Sports

RIYADH: The Saudi football federation on Saturday said it was launching the first edition of a women’s league later this month. Women’s sport was long frowned upon in conservative Saudi Arabia. But the November 22 launch is part of a programme set up by the Saudi Arabia Football Federation in 2017 to support women’s football. According to the federation, the …

Kane Williamson’s New Zealand eye a second global crown in a single year when they take on Australia at the Twenty20 World Cup final that will witness a new winner on Sunday. New Zealand and Australia renew their trans-Tasman rivalry in Dubai as both teams look to clinch their maiden world title in the shortest format. It’s a hat-trick of …

Former pace bowler Shoaib Akhtar and television anchor Dr Nauman Niaz — who had had a heated exchange during a live telecast on PTV Sports, prompting Akhtar’s resignation from the channel — have reconciled following Information and Broadcasting Minister Fawad Chaudhry’s mediation. According to a tweet by PTV News, Chaudhry invited Akhtar and Niaz to his residence and helped the pair settle their differences. …

Fast bowler Hasan Ali, whose costly mistake in the field allowed Matthew Wade to secure Australia’s thrilling victory in the Twenty20 World Cup semi-final, spoke on Saturday about his failure to meet his fans’ expectations and vowed to come back stronger. Having conceded 44 runs in four wicketless overs, Hasan had more disappointment to face in the dramatic closing stages of the …

DUBAI: New Zealand captain Kane Williamson believes Sunday’s final against Australia will be a clash of styles at the Dubai International Stadium. Aaron Finch’s Australia will rely on an assortment of match-winners to deliver their maiden World Cup title in this format. But New Zealand usually prefer team effort to individual brilliance and have put their faith in an approach …

DUBAI: South Africa’s Shaun Pollock, Sri Lankan batsman Mahela Jayawardena and former England women’s batter Janette Brittin have been inducted into cricket’s Hall of Fame, the body announced on Saturday. They were accorded the honour ahead of the Twenty20 World Cup final between New Zealand and Australia on Sunday in Dubai. The International Cricket Council has recognised 106 players in …

DUBAI: New Zealand will bring Tim Seifert in to replace Devon Conway in Sunday’s final against Australia after the wicketkeeper-batsman broke his right hand with a frustrated punch of his bat following his dismissal against England. Conway, who hit a 38-ball 46 in Wednesday’s semi-final win, was sore and sorry after being ruled out of both the World Cup decider …

HOPES and expectations were at an all-time low when Babar Azam’s Pakistan left for the Twenty20 World Cup in the UAE. Less than two months before the event was due to begin, there were upheavals in the team management as well as the Pakistan Cricket Board. Head coach Misbah-ul-Haq and bowling coach Waqar Younis resigned when it became apparent that Ramiz Raja …

DUBAI: Australia’s Matthew Wade said the team will work better on referrals in the Twenty20 World Cup final after David Warner walked off caught behind without an apparent edge in Thursday’s semi-final win over Pakistan. The Aussies won by five wickets after Wade and Marcus Stoinis put on an unbeaten stand of 81 to chase down their target of 177 …

MUMBAI: India’s regular captain Virat Kohli will skip the opening Test against New Zealand this month as the hosts named a depleted side for the two-match series on Friday. The team will be led by Ajinkya Rahane in the Nov 25-29 test in Kanpur with Kohli returning at the helm for the second and final contest in Mumbai from Dec …