Category: Top News

LAHORE: South Africa Women’s U19 team is set for their maiden tour of Pakistan to play a five-match T20 series, set to commence from 14 July.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed the announcement in a statement, disclosing that all five fixtures of the limited-over series will be played at the National Bank Stadium.

“The five-match T20 series will be staged at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi from 14 to 24 July. Match timings will be announced in due course,” the board said.

“South Africa Women’s U19 team will arrive in Karachi on 10 July and undergo training sessions at the National Bank Stadium from 11 to 13 July before taking on the hosts in the first T20 scheduled for Tuesday, 14 July. Pakistan Women’s U19 last featured in a bilateral T20 series in Bangladesh, where they won the five-match series 3-2,” it added.

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According to the board, the upcoming series will serve as a preparatory platform for Pakistan ahead of the ACC Women’s U19 T20 Asia Cup later this year and the ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup, scheduled in 2027.

Before the series, the PCB held a series of training camps for the U19 cricketers in Karachi.

Series schedule:

10 July – South Africa team arrival in Karachi

11-13 July – Pakistan and South Africa teams’ training sessions at National Bank Stadium

14 July – First T20

17 July – Second T20

19 July – Third T20

22 July – Fourth T20

24 July – Fifth T20

READ: FIFA World Cup: Achraf Hakimi reacts to trial appeal rejection

Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi has shared his thoughts after a French court rejected his appeal against rape accusations.

The 27-year-old has been facing accusations of raping a 24-year-old woman at her home in Paris in 2023, after which an investigation was launched.

In February 2026, an investigating judge ordered a trial. But French media have reported that Hakimi’s recent appeal to have the trial dismissed has been denied.

After the appeal was rejected, Hakimi took to his social media account and shared a cryptic message.

“Justice looked me in the eyes and said to me: “If you weren’t famous, there never would have been a case,” he wrote.

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The Paris-Saint-Germain (PSG) defender said he remained silent for years, believing that patience and trust in the justice system would lead to the right outcome.

“I chose to remain silent for years. I thought that staying dignified, being patient, and trusting the justice system would allow the right decisions to be made,” he continued.

The Morocco captain said a narrative that was not his own was being told at the expense of his family, his life, and what he described as the truth, adding that he sometimes felt he had become an easy target.

“Today, a story that is not mine is being told at the expense of my family, my life, and above all, the truth. Sometimes I feel like I’ve become an easy target.”

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“I’ve been waiting for this trial since day one. And now I’m looking forward to it. Finally, I will be able to speak,” he concluded.

It is worth noting that all three of Morocco’s league-stage matches are scheduled in the United States. If his side advances to the knockout stages, he could be barred from entering Canada or Mexico for Morocco matches.

For those unaware, Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey, who is also facing similar charges, has been denied entry to Canada ahead of his side’s clash against Panama at the World Cup co-hosts.

The 32-year-old Partey has pleaded not guilty to seven charges of rape and one count of sexual assault by four different women between 2020 and 2022.

READ: Arsenal to kick off Premier League title defence against Coventry

Matt Renshaw’s all-round show with an unbeaten 89 and a wicket helped Australia with a seven-run win over Bangladesh in the second T20 in Chattogram on Friday to seal the three-match series.

Renshaw’s career-best score after Australia won the toss and decided to bat first helped the visitors reach 196-5, which they defended in a last-over thriller, with Bangladesh only managing 189-6.

Chasing 197, Bangladesh made a blistering start through openers Tanzid Hasan and Saif Hassan, who put on 48 in just 3.4 overs to raise hopes of a series-levelling win.

Tanzid smashed 30 off 15 balls with four fours and a six before Renshaw made the breakthrough, taking a sharp return catch off his own bowling.

Soumya Sarkar kept up the momentum as Bangladesh raced to 72-1 at the end of the powerplay, but Adam Zampa removed him for 15 to slow the charge.

Parvez Hossain Emon then counter-attacked, hammering 36 off 22 balls and combining with Saif in a 53-run stand to keep Bangladesh on course.

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But Australia came back in the game when Aaron Hardie dismissed Emon, with captain Mitchell Marsh taking a running catch at cover, before Joel Davies removed the set Saif for 42.

Bangladesh needed 63 runs off the last 40 balls, with captain Towhid Hridoy holding the line.

Hridoy fought till the end with a brisk 35 off 22 balls, sharing a 36-run stand with Abdul Gaffar Saqlain, but was caught on the boundary with Bangladesh needing eight off the last ball of the chase.

