Category: Top Picks

Saudi Arabia declined an offer to sign Lionel Messi for a short-term stint in the Saudi Pro League before next year’s World Cup, according to a senior sports official.

“During the last Club World Cup, Messi’s team contacted me and offered for him to play in Saudi Arabia because the MLS will stop for nearly four months,” Abdullah Hammad, CEO of the Mahd Sports Academy, said during a podcast with Saudi platform Thmanyah.

“The player wanted to remain in shape and prepare himself for the upcoming 2026 World Cup.”

“This happened with David Beckham when he was with Los Angeles Galaxy and went to AC Milan (in 2010),” he added.

Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi moved to Inter Miami in 2023, following speculation about a potential switch to Saudi Arabia.

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That followed a two-year spell with Paris Saint-Germain, the club he joined in 2021 after ending his long association with Barcelona.

Hammad explained that he relayed the offer to the minister of sports, who rejected it. “The minister made it clear that the Saudi league would not serve as a preparation platform for other tournaments,” he said.

In response to a question about whether Saudi Arabia had rejected Messi, he replied: “That’s true.”

Since the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr after the last World Cup, the Saudi league has attracted numerous stars from major European clubs, including Neymar and Karim Benzema, while the kingdom has been awarded the hosting rights for the 2034 World Cup.

READ: Teenage Australian cricketer dies after being hit by ball

LAHORE: Pakistan T20I vice-captain Shadab Khan has resumed training here at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) after undergoing shoulder surgery earlier this year.

Shadab took part in bowling and fielding sessions under the supervision of NCA coaches in a bid to make a comeback into the national side.

For context, the leg spinner had undergone surgery on his right shoulder in England on July 5.

The need for surgery came after multiple consultations and persistent discomfort in his right shoulder for some time. The surgery eventually ruled him out of several key assignments for Pakistan, including the Asia Cup 2025.

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Since then, Shadab has been part of the PCB’s structured rehabilitation program, focusing on regaining strength, flexibility, and match readiness.

Shadab’s last appearance for Pakistan came in the three-match T20I series at home against Bangladesh, where he picked up four wickets and scored 48 and 7 in two innings.

For the unversed, the all-rounder remained a vital cog in Pakistan’s white-ball triumphs, and his comeback could boost the team’s chances ahead of the packed calendar.

Following the South Africa series, Pakistan are set to play Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe in a maiden tri-series on home soil.  The series will provide the Green Shirts with ample opportunity to prepare for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

The opening match of the series will begin on November 17 with the hosts Pakistan taking on Zimbabwe at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.

Tri-Series T20I Tournament (Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe)

17 November – Pakistan v Zimbabwe, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi

19 November – Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi

22 November – Pakistan v Sri Lanka, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

23 November – Pakistan v Zimbabwe, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

25 November – Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

27 November – Pakistan v Sri Lanka, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

29 November –Final, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore

READ: Teenage Australian cricketer dies after being hit by ball

Bahrain: Pakistan’s emerging wrestler Hasan Ali clinched a bronze medal after displaying an outstanding performance in the Beach Wrestling event at the Asian Youth Games 2025, held at Sama Bay, Bahrain.

Throughout the beach wrestling event, Hasan delivered impressive performances and won a medal in the 70kg category. Notably, this is Pakistan’s contingent’s first individual medal.

During the group match, Hasan outplayed the Korean and Jordan’s opponent. However, he lost to an Iranian opponent in the semi-final.

Pakistan’s second wrestler, Abdul Rehman, will compete for bronze after losing to an Iranian fighter with a score of 3-0.

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Ahead of the event, the Pakistan Wrestling Federation (PWF) conducted a two-month national training camp in Gujranwala, focusing on technique, endurance, and mental conditioning under the supervision of coach and secretary general Inam Butt.

For the unversed, Pakistan has sent a 53-member contingent to the Asian Youth Games 2025, which are being held in Bahrain from October 22 to 31.

The country has already secured a bronze and silver medal in Kabaddi and Volleyball, respectively.

Notably, the Asian Youth Games 2025 mark the third edition of the multi-sport event, featuring young athletes from across the continent competing in a wide range of disciplines.

READ: WATCH: Pakistan wrestlers shine in Beach Wrestling at Asian Youth Games

A 17-year-old Australian cricketer, Ben Austin, lost his life after being hit on the neck by a ball during a training session in Melbourne on Tuesday.

Following the incident at Ferntree Gully in Melbourne’s outer east, where he was practising facing balls thrown by a sidearm,  Austin was taken to the hospital in critical condition. He was placed on life support, but died on Thursday morning.

The 17-year-old was wearing a helmet; however, it was without a stem guard.

After a devastating incident, his father, Jacer Austin, expressed sorrow in a statement.

“We are utterly devastated by the passing of our beautiful Ben, who died earlier on Thursday morning,” he said.

“For Tracey and I, Ben was an adored son, deeply loved brother to Cooper and Zach and a shining light in the lives of our family and friends.”

“This tragedy has taken Ben from us, but we find some comfort that he was doing something he did for so many summers – going down to the nets with mates to play cricket. He loved cricket and it was one of the joys of his life,” he explained.

