Pakistan Sports News & Cricket Updates

500 million fans apply for FIFA World Cup 2026 tickets

January 15, 2026 by Pakistan Desk

The upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026 has shattered all ticket demand records, with football fans around the globe submitting over 500 million requests for match tickets.

The football World Cup is one of the few major global sporting events where attending a match is a dream for passionate fans. The excitement for the 2026 edition—co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada—has reached unprecedented levels. Ticket applications were received between Thursday, December 11, 2025, and Tuesday, January 13, 2026.

During the random selection draw phase, more than half a billion requests were submitted from fans across all 211 FIFA member associations, setting a new benchmark in ticket demand for sports events.

Fans will be informed via email by February 5 whether their ticket requests have been successful. The host countries—USA, Mexico, and Canada—are among the top applicants, with significant demand also coming from Germany, England, Brazil, Spain, Portugal, Argentina, and Colombia.

Over the 33-day application window, an average of 15 million ticket requests were submitted daily, highlighting the massive global interest in the first-ever 48-team FIFA World Cup.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino thanked fans worldwide for this overwhelming response, noting that demand exceeded expectations.

Interestingly, the most popular match during this sales phase was scheduled for Saturday, June 27, in Miami, between Colombia and Portugal. Other top-requested games include Mexico vs. South Korea on Thursday, June 18, in Guadalajara, and the final on Sunday, July 19, in New York.

Bangladesh Premier League match postponed as players stage boycott

January 15, 2026 by Pakistan Desk

DHAKA: Today’s Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) match between Chattogram Royals and Noakhali Express in Mirpur, Dhaka, was called off after players staged a boycott, failing to appear at the venue for the toss.

The boycott comes in response to a statement by Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) Director Nazmul Islam, which prompted players to threaten a halt to all cricketing activities.

Following the statement, Bangladeshi cricketers announced they would boycott matches across all formats unless Nazmul Islam resigned from his position. The players’ action has disrupted today’s fixture and raised concerns over the smooth conduct of the ongoing BPL tournament.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board has yet to issue a detailed response regarding the players’ demands and the rescheduling of the postponed match.

On the other hand, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has removed Director Nazmul Islam from his position following controversial remarks that led to a player boycott of cricket activities, including today’s Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) match.

Nazmul Islam, who served as Chairman of the BCB Finance Committee, had made statements criticizing the Board’s participation in the ICC World Cup, claiming that the Board gained little financially while players would lose match fees if Bangladesh skipped tournaments. His remarks sparked outrage among cricketers, who subsequently threatened to boycott all formats of cricket until his resignation.

In an official statement, the BCB said that after reviewing the recent developments, the Board’s President decided to release Nazmul Islam in the best interest of the sport. The decision was made in accordance with the BCB constitution, and the Finance Committee will now be chaired temporarily by the BCB President.

The Board expressed confidence that Bangladeshi cricketers will continue to play professionally and with dedication, ensuring the smooth conduct of the BPL and other cricketing activities.

Earlier, the player boycott had forced the postponement of today’s BPL match between Chattogram Royals and Noakhali Express, highlighting the urgency of resolving the crisis.

ICC releases latest player rankings: Pakistani cricketers show mixed results

January 14, 2026 by Pakistan Desk

DUBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has released its latest player rankings for Test, ODI, and T20 formats, showing a mix of progress and setbacks for Pakistani cricketers.

In the T20 batting rankings, Pakistan’s Sahibzada Farhan climbed one spot to reach 5th position, while national team captain Salman Ali Agha made a significant jump of 13 places, moving up to 41st.

Among T20 bowlers, Salman Mirza advanced 16 places to secure 19th position, whereas Abrar Ahmed slipped one spot to 5th.

In the T20 all-rounders list, Saim Ayub dropped from first to second place, while Mohammad Nawaz retained his 5th position.

In the ODI bowling rankings, Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan remains at number one, with Pakistan’s Abrar Ahmed holding steady at 9th. For Test batsmen, England’s Joe Root continues to top the charts.

Babar Azam retains his 6th position in the ODI batting rankings, while former Indian captain Virat Kohli has reclaimed the top spot.

The updated rankings highlight the strengths and areas for improvement among Pakistani cricketers ahead of upcoming international fixtures.

