Category: Sports

Pakistan opener Sahibzada Farhan has been nominated for the Player of the Tournament award at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, following a remarkable individual campaign despite the team’s early exit from the competition.

Farhan emerged as one of the standout performers of the tournament, finishing with 383 runs in six innings, the highest aggregate recorded in a single edition of the Men’s T20 World Cup.

The right-hander also etched his name into the record books by becoming the first player to score two centuries in one tournament, achieving the feat against Sri Lanka and Namibia.

While Pakistan failed to progress to the semi-finals, Farhan’s consistency at the top of the order proved to be one of the few bright spots in an otherwise disappointing campaign for the national side.

England all-rounder Will Jacks is another strong contender for the award after playing a key role in his team’s run to the semi-finals.

Jacks delivered several match-winning performances, collecting four Player of the Match awards during the tournament.

Batting in a finishing role, he scored 226 runs at an impressive strike rate of 176.56, while also contributing with the ball by claiming nine wickets, including crucial breakthroughs in the Super Eight stage against Sri Lanka and New Zealand.

South Africa’s pace spearhead Lungi Ngidi has also been shortlisted after spearheading the Proteas’ bowling attack throughout the competition.

The fast bowler claimed 12 wickets in seven matches, consistently delivering important spells to guide South Africa to the semi-finals.

Ngidi’s teammate Aiden Markram also features among the nominees following a series of influential batting performances.

Promoted to the top of the order, Markram registered three half-centuries in eight matches, with his most notable innings coming during successful run-chases against New Zealand and West Indies, where he produced unbeaten knocks of 86 on both occasions.

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New Zealand all-rounder Rachin Ravindra has impressed with his ability to contribute in multiple departments.

The left-hander scored 128 runs while also claiming 11 wickets, including a decisive four for 27 against Sri Lanka during the Super Eight stage.

Fellow Kiwi Tim Seifert has also been instrumental in New Zealand’s march to the final.

The wicketkeeper-batter accumulated 274 runs across eight matches, producing several key innings at the top of the order.

His 58 in the semi-final against South Africa, alongside a 117-run opening partnership with Finn Allen, played a crucial role in guiding the Black Caps to a successful chase of 170.

Despite the United States exiting the tournament in the group stage, pacer Shadley van Schalkwyk delivered one of the most impressive bowling displays of the event.

The fast bowler picked up 13 wickets in just four matches, finishing as one of the leading wicket-takers while maintaining an economy rate of 6.80.

India’s Sanju Samson rounds out the shortlist after producing match-winning performances in the knockout stage.

The wicketkeeper-batter smashed an unbeaten 97 off 50 balls against West Indies in the Super Eight stage before following it up with a blistering 89 from 42 deliveries in the semi-final.

The winner of the Player of the Tournament award will be announced following the final between England and India, scheduled to take place on Sunday.

READ: Former South Africa batter compares Jasprit Bumrah to a ‘genie’

Lens kept their dream of an unlikely French league and cup double alive, beating Lyon 5-4 on penalties on Thursday to reach the semi-finals after their last-eight tie had ended in a 2-2 draw.

French international forward Florian Thauvin was the hero for Lens with a goal and an assist in normal time before he converted the decisive kick in the shoot-out.

Lens are Paris Saint-Germain’s closest challengers at the top of Ligue 1, sitting four points behind the reigning champions.

Now they are through to the last four in the Cup, in which they will host Toulouse next month as they dream of lifting the trophy for the first time in their history.

Lens had been 2-0 up at the interval at the Groupama Stadium, with Thauvin following in to score the opener midway through the first half after Saud Abdulhamid’s shot had been saved.

Abdallah Sima’s thunderous finish then allowed them to double their lead in first-half stoppage time.

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Roman Yaremchuk hit the bar after the break before pulling one back for Lyon with a header from substitute Remi Himbert’s cross midway through the second half.

It still looked like Lens would hold on until the 18-year-old Himbert equalised deep in stoppage time with goalkeeper Robin Risser caught napping.

