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Bosnia-Herzegovina are on the verge of reaching the knockout stages of the World Cup for the first time after beating 2022 hosts Qatar 3-1 in their final Group B match on Wednesday.

Bosnia move onto four points and are in a strong position to be one of the best eight third-placed teams to progress to the last 32.

Qatar, meanwhile, exited at the group stage, just as they did four years ago.

Goals from Bosnia’s youngest-ever World Cup player, 18-year-old Kerim Alajbegovic, and an own goal by Qatar goalkeeper Mahmoud Abunada looked to have put the European side in the box seat.

However, Qatar made a game of it when 35-year-old Hassan al-Haydos, their most capped player, pulled one back late in the first half.

Ermin Mahmic then put the game beyond the Qataris when he scored for the second successive match in the 80th minute.

Bosnia flew out of the blocks as soon as the whistle went, testing Abunada twice inside the first four minutes.

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First Abunada denied Ermedin Demirovic’s fierce drive and then he tipped away Ivan Sunjic’s shot.

Bosnia’s dominance finally paid off but it was not to be 40-year-old talisman Edin Dzeko who broke the deadlock but the sublimely-talented teenage left wing.

Abunada was unable to do anything about Alajbegovic’s screamer from outside the area, after he had beaten two players.

The youngster was mobbed by his team-mates and once they had trotted back to the halfway line he stood and milked the moment, putting a finger to his lips.

Dzeko, winning his 150th cap, came more and more into the game and not wishing to have his thunder stolen by the new kid on the block he played an integral role in their second five minutes later.

His shot took a wicked deflection off al-Brake and then Abunada on its way into the net.

Dzeko was well into his stride now and he broke clear a few minutes later, his shot beating Abunada but rebounding off the post.

Bosnia’s earlier sprightliness dipped in the heat, and it was the doyen of Qatari football, Al-Haydos, who repaid coach Julen Lopetegui’s faith in slotting home in the 42nd minute.

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The Bosnian defence failed to learn from that and in time added on they had the far post to thank for keeping their noses in front as Pedro Miguel’s shot came back off it.

Al-Haydos’s World Cup, and perhaps his distinguished international career, ended in tears as he trudged disconsolately off the pitch injured in the 55th minute.

Chances were few and far between until Esmir stole in from the right wing and came close to emulating Alajbegovic’s effort but Abunada turned it away for a corner.

Bosnian frustration gave way to ecstasy when Mahmic prodded the ball home — the scorer ripping his shirt off in celebration and the 21-year-old paid little notice to being booked for it.

READ: England’s Rice, James face fitness test ahead of Panama clash

Ruben Vargas and Johan Manzambi fired Switzerland to top spot in FIFA World Cup Group 2026 B on Wednesday with a 2-1 win over Canada as the co-hosts also ensured a historic spot in the knockout rounds.

With the top two teams in the pool meeting in Vancouver, both knew that a victory would ensure first place in the group and, in theory, a kinder draw in the knockout stages.

Vargas and Manzambi’s second-half strikes were enough to ensure the Swiss finished on seven points, while Promise David pulled a goal back in the final 15 minutes for Canada, but they finished up three points behind their opponent and reached the last 32 for the first time in their history.

Prior to the 2026 edition, the North Americans had never won a match at a finals but with their second-placed finish in the pool they will play the runner-up from Group A on Sunday in Los Angeles.

Switzerland will meet one of the best third-placed sides next week.

Bosnia-Herzegovina wrapped up third in Group B thanks to a 3-1 win over Qatar and will face an anxious wait to see if their four points are enough to extend their stay at the World Cup.

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Prior to kick-off, Canada midfielder Ismael Kone entered the pitch in a wheelchair after suffering a leg break in Canada’s 6-0 demolition of Qatar last week and was treated to a standing ovation by the spectators at BC Place Vancouver.

Breel Embolo was presented with a golden chance to open the scoring for the Swiss after 10 minutes, but could only fire straight at the goalkeeper before Manzambi struck the rebound into the chest of a defender.

