KARACHI: Islamabad United, winners of the inaugural 2016 Pakistan Super League, regained the trophy with a comprehensive victory over defending champions Peshawar Zalmi at the National Stadium on March 25.
The final of the Twenty20 tournament was the first high-profile match featuring leading international cricketers played in the city for nine years, and the stadium was packed for the occasion.
Luke Ronchi, who opened the innings for Islamabad with Sahibzada Farhan, punished the Peshawar bowlers with hard-hitting sixes and fours, scoring 52 off 26 balls. He was caught by Fletcher on Chris Jordan’s delivery, but only after helping his team to reach 96 runs in 8.4 overs, putting the match beyond Zalmi.
Ronchi was declared Man of the Match, and also collected Player of the Tournament award. Kumar Sangakkara of the Multan Sultans won the award for most catches this season, while Faheem Ashraf’s 18 wickets for Islamabad earned him the Best Bowler title.
Zalmi skipper Darren Sammy said he was disappointed his team had struggled to score runs.
“With the ball, we took a while to respond,” he said. “Ronchi made the difference. I said to the guys after the match: ‘Keep working with your heads held high.’”
Peshawar won the toss and elected to bat first. However, the decision backfired as the side struggled to a very difficult start and failed to set a big target. The reached only 149, a run total that was not easy to defend on a good batting track against a team with ruthless hitters, led by Ronchi.
Zalmi’s renowned opener, Kamran Akmal, who played an exceptional knock in the second eliminator against Karachi Kings, faced nine deliveries in the final but could not hit a single boundary. Islamabad’s left-arm spinner, Samit Patel, made an early breakthrough by taking Akmal’s wicket after the Peshawar batsman had managed to score only a single run.
Mohammad Hafeez also failed to impress, and was caught by Patel on his own delivery in the fifth over of the match, having scored only eight runs off six balls.
Andre Fletcher, who opened the inning with Akmal and scored 21 runs at a strike rate of 140, was the third victim of the Islamabad bowlers, losing his wicket to Shadab Khan.
Chris Jordan and Liam Dawson boosted Peshawar’s total to 90 before Hussain Talat dismantled the partnership when Jordan, the highest scorer of the inning with 36 runs, was caught by Islamabad skipper JP Duminy. Saad Nasim was the fifth batsman to fall, after scoring only two runs off three balls.
Skipper Sammy, who had entertained fans throughout the tournament with his big hitting, could not get into a groove either, adding only 6 runs.
Umaid Asif was the seventh out, followed by Dawson, the second-highest run scorer of the inning, who was bowled out for 33 runs by Mohammed Sami. Hasan Ali could add only six runs.
Wahab Riaz, however, gave his side a glimmer of hope by scoring 28 runs off 14 balls, taking Zalmi’s total to 148 for 9 in 20 overs. It kept the final alive as a contest, though the disappointing score proved too low to defend.
Islamabad, in contrast, got off to a flawless start thanks to Ronchi. After his dismissal, Chadwick Walton came out but was bowled out by Umaid Asif. Skipper JP Duminy did not remain on the pitch for long, caught and bowled by Chris Jordan after adding just two runs.
Sahibzada Farhan, who scored 44 off 33 balls at a strike rate of 133.33, was the fourth wicket to fall and after his return to the pavilion, Islamabad started losing wickets in quick succession.
However, just as it seemed the match was headed for a nail-biting conclusion, Asif Ali steadied the ship and brought his team to the brink of victory with three sixes. He remained not out and played a great knock at the incredible strike rate of 433.33, scoring 26 runs off only six balls.
However, it was Faheem Ashraf who hit the winning strike, a six off Wahab Riaz’s delivery, assuring his side a second PSL title in the three-year-history of the event with a total of 154 for seven in 16.5 overs.
Hasan Ali remained a costly bowler for Peshawar, conceding 53 runs in four overs and taking two wickets. Wahab Riaz conceded 28 in four overs, while Chris Jordan took two wickets in three overs and conceded 22 runs.
Before the sporting action began, leading Pakistani musical acts — including Ali Zafar, Strings, Shehzad Roy, Farhan Saeed and Aima Baig — entertained the spectators, who went through strict security checks as they entered the ground.
