Sports

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 …

ATOP the One-Day International rankings, Pakistan embark on their Asia Cup campaign looking to set a marker for the upcoming World Cup. They kick off proceedings against minnows Nepal in Multan on Wednesday, in a tournament they were supposed to host in full but then had to agree to see its final part being played in Sri Lanka as India was reluctant to send …

MULTAN: Asia’s cricket giants India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka will get a final chance to size each other up before October’s 50-over World Cup when the Asia Cup begins on Wednesday. Fiery rivals India and Pakistan could clash as many as three times if they go all the way in the six-nation continental championship. Pakistan and Sri Lanka are co-hosts, …

Pakistan captain Babar Azam won the toss and opted to bat in the opening match of the Asia Cup against Nepal in Multan on Wednesday. The six-nation Asia Cup is being co-hosted by Pakistan and Sri Lanka, a hybrid model agreed after World Cup hosts India refused to tour Pakistan, with the final on September 17 in Colombo. Pakistan will fly to Sri Lanka …