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The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has formally apologized to the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) following the incorrect display of the national flag during FIH Hockey Pro League match against India in London on Tuesday.

In a letter addressed to PHF President Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani, FIH Hockey Pro League Director Hilary Atkinson expressed sincere regret over the incident and acknowledged the importance of a national flag as a symbol of identity, pride, and representation.

“We apologise unreservedly for this error. We understand that a team’s flag is an important symbol of identity, pride and representation and we deeply regret any offence this may have caused to your team, supporters, people and National Federation,” the letter stated.

The FIH accepted full responsibility for what it described as an operational mistake and assured the PHF that its procedures would be reviewed to prevent similar incidents in the future.

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The federation also appreciated Pakistan’s participation in the Hockey Pro League and reaffirmed its commitment to treating all participating teams with respect and professionalism.

Earlier, India defeated arch-rivals Pakistan 4-3  to keep the Green Shirts winless in the tournament.

The defeat marked Pakistan’s 13th consecutive loss in the tournament and extended India’s unbeaten run against the Green Shirts since 2016. Pakistan last defeated India at a competitive hockey game in 2016.

Moreover, the loss marked Pakistan’s 13th consecutive loss in the Pro League.

READ: India beat Pakistan in FIH Hockey Pro League to extend unbeaten run

HOUSTON: Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo entered the record books after scoring against Uzbekistan in the FIFA World Cup 2026 at the Houston Stadium.

Ronaldo, 41, gave his side an early lead, finishing an assist from Joao Cancelo and finding the back of the net in an impressive way.

With this strike, he became the second-oldest in FIFA World Cup history, at 41 years, 138 days, behind Cameroon’s Roger Milla in 1994, who scored against Russia at 42 years and 39 days.

Oldest Players To Score At FIFA World Cups

Roger Milla, 42 years and 39 days, against Russia in 1994

Cristiano Ronaldo, 41 years and 138 days, against Uzbekistan

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Later on, he scored his second goal of the night to become the all-time leading scorer for Portugal, surpassing Eusebio as the country’s leading scorer in the competition.  In addition, he also became the first player to score in six different World Cup tournaments.

Leading Goal Scorers For Portugal At FIFA World Cups

Cristiano Ronaldo – 10*
Eusebio – 9
Pauleta – 4

Coming into the fixture, Ronaldo was under serious criticism with critics calling to be dropped.

After the first match, team manager Roberto Martinez and teammates defended Ronaldo.

“Cristiano is the best one to do that,” Roberto Martinez responded when asked what’s needed to spark the Portugal attack.

“The numbers support this of this iconic player who is Cristiano Ronaldo. If you look at the past 32 games, he is the player that has extra movement opening spaces and finding pockets.”

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Midfielder Joao Neves also defended the star player after he was unable to score in the opening game.

“We know what Ronaldo has done for our national team, but at this moment I feel that for him, and for everyone, he’s one of us,” Neves said. “He’s one more player trying to help, he’s no different to the others. He’s here to contribute like we all will.”

Starting XIs

Portugal: Diogo Costa, Joao Cancelo, Ruben Dias, Renato Veiga, Nuno Mendes, Vitinha, Joao Neves, Bruno Fernandes, Pedro Neto, Joao Felix and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Uzbekistan: Abduvohid Nematov, Abdukodir Khusanov, Rustam Ashurmatov, Sherzod Nasrullaev, Abdulla Abdullaev, Behruzjon Karimov, Odiljon Xamrobekov, Otabek Shukurov, Azizjon Ganiev, Abbosbek Fayzullaev, Eldor Shomurodov.

READ: Brendon McCullum denies rift with Ben Stokes

LONDON: India kept Pakistan winless with a 4-3 win in the FIH Pro Hockey League fixture at the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Center on Tuesday.

The defeat marked Pakistan’s 13th consecutive loss in the tournament and extended India’s unbeaten run against the Green Shirts since 2016. Pakistan last defeated India at a competitive hockey game in 2016.

After taking an early lead, the Green Shirts were pushed back in the remaining three quarters as the Men in Blue took control of the game.

Nadeem Ahmed provided Pakistan a bright start with a goal on PC in the seventh minute. Pakistan remained on top despite India enjoying lengthy spells of possession.

