Former Pakistan captain Babar Azam on Friday praised Fakhar Zaman, saying the latter mounts pressure on the opponents on his day. During a live session on Twitter Space, Azam said, “The innings against Australia are memorable.” Speaking about his role model, he said, “My father is a role model for me. I am more close to my father, but I …

Former South Africa captain Dean Elgar has opened up about a surprising and heated incident with former India captain Virat Kohli during a Test series in 2015. Elgar claims that Kohli “spat” on him during the first Test at the IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali, part of South Africa’s tour of India. In a recent appearance on the “Banter, with …

The Indian tennis team has landed in Islamabad to participate in the crucial Davis Cup Group I tie against Pakistan, scheduled to take place on February 3-4 at the Sports Complex Grass Court. This development follows months of uncertainty, reluctance, and intense efforts by the All-Indian Tennis Association (AITA) to shift the venue to a neutral location. The AITA left …

THE HAGUE: Chinese grandmaster Wei Yi claimed the Tata Steel Chess Tournament title for the first time in the Netherlands on Sunday, beating Gukesh Dommaraju from India in a sensational tiebreak decider. It was the 86th edition of the prestigious chess tournament held at Wijk aan Zee, a village on the Dutch west coast. In the final, the 24-year-old grandmaster …

Shamar Joseph’s exceptional talent took center stage, orchestrating a remarkable sequence of events that left Australia astonished at the Gabba. The West Indies, after 27 years, clinched a historic Test victory against Australia, prevailing by a mere nine runs. The pursuit of a modest 216 for a decisive 2-0 series triumph seemed well within Australia’s grasp, with the hosts comfortably positioned …

The vibrant city of Karachi recently played host to a landmark event with its first World Athletics-approved marathon, attracting over 1000 participants across various categories. In the spotlight was Aamir Sohail, who emerged victorious in the gruelling 42.2-kilometer full marathon. Clocking in at an impressive 2 hours, 36 minutes, and 9 seconds, Sohail secured the top spot, with Israr Khatak …

Pakistan,s first-ever international female Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Fighter, Anita Karim, defeated Italy’s Adriana Fusini on Friday at Bangkok’s iconic Lumpinee Stadium in Thailand. The Girl from Hunza Valley made the nation proud with a remarkable win. The MMA fighter has previously won many accolades at local and international levels, the athlete emerged victorious at the Pakistan Grappling Challenge during …

In a shocking turn of events, Vince McMahon, the iconic figure behind the global wrestling phenomenon WWE, has resigned from his executive role at both WWE and its parent company, TKO Group Holdings. The resignation comes in the wake of grave allegations, including accusations of sex trafficking and rape, levied against McMahon by former WWE employee Janel Grant. According to …

In an extraordinary gathering of cricket excellence, Edgbaston is set to host the highly anticipated World Championship of Legends (WCL) this summer. Featuring luminaries like Shahid Afridi, Yuvraj Singh, and Kevin Pietersen, the T20 tournament is approved by the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB)on showcasing retired and non-contracted players from cricketing powerhouses England, India, Pakistan, Australia, West Indies, and …

Fortune Barisal, a prominent franchise in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), has vehemently refuted allegations of match-fixing involving Pakistani all-rounder Shoaib Malik, labeling them as unfounded. The controversy stemmed from a social media post that claimed Malik’s contract with Barisal had been terminated due to fixing allegations. However, Barisal team’s media manager, Sikander, dismissed these claims as baseless. According to …

Fawad Hasan Fawad expresses concerns over FIFA Normalization Committee. Federal Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination Fawad Hasan Fawad has expressed dissatisfaction with the performance of the FIFA Normalization Committee for Pakistan citing a failure to conduct elections in the past four years. In an exclusive interview, Minister Fawad revealed that he has written a letter to FIFA addressing these concerns. Highlighting his …

The International League T20 (ILT20) witnessed a joyous reunion as veteran pacer Muhammad Amir expressed his happiness at playing alongside the formidable Shaheen Shah Afridi in the same team. The much-anticipated partnership between the two Pakistani bowling stalwarts took fans down memory lane, as they last played together in international cricket back in 2020. However, this time, the duo showcased …

Shaheen Afridi’s deadly spell of three wickets for 22 runs and breezy knocks from Wanindu Hasaranga and Azam Khan guided Desert Vipers to a six-wicket win over defending champions Gulf Giants in the seventh match of the DP World ILT20 Season 2 at the Dubai International Stadium. The clash of the finalists of the first edition saw Afridi’s spell restrict …

