Najmul Hossain Shanto carried his strong form from the white-ball game into Tests. Photo: AFP Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto struck a majestic century while Mominul Haque narrowly missed out on three figures as the hosts seized complete control against Pakistan on the opening day of the first Test of the ICC World Test Championship…
The possibility of Babar Azam returning as T20 captain has been ruled out. Photo: PCB KARACHI: The possibility of Babar Azam returning as T20 captain has been ruled out. According to board sources, no such proposal is currently under discussion, and the focus remains on giving opportunities to new talent in modern cricket. According to…
Former New Zealand captain Kane Williamson will continue his pursuit of 10,000 Test runs. Photo: AFP LONDON: Kane Williamson will continue his pursuit of 10,000 Test runs after being named Thursday in New Zealand’s squad to play Ireland and England in May and June. The squad features a shock omission from the England leg of…
Hijab Ajmal demands government’s support, training facilities locally. Photo: Express PESHAWAR: Young sailor Hijab Ajmal from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa has emerged as the province’s only gold medalist in sailing after delivering a historic performance at the 35th National Games held in Karachi in December 2025. The 15-member sailing contingent from K-P competed in nine categories against strong…
Shaheen Shah Afridi will be in action against Bangladesh in the upcoming Test series. Photo. AFP/File Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi says the team is fully prepared for a demanding Test schedule and has set its sights on reaching the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025–27 final, with consistency and adaptability key to their…
LONDON: Sidelined with a hamstring injury, Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe has sparked anger among a section of the club’s supporters after a holiday in Sardinia, triggering a fresh media storm ahead of Sunday’s Clasico against Barcelona. For many Madrid fans, the striker’s Italian getaway – during rest days granted by Real Madrid to injured…
FIFA President Gianni Infantino defends ticketing policies for the World Cup at the Milken Institute Conference in Beverly Hills. Photo: AFP BEVERLY HILLS: FIFA president Gianni Infantino on Tuesday defended World Cup ticket prices, insisting that football’s global governing body was obliged to take advantage of US laws that allow tickets to be resold for…
Atletico Madrid’s Argentinian coach Diego Simeone applauds the fans after his team’s Champions League semi-final defeat by Arsenal. Photo: AFP LONDON: Arsenal’s Champions League elimination of Atletico Madrid condemned Diego Simeone’s side to a fifth straight season without silverware, inevitably raising questions over the Argentine coach’s future. Asked if he had the strength to continue…
Unsociable match times in Asia means monetisation opportunities for broadcasters come down massively. Photo: AFP LONDON: Swathes of football-mad Asia from China to India and Thailand are yet to confirm broadcast rights for the biggest-ever World Cup with kick-off barely one month away. Unsociable match times in the region is one reason why hundreds of…
PARIS: FIFA have invited the Iranian football federation (FFIRI) to their headquarters for talks on the country’s participation at this year’s World Cup, a source told AFP on Tuesday. Mehdi Taj, the head of the Iranian federation, said Iran’s presence at the tournament was contingent on guarantees from FIFA chief Gianni Infantino. “We firmly believe…