Sports Archives - Page 19 of 35

ICC names Afridi among iconic performances in T20 World Cup history

January 30, 2026 by Newsdesk

LAHORE: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has released its list of iconic performances in the history of T20 World Cups, featuring former Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi among the legends of the tournament.

According to the ICC, Afridi’s outstanding all-round display in the 2009 T20 World Cup has been declared iconic.

During the semi-final, Afridi scored 51 runs and took two crucial wickets, guiding Pakistan into the final. He then played a match-winning knock of 54 runs off 40 balls in the final, helping Pakistan clinch the title.

As per the list, Yuvraj Singh’s six sixes in an over during the inaugural 2007 T20 World Cup were also termed an iconic moment in cricket history.

The ICC further included Mike Hussey’s explosive 60 off 24 balls against Pakistan in the 2010 T20 World Cup among the memorable performances.

From the 2012 edition, West Indies spinner Sunil Narine’s figures of three wickets for just nine runs earned a place on the iconic list, while Rangana Herath’s five-wicket haul in the semi-final of the 2014 T20 World Cup was also recognized.

The list also highlights Carlos Brathwaite’s four consecutive sixes in the final of the 2016 T20 World Cup, Mitchell Marsh’s 77-run innings in the 2021 World Cup final, and Ben Stokes’ match-winning 52 runs against Pakistan in the 2022 T20 World Cup.

In the most recent 2024 T20 World Cup, Virat Kohli’s brilliant 76-run innings has also been officially added by the ICC to the list of iconic performances.

Ali Tareen looks to regain ownership of Multan Sultans

January 30, 2026 by Newsdesk

LAHORE: Former owner of the Multan Sultans, Ali Tareen, is reportedly keen to buy back the Pakistan Super League(PSL) team.

Sources indicate that Ali Tareen has decided to participate in the bidding process for the Multan franchise and has submitted the necessary documents for consideration.

Earlier, Tareen had declined to retain ownership of Multan SultanS and had also expressed interest in bidding for two new PSL teams, though he withdrew at the last moment.

Commenting on his withdrawal from the new team bids, Tareen had stated that if he returns to PSL, it would be for Southern Punjab.

The auction for the Multan franchise is expected to take place on 8th or 9th February.

Two-Year-Old snooker prodigy sets two Guinness World Records

January 29, 2026 by Newsdesk

United Kingdom: While snooker often challenges even the most experienced players, two-year-old Jodie Owens has stunned the world by setting two Guinness World Records in the game.

Snooker, one of the world’s most popular cue sports, requires precision and technique to pocket balls using a cue stick. Even seasoned players often miss shots that seem straightforward.

However, Jodie Owens from Manchester accomplished remarkable feats at an exceptionally young age.

According to international media, Owens completed a double pot on August 2025 at just 2 years and 261 days old. Less than two months later, on October 12, 2025, at 2 years and 302 days, Owens successfully executed the extremely difficult “pool bank shot”, astonishing fans and snooker enthusiasts alike.

Following these achievements, Jodie Owens was recognized as the youngest player to complete complex snooker shots and was officially listed in the Guinness World Records.

Pakistan beats Australia in first T20 to go 1-0 up in series

January 29, 2026 by Newsdesk

LAHORE: Pakistan defeated Australia by 22 runs in the first match of the three-match T20 series, taking a 1-0 lead. The match was played at Gaddafi Stadium, where Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha won the toss and elected to bat first.

Pakistan posted 168 runs for the loss of 8 wickets in their 20 overs. Saim Ayub was the standout batter with 40 runs, supported by Salman Ali Agha’s 39 and contributions from Babar Azam (24), Fakhar Zaman (10), and Usman Khan (18). Mohammad Nawaz remained 15 not out.

Pakistan’s start was shaky as Sahbazada Farhan was dismissed for 0 on the very first ball. However, Saem Ayub and Salman Ali Agha stabilized the innings with responsible batting and attractive stroke play.

Adam Zampa was Australia’s most successful bowler, taking 4 wickets for 24 runs, while Barrett and Beardman took 2 wickets each.

Chasing 169 runs, Australia struggled to keep up with the required run rate and finished on 146 for 8 in 20 overs. Cameron Green (36) and Barrett (34) were the main contributors, while Pakistan bowlers Saim Ayub and Abrar Ahmed picked 2 wickets each, and Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz took one wicket each.

With this win, Pakistan takes a 1-0 lead in the three-match T20 series.

Three Australian players made their T20 debuts: Mahli Beardman, Jack Edwards, and Matthew Renshaw.

This victory gives the Green Shirts a strong start in the series, putting pressure on Australia in the remaining two matches.

Sunil Gavaskar breaks silence on Pakistan–India group draw

January 28, 2026 by Newsdesk

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 Newsdesk

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 Newsdesk

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 Newsdesk

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 Newsdesk

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 Newsdesk

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.