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Michael Carrick is expected to be recommended as Manchester United’s permanent manager by club chiefs after overseeing a dramatic improvement in the club’s fortunes, it was widely reported on Wednesday.

The 44-year-old took over for the rest of the campaign in January following an acrimonious end to Ruben Amorim’s rocky Red Devils reign.

United clinched Champions League qualification with three matches to spare after being out of the competition for two seasons.

Carrick, appointed on January 13, has won 10 of his 15 matches in charge in all competitions, losing just twice, to guide United from seventh to third in the Premier League table.

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The Athletic reported that chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox would recommend to co-owner Jim Ratcliffe that Carrick be offered the role at an executive meeting this week.

United have explored other options but Carrick has long been considered the frontrunner for a job that he has been publicly backed for by a number of players.

Some bookmakers have suspended betting on his appointment.

Carrick is set to face the media on Friday ahead of Sunday’s final home game of the season against Nottingham Forest.

READ: Sarah Taylor named England Men’s fielding coach in historic move

Former England wicket-keeper batter Sarah Taylor has been named as fielding coach for the men’s side for the upcoming Test series against New Zealand, becoming the first woman to join the coaching staff of the senior men’s national team.

Taylor, a key member of England’s 2017 World Cup-winning squad, has been involved with the England and Wales Cricket Board’s (ECB) coaching setup over the past few years. She has served as the coach of the England Lions in Australia during their recent tour of Australia under Andrew Flintoff.

The 35-year-old will take up the role on a temporary basis in the absence of regular fielding coach Carl Hopkinson, who is currently working with the Mumbai Indians (MI) in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

England managing director Rob Key praised Sarah Taylor following her appointment, describing her as one of the finest coaches in the game.

“She’s one of the best in the business at what she does,” said England’s managing director of men’s cricket Rob Key.

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“She’s been outstanding, and she’s worked a lot with [Lions head coach] Andrew Flintoff and Ed Barney [performance director].

“They can’t speak highly enough of her. So from what we can see, she’s one of the best in the business.”

Key also hinted that Taylor could continue working with the men’s setup beyond the New Zealand series.

Widely regarded as the one of the best wicket-keepers to have played the game, Taylor represented England in 226 matches between 2006 and 2019.

Earlier on Wednesday, former Australian batter Marcus North was also named as the new national selector. North joins the ECB from county side Durham, where he has been the director of cricket since October 2018.

England Test squad: Ben Stokes (capt), Rehan Ahmed, Gus Atkinson, Sonny Baker, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Ben Duckett, Matthew Fisher, Emilio Gay, James Rew (wkt), Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Jamie Smith (wkt), Josh Tongue

READ: WATCH: Shahid Afridi conferred with Hilal-e-Imtiaz award

KARACHI: Karachi is set to host the ‘One Run International Half-Marathon’ on May 23, 2026, with more than 1,500 participants expected to take part in the city’s largest running event of the year.

According to the details, runners of all ages and abilities can choose from four distances – 1 km, 5 km, 10 km, and the full 21.1 km half-marathon – along the Abdul Sattar Edhi Road (Seaview), starting and finishing at Emaar Ocean Front.

The One Run offers a unique opportunity for families, friends, and fitness enthusiasts to embrace an active lifestyle and set personal milestones within a global community.

On the same day, over 245,000 runners worldwide from countries including Russia, China, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, India, UAE, Qatar, Venezuela, Serbia, Tanzania, Malaysia, Thailand, and more will take part, making it a truly global celebration of running.

 

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Shoaib Nizami, the event organizer, highlighted the importance of marathons, saying that Karachi’s running culture was growing rapidly, with an increasing number of people from all walks of life participating every year.

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He added that while the city was widely known for its food, Karachiites should also take pride in their active lifestyle and involvement in international events.

“Karachi’s running culture is growing rapidly, with more people from all walks of life taking part every year. While the city is famous for its food, Karachiites should also take pride in their active lifestyle and participation in international events. This is another opportunity to showcase the healthy, dynamic side of our city to the world,” he said.

It’s worth noting that the One Run concept was first introduced in 2017 in Russia, with simultaneous events held in 10 cities.

The event rapidly expanded and, by 2020, made history with a synchronized start across all Russian regions, setting two Guinness World Records for uniting the most cities in a half-marathon.

By 2023, One Run had gone global, with five countries — including China, Kyrgyzstan, Armenia, Tajikistan, and Belarus — joining the movement.

Now, in 2026, with Karachi once again on the map, Pakistan continues to stride forward on the global fitness calendar.

READ: WATCH: Shahid Afridi conferred with Hilal-e-Imtiaz award

Pakistan will face Scotland and Sri Lanka in the warm-up fixtures of the upcoming Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, scheduled to be played in England and Wales. 

The warm-up matches will be played from 6 to 10 June, serving as an opportunity for the teams to acclimatize to the conditions ahead of the mega-event.

“A total of 12 matches will be played between 6 and 10 June across Derby, Loughborough, and Cardiff before the main event begins on 12 June,” the International Cricket Council (ICC) said in a press release statement.

