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President of the United States of America (USA) Donald Trump on Monday unveiled special fast-track visas for people with tickets to the FIFA World Cup 2026.

The United States has promised a seamless experience for next year’s tournament despite concerns that Trump’s border crackdown could hurt fans.

“For those who intend to join us for the World Cup, I strongly encourage you to apply right away,” Trump said as he announced the scheme in the Oval Office with Gianni Infantino, the boss of global soccer body FIFA.

Infantino, who has repeatedly appeared at Trump’s side since the Republican’s return to the White House in January, said the so-called “FIFA Pass” was a “very important announcement.”

“If you have a ticket for the World Cup, you can have a prioritized appointment to get your visa,” Infantino said.

“We’ll have between five and 10 million people coming to America from all over the world to enjoy the World Cup, and with this FIFA pass, we can make sure that those who buy a ticket, who are legitimate football fans or soccer fans, can come and attend the World Cup in the best conditions.”

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, however, issued a warning to those hoping to come for the tournament.

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“Your ticket is not a visa,” Rubio said at the announcement. “It doesn’t guarantee admission to the US. It guarantees you an expedited appointment, but you’re still going to go through the same vetting.”

Rubio said ticket holders would get an interview within six to eight weeks under the plan, but urged people to act now.

“Don’t wait till the last minute,” he said.

Trump has made the World Cup a centrepiece event of both his second presidency and the 250th anniversary of US independence next year.

But the giant sporting extravaganza has not escaped the political turmoil caused by Trump’s hardline stance on a host of issues.

Trump has raised the possibility of moving games from certain host cities amid a crackdown on what he says is crime and migration in some Democratic-run cities.

The draw for the World Cup is due to take place in Washington on December 5.

FIFA will present a new peace prize on the same day, with widespread speculation that it could go to Trump.

READ: Babar Azam fined for ICC Code of Conduct breach in third Sri Lanka ODI

DUBAI: Pakistan star batter Babar Azam has been fined for a Level 1 breach of the ICC Code of Conduct during the third ODI against Sri Lanka, which was played at Rawalpindi on Sunday.

The star batter was penalized 10 per cent of his match fee and received one demerit point on his disciplinary record. This marks his first offence in 24 months.

Babar was found in violation of Article 2.2 of the ICC Code, which addresses the “abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment or fixtures and fittings during an International Match.”

The incident occurred in the 21st over when Babar, having been clean bowled by Sri Lankan spinner Jeffrey Vandersay for 34 off 52 balls, struck the stumps with his bat before leaving the crease.

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The charge was confirmed by on-field umpires Alex Wharf and Rashid Riaz, third umpire Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid, and fourth umpire Faisal Afridi.

Babar accepted the sanction proposed by Ali Naqvi of the Emirates ICC International Panel of Match Referees, eliminating the need for a formal hearing.

Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand, up to a maximum of 50 per cent of a player’s match fee, along with one or two demerit points.

The fine comes shortly after Babar ended a two-year century drought in the series, producing a match-winning unbeaten hundred in the second ODI to help Pakistan take a commanding lead in the three-match series.

READ: Former Pakistan captain Azhar Ali resigns from PCB roles: sources

LAHORE: Former captain Azhar Ali has resigned from his positions within the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), stepping down both as a member of the national men’s selection committee and as the Head of Youth Development, sources confirmed on Tuesday.

He had joined the national selection committee in October 2024 alongside former ICC elite umpire Aleem Dar and ex-Test pacer Aqib Javed. The trio joined Asad Shafiq, who was already serving on the panel.

Their arrival came at a turbulent time for Pakistani cricket, following the innings defeat in the Multan Test against England.

The revamped panel quickly made headlines when it opted for bold changes, dropping star batter Babar Azam and premier pacers Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah from the remaining two Tests of the series.

The move sparked widespread debate but ultimately proved decisive as Pakistan bounced back to seal an impressive 2-1 series win.

A month later, in November 2024, the PCB appointed Azhar as the Head of Youth Development following a formal recruitment process.

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The role placed him at the heart of Pakistan cricket’s future planning: overseeing grassroots structures, designing long-term development pathways and shaping talent progression from junior to elite levels.

