Category: Sports

Former International Cricket Council (ICC) chairman and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Ehsan Mani has said Pakistan will not face any sanctions for boycotting its scheduled T20 World Cup match against India.

Speaking to media, Mani said, “If the Pakistan team follows government instructions and skips the match, no punishment can be imposed.” He stressed that India also refused to play its matches in Pakistan during the 2025 Champions Trophy due to government directives. “So applying sanctions on Pakistan now would reflect a double standard.”

Mani criticized the ICC for failing to address the issue properly, saying, “It stood by as a spectator and left the door open for politics to enter the sport.”

Senior sports journalist Faizan Lakhani also responded to Indian media claims on X that the ICC could ban Pakistan from future events. 

He wrote, “Those claiming ‘ICC will do this, ICC will do that’ should first understand how contracts work. Every major contract or agreement includes a force majeure clause. It covers government-mandated decisions, among other factors, and relieves parties from obligations and liabilities arising from such circumstances. That clause provides full legal cover to the PCB as well. Do you really think Pakistan announced this decision without doing its legal homework first?”

Pakistan had allowed its national cricket team to participate in the T20 World Cup. However, in a gesture of solidarity with Bangladesh, the team will boycott the February 15 match against India.

The Government of Pakistan has allowed the national team to take part in the upcoming T20 World Cup but has decided not to play a scheduled February 15 match against India.

Pakistan reportedly took the decision in solidarity with Bangladesh in a move that has triggered major financial concerns for Indian broadcasters.

The Pakistan-India clash ranks as the most valuable fixture in world cricket. Reports estimate that Indian broadcasters could lose nearly $250 million (around 70 billion Pakistani rupees) if the match is not played. The ICC could also lose millions of dollars in gate revenue.

Industry estimates suggest that almost half of the total revenue generated from the T20 World Cup depends on the Pak-India fixture. The boycott is expected to impact broadcasters, advertisers and tournament stakeholders.

Pakistan receives around $35 million each year as its revenue share from the ICC. Following broadcaster losses, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) could face legal action from the ICC over commercial commitments.

The decision follows Bangladesh’s request to shift all its matches from India to Sri Lanka due to security concerns. The request came after the BCCI removed Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the Indian Premier League amid reported threats from Hindu extremist groups.

Bangladesh argued that if India could not guarantee the safety of a single player, it could not ensure the security of an entire team during a global event.

Instead of addressing the concerns, the ICC replaced Bangladesh with Scotland in the tournament. Pakistan termed the move unfair and pointed out that the ICC had earlier allowed India to play at a neutral venue after it refused to travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025.

Pakistan said it stood firmly with Bangladesh and called the denial of similar consideration an injustice.

Earlier, Pakistan had linked its participation in the tournament to government approval. After PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif last week, the government announced on Sunday that Pakistan would skip the high-profile match against India.

Despite the decision, Pakistan remains well placed to qualify for the next round based on its remaining group matches.

Pakistan Test cricketer Fawad Alam has stepped into the world of singing and released the teaser of a World Cup song made for the national team.

Fawad Alam has prepared the song titled “Cricket Junoon” to support Pakistan’s campaign in the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup. He confirmed that the full song will be released on February 5.

Talking about his first musical project, Fawad said that the song has been created specially to boost the spirit of the Pakistan team and its fans. He shared that the lyrics and composition have been done by Wajid Saeed, while Mohsin Talat has directed the music video.

Fawad Alam has represented Pakistan in 19 Test matches, 38 One Day Internationals and 24 T20 Internationals. He was also part of the Pakistan squad that won the ICC T20 World Cup in 2009.

Meanwhile, Pakistan cricket team has arrived in Sri Lanka ahead of the tournament and will take a two-day rest. The team will then play a warm-up match against Ireland on February 4 as part of its preparations.

The ICC T20 World Cup will begin on February 7. Pakistan will start its campaign on the opening day against the Netherlands. The national side will face the United States on February 10 and Namibia on February 18.

In line with the government’s decision, Pakistan will not play its scheduled match against India on February 15.

Lahore Qalandars have confirmed that their long-standing all-rounder David Wiese will miss Pakistan Super League (PSL) Season 11 due to unforeseen circumstances and important family commitments.