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“We would also like to support his team-mate who was bowling in the nets – this accident has impacted two young men and our thoughts are with he and his family as well.”

Meanwhile, Cricket Australia (CA) and Cricket Victoria have expressed grief over the incident and provided assistance to the family.

“The tragic circumstances of Ben and Ferntree Gully are…going to be felt across the country,” CA chair Mike Baird told reporters.

“Cricket is a sport that brings people together, communities together. It’s also one that feels very deeply an incident such as we’ve seen.

“[It’s] hard to put words on it. What we want to say is that we are doing everything we can to support the family, the club, and all those impacted by this tragic news. Clearly, there are things that we have to learn from this, but right now, we are concerned about the family and trying to support them in every way,” he said.

For the unversed, 11 years ago, Australia’s emerging cricketer Phil Hughes death due to a similar incident caused shockwaves across the cricketing world.

Phil, who was 25, was struck on the neck by a Sean Abbott bouncer during a Sheffield Shield match in Sydney and died two days later due to a rare brain bleed.

Phil Hughes passing caused the sport to look at safety gear differently, leading to the creation of the stem guard, an extra safety-padded extension that protects the back of the head and neck.

READ: Mujeeb, Azmatullah power Afghanistan to victory over Zimbabwe

Bahrain: Pakistan’s emerging wrestling stars Hasan Ali and Abdur Rehman delivered impressive performances in the Beach Wrestling event at the Asian Youth Games 2025, held at Sama Bay, Bahrain.

Competing in the 70kg category, Hasan Ali beat Jordan’s R. Munafi, whereas Abdur Rehman crushed his Saudi Arabia counterpart Kim S. in the 80kg category.

With this victory, the wrestlers advanced to the next round of the event, aiming to bring home medals for Pakistan.

Ahead of the event, the Pakistan Wrestling Federation (PWF) conducted a two-month national training camp in Gujranwala, focusing on technique, endurance, and mental conditioning under the supervision of coach and secretary general Inam Butt.

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For the unversed, Pakistan has sent a 53-member contingent to the Asian Youth Games 2025, which are being held in Bahrain from October 22 to 31.

The country has already secured a bronze and silver medal in Kabaddi and Volleyball, respectively.

Notably, the Asian Youth Games 2025 mark the third edition of the multi-sport event, featuring young athletes from across the continent competing in a wide range of disciplines.

READ: Pakistan wrestlers gear up to shine in beach wrestling at Asian Youth Games

NAVI MUMBAI: Australia have won the toss and opted to bat first against India in the second semi-final of the ICC Women’s World Cup here on Thursday.

Head to Head

Both teams have faced each other 61 times in ODIs, with Australia winning 49 matches while India has only managed to win 11 games.

Playing XIs

India XI: Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Amanjot Kaur, Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (wk), Deepti Sharma, Radha Yadav, Kranti Gaud, N Shree Charani, Renuka Singh.

Australia XI: Alyssa Healy (capt & wk), Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, Beth Mooney, Annabel Sutherland, Ashleigh Gardner, Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Molineux, Kim Garth, Alana King, Megan Schutt

READ: Pakistan wrestlers gear up to shine in beach wrestling at Asian Youth Games

Spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman took four wickets and quick Azmatullah Omarzai three as Afghanistan beat Zimbabwe by 53 runs on Wednesday to take a 1-0 lead in a three-match Twenty20 series.

The tourists won the toss at Harare Sports Club, opted to bat and posted 180-6 with openers Ibrahim Zadran (52) and Rahmanullah Gurbaz (39) the chief contributors.

Zimbabwe plunged to 30-5 after five overs in reply and were all out for 127 with lower-order Tinotenda Maposa (32) the top scorer.

Gurbaz hit a six and six fours as he put on 76 runs with Zadran for the first wicket before a top edge off a Sikandar Raza delivery saw him caught in the covers by Tadiwanashe Marumani.

A poor stroke from Zadran led to a catch by Ryan Burl at deep mid-wicket after a 33-ball knock that included a six and six fours.

The off-spin of 39-year-old captain Raza brought him 3-20, and quick Blessing Muzarabani took 2-41 for the home side.

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An Afghan assault saw three of the first five Zimbabwe batters out for ducks and another for one. Opener Brian Bennett (24) was the exception, striking a six and three fours off 15 balls.

Chasing a lost cause, Brad Evans (24) and Maposa offered resistance before becoming victims of Mujeeb (4-20).

Omarzai (3-29) had inflicted considerable damage earlier, capturing the wickets of Bennett and Raza (one).

The teams meet again on Friday and Sunday as they prepare for the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka next February and March.

READ: Women’s World Cup: Wolvaardt shatters multiple records with 169 against England

GUWAHATI: South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt broke multiple records with her epic 169 from 143 balls against England in the first semi-final of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025.

Put into bat first, the Proteas recorded a massive 319-run total in their 50 overs, courtesy of Wolvaardt’s sublime knock.

