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Sports

Pakistan plans seven-batter lineup for first Test against West Indies

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Pakistan plans

TRINIDAD: Pakistan’s team management has begun finalizing its playing XI for the opening Test against the West Indies, with plans to field seven specialist batters in the series opener, according to sources.

The likely lineup includes Azan Awais, Imam-ul-Haq, Shan Masood, Babar Azam, and Mohammad Rizwan, while Salman Ali Agha is also expected to feature and provide the team with a fifth bowling option.

Sources said Aamir Jamal and Mohammad Abbas are likely to retain their places in the XI, while left-arm spinner Ali Usman is in line to make his Test debut. One of Khurram Shahzad or Mohammad Ali is expected to complete the pace attack.

The team management has also advised the bowlers to improve their batting, with the final playing XI to be confirmed after assessing the players’ fitness ahead of the match.

The first Test between Pakistan and the West Indies begins on Saturday at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad, where curators have prepared a grass-covered pitch featuring brown grass instead of the traditional green surface.

Meanwhile, Pakistan and the West Indies  unveiled the trophy for their upcoming Test series ahead of the opening match at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy.

Pakistan captain Babar Azam and West Indies captain Roston Chase took part in the trophy unveiling ceremony, posing with the silverware at the venue where the first Test will be played.

The opening Test of the series is scheduled to begin on July 25, with both teams aiming for a strong start in the two-match contest.

175 World Cup visitors apply for asylum in Canada, officials say

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175 World Cup

OTTAWA: A total of 175 foreign nationals who traveled to Canada to attend FIFA World Cup matches have applied for asylum, according to Canadian authorities.

Canada hosted 13 World Cup matches and issued approximately 26,000 visitor visas for the tournament. Officials said more than half of all visa applications received for the event were rejected.

Authorities said the 175 asylum claims will be assessed individually under Canada’s immigration and refugee laws. They did not disclose how many of the applicants, if any, were football players or members of official delegations.

Available government data showed that 25 applicants are Ghanaian nationals, while 15 each are from Egypt and Colombia. Officials added that the number of asylum applications could increase as more claims are submitted.

Before the tournament, the Canadian government warned that visitor visas issued for the FIFA World Cup could not be used as a pathway to permanent residence or guaranteed asylum. It said all protection claims would be evaluated solely in accordance with Canadian law.

Pakistan to tour England for five-match ODI series ahead of 2027 World Cup

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Pakistan

LAHORE: Pakistan will tour England in May 2027 for a five-match One-Day International (ODI) series, providing both teams with valuable preparation ahead of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup later that year.

The series will be played from May 15 to May 26, 2027, with matches scheduled in Southampton, Manchester, Leeds, Chester-le-Street, and Cardiff.

The opening ODI will be held in Southampton on May 15, followed by matches in Manchester on May 19, Leeds on May 21, Chester-le-Street on May 23, and the fifth and final ODI in Cardiff on May 26.

The series is expected to serve as an important tune-up for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027, which is scheduled to take place from October 4 to November 21, 2027, across South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.

Pakistan is currently ranked fifth in the ICC Men’s ODI rankings, while England sits seventh. Pakistan last toured England for an ODI series in 2021, when the two sides contested a three-match series.

Spain climbs to No. 1 in FIFA rankings after World Cup triumph

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Spain climbs

NEW YORK: Spain has climbed to the top of the FIFA men’s world rankings following its unbeaten run to the 2026 FIFA World Cup title, while Pakistan remains near the bottom of the standings at 199th place.

The updated rankings, released after the World Cup, show Spain moving from second to first after gaining a tournament-high 121.17 ranking points. World Cup runner-up and 2022 champion Argentina dropped to second, while France and England retained third and fourth places, respectively.

Brazil moved up one position to fifth despite being eliminated by Norway in the Round of 16. Morocco reached a historic sixth place after its quarterfinal appearance, while Portugal slipped two places to seventh.

Belgium climbed to eighth despite its quarterfinal defeat to eventual champion Spain. The Netherlands ranked ninth, followed by Mexico in 10th place.

Among the biggest movers, Tunisia fell 12 places to 57th after losing all three of its Group F matches at the World Cup. Panama recorded the largest points loss, dropping to 44th after finishing without a win in Group L.

In Asia, Iran is ranked 22nd, Egypt 24th, India 138th and Ethiopia 143rd. Afghanistan occupies 177th place, Bangladesh is 181st and Sri Lanka 187th.

Pakistan is ranked 199th among FIFA’s 210 member associations, while San Marino remains at the bottom of the global rankings.

Lamine Yamal’s girlfriend’s World Cup tribute goes Viral after Spain’s victory

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Lamine Yamal

MADRID: A social media post by Lamine Yamal’s girlfriend, Inés García, has gone viral after Spain’s victory over Argentina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.

Following Spain’s 1-0 win, García shared a photo of herself with Yamal holding the World Cup trophy and congratulated the Spanish star on social media.

“Congratulations, my love. You are a world champion,” she wrote. Yamal later responded with a message saying, “I love you.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/Da_udepNbp4/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

The exchange quickly gained traction online, with fans widely sharing the posts and many describing García as Yamal’s “lucky charm” following Spain’s historic World Cup triumph.

