Sports

MELBOURNE: Three-time world champion Max Verstappen said on Thursday he intends to see out his contract with Red Bull, insisting he was happy despite weeks of off-track turbulence. The Dutchman is signed until 2028 but suggested at the last race in Saudi Arabia he would consider leaving if Red Bull parted company with long-time mentor Helmut Marko in a power …

LAHORE: Seasoned Pakistan batter Javeria Khan announced her retirement from international cricket on Thursday, ending her 15-year career with the national women’s team. Javeria made her international debut against Sri Lanka in 2008 and went on to play 228 matches for Pakistan, amassing 4,903 runs with two centuries and 25 half-centuries to her name. She also bagged 28 international wickets. …

LONDON: There were no takers for Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan in the The Hundred Draft for the tournament’s 2024 edition on Thursday. Former Pakistan skipper Babar and Rizwan, who have piled records as a T20 international opening pair for the national side, couldn’t find a place among the 32 players — both international and domestic — picked by the …

ISLAMABAD: It became a case of damage control for Pakistan just nine minutes in at the Jinnah Stadium. But having fallen two goals behind to Asian Cup finalists Jordan early on in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier on Thursday, Pakistan showed determination and character to lose by just 3-0; a performance that drew praise from coach Stephen Constantine. “We’re …

MOSCOW: Russia launched a furious tirade at the International Olym­pic Committee (IOC) on Wednesday, arguing the IOC’s restrictions on Rus­sian athletes and its criticism of the Moscow-orga­nised Friendship Games amo­unted to “neo-Nazism”. The IOC on Tuesday both barred Russian athletes from taking part in the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics on July 26 and criticised the Kremlin for …

MADRID: Spanish police searched the Spanish football federation (RFEF) headquarters and its former president Luis Rubiales’ house among other locations as part of an investigation into alleged corruption and other crimes, judicial sources said Wednesday. According to Spanish media the operation is part of a court investigation into contracts signed by former federation chief Rubiales to take the Spanish Super …

KINGSTON: Fast bowling sensation Shamar Joseph should be fast-tracked into the West Indies squad for the home T20 World Cup in June, said former captain Chris Gayle. Joseph burst onto the scene in his debut series in Australia earlier this year, grabbing a five-wicket haul in his maiden Test in Adelaide. He followed that up with a magical display in …

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan have always ended up on the losing side against Jordan and while coach Stephen Constantine said his team will play for a win, he warned against high expectations from his charges. The second round of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup has been a baptism of fire for Constantine’s men; bringing them back to earth after their …

After being snatched away from several fans at the entry gates and in the stands, Palestinian flags were finally waved in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and the symbol of protest against Israel’s atrocities in Gaza was carried freely at Karachi’s National Bank Stadium on Monday night. The flags were carried by the players of Islamabad United — who won their …

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s footballers on Tuesday made impassioned appeals to fans to attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Jordan here at the Jinnah Stadium on Thursday, saying the home support matters a lot for them. The national team, under the supervision of English coach Stephen Constantine, has been training at the Jinnah Stadium for the last three days for the …