Category: Sports

The Sydney Sixers have received a major boost ahead of the new Big Bash League season with the return of star fast bowler Mitchell Starc who will join forces with Babar Azam.

Starc, who last played for the Sixers in 2014, has re-signed with the club after an 11-year gap. He will join the squad after January 8, following the Ashes series against England. Having retired from T20 internationals, Starc is now free to play a full domestic season.

“I can’t wait to pull on the Sixers’ magenta shirt again,” said Starc. “The Sixers are close to my heart, and my goal is to help bring another trophy home for our fans.”

Starc’s return strengthens a Sixers lineup already featuring Babar Azam and Steve Smith, creating one of the most anticipated combinations of the season.

The Sixers will begin their BBL 15 campaign on December 14 against defending champions Perth Scorchers at Optus Stadium. 

With Babar leading the batting and Starc spearheading the bowling, Sydney will be among the top contenders for the Big Bash title.

Portuguese football legend Cristiano Ronaldo has achieved another historic milestone by becoming the world’s first billionaire footballer.

According to Bloomberg’s latest Billionaires Index, Ronaldo’s net worth has reached an estimated 1.4 billion dollars, which equals more than 393 billion Pakistani rupees.

The 40-year-old football icon saw a major boost in his wealth after signing a new deal worth almost $400 million with Saudi club Al Nassr in June this year. 

Bloomberg reported that between 2002 and 2023, Ronaldo earned over 550 million dollars in salaries alone. His long-term sponsorship deal with Nike has brought him around 18 million dollars annually, while endorsements from other major brands have added more than 175 million dollars to his income.

Ronaldo’s move from Manchester United to Al Nassr in 2023 made him the highest-paid player in football history, with an annual deal worth 177 million pounds.

He now joins the elite group of billionaire athletes that includes Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, LeBron James, golfer Tiger Woods, and tennis legend Roger Federer.

The NBA is returning to China after six years with Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns set to play two sold-out pre-season games in Macau on Friday and Sunday.

The league had been absent from China since 2019 when a tweet by then-Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey supporting pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong led Beijing to suspend ties with the NBA.

The fallout caused major financial losses with commissioner Adam Silver saying the league lost “hundreds of millions of dollars.”

China remains one of the NBA’s biggest markets with over 125 million basketball players in the country. Fans continued to follow the league through unofficial channels even when broadcasts were banned.

NBA’s Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum said the league still supports its community’s right to express opinions, including on China, and said it worked closely with the US State Department for international guidance.

The two matches in Macau will take place at the Venetian Arena, part of the Las Vegas Sands group.

Sports industry analyst Mark Dreyer said the NBA’s decision to return to China through Macau was a “smart move” and a “soft landing”, noting that the league has a contract to host two games annually in the region.

Many fans in China said they are eager to watch basketball without politics. “Politics should not be a part of basketball,” said He Xixuan, a 26-year-old construction worker.

“If everyone focuses on sports, it can be good for both sides.”

Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises reportedly approached Australia’s Test captain Pat Cummins and vice-captain Travis Head with lucrative full-time T20 league contracts worth around USD 10 million annually, but both players turned down the offers to remain committed to their country, Australian media has reported.

An IPL team group reportedly invited the two stars to quit national duties and play full-time in overseas T20 leagues. However, Cummins and Head declined, saying their priority was to serve Australia.

Australian media revealed that the offer came to light during a recent meeting about the possible privatization of the Big Bash League, where Cricket Australia’s financial challenges were discussed. 

The rejected offers were cited as an example of the strong international competition for top Australian talent.

Reports also noted that top Australian cricketers earn around USD 1.5 million annually under national contracts, with Cummins receiving up to USD 3 million including captaincy allowances.

This is not the first time such offers have surfaced. In 2023, England pacer Jofra Archer was also offered USD 7.5 million by an IPL team for a one-year contract, which he declined.

Pakistan’s T20 captain Agha Salman is set to continue leading the side in the upcoming home series against South Africa, with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and head coach Mike Hesson showing full confidence in his leadership, according to media reports.

Reports added that Agha Salman and coach Mike Hesson have already discussed plans for the South Africa series and the ICC T20 World Cup. Both are focused on building a stable and well-balanced squad for the mega event.

Reports suggest that team management’s think tank is likely to meet the selection committee soon. A white-ball training camp could begin during the Test series against South Africa, with a list of potential players expected to be announced in the coming days.

Early indications suggest that former captains Babar Azam and wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan are unlikely to make a return to the T20 squad. The management reportedly has no concerns about Agha Salman’s captaincy, and he is expected to bat at No. 3 in the upcoming series.

Agha Salman, who has scored 561 runs in 32 T20Is at a strike rate of 110.21, faced criticism for his poor performance in the recent Asia Cup, where he managed just 72 runs in seven matches. 

Despite the criticism, both the PCB and Hesson are not considering any captaincy change before the T20 World Cup.

Meanwhile, reports add that opener Saim Ayub, who was dropped from the Test squad after scoring four ducks in seven Asia Cup matches, will retain his place in white-ball cricket. 

Wicketkeeper Mohammad Haris also remains safe, while selectors are considering giving new pacers a chance in place of Haris Rauf.

Reports added that Agha Salman and Hesson were disappointed with the Asia Cup final defeat but believe in giving the current squad consistent opportunities, making a recall for Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan highly unlikely for the South Africa T20 series.

