Sports
Pak-Australia series to aid selection of playing XI for T20 World Cup: Salman Agha
LAHORE: Pakistan’s T20I captain Salman Ali Agha on Wednesday said that the upcoming T20 series against Australia would help the team finalise their playing XI for the T20 World Cup.
During the pre-series press conference, Agha said: “We are moving in our own direction. The next three matches are very important. This series will give us a good idea about our 11 players.”
He stressed the importance of collective performance over individual accolades as the team prepares to take on Australia in the three-match series, which kicks off on Thursday.
During the pre-series press conference, Agha highlighted that the team is focused on carving its own path rather than being influenced by media attention or star players.
The right-handed batter expressed his desire for the media to shift focus away from star batter Babar Azam and pay attention to the other players in the squad.
“I hope that when I attend the press conference, there are no questions about Babar. There are 14 other players, batsmen in the team, so think about them as well and talk about them too. Let him be and focus on batting,” he stated.
The middle-order batter emphasised the significance of the series, underlining that every team member is aware of their role and the need for adaptability based on match situations.
“The series against Australia is very important for us. Roles are clear for every player; we know exactly what we need from each one. We should play according to what the team requires. If a run rate of 6 is needed, I will play accordingly; if 10 is needed, I will adjust,” he added.
Addressing Australia’s strength and consistency, he noted that the absence of key players will not diminish their challenge. Agha framed the series as a crucial opportunity for Pakistan to assert themselves.
“Australia’s mindset is consistent; even if their main players are missing, it doesn’t make a difference. For us, this is an opportunity to win the series. You have to play according to what the team demands; you can’t choose your own position. Usman Tariq can prove to be a trump card for us,” he concluded.
The second and third T20Is of the series will also be played at the same venue on January 31 and February 1, respectively. The toss for each match is scheduled for 5:30pm PKT, with the first ball to be bowled at 6:00pm PKT.
The series will offer vital match practice for both teams ahead of the T20 World Cup, which will be held in India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8.
Pakistan has been drawn in Group A alongside India, the USA, the Netherlands and Namibia, while Australia is in Group B with Sri Lanka, Ireland, Zimbabwe and Oman.
This marks Australia’s third visit to Pakistan since March–April 2022, when they toured for a historic Test series, followed by an ODI series and a single T20I.
The Kangaroos also played three matches of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan, including a narrow three-wicket T20I win at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on April 5, 2022.
Historically, Australia and Pakistan have faced off 28 times in T20 internationals, with Australia claiming 14 wins and Pakistan 12. One match ended in a tie and another produced no result.
Trophy for Pakistan-Australia T20I series unveiled
Earlier, the glittering trophy for the highly anticipated three-match T20I series between hosts Pakistan and Australia was unveiled.
The silverware was presented by Pakistan captain Agha and his Australian counterpart Mitchell Marsh before the pre-series press conference at Gaddafi Stadium.
The series opener is scheduled for Thursday, with the second and third T20Is also set to be played at the same venue on January 31 and February 1, respectively.
The toss for each match will take place at 5:30pm PKT, with the first ball scheduled for 6:00pm PKT.
The series will provide crucial match practice for both teams ahead of the T20 World Cup, to be held in India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8.
Pakistan has been drawn in Group A alongside India, the USA, the Netherlands and Namibia, while Australia is in Group B with Sri Lanka, Ireland, Zimbabwe and Oman.
This marks Australia’s third tour of Pakistan since March–April 2022, when they played a historic Test series, followed by an ODI series and a single T20I.
Australia also played three matches of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan, including a narrow three-wicket T20I win at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on April 5, 2022.
Australia and Pakistan have faced each other 28 times in T20 internationals, with Australia winning 14 matches and Pakistan 12. One match ended in a tie and another produced no result.
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Cleveland Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson was fined $50,000 for “aggressively pursuing, berating and making inadvertent contact with a game official,” the NBA announced Saturday.
The league’s announcement said the incident happened with 10:59 left in the fourth quarter of Cleveland’s 126-113 loss to the Phoenix Suns Friday.
Atkinson was assessed his second technical foul of the game when he stormed the court after a no-call against Sam Merrill for driving on Collin Gillespie after he bumped into an official before being escorted off and ejected from the game.
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Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson reacts during the second half in Game 4 of a first-round playoff series against the Miami Heat April 28, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rhona Wise)
Atkinson whipped his arm against the nearby referee before the whistle was blown.
Atkinson ripped the officials in a postgame news conference.
