Sports

WHEN Asif Ali, wobbling after a blow to the head, struck Trent Boult for six over midwicket to all but seal Pakistan’s win over New Zealand, it was a metaphor for how the recent blows to Pakistan cricket have left the team unbowed and defiant. Pakistan, traditional slow starters in world tournaments, have gone off like a rocket to place themselves …

Pakistan found a new hero in Asif Ali and rediscovered an old one in Shoaib Malik as the Green Shirts kept their unbeaten start to the T20 World Cup 2021 alive with a closely contested five-wicket win over New Zealand in Sharjah on Tuesday. Chasing 135, Pakistan were expected to cruise to the target, especially after their 10-wicket drubbing of …

Batsman Mohammad Rizwan on Tuesday lent support to Indian bowler Mohammad Shami after the latter faced a torrent of social media abuse following his team’s defeat in the T20 World Cup match against Pakistan. Rizwan, who alongside skipper Babar Azam beat the 151 target set by India, faced Shami’s bowling in the highly anticipated match. Shami, 31, became the main target after the …

DUBAI: A former senior Saudi security official who helped oversee joint counter-terrorism efforts with the United States alleged in an interview with CBS News that the country’s crown prince once spoke of killing a sitting Saudi monarch before his own father was crowned king. Saad al Jabri did not provide evidence to the CBS News programme, which aired on Sunday. The ex-intelligence official, who …

GLORIOUS. Gratifying. Liberating. Pakistan’s thumping victory over India in their opening fixture of the T20 World Cup on Sunday night was all that, and more. It was the 13th time the arch-rivals clashed at a World Cup with India having won all the previous encounters. This time, though, the scars of the past didn’t matter; the cobwebs were dusted off. This time, …

New Zealand take on Pakistan in the 19th fixture of the T20 World Cup 2021 at Sharjah Cricket Stadium tonight. Here are five reasons why the Black Caps should be worried about facing the Green Shirts. 1- We know what you did this September You’d be wrong if you think that amid the euphoria of the victory over India, what New Zealand …

MARSEILLE: Lionel Messi was kept quiet in his first “Classique” as Ligue 1 leaders Paris St Germain settled for a 0-0 draw with bitter rivals Olympique de Marseille after playing more than half an hour with 10 men amid minor crowd trouble on Sunday. The game was briefly paused twice because of incidents involving Marseille fans after both teams had …

LONDON: Talismanic all-rounder Ben Stokes has been added to the England squad for the tour of Australia later this year, delivering a huge boost in their bid to reclaim the Ashes. The 30-year-old said he is refreshed after taking time out from the game both for his mental health and also underwent two operations on a fractured left index finger. “I had …

DUBAI: South Africa fast bowler Kagiso Rabada insisted on Monday that the ‘bickering’ has to stop as the Proteas look to bounce back from a dreadful start to the T20 World Cup. South Africa slumped to a five-wicket loss to Australia in their Super 12 opener on Saturday after making just 118 in their 20 overs. The only crumb of comfort was …

Former Australian opener Matthew Hayden has been impressed by the sporting brotherhood on display after Pakistan beat India to break its run of 12 losses in World Cup contests between the arch-rivals. India captain Virat Kohli embraced Mohammad Rizwan soon after Pakistan romped to a 10-wicket win in the Twenty20 World Cup game on Sunday to start its Super 12 campaign. Former …