Category: Sports

Sydney Thunder captain David Warner took aim at Brisbane Heat’s Pakistani pacer Zaman Khan during their Big Bash League (BBL) match on Saturday, saying he bowled like a “four-year-old”.

Warner, who smashed 82 off 56 deliveries at the Gabba, confronted the umpires between overs about Zaman’s bowling action. “He is bowling like a four-year-old bowling. It’s stays so low,” the Australian legend said.

“Like a four-year-old bowling. It stays so low.”

David Warner on Zaman Khan’s action. #BBL15 pic.twitter.com/dv9Bzw4G5v

— KFC Big Bash League (@BBL) January 10, 2026

The 24-year-old Zaman Khan, who replaced the injured Shaheen Afridi in Brisbane Heat’s lineup, endured a difficult debut for his new franchise. 

He conceded 32 runs across three wicketless overs, including 14 runs in his third over alone to Warner and Sam Billings.

Warner opened the innings alongside Matthew Gilkes and hammered eight boundaries and three sixes to power Sydney Thunder to 180-6 in 20 overs. 

Billings contributed 34 off 26 balls while Nic Maddinson added 21 off 14 after the early dismissals of Gilkes and Cameron Bancroft.

Zaman previously played for Sydney Thunder in BBL 13, taking eight wickets in four games. Brisbane Heat brought him in after Shaheen Afridi was ruled out of the BBL 2025-26 season due to injury.

Former New Zealand batter Martin Guptill has expressed his excitement after the Kingsmen (FKS) Group secured one of the two new franchises in the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

The PSL officially expanded on Thursday as Hyderabad and Sialkot were confirmed as the two new franchises following a high-stakes auction held at the Jinnah Convention Centre in Islamabad.

The two teams will make their debut appearance in PSL season 11, joining the existing six franchises: Karachi Kings, Lahore Qalandars, Peshawar Zalmi, Quetta Gladiators, Islamabad United and Multan Sultans.

The FKS Group, owned by Fawad Sarwar, secured the seventh franchise for Hyderabad with a successful bid of Rs1.75 billion. OZ Developers, owned by Hamza Majeed, then clinched the eighth franchise with a record-breaking bid of Rs 1.85 billion, announcing it will represent Sialkot.

Guptill, who has represented three franchises in the PSL from 2020 to 2024, shared his excitement on Instagram.

The 39-year-old posted a picture of the Hyderabad owners receiving souvenirs from Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi on his story.

“Kingsmen Cricket USA, how good is this,” the caption of his Instagram story read.

While the official names of both franchises will be announced at a later stage, PSL 11 is set to be the biggest edition of the tournament to date with the addition of two new teams. 

The tournament is scheduled to run from March 26 to May 3.

World Squash Officiating (WSO) has released an official statement following a controversial match at the Karachi Open where Egyptian player Fares Dessouky received multiple conduct violations and ultimately lost by default.

The incident occurred on January 7 during a Round of 16 match between Dessouky, ranked 15th in the world, and Pakistan’s Noor Zaman, the under-23 world champion ranked 38th. 

The confrontation escalated when Dessouky questioned the referee’s nationality, creating a tense atmosphere on court.

Dessouky challenged several calls throughout the match and repeatedly disputed decisions made by Pakistani referee Sajjad Khan. 

The situation reached a breaking point in the fifth game when Dessouky, trailing 3-6, refused to accept the referee’s authority. Despite multiple warnings, he continued arguing and shouting from outside the court, prompting the referee to award the match to Zaman.

WSO’s statement outlined the sequence of penalties Dessouky received: a conduct warning for dissent at 7-7 in the fourth game, a conduct stroke during the interval that gave Zaman a 1-0 lead to start the fifth game, another warning for racket abuse at 5-3, and finally a conduct match penalty at 6-3 for directing an audible obscenity at the official.

The organization acknowledged one scoring error during the second game where Zaman incorrectly received two points instead of one. WSO will conduct a full review of the match and provide feedback to the referee while addressing the error with Dessouky.

