Pakistan all-rounder Mohammed Nawaz is under investigation by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) following the emergence of a positive drug test for recreational drug usage, reported ESPNCricinfo.

Consequently, Nawaz’s deal with Surrey and participation in the T20 Blast tournament have fallen through. The all-rounder is a pivotal part of Pakistan’s white-ball line-up, particularly in T20Is.

A spokesperson from PCB told ESPNCricinfo on Wednesday, ” The International Cricket Council (ICC) has informed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) about this matter, and PCB has begun the due process. The results of this process will be communicated to the ICC today.”

As per ESPNCricinfo, the positive result first emerged during tests held during the T20 World Cup co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February to March this year. Pakistan played all seven of their matches till their Super Eight stage finish in Sri Lanka as part of the hybrid model. Nawaz had a modest tournament with bat and ball, scoring 15 runs and taking seven wickets. 

Nawaz had agreed for a deal with Surrey and was supposed to feature in the T20 Blast tournament taking place from May 26 to June 18. Even a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) was given to Nawaz, as announced by PCB weeks back, and Surrey had planned to unveil him as their newest signee this week. 

But now with plans falling through, Surrey has not commented on the matter so far. However, the all-rounder is enjoying a decent run with Multan Sultans in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), having taken six wickets in eight matches at an average of 32.66 and bowling three wicketless overs in their six-wicket victory over Rawalpindiz in Karachi on Tuesday night.

So far, the International Cricket Council (ICC) have made no comments on the matter.

Back to winning ways after four defeats in a row, a happy Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya said he always had faith in Tilak Varma’s talent and it was about time the Hyderabad man delivered as per his potential, like he did in the 99-run victory over Gujarat Titans on Monday.

Tilak played a stunning knock of an unbeaten 101 off 45 balls. After being 19 off 22, he got an earful from his skipper during the second strategic time-out, and things changed rapidly from there.

Hardik’s message To Tilak

“The message I think, I realised that the kind of talent Tilak has, he really doesn’t have to worry. So my message to him was just watch the ball and hit the ball. Was about time he came out and delivered. It was much needed for Tilak, the group and Mumbai Indians,” Hardik said after the match in Ahmedabad.

This was the first time MI won in Ahmedabad and Hardik believes this could be “The Match” when it starts falling in place for his side.

“It’s always challenging to go away and win but at the same time Ahmedabad has been a tough place for Mumbai Indians. We played some good cricket. Feels very special because it was much needed.”

Hardik defends Bumrah strategy

He also took a dig at critics who have questioned the move to not use Japrit Bumrah first up.

“It’s quite fascinating. I see a lot of people asking why Jassi isn’t bowled up front but he’s only bowled the first over 7 or 8 times in 140 odd games. So it’s not a Hardik Pandya problem, it’s an everybody problem because Bumrah is so special you want to use him later on.”

Tilak’s special century

For Tilak, the first hundred indeed was special.

“Of course, first 100 will be always special. It was very important for us. We don’t have much time from here. Every game is important for us.

“In the last five games, I haven’t had much time in the middle. So this game I wanted to spend time in the middle. So you saw first 20 balls, I was just batting ball by ball. And then later on, I was aware about the the ability I have,” he said about scoring 82 off last 23 balls.

“I was just seeing the situation and what the team needs and I was just stable and keeping my head still and following my basics. I have all the fancy shots but when the team is under pressure it’s just about backing your skills and today it’s given me good results.”

Gill’s disappointment

Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill was visibly dejected and didn’t mince word about the last six overs in which they gave away as many as 95 runs.

“Honestly, I think we gave away too many runs in the middle overs. On a wicket like that, 160-170 was a par score,” Gill said at the post-match presentation ceremony.

Towards the end, three overs — two from Prasidh Krishna and one from Ashok Sharma — cumulatively cost them 67 runs and Gill wasn’t pleased at all.

“I think the wicket was on the slower side. I don’t think we hit the right areas. Length balls, some were coming on nicely some weren’t. We weren’t able to hit that length more consistently.”

