NEW DELHI, July 14(ABC): India’s out-of-form star batsman Virat Kohli was missing from the 18-member squad announced by selectors Thursday for the upcoming five-match Twenty20 series in West Indies. Former captain Kohli, 33, has been going through a prolonged lean patch and has not hit a century since 2019, with his future now a matter of intense public debate in …

BIRMINGHAM, US, July 14 (ABC): Pakistan’s promising cueist and International Billiards and Snooker Federation (IBSF) World Snooker Champion Ahsan Ramzan continued exhibiting his brilliance at the international level as he got off to a flying start in the World Games 2022, outwitting USA’s Ahmed Aly Elsayed 3-1 in Birmingham, Alabama, USA on Thursday. The 11th edition of the multi-sport that …

ISLAMABAD, July 14 (ABC): Australian known pitch curator Damien Hough, head curator of Adelaide Oval, will land in Lahore today (Friday) on a two-week tour during which he will also visit Karachi, Multan and Rawalpindi. Prior to his departure on 28 July, Hough will give lectures to the curators and the coaches of cricket and city cricket associations on pitch …

GALE, July 14 (ABC): Sri Lanka on Thursday announced their 18 men squad for first test against Pakistan. Left-arm spinners Praveen Jayawickrama and Lasith Embuldeniya have been left for the two-match Test series against Pakistan starting tomorrow (Saturday). Inexperienced left-arm spinners, Prabath Jayasuriya, who picked up a record 12 wickets on Test debut against Australia, and uncapped Dunith Wellalage, who …

COLOMBO, July 14(ABC): Pakistan Test series against Sri Lanka is in doubts as the Lankan government has declared a  state of emergency  after President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled from the country. The Pakistan cricket team is currently in Sri Lanka for the Test series starting from July 16. The two teams are schedule to play two Test matches in Galle and …

DUBAI, July 14(ABC): Indian fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah has added to his ever-growing list of accolades by becoming the world’s top ranked one-day bowler on the ICC Men’s ODI Player Rankings. Fresh from his match-winning spell of 6/19 in the opening match of the three-game ODI series against England at The Oval on Tuesday, Bumrah has claimed top spot on …

PROVIDENCE, July 14(ABC): Bangladesh s array of spin bowling talent combined to skittle the West Indies for just 108 with the visitors now heavily favoured to complete a series-clinching victory in the second one-day international of a three-match series at the Guyana National Stadium on Wednesday. Off-spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz led the rout with figures of four for 29 while …

NEWPORT, July 13(ABC): Britain s Andy Murray cruised into the second round of the ATP Hall of Fame Open on Tuesday with a 6-2, 6-0 romp over American Sam Querrey. In windy conditions, the 35-year-old Scotsman captured the last 10 games, taking advantage of all six of his break-point chances to advance in 54 minutes over 281st-ranked Querrey. “It was …

THE OVAL, July 13(ABC): The Indian cricket team trumped Pakistan in the latest ICC ODI team rankings after they defeated England in the first fixture of the three-match series at the Oval this Tuesday. The Men In Blue have reached the third spot, overtaking Pakistan, who now stand fourth on the list. The comprehensive 10-wicket win over England propelled India …

DUBLIN, July 12(ABC): A dominant bowling performance from New Zealand pinned down Ireland to 216 and helped the visitors sew up the three-match ODI series, with one game to go. Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy, Michael Bracewell, Mitchell Santner and Glenn Phillips shared the spoils for New Zealand. That Ireland passed 200, on a Malahide track that favoured both the seamers and spinners, was largely …

THE OVAL, July 12(ABC): Whither the 50-over format? Or should that be wither, as far as the World Champions are concerned. On a hot and humid afternoon at the Kia Oval, not even the reunion of England’s Class of 2019 top-order could resist the extraordinary skills of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami, who inflicted on Jos Buttler – in his first official match as …

MORZINE, July 12(ABC): Tadej Pogacar s rivals have been trying to come up with a plan to unsettle the two-time defending Tour de France champion but they have yet to find a crack in the Slovenian s bulletproof armour. After nine days of racing, Pogacar has already won two stages and leads last year s runner-up Jonas Vingegaard by 39 seconds …

LONDON, July 12(ABC): Race-winning U.S. IndyCar driver Colton Herta is trying out a Formula One car for the first time with McLaren at Portugal s Portimao circuit this week, the British-based team said. The 22-year-old Andretti Autosport driver will be behind the wheel of last year s McLaren MCL35M as part of the team s Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) programme. The …

