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Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) were ordered to pay their former forward Kylian Mbappe up to 61 million euros ($71.8 million) in unpaid wages and bonuses by a French labour court on Tuesday.

France captain Mbappe, who left PSG in June 2024 to join Real Madrid, had been claiming over 260 million euros in total from his former club.

PSG, in turn, had demanded that Mbappe pay them 440 million euros.

Mbappe, 26, also claimed that the Parisian club applied the wrong French legal classification to his contract, but the court rejected that claim.

The labour court said the final figure of between 60 million and 61 million euros was made up of 55 million euros in unpaid salary and around six million euros in holiday payments.

Qatari-owned PSG did not immediately say if they intend to appeal.

Lawyers for Mbappe said in a statement they “noted with satisfaction the decision given by the labour court”.

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“It re-establishes a simple truth — even in the professional football industry, labour laws apply to everyone,” the lawyers added in a statement.

The French club had said they were basing the figure they were claiming in part on a botched 300m-euro transfer to Saudi club Al Hilal, which Mbappe refused in June 2023.

Mbappe left for Real Madrid on a free transfer when his contract expired the following summer.

He insisted he made no agreement in 2023 to waive any payment from the club.

Mbappe initially filed a complaint in June over the way he was treated by PSG at the start of the 2023-24 season.

Mbappe argues that he was sidelined by PSG and made to train with players the club were trying to offload after refusing to agree a new contract.

It is a widespread practice that in France prompted the players’ union to lodge a complaint last year.

Mbappe was not invited to take part in PSG’s 2023 pre-season tour of Asia and missed the first game of that season, but was later recalled to the team after holding talks with the club.

After seven seasons with PSG he joined Real Madrid where he earns a reported annual salary of 30m euros.

Mbappe scored 256 goals in 308 games for PSG, but the club won the Champions League for the first time last season following his departure.

READ: Azhar Mahmood’s coaching stint with Pakistan Test Team comes to an end

DUBAI: Ahmed Hussain’s calculated knock, followed by Abdul Subhan’s impressive bowling, steered Pakistan to a 70-run victory over UAE here in the ninth fixture of the ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup here at the ICC Academy Ground in Dubai on Tuesday.

The result confirmed Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka as the four semi-finalists of the tournament.

Set 242, UAE batting lineup could not rise to the occasion as their innings folded for 171 in 37.5 overs.

Skipper Yayin Kiran Rai and Ayaan Misbah started strongly with a 41-run partnership in 7.1 overs. The partnership was broken after Kiran Rai was caught for 14.

The second wicket of the UAE fell in quick time, with Zainullah Rehmani sent back without scoring.

As a result, UAE were reduced to 50-2 in 9.5 overs before Ayaan Misbah and Prithvi Madhu took them out of trouble with a gritty 58-run partnership.

The duo brought the score to 108 in 23.4 overs before a run-out ended Misbah’s innings, who was playing so well. The right-hander made fluent 77 from 74 balls peppered with 12 fours.

After his wickets, there were no other significant contributions from the middle order as UAE lost their way in the middle of the chase. Prithvi Madhu remained the other notable contributor in an innings which saw three run outs.

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Madhu scored 27 from 63 with the help of a boundary.

For Pakistan, Abdul Subhan starred with the ball, picking up a four-wicket haul, whereas Ahmed Hussain, Momin Qamar, and Mohammad Sayyam took one apiece.

Earlier, after opting to bat first, Pakistan put 241-9 on the board in their allotted 50 overs.

Sameer Minhas and Usman Khan provided a 40-run start in 9.1 overs. Usman made 21 off 22 with the help of three fours.

However, the UAE chipped in with quick wickets at regular intervals, which never allowed Pakistan to score freely. After Sameer Minhas 44 from 63 with the help of five fours, it was Ahmed Hussain’s knock that held Pakistan’s innings together.

He was involved in crucial stands with the middle-order batters, which provided Pakistan’s batting lineup with respite. The left-hander made 65 from 91 balls with the help of four boundaries.

For UAE, Yug Sharma picked up three wickets.

READ: Shadab Khan’s all-round show in vain as Hurricanes edge Thunder

HOBART: Shadab Khan’s all-round efforts went in vain as Hobart Hurricanes stole a nervy opening win over Sydney Thunder in the third fixture of the Big Bash League (BBL) 15 here at the Bellerive Oval on Tuesday.

Set stiff 181, Hobart Hurricanes chased down the target on the penultimate ball of the final over with four wickets in hand.

Mitchell Owen and Nikhil Chaudhary provided a flying start, adding 48 in 4.3 overs. Owen hit six fours and a maximum before getting caught on 32 from 14 balls.

