Category: Sports

Pakistani all-rounder Salman Ali Agha has stressed the importance of sportsman spirit after his controversial run-out during the second ODI against Bangladesh. 

Speaking after the match, the Pakistani all-rounder said he would have handled the situation differently, even though the dismissal remained within the laws of the game.

“I can tell you what happened after that. I mean, I’m sure everyone has seen. But it’s just the heat of the moment kind of stuff,” said Agha.

“If you ask me what I would have done? I would have done things differently. But it was everything that happened after that, it was the heat of the moment.”

Agha also highlighted the importance of sportsman spirit in such moments.

“Well, it is in the law. I’m someone who always wants to follow the law. But sometimes when it comes to sportsman spirit things, well, I think sportsman spirit has to be up there, no matter what the situation.”

He added that his approach would have been different if he were in the same position.

“What he has done, I think, if he thinks it’s right, it’s right. But if you ask me, my perspective, I would have done it differently. I would have gone for the sportsman spirit.”

The unusual moment took place during the second ODI of the three-match series at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Friday.

The incident happened in the 39th over of Pakistan’s innings when Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz delivered a flatter ball that Mohammad Rizwan gently pushed back towards the pitch.

The ball spun off the surface and rolled towards Agha at the non-striker’s end. The Pakistan all-rounder first tried to move away from its path. Miraz then stopped the ball with his right foot as it rolled towards him.

When the ball came to a halt, Agha bent down in an attempt to return it to the bowler. Miraz quickly collected the ball instead and broke the stumps, catching Agha outside his crease and completing the run-out.

The decision sparked visible frustration from Rizwan, who threw his gloves and helmet onto the ground while walking back to the pavilion.

Later in the post-match presentation, Miraz defended his action and explained that he reacted because the Pakistan batter stood outside the crease.

“He was away from the wicket, and I was just looking for the ball. If you miss, he would go for the run. So I was just thinking like that,” Miraz said.

Pakistan defeated Bangladesh by 128 runs under the DLS method, with the series now levelled at 1-1.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan has sharply criticised South Africa national cricket team for a decision he believes changed the course of the T20 World Cup and helped India win the title.

Speaking on the Stick to Cricket podcast, Vaughan claimed South Africa made a costly mistake during the Super Eights stage of the tournament. According to him, their dominant win over the West Indies national cricket team actually worked in India’s favour.

Vaughan argued that if South Africa had lost that match, India might have been knocked out of the tournament much earlier.

“I tell you who I think is the stupidest team of the tournament. South Africa. Because if South Africa had allowed the West Indies to beat them in the Super 8s, India would have been knocked out. I’m just saying – if they had cleared them out, the juggernaut that was coming would have stopped,” Vaughan said.

He added that South Africa’s victory allowed India to gather momentum in the later stages of the tournament.

“By winning that game, they allowed the juggernaut to go on. India then beat Zimbabwe, then the West Indies in a kind of quarterfinal, and then England. South Africa had to play Zimbabwe next, and they even rested three players for that match,” he said.

The former England captain also explained his personal approach to major tournaments.

“Look, these things shouldn’t happen and usually don’t happen. I’m just saying that if you want to win a World Cup, the best way is to eliminate the best team early,” Vaughan explained.

The debate began after India suffered a heavy 76-run defeat to South Africa during the Super Eights. The result placed India under pressure, leaving the team with little margin for error in the remaining group games.

Led by Suryakumar Yadav, India first managed to defeat Zimbabwe national cricket team to stay alive in the competition. Their chances then depended partly on the outcome of the South Africa versus West Indies clash.

South Africa produced a strong performance in that match and comfortably defeated the West Indies, securing a place in the semi-finals. However, Vaughan believes that victory indirectly helped India.

According to him, the result turned India’s final Super Eights match against the West Indies in Kolkata into a virtual quarter-final. India handled the pressure well and defeated the Caribbean side to reach the last four.

India then went on to beat the England national cricket team in the semi-final before lifting the trophy.

Meanwhile, South Africa’s campaign ended in disappointment after a heavy semi-final defeat to the New Zealand national cricket team.

Despite Vaughan’s criticism, South Africa’s decision guaranteed their progress to the semi-finals at that stage. If they had lost to the West Indies, they would have faced a must-win game against Zimbabwe in their final Super Eights match, which could have complicated their path.

Instead, the Proteas moved forward comfortably but failed to deliver in the knockout stage, while India continued their winning run and eventually secured the World Cup title.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is reportedly planning to introduce a digital ticket option for selected enclosures during Pakistan Super League (PSL) Season 11.