MELBOURNE, July 12(ABC): Pace legend Waqar Younis has said that he believes Pakistan have every chance of winning this year’s International Cricket Council’s (ICC) T20 World Cup. “We stand a really good chance of doing well at this World Cup,” Waqar said while speaking to ICC Digital in Melbourne. The Babar Azam-led side is currently rated third on the ICC Men’s T20I …

COLOMBO, July 12(ABC): Dinesh Chandimal smashed a maiden double hundred and Prabath Jayasuriya claimed 12 wickets in a dream debut to script Sri Lanka’s series-levelling victory by an innings and 39 runs in the second test against Australia on Monday. Sri Lanka, beaten inside three days in the series opener, amassed 554 all out after five of their six batsmen …

LAHORE, July 12(ABC): Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ramiz Raja will embark on an important trip to England on Friday to attend two important meetings. According to the details, the PCB chief will attend meetings of the International Cricket Council (ICC) and Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC). MCC’s members will meet on July 15 and 16 to discuss cricket matters and …

NOTTINGHAM, July 11(ABC): England defeated India by 17 runs in the third and final T20 international at Trent Bridge on Sunday to deny the tourists a 3-0 series whitewash. India, set 216 for victory, were in trouble at 13-2 inside three overs. But a stunning century from Suryakumar Yadav, who made 117 off just 55 balls, including 14 fours and …

LONDON, July 10(ABC): Novak Djokovic won a seventh Wimbledon title and 21st Grand Slam crown on Sunday with a four-set triumph over Nick Kyrgios, whose challenge unravelled in frustration after a blistering start. Top seed Djokovic won 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7/3) to equal Pete Sampras s mark of seven titles at the All England Club and move within one of …

BIRMINGHAM, July 10(ABC): Bhuvneshwar Kumar starred as India overpowered England by 49 runs to win the second Twenty20 international at Edgbaston on Saturday and so take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. England, set 171 to win, were dismissed for 121, with India swing bowler Kumar taking 3-15. Kumar set the tone from the start of England s chase, having …

ISLAMABAD, July 9(ABC): Pakistan women’s national cricket team’s training camp for the tri-series in Ireland and the Commonwealth Games ended in Islamabad on Saturday. The Bismah Maroof-led team will fly out for Belfast via Dubai in the wee hours of July 12 (Tuesday). The team will take a two-day Eid-ul-Adha break Sunday and on Monday while preparing for their journey …

LONDON, July 9(ABC): Elena Rybakina produced a sensational display of power tennis to beat Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur 3-6 6-2 6-2 and become the first player from Kazakhstan to win a Grand Slam singles title at Wimbledon on Saturday. Jabeur, bidding to become the first African woman and first Arab to win a Grand Slam singles title, settled quickly to take …

LAHORE, July 9(ABC): Pakistani mountaineer Shehroze Kashif Saturday said that he saw death “very closely”, as he was stranded on Nanga Parbat while descending along with veteran mountaineer Fazal Ali. Shehroze and Fazal were rescued and taken to Gilgit from Camp One of the 8,126-metre high mountain on Friday. And, now the 20-year-old has reached Lahore today. Speaking to the …

LONDON, July 9(ABC): Record-breaking Novak Djokovic hit top form after a sluggish start against Britain s Cameron Norrie on Friday, reaching an eighth Wimbledon final, where he will face Nick Kyrgios. The Serbian top seed was uncharacteristically off-colour in the first set but roared back to win 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4, playing near-flawless tennis. It will be a record 32nd …

KARACHI/COLOMBO, July 9(ABC): The Pakistan cricket team was forced to cancel its practice session scheduled for Saturday after Sri Lankan police imposed a curfew in some areas of Colombo ahead of violent protests against the government. An official of the Pakistan team confirmed that the practice session was cancelled due to the political situation in the country. “Pakistan’s training session …

KARACHI, July 8(ABC): The Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) Coaching Centre in Karachi has been severely affected by rain. According to details, athletics track and football ground were submerged by rainwater after heavy downpour on Friday. Poor drainage also meant that the outdoor facilities of the centre were inaccessible to local athletes who train at the venue. The basic function of …

DUBAI, July 8(ABC): The hallowed turf of the MCG was dropped into Melbourne’s city centre, as excitement builds for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022, starting in just 100 days. The upcoming tournament was launched with the Yarra River as the backdrop, blessed by former and current international stars and a number of eager fans who will no doubt …

