Category: Sports

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has suspended the registration of a key agent representing Pakistani cricketers and officials due to four violations of its anti-corruption code. The agency in question represents over 80 percent of Pakistan’s centrally contracted players, along with several former cricketing stars.

According to reports, Mughiz Ahmed Sheikh, the head of the International Cricketers Association (ICA), was registered as a player agent with the ECB. Following investigations by the cricket regulator and a hearing before an independent anti-corruption tribunal, he was found guilty of four breaches of the ECB’s anti-corruption code. The tribunal will decide on an appropriate sanction in due course. Meanwhile, the ECB has suspended Mughiz’s registration as an agent.

Previously, Pakistan’s cricket scene was dominated by Saya Corporation, but ICA has now taken over as the primary agency representing both players and officials. Of the 25 centrally contracted Pakistani players, 20 are represented by ICA. 

Some of the notable names under ICA’s representation include centrally contracted players Aamir Jamal, Mohammad Wasim Jr., Abdullah Shafique, Arafat Minhas, Haseebullah, Jahandad Khan, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Huraira, Irfan Niazi, Naseem Shah, Nauman Ali, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Sajid Khan, Shadab Khan, Sufiyan Muqeem, and Tayyab Tahir.

Other players also include Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Haris, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Usama Mir, and Abdul Samad.

Former Players and Officials: Current head coach and selector Aaqib Javed, Mohammad Hafeez, Wahab Riaz, Abdul Razzaq, Kamran Akmal, Sohail Tanvir, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, and Misbah-ul-Haq.

Interestingly, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has taken measures to reduce the influence of Saya Corporation in the country’s cricketing affairs. However, ICA has now emerged as the dominant force, representing the majority of Pakistani players and officials.

Reports said that Mughiz Ahmed Sheikh declined to comment on the matter. Further details regarding the case and the final decision from the anti-corruption tribunal are expected in the coming days.

A bizarre incident unfolded during a YouTube live session when a sports anchor smashed a television screen in pure anger, frustrated with Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) captain Rishabh Pant’s performance against SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the IPL 2025 match.

Pant, who had already disappointed fans with a six-ball duck in the previous match against the Delhi Capitals (DC), once again failed to impress. With LSG comfortably placed to chase down SRH’s target, Pant managed 15 (15) before getting caught at short third, leaving fans and analysts unimpressed.

On Sports Tak’s live discussion, sports presenter Pankaj completely lost his cool over Pant’s failure. In a dramatic fit of rage, he threw an object at the TV screen, shattering it, and almost tossed a glass table in frustration. Veteran sports journalist Vikrant Gupta, who was also part of the discussion, could only offer a wry smile as Pankaj vented his anger.

“IPL is going on. He (Rishabh Pant) had his chance, but I’m telling you, he has become predictable. You cannot trust him. What sort of a captain is he? We don’t need a captain like him,” Pankaj fumed during the livestream.

Despite Pant’s struggles, LSG secured a five-wicket win. Speaking after the match, Pant expressed relief over the result.

“It is about not getting too high when you win and not getting too low when you lose. As a team, we can’t focus on uncontrollables. My mentor (Zaheer Khan) said to focus on controllable, and that is what I did. It was good to see the way Prince Yadav bowled, and Thakur was really good as well. (On Pooran batting at No. 3) I think we just want to give freedom to him. You have to give someone the charge when he is batting well, and he has batted brilliantly for us. The group is coming up nicely; we have not played our best so far but are happy to get a win,” Pant said.

LSG opted to bowl first, restricting SRH to 190/9 in their 20 overs. Shardul Thakur was the standout bowler for LSG, taking 4/34, while Avesh Khan, Prince Yadav, Digvesh Rathi, and Ravi Bishnoi each picked up a wicket.

For SRH, Travis Head, 47 (28), and Nitish Kumar Reddy, 32 (28), put up a 61-run partnership to stabilise the innings. Heinrich Klaasen 26 (17), Aniket Varma 36 (13), and captain Pat Cummins 18 (4) added crucial runs to push SRH to a competitive total.

During the run chase, LSG lost Aiden Markram early, but a 116-run partnership between Nicholas Pooran 70 (26) and Mitchell Marsh 52 (31) set the stage for an easy win. Abdul Samad 22* (8) provided the finishing touch, securing LSG’s victory with 23 balls to spare.

For SRH, Pat Cummins was the top bowler, picking up 2/29, but it wasn’t enough to stop LSG’s dominant performance.

While LSG fans celebrated the win, Pant’s performance remained a hot topic. The viral clip of the anchor’s outburst only added fuel to the debate, with fans divided over Pant’s captaincy and batting struggles.

It merits mention that Rishabh Pant is one of the most expensive players in IPL history, with a price of around 85 crore PKR.

Pakistan’s head coach Aaqib Javed is hopeful about his team’s chances in the upcoming three-match ODI series against New Zealand, starting on Friday in Napier.

Speaking before the first game, Javed emphasized how important fast bowling will be in New Zealand’s conditions. He also expressed confidence that his experienced batters would perform well.

