Category: Sports

All-rounder Khushdil Shah lost his temper after being subjected to sarcastic remarks from fans following Pakistan’s defeat by New Zealand in the third and final ODI of the series, giving the Kiwis a clean sweep. 

The match, held at Mount Maunganui, saw New Zealand defeat Pakistan, completing a 3-0 series victory. After the game, fans targeted Pakistani players, criticizing their poor performance, which led to Khushdil Shah becoming visibly angry. In response, he advanced towards the fans, clearly upset, but was restrained by security personnel and fellow players who intervened to diffuse the situation.

Viral images of the incident prompted Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to issue a statement condemning the inappropriate behaviour of foreign fans. 

A PCB spokesperson expressed disapproval, stating that the foreign fans had used offensive language towards Pakistani players during the match. The spokesperson clarified that Khushdil Shah confronted the fans, asking them to stop their insults.

However, the situation escalated when Afghan fans, responding to the confrontation, used even more offensive language in Pashto. The tension intensified when two Afghan fans attempted to engage with Khushdil Shah physically. As a result, following a complaint from the Pakistani team, the two foreign fans were escorted out of the stadium.

The Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10 is set to introduce groundbreaking advancements to enhance the viewing experience for fans, with the announcement of new technology aimed at improving transparency and assisting umpires with decision-making.

According to reports, the upcoming season of the PSL will feature cutting-edge technology designed to support various aspects of the game, ensuring a more seamless and fair experience.

The new technology will assist in providing a more accurate and reliable experience during matches. It will include features such as:

No-Ball Detection: Technology will automatically detect no-balls, ensuring fairness and consistency in decisions.

DRS (Decision Review System): The introduction of DRS will allow players to challenge on-field decisions, promoting fairness.

Live Communication with Umpires: Real-time communication between umpires will enhance coordination and decision-making.

Multiple Camera Angles for Replays: Fans will enjoy enhanced viewing with replays from various angles, providing greater clarity on key moments of the game.

Innings Time Display: The innings time will be displayed live, allowing viewers to stay updated on the game’s progress.

PSL 10 is scheduled to kick off on 11 April and will run until 18 May. The event will be held across four cities: Karachi, Lahore, Multan, and Rawalpindi. To ensure players are well-prepared for the tournament, international players are expected to arrive on 9 April, giving them sufficient time to participate in practice sessions before the matches begin.

In a move to further engage with the local audience, PSL 10 will feature live Urdu commentary for the first time in the league’s history. Fans will be able to enjoy the entire tournament in their national language, adding an extra layer of excitement and connection to the event. This historic decision aims to bring the action closer to the fans, ensuring they can experience the thrill of the PSL in their preferred language.

PSL’s Chief Executive Officer, Salman Nasir, expressed his excitement about the new initiatives. He described this as a significant moment for the fans, emphasising that cricket is a powerful force in Pakistan and that the league aims to resonate deeply with the hearts of its supporters.

The 10th edition of the Pakistan Super League is set to make history with the introduction of innovative technology and the inclusion of live Urdu commentary, elevating the fan experience to new heights.

Mumbai Indians (MI) skipper Hardik Pandya etched his name in Indian Premier League (IPL) history on Friday, becoming the first captain to claim a five-wicket haul. 

Pandya’s remarkable spell of 4-0-36-5 came against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow.

With this performance, Pandya surpassed Anil Kumble’s long-standing record for the best bowling figures by an IPL captain. Kumble had held the record since May 2009, when he registered figures of 4-0-16-4 for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) against Deccan Chargers in Johannesburg.

The achievement also saw Pandya breaking his own record for the best figures by a Mumbai Indians captain. His previous best as MI skipper was 4-0-31-3 against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in 2024.

Pandya’s five-wicket haul propelled him to second place on the all-time list of most wickets taken by an IPL captain. With 30 wickets, he now shares the spot with Kumble, trailing only Shane Warne, who leads the chart with 57 wickets. Other notable IPL captains with significant wicket tallies include Ravichandran Ashwin (25 wickets) and Pat Cummins (21 wickets).

This milestone further solidifies Pandya’s legacy as one of the premier all-rounders in IPL history.

Best Bowling Figures by IPL Captains:

Hardik Pandya: 4-0-36-5 (Mumbai Indians vs LSG, Lucknow, 2025)

Anil Kumble: 4-0-16-4 (RCB vs Deccan Chargers, Johannesburg, 2009)

Anil Kumble: 3.3-0-16-4 (RCB vs Deccan Chargers, Navi Mumbai, 2010)

JP Duminy: 3-0-17-4 (Delhi Daredevils vs SRH, Visakhapatnam, 2015)

Shane Warne: 4-0-21-4 (Rajasthan Royals vs Deccan Chargers, Nagpur, 2010)

Yuvraj Singh: 4-0-29-4 (Pune Warriors vs Delhi Daredevils, Navi Mumbai, 2011)

New Zealand wrapped up a decisive series victory, defeating Pakistan by 43 runs in the third ODI at Mount Maunganui to seal a 3-0 whitewash. The rain-affected match, reduced to 42 overs per side, saw the hosts post a competitive total before their bowlers ensured a comfortable win.

