Category: Sports

Pakistan Champions have announced the inclusion of all-rounder Imad Wasim in their squad for the second edition of the World Championship of Legends. 

The tournament will be held later this July in Birmingham, United Kingdom.

In a statement shared on social media, the franchise said, “We welcome Imad Wasim to Pakistan Champions, an all-rounder who brings passion, experience and performance.”

The 36-year-old has played 394 T20 matches so far, including 75 games in which he represented his country in the shortest format. Over his T20 career, he has scored 4,148 runs, which include 12 half-centuries, and taken 365 wickets.

Earlier this week, Pakistan Champions also appointed former all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez as the team captain for the tournament.

The World Championship of Legends will feature retired star cricketers from six countries: Pakistan, India, Australia, South Africa, England and the West Indies.

Pakistan performed brilliantly in the first edition of the tournament last year, finishing as runners-up. In the final, Pakistan set India a target of 157 runs, which India chased successfully in 19.1 overs with five wickets in hand.

Pakistani fast bowler Ihsanullah has gone viral for all the wrong reasons. The cricketer, known for his fiery pace, has announced he is quitting cricket because of a strange personal dispute.

The 22-year-old pacer, once celebrated as Pakistan’s next big hope, stunned fans when he revealed he is stepping away from the game due to an issue with a teenage friend named Abdullah. 

In a recent interview with sports journalist Sanaullah, Ihsanullah broke down while explaining why he is refusing to play.

“You once saw a friend with me,  his name was Abdullah. I considered him like a brother. He was a good friend. It’s just because of him that I’m upset. I already told you his name, Abdullah. So, because of him, I’m crying. He’s not coming back to cricket, so that’s why we see that he’s not returning, so he stopped playing. That’s why I’m crying. He was with me in rehab too,” Ihsanullah said.

Cricket fans are now urging the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and his PSL franchise Peshawar Zalmi to step in and make sure Ihsanullah gets a thorough psychiatric evaluation and proper support before his career slips away.

Ihsanullah was a breakout star in the Pakistan Super League, regularly bowling over 150 kph and winning both the Player of the Tournament and Bowler of the Tournament awards with Multan Sultans in 2023. His raw pace made him one of the most exciting fast bowlers in the country, but a serious elbow injury during a home series against New Zealand stalled his rapid rise.

In 2025, he joined Peshawar Zalmi but did not play a single match during PSL 10, sparking more questions about his well-being and fitness.

The Pakistan women’s football team continued their remarkable run in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers by defeating Kyrgyzstan 2-1, registering their second consecutive victory in Group D.

This win is even more impressive as Kyrgyzstan is ranked 21 places higher than Pakistan in the FIFA rankings. 

On July 2, Pakistan pulled off a stunning 2-0 win against hosts Indonesia, who are ranked 95th in the world compared to Pakistan’s 157th spot. 

Nadia Khan opened the scoring in the eigth minute with her fifth international goal, while Suha Hirani doubled the lead with a well-taken penalty in the 18th minute. Goalkeeper Ziyana Jeewraj stood strong, making crucial saves to secure a clean sheet for Pakistan.

The back-to-back wins mark an incredible turnaround for the national side, which recorded their first international victory since September 2023 when they beat Laos in a penalty shootout.

Pakistan and the West Indies will play their three One Day Internationals (ODIs) as originally scheduled.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) proposed converting the ODIs into T20s; however, the West Indies Cricket Board has chosen to proceed with the originally scheduled format and ticketing plan.

Tickets for the T20 matches, which will be played in the USA, are priced at $25 and $30. Meanwhile, tickets for the ODIs are available for $8 and $5. The West Indies Cricket Board has already started selling tickets for the ODIs, which will be held from August 8 to August 12.

Fans can purchase tickets for both the T20 and ODI matches online through the West Indies Cricket Board’s official website.

The T20 series between Pakistan and West Indies will begin on July 31 in Florida, USA. The second match will be played on August 2, while the third T20 is scheduled for August 3.

The first ODI will take place on August 8 at the Brian Lara Cricket Stadium in Trinidad and Tobago. The second ODI will be held at the same venue on August 10, with the third and final match of the series scheduled for August 12.

Young Pakistani squash players have defeated India in the Asian Junior Squash Championship, clinching multiple titles and medals.

