LAHORE: Lahore Qalandars produced a clinical all-round performance to register a commanding 20-run victory over Multan Sultans in a rain-reduced 13-over HBL Pakistan Super League match at the Gaddafi Stadium on Friday.

Chasing a daunting 186, Multan Sultans stayed in the game through fighting contributions from Shan Masood and Ashton Turner but ultimately fell short, managing 165 for 5 in their allotted 13 overs.

The result was set up by a blistering Lahore batting display, led by Mohammad Naeem’s explosive half-century and a destructive opening stand with Parvez Hossain Emon.

Sultans elected to bowl first, perhaps hoping the early moisture and shortened format would favour their attack.

Instead, the decision proved costly as Qalandars’ openers launched a ferocious assault from the outset.

Mohammad Ismail’s opening over set the tone for Sultans’ woes, leaking 26 runs including two sets of five wides and three boundaries.

Naeem, in particularly aggressive mood, punished anything loose with powerful drives and pulls, while Parvez provided the perfect foil with clean striking and quick running.

The pair added 86 runs for the first wicket in just 5.1 overs, an extraordinary opening stand that left Multan reeling.

Naeem raced to 60 off 28 balls (four fours and as many sixes) with a swaggering display of power-hitting, while Emon smashed 45 off 19 deliveries, including five towering sixes.

Their partnership was marked by fearless strokeplay and relentless boundary-hunting that pushed the scoring rate above 17 runs per over in the early stages.

Even after Parvez’s dismissal — caught at deep mid-wicket off Ismail while attempting another big shot — Lahore maintained the momentum.

Abdullah Shafique joined the fray and continued the carnage with a brisk 33 off 14 balls (three fours and two sixes), including a monstrous six off Arafat Minhas. Naeem brought up his fifty in style before falling to a googly from Faisal Akram, caught at deep mid-wicket.

At 156 for 3 after 10 overs, the Qalandars were in full control. Rubin Hermann fell cheaply to Peter Siddle, but Sikandar Raza and Asif Ali chipped in with useful contributions.

Asif was run out for eight, while Raza remained not out on 13 off eight balls, striking two late boundaries. The innings featured 23 extras, including 14 wides that highlighted Multan’s wayward bowling.

Siddle was the pick of the Sultans’ bowlers, returning economical figures of 1-26 with clever variations and yorkers. Ismail claimed two wickets but leaked 47 runs in three overs, while the spinners — Mohammad Nawaz, Faisal and Arafat — were mercilessly punished, collectively conceding runs at over 15 an over.

Chasing a revised target of 186, Multan Sultans needed to score at nearly 14.5 runs per over — a monumental task against a potent Lahore attack.

Lahore captain Shaheen Shah Afridi set a disciplined tone with the new ball, conceding just seven runs in the first over. Ubaid Shah and Mustafizur Rahman maintained the pressure with sharp bouncers and well-disguised slower balls. Steven Smith struck a couple of early boundaries but was bowled for nine by a perfect Shaheen delivery that clipped the top of off-stump.

Josh Philippe lasted only two deliveries before holing out to Shaheen at mid-off. Sahibzada Farhan provided some spark with 24 off 15 balls, including two sixes off the Lahore skipper, but Mustafizur removed him with a slower ball caught at long-on.

Shan then took charge in a dazzling display of timing and placement. The left-hander smashed 44 off just 18 balls, including seven boundaries and a six, repeatedly finding the mid-wicket and cover regions with wristy strokes. Ashton Turner complemented him well, rotating the strike and clearing the ropes when the opportunity arose.

Despite their best efforts, the asking rate continued to climb relentlessly. Mustafizur struck a crucial blow by trapping Masood lbw with a full-toss for 44. Turner battled on bravely, reaching a well-deserved fifty off 22 balls with two fours and five sixes, launching several clean hits down the ground and over midwicket.

Arafat added late entertainment with a quick 25 off 11 balls, including two sixes, but Raza had him caught in the deep in the final over. Turner remained unbeaten on 52 off 22, but it was not enough as Multan finished 20 runs short.

