Sports

IT was a feat that saw Pakistan snooker great Mohammad Asif term teenaged Ahsan Ramzan as his worthy successor. In his very first appearance, the 16-year-old Ahsan lifted the IBSF World Snooker Champ­ionship last week in Doha after coming through a grueling final against Amir Sarkhosh 6-5. It’s a phenomenal start for the youngster who described it as a “wonderful …

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has hired the services of former ICC Academy curator Toby Lumsden as consultant who will train its own curators according to the modern techniques of world cricket. Interestingly, Lumsden has been hired after two of the ongoing three-Test series between Pakistan and Australia played in Rawalpindi and Karachi have already ended in draws. The …

LAHORE: Overlooking the top performers of the ongoing Pakistan Cup, the national selection committee announced the squads for Pakistan’s One-day and Twenty20 International series against Australia on Thursday. Uncapped Khyber Pakhtun­khwa duo of all-rounder Asif Afridi and wicket-keeper/batter Mohammad Haris has been included in the squads for both the three-match ODI series and a solitary T20I, scheduled to be held …

KARACHI: Pakistan gallantly saved the second Test against Australia in Karachi, thanks to Babar Azam’s epic, Mohammad Rizwan’s resilience and the fortitude of young Abdullah Shafique. Sarfraz Nawaz, however, expected a bit more than the gigantic effort made by the hosts at the National Stadium where Pakistan overall have lost only two Tests out of 44 while recording 23 wins. “In the …

Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed on Friday said that the limited over matches between Pakistan and Australia have been shifted to Lahore from Rawalpindi. Speaking to the media in Islamabad, he said, “The decision has been made that all four matches scheduled in Rawalpindi will now take place in Lahore.” The first Test match between the two sides was held …

KARACHI: Two-time former world champion Mohammad Asif, the last survivor of the Pakistani trio, crashed out after suffering a 2-5 loss to Iran’s Amir Sarkhosh in the semi-final of the Asian 6-Reds Snooker Championship in Doha. The 39-year-old Asif could only win two frames as his opponent romped home 67-18, 95-1, 87-5, 86-13, 66-68, 19-95, 68-38 in a convincing fashion. …

WELLINGTON: England ended a run of three straight losses with a four-wicket victory over India in a must-win encounter on Wednesday to keep alive their chance of defending the Women’s Cricket World Cup title. England lost their opening three matches to Australia, West Indies and South Africa and went into the match at Mount Maunganui languishing in seventh place in …

LAHORE: Former batting maestro Zaheer Abbas has hailed the sterling batting performances displayed by captain Babar Azam and his deputy Mohammad Rizwan, which helped Pakistan draw the second Test against Australia at the National Stadium in Karachi on Wednesday. “Pakistan saved the Test due to the brilliant batting display of both [Babar and Rizwan] and also opener Abdullah Shafique, who gave a …

Babar Azam makes the headlines so frequently, it’s not surprising to anyone anymore. The captain has done it again — he stepped into what seemed like a hopeless Test match against Australia and turned it around with a 196-run inning that had even his opponents applauding him. He has international players singing his praises and his fans are fizzing with glee. Pakistani Twitter has …

KARACHI: With Babar Azam in the pavilion after missing out on a double ton, Faheem Ashraf gone for a golden duck and Pakistan seven down, seven Australian players encircled Nauman Ali in catching positions with just over five overs to go as Nathan Lyon approached the popping crease, ready to go for the kill. The Pakistan tailender took a step …