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RIYADH: Pakistan Javelin Ace added another feather to his cap by winning a gold medal at the sixth edition of the Islamic Solidarity Games here at the Prince Faisal Bin Fahad Stadium on Wednesday.

Arshad secured the gold with an 83.05 throw on his second attempt. The ace thrower did not have the best of starts as he hit the 74-meter mark in his first attempt and crossed the 80m barrier in the second attempt.

His fourth attempt yielded a 77.06m throw, while the fifth resulted in a foul. He finished his campaign with a 77.98m throw.

Meanwhile, another Pakistan athlete, Muhammad Yasir Sutlan, clinched silver with a 74.43m throw. Nigeria’s Samuel Kure bagged a bronze with 75.46m.

Apart from Arshad, no other participating athlete could cross the 80-meter mark in their six attempts. Yasir Sultan remained the second-best thrower, hitting a 76.04-meter mark in his final attempt.

Final Javelin Standings:

Arshad Nadeem – 83.05m
Samuel Kure – 75.46m
Yasir Sultan – 74.43m

The men’s Javelin throw competition featured eight competitors from six countries, including Arshad Nadeem and Yasir Sultan from Pakistan.

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Earlier, Pakistan’s Qudrat Ullah and Fatima Zahra clinched bronze medals after bowing out in the semi-finals of the boxing.

Qudrat clinched a Bronze medal in men’s 55kg boxing after suffering defeat from Egypt’s Amir Mohamed Farag Ahmed Kelany in the semi-final, whereas 19-year-old Fatima was also defeated by an Egyptian opponent in the semi-final.

Qudrat reached the semi-final after defeating Sudan’s Mohamed Othman 10-0 in the quarter-final. While Fatima crushed Algeria’s Hamda Melissa 5-0 in the 60kg quarter-final.

Besides this, Pakistan’s Arusha Saeed also secured a bronze medal in the women’s 57kg Kurash event. The victory marked Pakistan’s first accolade in the event.

For the unversed, the 6th Islamic Solidarity Games are currently held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from November 7 to 21, 2025, featuring athletes from across the Muslim world competing in a range of sports.

The games also marked a return to Saudi Arabia, which hosted the first edition in 2005 across the cities of Mecca, Medina, Jeddah, and Taif.

READ: Abu Dhabi T10: Harbhajan Singh, Shahnawaz Dahani exchange handshakes

ABU DHABI: Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh exchanged a handshake with Pakistan fast bowler Shahnawaz Dahani after the Abu Dhabi T10 League fixture between Northern Warriors and Aspin Stallions here at the Zayed Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.

The moment came after Dahani defended eight runs in the final over, helping his side to clinch a narrow four-run victory over the Stallions.

Shahnawaz Dahani bowled an outstanding over as Stallions were 107/4 and required only eight in pursuit of 115. However, the right-arm pacer delivered the ball and picked up two wickets, and gave away only three runs.

At the end of the game, both teams shook hands, including Stallions skipper Harbhajan Singh.

This comes amid strained India-Pakistan relations after the Pahalgam attack in May this year. Following the tensions, India’s men’s and women’s squads avoided customary handshakes with Pakistani players.

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Notably, Harbhajan was also part of the India Legends squad that boycotted the match twice against Pakistan during the World Championship of Legends (WCL).

The Asia Cup 2025 was also marred by several incidents from start to the final match. The drama unraveled when India refused to accept the Asia Cup trophy directly from Naqvi and did not attend the closing ceremony.

The trophy still sits with the ACC, awaiting an official handover should India agree to receive it at a separate event.

Notably, India’s refusal to engage in handshakes with Pakistani teams, a pattern that began during the senior Asia Cup, has now become a recurring feature across formats.

The ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 saw the same behaviour, and the latest chapter came on Sunday in Doha, when India A captain Jitesh Sharma and Pakistan Shaheens skipper Irfan Niazi skipped the customary handshake at the toss.

