PARIS, Oct 26(ABC): Paris St Germain s Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe both scored twice, with Neymar also on target, as the French club s fearsome attack tore apart Maccabi Haifa in a 7-2 win to send them into the last 16 of the Champions League on Tuesday (Oct 25). The irrepressible trio were simply too much for Maccabi to …

LONDON , Oct 26(ABC): James Vince and Sam Billings have won recalls to England s ODI squad for a three-match series in Australia, which takes place immediately after the men s T20 World Cup. Jason Roy will also make his return to international cricket after a lean English summer led to him losing his spot in the T20I side and …

KARACHI, Oct 26(ABC): India batter Virat Kohli should retire from T20I, ex-Pakistani fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar said, after the former skipper led the Men In Blue to victory against the Green Shirts in their World Cup opener at the Melbourne Cricket Ground last week. “I want him to retire from T20I because I don’t want [him to put] his entire …

LAHORE, Oct 26(ABC): The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and National Bank of Pakistan signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the naming rights of one of the country’s most iconic Test venues — the National Stadium in Karachi. As such, the venue will now be known as the National Bank Cricket Arena, a statement from the cricket board said …

Oct 26(ABC): The categories of eight players were upgraded following the local player category renewal process for the Pakistan Super League 2023, while the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) also opened the registration window for foreign players. The player lists, according to a PCB statement, have been shared with the six franchises for the tournament to be played across four venues …

KARACHI, Oct 26(ABC): Simon Taufel, legendary Australian umpire, has finally broken silence on the controversial final over in the T20 World Cup match between arch-rivals Pakistan and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday. In the last decisive over, the ball by Pakistani pacer Mohammad Nawaz deflected after hitting the wickets, as Indian hard-hitter Virat Kohli was bowled on a free hit. …

MELBOURNE, Oct 25(ABC): Zimbabwe coach Dave Houghton criticised the umpires  decision to continue their T20 World Cup match against South Africa despite heavy rain on Monday, with one of his bowlers left nursing an ankle injury after slipping in the wet outfield. South Africa were on the verge of victory at the Bellerive Oval when the Super 12 contest, which …

Oct 25(ABC): Opening batsman Jason Roy has been named in the England squad for their one-day tour of Australia after being omitted from the T20 team currently taking part in the World Cup. Harry Brook, Liam Livingstone and Mark Wood join test captain Ben Stokes, who recently retired from international one-day cricket, in being omitted as they begin preparations for …

Oct 25(ABC): West Indies head coach Phil Simmons has stepped down following the team’s exit from the T20 World Cup in Australia, Cricket West Indies announced on Monday. Twice champions West Indies suffered a surprise elimination by Ireland with a nine-wicket thrashing in Hobart on Friday, ending bottom of Group B with two points. “I acknowledge that it’s not just …

SYDNEY, Oct 25(ABC): Tim Paine has accused South Africa of ball-tampering just days after Australian cricket was rocked by the sandpaper-gate scandal in 2018, alleging it was covered up by the match broadcaster. The former Australian skipper made the cheating claim in his new autobiography released Tuesday and widely reported by Australian media. He wrote that South Africa picked at …

PERTH, AUSTRALIA, Oct 25(ABC): Leading Australian spinner Adam Zampa has COVID but is still available for selection for their Twenty20 World Cup match against Sri Lanka later on Tuesday in Perth, the hosts said. The 30-year-old leg-spinner will have to travel separately from the rest of the team and be located away from his team-mates, according to the rules, but he …

Oct 25(ABC): Legendary player Shahid Afridi believes that the Pakistan Junior League (PJL) — an initiative of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) — would play an important role and benefit the sport. In a column published on the PCB’s website, the all-rounder praised the cricket board for organising such a tournament for youngsters. “The PJL is meant for our future …

MELBOURNE, Oct 24(ABC): Following a nerve-wracking game between arch-rivals India and Pakistan in their first match of the ongoing T20 World Cup, Pakistan captain Babar Azam reiterated to learn from mistakes after the Green Shirts lost the match by four wickets. “[We] will learn from mistakes,” Babar Azam said, speaking during a post-match presser. Speaking on Pakistan’s performance in their first match in …

Oct 24(ABC): Australia all-rounder Marcus Stoinis said the Twenty20 world champions were hurting after an 89-run humbling by New Zealand in their Super 12 stage clash on Saturday, but he backed the hosts to feed off the pressure and reach the semi-finals. The result at Sydney Cricket Ground hammered Australia’s net run rate, which will be used to separate teams …

