Category: Sports

Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has said that dropping Shaheen Shah Afridi from his playing XI was a deliberate move to trigger a strong response from the fast bowler.

Speaking during a private TV transmission, Shahid Afridi said Shaheen, who is also his son-in-law, was not part of his preferred playing XI [against England], but he knew how to get the best out of him. “Shaheen was not in my team, but I also knew how to use him,” Afridi said.

He explained that he wanted to make Shaheen angry to bring out his fighting spirit. “Everyone was already talking, so I thought let me say it a bit more strictly so it hurts his ego. That is exactly what happened,” Afridi said.

The former captain added that if he were asked about the next match, he would still not include Shaheen in his team. “Some players need to be handled this way. Sometimes you have to crush a few egos. I understand Shaheen’s mindset very well,” he said.

Afridi said people might accuse him of speaking up after Shaheen’s performance, but he had already predicted the reaction at home. 

“I even told my daughter. She said, ‘Baba, Shaheen is not in your team.’ I told her to watch the match. If he gets any opportunity, he will not tolerate this. I played with his mind,” Afridi said.

He further said that he has seen Shaheen fight back in difficult situations and knows how he responds to pressure.

Shaheen Afridi returned figures of four wickets for 30 runs against England on Tuesday. Despite his spectacular spell, Pakistan lost the match by two wickets.

Earlier in the tournament, Shaheen was dropped for matches against Namibia and New Zealand. Before being left out, he had taken only three wickets in three matches in the ongoing T20 World Cup.

Pakistan pacer Shaheen Afridi has addressed questions around Babar Azam’s batting approach following Pakistan’s two-wicket defeat to England in a Super Eight match of the Men’s T20 World Cup on Tuesday.

During the post-match press conference, a journalist asked Shaheen about the phase of the innings when Babar was building a partnership with Sahibzada Farhan and how things changed after his dismissal.

Responding to the question, Shaheen spoke about the general requirements of partnerships in T20 cricket.

“A partnership means you need someone at the crease who can hit boundaries and also rotate the strike with singles and doubles,” Shaheen said, while explaining the balance needed during a chase.

Babar scored 25 runs off 24 balls, hitting two fours. He walked in early during the powerplay after Pakistan lost two wickets for 27 runs in 3.3 overs but failed to accelerate before getting dismissed in the 11th over.

Shaheen, who returned figures of 4 for 30 in his four overs, also highlighted the overall demands of the format while crediting England’s bowling.

“In T20 cricket, you need to maintain around eight runs per over throughout the innings. But I think Adil [Rashid] bhai bowled very well,” he added.

The defeat, played out at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, left Pakistan’s campaign in a precarious position. 

England booked their place in the semi-finals, while Pakistan now needs other results to go their way and must win their final Super Eight match against Sri Lanka to remain in contention.

Pakistan will face Sri Lanka in their last Super Eight match on Saturday, February 28, at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.

Former Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir, who is nowadays being referred to as “Amir Baba” for his accurate predictions during the ongoing T20 World Cup, has said that skipper Salman Ali Agha may not continue as Pakistan’s T20I captain after the tournament.

Amir made the prediction following Pakistan’s disappointing loss against England in a crucial Super Eight match on Tuesday, virtually ending the country’s campaign at the World Cup. While the win secured England’s place in the semi-finals, Pakistan must now rely on other teams’ results and win their final Super Eight match against Sri Lanka for a chance at qualifying.

“I think Salman Ali Agha will no longer remain the T20 captain after this World Cup. In my opinion, no one else truly deserves it at the moment. As things stand, I don’t see a suitable replacement right now. I also believe that for many players, this T20 World Cup will be their last,” Amir said while speaking during a TV programme.

Former Pakistan captain Rashid Latif also delivered a blunt assessment, claiming that Babar Azam is “no longer a player of this format”. He questioned the decision to recall the right-hander six months after dropping him due to concerns over his strike rate and pointed out that the team management had earlier stated Babar would return once his scoring rate improved.

“When did it improve? Why did you bring him back?” he asked.

Latif also criticised Pakistan’s batting approach, saying modern T20 cricket demanded players who could shift gears and control a chase, explaining that when a batter uses 20 to 25 deliveries without accelerating, pressure builds on the other end and forces incoming players into risky shots. 

He stressed that set batters must take responsibility and bat deep, especially when partners struggle to score freely.

Latif also compared Pakistan’s approach to opposition batters who keep the scoreboard moving under pressure. He said successful players can “play from both ends” and maintain control, while Pakistan’s batters often fail to accelerate at the right time.

Former opener Ahmed Shehzad also raised concerns over decision-making during the innings, pointing to missed opportunities for quick singles and doubles. 

He questioned why a player with more than a decade of international experience continued to struggle against quality leg-spin.

Referring to Tuesday’s match, Shehzad highlighted the moment Babar nearly lost his wicket to a googly from Adil Rashid. “Is this improvement?” he asked, adding that unless players accept their weaknesses and adapt to the demands of T20 cricket, including power-hitting and calculated risk-taking, progress will remain limited.

He also described the “lack of acceptance” as the reason behind Babar’s downfall.