READ: PCB finalises two cities for new PSL teams

MUSCAT: England’s Harvey Chandler outplayed Pakistan’s Asjad Iqbal to clinch the Snooker World Cup here in Oman’s capital on Wednesday.

According to Naveed Kapadia, Secretary General of the Pakistan Billiard and Snooker Association (PBSA), Asjad suffered defeat in the final with the frame scores of 5-2 (0–83, 66–16, 29–95, 8–16, 86–3, 37–65, and 15–70).

Chandler also compiled impressive breaks of 52 and 67 during the match.

Earlier, Asjad Iqbal defeated France’s Nicholas Mortreux 5–2 to reach the final, while Harvey Chandler defeated Chang Yu Kiu from Hong Kong, China, to reach the pinnacle clash.

Asjad frame scores were 26–78, 75–46, 69–83, 41–74, 0–72, 78–1, and 0–76. Asjad also produced breaks of 62 and 59 in the match.

Meanwhile, Harvey displayed consistency with 13 breaks throughout the tournament.

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The national champion also stunned three-time IBSF World Champion Pankaj Advani in the quarter-final and romped to a lopsided (4-0) victory.

He started with an outstanding break of 81 and clinched the opening frame with a remarkable scoreline of 100-0.

The seasoned cueist followed the opening break with another 45 to take a 2-0 lead. Asjad then secured the third frame with a scoreline of 68 and 49 and advanced into the semi-final.

For the unversed, the men’s Team Snooker Championships in Muscat, Oman, is also underway and will continue until 23rd November.

READ: WATCH: PM Shehbaz hosts luncheon for tri-nation teams

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday hosted a luncheon in honor of the Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Zimbabwe cricket teams participating in the ongoing T20I tri-nation series.

The reception was held at the Prime Minister’s House in the federal capital, attended by various dignitaries, including Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi.

On this occasion, Shehbaz Sharif praised the teams for showing their skill and passion for the game.

“The passion, skill, and dedication shown by the cricket teams of Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Zimbabwe in participating in the tri-nation Series in Pakistan is commendable,” PM told the players.

“All the players are representing their respective countries in the best possible way,” he said.

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The PM further said that the steady return of international cricket highlighted Pakistan’s positive image.

“I hope the matches set a standard of sportsmanlike spirit that becomes a guiding light for our younger generation,” he remarked.

“The continuous hosting of international cricket in Pakistan reflects the nation’s positive image, as well as its peace and stability,” he stated.

He noted that cricket would continue to strengthen friendship and cooperation among the three nations, and said Pakistan looked forward to hosting more international teams in the same spirit.

“I believe that cricket will further strengthen friendship and mutual co-operation among the three nations. Pakistan looks forward to hosting international teams in the same spirit in the future,” he concluded.

For the unversed, the tri-series commenced on November 18 and will run until November 29. Each side is scheduled to play four league matches, with the top two teams meeting in the final.

T20I Tri-Series Schedule:

• November 18: Pakistan vs Zimbabwe
• November 20: Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe
• November 22: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka
• November 23: Pakistan vs Zimbabwe
• November 25: Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe
• November 27: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka
• November 29: Final

READ: Bangladesh announce new vice-captains across formats

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has finalized two new teams for the upcoming edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL), sources said on Wednesday.

According to the sources, the two new teams will reportedly be named Gilgit and Faisalabad.

A few days earlier, PCB had shortlisted six cities for the two new teams, which included Hyderabad, Sialkot, Muzaffarabad, Faisalabad, Gilgit, and Rawalpindi.

The development came alongside the PCB’s completion of the long-awaited independent valuation process for all existing PSL franchises and key commercial assets.

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Meanwhile, PSL management issues with Multan Sultans remain unresolved. Sources privy to the matter further reveal that Sultan’s franchise ownership is also likely to be put up for bid to find new owners.