“We were moving according to plan,” Emon said after the game.

“I felt the biggest damage was my wicket and Saif’s wicket falling back-to-back,” he added. “We fell a bit behind there, otherwise it was looking very good.”

Australia’s Hardie took two wickets, while Nathan Ellis, Renshaw, Zampa and Davies claimed one each.

Earlier, Renshaw’s innings lifted the visitors after they stumbled to 44-3 inside the powerplay.

Josh Inglis and Marsh gave the tourists a brisk start before Nasum Ahmed dismissed Inglis for 11 and Nahid Rana removed the in-form Cooper Connolly for one.

Mustafizur Rahman then sent back Marsh for 20 on the final ball of the powerplay.

Renshaw rebuilt with Tim David, whose 45 off 26 balls came in a match-defining 97-run stand.

“It’s nice to get a couple of wins and wrap up the series after two games,” Renshaw said after the game.

The T20 series win comes after Australia’s shock 2-1 loss in the preceding one-day international series earlier this month.

“Yeah, a little bit,” Renshaw said when asked if the result felt like settling scores.

“The one-day series, it was a few really good games,” he added. “It felt like every game we were just a little bit shy.”

READ: Arsenal to kick off Premier League title defence against Coventry

Arsenal will kick off their Premier League title defence against promoted Coventry on August 21.

The Premier League fixtures for the 2026-27 campaign were released on Friday, with the Gunners’ home game against Frank Lampard’s Coventry among the highlights in the opening round of matches.

Coventry are back in the top-flight for the first time in 25 years after winning the Championship last season.

Andoni Iraola’s first Premier League game as Liverpool manager will be at Newcastle on August 23.

Former Bournemouth boss Iraola’s Anfield debut is set for the weekend of August 29 against Nottingham Forest.

Manchester City start life after Pep Guardiola at home to Bournemouth on August 23.

City are expected to appoint former Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca to replace Guardiola, who stepped down at the end of the season after a decade in charge.

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New Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso begins his reign with a west London derby at Fulham on August 24.

Hull City, who won promotion via the Championship play-offs, begin their first Premier League season since 2017 with a home fixture against Manchester United on August 22.

Ipswich, promoted in second place in the Championship, host Sunderland on August 22.

Elsewhere on the first weekend, Europa League winners Aston Villa travel to Brighton.

Brentford host Tottenham, Everton welcome Crystal Palace and Leeds visit Nottingham Forest.

Arsenal, champions for the first time since 2004, face a testing period after they host Coventry.

Mikel Arteta’s side head to Villa for their first away league game of the season, then meet Chelsea at Emirates Stadium on September 5.

Trips to Sunderland and Brighton follow for the north Londoners.

The weekend of September 12 brings the first Manchester derby of the post-Guardiola era, while Liverpool host Manchester United on November 21.

City and Arsenal do not face each other until November 28 at the Emirates Stadium.

The first Merseyside derby of the season between Everton and Liverpool is scheduled for November 28 at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Roberto De Zerbi will get his first taste of the north London derby on December 5 when Tottenham host Arsenal.

The pick of the Boxing Day schedule sees Coventry boss Lampard facing his old club Chelsea on December 26.

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Liverpool travel to arch rivals Manchester United on January 23 and a week later City host Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium.

The final day of the Premier League will take place on May 30, with Arsenal at home to Brighton while City travel to Sunderland and Liverpool host Bournemouth.

Chelsea and United finish at home to Brentford and Fulham, respectively.

The start and the end of the coming season are later than usual as a result of the World Cup, which finishes just 34 days before the Premier League begins.

Arsenal will face FA Cup winners City in the Community Shield, which serves as the curtain raiser to the top-flight season, on August 16.

READ: Mexico coach Javier Aguirre downplays milestone despite early qualification

New Zealand’s World Cup social media sensation Tim Payne has capitalised on his newfound fame, with the defender announcing on Friday that he has signed for Paraguayan powerhouse Club Olimpia.

His current club, Wellington Phoenix, confirmed his sale to the 48-time champions of Paraguay for an undisclosed fee.

The versatile 32-year-old shot to social media stardom in the lead-up to the World Cup after Argentinian influencer El Scarso sought to boost the following of the tournament’s “least followed” player.

Payne’s Instagram following grew from just 4,000 to more than five million in the space of a week, and now sits just shy of six million.

