Sports

Afghanistan cricket chiefs are still awaiting instructions from the country’s new Taliban government on the future of the women’s game and are not anticipating a decision any time soon, a top cricket official told Reuters. The Taliban named a new government on Tuesday, three weeks after sweeping to power when the Western-backed government collapsed in the wake of the withdrawal of US-led foreign …

Three days every week, as many as 70 youngsters fill up the pitch at the Dar Hockey Academy in Lahore. Run by Olympian Tauqir Dar, the academy offers training for free from Thursday to Saturday with the hope of finding Pakistan’s next generation of world beaters. For now, for all their hopes and aspirations, the future doesn’t hold much hope. …

The timing of it was just like one of Babar Azam’s exquisite drives through the arc between point and extra cover. While departing simultaneously and leaving the rest of the backroom staff in the dark, both Misbah-ul-Haq and Waqar Younis have obviously read the writing on the wall — about what’s in store. Deep down in their hearts both the …

LAHORE: While avoiding any comment on the out-of-the-blue resignations of Misbah-ul-Haq and Waqar Younis, newly appointed interim coach of Pakistan cricket team Saqlain Mushtaq on Tuesday claimed his team would play aggressive brand of cricket against New Zealand in the forthcoming limited-overs home series. The series comprises three day-night One-day Internationals, to be staged in Rawalpindi from Sept 17-21, and …

NEW YORK: Novak Djokovic struggled but advanced within three matches of completing the first men’s singles calendar-year Grand Slam in 52 years on Monday by outlasting American Jenson Brooksby at the US Open. World number one Djokovic rallied past 99th-ranked Brooksby 1-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 to book a quarter-final encounter with Italian sixth seed Matteo Berrettini in a rematch of …

COLOMBO: Debutant spinner Maheesh Theekshana claimed four wickets as Sri Lanka hammered South Africa by 78 runs in the third One-day International to clinch the series 2-1 in Colombo on Tuesday. Theekshana, an off-spinner with a lethal carrom ball, returned figures of 4-37 as the hosts bowled out South Africa for 125 in 30 overs while chasing a target of …

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) CEO Wasim Khan has rejected circulating reports that national team captain Babar Azam is unhappy with the squad picked for next month’s T20 World Cup. On Monday, chief selector Mohammad Wasim announced the squad for the upcoming home series against New Zealand and England as well as the World Cup. The 15-man squad had raised plenty of eyebrows, …

With the 2021 T20 World Cup a little over a month away, Pakistan cricket received a major shock on Monday as their head coach Misbah-ul-Haq and bowling coach Waqar Younis resigned from their positions effective immediately. Misbah, who had tested positive for Covid-19 at the conclusion of the team’s tour of the Caribbean last month and forced to quarantine in Jamaica, cited …

CAPE TOWN: John Watkins, who had been the world’s oldest living Test cricketer, has died in Durban at the age of 98, Cricket South Africa (CSA) announced on Monday. His death leaves fellow South African Ron Draper, 95, as the oldest surviving Test player, while Australian Neil Harvey, 92, is believed to be the only player still alive who played …

ZURICH: FIFA has opened an investigation into the postponement of Argentina’s World Cup qualifier with Brazil with its president Gianni Infantino labelling the events “crazy”. The match at Sao Paulo’s Neo Quimica Arena on Sunday was halted when Brazilian health officials ran onto the pitch seven minutes after kick-off, triggering a melee involving team officials and players from both sides. The officials …