Azhar’s exit from both roles comes as a surprise, given the board’s emphasis on strengthening its development framework. The PCB has not yet issued an official statement regarding his resignation or the reasons behind it.

A respected figure in Pakistan cricket, Azhar Ali enjoyed a distinguished international career from 2010 to 2022, earning 97 Test and 53 ODI caps.

He captained Pakistan in nine Tests and 31 ODIs and played a central role in the country’s historic ICC Champions Trophy triumph in 2017.

Statistically, Azhar stands among Pakistan’s modern greats. With 7,097 runs in 96 Test matches at an average of 42.49, he is the nation’s fifth-highest Test run-scorer.

He is standing only behind Younis Khan, Javed Miandad, Inzamam-ul-Haq and Mohammad Yousuf. His career included 19 centuries and 34 half-centuries, beginning with a maiden Test fifty just two matches after debuting at Lord’s in 2010.

READ: Two Sri Lanka players ruled out of Pakistan Tri-Series

The Pakistan hockey team received a warm welcome at Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport on Tuesday after returning from Dhaka, where they swept Bangladesh 3-0 in the pre-World Cup qualifier series.

Families, friends and supporters gathered in large numbers to celebrate the team’s emphatic run, which secured a place in the FIH Hockey World Cup Qualifiers 2026.

Pakistan wrapped up the series in style with a resounding 10-3 victory in the final match at the Maulana Bhashani Stadium on Sunday.

Having already sealed qualification with commanding 8-2 and 8-0 wins in the opening fixtures, the Green Shirts maintained their dominance throughout the tour.

In the final clash, Pakistan struck five goals in the first half and continued their relentless scoring in the second, leaving the hosts far behind.

The series also brought individual accolades for the visitors. Sufyan Khan finished as the Top Scorer, while Ammad Butt was named the Best Player of the Tournament.

The Dhaka series was arranged by the International Hockey Federation (FIH) after Pakistan were forced to miss the Asia Cup in India earlier this year due to political tensions.

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The successful outing now serves as crucial preparation for what lies ahead: the FIH Hockey World Cup Qualifiers 2026, scheduled in Belgium from February 28 to March 8.

The team will now shift focus to their next major assignment, Pakistan’s debut appearance in the FIH Pro League.

The national camp for the league will begin in Islamabad in the coming days, followed by two practice matches in Spain on November 29 and 30.

The seventh edition of the Pro League, starting in early December in Argentina, will feature nine teams: Argentina, Australia, Belgium, England, Germany, India, the Netherlands, Spain and Pakistan.

The Green Shirts open their campaign in Rosario, taking on the Netherlands on December 10 and hosts Argentina on December 12.

Pakistan hockey team will play 16 matches across four international legs, including tough outings against Germany and Australia in Hobart, and marquee European fixtures in Belgium and Spain.

A highlight for fans will undoubtedly be the highly anticipated clashes against arch-rivals India in London on June 23 and 26 next year.

READ: Barcelona to make long-awaited Camp Nou return on THIS date

Barcelona will finally return to their reconstructed Camp Nou stadium against Athletic Bilbao on November 22 in La Liga, the club said Monday, after more than two years in exile.

Since the stadium closed at the end of the 2022/23 season, the Catalan giants have been forced to play elsewhere, mainly at the Olympic Stadium on the city’s Montjuic hill.

A series of delays means Camp Nou is reopening a year after it was originally slated to, following a 1.5 billion euro ($1.75 billion) transformation beset by construction chaos.

Barcelona will open the stadium with a temporary capacity of 45,401 spectators, with space for 105,000 when the top tier is completed.

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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.

Barcelona are also hoping to receive the green light from UEFA to host Eintracht Frankfurt at the Camp Nou in the Champions League on December 9.

The Spanish champions were 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, due to safety reasons.

The previous iteration of Camp Nou was built in 1957 and had a capacity of 99,000.

Barcelona plan to add a roof to the stadium, which will be installed in the summer of 2027, a year later than the project was anticipated to be completed.

READ: Two Sri Lanka players ruled out of Pakistan Tri-Series

Sri Lanka have been dealt a significant setback ahead of the T20I tri-series, involving Pakistan and Zimbabwe, as captain Charith Asalanka and fast bowler Asitha Fernando have been ruled out due to illness.

