Category: Sports

Weeks after a tense military stand-off between nuclear armed arch-rivals Pakistan and India, Pakistan Champions will take on India again in the second edition of the World Championship of Legends (WCL). 

The tournament will be held in England from July 18 to August 2 and will feature some of the biggest retired and non-contracted cricket stars.

Six teams will play for the T20 title: Pakistan, India, England, Australia, South Africa, and the West Indies. Last year, Pakistan came close to winning but lost to India in the final. This time, they hope to go one step further and lift the trophy.

Pakistan’s group stage matches start with two back-to-back games at Edgbaston. They play their first match against hosts England on July 18. Then, on July 20, they will face India in what many fans see as the biggest match of the tournament.

Here is Pakistan’s full World Championship of Legends schedule:

  

    

      
Match
      
Venue
      
Date
      
Day
      
Time
    
  
  

    

      
England Champions vs Pakistan Champions
      
Edgbaston, Birmingham
      
July 18, 2025
      
Friday
      
16:30
    
    

      
India Champions vs Pakistan Champions
      
Edgbaston, Birmingham
      
July 20, 2025
      
Sunday
      
16:30
    
    

      
Pakistan Champions vs South Africa Champions
      
Grace Road, Leicestershire
      
July 25, 2025
      
Friday
      
16:30
    
    

      
Pakistan Champions vs West Indies Champions
      
Headingley, Leeds
      
July 26, 2025
      
Saturday
      
16:30
    
    

      
Australia Champions vs Pakistan Champions
      
Grace Road, Leicestershire
      
July 29, 2025
      
Tuesday
      
16:30
    
  

The top four teams will move to the semi-finals in Birmingham on July 31. The final will be played at Edgbaston on August 2.

With many well-known former cricketers returning to the field, Pakistan will aim to finish what they started last year. But all eyes will be on the big clash against India on July 20, which promises to be the highlight of the tournament.

A prominent West Indies cricketer from Guyana is facing serious allegations of sexual harassment and assault from at least 11 women, including one minor, according to local media reports.

Women have accused the player of various forms of misconduct, including sexual harassment, assault, and rape. The report also alleges that efforts were made to cover up the cricketer’s actions.

When a media outlet reached out to Cricket West Indies for comment, President Kishore Shallow stated he was not in a position to comment at this time.

The accused cricketer was reportedly part of the West Indies squad that defeated Australia in Brisbane in January 2024. Following the tour, he received a warm welcome upon returning to Guyana.

Renowned lawyer Nigel Hughes revealed that one of the alleged victims had first contacted him two years ago. Although no legal action was taken at the time, fresh investigations into the matter have recently resumed.

This development could pose a significant challenge for West Indies cricket, particularly as the team works to rebuild its reputation and improve performance on the international stage.

Pakistan started off in the Asian Youth Girls Netball Championship with an impressive 71–15 victory over Saudi Arabia.

The Pakistani team displayed excellent coordination and skill throughout the game. Players Lia Raza Shah, Alisha Naveed, Samia Safdar, and Halima stood out with their remarkable performances, helping the team dominate from start to finish.

The championship is being held in South Korea and includes 11 participating nations, divided into two groups. Pakistan is placed in Group B alongside Chinese Taipei, Japan, Korea, the Maldives, and Saudi Arabia. Group A features teams from Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, and India.

Pakistan will face Chinese Taipei in its second group match on June 28, followed by matches against Korea on June 29, Japan on June 30, and the Maldives on July 1.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has approved a key change in the rules for men’s T20 international matches, specifically focusing on how the powerplay is calculated when the number of overs in an innings is reduced.

According to ESPNcricinfo, under the new rule, the powerplay duration in shortened matches will now be calculated based on the nearest ball instead of the nearest over. This marks a shift from the earlier system, which often led to imbalances during shortened games.

Currently, in a full 20-over innings, the first six overs are designated as the powerplay, during which only two fielders are allowed outside the 30-yard circle. However, under the revised rule, which will come into effect from July 2025, the powerplay will be adjusted more precisely in proportion to the reduced number of overs.

For example:

In an 8-over innings, the powerplay will consist of 2.2 overs (13 balls)
In a 9-over innings, it will be 2.4 overs (14 balls)

This adjustment ensures that the powerplay remains close to 30 percent of the total overs, maintaining a fair balance between bat and ball, even in shortened formats. The ICC believes this change will make the game more consistent and transparent in reduced-over situations.

The council has informed member nations that ending the powerplay partway through an over is not a new or difficult process. In fact, this approach has already been successfully used in England’s T20 Blast tournament for several years.

In its official statement, the ICC clarified, “This method has never posed any difficulty for players or umpires.”

