Category: Sports

Pakistan has thrown its full support behind Bangladesh’s decision to skip T20 World Cup matches in India, offering to take up the matter with the International Cricket Council (ICC) if needed.

According to reports, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will stand by Bangladesh’s principled stance on player safety. 

“Bangladesh has every right to prioritize the security of its cricketers. If discussions with the ICC become necessary, Pakistan is ready to step in,” a source familiar with the matter told a news outlet.

The controversy began when the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) removed Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the Indian Premier League (IPL) after Hindu extremists threatened to attack Bangladeshi players. The activists also labeled Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) owner Shah Rukh Khan a traitor for signing the left-arm bowler.

Bangladesh responded by banning IPL broadcasts in the country. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has also asked the ICC to shift its T20 World Cup matches from India to Sri Lanka.

Reports added that the ICC previously accepted security concerns as valid grounds when India refused to tour Pakistan for last year’s Champions Trophy, so similar reasoning should apply now.

Bangladesh has three matches scheduled in Kolkata and one in Mumbai for the upcoming tournament.

Indian media reports suggest the ICC has denied Bangladesh’s request to move their matches, though the governing body has not issued an official statement.

Bangladeshi fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman has registered for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) draft after Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) controversially released him from their Indian Premier League (IPL) squad.

Kolkata bought the 30-year-old left-arm pacer for INR 9.20 crore in December’s IPL mini-auction, making him the only Bangladesh player signed for the season. The franchise released him on Saturday after the Board of Control for Cricket in India instructed them to do so.

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia cited “recent developments” as the reason but did not elaborate further.

The decision comes after hardliner Hindutva activists threatened to beat up Bangladeshi cricketers if they participated in the IPL. The activists also warned Bollywood star and KKR owner Shah Rukh Khan against allowing Bangladeshi players to represent his team.

Bangladesh has responded by banning IPL broadcasts in the country. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has also asked the ICC to shift its T20 World Cup matches from India to Sri Lanka.

Mustafizur, known for his variations and death-over bowling, has played in the IPL since 2016. He has represented Sunrisers Hyderabad, Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals, Delhi Capitals, and Chennai Super Kings, taking 65 wickets in 60 matches at an economy rate of 8.13.

The PSL has confirmed that he has registred for the upcoming edition, with the draft expected soon.

Previously, he featured in the PSL for Lahore Qalandars

The Anti-Doping Organization has banned four kabaddi players for four years after they refused to undergo doping tests during the National Championship in Lahore.

The organisation issued a notification in this regard after Obaidullah Rajput, Malik Bin Yamin, Rana Haider and Kashif Sindhu refused to take the tests.

The Pakistan Kabaddi Federation’s Disciplinary Committee has summoned a meeting on January 12 in Lahore, where all four players will appear to present their case.

Earlier in December 2025, the federation faced controversy when Obaidullah also played for an Indian kabaddi team, wearing their jersey and waving the Indian flag at a tournament in Bahrain.

Federation Secretary Rana Sarwar clarified that 16 Pakistani players participated in the Bahrain tournament without representing Pakistan’s national team. 

The federation had neither granted permission for their participation nor issued No Objection Certificates (NOCs).

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has fined Pakistan fast bowler Naseem Shah for violating the code of conduct during the International League T20 final.

The ICC penalised the 22-year-old, who represents Desert Vipers in the tournament, 10 percent of his match fee after he committed a Level 1 breach of the disciplinary code.

The incident occurred on Sunday at Dubai International Cricket Stadium during the season four final between Desert Vipers and MI Emirates.

Match officials found Naseem guilty of breaching Article 2.5 of the ICC Code of Conduct, which prohibits using provocative or insulting behaviour, language or gestures towards a batter following their dismissal.

The confrontation began when MI Emirates captain Kieron Pollard defended a delivery from Naseem, and the ball travelled straight back to the bowler. 

After collecting the ball, Naseem smiled at Pollard, prompting an aggressive response from the West Indian all-rounder. The exchange quickly escalated into a heated verbal altercation.

Both players moved closer to each other during the dispute, with Pollard visibly angry while Naseem responded in kind. Umpires and Desert Vipers teammates intervened immediately to defuse the situation, though both cricketers remained visibly displeased.

Despite the controversy, Desert Vipers claimed their first International League T20 title by defeating MI Emirates by 46 runs at the conclusion of the match.

Amid growing tensions and Indian cricketing authorities’ prejudiced behaviour towards Bangladeshi players, the country has imposed an indefinite ban on the broadcast of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

According to reports, the Bangladesh government confirmed that the IPL telecast ban would remain in effect for an unspecified period with no review date announced.

Sports Adviser Asif Nazrul said the government fully backed the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) stance.

Earlier, Nazr also announced the country’s decision to not send its national team to India for the Twenty20 World Cup over player safety concerns.

The board was instructed to formally request the International Cricket Council (ICC) to shift Bangladesh’s World Cup matches from India to Sri Lanka.

The decision followed Mustafizur Rahman’s sudden release from Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) amid threats from Hindu hardliners. KKR had bought the left-arm pacer for 9.2 crore Indian rupees at the IPL auction in Abu Dhabi last month.

Bangladesh were scheduled to play three matches in Kolkata during the tournament, which is being co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. 

