Sports

KARACHI: The Quaid-e-Azam Gold Cup, which is the showpiece event of the Karachi Race Club (KRC), appears to be a two-horse race between bay horse Royal Ransom and filly Queen of Spades when it takes place in the winter Gymkhana race meeting here at the Karachi Racecourse on Sunday. The meeting marks the culmination of the racing calendar. A full …

MELBOURNE: Veteran David Warner accused Cricket Australia (CA) on Saturday of a lack of support in his appeal against a lifetime leadership ban and revealed he struggled mentally during the recent series against the West Indies. The dynamic opener and former Test vice-captain was banned from any leadership role over his part in the Cape Town ball-tampering affair in 2018. He launched a bid …

Ravichandran Ashwin and Shreyas Iyer combined to help India prevail in a low-scoring thriller against Bangladesh and complete a 2-0 series sweep following a nervy three-wicket victory in the second Test on Sunday. Chasing 145 on a turning track where the ball often kept low, India were already on the back foot after a top order meltdown had left them …

KARACHI: Saud Shakeel was thrown at the deep end as soon as he made his way into the Pakistan Test squad. Against an England side riding high on “Bazball” — their ultra-aggressive style playing Test cricket — Saud responded with grace and maturity to show he belonged in the Test arena. Although Pakistan were whitewashed for the first-ever time in a Test …

Pakistan cricket captain Babar Azam said on Sunday that a “debate” took place regarding the recent inclusion of three players for the upcoming Test series against New Zealand with the interim selection committee headed by former captain Shahid Afridi. Afridi — in his first decision in his new role — had added three players to the team a day before, including pacers Mir Hamza …

LAHORE: The second Test between Pakistan and New Zealand next month has been moved from Multan to Karachi due to “deteriorating” weather conditions, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said on Saturday. The PCB said that the poor conditions, which have already disrupted flight operations, could potentially result in the loss of playing hours. The change in schedule means the whole …

KARACHI: All-rounder Mubasir Khan’s stellar run in the ongoing Pakistan Cup continued as the 20-year-old smashed his second century in the tournament before picking up four wickets to help Northern beat Central Punjab by 23 runs here at the State Bank Stadium. Mubasir plundered the Central Punjab bowlers for seven sixes and five fours in his blistering 62-ball unbeaten knock …

SYDNEY: Afghan international Fazalhaq Farooqi was fired Friday by his Big Bash League side Sydney Thunder following an “incident” last week that was investigated by Cricket Australia. The fast bowler’s contract was torn up after the club “received a complaint about the behaviour of Farooqi following an incident last Thursday”. Thunder referred the matter to Cricket Austra­lia’s Integrity Unit for …

SYDNEY: Skipper Meg Lanning was Friday inclu­ded in the Australian women’s one-day squad to face Pakistan, ending an indefinite months-long break and allaying fears that she had played her last international. The record-breaking 30-year-old announced she was stepping away from the game in August after leading her all-conquering team to Commonwealth Games gold. She said at the time it was …

KARACHI: Taking on Pakistan, not long after they received a 3-0 drubbing at the hands of England at home, will not be an easy task for World Test champions New Zealand, their head coach Gary Stead said on Friday. The BlackCaps are set to play two Tests and three One-day Internationals on effectively their first tour of Pakistan in 19 …