Pakistan’s domestic first-class cricket tournament, the President’s Trophy, is witnessing a historic moment as its final is being played under lights with a pink ball. The unique decision comes as players observe Ramadan, requiring the match to take place entirely after sunset. The contest, featuring Pakistan Television (PTV) and State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), is being held at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. With both teams having finished the group stage level on points, the final has adopted an unusual schedule. The first session begins at 7:30 PM PKT, followed by a tea break at 9:30 PM. Read More: Saud Shakeel Joins…
Author: Sports Desk
Mohammad Hafeez has voiced concerns over the country’s legendary cricketers from the 90s, questioning why they failed to secure major ICC titles despite their dominance and immense talent. Speaking in a panel discussion alongside Shoaib Akhtar, Shoaib Malik, and Sana Mir, Hafeez acknowledged the impact of that era but highlighted their inability to clinch a World Cup. The former all-rounder pointed out that despite strong performances in the 1996, 1999, and 2003 editions, Pakistan could only reach the 1999 final, which ended in a heavy defeat. The right-hander batter emphasized that while those legendary players were icons, they lacked an…
Left-handed Pakistani batter Saud Shakeel became the seventh batter in first-class cricket to be dismissed via a timed-out decision. The incident occurred during the President Trophy final, where Shakeel, representing State Bank of Pakistan, failed to take guard within the stipulated three-minute window after consecutive dismissals. PTV captain Amad Butt promptly appealed, leading the umpires to uphold the dismissal. Reports suggest that the rapid fall of two wickets caught Shakeel off guard. Despite his efforts to reach the crease, the appeal was upheld, enforcing the rarely seen rule. Read More: Australia Batting Great Announces Retirement from ODI Cricket The most…
Japan’s Football Association expressed disappointment on Thursday after FIFA announced that only North American and African countries would be eligible to bid for the 2031 Women’s World Cup. The decision follows a statement by FIFA on Wednesday, which also confirmed that the 2035 event would be hosted by either Europe or Africa. This move has effectively ended Japan’s ambitions of hosting the 2031 tournament. In an interview last year, Tsuneyasu Miyamoto, the president of the Japan Football Association, outlined the country’s intention to host the 2031 World Cup, aiming to elevate the profile of women’s football in Japan. Read More: Scottish…
Pakistan’s crushing six-wicket defeat to India in the do-or-die Champions Trophy 2025 match in Dubai left millions of Pakistani cricket fans heartbroken. Among them, one passionate supporter, Faryal Waqar, gained widespread attention for her emotional reaction outside the Dubai International Stadium. A Dubai-based educationist of Pakistani origin, Faryal, who teaches at a UAE-based American university, was recorded by Geo News expressing her disappointment. She remarked that Pakistan’s campaign had been dismal, leaving fans with nothing positive to take from the tournament. Her frustration grew as she suggested that the team’s performance had sunk so low that even a loss to…
FIFA has announced the creation of the Women’s Champions Cup, set to launch in 2026 with six top clubs from across the globe. This decision was confirmed during a FIFA Council meeting on Wednesday, alongside the news of a two-year delay for the inaugural Women’s Club World Cup, which was originally scheduled for 2026. FIFA cited the need to accommodate new fixtures in the calendar as the reason for the postponement. The Women’s Club World Cup will now take place in 2028, with plans for it to be held every four years thereafter. The Women’s Champions Cup will begin in…
Palestinian sports officials have urged the international community to take decisive action against Israel, accusing it of enforcing “apartheid policies” that restrict Palestinian athletes. Speaking at a press briefing held in Geneva by the Association of Correspondents Accredited to the UN (ACANU), Jibril Rajoub, president of the Palestinian Football Association, appealed for sanctions and global isolation of Israel in sports. He invoked the Olympic Charter’s commitment to fairness, ethics, and social responsibility, arguing that similar measures were imposed against apartheid-era South Africa. Rajoub criticized the perceived double standards in global sports governance, pointing out that while Russian athletes face bans…
Former Pakistan red-ball coach Jason Gillespie has criticized interim head coach Aaqib Javed, alleging that he deliberately undermined both him and his predecessor, Gary Kirsten. The former Australian pacer, who left his position just months after taking charge, blamed Javed for his and Kirsten’s abrupt exits from the coaching setup. Javed’s remarks about Pakistan’s underwhelming performance in the Champions Trophy 2025 reignited controversy. During a press conference in Lahore on Tuesday, he attributed the team’s struggles to the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) frequent changes, stating that 16 coaches and 26 selectors had been appointed in the past two and a…
Bangladesh’s seasoned cricketer Mushfiqur Rahim has announced his retirement from One-Day Internationals, marking the end of a 19-year-long career. The decision follows Bangladesh’s winless exit from the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025, a period he described as particularly challenging. The wicketkeeper-batter shared the news through social media, stating that while Bangladesh had limited success on the global stage, he always gave his best whenever he represented the country. Mushfiqur, who made his international debut in 2005 and played his first ODI in 2006, became a pivotal figure in Bangladesh cricket. His breakout performance came in the 2007 ICC Men’s Cricket…
As the holy month of Ramazan commences, streets in Rawalpindi have become vibrant cricket grounds, with enthusiastic youth playing from late evening until dawn. However, these impromptu matches have led to traffic congestion and public disturbances. Cricket matches are being played in residential areas, alleys, and marketplaces, often disrupting traffic and causing noise pollution. Despite the commotion, law enforcement officials, including mobile police units and the Dolphin Force, reportedly pass by without intervention. Efforts by authorities and residents to halt the matches are frequently met with resistance. Several neighbourhoods, including Dhoke Khabba, Dhoke Ratta, Arya Mohalla, and Satellite Town, have…
