MUNICH, Aug 20(ABC): Spain’s Alvaro Martin retained the 20km race walk title at the European Athletics Championships in Munich on Saturday. Martin, who previously won the Euro title in Berlin in 2018 but finished fourth at last year’s Tokyo Olympics, timed a personal best of 1hr 19min 11sec around the streets of the Bavarian capital in cool, rainy conditions. Sweden’s …

ISLAMABAD, Aug 20(ABC): Pakistani pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi has been advised four to six weeks rest by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Medical Advisory Committee and independent specialists, following his latest scans and reports. Shaheen had been ruled out of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) T20 Asia Cup and home series against England, but was expected to return to competitive …

LAHORE, August 19(ABC): Retired Brig Khalid Sajjad Khokhar retained the post of president after the elections of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) held in Karachi today with no observer from the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) due to the ongoing tussle between the two sports organisations. The 56th session of the Congress of Pakistan Hockey Federation was held in a local …

DOHA, August 19(ABC): A total of 2.45 million tickets have been sold for this year s World Cup in Qatar after over half a million were snapped up in the latest sales period, organisers announced on Thursday. World football s governing body FIFA said that 520,532 were sold in the period between July 5 and August 16, with Qatar, the United …

LORDS, August 19(ABC): South Africa completed a crushing innings win over England at Lord’s, dismantling the home batting line-up for the second time in three days to go 1-0 up in the series. Anrich Nortje ripped the heart out of innings with a three-wicket salvo after lunch, while Kagiso Rabada finished with match figures of 7 for 79, as England …

DUBAI, August 19(ABC): Azam Khan has become the first Pakistan player to sign up with the UAE’s International League T20. The 24-year-old wicketkeeper-batter is among the overseas players recruited by Desert Vipers, the franchise owned by Lancer Capital. Azam will be joined by Sri Lanka legspinner Wanindu Hasaranga, England wicketkeeper-batter Sam Billings and West Indies left-arm quick Sheldon Cottrell. Azam has played 74 T20s so …

LAHORE, August 19(ABC): Fast bowler Hassan Ali will participate in National T20 Cup after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) rejected his NOC request for Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2022. While rejecting Ali’s NOC, the cricket board planned a training programme for the pacer. According to the cricket board, Ali was advised to undergo a special training camp at the National …

Cincinnati, Aug 19(ABC): Top-ranked Daniil Medvedev advanced to the ATP and WTA Cincinnati Masters quarter-finals on Thursday while women’s world number one Iga Swiatek was upset by American Madison Keys. Top seed Medvedvev kept Denis Shapovalov winless against world number ones with a 7-5, 7-5 victory while Poland’s Swiatek lost 6-3, 6-4 to 2019 Cincinnati champion Keys, who needed five …

ISLAMABAD, Aug 18 (ABC): The export of sport goods from the country witnessed an increase of 10.90 percent during the first month of the current fiscal year as compared to the corresponding month of last year. The country exported sports goods worth $29.229 million in July 2022 against the exports of $26.355 million in July 2021, showing growth of 10.90 …

MUNICH, Aug 18 (ABC): World and Olympic champion Pedro Pichardo added European triple jump gold to his accolades in Munich on Wednesday while Dutchwoman Femke Bol kept her bid for an audacious track double on course. Cuban-born Pichardo, who has competed for Portugal since 2019, dominated the field with a best of 17.50 metres, Italy’s Andrea Dallavalle claiming silver with …

ISLAMABAD, Aug 17 (ABC): The National Assembly Standing Committee on Inter Provincial Coordination (IPC) wants free and fair elections of the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) to be conducted so that the national game can prosper and regain its lost past glory. The meeting which was held here under the chairmanship of Member National Assembly (MNA) Nawab Sher unanimously passed a …

ISLAMABAD, Aug 17 (ABC): The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday announced the first ever Women’s Future Tours Programme (FTP) that confirms the international cricket calendar for 10 teams over the next three years and incorporates all three formats of the game. A result of a joint effort from Members, the FTP ensures more matches for teams with the enhancement …

TOKYO, August 17(ABC): A board member for the Tokyo Olympics was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of taking bribes, prosecutors said, along with three other men connected to the scandal. Haruyuki Takahashi allegedly received $380,000 from high-street business-suit retailer Aoki Holdings, an official partner of last year’s pandemic-delayed 2020 Games. The 78-year-old was arrested along with Aoki chairman Hironori Aoki, 83, …

