Category: Top News

Two-time World Cup winner Cafu believes that the 2026 edition is the perfect time for the five-time champions, Brazil, to take back the crown for the first time in 24 years.

Cafu was captain when Brazil won their fifth World Cup, beating Germany 2-0 in the 2002 final in Yokohama. He was also part of the side that beat Italy on penalties to win in 1994 in Pasadena.

“Twenty-four years after the last title win, I think it’s the perfect moment for Brazil,” Cafu told reporters in Madrid, where he is attending the Laureus Awards.

“We’ve also brought in a serial winner of a coach, Carlo Ancelotti, who will add to the greatness of the Brazilian national team.”

Cafu, who was a right-back, said Brazil already had strength in midfield and attack, so Ancelotti had focused on strengthening the defence for this year’s tournament to be held in the US, Mexico and Canada.

“Because if Brazil doesn’t concede goals in a World Cup, they’re sure to score a goal per game,” Cafu said.

He said he hoped Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior, a player often embroiled in controversy, would have a strong tournament, saying: “The World Cup is the best way to overcome any kind of controversy.

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“In those eight matches (if they reach the final), Vinícius Junior has the potential to show the whole world his worth and what he can do in terms of football.”

Vinícius produced an assist in the 3-1 victory over Croatia in Orlando on April 1, which helped dispel doubts after the defeat against France in another friendly. Endrick, 19, also shone in the Croatia win.

“I think it’s a good time for him,” said Cafu, who believes Real Madrid’s decision to loan the forward to French club Lyon last year had been a positive move for the teenager.

“It did him a lot of good. It helped him grow, play, make his mark, and become a key player. It’s obvious that at Real Madrid, with so many stars, it’s difficult for a young player to become a key player.

“He’s a young player who can contribute a lot to Brazil, and I’m sure Ancelotti is looking at him favourably,” added Cafu.

Bookmakers have placed Brazil among the top five favourites, with reigning European champions Spain currently leading the way.

READ: Dasun Shanaka breaks silence on his PSL ban

Sri Lankan all-rounder Dasun Shanaka has broken his silence after being handed a one-year ban from the Pakistan Super League (PSL), admitting regret over his decision to withdraw from the tournament and apologising to fans and stakeholders.

The 34-year-old was sanctioned by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for breaching his contract with Lahore Qalandars during the ongoing PSL 11 season.

Shanaka had been signed by the defending champions for PKR 7.5 million but later pulled out of the league before joining the Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League (IPL) as a replacement for injured England all-rounder Sam Curran.

Following a detailed review, the PCB ruled that Shanaka’s withdrawal constituted a violation of the league’s player registration terms and the tripartite agreement, subsequently declaring him ineligible for PSL 12 in 2027.

Responding to the decision, Shanaka expressed remorse over the episode and acknowledged the disappointment caused by his actions.

“I deeply regret my decision to withdraw from the HBL PSL and offer my sincere apologies to the people of Pakistan, the fans of HBL PSL, and the wider cricket community,” he said.

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“The HBL PSL is a prestigious tournament, and I fully understand the disappointment caused by my actions.”

The Sri Lankan all-rounder also extended a direct apology to Lahore Qalandars supporters, admitting he had let them down at a crucial stage of the competition.

“To the loyal fans of Lahore Qalandars, I am truly sorry for letting you down,” he added.

Dasun Shanaka further clarified that he had no prior intention of participating in another league at the time of his withdrawal, while reiterating his admiration for cricket in Pakistan.

“I must clarify that at the time I withdrew from the HBL PSL, I had no intention of joining any other tournament,” he stated.

“I have the greatest respect for Pakistani Fans and have always enjoyed my time in Pakistan. I hope to return to the HBL PSL in the future with renewed dedication and the trust of the fans.”

READ: Blessing Muzarabani reacts after two-year PSL ban

Afghanistan’s premier leg-spinner, Rashid Khan, has made a remarkable revelation about his career, sharing that he turned down offers of citizenship and the chance to represent both India and Australia in international cricket.

The disclosure comes through his autobiography, Rashid Khan: From Streets to Stardom, where the 27-year-old sheds light on a defining moment that underlined his unwavering commitment to Afghanistan cricket.