The gates of the stadium opened at noon but spectators continued to arrive until 7pm. During the prize-giving ceremony, Najam Sethi, the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, thanked law enforcement agencies and the federal and provincial governments for making the final in Karachi possible. He also congratulated the people of the city on the return of top-level international cricket after nine years.
Earlier, hundreds of buses transported spectators to the stadium from five designated parking areas nearby.
Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and several members of his cabinet watched the match as guests of honor. Chief Minister of Sindh, Syed Murad Ali Shah, who earlier inspected the security operation a helicopter, was also in the crowd, along with members of his provincial administration.
At the end of the match, the Pakistan Army tweeted a message from Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa: “Congrats to Islamabad United ‘the Champions’. Pakistan won today! Best of the day was excited yet very disciplined spectators of Karachi. Nothing can defeat our national passion.”
Islamabad United regain PSL trophy with comfortable win over Peshawar Zalmi
Islamabad United regain PSL trophy with comfortable win over Peshawar Zalmi
Cricket’s international integrity is under severe pressure
- The Pakistan Super League and Indian Premier League were recently suspended as geopolitical tensions hung over the region
At times of political turbulence between nations that involves loss of life and suffering, it seems inappropriate to talk about sport, despite its capacity to build bridges between peoples.
Yet, during the recent outbreak of hostilities between India and Pakistan, it has been impossible to ignore the effect that the escalating crisis has had on the sport.
In part, this was because both the Pakistan Super League and the Indian Premier League were suspended. In part, it was because cricket has been swept up inexorably as an actor in the unfolding geopolitical drama.
The flashpoint for the IPL occurred in Dharamsala during a match on Thursday May 8. A blackout in the stadium occurred after 10.1 overs had been bowled, later attributed to power failure caused by air raid sirens warning of possible strikes in neighboring Jammu.
Evacuation of the estimated 17,500 crowd was ordered because of security concerns. I can testify that this is a ground with difficult access and egress. It must have been a terrifying experience and many have wondered why the match was allowed to start, given that one at the same location the following day had already been rescheduled.
Suspension of the league was announced on May 9.
The PSL’s flashpoint was on Wednesday May 7 following reports of Indian drones entering Pakistan airspace. One of them was shot down at the food street adjacent to the Rawalpindi stadium, where a match was due to take place.
This was rescheduled, but widespread reservations were expressed by the 37 foreign players involved in the PSL. Most of them were not happy to stay in Pakistan, a sentiment sufficient to persuade the Pakistan Cricket Board that suspension was necessary.
On May 8, Mohsin Naqvi, the PCB chair announced that the remainder of the tournament would be shifted to the UAE, so “the domestic, as well as foreign cricketers, who are our precious guests, can be saved from the possible reckless targeting by India.”
In his view, India’s actions were “manifestly done to disrupt the ongoing HBL Pakistan Super League X.” This may be stretching the point but what happened next is a source of conjecture.
The Emirates Cricket Board seemed to have been prepared to host the remainder of the PSL, with some players quickly transferring to Dubai. However, the next day, this plan was shelved. Various explanations have been advanced.
One is that, since the UAE has almost four million Indians, who account for 35 percent of the population, there was no appetite to run the risk of transferring tensions or stirring unrest. Another is that pressure was exerted by a combination of the International Cricket Council and the Board for Control of Cricket in India.
As is well known, the ICC’s chair is the former secretary of the BCCI and son of India’s interior minister. Together, the ICC and BCCI form the powerbase of international cricket, with access to the top of the Indian political process.
Quite frequently, announcements by the BCCI are openly predicated on the basis of having taken advice from the government. Whether this linkage assisted in being able to swiftly communicate to franchises the announcement of a ceasefire effective from 5 p.m. Indian Standard Time on May 10 is unknown.
Although a number of foreign players and coaches had left India, following the announcement of suspension on May 9, others were at airports or aboard planes standing on tarmacs. The whole suspension process was turbo-thrust into reverse, even to the extent of individuals leaving tarmac-bound planes.