Wiese has shared a strong association with the Qalandars over the past seven seasons and plans to return in future editions of the PSL. 

During his time with the franchise, he played a vital role with both bat and ball and contributed significantly as part of the team’s leadership group. His experience, calm under pressure, and mentorship of younger players have been key to the Qalandars’ journey and success.

Lahore Qalandars owner Sameen Rana said, “David has been an integral part of the Lahore Qalandars family and our leadership group for many years. His contributions extend far beyond on-field performances. We fully respect his decision to prioritise his family at this time and look forward to welcoming him back in the coming seasons.”

Wiese shared his thoughts on his time with the team on his social media accounts, saying, “Being part of Lahore Qalandars has been more than just cricket—it’s been a family. The brotherhood within the team, the positive and supportive environment, and the passion everyone brings every day make this franchise truly special. Being called a Murshad by the team and fans is something I will always cherish.”

“The love and respect I’ve received over the years from everyone associated with Lahore Qalandars is immense, and it’s humbling to know that my guidance and presence, both on and off the field, have made a difference. I’m proud to have been part of a group that values teamwork, growth, and the spirit of the game, and I look forward to returning and contributing to the team’s journey in the seasons ahead,” he added.

In seven seasons with Lahore Qalandars, Wiese has played 53 PSL matches, scoring 629 runs at an average of 25.16 with a strike rate of 162.11. He has also taken 38 wickets at an economy rate of 8.20, delivering match-winning performances with both bat and ball throughout his time with the franchise.

Pakistan’s decision to skip its upcoming T20 World Cup match against India has sparked a range of different reactions in Indian political circles. Shashi Tharoor, Congress’ Member of Parliament (MP), said the situation should serve as a wake-up call for everyone involved.

While talking to reporters on an Indian TV channel, Tharoor said, “It is pretty disgraceful that sport has been politicised in this way on both sides, frankly. I don’t think that Mustafizur [Bangladeshi cricketer Mustafizur Rahman] should have been denied his contract to play in Kolkata. It was most unfortunate, intrusion of politics. I think the Bangladeshi reaction was an overreaction but it is also a reflection of the same and Pakistan is trying to show its solidarity with Bangladesh. This whole thing is spiralling out of control.”

He added, “I think we need to really need to come to an understanding that sports, especially a sport like Cricket which means so much to all the people, should be a means of bringing us together at least on the playing field, rather than allowing this to go on like this. Let’s call off this nonsense. You can’t go on like this forever.”

The controversy started when Bangladesh asked the ICC to move all its matches from India to Sri Lanka due to security concerns. The Board of Control for Cricket in India had removed Mustafizur Rahman from the IPL amid threats from Hindu extremist groups. Bangladesh argued that if India cannot secure a single player, it cannot guarantee the safety of an entire team.

The ICC replaced Bangladesh with Scotland in the tournament instead of addressing the issue. Pakistan called this decision unfair, noting that the ICC had previously given India a separate venue when it refused to travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025. Pakistan said it stands with Bangladesh, calling the denial of the same consideration an injustice.

Pakistan had said its participation would depend on the government’s decision. After PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif last week, the government announced on Sunday that Pakistan’s national team will skip the high-voltage match against India scheduled for February 15.

Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has expressed support for the government’s decision not to play against India in the upcoming T20 World Cup.

Sharing his views on X, Afridi said, “I’ve always believed cricket can open doors when politics closes them. It’s regrettable that Pakistan won’t play India at the #T20WorldCup, but I stand behind my government’s decision.”

Afridi added that this situation is a test for the ICC. “This is the moment for @ICC [International Cricket Council] to lead and prove through decisions, not statements, that it is impartial, independent and fair to every member,” he said.

Former Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez also shared his reaction on X. He said, “Started *No Handshake* from India… I am surprised by Pakistan’s withdrawal from the most important game of the ICC tournament. This is not an ideal situation for fans of cricket. Worried.”

The decision follows Bangladesh’s request to the ICC to move all its matches from India to Sri Lanka due to security concerns. The request came after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) removed Mustafizur Rahman from the Indian Premier League (IPL) amid threats from Hindu extremist groups. 

Bangladesh argued that if India cannot ensure the security of a single player, it becomes difficult to guarantee the safety of an entire team.

