grand Slam tournaments.

Djokovic achieved this milestone at the 2026 Australian Open, defeating his Dutch opponent 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) on Saturday to reach the Round of 16.

With this victory, Djokovic surpassed previous records, with Roger Federer holding 369 Grand Slam match wins and Rafael Nadal securing 314 wins in these major tournaments.

After the match, Djokovic said, “I feel really great. It’s a fantastic start, but things can change and I’m not overconfident because I learned a lesson last year. I’m still trying to give the young players a tough challenge.”

This landmark achievement cements Djokovic’s legacy as one of tennis’ greatest and most consistent performers in history.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino announces upcoming visit to Pakistan

January 23, 2026 by Pakistan Desk

DAVOS: FIFA President Gianni Infantino has announced plans to visit Pakistan in the near future to promote and strengthen the development of football in the country.

In an interview in Davos, Infantino said he had given a commitment to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and is now preparing to make the visit.

He praised the newly appointed leadership of the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF), describing Pakistan as a “great football country” with significant potential.

Expressing optimism about the future of the sport, the FIFA chief said he hopes Pakistan will emerge as one of Asia’s leading football nations. He added that FIFA is actively working to support Pakistan in achieving this objective through institutional reforms and development initiatives.

Relations between FIFA and Pakistan have improved steadily in recent years. Last month, Pakistani lawmaker Syeda Amna Batool was appointed to FIFA’s Institutional Reforms Committee, marking a significant step in strengthening cooperation.

Earlier, FIFA Senior Vice President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa visited Pakistan in November 2025.

During his three-day visit, he held meetings with football officials and government representatives to discuss the expansion of football infrastructure and governance reforms.

Football has long enjoyed popularity among Pakistani youth, with increasing interest at national and international levels.

Local tournaments, school competitions, and community clubs across major cities have further fueled enthusiasm for the sport.

Despite this growth, football continues to operate under the long-standing dominance of cricket, which remains Pakistan’s most popular and commercially successful sport. However, recent developments signal renewed hope for football’s revival in the country.

Investment scam costs Pakistani cricketers millions

January 23, 2026 by Pakistan Desk

Karachi: Several current and former national-level cricketers have reportedly lost millions of rupees after falling victim to an alleged investment fraud, sources revealed.

According to sources, both former and serving Pakistani cricketers were affected by the scam. However, none of the players has so far filed an official complaint with any platform, nor have they approached the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for intervention.

Sources said the cricketers invested money with a businessman after being influenced by a former national team captain, while some players made direct investments independently. The list of affected individuals reportedly includes former as well as current captains of the national team.

It was further disclosed that the players handed over huge sums running into crores of rupees in pursuit of unusually high returns.

Initially, investors received exceptionally high profits, which increased their confidence. However, the businessman later disappeared, raising serious concerns.

Sources added that the cricketers made repeated efforts over several weeks to recover their money, and while some managed to receive partial repayments, most remain unpaid.

A well-known players’ agent is also among those who allegedly suffered financial losses. The accused individual is reportedly residing in the United States and had close personal ties with several Pakistani cricketers.

According to the players, the businessman’s phone has been switched off, and no profit payments have been received for the past two months.

The affected cricketers are now seeking recovery of their original investment, but all attempts to contact the individual have so far failed.

Sources say the situation has caused deep concern among the players, though no formal legal action has yet been initiated.