Canada’s first big opportunity to break the deadlock arrived just after the half-hour as striker Cyle Larin cut in on his right foot and tried to bend the ball beyond Gregor Kobel.

The Swiss stopper was called into action again shortly before half-time as he dropped down to his right to palm a tame Ali Ahmed effort wide of his near post.

After an entertaining first half, the match sparked into life seconds after the interval as Vargas gave Switzerland lift-off.

A simple ball down the line released Manzambi, whose cross from the right evaded everyone until the 27-year-old popped up in acres of space at the back post and took an excellent first touch before rifling past Maxime Crepeau.

Manzambi then put the cherry on a fine performance as he netted his third of the tournament on 57 minutes, profiting from some poor goalkeeping to squeeze in a right-footed shot after decent hold-up play on the edge of the box by Embolo.

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Canada boss Jesse Marsch responded by making three substitutions, including sending on LAFC midfielder Stephen Eustaquio.

Jonathan David, who scored a hat-trick in Canada’s last outing, turned sharply in the Swiss box and fired an effort at goal as the co-hosts tried to get a foot back in the match before the second hydration break, but Nico Elvedi flung himself in the ball’s path.

But moments after the three-minute break, Promise David, who had just entered the field, gave Canada hope as he stretched to turn in a sublime ball from Nathan Saliba.

The goal set up a grandstand finish with a leveller for Canada certain to send them through as group winners.

The Canadians came close from a couple of set-pieces at the match’s climax but Switzerland held on to claim top spot.

READ: England’s Rice, James face fitness test ahead of Panama clash

DUBAI: New Zealand fast bowler on Wednesday became only the third bowler from his country to top the ICC Test bowling rankings, ending a 36-year wait.

The 34-year-old joined India’s Jasprit Bumrah at the top of the rankings following his 11-wicket haul in the second Test against England.

With this achievement, Henry joined an elusive list of BlackCap fast bowlers, including Jack Cowie (1947) and Richard Hadlee (1984-1990), to hold the No.1 Test bowling ranking.  His rise ended a 36-year drought for the Kiwis in this category.

Bumrah has held the top position since replacing South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada in November 2024.

Catch all FIFA World Cup 2026 live updates here!

Notably, Henry’s current rating of 870 has only been exceeded by two New Zealand players: Hadlee, who reached 909 in 1985, and former captain Kane Williamson, who achieved 919 rating points in Test batting in 2021.

In batting, Joe Root retook the No.1 position after Harry Brook briefly replaced him.

Root scored 46 and 77 in the match, despite England suffering a 253-run defeat in London. His performances were enough to move him up two places, overtaking teammate Harry Brook and Australia’s Travis Head to reclaim the top spot for the 12th time in his career.

Recently, both Root and Brook have reached the top of the batting rankings, with the duo swapping the No.1 spot six times over the past 18 months since the former overtook Kane Williamson.

READ: England’s Rice, James face fitness test ahead of Panama clash

England midfielders Declan Rice and Reece James will undergo fitness tests ahead of their final Group L game against Panama in the FIFA World Cup 2026, set to be held in New York on 28 June. 

The 27-year-old Rice limped off the field with a heavily strapped left calf during the Three Lions’ goalless draw against Ghana on Tuesday.

According to reports, there are no major concerns regarding Rice’s availability for the upcoming games.

However, he will undergo further assessment and be given time to rest before a final decision is made on his availability for the match against Panama. The Arsenal midfielder Rice was also substituted during England World Cup game against Croatia due to nerve pain in his hamstring.

Catch all FIFA World Cup 2026 live updates here!

Meanwhile, Reece James will also undergo an assessment ahead of the upcoming fixture. Although the Chelsea captain completed the full game against Ghana, he will be monitored by medical staff over the next 24 hours.

It is worth noting that Reece James has a history of injury problems, and his workload will be managed carefully.