From a distance, it may seem difficult to comprehend what appears to be the unseemly haste with which the BCCI sought to restart the IPL on May 17. Some Australian players and coaches had only just reached their homes when messages were received to turn around and resume their IPL obligations.
Quite what this whole imbroglio has done to trust levels between foreign players/coaches and the IPL remains unsaid, for contractual reasons.
The same may apply to the PSL, which has announced resumption, also on May 17, with or without its foreign players, although the PCB seems to be taking a more emollient line.
Both the IPL and PSL are symbols of national pride, their resumptions an indicator of resilience and unity. Ironically, this situation would not have existed had the two leagues not been played simultaneously this year for the first time.
The ongoing fractious relations between Indian and Pakistan cast a long shadow over cricket, not just now, but for the foreseeable future. Cricket does not cause these tensions but, increasingly, finds itself caught in the crossfire.
However, it is also perfectly capable of creating troubles in its own right. A prime example occurred in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Asia Qualifying 2025 tournament in Bangkok last week.
Teams from nine countries are competing to land one of two qualifying spots to progress to the next stage of the tournament, due to be held in England in 2026.
The teams are divided into three groups: A comprises Bhutan, Kuwait and Thailand; B has Malaysia, Qatar and the UAE; and C consists of Nepal, Hong Kong (China) and Bahrain. Each team plays the other teams in their group twice.
The pressure to progress from the event was illustrated vividly by the UAE against Qatar. In 16 overs the UAE scored 192 for no wickets. Then, with sounds of thunder and threats of rain, the team’s management became concerned that the match might not be completed. In that case the two points on offer would be shared.
Two weeks ago, I wondered in my column if the modern generation of cricketers, brought up on short formats, which do not allow declarations of innings, knew the meaning and origins of declaration cricket.
The UAE coach enquired if a declaration was possible and when informed that it was not, hatched an alternative strategy. This was to instruct his batters to retire out, according to Law 25.4, which states that a batter may retire at any time during his or her innings when the ball is dead.
The umpires need be informed of the reason. Normally, that is because of illness, injury or any other unavoidable cause. In these cases, a batter is entitled to resume his or her innings. If for any reason this does not happen, that batter is to be recorded as “Retired — not out.”
If a batter retires for any other reason, the innings of that batter may be resumed only with the consent of the opposing captain. If for any reason his or her innings is not resumed, that batter is recorded as “Retired — out.”
This was the strategy adopted by the UAE, leading to the farcical sight of a succession of batters, some without equipment, rushing to the pitch to inform the umpires of their decision. The resultant scorecard displayed nine batters as “Retired Out, 0” in a score of 192 all out.
One cricket website suggested this is a world record number of ducks in a single innings. This rather facile statement is unlikely to be shared by others more concerned with the game’s integrity.
The rain and thunder relented sufficiently for Qatar to start its innings which lasted only 11.1 overs, the team bowled out for a paltry 29. The UAE’s strategy has been variously described as clever, shocking and surprising. Others may see it as being against the spirit of the game, however that is defined.
The original purpose of the law was to allow batters to retire out in practice matches. More recently, it has crept into T20 cricket when a batter has been deemed to be scoring too slowly and the coach wishes to introduce a replacement capable of scoring more quickly.
No doubt, consequent on the UAE’s action, there will be calls for a revision of the law relating to retired out. Traditionalists regard the act as taking away the essence of the game, the battle between bowler and batter.
Revision is within the control of cricket’s administrators. Resolving the conflict between India and Pakistan is not. However, making decisions of integrity for the management of the game are, or should be, paramount.
It is hard to resist a sense that neither mass retired outs nor the incorporation of cricket into the conduct of national conflicts will assist in enhancing perceptions of the game’s integrity.
Haaland eyes FA Cup to save face after Man City’s ‘horrific’ season
- Erling Haaland said Manchester City must deliver in the FA Cup final on Saturday to salvage something from a “horrific” season that saw them deposed as English champions
MANCHESTER: Erling Haaland said Manchester City must deliver in the FA Cup final on Saturday to salvage something from a “horrific” season that saw them deposed as English champions for the first time in five years.
City face Crystal Palace at Wembley aiming to avoid a first trophyless campaign since Pep Guardiola’s debut season in charge in 2016/17.