According to Rashid, one such approach came during the 2023 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL), where he was representing the Gujarat Titans. He revealed that he was told that a senior figure in Indian cricket wanted to meet him

“I went over and greeted him. We started talking, and he said: The situation in your country is very bad. Come stay in India. We will give you Indian documents, live here, play cricket here,” Rashid revealed.

The star spinner admitted the conversation caught him off guard, but his response was immediate and firm.

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“I was surprised by what he was saying and didn’t know how to respond. But I smiled and said, Thank you very much. I am playing for my country, Afghanistan,” he wrote.

Rashid Khan further disclosed that India were not the only ones to express interest. Australia had also explored the possibility of bringing him into their cricketing system, a testament to his stature in world cricket.

“I received such offers from both Australia and India. But I told them, ‘If I don’t play for my country, I won’t play for any other country either,’” he stated.

The leg-spinner’s decision reflects not just personal loyalty, but also his role as a symbol of Afghanistan’s rise in international cricket. Emerging from a war-affected nation, Rashid has become one of the most recognisable figures in the sport.

Since his debut, he has represented Afghanistan across all formats, featuring in 6 Tests, 117 ODIs and 115 T20Is, while picking up a combined 448 wickets. With the bat, he has contributed over 2,000 runs, further highlighting his all-round value.

READ: Pakistan’s Test selections raise more questions than answers

Eight runners were taken to the hospital with heat-related illnesses after a marathon near South Korea’s demilitarised zone with North Korea took place amid record temperatures, local authorities told AFP on Monday.

The DMZ Peace Marathon in the city of Paju allows participants to test their mettle on a course running close to the highly sensitive area that separates South from North Korea.

Temperatures approached 30 °C for Sunday’s race as much of the Korean peninsula baked under a warm front more akin to summer than its typically mild spring weather.

Twelve runners fell ill, including suffering convulsions, dizziness and hyperventilation, officials said.

Eight were taken to the hospital, including a 43-year-old who needed intensive care. Authorities said the stricken runners appeared to have pushed themselves despite the rising heat.

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A fire official urged people to look out for signs of heatstroke and “stop exercising immediately and cool down” if they occur.

In the capital Seoul, about 30 kilometres (19 miles) from Paju, temperatures hit 29.4 °C over the weekend, the highest in mid-April since modern record-keeping began in 1907.

The Korea Meteorological Administration told AFP that the heat spike was likely caused by a temporary weather system drawing warm air northwards, a pattern sometimes seen during spring.

Human-driven climate change is also raising global temperatures and worsening extreme weather.

READ: Pakistan’s Test selections raise more questions than answers

LAS VEGAS: The former WWE and UFC champion Brock Lesnar has left fans guessing as he sparked retirement speculation on Sunday night following a surprising loss at WrestleMania 42 against Oba Femi.

In what was billed as a clash between eras, Lesnar faced rising powerhouse Oba Femi on night two of the marquee event. However, the contest turned into a stunning upset, with Femi overcoming Lesnar in under five minutes.

The turning point came when Lesnar delivered his trademark F5, only for Femi to quickly recover, an uncommon sight against the dominant veteran.

Moments later, Femi responded with a powerful slam followed by a decisive powerbomb to secure the pinfall victory, handing Lesnar a rare and emphatic defeat.

What followed inside the ring added further weight to retirement rumours. Lesnar remained in the ring after the match, soaking in the atmosphere before removing his gloves and boots, gestures traditionally associated with a wrestler signalling the end of their career.

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Longtime advocate Paul Heyman joined him in the ring, sharing an emotional embrace as the crowd erupted in “Thank You Brock” chants.

Lesnar acknowledged the fans, saluted the arena, and even took time to personally thank those at ringside before exiting.

In a final symbolic act, he kissed the ring canvas, an image that many interpreted as a farewell moment for one of the industry’s most dominant figures.

Lesnar’s legacy spans over two decades, during which he established himself as a once-in-a-generation athlete. A multiple-time world champion in WWE, he also enjoyed success in mixed martial arts, becoming a UFC heavyweight champion.