England currently top Group L with four points from two games. The Three Lions began their campaign with a dominant 4-2 victory against Croatia.

Harry Kane starred in the match with a brace, but England were outplayed by Ghana in their second match. Ghana’s disciplined low-block defense prevented Thomas Tuchel’s side from finding the back of the net.

READ: Ancelotti shares fresh update on Neymar, Raphinha ahead of Scotland clash

LONDON: Pakistan’s horror run in the FIH Hockey Pro League continued as England handed them their 14th consecutive loss in the tournament with a 2-1 victory at the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Center on Wednesday.

Despite taking a lead in the second quarter, the Green Shirts ended up on the losing side.

In the first quarter, both teams failed to score despite being awarded six PCs. Consequently, the first quarter ended 0-0.

However, Rana Waheed Ashraf broke the deadlock for Pakistan in the 26th minute with an overhead smash, putting his side ahead in the game.

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The Three Lions capitalized on the opportunity of multiple penalty corners and scored an equalizer in the 39th minute. Phil Roper was the goal scorer for the home side.

At the end of the third quarter, the scoreline remained 1-1.

At the start of the fourth quarter and in the 45th minute of the game, Samuel Hooper doubled England’s lead and put their side in a commanding position.

The goal proved enough to seal a win, moving England to second position on the points table with seven wins out of 13 games.

Meanwhile, Pakistan remains in the bottom position with 14 losses and a goal difference of -44.  They play India again on Friday, 26 June, followed by a final fixture against England on Saturday, 27 June.

READ: Ben Stokes issues apology over nightclub incident

New Zealand’s Bob Blair, whose courage in the face of immense grief made him a national hero, has died aged 94, New Zealand Cricket announced Wednesday.

A fast bowler, who took 43 wickets in 19 Tests between 1952-1964, Blair is best remembered for the 10 minutes he spent batting during the Johannesburg Test of 1953.

The then 21-year-old Blair was informed in the early hours of the second morning that his fiancee, Nerissa Love, was one of the 151 killed in the Tangiwai rail disaster in New Zealand’s North Island on Christmas Eve.

He initially remained at the team hotel to grieve but with New Zealand struggling last man Blair walked out to the middle to join a bloodied Bert Sutcliffe who had earlier been to hospital after taking numerous blows while batting.

The crowd of 23,000 fell silent and players from both sides were reported to have wept.

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New Zealand’s last-wicket duo added 33, including a then world record 25 off a single Hugh Tayfield over, before Blair was stumped for just six and then cheered off the field by spectators.

Blair’s courage was the inspiration behind the creation of the Tangiwai Shield which in 2024 became the trophy for men’s Test series between New Zealand and South Africa.

“The story of Bob Blair and the Tangiwai rail disaster has left an indelible mark on cricket in both New Zealand and South Africa,” said NZC interim chief executive Graham Parks.

He added: “To have been able to honour that inspirational story with the introduction of the Tangiwai Shield in 2024 was both poignant and will ensure the legacy of Bob Blair lives on.”

Blair finished his international career against South Africa in Auckland in 1964 where he claimed his best Test-match figures of 7-142 and later settled in Cheshire, northwest England, with his wife Barbara.

As a sign of respect, the New Zealand team will wear black armbands in memory of Blair for the first day of the third Test against England at Trent Bridge, Nottingham, on Thursday.

READ: Why will Vaibhav Sooryavanshi use own changing room in England?

India teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will be required to use his own change room during the tour of England, set to begin on 10 June. 

Sooryavanshi, 15, is set to become the youngest debutant for India. Currently, Sachin Tendulkar holds the record for the youngest player at 16 years and 205 days, set in 1989 against Pakistan.

The left-handed batter will use a separate changing room for safeguarding reasons.

Under the ICC and ECB safeguarding procedures, players under 16 are prohibited from using adult changing rooms. For this reason, Sooryavanshi will have his own facilities at all venues, and his parents will accompany him on the tour.

