Category: Sports

Cricket fans are surely very excited for the upcoming International Cricket Council (ICC) Champions Trophy in Pakistan, as tickets for the first three matches have already sold out.

According to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), tickets for the matches between Pakistan and New Zealand, Australia and England, and Pakistan and Bangladesh are sold out.

PCB initially released 30 percent of the tickets for online sale and has now announced that the second phase of ticket sales will begin on February 3.

All of India’s matches will be played at a neutral venue in Dubai.

The Champions Trophy will start on February 19 in Karachi, with the opening match between Pakistan and New Zealand. The next big matches include Australia vs England in Lahore on February 22 and Pakistan vs Bangladesh in Rawalpindi on February 27.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) Champions Trophy 2025 will not have an opening ceremony as two teams are arriving late in Pakistan, media reports have claimed. A pre-tournament press conference and a photoshoot featuring the eight captains in Karachi have also been cancelled. 

According to reports, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and Cricket Australia (CA) have shared their travel plans with the ICC. England will arrive in Lahore on February 18, while Australia will reach Lahore on February 19. Bangladesh and India will land in Dubai on February 15, while Afghanistan will arrive in Islamabad on February 12. New Zealand and South Africa will already be in Pakistan, as they will play a tri-nation ODI series in Lahore and Karachi from February 8 to 14.

The first match of the tournament between Pakistan and New Zealand is scheduled for February 19 in Karachi.

Reports reveal that England has decided to take a one-week break after their white-ball series in India, which ends on February 12. Similarly, Australia will finish their series in Sri Lanka on February 14 and take a four-day rest before arriving in Pakistan.

An ICC official, speaking anonymously, mentioned that although both the ICC and PCB were interested in organizing an opening ceremony, the arrival schedules of England and Australia made it impossible. Managing players’ workload is now a major priority, and teams have the right to decide their travel plans. The host country only takes responsibility once the teams arrive, reports said.

Due to their late arrival, England and Australia have also decided to skip warm-up matches. Each team was allowed two practice games, but both agreed to enter the tournament without playing any warm-ups. This decision is similar to what teams did in previous ICC events, including the 2024 tournament in the USA and the West Indies.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) clarified that discussions were held regarding an opening ceremony, but no official confirmation was made. A PCB official stated that while plans were in progress, some misunderstandings led to the impression that an opening ceremony would take place.

Reports mention that, despite the cancellation, PCB is still planning special events to celebrate hosting a major ICC tournament after 29 years. The board is focusing on organizing activities before the Pakistan vs. New Zealand match on February 19. The stadiums have been upgraded, and significant efforts have been made to prepare for the tournament. More details about the planned event will be shared later.

The PCB also confirmed that any opening event required all teams to participate, which was not possible with clashing travel schedules.

Pakistan will host at least 10 matches of the tournament, while Dubai will host three, including India’s matches and the first semi-final. If India does not qualify for the final on March 9, it will be held in Lahore at Gaddafi Stadium. However, if India qualifies, the final will take place in Dubai.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is expected to announce the squad for the Champions Trophy and a upcoming tri-nation series soon. Reports suggest that three key players might be left out of the team.

According to reports, Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, and Usman Khan are also unlikely to be part of the final squad. The squad selected for the tri-series will also represent Pakistan in the Champions Trophy.

The national selection committee is awaiting the medical reports of opener Saim Ayub, currently undergoing treatment in London, to announce the squad, but sources say that there is a strong possibility that Saim will not be able to play in the Champions Trophy.

The ICC Champions Trophy is set to begin on February 19 in Pakistan. Defending champions Pakistan will play their opening match on the same day at Karachi’s National Stadium.

Before this major event, Pakistan will also participate in a tri-nation ODI series with New Zealand and South Africa, starting on February 8. The tournament will be played in a single-league format.

Unlike other teams, PCB has not yet announced its 15-member squad for the Champions Trophy. 

The selection committee had already prepared a 15-member squad list last week for both the Champions Trophy and the tri-series. This squad will be presented to PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi for final approval. Once approved, the squad will be officially announced.

Earlier, PCB had submitted a list of 20 players to the ICC, which included Saim Ayub’s name. However, only 15 players will be selected for the final squad.

Possible 15-Member Squad

The final squad is expected to be chosen from these players:

Mohammad Rizwan (Captain)
Salman Ali Agha (Vice-Captain)
Babar Azam
Tayyab Tahir
Irfan Khan Niazi
Sufiyan Muqeem
Mohammad Hasnain
Abdullah Shafique
Naseem Shah
Usman Khan
Shaheen Shah Afridi
Haris Rauf
Abrar Ahmed
Kamran Ghulam
Imam-ul-Haq
Fakhar Zaman
Haseebullah
Abbas Afridi

As per ICC regulations, all teams must announce their final squad by midnight on February 11. After this deadline, any changes in the squad will require approval from the ICC Technical Committee.

PCB has until February 11 to finalize the squad. Any modifications after this date will need special permission from the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Former South African captain AB de Villiers, who retired from all formats of cricket four years ago, has announced his return to the game.

