Sports

LAHORE: A hefty Rs100 million was drawn in cash from the bank accounts of the Pakistan Hockey Federation across 2020-21, according to the body’s audit — conducted by the Pakistan Sports Board. The audit report — seen by Dawn on Monday — has recommended severe action against the officials involved in drawing cash directly from the PHF accounts — an illegal act …

THERE was talk about suffering, about resilience and about the emotions both Argentina and Croatia attach with football; a prelude for the battle in store. They’ve given every ounce of their being to be here in Qatar, among the final four teams at the World Cup. Now, the fight is about being among the last two standing; to have the …

Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium has been handed one demerit point after the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday rated the pitch for the first Test between Pakistan and England as “below average”. England won the Test by 74 runs after posting 657 all out in the first innings and 264-7 declared in the second. Pakistan made 579 in the first innings before they were bundled …

Never mind the fireworks and deafening pop music that await at Al Bayt stadium — the real pre-match show for the World Cup semi-final between Morocco and France was provided on Tuesday by Walid Regragui. The 47-year-old coach of the first African and first Arab team to reach the last four of the World Cup took full advantage of the …

DOHA: Croatia will not attempt to stop Argentina superstar Lionel Messi by man-marking him but instead will focus on immobilising the entire team in their World Cup semi-final on Tuesday, they said. Croatia are bidding to make it to the final for the second World Cup in a row after losing in the 2018 showcase match to France. They stunned …

WALID Regragui, the Moroccan coach scripting history at the World Cup in Qatar, has an infectious smile that lights up the room. His joy knew no bounds on Saturday night; Morocco continuing their miracle run at the World Cup by ousting yet another European heavyweights Portugal and, in his own words, dreaming of glory now. Two more wins would do …

DOHA: Cristiano Ronaldo is staying back in Qatar for now. The 37-year-old was one of 10 members of the Portuguese squad that didn’t opt to go back with the side to Lisbon after their quarter-final exit at the hands of Morocco at the World Cup in Qatar. It was finally on Sunday evening, almost 22 hours after it all happened …

England dismissed Pakistan for 328 on Monday to win the second Test by 26 runs in Multan, taking an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. Pakistan, who resumed the fourth day on 198-4, looked set for victory at one point but fast bowler Mark Wood led England’s fightback by removing Mohammad Nawaz for 45 and Saud Shakeel for 94. …

DOHA: The last time Croatia met Argentina at the World Cup, they left Lionel Messi chasing shadows; their midfield metronome Luka Modric bossing the encounter and lightning it up with a superb goal. Four years on from their group-stage meeting, which the Croats ended up winning 3-0 on the banks of the Volga River in Russia, they meet in Lusail …

DOHA: Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni believes the never-say-die attitude his team showed in their quarter-final against the Netherlands will hold them in good stead as they move forward to a last-four meeting with a similarly resilient Croatia. The Albiceleste looked to be cruising to the semi-finals on Friday with a 2-0 lead heading into the last few minutes of the …