Highest total for SA-W in ODI World Cups

319/7 against England in Guwahati, 2025 semi-final
312/9 against Pakistan in Colombo, 2025
305/9 against England in Bristol, 2017
275/7 against India in Christchurch, 2022

With the help of the skippers knock, South Africa outplayed England by a hefty margin of 125 runs to book a place in the final for the first time.

The 319 run total was South Africa’s highest ever in World Cup matches. Moreover, it was also the second-highest total in a knockout match.

The skipper struck 20 fours and four maximums in her monumental knock, which made her the first women’s player to score an ODI hundred in the knockout of the World Cup.

She has now scored the most half-centuries (12) in the marquee event, surpassing India’s Mithali Raj’s record of 11. Her 169 is also the second-best score by a captain in the women’s ODI WC.

Highest individual scores in World Cup knockouts

Harmanpreet Kaur – 171* against Australia, 2017 semi-final
Alyssa Healy – 170 against England, 2022 final
Laura Wolvaardt – 169 against England, 2025 semi-final
Nat Sciver-Brunt – 148* against Australia, 2022 final

During her knock, she also crossed the 5000 runs mark and entered the list of batters with the most centuries in WODIs.

Best Individual Innings in Women’s World Cup

15 – Meg Lanning (Australia)
14 – Smriti Mandhana (India)
13 – Suzie Bates (New Zealand)
12 – Tammy Beaumont (England)
10 – Nat Sciver-Brunt (England)
10 – Laura Wolvaardt (South Africa)

READ: South Africa crush England to reach first ever Women’s World Cup final

GUWAHATI: Laura Wolvaardt’s magnificent 169 and Marizanne Kapp’s all-round heroics powered South Africa to victory over England in the first semi-final of the ICC Women’s World Cup here at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.

The emphatic win marked the first time that South Africa women have reached the World Cup final.

Set a daunting 319-run target, England crumbled under pressure and were bowled out for a mere 194 in 42.3 overs.

The Three Lions chase started on a bizarre note as they lost their top-three batters for ducks in the first two overs.

Marizanne Kapp and Ayabonga Khaka wreaked havoc with the new ball, removing Amy Jones, Tammy Beaumont, and Heather Knight.

As a result, England were in deep waters with 3-1 in 1.1 overs.

After early setbacks, Nat Sciver-Brunt and Alice Capsey paired up and added 107 runs for the third wicket partnership. The stand provided them with some respite and increased their hopes of reaching the final.

Skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt made 64 from 76 balls, while Capsey scored 50 from 71 deliveries.

However, Sune Luus provided South Africa the much-needed breakthrough with Capsey’s dismissal. At this stage, England were 108-4 in 22.5 overs.

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Sciver-Brunt was involved in another partnership of 30 runs with Danni Wyatt-Hodge before a collapse that folded their innings. Wyatt made 30 from 34 balls with the help of five fours.

For South Africa, Marizanne Kapp picked up a five-wicket haul while Nadine de Klerk scalped two wickets.

Earlier, after being put into bat, South Africa racked up 319-7 in their 50 overs.

Captain Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits laid a strong foundation with a mammoth 116-run stand for the opening wickets. Brits stuck 45 from 65, including six fours and a maximum.

England kept on taking wickets at regular intervals, but it was Wolvaardt’s knock for the ages that held South Africa’s innings. The skipper 169 from 143 balls was peppered with 20 fours and four sixes.

Marizanne Kapp also starred with the bat as she hit four boundaries and a six on her way to 42 from 33 balls.

For England, Sophie Ecclestone was the long, bright star in the bowling. She picked up four wickets in her quota of 10 overs.

The second semi-final between hosts India and defending champions Australia will be played tomorrow in Navi Mumbai.

READ: Persistent rain washes out India-Australia T20I opener

The International Hockey Federation (FIH) on Wednesday confirmed that Oman would replace Pakistan in the forthcoming Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup, set to be held in India from November 28.

The decision came after Pakistan’s withdrawal from the mega event due to security concerns.

The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) Secretary Rana Mujahid announced that the decision had been formally communicated.

“Under the prevailing circumstances, it is by no means appropriate to travel to India and play,” Mujahid said.

“Pakistan had proposed staging their matches at a neutral venue instead — a suggestion the FIH did not accept,” he added.

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Following this, FIH confirmed Oman’s participation in the tournament in a press release.

Oman was included based on its ranking in the Junior Asia Cup 2024, which served as a qualifier for the Junior World Cup.

“For the very first time, the FIH Hockey Junior World Cups 2025, women and men, will involve 24 teams each, enabling greater accessibility to FIH events, which is one of the fundamental principles of the FIH Empowerment and Engagement strategy,” the press release said.

The pool stage matches of the World Cup will run from November 28 to December 2, followed by knockout matches, which will take place from December 4 to December 10.

Teams and Pools

Pool A: Canada, Germany, Ireland, South Africa

Pool B: Chile, India, Oman, Switzerland

Pool C: Argentina, China, Japan, New Zealand

Pool D: Belgium, Egypt, Spain, Namibia

Pool E: Austria, England, Malaysia, Netherlands

Pool F: Australia, Bangladesh, France, Korea

READ: Persistent rain washes out India-Australia T20I opener