Category: Sports

MALE: Pakistan football team triumphed over Afghanistan 2-0 to clinch the Diamond Jubilee International Football Tournament final on Wednesday.

It marked the first time the Green Shirts have prevailed in a senior men’s international final after the 1991 Asian Games.

Moreover, it was Pakistan’s first standalone title since sharing the Asian Quadrangular Football Tournament crown with India in 1952, a round-robin tournament.

The star of the night was Shayak Dost, whose sensational bicycle kick in the 23rd minute opened the scoring for Pakistan.

Despite Afghanistan’s desperate efforts to equalize, the first half ended 1-0 in Pakistan’s favor.

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In the second half, Afghanistan pushed for an equalizer but were repeatedly denied despite Pakistan making several substitutions. The scoreline remained 1-0 in Pakistan’s favour until the end of normal time.

It was forward Harun Hamid’s tactical awareness in the seven minutes of added time that sealed victory. Hamid doubled the lead with a brilliant dribble to seal a memorable victory.

Earlier in the tournament, Pakistan defeated the Maldives 3-0, ending a 35-year wait for victory against them and marking Pakistan’s first win in international football in two years.

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They also beat Afghanistan 2-0 while their opening encounter against Bangladesh ending in a draw.

Pakistan squad:

Goalkeepers: Saqib Hanif, Yousuf Butt and Hassan Ali.

Defenders: Abdullah Iqbal, Mohammad Fazal, Abdullah Shah, Easah Suliman, Mohib Afridi, Mamoon Moosa, Ali Niazi and Haris Zeb.

Midfielders: Adil Nabi, Rahis Nabi, Alamgir Ghazi, Hayyan Khattak, Ali Agha and Otis Khan.

Forwards: Shayak Dost, Umer Nawaz, Ali Shah, Ali Khan, Samad Arshad and Harun Hamid.

READ: Somalia referee Omar Artan breaks silence after USA entry denial

The Cape Town Marathon on Wednesday was confirmed as the eighth and the first Abbott World Marathon Major (AbbottWMM) to be held on African soil.

The event has successfully completed the second and final stage of its Abbott World Marathon Majors evaluation, earning its spot as the eighth member of this highly prestigious marathon series worldwide.

The decision comes after the latest edition, held on 24 May in Cape Town. The marathon will formally enter the series at its next edition on 23 May 2027.

Following the confirmation, AbbottWMM CEO Dawna Stone welcomed Cape Town’s inclusion in the series, describing it as a significant addition that would bring a new dimension to the competition.

“It gives me huge pleasure to welcome Cape Town to the family,” she said.

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“After watching the race grow in size and stature during its candidacy, and also seeing the resilience and dedication of the team led so wonderfully by Clark Gardner, Africa’s first Major has finally arrived.”

“The unique culture, the welcome from the people of the city, and the wonderful setting Cape Town provides will bring a whole new dimension to our series. I know runners in Africa and across the world will have a phenomenal experience at this race.” she added.

 

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It is worth mentioning that Cape Town Marathon’s elevation to a Major event is expected to bring significant economic activity to Cape Town and the surrounding region.

Organizers project that the event will contribute around 800 million rand to the local economy, driven by spending on domestic travel, accommodation, and food.

The addition of Cape Town also places it among a select group of races shaping the next phase of the series. With eight Majors now confirmed, attention is turning to whether and when a ninth Major could complete the series, alongside the existing Six Star and proposed Nine Star finisher medals.

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For those unaware, the World Marathon Majors are a series of the most prestigious races in the world. The term “Majors” refers to the individual elite marathons that are officially included in this global championship-style series.

These races bring together the world’s top long-distance runners, who compete across multiple events throughout the season to earn points and fight for the overall World Marathon Majors title.

At present, the Majors include iconic races such as the Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, New York City, Tokyo, and Sydney marathons.

READ: Gull Feroza headlines ICC Women’s Player of the Month nominees

DUBAI: Pakistan women’s team batter Gull Feroza has been named among the nominees for the ICC Women’s Player of the Month award for May 2026. 

