Category: Sports

The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) has announced that Peru’s Nolberto Solano will be the new head coach of both the Pakistan senior national team and the under-23 football team.

Solano, who was part of Peru’s coaching staff during the 2018 FIFA World Cup and also coached the side in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, brings vast experience to the role. The 48-year-old holds a FIFA Pro License and has previously coached several clubs. As a player, Solano appeared in more than 300 professional matches.

Alongside Solano, Argentina’s George Castanheira will serve as the assistant coach. Castanheira has previously worked with the Venezuelan national team and various clubs. He is also an author of several books on football.

The appointments were approved by the PFF Executive Committee, with seven out of 13 members voting in favour. Six members opposed the move, but the majority vote allowed the appointments to go ahead.

Both Solano and Castanheira have agreed to join Pakistan’s national and under-23 teams. The federation is expected to officially sign contracts with the coaches later this week. Their tenures will initially be for one year.

Indian actor Ajay Devgn has found himself at the centre of online backlash after an old photo of him with former Pakistan cricketer Shahid Afridi resurfaced on social media. 

The image started circulating shortly after the much-anticipated match between Pakistan and India in the ongoing World Championship of Legends (WCL) was cancelled amid objections from the Indian side over Afridi’s inclusion in the squad.

While the photo in question is from WCL 2024, it resurfaced amid the recent controversy. Many angry Indian fans began targeting Ajay Devgn, criticising him for posing with Afridi despite the image being from a previous year, when the tournament did not carry the current political tension.

One user commented, “You can’t trust any Bollywood celebrities anymore.” Another wrote, “Ajay only loves India on screen, not in real life.” A third remarked, “Even if this is from 2024, everyone works for money.”

Someone else added, “Now he’ll do another patriotic movie just to save his image.” Another angry fan said, “Boycott his upcoming film. Enough is enough.”

The criticism intensified despite Ajay Devgn’s ownership stake in the WCL and the fact that the photo had no direct connection to the ongoing season or the cancelled match.

Meanwhile, the WCL organisers have clarified that the remaining tournament matches will proceed as scheduled. Pakistan Champions’ owner Kamil Khan also addressed questions about future India-Pakistan encounters, stating that if both teams reach the knockouts, steps will be taken to handle the situation appropriately.

Despite the clarification, social media remains divided, and Ajay Devgn continues to face criticism from his own countrymen over a picture many didn’t bother verifying before reacting.

Argentine football legend Lionel Messi has achieved another remarkable milestone by surpassing Cristiano Ronaldo in non-penalty goals.

Messi scored twice in Inter Miami’s emphatic 5-1 win over New York Red Bulls, taking his tally of non-penalty goals to 764, one ahead of Ronaldo, who stands at 763.

These statistics include only official matches and exclude goals scored from penalties. That’s why they’re considered a better reflection of a player’s technical skill, positioning, and decision-making on the field.

Messi scored most of his goals while playing for Barcelona between 2004 and 2021. 

In contrast, Ronaldo has over 880 career goals in total, but more than 150 of those have come from penalties. He has also played more matches than Messi, making this comparison even more significant.

The much-awaited return of Champions League T20 is finally on the cards. 

According to reports, during its annual conference held in Singapore, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has officially approved the revival of the global franchise tournament, now rebranded as the World Clubs Championship. The tournament is expected to take place in September 2026.

The event aims to bring together champion teams from the world’s top T20 leagues, potentially including franchises from the Indian Premier League (IPL) and Pakistan Super League (PSL). However, the participation of these teams is yet to be confirmed, as several commercial and scheduling matters remain unresolved.

Unlike the previous edition of the Champions League T20, which was discontinued due to low ratings and financial losses, the new version promises renewed global interest and stronger commercial potential.

According to reports, both the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have shown support for the idea. Still, no confirmation has been made regarding the inclusion of IPL or PSL teams. 

Notably, no representative from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) or PSL attended the World Cricket Connects meeting held in London, which was attended by heads of various leagues including the Bangladesh Premier League, SA20, ILT20, Caribbean Premier League, and The Hundred.

