The tickets for the much-anticipated ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2025 — including the Pakistan-India clash — have gone on sale, the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) announced on Friday. According to the host cricket board, the ticket prices for the matches scheduled to be played at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi will start from Dh40, while the base price …

SHARJAH: Pakistan began their tri-series campaign on a winning note, overpowering Afghanistan with a composed all-round performance at Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Friday. Chasing a daunting 183-run target, Afghanistan’s batting unit unfolded on a meagre 143 in 19.5 overs despite Rashid Khan’s gutsy knock. The bowling all-rounder top-scored with a quickfire 39 from just 16 deliveries, laced with one four and …

Pakistan men’s hockey team has accepted an invitation to compete in the Pro League 2025–26 season, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) confirmed on Thursday. The Green Shirts were formally invited by the apex body to participate in the “League of the Best” after Hockey New Zealand withdrew from the nine-team tournament despite winning the FIH Nations Cup earlier this year …

NEW YORK: Naomi Osaka said using words like “no education” and “no class” to criticise a Black tennis player were among the worst things to say, as debate raged over a heated row between Taylor Townsend and Jelena Ostapenko at the US Open on Thursday. Townsend, who is Black, overcame 2017 French Open champion Ostapenko 7-5 6-1 in a tough …

KARACHI: The Emirates Cricket Board has dismissed fears of India boycotting the match against Pakistan. According to Chief Operating Officer Subhan Ahmed, all boards confirmed participation in the Asia Cup only after receiving approval from their respective governments. While a 100% guarantee cannot be given, there is strong hope the match will take place. Details reveal that under India’s hosting, …

Superstars Younis Khan, Shahid Afridi, Babar Azam, and Kamran Akmal will play in an exhibition match to help the flood-affected people. The Flood Relief Exhibition Match will take place at the Imran Khan Cricket Stadium in Peshawar on August 30 with a slogan, “Khel Se Khidmat”, roughly translated as service through sports. The fixture is set for Saturday, and the …

Former Australian captain Michael Clarke has revealed that he has undergone another surgery for skin cancer, renewing concerns about the disease’s prevalence in Australia. Clarke, 44, shared the update via social media, posting a photo from a hospital bed with a visible bandage on his nose. “Skin cancer is real! Especially in Australia,” Clarke wrote. “Another one cut out of …

Former Bayern Munich striker Thomas Muller has confirmed changing his opinion on the greatest of all time (GOAT) debate involving Argentinian star Lionel Messi and Portugal legend Cristiano Ronaldo. Messi and Ronaldo, with 13 Ballon d’Ors between them, are widely regarded as the two greatest footballers in history. Yet the debate over who deserves the title of GOAT remains alive …

Cristiano Ronaldo achieved another career milestone during the Saudi Super Cup final between Al-Ahli and Al-Nassr. The Portuguese forward scored to bring his tally to 100 goals since joining the Saudi Pro League. Despite his goal, Al-Nassr were edged out in the match, with Al-Ahli securing a 3-2 victory. The final was closely contested, with both sides creating opportunities, but …

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday unveiled Fatima Sana-led 15-member squad for ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025, set to take place from September 30 to November 2. With Sana — who has previously captained the team in Women’s CWC Qualifier held in Lahore this year — set to lead the national side for the first time in …

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has revealed that the draw for the 2026 World Cup will take place in Washington this December. Standing alongside FIFA chief Gianni Infantino at the White House, Trump described the tournament as “probably the biggest event in sports” and even joked about wanting to keep the golden trophy for himself. The announcement confirmed that the Kennedy …

SHARJAH: Left-arm fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi has expressed his views on the absence of senior players Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan from Pakistan’s squad for the upcoming ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2025, scheduled from September 9 to 28. Babar and Rizwan, who had featured in every multi-nation tournament for Pakistan since the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 in …

JOHANNESBURG: Cricket South Africa on Thursday announced a local organising committee for the 2027 50-over Cricket World Cup — and revealed that 44 of the 54 matches will be played at eight venues in South Africa. The remaining 10 matches will be played in Zimbabwe and Namibia. It will be the first men’s Cricket World Cup in Africa since the …