Guardiola’s men sit fourth in the Premier League, 18 points adrift of champions Liverpool, and in a battle just to secure a top-five finish and Champions League football next season in their final two league matches.
City were also dumped out of the Champions League before the last 16 for the first time in 12 years by Real Madrid in the play-off round.
“This season has been tough,” Haaland told the BBC. “It is not nice to lose so many games. It is boring and not fun. That’s why we need to finish well and get a trophy.
“It is a good habit to reach Wembley and always important to win trophies. We have the FA Cup final to play for and in a horrific season we still managed to do this.”
Haaland is set to start the final after making his comeback from a six-week injury layoff in last weekend’s 0-0 draw at Southampton.
Ballon d’Or winner Rodri has missed most of the season with a serious knee injury, while City have been beset by fitness troubles for a series of key defenders.
But Haaland said that should offer no excuses to a club with the resources at City’s disposal.
“Of course, we have had injuries throughout the season. But we should not search for excuses,” added the Norwegian.
“Every single one of us hasn’t been good enough and we haven’t been at our best, so when you are not at your best you aren’t going to win games in this country because it’s so hard.”
Ben Sulayem drives major improvements to FIA’s international Sporting Code
- New guidance to significantly reduce maximum penalties for drivers by 50%
DUBAI: The Federation Internationale de l’Automobile, the global governing body for motor sport and the federation for mobility organizations worldwide, has announced that it is to make major improvements to Appendix B of its International Sporting Code following an extensive review commissioned by FIA’s President Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
The latest version of Appendix B of the ISC was introduced in January 2025, aligning the FIA with other global sporting organizations such as FIFA, the National Football League, and World Rugby, all of which have strong codes of conduct to protect the integrity of their respective sports.
Sulayem said: “As a former rally driver I know firsthand the range of emotions that are faced during competition. I have led an extensive and collaborative review with contributions from across the seven FIA world championships, FIA member clubs and other motor sports organizations.
“The improvements the FIA has announced today to Appendix B will ensure we continue to promote the best of sportsmanship in motor sport, while also giving stewards effective guidelines to act against individuals who may bring the sport into disrepute. The FIA will always be committed to ensuring motor sport is accessible for all our sporting family.”
The ISC provides the stewards with the necessary regulatory tools to ensure they have all relevant information regarding the range of penalties that may be imposed and the procedures to be followed. This enables them to apply penalties in a consistent and transparent manner.
The review was carried out in collaboration with the FIA Drivers’ Committee and Ronan Morgan, its president, as well as the FIA Formula One steward chairs. Input was also received from FIA members clubs and other motor sport organizations across the seven FIA world championships.
The main changes to Appendix B are: The base maximum penalty has been reduced generally from €10,000 to €5,000. This is a reduction of 50 percent. However, for FIA world championships, where multipliers are involved, the reductions will be even more significant.
Stewards will have the option to fully suspend a penalty for certain types of breach, provided it is the first offense by the driver or team.
Following approval via e-vote by the WMSC (World Motor Sport Council), the amended Appendix B will allow stewards to differentiate between controlled and non-controlled environments, effectively recognizing the difference between language used in “uncontrolled” and “controlled” environments. Controlled environments include settings such as press conferences, while uncontrolled environments refer to spontaneous comments made by drivers or teams when on track or during a rally stage.
Mitigating circumstances will continue to be considered, with additional guidance available to promote consistency and fairness for all parties in the application of Appendix B.
Abuse of officials will now result in sporting penalties rather than fines, aligning motor sport with other major global sports organizations.
Racial and discriminatory comments will continue to be addressed firmly.
Stewards will retain the supreme authority to decide which penalty to impose in the event of a breach of the ISC.
Morgan said: “Drivers are looked up to as role models by young fans and are rightly seen as ambassadors for the wider world of motor sport. How they act really does matter, but it is important to recognize that there is a difference between what is said during a race and in a press conference.
“Today’s changes further strengthen the FIA’s International Sporting Code, supporting our drivers by understanding the pressures they face during the heat of competition.”