The ICC’s approval signals that major teams could be part of the tournament once commercial and scheduling issues are ironed out. India is currently scheduled to play white-ball series against Afghanistan and the West Indies in 2026, but minor adjustments could create room for the World Clubs Championship.

The original Champions League T20 was held from 2009 to 2014. The past winners included New South Wales (2009), Chennai Super Kings (2010 and 2014), Mumbai Indians (2011 and 2013), and Sydney Sixers (2012). The tournament was discontinued after getting poor TV ratings and financial setbacks.

Shahzaib Rind claimed the KC Lightweight World Championship at KC 56, delivering a dominant performance against Brazil’s Luis Rocha, extending his undefeated professional record to 8-0.

As one of Pakistan’s fastest-rising MMA talents, Rind showcased his technical precision and calm demeanour in the octagon. In front of a packed crowd, he dictated the pace of the fight, outclassing Rocha in key exchanges to secure a decisive victory and the world title on Sunday.

This win not only establishes him as the new KC Lightweight World Champion but also signals Pakistan’s growing presence in the global MMA arena. 

Rind became Pakistan’s first-ever world champion after winning the Karate Combat KC‑49 title in Singapore in 2024, where he defeated Brazil’s Bruno Roberto De Assis in the final. He is also a six-time national Wushu champion and previously secured the Combat League title in the United States.

Pakistan’s U16 men’s volleyball team returned home to a hero’s welcome on Sunday night after making history by clinching their first-ever Asian U16 Volleyball Championship title in Thailand. 

The team defeated defending champions Iran in a dramatic 3-2 final, bulldozing through the tournament without losing a single match.

Fans, officials, and family members gathered at Lahore airport to receive the young champions. Draped in Pakistani flags and garlands, the players were met with loud chants of “Pakistan Zindabad” and applause, highlighting the pride and excitement their victory sparked across the country.

In recognition of their remarkable achievement, Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) has announced a total cash reward of Rs8.2 million under its revised 2024 Cash Award Policy.

According to the PSB, each of the 12 players will receive Rs600,000, making a total of Rs7.2 million. Additionally, the team’s head coach will be awarded Rs1 million for his role in guiding the squad to continental glory.

“These young athletes have brought immense pride to Pakistan,” said a PSB spokesperson. “Their achievement deserves to be recognised, not only through celebration but by ensuring they are supported and rewarded for their excellence.”

The PSB further stated that gold medallists in team events at the continental level are entitled to 30 percent of the individual award value per athlete, while coaches receive 50 percent of the team’s total prize money.

With the Asian title secured, the young squad will now set its sights on making a mark at the global level.

Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has reacted to the cancellation of the highly anticipated Pakistan vs India clash in the World Championship of Legends (WCL).

The match was scheduled to take place on Sunday in Birmingham but was called off following opposition from Indian players over Afridi’s inclusion in the Pakistani lineup.

Speaking after the match was called off, Afridi said the tournament had been going well and praised the team. “The WCL was planned for three weeks, and it’s wrapping up in two, but we’ve enjoyed it. I’ll give full credit to Kamil Khan (owner of Pakistan Champions), who led the team under pressure for two months and helped us build a solid combination. We won our first match, and there was a lot of excitement for the second. Today, we were supposed to be on the field in front of 17 to 18 thousand fans. It would’ve been a great match to watch, and that’s a big disappointment.”

Commenting on the controversy that led to the match being called off, Afridi said, “I think the Indian team was disappointed because of just one player’s objection. They came here to play, and it’s upsetting that such a situation arose. That’s why I keep saying that if you’re a country’s ambassador, then act like one. Don’t act like you’re not. Ambassadors have fans an followers, and they represent their people.”

Afridi said he often travels abroad and meets communities that are eager to see cricket grow. “I’ve had great interactions with cricket-loving communities in places like the US. We’ve improved relations in the past through cricket, even when political conditions weren’t ideal. I always say there’s nothing better than sports diplomacy. It brings people closer.”

He added, “If you bring politics into everything, how will you move forward? Until we sit together and communicate, problems will only increase. The reason we come to play cricket is so that we can meet one-on-one, have conversations, and connect. But sometimes, one bad egg spoils everything.”