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Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson reacts in the first quarter against the Indiana Pacers during Game 2 of the second round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena in Cleveland May 6, 2025. (David Richard-Imagn Images)
“We had one free throw after three quarters against a team that [is 26th in fouls],” Atkinson said. “And the second free throw we got was after a flop. I’m not pleased. I thought the game got out of hand, quite honestly. Parts of the game seemed circus-like, quite honestly. I don’t know if that’s what we want as a league.
“Certain characters in this league take liberties, and we don’t stand up to them. And the game turns into reviews, challenges, go to the monitor for 20 minutes when we’re just trying to play basketball. I don’t think it’s good for the league, and I know it wasn’t good for us tonight. Thought they let the game get out of hand.”
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Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson reacts during the first half against the Indiana Pacers in Game 1 of the second round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena in Cleveland May 4, 2025. (Ken Blaze-Imagn Images)
The Cavaliers fell to 29-21, while Phoenix improved to 30-19.
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Inter Miami CF signed Mexico national team forward Germán Berterame from Liga MX powerhouse Monterrey, the team announced Friday.
Berterame joins Lionel Messi and the reigning MLS Cup champions as a designated player on a contract running through 2029, with a club option for an additional year.
Miami secured the deal by paying Berterame’s $15 million release clause, sources told ESPN’s Lizzy Becherano.
Mexican forward Germán Berterame joins as a Designated Player, bringing a proven goal-scoring pedigree ⚽ Welcome to Miami!
Details: https://t.co/CBJatdte0z pic.twitter.com/IlIoaBuAbc
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF) January 30, 2026
“I’m leaving with a clear conscience, knowing I always gave my all for this club [Monterrey], and I hope I can return further down the road,” Berterame said in a video posted on Rayados de Monterrey social media accounts.
“This opportunity [signing with Miami] is all new; it’s a unique and fresh experience at the same time. It was unexpected, but I think it’s going to be a beautiful experience.
“When I renewed my contract [with Monterrey], I told him [Héctor Lara, the club’s sporting director], ‘I’m not leaving unless something really eye-catching comes along.’ I was obviously talking about teams from Europe. And I also said, ‘Unless, obviously, Messi comes and takes me with him.’ So that anecdote stuck.”
The Argentine-born forward, who became a naturalized Mexican in 2024, started his career in the Argentine Primera División, starring for San Lorenzo and Patronato before making his Liga MX debut with Atletico San Luis in 2019. While playing for Atletico San Luis, Berterame scored 31 goals in 93 games in all competitions and earned the Golden Boot for the 2021 Apertura tournament.
His efforts in Liga MX earned him recognition from the Mexican national team after he became eligible to play for El Tricolor. Although Berterame previously featured for the Argentina youth national team, his lack of appearances with the senior squad allowed Berterame to represent Mexico without filing a one-time switch with FIFA.
Berterame scored the winning goal for Mexico last Sunday in a World Cup warmup friendly against Bolivia.
Other MLS teams previously expressed interest in Berterame. FC Cincinnati attempted to trigger Berterame’s previous release clause, but the two parties failed to agree to complete the transfer.
Green Shirts on Saturday set several new records during their dominant 90-run win over Australia in the second T20I of the three-match series at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on Saturday.
Opting to bat first, the home side accumulated a massive total of 198/5 in 20 overs, courtesy of blistering half-centuries from captain Salman Ali Agha and wicketkeeper batter Usman Khan.
Agha top-scored with a 40-ball 76, studded with eight fours and four sixes, while Usman smashed six boundaries, including two sixes, on his way to a 36-ball 53.
Their batting prowess helped Pakistan register their highest score against Australia in T20Is, surpassing the previous best of 194/7, which they achieved during the league-stage match of the Zimbabwe-hosted tri-series in 2018.
Set to chase a daunting 199-run target, the 2021 champions’ batting unit was dismantled by Pakistan spinners, who shared all 10 wickets between them for the first time in the shortest format, while it was the second such occurrence during a T20I between two full-member nations.
Reigning champions India were the first team to achieve the feat during their fifth away T20I against West Indies in 2022.
Overall, in T20Is, however, it was the 10th instance when the spinners took all 10 wickets.
Leading Pakistan’s spin charge were Abrar Ahmed and Shadab Khan, who picked up three wickets each, followed by Usman Tariq with two, while Saim Ayub and Mohammad Nawaz chipped in with one apiece, as Australia were booked 108 in 15.4 overs and thus succumbed to a gruelling 90-run defeat.
Pakistan’s 90-run victory over Australia in the recently concluded fixture is now their largest against Australia in T20Is, bettering their 66-run triumph in the first T20I of the 2018 series, played in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), in 2018.
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