The right-handed batter earned the nomination following an outstanding series against Zimbabwe, where she scored 256 runs in three matches at an impressive average of 128 with a strike rate of 103.64.

She hit a fifty in the series opener, followed by a century and an unbeaten 106, helping Pakistan complete a 3-0 sweep over Zimbabwe. For her outstanding performances, she was named Player of the Series.

Gull Feroza’s rich vein of form continued in the T20I series against Zimbabwe. She made 82 runs in four matches at a strike rate of 157.69. The 27-year-old hit a blistering 37 from 19 balls against Zimbabwe, followed by a quick-fire 32 from just 15 deliveries against Ireland in the recently concluded tri-series.

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England fast bowler Lauren Bell is also included in the nominations after impressing across all formats in the past months. She finished as the top wicket-taker in England’s ODI series against New Zealand, with figures of 2/38 in the first match and 3/20 in the third.

Over these two games, Bell took five wickets at an average of 13.40 and an economy rate of 4.36. She continued her strong performance into the following T20I series against New Zealand and India.

In four T20Is, she took eight wickets at an average of 14 and an economy rate of 7.00. Her notable performances included 2/23 in the first T20I against New Zealand and 3/34 in the first T20I against India at Chelmsford, highlighting her vital role in England’s bowling ahead of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026.

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READ: World Cup 2026 opening ceremony: Pakistan time, date, performer list

Michael Vaughan has backed Ben Stokes to retain the England captaincy despite being investigated for breaking the team’s curfew.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced they were looking into Stokes’ involvement in a nightclub incident on Monday morning following England’s win in the first Test against New Zealand at Lord’s.

England team-mate Gus Atkinson and Saracens rugby player Totoa Auvaa were also involved. Media reports on Tuesday suggested Stokes may resign as Test skipper.

The second Test against New Zealand at the Oval gets underway in a week’s time.

But former England captain Vaughan said Stokes had sufficient “credit in the bank” to avoid being sacked.

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“Yes, Ben Stokes broke a curfew,” Vaughan wrote in the Daily Telegraph. “Yes, he made a mistake. But is that a sacking offence as England’s Test captain? I do not think som” he added.

“Stokes has a lot of credit in the bank for all he has done for England as captain and all-rounder. There is no way that those making the big decisions at the England and Wales Cricket Board have the same credit in the bank.”

“I do not see how you can tell Stokes he is not captain anymore just for going over the curfew by a couple of hours after a win.”

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“A short suspension would be fine, but this is not a big enough incident over which to lose the captaincy,” Vaughan concluded.

It is the latest controversy concerning the England team after the tour of Australia where the side faced allegations of a drinking culture during a 4-1 Ashes series loss.

Earlier, England announced the squad for the second New Zealand Test, leaving out Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson, with Joe Root named as interim captain.

England Squad for Second Test

Joe Root (captain), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Sonny Baker, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Jordan Cox, Ben Duckett, Matthew Fisher, Emilio Gay, James Rew, Ollie Robinson, Jamie Smith and Josh Tongue.

READ: Hampshire chairman exits after Delhi Capitals co-owner takeover

England have announced the squad for the second Test against New Zealand, with Joe Root named as interim captain after Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson were left out due to an ongoing investigation.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed that the duo was unavailable for selection as the investigation into the nightclub incident continues.

“The England & Wales Cricket Board can confirm that, given the ongoing investigation, Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson have not been made available for selection for the Rothesay 2nd Test against New Zealand, which starts at the Kia Oval on Wednesday 17 June,” the board said in a statement.

Stokes and Atkinson have been replaced by Jofra Archer and Jordan Cox in the 15-man squad. Meanwhile, Root has been picked as the stand-in captain ahead of the vice-captain, Harry Brook.

Previously, Root has led the side in 64 matches between 2017 and 2022. The ace batter has opted not to take the role after handing over the reins to Stokes.

However, Brook himself was fined and cautioned for the New Zealand nightclub incident last year. Root has stepped in as captain as the most senior member of the English side.