The ICC is yet to respond to Bangladesh’s request.

Pakistan spinner Usman Tariq has strongly defended his bowling action after facing renewed scrutiny during the International League T20 in Abu Dhabi, where he helped Desert Vipers win their first title.

Tariq, who joined the squad as a late replacement for Noor Ahmed, made an immediate impact during the tournament’s crucial stages. 

In the qualifier playoff against MI Emirates, he claimed three vital wickets, including the dismissal of Tom Banton, helping the Vipers reach the final. Controversy erupted when Banton appeared to suggest Tariq’s delivery was “thrown,” reigniting debate over the spinner’s unconventional action.

In an interview before the final, Tariq addressed the allegations head-on, explaining the physical reason behind his unique action. “I have two corners in my hand which makes it hard for me to straighten my hand. It will remain bent, which makes confusion for the spectators,” he said.

The spinner revealed he has already undergone two official tests in Pakistan to clear his action. “I’ve given two tests in Pakistan from the labs. My action was cleared. When I went for the test, within one week it was cleared. I didn’t get the answer in the results that I should change my action or improve the degrees or something. I was confident about my action because I know that I’m not throwing,” he said.

Tariq drew a distinction between his case and other spinners who faced similar allegations. “In history, when any spinner got the allegation, they went to the lab and tried to change their action, tried to develop the right degrees,” he explained. “I was confident about my action because I know that I’m not throwing.”

The 26-year-old spinner emphasized that his action falls within the legal 15-degree limit and expressed frustration with critics who lack understanding of cricket’s technical aspects.

“I would love to give the message to every single person who’s commenting on these things that they should study first about cricket, then they should go for the allegation stuff,” Tariq said. “If you’re not having knowledge about cricket or anything, and you’re just commenting or sharing your thoughts about it, I must say that illiteracy can kill the knowledge. So it’s better to have the knowledge, after that you can comment on anyone.”

In the final against Gulf Giants, Tariq delivered a composed performance, conceding just 20 runs in four overs while picking up two wickets.

Bangladesh will not play their Twenty20 World Cup matches in India after Mustafizur Rahman was released by his Indian Premier League (IPL) team amid threats from Hindu hardliners, Bangladesh’s sports adviser Asif Nazrul said.

Bangladesh are scheduled to play three Twenty20 World Cup matches in Kolkata next month, with the February 7-March 8 tournament being co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.

“Bangladesh will not go to India to play the World Cup. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has taken this decision today,” Nazr, who is an adviser to the Ministry of Sports, said in a statement on Facebook.

“We welcome this decision taken in the context of the extreme communal policy of India’s cricket board,” he added.

The statement came shortly after Kolkata Knight Riders announced on Saturday they had released the Bangladesh bowler after being told to do so by India’s cricket board.

Shah Rukh Khan’s franchise had purchased Rahman for 9.2 crore Indian rupees at IPL’s Abu Dhabi auction last month.

After Rahman’s release, it was reported that the BCB held an emergency meeting and were planning to write to the International Cricket Council (ICC) to relocate their matches amid concerns about player safety.

“The board said that when a Bangladesh cricketer can’t play in India despite being contracted, the entire Bangladesh cricket team can’t feel safe to go to the World Cup,” Nazr said.

“I have also instructed the board to request Bangladesh World Cup games to be held in Sri Lanka.”

“As the responsible advisor to the Sports Ministry, I have told the Bangladesh Cricket Board that they should write to ICC explaining the whole matter,” he added.

Pakistan’s matches are already scheduled for Sri Lanka amid tensions between the two neighbours.

Former Australian cricket legend Adam Gilchrist has urged Babar Azam to adopt a more aggressive approach after the Pakistani batter’s rather measured innings ahead of Sydney Sixers’ six-wicket victory over Melbourne Renegades.

Chasing 165, the Sixers relied on Babar’s unbeaten 58 off 46 balls, which included four fours and a six. The right-handed batter reached his half-century off 41 deliveries and struck at 126.09 as the Sixers chased down the target with five balls to spare.

However, Gilchrist suggested Babar’s cautious approach places unnecessary burden on his partners.

“Babar is not known to have a power-packed game. He is not going to hoick across the line and slog one over the boundary for a six. He needs to be proactive. He can’t just think run a ball and put all the responsibility on his batting partner to get the job done,” Gilchrist said on-air.

The innings marked Azam’s 97th T20 half-century, achieved at Melbourne’s Docklands Stadium. 

During the match, Sean Abbott starred with the ball for the Sixers, claiming three wickets for just 16 runs in four overs and earning the Player of the Match award. 

He, on the other hand, praised Babar’s consistency in a recent interview.

“Babar hits you where Babar wants to, and I’m sick of bowling at him,” Abbott said.

“Whether it’s domestic cricket or international cricket, I don’t think I’ve ever got him out, and it feels a bit like a death by a thousand cuts sometimes because you look up the scoreboard and he is striking at 120 and you don’t feel like you are nowhere near getting him out.”

The win lifted the Sixers to fifth place on the points table with four points after two wins and three losses. Moises Henriques’ side will next face Brisbane Heat on Monday, January 5, at the International Sports Stadium in Coffs Harbour.