Category: Sports

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has strongly refuted former Test head coach Jason Gillespie’s allegation of unpaid dues for his nine-month tenure, stating that the claim is untrue and that Gillespie violated the terms of his contract.

Responding to Gillespie’s recent interview—where he expressed disappointment over not receiving payment for his time as Pakistan’s Test coach—the PCB clarified that Gillespie left his position without serving the mandatory four-month notice period outlined in his agreement.

According to the board, the former Test head coach’s resignation unilaterally voided certain contractual obligations, and he is now liable to settle his own dues first. “Gillespie resigned without notice, despite a clause requiring both parties to provide four months’ notice. As a result, the pending payments are actually on his side,” said the PCB.

The board also confirmed that Gillespie’s agent had reached out regarding the unpaid amount but was informed that the matter could only be resolved once Gillespie fulfilled his contractual responsibilities.

In his interview, Gillespie said he holds no ill feelings toward Pakistan cricket but expressed frustration over the delayed payment, calling it “a bit disappointing.” He also admitted that the experience made him reconsider his future in full-time coaching.

Gillespie was appointed head coach of the Pakistan Test team in April 2024 and resigned in December, citing differences with the PCB as the reason for his early departure.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is officially seeking a new head coach following the national team’s string of disappointing performances and consecutive defeats.

This announcement comes at a time when the team, under the interim leadership of Aaqib Javed, has struggled significantly. During his tenure, Pakistan failed to progress beyond the first round of the ICC Champions Trophy, despite hosting the tournament on home soil. The team’s performance during the recent New Zealand tour was also dismal, managing only a single victory out of seven matches.

Earlier, experienced coaches such as Gary Kirsten and Jason Gillespie were also brought in to uplift the team’s performance. However, both were dismissed after only a few months in charge, reportedly due to internal differences and performance issues.

The PCB’s newly released advertisement for the head coach position requires applicants to hold a Level 3 coaching certification, along with at least 10 years of coaching experience.

Meanwhile, sources suggest that Aaqib Javed is no longer interested in becoming the permanent head coach. Instead, he is reportedly aiming for the role of High Performance Director on the board.

Karachi Kings fast bowler Hasan Ali has achieved a major milestone in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) by becoming the tournament’s all-time leading wicket-taker.

The record-breaking moment came during the PSL 10 match between Karachi Kings and Quetta Gladiators on Friday. The match was played at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi, where the Kings delivered a strong performance.

Batting first, Karachi Kings posted a total of 175 runs for the loss of seven wickets. In reply, Quetta Gladiators struggled to chase the target and managed only 119 runs in their 20 overs, losing nine wickets. Karachi Kings secured a dominant 56-run victory.

Hasan Ali played a key role in the win with an impressive bowling spell, taking three wickets. During the match, he dismissed Quetta’s Hassan Nawaz for just one run — a dismissal that took Hasan Ali’s overall tally in the PSL to 116 wickets in 84 innings, making him the highest wicket-taker in the league’s history.

He surpassed the previous record held by Wahab Riaz, who had taken 113 wickets in 87 innings.

The 30-year-old pacer has been in outstanding form in PSL 10, claiming eight wickets in just three matches so far.

With two wins and one loss in their first three matches, Karachi Kings currently sit in third place on the points table with four points.

Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has shifted focus over the years. He was once a cricketer who made YouTube videos on the side, but now he has become a full-time content creator who plays cricket part-time.

Ashwin’s YouTube channel has gained a lot of popularity, but it has also created some controversies, especially when discussing his current IPL team, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK).

In a recent video, a guest on his channel started praising various cricket captains, including MS Dhoni, the iconic CSK captain. The panellist said, “Leadership is very important. Leaders like Sanju, Shreyas Iyer, and Thala Dhoni really stand out.”

However, Ashwin quickly stepped in and reminded the panellist not to talk about Dhoni or CSK. “Sshhh. Ssshhhh,” he said mid-conversation, clearly trying to avoid another controversy.

The guest tried to explain that he was giving his opinion as an audience member, but Ashwin made it clear, saying, “Such topics are off-limits. Even when I was part of Rajasthan Royals, I never spoke publicly about the team.”

The controversy began when former South African analyst and ex-RCB staff member Prasanna Agoram criticised CSK for including Afghan spinner Noor Ahmad in the squad, especially when experienced Indian spinners like Jadeja and Ashwin were already available. This led to further questions being directed at CSK head coach Stephen Fleming.

But Fleming brushed off the issue completely. “I have no idea. I didn’t even know he had a channel. That’s irrelevant,” he said in a press conference.

Anaya Bangar, the transgender daughter of former Indian cricketer and coach Sanjay Bangar, has come forward with emotional and troubling revelations about her personal journey and the harassment she faced after transitioning.

Sharing her story on Instagram, Anaya revealed that she had always felt like a girl from a very young age. “From the age of 8 or 9, I felt I was a girl. I used to wear my mother’s clothes and look at myself in the mirror,” she said. However, due to her father’s status as a cricketer and coach, she had to hide her identity for many years.

Anaya also spoke about the harassment she faced after transitioning. She claimed that several cricketers sent her inappropriate pictures. “Some cricketers sent me indecent photos after I transitioned. One person publicly abused me and then asked for my pictures. A senior cricketer even tried something I don’t want to describe,” she said.