For the unversed, Stokes and team-mate Gus Atkinson are facing a probe by the ECB for breaking team rules in the early hours of Monday morning following England’s win in the first Test against New Zealand at Lord’s.

It is the latest controversy involving the England team following a tour of Australia during which the side faced allegations of a drinking culture amid a 4-1 Ashes series defeat that concluded in January.

The second Test between England and New Zealand will begin on 17 June at the Kia Oval.

England Squad for Second Test

Joe Root (captain), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Sonny Baker, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Jordan Cox, Ben Duckett, Matthew Fisher, Emilio Gay, James Rew, Ollie Robinson, Jamie Smith and Josh Tongue.

READ: ICC reveals Men’s Player of the Month nominees for May 2026

Rod Bransgrove has stepped down from his role as Hampshire chairman, following the completion of the takeover by GMR Global, the English county cricket side announced on Wednesday.

The 76-year-old businessman saved the county from financial collapse when he bought the club in 2000, and led the move to the Rose Bowl from Hampshire’s old Northlands Road headquarters in Southampton.

Bransgrove has long campaigned for the Rose Bowl to stage a Test against Australia and his dream will be realised during the 2027 Ashes in England.

GMR, who co-own Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Delhi Capitals, have now finalised the staged acquisition of the Hampshire Sport and Leisure Holdings Group, a process that began in 2024.

GMR’s Kiran Kumar Grandhi will take over from Bransgrove, who becomes honorary life president and a director on the board.

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“This moment brings to a close a chapter that has meant more to me than words can express,” said Bransgrove.

“What we have built at Hampshire has been a collective effort, driven by incredible people, loyal supporters and partners who believed in a shared vision.”

He added: “I have immense pride in what we have achieved here and unequivocal confidence that, under GMR’s full ownership, the club and venue are in the safest of hands. The future is incredibly exciting, and I will be watching closely.”

Grandhi, meanwhile paid tribute to Bransgrove’s “extraordinary leadership and vision”, saying GMR were “excited to build on the remarkable legacy that has been established here, investing in long-term growth and innovation”.

For the unversed, GMR is an Indian consortium and has e

GMR, an Indian infrastructure conglomerate, has greatly expanded its cricketing interests in recent years. Besides the IPL and Women’s Premier League (WPL) with Delhi Capitals, it also manages Dubai Capitals in the ILT20 and Seattle Orcas in Major League Cricket.

READ: ICC reveals Men’s Player of the Month nominees for May 2026

DUBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Wednesday announced the player of the month nominees for May 2026, including veteran Bangladesh batter Mushfiqur Rahim. 

Mushfiqur starred with the bat during Bangladesh’s 2-0 Test series triumph over Pakistan. He scored 253 runs across two Tests at an average of 63.25, including a sublime 137 in the second Test.  For his outstanding performance, the 39-year-old was adjudged the Player of the Series.

Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam is also among the nominees, following his bowling heroics in the Test series against Pakistan. He finished as the leading wicket-taker, collecting 13 wickets at an average of 19.61, including a six-wicket haul in the second at Sylhet.

In addition, he also chipped in with the bat, scoring a vital 58 runs during the series.

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The third nominee on the list is Nepal all-rounder Dipendra Singh Airee, following his impressive performance in the ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 campaign.

Airee finished with 249 runs to his name in six ODIs at an average of 49.80 with a strike rate of 110.66. His most notable performance came against the UAE, where he scored 100 off 94 balls.

Airee also created an impact with the ball, scalping eight wickets at an average of 19.12 at an economy rate of 4.52. His standout performance was a match-winning spell of 4/24 against the United States.

READ: Harry Brook reclaims No.1 spot in Test batting rankings

DUBAI: England’s flamboyant batter Harry Brook has overtaken Joe Root to reclaim the No.1 spot in the latest ICC Test batting rankings released on Wednesday.

This is the first time since 2024 that Brook has regained the top spot. His compatriot Root moved down to the number three position with Australia opener Travis Head climbing to second.