His accolades include seven WWE Championship reigns, three Universal titles, a King of the Ring (2002) triumph, a Money in the Bank (2019) win, and two Royal Rumble victories in 2003 and 2022.

READ: Blessing Muzarabani reacts after two-year PSL ban

Manchester City are breathing down Arsenal’s necks after Erling Haaland’s strike beat the Gunners 2-1 on Sunday to land a potentially decisive blow in the Premier League title race.

Pep Guardiola’s men are close to within three points of the leaders and have a game in hand with momentum firmly in their favour as Arsenal’s quest for a first league title in 22 years unravels.

Defeat to City in the League Cup final last month has sparked a run of one win in six games in all competitions for Mikel Arteta’s men, including four consecutive defeats in domestic competitions.

Victory over relegation-bound Burnley on Wednesday will take City top for the first time this year.

After finishing second for the past three seasons, Arsenal are at risk of seeing another huge chance to end their long wait to be champions of England slip away. But they will also rue their luck after twice hitting the post, either side of Haaland’s winner in the second half.

After Rayan Cherki’s stunning solo effort opened the scoring, City gifted the visitors a route back into the game when Kai Havertz charged down Gianluigi Donnarumma’s attempted clearance to equalise.

But the difference in quality up front proved the difference.

Haaland pounced to sweep in his 34th goal of the season, 25 minutes from time, before Havertz headed over a glorious chance deep into stoppage time.

Guardiola’s men looked to prey on Arsenal’s anxiety in a blistering start.

Cherki’s deflected shot then came back off the post, and City’s claims for a penalty against Gabriel Magalhaes for handball were ignored.

The visitors were just starting to gain a foothold when a moment of magic from Cherki prised open the Gunners’ notoriously mean defence.

The French international danced through challenges from Gabriel and Declan Rice before coolly slotting in the bottom corner.

However, Arsenal were handed an immediate lifeline thanks to Donnarumma’s disaster. The giant Italian was the scourge of Arteta’s men when playing for Paris Saint-Germain in last season’s Champions League semi-finals.

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But he handed them a gift as he dallied and allowed Havertz to charge down his attempted clearance into the top corner.

The nature of the equaliser knocked City off their stride and it took until Guardiola’s half-time team talk for the hosts to regain control.

Haaland should have scored when he hit the post after Arsenal failed to clear a corner. But then came two moments which will haunt Arsenal if they fail to end their long wait to win the title.

Donnarumma redeemed himself with a massive save when one-on-one with Havertz before Martin Odegaard’s follow-up effort was hooked off the line by Matheus Nunes.

Moments later, Eberechi Eze hit the inside of the post and saw the ball roll agonisingly along the line rather than into Donnarumma’s net.

City pounced on their moment of fortune to retake the lead.

Haaland outmuscled Gabriel to meet Nico O’Reilly’s cross and hooked past David Raya.

Arsenal were denied by the woodwork once more when Gabriel’s header deflected off O’Reilly onto the post, and Havertz failed to turn in the rebound.

Gabriel was then lucky to stay on the field after an attempted headbutt on Haaland, which received only a yellow card.

But they had the chance to level when Havertz connected sweetly with Leandro Trossard’s cross, but could not keep his head down.

Arteta fell to the ground in disbelief but now has the job of trying to raise his players for their final five games of the campaign.

Arsenal have on paper the kinder run-in, but appear to have run out of steam when it matters once more.

READ: Bayern Munich sink Stuttgart to claim Bundesliga title

Harry Kane scored his 32nd goal of the campaign as Bayern Munich cruised to a 4-2 home win over Stuttgart to claim a record-extending 35th Bundesliga title.

Raphael Guerreiro, Nicolas Jackson and Alphonso Davies joined Kane on the scoresheet, while Chris Fuehrich and Chema Andres scored for the visitors.

Borussia Dortmund’s limp 2-1 defeat at Hoffenheim on Saturday, their second in two matches, left the door open for Bayern, who only needed a point at home to secure the title with four games to spare.

