Sports

LONDON: The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on Friday issued an update to its action plan to tackle racism and discrimination, focused on plans to aid the progress of players from diverse or underprivileged backgrounds into professional cricket. The plan was unveiled in November after a number of players, including former Yorkshire spinner Azeem Rafiq, alleged they were victims …

LAHORE: Outclassed in the first One-day International by the touring Australia, Pakistan bounced back in the second in style. The hosts made history, chasing down a record 349-run target, thanks to match-winning knocks by skipper Babar Azam and opener Imam-ul-Haq. When the teams walk on to the pitch at the Gaddafi Stadium here on Saturday for the third ODI, the …

DOHA: The first major landmark in Qatar’s 12-year journey to host the FIFA World Cup has been reached. The shape of how the first festival of world football in the Arab world will be played when it kicks off in November has now been decided. A far cry from the fiery FIFA Congress on Friday, where Qatar’s human rights record …

DOHA: The towering frame of Jan Oblak, one of the best goalkeepers in world football, was keeping Qatar out. To their frustration, in one of their final warm-up matches ahead of the World Cup they will host in November, there was no way past the Slovenian at the Education Bay Stadium on Tuesday night as they sought to put up …

Pakistan captain Babar Azam won the toss and sent Australia in to bat Saturday in the third and final day-night international in Lahore. The three-match series is tied at 1-1 after Australia won the first ODI by 88 runs and Pakistan the second by six wickets — both played in Lahore. The teams made one change each from the second …

DURBAN: Dean Elgar and Temba Bavuma hit half-centuries to give South Africa a slight edge on the first day of the first Test against Bangladesh at Kingsmead on Thursday. South Africa were 233 for four when bad light stopped play after being sent in to bat. South Africa had controlled the first session and captain Dean Elgar and Sarel Erwee …

CHRISTCHURCH: Danni Wyatt scored her second One-day International century and Sophie Ecclestone took six wickets as champions England crushed South Africa by 137 runs on Thursday to set up a mouthwatering Women’s World Cup final against heavyweights Australia. Wyatt, dropped five times, punished South Africa with 129 off 125 balls to help England build an imposing 293 for eight at …

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) proposal for a four-nation Twenty20 International tournament will not include India when it is put forward at the upcoming Board and Committee meetings of the International Cricket Council (ICC). PCB chairman Ramiz Raja, since taking up the position last year, has more than once, called on the global cricket fraternity, specifically the Board of …

LAHORE: It was no lop-sided affair this time at the Gaddafi Stadium as charged spectators cheered Pakistan, a different-looking Pakistan, who finally recorded a win against the touring Australians on Thursday. Khushdil Shah’s cameo (27 not out off 17 balls) revived the hosts’ fortunes after the Aaron Finch-led Australia posted a massive 348-8 on a placid track after being put …

Australia’s Marnus Labuschagne did not allow the disappointment of defeat to interfere with his appreciation of Babar Azam’s sublime century, saying he learned from the Pakistan captain’s masterclass in the second one-dayer on Thursday. Babar orchestrated Pakistan’s record chase of 349 with a masterly 114 of 83 balls, denying Australia an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. The elegant right-hander, ably …