Category: Top Picks

Nepal and Oman have officially sealed their spots for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 after confirming top-three finishes in the Asia/East Asia-Pacific Qualifier on Wednesday.

Both teams, unbeaten so far in the qualifiers, have now joined the lineup for next year’s 20-team mega event, which will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.

Their confirmed qualification comes ahead of their much-anticipated Super Six clash on Thursday.

Oman currently sit atop the standings, narrowly ahead of Nepal on net run rate, with both sides boasting three wins from as many completed matches.

Nepal entered the Super Six stage carrying two points and went on to edge out both the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar in last-ball thrillers.

Oman mirrored that path, also carrying two points forward before registering victories against the same opponents to secure their qualification.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

With two of the three available spots locked, the battle now heats up for the remaining place.

The UAE are in pole position to claim the final berth, sitting third in the table, but Japan, Qatar, and Samoa all remain mathematically alive in the race.

For the UAE, the equation is simple: a win against Japan on Thursday will confirm their ticket to the T20 World Cup. Japan, meanwhile, need to win both their remaining fixtures to keep their hopes alive.

Qatar and Samoa, on the other hand, face a more complicated road. They not only need to win their respective matches, including their head-to-head clash on Thursday, but must also rely on other results and significantly improve their net run rates to stay in contention.

READ: Ahmedabad set to host 2030 Commonwealth Games

The Indian city of Ahmedabad is in a prime position to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games, the Executive Board of Commonwealth Sport announced on Wednesday.

The choice of Ahmedabad, also known as Amdavad, will be put forward to the full Commonwealth Sport membership, with a final decision to be taken at the Commonwealth Sport General Assembly in Glasgow on November 26.

“The Executive Board of Commonwealth Sport has today confirmed that it will recommend Amdavad, India, as the proposed host city for the 2030 Centenary Commonwealth Games,” the Executive Board said in a statement.

Ahmedabad is the key city in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s home state of Gujarat, home to a 130,000-seater arena which is the world’s biggest cricket stadium. The venue is named after the premier.

India has its eyes on a bigger prize, having submitted a formal letter of intent last year to the International Olympic Committee to host the 2036 Summer Olympics.

Ahmedabad got the nod over the Nigerian capital, Abuja.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

India’s Home Minister Amit Shah described the announcement as “a day of immense joy and pride for India”.

“Heartiest congratulations to every citizen of India on Commonwealth Association’s approval of India’s bid to host the Commonwealth Games 2030 in Ahmedabad.”

The future existence of the Commonwealth Games was in doubt last year when the movement struggled to find a replacement host for 2026 after the Australian state of Victoria withdrew for cost reasons.

The Scottish city of Glasgow stepped in and will stage a slimmed-down version of the multi-sport format, meaning Britain will have hosted two editions in a row, after Birmingham in 2022.

The 2030 Games will mark the centenary of the inaugural event held in Hamilton, Canada, in 1930.

READ: Rain denies Pakistan historic Women’s World Cup win over England

COLOMBO: Pakistan were denied a shock victory over England when their ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 match was washed out as Colombo continued to be drenched by unrelenting monsoon showers on Wednesday.

Pakistan, rooted to the bottom of the points table and still searching for their first win in the eight-nation tournament, were left cursing their luck after putting England through the wringer with a brilliant bowling display that restricted the four-time champions to 133-9 in a game reduced to 31 overs.

Chasing a revised target of 113, Pakistan’s openers looked in fine touch, coasting to 34-0 in 6.4 overs, before the heavens opened once more and the game was abandoned at 9:58 pm local time.

Pakistan’s bowlers had their tails up from the outset, with captain Fatima Sana leading from the front.

She swung the ball into the batters and picked up three early wickets before returning after the rain break to snare another, finishing with eye-catching figures of 4-27.

“We showed today that we can beat any team. Disappointed about the rain. We were really good with the ball and the bat, and we would have been happy with a win,” Sana said.

It was the wicked inswinger that undid England’s top order, as four wickets tumbled to seamers, leaving the defending champions in dire straits at 39-4.

Diana Baig drew first blood by rattling Tammy Beaumont’s stumps, while Sana bowled Amy Jones through the gate with a brute of a delivery before removing Heather Knight and Nat Sciver-Brunt in quick succession with deliveries that jagged back sharply.

The spinners then tightened the screws, mopping up the middle order to ensure the seamers’ hard work didn’t go to waste.

Play was initially halted with England teetering at 79-7 after 25 overs.

When play resumed, Charlie Dean and Em Arlott offered some resistance, adding 47 runs for the eighth wicket.

England’s tail added 54 runs in six overs to give their bowlers something to bowl at, but Pakistan were well ahead when the skies opened again.

England had never lost to Pakistan in 16 previous ODIs and it needed bad weather to preserve that record.

It was the third rain-affected game in Colombo this World Cup after Australia and Sri Lanka split points without a ball bowled and Sri Lanka’s fixture against New Zealand also ended in a washout on Monday.

“Pakistan were top today and they never let us come back into the game. We fought back in the end, but we were not good enough. It was seaming quite a lot and we didn’t adapt well,” England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt said.

