Sports Bulletin

Lahore (Sports News):The Pakistan Cricket Board has today announced the match officials for the HBL PSL 11, which will be played in Lahore and Karachi from 26 March to 3 May with 44 matches slated to take place.Sir Richard Richardson, member of the ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees, is set to make his HBL PSL debut as match referee. Previously Sir Richardson has officiated four Tests and three T20Is in Pakistan between 2017 and 2024 including the three-match T20I series between Pakistan and World XI at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.Four members of ICC Elite Panel of Umpires Ahsan Raza from Pakistan, Christopher Gaffaney from New Zealand, Allahudien Palekar from South Africa and Alexander Wharf from England will be joined by Sharfuddoula Saikat and Chris Brown in a strong overseas contingent of Umpires.Palekar and Saikat will be making their HBL PSL debuts. Among others Asif Yaqoob, Rashid Riaz, Faisal Khan Aafreedi, Nasir Hussain, Zulfiqar Jan, Abdul Muqeet, Alay Haider, Imran Jawed and Tariq Rasheed will perform umpiring duties in the tournament.Roshan Mahanama, who has been a regular match referee in the HBL PSL since 2017, will return to extend his tally of 71 HBL PSL matches as head of playing control team starting with the opening match between Lahore Qalandars and Hyderabad Kingsmen.In the first match Wharf and Ahsan will be on-field umpires, while Asif Yaqoob will perform duties as TV Umpire. Tariq Rasheed will be the fourth umpire.UmpiresAhsan Raza, Chris Gaffaney, Sharfuddoula Saikat, Allahuddien Palekar, Alex Wharf, Chris Brown, Asif Yaqoob, Rashid Riaz, Faisal Khan Aafreedi, Nasir Hussain, Zulfiqar Jan, Abdul Muqeet, Alay Haider, Imran Jawed and Tariq RasheedMatch RefereesRoshan Mahanama, Sir Richard Richardson, Ali Naqvi, Kamran Chaudhary, Bilal Khilji, Iftikhar Ahmed, Aleem Moosa, Sohail Idrees

Islamabad (Sports News):Pakistan opener Sahibzada Farhan has been named the ICC Player of the Month for his extra-ordinary performances in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 during February while India seam bowler Arundhati Reddy has won the women’s award after her fine performances in a T20I series in Australia.Sahibzada won the award ahead of many stalwarts as he broke Virat Kohli’s record runs in one edition of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup and became the first to register two centuries in a single edition of the tournament - against Namibia and Sri Lanka.The dynamic opener amassed 383 runs in seven T20Is at an impressive average of 76.60, while maintaining a strike rate of 160.25. His performances stood out from the tournament for the monthly award as the final two Super Eight fixtures and the knockout stages took place in March and will be evaluated in the next cycle.Sahibzada Farhan: “It’s an incredible feeling to win this ICC award, especially for performances on the World Cup stage, where fans from all over the world are watching every moment. That makes it even more special.“It was truly a tournament I’ll always cherish, and I’m determined to carry this momentum forward in the series and competitions ahead. I’m deeply grateful to my teammates for their constant support and belief in me - this wouldn’t have been possible without them.”Reddy shone with her fine seam bowling Down Under, helping India win their T20I series against Australia by a 2-1 margin. Reddy was the leading wicket-taker in the series with hauls of four for 22, two for 30 and two 35 in the three matches, finishing with an average of 10.87 and an economy rate of 7.25.Arundhati Reddy: “It’s a real honour to be named ICC Player of the Month, and even more special knowing I was able to contribute to a T20I series win in Australia. Beating Australia on their home turf is never easy, which makes this award even more meaningful.“This series win has given our team a huge boost of confidence as we build towards the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in England and Wales this summer. We’ve got a well-balanced squad, and I believe we’ll be a team to watch.”Sahibzada won the men’s award ahead of Will Jacks of England and Shadley van Schalwyk of the USA while Harshitha Samarawickrama of Sri Lanka and Fatima Sana of Pakistan were the shortlisted players Reddy edged out for the women’s award.

