Category: Top News

Pakistan off-spinner Nida Dar has confirmed her availability for the national side after taking an indefinite break from cricket for mental health reasons.

The former captain announced her return through a social media post, noting that she had regained her strength and was available for selection.

“After taking time to focus on myself and regain my strength, I am happy to share that I am back and available for the Pakistan Cricket Team once again,” Nida Dar wrote on X.

“Ready to give my best, work hard, and contribute whenever the team needs me. Thank you to everyone who supported me during this journey.”

The 39-year-old was left out of the national side’s squad for the 2025 ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifiers held in Pakistan. Following her omission, Dar announced that she was taking a break from cricket to focus on her mental health.

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“I would like to inform that a lot of things have happened in the past with me personally and professionally and this has affected my mental health,” Dar had said. “For this reason I am taking a break from cricket for a while to focus on myself.”

Overall, Dar has played 112 ODIs and 160 T20Is for Pakistan since her maiden appearance in 2010. She last played for the Green Shirts at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2025 against New Zealand.

For those unaware, Pakistan is currently taking part in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, underway in England and Wales.

The Green Shirts had a dismal start to their campaign, losing both of their opening matches to South Africa and India.

Pakistan will play against Bangladesh on 20 June at Southampton.

READ: Veteran journalist and former cricketer Qamar Ahmed passes away

KARACHI: Former first-class cricketer and legendary broadcaster Qamar Ahmed passed away in Karachi at the age of 88.

Born in Mughal Serai, Ahmed was regarded as one of Pakistan’s renowned cricket journalists and broadcasters. He began his journalism career in London after ending a promising first-class cricket career in Pakistan in the 1950s.

A left-arm spinner, he claimed 36 wickets in 17 first-class matches while pushing for a Pakistan call-up, notably for the 1957-58 tour of the Caribbean. However, being based in Hyderabad meant he remained outside the radar of selectors, who at the time focused largely on the urban centers of Lahore and Karachi.

Despite this, he holds the rare record of having dismissed all the Mohammad brothers, including Hanif, Sadiq, and Mushtaq.

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During a journalism and broadcasting career spanning seven decades, he traveled around the globe to cover international matches and worked for renowned news outlets.

He also worked as a broadcaster for various TV channels and radio stations, including TVNZ during the 1992 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, which Pakistan won. Notably, he covered every World Cup until the 2007 edition in West Indies.

After that, he stopped covering ODIs and focused on Test cricket. He reached the landmark of covering his 400th match as a journalist during the Pakistan-Sri Lanka Test in Sharjah in 2014.

Qamar Ahmed had the unique distinction of witnessing landmark moments in cricket history, including Sunil Gavaskar’s 10,000th run, Richard Hadlee’s 400th wicket, Anil Kumble’s 10-wicket haul in an innings, and the 1000th and 2000th Test matches in 2011.

READ: The Hundred: Fatima Sana picked in landmark signing

Forward Elye Wahi will miss Ivory Coast second World Cup match against Germany after he was denied a visa to enter Canada, the Ivorian federation said on Thursday.

“The administrative authorisations necessary for his entry into Canadian territory have not been obtained at this stage,” the Ivorian federation (FIF) said, adding that he would not be able to “travel with the delegation to Canada” for Saturday’s match in Toronto.

The FIF gave no reason for his visa refusal.

Wahi is the second World Cup player to be denied entry into Canada after Ghana’s Thomas Partey, who is facing rape charges in Britain.

Several media outlets reported on Thursday that Wahi had been questioned by French police over suspicions of spot-fixing in a Ligue 1 match while he was playing for Nice.

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The case revolves around a yellow card which Wahi picked up in a 0-0 draw with Metz in mid-May, after betting authorities had noticed an unusual volume of bets being placed on the 23-year-old being booked.

The French football league (LFP) announced on Wednesday that it had lodged a complaint to police for “facts which could constitute sporting fraud and organised corruption”.

