The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) allayed fears about the readiness of the venues for this year’s Champions Trophy as it welcomed media for a tour of stadiums in Lahore and Karachi on Monday.

The eight-team 50-over event will be the first global tournament to be held in Pakistan in 28 years. India, however, will play all their matches in Dubai due to the hostile relationship between the two countries.

Stadiums in Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi are being upgraded and if the tournament is successful more could follow in a country deemed unsafe following a 2009 attack on touring Sri Lankan cricketers.

“We are on schedule to complete the renovation and upgrade of the Gaddafi Stadium (in Lahore),” PCB spokesperson Sami Ul Hasan said.

“The venue is expected to be handed over to us by the end of the month.

“We have no doubt about Gaddafi Stadium’s operational readiness to host the Champions Trophy match between Australia and England on February 22.”

The stadium’s capacity has been increased to accommodate 35,000 fans and new hospitality areas have been built.

Lahore and Karachi will host a tri-nation series, also involving New Zealand and South Africa, next month to prove their readiness for the Champions Trophy beginning on Feb 19.

DHAKA: A Bangladeshi court issued an arrest warrant on Sunday for cricket star Shakib Al Hasan for bounced cheques totalling more than $300,000, in the latest blow for the ousted lawmaker.

“The court has previously summoned Shakib but he did not appear at the court”, said Mohammed Shahibur Rahman from the IFIC Bank, which filed the case. “Now, the court has issued the warrant,” he said.

Shakib is a former lawmaker from the party of autocratic ex-leader Sheikh Hasina, who was overthrown by revolution and fled by helicopter to India in August 2024.

His links to Hasina made him a target of public anger and he was among dozens facing murder investigations for a deadly police crackdown on protesters during the uprising.

He has not been charged over those allegations.

Shakib was playing in a domestic Twenty20 cricket competition in Canada when Hasina’s government collapsed and has not returned to Bangladesh since.

The left-arm all-rounder has played 71 Tests, 247 One-day Internationals and 129 Twenty20s for Bangladesh, taking a combined 712 wickets.

However, he was left out of the 15-man squad for the ODI tournament in the Champions Trophy in Pakistan and Dubai next month.

Najmul Hossain Shanto will captain the side, with Bangladesh placed in Group ‘A’ alongside India, Pakistan and New Zealand.

Published in Dawn, January 20th, 2025

KARACHI: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will pay an additional sum of $100,000 to six high-profile foreign players in the HBL Pakistan Super League franchisees for making themselves available for the upcoming edition for the event, the Press Trust of India (PTI) news agency reported on Sunday.

According to PTI, the PCB agreed to shell out the money from a special fund which has now grown to $1 million.

During the PSL draft, the PCB had set a maximum base price salary of $200,000 to franchises for each overseas player.

“David Warner, for example came onboard for a fee of $300,000 and $100,000 of this will be paid to him by the PCB from the special fund,” the PTI quoted a PSL official as saying.

The official explained that a few years ago, the PSL governing council decided that when the central pool’s net broadcast revenue reached Rs3 billion, $500,000 would be allocated annually for elite players’ salaries.

He said last year the additional amount was not utilised and the amount has increased to $1 million.

“The PCB will use this fund to assist in paying some of the elite players who signed on during the players draft,” the official said.

Number of overseas players who went unsold in the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction were signed on by franchises for the 10th edition of the PSL including Warner, Daryl Mitchell, Kane Williamson, Finn Allen, Matthew Short, Sean Abbot, Nahid Rana, Liton Das, Micheal Bracewell, Russie van der Dussen and Corbin Bosch among others.

This is the first time that the PSL is being held in the same window as the IPL and both leagues will clash in their latter stages. The PSL will be held from around April 17 to May 22 while the IPL runs from March 21 to end of May.

Previously the highest paid players in the PSL were Kieron Pollard ($250,000) and AB de Villiers ($230,000).

