The final — with teams yet to be decided — would take place at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on May 3 (Sunday). The final would also have a reserve day, which is May 4.

In a press release, PCB said the tickets will be up for grabs online at pcb.tcs.com.pk from 4pm on Monday, while physical tickets will be available at 18 designated TCS Express Centres in Lahore from 10am on Tuesday.

Fans can buy tickets for VIP enclosures (Fazal Mahmood and Imran Khan) for Rs6,000, while the premium enclosures (Rajas and Saeed Anwar) will be available for Rs4,000.

First-class enclosures, which comprise Abdul Hafeez Kardar, Abdul Qadir, Javed Miandad and Sarfaraz Nawaz, are priced at Rs2,000.

Seats in Hanif Mohammad, Imtiaz Ahmed, Saeed Ahmed and Inzamam-ul-Haq, which are categorised as general enclosures, will be available for a minimum of Rs1,500.

The PCB noted that the “thrilling” final game of the tournament could also be enjoyed from the VVIP enclosure (Waqar Younis) at the Iqbal End, whose tickets can be bought for Rs8,000.

The tickets for the Zaheer Abbas enclosure at the Jinnah End will carry a price of Rs10,000, while the PCB Gallery tickets are priced at Rs12,000.

According to the PCB, fans should aim to reach Gaddafi Stadium by 6:30pm to witness the Curtain Closing Ceremony before the final match.

Peshawar Zalmi, Multan Sultans and Islamabad United have already qualified for the playoffs, while Lahore Qalandars and Hyderabad Kingsmen are in contention for the remaining slot.

The final qualification is likely to be determined on net run rate (NRR).

LAHORE: It was quite an unusual scenario here at the Gaddafi Stadium with Lahore Qalandars batters showing their grit in their last initial-stage match.

Though their innings against Peshawar Zalmi revolved around Fakhar Zaman, Qalandars’ mainstay known for his belligerent willow work, the southpaw on Saturday night crafted an uncharacteristic knock while his batting partners took the main role as they overhauled 200 with three balls to spare.

Abdullah Shafique, Charith Asalanka, Sikandar Raza and Daniel Sams all made valuable contributions with the bat.

The Shaheen Shah Afridi-led side in the process became the first team to beat table toppers Zalmi who had won eight matches of the ongoing edition before Saturday.

The thrilling win, Qalandars’ fifth in 10 games, lifted them to the fourth spot as they kept their playoffs hopes alive in the eight-team league.

With 10 points under their belt, defending champions Qalandars now wait anxiously for the outcome of Sunday’s clash between Hyderabad Kingsmen, who have four wins (eight points), and bottom-placed Rawalpindiz in Karachi. Kingsmen, in order to reach the playoffs, need to beat Rawalpindiz by a big margin to get a relatively better net run-rate or else Qalandars will go through.

Sams’ (35 not out off 15, five fours and a six) couple off pacer Mohammad Basit in the final over gave Qalandars a memorable six-wicket victory.

Earlier in their innings, Qalandars after losing Mohammad Naeem (10) to pacer Khurram Shahzad in the third over at the total of 21 cruised to 64-1 in powerplay as a unusually quiet Fakhar, who made 58 not out off 47 — steadily lifted his scoring rate.

Fakhar was accompanied by Abdullah Shafique who walloped an 11-ball 25 laced with four fours and a six as the duo sought to cruise ahead.

However, immediately after powerplay, spinner Iftikhar Ahmed sent Abdullah back to the pavilion as the batter looked to play a slog sweep but only managed to get caught at deep mid-wicket by Sufiyan Muqeem.

Fakhar, later named player-of-the-match, then combined with Asalanka, who made 33 off 26, to help Qalandars get past 100 in the 11th over. The 53-run stand was broken by Ali Raza in the 13th over when a well-disguised slower ball deceived Asalanka who was caught in the cover by Michael Bracewell.

Sikandar Raza looked in a punishing mood as the right-hander made a whirlwind 29 off just 11 striking three sixes and a couple of fours to steer Qalandars to 150 in the 16th over. In the same over however, he was dismissed — hit-wicket while attempting a shot over fine-leg — by Sufiyan as the scoreline now read 160-4.

But Sams and Fakhar completed the job for Qalandars without any further loss.

Khurram, Iftikhar, Ali and Sufiyan claimed a wicket each for Zalmi.

Earlier after being sent in to bat, Zalmi posted a solid 199-4 off the stipulated overs thanks to the fireworks by Bracewell who was well supported by Babar.

Zalmi were restricted earlier as opener James Vince and in-form Kusal Mendis were sent back in a double strike by Shaheen inside powerplay.

Vince, after making 10, was cleaned up by an inswinging yorker in the third over. In the fifth, Shaheen intelligently deceived Mendis with a slower one as the Sri Lankan batter attempting to pull mistimed it to give a simple catch to Haris Rauf at mid-on. It was now 36-2.

After posting a moderate 43-2 in powerplay, Bracewell and Babar gradually rebuilt the innings to help Zalmi reach 78 at the halfway stage. The duo continued to keep a moderate scoring rate to post 100-2 in 13.1 overs.

Opener Babar, enjoying a sublime run of form with the bat, continued to impress as he completed the half-century — his third of the ongoing edition — off 40 balls. The batter has struck a hundred too in the ongoing edition, against Quetta Gladiators in Karachi.

Playing relatively faster, Bracewell completed his fifty off 30 but not before the New Zealander got a life on 16 in the eighth over when Naeem dropped an easy catch in deep cover.

Babar and Bracewell added an invaluable 94 runs off 64 balls before the former fell in the 16th over when Haris bowled him. Babar consumed 45 balls for his 59 and struck five fours and a six.

Left-handed Bracewell, who during his fabulous knock cracked eight fours and six sixes, was joined by Iftikhar (27 not out off 14, five fours) and the pair changed gears to add 64 runs off just 27 balls steering Zalmi to 194-3.

After bludgeoning 83 off 45, Bracewell was undone by a reverse-swinging yorker by Haris in the final over.

Shaheen finished with two wickets for 36 while Haris conceded 46 runs for his two.

SCOREBOARD

PESHAWAR ZALMI:

James Vince b Shaheen10

Babar Azam b Haris59

Kusal Mendis c Haris b Shaheen7

Michael Bracewell b Haris83

Iftikhar Ahmed not out27

Abdul Samad not out4

EXTRAS (LB-4, W-5)9

TOTAL (for four wickets, 20 overs)199

DID NOT BAT: Farhan Yousaf, Sufiyan Muqeem, Mohammad Basit, Ali Raza, Khurram Shahzad

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-16 (Vince), 2-36 (Mendis), 3-130 (Babar), 4-194 (Bracewell)

BOWLING: Shaheen 4-0-36-2, Ubaid 3-0-28-0, Sams 4-0-35-0 (1w), Raza 4-0-32-0 (1w), Haris 4-0-46-2 (3w), Burl 1-0-18-0

LAHORE QALANDARS:

Fakhar Zaman not out58

Mohammad Naeem c Iftikhar b Khurram10

Abdullah Shafique c Sufiyan b Iftikhar25

Charith Asalanka c Bracewell b Ali33

Sikandar Raza hit wicket b Sufiyan29

Daniel Sams not out35

EXTRAS (LB-1, NB-1, W-8)10

TOTAL (for four wickets, 19.3 overs) 200

DID NOT BAT: Ryan Burl, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haseebullah Khan, Ubaid Shah, Haris Rauf

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-21 (Naeem), 2-65 (Abdullah), 3-118 (Asalanka), 4-160 (Raza)

BOWLING: Khurram 3-0-22-1 (2w, 1nb), Basit 3.3-0-36-0 (1w), Iftikhar 4-0-33-1, Ali 3-0-48-1 (1w), Bracewell 2-0-22-0, Sufiyan 4-0-38-1

RESULT: Lahore Qalandars won by six wickets.

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Fakhar Zaman

POINTS TABLE

(Tabulated under matches, won, lost, no result, points, run-rate)

Peshawar Zalmi 10 8 1 1 17 2.324

Multan Sultans 9 6 3 0 12 0.450

Islamabad United 9 5 3 1 11 1.766

Lahore Qalandars 10 5 5 0 10 -0.482

Karachi Kings 10 5 5 0 10 -0.869

Hyderabad Kingsmen 9 4 5 0 8 -1.037

Quetta Gladiators 10 3 7 0 6 -0.410

Rawalpindiz 9 1 8 0 2 -1.330

Published in Dawn, April 26th, 2026

LAHORE: David Warner and Reeza Hendricks blasted unbeaten half-centuries on Saturday as Karachi Kings chased down 196 with nine wickets and nine balls to spare against Quetta Gladiators, but the victory was not enough to keep their HBL Pakistan Super League playoff hopes alive.

Kings were officially eliminated later in the day after Lahore Qalandars won their match against table-toppers Peshawar Zalmi.

A second successive captain’s knock from Warner (89 not out), combined with a commanding unbroken 141-run partnership for the second wicket with Hendricks (87 not out), propelled Kings to what proved to be a consolation win in their final league match here at the Gaddafi Stadium.

The defeat also knocked Gladiators out of the playoff race, leaving two teams — Qalandars and Hyderabad Kingsmen — in contention for the remaining slot alongside already-qualified Peshawar Zalmi, Multan Sultans and Islamabad United.

The final qualification is likely to be determined on net run rate (NRR).

Chasing a formidable 196, Kings not only achieved the target with ease but did so with nine balls to spare, finishing at 199 for one in 18.3 overs. Notably, four of Kings’s five victories in the tournament have come in Lahore.

Gladiator’s, after being sent in to bat, posted 195-6 in the stipulated overs. Rilee Rossouw top-scored with 90 off 54 balls and captain Saud Shakeel added 57 off 34, but the Gladiators slowed dramatically at the death, managing only 20 runs in the last three overs.

With comparatively cooler conditions for the second innings, Kings never looked in trouble after an early wicket.

Kings’s chase began on a steady note, with Jason Roy providing early impetus.

The English opener scored a brisk 20 off 15 balls, striking four boundaries before being dismissed in the sixth over by Jahandad Khan with the score at 58. Though his stay was brief, Roy ensured the required rate remained under control.

What followed was a dominant batting display led by Warner and Hendricks. Warner, registering his third half-century of the tournament and second consecutive unbeaten effort, anchored the innings with authority.

His knock, laced with 10 fours and four sixes, blended composure with calculated aggression and kept Kings comfortably ahead of the asking rate.

Hendricks complemented his skipper perfectly, matching him stroke for stroke in a fluent innings of 87 off 48 balls, which included eight fours and four sixes.

The duo dismantled Gladiators’s bowling attack with ease, accelerating seamlessly through the middle overs and leaving no room for a comeback.

The pair’s intent was particularly evident in key overs, with Hendricks taking 24 runs off Alzarri Joseph in the 17th over, while Warner had earlier collected 18 runs from Abrar Ahmed in the fifth. Their unbroken stand ensured a one-sided finish as Kings sealed victory in commanding fashion.

Gladiators’s bowlers struggled after the early breakthrough, with Jahandad the lone wicket-taker. The rest of the attack — including Joseph, Khalil Ahmed, Abrar and Usman Tariq — proved ineffective, conceding ten or more runs per over.

For Gladiators, the innings had started disastrously. Pacer Hassan Ali removed both opener — Shamyl Hussain and Khawaja Nafay — for ducks in the very first over of the day.

Shamyl was caught behind off the first ball for a golden duck and Nafay followed in the same over, caught by Warner at mid-off for nought, leaving Gladiators reeling at 1 for 2 inside the opening over.

Rossouw and Saud then engineered a remarkable recovery. Initially cautious, the pair rebuilt the innings with intelligent strike rotation before shifting gears to dominate the bowlers. By the end of the powerplay, Gladiators had surged to 58 for two, a significant turnaround.

The partnership flourished through the middle overs, frustrating Kings’ attack. Rossouw brought up his fourth half-century of the tournament off 36 balls, while Saud reached his fifty off 30 deliveries. Together, they added 100 runs in just 60 balls.

Saud was eventually dismissed for 57 off 34 balls — an innings featuring nine boundaries — when he was caught behind off Rizwanullah with the total nearing 150.

Rossouw, however, continued his assault and, alongside Dinesh Chandimal, pushed the score further before falling for 90 off 54 balls. His innings included six sixes and eight fours as the southpaw reached 10,000 T20 runs during his knock.

Chandimal provided a steady finish, remaining unbeaten on 30 off 17 balls, hitting three fours and a six to ensure Gladiators posted a challenging total.

Among Kings’ bowlers, Hasan claimed two early wickets for 41 runs, while Rizwanullah and Abbas Afridi took two wickets each. However, the attack struggled to contain Rossouw and Saud once they settled.

Despite Gladiators’s recovery, Kings’s clinical chase ultimately rendered the effort insufficient, as Warner and Hendricks produced one of the most dominant batting performances of the season.