The batting sensation will be allowed in the Indian dressing room during the game and can join team talks. The restriction applies only when Sooryavanshi changes before and after each fixture.

ECB has also issued a statement outlining the requirements and protocols to be followed.

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“This is an ICC event, with their safeguarding procedures active as they have jurisdiction,” the ECB said.

“A safeguarding concern occurring during the event may (in some circumstances) be managed by the ICC. In addition to this, the ECB Safe Hands policy applies at all times,” it added.

The board said that Cricket Regular was in contact with the Indian team liaison officer to discuss specific requirements for Sooryavanshi.

“The Cricket Regulator is in contact with the team liaison officer for the Indian team to discuss requirements and expectations for the player while he is in the UK.”

“Each county safeguarding officer for the relevant cricket venue is also working closely with the team liaison officer to ensure venue protocols and arrangements (specifically changing room environments) are understood and adhered to. This is conducted via safeguarding risk assessments,” it concluded.

For those unaware, the spotlight has been on Sooryavanshi since his batting exploits in the IPL, where he amassed 776 runs for the Rajasthan Royals to finish as the tournament’s leading run scorer.

He struck one century and five half-centuries during the season to pick up the Orange Cap for the leading run-getter.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi rose to prominence during IPL 2025, where he smashed the second-fastest IPL century. His high strike-rate batting earned praise from global cricketing icons.

Earlier this year, he also helped India lift the U19 World Cup, smashing his way to 175 off just 80 balls against England in the final.

He carried his batting brilliance in the IPL 2026, finishing the tournament with 776 runs in 16 innings at a staggering strike-rate of 237.30 for the Rajasthan Royals.

Apart from securing the Orange Cap, he also collected the Best Emerging Player award, becoming the first cricketer in IPL history to win both the MVP and Emerging Player honors in the same season.

READ: Ben Stokes issues apology over nightclub incident

NOTTINGHAM: England captain Ben Stokes has apologized for the nightclub incident ahead of the third and final Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge, which starts tomorrow. 

Speaking to the media on the eve of the Test, Stokes admitted that breaking curfew had affected a lot of people, including stand-in captain Joe Root.

“Of course [I apologised],” Stokes told reporters.

“That was one of the first things I had to do as a captain. You look at the situation, and it affects more than just myself. It affects a lot of people; it affected Joe, the squad, the people outside the playing environment,” he explained.

The returning skipper mentioned the players — Jordan Cox, Sonny Baker, and James Rew— who made their debuts in challenging circumstances

“It no doubt had an effect on lads who were making their debut. That should have been all about them, but unfortunately a situation outside of their control took precedence over their big days, making their debuts for England in Test cricket.”

He admitted taking responsibility as captain and being courageous in accepting the impact the incident had on the team.

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“It would be stupid and naive of me not to acknowledge and address that. It’s something you do have to do, as someone who has responsibility of being a leader in a group. It’s all fine and well everything being fine and dandy when it’s all going well, but you need to take responsibility for things as well,” the Three Lions captain said.

“You need to be big enough and man enough to take that upon your shoulders, and look everyone who it has affected in the eye and apologise the way you need to apologise. That is something that I did.”

The 35-year-old also apologized to Root, who captained in the absence of Stokes.

“Joe Root and I have known each other since we were kids. He got put into a situation that he never thought would be bestowed upon him again, having walked away from the captaincy.

“It showed that not only is he one of the greats of the game in terms of on the field, but it shows a lot about his character and seeing him stand up and take that responsibility on last week.”

The all-rounder said his main goal now is to win the series and expressed confidence in his side’s ability to turn things around.

“Right now my focus is on the team, on the series, we’re 1-1 in a three-match series. This week is massive for this team regardless of what’s gone on. We’ve always had some very good series against New Zealand we’re back at Trent Bridge where we’ve done some special things,” Stokes concluded.