The tender process for the sale of the new franchises is expected to begin soon, adding momentum to what is poised to be one of the most significant structural upgrades in the league’s history.

The confirmation aligns with what PSL CEO Salman Naseer stated earlier in October during a press conference at the National Bank Stadium, where he revealed that an auction would be held for the two new teams.

“An auction will be held for two new PSL franchises, and bidding parties will be given a pool of city names from which they can select,” he said.

He also credited all franchises for playing a vital role in strengthening the PSL brand, noting that the league has survived “testing circumstances, including times of political and regional instability.”

“I think from our side, as management and even the other stakeholders, including franchises, everyone wants to expand our footprint beyond these four cities,” he said.

“Peshawar Stadium’s lease matters are being worked out, and both venues are part of our long-term planning.”

READ: Bangladesh announce new vice-captains across formats

DHAKA: The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has made a host of changes to its structural leadership across formats ahead of a packed cricketing calendar.

All-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz has been named as the vice-captain of the Test team, whereas Test skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto is named as the former’s deputy in the ODI side.

Shanto will continue to lead the Tigers in the red ball format till the end of the 2027 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle.

Meanwhile, opening batter Saif Hassan, who has impressed with his batting in the shorter formats, has been Litton Das’ deputy in T20Is.

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The right-hander showcased his batting prowess in the recently concluded Asia Cup 2025. Overall, Saif has played 18 T20Is and has four half-centuries to his name.

“Saif Hassan has been appointed as the vice-captain of the T20 team due to his consistent and impressive performances in the shortest format for Bangladesh. Liton Das has been named captain until the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026,” the Bangladesh Cricket Board said in a statement.

Litton Das took over the captaincy of the T20I side in May this year and will captain the side in the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

Bangladesh are currently playing against Ireland in a two-match Test series. They have already secured victory in the opening match of the series by an innings and 40 runs.

Following the Test series, the Tigers will play a three-match T20I series, which will begin on 27 November.

READ: Santner fireworks give New Zealand ODI series win over West Indies

UEFA has given Barcelona the go-ahead to play Champions League matches at their partially rebuilt Camp Nou stadium, the La Liga giants said on Wednesday.

The news comes just a couple of days after Barcelona announced their long-awaited return to league action at the stadium, which had been beset by construction chaos, after more than two years in exile.

The Spanish champions will host Eintracht Frankfurt at the Camp Nou on December 9, just over two weeks after reinaugurating the stadium against Athletic Bilbao in domestic action on November 22.

Barcelona said in a statement that “UEFA accepted the request, considering that all the necessary requirements have been met.”

The Camp Nou return will end a messy saga in which Barcelona repeatedly had to postpone their announced reopening of the stadium as construction delays and a failure to secure safety licences curtailed their plans.

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The Catalans were humiliatingly forced to play two matches at their 6,000-capacity Johan Cruyff training ground stadium in the first weeks of the season after failing to get the permit they needed for Camp Nou, because of safety reasons.

They have since then been playing in the 55,000-seater Olympic stadium on Montjuic hill.

Barcelona will open the Camp Nou against Bilbao with a temporary capacity of 45,401 spectators, with space for 105,000 when the top tier is eventually completed.

They opened the stadium up for 23,000 fans to watch a training session earlier in November as a test event in the reopening process.

The delay in the work represents a huge financial loss for the club, which needs the revenue generated by its stadium to regain stability.

Financially troubled Barcelona are estimated to be spending 1.5 billion euros ($1.74bn) on the rebuild.

READ: Santner fireworks give New Zealand ODI series win over West Indies

Captain Mitchell Santner delivered late fireworks with the bat as New Zealand beat the West Indies by five wickets in the second one-day international on Wednesday to win the series.

Santner smashed 34 not out off 15 balls to carry the hosts home at 248-5 with three deliveries to spare after the tourists posted 247-9.

The match at Napier’s McLean Park was reduced by rain to 34 overs each after a three-hour wait to start.

