Category: Sports

FIFA on Wednesday announced it will pay total prize money of one billion dollars to participants in the Club World Cup taking place in the United States this year.

The figure is significantly more than the prize money offered for either the last men’s or women’s World Cups.

World football’s governing body has given a few details about the funding for the first edition of the 32-team tournament that will take place every four years, but it has signed up a broadcaster and major sponsors in recent weeks.

In a statement confirming the prize money on offer, FIFA said it expected to generate $2 billion in revenues from the expanded Club World Cup. It also confirmed that a women’s edition will take place in 2028.

“The FIFA Club World Cup will not only be the pinnacle of club football but also a vivid demonstration of solidarity that will benefit clubs at large to a scale that no other competition has ever done,” said FIFA president Gianni Infantino.

“All revenue generated by the tournament will be distributed to the participating clubs and via club solidarity across the world as FIFA will not keep a single dollar.”

British streaming service DAZN was awarded the exclusive global rights to the June 14-July 13 tournament in December, with a source close to the negotiations saying the contract was worth around one billion euros ($1.05 billion).

FIFA has also signed sponsorship contracts with Coca-Cola, Bank of America, Chinese electronics brand Hisense and Belgian brewers AB InBev.

By comparison, the total prize money for the 2022 men’s World Cup in Qatar was $440 million, while for the 2023 Women’s World Cup in New Zealand and Australia, it was $110 million.

This season’s UEFA Champions League, with a new 36-club format, will pay a total of 2.47 billion euros ($2.66 billion) to the clubs involved.

Widespread criticism over player welfare 

FIFA’s expansion of the tournament has been met with widespread criticism, especially in Europe, largely due to concerns over player welfare.

The global footballers’ union FIFPro and the European Leagues association filed a complaint with the European Commission in October against FIFA, accused of abusing its dominant position by packing the calendar.

The Champions League was also expanded by UEFA this season, and some players, including Ballon d’Or winner Rodri and Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk, have raised the prospect of a strike.

“I think we are close to that. I think if you ask any player, he will say the same,” said Rodri when asked in September if there was a possibility of players going on strike shortly before suffering a season-ending knee injury.

“It is not the opinion of Rodri or whatever. I think it’s the general opinion of the players.”

The tournament will feature 12 teams from Europe, six from South America, and four from Asia, Africa, and North and Central America.

Auckland City and Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami complete the line-up.

Not all the reactions have been negative, with Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique insisting that “everyone” would want to play.

“Once every four years, there’s this new, extremely exciting competition. Everyone wants to go to the Club World Cup,” he said last year.

The tournament will be held at 12 venues across 11 cities in the United States, with the final at the MetLife Stadium, which will also host the 2026 World Cup final in New Jersey.

Star batter and former Pakistan cricket captain Babar Azam’s father, Azam Siddique, has once again come forward to defend his son against widespread criticism over poor performance in recent months, especially during the Champions Trophy.

In a statement on social media, Siddique addressed the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) decision to rest Babar for the upcoming series against New Zealand, and pointed out that his son was dropped despite being a member of the ICC T20 Team of the Year.

He assured fans that Babar would make a comeback by performing in the National T20 Cup and PSL, and also urged former cricketers to be mindful of their words. “I request ex-players to choose their words carefully. If someone responds, you may not be able to tolerate it. You are the past and will never play again,” he wrote.

He also addressed criticism over his support for Babar. “People say ‘the father’ talks too much. I am Babar’s first and last coach. I am his spokesperson and mentor. Above all, I am his well-wishing father.”

“Those who are making noise should check their performances from their playing days. Just visit PCB’s website once — hints are enough for the wise,” he said.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has released an update regarding the fitness of injured national team openers Saim Ayub and Fakhar Zaman.

During the Test series against South Africa, Saim Ayub suffered an ankle injury while fielding. Doctors advised him to rest for six weeks, ruling him out of the ICC Champions Trophy. Considering his recovery timeline, he was unable to secure a spot in the Pakistan squad.

Meanwhile, Fakhar Zaman had been absent from the series against Australia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe due to fitness concerns. However, he made a comeback to the national team and was also named in Pakistan’s Champions Trophy squad.