With no extra time in the French Cup before the final, that meant penalties, and Lyon’s Moussa Niakhate was the only player to fail from the spot as his effort was saved by Risser.

That allowed Thauvin to score the winning kick and set up a semi against Toulouse, who defeated Marseille 4-3 on penalties on Wednesday after their quarter-final also ended 2-2.

Nice won on penalties at Lorient and will now go to Strasbourg, who beat Reims 2-1 on Tuesday.

READ: Former South Africa batter compares Jasprit Bumrah to a ‘genie’

Former South Africa captain Faf du Plessis has heaped praise on India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, likening him to a “genie” after the fast bowler delivered a decisive spell in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final against England.

Bumrah once again proved why he is regarded as one of the most lethal bowlers in world cricket, playing a pivotal role in India’s narrow seven-run victory in a high-scoring contest at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday.

Defending a daunting total of 253, India faced a tense finish as England mounted a fierce chase, largely powered by Jacob Bethell’s explosive century.

With 45 runs required off the final three overs, captain Suryakumar Yadav turned to Bumrah for the crucial 18th over.

The right-arm pacer responded with remarkable composure, delivering a mix of pinpoint yorkers and deceptive full deliveries that restricted England to just six runs in the over.

The tight spell ultimately swung the momentum back in India’s favour as England fell agonisingly short despite Bethell’s 105.

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Speaking after the match, Faf du Plessis described Bumrah as a dream weapon for any captain.

“Team India probably doesn’t realise how fortunate they are to have him,” du Plessis said.

“You just hand him the ball, and he finds a way to win matches for you. It’s a superpower every captain would want. It’s like having a genie, you rub the lamp, and Bumrah appears.”

The 32-year-old finished with figures of 1-33 in his four overs in a match that saw a combined total of 499 runs scored, highlighting the difficulty bowlers faced on the batting-friendly surface.

Du Plessis also pointed to Bumrah’s unconventional action as a key factor behind his effectiveness, noting that it makes it extremely difficult for batters to pick the ball early.

“Even when the batter knows what’s coming, a yorker or a slower ball, it’s still hard to line him up,” he explained. “His action is unique, and the ball comes out so quickly that batters struggle to react in time.”

READ: England skipper Harry Brook heaps high praise on Jacob Bethell

MUMBAI: Jacob Bethell is going to have “a hell of a career” with England, said captain Harry Brook, after the left-hander’s brilliant 105 on Thursday almost took his side to a record chase against India in the T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final.

Bethell hit seven sixes and eight fours as England set about going after India’s mammoth 253-7.

It was only when he was run out off the first ball of the final over that India could finally celebrate, and England finished agonisingly short on 246-7.

That his maiden T20 international century came in the cauldron-like atmosphere provided by 35,000 raucous fans in Mumbai’s Wankhede stadium in a World Cup semi-final made it all the more impressive.

“He’s a phenomenal player,” Brook told reporters. “As we’ve seen tonight in a high-pressure situation against India on their home turf as well, the way that he played that innings there was just phenomenal.”

“He was in his own bubble, and it’s an amazing feeling, you feel like you could hit nearly every ball for six.”

The 22-year-old Bethell came of age in the Ashes in Australia, scoring his maiden Test century in the Sydney Test.

“It was a ridiculous knock. He should be extremely proud of what he’s done tonight and this whole winter,” said Brook.

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“He’s going to have a hell of a career with England, and I’m looking forward to hopefully spending a lot of time with him in the future.”

Brook said he backed head coach Brendon McCullum to carry on in charge of England “125 percent”.

McCullum came under fire after England’s Ashes defeat but has made some amends with a T20 World Cup campaign that came so close to reaching the final.

“I’ve said plenty of times he’s the best coach I’ve ever had,” said Brook. “The way that he speaks to everybody, the way that he has, he’s got an aura in the dressing room, everybody looks up to him.”

“The things that he’s done over the four years that he’s taken over have changed English cricket for hopefully the best.”

Harry Brook was taking charge in a global tournament for the first time and said he could not have asked for more from his team as they came so close to upsetting the favourites on their home soil.