“The pitches here are similar to those in Australia and South Africa, where our fast bowlers dominated. If we can restrict them under 200, our experienced batting lineup, with Babar Azam and Rizwan back in ODIs, should secure good results,” Javed said.

One key decision was keeping Haris Rauf in the squad for the ODI series, as he has performed well in Australia and South Africa.

“Even though we lost in the T20Is here, Haris proved why he’s the best option in these conditions,” Javed added.

Javed also defended Pakistan’s current ODI setup, saying that despite concerns after the Champions Trophy, the team is well-balanced.

“We carried four senior batters—Babar, Rizwan, Abdullah Shafique, and Imam Ul Haq, because they provide stability. While we are making changes in T20s, our ODI setup is well-balanced,” he explained.

“We struggled on flat pitches in the Champions Trophy, but we have the right players for different conditions. Youngsters in T20s will develop further, especially after the PSL,” he concluded.

The first ODI between Pakistan and New Zealand will begin at 11 AM local time in Napier, which is 3 AM Pakistan time on Saturday, March 29.

Novak Djokovic delivered a strong performance to secure his place in the semifinals of the Miami Open with a 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) victory over American Sebastian Korda. With this win, the 37-year-old Serbian became the oldest player to reach a Masters 1000 semi-final.

Djokovic started the match in great form, breaking Korda early and comfortably taking the first set. However, Korda fought back in the second set, forcing a tie-break. Despite the challenge, Djokovic remained composed and sealed the win with a powerful ace.

The fourth seed, who is aiming for his seventh Miami Open title, his first since 2016, credited his serve for his success.

“One word, serve. I was serving very well, probably the best serving performance, not just here, but in a long time,” Djokovic said.

Djokovic, who won 84 percent of his first-serve points, acknowledged that Korda played better in the second set but said his strong serving made things easier. He will now face Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov in the semi-finals on Friday.

If Djokovic wins the tournament, it will be his 100th career singles title – a remarkable milestone for the 24-time Grand Slam champion.

Meanwhile, 19-year-old Czech player Jakub Mensik made history by reaching his first Masters 1000 semi-final. He defeated France’s Arthur Fils 7-6 (7/5), 6-1 in a dominant display.

Fils had earlier caused a major upset by beating top seed Alexander Zverev but struggled against Mensik’s powerful serve. The young Czech, ranked 54th in the world, showed great focus throughout the match.

“It feels incredible. I think this is the biggest result of my career so far, and I’m happy that I kept going from the first round,” said Mensik.

Mensik will now face American third seed Taylor Fritz in the semifinals. Fritz battled past Italian Matteo Berrettini in a thrilling three-set match, winning 7-5, 6-7 (7/9), 7-5.

Berrettini put up a strong fight, saving six match points in the second set before forcing a deciding third set. The match remained close until Fritz finally broke serve at 6-5 and held on to claim victory.

With Djokovic, Mensik, Dimitrov, and Fritz in the semifinals, the Miami Open is set for an exciting finish.

Lahore Blues emerged victorious in the National T20 Cup, securing the title with a commanding nine-wicket win over Peshawar Region in the final held in Faisalabad.

Opting to bat first, Peshawar Region struggled to build momentum and managed to post a modest total of 110 for 9 in their allotted 20 overs. Skipper Iftikhar Ahmed played a crucial knock, scoring 34 runs off 33 balls, including two boundaries. Muhammad Zulkifl contributed 32 runs with an aggressive approach, hitting four fours and a six.

For Lahore Blues, Salman Mirza led the bowling attack with a stellar performance, claiming four wickets for just 21 runs. Muhammad Irfan also made an impact by picking up two wickets.

The Blues made light work of the chase, reaching the target in just 16 overs with nine wickets in hand. Opener Umar Siddiq played a match-winning innings, smashing 64 runs off 46 balls, laced with six fours and two sixes. Junaid Ali provided solid support with an unbeaten 30, which included three boundaries.

With this triumph, Lahore Blues have now won the National T20 Cup title for the fifth time, further cementing their dominance in the tournament.

Despite Peshawar’s loss, Sahibzada Farhan was awarded the Player of the Tournament for his outstanding batting performances throughout the competition. He amassed 605 runs in seven innings at an impressive strike rate of 189, including three centuries and two half-centuries.

19-year-old wildcard Alexandra Eala from the Philippines defeated world number two Iga Swiatek 6-2, 7-5 on Wednesday, securing her place in the semi-finals in a shocking upset at the Miami Open.

Ranked 140th in the world, Eala made history as the first woman from her country to reach the quarter-finals of a WTA 1000 event. She capitalised on an uncharacteristically poor performance from Swiatek, maintaining her composure even after trailing 4-2 in the second set.

Eala broke Swiatek’s serve for the eighth and final time when the Polish star was trying to stay in the match at 6-5. Overwhelmed with emotion, Eala could hardly believe her victory.

“I’m just in disbelief right now. It’s so surreal,” she said in her post-match interview.

“I’m so happy and so blessed to be able to compete with such a player on this stage,” added Eala, who has now defeated three Grand Slam champions on her way to the semi-finals. Before beating four-time French Open winner Swiatek, she also overcame Jelena Ostapenko and Madison Keys.

