BREAKING NEWS
BTS’ Toronto return sparks excitement among fans • Google brings Gemini AI features to Chrome on Android devices • Football great Roberto Carlos reportedly enters Islam • Misbah Arshad crowned Miss Universe Pakistan 2026 • Pakistan considers income tax on farmers to meet IMF targets • US military quietly establishes shipping corridor through Strait of Hormuz • Imran Khan likely to be taken to Shifa Hospital shortly   • Imran Khan not negotiating any deal, says Barrister Gohar • China unveils humanoid robot that can run faster than Usain Bolt • Sindh declares 6,220 school buildings unsafe, orders suspension of classes • Saba Qamar, Yasir Hussain’s dance at qawwali night goes viral • Iranian Army Chief warns countries hosting US attacks • First Test: Pakistan collapse to 171 against England • Pakistan govt decides to cut diesel price by up to Rs. 32 per liter • Oil prices hit three-week high for fourth straight day
Advertise with us >

Sports

Latest Pakistan cricket, football and sports news, match updates, team developments and analysis from Pakistan and around the world.

Bangladesh’s Mushfiqur Rahim sores century in 100th Test match

by
Mushfiqur Rahim

DHAKA: Bangladesh wicketkeeper-batsman Mushfiqur Rahim achieved a remarkable milestone by scoring a century in his 100th Test match.

Rahim is the first Bangladeshi cricketer to reach 100 Test appearances and was playing his landmark match against Ireland in Mirpur, Dhaka.

He completed his century on the second day of the second Test, marking the 13th century of his illustrious career.

With this feat, Mushfiqur Rahim became the 11th cricketer in the world to score a century in his 100th Test match, cementing his place among cricketing greats.

Arshad Nadeem wins gold at Islamic Solidarity Games

by
Arshad Nadeem

RIYADH: Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem clinched the gold medal while compatriot Yasir Sultan secured the silver in the javelin throw competition at the Islamic Solidarity Games held in the Saudi capital, Riyadh.

Both Pakistani athletes delivered impressive performances. Arshad Nadeem recorded throws of 75.44m in his first attempt, 83.05m in his second, 82.48m in the third, and 77.06m in his fourth attempt.

Arshad sealed the gold with his 83.05m throw, while Yasir Sultan earned the silver medal with a throw of 76.04m. Nigeria’s Samuel Adams claimed the bronze with a throw of 76.01m.

PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi congratulated Arshad Nadeem on his gold-medal victory, stating that the star athlete had once again made Pakistan proud on the international stage.

Arshad Nadeem has previously won gold medals at the Olympics and Asian Championships, further solidifying his status as one of Pakistan’s top athletes.

Ex-Australian fast bowler Glenn McGrath dropped from commentary panel

by
Glenn McGrath

SYDNEY: Former Australian fast bowler Glenn McGrath has been removed from the radio commentary panel, just two days before the start of the Ashes series, Australian media reported.

According to reports, McGrath was dropped due to his association with an online gambling company. The national broadcaster has a strict policy prohibiting employees or affiliates from having ties with gambling firms.

McGrath’s involvement with the gambling company was linked to support for the McGrath Foundation, which he co-founded. The broadcaster stated that the decision to part ways with McGrath was mutual.

This move comes in line with the broadcaster’s policy, which previously affected former fast bowler Mitchell Johnson in 2022 under similar circumstances.

Video of Ex-Pakistan Captain Younis Khan singing goes viral

by
Younis Khan

KARACHI: A clip of former Pakistan captain Younis Khan showcasing his singing skills has taken social media by storm.

The clip, shared by former fast bowler Umar Gul, shows Younis Khan singing the Bollywood song “Mere Dost Qissa Yeh Kya Ho Gaya, Suna Hai Ke Tu Bewafa Ho Gaya.”

During the performance, Younis Khan amusingly sang one of the lines incorrectly, prompting laughter from both himself and those listening.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Umar Gul (@umargulofficial)

Currently, several former national cricketers are in Houston for a league event, where Younis Khan showcased his vocal skills during a team dinner.