Refree Sajjad Khan also filed a formal report with the Professional Squash Association (PSA) regarding the incident. Dessouky shook hands with Zaman as he left the court.

“Referees can make mistakes, but players need to maintain proper behavior,” Zaman said after the match, expressing disappointment at how it ended.

Zaman’s tournament run ended in the quarterfinals on January 9, when he lost to Egypt’s Mohamed Elshorbagy, the fourth seed and world number 9, in a thrilling five-game match at DHA Creek Club.

Pakistan Super League (PSL) completed its franchise auction on Thursday, adding two new teams to the tournament as FKS Group acquired the Hyderabad franchise for PKR 1.75 billion while OZ Developers bought the Sialkot franchise for a record PKR 1.85 billion.

The bidding process took place at Jinnah Convention Centre in Islamabad with 10 groups initially registered to participate. Ali Tareen Group withdrew just before the auction started, leaving nine groups to compete for the two franchises.

Fawad Sarwar of Kingsmen (FKS Group)

Fawad Sarwar, president of FKS Group, secured the seventh franchise for PKR 1.75 billion (approximately $6.25 million). The US-based businessman announced the team would carry the name of Hyderabad, with the full franchise name to be revealed later.

Sarwar was born and raised in Hyderabad, where he completed his early education before pursuing higher studies at leading international institutions. Although he currently resides in the United States, his emotional connection with Hyderabad remains strong.

“I always wanted Hyderabad to have representation in the PSL,” Sarwar said, adding that acquiring a PSL team to carry the city’s name had been a long-standing dream.

Sarwar is the founder and owner of Kingsmen Sports and Enterprises and owns the Chicago Kingsmen cricket team in the United States. A cricket enthusiast, he has remained actively involved in promoting the sport through business and investment.

As president of FKS Group, Sarwar oversees a diverse portfolio including FKS Aviation, ProCare Health and Kingsmen Enterprise. He also leads several investment firms, including Gilded Investments, Sand2Glass Investments and Minus2Degrees.

Sarwar described the acquisition as a personal milestone and a tribute to his hometown of Hyderabad.

OZ Developers 

Hamza Majeed Chaudhry, chairman of OZ Group, claimed the eighth franchise after OZ Developers won the bid for PKR 1.85 billion and named the team after Sialkot.

The franchise marks Sialkot’s entry into Pakistan’s premier T20 league. The team will represent the city, internationally known for its deep-rooted connection with cricket and sports manufacturing.

Chaudhry is an overseas Pakistani who previously lived in Australia before relocating to Pakistan a few years ago. He is widely regarded as a cricket enthusiast with a strong interest in promoting the game at both domestic and international levels.

Chaudhry has been involved in international cricket initiatives, including sponsorship of the World Championship of Legends (WCL) held in the United Kingdom.

Under Chaudhry’s leadership, OZ Group has established a presence across multiple sectors. Its associated brands, including Wise Market, hold a notable position in the business landscape. The group’s entry into PSL represents a significant move towards business expansion and a contribution to Pakistan’s national sport.

The expansion strengthens the league’s commercial value, improves regional representation and enhances global recognition. The two teams will join the competition in season 11 alongside the existing franchises: Karachi Kings, Lahore Qalandars, Peshawar Zalmi, Quetta Gladiators, Islamabad United and Multan Sultans.

The Pakistan Super League (PSL) completed its franchise auction on Thursday, adding two new teams to the tournament as FKS Group acquired the seventh franchise Hyderabad for PKR 1.75 billion while OZ Developers bought the eighth franchise Sialkot for a record PKR 1.85 billion.

The bidding process took place at Jinnah Convention Centre in Islamabad with ten groups initially registered to participate. Ali Tareen Group withdrew just before the auction started, leaving nine groups to compete for the two franchises.