Despite the wicket, the home side continued brisk scoring, courtesy of Nikhil Chaudhary and Ben McDermott’s 61-run partnership. The pair made lightwork of the chase as the scorecard read 109 at the end of 11 overs.

The stand eventually culminated with Chaudhary’s departure, who made 41 from 31 balls. Soon after, McDermott perished to give the Thunder an opening.

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The right-hander made 38 from 24 with the aid of three sixes and a four.

Nonetheless, Sydney Thunder made the chase stiff for the incoming Hurricanes batters, but it was Chris Jordan’s vital contribution with the bat lower down the order that helped them finish the match.

Jordan first added 17 with Matthew Wade (25), which was followed by another unbeaten 13-run partnership with Nathan Ellis.

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Jordan made 16 from 13 while Ellis remained unbeaten with five from eight balls.

For Sydney Thunder, Shadab Khan remained the standout bowler, picking up two wickets in his quota of four overs.

Earlier, after being put into bat first, Sydney Thunder managed to pile up 180-6 on the board in their allotted 20 overs.

Cameron Bancroft top-scored with 61 from 44 deliveries with the aid of four boundaries and a six, while Shadab Khan chipped in with a contribution late down the order.

The highlight of Thunder’s innings was a 59-run partnership between Bancroft and Shadab that propelled their score from 79-4 to 138-5 in 16.5 overs.

Despite Bancroft’s wicket, Shadab remained pivotal in propelling them to a strong total. The right-hander hit two fours and a six on his way to 34 from 24 balls.

For Hobart Hurricanes, Billy Stanlake took three wickets and remained the standout bowler. Chris Jordan also managed to pick two wickets in his four overs.

READ: Kundu’s double ton helps India thump Malaysia in U19 Asia Cup

Former Pakistan all-rounder, Azhar Mahmood, has concluded his tenure with the national Test side as interim head coach, ESPNcricinfo reported on Tuesday.

Azhar was appointed acting head coach of Pakistan’s red-ball team in June, with his contract originally set to run until March 2026.

However, with no Test cricket scheduled until Pakistan’s away tour of Bangladesh in March–April next year, both parties have decided to bring the arrangement to an early close.

The decision draws the curtain on a longer association between Azhar and the national side.

He had initially joined the coaching setup in April 2024 as an all-formats assistant coach, working alongside Gary Kirsten with the white-ball teams and Jason Gillespie with the Test side.

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Following the early exits of both Kirsten and Gillespie, Azhar was elevated to the role of interim Test head coach.

During his brief spell in charge, Azhar Mahmood oversaw just one Test assignment, guiding Pakistan to a credible 1–1 home series draw against world Test champions South Africa.

“I was appointed by the PCB for a specific tenure, during which I carried out my responsibilities with professionalism and dedication,” Azhar told ESPNcricinfo.

“My contract has now come to an end, and I extend my best wishes to the team for their continued success in their future endeavours.”

This was Azhar’s second stint with Pakistan’s national team. He previously served as bowling coach during Mickey Arthur’s tenure between 2016 and 2019.

READ: Kundu’s double ton helps India thump Malaysia in U19 Asia Cup

DUBAI: Wicket-keeper batter Abhigyan Kundu produced a breathtaking double century as India stormed into the semi-finals of the ACC Under-19 Asia Cup 2025 with a crushing victory over Malaysia at The Sevens Stadium on Tuesday.

The comprehensive win marked India’s third consecutive triumph in the tournament, sealing their place in the last four from Group A.

Batting first, India piled on a mammoth 408 for seven, driven by a sublime innings from the 17-year-old Kundu, who smashed 209 off just 125 deliveries, laced with 17 fours and nine sixes.

Walking in after the dismissal of Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who had provided a flying start with a 26-ball 50, Kundu took complete control of the innings.

The left-hander reached his half-century in 44 balls and brought up his hundred off 80 deliveries before racing to the 200-run mark in only 121 balls.

He stitched together a commanding 209-run partnership with Vedant Trivedi, who contributed a solid 90, before adding further momentum with an 87-run stand from just 36 balls alongside Kanishk Chouhan.

Defending the huge total, India’s bowlers made short work of Malaysia’s batting line-up, bowling them out for just 93.

Deepesh Devendran led the demolition with an outstanding spell, claiming five wickets for 22 runs.

Udhav Mohan chipped in with two scalps, while Kishan Singh, Khilan Patel and Kanishk Chouhan picked up one wicket each to complete a dominant all-round performance.

With India safely through to the semi-finals from Group A, the ongoing match between Pakistan and the UAE will determine the second qualifier from the group.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have already secured their places in the semi-finals from Group B.