Published in Dawn, January 20th, 2025

MELBOURNE: Novak Djoko­vic charged into the Australian Open quarter-finals and booked a mouth-watering encounter with Carlos Alcaraz before the Serb shifted the focus by snubbing the Grand Slam’s official broadcaster and slamming them for mocking him and his fans.

Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka dismissed teenager Mirra Andreeva while Coco Gauff overcame Belinda Bencic to go through to the last eight and extend their winning streaks as Melbourne Park stifled in the summer heat earlier in the day.

A red-hot Djokovic then thumped Jiri Lehecka 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(4) to stay on course for a record 25th Grand Slam title and 11th in Melbourne but the Serb was in no mood to discuss his chances as he declined an on-court interview and curtly thanked the crowd.

He then took aim at official broadcaster Channel Nine, whose reporter Tony Jones had mocked him and his fans when they were out in force cheering the Serb two days earlier.

“Novak he’s over-rated, Novak’s a has-been. Novak kick him out. Oh, I’m glad they can’t hear me,” Jones had said.

Jones had already been taken to task by American Danielle Collins, who he called a “brat” for her on-court behaviour.

Djokovic said he had not received a public apology from the broadcaster and would continue boycotting them until he does.

“Since they’re official broadcasters, I chose not to give interviews for Channel Nine,” Djokovic told reporters, adding he had made his feelings clear to tournament director Craig Tiley.

“I told him, ‘If you guys want to fine me for not giving an on-court interview, that’s okay’. I’ll accept that, because this is something that needs to be done. That’s all there is to it.”

In a comment to news.com.au, Jones said: It was good natured banter with the Serbian fans. We’ve been doing it all tournament and its all in good fun. This is the happy Slam.

Second seed Alexander Zverev continued his sizzling form by beating Ugo Humbert 6-1, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 before Alcaraz eased into his second Australian Open quarter-final after injury-hampered opponent Jack Draper threw in the towel while trailing 7-5, 6-1.

Djokovic said of Alcaraz: “He’s a very dynamic, explosive player. Incredibly talented. Charismatic player. Great to watch, not great to play against.

“I look forward to it. I think when the draw was out, a lot of people were looking forward to (it). So here we are.”

CONSECUTIVE VICTORIES

Double defending champion Sabalenka’s 6-1, 6-2 demolition of Andreeva took her run of consecutive victories at Melbourne Park to 18, while Gauff made it nine wins in a row in 2025 by seeing off Bencic, the Swiss scourge of major champions, 5-7, 6-2, 6-1.

Tommy Paul was the first man to book his place in the last eight with a 6-1, 6-1, 6-1 win over Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, who appeared beaten up after back-to-back five-setters in the last two rounds.

Sabalenka was taken the distance and defeated by 17-year-old Andreeva in the French Open quarter-finals last year but it was not even close on Sunday as the world number one wrapped up the victory in 62 minutes.

“I’m super happy to get this win,” Sabalenka said. “Mirra is so young, so mature, such a great player. She can play really great tennis.”

Sabalenka faces Russian veteran Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, who ran away with a 7-6(0), 6-0 win over Donna Vekic after the Croatian 18th seed injured her knee midway through the match.

Third seed Gauff lost her first set of the year to open her clash with Bencic, who had won seven of her last eight meetings with major champions.

The 27-year-old Swiss, ranked a lowly 294th on her return to the tour after having a daughter, was put on the back foot when the 2023 US Open champion came out firing in the second set.

Gauff, a semi-finalist last year, continued to apply pressure and Bencic crumbled after two net cords conspired against her at 2-1 down in the third.

The American could face Sabalenka in the semi-finals like last year if she can beat Spain’s 11th seed Paula Badosa, who made the quarter-finals for the first time in Melbourne by beating Olga Danilovic 6-1, 7-6(2) on Margaret Court Arena.

