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Express Tribune
04-07-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Ali Tareen criticises PCB for ‘victory lap' over HBL PSL X
Multan Sultans owner Ali Tareen has sharply criticised the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for celebrating what it called a successful HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) season, accusing officials of ignoring pressing issues surrounding the tournament's decline in public interest and operational standards. In a series of posts on social media following the PCB's recent debriefing session in Lahore, Tareen dismissed the board's claims of satisfaction from stakeholders regarding HBL PSL X, saying the league's underlying problems had gone unaddressed. 'Applause? You must be kidding,' he wrote on X, referring to the PCB's video summary that praised the league's performance. Tareen cited poor television ratings, dwindling stadium attendance, and a slowdown in digital engagement as evidence that fan interest has declined significantly. Applause? You must be kidding. 📉 TV viewership is down 📉 Stadium attendance is down 📱 Social media growth has slowed 😵💫 Team logistics were shambolic 🤡 The draft was comical And they want a standing ovation? 🤔 Skip the victory lap and address the slide. Fans notice.… — Ali Khan Tareen (@aliktareen) July 3, 2025 Empty stands in Karachi were among the most visible signs of that disconnect during the 2025 season, yet the PCB has not shared any clear plan to reverse the trend. Tareen also took aim at the tournament's operations, describing logistics as 'shambolic' and branding the player draft 'comical.' Team Logistics was shambolic because every team had to split their own players and staff between 3 different hotels in the same city! 😵💫 Some teams were asked to change the location and date of their games mid season! 😑 (Before the attacks) And don't even get me started on the… — Ali Khan Tareen (@aliktareen) July 3, 2025 He argued that the league's planning failures had undermined its professionalism and damaged its credibility among fans and players alike. 'And they want a standing ovation?' he posted. 'Skip the victory lap and address the slide. Fans notice.' If I own a team or not, I'll always be a huge PSL fan. And seeing its decline hurts. — Ali Khan Tareen (@aliktareen) July 3, 2025 The remarks have reignited tensions between franchise owners and the board. Tareen has previously voiced frustration with the PCB's management of the league and has called for structural changes in how the PSL is run. His latest comments suggest that concerns among stakeholders remain unresolved, despite public attempts by the board to frame the season as a step forward. Exactly what we thought afterwards… No input from franchises, no brainstorming on declining attendance and TV viewership. Just a one-way meeting where the PSL management told us everything is GREAT! 🥰🥳🎉#TeamDelulu — Ali Khan Tareen (@aliktareen) July 3, 2025 While the PCB has promoted PSL X as a milestone year, Tareen's criticism reflects broader unease about the league's direction in a competitive sports market where audience loyalty cannot be taken for granted.
Business Recorder
27-05-2025
- Sport
- Business Recorder
Match officials for Pakistan Bangladesh T20I series announced
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced that Sri Lanka's Ranjan Madugalle, who is a member of ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees, will lead the playing control teams for the three-match T20I series between Pakistan and Bangladesh in Lahore. Madugalle, who has also officiated the most international cricket matches (804) across three formats as Match Referee, also led playing control teams in seven matches of the recently concluded PSL X. PCB announces ticket prices for Pakistan- BD series For the first T20I, Asif Yaqoob and Rashid Riaz – both part of the PCB International Panel of Umpires, will be the on-field umpires. Ahsan Raza, member of ICC Elite Panel of Umpires will be the third umpire, while Faisal Khan Aafreedi – an ICC International Panel Umpire, will act as the fourth umpire. In the second T20I, Rashid Riaz will join Faisal Khan Aafreedi to perform the on-field duties while Ahsan Raza will be the third umpire. Asif Yaqoob will be the fourth umpire. For the third T20I, Ahsan Raza will be joined by Asif Yaqoob to perform on-field duties, while Faisal Khan Aafreedi will be the third umpire. Rashid Riaz will work as the fourth umpire for the final T20I of the series.
Express Tribune
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Express Tribune
Qalandars the champions
The PSL X has gone to Lahore Qalandars - for a third time. The Qalandars won the T20 title back to back in 2022 and 2023, and now in 2025 - equalling Islamabad United's record of winning the crown thrice. However, in each of their victories, Qalandars have been led by just one man - pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi - something which is unparalleled in the decade-long history of PSL. It has been just one triumph each for all of Shaheen's counterparts, past and present, including Misbah-ul-Haq, Darren Sammy, JP Duminy, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Rizwan and Shadab Khan. Ironically though, Shaheen, the thrice victorious captain, does not find himself among the 16 announced for the upcoming Bangladesh T20I series at home, whereas the national squad is said to have been selected "based on the players performance in the ongoing PSL". The recently-concluded PSL season, meanwhile, has seen the premier cricket league complete a decade of its inception - something that speaks of its tremendous all-round success. While the league has proved a big hit from the point of view of professional development of the players involved, it has also brought huge monetary benefits for all those associated with the event in any capacity - players, officials, franchise owners, broadcasters, etc. It has also served to lift the training and playing facilities, over the years, which had been subpart before the league came into being. The sporting gala has also helped set off economic activities in the country which have otherwise slowed down due to the policy of fiscal tightening being pursued by the incumbent government. To top it all, the league has played an instrumental role in the revival of international cricket in Pakistan, which had become a sporting outcast in the wake of the 2009 terrorist attack in Lahore on the visiting Sri Lankan cricket team. The decade of the PSL success is worth celebrating - indeed!