READ: PCB to pull back consultant role offered to Shan Masood: sources

DUBAI: India’s teenage batting sensation Abhigyan Kundu turned heads on Tuesday with a stunning double century against Malaysia in the ACC Under-19 Asia Cup 2025 at The Sevens Stadium.

The 17-year-old left-hander scored 209 runs off just 125 balls, including 17 fours and nine sixes, propelling India to a commanding 408 for seven in their 50 overs.

While Kundu broke multiple records with this knock, the match does not carry official Youth ODI status.

As a result, South Africa’s Jorich Van Schalkwyk, who scored 215 off 153 balls against Zimbabwe earlier this year in Harare, remains the only batter to record a double century in official Youth ODIs.

Nevertheless, Kundu’s innings stands out as one of the most remarkable individual performances in the tournament’s history.

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Kundu walked in after Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s dismissal in the 11th over and wasted no time asserting his dominance.

He reached his fifty in 44 balls, his century in 80 balls, and crossed the 200-run mark in just 121 deliveries.

He shared a 209-run partnership with Vedant Trivedi and added a blistering 87-run stand from 36 balls with Kanishk Chouhan, ensuring India posted a formidable total.

This knock also surpassed Suryavanshi’s earlier tournament-high score of 171 against the UAE and firmly established Kundu as one of the standout performers of the U19 Asia Cup.

READ: PCB to pull back consultant role offered to Shan Masood: sources

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is reportedly reevaluating its offer to men’s Test captain Shan Masood for the position of Consultant International Cricket and Players’ Affairs, with insiders citing his packed playing schedule as a key factor.

The 36-year-old batter was verbally offered the role in October, a move confirmed at the time through a brief press release and a social media post.

While the social media post remains online, the press release has since been removed, fueling speculation about the board’s reconsideration.

The PCB has appointed Shan Masood as Consultant International Cricket and Players’ Affairs.

Read more ➡️ https://t.co/dtNYF1thQl pic.twitter.com/ttyWtSOBUV

— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) October 24, 2025

Sources indicate that Masood’s ongoing commitments as Pakistan’s Test captain are making it increasingly difficult for him to manage dual responsibilities.

The PCB is believed to be weighing the practicality of having Masood simultaneously lead the Test side and assume a high-level administrative role.

The consultancy position was advertised by the PCB following the resignation of Usman Wahla from the Director of International Cricket Operations role.

While the exact duties assigned to Shan Masood were not publicly specified, the advertised responsibilities for the role include planning and organising international cricket events.

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The role also included preparing MOUs for home and overseas tours across all national and age-group teams, developing tournament budgets and logistics, and overseeing ICC meetings, negotiations, and FTP tour itineraries.

Shan Masood, who made his international debut against South Africa in 2013, has represented Pakistan in 44 Tests, nine ODIs, and 19 T20Is.

He has also captained the Test side in 14 matches, winning four and losing ten, with his most recent stint ending in a 1-1 draw against South Africa.

READ: Winless Pakistan thrashed by Argentina in FIH Pro League clash

SANTIAGO DEL ESTERO: Pakistan men’s hockey team continued their difficult debut campaign in the FIH Pro League as they suffered a heavy 5-1 defeat at the hands of Argentina at the Santiago del Estero Hockey Club on Tuesday.

Argentina dominated proceedings from the outset, combining clinical penalty-corner execution with sharp aerial play to register a commanding victory and move to the top of the Pro League standings with 11 points.

Pakistan, meanwhile, slumped to their fourth consecutive loss and remain rooted at the bottom of the table.

Los Leones opened the scoring through Nicolas Della Torre, whose powerful drag flick from a penalty corner took a deflection off Pakistan defender Muhammad Abdullah and wrong-footed goalkeeper Muneeb Ur-Rehman.

Argentina maintained control through midfield and repeatedly exploited space behind Pakistan’s defence with long aerial balls.

One such aerial found Joaquin Toscani, who controlled well before delivering a bouncing ball into the circle for Bautista Capurro to deflect home, giving the hosts a 2-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Argentina struck again through Capurro in the second quarter after Maico Casella kept the pressure alive following a failed Pakistani clearance.

Casella found space and slid a pinpoint pass across the goal, allowing Capurro to tap in his second and make it 3-0.

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Pakistan showed some resistance early in the third quarter when Waheed Ashraf Rana produced a fine individual effort, driving into the circle and smashing a high shot into the net to briefly cut the deficit.

Any hopes of a comeback were quickly extinguished as Argentina responded almost immediately.

Tadeo Marcucci released Tomas Domene with a precise pass, and although Domene’s initial backhand effort was saved, Tobias Martins reacted quickest to slot home the rebound.

Domene then capped an impressive outing by earning and converting a penalty corner with a low drag flick to make it 5-1.

