Cricket
PSL 11: Lahore Qalandars announce Mustafizur Rahman as Direct Signing
Islamabad (Faisal): Lahore Qalandars, one of the most successful franchises in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), is proud to announce the signing of Mustafizur Rahman as a direct signing for PSL 11.The Bangladeshi star, originally picked by the Qalandars in 2016 and 2018, is now set to don the Qalandars' colors once more. The signing was agreed at PKR 6.44 crore.Once a Qalandar, always a Qalandar. Mustafizur is not just a player; he’s a brother, a key part of our family who never left,” said Sameen Rana, Owner, Lahore Qalandars. “We are thrilled to welcome him back to our dressing room. His talent, experience, and dedication will be invaluable as we aim to defend our title and make a statement in PSL 11.”Earlier, Qalandars had retained captain Shaheen Afridi, key batter Abdullah Shafique, dynamic all-rounder Sikandar Raza, and skilled youngster Mohammad Naeem. This strategic move strengthens the team’s core ahead of the big auction and sets the stage for a strong campaign.With this signings, Lahore Qalandars aim to continue their legacy of excellence in PSL 11, determined to defend their title and give fans another season of high-quality cricket and unforgettable moments.
U19 World Cup: India beat Afghanistan by 7 wickets to meet England in final
Islamabad (Sports News): A magnificent hundred from Aaron George saw India pull off a record chase and beat Afghanistan by seven wickets in the ICC Men’s U19 Cricket World Cup 2026 semi-finals.Faisal Khan and Uzairullah Niazai had each reached three figures for Afghanistan as they made 310 for four from their 50 overs.That left India needing to pull off the biggest chase in the history of the competition to progress, and they did just that.George was the star of the show, scoring a sensational 115, having earlier played second fiddle to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and then Ayush Mhatre.Although he could not quite see India home, the job was effectively done as they sealed a date with England in Friday’s final with 8.5 overs to spare.George piles up the runs in brilliant batting displayAfter winning the toss, Afghanistan elected to bat, with Khalid Ahmadzai (31) and Osman Sadat (39) starting strongly as they put on 53 for the first wicket.Osman kicked on after being joined by Faisal Khan, with the pair adding a further 64.Faisal, who already has two fifties and a hundred to his name in the tournament, was in exquisite form, and he and Uzairullah Niazai timed their innings to perfection.Faisal hit 15 boundaries in his 110 and he and Uzairullah combined to take Afghanistan to 265 for three with their 148-run stand.Even before Deepesh Devendran removed Faisal, Uzairullah had started to up the ante, going after the Indian bowling.And he ramped it up and matched his batting partner in making it to three figures, only the second time in the tournament’s history that two batters had hit centuries in the same innings of a knockout clash.With Uzairullah finishing unbeaten on 101, Afghanistan completed their innings on 310 for four, leaving India with history to make to progress to the final.India’s chase needed a fast start and in Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, they had just the man to send them on their way.The 14-year-old showed intent from the off and hammered four sixes in his 33 balls at the crease on his way to a blistering 68.He was given one life, when put down on 22, while opening partner Aaron George was on 20 when Wahid Zadran spilled a chance he had offered up.Sooryavanshi brought up his half-century in 25 deliveries and had brought the required rate down to a manageable level when he top-edged one to midwicket off Nooristani Omarzai.By that point, India had 90 on the board inside 10 overs, and the arrival of Ayush Mhatre did nothing to slow the chase.The skipper got off the mark with a six and took full advantage of good batting conditions as he and George put on 114 for the second wicket.Mhatre (62) fell to Nooristani (2/64) with 107 still required but Vihaan Malhotra quickly settled in alongside George.He got one life when he appeared to have been caught and bowled by Abdul Aziz, only to earn a reprieve thanks to a no-ball.George finally departed for 115 off 104 deliveries with 300 on the board, but Malhotra quickly wrapped things up on his way to 38 not out.Scores in brief: Afghanistan 310/4 in 50 overs (Faisal Khan 110, Uzairullah Niazai 101 not out; Kanishk Chouhan 2/55, Deepesh Devendran 2/64)India 311/3 in 41.1 overs (Aaron George 115, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi 68, Ayush Mhatre 62; Nooristani Omarzai 2/64, Wahid Zadran 1/67)Result: India win by seven wickets