The public prosecutor’s office in Marseille confirmed to AFP that “a 23-year-old professional footballer, playing in the Ligue 1 championship, was arrested on May 29, 2026 in relation to an ongoing investigation”.

That investigation related to “organised fraud, organised sporting corruption, receiving stolen goods and money laundering”.

The public prosecutor’s said that the player had been released but that their investigations were ongoing.

The FIF pledged its support for Wahi, describing him as “an important element for the Ivory Coast national team”.

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Born in France, Wahi switched allegiances to the African nation in March and started in the Ivory Coast’s opening 1-0 World Cup Group E victory over Ecuador on Sunday.

The Elephants final group stage match is against Curacao in the United States on June 25.

Partey missed Ghana’s last-gasp 1-0 win over Panama in Toronto on Wednesday after his country failed with an appeal against his Canadian visa rejection.

Partey is facing seven charges of rape and one count of sexual assault in Britain relating to allegations by four different women between 2020 and 2022.

He denies the allegations.

READ: Ibrahima Konate completes free-transfer move to Real Madrid

Real Madrid confirmed the arrival of defender Ibrahima Konate from Liverpool on Thursday on a four-year deal at the end of his contract at Anfield.

The announcement was confirmed by Spanish Giants in a statement, which includes the details of the free transfer.

France center-back Konate “reached an agreement for him to become a Real Madrid player for the next four seasons, until June 30, 2030,” said the Spanish giants in a statement.

The 27-year-old moved to Liverpool in 2021 from RB Leipzig, playing 183 times and winning the Premier League in 2025 and the FA Cup in 2022 amongst other silverware.

Catch all FIFA World Cup 2026 live updates here!

The defender, currently at the World Cup with France, joins a Real side already reinforced this summer by the arrival of Jose Mourinho as coach, as well as the signings of Spain left-back Marc Cucurella and Portugal midfielder Bernardo Silva.

Los Blancos have also been linked with Inter Milan wing-back Denzel Dumfries, as they overhaul their squad after going two consecutive seasons without a major trophy.

Real have renewed the contract of centre-back Antonio Rudiger until 2027, after Dani Carvajal and David Alaba left the club at the end of their contracts at the Santiago Bernabeu.

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For the unversed, Konate won two League Cups and the FA Cup during his time at Anfield. But the 27-year-old’s form dipped drastically at the beginning of this season during a difficult campaign for the Reds.

It was also a season marked by tragedy for Konate, whose father died earlier this year, and for the club after the loss of forward Diogo Jota in a car accident.

READ: Updated Group K table: Portugal third after frustrating draw

Fatima Sana on Thursday became the first woman cricketer from Pakistan to be selected in The Hundred after being signed in the wildcard draft. 

Pakistan captain and all-rounder Sana will replace Australia’s Lucy Hamilton, who withdrew from the tournament to manage her workload.

Sana will receive the Hundred’s minimum salary of  £15,000 (5.6 million PKR approx.), though her participation might be affected by Pakistan’s upcoming tour to Sri Lanka from 23 July to 4 August.

Following her signing, Birmingham Phoenix performance director James Thomas hailed Sana and said that Lucy Hamilton was unavailable due to her commitments with Australia.

“Signing Fatima Sana is a real statement of intent,” he said.

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“She is Pakistan’s captain, an international-class pace bowler and a brilliant replacement for Lucy Hamilton, who is unavailable due to her Australia commitments,” he added.

A day earlier, Fatima Sana delivered an impressive all-round performance against South Africa in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026. Despite her heroics, Pakistan fell short in defense of 128 in 20 overs. She first rescued her side from a precarious 50-8  with an unbeaten  55* off 38 balls. and followed it up with a three-wicket haul.

It is worth noting that Sana is the third Pakistani player to play in the Hundred this year. She will join Usman Tariq at the Phoenix, whereas mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed will represent Sunrisers Leeds.