Fans and attendees praised Younis Khan’s singing talent, with the video receiving widespread appreciation online.

Pakistan Shaheens dominate India as Maaz shines with bat and ball

by
Pakistan Shaheens

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Shaheens continued their dominant form in the Men’s Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025, registering a commanding eight-wicket victory over India A in their second Group B fixture at the West End Park International Cricket Stadium in Doha.

All-rounder Maaz Sadaqat led the way for Shaheens with a brilliant unbeaten 79 off 31 balls and impressive bowling figures of 2-12 in three overs, earning his successive Player of the Match award. The left-handed opener’s innings featured seven fours and four sixes, while he also contributed with his left-arm spin, taking two crucial wickets including a wicket-maiden over.

Maaz put on a blazing 55-run opening partnership with Mohammad Naeem (14, 10b, 1×4, 1×6), giving Pakistan a rapid start in the Powerplay. His aggressive approach included a 20-run seventh over, featuring two sixes off Naman Dhir, as Shaheens inched closer to their target of 137 with the required run rate dropping below five.

The young Peshawar-born batter’s dominance ensured Pakistan reached 137-2 in just 13.2 overs, losing only Yasir Khan among the top order. Mohammad Faiq (16 not out, 14b, 1×4, 1×6) remained unbeaten alongside Maaz, finishing the match with a six and helping Pakistan Shaheens remain unbeaten in the tournament so far, with their last group fixture against UAE scheduled for Tuesday.

Earlier, India A were restricted to 136 all out in 19 overs, thanks to disciplined bowling from Shahid Aziz (3-24), Maaz Sadaqat (2-12), and Saad Masood (2-31). Despite a strong start, India A collapsed from 91-2 to 136 all out, with key wickets falling to Sufyan, Shahid Aziz, Maaz, and Saad Masood. Top scorers Vaibhav Suryavanshi (45, 28b, 5×4s, 3×6s) and Naman Dhir (35, 20b, 6×4s, 1×6) could not convert their starts, as Pakistan’s bowlers kept the pressure consistent.

Following the win, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi called the victory a “proud moment for the nation” and lauded the Shaheens’ fearless and dominant performance. He also congratulated the team on their clean sweep against Sri Lanka in the recent ODI series, praising the players, coaches, and management for their dedication and commitment.

Governor Sindh Kamran Tessori and Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah also extended their congratulations to the team, recognizing their stellar performances and contribution to Pakistan cricket.

Scores in brief:

India A: 136 all out, 19 overs (Vaibhav Suryavanshi 45, Naman Dhir 35; Shahid Aziz 3-24, Maaz Sadaqat 2-12, Saad Masood 2-31)

Pakistan Shaheens: 137-2, 13.2 overs (Maaz Sadaqat 79 not out)

This victory keeps Pakistan Shaheens unbeaten and firmly in contention for the Rising Star Asia Cup 2025 semi-finals.

Mohammad Rizwan reaches major milestone with 100 ODI appearances

by
Mohammad Rizwan

KARACHI: Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan achieved a significant career milestone on Sunday as he completed 100 One-Day International (ODI) matches.

Before the start of the third and final ODI against Sri Lanka, a special ceremony was held on the field to honour Rizwan’s achievement. Head coach Mike Hesson praised the cricketer’s contributions, saying Rizwan has “always brought energy to the ground” and highlighted his strong passion for representing Pakistan.

On the occasion, pacer Naseem Shah presented Rizwan with a commemorative cap marking his 100th ODI appearance, while teammates congratulated him on reaching the landmark.

Rizwan has scored 2,921 runs in his 100 ODI matches so far.

Portugal qualify for FIFA World Cup 2026 after crushing Armenia

by
Portugal qualify

Portugal secured their place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 with a commanding 9–1 victory over Armenia, despite the absence of star forward Cristiano Ronaldo. The emphatic win also ensured Portugal finished at the top of their qualifying Group F.

