Author: A Sports

DUBAI: Ace Javelin thrower and Olympic gold medalist Arshad Nadeem shared a ‘golden moment’ after meeting former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov on the sidelines of the World Sports Summit.

The two-day summit took place on December 29-30, bringing together over 1,500 athletes, sports leaders, and policymakers to discuss the future of the industry under the theme “Uniting the World Through Sport.”

Nadeem shared the update on his social media account. “Meeting Khabib at the World Sports Summit,” he wrote.

Earlier in the day, he also met FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who inquired about the distance of the record throw.

“It was a 92-metre throw, and now I want to break that record,” Nadeem told the football chief.

During the event, Arshad Nadeem was conferred with the ‘Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Sports Award’ in the Global Breakthrough Athlete category here at the World Sports Summit.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Nadeem was honoured with the award on the back of his landmark triumph at the Paris Olympics, where he ended up with a gold medal after a record-breaking throw of 92.97 metres.

With that throw, Arshad broke Pakistan’s gold medal jinx at the Olympics, marking the country’s first in 40 years.

Following the accolade, Nadeem expressed pride in the achievement, noting that the award would encourage emerging athletes in nurturing the sport in Pakistan.

“Alhamdulillah. Honored to receive the Global Breakthrough Athlete Award at the World Sports Summit in Dubai. This prestigious award was presented by His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Muhammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum,” Arhsad wrote on his Instagram handle.

“Sincere thanks to the Dubai Sports Council for the kind invitation and warm hospitality. Thankful for the unwavering support, prayers, and encouragement from everyone who stood by me throughout this journey,” Arshad added.

“Proud to represent Pakistan on the global stage,” he concluded with gratitude.

It is pertinent to mention that the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Sports Award recognises exceptional sporting achievements and contributions worldwide.

READ: Afghanistan announce squad for ICC T20 World Cup 2026

DUBAI: Pakistan spinner Noman Ali has reached a career-high position in the ICC Men’s Test bowling rankings, moving to joint second place in the latest update released on Wednesday.

Noman now shares the second spot with Australia’s Mitchell Starc, with both bowlers sitting on 843 rating points, while India’s Jasprit Bumrah continues to lead the rankings.

The reshuffle comes after Australia captain Pat Cummins dropped two places, opening the door for Noman’s rise, while Starc moved up following his four-wicket haul in the Boxing Day Test defeat against England.

The surge caps a remarkable year for Noman in red-ball cricket. The left-arm spinner has taken 30 wickets in just four Tests, averaging 17.50 with an economy rate of 3.40.

His performances include three five-wicket hauls and two ten-wicket match returns, underlining his growing influence in Pakistan’s Test setup.

Australia’s Scott Boland also enjoyed a significant climb, moving up two places to seventh with a career-best rating of 810.

England fast bowler Josh Tongue made one of the biggest jumps after his Player-of-the-Match performance against Australia, climbing 13 places to 30th following figures of 5-45 and 2-44 in the match.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Among Pakistani bowlers, Shaheen Shah Afridi slipped one position to 24th, while Mohammad Abbas dropped to 28th and Sajid Khan fell to 29th with 590 points. Spinner Abrar Ahmed moved up one spot to 50th with 401 points.

Khurram Shahzad and Aamer Jamal maintained their 70th and 78th rankings, respectively, while Asif Afridi remains 95th on the list.

In the ICC Men’s Test batting rankings, Saud Shakeel continued his upward progress, climbing to ninth with 734 points. Mohammad Rizwan also improved his standing, rising to 21st.

Babar Azam retained his 23rd position, while all-rounder Salman Ali Agha jumped to 27th with 630 points.

Pakistan Test captain Shan Masood stayed at 44th, Imam-ul-Haq at 51st, Abdullah Shafique at 56th, and Kamran Ghulam slipped to 85th. Aamer Jamal and Saim Ayub are joint 95th.

At the top of the batting rankings, England’s Joe Root remains number one, with Harry Brook moving up three places to second. New Zealand’s Kane Williamson dropped to third.