Islamabad (Sports News): Former West Indies all-rounder Carlos Brathwaite will make his HBL PSL commentary debut and former Australia women’s player Lisa Sthalekar is set to return as the Pakistan Cricket Board announced a star-studded 23-member bilingual commentary panel for the upcoming marquee evenShoaib Malik, who has featured in all the previous 10 editions of the HBL PSL as player, will be appearing as Urdu commentator in the 11th edition and he will be joined by former Pakistan captains Salman Butt and Sana Mir.Seasoned commentator Tariq Saaed, former Pakistan women’s international Marina Iqbal, Shah Faisal and Pepsi Voice of Pakistan 2022 winner Ayaz Chaudhary will form the seven-member exclusive Urdu commentary panel for the HBL PSL 11.Apart from Barbadian Brathwaite, the English commentary panel will comprise South Africa’s Jean-Paul Duminy and the melodic Michael Haysman, England’s Dominic Cork, Nick Knight and Mark Butcher, Martin Guptill from New Zealand, Greg Blewett and Lisa Sthalekar from Australia and Athar Ali Khan from Bangladesh.Among Pakistan voices in the English commentary panel, former captains Wasim Akram, Ramiz Raja, Aamir Sohail and Urooj Mumtaz Khan will be calling out the action along with former Pakistan international Bazid Khan.Sikandar Bakht will be part of the English commentary panel as well as the four-member presenters’ lineup. Renowned sports broadcasters Neroli Meadows and Jess Crowe are set to feature in the HBL PSL for the first time and they will join Zainab Abbas as the official presenters and hosts during the tournament.Chief Executive Officer Pakistan Super League, Salman Naseer:“We are excited to announce a star-studded and insightful commentators’ panel, which comes with years of valuable experience of calling the game behind the mic. I’m sure our fans will enjoy the commentary lineup and their calls over exciting action from home as we inch closer to the beginning of the landmark 11th edition of the HBL PSL.”Commentators:Aamir Sohail, Athar Ali Khan, Bazid Khan, Carlos Brathwaite, Dominic Cork, Greg Blewett, Jean-Paul Duminy, Lisa Sthalekar, Mark Butcher, Martin Guptill, Michael Haysman, Nick Knight, Ramiz Raja, Sikandar Bakht, Urooj Mumtaz Khan and Wasim Akram.Exclusively UrduAyaz Chaudhary, Marina Iqbal, Salman Butt, Sana Mir, Shah Faisal, Shoaib Malik and Tariq Saeed.PresentersJess Crowe, Neroli Meadows, Sikandar Bakht and Zainab Abbas

Lahore (Sports News):The Pakistan Cricket Board has announced revised schedule for 11th edition of the HBL PSL after austerity measures have been adopted in consultation with the Government of Pakistan, and in line with the officially announced national austerity and resource conservation measures. The number of host venues for HBL PSL 11 has been streamlined from six to two. All matches will now be staged in Lahore and Karachi. In the updated schedule 44 matches will be taking place in a space of 39 days with Lahore and Karachi each hosting 22 matches. The opening match between Hyderabad Kingsmen and Lahore Qalandars remains intact, while Lahore will also see Eliminator 1, 2 and the final. Qualifier will be played in Karachi.With the tournament temporarily shifting to a watch-from-home model, HBL PSL will introduce enhanced broadcast and production features aimed at delivering an even stronger viewing experience for fans across Pakistan and around the world. The league remains confident that the passion of its audience, combined with innovation in coverage, will make this edition one of the most widely watched in its history.While it is important to prioritise national stability, the crowds gracing the stadia will be sorely missed. It was estimated that with an average of 30,000 spectators and associated support staff travelling daily for over more than a month would place significant strain on energy resources. By limiting the tournament to two cities, the HBL PSL is also reducing the extensive operational arrangements including transport, and utility overheads that a six-city event demands.HBL PSL remains committed to delivering high-quality cricket while aligning with national priorities. The league will move forward with the same unity, discipline, and excellence that have made it a defining symbol of Pakistan’s sporting strength.

