Category: Sports

Tottenham Hotspur have completed the signing of Ghana international Mohammed Kudus from West Ham United for £55 million, subject to a work permit.

The midfielder, who had an £85 million release clause, has agreed to a six-year contract that will keep him at Spurs until 2031.

West Ham had turned down an initial £50 million bid from Tottenham last week before the two clubs settled on the final fee. 24-year-old Kudus made 65 Premier League appearances for the Hammers, scoring 13 goals and providing nine assists during his time at the London Stadium.

Speaking to the club’s media team, he shared that he had “always wanted to play at the highest level.” He added, “How big the club is, the history and the Champions League as well, so it’s a big moment. I’m very happy and can’t wait to start.”

Kudus has been an influential figure for West Ham since arriving from Ajax for £38 million in August 2023. He made his Premier League debut as a substitute in a win over Luton Town and soon found the net in the Europa League group stage. In his debut season, Kudus scored 14 goals and registered nine assists across all competitions.

Sources claim Kudus prioritised the move to north London despite interest from at least six other top clubs. He also highlighted new head coach Thomas Frank, who replaced Ange Postecoglou last month, as a big reason for making the switch.

“From where [Frank] has come from, and seeing the amount of talent he has developed to become great players, it’s a big sign as to why I wanted to work under him as well,” Kudus said.

Tottenham’s summer spending may not stop there. Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White is expected to undergo a medical on Friday ahead of a potential £60 million switch to north London.

Chairman of the Youth Program, Rana Mashhood, has clarified Pakistan’s participation in the Asia Cup Hockey Tournament, stating that the event will be held in India. The security situation, however, will be thoroughly reviewed before the team travels.

“If we are not satisfied, we will not put the Pakistan team at risk,” he stated.

Speaking to a private media outlet on Thursday, Rana Mashhood said, “Just like India failed in Operation Sindoor, our hockey team also wants to defeat India on their own soil.”

It merits mention that various social media accounts linked to India’s extremist organisation RSS have openly issued threats to the Pakistan hockey team. Indian media outlets have also started spreading hateful content against Pakistan.

According to reports, the Indian government had granted permission for the Pakistan hockey team to visit India, but within just two days, Indian media began its smear campaign. 

Along with Indian media, accounts connected to RSS, which is closely associated with Prime Minister Modi’s BJP, have also been sharing threatening messages. Pictures of the Pakistan hockey team are being circulated online with direct threats aimed at the players.

The Asia Cup Hockey Tournament is scheduled to take place in India’s city of Rajgur from August 27. However, it remains unclear whether Pakistan will participate in it or if the event will be organised under a hybrid model, similar to the Pakistan-India cricket series.

Pakistan cricket head coach Mike Hesson has cleared the air about Babar Azam’s place in the team, dismissing rumours of a wicketkeeping role.

Earlier, reports claimed that the coach had offered Babar the wicketkeeping role. However, Hesson has clarified that there has been no discussion with him regarding wicketkeeping.

Speaking to the media on Thursday, he clarified, “We see him purely as an opener.” He added, “If Babar secures his place in the team, he will open the innings alongside either Saim Ayub or Fakhar Zaman.”

Hesson said, “No batter has been instructed to play with a strike rate of 150, but in modern-day cricket, playing with an aggressive approach has become essential.” According to him, “One major reason Pakistan lags behind in T20 cricket is its batting.”

The head coach added, “A training camp has been set up to prepare for the T20 format, focusing on different aspects of the game. This camp will continue for one week.”

Hesson also confirmed, “Hasan Ali will travel with the team to the West Indies, as he is currently playing very good cricket.” He said, “In the absence of frontline fast bowlers, other players have been tested, and those who meet the international standards will be given more opportunities.”

He stated, “Shaheen Shah Afridi will be given a complete chance to prove himself as he is a world-class bowler, and the team wants him to return stronger and perform well.”

Hesson further shared, “Haris Rauf is currently recovering from an injury but remains with the squad, while Salman Mirza has been included in the squad in place of Hasan Ali.”