“I think we’ve had an amazing campaign, and I said the other day that we’re never out of games, and that’s proven again tonight,” said Brook.

“We were in the game all the way until the last over. I’m just extremely proud of the boys, and all the boys should be extremely proud of themselves as well.”

READ: Sanju Samson eyes ‘one more’ big knock in T20 World Cup final

Opener Sanju Samson said on Thursday he wants “one more” match-winning knock to enable India to defend the T20 World Cup, after his 89 helped edge England in a thrilling semi-final.

India rode on Samson’s 42-ball innings to post a mammoth 253-7, a total that England nearly chased down at Mumbai’s Wankhede stadium, finishing on 246-7.

Jacob Bethell’s brilliant 105 kept England in the hunt till the last over before Harry Brook’s team fell short by seven runs and India marched into their fourth final in the T20 World Cup.

India will face New Zealand in Sunday’s final in Ahmedabad as they attempt to become the first team to retain the trophy and the first to win it on home soil. They could also become the first team to win the title three times.

Sanju Samson has been key to putting pre-tournament favourites India in this position after he struck form with an unbeaten 97 in a winner-takes-all contest against the West Indies on Sunday.

He kept up his form in the semi-final and struck eight fours and seven sixes to put India in the driver’s seat.

“It feels really great. I have been actually trying to do something like this for my country for a few years,” player of the match Samson said after the match against England.

“So definitely I should be very grateful, but I kind of feel that we have one more step to go.

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“If we do that, then I think all the work, everything was worth it. So I think that one more innings should be really good.”

The 31-year-old Samson has been in and out of the Indian team and played just one group match against Namibia, when Abhishek Sharma was out with illness.

India brought back Samson in their Super Eights match against Zimbabwe to break up the all-left-handed opening partnership of Abhishek and Ishan Kishan, and he has not looked back since.

Samson, who made his debut in 2015, has played just 61 T20 matches for India.

Samson said the struggle to cement a place in the Indian team and the frustrations that came with it were tough, but he shut out the noise by staying off social media.

“I wanted to make an impact and get into the XI of the World Cup here,” said Samson.

“The people whom I love were with me. And I closed all my windows. I shut down my phone. I was not on social media.

“I am still not on social media. So less noise, fewer people interacting with me. So I think that really helped me to focus.”

READ: Babar Azam, Naseem Shah added to Lahore Whites squad for National T20 Cup

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reportedly removed Naveed Akram Cheema as the national men’s team manager ahead of the upcoming three-match ODI series against Bangladesh.

According to reports, Cheema, who has previously served multiple stints as Pakistan’s team manager, will not travel with the squad for the tour.

His latest spell with the side included the ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025, which drew widespread attention after the Indian team refused to shake hands with Pakistan players following a match during the tournament.

In Cheema’s place, the PCB has appointed Irtaza Kumail as the team manager for the Bangladesh tour. Kumail, an 18th-grade police officer, joined the cricket board two years ago and has earlier served as the national side’s security manager.

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Meanwhile, Salman Liaquat is also set to travel with the team as security officer, marking his first assignment with the Pakistan men’s squad.

The PCB has further confirmed that the team’s foreign coaching staff will join the squad directly in Dhaka. Pakistan are scheduled to depart for Bangladesh on March 8.

Ahead of their departure, the national side will participate in a two-day training camp in Lahore as part of preparations for their first ODI assignment since hosting Sri Lanka for a three-match series in November last year.

Pakistan will play all three matches of the series at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka.

Pakistan ODI squad: Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Hussain Talat, Maaz Sadaqat, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Wasim Jr, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wk), Saad Masood, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha and Shamyl Hussain.

Series schedule

March 8 – Pakistan arrive in Dhaka

March 10 – Practice session

March 11 – First ODI, Shere Bangla National Stadium, Dhaka

March 13 – Second ODI, Shere Bangla National Stadium, Dhaka

March 15 – Third ODI, Shere Bangla National Stadium, Dhaka

READ: Trump honors Messi and MLS Cup champion Inter Miami teammates

Argentina’s superstar Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami teammates were feted by US President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday in honour of their 2025 MLS Cup championship.