SCOREBOARD

QUETTA GLADIATORS:

Shamyl Hussain c Azam b Hasan0

Khawaja Nafay c Warner b Hasan0

Rilee Rossouw c Azam b Abbas90

Saud Shakeel c Azam b Rizwanullah57

Hasan Nawaz c Abbas b Rizwanullah3

Dinesh Chandimal not out30

Jahandad Khan c Hasan b Abbas3

Alzarri Joseph not out2

EXTRAS (B-4, LB-2, W-4)10

TOTAL (for six wickets, 20 overs)195

DID NOT BAT: Khalil Ahmed, Abrar Ahmed, Usman Tariq

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-0 (Shamyl), 2-1 (Nafay), 3-149 (Saud), 4-157 (Rossouw), 5-161 (Hasan), 6-185 (Jahandad)

BOWLING: Hasan 4-0-41-2 (1w), Rizwanullah 3.4-0-28-2 (1w), Ali 4-0-45-0, Salman 3-0-24-0 (1w), Zahid 3-0-29-0, Abbas 2.2-0-22-2 (1w)

KARACHI KINGS:

Jason Roy c Joseph b Jahandad20

David Warner not out89

Reeza Hendricks not out87

EXTRAS (LB-2, W-1)3

TOTAL (for one wicket, 18.3 overs)199

DID NOT BAT: Salman Ali Agha, Azam Khan, Khushdil Shah, Moeen Ali, Abbas Afridi, Hasan Ali, Zahid Mahmood, Rizwanullah

FALL OF WICKET: 1-58 (Roy)

BOWLING: Joseph 4-0-42-0, Khalil 3-0-35-0, Jahandad 3.3-0-38-1 (1w), Abrar 4-0-42-0, Usman 4-0-40-0

RESULT: Karachi Kings won by nine wickets.

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: David Warner

Published in Dawn, April 26th, 2026

The match marked the first time a Pakistan side has competed in a UEFA competition.

Kazakhstan opened the scoring in the seventh minute through a penalty converted by Platon Shipstin. Anuar Tolendi doubled the lead on a counter-attack in the 21st minute, and captain David Zarechnyy made it 3-0 after a defensive lapse in the 30th. Daniyar Kassi added a fourth with a header in first-half injury time.

Pakistan regrouped after the interval and produced a more vibrant performance. Captain Abdul Samad pulled a goal back with a bullet header off a pinpoint cross from Muhammad Hanzala from the right. Substitute Danish Masih went close twice as Pakistan created more chances in the second half.

Head coach Mohammed Essa said the experience was valuable for his young side.

“This is a learning experience for the team since it is the first time that a Pakistan side is playing in a UEFA competition,” Essa said in a statement released by the Pakistan Football Federation. “It was the first game for the team here and I think we did well after a tough first half.”

Captain Abdul Samad acknowledged the disappointment but struck a defiant tone.

“It wasn’t the result that we wanted,” Samad said. “But we will take our learnings from this match and come out stronger and better in the second match.”

Pakistan in the event next face Russia on Monday.

Published in Dawn, April 26th, 2026

GETAFE: Fermin Lopez and Marcus Rashford’s goals took Barcelona to the brink of the La Liga title with a 2-0 win at Getafe on Saturday.

The defending champions moved 11 points clear of second place Real Madrid, who drew at Real Betis on Friday to dent their hopes of finishing the season with a trophy.

Hansi Flick’s side can win their second consecutive Spanish title if they overcome Osasuna next weekend and Real fail to beat Espanyol.

Barcelona were without vital injured wingers Lamine Yamal and Raphinha but still did enough to see off Jose Bordalas’s tricky side, sixth, in the Madrid suburbs.

“We were aware of what was going to happen here, we were going to have few chances and I think we played well, competing well defensively and putting away the chances we had,” Lopez told Movistar.

“We know we’ve got a big advantage (in the title race) but even so, we can’t relax, I know it’s a cliche but it’s the truth.”

Getafe set out to disrupt Barcelona’s rhythm with small fouls and Barca struggled to create many clear opportunities.

Dani Olmo made the first with a neat dribble, speeding into Getafe territory, but pulled his shot wide of the far post.

Eventually the hosts made the breakthrough just before half-time when Pedri played in Lopez.

Wearing a protective mask after hurting his face in a collision with Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Juan Musso during Barcelona’s Champions League quarter-final elimination last week, Lopez stayed calm to slot home. The midfielder imitated Yamal’s usual “304” celebration in tribute to the injured teenage star.

With Getafe needing to come out of their shell to find an equaliser, Barca had more opportunities after the break.

David Soria saved from Olmo after he met Jules Kounde’s cross, and then the French defender headed a Joao Cancelo ball narrowly off-target.

Martin Satriano threatened for the hosts before Rashford, on loan from Manchester United, secured Barcelona’s triumph.

Robert Lewandowski sent the England international charging through on goal and he slipped a low effort past Soria to help Barca put one hand on the trophy. On Friday, Hector Bellerin scored deep into stoppage time to earn Betis a 1-1 draw against Real, denting the hosts’ fading title hopes with five games remaining.

Real took the lead in the 17th minute when Federico Valverde’s drive from outside the box was spilled by Betis goalkeeper Alvaro Valles and Vinicius Jr reacted quickly to finish from close range.

However, Betis equalised in the 93rd minute as Ferland Mendy lost possession to Antony inside the box, sparking confusion in the area. The ball broke kindly for Bellerin, who drove a low effort through a crowd of players and into the net.

“We suffered another blow in the final minutes, as has already happened to us many other times, and we end up with a result I don’t think we deserved, because we had chances (to win),” Real coach Alvaro Arbeloa told reporters.

Published in Dawn, April 26th, 2026

The world’s most populous nation will stage the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad and is also bidding for the 2036 Olympic Games in the western Indian city.

“Indian Olympic Association has already sent an expression of interest to OCA (Olympic Council of Asia) for organising the 2038 Asian Games in Ahmedabad,” IOA President P. T. Usha told Reuters by telephone from China.

“I met the OCA president and other functionaries here and they are all happy and want to support us.”

Former Olympian Usha is in China to attend the Asian Beach Games in Sanya.

“They had an EC (executive committee) meeting here where they discussed it. They will be sending an evaluation committee to India very soon,” she added.

India hosted the inaugural Asian Games in 1951 in New Delhi and again in 1982 in the capital city.

The country hosted the 2010 Commonwealth Games, which were mired in mismanagement and allegations of corruption.

Nagoya in Japan will host this year’s Asian Games, while Doha has been awarded the 2030 edition and Riyadh 2034.

In a post on X, the PCB chairman said he had requested PM Shehbaz to allow spectators in the stadiums during the PSL 11 final.

“While he was also inclined to permit fans, he emphasised that austerity measures are currently in place across Pakistan, with efforts underway to minimise fuel consumption,” Naqvi said.

“However, on the request of franchise owners, he has graciously approved the presence of fans for the PSL 11 final.”

The PCB chairman thanked the premier for the decision to facilitate the fans.

This year’s PSL had initially been scheduled to be held across six venues — Lahore, Karachi, Rawalpindi, Multan, Peshawar, and Faisalabad.

However, last month, it was announced that the tournament would go ahead sans spectators while matches would be held only in Karachi and Lahore in line with the government’s austerity drive, which was launched in the wake of the global fuel crisis triggered by the US-Israel’s war on Iran.

Islamabad United sealed a playoff berth with a commanding eight-wicket win at the National Bank Stadium on Friday night. The defeat dealt a significant blow to the Hyderabad Kingsmen’s net run rate, which could prove decisive in the tightly packed race for fourth place.

Meanwhile, Peshawar Zalmi has stayed firmly at the top with eight wins in nine games. Karachi Kings, after suffering their fifth loss in eight outings, lie at the seventh spot in the eight-team league.

The final match is scheduled for May 3 at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.

Riding high on momentum following their triumph over Multan Sultans, the Kingsmen had appeared well-placed to consolidate their push for the last-four stage. Instead, they stumbled to their lowest total of the season — a meagre 80 — as Islamabad’s bowlers combined to dismantle them with ruthless efficiency, tightening an already fierce mid-table battle.

The result propelled Islamabad to 11 points, guaranteeing qualification, while leaving the Kingsmen stranded on eight alongside Lahore Qalandars and Karachi Kings, setting up a three-way tussle for the final playoff spot heading into the last round.

Having opted to field, United struck immediately through Richard Gleeson, who produced a devastating opening spell that effectively decided the contest.

The English pacer removed Maaz Sadaqat off the very first ball before accounting for Marnus Labuschagne and Saim Ayub inside the powerplay, exploiting movement off a sluggish surface with probing accuracy.

From 12-2 in the third over, the Kingsmen never recovered. Usman Khan, fresh from a century in the previous outing, attempted to anchor the innings but found little support as wickets fell steadily at the other end.

Kusal Perera briefly counterattacked with a pair of boundaries, but his dismissal — top-edging a sweep off Shadab Khan — triggered another collapse.

Glenn Maxwell’s struggles continued as he was trapped lbw by Imad Wasim attempting an ambitious reve­rse hit, reducing the Kingsmen to 42-5.

Shadab then stamped his authority on the middle overs, removing Irfan Khan and Hassan Khan in successive deliveries, finishing with figures of 3-13. Imad complemented him with three wickets of his own, including the final blows that wrapped up the innings in just 15.5 overs.

Only Usman showed resistance with a laborious 25 off 35 balls, while Asif Mehmood’s late six provided the solitary moment of defiance in an otherwise one-sided innings.

“We just need to make sure that when we find ourselves in different conditions to what we last played on, we’re able to adjust,” Kingsmen head coach Jason Gillespie said after the match.

“Unfortunately, we weren’t able to do that tonight. Full credit to Islamabad — they played really well.”

The Australian believed the Kings­men needed to adapt better when they take on Rawal­pindiz in their final and crucial league fixture on Sunday.

“We didn’t adjust and adapt our games. The surface played as we expected — we had played on it earlier in the tournament — so it wasn’t a surprise,” said Gillespie.

“It maybe kept a bit lower than people thought, but that’s no excuse.

“It certainly wasn’t a pitch to get bowled out for 80. We just batted poorly and we acknowledge that. We know we need to be better and adapt. The batters will reflect on that individually and as a group. We missed a trick tonight.”

Chasing a modest 81, United suffered an early hiccup when Devon Conway fell for a duck, but any hopes of a Kingsmen resurgence were swiftly extinguished by an aggressive partnership between Sameer Minhas and Mohsin Riaz.

Sameer settled the innings with calculated strokeplay, while Mohsin launched a blistering assault that ensured the chase was completed with minimal fuss.

The right-hander smashed 42 off just 18 deliveries, peppering the boundary with six fours and two sixes in a display that underscored the gulf between the two sides on the night.

The pair added 79 runs in just over six overs, effectively erasing any scoreboard pressure. Mohsin fell attempting to finish the match in style, but Shadab Khan sealed victory moments later with a crisp boundary, as United raced to 83-2 in only 6.4 overs.

While Islamabad celebrated qualification, the defeat dealt a significant blow to the Kingsmen’s net run rate, which could prove decisive in the tightly packed race for fourth place.

United’s performance coach Rehan Riaz said the side’s mantra of backing their players constantly helped the side book the playoffs despite a few hiccups during the tournament.

“Trusting our players is a major part of the culture at United,” he told reporters after the match. “The boys always look to bounce back after a setback.”

Having climbed into contention with four consecutive wins, including Wednesday’s statement victory, Kingsmen campaign now hinges on the final league fixture.

The standings reflect the shifting dynamics. United’s win not only secured their own progression but also opened the door for Qalandars and Kings, both level on points with the Kingsmen but marginally behind on net run rate.

With Quetta Gladiators still mathematically alive, albeit outsiders, the closing stages promise a tense scramble.

SCOREBOARD

HYDERABAD KINGSMEN:

Maaz Sadaqat c Imad b Gleeson 0

Marnus Labuschagne c Faheem b Gleeson 5

Saim Ayub c Haider b Gleeson 12

Usman Khan not out 25

Kusal Perera c Imad b Shadab 12

Glenn Maxwell lbw b Imad 1

Irfan Khan c Green b Shadab 9

Hassan Khan c&b Shadab 0

Asif Mehmood c Shadab b Salman 12

Hunain Shah b Imad 1

Mohammad Ali lbw b Imad 0

EXTRAS (W-3) 3

TOTAL (all out, 15.5 overs) 80

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-0 (Maaz), 2-11 (Labuschagne), 3-24 (Saim), 4-39 (Perera), 5-42 (Maxwell), 6-57 (Irfan), 7-57 (Hassan), 8-76 (Asif), 9-79 (Hunain)

BOWLING: Gleeson 3-0-9-3, Salman 3-0-19-1, Faheem 1-0-9-0, Green 2-0-9-0, Shadab 3-0-13-3 (2w), Imad 3.5-0-21-3 (1w)

ISLAMABAD UNITED:

Devon Conway c Maaz b Ali 0

Sameer Minhas not out 27

Mohsin Riaz c Labuschagne b Ali 42

Shadab Khan not out 4

EXTRAS (LB-5, NB-1, W-4) 10

TOTAL (for two wickets, 6.4 overs) 83

DID NOT BAT: Mark Chapman, Haider Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Chris Green, Imad Wasim, Richard Gleeson, Salman Mirza

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-0 (Conway), 2-79 (Mohsin)

BOWLING: Ali 3.4-0-29-2 (2w, 1nb), Hunain 2-0-26-0 (1w), Hassan 1-0-23-0 (1w)

RESULT: Islamabad United won by eight wickets.

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Richard Gleeson

POINTS TABLE

(Tabulated under matches, won, lost, no result, points, run-rate)

Peshawar Zalmi 9 8 0 1 17 2.645

Multan Sultans 9 6 3 0 12 0.450

Islamabad United 9 5 3 1 11 1.766

Lahore Qalandars 9 4 5 0 8 -0.558

Hyderabad Kingsmen 9 4 5 0 8 -1.037

Karachi Kings 9 4 5 0 8 -1.063

Quetta Gladiators 9 3 6 0 6 -0.355

Rawalpindiz 9 1 8 0 2 -1.330

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2026

The Italian world number one is looking to beat the rec­ord of four consecutive triumphs held by all-time greats Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal this week in the Spanish capital.

