Category: Sports

Pakistani boxer Laura Akram has made history by winning the country’s first-ever world-level medal in elite women’s boxing at the World Boxing Challenge.

The British-Pakistani athlete secured her spot in the semifinals of the tournament, part of the Grand Prix Ústí nad Labem in the Czech Republic, after a dominant 5-0 win over Palestine’s Noura Salman in the 57kg category. This win guarantees at least a bronze medal, as Olympic-style boxing awards medals to all semifinalists.

The 39-year-old boxer chose to represent Pakistan internationally in 2023. Already a national champion, she has risen to become one of the most prominent figures in Pakistani boxing in a short time.

Laura will face Mongolia’s Michidmaa Erdenedalai in the semifinal bout today.

This year’s Grand Prix holds significance as it marks the tournament’s 100-year anniversary, and it is part of the World Boxing Challenge for the second consecutive year. It features 184 boxers from 23 countries, making Laura’s achievement even more impressive.

The competition is being held from June 11 to 14 at the Winter Stadium in Czechia and serves as a critical test for boxers ahead of the 2026 World Championships in Liverpool.

Following the Grand Prix, the next major milestone for elite boxers will be the World Boxing Cup in Astana, Kazakhstan, from June 30 to July 6.

Former Pakistani fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has responded to a legal notice issued by sports journalist Dr Nauman Niaz, following a controversial remark made during a cricket show, The Dugout, on May 25, 2025.

While discussing the coaching and management system of the Pakistan cricket team, Shoaib Akhtar remarked, “Back in my time, I didn’t even know who the coach was. We didn’t know who the manager was either.”

He went on to say, “All we knew was whether our bags had reached our rooms or not. The manager was there just for that,” adding that Dr Nauman “used to carry our bags, that’s why he was there, right? He’d type something on a computer and make sure our bags got to our rooms.”

Dr Nauman Niaz took offence to the remarks, calling them defamatory and damaging to his reputation, and subsequently issued a legal notice to Shoaib Akhtar.

In response, Akhtar, through his lawyer, Advocate Abu Zar Salman Niazi, denied all allegations and rejected the claims made in the notice.

He asserted that the comment was made during a live show and should be seen as a casual statement, not as defamatory. “It is a fact that Nauman Niaz was in charge of team logistics at one point and used to carry players’ bags. There’s nothing defamatory in stating that,” Akhtar said.

Earlier, in a notice sent on May 29, Dr Nauman Niaz’s lawyer, Qazi Umair Ali, claimed that Shoaib Akhtar’s statements had harmed his client’s public image.

This is not the first time tensions have flared between the two. In 2021, a live TV spat between them led to Shoaib Akhtar walking off a PTV Sports show mid-air. Although he later returned to the show, the relationship between the two has remained strained since.

Due to the ongoing tensions with Pakistan, the upcoming Asia Cup 2025 is likely to be shifted from India, media reports have claimed.

According to reports, India was originally set to host this year’s Asia Cup. However, after its refusal to tour Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy, Pakistan has also decided to play its matches at a neutral venue, which could lead to the entire tournament being shifted.

Reports suggest that due to the strained relations between the two neighbours, the tournament, scheduled for September, is likely to be shifted to the United Arab Emirates (UAE); however, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) will retain India as the official host.

ACC President Mohsin Naqvi is expected to make an official announcement regarding the future of the tournament soon.

It merits a mention that this edition of the Asia Cup will be played in the T20 format as part of preparations for the 2026 T20 World Cup. The tournament will continue for two weeks and feature 19 matches.

Earlier, reports also emerged that a tri-nation series involving Pakistan, Afghanistan and the UAE was being discussed ahead of the tournament. The plan is yet to be finalised.

In addition to the Asia Cup, India is also scheduled to host the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 and the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. However, recent political tensions have raised doubts over these events as well.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is reportedly planning to convert the upcoming bilateral series with Afghanistan into a tri-nation series by adding the UAE as the third team, reportedly in line with its plan to give the national team more T20I experience before next year’s T20 World Cup.

Afghanistan is scheduled to play three T20I matches in Pakistan this August, just before the 2025 Asia Cup. However, according to reports, the PCB is now looking to hold the series in the UAE and include the host nation as the third team.

Reports suggest that the change is aimed at preparing Pakistan for the Asia Cup, which is also expected to be held in the UAE. Pakistan has refused to travel to India, the official host of the 2025 Asia Cup, prompting the consideration of the UAE as a neutral venue. The UAE has hosted many international matches in the past, and is seen as a convenient location for all participating teams.

If finalised, the tri-nation series will feature Pakistan, Afghanistan, and the UAE. It will serve as a key tournament for teams to test their squads, experiment with playing combinations, and build momentum ahead of the Asia Cup.