Each team will play two warm-up games, with Pakistan taking on Sri Lanka in their first warm-up game on 6 June at Derby. They will then play Scotland on 9 June at the same venue.

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“Eight teams will be in action on the opening day of warm-up matches, including last edition’s finalists New Zealand and South Africa. Tournament debutants Netherlands will also feature as they take on Scotland in Derby,” it added.

The tournament takes place in England beginning on June 12. The final is at Lord’s in London on July 5.

Schedule of ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 warm-up fixtures:

6 June, 2 PM – Netherlands vs Scotland, Derby
6 June, 2 PM – South Africa vs Ireland, Loughborough
6 June, 7 PM – Sri Lanka vs Pakistan, Derby
6 June, 7 PM – New Zealand vs Bangladesh, Loughborough

8 June, 2 PM – West Indies vs India, Cardiff
8 June, 7 PM – England vs Australia, Cardiff

9 June, 2 PM – Scotland vs Pakistan, Derby
9 June, 2 PM – Ireland vs Bangladesh, Loughborough
9 June, 7 PM – Netherlands vs Sri Lanka, Derby
9 June, 7 PM – South Africa vs New Zealand, Loughborough

10 June, 2 PM – India vs England, Cardiff
10 June, 7 PM – West Indies vs Australia, Cardiff

READ: WATCH: Shahid Afridi conferred with Hilal-e-Imtiaz award

ISLAMABAD: Former Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi has received the Hilal-e-Imtiaz, Pakistan’s second-highest civilian award.

Afrid was conferred with the award for his contributions to the national cricket team, his role in England’s county cricket, and his leadership in the World Champions of Legends (WCL).

He received the award during a ceremony at Aiwan-e-Sadr from President Asif Ali Zardari.

Overall, Shahid Afridi featured in 524 international matches and played a key role as an all-rounder in the national team’s various triumphs.

With this, Shahid became the fourth Pakistan cricketer to receive the award after Waqar Younas, Wasim Akram, Imran Khan, and Abdul Hafeez Kardar.

 

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He played a record 398 ODIs for Pakistan, amassing 8,064 runs, including 39 half-centuries and six centuries. He was also exceptional with the ball, scalping 395 wickets, including nine five-wicket hauls. In the T20I format, the right-handed batter played 99 matches, scoring 1,416 runs alongside 98 wickets to his name.

His most notable performance came in the 2009 T20 World Cup final against Sri Lanka, where Afridi delivered with both bat and ball to take Pakistan to title glory. He hit an unbeaten 54 off 40 deliveries, including two fours and two sixes, and also took a wicket.

Besides his international career, Afridi enjoyed an extensive experience in franchise cricket, having played for teams in the Pakistan Super League, Lanka Premier League, Bangladesh Premier League, Caribbean Premier League, Champions League Twenty20, Big Bash League, and Indian Premier League.

READ: Former Australia cricketer Marcus North appointed England selector

Sabastian Sawe, who became the first person to run a marathon in under two hours, will compete at the Berlin Marathon in September, race organizers announced Wednesday.

The 31-year-old Kenyan smashed the previous world record when he ran the London Marathon in 1hr 59min 30sec in April wearing a new model of super shoes.

Now he will doubtless set his eyes on further lowering his historic time on September 27 at the Berlin Marathon, which is known for producing world records due to its flat course with relatively few corners.

Sawe won the last edition of the Berlin Marathon with a time of 2:02:16 despite heat and humidity in the German capital.

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“I am very happy to return to (the Berlin Marathon) this year and to defend my title,” Sawe, who won the race last year, said in a statement released by organisers.

“Many people may be wondering what my goals are this time round.

“After coming off my win in London and sub-2 performance, I can only say that, like always, I plan to prepare myself to the best of my ability and to come to Berlin to honor this great event and organization which have invited me, and to run as well and fast as possible. Then on the day we will see what will happen.”

READ: Chelsea star Estevao left out of Brazil’s preliminary World Cup squad: report

Former Australian cricketer Marcus North has been appointed England Men’s team National selector following Luke Wright’s exit. 

North was confirmed as the selector following England’s 15-member squad announcement for the first Test against New Zealand, set to begin on June 4 at Lord’s.

Marcus North will fill the vacancy after Wright stepped down following the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. He represented Australia in 21 Tests and two ODIs between 2009 and 2010.

The 46-year-old will take up the responsibility of overseeing England’s domestic cricket, alongside managing the Three Lions red and white ball squad. In addition, he will work closely with England Cricket Managing Director Rob Key, Performance Director Ed Barney, and Player Identification Lead David Court.

North’s role also includes decisions about England Men’s central contracts and the county scouting network.

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Additionally, he will work with the ECB Science and Medicine team on player availability, workload management, and program planning.

Marcus North expressed his delight over the appointment, noting that he is eager to contribute to the growth of England’s men’s cricket.

“I am absolutely delighted to be appointed England Men’s National Selector,” North said. “It is a tremendous honour to be entrusted with a role of such responsibility, and I am excited to contribute to the continued development of the England Men’s teams.”

He also mentioned his past experience in English domestic cricket, saying he had seen the immense talent during his tenure in county cricket.