On Tuesday, de Villiers confirmed that cricket fans will once again see him on the field.

He retired from international cricket in 2018 but continued playing franchise cricket until 2021 before stepping away entirely. His last match was in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Now, de Villiers has announced his participation in the second edition of the World Championship of Legends this year. He will not only represent the South Africa Champions team but also lead them as captain.

Explaining his decision to return, de Villiers said, “Four years ago, I retired from all formats of cricket because I no longer had the desire to play. But time has passed, and now my son has started playing cricket too.”

“It feels like my passion for cricket is coming back,” he added. “That’s why I am returning to the gym and net practice. I am getting ready to play in the World Championship of Legends in July.”

Cricket fans are thrilled with his comeback and are eagerly waiting to see the versatile batter in action once again.

Amandeep Singh, co-owner and founder of the South Africa Champions team, expressed his excitement. “It is an honour for us to witness the incredible skills of legendary cricketers in the World Championship of Legends.”

The team’s other co-owner, Harry Singh, also shared his thoughts. “AB de Villiers is not just a player; he is an icon who has inspired millions around the world. His decision to lead our team is proof of his love for the game.”

The World Championship of Legends is a T20 tournament featuring retired and unsigned cricket legends.  

The second edition is set to take place in July this year.  

In the first season’s final, Pakistan and India faced off in an exciting match, with the Indian team emerging victorious.

Indian skipper Rohit Sharma has reportedly filed a complaint with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) against former legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar.

During the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia, Sharma struggled with both his batting and captaincy. He managed to score a mere 31 runs in the three Test matches of the series. Under his leadership, India lost the series 3-1 and was eliminated from the race for the World Test Championship final.

Due to this disappointing performance, Gavaskar strongly criticised Sharma’s batting and captaincy. He also raised concerns about Sharma’s future in red-ball cricket. Gavaskar went on to suggest that it was time for the captain to hand over reins to someone else for the betterment of the Indian team.

According to Indian media reports, Sharma was unhappy with the “unnecessary” criticism and has now filed a complaint against Gavaskar.

Sharma also believed the former cricketer’s criticism was too harsh, reports said, adding that it was what prompted him to file the complaint.

In a major development in Saudi football, Al-Hilal, one of the country’s top clubs, has officially ended its contract with Brazilian superstar Neymar Jr. Both sides mutually agreed to terminate the deal, opening new opportunities for the 32-year-old striker.

Neymar joined Al-Hilal in August 2023 from Paris Saint-Germain in a massive €90 million ($94 million) transfer. 

However, his time with the club was cut short after he suffered a serious ACL injury while playing for Brazil. Despite the injury, Neymar was part of the team that won the Saudi League title last season.

During his time at Al-Hilal, Neymar only made seven appearances, scoring one goal and providing two assists. Although his contract was supposed to run until after this year’s FIFA Club World Cup in the United States (June 15 – July 13), both parties decided to end it early.

Al-Hilal wrote in a statement, “Al Hilal Club Company and Neymar Jr. have agreed to terminate their contractual relationship by mutual consent. The club expresses its thanks and appreciation to Neymar for what he has provided throughout his career with Al-Hilal and wishes him success in his career.”

With his contract terminated, Neymar’s future remains a hot topic. While rumours suggest he might join Inter Miami and reunite with Lionel Messi, reports indicate he is heading back to Santos FC, his boyhood club in Brazil — an update also confirmed by renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano.

He will reportedly undergo medical tests and complete formalities to return to the club where he won six titles, including the Copa Libertadores in 2011.

Former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Moin Khan has expressed his disappointment over the overly friendly relationships between Pakistani and Indian cricketers on the field.

In a recent interview on The Knock Knock Show hosted by actress Ushna Shah, the ex-cricketer shared his concerns about the current behaviour of Pakistani players during matches against India.

Ushna asked, “Why are Pakistani cricketers now seen taking pictures with players like Virat Kohli, unlike in the past when cricket and entertainment received love across borders.”

Moin responded, “It hurts me to see our players laughing and joking with Indian cricketers. We used to respect them mutually, but we maintained a professional attitude on the field. There was a time when our team was far ahead of India, but now they have surpassed us. The advantage we created back then is still benefiting them.”

Moin Khan added that while good relations with Indian players existed in the past, professionalism always came first. “Even if I had a favourite Indian player, I never behaved casually on the field, like checking their bat or being overly friendly. Our players don’t realise the negative message they send with such actions.”

He further explained that such behaviour could give the opposing team an edge psychologically. “When you act like this, the rival team uses it to dominate you because mentally, you start to lag,” he said.

Moin also shared how he emphasised professionalism whenever he held a position of authority. “Whenever I was in a leadership role, I always told players not to adopt such behaviour. Even Wasim Akram used to be upset about this attitude. Our players have forgotten how to show aggression on the field.”

“You would never see players like Wasim, Waqar, or Shoaib joking around, checking bats, or taking selfies with Indian cricketers during matches,” he concluded.