The auction for the seventh franchise opened with a base price of PKR1.10 billion. In the end, FKS Group sealed the deal at PKR 1.75 billion and announced Hyderabad as the new team.

PCB set the base price for the eighth franchise at PKR1.70 billion. I2C Group opened with PKR 1.72 billion, prompting M-Next Group to counter with PKR 1.73 billion. I2C then took a break to reassess its strategy.

M-Next returned with a PKR 1.76 billion bid, but OZ Developers raised the stakes to PKR 1.78 billion. I2C pushed back with PKR1.80 billion, forcing OZ Developers to take their own timeout. OZ Developers came back with PKR1.81 billion, which I2C beat with PKR 1.82 billion.

In a decisive move, OZ Developers jumped to PKR1.85 billion, securing the most expensive franchise in PSL history. The eighth franchise will represent Sialkot.

Argentine footballing star Lionel Messi has revealed that his post-retirement ambitions lean towards club ownership rather than management, taking inspiration from his Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham.

“I don’t see myself as a coach. I like the idea of being a manager, but I’d prefer to be an owner,” Messi said during a recent YouTube interview with an Argentinian channel.

“I’d like to have my own club, start from the bottom, and make it grow. To be able to give the kids the opportunity to develop and achieve something important. If I had to choose, that’s what would appeal to me the most.”

The 37-year-old Argentine legend, who remains firmly focused on his playing career after signing a contract extension with Inter Miami through 2028, in October last year said it made him really happy to stay and to continue with the project that, besides being a dream, has “become a beautiful reality”.

“Since I arrived in Miami, I’ve been very happy, so I’m truly glad to keep going here. We’re all really excited about the moment when we can finally play at Miami Freedom Park. It’s going to be something very special to play at home in such a spectacular stadium.”

Last November at the American Business Forum, he also spoke about his growing interest in the business world.

“I like to start looking at what could come next. I like the business world; I want to keep learning. I’m just getting started with it,” he said. “I’ve always been 100 per cent dedicated to my profession, but I know that something else is coming and little by little, I’m getting involved.”

Before retirement, Messi will also defend Argentina’s World Cup title in 2026 and chase another MLS Cup with Inter Miami.

A clip from the commentary box during the fifth Australia-England Test has gone viral after David Warner revealed that England wicketkeeper-batter Jonny Bairstow was unhappy with the England and Wales Cricket Board’s (ECB) policy on player participation in franchise cricket. 

During a discussion featuring Michael Vaughan, Adam Gilchrist, and Warner, the commentators discussed how the IPL’s scheduling and commitments pull players away from international and domestic duties.

Vaughan raised the issue of franchise obligations, stating that England players tied to IPL teams must commit to the full tournament. “I think England players, David probably knows more, that was signed to the franchise IPL teams. You had to commit for the full tournament. And that was the deal that was done,” Vaughan explained.

Warner then revealed the controversy surrounding England’s franchise cricket policy. “I think England and New Zealand are the same. They’re allowing their players to go over there before. I think England, I’m not too sure. You can only play one franchise tournament, I think, within that county stint. And I think Johnny Bairstow wasn’t happy that he couldn’t go and play PSL. So they were allowing him to play IPL but not PSL. And that was the argument of why they allowed them just to play that specifically,” Warner stated.

The Australian opener explained how different boards manage franchise participation. “With Australia, they’re remunerated 110 percent. 100 percent goes to the player, 10 percent to Cricket Australia. And that’s how the initial deal was done to get the Australian players the ticket of approval to go over there. So, and that’s how you have to get those competitions up and running. And now look at it. It’s a juggernaut. It’s a great competition,” Warner said.

Warner highlighted Australia’s scheduling dilemma where domestic cricket clashes with the IPL. Australia’s Sheffield Shield finals run into late April, overlapping with the IPL season. 

“Shield cricket goes into the finals or into late April. So if state teams want players like Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazelwood, or Steve Smith for the final, the IPL teams say, well no, we want them over in the IPL. So it’s a decision from CA’s point of view and clearly one from ECB’s point of view,’ Warner explained.”