Bruno Fernandes and João Neves were the standout performers, each scoring a hat-trick to lead Portugal to direct qualification for the World Cup.

The triumph came just days after Portugal suffered a 0–2 defeat to Ireland on Thursday, a match in which captain Cristiano Ronaldo was shown a red card and subsequently suspended, ruling him out of the Armenia clash.

Reacting to the team’s qualification, Ronaldo celebrated the achievement on social media, writing: “We are in the World Cup! Vamos Portugal!”

The FIFA World Cup 2026 will be hosted jointly by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, featuring an expanded lineup of 48 teams.

With this qualification, Portugal have booked their place in the World Cup for the ninth time overall and the seventh consecutive edition.

Another blow for Australia: Josh Hazlewood ruled out of first Test

by
Josh Hazlewood

SYDNEY: Australia’s preparations for the Ashes series against England have suffered another setback, as fast bowler Josh Hazlewood has been ruled out of the first Test due to a hamstring strain, Cricket Australia confirmed.

This follows earlier blows with Pat Cummins and Shane Abbott also missing out on the opening Test. Cummins is sidelined with a back issue, while Abbott is recovering from a hamstring strain.

To fill the gap, Michael Neser has been added to the squad for the first Test.

The Ashes series between Australia and England will commence on 21 November in Perth.

Babar Azam joins Saeed Anwar at top with 20 ODI centuries

by
Babar Azam

Babar Azam joins Saeed Anwar at top with 20 ODI centuries

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s star batter Babar Azam has written his name into the history books by equaling the national record for most ODI centuries by a Pakistani player.

In the second ODI against Sri Lanka at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Azam struck a superb 102 off 119 balls, matching Saeed Anwar’s long-standing record of 20 ODI hundreds.

Babar reached this milestone in just 136 innings, placing him among the fastest to reach 20 ODI centuries.

 South Africa’s Hashim Amla tops the list with 108 innings, followed by India’s Virat Kohli, who achieved it in 133 innings. In contrast, Saeed Anwar had needed 244 innings to complete his 20 hundreds.

Azam’s latest century serves as a major morale boost for Pakistan cricket and further strengthens his status as one of the premier batsmen in world cricket today.

Pakistan’s star batter Babar Azam has chosen not to engage with critics who questioned his form over the past two years, stating that his job is to play cricket and deliver on the field. He emphasised that his complete focus remains on performance rather than responding to criticism.

Speaking at a press conference after Pakistan’s impressive victory in the second ODI against Sri Lanka, Babar said that although the last two years were challenging, he worked hard on his fitness, batting, and fielding. “Whenever difficult times come, you must trust yourself,” he added.

Babar acknowledged the support he received from fans during tough phases, saying their encouragement gave him great confidence. He said he batted according to the team’s plan, and scoring a century helped restore his self-belief. “I trusted myself to score a hundred,” he noted.

Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka by eight wickets in the second match of the three-match ODI series.

Babar is now the third-fastest player in the world to score 20 ODI centuries in the fewest innings.

PCB concludes valuation of PSL teams and assets

by
PCB concludes

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced that the valuation process for Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchises and related assets has been completed.

Following the valuation, all eligible PSL franchises have been sent offers to renew their agreements for the next ten years on revised fee structures. Franchises have been asked to communicate their decisions to PSL management within the given deadline.

To ensure transparency in the decade-long franchise agreements, the PCB has also arranged joint and individual meetings between franchise representatives and the chartered firm EY MENA. These meetings will allow franchise owners to review the valuation methodology and seek clarification on any concerns.

The PCB has additionally received reports from EY MENA regarding the potential pricing of two new PSL franchise teams. The tender process for the sale of these teams will begin soon.

Interested buyers will be allowed to choose from the following cities for their teams: Hyderabad, Sialkot, Muzaffarabad, Faisalabad, Gilgit, and Rawalpindi.

The PCB management reiterated its commitment to maintaining fair, transparent, and mutually beneficial relationships with all PSL stakeholders, noting that the league continues to play a vital role in the growth and global recognition of Pakistan cricket.