“This wasn’t an easy decision,” Payne said in a post on Friday.

“Seven years at Wellington Phoenix. 149 games. To the fans, my teammates, and all those who have supported me throughout my career, the highs and the lows, thank you.

“To test myself at the very top of South American football, the Copa Libertadores and the Copa Sudamericana, is one of the most incredible opportunities I could have asked for as a professional.”

El Scarso, whose real name is Valen Scarsini, was among the first to comment, saying: “Best of luck brother.”

Payne started New Zealand’s first match of the World Cup, a 2-2 draw with Iran in Los Angeles.

New Zealand next play Egypt and Belgium in Group G.

READ: Iran to lodge complaint with FIFA over World Cup 2026 restrictions

Iran will lodge a complaint with FIFA claiming they are being subjected to travel restrictions during the ongoing World Cup 2026 in North America, the Iranian football federation spokesman said on Thursday.

“Despite having submitted its preparation schedule for the tournament well in advance, Iran’s national football team has once again encountered restrictions imposed by the organizers, affecting the implementation of its technical staff’s plans,” the spokesman said.

Iran wanted to fly from their base camp in Tijuana, Mexico, to the United States two days before their next match, against Belgium in Los Angeles on Sunday.

But the Iranian federation said its request was turned down.

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“Given that the game will be played at 12:00 pm local time in Los Angeles, the Football Federation of Iran requested that the team be allowed to travel to Los Angeles two days before the match,” the spokesman said.

“The aim was to provide sufficient time for players to adapt to the match conditions, complete their final training session, and finalize preparations.

“Despite the technical reasons presented by the federation, the request was once again denied.”

The Iranians were also angry that they had to leave Los Angeles the night of their first game of the World Cup, a 2-2 draw against New Zealand.

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The US administration has pushed back against the Iranian claims. Andrew Giuliani, the executive director of the White House FIFA Task Force, said on Monday that Iran had been informed in advance that they would be allowed to come into the United States only on the day before the game.

“The team will be allowed to come in, match day minus one, so the day before the match,” Giuliani told CBS News. “They’ll be asked to leave the day that the match wraps up, so the evening of the match. And they’ll be able to do that again in Los Angeles.”

He added that the procedure would be the same for Iran’s final group game against Egypt in Seattle on June 26.

READ: Mexico coach Javier Aguirre downplays milestone despite early qualification

GUADALAJARA: Mexico head coach Javier Aguirre has refused to place too much importance on his side topping their FIFA World Cup group for the first time since 2002, insisting that their true success will be defined only by how far they advance in the tournament.

The co-hosts secured top spot in Group A and became the first team to book their place in the knockout stage after a hard-fought 1-0 win over South Korea on Thursday in Guadalajara.

The result also echoed Aguirre’s own achievement from the 2002 World Cup, when he previously guided Mexico through the group stage under similar circumstances.

However, the veteran coach was quick to brush aside any historical comparisons.

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“I didn’t know that statistic,” Aguirre said. “It’s anecdotal. It was anecdotal in 2002, and it’s anecdotal now because what matters in the end is the final position.”

Despite the landmark achievement and strong home support, Aguirre stressed that his focus remains firmly on the bigger picture as Mexico continue their campaign.

The win guarantees Mexico at least one knockout-stage match in Mexico City, something the coach welcomed while acknowledging the importance of playing in front of home fans.

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“There’s nothing like playing at home, it’s priceless,” he said. “The Mexico factor is hugely important.”

Mexico’s campaign began with a tense opening fixture against South Africa, but Aguirre noted that his team had shown clear progress in their second outing, particularly in terms of patience and game management.

“Today we learned from our mistakes,” he said. “We weren’t spectacular, but we played a good match.”

“That speaks to the team’s maturity. We were much more patient.”

READ: Neuer confirms World Cup 2026 will be his final tournament with Germany

Germany’s veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has confirmed that the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026 will mark the end of his international career, insisting there will be no further comeback after the tournament.

The 40-year-old Bayern Munich star had initially retired from international football following Euro 2024 but reversed his decision to return under Julian Nagelsmann after rediscovering top form at club level.

Neuer, who is featuring in his fifth consecutive World Cup, is aiming to end his illustrious career with a second World Cup title after helping Germany lift the trophy in 2014.

Speaking at a press conference, the legendary shot-stopper said his decision to step away after Euro 2024 had been the correct one at the time, citing the physical and mental demands of balancing club and international football.

