Category: Sports

Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has taken a dig at teams participating in the ongoing Asia Cup, saying the tournament lacked competitiveness and could not serve as a proper build-up to the 2026 T20 World Cup. 

Speaking on his YouTube channel before India’s opening clash against the UAE, the 38-year-old said the gap between India and the rest of the teams was too wide.

“They can almost include South Africa and make it an Afro-Asia Cup to make the tournament competitive. As it is now, they should probably include India A for it to be some contest. We’ve not even talked about Bangladesh because there is nothing to talk about. How are these teams even going to compete against India?” Ashwin said.

He went on to add that Asia Cup could only work as a warm-up at best for the 2026 T20 World Cup, which India and Sri Lanka will host together. “This tournament isn’t some major yardstick for it. Even against the so-called threat of the Afghanistan bowlers, if India bat well and score 170+, who will Afghanistan chase this down with? It’s nearly impossible. The only way to defeat India is by somehow restricting them to 155 on a good day and then chasing it down. Normally, a T20 is thrilling, but India will likely make even that one-sided in this Asia Cup.”

The Asia Cup began on Sept 9 in Abu Dhabi with Afghanistan thrashing Hong Kong by 94 runs in the opening match.

While Ashwin downplays the significance of the tournament, some Indian media reports claim that high ticket prices are also dampening its appeal. 

According to the Indian media, premium packages on platforms like Viagogo and Platinumlist have slowed demand this year. The unusually slow sales of tickets also mark a rare sight for the Pakistan-India clash on Sept 14, which has long been one of the most-awaited sporting events worldwide.

The International Cricket Council is close to finalising plans for the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup, with a provisional schedule pointing to a February 7 to March 8 window.

India and Sri Lanka will share hosting duties, with matches spread across at least five venues in India and two in Sri Lanka.

The tournament will feature 20 teams, following the expanded format of the 2024 edition in the USA and West Indies. The larger field promises competitive cricket, combining traditional powerhouses with emerging nations.

Organisers continue to debate the venue for the final. Ahmedabad, which hosted the 2023 ODI World Cup final, and Colombo remain the leading contenders. If Pakistan reaches the title match, the final will most likely shift to Sri Lanka as a neutral venue.

So far, 15 teams have qualified: Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Australia, England, South Africa, New Zealand, West Indies, USA, Ireland, Netherlands, Canada and Italy. Italy will make their debut in a senior ICC World Cup, marking a milestone for the European nation.

Regional qualifiers will decide the remaining five spots, with two places available for African teams and three for Asia and East Asia-Pacific.

The competition will mirror the 2024 format. Four groups of five teams will kick off the tournament, with the top two advancing to the Super Eight stage. From there, the top two in each group will progress to the semi-finals before the final showdown. In total, 55 matches are expected across the month-long event.

For Pakistan, a return to Sri Lanka for their fixtures could evoke memories of the 2012 T20 World Cup, when they reached the semi-finals in Colombo. Fans are now waiting for the official draw to confirm fixtures and possible high-stakes clashes, including a potential face-off with India.

Pakistan’s rising golf star Omar Khalid Hussain made history on Sunday by becoming the first player from his country to win a professional golf tournament in the United States. 

He clinched the Fendrich Open title with a brilliant performance.

Competing in the US$18,700 event, Omar carded outstanding scores of 61 and 65 to finish with a 36-hole aggregate of 14-under 126 at the par-70 Fendrich Golf Course. He edged out Illinois professional Zach Williams by just one stroke to secure the trophy.

Omar, the only Pakistani currently competing in NCAA Division 1 golf, delivered a stellar display with 14 birdies and an eagle across the two rounds.

The young golfer had already made headlines in 2021 when he became the youngest winner of the National Amateur Golf Championship at just 16 years old.

In the presence of Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President Mohsin Naqvi, and the captains of all eight participating teams, the Asia Cup 2025 trophy was on Tuesday unveiled in Dubai.

Captains of Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Oman, UAE and Hong Kong posed with the trophy and interacted with the media. They expressed confidence in their preparations and determination to perform strongly in the tournament.