Sinner dropped only one set on the way to trophies in Paris, Indian Wells, Miami and Monte Carlo, but Bonzi battled brilliantly to claim the first at the Manolo Santana stadium.

The Frenchman survived five break points to reach a tie-break, where he also saved set point before edging ahead.

However Sinner stepped up a gear in the second set, securing breaks in the fourth and sixth games, and another in the third on his way to the third round.

“It was a tough match, I had some chances early on and I couldn’t use them, but this is tennis,” said four-time Grand Slam winner Sinner.

“It’s not bad to start the tournament like this, two and a half hours on court, it gives me good feedback where we need to improve for the next round.

“Of course, we need to impr­ove, but I’m also happy, when you’re not playing your best tennis and win, it’s still a good result.”

Earlier, Croatian qualifier Dino Prizmic sent world number six Ben Shelton crashing out with a 6-4, 6-7(4/7), 7-6(7/5) victory. Promising 20-year-old Prizmic, ranked 87th, secured his first ever win over a top-10 player in a three-hour battle in the Spanish capital.

American Shelton triumphed at the Munich Open on Sunday on clay but was unable to force a single break point on Prizmic’s serve. Italian Lorenzo Musetti, ran­ked ninth, defeated Hubert Hurkacz 6-4, 7-6(7/4).

In the women’s draw, world number two Elena Rybakina scraped into the Madrid Open third round with a 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 win over Gabriela Ruse.

Kazakhstan’s Rybakina, who won the Australian Open in January and triumphed at Stut­tgart last week, struggled in the first set, making 24 unforced errors to just eight winners.

After claiming a topsy-turvy second set, she came back from a break down in the third and sealed the victory on her third match point.

Rybakina will meet Zheng Qinwen, who produced a similarly battling performance to overcome Sofia Kenin, in the third round.

“Today, I basically survived,” said Rybakina after her hard-fought victory. “It wasn’t the greatest performance but Gabri­ela, she played very well. She was playing very deep and aggr­essive, so it was very difficult.

“My serve was not really helping me today... but I’m really happy that I managed to win, and I hope I can bring better tennis next round.”

Last year’s runner-up and the third seed Coco Gauff made light work of Leolia Jea­n­jean with a 6-3, 6-0 victory at the Arantxa Sanchez stadium.

Gauff will take on Romanian Sorana Cirstea in the third round, after she defeated Tyra Caterina Grant in straight sets.

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2026

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Rubio denied that Washington had asked the Iranian team not to come to the World Cup — but warned the United States may yet bar entry to members of the Iranian delegation it judged to have ties to Tehran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which is regarded as a terrorist organisation by Washington and several other governments.

“No-one from the US has told them they can’t come,” Rubio said of Iran’s World Cup participation.

“The problem with Iran, it would be not their athletes, it would be some of the other people (they) would want to bring with them, some of whom have ties to the IRGC. We may not be able to let them in, but not the athletes themselves,” Rubio added.

Rubio was responding to a reported proposal from Italy-born US special envoy Paolo Zampolli, who told the Financial Times he had floated the idea of Italy taking Iran’s World Cup place to US President Donald Trump and football’s world governing body FIFA.

The proposal was dismissed out of hand by the Italian government and sports officials earlier on Thursday.

Rubio said the proposal did not reflect the US government’s position.

“I don’t know where that’s coming from, other than speculation that Iran may decide not to come, and Italy would fill their spot,” Rubio said. “But that’s if they decide not to come on their own, it’s because they decided not to come.”

Zampolli told the Financial Times on Wednesday it would be a “dream” to see Italy at the finals in the United States, Mexico and Canada despite the fact they lost in a qualification playoff last month.

‘NOT POSSIBLE’

However, Italy’s sports minister Andrea Abodi said on Thursday that a reinstatement of Italy “first, is not possible; second, is not appropriate, you qualify on the pitch”, according to Italian news agencies ANSA and AGI.

That view was echoed by the president of Italy’s Olympic committee, Luciano Buonfiglio.

“I would feel offended. You have to earn your place in the World Cup,” he said.

The Iranian embassy to Rome responded saying that the suggestion showed US “moral bankruptcy” and that Italy did not need “political privileges” to demonstrate its football greatness.

Italy has won the World Cup four times, but it missed out on the tournament for a third successive time after losing a penalty shootout to Bosnia and Herzegovina in their qualifying playoff final.

Iran’s participation at the World Cup has been thrown into doubt by the war with the US and Israel that broke out on Feb 28.

The Iranian football federation (FFIRI) had said in April it was “negotiating” with FIFA to relocate the country’s World Cup matches from the United States to Mexico.

But FIFA President Gianni Infantino told AFP last month that Iran will be at the World Cup and that they will play “where they are supposed to be, according to the draw”.

The FIFA chief reiterated that stance in Washington last week.

When contacted by AFP about Zampolli’s suggestion on Thursday, FIFA referred to Infantino’s recent comments.

In 2022, Zampolli made a similar suggestion, proposing to FIFA that Italy should replace Iran at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar because of the Islamic Republic’s crackdown on protesters at that time. His proposal fell on deaf ears.

Zampolli is an Italian-American socialite, businessman and founder of a modelling agency, who claims to have introduced Trump to his current wife Melania Trump.

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2026

Karachi were 153 for five when Khushdil walked in, the required rate nudging towards 12 an over after the dismissal of Azam Khan. What followed was a breathtaking assault.

Khushdil announced himself with a crisp boundary off pacer Haris Rauf before unleashing carnage against Shaheen Shah Afridi in the 18th over — three towering sixes and a four that swung momentum decisively.

He then sealed the contest in emphatic fashion, launching back-to-back sixes off Haris, the second a clean strike over cow corner that sparked jubilant scenes in the dugout at the Gaddafi Stadium here as the Kings chased down 200 with eight balls to spare.

The five-wicket victory lifted Karachi from the brink, keeping their playoff hopes alive, while Lahore Qalandars, despite posting a competitive 199, were left to rue missed chances and a costly final assault.

Earlier, the Qalandars had set what looked a formidable total, but the Kings’ reply began shakily. Jason Roy fell early to Ubaid Shah, undone by extra bounce, while Reeza Hendricks followed soon after, miscuing a slower bouncer. When Salman Ali Agha perished attempting an ill-timed pull, Karachi were 69 for three and struggling to keep pace with the asking rate.

David Warner (63 not out off 44), however, held firm. The captain mixed caution with aggression, threading boundaries through the off-side and rotating strike smartly. His partnership with Moeen Ali revived the innings. Moeen, in particular, injected urgency, taking on Sikandar Raza with a pair of towering sixes and then continuing the charge against the spinners.

Their stand shifted the equation before Ubaid returned to dismiss Moeen for a quickfire 39, caught at long on. Azam briefly threatened with a six and a four but fell to Daniel Sams at a crucial juncture, leaving the chase delicately poised — until Khushdil’s late heroics rendered the earlier fluctuations irrelevant.

Lahore’s total had been built on a commanding foundation laid by Fakhar Zam­an and Abdullah Shafique. After a cautious start, the pair took control, punishing anything loose. Fakhar was particularly fluent, slashing Rizwanullah thr­o­ugh point and launching him over midwicket, while Abdullah supported him with elegant drives and powerful pulls.

The duo added 110 for the second wicket, with Fakhar bringing up his third successive half-century. He survived a crucial moment on 43 when Roy dropped a straightforward chance at long on — a miss that proved expensive as Lahore surged past 100 inside 10 overs.

Abdullah, meanwhile, reached his fifty with a deft cut before accelerating further, including a towering straight six off leg spinner Zahid Mahmood. But Lahore’s momentum dipped once Fakhar holed out to long on against Moeen.

Charith Asalanka fell cheaply soon after, and despite Abdullah’s continued fluency, his dismissal — bowled by a searing yorker from Rizwanullah while attempting a scoop — triggered a slowdown.

The middle order failed to fully capitalise, though Raza and Sams provided a late push. Sams struck a couple of lusty blows and benefitted from another dropped catch by Roy, while Shaheen added a quick six and four in the final over to push Lahore to 199.

In the end, it was a total that seemed just enough — until Khushdil ensured it wasn’t.

Scoreboard

LAHORE QALANDARS:
Fakhar Zaman c Roy b Ali 61
Mohammad Farooq run out 18
Abdullah Shafique b Rizwanullah 62
Charith Asalanka c Azam b Ali 0
Sikandar Raza not out 18
Daniel Sams run out 20
Shaheen Shah Afridi c Ali b Hasan 10

EXTRAS (B-1, LB-1, W-8) 10
TOTAL (for six wickets, 20 overs) 199
DID NOT BAT: Usama Mir, Haseebullah Khan, Ubaid Shah, Haris Rauf
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-24 (Farooq, 3.3 ov), 2-134 (Fakhar), 3-148 (Asalanka), 4-160 (Abdullah), 5-183 (Sams), 6-199 (Shaheen)
BOWLING: Hamza 4-1-49-0 (1w), Hasan 4-0-32-1, Ali 4-0-26-2 (2w), Rizwanullah 3-0-41-1, Zahid 4-0-35-0, Salman 1-0-14-0

KARACHI KINGS:
David Warner not out 63
Jason Roy c Haseebullah b Ubaid 9
Reeza Hendricks c Abdullah b Ubaid 10
Salman Ali Agha c Abdullah b Haris 14
Moeen Ali c Raza b Ubaid 39
Azam Khan b Sams 14
Khushdil Shah not out 44

EXTRAS (W-10) 10
TOTAL (for five wickets, 18.4 overs) 203
DID NOT BAT: Hasan Ali, Zahid Mahmood, Mohammad Hamza, Rizwanullah
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-10 (Roy), 2-39 (Hendricks), 3-69 (Salman), 4-127 (Ali), 5-146 (Azam)
BOWLING: Shaheen 4-0-51-0 (1w), Ubaid 4-0-41-3 (3w), Sams 3-0-30-1 (2w), Usama 2-0-19-0, Haris 3.4-0-36-1 (1w), Raza 2-0-26-0 (1w)
RESULT: Karachi Kings won by five wickets.
MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Khushdil Shah

Points table

(Tabulated under matches, won, lost, no result, points, run-rate)

Peshawar Zalmi 9 8 0 1 17 2.645
Multan Sultans 9 6 3 0 12 0.450
Islamabad United 8 4 3 1 9 1.082
Hyderabad Kingsmen 8 4 4 0 8 -0.367
Lahore Qalandars 9 4 5 0 8 -0.558
Karachi Kings 9 4 5 0 8 -1.063
Quetta Gladiators 9 3 6 0 6 -0.355
Rawalpindiz 9 1 8 0 2 -1.330

Published in Dawn, April 24th, 2026

Coming into the contest with eight defeats in as many matches, Rawalpindiz produced a disciplined all-round performance to chase down a modest 138-run target with 11 balls to spare, handing their supporters a long-awaited moment of relief.

Earlier, after opting to field first on a sluggish surface, Rawalpindiz’s bowlers justified their captain Mohammad Rizwan’s decision by restricting United to 137. The pitch, offering variable bounce and grip, made stroke-making difficult, and the bowling unit expl­o­ited the conditions expertly.

Spin proved particularly effective, with Asif Afridi and Saad Masood maintaining tight lines to choke the middle overs. Saad picked up two crucial wickets with his zippy leg spin, including that of Shadab, while Asif’s slow left-armers accou­nted for an economical spell, tightening the screws further.

United never quite found momentum. Opener Devon Conway anchored the innings with a measured 40 off 33 balls, but wickets at regular intervals stalled progress.

Sameer Minhas, who had starred in the previous meeting, fell cheaply, while Shadab Khan’s milestone 100th PSL appearance ended in disappointment with a first-ball dismissal.

Chasing a below-par total, Rawalpindiz were jolted early when Abdullah Fazal fell to the first ball of the innings. Howe­ver, Rizwan and Kamran Ghu­lam steadied the innings with a crucial 78-run partnership that effectively set up the chase.

United slipped to 79 for five by the 12th over, and despite a late flourish from Chris Green — whose brisk 29 off 16 balls lifted the total — the innings lacked the impetus needed on a challenging surface.

Mohammad Amir was instrumental with two wickets, using slower deliveries effectively, while Naseem Shah marked his return from injury with a tidy spell before leaving the field again due to a knee concern.

Rizwan, despite appearing to struggle with a hamstring niggle, played a controlled knock of 45 off 38 deliveries, striking five boundaries and a six. Kamran ably partnered him with a fluent 42 off 30 balls, mixing caution with aggression to keep the required rate in check.

At 84 for one after 10 overs, Rawalpindiz looked in complete control before United clawed their way back through their captain Shadab. He dismissed Rizwan and effected a sharp run-out of Sam Billings, briefly reviving hopes of an unlikely defence.

The pressure mounted as the scoring rate crept up, but Daryl Mitchell ensured there would be no late collapse. The New Zealander’s unbeaten 32 proved decisive, particularly his assault on Richard Gleeson in the 17th over, which yielded 17 runs and swung the contest firmly in Rawalpindiz’s favour.

Mitchell found support in Dian Forrester, who finished unbeaten on 13 and struck the winning boundary, sealing a comfortable victory with 11 balls to spare.

For United, the defeat highlighted familiar issues while batting first this season, as their inability to accelerate on slow surfaces once again proved costly. Shadab’s figures of one for 18 and a spirited middle-overs fightback were among the few positives.