West Indies captain Shai Hope unfurled a brilliant 109 off 69 balls to give them a chance of squaring the three-match series after the hosts won the opener by seven runs in Christchurch on Sunday.

But some wayward late bowling opened the door for New Zealand, who have now won 11 successive ODI bilateral series at home dating back to 2019.

The result was hanging in the balance with three overs remaining, when the home side still required 40 runs to win.

Santner then struck the otherwise impressive seamer Matthew Forde for two fours and a six in successive balls.

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He swatted a six and four from the following over bowled by Shamar Springer to swing the advantage firmly to New Zealand.

Seasoned all-rounder Santner sealed victory with a cover drive off Jayden Seales and said he always felt the target could be hauled in.

“I thought 247 was a good score. They batted really well, but it’s one of those grounds where, if you get a good start, you can cash in at the back end,” he said.

Tom Latham was left not out on 39 while the chase was set up nicely by half-centuries to Devon Conway (90) and Rachin Ravindra (56) before New Zealand lost momentum through the middle stages.

Earlier, Hope produced his 19th ton in the format, finishing with 13 fours and four sixes as he became the seventh West Indies player to go past 6,000 ODI runs.

He is the second fastest to reach the milestone — in 147 matches — behind Viv Richards.

The tourists pummelled 111 off the last nine overs, with lower-order batter Justin Greaves, Romario Shepherd, and Forde all passing 20 to provide support for Hope.

Nathan Smith bagged late wickets for New Zealand to record career-best figures of 4-42 while fellow seamer Kyle Jamieson took 3-44.

The final ODI will be played in Hamilton on Saturday.

READ: No India-Pakistan clash as ICC announces U19 World Cup 2026 schedule

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on Wednesday provided an update on the injury of captain Shubman Gill ahead of the second Test against South Africa, starting 22 November in Guwahati.

Gill has responded well to treatment for a neck injury, the BCCI said on Wednesday; however, it remains to be seen if he will participate in the second Test.

Gill suffered the injury on the second day of the first Test in Kolkata and spent one night in the hospital.

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He retired hurt on four and did not return to resume his innings and nor did he field, with vice-captain Rishabh Pant leading the hosts for the remainder of the first Test, which South Africa won by 30 runs.

“Shubman has been responding well to the medical treatment provided and will travel to Guwahati with the team on 19th November, 2025,” the BCCI said in a statement ahead of the second Test.

“He will continue to be monitored by the BCCI medical team, and a decision on his participation in the 2nd Test will be taken accordingly.”

READ: No India-Pakistan clash as ICC announces U19 World Cup 2026 schedule

DUBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Wednesday unveiled the full schedule for the U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026, confirming that arch-rivals Pakistan and India will not meet in the group stage.

The absence of the marquee fixture stands out, especially given how often the two sides are deliberately placed together in ICC youth and senior events to tap into the rivalry’s unmatched global pull.

Set to run from 15 January to 6 February 2026 in Namibia and Zimbabwe, the 16th edition of the U19 World Cup will continue with its familiar format: 16 teams, four groups, 41 matches, and a Super Six stage leading into semi-finals and a final.

The sides will begin arriving on 8 January for warm-ups scheduled from 9–14 January.

The opening day features India vs USA, co-hosts Zimbabwe vs Scotland, and newcomers Tanzania vs West Indies. Tanzania will be making their debut, while Japan return after last featuring in 2020.

Pakistan begin their campaign on 16 January against England in Harare, followed by fixtures against Scotland (19 Jan) and Zimbabwe (22 Jan).

Matches will be split across five venues: Harare Sports Club, Takashinga Sports Club, Queens Sports Club, Namibia Cricket Ground, and HP Oval.

ICC Chairman Jay Shah hailed the tournament’s legacy of shaping future stars, noting its role in introducing talents ranging from Brian Lara and Sanath Jayasuriya to Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson, Steve Smith, and Shubman Gill.

