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PSL 11: Multan Sultans seal easy win over Rawalpindi

PSL 11

LAHORE: Multan Sultans secured a convincing seven-wicket victory over Rawalpindi Pindiz in the 14th match of the Pakistan Super League.

Chasing a target of 183 runs, Multan Sultans comfortably reached the total in 16.2 overs, losing just three wickets.

Sahibzada Farhan played a match-winning knock of 68 runs off 38 balls, while Josh Philippe contributed 56 runs. Shan Masood scored 27, and captain Ashton Turner remained unbeaten on 26.

For Rawalpindi, Mohammad Amir picked up two wickets.

Earlier, Rawalpindi Pindi Boys posted 182 runs for the loss of eight wickets in their allotted overs. Sam Billings top-scored with 56 off 34 balls, while Kamran Ghulam added 35 runs.

Captain Mohammad Rizwan managed 19 runs, while Dane Forrester scored 24 and Daryl Mitchell made 17 before being dismissed by Faisal Akram.

Faisal Akram was the standout bowler for Multan Sultans, claiming four wickets. Arafat Minhas took two wickets, while Peter Siddle and Mohammad Ismail grabbed one wicket each.

Multan captain Ashton Turner had earlier won the toss and elected to field first, opting to retain the winning combination.

“Iran could be destroyed overnight,” Trump issues stark warning

“Iran could

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has taken a hardline stance against Iran, warning that the United States could “destroy Iran in a single night,” with such action possible at any time.

Speaking during an emergency press conference, Trump claimed that US forces recently carried out a bold operation inside Iran to safely extract an American pilot.

He described it as one of the most significant rescue missions in history, involving nearly 200 personnel.

According to Trump, US aircraft entered Iranian airspace in broad daylight and successfully completed the mission without any casualties. He added that the operation was conducted under his direct orders.

The US president reiterated that Iran must not possess nuclear weapons and said Washington is making progress toward its strategic objectives. He also indicated that US proposals remain key to any potential agreement with Tehran.

Following these remarks, concerns have risen over escalating tensions in the region, with analysts warning that the situation could take a dangerous turn at any moment.

Ronaldo nets brace on return as Al Nassr extend winning streak

Ronaldo nets brace

Cristiano Ronaldo marked his return from a month-long injury layoff in style, scoring twice in the second half as Al Nassr secured a 5-2 victory over bottom-placed Al Najma in the Saudi Pro League on Friday.

The Portuguese forward, sidelined since February, had missed Al Nassr’s previous two league matches and was also unavailable for Portugal national team friendlies against Mexico and the United States last month.

Al Najma stunned the hosts by taking the lead just before halftime, with Rakan Al Tulayhi finding the net. However, Al Nassr responded quickly as Abdullah Al Hamdan and Sadio Mane struck in first-half stoppage time to turn the game around.

The visitors equalized shortly after the break when Felippe Cardoso scored, but Al Nassr regained control when Ronaldo converted a penalty in the 56th minute.

Ronaldo, 41, added his second goal in the 73rd minute, while Mane sealed the victory with a stoppage-time strike.

The win marked Al Nassr’s 13th consecutive league triumph, keeping them at the top of the table with 70 points, six ahead of second-placed Al Hilal, who are set to face Al Taawoun on Saturday.

Trump issues ultimatum to Iran over Strait of Hormuz

Trump issues

Washington: US President Donald Trump has once again issued a stark warning to Iran, stating that the country has just 48 hours to reach a deal or reopen the Strait of Hormuz, warning that failure to act could trigger catastrophic consequences.

Trump posted on his social media platform, Truth Social, recalling that he had previously given Iran 10 days to negotiate an agreement or open the Strait.

He added that the 10-day period is now ending, leaving only 48 hours, and reiterated that if no deal is reached, Iran would face severe repercussions.

US Secretary of War Hegseth accused of blocking promotions officers

US Secretary of War

Washington: United States Secretary of War Pete Hegseth is facing serious allegations of blocking or delaying the promotions of more than a dozen women and Black senior military officers.

According to reports by a US broadcaster citing sources, concerns have been raised that the defense chief targeted certain officers based on race, gender, or perceived links to the Biden administration, affecting their advancement to the ranks of general or admiral.

A US official claimed that former Chief of Staff General Randy had sought a meeting with Hegseth before his removal to discuss the issue of halted promotions for women and Black officers, but the request was declined.

Another official alleged that no branch of the US military remained unaffected by Hegseth’s intervention.

However, the US Department of Defense has strongly rejected the claims, labeling the report as “fake news” based on anonymous sources and asserting that the allegations lack credibility.

Asim Khan qualifies for PSA World Championship 2026 after thrilling win

Asim Khan

KARACHI: Emerging Pakistani squash star Asim Khan has secured qualification for the PSA World Championship 2026 after an impressive performance in the Asian qualifying event.

