Sports Archives - Page 11 of 35

Asim Khan qualifies for PSA World Championship 2026 after thrilling win

April 4, 2026 by abid khan

KARACHI: Emerging Pakistani squash star Asim Khan has secured qualification for the PSA World Championship 2026 after an impressive performance in the Asian qualifying event.

According to the Pakistan Squash Federation, Asim Khan defeated Malaysia’s Joachim Chuah in a gripping final, winning 3-2 after an intense contest.

The five-game match lasted 82 minutes, with Asim Khan dominating early to take the first two games 11-3 and 13-11. However, his opponent staged a strong comeback, winning the next two games 11-9 and 11-3. In the decisive fifth game, Asim held his nerve to clinch victory 12-10.

With this win, Asim Khan has officially qualified for the PSA World Championship 2026, scheduled to be held from May 8 to 16 in Giza.

The prestigious tournament will feature top squash players from around the world, with a total prize pool of $700,000.

Islamabad United outclass Rawalpindi in one-sided PSL match

April 4, 2026 by Newsdesk

LAHORE: Islamabad United secured a comfortable seven-wicket win over Rawalpindi in the Pakistan Super League (PSL 11) match played at Gaddafi Stadium.

After winning the toss, Islamabad United opted to field first, inviting Rawalpindi to bat. Rawalpindi posted 156 for 7 in their allotted 20 overs, with Kamran Ghulam scoring 50 and Dyan Forrester contributing 44 runs.

Other notable contributions came from Abdullah Fazal (23) and Daryl Mitchell (19), while Mohammad Rizwan managed just 2 runs.

For Islamabad United, Richard Gleeson, Faheem Ashraf, and Salman Irshad claimed two wickets each.

In reply, Islamabad United comfortably chased down the 157-run target in just 15 overs, losing only three wickets. Sameer Minhas led the charge with an impressive 70 off 36 balls, while Haider Ali (26) and Mark Chapman (24*) remained unbeaten. Devon Conway scored 6, and Mohammad Faiq added 19 runs.

The convincing victory highlights Islamabad United’s strong form in the tournament.

Younis Khan considered for key role in PCB

April 3, 2026 by Newsdesk

Lahore: Former Pakistan captain Younis Khan is reportedly set to take on a significant role in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s cricketing structure.

Sources indicate that the legendary batsman has expressed his willingness to contribute to cricket development after being approached by the PCB. His name is also under consideration for the position of Director Domestic Cricket.

Following the precedent of Sarfraz Ahmed and Misbah-ul-Haq, the board is eager to leverage Younis Khan’s extensive experience to enhance cricket administration and performance.

Younis Khan, who amassed over 10,000 runs in 118 Test matches, also played 265 ODIs and 25 T20Is for Pakistan. He has previously served as the national team coach.

According to officials, PCB representatives contacted Younis Khan recently, and he has expressed availability for the role. A formal announcement is expected after final discussions and approval from PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi.

Lahore Qalandars beats Multan Sultans by 20 runs

April 3, 2026 by Newsdesk

LAHORE: Lahore Qalandars secured a 20-run victory over Multan Sultans in a rain-affected match of the Pakistan Super League.

The match, played at Gaddafi Stadium, saw a delayed toss due to rain. After the delay, Multan Sultans won the toss and opted to field first. The game was reduced to 13 overs per side because of weather conditions.

Batting first, Lahore Qalandars posted a massive total of 185/5 in 13 overs. Muhammad Naeem led the charge with 60 runs, while Parvez Hossain contributed 45 runs. Abdullah Shafique added 33, and Sikandar Raza chipped in with 13 runs.

For Multan Sultans, Mohammad Ismail picked up two wickets.

In response to a target of 186, Multan Sultans managed 165/5 in their allotted 13 overs.

Captain Ashton Turner led the charge with 52 runs, while Shan Masood contributed 44. Arafat Minhas also added a valuable 25 runs.

For Lahore Qalandars, Mustafizur Rahman claimed two wickets to help seal the victory.

Karachi Kings beat Rawalpindi by 5 wickets

April 2, 2026 by Newsdesk

LAHORE: Karachi Kings secured their third consecutive victory in Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11, defeating Rawalpindi by five wickets in a high-scoring encounter at Gaddafi Stadium.

After winning the toss, Karachi Kings opted to field first, inviting Rawalpindi to bat. Rawalpindi posted a competitive total of 197 for 6 in their allotted 20 overs, with Daryl Mitchell scoring 65 and Sam Billings contributing 58 runs.

For Karachi Kings, Hasan Ali claimed three wickets while Khushdil Shah picked up two.

Azam Khan Stars in Successful Chase

In reply, Karachi Kings chased down the 198-run target in the final over, losing five wickets along the way. The chase was anchored by Azam Khan, who scored 74 runs, while captain David Warner added a solid 50.

With this victory, Karachi Kings maintained their unbeaten run in the tournament, registering their third straight win in PSL 11.

Fakhar Zaman appeals against two-match ban in PSL 11

April 1, 2026 by Newsdesk

LAHORE: Fakhar Zaman, a key batter for Lahore Qalandars in Pakistan Super League 11, has filed an appeal against his two-match suspension imposed over a ball-tampering incident.