Coach Vincent Kompany left regular starters Kane, Michael Olise, Manuel Neuer, Aleksandar Pavlovic, Dayot Upamecano and Jonathan Tah on the bench with Wednesday’s German Cup semi-final at Bayer Leverkusen in mind.

Bayern fell behind when Chris Fuehrich scored with 21 minutes gone, but roared back, scoring three goals in seven minutes.

Jamal Musiala created Guerreiro’s opener before Luis Diaz laid on two goals in four minutes for Jackson and Davies to grab control of the match by the break.

Kane grabbed another early in the second-half to ensure another Bundesliga crown was quickly added to his burgeoning team trophy collection.

With victory secure, Bayern took their foot off the pedal as an assistant brought bags full of ‘ 2026 Champions’ t-shirts to the sideline.

Andres added a late goal for Stuttgart with two minutes remaining, but Bayern Munich were on cruise control with title celebrations in mind.

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The title victory once again illustrated Bayern’s modern and historical dominance of German football. The Bavarian giants have now won 13 of the past 14 Bundesliga titles. Bayern have 35 league titles, with no other team reaching double figures.

Bayern’s wealth and influence outshines all of their domestic rivals, and this season has been truly remarkable.

Bayern have scored 109 goals, the most in Bundesliga history and eight more than the previous record set back in 1971-72, with four games remaining.

Free-scoring Bayern have 79 points and a goal difference of 80. If the season ended today, Bayern would become the first team to have a greater goal difference than points tally in Bundesliga history.

With four wins in their remaining four games, Bayern could bring up 91 points, equalling the best mark set by their treble-bound side in 2012-13.

Then there are the individual records. Kane, who became the first Englishman since 1930-31 to reach a half-century of goals in a season in all competitions on Wednesday, can still reach Robert Lewandowski’s single-season goals record of 41.

The England captain has 32 goals from his 27 games this campaign and is in with an outside chance of catching Lewandowski.

Michael Olise has 18 assists, three shy of the all-time mark set by Thomas Mueller in 2019-20.

READ: Babar Azam reflects on his approach after century against Quetta Gladiators

KARACHI: Peshawar Zalmi captain Babar Azam reflected on his batting approach after scoring a brilliant century against Quetta Gladiators in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 at the National Bank Stadium on Sunday night.

Babar scored an unbeaten century from 52 balls, propelling his side to a record total of 255-3 in 20 overs.

Speaking in the post-match presentation, Babar described his 12th T20 century as a memorable moment, adding that it came with a tense finish.

“Reaching a milestone like this is an incredible feeling, but it was a bit of a roller coaster at the end. When I put in that dive, I genuinely thought I had fallen short of the crease. It wasn’t until my partner told me I’d made it that the emotions really hit me,” he said.

Babar was involved in a 135-run partnership with Kusal Mendis, who made 83 from 43 balls. The right-hander revealed the key behind the successful stand, noting that both batters continuously assessed conditions to set a competitive total.

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“Out in the middle, constant communication is key. Mendis and I were continuously assessing the conditions to gauge what a competitive score would be on this specific track,” Babar revealed.

“In the early stages of our partnership, he was hitting the ball so cleanly that my primary focus was simply getting him on strike. Once he departed, I knew I had to shift gears, step up, and take on that scoring responsibility to maintain the momentum he had built,” he continued.

The 31-year-old credited bowlers for showing determination and praised the players warming the bench.

“A huge amount of credit must go to our young bowlers for how they’ve stepped up. I also want to acknowledge the players on the sidelines; even those not currently in the XI due to team combinations have been working incredibly hard and pushing the group forward.”

He further noted that the team made full use of an eight-day break to prepare specific plans, which were executed effectively under pressure.

Catch all the PSL 11 updates here!

“We utilized our eight-day break to prepare meticulously, and it’s very rewarding to see the players execute those specific plans so well under pressure,” the skipper maintained.

“As for the remaining games, we’ll take some time to assess where we stand. We want to maintain our winning rhythm, but we will certainly look at whether there’s an opportunity to test our bench strength and give others a chance to contribute before the tournament progresses further,” he concluded.

