Category: Top Picks

PERTH: India batting maestro Virat Kohli return to international cricket was cut short by Australia ace pacer Mitchell Starc, who bowled a terrific delivery to send the right-hander back for a duck in the first ODI here on Sunday.

After opting to bat first, India did not have the best of a start as returning Rohit Sharma perished for just eight from 14 balls.

As a result, the visitors were 13-1 at the end of the fourth over with Virat Kohli coming at his long-occupied No. 3 spot.

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The right-hander’s much-awaited return was highly anticipated; however, he could not open his account after playing eight deliveries and was caught at backward point.

Notably, this was Virat Kohli’s first duck on Australian soil in 65 matches played from 2011 to 2025. Overall, the right-hander has scored 3616 runs at a stellar average of 51.65 with 11 centuries and 19 fifties to his name.

Yet, India set Australia a 137-run target in a match reduced to 26 overs per side, courtesy of KL Rahul and Axar Patel’s 39-run stand, which lifted the visitors out of trouble.

Rahul made 38 from 31 balls with the aid of two sixes and two fours, whereas Patel struck three fours on his way to 31 from 38 balls.

For Australia, Matthew Kuhnemann, Mitchell Owen, and Josh Hazlewood scalped two wickets each.

Playing XIs:

India: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill (c), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, Mohammed Siraj, and Arshdeep Singh.

Australia: Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh (c), Matthew Short, Josh Philippe (wk), Matt Renshaw, Cooper Connolly, Mitchell Owen, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Ellis, Matthew Kuhnemann, and Josh Hazlewood.

READ: Did Starc break Shoaib Akhtar’s record for world’s fastest delivery?

PERTH: Australia ace pacer Mitchell Starc was captured bowling a 176.5 km/h delivery in the ongoing first ODI against India here at the Perth Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

The left-arm pacer’s opening delivery to opener Rohit Sharma was clocked at a stunning 176.5kph. Soon after, fans were in awe, wondering if Starc had shattered Pakistan’s Shoaib Akhtar’s long-standing record for bowling the fastest-ever delivery in international cricket.

However, it was later revealed that the recorded speed was incorrect as the bowling speed gun malfunctioned.

For the unversed, Shoaib Akhtar holds the record for the fastest delivery in international cricket— 161.3 km/h, which he bowled against England during the 2003 World Cup.

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India has set 137 in a game reduced to 26 overs per side due to rain, courtesy of KL Rahul, 38 from 31 balls, studded with two fours and two sixes.

For Australia, Mitchell Starc was on song from the start, removing India’s ace Virat Kohli for a duck, which set the tone early for Australia to dictate terms in a rain-hit encounter.

Overall, Mitchell Starc bowled six overs and gave away 22 runs while taking one wicket.

Playing XIs

India 1 Rohit Sharma, 2 Shubman Gill (capt), 3 Virat Kohli, 4 Shreyas Iyer, 5 KL Rahul (wk), 6 Axar Patel, 7 Washington Sundar, 8 Nitish Reddy, 9 Harshit Rana, 10 Arshdeep Singh, 11 Mohammed Siraj

Australia 1 Travis Head, 2 Mitchell Marsh (capt), 3 Matt Short, 4 Josh Philippe (wk), 5 Matt Renshaw, 6 Mitch Owen, 7 Cooper Connolly, 8 Mitchell Starc, 9 Nathan Ellis, 10 Matt Kuhnemann, 11 Josh Hazlewood

READ: PCB confirms tri-Series will go ahead despite Afghanistan withdrawal

A rampant Lionel Messi scored a sensational hat-trick to seal Major League Soccer’s Golden Boot award on Saturday as Inter Miami roared into the playoffs with a 5-2 victory over Nashville SC.

The Argentine superstar tallied an astonishing 29 goals from 28 matches, with Los Angeles FC’s Denis Bouanga and Nashville’s Sam Surridge tied for second best with 24 goals.

Messi claimed his first MLS Golden Boot and also staked his claim to a second straight Most Valuable Player award with a bravura performance that saw Inter rally to clinch third place in the Eastern Conference.

They’ll face the same Nashville team in the first round of the MLS Cup playoffs starting on October 24.

Nashville had seen some quality chances go begging when Messi put Miami in front in the 34th minute with a cracking goal from outside the penalty area.

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Messi took a pass from Jordi Alba and made one cut before he unleashed a left-footed shot into the bottom left corner.

Nine minutes later, Nashville’s Surridge grabbed his 24th goal of the season when he headed in a pinpoint delivery from Hany Mukhtar at the near post.

Nashville seized a 2-1 lead deep in first-half injury time when Jacob Shaffelburg was there to fire home the rebound off a Mukhtar shot that hit the post.

Messi’s first penalty conversion of the season pulled Inter level in the 63rd.

The referee pointed to the spot after a ball deflected by Luis Suarez hit Mukhtar on the arm.