However, the break shifted momentum towards India as Pakistan’s defensive strategy backfired. The Men in Blue took advantage of their superior circle penetrations (10) compared to Pakistan (2). Abhishek scored an equalizer in the 21st minute after several saves by goalkeeper Ali Raza.

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Two minutes later, India’s Nikanta Sharma doubled the lead to put his side ahead in the contest. Pakistan created several chances at the end of the quarter, with Rana Waheed Ashraf impressing in midfield, but they were unable to find an equalizer.

At the end of the second quarter, the score line remained 2-1 in India’s favor.

India continued to dominate in the second half and extended their lead through goals from Sukhjeet Singh (39′) and Rajinder Singh (51′). The heat took its toll on Pakistan, as they could not score despite being awarded a penalty corner in the dying minutes of the third quarter.

The game was long done and dusted, but Pakistan continued to fight until the final whistle, with skipper Abu Mahmood and  Moin Shakeel reducing the deficit. Eventually, India held on to secure a 4-3 victory.

READ: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi reacts to wearing India jersey for first time

England coach Brendon McCullum has denied his relationship with Ben Stokes was damaged by the nightclub controversy that forced the captain into exile for the second Test defeat against New Zealand.

Stokes and fast bowler Gus Atkinson were dropped after breaking a midnight curfew in an incident at a London nightclub following England’s first Test win at Lord’s.

McCullum said he was concerned and worried about Stokes in the aftermath of the all-rounder’s late-night antics, which sparked suggestions he might be stripped of the captaincy or retire from international duty.

The pair were largely cleared in two subsequent investigations, receiving only a written warning from the England and Wales Cricket Board for breaking “specific contractual obligations”.

Two unprovoked attacks on Atkinson in the nightclub occurred when Stokes was elsewhere, while the Cricket Regulator ruled there was insufficient evidence against them to justify further punishment.

McCullum had declined the opportunity to publicly back Stokes while the probe took place, leading to renewed speculation over the pair’s bond after a dismal Ashes defeat in Australia that was marred by drinking controversy surrounding England’s players.

England slumped to a heavy second Test defeat in the absence of their skipper and one of their key fast bowlers.

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But Stokes and Atkinson are back in the squad for the third Test, which starts in Nottingham on Thursday, and trained with their team-mates at Trent Bridge on Tuesday.

And McCullum claimed he is still on good terms with Stokes after a lengthy chat prior to England’s net session.

“I’ve had a good catch-up with him this morning, an hour and a bit talking, and he was outstanding,” he told reporters on Tuesday.

“He looks ready to go, he’s enthusiastic about the week and, obviously from our point of view, it’s nice to have the band back together.”

Asked if recent events had made their relationship more tense, McCullum said: “Not at all. We talked about that this morning. I said ‘do you know where this has come from, the conversations around our relationship over the last six months?’

“He said ‘no, I have no idea’. I said to him ‘as far I’m concerned, I consider you a good friend’.

“Obviously we’ve been through a lot together as a working pair in leadership positions here in English cricket.

“In the end, we both want what’s right and what is the best for English cricket and we’re crystal clear on the direction we want this team to take.”

READ: T20 World Cup: Holders New Zealand stay in hunt after win over Scotland

Barcelona officially confirmed on Tuesday the permanent signing of teenage Egyptian striker Hamza Abdelkarim.

On loan from Al Ahly, his formative club, Abdelkarim arrived at Barca in the last January transfer window, playing the final stretch of the season with the club’s Juvenil A side (under-16 to under-18 category).

The club confirmed the signing in a press release, stating that the 18-year-old has been signed for three years.

“FC Barcelona has informed Al Ahly that it is exercising the purchase option to permanently sign the Egyptian striker, who will sign for three more seasons,” the statement read.

Catch all FIFA World Cup 2026 live updates here!

“The Egyptian striker is joining the Club on a permanent basis, with whom he will sign for the next three seasons, until June 30, 2029,” it added.

He scored six goals in 11 matches, a level of performance that finally convinced the club to trigger the purchase option, with a contract running until 2029.

The club has not disclosed the fee, but several Spanish media outlets report that it was closed for 1.5 million euros ($1.7 million) plus add-ons.