Speaking about the selection process, the head coach said, “I myself am part of the selection committee. The committee initially selects 20 players, after which the captain and coach finalize a squad of 15 through mutual consultation. This final list is then sent to the Pakistan Cricket Board chairman for approval.”

Babar’s last recorded T20I appearance was against South Africa on December 13, 2024.

It merits mention that Babar Azam has not been selected in the 15‑member squad announced on July 8, 2025, for the upcoming three‑match T20I series in Bangladesh scheduled from July 20–24 in Dhaka.

Pakistan fast bowler Hasan Ali has stated that he has no plan to retire from Test cricket, saying he will continue playing the longest format as long as he is fit, regardless of what happens with T20Is and ODIs.

In a recent interview with a local sports platform, the 31-year-old pacer shared his passion for the traditional format, calling it the most challenging and rewarding version of the game.

“Test cricket is my love. Even if the time comes to retire from T20s and ODIs, I won’t even think about quitting Test cricket as long as I’m fit,” Hasan stated.

Hasan, who made his international debut in 2016, has played across all three formats for Pakistan but has recently been seen more in white-ball cricket. Despite this shift, the right-arm pacer said he remains fully committed to his red-ball journey.

“My job is to perform,” he said. “Whether or not I get selected is up to the PCB, the captain, and the team management.”

To date, Hasan has played in 24 Test matches for Pakistan, claiming 80 wickets and scoring 382 runs. His last Test appearance was in Pakistan’s tour of Australia in January 2024, when he played the Sydney Test.

For now, Hasan is not part of the squad for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Bangladesh, starting July 20 at the Shere-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka. According to sources, his absence is only temporary as he continues to play county cricket in England.

He is currently representing Warwickshire in the ongoing men’s Vitality Blast 2025 and is in top form, ranked as the third-highest wicket-taker with 21 wickets in nine matches at an economy rate of 8.43.

Hasan recently made an impressive return to the national side during the T20I home series against Bangladesh, where he finished as Pakistan’s leading wicket-taker. He took eight wickets in three matches, including a five-wicket haul.

According to sources, selectors are likely to consider Hasan for Pakistan’s upcoming white-ball series against the West Indies in August.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan squad will arrive in Bangladesh on July 16 ahead of the T20Is scheduled for July 20, 22, and 24 in Dhaka.

Indian media has been slammed by Pakistani sports journalist Faizan Lakhani for hate-mongering after Controversial Indian anchor Arnab Goswami targeted Pakistan’s hockey team.

Arnab Goswami slammed the Indian government decision to allow Pakistan’s hockey team to participate in the upcoming Hockey Asia Cup 2025.

According to media reports, Pakistan has received diplomatic clearance to compete in the 12th edition of the Asia Cup, scheduled to take place in Rajgir, Bihar, from August 27 to September 7, 2025. The final decision now rests with the Government of Pakistan.

Arnab Goswami questioned the Indian government’s stance on sporting relations with Pakistan in a YouTube video published on Republic World.

He said, “Why, if we don’t play cricket with them, do we want to play hockey? We refused to play the Champions Trophy in Pakistan and forced a shift to Dubai. Why should we welcome their hockey team here? They should not allowed to raise thier flag on Indian soil.”

Highlighting India’s policy of isolating Pakistan in bilateral sports, Arnab added said, “If Pakistani players are not allowed to play in the IPL because they can’t play in India, if their film stars are not allowed to act in our movies, then why should their hockey team be allowed to play on Indian soil? In 2016, the Pakistan Kabaddi team was denied entry for the Kabaddi World Cup. How is hockey different? What is so special about hockey?”

Reacting strongly to the news, Pakistani sports journalist Faizan Lakhani slammed what he called India’s “hate-mongering” approach to sports. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), he wrote, “After tarnishing the spirit of India-Pakistan cricket, the venom-spewing Indian media has turned its hate-mongering campaign against hockey. If this is India’s idea of sportsmanship, then they have no right to host international events where Pakistan competes.”