Former Pakistani all-rounder Abdul Razzaq sparked heated debates on social media after joking about a second marriage during a recent morning show with his wife Ayesha Razzaq.

On the show, Ayesha explained that she handles most household responsibilities because Razzaq was often busy with cricket. “From the children’s school and parent meetings to groceries and other household tasks, I take care of everything and make sure everything is perfect,” she said.

In response, Razzaq humorously said something that did not sit well with some social media users. 

“I have told her many times that I could get married a second time. It would help share your workload. You are doing so much work.” he joked, adding, “When I tell my wife that I might contract a second marriage, the answer comes from my daughter. My daughter just looks at her father and that is enough. My son is a little innocent, but he will not tolerate it.”

Ayesha also joked about their children, saying, “I have two armies who speak even before I speak,” referring to their daughter and son. She added that their daughter is very close to her father and rarely refuses him anything.

The discussion then shifted to public perception of second marriages. Host Nida Yasir asked, “Why does the desire for a second marriage come up for him and others after Imad Wasim? If a prominent person from any field marries again, people react immediately.”

Razzaq responded, “Everyone has their own life and understands it best. They have to live it. No one can interfere in it. What is right and what is wrong, time will tell.”

His comments quickly went viral, with social media users sharing mixed reactions. Some criticised his joke, saying, “Sir, usko kaam wali kehtay hein, doosri biwi nahi [Sir, that is called a helper, not a second wife].” 

Others mocked men’s obsession with second marriages, writing, “Men and their obsession with second marriage, toba.” Some users questioned the logic, commenting, “Haath batany k liye nikrani rkwa do, doosri shadi kyun? Ajeeb logic [If you want someone to help, just hire a helper. Why a second marriage? Strange logic].” 

Others defended him, saying, “Bas itne farigh log hain ke banda aik baat hi kar de tau hath dho kar us ke peeche par jate hain, ab isey bakhsh do [There are so many idle people that if a man just says something, they immediately start criticizing him. Let it go].” 

Several also reflected on cultural sensitivity, asking, “Why in our culture are jokes about second marriage taken so seriously? Joke k liye sirf yahi topic reh gya hai.”

Abdul Razzaq is one of Pakistan’s most recognised all-rounders. He played 265 ODIs, 46 Tests, and 32 T20 Internationals, scoring over 5,000 ODI runs with 269 wickets, nearly 2,000 Test runs with 100 wickets, and was part of Pakistan’s 2009 ICC World Twenty20-winning squad.

Off the field, Razzaq is married to Ayesha Razzaq, and the couple have a son and a daughter.

A video showing a heated argument between a Pakistani cricket fan and an England supporter during Tuesday’s Pakistan vs England match at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium has gone viral on social media.

The clip was shared on X by Australian content creator Jake Jeakings, who described the Pakistani fan, Saud Zohaib Muhammad, as a “serial offender”.

Jeakings had earlier shared content mocking Pakistan spinner Usman Tariq’s bowling action, after which Muhammad confronted him while holding a piece of sandpaper, a reference to past ball-tampering controversies.

After the footage gained traction online, Muhammad released a follow-up video explaining his version of events and denying any wrongdoing.

“Today, when I went to the stadium to enjoy myself, watch the match and support Pakistan, it was a completely planned,” Muhammad said. 

“Jack’s friend, who is from England, tried to trap me. The video he posted is edited. I have the full three-and-a-half-minute video with me, and I will post it completely so people can see how he behaved with me.”

Muhammad alleged that the England supporter provoked him during the match. “He came up and started teasing me, and he even threw alcohol or beer on my clothes,” he said. “I consider that impure, and what he did was very wrong. He provoked me and then became aggressive.”

According to Muhammad, several spectators witnessed the incident. “Some English fans came to me, apologized, and said sorry because they knew who was on the right side,” he added.

He further claimed that the incident was part of a deliberate attempt to damage his image. “This was planned by Jack,” Muhammad alleged. 

Muhammad shared another video that appears to show an older England supporter sitting beside him while drinking beer. In the clip, Muhammad can be heard asking the man to return to his seat, citing the smell.

He also posted separate footage showing England fans interacting with him cordially, during which he wished them luck for the match.

The incident occurred during a crucial Super Eight match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, in which England defeated Pakistan by two wickets on Tuesday.

The victory secured England’s place in the semi-finals, while Pakistan must now rely on other results and win their final Super Eight match against Sri Lanka to remain in contention.

Former England captain Moeen Ali has warned that action could follow if Pakistani players are overlooked by Indian-owned teams in The Hundred, saying such discrimination “cannot happen in the UK” and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) must prevent it.

“It would be a massive shame if Pakistani players were overlooked on account of their nationality and I hope the ECB will take steps to prevent this from happening,” Moeen said in conversation with a media outlet as reports suggested that the four Indian-owned franchises in The Hundred – namely the Manchester Super Giants, MI London, Southern Brave and Sunrisers Leeds – may avoid signing Pakistani players due to political tensions between Islamabad and New Delhi.