The 15th edition of the men’s Asia Cup will be played in the T20I format starting today, with eight teams divided into two groups. The top two sides from each group will qualify for the Super Four stage, and the top two from that round will meet in the final on September 28.

Pakistan are a part of Group A alongside India, Oman and hosts UAE. The Men in Green open their campaign against Oman on Sept 12 in Dubai, face India on Sept 14 at the same venue, and round off the group stage against UAE on Sept 17.

Group B includes Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Hong Kong.

Asia Cup 2025 group stage schedule

Sept 9: Afghanistan vs Hong Kong

Sept 10: India vs UAE

Sept 11: Bangladesh vs Hong Kong

Sept 12: Pakistan vs Oman

Sept 13: Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka

Sept 14: Pakistan vs India

Sept 15: UAE vs Oman

Sept 15: Sri Lanka vs Hong Kong

Sept 16: Bangladesh vs Afghanistan

Sept 17: Pakistan vs UAE

Sept 18: Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan

Sept 19: India vs Oman

Super Four stage

Sept 20: B1 vs B2

Sept 21: A1 vs A2

Sept 23: A2 vs B1

Sept 24: A1 vs B2

Sept 25: A2 vs B2

Sept 26: A1 vs B1

Final: Sept 28

Pakistan’s left-arm fast bowler Usman Shinwari has announced that he is retiring from international cricket. 

The 30-year-old last represented Pakistan in 2019.

Shinwari began his career in 2013 with a T20I debut against Sri Lanka. He later made his ODI and Test debuts, also against Sri Lanka. Over six years, he played 34 matches for Pakistan.

The pacer featured in 17 ODIs and claimed 34 wickets. In 16 T20Is, he picked up 13 wickets. His only Test appearance came in December 2019 against Sri Lanka, which turned out to be his final international match.

Shinwari delivered his best ODI performance in his second game when he took a five-wicket haul against Sri Lanka in Sharjah. He repeated the feat with another five-for in 2019, once again against Sri Lanka

He was also part of Pakistan’s squad for the 2018 Asia Cup.

Pakistan’s girls team has qualified for the World Robotics Olympiad for the first time. 

The three-member team includes Eman Zahra Merchant, Anaya Anas and Aira Rizvi, all from Karachi. The girls are 12 to 13 years old and study in grade eight.

The team earned its spot by securing first place in the Sindh Cup and second place at the national-level competition. Both events were held under the supervision of the World Robotics Olympiad.

The global competition will take place in Singapore this November.

Pakistan’s scrabble players stamped their authority on the international stage once again, sweeping all trophies at the 4th Gateway International Scrabble Tournament.

The three-day event featured 80 players from nine countries, including World No 4 Thacha Koowirat. Despite the strong competition, Pakistani players outshone everyone with their stellar performances.

In the senior category, former Asian Youth Champion Husham Hadi Khan claimed the title by winning 17 of his 24 games with an impressive spread of 1190. 14-year-old Ahmed Salman finished second, while former World Youth Champion Affan Salman secured third place with a brilliant run.

Pakistan also dominated the youth category. Misbah Ur Rehman lifted the title, Shah Jehan Ahmed finished second and Musab Fareedi grabbed seventh spot.

Last month, Pakistan also lifted the team trophy at the 20th World Youth Scrabble Championship where seven-year-old Taimoor Wasim stole the spotlight by winning the U-8 world title. It was Pakistan’s sixth team trophy in the tournament’s history, with more than 200 players from 20 countries participating.

Former West Indies star Chris Gayle has launched a scathing attack on the Indian Premier League (IPL), revealing that Punjab Kings disrespected him and forced him into early retirement from the tournament.

“My contract with Punjab Kings ended earlier than expected. I felt I was not being respected as a senior player. You give so much to a franchise, but when you are not valued, it feels like you are being treated like a child,” he said during an interview.

The batter admitted the experience took a heavy toll on his mental health. “It felt like I had the weight of a building on my shoulders. For the first time in my life, I went into depression. Mental health is more important than money,” he said.

Gayle recalled breaking down during a one-on-one call with then-coach Anil Kumble. “I cried during the conversation. I was so hurt, but I thanked him [Kumble] because I could not even continue talking.”