Messi stepped up and rolled it past Nashville keeper Joe Willis.

After Baltasar Rodriguez made it 3-2 to Miami in the 67th, Messi completed his hat-trick in the 81st with a curling shot through traffic and past Willis.

Miami’s Telasco Segovia completed the scoring against a shell-shocked Nashville in second-half injury time.

READ: Zimbabwe to participate in T20I tri-series after Afghanistan withdrawal

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has clarified the rumors regarding pace bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi potentially replacing wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan as the national ODI captain.

The cricket board confirmed that no final decision has been made regarding the ODI captaincy for the upcoming home series against South Africa.

A PCB spokesperson stated that head coach Mike Hesson has officially written to PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, recommending a joint meeting of the Selection Committee and Advisory Committee to finalise the captaincy issue.

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According to the board, Chairman Naqvi has forwarded the request to both committees, which are set to convene on October 20, where the final call on who will lead Pakistan in the ODI format is expected to be made.

The clarification comes amid growing reports that Shaheen Shah Afridi is being considered to replace Mohammad Rizwan as Pakistan’s ODI captain following a run of disappointing results in the format.

Pakistan’s struggles in 50-over cricket have been evident this year.

The team failed to progress beyond the first round of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, before enduring a 3-0 whitewash against New Zealand and a 2-1 series loss to the West Indies.

READ: Shaheen Afridi to replace Mohammad Rizwan as ODI captain: report

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is reportedly weighing a significant leadership change in the ODI setup, with left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi emerging as the frontrunner to replace Mohammad Rizwan as captain.

According to reports, the move is being discussed following Pakistan’s string of disappointing ODI performances this year.

The Men in Green failed to advance beyond the first round of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, before suffering a 3-0 whitewash at the hands of New Zealand and a 2-1 series defeat to the West Indies.

With the ICC ODI World Cup 2027 already on the horizon, the PCB is said to be considering sweeping changes aimed at reinvigorating the team’s approach and results in the 50-over format.

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Shaheen Afridi, who has enjoyed remarkable success as captain of the Lahore Qalandars in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), leading them to three title wins, is viewed as a strong contender to bring fresh energy and direction to the ODI side.

Interestingly, this would not be Shaheen’s first stint as national captain. He previously led Pakistan in the T20I format but was replaced after just one series.

The PCB’s decision-making group is expected to finalise discussions in the coming week, with the squad announcement for the upcoming white-ball series against South Africa also on the horizon.

READ: PCB confirms tri-Series will go ahead despite Afghanistan withdrawal

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has confirmed that the upcoming home T20I tri-series will go ahead as planned, despite the withdrawal of Afghanistan following cross-border tensions.

A PCB spokesperson told a local news channel on Saturday that the series, scheduled from November 17 to 29, will proceed according to the original timeline.

The board is currently exploring options to bring in a replacement team, with a final announcement expected soon.

According to sources, Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) has been approached as a potential participant to fill the void left by Afghanistan.

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The series was originally set to feature Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan.

The withdrawal from Afghanistan came late on Friday, reportedly in response to recent cross-border unrest that resulted in the deaths of three local cricketers in the Urgun district.

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) stated that the players had travelled from Urgun to Sharana, in Paktika province near the Pakistan border, to take part in a friendly match when the attack occurred.

Despite the setback, the PCB remains committed to hosting the series and ensuring uninterrupted international cricket at home.

READ: John Cena quashes WWE retirement U-turn, confirms retirement date

COLOMBO: Nonkululeko Mlaba’s three-wicket haul, followed by gutsy half-centuries from Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits, propelled South Africa to victory over Sri Lanka in the rain-hit 18th encounter of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025.

Set 121 Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) adjusted target in 20 overs, South Africa hit the winning runs on the last ball of the 14th over without losing any wicket.

Skipper Laura Wolvaardt made 60 from 47 balls, striking eight fours, while Tazmin Brits’ 42-ball 55 featured two sixes and four boundaries.

The duo forged an unbeaten 125-run stand, powering the Proteas to their fourth successive win, moving them into the second spot with an inch closer to the semi-final.

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Earlier, after opting to bat first, Sri Lanka were 45-2 when the rain arrived. After the rain break, the Islanders could only manage to score 105-7 in 20 overs.

The hosts’ innings could not get going as they lost wickets at regular intervals,  with Vishmi Gunaratne remaining the top-scorer with 34 from 33 balls. She struck six fours in her knock.

For South Africa, Nonkululeko Mlaba scalped three wickets in her four overs while giving away 30. Masabata Klaas also bowled well, picking up two in her five overs.

The defeat was Sri Lanka’s third, slimming their chances of advancing into the semi-final. They now languish on the points table with their remaining two fixtures against Pakistan and Bangladesh.

READ: John Cena quashes WWE retirement U-turn, confirms retirement date

World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) star John Cena has quashed the speculation surrounding his retirement, reiterating that he will make his final appearance in the ring at the end of this year.