Spain manager Luis de la Fuente also praised Yamal’s performances throughout the tournament, commending the young winger for his contribution to Spain’s successful World Cup campaign.

World Cup champion Spain returns home to hero’s welcome

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World Cup champion

MADRID: Spain’s national football team returned home after defeating defending champion Argentina to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup, securing the country’s second world title.

The team’s aircraft landed in Madrid, where players and coaching staff arrived carrying the World Cup trophy after their historic triumph in New York.

Captain Rodri emerged from the plane holding the coveted trophy, smiling as he celebrated Spain’s victory. Head coach Luis de la Fuente and Spanish Football Federation President Rafael Louzán also returned with the squad.

Spain clinched the World Cup title with a 1-0 victory over Argentina in Sunday’s final. The match remained scoreless until Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal in extra time, ending Spain’s 16-year wait for another World Cup crown.

The victory marks Spain’s second FIFA World Cup title and crowns the team as world champion for the next four years.

World Cup champion Spain returns home to hero’s welcome

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World Cup champion

MADRID: Spain’s national football team returned home after defeating defending champion Argentina to win the 2026 FIFA World Cup, securing the country’s second world title.

The team’s aircraft landed in Madrid, where players and coaching staff arrived carrying the World Cup trophy after their historic triumph in New York.

Captain Rodri emerged from the plane holding the coveted trophy, smiling as he celebrated Spain’s victory. Head coach Luis de la Fuente and Spanish Football Federation President Rafael Louzán also returned with the squad.

Spain clinched the World Cup title with a 1-0 victory over Argentina in Sunday’s final. The match remained scoreless until Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal in extra time, ending Spain’s 16-year wait for another World Cup crown.

The victory marks Spain’s second FIFA World Cup title and crowns the team as world champion for the next four years.

Emergency alert issued ahead of FIFA World Cup final in New York

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Emergency alert

NEW YORK: Authorities issued emergency flood warnings for parts of New York and New Jersey on Saturday, hours before the FIFA World Cup 2026 final, as severe weather threatened to disrupt travel and pre-match preparations.

The championship match between Argentina and Spain is scheduled for Sunday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. However, deteriorating weather conditions have complicated preparations for both teams and raised concerns for fans traveling to the venue.

Officials warned of potentially life-threatening flash flooding and urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel. Emergency alerts sent to mobile phones in parts of New York warned of a flash flood risk through the afternoon and advised people to leave flood-prone areas if instructed by authorities.

The latest weather concerns come after air quality in New York and New Jersey was affected by smoke from hundreds of wildfires burning in Canada. Earlier this week, officials classified air quality in parts of New Jersey as “unhealthy for sensitive groups.”

Calls to relocate the World Cup final had already surfaced because of smoky conditions, and the flash flood warnings have added to concerns surrounding the event.

Tournament organizers continue to monitor the weather closely, while both teams have adjusted their preparations ahead of Sunday’s final. No changes to the match schedule had been announced at the time of reporting.

West Indies cricket legend Sir Garfield Sobers dies at 89

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West Indies

BRIDGETOWN: Sir Garfield Sobers, widely regarded as one of the greatest all-rounders in cricket history, has died at the age of 89, Cricket West Indies confirmed on Friday.

According to ESPNcricinfo, Sobers died in Barbados, ending a career that transformed the game and established him as one of cricket’s most complete players.

Sobers represented the West Indies in 93 Test matches between 1954 and 1974, scoring 8,032 runs at an average of 57.78 and taking 235 wickets at an average of 34.03. Renowned for his ability to bowl both pace and spin, he was also considered one of the finest fielders of his era.

Australian great Sir Donald Bradman famously described Sobers as a “five-in-one cricketer” because of his extraordinary versatility.

The ICC’s Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy, awarded annually to the world’s best men’s cricketer across all formats, is named in his honor.

In a tribute posted on X, Cricket West Indies said, “A great innings has come to an end.”

Sobers made his first-class debut at the age of 16 during the 1952-53 season and earned his Test debut against England in Jamaica a year later, beginning a legendary international career that inspired generations of cricketers.

Canadian wildfire smoke raises air quality concerns ahead of World Cup final

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Canadian wildfire

NEW YORK: Smoke from massive wildfires in Canada has blanketed parts of New York and New Jersey, prompting health officials to issue air quality alerts ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup final between Argentina and Spain.

According to international media reports, authorities have advised residents to avoid unnecessary outdoor activities and limit strenuous exercise as smoke continues to affect air quality across the region.

The World Cup final is scheduled for July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where more than 80,000 spectators are expected. While organizers have not announced any changes to the match schedule, the deteriorating air quality has raised concerns ahead of the championship game.

Spain has continued training outdoors since arriving in New Jersey, while Argentina is scheduled to hold its training session on Friday despite the smoky conditions.

The poor air quality has already affected other sporting events. A National Women’s Soccer League match introduced additional hydration and recovery breaks because of the conditions, while some players voiced concerns about competing in polluted air. In Chicago, a Major League Soccer match was postponed due to unhealthy air quality.

Forecasters expect rain on Friday and Saturday to help improve air quality before Sunday’s World Cup final.