Six teams announce player retentions for HBL PSL 2026
Lahore (Sports News): Six franchises including defending champions Lahore Qalandars have unveiled their retentions for the HBL PSL season 11, while Multan Sultans have not retained any players from their previous squad, the Pakistan Cricket Board confirmed on Wednesday.All franchises except Islamabad United have retained four players each. United have kept hold of three players. The two new franchises Sialkot Stallionz and Hyderabad are set to announce their retentions by Saturday, 7 February.The only captain to win HBL PSL three times, Shaheen Shah Afridi has been retained in Platinum category, while Abdullah Shafique has been retained in Diamond category by Lahore Qalandars.Zimbabwean all-rounder Sikandar Raza will also stay with Qalandars in Gold category. Emerging player of the HBL PSL X Mohammad Naeem has been retained by the reigning champions in Silver category.Quetta Gladiators have retained mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed in Platinum category, Usman Tariq in Diamond, HBL PSL X player of the tournament Hasan Nawaz in Gold and left-handed batter Shamyl Hussain in emerging category.Babar Azam, the leading run-getter of the HBL PSL history and one of the only two players to feature in 100 HBL PSL games, has been retained by 2017 champions Peshawar Zalmi. They have also kept left-arm wrist-spinner Sufyan Moqim in Diamond, Abdul Samad in Gold and pacer Ali Raza in Emerging category.Shadab Khan’s nine-year long journey with Islamabad United will reach the decade-mark as he has been retained by the three-time HBL PSL champions in Platinum category.Fast bowler Salman Irshad in Gold and USA wicketkeeper-batter Andries Gous in Silver categories are the other two retentions by Islamabad United.Hasan Ali – the leading wicket-taker in HBL PSL history – will continue to star for Karachi Kings as he has been retained in Platinum category. Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Khushdil Shah and Saad Baig have been retained in Diamond, Gold and Emerging, respectively by the 2020 champions.Full retentions:Lahore Qalandars: Shaheen Shah Afridi (Platinum), Abdullah Shafique (Diamond), Sikandar Raza (Gold) and Mohammad Naeem (Silver)Quetta Gladiators: Abrar Ahmed (Platinum), Usman Tariq (Diamond), Hasan Nawaz (Gold) and Shamyl Hussain (Emerging)Islamabad United: Shadab Khan (Platinum), Salman Irshad (Gold) and Andries Gous (Silver)Peshawar Zalmi: Babar Azam (platinum), Sufyan Moqim (Diamond), Abdul Samad (Gold) and Ali Raza (Emerging)Karachi Kings: Hasan Ali (platinum), Mohammad Abbas Afridi (Diamond), Khushdil Shah (Gold) and Saad Baig (Emerging)Multan Sultans: Zero retentions
PSL-11: Qalandars retain Shaheen Afridi, Abdullah Shafique, Sikandar Raza, and Mohammad Naeem
Lahore (Sports News): Lahore Qalandars have announced the retention of four key players for the upcoming 11th edition of the tournament, ahead of the PSL auction. Lahore Qalandars have retained captain Shaheen Shah Afridi, premier batter Abdullah Shafique, dynamic all-rounder Sikandar Raza, and emerging talent Mohammad Naeem. The decision ensures continuity and reinforces the core of the squad as the franchise prepares for the next phase of team building. “We are delighted to retain these players, but this has been the hardest decision we have faced as a franchise,” said Sameen Rana, owner of Lahore Qalandars. “Some of the players we have had to leave out have been our core for years. They helped shape the identity of Lahore Qalandars and were central to our journey and success. Unfortunately, the rules meant we could only pick four. It came down to that, and these are the four we had to choose, even though it was an extremely painful call.” The retained players are expected to play a central role in the team’s plans and on-field performances as Lahore Qalandars aim to build a competitive squad at the auction. With a strong core in place, the defending champions are gearing up to make a powerful statement in PSL 11 as they set their sights on continuing their winning legacy.