READ: Morocco beat Congo to set new record 16-match winning run

Morocco set a new world record of 16 consecutive international victories with Tuesday’s 1-0 FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifying success over Congo in Rabat.

Fenerbahce forward Youssef En-Nesyri scored the only goal of the game for the Atlas Lions, who had already secured World Cup qualification earlier this month with a 5-0 trouncing of Niger.

“Record-breaking. Our National Team makes HISTORY with 16 CONSECUTIVE WINS,” the Moroccan national team said on its official X account.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

“Unstoppable Lions,” it added.

The shock FIFA World Cup 2022 semi-finalists were the first African nation to qualify for next year’s tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Morocco, whose run began on June 7, 2024, had shared the previous mark of 15 victories with Spain, whose winning run began during their Euro 2008 success and ended a year later in June 2009.

That surpassed a previous record set by France, who were European champions at the time, between March 2003 and February 2004.

READ: Frenkie de Jong extends Barcelona contract until 2029

 

Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong signed a new deal until 2029, the Spanish champions announced on Wednesday.

The 28-year-old Dutch international joined Barcelona from Ajax in 2019 and is in his seventh season with the Catalan giants, winning two La Liga titles and the Copa del Rey twice.

De Jong has struggled for form at times, but became a key part of the midfield under Hansi Flick last season alongside Pedri Gonzalez.

Arriving under the previous Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu, De Jong is one of the club’s highest earners, with Spanish media reporting he has accepted a pay cut in his new deal starting from the 2026/27 season.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

“The midfielder Frenkie de Jong has extended his deal with FC Barcelona until 2029, as on Wednesday the Dutchman signed his new contract alongside president Joan Laporta in the Club’s head offices,” the Spanish club stated in a press release.

“De Jong visited the Club offices following the day’s training session to put pen to paper in front of FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta, first vice president Rafael Yuste, board member Joan Soler, director of the Football Area, Anderson Luis de Souza “Deco”, football coordinator, ​​Bojan Krkic, and the rest of the members of the Sporting Commission.”

READ: Noman Ali breaks 37-year-old record of Abdul Qadir in Lahore Test

LAHORE: Pakistan spinner Noman Ali etched his name into the record books after surpassing a long-standing milestone previously held by the legendary Abdul Qadir.

He achieved this milestone during Pakistan’s commanding 93-run victory over South Africa in the opening Test at Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday.

The 39-year-old spinner proved instrumental as Pakistan defended a target of 277, bundling South Africa out for 183.

Catch Pakistan vs South Africa news updates here!

He shared eight wickets in the second innings with Shaheen Shah Afridi, who complemented his effort with fiery pace and movement. He also took six wickets in the first innings, claiming his 3rd ten-wicket haul in a Test match.

The left-arm spinner’s latest heroics took his tally to an impressive 46 wickets across his last five Tests, the most by any Pakistani bowler in such a span.

The previous record stood for 37 years, held by Qadir, who had bagged 44 wickets between his 48th and 52nd Tests during the 1987–88 season.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Noman’s exceptional run of form has also made him the most successful spinner in world cricket over the past 12 months, underlining his evolution into Pakistan’s most reliable weapon in the longer format.

His golden stretch includes 10 wickets against South Africa in Lahore, 16 scalps in the two-match series against the West Indies earlier this year, and a staggering 20 wickets during the home series against England, 11 in Multan and 9 in Rawalpindi.

With this win, Pakistan have taken a 1–0 lead in the two-match series and will now shift focus to the final Test in Rawalpindi, set to be played from October 20 to 24.

WATCH: Teenage fan climbs enclosure to meet Babar Azam

LAHORE: A teenage fan breached security at the Gaddafi Stadium during the first Test between Pakistan and South Africa, climbing through the Majid Khan Enclosure in a desperate attempt to meet his idol, Babar Azam.

In a video that has since gone viral, the young fan can be seen making his way past the stands and approaching the players’ area near the dressing room.

He was spotted by members of Pakistan’s coaching staff, who immediately alerted security officials.

Despite his repeated pleas to meet Babar Azam, the young fan was escorted away by security personnel. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has not yet issued any official statement regarding the matter.

 

Notably, the incident occurred on October 15, which marks Babar’s 31st birthday.

Born in Lahore in 1994, Babar has been Pakistan’s most consistent batter over the past decade and remains a national icon, especially among young fans.

While Babar is currently enduring a rough patch with the bat, his numbers speak for themselves.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

In 134 ODIs, he has amassed 6,291 runs at an impressive average of 54.23, including 19 centuries and 37 fifties. Meanwhile, in 128 T20Is, he has scored 4,223 runs at an average of 39.83, with three hundreds and 36 half-centuries.

His Test record is equally remarkable, having scored 4,300 runs in 60 matches at 42.57, featuring nine centuries and 29 fifties.

READ: Afghanistan rest ace spinner Rashid Khan for Zimbabwe Test

Afghanistan selectors, on Wednesday, rested Rashid Khan for the one-off Test in Zimbabwe later this month, but the ace spinner will lead the T20I squad.