Both the PSL and IPL 2026 are set to begin in March, 2026, marking the second consecutive year the two leagues will run simultaneously.  The PSL will conclude on May 3, while the IPL will extend until May 31. 

Several high-profile players have already committed to the PSL, with former England all-rounder Moeen Ali and former South Africa captain Faf du Plessis confirming their participation after opting out of the IPL 2026 auction. Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell has also withdrawn from the IPL auction, though his PSL participation remains unconfirmed.

India’s rising T20I star Tilak Varma has undergone emergency surgery in Rajkot on Wednesday and will likely miss the upcoming five-match T20I series against New Zealand, Indian media reports have stated.

The 23-year-old batter experienced acute testicular pain on Wednesday morning in Rajkot, where he was part of the Hyderabad team for the Vijay Hazare Trophy tournament. Medical staff rushed him to Gokul Hospital, where scans diagnosed him with testicular torsion, a condition causing sudden, intense pain.

“Tilak Varma reported acute testicular pain in Rajkot where he is part of the Hyderabad team for the Vijay Hazare tournament. He was taken to Gokul Hospital and on scan was diagnosed with Testicular Torsion (sudden, intense pain) and was advised immediate surgery,” a BCCI official told an Indian media outlet.

The BCCI Centre of Excellence medical team in Bengaluru consulted on the case and agreed with the diagnosis. Doctors successfully performed the surgery on Wednesday evening.

“We got an opinion from our specialists who agreed with the same. Tilak underwent successful surgery and is doing well now. We will update you as soon as we have more information on his recovery and expected time-frame for his return to play post discussion with the medical panel,” the BCCI official added.

Varma is believed to be recovering well and could receive discharge as early as Friday. However, his participation in the T20 World Cup, which begins on February 7, remains uncertain.

A top sports medicine specialist, speaking to Indian media on condition of anonymity, explained that athletes typically need a maximum of one month to recover from this type of emergency surgery. “The recovery duration also depends on how extensive the tissue damage was. Only pain is a factor in these emergency scenarios as the operation is done on a highly innervated structure, where it twists on itself and cuts blood supply,” the specialist said.

Varma has established himself as a crucial player in India’s T20I setup, scoring 1,183 runs in 37 innings at an average of 49.29 and a strike rate of 144.09. He has scored two centuries and six half-centuries in the format.

The BCCI has not yet named a replacement for Varma in the five-match series against New Zealand, which begins on January 21 in Nagpur.

Australia sealed a commanding 4-1 Ashes series victory on Thursday at the Sydney Cricket Ground, defeating England by five wickets in a thrilling finale that saw retiring opener Usman Khawaja bow out of Test cricket.

England posted 384 in their first innings and Australia responded with 567, before England made 342 in their second innings, setting Australia a target of 160 runs. Australia reached the target with 161 for 5, securing victory despite a dramatic collapse.

The hosts wobbled badly in their chase, losing five wickets for 59 runs and giving England a glimmer of hope. Alex Carey and Cameron Green steadied the ship with a crucial 40-run partnership, with Carey hitting the winning boundary to wrap up the match.

The day belonged to emotions and drama. Khawaja, playing his 88th and final Test, walked through a guard of honour from England’s players but managed only six runs from seven balls before Josh Tongue dismissed him. 

The veteran opener performed the sajdah on the outfield and received a standing ovation from the SCG crowd.

Travis Head continued his extraordinary series with 629 runs averaging 62.90, the ninth-most by an Australian in an Ashes series. 

Mitchell Starc was named Player of the Series for his haul of 31 wickets, dominating England’s batting throughout the series.

The series victory marks Australia’s dominance on home soil. Australia won the first Test by eight wickets, the second Test by eight wickets, and the third Test by 82 runs. England claimed their lone victory in the fourth Test, winning by four wickets, before Australia bounced back in Sydney.