KARACHI: Pakistan’s star batter Babar Azam has set a new world record in T20 cricket by becoming the fastest player to score 12,000 T20 runs.
Representing Peshawar Zalmi in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), Babar achieved this milestone during a match against Karachi Kings. He reached 12,000 runs in just 338 innings, surpassing the previous record held by West Indies legend Chris Gayle, who had taken 345 innings.
For comparison, Indian stars Virat Kohli and David Warner achieved 12,000 T20 runs in 360 and 368 innings respectively.
Babar Azam is now the 12th player worldwide and the second Pakistani to reach this landmark, following former national cricketer Shoaib Malik.
This remarkable feat further cements Babar Azam’s status as one of the premier T20 batsmen in the world.
KARACHI: In an exciting contest of HBL PSL 11, Peshawar Zalmi defeated Hyderabad Kingsmen by 4 wickets at the National Bank Stadium.
After winning the toss, Peshawar Zalmi opted to field first. Hyderabad Kingsmen posted 145 runs, with Kusal Perera scoring 58 and Marnus Labuschagne contributing 27. Peshawar’s Sufiyan Muqeem and Fakhar Ahmed picked up four wickets each.
Chasing 146, Peshawar Zalmi reached the target on the last ball, losing six wickets. Babar Azam top-scored with 46 runs, while Kusal Mendis and Michael Bracewell added 27 and 25 runs respectively. Hyderabad’s Saim Ayub took two wickets for 19 runs.
Before the toss, PSL CEO Salman Naseer released a symbolic peace dove, with Babar Azam, Marnus Labuschagne, and match referee Roshan Mahnama present, recognizing Pakistan’s role in the recent US-Iran ceasefire efforts.
LAHORE: Pakistan cricket selection committee member Aqib Javed has said that Babar Azam will miss the upcoming Bangladesh series due to injury, while Fakhar Zaman is also currently unfit.
Speaking at a press conference in Lahore, Aqib Javed said the team had high expectations from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup but failed to perform as expected.
He noted that Pakistan’s record against India national cricket team now stands at 8-0 in their favor in recent World Cup encounters, adding that if the India match is set aside, Pakistan only lost one game in the tournament.
“A match was washed out due to rain and we ended up missing the semi-finals. After that people start saying everything is finished and demand sweeping changes,” he said.
Aqib Javed added that both Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman are injured and will not be part of the series against Bangladesh national cricket team. He said an investigation will be conducted to determine how two key players suffered injuries immediately after the World Cup.
“We need to find out whether they sustained these injuries during the event,” he stated.
He further said that Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman and Salman Mirza are not currently fit to play and questioned whether they would have been able to participate even if the team had reached the final.
Aqib Javed emphasized that the responsibility for selecting the playing XI rests with the captain and the coach. “We have no desire to sit here and decide the final eleven. The playing XI should be the decision of the captain and coach since they manage the players on the field,” he said.
The former fast bowler also stressed that every stakeholder must take responsibility, adding that frequent changes after every defeat are not a solution.
“We keep saying after every event that there should be scrutiny and everyone should be replaced — the chairman, selectors and the captain. But constant changes are not the answer,” he said.
He noted that Pakistan cricket’s development has not progressed as it should have since the 2009 ICC World Twenty20 victory.
Selection committee member Misbah-ul-Haq said the focus is on identifying the players Pakistan needs for different conditions and formats.
He added that while mistakes can occur in leadership roles, they are part of the game and the aim is always to contribute positively whenever given the opportunity.
Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has criticized the team management’s selection strategy, claiming that making Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan open the innings effectively “punished” Fakhar Zaman.
Speaking on the program Off the Record, Basit Ali said that among the 15 selected players, there is hardly any specialist middle-order batter, as most of the incoming players are natural openers.
He pointed out that players like Sameer Minhas, Moaz Sadaqat, and Shamil Hussain are all openers, raising concerns about the team’s balance.
Basit suggested that former captains Inzamam-ul-Haq and Misbah-ul-Haq should be tasked with grooming proper middle-order batters for the national side.
He termed the decision to promote Babar and Rizwan as openers a mistake, arguing that Fakhar Zaman — a proven opener — was forced to bat at No. 4 and No. 5 as a result. “That was unfair to him,” he said.