For Rawalpindiz, however, the result carried significance beyond the points table. Though already out of playoff contention, they not only secured their first win of the campaign but also reclaimed bragging rights in the twin-city rivalry.

As Rizwan later reflected, the victory was “for the fans who kept believing,” a sentiment that resonated on an afternoon where perseverance finally met reward.

Scoreboard

ISLAMABAD UNITED:
Devon Conway c Abdullah b Mitchell 40
Sameer Minhas c Abdullah b Amir 6
Mohammad Faiq c Amir b Naseem 5
Shadab Khan c Forrester b Saad 1
Mark Chapman lbw b Asif 23
Haider Ali c Abdullah b Saad 6
Faheem Ashraf c Rizwan b Amir 11
Chris Green run out 29
Imad Wasim not out 8
Mohammad Hasnain c Billings b Forrester 0
Richard Gleeson lbw b Forrester 0

EXTRAS (B-2, LB-1, NB-1, W-4) 8
TOTAL (all out, 20 overs) 137
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-20 (Sameer), 2-29 (Faiq), 3-30 (Shadab), 4-79 (Conway), 5-79 (Chapman), 6-93 (Haider), 7-99 (Faheem), 8-137 (Green), 9-137 (Hasnain)
BOWLING: Asif 4-0-17-1, McConchie 3-0-26-0 (2w), Naseem 2-0-9-1, Amir 4-0-21-2 (1w), Saad 4-0-27-2, Mitchell 2-0-25-1 (1w), Forrester 1-0-9-2 (1nb)

RAWALPINDIZ:
Abdullah Fazal c Green b Imad 0
Mohammad Rizwan c Gleeson b Shadab 45
Kamran Ghulam c Sameer b Green 42
Daryl Mitchell not out 32
Sam Billings run out 2
Dian Forrester not out 13

EXTRAS (LB-2, NB-1, W-3) 6
TOTAL (for four wickets, 18.1 overs) 140
DID NOT BAT: Saad Masood, Cole McConchie, Naseem Shah, Asif Afridi, Mohammad Amir
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-0 (Abdullah), 2-78 (Kamran), 3-92 (Rizwan), 4-99 (Billings)
BOWLING: Imad 4-0-33-1, Gleeson 3-0-28-0 (2w), Hasnain 1.1-0-13-0, Faheem 1-0-11-0, Shadab 4-0-18-1, Chris 4-0-26-1, Sameer 1-0-9-0 (1nb)
RESULT: Rawalpindiz won by six wickets.
MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Mohammad Rizwan

Published in Dawn, April 24th, 2026

Donald Trump’s US special envoy Paolo Zampolli told the Financial Times that he made the suggestion to the US president and FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

“I’m an Italian native and it would be a dream to see the Azzurri [Italy’s national football team] at a US-hosted tournament. With four titles, they have the pedigree to justify inclusion,” said Zampolli, an Italian-American who is Trump’s envoy for “Global Partnership” but has no official connection with the World Cup or Italian football.

The plan seems to be an effort to repair ties bet­ween Trump and Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni after the two fell out amid the US president’s attacks against Pope Leo XIV over the Iran war.

Italy’s main sports news websites have given the story only a passing reference.

Sports Minister Andrea Abodi told the Italian news agency LaPresse: “Firstly it is not possible, secondly it is not appropriate … You qualify on the pitch.”

Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti went further, saying the idea was “shameful”.

Leading Italian coach Gianni De Biasi told Reuters it was an unlikely proposal with any theoretical Iranian absence logically filled by the team behind them in their qualification group.

“Furthermore, I believe Italy doesn’t need Trump’s support on an issue like this. I think we can manage on our own,” he said.

Soccer’s world governing body FIFA responded by pointing to Infantino’s previous comments on Iran’s participation.

“The Iranian team is coming, for sure,” he said last week: “Iran has to come if they are to represent their people. They really want to play, and they should play. Sport should be outside politics.”

The White House, the Italian Football Federation and Asian Football Confederation did not immediately respond to Reuters’ requests for comment.

Currently there is no suggestion that Iran will withdraw or be banned from the tournament, which Italy missed out on after losing in a playoff for the third World Cup in a row.

Iran qualified for a fourth successive World Cup last year but, after the start of the war, requested that FIFA move the team’s three group matches from the US to Mexico — which was rejected.

Iran is seemingly proceeding as planned. “We are preparing and making arrangements for the World Cup, but we are obedient to the decisions of the authorities,” Iranian football federation President Mehdi Taj told reporters at a pro-government rally in Tehran on Wednesday.

The World Cup, which is also being co-hosted by Mexico and Canada, gets underway on June 11 with Iran scheduled to kick off their campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles four days later.

Published in Dawn, April 24th, 2026

Bangladesh set New Zealand 266 for victory after Shanto’s patient 105 and Litton Das’s fluent 76, and while the Black Caps overcame some initial turbulence to get into a strong position in their chase, they were bowled out for 210 in 44.5 overs.

“It wasn’t easy. Boys bowled really well... we knew the conditions, that it would spin and fast bowling would have uneven bounce. We knew early wickets would bring us momentum,” said Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz.

Nick Kelly gave the tourists hope scoring 59 but perished chasing a slow, wide ball from Rahman (5-43), and the Bangladesh seamer ran riot from there to ensure his team’s victory despite late fireworks from Dean Foxcroft (75).

New Zealand struck early after winning the toss and asking Bangladesh to bat, as Will O’Rourke (3-32) sent back opener Saif Hassan for a two-ball duck and got Tanzid Hasan to play one onto his stumps in the third over.

The paceman similarly bowled out Soumya Sarkar for 18 to leave Bangladesh in trouble at 32-3, but the hosts fought back through a 160-run partnership between Najmul and Litton when

New Zealand’s bowlers went off the boil slightly.

That fourth-wicket stand was broken by Jayden Lennox (2-50) when he bowled Litton, before Najmul scored his first ODI century since 2024 and then departed while looking to raise the scoring rate with seven overs remaining.

“The way Litton played, really outstanding. He held one side and I tried to score some runs. It wasn’t an easy wicket to bat on,” player of the match Najmul said at the post-match presentation.

Bangladesh finished on 265-8 after handy knocks from Towhid Hridoy (33) and Mehidy Hasan Miraz (22), while Ben Lister (2-62) claimed late wickets to keep things in check.

New Zealand won the series opener by 26 runs in Mirpur and the hosts levelled at 1-1 with a six-wicket victory at the same venue on Monday. The teams play three T20 Internat­ionals starting in Chattogram next week.

Scoreboard

BANGLADESH:
Saif Hassan c Latham b O’Rourke 0
Tanzid Hasan b O’Rourke 1
Soumya Sarkar b O’Rourke 18
Najmul Hossain c Smith b Lennox 105
Litton Das b Lennox 76
Tawhid Hridoy not out 33
Mehidy Hasan c Young b Foxcroft 22
Shoriful Islam c Latham b Lister 1
Tanvir Islam c Kelly b Lister 0
Mustafizur Rahman not out 3

EXTRAS (B-1, W-5) 6
TOTAL (for eight wickets, 50 overs) 265
DID NOT BAT: Nahid Rana
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-0 (Saif), 2-9 (Tanzid), 3-32 (Soumya), 4-192 (Litton), 5-221 (Najmul), 6-256 (Mehidy), 7-257 (Shoriful), 8-257 (Tanvir)
BOWLING: O’Rourke 7-1-32-3 (1w), Nathan 9-0-50-0 (3w), Lister 10-0-62-2, Abbas 5-0-16-0, Clarkson 3-0-19-0 (1w), Lennox 10-0-50-2, Foxcroft 6-0-35-1

NEW ZEALAND:
H. Nicholls c Litton b Mustafizur 4
N. Kelly c Tanzid b Mustafizur 59
W. Young c Litton b Nahid 19 T. Latham c Shoriful b Mehidy 5
M. Abbas b Shoriful 25
D. Foxcroft c Saif b Mehidy 75
J. Clarkson b Nahid 6
N. Smith c Mehidy b Mustafizur 2
J. Lennox c Towhid b Mustafizur 2
W. O’Rourke b Mustafizur 1
B. Lister not out 2

EXTRAS (LB-5, W-5) 10
TOTAL (all out, 44.5 overs )210
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-8 (Nicholls), 2-54 (Young), 3-61 (Latham), 4-108 (Kelly), 5-124 (Abbas), 6-137 (Clarkson), 7-150 (Smith), 8-154 (Lennox), 9-160 (O’Rourke)
BOWLING: Shoriful 7-0-19-1 (1w), Mustafizur 9-2-43-5 (1w), Nahid 10-1-37-2 (3w), Tanvir 10-0-70-0, Mehidy 8.5-0-36-2
RESULT: Bangladesh won by 55 runs.
MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Najmul Hossain
SERIES: Bangladesh won the three-match series 2-1.
MAN-OF-THE-SERIES: Nahid Rana

Published in Dawn, April 24th, 2026

Erling Haaland’s clinical finish after five minutes could have ‌paved the way for a boost to City’s goal difference but they lacked a cutting edge as Burnley dug deep.

Haaland hit the post and had other chances as City tried to give themselves a safety margin but Pep Guardiola’s side had to make do with a surprisingly narrow victory.

After reeling Arsenal in they now lead the ​table on goals scored with both sides on 70 points from 33 games and with an identical goal difference of plus ​37.

For Scott Parker’s Burnley the inevitable has now become a reality as they are stuck on 20 points, 13 ⁠points behind the safety zone with only four games remaining.

“We played a really good game, unfortunately we missed a lot of chances. We defended ​better in the second half. Second half we had less problems,” Guardiola, whose side face Southampton in the FA Cup semi-final on Saturday, told ​Sky Sports.

“It was such a demanding game on Sunday. It is not easy after three days but in the Premier League you have to adjust. We are used to doing it. We competed really well, we made a really good game but it’s a pity the chances we had.”

Burnley produce spirited play

City’s fans sang “we are top ​of the league” at the final whistle as their team hit the top but it was with a mixture of relief as they could ​never truly relax as Burnley betrayed their lowly status with a spirited display.

Arsenal have led the race since early October but have stalled in April and Haaland’s winner ‌in a ⁠2-1 victory against them at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday has given City the edge.

With the race so tight, however, they would have expected to sweep Burnley aside by a wider margin on Wednesday and given themselves the edge on goal difference.

It certainly looked that way at the start as Burnley keeper Martin Dubravka made a great save from Rayan Cherki before Haaland was played through and the Norwegian advanced before dinking a subtle left-footed finish past ​the keeper.

City had 10 goal attempts ​before the break although Burnley ⁠were a threat with Jaidon Anthony having an early shot saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma while Zian Flemming shot wide.

Antoine Semenyo poked a chance over the bar early in the second half and Haaland drifted a shot against ​the post as City strained for a second goal.

In the end it was a nervous finale as ​Burnley won a corner ⁠deep in stoppage time with Dubravka sent forward, but City avoided any stumble to take the points.

While they may have hit the top after stretching their unbeaten league run to 11, City will need to play better in a relatively tough run-in to win a fifth title in six seasons.

They also ⁠are at a ​disadvantage with Arsenal playing twice in the league before City’s next league game away ​at Everton.

For Burnley it is a second relegation in three seasons, having come up from the Championship with 100 points.

“I came here with a dream to keep this club up,” ​Burnley captain Kyle Walker, a multiple title winner with City, said. “Hopefully we can do the fans proud next season.”

KARACHI: Entering their debut HBL Pakistan Super League season with four losses in a row, Hyderabad Kingsmen had come a long way into Wednesday’s night fixture against the high-flying Multan Sultans, winning the next three on a trot.

With their eyes on the playoff spot, their hopes were boosted by Usman Khan, who neared his nineties, and captain Marnus Labuschagne at the other end, anchoring with authority.

The Kingsmen needed 52 off the last six overs, to cancel out Steve Smith’s century effort earlier. And then Sultans captain Ashton Turner turned to his fellow Australian Peter Siddle.

The 41-year-old, 67-Test veteran, steamed in, got hit by Usman for a six over deep fine leg. But bounced back instantly, hitting the deck hard to get Labuschagne caught at short fine, breaking a 123-run partnership.

After Usman completed his century — the fastest of the season — in the next over off Mohammad Wasim, Siddle returned. A slower one saw Glenn Maxwell hole out, before Usman himself fell attempting another big hit, leaving Hyderabad wobbling with the finish line in sight.

But the Kingsmen found unlikely composure in the lower order. Hassan Khan and Irfan Khan Niazi combined nerves with audacity.

Hassan, fearless from the outset, whipped a low full toss over fine leg for six and followed it with a crisp drive past mid-off. Irfan complemented him with a stunning flat six over cover off Mohammad Wasim that shifted the pressure back on Multan.

With eight needed off the final over, the pair kept their cool — nudging singles before Hassan sealed the chase in emphatic fashion, pulling a slower bouncer over midwicket for six to spark jubilant celebrations.

The four-wicket victory propelled Hyderabad into the top four, marking their fourth consecutive win and a remarkable turnaround in the standings, while Multan’s hold near the summit loosened after a game they had largely controlled.

The chase, however, had not begun smoothly. Early strikes from Multan saw Maaz Sadaqat fall to Mohammad Ismail, followed by the struggling Saim Ayub, leaving the Kingsmen under pressure in the powerplay. The situation worsened when Kusal Perera departed for a duck, reducing them to 54 for three.

What followed was a counter-attacking masterclass. Usman and Labu­schagne rebuilt with authority, mixing classical strokeplay with brute force.