In the boys’ Under-13 final, Pakistan’s Suhail Adnan overcame India’s Ayan Dhanuka with scores of 11-5, 11-2, 11-13, and 11-6 to secure gold. In the Under-15 final, Pakistan’s Nauman Khan dominated fellow Pakistani Ahmed Rayyan Khalil 12-10, 11-6, 11-2.

In the girls’ Under-13 final, Pakistan’s Mahnoor Ali narrowly lost to China’s Yen Ziouan in a close five-game contest 9-11, 11-6, 11-9, 9-11, 10-12.

Overall, Pakistan bagged two gold, two silver and one bronze medal in the main event and added two more titles in the Plate Division.

Director of the High Performance Centre Aaqib Javed believes that Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan must adapt their game if they want to return to Pakistan’s T20 side.

Speaking to reporters at Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) skills development camp, Aaqib confirmed that both batters have been given clear, detailed feedback on where they need to improve as part of efforts to modernise Pakistan’s style of play.

“Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan have also been informed about where improvement is needed,” Aaqib said. “Both are senior players, and we had honest discussions with them about how to enhance their game.”

The pair has often faced criticism for their steady approach in the shortest format, which many believe does not match the modern, high-scoring demands of T20 cricket. Aaqib made it clear that only players capable of consistently contributing to 200-plus totals will be part of the team’s future plans.

“We’ll need to score 200-plus runs,” he said. “Whether it’s a youngster or a senior player, we will go with the best available option for Pakistan. The conditions will be the same for all teams, so we have to prepare smartly and select accordingly.”

Head coach Mike Hesson has not ruled out their return either, but for now, the focus remains on trusting younger talent for the upcoming tours of Bangladesh and the West Indies. 

The PCB hopes these candid discussions will help Babar and Rizwan adapt and reclaim their place by aligning with the team’s evolving style.

Pakistan’s star all-rounder Shadab Khan is likely to miss the Asia Cup 2025 as he undergoes shoulder surgery in London today, ruling him out for at least six to 12 weeks.

He could also miss the upcoming series against Bangladesh and the West Indies, and his participation in the Asia Cup remains uncertain.

According to reports, Shadab is expected to take between six and twelve weeks to fully recover from the procedure. He had been struggling with shoulder pain for some time, which impacted his ability to bowl and throw effectively. The injury worsened during the recent home series against Bangladesh, where he experienced discomfort even while bowling his googlies. An MRI scan during his visit to England revealed the full extent of the injury, and doctors recommended immediate surgery.

Shadab served as vice-captain under skipper Salman Ali Agha during the Bangladesh series, where he took four wickets and scored 55 runs in two innings. However, now he will miss Pakistan’s return tour to Bangladesh later this month.

As a centrally contracted player, Shadab’s medical expenses will be covered by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). At 26, he has opted to address the issue now to avoid risking long-term damage to his career. He remains determined to return to top form and help Pakistan win the ICC T20 World Cup 2026.

To date, Shadab has represented Pakistan in six Tests, 70 ODIs, and 112 T20Is, scoring 1,947 runs and taking 211 wickets.

Renowned Czech mountaineer Klára Poláčková has died after reportedly falling into a ravine while attempting to scale Nanga Parbat, Pakistan’s second-highest peak and one of the world’s most dangerous mountains.

The 46-year-old climber was part of a seven-member expedition, which included her husband. The team had arrived in Pakistan on June 15 and reached Bonar Base Camp in Gilgit-Baltistan’s Diamer district on June 17.

According to Pakistan’s Alpine Club, the accident occurred early Thursday morning between Camp I and Camp II. Preliminary reports suggest an oxygen cylinder explosion may have triggered the fall, but this has yet to be confirmed.

Klára’s teammates managed to return to base camp and confirm her death. Recovery teams have been dispatched, though officials say the mountain’s difficult terrain could delay the retrieval of her body.

Klára was the first Czech woman to summit both Mount Everest and K2 and was attempting to add Nanga Parbat to her list of 8,000-meter peaks. Known as the “Killer Mountain,” Nanga Parbat has a fatality rate of around 22% and is considered one of the most perilous climbs in the world.

The Alpine Club of Pakistan expressed its condolences, calling her loss a devastating blow to the global climbing community.