Pakistan’s javelin thrower Muhammad Yasir Sultan claimed the bronze medal at the Asian Throwing Championships on Friday with a season-best throw of 77.43 metres. The 27-year-old athlete delivered his best effort on the sixth and final attempt, surpassing his previous season-best of 76.07m, which he had set at the Asian Athletics Championships earlier in May. Yasir’s impressive final throw secured …

LONDON: Algerian boxer and Olympic champion Imane Khelif on Wednesday denied claims made by her former manager that she was putting her career on hold. Khelif was at the centre of a gender row at the Paris Games where she won gold in the women’s 66kg category. “I would like to make it clear to the public that the reports …

In order to raise fitness levels and boost players’ aerobic capacity, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has introduced the rugby-inspired Bronco Test — involving multiple shuttles runs of 20 metres, 40 metres and 60 metres — for the Indian national team. According to Indian media reports, the idea was put forward by the team’s strength and …

LONDON: Pakistan batter Haider Ali has been given a two-week bail extension by the Greater Manchester Police after a British-Pakistani woman reported him for the alleged rape at a local hotel. Haider Ali was set to appear before the police on August 20, 2025 but the police told him to appear after two weeks. Meanwhile, the investigation will continue into …

Former Pakistan captain and legendary pacer Wasim Akram has revealed his top five cricketers from his illustrious playing days, naming Sir Vivian Richards as the toughest batter he bowled to. Speaking on the Stick to Cricket podcast alongside England greats Michael Vaughan, Sir Alastair Cook, David Lloyd, and Phil Tufnell, Akram reflected on the highlights of his 17-year career. When asked to …

Iga Swiatek captured her first Cincinnati Open title on Monday by beating Jasmine Paolini 7-5 6-4, with the Pole third seed sending a powerful message ahead of the US Open. The six-times Grand Slam winner did not drop a set on her way to the title and was clinical in the final, converting all six of her break points to …

Two senior players, Mohammad Rizwan and former skipper Babar Azam, who were previously in Category A, have been shifted to Category B in the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) central contracts for the 2025–26 season. Shan Masood, earlier in Category B, now finds himself in Category D. The PCB announced on Tuesday that as many as 30 players have been awarded …

Pakistani squash player Ashab Irfan claimed victory at the Johns Creek Open in the United States on Monday, capping off a strong run by defeating Malaysia’s Nathan in the final. After dropping the first game, Ashab made an impressive comeback to win three consecutive games in just 40 minutes. The final scoreline read 8-11, 11-2, 11-2, 11-6 in favor of …

LAHORE: Former captain Babar Azam has been told to improve his batting against spin and boost his overall strike rate to be considered for Twenty20 Internationals, coach Mike Hesson said. Babar is the national team’s batting mainstay in other formats but has not played a T20 International since their tour of South Africa late last year. The 30-year-old could not …

Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka’s title defence came to an abrupt end in Cincinnati as Elena Rybakina produced a powerful performance to reach the semi-final. The ninth seed Kazakh star dominated from the very start, using her big serve and clean hitting to overwhelm the defending champion and book her place in the last four. She secured her seventh career win over …

MIAMI: Inter Miami fans can breathe a sigh of relief as Lionel Messi is likely to return when the team take on the LA Galaxy in a Major League Soccer clash that will launch a key stretch for the Florida club, coach Javier Mascherano said on Friday. After sitting out with a minor muscle injury, the Argentine star is back in …

Pakistan defend target by bowling out Bangladesh for 148 to grab commanding 79-run victory Half-centuries from Abdul Samad, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay and Yasir Khan, followed by a combined seven wickets from the spinners, powered Pakistan Shaheens to a resounding 79-run win over Bangladesh ‘A’ in the opening match of the Top End T20 Series at the TIO Stadium in Darwin …

KARACHI: Pakistan’s top squash players Asim Khan and Ashab Irfan progressed to the quarterfinals of the Johns Creek Open 2025, a $12,000 PSA Challenger event, after recording victories in the second round on Thursday. Top seed Asim overcame Egypt’s Kareem Badawi 11-3, 11-6, 5-11, 11-8 in 45 minutes. Asim dominated the opening two games with precise length and controlled rallies …

LAHORE: The Maarka-e-Haq National Junior Squash Championship, organized by the Punjab Squash Association (PSA), will commence on August 17 with a total prize fund of PKR 2 million. A PSA spokesperson said that the event will take place from August 17 to 20 at the Punjab Squash Complex and Lahore Garrison Green. The inaugural ceremony is scheduled for 4:00 pm on August 17 at Lahore Garrison Green. Matches up to the quarter-finals will be held at the Punjab Squash Complex while the semi-finals and final will take place at the Lahore Garrison …