LONDON, July 8(ABC): Novak Djokovic is preparing for Friday’s Wimbledon semi-final against Cameron Norrie safe in the knowledge that his greatest rival Rafael Nadal no longer stands in the way of a 21st Grand Slam triumph. The Spanish second seed was Thursday forced to pull out before his last-four match against Nick Kyrgios with an abdominal injury, admitting defeat in …

PROVIDENCE, July 8(ABC): Captain Nicholas Pooran was at his devastating best in blazing the West Indies to a comfortable five-wicket win over Bangladesh in the third and final T20 International at the Guyana National Stadium on Thursday. Pooran s unbeaten 74, and 55 from opening batsman Kyle Mayers anchored the home side s pursuit of the visitors  total of 163 for five. …

SOUTHAMPTON, July 8(ABC): Hardik Pandya blasted his maiden Twenty20 international half-century and took four wickets as India beat England by 50 runs in Southampton on Thursday. In the opening game of the three-match series, Pandya powered to his 50 off 30 balls as India scored 198-8. The 28-year-old hit six fours and one towering six, off Matt Parkinson, before being …

LAHORE, July 7(ABC): The Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) on Thursday while declaring the presence of Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) President Khalid Sajjad Khokhar, Secretary Asif Bajwa and Treasurer Muhammad Ikhlaq unconstitutional de-notified them from their posts. According to a notification issued by the Sports Board, the four-year constitutional term of the Hockey Federation officials expired on May 14. While, after …

LONDON, July 7(ABC): Rafael Nadal admits he does not know whether he will be fit to face Nick Kyrgios in Friday s Wimbledon semi-finals after an abdominal injury nearly forced him to quit against Taylor Fritz. The second seed had to take a medical time-out in the second set but battled through to win 3-6, 7-5, 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (10/4) …

COLOMBO, July 7(ABC): A member of the player support personnel of the Pakistan Test squad has tested positive for COVID-19 and sent into five days isolation, the spokesperson for the Pakistan cricket team said Thursday, as the green shirts gear up for the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka. The spokesperson said that Masseur Malang Ali’s test came back positive …

WEB DESK, July 7(ABC): Historic rivals Pakistan and India will take on each other next month in the Asia Cup, slated for August in Sri Lanka, Indian media outlets reported. The Men in Blue, who will take on the Men In Green on August 28, are the defending champions of the tournament. No hurdles are expected as the Board of …

KARACHI, July 7(ABC): Former Pakistani skipper Shahid Afridi, who often raises his voice for Kashmir, gave a clear message to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that the Kashmir Premier League (KPL) will happen to take place this year. Speaking to the press, after being signed as the brand ambassador of KPL 2 at a local hotel …

COLOMBO, July 7(ABC): Pakistan’s fast bowling coach Shaun Tait expects no spinning wickets during Pakistan versus Sri Lanka Test series, as the hosts would avoid preparing spinning tracks amidst Pakistan’s quality spin attack. “There are talks around spin, obviously, for obvious reasons,” Tait said in an interview. “But I think, you know, you [Pakistan] might be the team that changes …

COLOMBO, July 7(ABC): Sri Lanka faced a big blow Thursday as three players tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of the second Test against Australia, scheduled to start in Galle tomorrow (Friday). The affected cricketers include Dhananjaya de Silva, Asitha Fernando, and Jeffrey Vandersay, who have been ruled out of the squad. The COVID-19 tests for the rest of the squad …

BEIJING, July 6(ABC): China’s four national football teams will train abroad over the next three months, the Chinese Football Association (CFA) announced here on Wednesday. China’s women’s team will train in the United States after the East Asian Cup, while the men’s U21, men’s U19 and women’s U17 teams will head to Europe. The women’s team will depart on July …

LAHORE, July 6(ABC): Pakistan Test opener Shan Masood won second second PCA Player of the Month in three months. The Professional Cricketers Association (PCA) announced on Tuesday that Shan was identified as one of the top four performers in domestic men’s cricket in June according to the PCA’s Most Valuable Player Rankings. He joined Will Jacks, James Vince, and Wayne …

BIRMINGHAM, July 6(ABC): Everything you know about Test cricket is wrong. Well that might be the conclusion of some fans who watched a resurgent England make light of a chase of 378 in the Covid-delayed fifth Test against India. It was the latest example of  Bazball  in action, with a seven-wicket win in Birmingham England s fourth successful chase in as …

CHRISTCHURCH, July 6(ABC): New Zealand’s men and women cricketers will be paid the same after a “landmark agreement” was reached to close the gender pay gap across all formats and competitions, reported. As part of a five-year deal struck between New Zealand Cricket (NZC), the six major associations and the players’ union, the women’s national team and domestic women’s players will receive …