Badosa had to rally from 5-2 down in the second to get past the Serbian and reach her second straight major quarter-final.

“It wasn’t like a real 5-2 because I was playing well,” said the 27-year-old.

Badosa added that she was looking forward to taking on Gauff after losing to the American in Beijing and Rome last year.

“I love Coco,” she said. “We always have tough matches. The last one was really tough ... I hope I can have my revenge.”

Spinner Sajid Khan took five wickets and Abrar Ahmed another four to guide Pakistan to a 127-run win on the third day of the first Test against the West Indies in Multan on Sunday.

Sajid took 5-50 for match figures of 9-115, while leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed snared 4-27 as West Indies were dismissed for 123, falling well short of their victory target of 251.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated the team in a post on X.

“Spin to win! Brilliant bowling by Team Pakistan!

“Congratulations to our cricket team on a spectacular victory. Shabash! [Well done]” he said.

“I extend my commendation to Mohsin Naqvi, Chairman PCB, and his entire team for their tireless efforts,” he went on to say.

Pakistan’s spinners took all the wickets in West Indies’ second innings, with Noman Ali chipping in with 1-42, as the home side took an early advantage in the two-Test series.

Left-handed batter Alick Athanaze hit 55, the only half-century of the match for the tourists, and added 41 runs for the sixth wicket with Tevin Imlach.

Sajid removed the dangerous Athanaze, while Abrar’s haul included the final wicket of Jomel Warrican.

Left-armer Warrican had led the spin attack for the tourists with a career-best 7-32 as Pakistan were bowled out for 157 in their second innings. They were the best figures by a West Indian bowler in Pakistan, topping fast bowler Malcolm Marshall’s 5-33 at Lahore in 1986.

Pakistan captain Shan Masood praised his spinners but said he wanted to see an improvement in the side’s batting.

“The spinners were clinical and Abrar along with Noman and Sajid was great,” Masood said. “Batting was tough on this pitch but we still need to add more runs with the last few wickets and there are improvements to be made.”

His beaten counterpart Kraigg Brathwaite wanted West Indies’ batters to believe in their abilities.

“The batters didn’t play as well as they should have,” Brathwaite said. “We saw how Alick played so we just have to be brave. We have got one more Test and we have to believe in ourselves.”

The Test lasted fewer than eight sessions, with the start delayed on the first day by poor visibility.

The Multan pitch provided sharp turn, with Sajid taking the wickets of Brathwaite (12), Keacy Carty (six), Kavem Hodge (0) and Mikyle Louis (13).

Noman then trapped Justin Greaves leg before wicket for nine in the last over before lunch, leaving the tourists tottering on 54-5.

Noman took 5-39 in the first innings. He and Sajid took 39 of the 40 wickets in the last two Tests against England in Pakistan’s 2-1 series win last year.

Pakistan had resumed earlier on 109-3 but managed to add just 48 runs.

Warrican’s nagging line and length earned him match figures of 10-101, his first 10-wicket match haul.

He dismissed overnight batter Saud Shakeel for two with the first ball of the day and then had Mohammad Rizwan for the same score in his next over.

Warrican continued the demolition with the wickets of Kamran Ghulam (27), Noman (nine) and Sajid (five).

The second match starts on January 25, also in Multan.

Spinner Sajid Khan took five wickets to guide Pakistan to a 127-run win in the first Test of the two-match series against West Indies in Multan on Sunday.

Sajid took 5-50 on the third day of the Test to finish with nine wickets for the match, while fellow spinner Abrar Ahmed took 4-27 as the West Indies were bundled out for 123 after they were set a target of 251 to win.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated the team in a post on X.

“Spin to win! Brilliant bowling by Team Pakistan!

“Congratulations to our cricket team on a spectacular victory. Shabash! [Well done]” he said.

“I extend my commendation to Mohsin Naqvi, Chairman PCB, and his entire team for their tireless efforts,” he went on to say.