PCB announces Pakistan-Australia T20 series

January 14, 2026 by Pakistan Desk

LAHORE The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced the schedule for a three-match T20 series against Australia ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

The series will take place at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, with the first T20 scheduled for January 29, the second on January 31, and the third on February 1. The Australian T20 squad is set to arrive in Lahore on Wednesday, January 28.

PCB announces dates for three-match Australia T20I series

Details here ➡️ https://t.co/eW0l4OnaKK #PAKvAUS | #BackTheBoysInGreen
— PCB Media (@TheRealPCBMedia) January 14, 2026

The PCB described the series as a key preparation opportunity for both teams before the T20 World Cup, which begins on February 7 in India, where Pakistan will play all its matches in Sri Lanka.

This home series is expected to provide crucial match practice and help both teams fine-tune strategies ahead of the global tournament.

Salman Ali Agha creates new milestone in T20 cricket

January 13, 2026 by Pakistan Desk

KARACHI: The third T20I between Pakistan and Sri Lanka proved disappointing for the national side in terms of result, but Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha’s sensational and aggressive batting display won the hearts of cricket fans.

Played in Dambulla, the match saw Salman Ali Agha produce an extraordinary innings, scoring 45 runs off just 12 deliveries, an effort that included five fours and three towering sixes. His blistering knock came at a staggering strike rate of 375.0.

This performance set a new world record in T20 International cricket, marking the highest strike rate ever achieved by a captain (minimum 10 balls faced) against a full-member team.

Previously, the record belonged to Kieron Pollard, who scored 38 runs off 11 balls at a strike rate of 345.5 against Sri Lanka in 2021. Salman Ali Agha has now surpassed that milestone with his breathtaking innings.

Notably, the elite list of fastest T20I innings by captains also features renowned batters such as Quinton de Kock, Rohit Sharma, and Darren Sammy, but Salman Ali Agha’s explosive knock has propelled him to the top.

Although Pakistan failed to secure victory in the match, the captain’s historic batting effort is expected to be remembered for a long time and is being seen as a positive sign for the team’s future.

BBL: Haris Rauf takes stunning catch to dismiss Alex Carey

January 13, 2026 by Pakistan Desk

In the 34th match of the Big Bash League (BBL), Pakistani fast bowler Haris Rauf grabbed a spectacular catch to dismiss Alex Carey.

Adelaide Strikers were bowled out for 83 runs, and Melbourne Stars chased down the target of 84 runs in 15.1 overs for the loss of four wickets. Tom Curran was named Player of the Match for taking four wickets while conceding just 10 runs.

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Rauf’s highlight came when he dived to catch Alex Carey off Curran’s delivery for just 3 runs, ending the Strikers’ opener’s innings. The catch has since gone viral, showcasing Rauf’s athleticism and sharp fielding skills.

In the match, Haris Rauf bowled 4 overs, conceding 20 runs without taking a wicket, but he continues to lead the league with 15 wickets.

Meanwhile, another Pakistani pacer, Hassan Ali, representing Adelaide Strikers, bowled 4 overs for 21 runs and picked up one wicket.

This victory strengthened Melbourne Stars’ position in the BBL standings, while Adelaide Strikers struggled to post competitive totals.

BBL: Mohammad Rizwan retired by captain over slow scoring

January 12, 2026 by Pakistan Desk

Sydney: In an unusual incident during the Big Bash League (BBL), Melbourne Renegades captain Will Sutherland retired Pakistan wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan during his innings, apparently due to slow scoring.

The incident occurred on Monday in the 33rd match of the 15th edition of the BBL, when Melbourne Renegades faced Sydney Thunder. Rizwan had scored 26 runs off 23 balls when the captain signaled him to leave the field.

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A video shared by the BBL on social media shows Sutherland gesturing Rizwan back to the pavilion so that he himself could take the crease.

Commentators on the broadcast praised the decision, saying it could have been done a little earlier. The video quickly went viral, sparking strong reactions from cricket fans, many of whom called the forced retirement “embarrassing.”

Rizwan has struggled with the bat during the ongoing BBL season. In eight matches so far, he has scored 167 runs at an average of 20.88 and has yet to hit a half-century.

In the match, Melbourne Renegades posted 170 runs for the loss of eight wickets in their allotted 20 overs.