Rawalpindi (Abdul Jabbar Faisal):Pindiz have expressed their full support for the HBL Pakistan Super League’s decision to stage matches exclusively in Lahore and Karachi, citing the ongoing fuel crisis and the need for austerity measures across the country.While the franchise was eagerly anticipating the opportunity to play in front of its passionate home crowd in Rawalpindi, the management acknowledged that the austerity measures being taken in consideration - current situation demands collective responsibility and unity.Speaking on the matter, Pindiz team owner, Ahsan Tahir said, “Sabse Pehle Pakistan - We were looking forward to playing in front of our home fans, to give the people of Pindi a home team to support in their own stadium. However, we fully recognize that this is the need of the hour. As a franchise, we stand firmly behind the HBL PSL and its efforts to ensure the smooth and successful conduct of the tournament under these circumstances.”Pindiz reaffirmed their commitment to the league and emphasized the importance of prioritizing national interest above all. The franchise remains confident that, with collective support, this edition of the HBL PSL will continue to deliver high-quality cricket and unite fans across the country.

Islamabad (Sports News): Lahore: Lahore Qalandars confirms that Australian all‑rounder Daniel Sams will join the squad as the replacement for Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka for the full season.Shanaka, who was acquired by Lahore Qalandars at the PSL auction, has pulled out ahead of the PSL due to personal reasons and confirmed his unavailability.In response, Lahore Qalandars acted swiftly to secure Sams, a proven T20 match-winner, ensuring the team remains strong and competitive ahead of the season. Known for his dynamic T20 game, Sams boasts a career batting strike rate of over 150 and has taken 262 wickets in 216 T20 matches at an average of 24.70, reflecting his skill in controlling the action with his left‑arm seam.Sameen Rana, Owner, Lahore Qalandars: “We are thrilled to welcome Daniel Sams to the Lahore Qalandars family. His all-round skills, match-winning ability, and dynamic T20 experience will add tremendous firepower to our lineup this season. He is a proven game-changer who can perform with both bat and ball, bringing energy and skill to the team on and off the field.”

Sports NewsLAHORE: The HBL Pakistan Super League Trophy ‘Infinity’ made a memorable trip across the country visiting a number of scenic destinations and it reached Lahore on Thursday. The artfully designed trophy by Hanif Jewelers is a product of the hard work of 18 master artisans and was completed in 2,600 hours.The trophy, which will be pursued by eight teams from 26 March onwards, was unveiled on Wednesday, 11 March at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi in presence of PSL Chief Executive Officer Salman Naseer, franchise and title sponsor HBL representatives.After undertaking its journey from Quaid’s mausoleum, the Infinity was taken to Empress Market, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Mereweather Tower, Lyari and Sea view in Karachi followed by Makli Necropolis, Shah Jahan Mosque and Hyderabad Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad. It then made the next stop in Islamabad, where it was taken to the historic Faisal Mosque, Pakistan Monument and the shared home turf of Islamabad United and Rawalpindiz, the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.The scenic beauty and stunning views of Pakistan’s northern areas were captured during Infinity’s tour to Skardu where fans witnessed it at the Khaplu Fort, Katpana Desert, Upper Kachura Lake, Keris Suspension Bridge and Ghawari.The trophy made a stop at the Imran Khan Cricket Stadium and the vintage Sethi Mohalla in Peshawar before being driven back to Lahore, where the HBL PSL 11 action is set to begin in a week’s time. In Lahore, it was taken to the iconic Lahore fort, Minar-e-Pakistan and Badshahi Mosque.The Infinity is also set to make trips to Quetta and Multan during the tournament capturing imaginations of the HBL PSL fans in those destinations. It will also make trips to all HBL PSL venues on various match days.It is worth noting that the specially crafted Infinity trophy has eight emerald-cut Gemstones at its base representing the colours of all HBL PSL franchises. A Crescent and Star at the top of the trophy add more to its sublime beauty, while it is adorned with 1,600 Gemstones, depicting masterful craftmanship and creativity by Hanif Jewelers.