MELBOURNE: China’s top-ranked tennis player Zheng Qinwen will make her top-10 debut when the WTA rankings are updated next Monday. Zheng reached her maiden Grand Slam singles semifinal after fighting back to down unseeded Anna Kalinskaya of Russia 6-7 (4), 6-3, 6-1 on Wednesday. The 21-year-old becomes the second player from the Chinese mainland to rank among the top 10, …

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chief Election Commissioner Shah Khawar has assumed the charge of his additional office of the acting chairman of the board. He was welcomed in the office by Chief Operating Officer Salman Naseer and directors of the board. The acting chairman will hold meetings with PCB officials on important matters. Khawar has been appointed to hold elections …

Former English fast bowler Ian Pont, who currently runs a fast bowling academy in England, has shared that they use video clips of Pakistan’s emerging fast bowler Muhammad Zeeshan to motivate young talents at their academy. In a recent podcast on social media, Ian Pont mentioned that we use his video clips to demonstrate the correct way to bowl. We’ve …

Pakistan men’s hockey team has ascended one place in the International Hockey Federation (FIH) rankings, landing at 15th after their recent participation in the Paris Olympics qualifiers held in Muscat, Oman. Despite the disappointment of failing to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics, the Green Shirts have shown resilience in the rankings. The current top three teams according to FIH …

The International Cricket Council (ICC) recently unveiled the Men’s Test and ODI Teams of the Year 2023, recognizing outstanding individual performances throughout the calendar year. However, to the dismay of Pakistani cricket fans, no players from Pakistan secured a spot in either team. Pat Cummins, the captain of the Test Team of the Year, led Australia to their historic World …

MELBOURNE: China’s Zhang Zhizhen made another piece of Chinese tennis history here on Tuesday when he and Tomas Machac of the Czech Republic produced a masterclass to reach the men’s doubles semifinals at the Australian Open. The unseeded pairing of Zhang and Machac overwhelmed Ariel Behar and Adam Pavlasek 6-3, 6-1 in a one-sided quarterfinal that lasted just one hour. …

Pakistan’s spinners ran through New Zealand to pick up a consolation 42-run win in the fifth and final Twenty20 international on Sunday and avoid a series clean sweep. The tourists lost the five-match series 4-1 but it ended on a positive note as they dismissed the Black Caps for a paltry 92 in defence of 134-8. Part-time offspinner Iftikhar Ahmed …

MELBOURNE, Australia: China’s Zhang Zhizhen and Tomas Machac of the Czech Republic stunned third seeds and former champions Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury in a men’s doubles thriller on Sunday to reach the quarterfinals at the Australian Open. The unseeded pairing of Zhang and Machac came from behind to win 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 in one hour and 36 minutes. Zhang, …

Following the resignation of Zaka Ashraf as a PCB chairman, the former Pakistan cricket team captain Moin Khan has entered the race for the chairmanship of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Sources close to the development reveal that Moin Khan has engaged in discussions with government officials, and is scheduled to visit Islamabad on Monday. It is anticipated that Moin …

In a recent turn of events, Pakistani cricketer Sarfaraz Ahmed has vehemently denied the circulating reports suggesting his farewell to Pakistan. Speaking exclusively to Samaa Digital, the former captain expressed his disbelief and dismay over the news, asserting that such reports are entirely baseless. “I can’t even think of leaving Pakistan. Confirm before running such fabricated news,” Sarfaraz Ahmed emphasised …

A Nishan-e-Haider Football Championship and talent hunt organized by the Pakistan Army is underway in North Waziristan. The 14-day tournament conducted by the Pakistan Army is being held in Miranshah of North Waziristan wherein 24 teams from the district, including Bannu and Lakki Marwat, are participating. The matches are being held at the Younis Khan Stadium in Miranshah and will …

In a surprising turn of events, renowned Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik has exchanged vows with popular Pakistani actor Sana Javed, adding a new chapter to his personal life. The nuptial ceremony, held on Saturday, January 20, was unveiled to the world through the athlete’s social media accounts. This union comes amidst swirling rumors surrounding Shoaib Malik’s relationship with former Indian …

New Zealand batters Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips scored unbeaten half-centuries to guide their side to a thumping seven-wicket win over Pakistan in the fourth T20 at the Hagley Oval on Friday. New Zealand extended their lead to 4-0 in the series after chasing the 159-run target in 18.1 overs. Pakistan’s captain Shaheen Afridi gave his team the early advantage …