Pakistan Shaheens squad announced for white-ball series against England Lions
Lahore (Sports News): The Pakistan Cricket Board has announced the 16-member Pakistan Shaheens squad for the upcoming T20 and 50-over series against England Lions in Abu Dhabi. The three-match T20 series will begin on Friday, 20 February, while the five-match 50-over series will be played from 27 February to 9 March.All the matches are set to take place at the Stadium Oval in Abu Dhabi. The Pakistan Shaheens squad will take part in a seven-day training camp from 11-17 February in Karachi before departing for United Arab Emirates.Left-hand batter Shamyl Hussain is set to lead the Shaheens in both the T20 and 50-over series, while in the batting department he will be joined by Abdul Samad, Hasan Nawaz, player of the tournament in ACC Men’s Asia Cup Rising Stars Maaz Sadaqat and left-hand batter Saad Khan.Pakistan U19 batter Sameer Minhas has also received the call-up for both the series along with his brother Arafat Minhas as the duo make strong strides following their appearances in the ICC U19 World Cup and ACC Men’s Asia Cup Rising Stars, respectively. Rohail Nazir and Saad Baig will take up the wicket-keeping duties, while Arafat, leg-spinner Saad Masood and left-arm wrist spinner Sufyan Moqim form the spin contingent for the Shaheens.Among the fast bowlers Pakistan U19 pacer Ali Raza will be joined by Ahmed Daniyal, Akif Javed, Mohammad Salman and Shahid Aziz.Sarfaraz Ahmed is set to be the mentor and team manager of the Pakistan Shaheens team for this tour. Former Test player Ijaz Ahmed Jnr will be the head coach and he will be supported by former Pakistan international Mansoor Amjad (fielding coach) and former Test fast bowler Aizaz Cheema (bowling coach).Pakistan Shaheens squad:Shamyl Hussain (captain), Abdul Samad, Arafat Minhas, Ahmed Daniyal, Akif Javed, Ali Raza, Hasan Nawaz, Maaz Sadaqat, Mohammad Salman, Rohail Nazir (wk), Saad Baig (wk), Saad Khan, Saad Masood, Sameer Minhas, Shahid Aziz, and Sufyan Moqim.Schedule:1st T20 - 20 February2nd T20 – 22 February 3rd T20 – 24 February1st 50-over – 27 February2nd 50-0ver – 1 March3rd 50-over – 4 March4th 50-over – 6 March 5th 50-over – 9 March.
ICC Statement on ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026
The ICC notes the statement that the government of Pakistan has made regarding the decision to instruct its national team to selectively participate in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026.While the ICC awaits official communication from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), this position of selective participation is difficult to reconcile with the fundamental premise of a global sporting event where all qualified teams are expected to compete on equal terms per the event schedule.ICC tournaments are built on sporting integrity, competitiveness, consistency and fairness, and selective participation undermines the spirit and sanctity of the competitions.While the ICC respects the roles of governments in matters of national policy, this decision is not in the interest of the global game or the welfare of fans worldwide, including millions in Pakistan.The ICC hopes that the PCB will consider the significant and long-term implications for cricket in its own country as this is likely to impact the global cricket ecosystem, which it is itself a member and beneficiary of.The ICC's priority remains the successful delivery of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup which should also be the responsibility of all its members including the PCB. It expects the PCB to explore a mutually acceptable resolution, which protects the interests of all stakeholders. (Media Release).