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) confirmed on Monday that both players will return home immediately to undergo treatment and recover in time for future commitments.

According to the board, the decision was taken as a precaution, ensuring the duo receive proper medical attention rather than risk aggravating their condition during the demanding travel and match schedule.

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“Captain Charith Asalanka and fast bowler Asitha Fernando, both suffering from illness, will return home,” the SLC said in a statement.

“This precautionary decision ensures they receive proper care and sufficient time to recover ahead of future assignments.”

With Asalanka unavailable, former skipper Dasun Shanaka has been handed the captaincy for the tri-series, marking another leadership return for the experienced all-rounder.

Catch Pakistan Tri-Series news updates here!

Meanwhile, uncapped top-order batter Pavan Rathnayake has been drafted into the squad as a replacement.

The tri-series kicks off on Tuesday with hosts Pakistan taking on Zimbabwe at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

Sri Lanka will begin their campaign on Thursday against Zimbabwe before facing Pakistan on November 22. Each side is scheduled to play four league games, with the top two teams meeting in the final on November 29.

Updated Sri Lanka squad for Pakistan T20I tri-series

Dasun Shanaka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Kamil Mishara, Kamindu Mendis, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Janith Liyanage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushan Hemantha, Dushmantha Chameera, Nuwan Thushara, Asitha Fernando, Pavan Rathnayake and Eshan Malinga.

READ: Nigeria coach blames ‘voodoo’ after World Cup 2026 hopes crushed

Nigeria football coach, Eric Chelle, has accused the Democratic Republic of Congo of practising “voodoo” after his squad’s hopes of qualifying for the FIFA World Cup 2026 ended in a penalty shootout loss.

DR Congo and Nigeria drew 1-1 after extra time in the African play-offs final in Rabat on Sunday, and the central Africans won 4-3 on penalties to book a place in inter-confederation play-offs in Mexico next March.

In his post-match remarks to journalists, coach Eric Chelle said a member of the DR Congo team “did some voodoo, every time, every time, every time”.

“That is why I was a bit nervous,” said former Mali international Chelle, who boasts four wins and two draws in competitive matches since taking charge of the Super Eagles.

Chelle had admitted prior to the match that it was going to “be very difficult in Morocco.”

Using hand gestures, he said he saw a DR Congo member waving his hand as if sprinkling or shaking something.

“I don’t know if it’s water or something like that,” Chelle said.

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In a nervy shootout in which four spot-kicks were saved and another missed, DR Congo captain Chancel Mbemba defied a bottle thrown toward him and torrential rain to convert the winning penalty as his country sought a return to the global showpiece after a lengthy absence.

Nigeria, an African football giant, lie 19 places above DR Congo in the world rankings and were pre-match favourites.

The Super Eagles failed to qualify for the second World Cup in a row. They had not missed back-to-back editions since their debut in 1994.

While Nigeria have been a regular participant at the World Cup, the sole appearance by the Congolese came in 1974 when the mineral-rich central African country was called Zaire.

READ: Shaheen Afridi clears the air on Wasim Jr’s limited white-ball appearances

Pakistan ODI captain Shaheen Afridi has finally addressed the ongoing debate around the limited game time of Mohammad Wasim Jr.

Afridi offered clarity on why the young pacer has featured sporadically in white-ball cricket despite remaining part of the squad.

Wasim Jr, long viewed as one of Pakistan’s brightest fast-bowling prospects, has 41 wickets in 25 ODIs and remains highly rated for his pace and ability to move the ball.

Yet over the past year, his limited appearances have sparked widespread discussion among fans and critics.

He played just one match in the recent South Africa ODI series and two against Sri Lanka, picking up a combined five wickets.

Before that, he made only two ODI appearances on Pakistan’s New Zealand tour in April, and has not featured in T20Is since January 2024.

Speaking after Pakistan’s ODI series win over Sri Lanka, Shaheen Afridi revealed that Wasim Jr’s irregular run was not a reflection of his ability, but of his physical condition.