Mustafizur was the most successful bowler for Lahore with 2-37 in three overs, his cutters proving particularly effective in the middle phase. Shaheen Shah, Ubaid and Raza each claimed one wicket, while Haris Rauf and the rest maintained tight lines under pressure.

The victory highlighted Lahore Qalandars’ batting firepower and bowling discipline in testing conditions. Their openers’ explosive start created an insurmountable platform, while the bowlers executed their plans with precision. For Multan Sultans, the defeat exposed vulnerabilities in their bowling resources and execution under scoreboard pressure, despite the spirited resistance shown by Shan and Turner.

Lahore will draw immense confidence from this dominant home performance, while Multan will need to regroup swiftly and address their bowling depth ahead of their next outing.

Scoreboard

LAHORE QALANDARS:

Mohammad Naeem c Arafat b Faisal 60

Parvez Hossain c Nawaz b Ismail 45

Abdullah Shafique c Smith b Ismail 33

Rubin Hermann b Siddle 3

Sikandar Raza not out 13

Asif Ali run out 8

Shaheen Shah Afridi not out 0

EXTRAS (B-4, LB-3, NB-2, W-14) 23

TOTAL (for five wickets, 13 overs) 185

DID NOT BAT: Haseebullah Khan, Haris Rauf, Ubaid Shah, Mustafizur Rahman

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-86 (Parvez), 2-144 (Abdullah), 3-156 (Naeem), 4-164 (Hermann), 5-177 (Asif)

BOWLING: Ismail 3-0-47-2 (3w), Siddle 3-0-26-1 (1w), Wasim 3-0-33-0 (2w), Nawaz 1-0-19-0, Faisal 2-0-31-1, Arafat 1-0-22-0 (2nb)

MULTAN SULTANS:

Sahibzada Farhan c Abdullah b Mustafizur 24

Steven Smith b Shaheen 9

Josh Philippe c Shaheen b Ubaid 1

Shan Masood lbw b Mustafizur 44

Ashton Turner not out 52

Arafat Minhas c (sub) b Raza 25

Mohammad Nawaz not out 1

EXTRAS (LB-2, W-6, NB-1) 9

TOTAL (for four wickets, 13 overs) 165

DID NOT BAT: Peter Siddle, Mohammad Wasim, Muhammad Ismail, Faisal Akram

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-17 (Smith), 2-18 (Philippe), 3-50 (Sahibzada), 4-100 (Shan), 5-157 (Arafat)

BOWLING: Shaheen 3-0-32-1 (1w), Ubaid 3-0-34-1, Mustafizur 3-0-37-2 (1w), Raza 2-0-2, Haris 2-0-26-0

RESULT: Lahore Qalandars won by 20 runs.

Published in Dawn, April 4th, 2026

LAHORE: Azam Khan produced a blistering half-century that lit up the Gaddafi Stadium as Karachi Kings chased down 198 with five wickets and four balls to spare against Rawalpindiz on Thursday night in the HBL Pakistan Super League match here at the Gaddafi Stadium.

Coming in at number four with the Kings needing momentum after early losses, the swashbuckling wicket-keeper-batter unle­ashed an explosive 74 off just 34 balls, studded with six fours and six sixes. His aggressive strokeplay, particularly against the spinners and pace, turned a challenging chase into a comfortable victory, extending Karachi’s unbeaten run in the tournament.

Azam’s innings, laced with powerful pulls, sweeps and lofted drives, culminated in a memorable display of clean hitting before he fell n the 18th over.

Prior to Azam’s arrival, the Kings had made a promising but stuttering start. Openers Mohammad Waseem and David Warner began cautiously against Mohammad Amir, with Waseem striking two early fours.

Waseem then exploded, hammering Naseem Shah for a six and another maximum in the third over, racing to 23 off 11 before chopping on to a cutter.

