Sports

NEW DELHI: Terming Pakistan an exceptional team, Indian off-spinner Ravich­andran Ashwin believes the Babar Azam-led brigade will be very tough opponents in the forthcoming Asia Cup and the World Cup. “If Babar and [wicket-keeper/batter] Mohammad Rizwan give consistent performances with the bat in the middle-order, then Pakistan are going to be one hell of a team going into this Asia …

LAHORE: Pakistan sque­e­zed a narrow 5-4 win agai­nst arch-rivals India after registering a thumping victory against Bangl­adesh during the Five-a-Side Asia Cup hockey tournament in Sala­lah, Oman on Wednesday. The triumph against India saw a brace from Arshad Liaquat while captain Rana Abdul Wahid, Zikraya Hayat and Abdul Rahman recorded a goal each. Earlier, Abdul Wahid — who scored eight …

NEW DELHI: Tickets for the marquee World Cup clash between India and Pakistan in Ahmedabad on Oct 14 were sold out within an hour after the International Cricket Council’s ticketing partner opened its exclusive pre-sale window, the Press Trust of India (PTI) news agency reported on Wednesday. While there will be another round of general sale for the India-Pakistan match on Sept 3, there …

Captain Babar Azam said his team will be brimming with confidence for Saturday’s Asia Cup blockbuster against arch-rivals India after kicking off their campaign with a comprehensive victory against Nepal on Wednesday. Babar led from the front with a masterly 151 and Iftikhar Ahmed produced an unbeaten 109 to power Pakistan to a commanding 342-6 at the Multan Cricket Stadium. The tournament …

NEW YORK: American teenager Coco Gauff qualified for the third round of the US Open on Wednesday after beating 16-year-old Russian Mirra Andreeva 6-3, 6-2. Sixth seed Gauff, one of the favourites for the title after recent tournament wins in Washington and Cincinnati, will meet Belgium’s Elise Mertens or countrywoman Danielle Collins for a place in the last 16. After …

The highly anticipated Asia Cup match between Pakistan and India in Sri Lanka’s Kandy on Saturday could face interruptions due to inclement weather as forecasts for the day indicate a significant likelihood of rain. The match is scheduled for 2:30pm (PST) start, but AccuWeather, the forecasting agency, predicted unfavourable conditions in Kandy. According to it, “thundery showers and light winds” …

NEW YORK: Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur overcame a medical scare to battle into the second round of the US Open on Tuesday with a straight sets defeat of Colombia’s Camila Osorio. Jabeur, chasing a first Grand Slam crown after three agonising defeats in finals since 2022, opened her US Open campaign with a 7-5, 7-6 (7/4) victory on the Louis Armstrong …

COLOMBO: Injuries forced Sri Lanka on Tuesday to drop two key players — Wanindu Hasaranga and Dushmantha Chameera — from their 15-member squad for the 50-over Asia Cup. Sri Lanka’s cricket board said Hasaranga, a spin bowling all-rounder, and pace bowler Chameera were in the original squad, but had to be dropped due to their injuries. Two other lesser known …

DURBAN: Dewald Brevis will take a step onto cricket’s big stage during Australia’s white-ball tour of South Africa, which starts with the first of three Twenty20 Internationals at Kingsmead on Wednesday. Brevis, 20, was nicknamed ‘Baby AB’ for the way he modelled his game on that of retired South African star AB de Villiers. He wears the same number 17 …

LAHORE: Pakistan’s star javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem appealed for better sports training facilities in the country after arriving here on Monday night from Budapest, where he won silver medal at the World Athletics Championships. The 26-year-old arrived to huge fanfare at the Allama Iqbal Airport, being showered with petals as he made his way out through the arrival gates. “I’m …