Instead of resolving the issue, the ICC replaced Bangladesh with Scotland in the tournament. Pakistan described the decision as unfair, pointing out that the ICC had previously granted India a separate venue when it refused to travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025. 

Pakistan said it stands with Bangladesh, calling the denial of the same consideration an injustice.

Earlier, Pakistan had stated that its participation would depend on the government’s decision. However, after PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif last week to discuss participation in the event, the government announced on Sunday that Pakistan’s national team will skip the high-voltage match against India scheduled for February 15.

Pakistan produced a historic performance in the third and final T20I against Australia, sealing a dominant clean sweep and handing the visitors their worst defeat in the format. The match ended with Pakistan winning by a massive 111 runs.

Batting first, Pakistan posted 207 runs, their highest ever T20I total against Australia.  In reply, Australia collapsed for just 96 runs, recording their heaviest defeat in T20 Internationals. Their previous worst loss had come in 2005, when England beat them by 100 runs.

As the one-sided contest unfolded, social media exploded with reactions from fans on both sides. 

Pakistani supporters celebrated the dominance with pride and disbelief. One viral post summed up the mood perfectly: “Bhai AI hai.” Another widely shared reaction read, “This is Pakistan cricket at its best Well done boys .” Even Australian fans could not hide their frustration, with the X account Aussies Army writing, “Embarrassing situation .” 

Meanwhile, optimism flooded Pakistani timelines, with comments like, “Insha Allah 2026 World Cup is ours this time,” and “Ab lagh raha sahi Pak team download hogayi.”

On the field, Pakistan’s bowlers delivered a ruthless performance. Mohammad Nawaz produced a career-defining spell, taking five wickets and becoming the first Pakistani bowler to claim a five-wicket haul against Australia in T20I. He also became only the second Pakistani overall to achieve the feat in the format, after Umar Gul.

Shaheen Shah Afridi added another milestone to his name by completing 25 wickets in the first over of T20I, once again proving his impact with the new ball.

With the bat, Babar Azam continued his record-breaking run. His half-century in the match took his tally to 39 T20 International fifties, the most by any player in the format.

Pakistan completed the series clean sweep in emphatic fashion, winning the first match by 22 runs, the second by 90 runs and the third by 111 runs.

Pakistan on Saturday defeated Australia by 90 runs in the second T20I at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, taking a 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

After winning the toss, Pakistan chose to bat first and started aggressively from the very first over. 

Despite losing Sahibzada Farhan in the second over, captain Salman Ali Agha and Saim Ayub continued to attack the Australian bowlers. Saim Ayub scored 23 runs off 11 balls before being dismissed in the sixth over.

Pakistan finished the powerplay with 72 runs for the loss of two wickets, hitting three sixes and ten boundaries. Babar Azam fell for 2, trapped by Adam Zampa, but Salman Ali Agha maintained the momentum with a half-century off just 25 balls. His 50 was the second-fastest half-century by a Pakistani captain in T20 internationals after Mohammad Hafeez, who scored 50 off 23 balls.

Pakistan posted 198 runs for five wickets in their 20 overs. Salman Ali Agha led the innings with 76, while Usman Khan contributed 52 runs.

Chasing 199, Australia struggled from the start. Abrar Ahmed removed Mitchell Marsh for 18 runs in the first over, followed by Saim Ayub dismissing Travis Head for 4 in the next over.

Other Australian contributions included Cameron Green 35, Matthew Short 27, Xavier Bartlett 10, Josh Inglis 5, Matt Renshaw 2, Cooper Connolly 1, and Matthew Kuhnemann 2. Sean Abbott was dismissed for a duck. Australia were bowled out for 108 in just 15.4 overs.

For Pakistan, Shadab Khan and Abrar Ahmed picked up three wickets each, Usman Tariq took two, while Saim Ayub and Mohammad Nawaz claimed one wicket apiece.

Pakistan now leads the three-match series 2-0, with the final match scheduled at Gaddafi Stadium tomorrow.

Former Multan Sultans owner Ali Tareen has decided to re-enter the bidding process for the Multan franchise ahead of an upcoming auction of Pakistan Super League (PSL). 

