Category: Sports

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has named Pakistani opener Sahibzada Farhan as the ICC Men’s Player of the Month for February following his standout performances in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 in Sri Lanka.

“Pakistan’s opener Sahibzada Farhan has grabbed the ICC Men’s Player of the Month for February 2026 owing to a stunning ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign in Sri Lanka,” the ICC said in a statement.

Farhan finished as the tournament’s leading run-scorer, accumulating 383 runs in seven matches (six innings) at an average of 76.60, striking two centuries and two half-centuries along the way.

“The hard-hitting right hander had a superb run at the global event boasting a strike rate of 160.25 while breaking a longstanding Virat Kohli record of most runs at the T20 World Cup in a single edition,” the statement added.

The ICC also noted that this was the first time Farhan has received the monthly honour, making him the first male Pakistan player to win the award since Haris Rauf in November 2024.

Farhan expressed delight over the recognition, describing it as a career-defining achievement.

“It’s an incredible feeling to win this ICC award, especially for performances on the World Cup stage, where fans from all over the world are watching every moment. That makes it even more special,” he said.

He added that it was truly a tournament he’ll always cherish and was determined to carry this momentum forward in the competitions ahead. “I’m deeply grateful to my teammates for their constant support and belief in me – this wouldn’t have been possible without them.”

Earlier, the ICC also highlighted additional milestones from Farhan’s campaign, noting that he became the first batter to score two centuries in a single edition of the men’s T20 World Cup, achieving the feat against Namibia and Sri Lanka.

He also rose to a career-best second position in the ICC Men’s T20I batting rankings after his century against Sri Lanka in Pallekele. During the tournament, Farhan was also part of a record 176-run partnership with Fakhar Zaman, marking the highest partnership for any wicket in T20 internationals.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi congratulated the opener and hailed his achievement as a proud moment for the country. “This honour is the outcome of Sahibzada Farhan’s hard work and professional approach,” he said.

The name of the lead singer for the 11th edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) has been revealed, just weeks before the tournament begins on March 26.

The announcement came through the league’s official social media platforms with the caption, “A new era. A legendary voice. Atif Aslam leads the HBL PSL anthem.” 

The anthem carries the theme “Bat Pe Khelenge,” which highlights the energy and passion of cricket.

This instance marks the second time Atif Aslam will headline a PSL anthem. He previously performed the season seven anthem “Agay Dekh” alongside Aima Baig, which became very popular among fans.

The official anthem is expected to release on Chaand Raat, building anticipation ahead of the tournament.

The upcoming PSL season will run from March 26 to May 3 and will span 39 days. This edition will feature an expanded format with eight teams. Along with the six existing franchises, two new teams, RawalPindiz and Hyderabad Houston Kingsmen, will join the competition.

A total of 44 matches will take place during the tournament. Defending champions Lahore Qalandars will face Hyderabad Houston Kingsmen in the opening match at Gaddafi Stadium on March 26.

Each team will play ten matches in the group stage, with the top four sides advancing to the playoffs. The final will take place at Gaddafi Stadium on May 3, while May 4 has been reserved as a backup day.

The schedule includes six double-headers, with three set to be played in Lahore. Matches will be held across six venues, including Gaddafi Stadium, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Iqbal Stadium, National Bank Stadium and Multan Cricket Stadium.

Faisalabad and Peshawar will host PSL matches for the first time. Iqbal Stadium will stage seven games, while Arbab Niaz Stadium, also known as Imran Khan Cricket Stadium, will host a match between Peshawar Zalmi and Pindiz on March 28.

Gaddafi Stadium will host the highest number of matches with 15 fixtures, followed by Rawalpindi with 11, Faisalabad with seven, Karachi with six and Multan with four.

Venezuela has claimed its first-ever World Baseball Classic title with a dramatic 3-2 win over the United States (US) in the final held in Miami on Tuesday.