READ: Afghanistan announce squad for ICC T20 World Cup 2026

KABUL: Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) on Wednesday announced a 15-member squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, with Rashid Khan as captain.

The selected squad will also take part in the T20I series against West Indies, scheduled to begin on January 19, 2026, providing Afghanistan with a crucial opportunity to fine-tune combinations ahead of the World Cup.

The headline inclusions in the squad are the returning Gulbadin Naib and fast bowler Naveen-ul-Haq.

Naib’s recall adds experience and balance to the middle order, while Naveen makes his comeback after recovering from a shoulder injury, strengthening Afghanistan’s pace attack.

Fazalhaq Farooqi, who missed the recent Bangladesh series, has also been included, further bolstering the fast-bowling resources.

Another notable change sees Mujeeb Ur Rahman reclaiming his place in the main squad, replacing young spinner AM Ghazanfar, who has been named among the reserves.

ACB chief selector Ahmad Shah Sulimankhil described the selection process as challenging but necessary.

“Gulbadin Naib is a big-match player, and his return adds depth to our squad,” Sulimankhil said.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

“We are also pleased to have Naveen-ul-Haq back, which improves the quality of our fast bowling. Leaving AM Ghazanfar out of the main squad was a difficult decision, but Mujeeb’s experience played a key role.”

Afghanistan have been drawn in Group D of the tournament, alongside New Zealand, South Africa, Canada and the UAE. Rashid Khan’s side will begin their World Cup campaign against New Zealand on February 8 in Chennai.

The team will be looking to build on their historic run in the 2024 edition, where Afghanistan reached the semi-finals for the first time in an ICC event.

During that campaign, they registered landmark victories over higher-ranked sides including New Zealand, West Indies, Australia and Bangladesh.

ACB CEO Naseeb Khan expressed optimism ahead of the tournament, particularly given the Asian conditions.

“We had a terrific run in the previous T20 World Cup and cherish those memories,” he said.

“This year’s tournament will be played in conditions familiar to our players, and hosting West Indies before the event gives us an excellent chance to prepare and finalise our best combination.”

Afghanistan squad for T20 World Cup 2026

Rashid Khan (C), Noor Ahmad, Abdullah Ahmadzai, Sediqullah Atal, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Naveen-ul-Haq, Mohammad Ishaq, Shahidullah Kamal, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Darwish Rasooli, Ibrahim Zadran.

Reserves: AM Ghazanfar, Ijaz Ahmadzai, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi.

READ: Deepti Sharma becomes all-time leading wicket-taker in women’s T20Is

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: India’s spin-bowling all-rounder Deepti Sharma scripted history on Tuesday by becoming the highest all-time wicket-taker in women’s T20Is, capping off a dominant series for the hosts against Sri Lanka.

Deepti reached the landmark during the fifth and final T20I in Thiruvananthapuram, where her dismissal of Nilakshika Silva took her tally to 152 wickets in the format.

The milestone came as India sealed a 15-run victory to complete a comprehensive 5-0 clean sweep of the series.

With the breakthrough, Deepti overtook Australia pacer Megan Schutt, who previously held the record with 151 wickets. Pakistan’s Nida Dar now sits third on the list with 144 scalps.

Player	Team	Matches	Wickets	Avg	BBI
Deepti Sharma	India	133	152	19.0	4/10
Meghan Shutt	Australia	123	151	17.7	5/15
Nida Dar	Pakistan	160	144	20.2	5/21
Henriette Ishimwe	Rwanda	117	144	10.3	5/6
Sophie Ecclestone	England	101	142	15.7	4/18

The 28-year-old achieved the feat in 133 matches since making her T20I debut in 2016, further underlining her consistency and longevity at the highest level.

Beyond the headline record, Deepti Sharma also became the first cricketer, male or female, in history to score more than 1,000 runs and claim 150 or more wickets in T20 Internationals.

She is also the first woman to take 150-plus wickets in both ODIs and T20Is.