According to the reports, Ali Tareen has formally submitted the required documents to take part in the bidding for Multan Sultans, marking a possible return to the franchise he once owned.

Tareen announced his departure from Multan Sultans on November 25, 2025, following public disputes with the PSL authorities.  The situation escalated when the PSL board issued a notice to the franchise, which Tareen tore up on video and shared online with mocking remarks.

Earlier, he had ruled out retaining the franchise and instead showed interest in bidding for the league’s two new teams. However, he withdrew from that process at the final stage saying if he returned to the PSL, it would be for South Punjab. 

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is expected to auction the Multan franchise on February 8 or 9. 

Earlier reports had suggested that PCB might run Multan Sultans for the upcoming season, but after the successful auction of two new teams, the board reportedly decided to auction Multan Sultans as well.

On January 8, the PCB auctioned two new teams for PSL 11 at the Jinnah Convention Centre in Islamabad. The Kingsmen Group secured the Hyderabad franchise for PKR 1.75 billion, while OZ Developers acquired the Sialkot franchise for a record PKR 1.85 billion.

With the addition of Hyderabad and Sialkot, the eleventh edition of the PSL will feature eight teams for the first time. Multan will complete the expanded lineup alongside the existing franchises.

Ahead of the new season, the PCB has also announced a major change to the league’s player recruitment process. The board has replaced the decade-old draft system with an auction model, starting from PSL 11.

HBL PSL 11 will begin on March 26 and run until May 3, 2026. The tournament will also expand its city footprint, with Faisalabad’s Iqbal Stadium set to host PSL matches for the first time, bringing top-tier cricket back to the city.

The Australian cricket team’s tour of Pakistan has sparked an unexpected debate, with fans expressing anger over the quality of questions asked by Pakistani journalists during press conferences. 

Australia are in Pakistan for a three-match T20I series. The opening match took place on Thursday at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, where Pakistan secured a 22-run victory. 

Despite the competitive cricket on display, much of the post-match discussion online has focused on press conference questions rather than on-field performances.

Fans criticised journalists for repeatedly asking Australian players non-technical and predictable questions, mostly centred around Pakistani players such as Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi. Many argued that not a single question addressed match tactics, conditions, or Australia’s own team strategy.

The criticism began during the trophy unveiling ceremony on Wednesday, where Australian captain Mitchell Marsh faced a series of similar questions. 

Journalists asked him how he rated the current Pakistani squad, especially Shaheen Afridi, whether Australian players enjoyed playing the Big Bash League alongside Pakistan cricketers, and which Pakistani players he considered dangerous or capable of troubling Australia.

The pattern continued after the first T20I. During the post-match press conference, Australian spinner Adam Zampa was asked how he felt after dismissing Babar Azam. 

The question drew particular backlash online, as fans pointed out that Zampa is one of Australia’s leading spinners and not a gully cricketer.

Zampa has dismissed Babar six times in international cricket, including Thursday’s match, making the question seem unnecessary to many viewers.

Social media users reacted strongly, accusing journalists of forcing Australian players to praise Pakistani stars rather than discussing cricket in depth.

“What kind of questions are these journalists asking Australian players? Always forcing them to praise Bobzie. Grow up and have some shame. He was clearly uncomfortable,” one user wrote.

Another commented, “Abe kia journalist ke pas or koi sawal nahi hota Babar ke ilawa?” [Don’t journalists have any other questions besides Babar?]

Frustration with the Pakistan Cricket Board also surfaced in several reactions. “Yar PCB khuda ka wasta hai, ya to educated journalists le aao ya phir inhein proper sawal likh kar de diya karo,” one fan posted [PCB, for God’s sake, either bring forth educated journalists or give them proper written questions].

Some fans expressed second-hand embarrassment over the exchanges. “Question ye puch rahe hain, sharam mujhe aa rahi hai,” a user said [They are asking these questions, and I feel embarrassed].

Others were more direct in their criticism. “Pathetic questions, such a shame,” one comment read, while another added, “PCB should only allow specific qualified journalists to ask questions. This is embarrassing.”

As the series continues, fans are calling for more thoughtful and technical questioning. 

Coming back to the field, this was Pakistan’s first T20I win over Australia in seven years. The second T20I of the series will be played at the same venue on Saturday.