KARACHI: Defending champions Wapda and Khan Research Laboratories marched into the semi-finals of the National Challenge Cup with authoritative wins in Tuesday’s quarter-finals here at the KPT Stadium.

KRL overcame a feisty, ill-tempered clash against Mamsons 2-0 thanks to two spectacular second-half strikes, while Wapda cruised past Air Force with three first-half goals in a 3-0 rout.

The match between KRL and Mamsons turned in the 28th minute when both teams were reduced to ten men following an altercation between Mamsons goalkeeper Usman Khan and KRL forward Mohammad Waheed, resulting in red cards for both.

KRL broke the deadlock just before halftime in stunning fashion. Najeebullah received the ball on the left, cut inside past two defenders, and unleashed a right-footed rocket that crashed in off the crossbar.

“After we went down to 10 men, the aim was to score as soon as possible,” said Najeebullah. “When I saw the space in front of me, I instinctively took a shot and thankfully it was a great goal.”

Mamsons pressed for an equaliser but were put to bed in the 79th minute when Moin Ahmed sealed the result with another long-range stunner, receiving a pass from the right before firing an unstoppable shot into the top corner.

KRL now awaits the winner of Wednesday’s quarter-final between Army and Nimso.

In the day’s other last-eight clash, Wapda dominated from the outset against PAF, with all three goals coming before the interval.

Mohammad Abdullah opened the scoring in the fifth minute, nodding home from close range after a shot and a header had struck the crossbar.

Adnan Saeed doubled the lead in the 23rd minute with a headed finish from a corner, and Ali Raza effectively ended the contest just before halftime with a crisp first-time volley from a right-wing cross.

PAF offered little response after the break as Wapda comfortably closed out the match.

“The plan was to press from the start,” said Wapda’s Samnan Qaisar. “We were putting in a lot of crosses in the box and they brought us goals.”

Wapda will face the winners of remaining quarter between SA Gardens and International Supply Company.

Published in Dawn, February 11th, 2026

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MUMBAI: Senior England player Jos Buttler on Tuesday backed under-fire Brendon McCullum, saying the New Zealander was “as sharp a coach as I’ve ever worked with”.

McCullum is desperate for success at the T20 World Cup in India, where England face the West Indies in Mumbai on Wednesday, after facing flak for the torrid 4-1 thumping in the Ashes.

England coach McCullum was accused of being too laid-back and allowing a drinking culture in the camp.

White-ball captain Harry Brook had to apologise after being involved in an altercation with a night-club bouncer on the eve-of-Ashes tour of New Zealand.

On Sunday, McCullum was seen sending messages via walkie-talkie to the England players during drinks breaks as they squeezed home against Nepal in a nail-biter in Mumbai.

It appeared to be part of a more hands-on, proactive coaching approach, and Buttler welcomed it.

“I think he’s had those walkie-talkies for a while now, but then communication from top to bottom has always been really good in the group,” former captain Buttler told reporters at the Wankhede Stadium ahead of training.

“‘Baz’ can sit with his feet up and his sunglasses on and look very relaxed. But he’s as sharp a coach as I’ve ever worked with. He doesn’t miss a beat.

“He was a successful captain, so he’s got lots of great messages, knowledge and stuff to pass on to all the players.

“His relationship with Harry Brook has been a great one for this team. They’re really close.”

Brook took over after Buttler stood down as captain last year, following England’s group stage exit from the 50-over Champions Trophy in Pakistan and the UAE.

That followed an embarrassing title defence at the 50-over World Cup in 2023 and a semi-final exit at the 2024 T20 World Cup.

Buttler, who led England T20 World Cup glory in 2022, said it had been tricky to adjust to just being a player again after being captain.

In his second game after giving up the role, he sought advice from Joe Root, who had stood down as Test captain but played on under Ben Stokes.

“He was stood at slip and I was keeping wicket. We had five or 10 minutes just talking about it,” he said.

“How different it is when he’s been captain… and some of the various emotions he felt, the challenges that he found, and yes it was really helpful.”

England on Tuesday announced one change from the team that beat Nepal, seamer Luke Wood being replaced by Jamie Overton.

Published in Dawn, February 11th, 2026

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