Salman Ali Agha joined Warner and showed intent with a six off Mohammad Amir Khan, but struggled against the swing and bounce, eventually falling for 29 when he nicked a reverse-lap attempt off Daryl Mitchell to Rawa­lpindiz captain and wicket-keeper Rizwan.

Warner anchored the innings with a measured 50 off 36 balls (six fours and a six), but the required run-rate hovered around 11 as the middle overs progressed. At 146 for three in the 16th over after Warner’s dismissal to Mitchell, the game remained in the balance. It was Azam’s pyrotechnics that shifted the momentum decisively.

Earlier, Rawalpindiz posted a competitive 197 for six after opting to bat first, thanks largely to aggressive middle-order contributions, though their innings lost steam in the death overs.

Hasan Ali starred with the ball for Karachi, claiming three wickets for 24 runs in his four overs. His disciplined spell, mixing short-pitched deliveries with clever variations, disrupted the Pindiz top order and later cleaned up the tail.

The right-arm pacer removed Rizwan early for 21, gloving a pull to Azam behind the stumps in the third over. He returned in the death to castled Sam Billings for a fluent 58 off 35 (eight fours and a six) with a skidding hard-length ball, and then bowled Cole McConchie to leave the visitors reeling at 192 for six.

Khushdil Shah provided excellent support with two wickets for 37, including the key scalps of Yasir Khan and Kamran Ghulam. Mir Hamza, despite going for 49, picked up Mitchell for 65 off 41 balls (five fours, three sixes), while Adam Zampa and Abbas Afridi contained the scoring in patches without taking wickets.

Rawalpindiz had made a flying start, racing to 55 for two in the powerplay. Rizwan and Yasir attacked Moeen Ali’s opening over for 13 runs, but Hasan’s introduction brought the first breakthrough. A brief collapse saw them slip to 55 for three, before Mitchell and Billings forged a 120-run partnership that threatened to take the game away.

Billings, in particular, entertained with cheeky reverse sweeps and powerful hits, reaching his fifty in style. However, Hasan’s 18th over proved pivotal, removing Billings and applying brakes that restricted the final overs to just 23 runs.

The chase began under lights with Waseem and Warner taking on Amir. Waseem’s aggressive approach yielded quick boundaries, but Naseem’s variations accounted for him. War­ner and Agha steadied the ship, yet Mitchell’s military-medium pace proved effective, claiming two wickets including the skipper.

Azam then took centre stage. His fifty came off just 29 balls in the 16th over with a massive six off McConchie, followed by another maximum to keep the scoreboard ticking. Even after his departure, Khushdil remained not out on five, while Abbas sealed the win in dramatic fashion with a towering six off Mitchell on the second ball of the final over.

The win keeps Karachi Kin­gs as the only unbeaten side in the competition, while Rawal­pindiz continue their search for a maiden PSL win.

SCOREBOARD

RAWALPINDIZ:

Mohammad Rizwan c Azam b Hasan 21

Yasir Khan b Khushdil 8

Kamran Ghulam b Khushdil 10

Daryl Mitchell c Waseem b Hamza 65

Sam Billings b Hasan 58

Abdullah Fazal not out 18

Cole McConchie b Hasan 2

Rishad Hossain not out 0

EXTRAS (B-1, LB-8, NB-1, W-5) 15

TOTAL (for six wickets, 20 overs) 197

DID NOT BAT: Naseem Shah, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Amir Khan

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-28 (Rizwan), 2-33 (Yasir), 3-55 (Kamran), 4-175 (Billings), 5-181 (Mitchell), 6-192 (McConchie)

BOWLING: Moeen 1-0-13-0, Hamza 4-0-49-1 (1nb), Hasan 4-0-24-3, Khushdil 4-0-37-2 (2w), Zampa 4-0-28-0 (1w), Abbas 3-0-37-0

KARACHI KINGS:

