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Category: Sports

  • Sindh govt aiming to host FIFA World Cup in Lyari by 2040 or 2050

    Sindh govt aiming to host FIFA World Cup in Lyari by 2040 or 2050

    Spokesperson for the Sindh government and provincial assembly member Nadir Gabol has vowed to host the FIFA World Cup in Karachi’s Lyari neighborhood by 2040 or 2050, claiming the area’s football facilities match international standards.

    “FIFA World Cup should be held in Lyari, and we will work toward this goal. I promise we will make every effort to host the FIFA Football World Cup in Lyari by 2040 or 2050,” Gabol declared during an appearance on a news channel program.

    The spokesperson asserted that Lyari’s Kakri Ground is not inferior to any stadium in Qatar but rather serves as a multi-sports complex offering gymnastics, karate, and boxing training alongside football facilities.

    Gabol claimed Lyari has two world-class football grounds equipped with modern amenities that meet international standards. He emphasized that only the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Bilawal Bhutto can accomplish the task of bringing the Football World Cup to the densely populated Karachi neighborhood known for its football culture.

    “Lyari’s stadiums have modern facilities and meet world-class standards,” Gabol said, adding that the area’s passion for football makes it an ideal host for the global tournament.

    The spokesperson recalled that during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the government installed screens at two Lyari grounds where 20,000 people gathered at each location to watch matches. “The world appreciated this enthusiasm and passion for football,” he said.

    When questioned about alcohol and other beverages during such international events, Gabol stated that restrictions would remain in place.

    “Bhutto [Zulfikar Ali Bhutto] imposed restrictions on alcohol and similar drinks. We will not allow such things during the World Cup because we must answer to the public. Permission for alcohol could anger people, and PPP will absolutely not tolerate this,” he explained.

    FIFA typically selects World Cup host nations years in advance through comprehensive bidding processes that involve national football associations, governments, and extensive infrastructure assessments. 

    The 2026 World Cup will take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, while the 2030 tournament will be hosted by Spain, Portugal, and Morocco, with centenary matches in South America. 

    FIFA awarded the 2034 World Cup to Saudi Arabia in December 2024

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    On the other hand, Pakistan has never qualified for a FIFA World Cup and currently ranks 199th in FIFA’s world rankings.

  • Yograj Singh picks Wasim Akram over Warne, Kumble, Bumrah and other greats

    Yograj Singh picks Wasim Akram over Warne, Kumble, Bumrah and other greats

    Former Indian cricketer Yograj Singh, father of batsman Yuvraj Singh, declared Pakistani legend Wasim Akram the greatest bowler of all time during a recent question and answer session, choosing him over several cricket icons in a series of head-to-head comparisons.

    During the rapid-fire segment, Yograj faced a succession of difficult choices between legendary bowlers. 

    When asked to pick between Malcolm Marshall and Michael Holding, he selected Holding, before choosing Dennis Lillee over Holding. But when Lillee was pitted against Wasim Akram, Yograj went with the Pakistani left-arm maestro.

    From that point forward, Wasim Akram remained Yograj’s unwavering choice. He picked Wasim over his bowling partner Waqar Younis, England’s James Anderson, spin legends Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan, India’s Anil Kumble, South Africa’s Dale Steyn, and even India’s current pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah.

    The choices carry particular weight given Yograj’s limited international experience. 

    He played just one Test match and six One Day Internationals for India between 1980 and 1981, taking one Test and four ODI wickets during his brief career.

    Wasim Akram, on the other hand, represented Pakistan in 104 Tests between 1985 and 2002, claiming 414 wickets at an average of 23.62. He also picked up 502 wickets in 356 One Day Internationals, becoming the first player to reach the 500-wicket mark in ODI cricket. 

    Known as “The Sultan of Swing,” Akram mastered both conventional and reverse swing bowling. He also contributed with the bat, scoring 2,898 runs in Tests including a career-best 257 not out against Zimbabwe.

  • Top Pakistani cricketers break silence on reports of falling victim to investment scam

    Top Pakistani cricketers break silence on reports of falling victim to investment scam

    Top Pakistani cricketing stars have denied reports of falling victim to a major investment fraud, saying that they had invested in a company without facing any deception.

    “We invested in a company. There has been no fraud,” the players told a private media outlet as reports, citing sources, claimed that several current and former cricketers had lost large sums of money after investing with a businessman, under the influence of a former national captain.

    The players said that only two cheques had bounced so far but the company remained in contact with them and had promised to clear all pending payments by March.

    They insisted that the matter remained under control, and confirmed that Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi had also contacted them after the reports surfaced.

    The players said that they informed the PCB chief that there were no serious issues, and promised to update him if the situation changed.

    They also confirmed that the company’s owner currently resided in Dubai.