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Currently at the World Cup with the Pharaohs, the 18-year-old Abdelkarim has seen playing time in both of his national team’s matches, against Belgium and New Zealand.

It is worth mentioning that Hamza Abdelkarim became the youngest Arab and Egyptian player to make a FIFA World Cup debut during his side’s clash against Belgium, a match that ended in a 1-1 draw.

The striker came in as a substitute for ace player Mohamed Salah in the second half of the game.

READ: WATCH: Haaland joins Norway’s “Viking Row” celebration after Senegal win

BRISTOL: Defending champions New Zealand overcame a jittery start to beat Scotland and keep their hopes of reaching the semi-final of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 alive at the County Ground on Tuesday.

New Zealand chased down a 132-run target inside 18 overs, losing four wickets in the process.

The Wildcats pushed White Ferns on the back foot with a dominant start, reducing them to 26-3 in the first five overs.

Kathryn Bryce accounted for skipper Melie Kerr and Isabella Gaze wickets, both scoring two and 12 runs respectively. The reigning champions were left in deep trouble when seasoned batter Sophie Devine was cleaned by Rachel Slater for just one run.

With their side in dire straits, Izzy Sharp and Brooke Halliday launched a swift recovery, sharing a match-winning 101 stand for the fourth wicket. The pair kept the opposition bowlers at bay with Sharp raising her half-century in the 17th over.

She was eventually dismissed for a well-made 62 off 43 balls, including eight fours and a six. At this stage, New Zealand were 127-3 in 17.4 overs.

But Brooke Halliday ensured that her side got over the line and scored the winning runs. Halliday made 41* off 38 balls, including three fours.

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For Scotland, Rachel Slater and Kathryn Bryce took two wickets each.

Earlier, Scotland managed to score 131-7 in 20 overs, despite Darcey Carter top-scoring with an unbeaten 72 off 52 balls, striking a six and eight fours.

Carter held the Scotland innings together, first adding a 51-run stand for the opening wicket. She then followed it up with a string of partnerships in the lower order.

However, New Zealand bowlers continued to chip away with regular wickets, particularly in the middle overs, to halt their progress.

The turning moment was Sophie Devine’s double-wicket 16th over, leaving Scotland 98-4 in 14.5 overs. In the next over, another wicket fell as Scotland lost the plot in a cheap manner. Eventually, they were restricted to a below-par score.

Melie Kerr starred with the ball for New Zealand, picking up a three-wicket haul.

READ: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi reacts to wearing India jersey for first time

India’s teenage sensation, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, has shared his thoughts after donning the official national jersey for the first time, saying that he had long dreamed of the moment.

Sooryvanshi, 15, has earned his maiden call-up to the India T20 squad for the Ireland and England tours, following his record-breaking run in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026.

The moment was shared in a video by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Tuesday.

“Ever since I first held a bat and walked onto a cricket field to practise, I dreamed of this moment… I cannot explain this feeling in words,” Sooryavanshi said in the BCCI video.

During the video, Sooryavanshi was shown unpacking the shirt, with his name on the back above the number 03.

It is worth mentioning that Sooryavanshi is set to become India’s youngest international player at 15. He will surpass Sachin Tendulkar, who made his Test debut aged 16 years and 205 days in 1989 against Pakistan in Karachi.

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The spotlight has been on Sooryavanshi since his batting exploits in the IPL, where he amassed 776 runs for the Rajasthan Royals to finish as the tournament’s leading run scorer.

He struck one century and five half-centuries during the season to pick up the Orange Cap for the leading run-getter.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi rose to prominence during IPL 2025, where he smashed the second-fastest IPL century. His high strike-rate batting earned praise from global cricketing icons.

Earlier this year, he also helped India lift the U19 World Cup, smashing his way to 175 off just 80 balls against England in the final.

He carried his batting brilliance in the IPL 2026, finishing the tournament with 776 runs in 16 innings at a staggering strike-rate of 237.30 for the Rajasthan Royals.

Apart from securing the Orange Cap, he also collected the Best Emerging Player award, becoming the first cricketer in IPL history to win both the MVP and Emerging Player honors in the same season.