Labuschagne was elegant, threading boundaries through cover and executing a deft reverse ramp, while Usman unleashed carnage — dispatching anything short into the stands.

The pair raised their 50-run stand briskly, and soon after brought up their individual half-centuries — Labuschagne off 31 balls, Usman in just 20.

Usman’s innings, in particular, was breathtaking. He peppered the leg side with towering sixes, especially against spin, while also showing range with lofted drives over cover.

Labuschagne, though less explosive, was equally vital, rotating strike and punishing loose deliveries. Their 123-run stand off 64 balls turned the chase on its head before Siddle’s intervention in the 16th over triggered a late twist.

Smith’s ton in vain

Earlier, Multan had piled up a formidable 213 for seven, built around Smith’s imperious century. After a cautious start from Sahibzada Farhan, the duo accelerated steadily.

Sahibzada struck the first blow with a towering six over long-on, before Smith began to dictate terms with innovative strokeplay — scoops, ramps and fierce cuts unsettling the bowlers.

Both batters reached their half-centuries in the 10th over — Smith bringing his up in just 25 balls with a towering six, while Sahibzada followed soon after with a single.

Their opening stand of 132 laid a perfect platform. Sahibzada eventually departed for 66, but Smith pressed on relentlessly, racing to his century in just 48 deliveries with a flurry of boundaries.

However, his dismissal for 106 — mistiming a lofted shot — exposed Multan’s fragility. The middle and lower order failed to capitalise, with wickets tumbling in the death overs.

Pacer Akif Javed led the fightback brilliantly, claiming three wickets in the final over, including Turner and Josh Philippe, as Multan lost momentum and finished short of what once seemed inevitable.

In the end, it was Hyderabad’s resilience — and Hassan’s finishing flourish — that defined a pulsating contest under the Karachi lights.

Scoreboard

MULTAN SULTANS: Sahibzada Farhan c Labuschagne b Maxwell66 Steven Smith c Labuschagne b Hassan106 Josh Philippe b Akif19 Shan Masood b Ali1 Arafat Minhas c Maaz b Hunain2 Ashton Turner b Akif5 Mohammad Imran not out9 Mohammad Nawaz b Akif0 EXTRAS (LB-4, W-1)5 TOTAL (for seven wickets, 20 overs)213 DID NOT BAT: Peter Siddle, Mohammad Wasim, Muhammad Ismail FALL OF WICKETS: 1-132 (Sahibzada), 2-185 (Smith), 3-188 (Shan), 4-199 (Arafat), 5-204 (Turner), 6-213 (Philippe), 7-213 (Nawaz) BOWLING: Ali 4-0-24-1 (1w), Akif 3-0-30-3, Hunain 4-0-58-1, Saim 2-0-28-0, Hassan 4-0-28-1, Labuschagne 1-0-15-0, Maxwell 2-0-26-1 HYDERABAD KINGSMEN: Maaz Sadaqat c Philippe b Ismail7 Marnus Labuschagne c Wasim b Siddle61 Saim Ayub c Nawaz b Ismail5 Kusal Perera b Ismail0 Usman Khan c&b Siddle101 Glenn Maxwell c Arafat b Siddle2 Irfan Khan not out8 Hassan Khan not out24 EXTRAS (B-1, NB-1, W-4)6 TOTAL (for six wickets, 19.3 overs)214 DID NOT BAT: Hunain Shah, Mohammad Ali, Akif Javed FALL OF WICKETS: 1-14 (Maaz), 2-48 (Saim), 3-48 (Perera), 4-171 (Labuschagne), 5-181 (Maxwell), 6-182 (Usman) BOWLING: Imran 4-0-33-0 (1w), Ismail 3.3-0-41-3 (2w), Siddle 4-0-39-3 (1nb), Arafat 2-0-28-0, Nawaz 1-0-18-0, Turner 1-0-8-0, Wasim 4-0-46-0 (1w) RESULT: Hyderabad Kingsmen won by four wickets. MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Usman Khan

Published in Dawn, April 23rd, 2026

LAHORE: Fast bowler Ali Raza’s superb hat-trick in the final over and fine half-centuries by Kusal Mendis and Farhan Yousaf led Peshawar Zalmi to a clinical seven-wicket victory over Karachi Kings in their HBL Pakistan Super League match here at the Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday.

The win kept Zalmi firmly at the top with eight wins in nine games while Kings after suffering their fifth loss in eight outings lie at the seventh spot in the eight-team league.

Chasing 183, Zalmi came home in 18.5 overs for the loss of three wickets as Mendis and Yousaf scripted the win with a record 119-run partnership for the fourth wicket for Zalmi, surpassing the 116-run stand set by Shoaib Malik and Haider Ali against Lahore Qalandars in the 2020 edition.

Despite losing openers James Vince and Babar Azam, who is currently enjoying a purple patch with the bat in powerplay, Zalmi made sure they maintain their magnificent unbeaten run in the ongoing edition.

Babar (25 off 19 balls) was sent back in the fifth over by Abbas Afridi as the batter miscued an across-the-line-shot to give skipper David Warner a simple catch at mid-off. Vince, playing his first game of PSL 11, was caught behind by Azam Khan off pacer Hasan Ali to leave Zalmi at 45-2 in the sixth over as they posted 54 in powerplay. And when Aaron Hardie was cleaned up by Khushdil Shah (five) in the eighth over the task looked tougher with Zalmi at 67-3.

However, Mendis and Yousaf had other ideas as they completed the task without any further loss.

Maintaining his sublime batting form that he exhibited earlier in Karachi, Mendis batted with command alongside Yousaf to steer Zalmi past 100 in the 12th over.

The pair changed gears as they reached 150 in 16.1 overs as the required run-rate came down.

Mendis, who reached fifty in just 28 balls, faced only 43 balls in smashing 80 not out – his fourth half-century of the ongoing PSL – adorned with five fours and four sixes while Yousaf cracked 58 off 36 with the help of five fours and three sixes. He faced just 35 balls to complete the half-century.

Hasan (1-52), Khushdil (1-40), Abbas (1-46), Moeen Ali (0-21 from two overs) proved expensive as opening bowler Shahid Aziz was injured after delivering only one over in which he conceded just one run.

Earlier after electing to bat first, Kings rode on an impressive knock by opener Jason Roy to earn a fighting total of 182-9 in 20 overs.

The final over of the Kings’ innings saw the fall of four wickets, including a hat-trick by the 19-year-old Ali, without the addition of a run to the total.

After Abbas was run out, tall paceman Ali in a magnificent show dismissed Khushdil (12), Shahid Aziz and Hasan on consecutive deliveries to end the innings on a high. Ali’s 4-41 show prevented Kings from launching a late onslaught that proved decisive in the end.

Prior to the hat-trick, Kings’ innings revolved around Roy’s 51-ball 85, the 35-year-old’s first fifty of the ongoing PSL. Ali gave Zalmi the huge wicket of Warner (11) when the southpaw was bowled in the fifth over.

Kings raced to 55-1 courtesy Roy’s fast-paced batting but the batter did not find any reliable partner in the middle until Azam (35 off 19) came to the crease as Salman Ali Agha and Reeza Hendricks did not last long.

From 98-3 in the 13th over, Roy and Azam propelled their team to 161 before the latter got back to the dugout as Farhan took a nice diving catch at long-on off spinner Iftikhar Ahmed in the 18th over. Azam struck three fours and as many sixes.

Zalmi took a sigh of relief in the penultimate over when pacer Mohammad Basit dismissed Roy, caught brilliantly by Vince at widish long-on. Having cracked fifty off 30, the batter ensured his team post a solid total.

Later, head coach Ottis Gibson said Zalmi’s unbeaten was a result of the playing XI’s best combination and that of coaching staff.

“All our main batters including Babar Azam, Kusal Mendis, and youngster Farhan Yousaf, are performing [well]. After two Bangladesh pacers left the team for national duty, Ali and Basit are doing a good job,” Gibson told reporters. Similarly, he said, the coaching team comprising Misbah-ul-Haq, Azhar Ali and Azhar Mahmood were operating ing well. “So, I am happy for having a good combination in all the departments.”

Scoreboard

KARACHI KINGS: Jason Roy c Vince b Basit85 David Warner b Ali Raza11 Salman Ali Agha c Basit b Hardie12 Reeza Hendricks c Basit b Sufiyan13 Azam Khan c Farhan b Iftikhar35 Khushdil Shah hit wicket b Ali12 Abbas Afridi run out6 Moeen Ali not out0 Shahid Aziz b Ali0 Hasan Ali b Ali0
EXTRAS (LB-2, W-6)8 TOTAL (for nine wickets, 20 overs)182 DID NOT BAT: Zahid Mahmood FALL OF WICKETS: 1-35 (Warner), 2-71 (Salman), 3-98 (Hendricks), 4-161 (Azam), 5-164 (Roy), 6-182 (Abbas), 7-182 (Khushdil), 8-182 (Shahid), 9-182 (Hasan) BOWLING: Basit 4-0-33-1 (1w), Iftikhar 4-0-37-1, Ali 4-0-41-4 (2w), Sufiyan 4-0-43-1 (3w), Aaron 4-0-26-1 PESHAWAR ZALMI: James Vince c Azam b Hasan16 Babar Azam c Warner b Abbas25 Kusal Mendis not out80 Aaron Hardie b Khushdil5 Farhan Yousaf not out58 EXTRAS (NB-1, W-1)2 TOTAL (for three wickets, 18.5 overs)186 DID NOT BAT: Michael Bracewell, Iftikhar Ahmed, Abdul Samad, Sufiyan Muqeem, Mohammad Basit, Ali Raza FALL OF WICKETS: 1-37 (Babar), 2-45 (Vince), 3-67 (Hardie) BOWLING: Shahid 1-0-1-0, Khushdil 4-0-40-1, Hasan 3.5-0-52-1, Abbas 4-0-46-1 (1w, 1nb), Zahid 4-0-26-0, Moeen 2-0-21-0 RESULT: Peshawar Zalmi won by seven wickets. MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Kusal Mendis

Points table

(Tabulated under matches, won, lost, no results, points, run-rate) Peshawar Zalmi 9 8 0 1 17 2.645 Multan Sultans 9 6 3 0 12 0.450
Islamabad United 7 4 2 1 9 1.481 Hyderabad Kingsmen 8 4 4 0 8 -0.367 Lahore Qalandars 8 4 4 0 8 -0.503 Quetta Gladiators 9 3 6 0 6 -0.355 Karachi Kings 8 3 5 0 6 -1.292 Rawalpindiz 8 0 8 0 0 -1.647

Published in Dawn, April 23rd, 2026

MADRID: Filipina star Alexandra Eala enjoyed a strong start to her Madrid Open campaign on Wednesday, moving past Russian qualifier Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-3, 6-3 to reach the second round at the event for the third straight year.

The 44th-ranked lefty needed one hour and 31 minutes to dismiss Pavlyuchenkova, who was a semi-finalist in the Spanish capital in 2021.

The 34-year-old Pavlyu­chenkova, a former French Open runner-up currently ranked 116 in the world, is 0-6 in tour-level main draw matches so far this season.

Eala saved all four break points she faced and broke Pavlyuchenkova twice in a tightly-contested 54-minute opening set.

The 20-year-old phenom briefly lost her advantage in the second set but swept eight points in a row to regain her lead and book a clash with 19th seed Elise Mertens.

“I feel really great. I love Madrid, it’s an amazing tournament,” said Eala, who has been training at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca for almost eight years. “Every time I come here, I feel very comfortable, I feel like I’m at home.”

Pavlyuchenkova, who was playing with a heavily-strapped right upper thigh, committed close to 40 unforced errors in what was her first meeting with Eala.

“Every match at this level is a battle, all of us players we fight until the end and she’s been on the tour for many years. So I’m really happy with this win. She’s a great player and I’m really happy to be in the next round,” Eala added.

In ATP action at the Caja Magica, 2021 Madrid finalist Matteo Berrettini crashed out to Croatian qualifier Dino Prizmic 6-3, 6-4.

“It’s definitely a big thing for me and it’s a pleasure to share the court with him,” said the 20-year-old former Roland Garros junior champion. Prizmic will next take on American fourth seed Ben Shelton.

Meanwhile, former US Open champion Marin Cilic claimed his first Madrid Open win since 2022 with a hard-fought 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 performance against world number 44 Zizou Bergs.

It was the 37-year-old Croatian’s first top-50 victory on clay in four years and it earned him a second-round meeting with Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca.

Published in Dawn, April 23rd, 2026

The development came after ESPNcricinfo reported that the player had tested positive for recreational drug use.

“ESPNcricinfo has learned that the positive result comes from testing during the T20 World Cup earlier this year,” the report added.

It further added that Nawaz’s deal to join Surrey for the T20 Blast — set to run from May 26 to July 18 — in England had fallen through as a result. The report added that Surrey and the International Cricket Council (ICC) declined to comment on the matter.

A spokesperson for the PCB said that the ICC had asked for Nawaz’s medical history to further investigate the incident, which the cricket board had complied with.

The PCB spokesperson said that until the ICC issued a final decision, Nawaz would continue to play for the Multan Sultans in the ongoing Pakistan Super League.

In the past, two pacers — Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif — had faced two- and one-year bans, respectively, after failing drug tests prior to their participation in the ICC Champions Trophy in 2006.

Former Test spinner Yasir Shah had also received a three-month ban for failing a dope test in 2015.