Basit further criticized what he described as flawed intent in team planning, stating that many players prefer opening because of the powerplay advantage, with only two fielders outside the circle. However, he stressed that such an approach does not necessarily win matches.
He also questioned the logic behind sending Babar Azam to bat at No. 4, saying it served no purpose. Referring to team management, Basit remarked that Mohsin Naqvi should seek accountability from those responsible for the decision. He added that if a coach publicly criticizes Babar in a press conference a day before a match, then selecting him creates further confusion.
The former cricketer also took aim at Saim Ayub, saying he has played many matches but has yet to deliver significant batting performances. He noted that Saim initially came in as a batter and only later developed into an all-rounder.
Basit added that players like Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz were selected primarily as bowlers, emphasizing that a team with half-set roles — “half pigeon, half partridge,” as he metaphorically described it — cannot win major tournaments.
COLOMBO: Ahead of Pakistan’s Super 8 T20 World Cup match against New Zealand, Pakistan cricket team head coach Mike Hesson expressed full confidence in captain Babar Azam, highlighting his specialized skills and the strategic role he plays in the team.
Hesson emphasized that Babar knows what is expected of him and that after the Asia Cup, he has been brought back for a specific role in the middle order.
He noted that Babar’s strike rate in powerplays is below 100, which is not the role required from him. The coach referenced Babar’s performance in the match against the USA, where he successfully increased his strike rate.
Hesson stated that at times, other players may execute certain roles more effectively, but Babar possesses unique skills critical for Pakistan’s strategy.
Hesson confirmed that Fakhar Zaman remains in the squad and will play when needed.
He highlighted that in Sri Lankan conditions, spinners will play a significant role, and team combinations will be adjusted accordingly.
Usman Tariq was praised for his exceptional skills, capable of both attack and defense simultaneously.
Hesson also clarified that Salman Agha’s reaction during his dismissal was only due to being upset, and no further discussion occurred.
Pakistan and New Zealand will clash in the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup at R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, on Saturday.
Hesson expressed confidence that the team is well-prepared and hopes to take full advantage of the playing conditions.
This press conference reaffirmed Pakistan’s strategic planning, emphasizing Babar Azam’s central role and the adaptability of the squad in critical T20 match scenarios.
KARACHI: In the 11th edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), Peshawar Zalmi has decided to retain captain Babar Azam for the upcoming season, sources confirmed.
According to insiders, the franchise has chosen to release Saim Ayub, who, along with Babar Azam, was listed in Peshawar Zalmi’s Platinum category. PSL rules allow franchises to retain only one player per category, making this a strategic decision.
Sources added that Saim Ayub will now be available for selection by other franchises in the PSL players’ draft.
Franchises are expected to finalize their retention decisions today, determining which players will remain with their teams for PSL 11.
Ahead of the 11th season of the PSL 11, franchises have announced their player retentions as the league introduces a major change in the player selection process.
For the first time in PSL history, the traditional draft system has been replaced with an auction-based model. Under this system, franchises can now retain only one player per category instead of eight, while remaining players will be added to their squads through the auction.
Retentions by Franchises:
Lahore Qalandars – The defending champions have retained captain Shaheen Afridi in the Platinum category. They released Haris Rauf and Fakhar Zaman from Platinum. In other categories, Abdullah Shafiq (Diamond), Sikandar Raza (Gold), and Mohammad Naeem (Silver) were retained, while several players including Salman Mirza, Zaman Khan, Jahandad Khan, Asif Afridi, Asif Ali, Mohammad Ikhlaq, and Mohammad Azab were released.
Karachi Kings – The franchise retained fast bowler Hasan Ali in Platinum, Abbas Afridi (Diamond), Khushdil Shah (Gold), and Saad Baig (Emerging).
Islamabad United – Shadab Khan remains in Platinum, Salman Irshad in Gold, and Andres Goos in Silver. The team released players including Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha, Mohammad Nawaz, Imad Wasim, Azam Khan, Haider Ali, Roman Rais, Mohammad Faiq, and Haneen Shah across various categories.