Messi was at the forefront as Miami players, coach Javier Mascherano, and team co-owner Jorge Mas flanked Trump, who opened proceedings with comments on military action in the Middle East.

But he soon got down to the team’s 2025 exploits and rememiniscences of Brazilian icon Pele’s 1970s stint with the New York Cosmos and its electrifying effect on soccer in the United States.

“I shouldn’t say this because I’m old, but I watched Pele play,” Trump said. “I don’t know, you (Messi) may be better than Pele. Pele was pretty good.”

The players came bearing gifts for Trump, including a No. 47 jersey from the team’s signature pink kit, reflecting his status as the nation’s 47th president.

From Trump, there were shout-outs to Miami’s Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez, rising star Tadeo Allende, and Rodrigo De Paul, and a subtle dig at former president Joe Biden.

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“It’s my distinct privilege to say what no American president has ever had the chance to say before: Welcome to the White House, Lionel,” Trump said, an oblique reference to the fact Messi did not attend the ceremony when Biden awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom in January 2025.

“I’ve seen a lot of great players come into the world of sports,” Trump said. “They come to the Yankees, or they come to the Dodgers… and there’s such a clamour.

“Everything’s great, but they don’t win. This guy won,” he said with a gesture toward Messi.

“Leo, you came in, and you won. There’s a lot more pressure put on you than anyone would know because you’re sort of expected to win,” Trump added.

Trump’s rundown of Miami’s 2025 achievements included not only their 3-1 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps in the MLS Cup final but also their 2-1 victory over Portuguese side Porto in the Club World Cup, which marked the first time a North American team had beaten a European one in an official competition.

In accepting Trump’s congratulations, Mas, the son of Cuban immigrants, said Miami’s rise since its 2020 inaugural season was based on the philosophy that “if you work hard and you sacrifice and you dream, it can be possible.”

Inter Miami’s global success is “not only because of Lionel Messi, but these men standing behind you have changed the culture of football in the United States of America forever,” Mas said. “We can play with the big boys.”

READ: LeBron James breaks NBA all-time field goal record in Lakers loss

Former Pakistan captain Babar Azam and fast bowler Naseem Shah have been included in the Lahore Whites squad for the upcoming National T20 Cup, scheduled to take place at the Imran Khan Cricket Stadium in Peshawar from March 7 to 18.

The star duo were not part of the initial squad announcement but have now been drafted into the side ahead of the tournament. Both players will represent Lahore Whites under the captaincy of all-rounder Aamir Jamal.

The National T20 Cup is set to begin on Saturday, March 7, with the semi-finals scheduled for March 17 and the final to be played on March 18.

A total of 23 matches will be staged at the Imran Khan Cricket Stadium, which previously hosted nine Quaid-e-Azam Trophy matches in October and November 2025.

The tournament will feature 10 regional teams: Abbottabad, Bahawalpur, Faisalabad, Peshawar, Karachi Whites, Karachi Blues, Lahore Blues, Lahore Whites, Multan and Sialkot.

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Lahore Whites have been placed in Group A alongside Peshawar, Faisalabad, Karachi Whites and Bahawalpur. Defending champions Lahore Blues headline Group B, which also includes Sialkot, Multan, Abbottabad and Karachi Blues.

The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals. During the group stage, which runs from March 7 to 16, two matches will be played daily.

The first fixture will begin at 4:15 PM PKT, while the second match will start at 9:15 PM PKT.

Lahore Whites will open their campaign against Peshawar on the opening day of the tournament before facing Faisalabad in their second group-stage match on March 9.

Updated Lahore Whites squad: Aamir Jamal (c), Ali Raza, Ali Shahid Butt, Farhan Yousuf (U21), Babar Azam, Imran Dogar, Junaid Ali (wk), Kamran Afzal, Mohammad Faiq, Ahmed Daniyal, Mohammad Salman, Muhammad Akhlaq, Mohammad Mohsin, Mohammad Rameez Jnr, Muhammad Saleem, Naseem Shah, Samama Riaz, Tayyab Tahir and Ubaid Shah.