Hindustan Times
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Sikandar Raza lands in Pakistan ten minutes before PSL final's toss; three hours later helps Shaheen Afridi lift title
Zimbabwe all-rounder Sikandar Raza played an unbeaten cameo of 22 runs off seven balls, including two fours and two sixes to help Lahore Qalandars win the tenth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) on Sunday. The right-hander batted at a strike rate of 314.29 to help the Shaheen Shah Afridi-led side chase down 202 with six wickets in hand and one ball to spare. This is the third time in the history of the PSL that Lahore Qalandars have walked away as the winners of the tournament. Their previous two wins had come in the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons. The winning runs were hit by Sikandar Raza, who had landed in Pakistan just ten minutes before the toss for the PSL final. Just 24 hours before the PSL, Sikandar Raza was at Trent Bridge, trying to help Zimbabwe avoid an innings defeat against England. He scored 60 runs in the second innings of the one-off four-day Test. However, his dismissal paved the way for an easy and comprehensive England win. According to ESPNCricinfo, just hours after the conclusion of the one-off Test, Sikandar Raza got on a plane to travel to Lahore - the destination for the PSL final. Lahore Qalandars had prepared two team sheets for the PSL final, one with Raza and one without him. The same report stated that had Sikandar Raza not arrived back in time or the Test match between England and Zimbabwe had gone into the fourth day, Lahore Qalandars would have played Shakib Al Hasan. When the toss for the PSL final between Lahore and Quetta happened at the Gaddafi Stadium, Sikandar Raza had landed in Pakistan but he still hadn't reached the ground. Despite his not reaching the ground, he was still named in the Qalandars squad. Speaking of Shaheen Shah Afridi, he might have led Lahore Qalandars to their third PSL title, but the pacer will miss the T20I series against Bangladesh after being dropped from the squad owing to poor performances in the last few international matches. The selection committee have also left out Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan for the upcoming series, beginning Wednesday, May 28. Mike Hesson was recently appointed as Pakistan's white-ball coach and the series against Bangladesh will be his first assignment. 'The squad has been selected based on players' performances in the ongoing PSL X, which concludes on 25 May. This series also marks the first assignment for newly appointed head coach Mike Hesson,' the PCB said in its official release. Pakistan squad for the series against Bangladesh: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hassan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wicket-keeper), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wicket-keeper) and Saim Ayub.
Express Tribune
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Express Tribune
Qalandars beat Zalmi by 26 runs in HBL PSL match
Listen to article Fakhar Zaman's explosive batting and Salman Mirza's fiery four-wicket haul powered Lahore Qalandars to a dominant win over Peshawar Zalmi, securing their spot in the HBL PSL X playoffs on Sunday in Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Chasing a daunting target, Peshawar Zalmi never looked in control and crumbled under the pressure of a climbing run rate. Zalmi had a shaky start, losing three wickets within the Powerplay (first four overs), and their troubles deepened when Babar Azam also fell after scoring just 16. Daniel Sams and Ahmed Daniyal offered brief resistance with knocks of 26 and 24 respectively, but it was never going to be enough, as Zalmi were restricted to just 123. Lahore Qalandars registered a crucial 26-run win to seal their place in the PSL X playoffs. Salman Mirza was the standout performer with the ball, claiming four key wickets, while skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi also chipped in with two important breakthroughs. Earlier, heavy rain delayed the start of play by more than two hours, with the match subsequently reduced to 13 overs per side. As per the revised playing conditions, three bowlers will be allowed to bowl a maximum of three overs each, while two bowlers may bowl up to two overs. The Powerplay has also been shortened to the first four overs (14) of the innings. After being asked to bat first, Lahore Qalandars got off to a blazing start as both Mohammad Naeem and Fakhar Zaman took the attack to Zalmi's bowlers, reaching 50 runs in just 3.1 overs. Naeem was given a lifeline when Mohammad Haris dropped a sitter behind the stumps. However, the batter failed to capitalize on the chance and was dismissed on the very next delivery after scoring 22 off just 10 balls. Fakhar Zaman, on the other hand, maintained his aggressive approach and brought up his half-century, keeping the run rate steady even as wickets fell regularly at the other end. Abdullah Shafique, Kusal Perera, and Sikandar Raza were all dismissed cheaply. Asif Ali made a brief impact, smashing two consecutive sixes before being dismissed for 18 off six balls. Fakhar's explosive innings came to an end when Daniel Sams knocked over his stumps. He scored 60 off 36 balls, hitting seven fours and three towering sixes. Qalandars posted 149 for 8 in 13 overs, setting a competitive target and putting pressure on Zalmi to secure their playoff spot. With the ball, Ahmed Daniyal stood out once again, claiming 2 wickets for 22 runs in his three overs. The rest of the Zalmi bowlers, however, were taken apart by the Qalandars' top order.
