Category: Sports

UEFA has approved two league matches to be played outside Europe, marking a rare decision that the governing body described as an exception rather than a precedent.

The LaLiga match between Barcelona and Villarreal will take place in Miami in late December, while AC Milan’s Serie A clash with Como will be held in Perth, Australia, in early February.

Milan chose the overseas venue because San Siro Stadium will be unavailable during preparations for the Winter Olympics opening ceremony scheduled to take place on February 6.

LaLiga has been working for nearly a decade to host games abroad, following the model of American leagues like the NFL and NBA, which regularly stage fixtures in other countries to expand their fan base.

UEFA said its Executive Committee reluctantly approved both matches, citing the lack of clear regulations from FIFA but reaffirmed its opposition to the idea.

“League matches should be played on home soil,” said UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin. “Anything else risks alienating loyal fans and disrupting competition integrity. This decision is exceptional and should not set a precedent.”

Serie A president Ezio Simonelli welcomed the approval, calling it an opportunity to engage Italian football fans abroad.

“The unavailability of San Siro has turned into a chance to bring Italian football to Perth,” Simonelli said. “It will help increase international visibility and expand the fan base.”

Simonelli acknowledged the challenges for local supporters, with the match being played 13,800 kilometers away and six hours ahead in time. “I believe Milan and Como fans will understand this sacrifice, which will ultimately benefit their teams,” he added.

Several cricketers from Australia A have fallen sick due to suspected food poisoning after eating at a hotel in Kanpur, Indian media reported.

According to reports, some players from the team, which is currently touring India for a series against India A, became unwell after consuming food served at their hotel.

Fast bowler Henry Thornton was reportedly hospitalised for two days while three other players also suffered from food poisoning. The team management later lodged a complaint with the hotel regarding the poor quality of food.

The incident raised concerns about the quality of meals and accommodation provided to visiting teams.

However, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Vice President Rajeev Shukla dismissed the claims that hotel food caused the players to fall sick. He argued that if food had been bad, players from both teams would have fallen sick.

Meanwhile, under Shreyas Iyer’s captaincy, India A defeated Australia A by two wickets in the third and final one-day match at Green Park Stadium in Kanpur on Sunday, winning the three-match series 2-1.

Pakistan’s talented triathlete Shahrez Khan, nephew of former prime minister Imran Khan, has achieved a major milestone by qualifying for the prestigious Ironman 70.3 World Championship, set to take place on November 9, 2025, in Marbella, Spain.

Shahrez will represent Pakistan among the world’s top endurance athletes, becoming only the second Pakistani ever to qualify for the global event, the first being Khurram Khan.

The Lahore-born athlete secured his qualification after finishing seventh at the Ironman 70.3 race in Puerto Princesa, Philippines, which included 1.9 km swimming, 90 km cycling, and 21.1 km running.

Speaking about his achievement, Shahrez said crossing the finish line and learning that he had qualified was “a moment beyond words.”

Remarkably, Shahrez currently ranks among the top 5 percent of athletes worldwide in the All-World Athlete category. 

A former Aitchison College student, he has showcased his athletic talent in athletics, football, and swimming before pursuing higher education at the University of Western Ontario and Oxford University, where he was part of the Said Business School’s cross-country team.

He now serves as the Head of the Middle East and North Africa region for Samba Global.

Shahrez’s Ironman journey began in 2022 with a half marathon in Islamabad. Although swimming and running came naturally to him, cycling was a new challenge. He trained rigorously in Lahore, setting up an indoor training zone at home and practicing at Bagh-e-Jinnah and DHA Phase 7.

He credits his training partner RD Rizwan Aftab Ahmed for playing a crucial role in his journey. Together, they have been guiding young Pakistani athletes and organizing cross-country camps at Aitchison College to promote endurance sports.

Shahrez said, “We want to inspire a generation stuck in a sedentary lifestyle. Sports teach not just physical fitness but also mental strength and discipline.” Despite the lack of infrastructure for triathlon in Pakistan, he dreams of hosting international-level endurance races in the country one day.

In December 2024, Shahrez made headlines for his impressive performances in Ironman races held in Luxembourg, Turkey, New Zealand, and South Africa.

Pakistan’s T20 captain Salman Ali Agha continues to receive strong backing from selectors and head coach Mike Hesson, even as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) remains concerned about his form and leadership, media reports have stated. 

According to reports, discussions are taking place within the board regarding Agha’s future as captain. The selectors and Hesson believe in maintaining continuity, arguing that another change so close to the T20 World Cup would not be wise.

However, Agha’s personal form has raised serious questions. He scored just 72 runs in seven Asia Cup matches at an average of 12 and a strike rate of 80.89. PCB officials are also unhappy with several of his decisions during the Asia Cup, including those made in the final against India.

Under Agha’s captaincy, Pakistan have played 30 T20 internationals, winning 17 and losing 13. During this period, he has scored 557 runs, including four half-centuries.

Reports revealed that during a recent meeting, selectors defended Agha’s performance by citing India’s captain Suryakumar Yadav, who also scored 72 runs in the Asia Cup with an average of 18. Coach Hesson insisted that consistency in decision-making and leadership would eventually bring positive results.

The board has also considered handing back the T20 captaincy to Shaheen Afridi, but both the selectors and Hesson opposed the idea. Surprisingly, they also objected to Babar Azam’s return to the T20 squad, suggesting that young players should continue to get opportunities.

During the Asia Cup, the PCB had planned to send a senior batter to strengthen the lineup, but injury-related restrictions prevented any changes to the squad.

Despite his struggles with the bat, the selectors and coach still view Salman Ali Agha as a smart and developing captain. 