“The most important thing is continuity — regular camps and international matches,” Adeel said. “The players need consistent time together to build understanding, improve fitness levels and develop cohesion as a team. Without that continuity, progress becomes very difficult. If we can ensure that, you’ll see clear and measurable improvement.”

His words echoed those of forwards Nadia Khan and Aqsa Mushtaq, who earlier pointed to the same fundamental obstacle: Pakistan women play too few games.

Aqsa noted it had been “a whole year” since the team last played Indonesia before this tournament, while Nadia called for regular mini-camps for local players to bridge the gap with diaspora team-mates who have club training abroad.

When asked what he had learned about the squad during the tournament, Adeel highlighted their mental strength.

“One of the biggest things I’ve learned about this group is their resilience and willingness to grow,” he mentioned. “In a short space of time, they showed an ability to absorb new ideas, adapt to different levels of opposition and stay committed even in difficult moments.

That mentality is something you can’t always measure before a tournament, but it’s a very strong foundation for us moving forward.”

The Mauritania loss — a game Pakistan dominated in chances but lost to a single opposition attack — raised questions about whether the record 8-0 win had led to overconfidence.

Players previously rejected that notion, with Nadia saying the team was “confident but not arrogant.”

Adeel offered a coach’s perspective, emphasising process over any single result.

“It’s about creating the right culture and standards within the team,” he said. “After a big win, the focus immediately shifts back to process rather than outcome. We review honestly, highlight areas we still need to improve and reinforce that at international level, every game demands maximum respect for the opponent. Consistency in mindset is something we’re building and moments like that are part of the learning curve for a developing team.”

On closing the gap with higher-ranked sides — Ivory Coast sit 72 places above Pakistan in the FIFA rankings — Adeel acknowledged there were no shortcuts.

“There’s no shortcut for consistent exposure to high-level matches, that’s the reality,” said Adeel, who has been leading the team since 2022.

“However, we can still make progress through structured camps, targeted training and better preparation in key areas like physical conditioning and game management. At the same time, increasing the number of international fixtures and improving the domestic environment will be crucial. Closing the gap is a process, but with the right support and planning, it’s absolutely achievable.”

Asked to name the most underrated player in his squad, the coach declined to single out an individual.

“Every team has players who don’t always get the headlines but are vital to how the team functions,” he said. “For us, we have a few who bring balance and discipline to the side. I prefer not to single one out, because their value is in how they contribute to the team as a whole.”

Pakistan now face an uncertain international calendar, with no confirmed fixtures on the horizon. But Adeel’s message was clear: if the team is to build on their historic FIFA Series appearance, they must play — regularly, consistently and often.

Published in Dawn, April 22nd, 2026

The win was Sultans’ sixth in eight matches, keeping them firmly on course for the playoffs, while Rawalpindiz rem­ained winless in their debut season after eight defeats.

Smith struck 56 off 31 balls, including five fours and three sixes, anchoring the chase of 167 with authority. He added a brisk 69-run partnership for the second wicket with Josh Philippe (17 off 19), stabilising the innings after an early breakthrough and setting a platform for the finishers.

Philippe’s dismissal in the 11th over triggered a brief wobble as Smith fell soon after for 56, caught behind off Saad Masood, leaving Sultans at 100 for three in the 12th over.

Shan Masood (20 off 22) and captain Ashton Turner then steadied the ship. Turner, in particular, accelerated brilliantly, remaining unbeaten on 37 off 21 balls with three fours and a six.

The pair added crucial runs before a short-lived scare when Asif Afridi and Saad Masood claimed quick wickets in the middle phase — Sahibzada Farhan bowled for 20 and Philippe caught at cow corner.

However, Turner and the incoming Arafat Minhas dealt the finishing blow with composure. Arafat smashed a boundary off Razaullah as Sultans crossed the line in eight balls to spare.

Sultans’ chase began cautiously but gained momentum through Smith’s elegant strokeplay. Opening with Sahibzada (20 off 17), who fell to Asif Afridi, Smith took charge after the powerplay.

He punished loose bowling from young pacer Razaullah Khan, smashing three sixes in one over — including an audacious ramp over the keeper and a powerful pull — to race to his fifty off just 27 balls.

His timing and placement, especially against pace and spin, exemplified class under pressure. Philippe rotated the strike efficiently, though Raw­alpindiz’s spinners, led by Asif (2-28) and Saad (1-27), created some discomfort.

The middle overs saw Rawalpindiz fight back briefly. Asif removed Philippe with a top-edged slog sweep, and Saad induced an edge from Smith that Billings pouched smartly.

Mohammad Rizwan’s side sensed an opening, but Turner’s clean hitting and Shan’s steady presence shifted momentum again.

Turner found boundaries through midwicket and cover, while Arafat provided the explosive finish with a disdainful pull for four. Rawalpindiz’s bowling lacked penetration in the death, with pacers Mohammad Amir and Ben Sears proving expensive.

Earlier, Rawalpindiz posted a fighting 166-4 after being put in to bat. Daryl Mitchell’s gritty half-century (58 off 46, three fours and two sixes) provided stability after a disastrous start.

Openers Shahzaib Khan and Yasir Khan fell inside two overs to Mohammad Imran and Peter Siddle, leaving the side reeling at six for two.

Rizwan (26 off 29) and Mitchell rebuilt with a 63-run stand, though Rizwan struggled for fluency against Sultans’ spinners.

Arafat (1-37) accounted for Rizwan with a sharp stumping. Sam Billings added impetus, but Mohammad Wasim removed him for 29.

The late surge came from Dian Forrester, whose explosive 37 off just 15 balls (three fours and three sixes) injected momentum.

Forrester unleashed powerful pulls and drives against Siddle and Wasim, adding 45 runs with Mitchell in the closing stages. Forty-two runs flowed from the last three overs, but the total never looked imposing on a good batting surface.

Sultans’ bowlers excelled in the powerplay and middle overs. Imran and Siddle struck early, while spinners Momin Qamar and Mohammad Nawaz kept things tight.

POINTS TABLE

(Tabulated under matches, won, lost, no results, points, run-rate)
Peshawar Zalmi 8 7 0 1 15 2.911
Multan Sultans 8 6 2 0 12 0.545
Islamabad United 7 4 2 1 9 1.481
Lahore Qalandars 8 4 4 0 8 -0.503
Quetta Gladiators 9 3 6 0 6 -0.355
Hyderabad Kingsmen 7 3 4 0 6 -0.470
Karachi Kings 7 3 4 0 6 -1.368
Rawalpindiz 8 0 8 0 0 -1.647

SCOREBOARD

RAWALPINDIZ:

Shahzaib Khan c Philippe b Imran0

Mohammad Rizwan st Philippe b Arafat26

Yasir Khan c Smith b Siddle4

Daryl Mitchell not out58

Sam Billings c Imran b Wasim29

Dian Forrester not out37

EXTRAS (B-4, LB-1, W-7)12

TOTAL (for four wickets, 20 overs)166

DID NOT BAT: Saad Masood, Razaullah, Asif Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Ben Sears

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-1 (Shahzaib), 2-6 (Yasir), 3-69 (Rizwan), 4-121 (Billings)

BOWLING: Imran 3-0-9-1 (1w), Siddle 4-0-39-1 (1w), Arafat 4-0-37-1, Nawaz 3-0-26-0, Momin 3-0-23-0 (1w), Wasim 3-0-27-1

MULTAN SULTANS:

Sahibzada Farhan b Asif20

Steven Smith c Billings b Saad56

Josh Philippe c Yasir b Asif17

Shan Masood c Rizwan b Razaullah20

Ashton Turner not out37

Arafat Minhas not out7

EXTRAS (LB-4, NB-1, W-5)10

TOTAL (for four wickets, 18.4 overs)167

DID NOT BAT: Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Imran, Peter Siddle, Mohammad Wasim, Momin Qamar

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-29 (Sahibzada), 2-98 (Philippe), 3-100 (Smith), 4-157 (Shan)

BOWLING: Amir 4-0-33-0 (1w), Asif 4-0-28-2, Sears 3-0-29-0 (1w, 1nb), Razaullah 2.4-0-38-1 (1w), Saad 4-0-27-1, Forrester 1-0-8-0

RESULT: Multan Sultans won by six wickets.

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Steven Smith

Published in Dawn, April 22nd, 2026

The southpaw’s characteristic swashbuckling hundred for Lahore Qalandars was the difference between the defending champions and their opponents, Quetta Gladiators.

The opener’s belligerent 103 — his first of the ongoing season — enabled Qalandars to register a narrow nine-run victory that kept their playoff hopes alive in the HBL Pakistan Super League.

After opting to bat first, Qalandars amassed 197-6 off the stipulated overs and then restricted Gladiators to 188-7 to clinch a thrilling victory.

Though Qalandars lost opener Mohammad Farooq (four), who was trapped in front by medium-pacer Khalil Ahmed in the second over, their scoreboard kept moving fast courtesy Fakhar’s fireworks that lifted his team to 58-1 in powerplay.

Abdullah Shafique (14 off 15) was sent back by spinner Abrar Ahmed in the seventh over as Qalandars were now 64-2.

At this stage, Charith Asalanka (31 off 24) joined Fakhar and the duo added an invaluable 96 runs to boost their team.

As Fakhar raced to his half-century off just 27 balls, Qalandars reached the hundred mark at the halfway mark.

Having completed 150 runs in 15 overs, Qalandars looked well set to post a total in excess of 200.

However, a flurry of wickets – three in a space of 11 deliveries – hampered their progress.

Asalanka, who struck three fours and a six in his innings, was lbw to pacer Brett Hampton in the 16th over. Then came the big prize. Fakhar, who had completed his century off just 50 balls, while trying to clear the ropes was caught brilliantly by Shamyl Hussain at long-off, giving off-spinner Usman Tariq his only wicket in the 17th over. Fakhar’s 51-ball knock contained 11 fours and six sixes. Sikandar Raza (five) was sent back to the hut by Khalil thanks to a nice catch by Rilee Rossouw at deep-midwicket as Qalandars slid to 171-5 in the 18th.

Daniel Sams (18 not out off 12) however steered his team to a total that proved just beyond reach of Gladiators in the end.

Khalil took two wickets for 38 while Abrar (1-43), Usman (1-31) and Hampton (1-32 in two overs) were also among wickets.

Gladiators in their chase started off decently as captain Saud Shakeel (17) and Shamyl (53 off 31) produced a 49-run stand before the former attempting a slog sweep was caught by Usama Mir at short fine leg off Raza.

After posting 55-1 in powerplay, Shamyl and Rossouw steered their team to 88-1 before a double blow hindered their progress.

Shamyl, having cracked five fours and three sixes, was run out and he was immediately followed by Hasan Nawaz for a golden duck, caught by Haseebullah Khan behind the wickets to a sharply-risen ball from paceman Haris Rauf in the 10th over. Gladiators were now 88-3.

As Gladiators reached 100 off 11.1 overs, Rossouw tried to keep his team in the game walloping 62 off just 29 deliveries with the aid of five fours and as many sixes. He added 40 with Khawaja Nafay (12 off 11) before the latter was dismissed by Usama in the 14th over.

However, the decisive moment of the game came in the 15th over when Rossouw top-edged a short ball from fast bowler Ubaid Shah leaving Gladiators at 149-5 in 14.5 overs.

Bevon Jacobs (two) and Hampton (seven) were dismissed by Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris respectively as Gladiators slipped to 160-7 in 17.2 overs, needing 38 off the final 16 balls. A tough ask indeed.

Abrar, at number nine, struck a 14-ball 24 not out laced with five fours but it was not enough.

Haris finished with two wickets for 28 while Shaheen (1-35), Ubaid (1-44 in three overs), Raza (1-23 in three overs) and Usama (1-33) also made contributions.

SCOREBOARD

LAHORE QALANDARS:

Fakhar Zaman c Shamyl b Usman103

Mohammad Farooq lbw b Khalil4

Abdullah Shafique c Usman b Abrar14

Charith Asalanka lbw b Hampton31

Sikandar Raza c Rossouw b Khalil5

Daniel Sams not out18

Shaheen Shah Afridi run out8

Usama Mir not out0

EXTRAS (LB-3, NB-1, W-10)14

TOTAL (for six wickets, 20 overs)197

DID NOT BAT: Haseebullah Khan, Ubaid Shah, Haris Rauf

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-7 (Farooq), 2-64 (Abdullah), 3-160 (Asalanka), 4-164 (Fakhar), 5-171 (Raza), 6-193 (Shaheen)

BOWLING: Joseph 4-1-23-0, Khalil 4-0-38-2 (2w, 1nb), Abrar 4-0-43-1 (1w), Hampton 2-0-32-1, Hasan 2-0-27-0, Usman 4-0-31-1 (3w)

QUETTA GLADIATORS:

Shamyl Hussain run out53

Saud Shakeel c Usama b Raza17

Rilee Rossouw c Haseebullah b Ubaid62

Hasan Nawaz c Haseebullah b Haris0

Khawaja Nafay c Shaheen b Usama12

Bevon Jacobs c Farooq b Shaheen2

Brett Hampton b Haris7

Alzarri Joseph not out3

Abrar Ahmed not out24

EXTRAS (B-2, LB-2, NB-1, W-3)8

TOTAL (for seven wickets, 20 overs)188

DID NOT BAT: Khalil Ahmed, Usman Tariq

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-49 (Saud), 2-88 (Shamyl), 3-88 (Hasan), 4-128 (Nafay), 5-149 (Rossouw), 6-158 (Jacobs), 7-160 (Hampton)

BOWLING: Shaheen 4-0-35-1, Ubaid 3-0-44-1 (1w, 1nb), Sams 2-0-21-0, Raza 3-0-23-1, Usama 4-0-33-1, Haris 4-0-28-2 (2w)

RESULT: Lahore Qalandars won by nine runs.