Men’s Hundred wildcards (£31,000)

Welsh Fire: Jordan Clark, Dillon Pennington
Southern Brave: Manny Lumsden, Saif Zaib
The Manchester Super Giants: James Sales, Adam Finch
London Spirit: Henry Crocombe, Kiran Carlson
Birmingham Phoenix: Tom Helm, Sean Dickson
MI London: Eddie Jack, Sebastian Morgan
Sunrisers Leeds: Matty Revis, Charlie Allison
Trent Rockets: Ben Raine, Ben Sanderson.

Women’s Hundred wildcards (£15,000)

Birmingham Phoenix: Mary Taylor, Fatima Sana
Welsh Fire: Niamh Fiona Holland, Georgia Davis
London Spirit: Trudy Johnson, Liv Barnes
Trent Rockets: Amu Surenkumar, Eve Jones
The Manchester Super Giants: Mia Rogers, Beth Langston
MI London: Kate Coppack, Francesca Sweet
Southern Brave: Naomi Dattani, Katherine Fraser
Sunrisers Leeds: Darcey Carter, Sophia Turner.

READ: Why BCCI wants to start IPL 2027 earlier than usual?

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is planning to shift the Indian Premier League (IPL) window earlier from the 2027 season, in a move aimed at reducing the impact of extreme summer heat on players and spectators.

Under the proposed plan, the tournament could begin around March 10 and conclude by May 15, nearly two weeks earlier than the traditional schedule, which typically runs from late March to the end of May or early June.

For comparison, IPL 2026 was played from March 28 to May 31, continuing the established window that has been in place for several seasons.

However, BCCI officials are now actively exploring an earlier start, citing concerns over increasingly harsh weather conditions during the final stages of the tournament.

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said the adjustment is intended to improve both playing and viewing conditions, particularly in the latter half of the competition.

He noted that the end of the IPL season often overlaps with rising temperatures as well as the onset of pre-monsoon conditions, making it difficult for matches to be played in comfortable conditions.

“This year, IPL started around March 28 and ended on May 31. During the fag end of the tournament, after May 15, there is apprehension of rainfall or the pre-monsoon season starting,” Saikia said.

“On the other hand, there is hot weather, which is not conducive either for the players or the crowds.”

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He added that the board has instructed its General Manager (Game Development), Abbey Kuruvilla, to evaluate scheduling options for the revised window, which the BCCI hopes to implement from the 20th edition in 2027.

Saikia also acknowledged concerns raised by both players and fans regarding extreme weather conditions, particularly in the northern and western parts of India during late-season fixtures.

Since expanding to a 10-team format in 2022, the IPL has featured 74 matches per season, with each franchise playing a mix of single and double round-robin fixtures.

While there has been discussion about further expansion to a 94-match format, Saikia said the packed international calendar makes such a move impractical at present.

He emphasised that balancing international commitments with franchise cricket continues to limit the available window for the tournament.

“That is not feasible right at this moment because we have to consider players coming from various nations. With great difficulty, we are getting this two-month window,” he said.

To support the revised schedule, the BCCI is also expected to adjust the domestic cricket calendar so that the season concludes by March 10, allowing the IPL to begin immediately after.

READ: Updated Group K table: Portugal third after frustrating draw

Group K of the FIFA World Cup 2026 has taken shape after the opening round of fixtures, with Colombia moving to the top of the table while Portugal were held to a 1-1 draw by the Democratic Republic of Congo on Wednesday.

Colombia delivered one of the standout performances of the early tournament, defeating World Cup debutants Uzbekistan 3-1 to secure three points and an early advantage in the group.

Daniel Munoz opened the scoring in the 40th minute after being set up by Luis Diaz, giving Colombia a deserved lead after a dominant first-half display.

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Uzbekistan responded strongly after the break and levelled through Abbosbek Fayzullaev on the hour mark, heading in after goalkeeper Camilo Vargas failed to deal with a delivery from Eldor Shomurodov.