    A day earlier, reports claimed that said players had invested tens of millions of rupees after being promised high profits, with the cricketers initially receiving returns, but the businessman later disappearing.

    It was alleged that the businessman now lived in the United States (US) and maintained close friendships with several Pakistani cricketers. 

    The reports added that none of the affected players had filed a formal complaint on any platform or approached the PCB, suggesting that the players wanted their original investment back but could no longer contact the businessman.

    Some players were said to have partially recovered their investment after making efforts weeks earlier, while a well-known players’ agent was also reportedly among those who suffered financial losses.

  • Pakistan names 16-member squad for Australia T20I series

    Pakistan names 16-member squad for Australia T20I series

    The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced a 16-member squad for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Australia at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. 

    The matches will take place on January 29, January 31 and February 1, starting at 4 pm (Pakistan Standard Time).

    Per the details of the squad, Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi will return to the T20I side after missing the recent three-match series in Sri Lanka. 

    Shadab Khan will also be a part of the team and will lead a strong spin-bowling unit that includes Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz and Usman Tariq.

    Pakistan’s squad will gather in Lahore on January 24 and begin preparations the next day. Australia will arrive in Pakistan on January 28, marking only their second T20I series in the country after a single match played in April 2022 at the same venue.

    Other members of the squad include Salman Ali Agha as captain, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub and Usman Khan.

  • Career won’t end if excluded from T20 World Cup squad: Haris Rauf

    Career won’t end if excluded from T20 World Cup squad: Haris Rauf

    Pakistani star pacer Haris Rauf has said that while he would be disappointed if he is left out of the T20 World Cup squad, it would not mark the end of his career.

    “If I’m not included in the T20 World Cup squad, I will be disappointed, but my career won’t end,” Rauf said during an interview in Australia.

    “I will continue to perform and work further on my bowling,” he said while also expressing his best wishes for the national cricket team ahead of the T20 World Cup.

    Rauf has been in exceptional form during the Big Bash League, picking up 20 wickets in 11 matches while playing for Melbourne Stars. However, reports suggest that Pakistan coach Mike Hesson is not in favour of selecting him in the squad following the Asia Cup 2025 final against India.

    Speaking about his role, Rauf emphasised that captains play a crucial role in extracting performances from players.

    “The captain has a major role in building or breaking a player,” he said. “It depends on the captain how he uses his player’s abilities in the best possible way.”

    Rauf revealed that Melbourne Stars captain Marcus Stoinis played an important role in his Big Bash career by giving him the freedom to attack.

    “I was told in the Big Bash that I don’t need to bowl defensively,” Rauf said.

    “Melbourne Stars management told me that the world’s best batters fear you. They told me not to worry about runs. I can also bowl easy, defensive bowling that stops runs, but people need to understand my role.”

    The 31-year-old explained that his primary responsibility has always been to take wickets rather than contain runs.

    “Whenever I have played for Pakistan, I have always given 100 percent effort,” he said.

    “My role is always to take wickets, not stop runs. The most difficult role is bowling in the final overs, which is the role given to me. Bowling in death overs is not easy.”

    Rauf said he has been performing consistently since the Asia Cup, dismissing suggestions that he is going through a difficult phase in his career.

    “This is not a difficult time in my career. I have performed recently, but whether I perform or not, I am still being criticised,” he said.

    He also addressed the treatment of players on social media and in public discourse.

    “There is a difference between criticizing a player and being disrespectful to a player,” Rauf said, adding that some people cross the line.

    On the differences between the Big Bash and Pakistan Super League (PSL), Rauf noted that while both are quality competitions, the BBL features more established international stars.

    “The Big Bash is counted among the major leagues and big players compete in it, while the PSL is becoming a big league. After the auction, more big foreign players will come to Pakistan.”

    Rauf also expressed his affection for Australian conditions, crediting them with helping shape his career.

  • Andy Flower reacts as Pakistan U19’s ‘genius tactic’ knocks Scotland out of World Cup

    Andy Flower reacts as Pakistan U19’s ‘genius tactic’ knocks Scotland out of World Cup

    Former Zimbabwe captain Andy Flower has defended Pakistan’s calculated approach during their final Group C match of the 2026 ICC Under-19 World Cup, describing the tactical maneuver as legitimate despite it ending Scotland’s tournament hopes.

    Pakistan chased down a target of 129 in 26.2 overs at Takashinga Sports Club on Thursday, a result that sealed their own qualification for the Super Six stage while ensuring Zimbabwe progressed ahead of Scotland on net run rate.

    If Pakistan completed the chase before 25.2 overs, Scotland would have advanced instead.

    The situation arose due to the Under-19 World Cup format, under which teams carry forward points and net run rate into the Super Sixes only from matches played against fellow qualifiers.