The ICC Men’s Cricket Committee has approved this proposal and has officially recognized it as the preferred method for determining powerplay duration in reduced T20 matches.

For clarity, the ICC explained that if an innings is cut to 8 overs, the umpire will signal the end of the powerplay after the second ball of the third over. From that point on, three additional fielders will be allowed outside the 30-yard circle.

Cristiano Ronaldo has signed a record-breaking contract with Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr. 

Already the highest-paid player in the world, Ronaldo’s new deal takes things to an entirely different level with unbelievable pay, personal perks, and even partial ownership of the club.

The star player will now earn £178 million annually, around £3.4 million per week, as his base salary for being part of the team.

On top of that, he will also receive:

£80,000 for every goal he scores, which increases by 20 percent if he stays for a second year
£40,000 for every assist, also increasing by 20 percent in year two
A signing bonus of £24.5 million that rises to £38 million if he chooses to extend the contract

He will also earn millions more if the club performs well:

£8 million if Al Nassr wins the Saudi Pro League
£4 million if Ronaldo becomes the top scorer
£6.5 million if the club qualifies for the Asian Champions League and wins it

In a first-of-its-kind move, Ronaldo has been given 15 percent ownership of the club, a share valued at around £33 million. No other active footballer has ever received such a deal, making this contract truly historic. It makes him a player, a club ambassador, and now a part-owner.

The contract also covers Ronaldo’s high-end lifestyle. It includes:

£4 million annually for private jet travel
£60 million worth of sponsorship deals through Saudi brands and partners in Asia
A 16-member personal team just for him, which includes 3 drivers, 4 housekeepers, 2 private chefs, 3 gardeners, and 4 bodyguards

Ronaldo’s original move to Saudi Arabia was already a major turning point. With this new contract, Al Nassr has shown they are fully committed to its goal of becoming a football powerhouse. Ronaldo is not just seen as a football player, but as the face of a sporting revolution in the region.

Even at 40 years old, Ronaldo continues to be Al Nassr’s top scorer and the biggest name in the league. This record-setting deal proves he is still the most valuable brand in world football, both on and off the field.

Lyari Football Academy is set to make history as it prepares to participate in the Norway Cup for the very first time.

As per the details, the academy has marked a milestone for Pakistan’s football scene, securing a slot in the international youth football tournament starting July 26 in Oslo.

To gear up for the tournament, the junior team has begun intensive training at Karachi’s KMC Stadium. Coaches are working on improving the players’ techniques, focusing on aggressive drills and sharp attacks on goalposts.

The squad reportedly includes some players who have previously played the Norway Cup, bringing valuable experience to the team. According to team selector and president of the academy, the players hail not only from Lyari but also from other parts of Karachi and interior Sindh.

Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja has once again taken a strong stand for Palestinians, this time by refusing to give an interview to a media outlet that fired a journalist for speaking up about Gaza.

According to media reports, Khawaja declined to speak with the outlet after noticing its microphone during a scheduled post-match interview. The outlet had earlier terminated renowned cricket journalist Peter Lalor for posting in support of Gaza on social media.

Khawaja not only refused the interview but also apologized to the reporters present. Despite the incident, Cricket Australia has confirmed that it will not take any disciplinary action against the left-handed batter.

Peter Lalor, who was dismissed in February after publicly expressing solidarity with the people of Gaza, praised Khawaja for his principled stand.

“Usman Khawaja is a man of   principles,” said Lalor. “His support meant a lot to me when I lost my job, and I continue to deeply value his ongoing solidarity.”

The post-match interview was scheduled following the first day of the opening Test between Australia and West Indies, which is currently underway.

Pakistan hockey has received a major boost, as the International Hockey Federation (FIH) has officially invited the national team to participate in the upcoming edition of the FIH Pro League. The invitation comes after New Zealand, who had qualified by winning the Nations Cup in Malaysia, reportedly declined to participate.

According to reports, New Zealand defeated Pakistan 2-1 in the final of the Nations Cup, securing their spot in the FIH Pro League. However, following their withdrawal, the FIH has approached Pakistan as the next in line. An official announcement is expected soon.

The FIH Pro Hockey League features the top-ranked teams from around the world and is considered one of the most prestigious tournaments in international hockey. Participation in the league is expected to significantly improve Pakistan’s international ranking and visibility.

Pakistan has not played in the Pro League in recent years, contributing to the national team slipping to 17th position in the world rankings. This invitation marks a potential turning point for the sport in the country.

The next edition of the FIH Pro League is scheduled to take place in February 2026, next year. Pakistan’s inclusion could not only revive the country’s presence on the global hockey stage but also provide much-needed experience against top-tier opponents.