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SYDNEY: Smaller football federations, particularly those in Oceania, have remained largely silent amid FIFA’s growing internal dispute because they fear putting crucial development funding at risk, former Papua New Guinea international Alex Davani has said. Davani, a former deputy general secretary of Football Australia, believes FIFA’s development funding system needs reform and says the controversy surrounding Gianni Infantino’s abandoned FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal co

BELFAST: Afghanistan secured automatic qualification for the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup after defeating Ireland by three wickets in the third ODI at the Civil Service Cricket Club in Belfast on Monday. Rahmanullah Gurbaz starred with the bat, scoring a fluent 71, while Rashid Khan produced an impressive all-round performance to guide Afghanistan home and give them an unassailable 2-0 lead in the five-match series. Ireland, after being asked to bat first, were bowled out for 2

Former Pakistan batter Umar Akmal has opened up about his prolonged absence from competitive cricket, claiming that doors have repeatedly been closed on him at both domestic and franchise level despite his continued desire to represent Pakistan. In an extensive interview with Sports 21, Akmal spoke candidly about his career, his relationship with the Pakistan Cricket Board, fitness concerns, his exclusion from the PSL, former coaches and captains, and several incidents from h

LAHORE: Former Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir has backed a group of young seamers and batters to play important roles for the national team in the coming years, highlighting Mohammad Ali, Khurram Shahzad, Ali Raza, Azan Awais and Abdullah Fazal as players to watch. Speaking during a recent podcast interview with an international sports platform, Amir was asked to name emerging Pakistani cricketers who may not yet be widely known among English-speaking audiences. The former left

LAHORE: Legendary Pakistani squash player Jahangir Khan has called for professional management and the implementation of the principle of “the right man for the right job” to revive Pakistan’s declining fortunes in international squash. During a ceremony at the Nishtar Sports Complex on Saturday, the former world champion said the lack of professional administration was the primary reason behind Pakistan’s fall from dominance in the sport. “The main reason behind Pakistan’s d

Pakistan’s Mohammad Zubair has been crowned the Tekken champion at the Esports World Cup after completing a sensational run through the tournament, defeating some of the biggest names in the game. Zubair’s journey to the title began in the Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ), but he went on to produce one of the most impressive runs in competitive Tekken. The Pakistani star first defeated defending champion Ulsan, before overcoming Tekken legend and Pakistani esports icon Arslan Ash.

Pakistan cricketer Hamza Nazar has been banned from all domestic and international cricket for two years and fined PKR 1 million following a disciplinary inquiry conducted by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). According to the information shared by the PCB, the investigation found that Nazar provided misleading and incomplete information during a visa application. The board concluded that his actions amounted to misrepresentation and non-disclosure, leading to strict disciplin

Pakistan bounced back emphatically to defeat the West Indies by eight wickets in the second Test, ending a miserable run of eight consecutive away Test defeats and leveling the series on a high note. Chasing a modest target of 75, Pakistan reached 77-2 in 23.3 overs with captain Babar Azam and Abdullah Shafique guiding the visitors home in an unbeaten partnership. Babar remained not out on 24 from 30 deliveries, sealing the victory spectacularly with back-to-back sixes off sp

BARCELONA: Ferran Torres has found himself at the centre of fresh transfer speculation after suggesting that FC Barcelona must “show they want me” if they hope to keep him at the club. The Spanish forward made the remarks while discussing reported interest from Paris Saint-Germain F.C., saying it is flattering when top clubs express interest but insisting that Barcelona must demonstrate their commitment. Torres also noted that he remains under contract and is in control of hi

Turkish giants Trabzonspor are on the verge of completing one of the biggest transfers in the club’s history after reaching an agreement to sign Mohamed Salah on a free transfer following his departure from Liverpool FC. The club officially confirmed on Tuesday that negotiations with the Egyptian superstar are underway, bringing an end to nearly ten days of discussions. Salah is expected to sign a two-year contract that will keep him at Trabzonspor until June 2028. The 34-yea