Reports suggest the option will be available for VIP and Premium enclosures in matches held in Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi. Fans will be able to enter stadiums by simply showing their digital ticket.

PCB has also decided to keep ticket prices affordable. League match tickets are expected to range from PKR 300 to PKR 3,000.

The upcoming PSL 11 season will run from March 26 to May 3, 2026. This edition will feature two additional teams and expand the league’s footprint to more cities.

For the first time in PSL history, matches will take place at Imran Khan Stadium in Peshawar and Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad, marking the return of top-level cricket to both cities.

New Zealand Cricket has granted leave to assistant coaches Luke Ronchi and Jacob Oram so that they can take up coaching duties in the upcoming season of the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

In an official statement, New Zealand Cricket confirmed that both coaches will join Islamabad United during the tournament. Ronchi will serve as the team’s head coach, while Oram will work as assistant coach.

Ronchi and Oram currently work as assistant coaches with the New Zealand national team. Their involvement in the PSL means they will miss the home series against South Africa national cricket team and the upcoming tour of Bangladesh.

New Zealand Cricket official Mike Sandle said the board supports the opportunity for both coaches.

“We support Luke Ronchi and Jacob Oram in taking up this coaching opportunity. Coaching outside New Zealand will add to their experience and skills,” he said.

He added that the experience gained from coaching in the PSL will benefit New Zealand cricket.

The first T20 match between New Zealand and South Africa will take place on March 15. New Zealand Cricket has already announced replacement coaches for the period when Ronchi and Oram will be away.

The upcoming PSL 11 season will begin on March 26 and conclude on May 3, 2026. The new edition will include two additional teams and expand the league’s presence to more cities.

For the first time in the tournament’s history, matches will take place at Imran Khan Stadium in Peshawar and Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad, marking the return of top level cricket to both cities.

Indians have criticised Kavya Maran after her franchise Sunrisers Leeds picked Pakistani spinner Abrar Ahmed in the 2026 player auction of The Hundred.

Several Pakistani cricketers registered for the auction, but the teams selected only two players from Pakistan. Abrar Ahmed secured a major deal when Sunrisers Leeds signed him for £190,000, which equals around 71.2 million Pakistani rupees.

Another Pakistani spinner, Usman Tariq, also found a place in the tournament. Birmingham Phoenix signed him for £140,000, which equals roughly 53.2 million Pakistani rupees.

The selection quickly triggered strong reactions on Indian social media because Sunrisers Leeds belongs to the same ownership group as Sunrisers Hyderabad from the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Before the draft, some reports claimed that groups linked with India would avoid picking Pakistani players in the English competition. 

The Sunrisers Leeds decision went against that narrative and sparked heated debate online.

Many Indian users criticised Kavya Maran and the franchise for selecting Abrar Ahmed. Some users even called for a boycott of the IPL team. Their posts quickly circulated across social media platforms.

One user wrote, “Boycott SunRisers this IPL!!”

Another said, “I have unfollowed and BLOCKED SunRisers for buying Abrar Ahmed.”

A different post read, “SHAME ON KAVYA MARAN AND SRH to buy this India hater in their team Sunrisers Leeds.”

Some users questioned the decision more directly. One comment stated, “So Sunrisers bought this Pakistani cricketer Abrar Ahmed who mocks India….”

Another user asked, “Why we are giving money to Pakistani.”

One questioned the franchise’s strategy and said, “What do you make of this move from SunRisers?”

Despite the backlash, many cricket fans pointed out that The Hundred draft focuses on player ability and team balance rather than nationality.

Pakistani left-arm pacer Salman Mirza has sent a legal notice to the tune of a whopping Rs100 million to ARY News and its reporter Shahid Hashmi over a report that alleged misconduct on his part during the 2026 T20 World Cup.

According to a copy of the notice, the report – described by his legal team as false, malicious and highly defamatory – caused serious damage to Mirza’s personal and professional reputation as it claimed that Mirza misbehaved with a female staff member at the team hotel in Kandy, and “prompted the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to impose a fine” on the cricketer.

Mirza’s legal representatives rejected the claims and demanded immediate corrective action from the channel and the reporter. The notice directed the media outlet to immediately retract the report from all platforms, including its website and social media accounts. 

It also demanded that Shahid Hashmi withdraw the statement and the story attributed to him.

In addition, the notice called on the channel to publish a clear and unconditional public apology addressed to Salman Mirza, the PCB and the public. The apology must appear in a manner comparable to the original publication of the report, it said.

Mirza also demanded financial compensation and called for payment of Rs100 million as damages for the harm caused to his reputation and goodwill. 