Notably, Sharma has 334 wickets across international cricket, 20 in Tests, 162 in ODIs and 152 in T20Is.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

She is closing in on legendary fast bowler Jhulan Goswami, who leads the all-time women’s international wicket charts with 355. England great Katherine Sciver-Brunt is just ahead of Deepti with 335 wickets.

Among players from Full Member nations, only 12 women have taken 25 or more T20I wickets in a single year, and Deepti is the only one to have achieved that feat twice, in 2022 and 2024.

She also stands alone among the seven women to claim 50 or more international wickets in a calendar year, having done so in three separate years, 2022, 2024 and 2025.

READ: Pakistan Cricket in 2025: A Year Caught Between Transition and Promise

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has roped in legendary pacer Lasith Malinga as the fast-bowling consultant for the national men’s team, reaffirming its focus on strengthening the pace attack ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

The appointment, announced on Tuesday, is on a short-term basis from December 15 to January 25, and forms part of Sri Lanka’s build-up to the global event, which the island nation will co-host with India from February 7 to March 8.

During his one-month stint, Malinga will work closely with Sri Lanka’s fast bowlers, assisting in their preparation and overall development, with particular emphasis on death bowling, an area in which the former spearhead built an unmatched reputation in the shortest format.

“Sri Lanka Cricket wishes to announce the appointment of Lasith Malinga as the Consultant – Fast Bowling Coach for the national men’s team,” the board said in a statement.

“Malinga will support the preparation and development of Sri Lanka’s national fast bowlers as part of the build-up to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

“Sri Lanka Cricket aims to leverage his vast international experience and renowned expertise, especially in T20 cricket.”

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

While officially a 40-day engagement, Malinga’s return is seen as a continuation of his long-standing involvement with Sri Lanka’s pace unit.

He has previously served as a fast-bowling consultant on multiple occasions and has remained closely connected with the national setup, offering guidance to leading bowlers and advising the coaching group headed by Sanath Jayasuriya over the past two years.

Widely regarded as one of Sri Lanka’s greatest fast bowlers, Lasith Malinga claimed 546 wickets across formats in a glittering international career spanning nearly 16 years.

Beyond his on-field exploits, he also led Sri Lanka to their maiden Men’s T20 World Cup title in 2014, cementing his legacy as a white-ball great.

Sri Lanka will open their T20 World Cup 2026 campaign against Ireland on February 8, before facing Oman on February 12 and Australia on February 16 in the group stage.

READ: Australian cricket great Damien Martyn ‘in induced coma’

Oman has revealed its 15-member squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, with Jatinder Singh set to lead the side.

This will be Oman’s fourth appearance in the T20 World Cup, having previously played in the 2016, 202, 2024, and 2026 World Cups.

In the forthcoming edition, they are slotted in Group B alongside Australia, Sri Lanka, and Zimbabwe.

Among the notable exclusions is Kaleem Sana, who was their star performer in the Asia Cup 2025, while all-rounders Wasim Ali, Karan Sonavale, Jay Odedra, and pace bowlers Shafiq Jan and Jiten Ramanandi have been included in the team.

The side will begin their campaign against Zimbabwe on February 9.

For those unaware, the 10th edition of the mega event will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, with the tournament slated to run from February 7 to March 8 next year.

The event will feature 20 teams, divided into four groups of five, with the top two from each group advancing to the Super Eight stage.

The ICC T20 World Cup 2026 opener will be played between Pakistan and the Netherlands, with hosts and the reigning champions India taking on the USA later in the day in Mumbai.

Squad:

Jatinder Singh (c), Vinayak Shukla, Mohammad Nadeem, Shakeel Ahmad, Hammad Mirza, Wasim Ali, Karan Sonavale, Shah Faisal, Nadeem Khan, Sufyan Mehmood, Jay Odedra, Shafiq Jan, Ashish Odedara, Jiten Ramanandi, Hasnain Ali Shah.