India U19 beat Pakistan U19 by 58 runs in ICC World Cup 2026
Bulawayo (Sports News):India U19 beat Pakistan U19 by 58 runs in their Super Six Group 2 fixture of the ICC Men’s U19 Cricket World Cup at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on Sunday.Chasing a target of 253, Pakistan were bowled out for 194 in 46.2 overs despite fighting contributions from Usman Khan and Hamza Zahoor.Earlier, India were bowled out for 252 in 49.5 overs after being asked to bat first, with Vedant Trivedi top-scoring with 68. Pakistan bowlers kept things tight in the middle overs, as Abdul Subhan returned impressive figures of three for 33, while Mohammad Sayyam picked up two wickets.Pakistan’s reply began steadily as wicketkeeper-batter Hamza struck an aggressive 42 off 49 balls, including eight boundaries. After an early setback, Usman held the innings together with a composed 66 off 92 deliveries, sharing a crucial 63-run partnership for the third wicket with captain Farhan Yousaf, who scored 38 off 39 balls, hitting three fours and two sixes.However, regular wickets in the middle phase stalled Pakistan’s chase, as India’s spinners Ayush Mhatre and Khilan Patel took three wickets apiece.Following today’s defeat, Pakistan failed to qualify for the semi-final stage. During the 16-team tournament, Pakistan played five matches, winning three and losing two. Pakistan will return home from Harare via Dubai on Monday evening.Scores in brief:India U19 252 all out, 49.5 overs (Vedant Trivedi 68, Kanishk Chouhan 35; Abdul Subhan 3-33, Mohammad Sayyam 2-69)Pakistan 194 all out, 46.2 overs (Usman Khan 66, Hamza Zahoor 42, Farhan Yousaf 38; Ayush Mhatre 3-21, Khilan Patel 3-35)Player of the match - Kanishk Chouhan (India U19).
Pakistan ‘A’ squad announced for ACC Women’s Asia Cup Rising Stars
Lahore (PCB Report):The Pakistan Cricket Board has announced the Pakistan Women’s ‘A’ squad for the upcoming ACC Women’s Asia Cup Rising Stars 2026. The 20-over tournament is scheduled to take place from 13 to 22 February in Bangkok, Thailand. Pakistan ‘A’ are placed in Group A alongside India ‘A’, UAE and Nepal, while the Group B comprises of Bangladesh ‘A’, Sri Lanka ‘A’, Malaysia and hosts Thailand. Top two sides from each group will play semi-finals after playing three games each. Off-spinning all-rounder Umm-e-Hani is set to lead the 15-member Pakistan ‘A’ squad in the tournament and will be aided by the experience of her fellow capped players including pacer Waheeda Akhtar and batter Shawaal Zulfiqar. Among other players, Pakistan Women’s U19 captain Eman Naseer and batter Komal Khan have also received call-ups to Pakistan Women’s ‘A’ after demonstrating quality skills during the recent 3-2 T20 series win over Bangladesh Women’s U19. Gull Rukh, Hafsa Khalid, Huraina Sajjad are the other batters in the squad, while Yusra Amir is set to take the wicket-keeping duties. Left-arm spinners Anosha Nasir and Momina Riasat form a four-pronged spin attack with Hani and all-rounder Noreen Yaqoob. Meanwhile, experienced Waheeda will lead the pace attack comprising Lubna Behram, Neha Sharmin Nadeem and Syeda Masooma Jafri. In the eight-team tournament, UAE, Nepal, Malaysia and Thailand will field their national women’s teams, while the other four teams are participating with ‘A’ teams. A total of 30 players were called up to Hanif Mohammad High Performance Centre for a week-long probables camp from 25 January after which the 15-member squad has been shortlisted. The Thailand-bound squad will now take part in a pre-tournament camp at the same venue before departing on 10 February. Pakistan Women’s ‘A squad:Batters: Eman Naseer (Islamabad), Gull Rukh (Dera Ghazi Khan), Hafsa Khalid (Karachi), Huraina Sajjad (Karachi), Shawaal Zulfiqar (Lahore)Wicket-keeper: Yusra Amir (Karachi), Komal Khan (Lahore)All-rounders: Noreen Yaqoob (Lahore) and Umm-e-Hani (Faisalabad)Spinners: Anosha Nasir (Karachi), Momina Riasat (Abbottabad)Pacers: Lubna Behram (Hunza), Neha Sharmin Nadeem (Karachi), Syeda Masooma Jafri (Karachi), Waheeda Akhtar (Lahore)Schedule of Pakistan ‘A’ matches: (all matches at Terdthai Cricket Ground) Group A 13 February – Pakistan ‘A’ v Nepal – 9.30am local time 15 February – Pakistan ‘A’ v India ‘A’ – 2pm local time 17 February – Pakistan ‘A’ v UAE – 2pm local time 20 February - Semi final 1 and 2 – 9am and 2pm local time22 February – Final – 2pm local time
ACB Chairman Praises the Under-19 National Team Performance in World Cup