Unfortunately, Fakhar sustained an injury on February 19 during Pakistan’s opening match against New Zealand in the Champions Trophy, which forced him to withdraw from the tournament. He is currently undergoing rehabilitation at Lahore’s National Cricket Academy (NCA).

In an official statement, the PCB confirmed that owing to medical reasons, neither of the two openers was considered for selection in any format for the recent series.

However, the board expects both players to be fully fit in time for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10, which is set to begin on April 11, 2025, in Rawalpindi.

India’s head coach, Gautam Gambhir, is not easily satisfied, and the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy proves that. Even after securing a place in the final, Gambhir remains unimpressed with his team’s performance.

According to Indian media reports, after India’s four-wicket victory over Australia in the semi-final on Tuesday, Gambhir addressed the press, making it clear that he still expects improvement.

“Look, in international cricket, you always want to improve. You can never say that you have become perfect,” Gambhir stated during the post-match press conference.

He further added, “We haven’t played our best cricket yet, and I will never be completely satisfied with our performance.”

Looking ahead to the final, the Indian head coach emphasized the importance of maintaining a winning mentality. “We still have one more game to go. Hopefully, we can play our best cricket in that match,” he said.

Gambhir also highlighted his team’s competitive approach, explaining, “We want to keep improving and be ruthless on the field against our opponents. However, off the field, we want to remain humble.”

The ICC Champions Trophy final between India and New Zealand is set to take place on Sunday at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

Former Pakistan Test cricket team head coach and Australian Test cricketer Jason Gillespie has launched a scathing attack on the national team’s current head coach, Aaqib Javed, calling him a clown and accusing him of running a secret campaign to secure the coaching role for all formats.  

He shared an Instagram story, making serious allegations against Aaqib Javed.

Gillespie wrote, “This is hilarious. Aaqib clearly undermined Gary and me behind the scenes, campaigning to be the coach in all formats. He is a clown.”

Back in December 2024, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chose not to extend the contract of assistant coach Tim Nielsen for the South Africa tour. This decision upset Jason Gillespie, who refused to travel with the team, leading to his fallout with PCB. As a result, Aaqib was appointed as the interim head coach of the Pakistan Test team.  

Earlier, in November 2024, PCB had named Aaqib as the interim head coach of the white-ball team until the Champions Trophy 2025.  

Meanwhile, in October 2024, Gary Kirsten resigned as Pakistan’s white-ball head coach following conflicts with both PCB and Aaqib Javed, which led to his departure.  

Under Aaqib, Pakistan faced an early exit from the Champions Trophy, losing to New Zealand and India. Their third match against Bangladesh was washed out due to rain.

Bangladesh’s veteran wicketkeeper-batter Mushfiqur Rahim has announced on Wednesday that he is retiring from One Day International (ODI) cricket. 

The experienced cricketer, who holds the record for playing the most ODIs for Bangladesh with 274 matches, posted the announcement on social media.

In a statement, Mushfiqur expressed gratitude to his family, friends, and fans, saying, “I sincerely thank my family, friends, and supporters for being with me throughout my 19-year cricketing journey.”

Mushfiqur Rahim, who also captained the Bangladesh team in the past, has had an illustrious career. In his 274 ODI matches, he scored 7,795 runs, including nine centuries and 49 half-centuries. He is Bangladesh’s second-highest run-scorer in ODIs, only behind Tamim Iqbal, who has scored 8,357 runs.

Apart from his batting achievements, Mushfiqur also holds the record for the most dismissals as a wicketkeeper for Bangladesh in ODIs. He has 299 dismissals, which include 243 catches and 56 stumpings.

Mushfiqur had already retired from T20I cricket two years ago but will continue to play Test cricket. He is close to achieving another milestone, as he needs six more Test matches to become the first Bangladeshi cricketer to play 100 Test matches.

On the same day, Australian batter Steven Smith also retired from ODI cricket.

Some media reports have claimed that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is offering both free entry and free Iftar to fans attending the ICC Champions Trophy semi-final at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore. 

However, the PCB has clarified that while free Iftar will be provided, match entry remains ticketed.

Contrary to the claims, PCB has confirmed that only Iftar will be provided free of cost, not the entry ticket. 

Spectators who have purchased tickets for the match will be eligible to receive a free Iftar box. The box will include dates, juice, and mini pizza. 