Eala’s journey to success began at the age of 13 when she moved to Spain to train at Rafael Nadal’s academy in Mallorca. She was supported courtside by Toni Nadal, Rafael’s uncle and former coach.

“It meant a lot that he showed up here. It showed the confidence he had in me and the confidence the academy had in me,” she said.

Eala will now face the winner of the quarter-final clash between Britain’s Emma Raducanu and American Jessica Pegula.

“Just because I won this match or the one before doesn’t make the next one any less tough. If anything, it will be even tougher, so it will take everything I have,” she said.

Meanwhile, Swiatek admitted she wasn’t at her best and is now turning her focus to the clay court season.

“I’m sure I wasn’t playing my best game. My forehand collapsed a little, so it wasn’t comfortable, and Alexandra took advantage of that and pushed me. She definitely deserved to win this match,” Swiatek said.

“I don’t want to dwell on this loss too much. It’s important to learn from it, but I’m looking forward to playing on clay,” she added.

Maria Tato, the head of Spain’s 2030 World Cup organising committee, has resigned after being accused of unfairly changing the stadium selection process to benefit one city over another, according to media reports.

Reports claimed that the rankings for potential host stadiums were altered to favour Anoeta in San Sebastian, while Balaídos in Vigo was unfairly removed from the list.

Vigo’s mayor, Abel Caballero, expressed his frustration on social media platform X, saying: “On June 25, 2024, Balaidos was on the list of 11 stadiums in Spain, but by June 27, it was removed. This is very serious. We demand an explanation on who changed it, why, and based on what criteria.”

The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has not responded to media inquiries regarding the issue.

Spain is set to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup alongside Portugal and Morocco. Spain will have 11 host cities, including major venues like Barcelona’s Camp Nou and Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu, while Portugal will have three stadiums and Morocco six.

The RFEF has faced several scandals in recent years. Former president Luis Rubiales resigned in September 2023 after controversially kissing player Jenni Hermoso during Spain’s Women’s World Cup victory celebrations.

His successor, Pedro Rocha, was later suspended for exceeding his authority, and Rafael Louzán took over leadership in December 2024.

Pakistan’s ODI captain Mohammad Rizwan has now become a target of trolling by emerging Indian wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan.

During a conversation with IPL umpire Anil Chaudhary, Kishan took a subtle dig at Rizwan while discussing umpiring standards and players’ approach to making appeals.

During a franchise practice session, umpire Anil Chaudhary jokingly remarked, “You’ve become quite smart! You’ve played many matches under my umpiring. Now, you only appeal when necessary, but earlier, you used to appeal a lot. What changed?”

Ishan Kishan responded,  “I think umpires have become sharper now. If you appeal too often, they might not give out even when it’s a genuine dismissal. It’s better to appeal at the right time so that they trust your judgment.”

He further added, “If I start appealing behind the stumps like Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan, you guys wouldn’t give it out.”

Kishan also commented, “To be honest, there are some umpires we feel happy to see in matches, but there’s always room for improvement.”

His remarks came at a time when Rizwan was under criticism for excessive appealing during recent matches.

Meanwhile, fans took to social media to criticise Ishan Kishan, arguing that he hasn’t been in cricket long enough to comment on a senior player like Rizwan.

Australian women’s cricket team captain Alyssa Healy has joined the growing list of admirers of a six-year-old Pakistani girl whose impressive batting skills have gone viral on social media.

Speaking on a podcast, Healy showed amazement at the young girl’s talent. “She looks incredibly skilled. It’s unbelievable to see such batting ability at just six-years-old,” she said.

Jokingly, Healy added, “I feel like she was hitting the ball even better than me!”

The viral video highlights the increasing interest of young girls in sports, particularly cricket. Healy was especially impressed by the child’s technique. “Her shots were executed beautifully. Her cover drive was a treat to watch, and the pull shot she played was strikingly similar to Rohit Sharma’s pull shot,” she remarked.

“She looks like a special talent. This girl should definitely play for Pakistan,” Healy said, adding in jest, “I think she should be in the T20 World Cup squad!”

New Zealand captain Tom Latham has been ruled out of the upcoming three-match ODI series against Pakistan after suffering a hand fracture during net practice.

According to New Zealand Cricket, Latham was hit on his right hand while batting in the nets, resulting in a fracture that has sidelined him from the series. Henry Nicholls has been added to the squad as a replacement. Meanwhile, Michael Bracewell, who led the team in the T20I series, will continue as captain for the ODIs.

New Zealand Cricket also confirmed that Tom Blundell will take over wicketkeeping duties in the ODI series.

Additionally, Will Young will only be available for the first ODI, as he will be leaving the squad for the birth of his child. In his absence, Rhys Mariu has been included in the team for the remaining matches.

The three-match ODI series between Pakistan and New Zealand is set to begin on March 29, with the remaining two matches scheduled for April 2 and April 5. The first ODI will be played in Napier.

New Zealand recently won the five-match T20I series against Pakistan by a convincing 4-1 margin.