He also shared details of a conversation with captain KL Rahul. “He called me and said, ‘Chris, if you want to stay, you will play the next match.’ I told him, ‘Listen, I wish all the players all the best.’ Then I packed my bags and left.”

Gayle represented Punjab Kings in four IPL seasons before walking away from the league in 2021.

Carlos Alcaraz created tennis history on Sunday night with a stunning four-set victory over defending champion Jannik Sinner in the US Open final in New York. 

The 22-year-old Spaniard won 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 to claim his second US Open crown and sixth Grand Slam title. The result gave Alcaraz revenge for his defeat to Sinner in the Wimbledon final earlier this year.

Sinner’s loss also continued a long-running trend at Flushing Meadows, where no man has defended the title since Roger Federer’s five straight wins from 2004 to 2008.

With the win, Alcaraz became the youngest man in history to win multiple Grand Slam titles on all three surfaces. He has now lifted two trophies each at Wimbledon, Roland Garros and the US Open. The Spaniard joined Mats Wilander, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic as the only men to achieve the feat.

Youngest players to win multiple Grand Slams on all three surfaces

Carlos Alcaraz – 22 years, 125 days (2025)

Mats Wilander – 24 years, 6 days (1988)

Rafael Nadal – 24 years, 88 days (2010)

Novak Djokovic – 34 years, 9 days (2021)

Wilander and Nadal both achieved the mark at age 24, while Djokovic reached it much later at 34. Djokovic remains the only man to win three or more majors on every surface, completing that milestone in 2023 at the French Open.

Multiple Grand Slam winners on all three surfaces

Mats Wilander: 2 Hard, 3 Clay, 2 Grass

Rafael Nadal: 6 Hard, 14 Clay, 2 Grass

Novak Djokovic: 14 Hard, 3 Clay, 7 Grass

Carlos Alcaraz: 2 Hard, 2 Clay, 2 Grass

Alcaraz also reclaimed the world No. 1 ranking from Sinner and will return to the top spot on Monday for the first time in two years. The Spaniard ended Sinner’s 27-match winning streak on hard courts at Grand Slams.

He now holds a 10-5 career record against the Italian and has beaten him in seven of their last eight meetings. The two young stars continue to dominate men’s tennis, having shared the last eight Grand Slam titles between them.

Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram has backtracked on his opinion about the team’s bowling strategy in the tri-nation T20 series final against Afghanistan, taking back his words only 11 minutes after posting them.

Pakistan on Sunday had set Afghanistan a target of 142 after scoring 141 for 8 in Sharjah. In response, Afghanistan were bowled out for just 66 runs as Pakistan lifted the trophy with a 75-run win.

During the match, Akram initially questioned Pakistan’s bowling approach. “What is happening why are part time bowlers bowling on a seaming wicket? Especially when you have 140 to defend [sic],” he wrote in a post on X.

What is happening why are part time bowlers are bowling on a seaming wicket? Especially when you have 140 to defend.

— Wasim Akram (@wasimakramlive) September 7, 2025

“Most people are saying it’s a turning track yes I agree but it’s also seeming around quite a bit. What is more difficult for a batter new ball on a seaming wicket or a new ball with the spinner? Just first 3 overs at least and then go to spinners,” Akram had added.

Most people are saying it’s a turning track yes I agree but it’s also seeming around quite a bit . what is more difficult for a batter new ball on a seaming wicket or a new ball with the spinner? Just first 3 overs at least and then go to spinners .

— Wasim Akram (@wasimakramlive) September 7, 2025

But only 11 minutes later — as Pakistan’s spinners worked their magic — he admitted he was wrong and praised them. “Debate over, I’ll take my words back, I suppose now. Brilliant performance so far by the spinners,” he wrote.

Debate over, I’ll take my words back, I suppose now . Brilliant performance so far by the spinners

— Wasim Akram (@wasimakramlive) September 7, 2025

Mohammad Nawaz was the star performer with the ball, taking five wickets including a hat-trick. Sufiyan Muqeem and Abrar Ahmed also grabbed two wickets each.

With high morale and strong confidence, the Greenshirts now turn their attention to the Asia Cup, where they begin their campaign against Oman on September 12 in Dubai, before the highly anticipated Group A clash with India on September 14.