In an earlier post, Anaya also spoke about how deeply cricket has shaped her life. “From a young age, cricket has always been a part of my life. Growing up, I watched my dad with awe as he represented and coached the country, and it wasn’t long before I started dreaming about following in his footsteps. The passion, the discipline, and the dedication he showed to the sport were deeply inspiring to me. Cricket became my love, my ambition, and my future. I’ve spent my entire life honing my skills, hoping that one day I would get the chance to represent my country, just like him,” she wrote.

However, after transitioning, Anaya revealed she became a target of harassment. She claimed that several well-known cricketers sent her inappropriate images.

“Some cricketers sent me indecent photos after I transitioned. One person publicly abused me and then asked for my pictures. A senior cricketer even tried something I don’t want to describe. What hurts more is that there are no proper regulations for trans women in cricket. It feels like the system is forcing me out — not because I lack the drive or talent, but because the rules haven’t caught up with the reality of who I am. My testosterone levels are down to 0.5 nmol, the lowest it can be for an average cisgender woman. Despite this, I still don’t have a place to represent my country or play at a professional level as my authentic self,” she wrote.

Anaya also talked about the contradictions and obstacles in the system, and said, “To make matters worse, the system says that to compete in women’s sports, I should have transitioned before male puberty. But here’s the contradiction: society and the legal system make it illegal to transition as a minor. So, what am I supposed to do? The system is forcing me into an impossible situation — setting standards I couldn’t have met even if I’d wanted to. It’s heartbreaking that the body I’ve worked so hard to align with my true self is now seen as a barrier to continuing my cricket journey in the women’s category.”

“We need policies that don’t make us choose between our identity and our passions. Trans women deserve the right to compete, play, and thrive,” she added while also pointing out that the International Cricket Council (ICC) had implemented strict regulations in 2023, banning transgender women from participating in international women’s cricket. This decision, she said, had further complicated her aspirations of returning to the sport she loves.

Before her transition, Anaya — then known as Aryan — played alongside several well-known Indian cricketers such as Mushir Khan, Sarfaraz Khan and Yashasvi Jaiswal. She began hormone therapy in 2023 and completed her transition after 11 months.

Indian cricket team captain Rohit Sharma has finally shared the story behind his popular on-field remark “Koi garden mein nahi ghoomay ga”, which had gone viral in early 2024 during a Test match against England in Visakhapatnam.

As per the details, the incident took place during the second Test of the series in February 2024 when Rohit was heard on the stump mic telling his teammates to be more energetic on the field. 

Speaking on JioHotstar, he revealed that at a crucial point in the match, he noticed players walking around casually after an over, showing no urgency or focus.

“It was in Vizag. The over had just ended and players were walking around like they were in a park. There was no energy. I was fielding in the slips and we had spinners bowling from both ends. It was an important game and we needed to win,” Rohit said.

Rohit shared that despite warning the players earlier in the day to put in extra effort, they seemed too relaxed. It was a crucial point in the match and India badly needed a breakthrough. A strong partnership from England was building and Rohit wanted his team to show more urgency.

“I watched for two or three overs, and then I couldn’t take it anymore. I needed a wicket and it wasn’t going to come if everyone was doing their own thing. That’s when I said those words,” Rohit explained.

It merits a mention that India eventually won the match by 106 runs, levelling the five-match Test series 1-1.

The popular battle royale game PUBG Mobile was officially unbanned in Bangladesh on Thursday, allowing players to access the game through local mobile networks and Wi-Fi without any restrictions. Several esports personalities and media outlets have confirmed the announcement.

The game was banned in 2021 after a High Court ruling labelled it “destructive” in response to a writ petition. Since then, multiple efforts have been made to lift the ban on PUBG Mobile, developed by KRAFTON. These efforts were successful in early 2025, leading to the recent lifting of the ban.

The Bangladeshi gaming community has welcomed the news with positive reactions. Many players shared memories of the game’s earlier popularity, while others see the unbanning as a chance to revive the country’s esports scene.

Before the ban, PUBG Mobile had a large player base in Bangladesh and helped develop several professional esports teams. One of the top teams, A1 Esports, even represented the country at the PUBG Mobile Global Championship (PMGC) in 2020.

Although the game was officially banned, many players continued to access it using Virtual Private Networks (VPNs). At times, the game could be played without a VPN, but matchmaking often required one. These workarounds sometimes led to legal issues, including the arrest of over a hundred players.

The removal of the ban is expected to boost the gaming and esports industry in Bangladesh. The official access to PUBG Mobile is seen as a major step forward for local players and teams aiming to compete internationally.

The Sindh Olympic Association has once again postponed the National Games, which were scheduled to start on May 1 in Karachi.

In an official letter sent to all relevant departments, the association cited “unavoidable reasons” for the delay. Notably, this was the first time in 18 years that Sindh was set to host the prestigious event.

According to reports, the decision was influenced by the ongoing heatwave, extremely high temperatures, and the schedule of intermediate board examinations. However, critics point out that both the harsh May weather and exam dates were known well in advance.

Reports also revealed that preparations for the Games were far from complete. Several sports complexes and grounds had not undergone the necessary upgrades. Furthermore, the event’s official logo had not been finalised, nor had the traditional torch relay been initiated.

It merits mention that the National Games were initially planned for February but were postponed to May despite concerns about the extreme weather. Now, even the revised schedule has been called off.

New dates for the National Games are expected to be announced later.