READ: PSL 11: Babar Azam breaks multiple records against Quetta Gladiators

KARACHI: Babar Azam-led Peshawar Zalmi shattered multiple records against Quetta Gladiators in the 29th match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 played here at the National Bank Stadium on Sunday night.

Put into bat first, Zalmi racked up 255 for the loss of three wickets in their 20 overs, largely due to a 135-run stand between Babar Azam and Kusal Mendis.

The total was the 2017 champions’ highest in PSL history and overall third in the tournament’s history. Earlier in the tournament, Zalmi had recorded 246-3 against Karachi Kings.

Highest totals in PSL history

Quetta Gladiators – 263/3 against Islamabad United in 2025
Multan Sultans – 262/3 against Quetta Gladiators in 2023
Peshawar Zalmi – 255/3 against Quetta Gladiators in 2026
Quetta Gladiators – 253/8 against Multan Sultans in 2023
Islamabad United – 251/5 against Karachi Kings in 2025

The foundation for a big total was laid by Babar, who scored an unbeaten 100 off only 52 balls, striking six fours and four sixes.

His 52-ball century, the fastest he has made in this prestigious league, allowed him to match the record for most PSL centuries, joining Kamran Akmal, Rilee Rossouw, and Usman Khan.

Additionally, Babar shared a 135-run partnership for the second wicket with Mendis, which also tied him with India’s Virat Kohli for the most century-plus stands in T20s.

Most 100 partnerships in T20 cricket

47 – Virat Kohli (India)
47 – Babar Azam (Pakistan)
46 – Chris Gayle (West Indies)
45 – David Warner (Australia)
40 – Faf du Plessis (South Africa)

Notably, Babar Azam only played one dot ball during his 52-ball innings. According to the ball-by-ball database, which includes over 3,000 innings of 50 or more balls in T20s worldwide, no batter has ever had as few as one dot ball in such an innings.

READ: PSL 11: Babar, Mendis and bowlers sink Quetta Gladiators

Virgil van Dijk scored a last-gasp winner against Everton on Sunday as Liverpool strengthened their push for a Champions League spot next season ahead of a Premier League summit meeting between Manchester City and Arsenal.

On a pivotal day in the English top division, fourth-placed Aston Villa squandered a two-goal lead against Sunderland but scored in stoppage time to win 4-3.

At the other end of the table, Morgan Gibbs-White netted a hat-trick as struggling Nottingham Forest came from behind against Burnley to win 4-1 and heap the pressure on troubled Tottenham.

Just a few weeks ago, the battle for the top five, which guarantees entry into the Champions League, looked as though it might be tight.

But fifth-placed Liverpool’s 2-1 victory in their first match at Everton’s new Hill Dickinson Stadium takes them seven points clear of stumbling Chelsea, in sixth spot.

Captain Van Dijk was the hero for Arne Slot’s Liverpool, heading Dominik Szoboszlai’s corner past a helpless Jordan Pickford in the 100th minute.

“Today was massive in the situation that we are, in hunt for the Champions League spots,” Van Dijk told Sky Sports.

“That is definitely not Liverpool-worthy, in my opinion, but it is the reality, and it was important we got the win. I’m glad we did.

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“We’ve got five more games left (some) against teams that are also fighting for the Champions League spots. Every game is a big one.”

Mohamed Salah had opened the scoring for last season’s champions, slotting home in the first half following a superbly weighted pass from Cody Gakpo.

The goal came just two minutes after Iliman Ndiaye’s effort at the other end was canceled by VAR, with Jake O’Brien ruled offside.

Salah, departing at the end of the season, has equaled Steven Gerrard’s nine goals to become the joint top-scoring player in the Premier League fixture between the two Merseyside teams.

The goal took the wind out of the sails of David Moyes’ team, but they were level through Beto within 10 minutes of the restart.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, on the left of Everton’s attack, fired across goal for Beto to attack, and he poked home ahead of an onrushing Giorgi Mamardashvili, who was immediately stretchered off, replaced by Freddie Woodman.

The game looked destined to end as a draw but the officials signalled 11 added minutes but Van Dijk had the last laugh.

READ: Hasan Ali confident of Karachi Kings’ comeback in PSL 11