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“I think he was being rotated, but perhaps you people weren’t aware,” Shaheen said at the post-match press conference. “Wasim Junior had a few injuries, and you usually give players opportunities based on those injuries.”

Shaheen explained that while Mohammad Wasim Jr. remained with the squad, he was not always fully fit to play consecutive matches.

“If a player is travelling with the team but not fully fit, like Wasim Junior was with the team, but he was carrying several injuries, then the team management naturally keeps rotating him,” he added.

The captain also stressed the importance of proper rehabilitation for bowlers, noting that fast bowling demands careful workload management.

“When you are with the team, you still need some treatment and care,” he said. “Now that he has made a comeback in the ODIs, he has shown that he has the skill; he can reverse swing the ball very well.”

Shaheen concluded by reaffirming the value Wasim Jr brings when healthy, placing him firmly among Pakistan’s current crop of match-winning quicks.

“All the bowlers in the pool right now are game-changers, and they are playing good cricket throughout,” he added.

READ: Daryl Mitchell in doubt for remainder of West Indies ODI series

New Zealand all-rounder Daryl Mitchell could miss the remainder of the ongoing ODI series against West Indies after sustaining a groin strain during his match-winning century in Christchurch.

Mitchell’s brilliant 119 off 118 balls helped New Zealand edge the visitors by just seven runs in the series opener, but the injury now casts doubt on his availability for the rest of the series.

Mitchell will remain in Christchurch to undergo scans to determine the severity of the strain, while left-hander Henry Nicholls has been called up for the second ODI in Napier on Wednesday.

Nicholls, who last featured in an ODI in April, has been in outstanding domestic form this season, topping the Ford Trophy run charts with 306 runs at an average of 76.50, including back-to-back centuries against Otago and Auckland.

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Mark Chapman also remains as the other spare batter in the squad, boasting an impressive 101.33 average from four ODIs this year.

Notably, New Zealand’s squad is already dealing with multiple injuries, with Mohammad Abbas (ribs), Finn Allen (foot), Lockie Ferguson (hamstring), Adam Milne (ankle), Will O’Rourke (back), Glenn Phillips (groin), and Ben Sears (hamstring) all sidelined.

Kane Williamson, who recently battled a minor groin issue against England, was rested from the ODI series to focus on preparations for New Zealand’s upcoming Test matches against West Indies.

READ: Asia Cup Rising Stars final likely to be marred by trophy controversy: sources

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan reached a significant milestone on Sunday, playing his 100th One-Day International (ODI) during the third match of the series against Sri Lanka at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

The right-handed batter made the occasion memorable by scoring an unbeaten 61 from 92 balls, his 19th ODI half-century, guiding Pakistan to victory.

Rizwan, who made his ODI debut in 2015 against Bangladesh in Mirpur, became the 33rd Pakistani cricketer to reach the 100-match mark.

He joined a distinguished group that includes legends like Imran Khan, Javed Miandad, Inzamam-ul-Haq and Wasim Akram, as well as modern-day greats Shahid Afridi, Babar Azam, Mohammad Hafeez and Shoaib Malik.

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Among them, Shahid Afridi holds the record for the most ODI appearances for Pakistan with 393 matches, followed by Inzamam-ul-Haq with 375 and Wasim Akram with 356.

Pakistan’s head coach for white-ball cricket, Mike Hesson, congratulated Rizwan in a video released by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

“All right, boys, it’s a special occasion when anyone plays their first game for Pakistan, but today we’ve got a player who’s playing his 100th,” Hesson said.

“He’s brought a heck of a lot of energy, desire, and skill to Pakistan, and I’m sure there’s plenty more ahead. But, Riz, congratulations, mate, 100 games today.”

 

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Mohammad Rizwan is the fourth-highest run-scorer in ODIs among Pakistan wicketkeepers, accumulating 2,921 runs to date.

Moin Khan leads the list with 3,266 runs, while the Akmal brothers, Kamran and Umar, hold the second and third spots.

In terms of dismissals, Rizwan has 106 in 79 innings, ranking fifth behind Moin Khan (287), Rashid Latif (220), Kamran Akmal (187), and Sarfaraz Ahmed (143).

READ: Asia Cup Rising Stars final likely to be marred by trophy controversy: sources