The Pakistan Cricket Board had suspended Fakhar Zaman for two matches, citing a Level 3 breach of the code of conduct related to ball tampering.

According to PCB officials, the ban was imposed under the relevant article concerning ball manipulation during a match.

Sources indicate that the cricketer has now approached the PSL technical committee, challenging the decision and seeking relief from the suspension.

The incident was reported during the match between Lahore Qalandars and Karachi Kings, after which match referee Roshan Mahanama announced the verdict following a hearing.

Sultans seal six-wicket victory in nail-biting PSL encounter

April 1, 2026 by Newsdesk

Lahore: Multan Sultans secured a dominant six-wicket victory over Hyderabad Kingsmen in the eighth match of PSL 11 at Gaddafi Stadium.

Chasing a massive target of 226 runs, Multan Sultans successfully reached 227 for 4 in just 18.4 overs. The defeat marked Hyderabad Kingsmen’s third consecutive loss in the tournament.

Opener Sahibzada Farhan delivered a outstanding performance, scoring an unbeaten century off 55 balls, smashing 7 fours and 7 sixes. Steve Smith contributed 46 runs, while Shan Masood added 29. Josh Philippe scored 9, and captain Ashton Turner managed 4 runs.

For Hyderabad Kingsmen, Saim Ayub took two wickets, while Maheesh Theekshana and Hassan Khan claimed one each.

Earlier, Hyderabad Kingsmen posted a formidable total of 225 for 5 in their allotted overs. Muaz Sadaqat scored a quickfire 62 off 26 balls, while Sharjeel Khan added 51 runs. Irfan Niazi contributed 22 runs.

Saim Ayub scored 27, Usman Khan made 25, and captain Marnus Labuschagne was dismissed for 8, while Syed Saad Ali added 23 runs.

For Multan Sultans, Mohammad Wasim Jr picked up two wickets, while Peter Siddle and Ashton Turner took one wicket each.

Hyderabad Kingsmen captain Marnus Labuschagne had opted to field first, expressing hope that his team would avoid previous mistakes and deliver a strong performance. Meanwhile, Multan skipper Ashton Turner said his side aimed to restrict the opposition to a manageable total.

In another development, the previous day’s PSL match between Islamabad United and Peshawar Zalmi was abandoned due to rain, with both teams awarded one point each.

FIFA Chief Infantino backs on-schedule World Cup 2026

March 20, 2026 by Newsdesk

Zurich: FIFA President Gianni Infantino has reaffirmed that the FIFA World Cup 2026 will be held as per its scheduled timeline despite ongoing global tensions.

Infantino stated that FIFA looks forward to all participating teams competing in the World Cup with a spirit of mutual respect.

Expressing solidarity with people affected by war, he said that while FIFA cannot resolve geopolitical conflicts, it remains committed to uniting people and promoting peace through football.

It is worth noting that Iran had requested to shift its World Cup matches from the United States to Mexico, but FIFA rejected the request.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 is scheduled to take place from June 11 to July 19 across the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

Labuschagne Eager to lead Hyderabad Kings in PSL Season 11

March 20, 2026 by Newsdesk

HYDERABAD: Hyderabad Kings captain Marnus Labuschagne has expressed excitement about leading his team in the upcoming Pakistan Super League Season 11.

In a statement, Labuschagne said he is thrilled to take on the leadership role and is eagerly looking forward to captaining Hyderabad Kings in the new season.

He added that he cannot wait to join the squad and urged fans to come out in support of the team.

The Australian batter also energized supporters by chanting the popular slogan “Ho Jaye Hojamalo.”

It is worth mentioning that PSL Season 11 is scheduled to be played from March 26 to May 3, while the official anthem for the new season is expected to be released on Chand Raat.

Lionel Messi reaches 900 career goals in historic milestone

March 19, 2026 by Newsdesk

Lionel Messi has become only the second player in elite men’s football history to score 900 career goals, joining Cristiano Ronaldo in the exclusive club of football legends to reach the landmark.

The 38-year-old Argentine World Cup winner achieved the feat with a left-footed finish during Inter Miami’s 1-1 draw against Nashville SC in the Concacaf Champions Cup. The goal came 21 years after Messi netted his first senior goal for Barcelona as a 17-year-old in 2005.

Inter Miami manager Javier Mascherano praised the achievement, calling Messi’s goal tally “insane” and highlighting the privilege of witnessing so many of his goals up close.

Messi reached the milestone in 1,142 appearances for club and country, nearly 100 fewer games than Cristiano Ronaldo, who reached 900 goals in 1,236 matches in September 2024. Ronaldo has since pushed his total to 965 goals and continues to aim for the 1,000-goal mark.

The majority of Messi’s goals came during his legendary spell at Barcelona, where he scored 672 times. He also netted 32 goals for Paris Saint-Germain and 81 for Inter Miami, along with 115 goals for Argentina, helping his country win the 2022 World Cup.

Known for delivering in big moments, 175 of Messi’s goals have come in knockout matches, including 35 in finals. In European competition, he has scored 129 UEFA Champions League goals, second only to Ronaldo’s 140.

Despite Messi’s historic achievement, it was a disappointing night for Inter Miami, who were eliminated from the competition on away goals after a 0-0 first-leg result.