Sports

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 …

NEW YORK: World number one Iga Swiatek launched her US Open title defence with a ruthless 6-0, 6-1 win over Sweden’s Rebecca Peterson in the first round on Monday as the final major championship of the season got underway. Swiatek, whose grip on top spot is under threat from Aryna Sabalenka in New York, needed just 58 minutes to dispose …

RIYADH: Roberto Mancini said he hoped to lead Saudi Arabia to Asian Cup victory within months as he signed a multi-million dollar deal on Monday, just a fortnight after quitting as Italy coach. The former Inter Milan and Manchester City boss held up a green shirt that read “Mancini 2027” after inking a contract to stay with the Green Falcons …

WELLINGTON: New Zealand have given captain Kane Williamson a two-week deadline to prove his fitness for the one-day World Cup starting in October, head coach Gary Stead said Monday. The batsman tore the cruciate ligaments in his right knee playing for Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League in April. The 33-year-old has recovered well and is batting in the …

BUDAPEST: Having been pipped to gold by India’s Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra at the World Athletics Champio­nships on Sunday night, Pakistan’s javelin marvel Arshad Nadeem was left hoping that the friendly rivalry between the duo continues till next year’s Games in Paris. Arshad produced his season’s best effort of 87.82 metres but it wasn’t enough to stop Chopra, who claimed the title …

The Multan Sultans are making headlines for the best possible reason — they’ve just appointed the first woman GM in PSL history. Twenty-eight-year-old Hijab Zahid is also the youngest GM in the franchise’s history and will become one of the only women to be appointed the head of a T20 franchise in the world.     Zahid is currently the director …