Oct 24(ABC): Star spinner Rashid Khan said Afghanistan would bounce back from their opening loss to England at the Twenty20 World Cup having shown “promising talent” in the five-wicket defeat. England bowled out Afghanistan for a paltry 112 in Perth on Saturday but the Afghan spin force led by Rashid dragged the opposition chase to the 19th over by taking …

MELBOURNE, Oct 24(ABC): Iftikhar Ahmed registered his name in the record books Sunday after sealing the record of smashing the most sixes in Australia among Pakistani batters. Ahmed smashed four sixes in his innings against India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) during the teams’ opening match and was able to score 51 runs off 34 balls. Before this, it …

HOBART, Oct 24(ABC):  Ireland’s George Dockrell on Sunday took field against Sri Lanka in his team’s opening Super 12 match at the Twenty20 World Cup despite testing positive for COVID-19. “Cricket Ireland confirmed the 30-year-old has been identified as ‘potentially positive’ for COVID-19,” the International Cricket Council said. “Under the current regulations, a positive test does not stop Dockrell from …

Oct 24(ABC): South Africa captain Temba Bavuma vowed Sunday his team will come out with all guns blazing in their Twenty20 World Cup bow in Australia, with no time to ease themselves into the tournament. The Proteas have a poor record in global events, never winning a World Cup or reaching a final in either short-ball format. They failed to …

Oct 19(ABC): Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina remained in contention for a WTA Finals spot with a 7-6(5) 6-2 win over Karolina Pliskova in the first round of the Guadalajara Open on Tuesday. Pliskova served for the opening set at 5-3 but the Czech was unable to finish the job as Rybakina battled back to force a tiebreak. Pliskova issued one …

LAHORE, Oct 19(ABC): Former West Indies captain Daren Sammy has been appointed as the head coach of Peshawar Zalmi for Pakistan Super League season eight. Darren Sammy was unavailable last season for Zalmi due to his commitment. Peshawar Zalmi chairman Javed Afridi wrote in a Twitter message that he welcomes Darren Sammy once again to the Peshawar Zalmi family. He …

MELBOURNE, Oct 19(ABC): Sri Lanka paceman Dushmantha Chameera has been ruled out of Thursday’s crunch T20 World Cup clash against Netherlands with a calf strain in another injury blow for the former champions. Chameera picked up three wickets in Tuesday’s big win over the United Arab Emirates in Geelong but hobbled off the field after pulling out of his run-up …

Oct 19(ABC): After Wasim Akram, former legendary Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar Monday predicted four semifinal teams of the T20 World Cup, reported. “India, Pakistan, Australia and England will reach into the semifinals of T20 World Cup,” predicted Tendulkar while talking to British Newspaper Telegraph. On a question about the winner of the ongoing T20 World Cup, the former Indian captain said, “India has …

BRISBANE, Oct 19(ABC):  Pakistan pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi made a brutal comeback to the T20 World Cup 2022 by maintaining his strength. The pacer joined the team in Australia to play the mega event after spending weeks in England to treat a ligament injury to his right knee. During a warm-up match against Afghanistan, Shaheen bowled a deadly toe-crusher to Afghanistan’s opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz …

LAHORE, Oct 19(ABC): The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Wednesday sought an emergency meeting of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) after the Indian cricket board said their team will not tour Pakistan to play Asia Cup 2023. The PCB, in its letter to the ACC, condemned the unilateral announcement by Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Secretary Jay Shah …

Oct 18(ABC): Bas de Leede took two wickets and made an unbeaten 30 as the Netherlands took a giant step towards the Twenty20 World Cup Super 12 on Tuesday with a tense five-wicket victory over giant-killing Namibia. At a sun-soaked but near-empty Kardinia Park in Geelong the African nation were restricted to 121-6 in their 20 overs, with the Dutch …

Oct 18(ABC): Karthik Meiyappan lit up the Twenty20 World Cup with a hat-trick on Tuesday but it was in vain as Sri Lanka dismissed the United Arab Emirates for just 73 to get their campaign back on track. The Asian champions were stunned by Namibia in the tournament’s opening game on Sunday, a crushing 55-run defeat that left no room for error …

MUMBAI, Oct 18(ABC): World Cup winner Roger Binny was Tuesday appointed head of India s cricket board — the sport s richest body — replacing Sourav Ganguly after he was reportedly forced out in a political tussle. Binny, 67, was elected president at a meeting of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in Mumbai, where secretary Jay …