Pakistan to finalize squad for Australia, World Cup

January 12, 2026 by Pakistan Desk

Karachi: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is set to hold final consultations on the national squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup and the three-match home series against Australia later this week.

Sources said head coach Mike Hesson will return to Lahore after completing the Sri Lanka tour. Members of the national T20 squad are arriving back in Pakistan today following the series in Sri Lanka. Hesson and captain Salman Ali Agha will meet with selectors to finalize the squad.

Once consultations are complete, the PCB Chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, will approve the official squad announcement. The PCB has already submitted the preliminary names for the T20 World Cup to the ICC. Changes to the list can still be made before January 31 with ICC approval.

Probable Players:

The likely squad is expected to include captain Salman Ali Agha, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Shadab Khan, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Nawaz, Usman Khan, and Abrar Ahmed.

Other potential inclusions are Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Salman Mirza, and Khawaja Nafi. Reserve players may include Abdul Samad, Mohammad Wasim Junior, and Usman Tariq.

Hasan Nawaz’s brilliant performance seals victory on final ball

January 10, 2026 by Pakistan Desk

Sylhet: In the 19th match of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2025–26, Chattogram Royals defeated Rajshahi Warriors by two wickets in a nail-biting finish, thanks to a composed innings by Hasan Nawaz.

The match was played, where Rajshahi Warriors, batting first, struggled against disciplined bowling and were restricted to 128 for 9 in their allotted 20 overs. The Royals’ bowlers applied pressure from the outset, never allowing the Warriors’ batting lineup to settle.

No Rajshahi batter managed to cross the 20-run mark. Mohammad Wasim was the top scorer with 19 runs off 14 balls, including one four and two sixes.

For Chattogram Royals, Aamer Jamal delivered an impressive bowling spell, picking up 3 wickets for 23 runs in his four overs. Tanvir Islam and Shariful Islam claimed two wickets each, while Mehdi Hasan and Hasan Nawaz took one wicket apiece.

Chasing the modest target, the Royals reached the finish line on the final ball of the match, scoring 129 for 8 to seal a dramatic victory. Hasan Nawaz anchored the chase with an unbeaten 35 off 36 deliveries, playing a crucial role under pressure.

Captain Mehdi Hasan contributed 28 runs off 25 balls, including three fours and a six, while Asif Ali added 27 runs from 25 balls, featuring three boundaries and one six.

For Rajshahi Warriors, Fernando was the standout bowler, claiming 3 wickets for 18 runs in his four overs, but his efforts were not enough to prevent a narrow defeat.

The win strengthens Chattogram Royals’ position in the tournament, while Rajshahi Warriors were left to rue missed opportunities in a closely contested match.

FIFA and TikTok partner to deliver unique digital experience for World Cup

January 9, 2026 by Pakistan Desk

Zurich: The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) and TikTok have signed a first-of-its-kind “Preferred Platform” agreement to expand coverage of the FIFA World Cup 2026 and offer football fans a unique digital experience worldwide.

The partnership is designed to make football’s biggest event more accessible to millions of fans through innovative digital engagement. Under the agreement, TikTok becomes FIFA’s first official preferred platform, providing fans with exclusive behind-the-scenes footage and digital content.

A dedicated “FIFA World Cup 2026 Hub” will be launched on TikTok, featuring match ticket information, viewing details, and interactive gaming features. Broadcasters and official media partners will be able to live stream content, post match clips, and generate revenue through advertising on the platform.

To safeguard FIFA’s intellectual property, TikTok will implement strict anti-piracy measures. For the first time, FIFA and TikTok will also launch a comprehensive Creator Program, granting selected TikTok creators from around the world direct access to press conferences and training sessions to deliver immersive World Cup content to their followers.

FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström said the goal is to bring the excitement of the 2026 World Cup closer to fans than ever, emphasizing TikTok as the ideal platform for this mission.

TikTok’s Global Head of Content, James Stafford, highlighted the platform’s growing football audience, noting that 42 percent of sports content viewers on TikTok show increased interest in live matches. He added that the company aims to engage younger audiences and women in particular.

The agreement builds on the success of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, whose videos on TikTok garnered billions of views. The collaboration has now been significantly expanded for the 2026 World Cup, featuring 48 teams, with the aim of taking the tournament to new digital heights.