Pakistan leg-spinner Usama Mir, who has played for Lahore Qalandars, has condemned remarks by Rawalpindiz skipper Mohammad Rizwan, who said Hyderabad Kingsmen “didn’t deserve” qualification for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 playoffs.

Rizwan’s remarks came in the aftermath of a difficult campaign for his side, who managed just one win in 10 matches, including a heavy defeat to the Kingsmen in their final league-stage fixture.

Speaking during the post-match media conference, Rizwan reflected on his team’s inconsistent performances and the overall competitiveness of the tournament.

He emphasised the importance of consistency and momentum in high-pressure matches, while also noting that opposition teams had performed strongly in certain conditions, particularly in Lahore.

“The last match played in Hyderabad, they didn’t deserve it. This can be my own wrong thinking, I’m sorry for this. This is my own opinion. If they go from here properly, if they oust us from here, then they deserve it. The matches that are going on in Lahore, they are doing very well. The rhythm that they are playing, I think it was their luck,” Rizwan said.

Hyderabad Kingsmen sealed their playoff qualification in dominant fashion, defeating Rizwan’s side by 108 runs in a must-win encounter. Batting first, the Kingsmen posted an imposing 244-6 before bowling out Rawalpindiz for just 136.

The result left Hyderabad level on points with Lahore Qalandars, but they advanced to the playoffs on superior net run-rate, securing the final qualification spot.

Reacting to Rizwan’s comments in a recent interview with a local sports platform, Usama Mir expressed strong disappointment over the tone of the remarks, questioning the authority of such judgments given inconsistent performances on the field.

“I was extremely disappointed by his press conference. They themselves haven’t played good cricket, yet they are saying others do not deserve it. I was shocked. Did you deserve it? Who are you to decide that?” Mir questioned.

He further highlighted what he described as a contradiction between performances and public statements.

“You go into a press conference and say that the team did not deserve it because they got all out for 80. Your own team has been getting bowled out for around 100 throughout the tournament. What kind of remarks are these? First, you played terrible cricket, and then you conduct a press conference as if you have achieved something extraordinary,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Hyderabad Kingsmen’s PSL campaign ended in disappointment as they failed to secure the title in their debut season. They lost the final against Peshawar Zalmi in a low-scoring contest at Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday.

After being put into bat, Kingsmen were restricted to 129 all out in 18 overs. Despite a fighting half-century from Saim Ayub, who scored 54 off 50 balls, the rest of the batting line-up failed to build partnerships.

In reply, Zalmi found themselves under early pressure at 40-4 before Aaron Hardie and Abdul Samad revived the chase with an 85-run partnership.

Samad made 48 off 34 balls, while Hardie remained unbeaten on 56 off 39 deliveries to guide Zalmi to victory with 28 balls remaining and five wickets in hand.

Detroit Tigers pitcher Framber Valdez drew the ire of his own manager on Tuesday night after he hit Boston Red Sox batter Trevor Story with a pitch in the fourth inning, causing the benches to empty.

Valdez struck Story after allowing home runs to Willson Contreras and Wilyer Abreu. Valdez’s pitch to Story’s body came in at 94 mph. Story stared down Valdez as Tigers catcher Dillon Dingler and home plate umpire Adam Beck got in between the two.

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Players and staff from both teams came out of the dugout, but no punches were thrown.

Tigers manager A.J. Hinch wasn’t too pleased with Valdez after the game.

“We play a really good brand of baseball here. That didn’t feel like it,” Hinch said, via ESPN. “It’s not judging intent; I have no idea. But I know when you go out on the field and you end up sort of in those confrontations, you usually feel like you’re in your right. And it didn’t feel good being out there.”

“So I understand their frustrations. I understand the moment, and it was a low moment of a frustrating night,” Hinch continued.

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Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Framber Valdez throws during the first inning against the Boston Red Sox in Detroit on May 5, 2026. (Jose Juarez/AP)

Valdez, who was ejected, said through an interpreter that his actions weren’t intentional.

“It was not intentional,” he said. “It might look like it, but it wasn’t. I was trying to throw strikes after the two consecutive home runs. I was trying to go back in the zone and that pitch came out of my hand.”

Story disputed Valdez’s claim.

“It’s pretty undisputable,” he said. “I was in there ready to hit and it showed up way behind me and off the numbers. We all know what’s what.”

Boston Red Sox’s Willson Contreras is congratulated by interim third base coach Chad Epperson after hitting a homerun during the fourth inning against the Detroit Tigers in Detroit on May 5, 2026. (Jose Juarez/AP)

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Boston won the game, 10-3.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Jon Rahm has reached a deal with the European Tour that will allow him retain his membership and remain eligible for next year’s Ryder Cup at Adare Manor in Ireland.

In an agreement similar to that signed by eight other LIV golfers in February, the Spaniard will pay all outstanding fines for playing in events that clashed with European Tour tournaments. The tour is now known as the DP World Tour.

Two-time major winner Rahm has been punished for three conflicting events this season, and has around £2 million ($2.7 million) in fines outstanding since he joined the Saudi breakaway circuit in 2023.

In exchange for securing conditional releases for 2026, Rahm has also said he will play in agreed European Tour events for the remainder of this year.

“The DP World Tour and Jon Rahm have come to an agreement on conditional releases to play in conflicting tournaments on LIV Golf during the remainder of its 2026 season,” said a DP World Tour spokesman.

“This involves payment of all outstanding fines accrued from 2024 to date, along with participation in agreed DP World Tour tournaments (outside the majors) in the remainder of the 2026 season.”

The 31-year-old, who made his Ryder Cup debut in 2018, was a captain’s pick for the 2025 tournament at Bethpage Black, won by the European team.

Rahm in March accused the DP World Tour of “extorting players” as he explained why he had not signed a deal to settle his fines for playing.

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund said last week it was withdrawing its multi-billion dollar backing of LIV Golf at the end of the season, plunging the future of the tour into doubt.