Oct 18(ABC): Following the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) decision not to visit Pakistan for the Asia Cup next year, former Pakistani cricket captain Shahid Afridi bashed the board and called it out for its “lack of experience”. Taking to Twitter, the cricket legend wrote: “When excellent comradery between the 2 sides in the past 12 months …

KARACHI, Oct 18(ABC):  After being crowned champion of the 18th Penang Junior Open 2022 in Malaysia, Pakistan’s 11-year-old squash player Mahnoor Ali is being praised for her prowess in the game at such a young age. Mahnoor hails from Peshawar but resides in Karachi. Speaking  after winning the prestigious accolade, Mahnoor said: “It’s an exceptional feeling, to be honest. I …

KARACHI, Oct 18(ABC):  American actor and former professional wrestler Dwayne Johnson aka The Rock has stepped in to increase the hype around the T20 World Cup 2022’s most-awaited clash between arch-rivals Pakistan and India on October 23. The Rock has been promoting his movie Black Adam in India and shared his excitement regarding the tournament’s greatest cricket rivalry. “When the greatest rivals collide, …

MELBOURNE, Oct 18(ABC):  England seamer Reece Topley appears doubtful for their opening T20 World Cup match against Afghanistan after rolling his ankle during practice, the team said on Tuesday. The 28-year-old left-armer hurt his left ankle during a fielding drill ahead of Monday’s warm-up match against Pakistan at the Gabba. He will be assessed in the build-up to Saturday’s match …

LAHORE, Oct 18(ABC): Following the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) denial to visit Pakistan for the Asia Cup next year, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is deliberating not to participate in the 2023 World Cup set to take place in India next year, sources told. The board is already considering pulling out of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) after …

MELBOURNE (Reuters) – Australia captain Aaron Finch gave himself a timely boost ahead of the Twenty20 World Cup while India seamer Mohammed Shami proved his worth in a dramatic four-wicket final over in a warm-up match between the tournament heavyweights on Monday. Finch had managed only one fifty in his previous 10 T20 Internationals and his slump has been a …

HOBART, Oct 17(ABC): Sikandar Raza smashed 82 off 48 balls to set up a convincing 31-run victory for Zimbabwe in their opening match of the Twenty20 World Cup against Ireland on Monday. Zimbabwe lost three early wickets after being invited to bat first in Hobart, but Raza put on key partnerships to guide the team to 174-7 in Hobart. Returning …

BRISBANE, Oct 17(ABC): England Monday defeated Pakistan by six wickets during the T20 World Cup 2022 warm-up match, boosting their confidence ahead of starting their campaign in the mega event. Chasing a target of 161 runs, England reached the target within 15 overs despite losing their opening pair hitting low scores. Pakistan got rid of England’s openers cheaply — Phil …

Hobart, Australia, Oct 17 (ABC): George Munsey’s unbeaten half-century and some inspired bowling helped Scotland thrash two-time Twenty20 World Cup champions West Indies by 42 runs in another big upset on Monday. The shock result comes a day after Namibia hammered Asia Cup winners Sri Lanka in the tournament opener in Australia. Munsey’s 53-ball 66 laced with nine boundaries steered …

LAHORE, Oct 16(ABC): Former Pakistan player Aqib Javed said that Pakistan has the best bowling combination across all teams for the coming Twenty20 World Cup. Addressing a press conference while launching the Women’s Cricket Talent Hunt Program in Lahore, Aaqib Javed said that after the inclusion of Shaheen Shah Afridi in the squad, the bowling line of national team will …

MELBOURNE, Oct 16(ABC): Test skipper Pat Cummins is ready to be Australia’s one-day captain on a rotational basis and is even open to sharing the responsibility with David Warner, the 29-year-old said on Sunday. With Aaron Finch announcing his ODI retirement last month, Australia will need to find a leader for the 50-overs squad with less than a year to …

GEELONG, Oct 16(ABC): Bowlers led by Bas de Leede helped the Netherlands edge out the United Arab Emirates by three wickets in a tense low-scoring match of the Twenty20 World Cup on Sunday. Skipper Scott Edwards stood unbeaten on 16 as the Netherlands chased down their target of 112 with one ball to spare in the second match of the …

Oct 16(ABC): The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed Sunday that pace ace Shaheen Shah Afridi would be available for the T20 World Cup warm-up fixture against England. Shaheen, 22, has been sidelined since sustaining a ligament injury to his right knee during a test match in Sri Lanka in July, missing the Asia Cup and home series against England. But …