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Fakhar Zaman

Published in Dawn, April 22nd, 2026

“In order to find the right combination we have been making three to four changes in every match but [unfortunately] we could not get it [right]. We are also missing a genuine all-rounder who could bat at No.7,” Saud said at the post-match media conference.

Gladiators are now on the brink of missing the play-off after losing their sixth match of the league to Lahore Qalandars by nine runs here on Tuesday.

He said as a group his team could not be settled in the ongoing addition.

“In the next edition we will try to pick the best combination,” the skipper stated.

Commenting on the match against Qalandars, Saud said Rilee Rossouw had made the match for his team with his brilliant batting but lost his wicket at a crucial stage from where Gladiators could go on to win the game.

“Rossouw’s departure was the turning point, otherwise, our team was in a position to win.”

Answering a question regarding the performance of key spinners Abrar Ahmed and Usman Tariq who have not come up to the expectations so far in the ongoing PSL, Saud defended the former while reckoned the latter could introduce variety in his bowling.

”We always used Abrar at crucial stages. As other batsmen give him respect they face him carefully and that’s why he is not taking many wickets,” Saud said.

“Yes, Usman has to adopt new varieties in his bowling. [Rival] batters may have picked his bowling action and [therefore] not giving him wickets easily [anymore],” the captain said.

Meanwhile, Qalandars leg-spinner Usama Mir said that though he was not part of the franchise in the last edition, his team was facing the same situation of winning the last three matches to qualify for the play-offs.

“Our focus is on our next two matches. The simple task is to give our best performance and win the remaining two matches, like we did in today’s match,” the lanky bowler said.

In Lahore, he noted, the pitches were friendlier for batters as compared to Karachi, where spinners were performing relatively better.

Published in Dawn, April 22nd, 2026

LAHORE: Defending champions Lahore Qalandars return to their fortress at Gaddafi Stadium on Tuesday with renewed hunger, desperate to claw back into the playoff race when they face a stuttering Quetta Gladiators side in a crucial day match of the HBL Pakistan Super League.

The high-stakes contest kicks off a double-header that will also see the winless Rawalpindiz take on in-form Multan Sultans in a night fixture at Karachi’s National Bank Stadium.

With the league entering its decisive phase after shifting back between the two venues following the second-round matches in Karachi, every point now carries massive weight.

Qalandars, led by explosive pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi, sit sixth on the points table with six points from seven matches, while Gladiators occupy fourth spot with the same six points from eight games but a marginally better net run-rate. Both sides know defeat could effectively end their playoff ambitions, especially as Peshawar Zalmi have already qualified at the top with 15 points.

Qalandars have shown fighting spirit at home. In the first round at Gaddafi Stadium, they secured two wins — against Hyderabad Kingsmen and Multan Sultans — before suffering a loss to Karachi Kings.

Back on familiar turf after the break, they will look to unleash their potent batting line-up featuring Fakhar Zaman, Abdullah Shafique, Mohammad Naeem and all-rounder Sikandar Raza.

In the bowling department, captain Shaheen has been the standout performer with 13 wickets, the second-highest in the tournament. However, he needs greater support from Haris Rauf, Raza and young pacer Ubaid Shah, who have struggled to find consistent rhythm with the new ball and in the death overs.

Gladiators, the 2019 champions, have been inconsistent, particularly at Gaddafi Stadium, where they have managed only one victory in four attempts. Defeats to Karachi Kings, Islamabad United and Multan Sultans highlight their vulnerabilities, with their sole success coming against Hyderabad Kingsmen.

Hasan Nawaz has emerged as a reliable performer, amassing 288 runs at an average of 41.14, while captain Saud Shakeel has chipped in with 206 runs through composed middle-order innings.

Yet the Gladiators require explosive contributions from overseas stars Rilee Rossouw, Shamyl Hussain, Khawaja Nafay and Bevon Jacobs to improve their middle-overs batting, an area where they have faltered.

Their bowling attack hinges on the spin duo of Abrar Ahmed and Usman Tariq, each with eight wickets so far.

Following their heavy loss to Peshawar Zalmi on Sunday, Gladiators bowling coach Sohail Tanvir urged his players to move forward without dwelling on setbacks.

“In my view, this happens sometimes — there comes a day as a team when nothing clicks for you,” he said. “So, in such situations, as management, as a coach, or as senior players, all we can say is: forget this match and let’s move on.”

“Because the good performance from the previous match didn’t help us today, and if we played badly today and didn’t perform well, it shouldn’t affect the upcoming matches.

“We still have two games. And we are still in fourth position. We have all the chances — if we play the next matches well, we can qualify for the playoffs.”

Sohail pinpointed middle-overs batting struggles and the inability of the pace attack to build pressure in the powerplay as key issues, stressing that spinners Abrar and Usman need a strong platform from the top order to be effective.

On Monday, Qalandars held a practice session at the LCCA Ground alongside Karachi Kings, fine-tuning strategies for the must-win encounter. The Gladiators, arriving in Lahore later in the evening, chose rest to ensure freshness.

The day’s second match in Karachi pits the hapless Rawalpindiz against high-flying Multan Sultans. The newly introduced Rawalpindiz franchise has endured a torrid debut campaign, remaining winless in seven matches with a dismal net run-rate.

Despite boasting talents such as Mohammad Rizwan and a blend of experienced locals and overseas players, the side has failed to click, leaving them anchored at the bottom of the table.

Multan Sultans, in stark contrast, sit second with 10 points from seven matches. With five victories already, they are among the most consistent teams and heavy favourites to extend their dominance against the struggling Pindiz outfit.

A win would further strengthen their playoff position, while Rawalpindiz face yet another daunting challenge in their quest for a maiden PSL victory.

Published in Dawn, April 21st, 2026

Zalmi recorded a commanding 118-run victory over Quetta Gladiators at the National Bank Stadium on Sunday night, that featured Babar’s unbeaten 100 off just 52 balls — an innings laced with elegant stroke play, a hallmark of Babar’s batting.

The knock propelled Zalmi to a formidable total and underscored Babar’s return to form in the ongoing HBL Pakistan Super League, where he has already crossed 400 runs at a strike rate exceeding 143.

“Babar has always been world-class,” Azhar, who recently ended his stint at the Pakistan Test coach, said. “He was going through a slightly difficult phase.

“When he was with me during the Test matches, we spoke to him and worked with him. We told him that the cricket he knows how to play — he is a proper cricketing shots player. He is not someone who goes and plays power-hitting straight away.”

Azhar highlighted how Babar has rediscovered his “artistic kind of batting” in the PSL, with fluid shots flowing through for him.

“The way he played today, he presented his innings so beautifully,” the former Pakistan all-rounder noted. “And if you look at him throughout the PSL, you will see his proper cricketing shots again,”

The coach revealed that his message to Babar was simple: “Go and enjoy yourself, and play your own cricket the way you have always played it.”

Azhar then turned his attention to Babar’s struggles in the T20 World Cup, where the batsman was criticised for a relatively modest strike rate. He argued that the demand for Babar to bat at number four and accelerate unnaturally created unnecessary pressure.

“When you made him bat at number four in the World Cup, people talk about his strike rate,” he said.

“If you look at strike rates in Pakistan’s T20 cricket, we don’t have anyone with 180-190. Babar’s strike rate in international cricket is 128.

“So there isn’t that much difference. But what you get with Babar is consistency. He sets a platform for you… After that, your power-hitters can play freely.”

Azhar contended that excessive hype around Babar’s strike rate and suboptimal utilisation contributed to his difficulties.

“So I think there was a lot of hype on Babar that his strike rate is low, and the way we have used him… I think he wasn’t utilised properly,” he remarked pointedly.

The Zalmi coach broadened his critique to Pakistan’s cricket ecosystem, lamenting an overemphasis on immediate results rather than long-term process.

“International matches obviously have pressure… unfortunately in Pakistan, it has always been that there is too much focus on the outcome — if you get knocked out of the tournament,” he said. “I always believe that you have to work on the process.

“We focus too much on results. If you follow the process for a long time… give them proper opportunities and hold them accountable.”

Azhar also pointed to frequent changes in the coaching staff as a destabilising factor. In the last two years, he noted, six to eight coaches had come and gone, leaving players uncertain.

“Every coach has his own mindset… now the players know that today this coach is there; tomorrow who knows if he will be or not,” he observed.

Published in Dawn, April 21st, 2026

Endrick gave Lyon an early lead at the Parc des Princes and then released Afonso Moreira to double their advantage.

PSG rested several stars from the side that beat Liverpool away in midweek to reach the Cham­pions League semi-finals and were far from their best, with Goncalo Ramos having a penalty saved before Khvicha Kvaratskhelia grabbed a late consolation.

It was a fifth defeat in Ligue 1 this season for Luis Enrique’s side, who are one point ahead of nearest challengers Lens with a game in hand — a win at home to Nantes in a rearranged fixture in midweek will leave them four points clear with five to play.

PSG must still travel next month to Lens, who beat Toulouse 3-2 on Friday, and remain on course for a fifth straight domestic title, but this remains a setback for a side preparing to face Bayern Munich in the Champions League semi-finals.

“You want a more close-fought league and you have it. Lens keep winning and it will be difficult until the end,” said Luis Enrique.

“That’s football and now we just need to prepare for the upcoming games. We are going to be playing every three days now and we need to cope with that.”

Meanwhile, Lyon’s win is a huge boost in their quest to return to the Champions League after an absence of six years from Europe’s elite club competition — since they lost to Bayern in the 2020 semis.

Paulo Fonseca’s side are joint-third on 54 points with Lille, who drew 0-0 with Nice on Saturday.

“Endrick was decisive but I am especially happy with how hard he worked defensively,” said Fonseca.

Rennes are a point behind Lyon and Lille in fifth after a 3-0 victory at Strasbourg, while Marseille are another point back in sixth following a 2-0 loss at Lorient on Saturday.

Monaco are two points further adrift in seventh after having to come from behind to draw 2-2 with Auxerre.

The top three qualify directly for next season’s Champions League, with fourth entering in the third qualifying round. Fifth goes into the Europa League and sixth into the Conference League.

Endrick opened the scoring in the seventh minute, beating home goalkeeper Matvey Safonov at his near post — he has now scored seven goals for Lyon since arriving on loan from Real Madrid in January.

The teenager then turned provider as the visitors doubled their lead on 18 minutes, supplying the outstanding Moreira to run through and make it 2-0.

PSG won a penalty before the break when Lucas Hernandez was brought down in the area by Ainsley Maitland-Niles, but Ramos’s spot-kick was saved.

Viitnha then went off injured, while Ousmane Dembele came on in the second half and hit the bar. Fellow substitute Kvaratskhelia then grabbed a consolation goal in stoppage time with a superb strike.

Published in Dawn, April 21st, 2026

According to ESPNCricinfo, Shanaka left Lahore Qalanders to play for the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Rajasthan Royals

In a statement, the cricket board said that “the player’s unilateral withdrawal from the tournament on March 21, 2026, constituted a clear breach of both the Player Registration terms and the Tripartite Agreement”.

As a penalty, the cricket board declared the player ineligible to participate in the next edition of the PSL — scheduled for 2027. The PCB said that as per its findings, Shanaka’s withdrawal was “made on grounds not recognised within the existing contractual framework”.

The statement also quoted Shanaka as saying that he “deeply” regretted his decision to withdraw from the tournament.

“I deeply regret my decision to withdraw from the PSL and offer my sincere apologies to the people of Pakistan, the fans of PSL, and the wider cricket community,” Shanaka said. The player held that PSL was a “prestigious tournament” and apologised to Lahore Qalandars fans.

“I fully understand the disappointment caused by my actions,” he said.

“I have the greatest respect for Pakistani fans and have always enjoyed my time in Pakistan,” he added, expressing hope to return to the tournament with “renewed dedication and the trust of the fans”.

The PCB said that while it acknowledged the player’s “expression of regret and his stated passion for playing in Pakistan [..] the severity of the contractual violations necessitates regulatory action to maintain the integrity and exclusivity of the league”.

It added that it remained committed to “upholding the professional standards and binding nature of its player contracts to ensure the continued success of the PSL brand”.

The IPL and PSL have been held almost simultaneously in recent years, making it difficult for international players to feature in both tournaments.

Last week, the PCB had also imposed a two-edition ban on Zimbabwe fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani for breaching his contractual commitments with Islamabad United. He had withdrawn from the tournament to join IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders as a replacement for Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman.

Last year, South Africa’s Corbin Bosch was handed a one-edition ban after opting to play in the IPL instead of representing Peshawar Zalmi in the PSL.

India ranked among the top two in athletics’ most anti-doping rule violations between 2022 and 2025, prompting the AIU board to move the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) from Category B to Category A.

Category A federations, deemed the highest risk, face stricter obligations under the rules, including minimum testing thresholds for national-team athletes, the AIU said.

“The doping situation in India has been high-risk for a long time and, unfortunately, the quality of the domestic anti-doping programme is simply not proportionate to the doping risk,” AIU Chairman David Howman said in a statement.

While the AFI advocated for anti-doping reforms within India, not enough changed.

“The AIU will now work with the AFI to achieve reforms to safeguard the integrity of the sport of athletics, as we have done with other Category A member federations,” it said.

India, which will host the 2030 Commonwealth Games and is bidding for the 2036 Olympics, also topped the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) list of doping offenders for three straight years.