Islamabad (Sports Desk): The Chairman of the Afghanistan Cricket Board, Mirwais Ashraf, during an online meeting today, congratulated the Under-19 national team, along with their coaches and supporting staff, on the team’s recent successes and praised their efforts and performances for qualifying to the world cup semifinals.He said I feel proud that the team has reached the World Cup semi-finals for the third time in a few years. He added that he was pleased to see the results of the players’ hard work, especially following the preparation camps held inside the country and the series played against Bangladesh and India. He also praised the efforts of the coaching staff and the management team, saying that every time they have trusted domestic coaches, they have achieved positive results.The Chairman advised the young players not to dwell on defeats and to always move forward with a positive mindset. He assured them of continued support and said that the board will address all their needs.Raees Ahmadzai, the team head coach also praised the players’ performances, saying that although the team fought until the final over in the Asia Cup matches, they still faced defeat. He expressed his happiness that the players were mentally and physically prepared again in a short time, enabling them to believe in themselves and achieve success in such important matches. He thanked the administration for its constant support and praised the efforts of all supporting staff, including coaches, the manager, trainer, doctor, and video analyst, noting that their role was crucial in the team’s success.In the final part of the meeting, team captain Mahboob Taskeen, speaking on behalf of the players, expressed gratitude to the administration and coaches for preparing the team in the best possible way for the World Cup. He added that their journey is not over yet and that they will give their full effort to win the semi-final and, upon reaching the final, bring the honor of World Cup championship to Afghanistan.
Pakistan U19 to take on India U19 in decisive Super Six fixture on Sunday
Bulawayo (Sports News): Pakistan U19 will be aiming to repeat their ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup heroics when they take on India U19 in the Super Six fixture of the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo on Sunday. The match is scheduled to begin at 9.30am local time, with the toss taking place at 9am.Ahead of Sunday’s encounter, Pakistan trained at the Queens Sports Club on Saturday where the players, besides taking part in fielding drills, also had net sessions under the supervision of the coaching staff led by head coach Shahid Anwar.Pakistan, who currently have four points and are placed third in Group 2 of the Super Six stage, need to defeat India by a healthy margin to secure a place in the semi-finals. England sit at the top of the table with eight points and have already secured a semi-final berth in the ongoing mega event. From Group 1 of the Super Six stage, Afghanistan and Australia have already qualified for the semi-finals.In head-to-head encounters at the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup, both sides have faced each other 10 times, with Pakistan and India winning five matches apiece. Outside the ICC event, in the last five meetings between the two teams, Pakistan U19 have emerged victorious on four occasions, while India U19 have managed to win once.At the conclusion of today’s training session, Pakistan U19 captain Farhan Yousaf and batter Sameer Minhas in a conversation hosted by Daniyal Ali Khan shared their thoughts on the upcoming contest.Farhan Yousaf said:“Our preparations have been very good. I had an enjoyable and productive net session today. Over the last few games, I have tried to play positive cricket, learn from my mistakes and carry forward the good things into the next match.“The morale of the squad is very high. Not only for this match, but over the last few games as well, the players have shown great intensity and we are confident of putting in a strong performance.”Sameer Minhas said:“We played a scenario-based match yesterday on a challenging surface, which helped us understand how to survive, score runs and bowl in difficult situations.“Today we trained at the Queens Sports Club, where the match will be played. Along with focused net sessions, we also had fielding drills and games, which helped with team bonding. The environment in the squad is very positive.“The team has been performing well in recent matches and we are looking to carry the momentum forward and take confidence into the next game.”Updated squad:Farhan Yousaf (captain), Usman Khan (vice-captain), Abdul Subhan, Ahmed Hussain, Ali Hasan Baloch, Ali Raza, Daniyal Ali Khan, Hamza Zahoor (wk), Huzaifa Ahsan, Momin Qamar, Mohammad Sayyam, Niqab Shafiq, Sameer Minhas and Umar Zaib.
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