Pakistan won the toss and invited the Kiwis to bat first.

Batting first, New Zealand put up 264/8 in their allotted 42 overs, led by an aggressive knock from Michael Bracewell 59 off 40,  Rhys Mariu 58 off 61 provided a steady start, while Daryl Mitchell 43 off 53 contributed crucial runs in the middle order. Mitchell Hay, eight off eight and Ben Sears, five off three, added late runs, helping New Zealand set a challenging total.

For Pakistan, Akif Javed took four and Naseem Shah two, while Faheem Ashraf and Sufiyan Muqeem chipped in with a wicket each.

Chasing 265, Pakistan’s batting lineup faltered against New Zealand’s disciplined bowling. For green shirts, Babar Azam scored 50 off 58, Mohammad Rizwan 37 off 32, Tayyab Tahir 33 off 31 and Naseem Shah scored 17 runs off 13 balls.

New Zealand’s Ben Sears took five, Jacob Duffy two, and Michel Bracewell, Muhammad Abbas, and Daryl Mitchell took one wicket each.

New Zealand has already won the first two matches of the ODI series.

Earlier, New Zealand defeated Pakistan by 4-1 in the T20 series.

Australian cricketer Travis Head, who is currently playing for SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the Indian Premier League (IPL), has opened up about passionate Indian cricket fans. Even though he often faces criticism from Indian fans for his strong performances against their team, he believes he shares a unique “love-hate” relationship with them.

Head has been one of the key players in Australia’s recent success against India, playing a major role in their victories in both the ICC World Test Championship and the ODI World Cup finals in 2023. Despite the reactions he gets from fans, he admires the cricket culture in India.

“I respect how big cricket is in India. It’s an amazing experience to play here. I’ve been lucky to perform well in some big matches, and I take the fans’ reactions in a fun way. Some comments are quite funny, but they don’t affect me. I focus on playing my game and enjoying myself,” he said.

He further added, “In the last 18 months, I have played against India quite a few times and performed well, but India has also done well against us. So, I definitely feel the connection with the fans.”

SRH have struggled in the IPL so far, winning just one out of their first three matches. However, one positive for the team has been Head’s form. He is currently their top scorer with 136 runs in three games, averaging over 45.

SRH will face Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in their next match on Thursday. Historically, KKR have dominated this fixture, winning 19 out of the 28 matches played between the two teams, while SRH have won only 9.

The match will be played at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, where a massive crowd is expected. According to Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) president Snehasish Ganguly, around 50,000 fans are likely to attend the game.

Multan Sultan’s owner, Ali Tareen, has rejected claims that the 10th edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) will be its best yet. He believes that while stadium conditions have improved, the overall structure of the tournament remains unchanged, making it unrealistic to expect a significantly better experience.

PSL 10 is set to begin on 11 April and will run until 18 May, featuring six teams competing across Karachi, Lahore, Multan, and Rawalpindi. The final will take place at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium.

Speaking on a recent podcast, Tareen questioned the validity of the “bigger and better” narrative surrounding PSL 10, arguing that real change is needed before such claims hold any weight.

“How is PSL 10 bigger and better? Someone explain to me — when we say these hollow words that this is going to be the best PSL, what does that even mean? How will it be the best PSL? It’s the same teams,” Tareen said.

“We’ve had nail-biting finishes every year — seven close matches annually, even last year’s final went to the last ball. So what’s different? It has the same four stadiums and the same stadium experience. Yes, the stadiums are better this year, but is that enough to make it the best and biggest PSL ever? No. I’m fed up with these empty claims,” he added.

Earlier, Ali Tareen also voiced his disappointment over the Pakistan Super League’s decision to select Ali Zafar as the anthem singer for its 10th edition. Taking to Instagram, he questioned why PSL continues to rely on the same artist instead of promoting fresh talent.

“Pakistan has so many amazing artists. Yet almost half of our anthems have been given to the same middle-aged dude despite franchises raising concerns about the artist. They talk about making this the biggest PSL ever, yet keep giving space to the same recycled voices,” Tareen wrote.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) recently released PSL 10’s anthem, featuring Ali Zafar in a masked look.

Ali Zafar, who has previously performed multiple PSL anthems, including last season’s Khul Ke Khel, continues to be the first choice. With PSL 10 being marketed as the biggest edition yet, calls for more diverse musical representation are gaining momentum.

The highly anticipated tournament will kick off on 11 April and conclude on 18 May, with matches spread across Karachi, Lahore, Multan, and Rawalpindi.

Pakistan cricket team spinner Sajid Khan left everyone in laughter with his unexpected answer during a recent interview. When asked what he would have been if not a cricketer, Sajid confidently replied that he would have been a gangster.