“The ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup has long been the cradle of greatness, a tournament that reveals not just the next generation of cricketers, but the next generation of icons,” said Jay Shah.

“From Brian Lara and Sanath Jayasuriya to Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson, Steve Smith and Shubman Gill, the event has consistently shaped the future of our sport.

“As we look ahead to the 2026 edition in Zimbabwe and Namibia, we are excited to provide young cricketers with a world-class platform that mirrors the standards and pressures of senior international cricket.

“This tournament is where dreams are ignited, rivalries are born, and the global cricketing landscape begins to take its next form.

“We are especially pleased to welcome Tanzania as they make their debut and join a truly global field of teams.

“I extend my warmest wishes to all participating squads as they embark on this remarkable journey, representing their countries with pride and promise.”

Group A comprises the most successful side in the tournament’s history, India (five titles), the 2020 winners, Bangladesh, the USA, and New Zealand; meanwhile, Group B has co-hosts Zimbabwe, Pakistan, England, and Scotland.

Moreover, Group C comprises the defending champions Australia, Ireland, Japan, and Sri Lanka, while Group D has Tanzania, the West Indies, Afghanistan, and South Africa.

ICC U19 World Cup 2026 schedule

• 15 January, USA v India, Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo
• 15 January, Zimbabwe v Scotland, Takashinga Sports Club, Harare
• 15 January, Tanzania v West Indies, HP Oval, Windhoek
• 16 January, Pakistan v England, Takashinga Sports Club, Harare
• 16 January, Australia v Ireland, Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek
• 16 January, Afghanistan v South Africa, HP Oval, Windhoek
• 17 January, India v Bangladesh, Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo
• 17 January, Japan v Sri Lanka, Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek
• 18 January, New Zealand v USA, Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo
• 18 January, England v Zimbabwe, Takashinga Sports Club, Harare
• 18 January, West Indies v Afghanistan, HP Oval, Windhoek
• 19 January, Pakistan v Scotland, Takashinga Sports Club, Harare
• 19 January, Sri Lanka v Ireland, Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek
• 19 January, South Africa v Tanzania, HP Oval, Windhoek
• 20 January, Bangladesh v New Zealand, Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo
• 20 January, Australia v Japan, Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek
• 21 January, England v Scotland, Takashinga Sports Club, Harare
• 21 January, Afghanistan v Tanzania, HP Oval, Windhoek
• 22 January, Zimbabwe v Pakistan, Takashinga Sports Club, Harare
• 22 January, Ireland v Japan, Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek
• 22 January, West Indies v South Africa, HP Oval, Windhoek
• 23 January, Bangladesh v USA, Takashinga Sports Club, Harare
• 23 January, Sri Lanka v Australia, Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek
• 24 January, India v New Zealand, Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo
• 24 January, A4 v D4, HP Oval, Windhoek
• 25 January, Super Six A1 v D3, Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek
• 25 January, Super Six D2 v A3, HP Oval, Windhoek
• 26 January, B4 v C4, Harare Sports Club, Harare
• 26 January, Super Six C1 v B2, Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo
• 26 January, Super Six D1 v A2, Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek
• 27 January, Super Six C2 v B3, Harare Sports Club, Harare
• 27 January, Super Six C3 v B1, Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo
• 28 January, Super Six, A1 v D2, Harare Sports Club, Harare
• 29 January, Super Six D3 v A2, Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo
• 30 January, Super Six D1 v A3, Harare Sports Club, Harare
• 30 January, Super Six B3 v C1, Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo
• 31 January, Super Six B2 v C3, Harare Sports Club, Harare
• 01 February, Super Six B1 v C2, Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo
• 03 February, First semi-final, Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo
• 04 February, Second semi-final, Harare Sports Club, Harare
• 06 February, Final, Harare Sports Club, Harare

READ: Ashes: England announce squad for Perth Test against Australia