READ: Bangladesh announce squad for Pakistan ODI series

LeBron James broke the record for most field goals made in NBA history Thursday, though the latest milestone in his glittering career did not stop the Los Angeles Lakers from crashing 120-113 to the Denver Nuggets.

James, who already held the NBA all-time points record, sailed past Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s 15,837 field goals with a fadeaway jumper in the first quarter.

The 41-year-old has played a record 23 NBA seasons, and has stoked rumors of possible retirement in recent weeks, telling reporters in January: “I don’t know what the future holds.”

James, who scored 16 points in Thursday’s loss, appeared to injure his left elbow in the fourth quarter, after he was shunted off the court and landed on the legs of a cameraman.

Play was halted as he was substituted out. James returned to the court for the game’s final two minutes, but in evident pain.

It was a wire-to-wire win for the Nuggets, though the Lakers had closed to within one point with two minutes remaining.

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“They’re a difficult team to beat,” said Nikola Jokic, who grabbed another triple-double, including 28 points, 13 assists and 12 rebounds. “We scored when we needed.”

The result could prove crucial to playoff qualification, with the Lakers sitting in the final automatic spot in sixth, just behind the Nuggets.

They are two games clear of the Phoenix Suns, who lost 105-103 to the Chicago Bulls.

James’s career tally of well over 43,000 points is nearly 5,000 more than second-placed Abdul-Jabbar, whom he passed back in 2023.

LeBron James reached the points record earlier in part because Abdul-Jabbar played much of his career before the introduction of the three-pointer, but the field goal record is further testament to his longevity and prowess.

READ: ‘She’s coming back’: Novak Djokovic predicts Serena Williams’ return

Novak Djokovic is convinced US tennis great Serena Williams will return to competition, and the 24-time Grand Slam champion is itching to see “one of the greatest athletes” back on court.

“I think she’s coming back,” Djokovic said Wednesday at the ATP/WTA Indian Wells Masters.

“I don’t know. I haven’t spoken to her, but I guess the sentiment is that she’s coming back. Where and how, singles, doubles, we don’t know, and if I’m in her position, I would hide it too.”

Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam champion, hasn’t competed since a third-round loss at the 2022 US Open.

But the 44-year-old mother of two re-entered the anti-doping testing pool in December and regained eligibility.

Initially she denied she planned a comeback, but in January she declined to rule it out, telling NBC’s “Today” show: “That’s not a yes or a no. I don’t know, I’m just going to see what happens.”

Djokovic said players were buzzing at the prospect.

“Everybody is excited, and it’s definitely something that’s very highly anticipated,” he said.

Williams’s sister Venus, 45, accepted a wild card into the Indian Wells singles draw and will face France’s Diane Parry in the first round.

Djokovic suggested Serena could return for Wimbledon — where she is a seven-time singles champion.

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“I pick that one as well as her comeback,” he said. “I don’t know. I think she might maybe play a doubles tournament or two with Venus. That would be nice to see, just from my point of view and tennis fans’, for sure.

“She’s one of the greatest athletes, really. It would be great to have her back too.”

Djokovic is seeded third in Indian Wells as he plays his first event since he fell to Carlos Alcaraz in the Australian Open final, after toppling Jannik Sinner in the semis.

“For me that has been a phenomenal result,” the 38-year-old said. “I have proven to myself primarily and to others that I can still compete at the highest level and beat these guys.

“So my logic is why not keep going as long as I have that fire and flair and quality and also motivation to do that.

“There are objectives and goals that are always there. You want to win, so you want to get another title and get another Slam, hopefully,” he said. “I was close in Australia.”

Djokovic’s five Indian Wells titles are tied for the most with Swiss great Roger Federer.

But he hasn’t reached the quarter-finals since his last title run in 2016.

He’ll launch his latest desert campaign on Saturday against either France’s Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard or Poland’s Kamil Majchrzak.

READ: Lewis Hamilton reveals ‘F1: The Movie’ sequel in the works