Quetta Gladiators – The franchise retained Abrar Ahmed (Platinum), Usman Tariq (Diamond), Hassan Nawaz (Gold), and Hussain (Emerging). Players released include Mohammad Amir, Faheem Ashraf, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Wasim Jr., Khurram Shehzad, Hasibullah Khan, Khawaja Nafees, Danish Aziz, and Mohammad Zeeshan.
The retentions mark the first step in the PSL 11 preparations, with the new auction-based player draft set to determine final team squads for the season.
LAHORE:Pakistan’s captain Babar Azam has concluded his stint in Australia’s Big Bash League as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) called him back to prepare for the upcoming T20 series against Australia. He will no longer be available for the remaining matches with the Sydney Sixers.
PCB officials confirmed that Babar’s early return was due to his national duties, and he is expected to report to the Pakistan team’s training camp shortly.
Thank you, Babar 👑
Babar Azam has been recalled to join Pakistan’s national camp ahead of upcoming international fixtures.
He will be unavailable for the remainder of the BBL|15 Finals Series.
Speaking on his departure, Babar said, “It has been a great experience playing for the Sydney Sixers. I am grateful for the love and support of the fans. Now it’s time to focus on my national duties. Playing in the Big Bash has taught me a lot, and the memories will always stay with me.”
He added that he would continue to support the Sydney Sixers in their upcoming matches.
A message from Babar before he heads back to Pakistan to join his national teammates in camp 🩷 pic.twitter.com/0vO0Nuokzw
During his 11-match stint, Babar scored 202 runs, including 19 fours and 3 sixes. With his departure, all Pakistani players have now exited this season of the Big Bash League.
Brisbane: Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi has expressed his excitement about playing in the Australian Big Bash League (BBL), representing Brisbane Heat.
In a recent interview, Afridi said that Australia has a large number of Pakistani fans, and many Pakistani cricketers are already participating in the league.
He added that he has not had the opportunity to play in the BBL for a few years, but is now eager to take part, with no national duties during the league period. “I hope to get the chance to play the full season,” he said.
Afridi also spoke about his teammates in the Pakistan national team and PSL, mentioning that he has played alongside Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam for several years.
He praised Babar Azam as a world-class player who has scored numerous runs for Pakistan, highlighting Babar’s preference for strike rotation and his elegant cover drives.
On Mohammad Rizwan, Afridi noted that he prefers fast bowling and bats differently from Babar, but both players have consistently delivered strong performances for Pakistan. He added that net practice sessions often feel like real matches when facing them.
Reflecting on his experience in Brisbane, Afridi said he has played international matches at The Gabba, noting the pitch offers significant bounce, unlike the flatter pitches he expects in the BBL.
Afridi also shared insights on leadership, revealing that he had not captained in domestic cricket before joining the Pakistan Super League. He credited Thameem Rana for guidance, stating that leadership should be calm and not authoritative, as being overly harsh does not create a good impression.
LONDON: A promotional roadshow for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) was organised at the historic Lord’s Cricket Ground in London to enhance global outreach and invite fresh investment into the league.
The event aimed to highlight PSL’s vision, commercial model, and future strategy. Pakistan’s star batter Babar Azam, along with other national cricketers, attended the roadshow, while Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi was also present and briefed participants about the league’s structure and future prospects.
The PSL continues to gain popularity internationally and is among the most-searched sports events on Google, even drawing strong traction from India.
HBL PSL is recognised as one of the fastest growing T20 leagues in world cricket.
KARACHI: Former Pakistan captain Babar Azam has achieved yet another milestone, surpassing former star all-rounder Shahid Afridi to become the Pakistani player with the most catches in international matches.
Babar Azam reached this landmark during the final of the tri-nation T20 series against Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi, where he took the catch of Kusal Mendis. In the final match, he took three catches, bringing his total to 170 international catches, surpassing Shahid Afridi’s 167.
In the all-time list, former captain Younis Khan remains at the top with 281 catches, followed by former captain Inzamam-ul-Haq with 194 catches. Shahid Afridi, who previously held the record, has now moved down the rankings.
Additionally, Babar Azam became Pakistan’s leading fielder in T20 internationals by taking three catches in the same final, bringing his total to 60 catches in T20s. He surpassed Fakhar Zaman, who has 57 catches, while Shoaib Malik holds the third spot with 50 catches.