The 27-year-old had back surgery in 2023, and selectors want to keep him fit for next year’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.

“Rashid will be rested for the Test as a precaution for the upcoming international events, mainly the World Cup,” said the Afghanistan Cricket Board.

The Test match will be played from October 20 to 24, while the three T20Is are scheduled for October 29, 31, and November 2, all in Harare.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

The squad includes some fresh faces who have done well at the domestic level.

Left-arm fast bowler Bashir Ahmad, who recently made appearances in ODIs and T20Is for Afghanistan, is in the Test squad.

Hashmatullah Shahidi will lead the Test team. Since gaining Test status in 2017, Afghanistan have played just 11 Tests, winning four of them.

Afghanistan Test Squad

Hashmatullah Shahidi (capt), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Abdul Malik, Afsar Zazai, Ikram Alikhel, Bahir Shah, Shahidullah Kamal, Ismat Alam, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Zia Ur Rahman Akbar, Yamin Ahmadzai, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi, Khalil Gurbaz, Bashir Ahmad

Afghanistan T20I Squad

Rashid Khan (capt), Ibrahim Zadran, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Shahidullah Kamal, Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Bashir Ahmad, Fareed Ahmad Malik, Abdullah Ahmadzai

READ: Shan Masood lauds team effort after Test victory over South Africa

LAHORE: Pakistan Test captain Shan Masood praised his side’s resilience and collective effort after they defeated World Test Champions South Africa by 93 runs in the first Test at the Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday.

The win handed Pakistan a 1-0 lead in the two-match series, marking a strong statement against one of the toughest red-ball sides in world cricket.

Reflecting on the hard-fought contest, Shan acknowledged South Africa’s fightback and credited his players for maintaining composure under pressure.

“There were a lot of challenges out in the middle. Credit to South Africa, they kept coming back, but we built enough margins to have the upper hand, and I’m glad we finished it off,” Shan said during the post-match presentation.

Catch Pakistan vs South Africa news updates here!

The skipper also touched upon Pakistan’s tactical approach on turning surfaces, emphasising the balance between spin and pace that proved decisive in Lahore.

“Historically, we have always played on such surfaces. Even when we’ve gone spin-heavy, we included a seamer or two because we want reverse swing to come into play,” he said.

“Test cricket is a collective effort. Sajid was unlucky with his injury, and Noman is Noman,” he remarked, applauding the left-arm spinner’s stellar display.

Noman Ali and Shaheen Shah Afridi were Pakistan’s heroes in the second innings, sharing eight wickets to bowl South Africa out for 183.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Concluding his remarks, Shan Masood hailed the victory as a significant milestone for the side.

“There are a lot of positives to draw from this game. It’s a great opportunity to play against the team that won the WTC, and we closed it out with a win today. Now, we look forward to the next one,” he said.

Pakistan will now head to Rawalpindi, where the second and final Test of the series will be played from October 20 to 24.

READ: Rashid Khan reclaims No.1 spot in ICC ODI Bowling Rankings

DUBAI: Afghanistan’s star all-rounder Rashid Khan has climbed back to the top of the ICC Men’s ODI Bowling Rankings, overtaking South Africa’s Keshav Maharaj following a stellar performance in the 3-0 series win against Bangladesh in Abu Dhabi.

Rashid was at his vintage best, picking up 11 wickets across the three matches to spearhead Afghanistan’s historic first-ever ODI series sweep over their Asian rivals.

The leg-spinner’s dominance has seen him rise five places to reclaim the No.1 position in the world, a spot previously held by Maharaj, who now sits second. Sri Lanka’s Maheesh Theekshana completes the top three.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan’s opening batter Ibrahim Zadran has surged eight places to reach second in the ICC ODI Batting Rankings.

He is sitting just 20 rating points behind India’s Shubman Gill, who retains the top spot. India’s former skipper Rohit Sharma holds third, while Pakistan’s Babar Azam has slipped to fourth with 739 points.

Afghanistan’s Rahmanullah Gurbaz also gained two spots to 16th, and veteran Mohammad Nabi climbed six places to equal 50th.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

From Pakistan, Mohammad Rizwan and Fakhar Zaman retained their positions at 25th and 27th, respectively.

Salman Agha and Imam-ul-Haq both moved up one place to 39th and 41st, while Saim Ayub sits 54th and Abdullah Shafique 98th.

In the ODI bowling rankings, Pakistan’s Shaheen Shah Afridi is currently ranked 15th, followed by Haris Rauf (29th), Abrar Ahmed (38th), and Naseem Shah (43rd).

Afghanistan’s dominance continued in the all-rounders’ category as well; Azmatullah Omarzai displaced Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza to claim the No.1 position after taking seven wickets in the Bangladesh series.

Mohammad Nabi is now third, while Rashid Khan rose two spots to fourth, further solidifying Afghanistan’s presence across formats.

From Pakistan, Salman Ali Agha remains 20th, Shaheen Afridi is 28th, Naseem Shah is 37th, and Haris Rauf has climbed to 54th.

READ: Mohsin Naqvi hails Pakistan team after Test win over South Africa