Pakistan’s top-order batter Babar Azam has dropped to third place in the latest ICC Men’s ODI Player Rankings, following a below-par performance in the recent series against the West Indies. Babar managed just 56 runs across three matches, averaging 18.66, which led to a dip in his overall rating points to 751. As a result, he has been overtaken by …

TAROUBA: Roston Chase lit up the third ODI with an unbeaten century before Jayden Seales ripped through Pakistan’s lineup with a maiden six-for, sealing a commanding 202-run triumph for the West Indies at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy on Tuesday. Seales blew away the Pakistan top order en route to figures of 6-18 as the tourists were bundled out for …

Sweden’s Mondo Duplantis broke his own pole vault world record with a clearance of 6.29 metres at the Hungarian Grand Prix meeting in Budapest on Tuesday, the 13th time he has set a new world mark as he continues to defy gravity. The double-Olympic champion maintained his tradition of improving on his previous record by one centimeter, with his second attempt …

CHENGDU: Pakistan’s Muhammad Asif booked his place in the World Games snooker semi-finals with a commanding 2–0 victory over Britain’s Zac Cosker in Tuesday’s quarter-final in China. He opened with a 79–15 win in the first frame, highlighted by a break of 51, before wrapping up the match with an 89–31 triumph. The win leaves Asif just one victory away …

Footballer Cristiano Ronaldo has got engaged to his long-term partner Georgina Rodríguez. She announced the news on social media alongside a picture of a large ring, writing “Yes I do. In this and in all my lives” in her native Spanish. No further details have been shared. Ronaldo, who is the most followed person on Instagram, has not yet made …

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) pacer Yash Dayal has had his personal life making news for a few weeks. Though court proceedings in the alleged sexual exploitation case are going on at present, his personal life has now started to affect his professional career too, with the pacer being reportedly barred from competing in the Uttar Pradesh T20 League. Dayal is a part …

West Indies secured a five-wicket win over Pakistan, with Roston Chase and Justin Greaves guiding the run chase to tie the one-day series. Roston Chase sparked West Indies over Pakistan to level their One Day International (ODI) cricket series at one victory each. Chase had 49 runs and Greaves was not out for 26 with a thrilling selection of fours …

CINCINNATI: Venus Williams rallied from 4-1 down in the first set but could not maintain momentum, the seven-time Grand Slam champion falling 6-4, 6-4 to Jessica Bouzas Maneiro in the first round of the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Open on Thursday. Williams, 45, was competing for the second time in three weeks after returning to the WTA tour in Washington in her …

Aug 9 – Elena Rybakina’s former coach, Stefano Vukov, is eligible to receive credentials at WTA tournaments again, following the lifting of his provisional suspension by the women’s tennis governing body. Rybakina ended her five-year partnership with Vukov last August, a few days before the U.S. Open, before she appointed Novak Djokovic’s former mentor Goran Ivanisevic for the 2025 season …

LAHORE: With the Pakistan national team due to tour England in the near future, it was essential for us to identify players who could adapt quickly and perform in these conditions. This was stated by Imran Farhat, head coach Pakistan Shaheens, which undertook 15-day tour of England that comprised of white and red-ball series. During the tour, Shaheens featured in …

LAHORE – The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has suspended batter Haider Ali on disciplinary grounds after he was accused of sexual assault in Manchester during the recent tour of the Pakistan Shaheens cricket team to England. Haider Ali has been released on bail after his arrest in Manchester over allegations of sexual assault. Local authorities have confirmed that Haider Ali …

The Pakistan domestic cricket season is slated to begin with the Hanif Mohammad Trophy. According to details, the Hanif Mohammad Trophy is scheduled to take place from August 29 to September 25. The matches will be take place in South Punjab – Bahawalpur, Multan and Rahim Yar Khan. Meanwhile, the rest of the matches will also be held in Karachi. …

Pakistan and New Zealand have expressed discontent with the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) qualification system for cricket at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. The ICC recently confirmed that Team GB will receive an automatic place in the men’s tournament at LA 2028, following the adoption of a regional qualifying format favoured by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The system …