“The Asian Hockey Federation and FIH Hockey must immediately strip India of the Asia Cup and Junior World Cup hosting rights. And let the International Olympic Committee take note: India’s politicization of sports, holding sports events hostage to so-called nationalism, should be enough to disqualify their Olympic bids,” he added.

Arnab’s statements echo India’s longstanding policy of suspending bilateral cricket ties with Pakistan since 2012. 

In 2023, India refused to travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup, resulting in a hybrid hosting model in the UAE and Sri Lanka. Pakistani cricketers have been barred from playing in the Indian Premier League since its second season.

The same approach has extended to other sports as well. In 2016, India denied visas to the Pakistani Kabaddi team for the Kabaddi World Cup on security grounds. Pakistani film actors have faced bans too after the April 22 Pahalgam attack in Indian illegally occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJK). India blamed Pakistan for the attacks, which Pakistan has denied. To date, India has not been able to provide any evidence to support its allegations against Pakistan.

The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has stated that the team’s participation in India depends on government approval. PHF Secretary General Rana Mujahid has previously said that Pakistan will only compete in the Asia Cup if the government grants permission.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has declined to attend the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) meeting scheduled for July 24, if it is held in Dhaka.

Accordign to Indian media, the board considers it unsuitable to visit Bangladesh, citing the current political situation. The BCCI had already postponed a series planned in Bangladesh this August for similar reasons.

Reports suggest that the BCCI has formally informed the ACC of its concerns and requested that the meeting venue be changed. If the venue is not shifted, the BCCI may withdraw from the meeting altogether.

Meanwhile, three alternative venues have reportedly been shortlisted as backups for the Asia Cup. The BCCI is also awaiting guidance from the Indian government. Uncertainty surrounding the Pakistan-India match has already cast a shadow over the Asia Cup’s plans.

India is the official host of this year’s Asia Cup, but the event could be moved to the UAE, as Pakistan and India had previously agreed to a hybrid model ahead of the 2025 Champions Trophy. The Asia Cup is set to begin on September 5, with the high-profile Pakistan vs India match scheduled for September 7.

The incredible record of one Pakistani athlete has been added to the Guinness World Records’ ‘All-Time Great Best of the Best’ list. 

Marking the 10th anniversary of his achievement, Guinness World Records congratulated Pakistani martial artist Rashid Naseem on social media and announced that his feat is now part of its all-time greatest records. 

The record has also been featured in Guinness World Records’ promotional video celebrating its 70th anniversary.

Rashid Naseem’s record, set in 2015, still stands today. He broke 158 clay targets in one minute using a nunchaku, surpassing the previous record of 102 clay targets held by Samuel Sprague of the United States.

So far, Rashid Naseem has set around seven Guinness World Records with the nunchaku alone. He also holds multiple other records officially recognised by Guinness World Records.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has released its latest Test rankings, and England’s Harry Brook has claimed the top spot among Test batsmen. 

Brook moved ahead of his teammate Joe Root after scoring an impressive 158 runs against India in the Birmingham Test.

No Pakistani player is included in the Test top ten this time. India’s Shubman Gill jumped 15 places to reach sixth position after his remarkable knocks of 269 and 161 runs. He also became only the second player to score more than 150 runs in both innings of a single Test match.

England’s Jamie Smith made it to the top 10 for the first time after scoring 184 and 88 runs in the same Test. On the bowling side, India’s Mohammad Siraj climbed to 22nd place thanks to his seven-wicket haul.

In the all-rounders ranking, South Africa’s Wiaan Mulder reached third position after an outstanding performance of 367 runs and three wickets. He also moved up 34 places in batting to 22nd and four places in bowling to 48th.

In ODIs, Sri Lanka’s Kusal Mendis made it into the top 10 batting rankings for the first time. Charith Asalanka climbed to sixth position, while Wanindu Hasaranga moved up 11 places to become the eighth-best bowler in the ODI rankings.