    By finishing the chase at a measured pace, Pakistan benefited from a stronger carried-over net run rate, having beaten Zimbabwe by a larger margin than Scotland during the group stage.

    “I thought it was a justifiable tactic on their part,” Flower said while commentating during the match.

    “When they go through to the Super Sixes, they will take their net run rate, which will include the Zimbabwe game but doesn’t include the Scotland game. That means their net run rate is better than if Scotland went through,” he added.

    Pakistan had raced to 84 without loss by the end of the 14th over.

    However, their scoring rate slowed dramatically thereafter, with Sameer Minhas and Ahmed Hussain adding only 36 runs in the next 12 overs.

    “They needed to first establish they weren’t going to lose the game, and then they just slowed down to make sure Zimbabwe got through. Some people may question the ethics of that, but I personally don’t,” the 57-year-old stated.

    Flower suggested Pakistan fully understood the net run rate calculations.

    “The last ten overs or so, Pakistan have played a cunning game,” he said.

    “The way Pakistan are going about business, they are probably aware of the fact that if they qualify for the Super Six along with Zimbabwe, they carry through a better net run rate as opposed to with Scotland.”

    Once Zimbabwe’s qualification appeared secure, Pakistan’s attacking intent returned. Needing nine runs to win, Minhas, who later earned Player of the Match honors for his unbeaten 74, struck two successive sixes to seal the contest.

    “It must be hard for Scotland to be watching this,” Flower said. “But I think it was a fair tactic and didn’t bring the game into disrepute.”

    The incident drew parallels with the 1999 ODI World Cup, when Australia, led by Steve Waugh, adopted a similar approach against the West Indies to maximise their advantage heading into the Super Six stage.

  • Arsène Wenger says Pakistan has ‘huge potential’, plans academy

    Arsène Wenger says Pakistan has ‘huge potential’, plans academy

    International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) Chief of Global Football Development and former Arsenal FC coach Arsène Wenger has highlighted Pakistan’s massive untapped potential, emphasising plans to develop a football academy in the country of 250 million people.

    “Pakistan’s population of 250 million people means there is huge potential that we have to develop together, and I met Pakistani people to develop an academy in Pakistan because I think this is the first step, as well as to develop youth football,” Wenger said while speaking to Pakistan TV on the sidelines of the 56th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos.

    When asked about visiting Pakistan, he said, “I don’t know. I have to see when I go. We have 211 countries and 365 days is very short, but I hope and plan to go.”

    At the same event, FIFA President Gianni Infantino pledged to visit Pakistan “very soon”, promising to promote football development in the South Asian nation.

    “Well, I will come to Pakistan actually very soon,” Infantino said. “I promised the prime minister [Shehbaz Sharif]. Because we have now a new president of the [Pakistan Football] Federation who is doing a fantastic job.”

    The FIFA president described Pakistan as a “great football country”.

    “We need to bring Pakistan to the head, to the top of Asia for sure,” Infantino said. “Thank you, we are working on that.”

    Pakistan’s relationship with FIFA has grown and evolved over the years. Last month, FIFA appointed Pakistani lawmaker Syeda Amnah Batool to its Institutional Reforms Committee.

    FIFA Senior Vice President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa visited Pakistan in November last year. During the three-day visit, he discussed football infrastructure development with Pakistani football executives and government officials.

    Despite having a population of over 250 million, Pakistan has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup.

    The country’s highest FIFA ranking came in February 1993 when it reached the 142nd position.

    Pakistan made history in 2023 by reaching the second round of World Cup qualifiers for the first time, defeating Cambodia before being eliminated after losing to Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Tajikistan.

  • Pakistan may boycott T20 World Cup in support for Bangladesh

    Pakistan may boycott T20 World Cup in support for Bangladesh

    Pakistan may boycott the upcoming T20 World Cup if the International Cricket Council (ICC) replaces Bangladesh over the team’s refusal to play matches in India, reports quoted sources as saying Thursday.

    The claim comes after ICC rejected Bangladesh’s demand for relocation of its matches to co-host Sri Lanka amid security concerns in India following deteriorating political relations between the two neighbours.

    It may be noted that the security concerns surfaced after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) removed Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the Indian Premier League (IPL) after Hindu extremists’ threats to attack Bangladeshi players. 

    It was followed by Bangladesh announcing that they would not play their matches in India, questioning that if India could not provide security to one player, how could it assure the safety of the entire team.

    However, the ICC Board rejected Bangladesh’s request during a meeting on Wednesday, maintaining that the tournament schedule will proceed as planned. 

    The cricket watchdog said the decision was based on comprehensive security assessments, including independent reviews, which found no threat to Bangladesh players, officials, media personnel or fans at any tournament venue in India.

