Sports

RAWALPINDI: More than 5,000 police personnel, including Elite Force commandos and Dolphin Force will be deployed to ensure foolproof security for Pakistan Super League (PSL) matches being played at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Additionally, 347 traffic police officials will be on special duty to maintain the flow of traffic which will be diverted to alternate routes. Inspector General of Police Punjab …

KARACHI: Not many bowlers leave Kane Williamson stunned, let alone on their debut. Even fewer produce a delivery that spins past the legendary New Zealand batter to hit the top of the off stump. In January, Usama Mir did both. Just 13 balls into his international career, the lanky Usama got into his unique bowling action and pitched one on …

PARIS: Lionel Messi was named FIFA player of the year 2022 on Monday as Argentina scooped all major men’s awards after winning a vintage World Cup final last December. The 35-year-old forward scored two goals in the final against France, with the South Americans emerging triumphant on penalties following a 3-3 draw after extra time in Qatar. Messi beat his …

SYDNEY: Australian paceman Mitchell Starc said he still feels some discomfort in his finger after snapping a tendon in a fielding mishap in December but he expects to return to the side for the third Test against India beginning on Wednesday at Indore. The left-armer suffered the injury to the middle finger of his bowling hand and was sidelined as …

WELLINGTON: Record-breaker Kane Williamson stroked a superb century on Monday to steer New Zealand to 483 all out in their second innings and set England a target of 258 runs to win the second Test here at the Basin Reserve. Former captain Williamson hit 132 and Tom Blundell was last man out for 90 as the hosts fought back after …

SYDNEY: Australia’s all-conquering women cricketers were hailed on Monday as among the greatest sporting teams the country has ever produced after winning yet another Twenty20 World Cup. Meg Lanning’s side beat hosts South Africa by 19 runs at Newlands in Cape Town on Sunday to lift the trophy for a sixth time in the last seven tournaments. “Don Bradman had …

LAHORE: Ability trumped data at the Gaddafi Stadium as Lahore Qalandars crus­hed Islamabad United by 110 runs in their HBL Pakistan Super League match on Monday. For all talk of United’s data-driven approach, they had no answer to the rampant defending champions, who won their second straight game at home. Qalandars put on a team effort, first with the bat …

The Isle of Man were bowled out by Spain for 10 runs in an international match on Sunday, limping to the lowest total in men’s Twenty20 cricket. Six players in the Isle of Man’s line-up were dismissed for a duck, while Joseph Burrows was their highest scorer with four runs. The team were routed in 8.4 overs. Spain chased the …

EMPOLI: A goal by striker Victor Osimhen and an own goal by Empoli defender Ardian Ismajli earned 10-man Napoli a 2-0 away win in Serie A on Saturday, extending their lead over second-placed Inter Milan to a staggering 18 points. Napoli, who have kept a clean sheet in their last four league matches for a second time under coach Luciano …

LONDON: Tottenham Hotspur bolstered their hopes for a top-four finish and extended Chelsea’s miserable run under coach Graham Potter with a 2-0 win over the Blues in the Premier League on Sunday, thanks to second-half goals from Oliver Skipp and Harry Kane. Seconds after the break, Skipp picked up a poor clearance by Chelsea’s British record signing Enzo Fernandez and …