Former Pakistan captain and Sultan of Swing Wasim Akram has taken a strong swipe at Indian media after it used his picture in reports about a man named Wasim Akram who was recently arrested in Haryana on charges of espionage.

Sharing a video message on Instagram, the legendary cricketer criticized Indian outlets for their carelessness in reporting and not verifying facts. “If you’re that clever, at least verify the news before posting it,” Akram said, calling out journalists who used his image to represent the arrested individual.

– Verify your source before sharing any news, everything you come across online is not real…

Our official accounts are stated below…https://t.co/evZauvlIHGhttps://t.co/uqnndN7MrS https://t.co/F5xHOH5KQZ pic.twitter.com/k7JhxovrAo

— Wasim Akram (@wasimakramlive) October 7, 2025

Akram also appealed to social media users to avoid spreading misinformation without confirmation. “I would advise everyone who uses social media to always check before commenting. Not every Wasim Akram on social media is me. There are fake or parody accounts, so please verify first,” he requested. 

The former Pakistan captain expressed disbelief over how Indian media could make such an error. “A man named Wasim Akram has been caught in India, and their media is using my photo. Don’t make your life miserable, stay calm and check first,” he remarked with sarcasm.

According to reports, Indian media last week claimed that a YouTuber named Wasim Akram had been arrested in Haryana on spying charges. However, instead of using the actual YouTuber’s image, several outlets used photos of Pakistan’s former cricket legend, apparently in a bid to get clicks.

Pakistan’s upcoming AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifier match against Afghanistan, scheduled for Thursday in Islamabad, is unlikely to take place.

According to media reports, the Afghan team failed to secure visas for all players and officials due to technical errors in their applications. 

While Pakistan had completed all necessary preparations for the match at Islamabad’s Jinnah Stadium, the visiting side’s visa issues have put the fixture in jeopardy.

Reports indicate that only three Afghan players and ten officials have received Pakistani visas so far, while several players residing abroad are still awaiting approval. 

The delay reportedly occurred because foreign-based Afghan footballers listed Afghanistan as their place of residence on visa forms, creating technical discrepancies.

Under tournament regulations, teams are required to obtain visas at least 30 days before participation in an international event.

The Pakistan Football Federation has informed the government and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) about the latest situation. 

According to the rules, Pakistan could be awarded a walkover if the match is not held due to Afghanistan’s administrative mistakes.

After her brilliant performance in the ODI series against South Africa, Pakistani opener Sidra Amin has been nominated for the ICC Women’s Player of the Month award for September.

Amin dominated the three-match series, scoring 293 runs at a stunning average of 293 to finish as the top run-scorer. She hit unbeaten innings of 121 and 122 in the first two matches, helping Pakistan post competitive totals.

In the last ODI, she guided the chase with a steady half-century to secure a consolation win and end South Africa’s winning streak.

Her consistent form also pushed her into the top 10 of the ICC ODI batting rankings for the first time, climbing three places to reach the tenth slot.

India’s Smriti Mandhana and South Africa’s Tazmin Brits have also been shortlisted for the monthly honour.

Mandhana scored 308 runs in four ODIs at an average of 77 and a strike rate of 135.68 during the series against Australia. Her centuries of 117 and 125, including a record-breaking 50-ball hundred, highlighted her dominance with the bat.

Brits played a key role in South Africa’s 2-1 series win over Pakistan, scoring 272 runs. She hit unbeaten knocks of 101 and 171 to earn the Player of the Series award and steer her side to victory.

Tickets for the Pakistan-South Africa series will be available for sale from today (Tuesday).

According to Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), ticket sales will begin online at 5pm through PCB’s official website. 

Entry for the Test matches in Lahore and Rawalpindi will be free for all enclosures, including General, First Class, Premium, and VIP stands.

Physical tickets for the Lahore and Rawalpindi Tests will be available from October 8 at TCS Express centres across the country.

Tickets for the T20 International and One-Day International (ODI) series will go on sale from October 16. Each person can purchase up to five tickets using one CNIC.

The minimum ticket price for the T20I matches is Rs400. Faisalabad will host the three ODIs on November 4, 6, and 8, with General Enclosure tickets priced at Rs400 and VIP tickets at Rs3,000.

Spanish rider Marc Marquez will miss the upcoming Australia and Malaysia MotoGP races after fracturing his shoulder during the Indonesia Grand Prix on Sunday.

Marquez was thrown off his Ducati at high speed on the first lap at the Mandalika circuit in Lombok after Aprilia’s Marco Bezzecchi collided with him. Both riders walked away from the crash, but Marquez was seen holding his right shoulder.

According to Ducati, the 32-year-old suffered “a fracture at the base of the coracoid process and a ligament injury” in his right shoulder. His medical team in Madrid has decided on a conservative treatment plan, recommending rest and immobilization until full recovery.

The injury rules Marquez out of the Australian Grand Prix (October 17–19) and Malaysian Grand Prix (October 24–26). His return will depend on weekly medical evaluations, with two more races remaining this season in Portugal (November 7–9) and Valencia (November 14–16).

“Fortunately, the injury isn’t severe, but it’s important to respect the recovery timeline,” Marquez said. “My goal is to return before the end of the season, but only when I’m fully fit. The priority now is to recover completely.”

Marquez, who clinched his seventh world title last week in Japan, has faced several injury setbacks during his career, including a serious arm fracture in 2020.