According to the Pakistan Squash Federation, Asim Khan defeated Malaysia’s Joachim Chuah in a gripping final, winning 3-2 after an intense contest.

The five-game match lasted 82 minutes, with Asim Khan dominating early to take the first two games 11-3 and 13-11. However, his opponent staged a strong comeback, winning the next two games 11-9 and 11-3. In the decisive fifth game, Asim held his nerve to clinch victory 12-10.

With this win, Asim Khan has officially qualified for the PSA World Championship 2026, scheduled to be held from May 8 to 16 in Giza.

The prestigious tournament will feature top squash players from around the world, with a total prize pool of $700,000.

Islamabad United outclass Rawalpindi in one-sided PSL match

Islamabad United

LAHORE: Islamabad United secured a comfortable seven-wicket win over Rawalpindi in the Pakistan Super League (PSL 11) match played at Gaddafi Stadium.

After winning the toss, Islamabad United opted to field first, inviting Rawalpindi to bat. Rawalpindi posted 156 for 7 in their allotted 20 overs, with Kamran Ghulam scoring 50 and Dyan Forrester contributing 44 runs.

Other notable contributions came from Abdullah Fazal (23) and Daryl Mitchell (19), while Mohammad Rizwan managed just 2 runs.

For Islamabad United, Richard Gleeson, Faheem Ashraf, and Salman Irshad claimed two wickets each.

In reply, Islamabad United comfortably chased down the 157-run target in just 15 overs, losing only three wickets. Sameer Minhas led the charge with an impressive 70 off 36 balls, while Haider Ali (26) and Mark Chapman (24*) remained unbeaten. Devon Conway scored 6, and Mohammad Faiq added 19 runs.

The convincing victory highlights Islamabad United’s strong form in the tournament.

Younis Khan considered for key role in PCB

Younis Khan

Lahore: Former Pakistan captain Younis Khan is reportedly set to take on a significant role in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s cricketing structure.

Sources indicate that the legendary batsman has expressed his willingness to contribute to cricket development after being approached by the PCB. His name is also under consideration for the position of Director Domestic Cricket.

Following the precedent of Sarfraz Ahmed and Misbah-ul-Haq, the board is eager to leverage Younis Khan’s extensive experience to enhance cricket administration and performance.

Younis Khan, who amassed over 10,000 runs in 118 Test matches, also played 265 ODIs and 25 T20Is for Pakistan. He has previously served as the national team coach.

According to officials, PCB representatives contacted Younis Khan recently, and he has expressed availability for the role. A formal announcement is expected after final discussions and approval from PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi.

 US report claims Pakistan-led peace efforts between Iran and America stall

 US report claims

Islamabad/Washington: A recent report by The Washington Post claims that the latest round of Pakistan-led regional efforts to broker a ceasefire between Iran and the United States has come to a halt.

According to the report, Iran is unwilling to meet US officials in Islamabad in the coming days, formally stating that America’s demands are unacceptable.

Despite the setback, diplomatic sources indicate that Turkey and Egypt are still attempting to make progress. Alternative venues for negotiations, including Doha, Qatar, and Istanbul, Turkey, are under consideration, along with new proposals to break the current deadlock.

Earlier, US President Donald Trump claimed on social media that Iran had requested a ceasefire, which Iran subsequently denied. Sources familiar with the matter said Trump had suggested that the US might consider a ceasefire if Iran reopened the Strait of Hormuz.

According to mediators, Iran initially stated that it would only consider ending hostilities if the US agreed to pay reparations, withdraw military bases from the Middle East, and provide guarantees against future attacks.

Lahore Qalandars beats Multan Sultans by 20 runs

Lahore Qalandars

LAHORE: Lahore Qalandars secured a 20-run victory over Multan Sultans in a rain-affected match of the Pakistan Super League.

The match, played at Gaddafi Stadium, saw a delayed toss due to rain. After the delay, Multan Sultans won the toss and opted to field first. The game was reduced to 13 overs per side because of weather conditions.

Batting first, Lahore Qalandars posted a massive total of 185/5 in 13 overs. Muhammad Naeem led the charge with 60 runs, while Parvez Hossain contributed 45 runs. Abdullah Shafique added 33, and Sikandar Raza chipped in with 13 runs.

For Multan Sultans, Mohammad Ismail picked up two wickets.

In response to a target of 186, Multan Sultans managed 165/5 in their allotted 13 overs.

Captain Ashton Turner led the charge with 52 runs, while Shan Masood contributed 44. Arafat Minhas also added a valuable 25 runs.

For Lahore Qalandars, Mustafizur Rahman claimed two wickets to help seal the victory.