He was also critical of the batting effort stating that the it “could have been better because there was dew.”

However, he also didn’t want to dwell too much on the heavy defeat and termed it a “small hiccup”.

“Small hiccup but now we have a couple of games on the road so hopefully we’ll come back in winning form.”

Priyansh Arya, one of the country’s most talked about T20 batting talent alongside Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, smashed his way to a magnificent 93 as Punjab Kings clinically demolished Lucknow Super Kings by 54 runs in an IPL 2026 match in Mullanpur, New Chandigarh, on Sunday.

The 24-year-old Delhi left-hander, whose knock came off just 37 balls, joined hands with Cooper Connolly, the most talked about next-gen batting star in Australia, who also oozed class in his 45-ball-87 as Punjab Kings posted an insurmountable 254 for 7 in 20 overs.

The duo added an astounding 182 runs off just 80 balls with 16 sixes (9 from Priyansh and 7 from Connolly) and 12 fours shared between them.

In reply, Lucknow Super Giants despite a reasonably good Powerplay that fetched 61 runs were never in contention as they finished on 200 for five in 20 overs.  

The likes of skipper Rishabh Pant (43 off 23 balls) and Mitchell Marsh (40 off 28 balls) tried but their intent and execution paled in comparison to the six-hitting exhibition of Priyansh and Connolly.

Vyshak Vijaykumar (1/30 in 4 overs) was brilliant with his pace-on and pace-off variations that stopped both Marsh and Pant in their tracks. 

Once both were gone, wrapping up the match was a mere formality for Shreyas Iyer’s men, itching to go one better than their previous runners-up finish in 2025.

Explosive Powerplay For LSG

When Punjab Kings batted, if their Powerplay score of 63 for one was good, they were even better in the middle phase between overs 7th and 11th in which 66 runs came.

Priyansh, the beefy southpaw, just stood and delivered with minimal footwork and maximum bat speed as balls flew thick and fast.

The full balls were muscled down the ground or over extra cover. The short and wide deliveries were slashed or ramped while bouncers on the shoulders were either pulled or hooked without an iota of expression on his face.

It seemed like a regular job for the man, who also learnt ropes from Gautam Gambhir’s childhood coach Sanjay Bhardwaj.

Connolly was in a different mould as his lofted sixes over extra cover and front-foot pull-shots into the deep mid-wicket stands would have even made his franchise coach Ricky Ponting proud.

Their batting styles were contrasting — Priyansh scoring his half-century off just 19 balls and scoring the next 43 off 18 balls.

Connolly, on the other hand took some time as his 50 came off 35 deliveries but the next 37 came off 12.

Priyansh, who had a stellar first season has been time and again proving that 2025 wasn’t a mere flash in the pan.

The Delhi youngster was unfazed even as his opening partner Prabhsimran Singh was out first ball nicking an outswinger from Mohammed Shami.

A clueless LSG skipper Rishabh Pant would certainly rue not taking the DRS when left-arm seamer Mohsin Khan had trapped Connolly in-front fairly early in the innings.

The replays confirmed that the TV umpire would have adjudged Connolly out.

Mohsin lost his confidence after that and gave 20 runs in his third over and the momentum slipped completely out of LSG’s grasp.

Prince Yadav Shines Among The Ruins

The only saving grace for them was Prince Yadav (2/25 in 4 overs) who shone brightly as most of his colleagues were sent on a leather hunt. He was simply outstanding with his change of pace and blockhole deliveries.

Both Connolly and Priyansh were dismissed in quick succession when century was there for the taking.

The Indian youngster was ambitiously going for his 10th six, but Mitchell Marsh got him at the boundary ropes.

Even as LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka was seen heaving a sigh of relief, the damage that had already been done by the Priyansh-Connoly pair seemed to be beyond repair.

Punjab Kings’ dominant performance will significantly boost their position in the IPL standings. Their next match will be crucial in maintaining their momentum in the tournament. This victory highlights the potential of young talents like Arya and Connolly in the IPL.