“In the UK, I’m not sure that can happen and I hope it doesn’t happen. It just shouldn’t happen, hopefully it won’t happen. We just have to wait and see if it does, but I think it’d be a massive shame, and I’m sure the ECB will definitely keep an eye out,” he added.

Moeen stressed that players would speak up if they believed team owners were practicing discrimination.

“There’ll be a group of players that will speak up. There’ll be things done about it. I think players should speak up. Anyone that has any sort of concern for these kinds of things, it doesn’t matter if they have Pakistani heritage, should speak up. Obviously, the news is very new so I’ve not really had a chance to speak to anyone, but most of the players would be on the same page.”

He also acknowledged the challenges players face when speaking out. “It’s such a difficult one, because all these teams are everywhere in every league. So now if players speak out, or if they say anything, then it affects their career. It’s a difficult position for players to be in. When you’re an older player like myself, you don’t really care too much.”

Earlier, a Pakistani agent told a foreign media outlet that “it was a given” that Pakistani players would be excluded from the four teams with Indian ownership. “They have been doing the same all around the world. Now that they are in The Hundred, I don’t see it being any different.”

No Pakistani players have appeared in the IPL since 2008. Indian influence over global franchise cricket has also limited opportunities for Pakistani players. All six teams in South Africa’s SA20 are owned by IPL franchise groups, and no Pakistani player has participated in four seasons.

Similar exclusion has occurred in competitions in the UAE and the United States.

Sialkot Stallionz owner and OZ Group Chairperson Hamza Majeed has addressed claims of selling off 98% shares of the franchise to CD Ventures.

“I’m honestly surprised and stressed too. Three days ago, it was 75, then 76, then 90, then 98 and yesterday a friend told me it even hit 99. See, the share dilution in equity will be based on equality, alright? And that non-disclosure agreement is signed by both parties, so I can’t disclose it publicly,” he said during a press conference at Gaddafi Stadium on Tuesday.

“As for the name you’re mentioning, it’s… God willing, subject to approval. The PCB is considering it, and within the next two to three days, we’ll have a press conference about it and make all the announcements then. So… let’s wait for the right time,” he added when asked about selling 98% of franchise shares to CD Ventures.

Earlier reports had suggested that OZ Group, the original buyer of the newly-launched Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise, had run into financial trouble and sold the team before the tournament even started.

The franchise was auctioned on January 8, with OZ Group purchasing the franchise for PKR 1.85 billion and later renaming it Sialkot Stallionz.

ARY News, citing sources, reported Monday that OZ Group had sold 98 percent of its shares in Sialkot Stallionz to CD Ventures, led by businessman Gohar Shah.

HBL PSL 11 is scheduled to begin on March 26 and conclude on May 3, 2026. The upcoming season will feature eight teams in the league for the first time. 

The tournament also held its first-ever player auction on February 11, replacing the previous draft model.

Weather conditions will play a key role as Pakistan prepares to face England in a crucial Super Eights match of the Men’s T20 World Cup at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.

According to the latest forecasts, evening conditions in Kandy are expected to remain stable around the scheduled 6:30 pm start. The temperature is likely to hover near 27°C, with a RealFeel close to 28°C.

Humidity levels are forecast to hover at 68 percent, which may make conditions uncomfortable for players and spectators alike. The dew point stands at 20°C, pointing to noticeable moisture in the air as the match progresses.

Light winds from the northwest are expected at around 6 km/h, with gusts reaching up to 13 km/h. Cloud cover remains limited at 14 percent, while visibility is projected at 16 kilometres.

Despite generally favourable weather, air quality in the region remains poor and could pose difficulties for individuals with respiratory issues.

The weather update follows Pakistan’s previous Super Eights fixture against New Zealand, which ended without a result due to rain at the R Premadasa International Cricket Stadium. The match was abandoned after persistent rainfall for more than two and a half hours, shortly after Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha won the toss and chose to bat. Both teams shared one point.

Under the tournament format, the top two teams from each Super Eights group will qualify for the semi-finals, scheduled for March 4 and 5.

As per the event’s Fusion Formula, Pakistan are playing all their T20 World Cup 2026 matches in Sri Lanka. 

If Pakistan qualify, the first semi-final will take place at the R Premadasa Stadium; otherwise, it will be staged at Eden Gardens. The venue for the final on March 8 will also depend on Pakistan’s progress in the tournament.

OZ Group, buyer of the eighth Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise – later named Sialkot Stallionz – has run into financial trouble and sold 98 percent shares of the franchise a month before the team’s maiden season.

As per the details, the group, that placed the winning bid of PKR1.85 billion during the Jan 8 PSL franchise auction ahead of the eleventh season of the flagship T20 league, has sold 98 percent of its shares in Sialkot Stallionz to CD Ventures, owned by businessman Gohar Shah.

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While OZ Group has not yet reacted to the reports, PSL 11 is scheduled to begin on March 26 and conclude on May 3.

The upcoming season will feature eight teams for the first time in the league’s history as Sialkot and Hyderabad play their maiden season.

Earlier, the Rawalpindi franchise, reportedly named Pindiz, replaced Multan Sultans as the sixth team, and the league’s first-ever player auction, replacing player draft, was also held on February 11.