Al-Ain to host 6th IMMAF Youth World Championships in July
- Tournament will be held at the Al-Ain Convention Center with more than 1,000 male and female athletes from 60 countries taking part
ABU DHABI: The UAE Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts Federation has announced that the sixth IMMAF Youth World Championships will be held in Al-Ain Region for the first time from July 21-27.
The tournament will be staged at the Al-Ain Convention Center with more than 1,000 male and female athletes from 60 countries competing in the championship’s largest event to date.
The championship, organized by the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation, or IMMAF, and hosted by the UAE Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts Federation for the fourth year in a row, serves as a global platform to discover emerging talents in mixed martial arts and to strengthen the UAE’s position as a leading international sports destination.
The championship is the culmination of a long-standing collaboration between IMMAF and the UAEJJF, with a prior agreement extended last year to continue hosting the event in Abu Dhabi for three more years, from 2025 to 2027.
Mohammed bin Dalmouj Al-Dhaheri, UAE Jiu-Jitsu and IMMAF board member, said: “We are committed to delivering an exceptional edition of the championship and take pride in hosting top emerging talents from around the world.
“This underlines the UAE’s strong position as a prime platform for organizing and hosting big international competitions and a desirable destination for athletes worldwide. This tournament builds on the nation’s successful sporting events, which have received considerable international praise. It also plays an important role in our attempts to expand the sport within the country by motivating our athletes to excel and earn top honors.
“The selection of Al-Ain Region is due to its historical significance, rich cultural heritage, tourist attractions and natural landscapes, which complement the championship’s dynamic atmosphere to offer an unprecedented experience for participants and spectators,” he added.
Kerrith Brown, IMMAF president, said: “The IMMAF Youth World Championships continue to set the global benchmark for youth development in mixed martial arts, and we’re proud to see the event grow year after year. This year, we’re honored to bring the championships to the world-class Al-Ain Convention Center in collaboration with the UAE MMA Federation, marking an exciting new chapter for IMMAF.
“With over 1,000 youth athletes expected to compete, the 2025 edition will be our largest yet. It’s a powerful statement about the future of MMA, and I look forward to witnessing the next generation of stars take center stage.”
Pedersen makes it 3 wins out of 5 at Giro d’Italia to extend his overall lead
- The 29-year-old Pedersen also won two of the three opening stages in Albania to take the leader’s pink jersey back to Italy
- With the bonus seconds Pedersen picked up, the Danish cyclist extended his lead over pre-race favorite Primoz Roglic to 17 seconds
MATERA, Italy: Overall leader Mads Pedersen made it three wins out of five at this year’s Giro d’Italia as he won a bunch sprint at the end of the fifth stage on Wednesday.
Pedersen just managed to edge out Edoardo Zambanini in a finish that was so close the Lidl-Trek rider had to ask a teammate: “Did I win? Are you sure?”
Tom Pidcock was third at the end of the 151-kilometer (94-mile) route from Ceglie Messapica to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Matera, which is renowned for its “Sassi,” or ancient cave dwellings.
The 29-year-old Pedersen also won two of the three opening stages in Albania to take the leader’s pink jersey back to Italy.
“Now it’s really incredible and to win in this jersey as well, it’s insane and it’s way more than I ever dreamt about,” Pedersen said. “What a Giro we have and what a team I have around me.”
With the bonus seconds Pedersen picked up, the Danish cyclist extended his lead over pre-race favorite Primoz Roglic to 17 seconds, with Mathias Vacek another seven seconds back.
With a kilometer to go, Pedersen appeared too far back but he managed to get up to the front before a late corner and then got a great lead out from Vacek.
Pedersen then launched his final sprint early and just barely held off Zambanini, who almost managed to beat him after coming up along the barriers.
“I used a lot of energy to move back up on Vacek’s wheel,” Pedersen said. “I had to spend energy to come back to at least fight for the win. Then luckily I had enough for the last sprint. So that was a really tough one.”
Prior to this year’s race, Pedersen had only won one stage in the Giro, two years ago in Naples — where Thursday’s sixth stage also ends.
“Every day we try to win as as much as possible and we try again tomorrow,” he said.
The stage is the longest leg of the three-week race and has two categorized climbs on the 227-kilometer route from Potenza.
The Giro ends in Rome on June 1.