The historic victory came after a tense contest that went down to the final inning, with Eugenio Suárez driving in the winning run in the top of the ninth.

Venezuela had taken control early in the game before the US fought back to level the score late on. However, Suárez’s decisive hit sealed the result and sparked celebrations among players and fans inside the stadium.

“Nobody believed in Venezuela but now we win the championship today,” Suárez said after the match.

“This is a celebration for all the Venezuelan country,” he added.

Several players wrapped themselves in flags as they marked a landmark moment in the country’s baseball history.

The win holds added significance as it comes during a period of political tension in Venezuela, making the triumph even more emotional for fans.

The US, despite fielding a star-studded lineup, fell short in the final for the second consecutive edition after also losing the 2023 title clash.

This year’s tournament featured some of baseball’s biggest names, including Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge, highlighting the global appeal of the competition.

For Venezuela, the victory marks a defining moment, as the team finally lifted the trophy after years of near misses and established itself among the elite nations in international baseball.

Pakistan batter Fakhar Zaman has responded to discussions about his fitness, clarifying rumours about his condition after questions surfaced on social media.

The left-handed opener said he was not fully fit for 50-over cricket and supported selector Aaqib Javed’s stance.

“I was not 100% fit to play 50-over games. In that case Aqib Javed was right,” Fakhar wrote in response to former cricketer Abdur Rauf.

Fakhar added that he returned to action only after passing the required fitness test.

“I’m playing these games after clearing the fitness tests on 15th March,” he said, referring to his participation in the National T20 tournament.

The clarification came after Abdur Rauf questioned the selection committee’s stance by sharing Fakhar’s fielding picture online.

“A day ago, our selection committee declared him injured and demanded an inquiry. What great minds and visionary people we have to run our cricket,” Rauf wrote while sharing his picture from the National T20 Cup.

Fakhar was earlier declared unfit for Pakistan’s recent ODI tour of Bangladesh, which kept him out of the squad.

Meanwhile, Aaqib Javed also raised concerns about fitness monitoring within the team setup. Speaking at a press conference last week, he said both Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam were dealing with injuries after the T20 World Cup.

“Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam’s injuries are under inquiry,” Javed said.

It is worth noting that Fakhar played only two matches in the recent T20 World Cup, scoring 109 runs at a strike rate of 187.93.

Neymar Jr has been left out of Brazil’s latest squad as head coach Carlo Ancelotti continues preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Brazil will face France on March 26 in Boston before taking on Croatia on March 31 in Orlando as part of their build-up to the tournament, which will take place in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

Neymar’s omission comes after concerns over his fitness. The 34-year-old recently missed a match for Santos FC citing muscle fatigue. Ancelotti had planned to assess him during that game but decided not to include him after he failed to reach full match fitness.

Brazil’s all-time leading scorer with 79 goals has not played for the national team since he suffered a serious knee injury in October 2023. He returned to club football last year but has struggled to maintain consistent form and fitness.

Ancelotti made it clear that the forward still remains in contention for the World Cup. “Neymar can be at the World Cup if he’s 100%,” he said. “I didn’t call him up because he’s not 100%. Neymar has to be training and playing.”

Neymar expressed disappointment over the decision but said he will stay focused on his recovery and performances.

In his absence, Brazil has turned to younger attacking options. Endrick returns to the squad, while Igor Thiago earns his first call-up.

Brazil will also play Egypt in June before opening their World Cup campaign against Morocco on June 13.

Former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar has sparked widespread criticism online after saying that Sunrisers Leeds’ signing of Pakistani spinner Abrar Ahmed “indirectly contributes to the deaths of Indian soldiers and civilians,” in a column for the Indian newspaper Mid-Day. 

Abrar was signed in last week’s The Hundred auction. 

Sunrisers Leeds is owned by the Sun Group, which also owns Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League. IPL teams have not signed Pakistani players since 2009 as the two arch-rivals face off politically and militarily. 