READ: Perth Scorchers thump Sydney Thunder in BBL 15 clash

Tyson Fury has passed on his condolences after a car crash in Nigeria which killed two of Anthony Joshua’s team members and left his fellow former world heavyweight boxing champion injured.

Joshua was involved in the smash, which happened on Monday morning on a main road linking Lagos and Ibadan in the southwest of the country.

His promoter said the boxer’s “close friends and team members” Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele were killed and Joshua himself was taken to hospital “for checks and treatment”.

Fury, who has been linked with reversing his retirement to face Joshua in a ‘Battle of Britain’ mega-fight in 2026, wrote on his Instagram page: “This is so sad. May God give them a good bed in heaven.”

Minutes earlier, the self-styled ‘Gypsy King’ revived talk of a ring return by posting a photograph on social media of himself and one of his sons and nephews wearing T-shirts which read: “I’m back.”

Joshua, a British national of Nigerian heritage, called out Fury following a sixth-round knockout win over YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in a Netflix-backed bout in Miami earlier this month.

But Monday’s accident will likely further delay a long anticipated bout between former Olympic champion Joshua and Fury, with Paul saying Monday in an X post: “Life is much more important than boxing. I am praying for the lost lives, AJ and anyone impacted by today’s unfortunate accident.”

Pictures circulating online showed a shirtless Joshua — a British national of Nigerian heritage — surrounded by what appeared to be broken window glass on the seats around him.

“He is in a stable condition and will remain there for observation,” said a statement from his promoter. “Our deepest condolences and prayers are with the families and friends of all those affected –- and we ask that their privacy is respected at this incredibly difficult time.”

Police said the accident occurred around 11:00 am local time (1000 GMT) in the town of Makun, along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway.

Nigeria’s Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) said the Lexus Joshua was in “was suspected to be travelling beyond the legally prescribed speed limit on the corridor, lost control during an overtaking manoeuvre and crashed into a stationary truck… by the side of the road”.

However, a witness who gave his name as Kunle told AFP: “The truck was not stationary when the accident happened.”

Joshua’s family hails from the southwest Nigerian city and he is known to visit there when he is in the country.

Ayodele, also known as Latz, was a personal trainer of Joshua, while Ghami acted as strength and conditioning coach for the 36-year-old.

Former world champion Wladimir Klitschko, stopped in the 11th round by Joshua at Wembley Stadium in 2017, wrote on X: “I’m deeply saddened to hear about AJ and his close-knit group of friends.

“Having had the pleasure of engaging in an unforgettable battle with AJ, I’ve always regarded him as a true class act who commands my utmost respect.

“My heart goes out to him, and I wish him and his loved ones all the best during this difficult time.”

READ: Perth Scorchers thump Sydney Thunder in BBL 15 clash

SYDNEY: Ashton Turner’s gutsy 99* followed by an all-round bowling performance, powered Perth Scorchers to a big 71-run victory over Sydney Thunder in the 16th match of the Big Bash League (BBL) 15.

Set a daunting 203, Sydney Thunder were skittled for a mere 131 in 17.3 overs.

Skipper David Warner, who promoted himself to open the innings alongside Matthew Gilkes, provided a rapid start in pursuit of the chase.

The pair put on a 60-run partnership before a middle-order collapse left them reeling. Warner departed after scoring 21, while Matthew Gilkes followed him soon after for 33.

As a result, Thunder were reduced to 61-2 in 7.3 overs as Cameron Bancroft and Sam Konstas tried to put chase back on the track with a brief 20-run stand.

Yet again, it was a two-wicket over from Cooper Connolly that put Thunder in dire straits. Bancroft (2) and Sam Billings (0) were removed in consecutive deliveries.

The upcoming wickets also fell in a heap, with Shadab Khan not adding much to the scorecard.

Shadab Khan made four before getting caught.

As a result, Thunder slumped from 81-3 to 104-6 in 13 overs and then all out for a modest total.

For Perth Scorchers, it was an all-round performance with Joel Paris, Brody Couch, Aaron Hardie, and Cooper Connolly each scalping two wickets.