The DP World ILT20 season 2, with a galaxy of star-studded teams, takes off from tomorrow January 19 (Friday). This one-month long contest consisting of six teams, is an Emirates Cricket Board’s event, and has a List A status granted by the International Cricket Council (ICC).  On Thursday, team captains and vice captains who assembled at the Dubai International Stadium …

The Pakistan cricket team reached here on Thursday from Dunedin for the last two T20I against New Zealand. The fourth T20I of the five-match series between Pakistan and New Zealand will take place at the Hagley Oval tomorrow, while the last match will be played at the same venue on Sunday. Notably, New Zealand attained an unassailable 3-0 lead in …

India’s explosive batter Suryakumar Yadav underwent a successful groin surgery in Munich, Germany yesterday to treat a sports hernia. The 33-year-old batter took to his official X (formerly Twitter) account to thank his fans for their concern and announced that he will return to the field soon. “I want to thank everyone for their concerns and well wishes for my …

New Zealand completed their Twenty20 series against Pakistan at the University Oval in Dunedin on Wednesday with two matches remaining after opener Finn Allen hit a career-high 137 off 62 balls. In the third game of the five-match series, the Black Caps were put into bat and triumphed by 45 runs after holding Pakistan to 179 for seven and amassing …

Afghanistan’s leg-spinner Rashid Khan has been ruled out of cricket for an indefinite period. Rashid Khan has been suffering from back pain during his last game played in the ICC World Cup. In this regard, Jonathan Trott, the coach of the Afghanistan cricket team, says that no time can be given for the return of Rashid Khan, his back pain …

Legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar recently fell victim to a deepfake video circulating on social media, promoting the gaming app “Skyward Aviator Quest.” In the manipulated video, Tendulkar appears to endorse the app’s potential for users to earn money. The deepfake not only replicates his facial features but also mimics his voice, showcasing the concerning misuse of technology. Tendulkar, however, promptly …

LONDON: Argentine superstar Lionel Messi retained the best FIFA men’s player award here on Monday, two months after he claimed the Ballon d’Or. The 36-year-old was absent from the ceremony held in London, while Pep Guardiola, who coached Messi at Barcelona, showed up to collect the trophy for the men’s best coach. The Spaniard steered Manchester City to the Premier …

Amidst the ongoing New Zealand tour, there is noticeable tension within the Pakistani team, as reported by local media, particularly concerning matters related to granting No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for T20 leagues. The players are expressing discontent with the stern approach of team director Mohammad Hafeez. Relations between Hafeez and senior players are less than ideal. According to the media …

MELBOURNE: China’s Zhang Zhizhen has maintained his form from a career-best year in 2023 to reach the second round at the Australian Open for the first time. The top-ranked male player from China beat Argentinian veteran Federico Coria 6-4, 7-6(3), 7-6(5) at Melbourne Park on Monday in two hours and 33 minutes. It makes Zhang, the world No. 54, the …

LONDON: World No. 1 Ronnie O’Sullivan came from 6-3 down to overturn Ali Carter 10-7 on Sunday, winning his eighth Snooker Masters title. O’Sullivan had not been in his best form for the whole week and struggled when the final started. He trailed world No. 10 Carter 6-3 but regrouped by taking three frames in a row for a 6-6 …

GEMS Modern Academy, Dubai (Gulf Giants representative) lived up to the billing as they defeated The Winchester School (Dubai Capitals representative) in the final of the ILT20 Schools Cup by six wickets in a match that went down to the final over. The two teams were supported by DP World ILT20 Season 2 stars at the final at the ICC …

Hosts New Zealand are leading the best-of-five series after beating Pakistan again by 21 runs in the second T20I that took place in their country’s Hamilton city on Sunday. Pakistan could only score 173 runs while chasing 195 runs accumulated by the host team. Apart from Babar Azam and Fakhr Zaman, the entire batting line failed; they remained prominent on …

The South African Cricket Board has taken the decision to relieve David Teeger from the captaincy of the Under-19 World Cup team due to his public support for Israel, sparking concerns over potential protests and threats to the tournament. Teeger, who was honoured as the Rising Star at the Jewish Achiever Awards in October 2023, dedicated his award to Jewish …

HARBIN: Following the footprints of the Beijing Olympic Winter Games, the 9th Asian Winter Games in Harbin in 2025 will continue to fuel the enthusiasm for winter sports. The capital city of northeast China’s Heilongjiang province already gained in exploded popularity for its remarkable winter resources this winter and hosting the Asian winter sport gala makes it all the more …