Gavaskar wrote, “Although belated, the realisation that the fees that they pay to a Pakistani player, who then pays income tax to his government which buys arms and weapons, indirectly contributes to the deaths of Indian soldiers and civilians is making Indian entities refrain from even considering having Pakistani artistes and sportspersons.”

Abrar Ahmed was signed for £190,000, roughly 71.2 million Pakistani rupees, making him one of only two Pakistani players selected in the auction.

Many users criticised Gavaskar for his comments, with posts quickly circulating on social media. 

One user wrote, “Unfortunate statement from a cricketer of his calibre. I thought he would speak for keeping cricket away from politics.” 

Another said, “How come this logic is not applied when India plays Pakistan in ICC tournaments? Does the appearance money there go to charity?” A different comment read, “I could never imagine that Sunil Gavaskar would turn out to be so narrow minded.”

Some called his remarks offensive and harmful to his legacy. One post stated, “Old fool should keep his racism to himself. Good way to destroy his own legacy.” Another user commented, “Sick mentality of all, no need to discuss.”

It is worth noting that a total of 13 Pakistani players were listed in the men’s auction after pace bowler Shaheen Afridi withdrew. Interest from the eight teams narrowed that number down to just five players who were actually put up for bidding. 

Notably, Haris Rauf, Shadab Khan, and Saim Ayub did not receive any bids when they were made available for sale.

Apart from Abrar, Birmingham Phoenix bought Usman Tariq for £140,000.

Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise “Pindiz” has updated its name on social media, changing it to “Rawalpindiz” ahead of the upcoming season.

According to media reports, the change took place after league authorities asked teams to include the full name of their respective cities in their identities. The change aligns the franchise name with Rawalpindi, the city it represents.

The update appeared online without a formal announcement from the franchise. A press release issued the same night still referred to the team as “Pindiz,” while the league’s official platforms used “Rawalpindiz” for the same update.

The franchise later revised its social media handles to reflect the new name.

The team had earlier adopted “Pindiz” as a shortened and stylised version, which gained attention among fans. The latest change restores a clearer link to the city while maintaining the original branding style.

The 11th edition of the Pakistan Super League will begin on March 26 and run until May 3, 2026. The tournament will feature two new teams and expand to more cities across the country.

For the first time in the league’s history, matches will take place at Imran Khan Stadium in Peshawar and Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad, bringing top-level cricket back to both venues.

Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has strongly criticised the national selection committee after Pakistan’s disappointing performances in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 and the recent ODI series defeat against Bangladesh. 

In a video message shared on social media, Afridi questioned the selectors’ decision making, particularly regarding leadership choices and the direction of the national side.

“You saw the performances in the 2026 T20 World Cup, and after that we also lost the Bangladesh series 2–1. In my opinion, the selection committee deserves criticism. All of you in the committee have played so much cricket, yet you still don’t seem to have the idea of who should be the captain for which format,” Afridi said.

The former all rounder also criticised frequent changes in the squad and the decision to introduce inexperienced players at the international level.

“You keep making too many decisions in the name of ‘surgery’. What you are doing is picking youngsters and players who have barely played a few first class matches. Your domestic cricket is not even of that standard that it can consistently produce players ready to secure a place in the Pakistan team,” he added.

Afridi also raised concerns about the exclusion of experienced players from the ODI setup. He said several senior cricketers who had strong records in the 50 over format lost their places despite consistent performances.

“The senior players who actually deserved their place even if they didn’t have strong T20 performances had very good records in ODIs. But in the name of ‘surgery’, you sidelined those experienced players despite their solid ODI performances,” he stated.

He also questioned the overall strategy behind the selection process and warned that constant changes in the squad could damage the team’s stability.

“Instead, you brought in youngsters who have only played a few domestic and first class matches. The standard of domestic cricket is not high enough, and those players are not ready to come straight into the Pakistan team and cement their place. You keep handing out Pakistan caps again and again. This is not surgery. If anything, the selection committee should get real surgery,” Afridi concluded.