READ: PCB considers sending players to USA for training: report

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is considering sending a group of players to the United States as part of efforts to improve their power-hitting and overall skill development, according to white-ball head coach Mike Hesson.

According to a report, Mike Hesson has disclosed that discussions are underway with the board.

“We’re sending some players to the US,” Mike Hesson confirmed.

He said spending several months in a new environment could help players gain fresh ideas and perspectives.

“There’s some power-hitting expertise over there, and we’re exploring some options. We’ve got some players who’ve had some longer-term injuries, and players we want to expose to different methods of power hitting and just a different learning environment, spending four months in one place to get some new fresh ideas,” he added.

Hesson also outlined plans to improve fitness standards across Pakistan cricket.

“There’s a bit of a collaboration. It’s certainly not just strength and conditioning,” Hesson said.

At the start of 2026, PCB appointed UK-based physiotherapist Dr Javed Mughal as Director of Sports and Exercise Medicine.

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Earlier this month, Mughal held a press conference alongside PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi and deemed fitness “non-negotiable” in professional sports.

Mike Hesson said Mughal had already introduced changes to the way players are trained and assessed.

“We’ve got Javed Mughal, who’s come in here and changed the way players are training and assessing them in a different way. So he needs time to plan it out as well,” he said.

“I think it’s good that we’re looking at exploring those options of sending players to the US, rather than saying, ‘No, you have to stay here’,” the 51-year-old concluded.

It is worth mentioning that the Pakistan cricket team’s performances have nosedived in recent years. The Green Shirts are ranked fifth and sixth in the ODI and T20I rankings, respectively. They are in eighth spot in the Test ranking.

They last won an ICC event back in 2017 against arch-rivals India.

READ: Shadab Khan joins Lancashire Lightning for remainder of Vitality Blast 2026

Pakistan all-rounder Shadab Khan has signed for Lancashire Lightning for the remainder of the 2026 Vitality Blast campaign.

Shadab arrives at Old Trafford as a replacement for Australian all-rounder Chris Green, who has been ruled out for the rest of the tournament due to injury.

The Pakistan international is available immediately and has been included in Lancashire’s squad for Friday’s fixture against Leicestershire Foxes at Grace Road as the T20 competition resumes on June 26.

Shadab brings a wealth of experience to the side, having already enjoyed spells in English domestic cricket with Sussex Sharks and Yorkshire.

Lancashire Cricket is delighted to announce the signing of Pakistan all-rounder Shadab Khan for the remainder of the 2026 Vitality Blast. ✍🤩

Read more 📰👉 https://t.co/DaCOxILg1n

⚡ #StrikeTogether pic.twitter.com/c2Ndj2wsgr

— Lancashire Cricket (@lancscricket) June 24, 2026

Across his career, he has featured in 124 T20 Internationals and has represented franchises around the world, making 356 appearances in T20 leagues.

Shadab has scored 1,009 runs in T20Is at a strike rate of 144.14, while also claiming 123 wickets at an average of 24.31 and maintaining an economy rate of 7.4.

Speaking after completing the move, he expressed his delight at returning to England and representing one of the country’s most prestigious counties.

“I am delighted to sign for Lancashire Lightning for the rest of the Vitality Blast. I love playing cricket in England and have really enjoyed my previous stints in the competition,” Shadab said.

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“Lancashire is one of the biggest clubs in the country, with so much history, and I can’t wait to pull on the shirt at Emirates Old Trafford in front of the home fans,” he added.

Lancashire’s Director of Cricket Performance, Mark Chilton, welcomed the signing and said the club had moved quickly to secure a player of Shadab’s pedigree following Green’s injury.

“We are really pleased to secure the services of Shadab for the remainder of the Vitality Blast,” Chilton said.

Lancashire face a busy run-in as they continue their Vitality Blast campaign, with matches against Warwickshire Bears, Derbyshire Falcons, Yorkshire and Durham still to come.

READ: Abdullah Shafique, Kamran Ghulam added to Pakistan training camp