    An ICC spokesperson on Wednesday explained that the organisation engaged with the BCB in sustained dialogue over several weeks, sharing independent security assessments, comprehensive venue-level security plans and formal assurances from host authorities.

    The spokesperson noted that the BCB maintained its position by linking its participation to “a single, isolated and unrelated development concerning one of its player’s involvement in a domestic league”, emphasising that it had no bearing on the tournament’s security framework or participation conditions.

    The Bangladeshi government will reportedly take national players into confidence over the matter today, after which a final decision is expected.

  • ‘No handshake’: Internet reacts as PCB roasts India in Australia series promo

    ‘No handshake’: Internet reacts as PCB roasts India in Australia series promo

    Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has released an official promotional video for the upcoming T20 series between Pakistan and Australia, and the internet cannot stop talking about it. 

    The promo cleverly combines traditional Pakistani hospitality with a cheeky jab at neighboring rivals India, sparking widespread reactions across social media.

    The video opens with an Australian guest enjoying local cuisine in Lahore, where servers bring multiple dishes to his table. The surprised Australian asks who will pay the bill for so much food, to which others reply that “Agha Ji” will take care of it. 

    Pakistan all-rounder Salman Ali Agha then appears on screen, telling the Aussie, “You are our guest.” The Australian thanks him and praises Pakistani hospitality.

    The promo’s standout moment comes when a taxi driver refuses to accept fare from his Australian passenger. The grateful Australian thanks him but forgets to shake hands. 

    The driver smiles and says, “You forgot to shake hands. Looks like you also stayed with our neighbors.”

    Social media erupted with reactions to the subtle dig. “The handshake part is best,” one user commented. Another wrote, “That handshake haha.” A third user joked, “No Indians were harmed in this promo.”

    “First time PCB made real content, you nailed it lol, absolutely fantastic,” one fan wrote. Another added, “Handshake part was hilarious.”

    The handshake reference carries significant context from recent cricketing events. After Pakistan thrashed India in military clashes in May last year, India launched a boycott campaign against Pakistan. 

    The tension escalated during Asia Cup 2025, where Indian players refused to shake hands with Pakistani players before the toss. India even closed their dressing room doors after winning matches to avoid greeting Pakistani players.

    The controversy deepened when India refused to accept the Asia Cup trophy from PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi after winning the tournament. The trophy remains with the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and has still not been handed over to India.

    The promo concludes with Salman Ali Agha delivering a powerful message. “While we take pride in our hospitality, when it comes to cricket, we are fully prepared for the competition,” he says.

    Pakistan will host Australia for a three-match T20 series starting January 29. The second and third matches will take place on January 31 and February 1 respectively. 

    All matches will be played in Lahore.

  • Babar Azam ruled out of Big Bash League

    Babar Azam ruled out of Big Bash League

    Babar Azam’s stint with Sydney Sixers has come to an early end after Pakistan recalled the star batter for their upcoming international fixtures.

    The former Pakistan captain will miss the remainder of the Big Bash League (BBL). 

    Sydney Sixers confirmed the news on social media, writing: “Thank you, Babar. Babar Azam has been recalled to join Pakistan’s national camp ahead of upcoming international fixtures. He will be unavailable for the remainder of the BBL|15 Finals Series.”

    Babar expressed gratitude to the franchise in his farewell message. 

    “First of all, thank you so much to Sydney Sixers for having me, and to all the boys and coaches. I really enjoyed my time here, and unfortunately I have to leave the team because of national duty,” he said. 

    “I am taking back a lot of valuable experiences. I especially want to thank the Sydney Sixers fans who have always supported me. The encouragement and the atmosphere at the Sydney Cricket Ground were incredible. I really enjoyed that vibe.”

    Babar’s BBL campaign was marred by a brief controversy involving Steve Smith during a match against Sydney Thunder. Smith refused a single to Babar in the 10th over, keeping strike for the following over where he smashed four consecutive sixes.

    Babar got dismissed on the first ball after returning to strike and showed visible frustration by hitting the boundary rope with his bat.

    Smith later confirmed the matter was resolved. “We have spoken to each other. Babar batted well that night. We talked about golf, as you would have seen on screen,” Smith said.

    Sixers captain Moises Henriques described the incident as a cultural misunderstanding. 

    Babar joined Sydney Sixers for the ongoing season and scored 202 runs in 11 matches, including two fifties. He maintained a strike rate of 103.06 and averaged 22.44 during his stint with the franchise.

    Pakistan will host Australia for a three-match T20 series in Lahore ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka. The series kicks off on January 29, followed by matches on January 31 and February 1.

    While Pakistan has not announced the official squad yet, Babar will most likely feature in the team. Reports suggest he also forms part of the primary squad Pakistan submitted to the ICC for the T20 World Cup.