When asked how he felt knowing that the match may have been cancelled because of him, Afridi responded, “If I had known the match was being stopped because of me, I would have stayed away from the ground. But the match should have happened. Cricket is important. It’s bigger than us. It comes before everything. If one person refuses to play against Pakistan, then don’t play, but the sport must go on. Sports is bigger than any one individual.”

The clash was officially cancelled after tournament organizers issued a statement expressing regret over the development. According to sources, Indian players including Shikhar Dhawan, Yusuf Pathan, Irfan Pathan, and Harbhajan Singh opposed the match, demanding that Afridi not be included in the playing XI.

Indian media also stirred up controversy, questioning the need for such a match. Under growing pressure, the organizers eventually decided to cancel the fixture.

Despite the setback, the WCL will continue as planned. Pakistan, led by Mohammad Hafeez, defeated England in the opening fixture.

A much-anticipated clash between Pakistan and India in the ongoing World Championship of Legends has been cancelled following objections from the Indian side over the inclusion of Shahid Afridi in the Pakistan squad.

The match was scheduled for today in Birmingham but has officially been called off.

In an official statement, tournament organizers expressed regret, saying they were disappointed that the high-profile encounter could not take place. They assured fans who had purchased tickets that full refunds would be provided and the process would be facilitated promptly.

Pakistan had kicked off their campaign with a win over England under the leadership of Mohammad Hafeez.

According to media reports, controversy arose when it was allegedly demanded that Shahid Afridi be dropped from the playing XI. Indian players Shikhar Dhawan and Harbhajan Singh reportedly refused to participate in the match.

Indian media also questioned the need for staging the match amid rising tensions between the two arch-rivals. With pressure mounting, the organizers ultimately decided to cancel the fixture.

Despite the setback, the remainder of the tournament will continue as scheduled.

The Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) has officially asked the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) to submit complete details of the foreign trips taken by its president and secretary, along with the financial expenditures involved.

According to reports, the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) recently issued a letter to the PHF stating that it is the federation’s responsibility, not the board’s, to cover the travel and daily allowances (TA/DA) of players and officials during foreign tours.

The letter specifically mentioned the Nations Cup held in Malaysia, where the issue of unpaid TA/DA to national players was raised. The PSB noted that PHF has still not provided a detailed account of the funds it received last year, despite repeated verbal and written reminders sent to the federation’s top officials.

The PHF acknowledged in a written statement on May 30, 2025, that it had sufficient funds in its bank account, yet players were not paid their daily allowances. On June 20, the PSB formally sought clarification on the matter, but no response has been received to date.

The PSB has now asked the PHF to submit a full financial record, including bank statements for the past six months, as well as detailed information on all foreign trips undertaken by the president and secretary during that time and the expenses incurred.

Additionally, the PSB has requested information about the establishment of PHF’s new office in Islamabad, including proof of approval from the federation’s executive board.

Former Pakistan captain and wicketkeeper-batter Sarfaraz Ahmed has been dropped from the Pakistan Champions squad for the upcoming 2025 World Championship of Legends (WCL).

The announcement came just hours before Pakistan Champions’ opening match against England Champions on Friday, with the franchise revealing a revised squad that notably excludes Sarfaraz.

Team owner Kamil Khan announced significant last-minute changes to the lineup, replacing Sarfaraz Ahmed with Kamran Akmal behind the stumps. Another surprise inclusion in the squad was middle-order batter Fawad Alam.

It merits mention that earlier this year, in January, Pakistan Champions officially announced Sarfaraz as part of their WCL squad. A video shared on their social media platforms confirmed his signing with the caption, “Captain, Leader, Legend! Sarfaraz Ahmed is part of Pakistan Champions for WCL Season 2.”

Mohammad Hafeez will lead Pakistan Champions in WCL 2025, replacing T20 World Cup-winning captain Younis Khan, who led the side to the final in the inaugural edition.

Pakistan Champions squad for WCL 2025:

Mohammad Hafeez (captain), Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal, Sharjeel Khan, Fawad Alam, Imad Wasim, Wahab Riaz, Sohail Tanvir, Asif Ali, Sohaib Maqsood, Umar Amin, Rumman Raees, Suhaib Khan, and Aamer Yamin.