Sports

KARACHI: Quetta Gladiators hopes of ending their four-year HBL Pakistan Super League trophy drought were quashed on Friday as they were subjected to a 39-run drubbing by Islamabad United in the first Eliminator here at the National Bank Stadium. Chasing 175 after Martin Guptill had hit a half-century for United, the Gladiators top order crumbled before a valiant fifty by …

KARACHI: Almost nine months after warning of sanctions if the Pakistan Football Federation Normalisation Committee was unable to hold elections of the country’s football governing body by March, FIFA has given the Haroon Malik-led committee a further nine-month extension to complete its mandate. The existing mandate of the PFF NC was due to expire on Friday and FIFA announced on …

PARIS: With competing nations split over whether to enter into the spirit of the “Green Games” or throw money at success whatever the environmental cost, Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo told those nations planning on installing air conditioning at the athletes’ village to “trust the science” instead. Temperatures are expected to soar again in the European summer, after setting records in …

PARIS: This Friday’s Champions League quarter-final draw is set to throw up a series of heavyweight ties after a midweek in which penalty shoot-out drama really brought Europe’s elite club competition to life. Goalkeeper Jan Oblak’s heroics in Atletico Madrid’s shoot-out win over last season’s runners-up Inter Milan on Wednesday — after the Spanish club came from behind in their …

KARACHI: Islamabad United and Quetta Gladiators have had their highs and lows in the ongoing ninth edition of the HBL Pakistan Super League, but both franchises managed to make it to the playoffs. While the Rilee Rossouw-led Gladiators ended their league stage on a low — on the end of a 79-run drubbing from Multan Sultans, Shadab Khan’s men at …

Another top performance from Usama Mir and a comfortable half-century from youngster Yasir Khan grabbed victory for Multan Sultans against Peshawar Zalmi in the qualifier round of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 9. Zalmi won the toss and elected to bat first in the game played at National Stadium Karachi on Thursday. The ninth edition of the tournament saw last …

PARIS: Bayer Leverkusen and West Ham United go into Thursday both needing positive results to reach the quarter-finals of the Europa League after failing to win their first-leg ties. A stoppage-time Patrik Schick equaliser spared Leverkusen’s blushes last week in Baku, and also maintained their unbeaten record this season, after Qarabag took a shock 2-0 lead against the runaway Bundesliga …

MOSCOW: Russia’s sports minister on Wednesday said Moscow should not boycott the upcoming Paris Olympics despite the severe restrictions on its athletes over the Kremlin’s offensive in Ukraine. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) in December suspended Russia from the 2024 Games, but gave the green light for Russian athletes to compete as neutrals as long as they do not actively …

CHITTAGONG: Skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto struck an unbeaten century to guide Bangladesh to a comfortable six-wicket win in the first One-day International of a three-match series against Sri Lanka on Wednesday. Najmul hit 122 not out off 129 balls, and was ably supported by one of his predecessors as captain, Mushfiqur Rahim, who was unbeaten on 73, as Bangladesh raced …

KARACHI: Multan Sultans have done well enough to deserve the top spot in the HBL Pakistan Super League standings by the end of the tournament’s round-robin stage. They boast a line-up featuring the likes of their experienced captain Mohammad Rizwan and Usman Khan, arguably the most explosive batter. Their bowling has a decent mix of pace and spin, ranging from seasoned pro …