Mohammad Waseem b Naseem 23

David Warner c Rishad b Mitchell 50

Salman Ali Agha c Rizwan b Mitchell 29

Azam Khan c Rishad b Amir 74

Khushdil Shah not out 5

Moeen Ali lbw b Mitchell 5

Abbas Afridi not out 6

EXTRAS (LB-1, NB-2, W-4) 7

TOTAL (for five wickets, 19.2 overs) 199

DID NOT BAT: Saad Baig, Hasan Ali, Adam Zampa, Mir Hamza

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-27 (Waseem), 2-70 (Salman), 3-146 (Warner), 4-188 (Azam), 5-193 (Ali)

BOWLING: Amir 4-0-38-1, McConchie 1.4-0-20-0, Naseem 2.2-0-26-1 (2nb), Amir Khan 4-0-44-0, Mitchell 3.2-0-32-3 (1w), Rishad 4-0-38-0 (3w)

RESULT: Karachi Kings won by five wickets.

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Azam Khan

Published in Dawn, April 3rd, 2026

MILAN: The head of Italy’s football federation (FIGC) resigned on Thursday, falling on his sword after the men’s national team failed to qualify for the World Cup for a third consecutive time.

Gabriele Gravina revealed he would step down as the country’s top football off­i­cial following a meeting held at the FIGC’s headquarters in Rome on Thursday.

His announcement came a day after Sport Minister Andrea Abodi called on him to resign.

Four-time World Cup winners Italy fell at the play-offs again on Tuesday, this time after a penalty shoot-out against Bosnia and Herzeg­ovina, and will miss this summer’s finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

The shock waves of the latest humiliation for one of the world’s most successful football nations forced Gravina, 72, to go back on his initial plans to wait until a FIGC board meeting next week to announce a decision on his future.

The FIGC said in a statement that a vote for a new president would be held on June 22.

Giovanni Malago, the former long-time head of the Italian Olympic Committee who was president of the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics organisation committee, is reportedly one of the names in the hat.

Before then, head coach Gennaro Gattuso is expected to also step down, while general manager Gianluigi Buffon, the former Italy goalkeeper, announced his resignation on Thursday.

Italy’s failure to reach the first ever 48-team World Cup — which will feature the likes of Cape Verde and Curacao — led Abodi to release a statement saying: “It’s clear that Italian football needs to be rebuilt from the ground up and that starts with changes at the top of the FIGC.”

That came a day after Gravina had hit out at politicians “who have only pushed for resignations”, while also admitting Italian football “is in a profound crisis”.

UEFA threat

Gravina was elected FIGC president in October 2018, becoming the permanent replacement for Carlo Tavecchio, who stepped down following Italy’s first World Cup play-off defeat to Sweden the previous year.

The highlight of his reign was Italy’s thrilling triumph at Euro 2020, when an Azzurri team under Roberto Mancini, which went unbeaten for 37 matches, beat England at Wembley to be crowned kings of the continent for the second time.

But two World Cup qualification failures and a dismal defence of the European title left Gravina with little choice but to resign as Italy’s football woes deepen.

And those do not just relate to diminishing performances by the national team and Serie A clubs — none of whom have won the Champions League since 2010.

Italy are due to co-host Euro 2032 with Turkey but on Thursday, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin hit out at the state of Italy’s stadiums, warning the country could be stripped of hosting rights.

“I just hope that the infrastructure (in Italy) will be ready. If that’s not the case, the tournament will not be held in Italy,” Ceferin said in an interview with the Gazzetta Dello Sport.

Italy’s football malaise contrasts sharply with its success in other sports.

Italy claimed a record 30 medals at the recent Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, including 10 golds, and left the 2024 Summer Games in Paris with 40 medals.

The Mediterranean nation also has top performers in a wide variety of other sports, such as tennis star Jannik Sinner, a four-time Grand Slam winner.

Gravina caused anger on Tuesday by referring to other sports as “amateur” and “state sports” compared to football due to the large number of athletes, particularly Olympians, who are nominally employed by different branches of Italy’s armed forces and police.

Published in Dawn, April 3rd, 2026