READ: India all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy ruled out of Ireland T20Is

India all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy has been ruled out of the upcoming T20I series against Ireland due to a quadriceps injury, with growing concerns that the setback could also rule him out of the subsequent white-ball tour of England.

According to BCCI sources, the 23-year-old seam-bowling all-rounder is currently being monitored, but his availability for the next assignment remains uncertain following the latest fitness issue.

The injury continues a difficult run of fitness problems for the youngster, who has struggled to maintain consistency over the past year.

During the recent ODI series against Afghanistan, he participated in two matches. In the first ODI, held in Dharamsala, he took two wickets.

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However, he missed the second ODI in Lucknow after captain Shubman Gill announced at the toss that Reddy was dealing with “some issues with his quad.”

He returned for the final ODI in Chennai, where he bowled six overs without taking any wickets, conceding 42 runs, and did not get an opportunity to bat.

Reddy’s progress has repeatedly been interrupted by injuries, including a knee issue that ruled him out midway through India’s Test tour of England.

His bowling workload was also heavily restricted during IPL 2025, when he managed just five overs across 13 matches.

READ: Algeria come from behind to beat Jordan 2-1 in FIFA World Cup

SANTA CLARA: Algeria came behind to beat Jordan 2-1 in their Group J clash of the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026 on Monday, eliminating the Asian debutants from the tournament.

Amine Gouiri equalised Nizar al-Rashdan’s opening goal before Nadhir Benbouali scored Algeria’s winner in the 82nd minute in Santa Clara.

Catch all FIFA World Cup 2026 live updates here!

The win gives Algeria a hope of progressing to the knockout round if they can beat Austria in their final group match in Kansas City on Saturday.

Earlier on Monday, Austria suffered a 0-2 defeat at the hands of defending champions Argentina, thanks to a record-breaking brace by star player Lionel Messi.

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The Inter Miami star broke the record for most goals in the history of the FIFA World Cup as he surpassed Germany legend Miroslav Klose’s tally of 16 goals.

Argentina, the group-toppers, will face Jordan in Arlington, Texas, on Saturday in their farewell to the tournament.

WATCH: Haaland joins Norway’s “Viking Row” celebration after Senegal win

NEW YORK: Erling Haaland was at the heart of Norway’s latest World Cup moment on Monday, not just for his goals, but for embracing the viral “Viking Row” celebration after a dramatic 3-2 win over Senegal in New Jersey.

The Manchester City striker, who scored twice in the contest, joined teammates and supporters in performing the unique celebration that has quickly become one of the defining images of Norway’s tournament campaign.

The ritual, which has been seen across Norwegian fan zones in Boston and New York during the World Cup, involves supporters sitting in a Viking longboat formation and mimicking rowing motions in time with drums and chants.

Catch all FIFA World Cup 2026 live updates here!

The idea is inspired by Norway’s Viking heritage, symbolising the seafaring journeys of Norse warriors and explorers from more than a thousand years ago.

Unlike Iceland’s famous “Viking Clap” from Euro 2016, which is built around synchronised clapping and chanting, Norway’s version recreates the physical motion of rowing a ship forward, turning the stands into a moving, rhythmic display of national identity.

🚨 WORLD CUP 2026! 🇲🇽🇺🇸🇨🇦

Unforgettable moment for Norway today as they qualified for the Round of 32 in VIKING style. 🇳🇴🚣 pic.twitter.com/HFnUoPr5ny

— Polymarket FC (@PolymarketFC) June 23, 2026

After the win over Senegal, Erling Haaland explained how the celebration came to life within the squad.

“I saw it online; it’s gone completely viral,” Haaland told Fox Sports. “Martin [Ødegaard] asked me before the game: ‘Do you think we should join in?’ I said, ‘If we win, let’s do it, why not?’”

Haaland joined captain Martin Ødegaard, teammates, and even head coach Ståle Solbakken as they headed toward the Norwegian fans after full-time and took part in the rowing celebration together.

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The striker’s brace took his tournament tally to four goals, keeping him firmly in the race for the Golden Boot alongside the likes of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé and Harry Kane.

The victory also ensured Norway will at least finish second in Group I, with a high-stakes clash against France still to come to decide top spot.

READ: Neymar in contention for Brazil’s World Cup clash with Scotland