Sports

LAHORE: While declaring that blunders were committed in running Pakistan hockey during the past 15 years, newly-appointed associate secretary of the Pakistan Hockey Federation Ayaz Mahmood on Wednesday said with improved strategy and planning the country could regain its position in world hockey. Former Olympian Ayaz has been appointed as PHF associate secretary on ad hoc basis to run the …

SYDNEY: India reversed their decision on Wednesday to rule out top spinner Ravichandran Ashwin from the fourth Test against Australia, while pace spearhead Ishant Sharma was mysteriously missing from their 13-man squad. Indian officials had earlier told reporters Ashwin had not recovered from an abdominal strain that has kept him out of the last two Tests, and skipper Virat Kohli …

CAPE TOWN: South Africa are to keep up their pace barrage of Pakistan’s frail batting line-up as captain Faf du Plessis said that fast bowler Duanne Olivier will be retained for the second Test at Newlands starting here on Thursday. Pakistan, meanwhile, will have their premier seamer Mohammed Abbas back from injury and playing one batsman short against a touring …

TO be at Newlands in Cape Town is an experience of a lifetime and when a Test is on like the one starting today it is an occasion to savour even more. I only wish, though, that Pakistan after being beaten at Centurion by a humiliating margin of six wickets, make a fight of it here and stand up to …

Pakistan struggled against South Africa’s all-out pace attack to slip to 75-5 at lunch on Thursday on the opening day of the second Test. South Africa’s four fast bowlers all had wickets, with Duanne Olivier taking two and Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn and Kagiso Rabada one each to leave Pakistan reeling at Newlands. South Africa won the first Test by six …

South Africa and Pakistan must resolve selection headaches ahead of the second Test starting at Newlands on Thursday. South Africa’s six-wicket win in the first Test at Centurion was set up by the bowling of Duanne Olivier, who had match figures of 11 for 96. Olivier got his chance because of an injury to Vernon Philander, who is fit again …

LAHORE: A 20-member Iranian kabaddi team has arrived here on Tuesday to take part in the three-nation series being held at different cities from January 8 to 14 also involving India and hosts Pakistan. The Indian team is likely to arrive via Wagah Border this week with matches to be held in Sahiwal, Bahawalpur, Sargodha and Lahore. Iran captain Hamid …

LAHORE: Samba Bank and Pakistan Air Force (PAF) earned close victories on the opening day of the Pakistan Polo Cup at the Lahore Polo Club ground on Tuesday. Hissam Ali Hyder’s four goals saw Samba Bank edge past PBG/Remounts 6-4½ while a 2½-goal handicap saw PAF prevail against Olympia 5½-5. PBG/Remounts had a 1½-goal handicap but they were undone by …

CAIRO: Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang have again made the shortlist for the Confederation of African Football player of the year award, the second year running the trio have battled it out for the prize. Egypt’s Salah claimed the honour last year and will be favourite again, hoping to become the fourth player to win back-to-back titles after …

PERTH: Roger Federer took the honours in the much-anticipated mixed doubles clash with fellow great Serena Williams in what the latter described as the “match of her career” at the Hopman Cup in Perth Tuesday. In the biggest mixed doubles drawcard in the 31-year history of the tournament, in what is expected to be its final edition, Federer teamed with …