KARACHI: Fast bowler Haris Rauf will not be part of Pakistan’s 15-member squad for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup.
Sources indicate that national team coach Mike Hesson has not been in favor of including Haris in the squad since the Asia Cup final.
Following the Asia Cup, Rauf has not featured in any T20 matches for Pakistan.
Currently, Haris Rauf is participating in the Big Bash League in Australia.
DHAKA: The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has reaffirmed its decision not to send its team to India for the upcoming T20 World Cup, citing security concerns and government instructions. The BCB issued a statement following a meeting with an ICC delegation in Dhaka.
During the discussions, the BCB reiterated its formal request to move Bangladesh’s matches to a neutral venue, citing safety and logistical considerations.
The meeting was described as constructive, cordial, and professional, with both sides openly exchanging views on relevant issues.
The ICC delegation included Gururav Sixena, General Manager of Events and Corporate Communications, and Andrew Effergrove, General Manager of the Integrity Unit. Sixena participated online due to visa delays.
The BCB also highlighted recent incidents, including India’s behavior during the Under-19 World Cup, where the Indian captain refused to shake hands with the Bangladeshi captain, as part of the ongoing tensions influencing their stance.
Both the BCB and ICC agreed to continue negotiations on the matter, including the possibility of transferring Bangladesh to another group for logistical reasons.
HARARE: England defeated Pakistan by 37 runs in the ICC Men’s Under-19 World Cup match played in Harare.
Chasing a target of 211, Pakistan were bowled out for 173 runs in the 47th over. Captain Farhan Yousuf top-scored for Pakistan with a fighting 65 runs, while Momin Qamar remained unbeaten on 18.
Other Pakistani batters failed to build partnerships, with Huzifa Ahsan (17), Abdul Subhan (14), Ahmed Hussain (12), Sameer Minhas (10), Umar Zaib (10) and Muhammad Shayan (7) making modest contributions.
England’s bowling attack was led by James Minto, Alex Green, and Ralphie Albert, who claimed two wickets each, while Manny Lamsden and Farhan Ahmed picked up one wicket apiece.
Earlier, England were bowled out for 210 runs in 46.5 overs after Pakistan opted to field first. Caleb Falconer starred with 66 runs, supported by Ben Dawkins (33) and Ralphie Albert (25).
For Pakistan, Ahmed Hussain took three wickets, while Ali Raza, Momin Qamar, and Abdul Subhan grabbed two wickets each.
In other matches of the tournament, Australia defeated Ireland by eight wickets, while Afghanistan beat South Africa by 28 runs to make a winning start to their campaign.
Indian cricket star Virat Kohli’s lookalikes have often gone viral on social media, but this time the spotlight has shifted to an unexpectedly adorable figure — a young child whose striking resemblance to the batting icon has captured widespread attention.
Unlike previous instances featuring adult doppelgangers, this viral moment features an innocent child who fans have affectionately nicknamed “Chhota Cheeku.”
The heartwarming scene emerged ahead of India’s one-day international against New Zealand in Vadodara, where a photo of Kohli standing alongside the young fan quickly spread across social platforms.
The child was later identified as Gurvit Uttam, hailing from Panchkula, Haryana. In a recent interview, Gurvit shared details of his unforgettable encounter, revealing that Kohli smiled upon seeing him and lovingly called him “Chhota Cheeku.”
According to Gurvit, he was cheering loudly from the stands, chanting “Virat, Virat,” when Kohli noticed him and gestured that he would come over. Moments later, the cricket superstar fulfilled that promise, creating a magical memory for the young fan.
Gurvit further recalled that Kohli even called Indian captain Rohit Sharma over, jokingly saying, “Look, my duplicate is sitting here,” drawing laughter and delight from those present.
Virat Kohli is popularly known by his childhood nickname “Cheeku,” and fans were quick to appreciate the symbolic passing on of the title to his young lookalike. In a video shared on Instagram, Gurvit revealed that he also plays cricket, bats right-handed like Kohli, and considers the Indian great his biggest inspiration.
While Kohli’s lookalikes have surfaced many times before, ‘Chhota Cheeku’ has carved out a special place in fans’ hearts — not just for his resemblance, but for his innocence and a once-in-a-lifetime meeting with his hero.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