Abdullah AsjadISLAMABAD: Pakistani all-rounder, Salman Ali Agha has surged to a career-best ninth position in the ICC Men’s ODI batting rankings, while Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz has returned to the top 10 among bowlers in the latest weekly update on Wednesday.Salman’s fluent knocks of 64 and 106 in the second and third ODIs at Mirpur have powered his rise from 18th to joint-ninth with India’s K.L. Rahul. Mehidy’s hauls of three for 29 and two for 34 in the first two matches have helped him gallop nine places to seventh position.Salman and Mehidy have also progressed in the all-rounders’ list, Salman up to joint-10th from seventh and Mehidy jumping two slots to second in the list led by Azmatullah Omarzai of Afghanistan.Meanwhile, Bangladesh’s Tanzid Hasan has also made a significant leap, jumping 31 places to 55th after registering his maiden ODI century in the series decider, as the hosts sealed a 2-1 victory. Towhid Hridoy (up two places to 32nd) and Litton Das (up 10 places to 82nd) are other Bangladesh batters to gain.Bangladesh fast bowler Taskin Ahmed’s haul of four for 49 in the third match has lifted him from 40th to 28th position even as Mustafizur Rahman (up 13 places to 47th) and Nahid Rana (up 65 places to 98th) have also made notable progress.Pakistan fast bowlers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf have inched up one slot each to 17th and 19th positions, respectively. Shaheen grabbed four wickets in three matches and Haris six in two. Leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed is the only Pakistan bowler ahead of the pair, in 13th position.In the ICC Men’s T20I Player Rankings, New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner’s figures of 4-0-8-1 and 3-0-19-2 in the first two T20Is against South Africa have enabled him to move up from 24th to 13th in the bowling rankings.Fast bowler Lockie Ferguson is another New Zealander to progress, his haul of three for 16 in the second match in Hamilton lifting him from 69th to 51st position while South Africa fast bowler Ottneil Baartman’s three wickets in two matches see him go from 96th to 73rd.New Zealand’s left-handed opener Devon Conway has moved up to 70th after his knock of 60 in the second match.

Peshawar (Mohammad Ali Salazar):Karachi Region Whites and Abbottabad Region advanced to the final of ABS Developers National T20 Cup 2026 after contrasting semi-final outcomes at the Imran Khan Cricket Stadium in Peshawar on Tuesday night.Abdullah Fazal’s scintillating 88 off 41 balls powered Karachi Whites to a five-wicket win in a 166-run chase over Sialkot Region with 29 balls to spare in the first semi-final.In the second semi-final, Imran Dogar’s blistering 31-ball 62 helped Lahore Region Whites post 194 for six. However, persistent rain forced the match to be abandoned, sending Abbottabad through to the final as they finished higher than Lahore Whites at the end of Group stage.Karachi Region Whites and Abbottabad Region will face off in the final on Wednesday 18 March at 7.30pm, with 19 March set aside as the reserve day.Chasing 166, Karachi Whites made an emphatic start as Abdullah and skipper Saud Shakeel raced to 92 in seven overs. Saud set the tone with a 21-ball 45, hitting five fours and three sixes, before he was dismissed off the first ball of the eighth over. He ransacked 26 runs off the third over clubbing Shoaib Akhtar Jnr for three sixes and two fours.Shan Masood fell for one soon after, but Abdullah kept up the charge and all but sealed the contest in Karachi’s favor. Dominating the Sialkot bowling with six fours and seven sixes, Abdullah hammered a match-winning 88 before falling in the 14th over with victory well within sight.Haroon Arshad, unbeaten on 15 off nine balls with two fours, and Danish Aziz (7 not out, 6b, 1x4) completed the chase in 15.1 overs as Karachi Whites romped home by five wickets.Sialkot’s skipper Usama Mir accounted for the scalps of Shan, Saud and Khawaja Mohammad Nafay but in vain. He ended up with 16 wickets in five matches.Batting first, Sialkot got off to a brisk start through Khawaja Arham and Mohsin Riaz, who took the score to 31 without loss in three overs. Mohsin (15, 10b, 2x6s) and Abdullah Shafique (8, 6b, 1x6) departed in quick succession with 44 runs on the board. Arham kept the innings together with Hasan Nawaz, adding 42 runs for the third wicket before departing in the 12th over after a 33-ball 40, laced with two fours and three sixes.At the other end, Hasan continued to anchor the innings despite regular wickets. His resistance ended in the 16th over when Mohammad Asghar dismissed him for a 33-ball 43, studded with two fours and two sixes, with Sialkot then 118 for six.A late push came from wicketkeeper-batter Ali Afzal and skipper Usama Mir, who stitched together a 37-run stand off 21 balls. Usama made 19 off 14 balls with three fours, while Ali struck 26 off 13 deliveries, smashing one four and three sixes as Sialkot stumbled t0165 for nine in their 20 overs.For Karachi Whites, Mohammad Umar was the pick of the bowlers with three for 29 in four overs, whileAsghar claimed two wickets for 23 runs, including the key scalps of of Arham and Hasan.In the rain-hit second semi-final, Lahore Whites piled up 194 for six in their 20 overs, powered by a fiery knock from no.3 batter Imran, who struck 62 off 31 balls with three fours and five sixes.After Mohammad Faiq’s 18 off 11 balls, featuring two fours and a six, ended in the fifth over with 38 runs on the board, Mohammad Akhlaq joined Imran at the crease. The pair added 64 for the second wicket, taking Lahore Whites to 102 in 11.1 overs.Imran’s aggressive stroke play kept Lahore Whites on the front foot, while Akhlaq played the supporting role with a composed 42 off 35 deliveries, hitting six fours.Lahore Whites received a timely lift at the back end of the innings through Farhan Yousuf and Mohammad Mohsin, who added valuable late runs. Mohsin made 24 off 16 balls, striking one four and two sixes, while Farhan remained unbeaten on 33 off 19 deliveries, cracking six fours, as Lahore Whites finished with a commanding total.For Abbottabad, left-arm pacer Shahab Khan was the standout bowler, returning four for 28 in his four overs.Abbottabad’s reply, however, never got underway as persistent rain forced the match to be abandoned. Having topped Group B, Abbottabad advanced to the final ahead of Lahore Whites, who had finished second in Group A.Scores in brief: Semi-final 1: Karachi Region Whites beat Sialkot Region by five wickets at Imran Khan Cricket Stadium, PeshawarSialkot 165-9, 20 overs (Hasan Nawaz 43, Khawaja Arham 40, Ali Afzal 26; Mohammad Umar 3-29, Mohammad Asghar 2-23)Karachi Whites 167-5, 15.1 overs (Abdullah Fazal 88, Saud Shakeel 45; Usama Mir 3-46)Player of the match: Abdullah Fazal (Karachi Whites)Semi-final 2: Lahore Region Whites v Abbottabad Region abandoned due to rain at Imran Khan Cricket Stadium, PeshawarLahore Whites 194-6, 20 overs (Imran Dogar 62, Muhammad Akhlaq 42, Farhan Yousaf 33 not out, Mohammad Mohsin 24; Shahab Khan 4-28)Final: 18 March, 2026Karachi Whites v Abbottabad at 7.30pm PKT