During an interaction with ARY News, the host asked him about his alternate career choice, to which Sajid humorously responded, “Main gangster hota (I would have been a gangster).”

His response left the host laughing, who added, “Ye persona aap leke chal rahe hai (You are carrying this persona with you).”

In the same interview, Sajid also praised Babar Azam, calling him “the best player in the world,” and lauded Virat Kohli as the “best Indian player ever.”

This isn’t the first time Sajid has entertained fans with his witty responses. Earlier, during a press conference in the 2024 Test series against England, he made reporters laugh when asked about the fear he was causing among English batters.

Sajid humorously replied, “Maine to kisi ko nahi daraya. Aap log kehte ho ki daraya hai. Allah ne look aisi di hai ki main hansta bhi hun to log darr jaate hain (I didn’t scare anyone, but you people keep saying this. God has given me such a look that even if I laugh, people get scared).”

The 30-year-old has been a key performer for Pakistan in Test cricket, taking 59 wickets in 12 matches at an average of 27.28. Apart from his bowling skills, he is also known for his unique moustache style and trademark wicket celebration.

Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne has confirmed reports of leaving the club at the end of the season.

The 33-year-old Belgian confirmed his decision through an Instagram post, calling his time at City “the best chapter” of his career.

De Bruyne, who is currently City’s club captain, joined in 2015 from Wolfsburg. Since then, he has played a key role in City’s success, winning six Premier League titles and a UEFA Champions League trophy.

In his heartfelt message to fans, De Bruyne wrote, “Nothing about this is easy to write, but as football players, we all know this day eventually comes. That day is here — and you deserve to hear it from me first.”

He expressed his deep connection with the club, the city, and its people, adding, “Football led me to all of you – and to this City. Chasing my dream, not knowing this period would change my life. This City. This club. These people… gave me EVERYTHING. I had no choice but to give EVERYTHING back! And guess what – we won everything.”

During his time at City, De Bruyne was one of the most influential players in English football. He won the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award twice in the 2019/20 and 2020/21 seasons. He is also second on the Premier League’s all-time assists chart with 118 assists.

His contract with City is set to expire by June end. However, it is still uncertain whether he will play for the club in the FIFA Club World Cup, which will take place from June 14 to July 13.

The official host for the upcoming Asia Hockey Cup, organised by the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF), has been announced. Pakistan’s national hockey team has also been invited to participate in the prestigious event.

The Asia Hockey Cup will be held from August 29 to September 7 in Rajgarh, India.

According to an announcement by the Asian Hockey Federation, six teams have confirmed their participation in the tournament. These teams include India, Pakistan, Japan, South Korea, China, and Malaysia.

In addition to these six confirmed teams, two more teams will qualify for the Asia Hockey Cup through the AHF Cup, which is scheduled to take place in Jakarta starting September 17.

The winner of the Asia Hockey Cup will secure a direct spot in next year’s Hockey World Cup, adding further excitement and competitiveness to the event.

New Zealand batter Mark Chapman, who missed the second ODI against Pakistan after a hamstring injury, will be absent from the third and final match of the series on Saturday at Mount Maunganui.

Tim Seifert, who replaced Chapman in the second ODI, will continue to fill in for him in the final game.

Chapman sustained a minor hamstring tear while fielding during the series opener in Napier and was ruled out of the second ODI in Hamilton after failing to recover sufficiently.

New Zealand Cricket confirmed on Friday that Chapman would not be fit for the final match of the series. An assessment following a training session revealed that Chapman had not made enough progress in his recovery.

Before being sidelined by the injury, Chapman had played a key role in New Zealand’s victory over Pakistan in the opening ODI, where he scored a career-best 132 runs. His performance was instrumental in securing a resounding 73-run win for the Blackcaps. Despite his absence in the second ODI, New Zealand comfortably extended their series lead to 2–0, making the final match a dead rubber.

The second ODI saw New Zealand dominate in all aspects of the game, with Mitchell Hay remaining unbeaten on 99*, and Pakistan’s batting order collapsing under the pressure. Ben Sears, in particular, was a nightmare for the Pakistan batters, claiming a maiden five-wicket haul. The Pakistani top order struggled, with only Tayyab Tahir (13) reaching double figures. The rest of the batting lineup, including big names like Babar Azam (1), Abdullah Shafique (1), and Mohammad Rizwan (5), were dismissed for single-digit scores.

Chapman’s replacement, Tim Seifert, had been in sensational form during the preceding five-match T20I series against Pakistan.

Seifert had been the top scorer of the series, accumulating 249 runs at a blistering strike rate of 207.50. His outstanding performances played a significant role in New Zealand’s 4–1 triumph over Pakistan. Despite his recent success in the T20Is, Seifert has not featured in an ODI for New Zealand in over five years, with his last appearance dating back to January 2019 against Sri Lanka.

With the series already decided, New Zealand will look to seal a 3–0 whitewash in the final match on Saturday, even as they manage injuries to key players like Chapman and Latham.