Harry Brook reached the pole position on the back of 56 that helped England win a low-scoring first Test against New Zealand, while Root could only manage one and eight.

India captain Shubman Gill now sits at No.08 following his century against Afghanistan in the one-off Test. Gill made 126 in his side’s biggest Test win in the longer format.

In bowlers, Gus Atkinson entered the top 10 rankings after a fifer against New Zealand in the second innings. With this, he now sits in the No. 10 position.

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In ODI bowling rankings, Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed climbed to a career-best second place in the latest ICC Men’s ODI Bowling Rankings following his standout performances against Australia.

The spinner was one of Pakistan’s key performers during their recently concluded three-match ODI series victory over Australia, claiming six wickets and playing a pivotal role in the hosts’ 2-1 triumph.

His impressive returns earned him a significant boost in the rankings, moving him up from fourth to second place with 675 rating points.

Abrar now trails only Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan, who continues to lead the ODI bowling rankings with 705 points. England fast bowler Jofra Archer slipped to third after the latest update.

Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi also enjoyed a notable rise after spearheading the pace attack against Australia. The left-arm quick, who finished the series with seven wickets, jumped four places to break into the top 10, reaching ninth position with 604 rating points.

Among other Pakistani bowlers, Haris Rauf moved up one spot to 18th, while Naseem Shah slipped two places to 47th. Fast bowler Mohammad Wasim Jr also dropped three positions and is now ranked 68th.

READ: Sahibzada Farhan to lead Pakistan squad in Asian Games 2026

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Wednesday revealed the schedule for the women’s team’s tour of Sri Lanka, which will take place in July after the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026.

Pakistan women’s team will play six white-ball matches during the tour, with all matches scheduled to be played at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium.

The three ODIs, scheduled to take place on 23, 25 and 28 July, are part of the ICC Women’s Championship 2025-29.

Pakistan are currently occupying second place in the Women’s Championship standings, having won four of their six matches so far and earned eight points.

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New Zealand currently lead the Championship table with 13 points, having played three more matches than Pakistan.

Pakistan will also feature in three T20Is, which will be staged on 31 July, 2 August and 4 August. Both Pakistan and Sri Lanka women’s teams are currently in the UK to take part in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, which begins on 12 June.

Pakistan and Sri Lanka have competed against each other in a total of 21 T20I matches, with the former winning 11 games. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka have secured victory in nine and one match ending in a no result.

In One Day Internationals (ODIs), the two teams have faced off 34 times, with Pakistan winning 11 matches and Sri Lanka winning 22. One ODI match also ended without a result.

Tour schedule

• 23 July – First ODI
• 25 July – Second ODI
• 28 July – Third ODI
• 31 July – First T20I
• 2 August – Second T20I
• 4 August – Third T20I

READ: Abrar Ahmed closes in on No.1 ODI bowler ranking

Somali referee Omar Artan, who was denied entry to the United States for the FIFA World Cup 2026, returned to a hero’s welcome in Mogadishu and vowed to take part in the next tournament in 2030.

More than 100 supporters lined up outside the VIP section of Mogadishu’s main airport, waving national flags as Artan disembarked from a Turkish Airlines flight to cheers.

“I will be at the next World Cup and will continue to make Somalia proud… Despite what has happened to me, I am not discouraged,” Artan told journalists.

Artan’s rejection has sparked outrage at home.

“They wronged him in a way that hurts everybody who is concerned about humanity,” Mohamed Said, a Mogadishu government official, said at the airport.

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Artan, who in 2025 was named men’s referee of the year by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), was barred from entering the USA on Saturday after arriving at Miami International Airport.

A US State Department official told AFP late Tuesday that the referee was “associated with suspected members of terrorist organisations”, therefore “making the traveller ineligible for admission to the United States”.

FIFA also confirmed that he would no longer be part of the World Cup, set to start on Thursday.

Artan’s appointment to the 52-strong roster of referees for the finals in Canada, Mexico and the United States had been a huge source of pride for his compatriots.

Somalia’s president Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said in April he was “a symbol of inspiration for the new generation of Somalis”.

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