Sports

RAWALPINDI: After overseeing Pakistan’s 500th victory in the One-day International format on Thursday, captain Babar Azam lavished praise on the way his side controlled the game to draw first blood in the five-match series against New Zealand. With their five-wicket triumph over the Black Caps at the Pindi Cricket Stadium, Pakistan became only the third cricketing nation to reach the landmark. It …

MANILA: Qatar was named host of the 2027 men’s Basketball World Cup on Friday, burgeoning its reputation for staging major global sports events. Germany will hold the women’s version in 2026, basketball’s governing body International Basketball Federation (FIBA) said. Qatar hosted the men’s football World Cup in November-December and will now stage basketball’s showpiece tournament for the first time.     All …

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Sports Board’s newly appointed director general Shoaib Khoso took office for a three-year term on Friday after emerging as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s favourite among a panel of three candidates. According to a PSB official, Shoaib holds an MBA degree and work experience as a consultant with the Sindh sports department. Speaking to Dawn, Shoaib said that he had …

sent New Zealand in to bat in the second one-day international (ODI) in Rawalpindi on Saturday. The home team, who won the first ODI by five wickets on Thursday, made three changes — with 20-year-old pacer Ihsanullah making his ODI debut. Also included are leg-spinner Usama Mir and batter Abdullah Shafique, the trio replacing Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan and Shan …

LONDON: Andrew Strauss is to leave his position as strategic adviser to the England and Wales Cricket Board after his suggested reforms to the domestic calendar failed to gain the backing of English counties. The former England captain was commissioned to conduct a high-performance review following the team’s 2021/22 Ashes rout in Australia. His report made 17 recommendations, notably reducing …

LONDON: England fast bowler Stuart Broad wants the team to replicate the success of the 2005 Ashes series when they host Australia in the summer and inspire fans across the country. England regained the famous urn for the first time in 18 years in 2005 with a 2-1 series victory, which is widely rated among the team’s greatest achievements in …

GALLE: Nishan Madushka and Kusal Mendis both made double centuries against Ireland here on Thursday as Sri Lanka’s top four batters all hit hundreds for only the third time in Test history. In reply to Ireland’s 492 all out, their highest-ever Test score, Sri Lanka declared their first innings on 704 for three after tea on the fourth day of …

MADRID: Barcelona was­ted a golden opportunity to extend their lead at the top of LaLiga as they suffered a shock 2-1 defeat at Rayo Vallecano on Wednesday thanks to goals in each half from Alvaro Garcia and Fran Garcia. With seven games to play, Barca are top of the league on 76 points, 11 ahead second-placed Real Madrid, who were …

RAWALPINDI: It was in the 20th over that Fakhar Zaman caused mayhem in the stands at the Pindi Cricket Stadium. Daryl Mitchell, New Zealand’s centurion on the day, was smacked over mid-wicket for a massive six; the first maximum of Pakistan’s innings with southpaw openers Fakhar and Imam-ul-Haq having laid the platform for victory in the opening One-day International on …

GALLE: Dimuth Karunaratne and Nishan Madushka both hit centuries as they amassed a record Sri Lankan opening stand in Galle of 228 in the second Test against Ireland on Wednesday. The hosts were 357 for one at the close, still 135 runs behind but with nine wickets in hand. Madushka was unbeaten on 149 at stumps, alongside Kusal Mendis, approaching …