Lahore (PR): Pepsi has joined the HBL Pakistan Super League as the Official Beverage and Entertainment partner for 11th, 12th and 13th editions of the tournament, the Pakistan Cricket Board announced on Monday. As Pepsi continues to be the most loved beverage of Pakistan, its partnership with one of the top T20 leagues and country’s biggest sporting extravaganza will diversify the fan’s experience at the venues.The three-year deal was inked during a ceremony held at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, which was attended by CEO PSL Salman Naseer and Senior Marketing Director PepsiCo, Hakima Mirza.In a testament to the HBL PSL’s commercial growth, the Beverage and Entertainment rights have been separated from the traditional In-Stadia brand partnership portfolio and sold as standalone entity for the upcoming three seasons.As part of the tender process, PepsiCo emerged as the winning bidder following a thorough process, which also included determination of the technical qualification of the bidders.As Entertainment partner, Pepsi will also collaborate with the HBL PSL for the official anthem of season 11.HBL PSL Chief Executive Officer, Salman Naseer:“We are delighted that Pepsi is joining us in the New Era of the HBL PSL as our official Beverage and Entertainment partner. Pepsi and cricket have been synonymous in Pakistan for a long time and now this association will again unite to not only quench the thirst of our fans for one of the best drinks but also advance on the entertainment front.“The PCB is thankful to PepsiCo for their trust and confidence in the HBL PSL for the upcoming three seasons. I’m sure this partnership will pay unprecedented dividends to the both parties involved and to our valued fans.” Senior Marketing Director PepsiCo, Hakima Mirza:“It is a matter of great pride for PepsiCo to be partnering with the HBL PSL. Our historic association with Cricket in Pakistan puts us in great stead to lead on the official Beverage and Entertainment front for one of the best T20 Leagues in the World.“The expansion of the HBL PSL and the dawn of the New Era for the league heralds an exciting time and we are honored to be one of the key contributors to its growth for the next three years. I hope the fans will also benefit a great deal from this partnership as we strive to set new standards for entertainment in the league.”