However, Colombia regained control shortly after, with Diaz finishing calmly inside the box in the 65th minute to restore the lead. Jaminton Campaz then sealed the victory deep into stoppage time, converting Cucho Hernández’s cross to complete a 3-1 win.

Elsewhere in Group K, Portugal were forced to settle for a point after a 1-1 draw against the Democratic Republic of Congo at Houston Stadium.

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Both sides scored in a competitive first half before the match tightened after the break, with neither team able to find a winner in the second period.

Following these results, Colombia sit top of Group K with three points and a +2 goal difference after scoring three goals in their opening match.

The Democratic Republic of Congo occupy second place with one point after their historic draw, while Portugal are third, also on a single point. Uzbekistan sit bottom of the group without a point after their opening defeat.

READ: Lionel Messi opens up on possibility of playing seventh World Cup in 2030

Argentina captain Lionel Messi has dismissed speculation that he could extend his international career to a record seventh FIFA World Cup in 2030, calling the idea “impossible” despite continued dominance on football’s biggest stage.

The 38-year-old forward had only recently made history by becoming the first player to feature in six World Cups, before being joined in that elite group by Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo.

Messi’s latest milestone came spectacularly as he inspired Argentina’s World Cup title defence with a stunning hat-trick against Algeria at Kansas City Stadium on Tuesday.

The Argentine icon also equalled Germany legend Miroslav Klose’s all-time World Cup scoring record of 16 goals, further cementing his place in tournament history. In the process, he became the oldest player ever to score a World Cup hat-trick.

Following his record-breaking performance, questions naturally turned to whether fans could witness him at the 2030 edition, which would require Messi to play at the age of 42.

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However, the World Cup winner quickly shut down any such possibility when asked by Argentine outlet TyC Sports in the mixed zone.

“No, no, that’s impossible,” Lionel Messi said, laughing off the suggestion.

He also reflected on Argentina’s performance and the increasing competitiveness of international football, insisting that every match at this level is becoming more demanding.

“As I’ve been saying here. The truth is, we’re in good shape to compete. This team has always shown that it competes hard and never lets up,” Messi said.

“No matter the opponent, it always tries to take the lead. The first half wasn’t easy; it’s getting harder and harder to compete. We’ve been seeing in the World Cup that all the matches are very evenly matched, and no one gives you anything for free.”

READ: Luis Diaz shines as Colombia beat World Cup debutants Uzbekistan

MEXICO CITY: Luis Diaz produced a stellar display as Colombia marked their return to the FIFA World Cup with a 3-1 victory over tournament debutants Uzbekistan in their Group K clash at the Estadio Azteca on Wednesday.

READ: Brazil president Lula jokes about ‘signing’ Messi for World Cup 2026

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva suggested on Wednesday that the country’s football team should hire Argentina’s Lionel Messi for the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026.

The five-time world champions were held to a 1-1 draw by Morocco in their opening match, which highlighted several frailties in their game.

Brazil’s fiercest football rivals, Argentina, had a far better time, with Messi scoring three goals against Algeria on Tuesday.

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“I was thinking about signing Messi to play for Brazil,” Lula said, laughing, when journalists asked him about his country’s showing at the World Cup.

However, he noted it wasn’t a “big deal” for Brazil to draw with Morocco, which he said was its strongest opponent in the group.

“They say that whenever Brazil is heavily doubted, they win the World Cup… let’s see.”

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Brazil are set to face Haiti on Friday. All eyes are on Neymar, 34, who was included on the team after a nearly three-year absence due to a mixture of injuries and poor form.

Brazil’s all-time record scorer took part in his first training session with the team on Wednesday after a calf injury last month.

“Did you miss me?” Neymar shouted with a laugh to journalists as he joined the team on the pitch for some light activity. It is unclear when he will debut at the competition.

READ: Cristiano Ronaldo reacts after Portugal held by DR Congo