KARACHI, August 17(ABC): Taking a lesson from the success of the Philippines, the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) has decided to include dual-national or Pakistani origin players based in other countries in the national setup to strengthen the women’s football team. Reliable sources have confirmed that PFF has contacted over a dozen female footballers based in UK, Greece, America and UAE …

ROTTERDAM, August 16(ABC): Pakistan were nearly made to pay for leaving a few runs out there in the first innings, but sensational death bowling from their three pacers bailed out the batters and saw the visitors close out a 16-run win over Netherlands. Netherlands started their pursuit of 315 brightly but were always hampered by regular loss of wickets. Half-centuries …

LAHORE, August 16(ABC): Pakistan women’s cricket team’s fast bowler Fatima Sana has been signed by Barbados Royals for two franchise-based women tournaments in West Indies. The 20-year-old has played 40 internationals for Pakistan, including 25 ODIs and 15 T20Is. West Indies cricket board confirmed Fatima’s signing in Royals’ squad where she will be led by Hayley Matthews. The 6ixty is …

ROTTERDAM, August 16(ABC): Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chief Executive Wasim Khan Tuesday said next month’s tour of England to Pakistan will be crucial for the cricket-starved country. While speaking to journalists, he said Pakistan will soon be hosting big international teams and events regularly. Khan, the current International Cricket Council (ICC) General Manager, came to watch the opening ODI …

DUBAI, August 16(ABC): With a few days left for the T20 Asia Cup 2022, scheduled to begin on August 27, Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has named their squad for the upcoming series. In a Twitter announcement, the cricket board revealed that Mohammad Nabi will lead the squad which includes: Najibullah Zadran Afsar Zazai Azmatullah Omarzai Farid Ahmad Malik Fazalhaq Farooqi …

DUBAI, August 16(ABC): Crickets fans across the world are eagerly waiting for high-octane Pakistan vs India contest in the T20 Asia Cup 2022. The excitement for the arch-rivals clash has already skyrocketed as tickets for the match were sold out online within minutes. Nearly 0.75 million people logged in to Platinumlist — one of the most popular websites in UAE …

KARACHI, August 16(ABC): Pakistan all-rounder Shoaib Malik has no plans on taking retirement from international cricket. The announcement was made by the former cricket captain’s manager Arsalan Shah on Twitter. Shah took to the microblogging website to refute rumours of Malik’s possible retirement after he was dropped from the team. “Attention: For all those asking, Shoaib Malik is not announcing his retirement, …

NEW DELHI, August 16(ABC): International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) has suspended the football governing body of India, All India Football Federation (AIFF), with immediate effect, citing undue influence from third parties, constituting “serious violation of the FIFA Statutes.” The suspension of AIFF has given India a big blow as the country’s national football teams will be barred from participating …

ROTTERDAM, August 16(ABC): Two Pakistani players — pacer Naseem Shah and all-rounder Salman Ali Agha — are set to make their one-day international (ODI) debut during the Green Shirts’ match against the Netherlands. Babar Azam-led Pakistan ODI squad is all set to feature in the first-ever bilateral series against the Netherlands, scheduled to begin today (Tuesday) in Rotterdam. Pakistan, who …

LAHORE, August 16(ABC): Pakistan’s star athlete, Arshad Nadeem, who won gold medals for Pakistan in the javelin throw events at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and the Islamic Solidarity Games in the Turkish city of Konya, has returned home, reported on Tuesday. Arshad Nadeem arrived in Lahore late at night from Istanbul on board a foreign airline flight. At the …

KINGSTON, August 15(ABC): West Indies handed New Zealand their first limited-overs defeat of the year in cruising to a consolation eight-wicket win in the third and final T20 International at Sabina Park on Sunday. Odean Smith improved on his career-best T20I bowling figures for the third time in four matches as the fast bowling all-rounder claimed three for 29. That …

WEB DESK, August 15(ABC): On the occassion of the country’s diamond jubilee, Pakistani cricketer Mohammad Rizwan sent a meaningful message out to his fans, urging them to practice some self-reflection before pointing fingers at others. Speaking during a Twitter Space hosted by the  Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the star wicketkeeper-batter said: “We should look at ourselves first and what we’re …

KARACHI, August 15(ABC): Pakistan’s men’s football team may finally get some international matches as the governing body of the game has started discussions about the option with multiple Asian countries to organise friendlies in Islamabad next month. According to a source, the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) is eyeing to organise these matches during the FIFA window available between September 19-27. …

LAHORE, August 15(ABC): Unhappy with the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) new central contracts, Pakistan’s leading cricketers, including Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi and Mohammad Rizwan, have asked the board to amend their contracts. Though the key players agreed to sign the PCB’s central contracts after successfully negotiating changes in several clauses, ESPNcricinfo, in its report, said that they probably signed on the …