Pakistan’s next T20 assignment will be a three-match series against South Africa on October 28, 30, and November 1. The T20 World Cup is scheduled to begin on February 7 in India and Sri Lanka.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is facing strong criticism from fans after it did not extend birthday wishes to former captain and cricket legend Imran Khan.

Fans took to social media to express anger and disappointment, accusing the board of mixing politics with sports. Many pointed out that while PCB wished other former cricketers on their birthdays, it completely ignored the country’s only World Cup-winning captain.

One user wrote, “Shame on you. Others remember Imran Khan, but you were supposed to be the first one to tweet.”

Another commented, “So graceful of you to say so. Pity that the PCB chooses instead to celebrate Aamir Hanif on his birthday, but not Imran Khan, Pakistan’s greatest all-rounder and the only ODI World Cup-winning captain. Pity, and petty too.”

A fan even called out the board for hypocrisy, saying, “PCB has absolutely no right to point fingers at India for bringing politics into the game when it’s doing the same by not wishing Imran Khan.”

Others reminded the board of Khan’s unmatched legacy, saying, “Shame on PCB for dragging politics into sports. You can skip wishing him, but you can’t erase his legacy.”

Over his international career, Imran Khan played 88 Test matches, scoring 3,807 runs at an average of 37.69 with six centuries and 18 fifties, while taking 362 wickets at an exceptional average of 22.81. In 175 One Day Internationals, he amassed 3,709 runs at 33.41 and claimed 182 wickets, with a career-best figure of 6 for 14.

Imran, who turned 73 this year, remains one of the most iconic figures in Pakistan’s cricket history, the man who led the country to its first and only ODI World Cup title in 1992.

While the PCB has not issued any statement on the matter, the silence continues to spark debate online, with fans calling for respect and recognition for one of Pakistan’s greatest cricketing heroes.

Pakistan have released two players, reducing their Test squad for the upcoming two-match series against South Africa. 

According to reports, fast bowler Aamir Jamal and spinner Faisal Akram have been released from the squad, bringing the total number of players down from 18 to 16.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had earlier announced the squad for the ICC World Test Championship 2023–25 series against South Africa.

The first Test will take place at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium from October 12 to 16, while the second Test is scheduled at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium from Oct 20 to 24.

South Africa are the defending champions of the ICC World Test Championship 2023–25 cycle.

Social media had a field day after a clip from the Pakistan versus India ICC Women’s World Cup clash on Sunday showed Green Shirts spraying something on each other and all around themselves.

A viral social media post claimed that Pakistani players were “spraying air freshener before the Indian team walked in”, jumping on the racist bandwagon of claims that Indians “do not take care of their hygiene”.

Some went on to say they were “sanitising the pitch” ahead of the arch-rivals’ arrival and the Pakistani team was “savage for doing so”.

The truth, however, was far less dramatic as the video actually showed players spraying insect repellant during the match in Colombo, which was also interrupted after a swarm of insects invaded the ground as soon as floodlights were turned on. 

Pakistani bowler Nashra Sandhu was seen trying to swat them away with a towel, and soon, reserve players rushed in with insect repellent sprays to help the team.

Captain Fatima Sana even sprayed around her teammates to keep the bugs away while substitute Iman Fatima sprayed a player’s cap.

The match eventually resumed after ground staff sprayed the entire field with India going on to win by 88 runs.

Pakistan will now face Australia on October 8 at the same venue.

Former England captain and renowned cricket analyst Mike Atherton has suggested that the International Cricket Council (ICC) should stop scheduling matches between Pakistan and India in future global tournaments.

After witnessing the tense atmosphere during the recent Asia Cup, where political friction overshadowed the spirit of the game, he shared his views in his column for The Times. 

He wrote, “In the past, cricket diplomacy helped improve relations between the two nations, but now these matches have turned into instruments of tension and propaganda.”

The former captain admitted that Pakistan-India matches generate massive financial value, with broadcast rights reportedly sold for nearly three billion US dollars. However, he stressed that the essence of the game should never revolve around politics or hatred. 

“If these matches are fueling disputes instead of promoting the sport, it is better to remove them from the schedule of global events,” Atherton stated. 

India-Pakistan encounters remain among the most-watched sporting events in the world. However, the recent Asia Cup highlighted increasing hostility between the two sides. 

Indian players refused to shake hands with Pakistani cricketers during the tournament, and after winning the final, the Indian team declined to receive the trophy from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President Mohsin Naqvi.

An old video of Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed saying that he would like to box with former Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan. 

The clip, recorded during the Pakistan Super League (PSL), has now resurfaced online.

In the viral video, the interviewer asks Abrar, “Which player would you want to box with someone who really annoys you?” To this, Abrar confidently replies, “I want to do boxing, and I’d like Shikhar Dhawan to be in front of me.”

Pak cricketer Abrar says he wants to have ‘Shekhar’ Dhawan @SDhawan25 as his punching bag.
pic.twitter.com/isJk6Yaql4

— Pakistan Untold (@pakistan_untold) October 5, 2025

The video, though old, has gone viral now, especially since Abrar has recently been in the spotlight after playing in the Asia Cup 2025 and the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Abrar is no stranger to controversy. His signature celebration, where he nods his head to sarcastically signal the batter to “walk off,” has already triggered plenty of reactions from Indian fans. Adding fuel to the fire, the spinner once posted a photo holding a cup of tea, which many linked to Pakistan’s famous “tea is fantastic” jibe after the 2019 downing of an Indian Air Force jet. 

Dhawan, meanwhile, has been in the spotlight for his ongoing verbal jabs with Shahid Afridi and for refusing to play in the World Championship of Legends match against the Pakistani lineup that included Afridi and other former stars.