Failure to comply with these demands within seven days will lead to legal proceedings, the notice said.

Earlier, the PCB also strongly rejected the claims and described the reports as false and agenda-driven.

The board warned that it would pursue legal action if the journalist involved failed to issue a public apology.

It merits a mention that the story had first appeared in Indian press before being carried by ARY News. After the PCB issued its statement, the report was removed from the outlet’s website and social media platforms.

ARY News has not yet issued a public response to the legal notice.

Former Multan Sultans owner Ali Tareen has claimed that he received an offer to renew his franchise contract but only if he accepted certain conditions set by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

Tareen shared the claim on his X account while responding to discussions about his departure from the team.

“The PCB told me that if I want to renew my MS [Multan Sultans] contract I will have to give a legal undertaking that I will never criticise PSL management again. Also to delete all my tweets where I called them incompetent and mediocre,” he wrote.

Tareen stepped away from the franchise in November last year. At the time, he said he could not continue if it meant compromising his principles.

His departure followed public disagreements with management of the Pakistan Super League (PSL). Tareen criticised the league’s structure in podcasts and social media posts and directed several remarks at officials. 

During one of the disputes, the board sent a notice to the franchise. Tareen later recorded a video in which he tore up the notice and posted the clip online with mocking commentary.

PCB later sold the franchise in an auction. New owners initially renamed the team to Rawalpindi with the official name “Pindiz” now.

The situation changed again when the owners of the newly purchased Sialkot Stallionz decided to sell a majority stake to CD Ventures.

The move followed reports that OZ Group, the original buyer of the new franchise, faced financial problems and sold the team before it could play its first match in the league.

CD Ventures owner Gohar Shah later renamed the franchise back to Multan Sultans after acquiring the majority stake.

The franchise had earlier been purchased at auction for PKR 1.85 billion and was briefly renamed Sialkot Stallionz before the ownership change.

The upcoming PSL 11 will begin on March 26 and conclude on May 3, 2026. 

The new season will feature two additional teams and expand the tournament’s city footprint. Peshawar’s Imran Khan stadium and Faisalabad’s Iqbal Stadium will host matches for the first time in the league’s history, marking the cities’ return to top-level cricket.

A complaint has been filed against Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya over his celebrations following India’s victory in the T20 World Cup.

According to Indian media reports, a lawyer named Wajid Khan submitted an application seeking the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against the cricketer.

The complaint relates to celebrations that took place on the field after India defeated New Zealand in the tournament final. During the celebrations, Pandya wrapped the Indian national flag around his body and celebrated with girlfriend Mahika Sharma.

The lawyer claimed that the act disrespected the national flag and violated the law related to its dignity.

In his application to the police in Pune, Khan argued that the cricketer’s actions amounted to disrespect towards the tricolour and requested legal action.

He stated that citizens must protect the dignity of the national flag and added that the incident required investigation under the relevant law governing its use.

He said that the act violated provisions related to the dignity of the national flag and cited Section 2 of the National Flag Act 1971 while requesting legal action.

Pandya celebrated on the ground with teammates and supporters after India secured victory in the final of the tournament.

The complaint now awaits further action from local police authorities.

Pakistani cricketer Ahmed Shehzad has stirred debate after claiming that there was a time when players’ wives influenced the selection of the national team.

Shehzad made the remarks while appearing on a private media outlet and discussing issues related to Pakistan cricket.

During the conversation, the host mentioned that he had asked some cricketers whether they sought advice from their wives on cricketing matters.

“I asked some cricketers about it, and some of them said, ‘We don’t take advice from our wives, that’s not their job’,” the host said, to which Shehzad responded with a surprising claim about how things really used to be.

“What are you talking about? Their wives used to select the team! ‘Keep Tabish [pointing toward host], he is a good boy, keep him. He talks well, keep him, keep him, he greets us during breakfast.’ We have seen such stuff,” he said.

Earlier, Shehzad also criticised Green Shirts over their humiliating defeat against Bangladesh in the first ODI of the ongoing series.

In a post on X, the former opener expressed frustration with the team management and selection process. “I warned you beforehand about what Bangladesh can do in their back yard and how important will Babar Azam will be in the middle, but like always aapko sab pata hai [you know everything].”

He also questioned the approach towards squad selection.

“Pakistan needed a top notch selection after the worst ever WC campaign but guess what same method will be applied once again bring dozens of youngsters, expose them in the worst possible combination, humiliate them & bring back proven failures yet again. Even hopes are dying in this current setup [sic].”