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

LAHORE: Sahibzada Farhan produced a match-winning century of pure class and power, guiding Multan Sultans to a commanding six-wicket victory over Hyderabad Kingsmen in a high-scoring HBL Pakistan Super League encounter at Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday night.

Chasing a daunting 226, the Sultans romped home with eight balls to spare, finishing at 227-4 with eight balls to spare as with Sahibzada remained unbeaten on 106 off 57 balls.

The chase began under lights with dew already making its presence felt, turning the surface into a batting paradise.

Sri Lankan spinner Maheesh Theekshana opened the bowling for the Kingsmen, but Sahibzada and Steven Smith got the innings off to a solid if measured start.

Smith, in particular, looked in ominous touch, smashing a quickfire 46 off 20 balls laced with three sixes and a four. The opening stand swelled to 104 in just over eight overs before Hassan Khan induced a miscued loft from Smith that Irfan Khan Niazi pouched safely at long-on.

Sahibzada, however, remained anchored. Having reached his seventh PSL fifty earlier, he accelerated seamlessly. Boundaries flowed off his bat — elegant drives, powerful pulls and audacious sweeps — as the required run-rate stayed comfortably under control. By the time the strategic break arrived, the Sultans were cruising at over 13 runs an over.

The middle order provided brief support with Josh Philippe perishing for nine as her holed out to Marnus Labuschagne off Saim Ayub’s spin.

Shan Masood, promoted to number four, added a brisk 29 off 16, including two sixes, before Saim struck again, this time finding Hassan at deep square-leg. Ashton Turner’s brief stay ended on four when Theekshana’s arm ball took the outside edge to wicket-keeper Usman Khan.

Yet none of these dismissals dented the momentum. Sahibzada continued to dominate, reaching his second PSL century in the 18th over with a trademark flick past mid-on and raising his bat, acknowledging his team-mates’ applause as they rushed to congratulate him.

Arafat Minhas provided explosive finishing with an unbeaten 26 off 11 balls, including three fours and a six, ensuring there were no late jitters.

The Sultans’ power-hitting was clinical. They struck 18 sixes in total during the chase, capitalising on any width or length offered by the Kingsmen attack. Dew played a significant role, making grip difficult for the spinners and pacers alike.

Theekshana returned figures of 1-38, while Riley Meredith and Mohammad Ali struggled to stem the flow despite occasional yorkers. Saim picked up two wickets but leaked 43 runs in three overs. Labuschagne and Maaz Sadaqat were expensive in their short spells.

Earlier, the Kingsmen had posted a formidable 225-5 after winning the toss and electing to bat.

Their innings was built on aggressive starts and cameos rather than a single dominant knock. Openers Saim (27) and Maaz provided a flying platform with a 59-run stand in 5.1 overs.

Maaz, in particular, was destructive, smashing 62 off just 26 balls — including five sixes — in what many observers called one of the most explosive fifties of the season so far. Labuschagne (eight) and Usman (25 off 12) came and went quickly.

The real momentum shift came when Sharjeel Khan walked in at number five. The veteran left-hander played with freedom, remaining unbeaten on 51 off 26 balls. He found able support from Syed Saad Ali (23) and Irfan (22 not out).

A remarkable 30-run over from Shehzad Gul in the 17th, featuring two no-balls and multiple boundaries, pushed the Kingsmen past 200.

Peter Siddle and Mohammad Wasim Jr were the most successful bowlers for the Sultans, claiming a wicket apiece, though economy rates suffered across the board on a flat track.

Gaddafi Stadium lived up to its reputation as a batting-friendly venue under lights. The short boundaries and true bounce allowed batters from both sides to play with confidence. Dew, however, tilted the balance firmly in favour of the side batting second — a factor that Kingsmen captain Labuschagne might reflect on later.

Sahibzada’s unbeaten 106 was the cornerstone of the Sultans’ success. His ability to rotate strike early and then unleash big shots when needed underscored why he has been one of the most consistent openers in T20 cricket.

The knock contained seven fours and seven sixes, showcasing both timing and raw power. At the other end, Arafat’s late flourish ensured the target was overhauled with ease.

For the Kingsmen, their third defeat in a row will sting despite a competitive total. Their bowling lacked the penetration needed to defend such a score once dew set in.

Maaz’s blistering knock and Sharjeel’s mature innings were highlights, but the absence of a genuine death-over specialist proved costly. The victory keeps the Sultans firmly in contention in the early stages of the league, while the Kingsmen will need to regroup quickly.

Scoreboard

HYDERABAD KINGSMEN:

Saim Ayub c&b Siddle27

Maaz Sadaqat c Shehzad b Nawaz62

Marnus Labuschagne c Smith b Turner8

Usman Khan c Shehzad b Wasim25

Sharjeel Khan not out51

Syed Saad Ali b Wasim23

Irfan Khan not out22

EXTRAS (NB-2, W-5)7

TOTAL (for five wickets, 20 overs)225

DID NOT BAT: Hassan Khan, Maheesh Theekshana, Riley Meredith, Mohammad Ali

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-59 (Saim), 2-85 (Labuschagne), 3-104 (Maaz), 4-127 (Usman), 5-171 (Saad)

BOWLING: Shehzad 4-0-60-0 (2nb), Turner 3-0-28-1 (1w), Siddle 4-0-39-1 (2w), Wasim 4-0-37-2 (1w), Momin 3-0-39-0, Nawaz 2-0-22-1 (1w)

MULTAN SULTANS:

Sahibzada Farhan not out106

Steven Smith c Irfan b Hassan46

Josh Philippe c Labuschagne b Saim9

Shan Masood c Hassan b Saim29

Ashton Turner c Usman b Theekshana4

Arafat Minhas not out26

EXTRAS (NB-1, W-6)7

TOTAL (for four wickets, 18.4 overs)227

DID NOT BAT: Mohammad Nawaz, Peter Siddle, Mohammad Wasim, Shehzad Gul, Momin Qamar

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-104 (Smith), 2-120 (Philippe), 3-165 (Shan), 4-190 (Turner)

BOWLING: Theekshana 4-0-38-1 (1w), Meredith 3-0-40-0 (1w), Saim 3-0-43-2 (2w), Hassan 2-0-25-1, Ali 3.4-0-39-0 (1w), Labuschagne 2-0-32-0 (1nb), Maaz 1-0-10-0 (1w)

RESULT: Multan Sultans won by six wickets.

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Sahibzada Farhan

Published in Dawn, April 2nd, 2026