Former Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir has confirmed that he will register as an overseas player for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2027 auction after obtaining British citizenship, marking a significant change in his PSL status. The 34-year-old left-arm pacer, who currently represents Trent Rockets in The Hundred, revealed that his newly acquired British passport means he will no longer be classified as a local player in the PSL. The change also allows him to participate

PATTAYA: Pakistan’s taekwondo contingent produced an impressive performance at the 9th Hero International Taekwondo Open Championship in Pattaya, Thailand, bringing home four medals against a strong international field featuring athletes from more than 30 countries. Tayiba Ashraf enjoyed a successful campaign by securing a bronze medal in the women’s 53kg fighting category before adding a silver medal in the Speed Kicking event, underlining her all-round ability across differ

Pakistan’s premier fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi has withdrawn from the ongoing Lanka Premier League (LPL), with his franchise confirming that the left-arm pacer will leave the tournament due to personal reasons. Shaheen’s exit comes after a challenging campaign in which he struggled to produce his usual match-winning performances. Across six appearances, the Pakistani speedster claimed seven wickets while conceding runs at an economy rate of over 10 runs per over. His figu

Former India all-rounder Dinesh Mongia has paid glowing tribute to Pakistan batting great Saeed Anwar, revealing that the legendary left-hander played a key role in shaping his batting during their time together in international cricket. Speaking in an interview with Saurabh Yadav, Mongia recalled that whenever he had the opportunity, he would approach the former Pakistan opener for advice on batting. He described Anwar as an elegant and classy batter whose calm presence at t

GLASGOW: Pakistan’s hopes of another Commonwealth Games javelin medal ended in disappointment as reigning Olympic champion and defending Commonwealth gold medalist Arshad Nadeem failed to progress beyond the opening three rounds of the men’s javelin throw final on Friday. The 29-year-old endured a difficult outing from the very beginning, opening his title defence with a foul before registering a throw of 77.41 metres in his second attempt. Needing a significant improvement t

Former Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir has expressed concern over Shaheen Shah Afridi’s recent decline in form, attributing the left-arm pacer’s struggles to poor workload management rather than a lack of ability. Speaking during an interview, Amir recalled warning about Shaheen’s future as early as 2020 or 2021, saying he had experienced similar challenges during his own career. He claimed he had advised that continuously overplaying the young fast bowler could eventually

Pakistan celebrated its first medal at the 2026 Commonwealth Games as promising boxer Fatima Zahra claimed a bronze medal in the women’s 60kg category. The young pugilist’s impressive campaign came to an end in the semi-finals, where she was defeated by Canada’s Marie-Bathoul Al-Ahmadieh. Despite the loss, Fatima’s journey to the last four guaranteed her a place on the podium, making her Pakistan’s first medallist of the Games. Her achievement marks another significant milest

Pakistan’s Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem has secured his place in the men’s javelin throw final at the 2026 Commonwealth Games after producing a best throw of 78.63 metres in the qualification round. Competing against a strong international field, Arshad delivered a composed performance to comfortably book his spot in the final. While the throw was below his personal best, it proved enough to keep Pakistan’s medal hopes alive as he now shifts his focus to the decisive round.

Pakistan produced a commanding performance to defeat Bangladesh 3-0 in the final of the Central Asian Volleyball Association (CAVA) Men’s Volleyball Championship, lifting the title in front of a jubilant home crowd at Islamabad’s Liaquat Gymnasium on Wednesday. The hosts controlled the contest from the outset, taking the opening set 25-20 before raising their level in the second to claim a convincing 25-16 victory. Pakistan then completed the sweep by winning the third set 25

Pakistan’s men’s football team is set to make history by participating in its first-ever FIFA-sanctioned tournament after being confirmed for the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup later this year. The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) announced that the national team will be among 14 participants in the competition, which will be staged during the extended FIFA international window in September and October. Pakistan have been included in the main FIFA ASEAN Cup in Indonesia alongside