LAHORE: The HBL-Pakistan Super League management has allowed Lahore Qalandars all-rounder Sikandar Raza to meet his family members in his hotel room during the ongoing 11th edition, according to a message shared by the cricketer on social media on Tuesday.

“Thank you@The RealPCBMedia and@thePSLt20 management for allowing my family and relatives to come and see me in my room. Your kind gesture is greatly appreciated,” Sikandar shared in a message on his X account.

On Sunday, some visitors were not allowed by the PSL management to enter Sikandar’s room in a Lahore hotel which created an undesirable incident as Qalandars captain Shaheen Shah Afridi intervened to let Sikandar’s visitors into Sikandar’s room while ignoring the instructions of the PSL security staff.

On Monday, Qalandars’ management imposed a cash fine of Rs1 million on Shaheen for breaching the security protocol.

Sikandar, who is a Pakistani by birth, defended his position on the matter saying that he visits Pakistan once in a year for the PSL, because of which his relatives came to meet him in the hotel room instead of the Business Centre.

When contacted, the PCB media department said that close family relatives were already allowed to meet cricketers in their room.

On Sunday, however, Sikandar’s friends were trying to meet the cricketer in his hotel room, which was not allowed by the PSL management.

Published in Dawn, April 1st, 2026

Turkiye ended a 24-year wait to qualify for the World Cup by beating Kosovo 1-0 in their playoff final on Tuesday, sealing a return to football’s biggest stage for the first time since 2002 when they reached the semi-finals.

Forward Kerem Akturkoglu scored the only goal in the 53rd minute, turning the ball in from close range after Orkun Kokcu’s shot, following a driving run from Kenan Yildiz down the left.

“Thank God. It has been 24 years. Some of us were not even born the last time we qualified, and some were too young to remember. We always dreamed of moments like this,” Akturkoglu told Turkish TV.

“We talked about 2002 and the success there, we always dreamed of it. Most of us dont even remember 2002. Now we will give the next generation something to dream about at the 2026 World Cup. We want to make our country proud,” he added.

Turkiye, ranked 25th in the world, had fallen short in qualifying campaigns over the past two decades and arrived under pressure to deliver, with coach Vincenzo Montella overseeing a squad blending emerging talents and experienced internationals.

“Emotionally, I am at the top. I am incredibly proud. I wouldn’t change my players for a thing. Anyone who does this job dreams of the World Cup, I am incredibly grateful to my players. We have achieved our dream,” Montella told Anadolu.

“It is an incredible feeling, I cannot describe it in words. The World Cup is the pinnacle,” he added.

Turks took to the streets to celebrate the national team reaching their third World Cup, waving flags from honking cars and gathering on main streets.

For Kosovo, ranked 79th and playing in front of a sold-out crowd, the defeat brought an end to a remarkable run that had taken them to the brink of a historic debut at a major tournament, less than a decade after joining FIFA and UEFA.

The hosts pushed forward in the closing stages, taking risks in search of an equaliser and creating several chances, but were unable to beat Turkiye goalkeeper Ugurcan Cakir as the visitors held on.

Turkiye will face Australia, Paraguay and co-hosts the United States in Group D of the World Cup. The tournament will also be hosted by Canada and Mexico.

ANTALYA: FIFA president Gianni Infantino told AFP on Tuesday that Iran “will be at the World Cup” and will play their group matches in the United States as scheduled, despite the Middle East war.

“Iran will be at the World Cup,” Infantino said at half-time as Iran beat Costa Rica 5-0 in a friendly in Turkey.

“That’s why we’re here. We’re delighted because they’re a very, very strong team, I’m very happy.” “I’ve seen the team, I’ve spoken to the players and the coach, so everything is fine,” added Infantino, whose attendance at Tuesday’s game was unannounced.

Infantino went on to stress that Iran’s “matches will be played where they are supposed to be, according to the draw”.

The World Cup, being hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, starts on June 11.

Iran are set to play their first Group G game against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15. They are then scheduled to play Belgium in Los Angeles on June 21 and Egypt in Seattle on June 27.

Iran’s participation had been thrown into doubt by the war with the US and Israel that broke out on Feb 28.

“For us, what matters most are FIFA’s rules and regulations. We will comply with whatever FIFA decides. Every host country has made commitments to FIFA and must honour them,” Mahdi Mohammadnabi, the vice president of the Iranian Football Federation (FFIRI), told AFP at the match.

The FFIRI had said earlier this month it was “negotiating” with FIFA to relocate the country’s World Cup matches from the United States to Mexico.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum also said that her country is prepared to host Iran’s first-round matches at the tournament if needed.

‘Fruitful discussion’

Infantino initially said that US President Donald Trump had given assurances that the Iran­ian team would still be welcome.

But Trump then stated that Iran’s team should not travel to the tournament “for their own life and safety”.

Iran hit back at Trump’s comments, saying that “no one can exclude Iran’s national team from the World Cup”.

On Tuesday, Mohammadnabi said Infantino had been en route from Mexico to Qatar.

“Having learnt that we were organising friendly matches here, he came to see us in person, and we had a fruitful discussion,” Moham­madnabi said.

“Given our history in this competition, it is only natural that FIFA should support the Iranian team. Mr Infantino is providing the necessary support to our national team and has given our players a great boost.”

Asked before the game if Iran would be at the World Cup, back-up striker Dennis Eckert Ayensa told AFP: “Inshallah” (god willing).

Iran, who also played a friendly against Nigeria in the Turkish town of Belek last Friday, crushed Costa Rica, who have not qualified for the World Cup, 5-0 on Tuesday.

Skipper Mehdi Taremi, with two penalties, Ali Gholizadeh and Mohammad Mohebbi put Iran four goals up by the break. Half-time substitute Mehdi Ghayedi added a fifth in the 51st minute by which time coach Amir Ghalenoei had started to empty his bench.

Before the game, Iran’s players wore black armbands and posed with photos of what officials said were young victims of the war, including those killed in an airstrike on a primary school in Iran on the first day of the conflict.

The airstrike on the school in the southern Iranian city of Minab on Feb 28 killed at least 170 people, including students and teachers.

The New York Times has reported that the preliminary findings of a US military investigation indicate that a US Tomahawk cruise missile hit the school due to a targeting mistake.

Published in Dawn, April 1st, 2026