Sports

England captain Ben Stokes said last week’s attack on former prime minister Imran Khan was a “shock” but that the squad trusts the advice of security chief Reg Dickason ahead of next month’s three-Test series in the country. Former cricketer Imran, who was ousted as prime minister in April, was six days into a protest procession bound for Islamabad when he was shot in …

Pakistan hardly put a foot wrong and dominated pretty much from start to finish, beating New Zealand by seven wickets in their World Cup semi-final clash at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Wednesday. The reward for them is an entry in the World Cup final opposite one of England and India on Sunday. If it turns out to be the …

Impossible odds, you say? That’s what the Green Shirts eat for breakfast. In a clean sweep of a match, Pakistan knocked New Zealand out of the T20 World Cup semifinal. Just when we thought they had reached the point of no return and gave up on them, they made an unexpected U-turn, outdoing even themselves. On Wednesday, team Pakistan lost the toss …

Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam slammed half-centuries as Pakistan powered past New Zealand by seven wickets and into the Twenty20 World Cup final Wednesday, moving within one win of a second title. The 2009 champions will meet either England or India — who play on Thursday in Adelaide — in the November 13 decider at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. In front of …

Spinner Ghulam Fatima’s maiden five-wicket haul, coupled with half-centuries by Bismah Maroof and Sadaf Shams, helped the Pakistan women’s cricket team record a clean sweep in the three-match series against Ireland at the Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday. According to a press release issued by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the win will help the hosts take six points for the ICC Women’s …

Pakistan’s best is yet to come and struggling skipper Babar Azam is due “something very special” in their Twenty20 World Cup semi-final against New Zealand on Wednesday, team mentor Matthew Hayden warned. The 2009 champions only scraped into the knockouts when the Netherlands unexpectedly defeated South Africa and Pakistan then beat Bangladesh to secure their second successive last-four berth. Former Australia opener Hayden, who was batting …

EVEN Nostradamus would not have prophesied that Pakistan would sneak into the semi-finals. It looked next to impossible. Simply because there were heaps of ifs and buts involved. But then he would certainly have felt thunderstruck like tens of millions of Pakistanis when the Dutch ousted mighty-looking South Africa in Adelaide. The reputed French seer of the 16th century perhaps could not also …

ADELAIDE: India coach Rahul Dravid labelled Suryakumar Yadav “absolutely phenomenal” after the top-ranked T20 batsman powered them into a World Cup semi-final clash with England. Yadav’s unbeaten 61 off 25 balls on Sunday steered India to 186-5 against Zimbabwe in Melbourne and an emphatic 71-run win in their final group match. India’s star batsman Virat Kohli has top-scored at this World Cup …

SYDNEY: An Australian court on Monday refused bail for Sri Lankan cricketer Danushka Gunathilaka after he was charged with four counts of sexual assault. Gunathilaka appeared wearing handcuffs by remote video link to the court in Sydney, speaking only to confirm his identity and that he could hear proceedings. Sri Lanka Cricket said separately that it had suspended the batsman. …

RIO DE JANEIRO: Brazil coach Tite on Monday named his 26-man World Cup squad for Qatar, including 39-year-old defender Daniel Alves while leaving out Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino as the five-times champions prepare for the tournament starting on Nov 20. Aston Villa attacking midfielder Philippe Coutinho is one veteran who didn’t make the list after sustaining a thigh injury in …