“Having spent the past several years working closely within the county game, I have seen first-hand the strength and depth of talent across the domestic system. I’m looking forward to working closely with the counties in identifying, supporting, and selecting players who can thrive at International level,” he said.

“The opportunity to help shape the future of England Men’s teams is one I’m incredibly passionate about. I’m excited to get started working closely with Rob, Brendon, Ben, Harry, and the wider performance team in building squads that can compete consistently and successfully across all formats,” he concluded

READ: England drop Zak Crawley for first Test against New Zealand

England have dropped struggling opening batter Zak Crawley from their squad for next month’s first Test against New Zealand at Lord’s.

Durham’s Emilio Gay, one of three uncapped players in a 15-man squad including Hampshire fast bowler Sonny Baker and Somerset wicketkeeper-batsman James Rew, is set to replace Crawley as he is a specialist opener.

Meanwhile, paceman Ollie Robinson, following a two-year exile, is back for the first of a three-Test series.

Crawley had a disappointing 2025-26 tour of Australia, scoring only 273 runs in 10 innings at an average of 27.30 during the team’s unfortunate 4-1 series loss in the Ashes.

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This season, he has also struggled to score runs for Kent in the second division of the County Championship.

This is the first time since captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum took charge of the Test team in 2022 that Crawley has been left out of a squad when available.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) also announced on Wednesday that former Australia batsman Marcus North would be their new national selector.

North joins the ECB from county side Durham, where he has been the director of cricket since October 2018.

England Test squad: Ben Stokes (capt), Rehan Ahmed, Gus Atkinson, Sonny Baker, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Ben Duckett, Matthew Fisher, Emilio Gay, James Rew (wkt), Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Jamie Smith (wkt), Josh Tongue

READ: Star Pakistan batter unlikely to partake in ODI series against Australia

LAHORE: Star Pakistan opener Saim Ayub is likely to be left out of the squad for the upcoming ODI series against Australia, scheduled from May 30 to June 4, according to sources.

The development comes as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) prepares a broader long-term training structure involving a pool of 38 players for an extended four-month development programme aimed at upcoming international assignments.

Sources indicate that the programme will include both white-ball and red-ball cricketers, with players to be rotated in and out of national duties based on series requirements and workload management.

The initiative is expected to focus heavily on fitness, skill development, and format-specific training, with players remaining in contention for selection across all formats during the period.

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Saim’s name was missing from the recently announced 28-member white-ball training camp at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) ahead of the Australia series, further strengthening reports that he is set to miss the home ODI assignment.

Despite his exclusion, the left-handed batter has been one of Pakistan’s most productive ODI performers in recent years.

He has scored 751 runs in 17 ODI appearances at an average of 46.93 and a strike rate of 100, including three centuries and three half-centuries.

However, his recent form has shown a dip, with 236 runs in his last eight ODIs at an average of 29.50, featuring two fifties.

READ: Saud Shakeel, Noman Ali suffer decline in ICC Test rankings

MIRPUR: Several Pakistan players, including Saud Shakeel and Noman Ali, suffered declines in the latest ICC Test rankings released on Wednesday following the team’s disappointing defeat against Bangladesh in Mirpur.

Pakistan lost the opening Test by 104 runs at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, a result that significantly impacted multiple players across both batting and bowling rankings.

In the batting rankings, Saud Shakeel endured the biggest drop among Pakistan batters after slipping six places from ninth to 15th with 689 rating points. The left-hander managed only 15 runs across two innings during the Mirpur Test.

Meanwhile, wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan retained his 21st position after scoring a half-century in the first innings.

Former captain Babar Azam, who did not feature in the opening Test, dropped one place to 23rd, while Salman Ali Agha also slipped two spots to 29th after scoring 84 runs in the match.

Pakistan Test captain Shan Masood fell six places to 46th after a disappointing outing in which he scored just 11 runs.

Opener Imam-ul-Haq dropped four places to 53rd, while Abdullah Shafique, despite not being part of the Test squad, climbed one spot to 54th.

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Debutant Abdullah Fazal entered the rankings at 75th after impressing with twin half-centuries in his maiden Test appearance. Young batter Azan Awais, who scored a century in the match, is ranked 82nd.

On the other hand, Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto made significant gains after his century and half-century earned him the Player of the Match award. The left-hander jumped 16 places to move to 24th in the rankings.

England stars Joe Root and Harry Brook continue to occupy the top two positions in the Test batting rankings, while Travis Head remains third.

In the bowling rankings, Noman Ali slipped three places from second to fifth despite taking four wickets in the Mirpur Test. The spinner now has 825 rating points.

Fast bowlers Shaheen Afridi and Mohammad Abbas retained their 24th and 28th positions, respectively. Meanwhile, Hasan Ali moved up one place to 40th after his performance in the series opener.

Spinner Asif Afridi dropped three places to 82nd, while Salman Ali Agha slipped four spots to 91st among bowlers.

India pacer Jasprit Bumrah remains the world’s top-ranked Test bowler, followed by Australia’s Mitchell Starc and New Zealand seamer Matt Henry.

READ: Hunain, Sufiyan included in Pakistan white-ball camp for Australia ODIs