More to follow

Spinner Sajid Khan took five wickets to guide Pakistan to a 127-run win in the first Test of the two-match series against West Indies in Multan on Sunday.

Sajid took 5-50 on the third day of the Test to finish with nine wickets for the match, while fellow spinner Abrar Ahmed took 4-27 as the West Indies were bundled out for 123 after they were set a target of 251 to win.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated the team in a post on X.

“Spin to win! Brilliant bowling by Team Pakistan!

“Congratulations to our cricket team on a spectacular victory. Shabash!” he said.

“I extend my commendation to Mohsin Naqvi, Chairman PCB, and his entire team for their tireless efforts,” he went on to say.

More to follow

Pakistan spinner Sajid Khan struck four times to leave the West Indies in deep trouble on 54-5 at lunch on the third day of the first Test in their chase of 251 for victory.

The West Indies need 197 runs to win while Pakistan are chasing five wickets in a battle between the two basement sides in the World Test Championship.

On a Multan Stadium pitch that has a sharp turn, the West Indies lost skipper Kraigg Brathwaite (12), Keacy Carty (six), Kavem Hodge (nought) and Mikyle Louis (13) — all to Sajid, who has figures of 4-25.

In the last over before the lunch break, fellow spinner Noman Ali trapped Justin Greaves leg before for nine to give Pakistan a sniff of victory.

Alick Athanaze was unbeaten on 12.

Earlier, Jomel Warrican finished with 7-32 in 18 spin-tricky overs to bundle Pakistan out for 157 after they resumed on 109-3, managing to add just 48 runs.

Warrican tore through the Pakistan batting line-up with nagging line and length to claim match figures of 10-101, his first 10-wicket haul.

His previous best innings figures of 4-50 came against Sri Lanka at Galle in 2021.

He also improved on the previous best figures by a West Indian in Pakistan, held by fast bowler Malcolm Marshall with 5-33 at Lahore in 1986.

Warrican dismissed overnight batter Saud Shakeel with the first ball of the day for two and then had Mohammad Rizwan in his next over for the same score.

He continued the demolition act with the wickets of Kamran Ghulam (27), Noman (nine) and Sajid (five).

Fellow spinner Gudakesh Motie ended the innings by dismissing Salman Agha for 14.

The second match starts from January 25, also in Multan.

ROME: Organisers of the 2026 Winter Olympics are battling to finish the bobsleigh, luge and skeleton track in Cortina d’Ampezzo for an approval deadline in March, officials said on Friday.

At the end of a two-day inspection by representatives of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the International Bobsleigh Federation and International Luge Federation, the schedule was described as “tight and challenging”.

“All the participants acknowledged...the progresses made,” said a joint-statement by 2026 Olympics organisers and Simico, the construction delivery company.

“Meanwhile, the schedule remains tight and challenging in order to be ready for the start of ice making at the beginning of March and the pre-homologation of the track at the end of March.”

The controversial track has been a political problem for the sprawling Milan-Cortina Games.

In their bid file, Milan-Cortina planned to renovate the old track used for the 1956 Olympics.

They changed their minds as their call for tenders went unanswered and announced in October 2023 that the sliding competitions would be held outside host nation Italy.

The decision quicklybecame a political football in Italy, with the country’s government led by prime minister Giorgia Meloni pushing for all events to stay at home.

The resulting decision to build a completely new track was heavily criticised by both the IOC and local environmental activists.

Work only started in January 2024. Italian construction company Pizzarotti, the sole bidder for the contract, had just over a year to build a 1,445m-long (4,740-foot) track with 16 bends and complex refrigeration systems.

The IOC pointed out that no such track had ever been built “in such a short space of time”.

Organisers have said that if the track is not ready for the Olympic fortnight, they would hold the events in the USA, on the Lake Placid track, renovated in 2010, used for the 1932 and 1980 Olympics.

Published in Dawn, January 19th, 2025