The final quarter remained scoreless, with Argentina comfortably seeing out the contest to claim a convincing three points. Domene was later named Player of the Match for the second consecutive game.

The defeat leaves Pakistan in ninth place, having conceded 20 goals while scoring only eight, resulting in a worrying goal difference of minus 12.

Their campaign began with a 5-2 loss to the defending champions, the Netherlands, followed by a narrow 3-2 defeat to Argentina and a 7-3 loss in a high-scoring rematch against the Dutch.

Pakistan will now turn their attention to the Australia leg of the Pro League in Hobart in February, where they face a stern challenge against the hosts on February 10 and 13, followed by clashes with Germany on February 11 and 14.

READ: Ben Stokes urges England to ‘show a bit of dog’ in must-win Ashes Test

ADELAIDE: Captain Ben Stokes has demanded England to “show a bit of dog” in the must-win third Ashes Test against Australia on Wednesday after “raw” conversations following heavy defeats in Perth and Brisbane.

The tourists have crashed to consecutive eight-wicket losses and must snap a 17-match winless streak in Australia at Adelaide Oval to keep the five-match series alive.

They have made one change with Josh Tongue replacing fellow quick Gus Atkinson, while off-spinning all-rounder Will Jacks kept his place ahead of Shoaib Bashir.

Stokes said after the Gabba defeat that Australia was “no place for weak men” and admitted to hard dressing-room discussions in the aftermath.

“What’s been said has been said,” Stokes told reporters. “I’ve done all the talking over the last two days that I needed to. All that stuff’s done now, so it’s about what gets seen out on the field in Adelaide this week.”

Ben Stokes was called “the most competitive person I’ve ever come across” by former England captain Alastair Cook last week, and the 34-year-old all-rounder wants to see more fight from his team.

“It’s just about trying to fight in every situation that you find yourself in, understanding the situation and what you feel is required for your team,” said Stokes.

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“Just look at your opposition every single time and show a bit of dog. That’s fight to me. You’re giving yourself the best possible chance if you’ve got a bit of dog in you.”

Asked how the team had responded to his demands, Stokes replied: “It goes one or two ways, and the response that the whole group has shown as a collective has been exactly what I wanted.

“And we’re going into this week with a full understanding of what we need to do. I think the team is very, very understanding of some of the bits that I’ve raised in the dressing room.”

Ben Stokes cited England’s battling third Test win against India at Lord’s in July as an example of the grit he wanted to see, the hosts having won by 22 runs deep into day five after a time-wasting row.

“That’s exactly what I’m on about,” he said. “We were probably in a situation where we would have to be absolutely perfect to win that game, and we were.

“The attitude and the mentality towards that specific situation is what gave us the best chance of winning that game.”

READ: Security tightened for Adelaide Ashes Test after Bondi beach shooting

Police armed with rifles will be part of a beefed-up security presence at the third Ashes Test between Australia and England at Adelaide Oval after the Bondi Beach shooting attacks, officials said, while flags will be flown at half-mast.

South Australia state Premier Peter Malinauskas said extra measures would be in place for the Ashes clash that starts on Wednesday, although there was no intelligence pointing to an elevated threat level.

“Given the events that have occurred in Sydney, there will be additional protocols put in place at Adelaide Oval,” he said late Monday.

“This is done only as a precautionary measure, but it is appropriate that we are in an increasing sense of alertness just at the moment.”

An attack by a father and son on a Jewish celebration at Sydney’s Bondi Beach on Sunday killed 15 people, with dozens injured. One of the assailants was killed, while the other is in a critical condition in the hospital.

South Australia Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said special security-response police, armed with rifles, would be present in and around the Adelaide Oval during the Test.

“There’s a balance between the concern about police officers carrying rifles in and about the community, balanced with the need for us to be able to effectively respond to an event, should an event occur, and these officers are specifically trained for that purpose,” he said.

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“There’s no intelligence at this time to indicate that there are any increased levels of threat or security risks around the cricket or any other community event,” he said.

Cricket Australia (CA) and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) released a joint statement to pay tribute to the Bondi Beach victims, saying they were “horrified”.

“All of our thoughts are with the victims, their friends and families, the Jewish community and the people of Australia at this deeply distressing time,” they said. “Our condolences go out to all those affected.”

There will be a moment of silence observed before the Test, and players from both sides will wear black armbands.

“While sport can seem insignificant at times like this, we have the unusual opportunity to bring millions of people together to pay tribute, to console and to contemplate what we want our nation to be,” said Cricket Australia chief Todd Greenberg.

“We will continue to look at ways cricket can support and honour those who have been affected by the Bondi shootings and thank those who provided assistance during and since this tragedy.”

READ: Australia make two changes to Playing XI for third Ashes Test