WADA president Witold Banka, who was in India last week, called the easy availability of performance-enhancing drugs in the country a “serious problem”, and met senior officials of India’s federal police seeking help to disrupt supply chains.

AFI Spokesperson Adille Sumariwalla said the federation was working with the AIU, the sports ministry and India’s National Anti-Doping Agency to address the issue.

“AFI has got a strong plan and we are all for criminalising doping in this country,” Sumariwalla, also a World Athletics vice president, told Reuters by telephone.

“There’s nothing wrong in more scrutiny. More athletes are getting caught in India because more tests are being conducted.

“We are fighting it tooth and nail. The crooks and criminals doing it should be stopped by police. We are not police, our job is to create a policy and the government is helping.”

When an Indian delegation visited the International Olympic Committee (IOC) headquarters in Lausanne last year, they were told to curb the doping menace to boost their Olympic bid.

However, when Babar Azam hits a century, when he does that after more than two years and 67 T20 innings, when he launches four cracking sixes in his knock during the high-pressure death overs, celebrations become inevitable.

They celebrations elude no one, surely not the Peshawar Zalmi players jumping up and down like kids in the team’s dugout, not the VVIP guests who populate the special boxes and galleries of the new building at the venue, not even the Quetta Gladiators players who rushed to the middle to pat Bab­ar’s back when he completed the elusive three figures for the 12th time in the shortest format while sprinting back to the striker’s end for a couple on the last ball of the Zalmi innings.

The captain’s knock, accoun­ting for exactly 100 not out coming off 52 balls, along with Kusal Mendis 44-ball 83, boosted Zalmi to 255-3 – the third highest total in HBL Pakistan Super League history.

That was just too much for Gladiators to chase as they went down to a 118-run drubbing, their fifth loss of the ongoing tournament. Zalmi, meanwhile, remai­ned perfect, with seven wins in eight games.

Opening the innings with Mohammad Haris, Babar hardly took any risks, demonstrating trust in his natural game — as Zalmi batting coach Misbah-ul-Haq put it a few days ago, the right-hander was “timing the ball”.

Characteristic of his reputation, Babar facilitated the striker on the other end to launch the fireworks, relying on singles and doubles when his natural flow of the bat wasn’t resulting in boundaries.

Haris’ 16 off five, that included two sixes in the very first over off Jahandad Khan, gave Zalmi the platform to cruise to 80 in powerplay, with Mendis taking over after Haris departed in the second over.

Mendis, in the form of his life, hit three fours and two sixes making use of the field restrictions. Babar, meanwhile, had cracked only two boundaries in the first six overs.

The 31-year-old continued to avoid the main role, with Mendis taking charge as the pair stitched together a 135-run second-wicket stand — the 47th century partnership of Babar’s T20 career — that completely dismantled the chase before it even began.

The stand was a masterclass in contrasting styles.

Mendis was the aggressor, punishing anything short or wide with disdain. He brought up his fifty off just 24 balls with a crisp cut off Usman Tariq and later drilled Saud Shakeel straight down the ground and through backward point with authority.

One of his most audacious strokes came against the same bowler when he danced down the track and thumped a slower ball flat past long-off.

Babar, on the other hand, kept playing the perfect foil in the early phase, content with rotating strike and picking singles and doubles while his partner launched the fireworks.

Babar had struck only five fours by the middle of the 17th over, relying on timing and pla­cement rather than brute force.

But once Mendis — caught at deep midwicket off Usman Tariq — and Farhan Yousaf’s, smashing 19 off eight balls, departed, Babar turned the game on its head with Aaron Ha­r­­die joining the party at number five and unleashing a brutal onslaught.

Hardie smashed three sixes in his unbeaten 26 off 10, including a monstrous straight hit off Jahandad that helped Zalmi post their highest score of the season in Karachi.

Babar, sensing the finish line, launched into the bowlers with vintage authority. He cleared long-on with a stand-and-deliver six off Usman, hammered another over the same region against Abrar Ahmed, and produced a flat six over long-on off Alzarri Joseph.

The defining moment came on the last ball when he rushed back for a desperate two to bri­ng up his hundred, diving full stretch amid wild celebrations.

The target always looked beyond the Gladiators on a pitch that offered pace and bounce. Their chase collapsed spectacularly as Zalmi’s young pace duo of Mohammad Basit and Ali Raza ran riot.

Basit, operating with clever variations, struck twice in the fourth over, removing captain Saud and Rilee Rossouw off successive deliveries.

Saud holed out to a substitute fielder at deep midwicket, while Rossouw departed for a golden duck, brilliantly caught by Michael Bracewell diving at mid-off. Basit finished with impressive figures of 3-26, his variations proving too much for the top order.

Ali complemented him beautifully with pace and hostile short-pitched stuff. He accou­nted for Hasan Nawaz, who skied a pull to Haris at deep square leg, and later dismissed Abrar and Usman with sharp deliveries that found the edge or induced mistimed shots.

Amid the wreckage, Bevon Jacobs offered the only semblance of resistance with a gritty 34 that included three sixes. The rest of the Gladiators batting folded meekly.

SCOREBOARD

PESHAWAR ZALMI:

Mohammad Haris c Chandimal b Joseph 16

Babar Azam not out 100

Kusal Mendis c Hasan b Usman 83

Farhan Yousaf c Hasan b Abrar 19

Aaron Hardie not out 26

EXTRAS (B-1, LB-1, W-9) 11

TOTAL (for three wkts, 20 overs) 255

DID NOT BAT: Michael Bracewell, Iftikhar Ahmed, Abdul Samad, Sufiyan Muqeem, Mohammad Basit, Ali Raza

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-30 (Haris), 2-165 (Mendis), 3-189 (Farhan)

BOWLING: Jahandad 4-0-53-0 (1w), Joseph 4-0-59-1 (4w), Abrar 4-0-44-1, Saud 2-0-25-0, Usman 4-0-50-1, Saqib 2-0-22-0

QUETTA GLADIATORS:

Shamyl Hussain c Babar b Bracewell 21

Saud Shakeel c (sub) b Basit 12

Rilee Rossouw c Bracewell b Basit 0

Hasan Nawaz c Haris b Ali 5

Dinesh Chandimal c Farhan b Sufiyan 19

Bevon Jacobs c Iftikhar b Basit 34

Jahandad Khan c Mendis b Hardie 3

Saqib Khan c Haris b Hardie 4

Alzarri Joseph not out 19

Abrar Ahmed c Mendis b Ali 1

Usman Tariq c Farhan b Ali 7

EXTRAS (B-4, LB-5, W-3) 12

TOTAL (all out, 18.1 overs) 137

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-22 (Saud), 2-22 (Rossouw), 3-36 (Hasan), 4-44 (Shamyl), 5-73 (Chandimal), 6-78 (Jahandad), 7-82 (Saqib), 8-120 (Jacobs), 9-123 (Abrar)

BOWLING: Iftikhar 3-0-24-0, Basit 4-0-26-3 (2w), Ali 3.1-0-9-3, Bracewell 2-0-24-1 (1w), Sufiyan 4-0-34-1, Hardie 2-0-11-2

RESULT: Peshawar Zalmi won by 118 runs.

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Babar Azam

Published in Dawn, April 20th, 2026

Sultans’ innings got off to a flying start as Awais Zafar announced himself with authority, opening the face to thwack an overpitched delivery up and over point for four, then guiding another behind square past third man.

He cleared the front leg to clobber a short wide ball from spinner Khushdil Shah over deep midwicket for six. Steve Smith fell cheaply for a duck, chipping to long-off, but Philippe walked in and immediately looked dangerous.

Philippe and Awais added 66 for the second wicket. The Australian punished anything short, belting a pull to deep midwicket and picking a slower ball from Abbas Afridi to club it over long-on.

He whipped another pace-off delivery over deep fine leg for six and later swivel-pulled a leg-break delivery from Adam Zampa to the right of deep midwicket. Awais complemented Philippe with crisp drives and pulls, including a thunderous shot off Abbas that raced to deep backward square.

Philippe’s enterprising 44 off 23 (five fours, two sixes) ended when he exposed his stumps while attempting a big shot over cover and was bowled by Khushdil.

Shan then took charge. Coming in at number four, the Pakistan Test captain used his feet superbly against Zampa, skipping down to drill one past mid-off and clubbing another to long-on. He nailed sweeps and lofted drives, reaching 46 off just 25 balls with three fours and as many sixes before Moeen Ali deceived him in flight and got him stumped.

Awais departed for 36 off 27 soon after, caught in the deep off Khushdil. Ashton Turner and Arafat steadied the ship briefly but spinners continued to apply the brakes.

Sultans were 174-6 when Mohammad Nawaz and Arafat were dismissed in quick succession — Nawaz caught brilliantly by Reeza Hendricks on the rope after a stunning effort that saw him step beyond the boundary and return to complete the catch.

With the innings seemingly losing momentum, Mohammad Imran and Mohammad Wasim Jr unleashed a breathtaking late onslaught. Imran smashed 26 off just eight, including two fours and two sixes. He flogged Hasan Ali over cow corner, powered one down the ground and lifted another over the bowler’s head.

Wasim contributed a quick seven off two, including a lofted six over long-off. The pair added 33 in the final two overs, taking Sultans past 200 and setting a daunting target.

Kings’ chase began brightly. Saad Baig and Jason Roy added 29 in quick time, with Roy looking particularly menacing. He crunched a cut past cover and heaved a fuller delivery over long-off for six.

Arafat, however, provided the breakthrough in the third over. He floated one that drifted back sharply; Roy, attempting to cut, edged it to Philippe behind the stumps for 16 off nine.

Salman Ali Agha lasted only five balls as Arafat struck again in the fifth over with a teasing delivery that drifted in as the Pakistan T20 captain advanced for a slog-sweep. Beaten in the flight and not quite to the pitch, he was bowled for two. Saad fell shortly after for 21, gloving a short ball from Peter Siddle to short fine leg.

Hendricks and Ali then built the most threatening partnership of the innings, adding 67 for the fourth wicket. Hend­ricks played with flair, steering boundaries to deep backward point, sweeping powerfully and launching a short ball from Imran over midwicket.

Ali backed him with precise lofts, including a beauty over long-off off Siddle and a sweetly-timed six over deep midwicket.

The stand was broken when Imran induced a soft dismissal from Hendricks, who flicked a full-toss straight to Awais at deep square for 49 off 32. Moeen (27 off 23) fell two overs later, toe-ending a loft to long-off off Turner.

Abbas then produced a thrilling counter-attacking knock of 34 off 16 balls. He smoked two sixes off left-arm spinner Momin Qamar over deep midwicket and laced elegant fours through backward point and cover. His improvisation shone as he shuffled across to flick a full ball from Imran over the keeper’s head for four. However, he lost Khushdil (four) at the other end, caught at long-off off Momin.

Hasan Ali joined Abbas and provided late fireworks with two sixes, including a monstrous straight hit off Imran. Abbas eventually fell for 34, holing out to Mohammad Wasim at long-off off Siddle.

The tail could not quite bri­dge the gap. After cracking a 10-ball 23, Hasan was run out in the final over as Sultans’ fielders executed precise throws. Arafat finished with three wickets, while Siddle and Imran also claimed crucial scalps.

SCOREBOARD

MULTAN SULTANS:

Awais Zafar c Shahid b Khushdil 36

Steven Smith c Hasan b Khushdi l0

Josh Philippe b Khushdil 44

Shan Masood st Saad b Ali 46

Ashton Turner c Hendricks b Ali 11

Arafat Minhas c Saad b Hasan 17

Mohammad Nawaz c Hendricks b Zampa 12

Mohammad Imran not out 26

Mohammad Wasim not out 7

EXTRAS (NB-3, W-5) 8

TOTAL (for seven wkts, 20 overs) 207

DID NOT BAT: Peter Siddle, Momin Qamar

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-11 (Smith), 2-77 (Philippe), 3-121 (Awais), 4-135 (Shan), 5-154 (Turner), 6-174 (Arafat), 7-174 (Nawaz)

BOWLING: Hamza 2-0-19-0 (3w, 1nb), Khushdil 4-0-35-3, Hasan 4-0-51-1 (2nb), Abbas 1-0-25-0, Zampa 4-0-37-1, Ali 4-0-30-2, Shahid 1-0-10-0 (2w)

KARACHI KINGS:

Saad Baig c Imran b Siddle 21

Jason Roy c Philippe b Arafat 16

Salman Ali Agha b Arafat 2

Reeza Hendricks c Awais b Imran 49

Moeen Ali c Imran b Turner 27

Khushdil Shah c Wasim b Momin 4

Abbas Afridi c Wasim b Siddle 34

Shahid Aziz lbw b Arafat 0

Hasan Ali run out 23

Adam Zampa run out 1

Mir Hamza not out 0

EXTRAS (LB-8, NB-2, W-9) 19

TOTAL (all out, 19.4 overs) 196

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-29 (Roy), 2-41 (Salman), 3-47 (Saad), 4-114 (Hendricks), 5-129 (Ali), 6-151 (Khushdil), 7-160 (Shahid), 8-185 (Abbas), 9-190 (Zampa)

BOWLING: Imran 4-0-48-1 (4w, 2nb), Turner 2-0-23-1 (2w), Arafat 3-0-32-3, Siddle 4-0-28-2 (1w), Momin 3-0-25-1, Wasim 3.4-0-32-0 (2w)

RESULT: Multan Sultans won by 11 runs.

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Arafat Minhas

Published in Dawn, April 20th, 2026