Catch all FIFA World Cup 2026 live updates here!

“I stepped back in 2024 with a good reason after a good home Euro. For me, it was the right decision. It felt right,” Neuer said.

“It would have been too much of a sporting burden for me to have kept playing for the national team for the last two years.”

Although he made a surprise return for the World Cup, Manuel Neuer ruled out any possibility of extending his international career beyond the tournament in North America.

“For me, it is clear that this is my last tournament. I do not plan to be there in two years’ time for the next Euro,” he said.

“In the last days, I have dealt with the fact that these are the last games for Germany. But I want to look forward to all the games and not to any goodbye shirts.”

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Neuer’s return saw Hoffenheim goalkeeper Oliver Baumann relinquish the starting role after being tipped to lead Germany at the World Cup during the veteran’s absence.

However, the former World Cup winner dismissed suggestions of tension within the squad and stressed that both goalkeepers have worked together for the benefit of the team.

“We work together with Oliver. We support each other and train for the team,” Neuer explained. “After coming together, we discussed things and talked about how it came about with my return.”

Neuer made his first Germany appearance in two years during his side’s emphatic 7-1 victory over Curacao in their tournament opener, as Julian Nagelsmann’s men seek to erase memories of successive group-stage exits at the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

READ: Liverpool agree deal to sign Spain forward Victor Munoz from Osasuna

Liverpool have won the race to sign Spain forward Victor Munoz from Osasuna for a reported fee of £34.5 million ($45.5 million).

Munoz, who is currently on World Cup duty, completed a medical at Spain’s base in Tennessee and has agreed a six-year contract with the Premier League club.

The 22-year-old will become the first signing for Reds boss Andoni Iraola since he replaced the sacked Arne Slot.

“Liverpool FC have agreed a deal to sign Victor Munoz from Osasuna, subject to a successful work permit application and international clearance,” the club said on their website.

Newcastle were in advanced talks to sign Munoz, after they sold Anthony Gordon to Barcelona, while Manchester United and Bayer Leverkusen were also said to be interested in him.

But Liverpool convinced Munoz, who scored seven goals and produced five assists in 36 appearances last season, to move to Anfield instead after triggering the release clause in his contract.

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Munoz is a graduate of Barcelona’s La Masia youth academy and went on to join Real Madrid, where he made just two appearances, before moving to Osasuna in July 2025.

Munoz can play on either flank and will help Iraola fill the huge void left by Mohamed Salah’s close-season departure.

He has two caps for Spain, having made his debut in March, and will link up with his new teammates later this summer once the World Cup is over.

Liverpool are also believed to be interested in teenage forward Yan Diomande, who plays for German club Leipzig and is at the World Cup with the Ivory Coast.

French defender Jeremy Jacquet had already agreed to join Liverpool from Rennes in July in a deal negotiated earlier this year.

READ: Tottenham sign Dutch defender Van Hecke from Brighton

Tottenham Hotspur signed Netherlands defender Jan Paul van Hecke from Brighton for a reported fee of £52 million ($68 million) on Thursday.

Van Hecke will be reunited with Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi after they worked together during two seasons at Brighton.

De Zerbi made the Dutch centre-back a key part of his close-season rebuilding plan after saving Tottenham from relegation on the final day of last season.

After two Tottenham bids were rejected by Brighton, the 26-year-old was finally able to sign a long-term contract with the north London club.

“It’s a huge honour to become a Spurs player, and when you join such a big club, it’s a dream come true,” Van Hecke said.

“I already have a really strong connection with the head coach, who I’m looking forward to working with again. Micky (van de Ven) has also told me some great things about the club, so I can’t wait to get started.

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“I’ve been at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as an opposition player, and now I’m looking forward to walking out there in front of our fans wearing the Spurs shirt. That will be a special moment.”

De Zerbi’s focus has been on defence, with left-back Andy Robertson and centre-back Marcos Senesi joining on free transfers before Van Hecke’s arrival to bolster a team that has conceded 122 goals in the last two league campaigns.

“Jan Paul is someone I know very well from our time together at Brighton, and I’m delighted to be working with him again,” De Zerbi said.

“He is a strong, intelligent centre-back who is brave in possession and plays with personality. Those are important qualities for the way I want our team to set up.

“Off the pitch, he is mature, a leader and has a hunger to learn and improve every day.”

Jan Paul van Hecke will link up with his new team after the World Cup.

FIFA World Cup 2026: Mexico become first team to reach knockout phase