Sports Archives - Page 33 of 35

PCB summons emergency meeting after PSL franchises’ request

November 4, 2025 by Newsdesk

LAHORE: A key meeting between the Pakistan Super League (PSL) management and franchise owners has been scheduled for Tuesday, following a request made by the team owners during their recent discussions with the league administration, sources confirmed.

According to reliable sources, franchise representatives had raised several concerns regarding the PSL 2026 and 2027 editions, prompting the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to convene the session. The meeting will be held at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) and attended by all six franchises, including Multan Sultans.

Franchise owners have sought detailed briefings on commercial affairs, the event window, and the EY (Ernst & Young) evaluation report, sources added. They have also demanded clarification regarding the two-year title sponsorship agreement process, which will be discussed during the session.

PCB officials are expected to present their stance on these matters and share the league’s roadmap for the next phase.

The PCB has already decided to add two new teams to the PSL, expanding the league from six to eight franchises. As the tournament marks its 10-year milestone, new franchise agreements are expected to be finalized later this month.

PSL CEO Salman Naseer said that the league’s matches will soon extend beyond the current venues — Lahore, Karachi, Multan, and Rawalpindi — to include Faisalabad and Peshawar.

He further revealed that tenders for the new franchises will be issued in November, and interested parties will be able to choose from a list of proposed city names for their teams.

Kenya’s Kipruto wins thrilling New York Marathon in photo finish

November 3, 2025 by Newsdesk

NEW YORK: Kenya’s Albert Kipruto clinched a nail-biting victory at the New York Marathon, edging out fellow Kenyan Alexander Mutiso by just one second in a dramatic photo finish.

Kipruto crossed the finish line in 2 hours, 8 minutes, and 9 seconds, while Mutiso finished just behind him in 2:08:10, making it one of the closest finishes in recent marathon history.

In the women’s category, Kenya’s Hellen Obiri delivered an exceptional performance, winning the race with a record time of 2 hours, 19 minutes, and 51 seconds.

More than 50,000 runners participated in the 42-kilometer event, including over 20 Pakistani athletes. Among them, Sarah Tahoor made Pakistan proud by completing the marathon in 3 hours and 34 minutes, earning the prestigious Six Star Finisher title.

Pakistan, South Africa set to clash in second T20 in Lahore today

October 31, 2025 by Newsdesk

LAHORE: The second match of the three-match T20 series between Pakistan and South Africa will be played today at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.

All tickets for the match have been sold out, and both teams held intensive practice sessions at the venue, focusing on fielding, batting, and bowling drills ahead of the crucial encounter.

The visiting side leads the series 1–0, having defeated Pakistan by 55 runs in the opening T20 match.

So far, the two teams have faced each other 25 times in T20 internationals, with South Africa winning 13 matches and Pakistan 12.

Young Australian cricketer dies after being struck on neck

October 30, 2025 by Newsdesk

MELBOURNE: A 17-year-old Australian cricketer, Ben Austin, has tragically passed away after being struck on the neck by a ball during a practice session in Melbourne East earlier this week.

According to Australian media reports, the young player sustained a serious injury after the ball hit his neck. He was immediately rushed to the hospital, where doctors later confirmed his death.

Cricket Victoria stated that the incident occurred when a ball from a throwing device struck Ben on the neck. Although he was wearing a helmet, it did not include a stem guard, a protective extension designed to cover the back of the neck.

Nick Cummins, Head of Cricket Victoria, said the incident was reminiscent of the tragic accident that claimed the life of Phillip Hughes 11 years ago.

Cricket Australia, the club management, and Ben Austin’s family have all expressed deep sorrow and condolences over the young cricketer’s death.

Indian Minister blames Australian cricketers for harassment incident

October 27, 2025 by Newsdesk

Indore: In a shocking statement, Madhya Pradesh’s Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Kailash Vijayvargiya, has blamed two Australian women cricketers for the recent sexual harassment incident in Indore, suggesting that the players themselves were at fault.

The controversy erupted two days ago when a man riding a motorcycle allegedly touched one of the visiting Australian cricketers inappropriately while she was walking from her hotel to a café. The accused fled the scene but was later arrested by local police.

However, instead of condemning the act, BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya said the Australian players were partly responsible for the incident. “It was their mistake to go out without informing anyone. This incident will serve as a lesson for them to be more cautious in the future,” he stated.

The minister further admitted that the episode reflected a “security failure” but maintained that the players should have been more careful.

His remarks have sparked outrage across India, with the opposition Congress party calling the comments “disgraceful and reflective of BJP’s mentality.”
Congress leader Arun Yadav said, “The entire nation is ashamed of what happened. Instead of protecting women, BJP leaders are blaming the victims — this exposes their regressive mindset.”

The incident has once again reignited debate in India over women’s safety and the repeated tendency of public figures to engage in victim-blaming rather than demanding accountability.

Pat Cummins misses Ashes opener due to fitness issues

October 27, 2025 by Newsdesk

Melbourne: Australia suffered a major setback ahead of the Ashes series against England as captain Pat Cummins has been ruled out of the first Test.

According to Cricket Australia, Cummins will not regain full fitness in time for the opening Test of the five-match Ashes series. Steve Smith will lead the side in his absence.

The board stated that Cummins has resumed running and is expected to begin bowling soon.

The first Ashes Test is scheduled to be played in Perth from November 21.