Moin Khan’s comments come after a number of recent instances of Pakistani cricketers being seen in friendly moments with Indian players. 

For example, Shaheen Afridi gifted Jasprit Bumrah a special present to congratulate him on the birth of his daughter. In addition, many national cricketers like Babar Azam, Shadab Khan, and Shaheen have shared lighter moments with Kohli during a number of matches.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, during his visit to the United States, assured USA Cricket of full support to promote the sport in the country.

According to reports, during a meeting with the Chief Executive Officer of USA Cricket, both sides agreed to finalize plans for organizing a cricket series between the two nations. Chairman Naqvi expressed PCB’s willingness to assist in every possible way to help cricket grow in the US.

He also offered to train American cricket coaches in Pakistan, emphasizing PCB’s commitment to strengthening cricket ties between the two countries. Additionally, Naqvi invited the CEO of USA Cricket to visit Pakistan to watch the Champions Trophy. 

According to Naqvi, there are significant opportunities to promote cricket between Pakistan and the United States. The CEO appreciated the invitation and thanked PCB Chairman for his support.

Pakistan Super League (PSL) Chief Executive Salman Naseer was also present during the meeting.

PCB to hold PSL matches in the US: report

Previously, there were reports that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is planning to host some future Pakistan Super League (PSL) games in the United States (US) to attract potential foreign franchise owners.

According to reports, the PCB, ahead of the upcoming 10th edition of the league, has already started working towards expanding it by adding two new teams to the 2026 season.

Two Pakistani individuals active in American cricket have shown interest in buying the new franchises, and discussions in this regard are ongoing.

While PSL head Salman Naseer is also currently on a trip to the US, among those rumoured to buy the new teams is a key cricket stakeholder in Pakistan, reports said.

Earlier, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, while attending the inauguration ceremony of US President Donald Trump, met with two Pakistani officials involved in American cricket.

Most team owners and cricket officials in US cricket are Indians, making it challenging for Pakistan to establish a foothold. However, the PCB believes they cannot leave such a big market solely to India and so they are exploring various opportunities.

Two new teams to join PSL

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has revealed exciting news about the Pakistan Super League (PSL), saying, “We will auction two new teams for the next PSL season.”

During a ceremony in Sialkot on Sunday, Naqvi said, “We have decided to introduce two new teams in the next PSL season, and we think that one team will belong to Sialkot. The auction process will be transparent, and we are confident this will make the league more competitive and entertaining.”

“We are committed to upgrading cricket venues across the country to ensure they meet international standards,” Naqvi added.

The current PSL format features six teams, including Islamabad United, Karachi Kings, Lahore Qalandars, Multan Sultans, Peshawar Zalmi, and Quetta Gladiators. 

With the addition of new teams next season, the league is set to grow, promising even more excitement and opportunities for players and fans alike.

A notable incident occurred during the Tata Steel Chess Tournament when Uzbek Grandmaster Nodirbek Yakubboev refused to shake hands with Indian Grandmaster R Vaishali, sparking widespread discussion on social media.

The event unfolded when Yakubboev approached the table for his match against Vaishali. As the Indian Grandmaster extended her hand for a handshake, Yakubboev declined with a gesture, which was captured on video and quickly went viral online.

Following the video’s circulation, Yakubboev faced criticism for his actions. Addressing the controversy, he posted a detailed clarification on the microblogging platform X (formerly Twitter).

He wrote, “Dear chess friends, I want to explain the situation that happened in the game with Vaishali. With all due respect to women and Indian chess players, I want to inform everyone that I do not touch other women for religious reasons.   I respect Vaishali and her brother as the strongest chess players in India. If I have offended her with my behaviour, I apologize. I have some additional explanations. Chess is not haram. “

“What I did before (referring to the game with Divya in 2023 and cases like that) I consider it wrong for me. I do what I need to do. I do not insist others not to shake hands with the opposite gender or for women to wear hijab or burqa. It is their business what to do,” he further stated.

India paceman Jasprit Bumrah was Monday named men’s Test cricketer of the year for 2024 by the International Cricket Council.

The right-arm quick returned to the five-day format in late 2023 following a lengthy absence due to a back injury.

Bumrah, 31, was the leading wicket-taker in Test cricket in 2024, topping the charts with 71, well clear of second-placed Gus Atkinson of England (52 in 11 matches).

His average across the year was a breathtaking 14.92 and he ended 2024 with a strike rate for the year of just 30.1.

“Test cricket has always been a format I hold close to my heart, and to be recognised on this platform is truly special,” said Bumrah.

“This award is not just a reflection of my individual efforts but also of the unwavering support of my teammates, coaches, and fans who continue to believe and inspire me every day.

“Representing India is a privilege I deeply cherish, and knowing my efforts bring smiles to people around the world makes this journey even more special.”

Bumrah beat England batsmen Harry Brook and Joe Root as well as Sri Lanka’s Kamindu Mendis to the award, given by the game’s governing body.

Smriti Mandhana made it a double success for India as she was voted women’s one-day international cricketer of the year for the second time.

Afghanistan all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai clinched the men’s ODI award.