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Sports

England all out for 172 in first Ashes Test amid Starc onslaught

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England

PERTH: In the first Ashes Test, Mitchell Starc’s devastating bowling dismantled England, restricting them to 172 runs and sending the entire team back to the pavilion.

England captain Ben Stokes’ surprising decision to bat first left experts stunned as his side struggled from the outset. The visitors lost their first wicket in the very first over, with Zak Crawley dismissed for zero by Starc.

Starc continued his dominance, claiming Ben Duckett for 21 in the seventh over and Joe Root for a duck in the ninth. Although Ollie Pope and Harry Brook offered some resistance, Pope fell for 46 runs before lunch at 94/4.

By the interval, England stood at 105/4, but subsequent wickets tumbled quickly, and the team was bowled out for 172 runs. Starc finished with an outstanding haul of seven wickets, while Brendon Doggett took two and Cameron Green claimed one.

Australia’s playing XI included captain Steve Smith, Usman Khawaja, Jack Wildermuth, Marnus Labuschagne, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Brendon Doggett, and Scott Boland.

PSL announces auction date for two new franchises

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PSL announces

LAHORE: The Pakistan Super League (PSL) is set to enter a new phase of expansion, with the auction for two additional teams scheduled for January 6, 2026.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has crossed a major milestone in the league’s growth, announcing a shortlist of six potential cities for the new franchises. The shortlisted cities include Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Hyderabad, Sialkot, Muzaffarabad, and Gilgit.

According to the PCB, only technically qualified bidders will be eligible to participate in the auction for the two new teams.

Commenting on the development, PSL Chief Executive Salman Naseer said the Pakistan Super League continues to evolve as a global T20 brand, with expansion marking an important step in its journey.

Australia announces playing XI for first Ashes Test against England

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Australia announces

PERTH: Australia has confirmed its playing XI for the first Ashes Test, with Steve Smith set to captain the side.

The lineup features seasoned players including Smith, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, and Mitchell Starc. Test debutants Brandon Doggett and Jack Wagerald will also make their first appearances. Nathan Lyon, Brandon Doggett, and Scott Boland complete the squad.

England’s squad for the Ashes opener

England has also announced a 12-man squad for the first Test, which begins at 02:20 GMT on Friday. Captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum may confirm the final XI at the toss.Ben Stokes (c), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jamie Smith (wk), Mark Wood

England’s selection strategy under Stokes and McCullum often involves finalizing the XI close to the toss, so fans can expect last-minute confirmations.

Meanwhile, former Australian fast bowler Glenn McGrath has stepped down from the Ashes commentary panel ahead of the series.

The first Ashes Test between Australia and England is scheduled to begin tomorrow in Perth.

Olympian turned Fugitive: Ryan Wedding joins FBI’s most wanted list

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Olympian turned Fugitive

Ryan James Wedding, a Canadian national currently living in Mexico, is a former Olympic snowboarder who represented Canada in the giant slalom event at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah. Following his athletic career, Wedding became involved in transnational drug trafficking.

He is alleged to lead a sophisticated international criminal organization responsible for sourcing and transporting cocaine from South America to both the United States and Canada.

After an extensive investigation spanning North America, Wedding was charged in June 2024 in California’s Central District with operating a continuing criminal enterprise, murder, attempted murder, and conspiracy to possess, distribute, and export cocaine.

Ryan Wedding, wanted by U.S. authorities for allegedly leading a multinational drug trafficking network, is now facing additional charges related to the murder of a federal witness, U.S. Attorney-General Pam Bondi announced.

Ten other individuals have been arrested in connection with the federal indictment unsealed in California, which accuses Wedding of orchestrating the January killing of a witness in Colombia to avoid extradition to the United States.

The FBI has placed Wedding on its 10 Most Wanted Fugitives list and is offering a reward of up to $15 million for information leading to his arrest. Authorities believe he is currently hiding in Mexico under the protection of the Sinaloa cartel, collaborating to traffic large quantities of drugs into Canada and the U.S.

“Whether you are a street-level drug dealer or an international drug kingpin, we are coming for you,” Bondi said. “We will find you, and you will be held accountable for your crimes.”

Wedding, also known by aliases including El Jefe, Public Enemy, and James Conrad King, was charged in 2024 with running a drug operation responsible for moving approximately 60 tons of cocaine annually. The drugs were allegedly transported using long-haul trucks between Colombia, Mexico, southern California, and Canada.

Authorities claim Wedding and his alleged co-conspirators used a Canadian website called “The Dirty News” to post a photograph of the witness, allowing him to be identified and ultimately killed. The victim was shot in the head at a restaurant in Medellín, Colombia, in January.

“Wedding placed a bounty on the victim’s head under the false belief that killing him would result in the dismissal of criminal charges and prevent his extradition to the United States,” said Bill Essayli, lead federal prosecutor for California’s Central District. “He was wrong.”

The U.S. government is also offering rewards of up to $2 million for information leading to the capture of others involved in the witness killing.

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.