AMSTERDAM, August 15(ABC): Dutch cricket board Koninklijke Nederlandse Cricket Bond (KNCB) has announced its 15-member squad for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League fixtures against Pakistan. The three-match One-day International (ODI) series between Pakistan and Netherlands is scheduled to be kicked off from August 16. According to the Dutch cricket board, “The Netherlands will play three World Cup …

LAHORE, August 11(ABC): By Sohail Ali Pakistans all formats skipper Babar Azam has said that his main target is not to make records but help his side strike victory in every given match. Addressing a press conference here at the Gaddafi Stadium on Thursday, Babar Azam said: “I am grateful to Allah Almighty for the feats I have been earning …

CHESTER, UNITED KINGDOM, August 11(ABC): Manchester City and France footballer Benjamin Mendy on Wednesday began his trial for the alleged rape and assault of seven women, which could see his playing career end in jail if convicted. Mendy, 28, arrived at Chester Crown Court in northwest England wearing a dark blue suit and tie to face eight counts of rape, …

DOHA, August 11(ABC): The opening match for this year’s World Cup, between hosts Qatar and Ecuador, will be brought forward by one day to November 20, World Cup sources told on Wednesday. The move, which should be approved by the FIFA Council before the 100-day countdown starts this week, will retain the tradition of the first match featuring the host …

KARACHI, August 11(ABC): Aiming to develop future starts, the winners of the seventh edition of the Pakistan Super League and most active franchise Lahore Qalandars will participate in a triangular T20 tournament in Namibia next month. The tournament was officially confirmed on Wednesday by the organisers. Earlier, it was expected to be a quadrangular tournament but India’s Bengal T20 side …

WEB DESK, August 10(ABC): World-class fast bowler Trent Boult was released from his central contract with New Zealand Cricket (NZC) at his own request on Wednesday so he can spend less time travelling and more time at home with his family. The 33-year-old, who has played 70 Tests and 137 limited overs internationals since 2011, will continue to play for …

WEB DESK, August 10(ABC): Pakistan’s tally of medals in the Commonwealth Games 2022 mounted to eight, mainly thanks to the five medals won by wrestlers. Arshad Nadeem is the latest on the bandwagon to bag his Gold in the javelin throw. On August 8, Nadeem won the Gold medal — the country’s second gold in the ongoing Commonwealth Games in …

CAPE TOWN, August 10(ABC): Former South African umpire Rudi Koertzen, labelled the ‘slow finger of death’ by the media, has died in a car accident, a family member confirmed on Tuesday. He was 73. Koertzen got into a car accident while he was travelling back to his hometown along with his friends. “Rudi suffered fatal injuries after an accident near …

NEW YORK, August 10(ABC): American great Serena Williams said on Tuesday she was “evolving away from tennis” and planned to retire from the sport she dominated with 23 Grand Slam titles following the US Open tournament, which begins later this month. On Monday, Williams played only her second singles match since she returned to action at Wimbledon in June after …

BIRMINGHAM, August 5(ABC): Pakistan are out of the medal race in the hockey competition in the Commonwealth Games 2022. The invincible Australians showed Pakistan the door in their pool-A match on Thursday. The Pakistani players looked helpless in their efforts to make a comeback as their rivals dominated the game from the very beginning of the faceoff. The Pool-A toppers, …

KARACHI, August 4(ABC): Pakistan’s Olympian Arshad Nadeem is optimistic to win a medal at the Commonwealth Games (CWG) 2022 despite complications related to an elbow injury. Arshad, who will directly contest in the final of the Javelin Throw event in CWG 2022 on August 7, while speaking to  over the phone from Birmingham, expressed full confidence in dominating the multi-sports event. …

BRISTOL, August 4(ABC): Reeza Hendricks hit his fourth successive Twenty20 fifty as South Africa defeated Ireland by 21 runs in their series opener at Bristol on Wednesday. Hendricks, who hit three half-centuries in the Proteas  recent 2-1 series win over England, top-scored with 74 in a total of 211-5 and shared a third-wicket partnership of 112 with Aiden Markram (56). …

LAHORE, August 4(ABC): Pakistan’s left-handed batter Shan Masood, despite being in the form of his life, was not part of the squads announced for the ODI series against the Netherlands and Asia Cup 2022. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) unveiled squads earlier today which had few changes. Pacer Hasan was replaced by Naseem Shah while Salman Ali Agha returned to the …