Earlier, after being put into bat, Perth Scorchers racked up a massive total of 202-8 at the end of their 20 overs.

Mitchell Marsh’s poor run continued as he went for six, followed by Finn Allen’s wicket, who made 11, which put Scorchers in early trouble with 18-2 in 3.2 overs.

Josh Inglis also fell after scoring 13 as the scorecard read 34-3 in 5.3 overs.

Catch Big Bash League (BBL) 15 news updates here!

However, it was a 76-run partnership between Ashton Turner and Cooper Connolly that lifted them out of trouble.

Turner particularly played a lone hand and contributed down the order to propel his side to a massive score at the end of their innings.

Connolly made 27 while Turner returned unbeaten on 99 from 41 balls, with the aid of eight sixes and the same number of fours.

For Sydney Thunder, Daniel Sams picked up a four-wicket haul while giving away 51 in his quota of four overs.

READ: Shaheen Afridi ruled out of BBL 15 due to injury

Fast bowler Shaheen Afridi has been ruled out of the remainder of the Big Bash League (BBL) 15, a decision he confirmed via his social handle on Tuesday.

Playing for Brisbane Heat, Shaheen bowled three overs during his side’s fixture against Adelaide Strikers on Saturday, 27 December, before getting off the field

The left-arm pacer limped off while pointing to his right knee during the 14th over of the Strikers’ run chase.

Earlier, Brisbane Heat released a statement regarding his injury, stating that the pacer has begun his rehab program and will miss the next fixture.

“Shaheen Shah Afridi (knee) commenced rehab and will be further reviewed upon the team’s return from Adelaide,” the team wrote on its Facebook page.

“Tom Alsop (knee) resumed training yesterday and will be reviewed again on 1 January. Nathan McSweeney (ankle) resumed training, including batting and running; has travelled with the squad to Adelaide and will train again ahead of tomorrow night’s match,” the statement added.

However, Shaheen has confirmed that he has been recalled by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and thanked Heat fans for supporting him throughout his time in Australia.

“I’m massively thankful to the Brisbane Heat team and fans for showering me with immense love and support,” he wrote on his X post.

“Due to an unexpected injury, I have been called back by the PCB and will have to take a rehab. Hopefully, I will be back in the fields soon. Meanwhile, I will be cheering for the amazing team.”

It is pertinent to mention that Shaheen Afridi is not part of the Pakistan T20I squad for the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka. The pacer alongside Babar Azam were not included in the refreshed squad due to their commitment in the BBL 15.

READ: England unveil provisional squad for T20 World Cup 2026

LONDON: England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has named a 15-member preliminary squad for the forthcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

Besides the provisional squad, the Three Lions have also named the side to take on Sri Lanka for three ODIs and the same number of T20I fixtures.

White-ball captain Harry Brook led the side for the first time in an ICC event.

The squad features a bunch of senior players alongside Jofra Archer, who is currently going through rehab after being ruled out of the fourth and fifth Ashes Test.

Meanwhile, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Adil Rashid and Phil Salt are the retained players after featuring in the previous edition of the tournament in 2024.

Among the notable inductees is Josh Tongue, who has impressed in the fourth Ashes Test and is added for the first time in the T20I squad.

The 2010 and 2022 World Cup winners will start their World Cup campaign against Nepal on 8 February, co hosted by Sri Lanka and India.

England Squad (Provisional for ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026)

Harry Brook (C), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Josh Tongue, Luke Wood

England ODI squad v Sri Lanka

Harry Brook (captain), Rehan Ahmed, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Luke Wood

Fixtures against Sri Lanka

ODIs:

22 January 2026 – R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo

24 January 2026 – R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo

27 January 2026 – R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo

T20Is:

30 January 2026 – Pallekele International Stadium, Kandy

1 February 2026 – Pallekele International Stadium, Kandy

3 February 2026 – Pallekele International Stadium, Kandy

READ: Brisbane Heat provides update on Shaheen Afridi’s injury