Shan Masood named PCB consultant for players’ affairs

October 25, 2025 by Newsdesk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Test team captain Shan Masood has been given an additional key role within the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

According to an official statement, the PCB has appointed Shan Masood as Consultant for International Cricketers and Players’ Affairs.

The announcement was made during a dinner hosted in Islamabad by PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi for the Pakistan and South Africa teams, which was also attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

During the event, Chairman Mohsin Naqvi formally announced Shan Masood’s new assignment, acknowledging his leadership and international cricketing experience.

Dinner turns to drama as rat startles Australian cricketers in Indian hotel

October 24, 2025 by Newsdesk

VISAKHAPATNAM: Members of the Australian women’s cricket team had quite an unexpected moment during dinner at their hotel in Visakhapatnam, where they are staying for the Women’s Cricket World Cup.

According to Indian media reports, the incident occurred when the players spotted a rat running across the dining area. The startled cricketers began shouting and jumped onto their chairs to avoid it.

Hotel staff rushed to the scene and tried to catch the rodent, but it darted around the room, causing further chaos before eventually escaping.

The unusual incident quickly went viral on social media, with fans reacting humorously to the Australian players’ startled response.

Cricket Australia has shared a video capturing the light-hearted chaos that unfolded when members of the Australian women’s cricket team encountered a rat during dinner at their hotel in India.

In the video, the players recount that they had just finished their meal and were about to leave when a rat suddenly appeared. “Everyone said it’s gone — but then it came back out, and that’s when we all screamed,” one player recalled, laughing.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Aussie Women’s Cricket Team (@auswomencricket)

The incident, which occurred at a hotel in Visakhapatnam, has raised questions about the cleanliness and hygiene standards of the hotel’s management, particularly as it accommodates international athletes participating in the Women’s Cricket World Cup.

Multan Sultans’ owner Ali Tareen tears up PCB’s legal notice

October 24, 2025 by Newsdesk

MULTAN: Multan Sultans owner Ali Tareen has torn up a legal notice sent to him by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), declaring that he refuses to be intimidated.

In a video message posted on social media, Tareen revealed that the Pakistan Super League (PSL) management had issued him a legal notice demanding that he withdraw his critical remarks and issue an apology. The notice also warned of the termination of his franchise agreement and the possibility of being blacklisted.

The PSL Management has sent me a notice threatening to cancel Multan Sultans unless I offer them a public apology. Hazir Saeen. pic.twitter.com/yHWCcClXaD
— Ali Khan Tareen (@aliktareen) October 23, 2025

Tareen stated firmly that he would not remain silent in the face of such threats. “If you think I will be silenced by intimidation, you are mistaken,” he said.

Expressing his deep affection for the PSL, Tareen said, “I love this league — it belongs to the entire nation.” He added that he was willing to sit down and resolve the issues but lamented that the PCB had not made any attempt to contact him. “No one has made a single call or sent an email to understand my concerns,” he remarked.

In his latest video message, Tareen offered what appeared to be a tongue-in-cheek apology, saying, “I apologize for demanding that competent people be included in the PSL management. I also apologize for criticizing the draft process, training facilities, and the opening ceremony.”

The PCB had earlier issued a legal notice to the Multan Sultans franchise, accusing it of violating contractual clauses and running a campaign that damaged the reputation of the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

According to sources, the notice was served for breaches of the 10-year franchise agreement. If the franchise fails to provide a satisfactory response, the PCB may terminate the contract and blacklist the franchise owners.

Poor Captaincy: South Africa defeat Pakistan by 8 wickets

October 23, 2025 by Newsdesk

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan’s fragile batting lineup faltered on the fourth day of the Rawalpindi Test, setting South Africa a modest target of just 68 runs — which the visitors comfortably chased down with eight wickets to spare.

Resuming their second innings with a deficit of 71 runs, Pakistan struggled from the outset as wickets fell rapidly in the morning session. Babar Azam top-scored with 50 before being dismissed, while Mohammad Rizwan managed 18 runs.

Salman Ali Agha contributed 28, and Sajid Khan added 13, but the rest of the batting order failed to offer resistance. Nauman Ali and Shaheen Afridi were dismissed without scoring, while Asif Afridi remained unbeaten on zero.

For South Africa, Simon Harmer delivered a stellar performance, taking six wickets, while Keshav Maharaj claimed two and Kagiso Rabada picked up one.

Chasing 68 for victory, South Africa reached the target at the loss of just two wickets. Aiden Markram scored a solid 42, Tristan Stubbs was dismissed for a duck, and Ryan Rickelton remained unbeaten on 25.

Earlier, Pakistan had posted 333 runs in their first innings, while South Africa responded with 404, gaining a crucial first-innings lead that ultimately proved decisive.

Pakistan captain Shan Masood came under scrutiny following Pakistan’s defeat in the second Test against South Africa, as tactical errors and questionable decisions contributed to the team’s disappointing performance.

Cricket analysts and former players criticized Masood’s field placements, bowling changes, and lack of proactive strategy during crucial moments of the match. Despite having a balanced bowling attack, Pakistan failed to maintain pressure on the South African batters, allowing them to take control of the game.

Masood’s captaincy was also questioned for his inability to inspire the batting lineup, which collapsed twice under pressure. His decision to persist with defensive tactics, even when South Africa appeared vulnerable, drew particular criticism from experts.

The defeat has raised serious concerns about Pakistan’s leadership direction in the longer format, especially as the team continues to struggle with consistency and temperament in home conditions.