His remarks came after Pakistan lost the three match ODI series 2–1 to Bangladesh. The hosts secured the series with an 11 run win in the final match at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.

Bangladesh chose to bat first and scored 290 for 5 in 50 overs. Tanzid Hasan led the innings with his maiden ODI century, scoring 107 with six fours and seven sixes. Saif Hassan made 36 during the opening partnership, while Litton Das added 41 and Towhid Hridoy remained unbeaten on 48.

Pakistan struggled early in the chase after losing both openers in the first two overs. Salman Ali Agha kept the visitors in the contest with a fighting 106 from 98 balls, his third ODI century. 

Captain Shaheen Shah Afridi scored 37, while debutants Saad Masood and Ghazi Ghori added 38 and 29 respectively. Abdul Samad also contributed 34, but Pakistan finished on 279 and fell 11 runs short of the target.

Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Mohsin Naqvi has assured the national selection committee of his full support, urging its members to take decisions without worrying about criticism.

Naqvi met members of the national selection committee and discussed matters related to team selection.

During the meeting, Naqvi told the selectors to carry out their duties with honesty and independence.

“Perform your responsibilities honestly and without any pressure. You have my full support. Do not worry about criticism,” Naqvi said.

Members of the selection committee including Misbah-ul-Haq, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Asad Shafiq and Aaqib Javed attended the meeting and thanked the PCB chairman for expressing confidence in them.

The development comes after Aleem Dar stepped down from the selection committee.

Reports stated that Dar decided to resign after several selection decisions he opposed did not receive support from the head coach and team leadership.

Following his departure, Misbah-ul-Haq and Sarfaraz Ahmed joined the selection committee as new members.

Aaqib Javed, member of Pakistan’s national cricket selection committee, has confirmed that Babar Azam was carrying an injury after the T20 World Cup and that the matter is under inquiry.

Speaking at a joint press conference at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, on Saturday alongside Misbah-ul-Haq, Sarfaraz Ahmed, and Asad Shafiq, Javed addressed questions about team selection and player fitness.

He revealed that Babar Azam underwent a medical check-up after returning from the World Cup, which confirmed his injury. 

“Babar Azam wanted to play national T20s, but he suffered an injury. Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam’s injuries are under inquiry,” Javed said.

He also raised concerns about how Fakhar Zaman was found unfit. 

“How is it possible Fakhar is also unfit? Were their fitness levels not monitored during the T20 World Cup? Were proper fitness tests conducted when the squad was selected? If not, then not only the coach and physio but the previous selection committee should also be held responsible,” he added.

Javed clarified the process of team selection, emphasizing that decisions are collaborative. “No single person selects the team. The selection committee, coach, and captain consult together,” he said.

Reflecting on Pakistan’s performance at the T20 World Cup, Javed said the team did not fully meet expectations but showed improvement in several areas.

“We lost only one match, and one match was affected by rain, after which we exited on run rate. Against Sri Lanka, the pitch made it impossible for any team to be bowled out for a low score,” he said.

He also highlighted Pakistan’s progress in the bilateral series. 

“Pakistan’s performance has improved in my view. We have beaten South Africa in South Africa and Australia in Australia. In the Bangladesh series, no one was dropped; we rested players and gave new players a chance,” Javed noted.

Commenting on Pakistan’s fast-bowling options, he said, “Now we cannot get bowlers like Wasim or Waqar. In this era, apart from Bumrah, there is no bowler who is difficult to play against.”

Sarfaraz Ahmed added that the team has multiple options for wicketkeeping and intends to give new players opportunities next season. “We have two to three wicketkeeper options. We will give new players a chance next season,” he said.

It is worth noting that Babar Azam was not part of the ongoing Bangladesh series, and the board has not issued an official clarification on whether he was rested or sidelined due to injury.