Fans will also have the option to buy additional food and drinks from the stadium’s food stalls. The match is scheduled to start at 2:00 PM, with Iftar at 6:05 PM.

The second semi-final is being played at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Wednesday, where New Zealand has won the toss and decided to bat first against South Africa.

Australian batter Steven Smith has announced his retirement from ODI cricket with immediate effect after Australia’s semi-final defeat in Champions Trophy 2025. However, he will continue playing Test and T20I cricket.

The 35-year-old informed his teammates right after the loss to India that the semi-final was his last ODI match. This means he won’t be part of Australia’s squad for the 2027 World Cup, even though he led the team in the Champions Trophy in Pat Cummins’ absence.

“It has been a great ride, and I have loved every minute of it,” Smith said. “There have been so many amazing times and wonderful memories. Winning two World Cups was a great highlight, along with the many fantastic teammates who shared the journey.

“Now is a great opportunity for people to start preparing for the 2027 World Cup, so it feels like the right time to make way.

“Test cricket remains a priority, and I am really looking forward to the World Test Championship Final, the West Indies in the winter and then England at home. I feel I still have a lot to contribute on that stage.”

India defeated Australia by four wickets in the first semi-final of the Champions Trophy on Tuesday.

New Zealand and South Africa are all set to face off in Semi-Final 2 of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, on March 5.

Teams Overview

New Zealand has displayed tactical brilliance in the tournament, securing two wins in the group stage against Pakistan and Bangladesh before losing to India. The Kiwis will be eager to bounce back, especially after their recent victory over South Africa in the Pakistan Tri-Nation Series at the same venue.

South Africa, on the other hand, advanced confidently with two wins and a no-result against Australia. However, injuries remain a concern as Aiden Markram’s participation is in doubt due to a hamstring injury, while Temba Bavuma and Tony de Zorzi have recovered in time for the crucial clash.

 

Head-to-Head in ODIs

Total Matches: 73
New Zealand won: 43
South Africa Wins: 25
Tied: 0
No Result: 5

Probable Playing XI

New Zealand is expected to field Tom Latham, Will Young, Kane Williamson, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Michael Bracewell, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner (C), Matt Henry, William O’Rourke, and Kyle Jamieson.

South Africa’s lineup is likely to include Ryan Rickelton, Heinrich Klaasen, Temba Bavuma (C), Aiden Markram, Rassie van der Dussen, Keshav Maharaj, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Wiaan Mulder, Kagiso Rabada, and Lungi Ngidi.

Pitch Report

Gaddafi Stadium has produced high-scoring encounters in this tournament, with an average first-innings total of 338. The pitch offers even bounce, favouring batters who spend time at the crease. Bowlers will have minimal margin for error, making early wickets crucial. 

The toss-winning team may opt to field first to exploit any early movement.

TV Broadcast & Live Streaming

Pakistan – TV: PTV Sports, Ten Sports | Live Streaming: Myco, Tamasha
India – TV: Star Sports, Sports18 | Live Streaming: JioHotstar
Bangladesh – TV: Nagorik TV, T Sports | Live Streaming: Toffee
UAE – TV: CricLife MAX, CricLife MAX2 | Live Streaming: STARZPLAY
UK – TV: Sky Sports | Live Streaming: SkyGo Now, Sky Sports App
USA & Canada – TV: Willow TV
Australia – TV: Amazon
New Zealand – TV: Sky Sport NZ
Sri Lanka – TV: Maharaja TV | Live Streaming: Sirasa
Caribbean – TV: ESPN Caribbean | Live Streaming: ESPN Play

State Bank suffered a dramatic collapse, losing four wickets in just three balls against PTV on the first day of the President’s Trophy Grade One final in Rawalpindi.  

PTV’s fast bowler Muhammad Shehzad resulted in the collapse after dismissing Umar Amin on the third delivery in the 27th over of the innings. On the very next ball, veteran batter Fawad Alam was also sent back to the pavilion.  

Before the fifth ball could be bowled, Saud Shakeel was declared timed out for failing to reach the crease within the allotted time. Shehzad then completed his hat-trick by dismissing Irfan Niazi on the fifth delivery, reducing State Bank to a shocking position.  

According to cricket laws, a new batter must reach the crease within three minutes after a wicket falls or a player retires, failing which they can be given out.