WWE has confirmed that Cena’s final match will take place in Washington DC on Saturday, December 13.

Earlier, the veteran player had announced during the last summer that 2025 would be his final year in the ring.

However, in September, WWE Hall of Fame Bubba Ray Dudley remarked that John Cena should extend his retirement tour to WrestleMania 42.

With speculations growing about his retirement, Cena took to social media and confirmed his final appearance date, dashing the hopes of extending his WWE career.

“Despite any speculation or rumors, on July 6, 2024, I announced I would retire from WWE in-ring participation,” he wrote.

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“I am far from perfect but strive to be a person whose word has value. 12/13/25 will be my final match. I am beyond grateful for every moment WWE has given me. I am excited for 12/13 & look forward to seeing all of you one last time,” he said.

Meanwhile, WWE has not confirmed the 17-time champion opponent in the final match; however, reports suggest he could potentially face two-time world champion Gunther.

For the unversed, John Cena has four dates remaining before he calls time on his in-ring career.

The 48-year-old’s next appearance will be on the November 10 episode of Raw in Boston, followed by a match on the November 17 edition of Raw, and again at Survivor Series: WarGames on November 29.

READ: Ruben Amorim wants sense of urgency at Man Utd despite Ratcliffe backing

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim said the support of co-owner Jim Ratcliffe will mean little if he fails to turn around the club’s fortunes.

During an interview with a news outlet, British billionaire Ratcliffe said Amorim has to “demonstrate he is a great coach over three years”.

Amorim is approaching a year in the Old Trafford hotseat and is yet to win back-to-back Premier League games.

Doing so away to Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday would be a major step in the right direction, and the Portuguese knows he will be under intense pressure until results improve.

“You know, I know, and Jim knows that football is not like that,” Amorim said at his pre-match press conference on Friday, referring to Ratcliffe’s timescale.

“The most important thing is the next game.”

Manchester United ended the season 15th in the Premier League last term — their lowest finish for 51 years — and squandered a chance to qualify for the Champions League when they lost the Europa League final to Tottenham.

They have fared little better this season, sitting 10th in the Premier League after losing three of their first seven league games and crashing to a shock League Cup defeat at fourth-tier Grimsby.

Yet Amorim has so far retained the support of Ratcliffe, CEO Omar Berrada, and director of football Jason Wilcox.

“First of all, I can feel it. It’s not just that thing that people talk, I feel it every day. Sometimes the pressure that I put on the team, on myself, is so much bigger than them,” said Amorim.

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“I know that it’s going to take a while, but I don’t want to think like that. I said that last year. I think it also helps our fans to understand that the leadership understands that it’s going to take a while.

“But, at the same moment, I don’t like that because it will give a feeling that we have time to work things out. I don’t want that feeling here in our club.

“It’s good to feel the support but we need to prove in football, and especially in big clubs, that in every weekend we are ready to win games.”

A 2-0 victory over Sunderland before the international break eased the scrutiny on Amorim’s position.

Goalkeeper Senne Lammens made a positive impression on his debut against the Black Cats — sections of the United support even compared him with club great Peter Schmeichel.

United have been hampered by numerous goalkeeping errors from both Andre Onana and Altay Bayindir during Amorim’s reign.

“The first impression in this club is really important. To maintain the level is even more important and is really difficult,” said Amorim.

“He’s not Schmeichel, yet, he’s a young guy with talent, he showed a lot of composure and the fans liked it, but that is in the past and we need to prove in the next game.”

READ: WATCH: Pakistan, South Africa squads arrive in Rawalpindi ahead of second Test

JOHOR BAHRU: Pakistan junior hockey team made a strong comeback to secure a 3-3 draw against Australia here at the Taman Daya Stadium in the Sultan of Johor Hockey Cup 2025.

Pakistan will now face Great Britain tomorrow for the third spot in the tournament.

The 15th match of the tournament between Pakistan and Australia ended in a 3-3 draw. The Kookaburras started the match in dominant fashion, with Oscar Sproule and captain Toby Mallon scoring the goals in the first quarter.

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Meanwhile, Green Shirts made a much-needed comeback in the third quarter with captain Hannan Shahid scoring their first goal. Australia, who were 2-1 till the third quarter, notched another in the 47th minute of the game to consolidate their position.

However, Shahid Hannan struck for Pakistan again in the next minute, followed by an equalizer from Saif Ullah. Both teams tried hard in the last quarter, yet the last group stage fixture for Green Shirts ended in a stalemate.

 

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Pakistan had a topsy-turvy campaign as they opened their account dominantly with a win against hosts Malaysia; however, they suffered defeats against Great Britain and New Zealand.

The final will be played between unbeaten Australia and India, who topped the group standings.

READ: WATCH: Pakistan, South Africa squads arrive in Rawalpindi ahead of second Test