Although there has been no official confirmation yet, reports indicate that the proposal is likely to be approved. Once finalised, the cricket boards of the three countries are expected to announce the schedule, venues, and other relevant details.

Senegal defeated England 3-1 in a friendly match held in Nottingham, creating history as the first African team to beat England.

England kicked off to a strong start, with Harry Kane scoring in the 7th minute after receiving a pass from Walker. The goal marked Kane’s 73rd in international football. 

Senegal, however, quickly bounced back with confidence and energy.

Ismaila Sarr scored the equaliser just before halftime, shifting the momentum. In the second half, Habib Diarra put Senegal ahead in the 62nd minute. Cheikh Sabaly then added a third goal during stoppage time, sealing a memorable win.

England came close to scoring again when Jude Bellingham found the net, but the goal was ruled out for handball after a VAR review. Bellingham reacted emotionally to the decision and chased the referee in protest.

Senegal displayed strong defensive discipline, denying England many scoring opportunities. Their strategy and teamwork allowed them to maintain control throughout the match.

The result marked Thomas Tuchel’s first defeat as England’s head coach. Critics have suggested that he must now quickly address the team’s weaknesses.

Harry Kane reflected on the performance, saying, “There was a lack of preparation and coordination in the team. We didn’t find the right team capacity, and the aggressive style we used to have was missing.”

Tuchel added, “The team was quiet and gave away easy goals,” but remained optimistic, saying, “This was a learning experience.”

Former Pakistan Test coach Jason Gillespie has once again spoken out against the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), this time expressing his disappointment over Chairman Mohsin Naqvi’s absence from an important team-building session.

Speaking on The Howie Games podcast, Gillespie shared that he and white-ball head coach Gary Kirsten had made great efforts to attend the “connection camp”, an idea introduced by Kirsten to strengthen team unity. However, they were surprised when the PCB Chairman did not show up in person.

“Gary came up with this great idea of a connection camp. Everyone in Pakistan cricket basically shared their experiences in that meeting. I flew in from Australia, Gary flew in from South Africa, and Chairman Mohsin Naqvi dialled in Zoom. He is based in Lahore, but Gary came in from Africa. We both felt that the Chairman could not even drive 20 minutes to come here; that was a bit unusual,” Gillespie said.

Gillespie’s comments suggest that he was unhappy with the level of interest shown by PCB leadership in the team’s progress. 

Although the PCB had announced Gillespie’s departure from the Test coaching role as a mutual decision, his recent comments show that his time with the Board did not end well.

Both Jason Gillespie and Gary Kirsten left their roles without making a lasting impact on the team.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has made significant changes to its selection committee and T20 squad. According to reports, former Test players Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq have been removed from the selection panel, with 2017 Champions Trophy-winning captain Sarfaraz Ahmed and cricket analyst Sikandar Bakht added in their place.

Reports suggest that Sarfaraz joined the recent selection meeting via video call from England, while Sikandar Bakht was present in Lahore. Others in attendance included head coach Mike Hesson, T20I captain Salman Ali Agha, and selectors Aaqib Javed and Aleem Dar.

The new committee has made several bold decisions. Three major players, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Babar Azam, and Mohammad Rizwan, have been left out of the upcoming T20 squad. Pakistan is expected to play a three-match T20I series against Bangladesh in July, followed by matches against the West Indies in the USA.

Despite Shaheen’s strong performance in the recent PSL, reports suggest that concerns about his attitude were a key factor in his exclusion. Babar and Rizwan have not featured in a T20I since the 2024 series against South Africa.

Sarfaraz and Sikandar have now attended two consecutive selection meetings. While no official announcement has been made regarding their exact roles, reports indicate that Sarfaraz is likely to assume greater responsibilities owing to his experience and strong rapport with players. Since retiring from international cricket, he has expressed interest in working closely with the PCB.

Meanwhile, Azhar Ali is now involved in youth development programmes, and Asad Shafiq is focusing on the Karachi High-Performance Centre and the women’s selection committee.

Sikandar Bakht returns to the PCB setup after a long hiatus. He last served as a team analyst in 2003. Known for his outspoken views on cricket, he is reportedly a trusted figure within the current setup.

The PCB is expected to make official announcements regarding these changes soon. For now, the focus remains on building a refreshed T20 side for the upcoming international fixtures.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced the names of players who have been granted No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to participate in some of the top international cricket leagues this summer.

Among these are Pakistan’s top centrally contracted players like Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Mohammad Rizwan.

According to PCB’s policy, players who are under central contracts are only allowed to take part in two foreign leagues within a calendar year. This rule helps the board manage players’ workload and is the main reason why some players are either approved or denied NOCs.

The list includes players taking part in several leagues around the world. Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi and Mohammad Rizwan are set to feature in Australia’s Big Bash League (BBL). Mohammad Amir, Shan Masood, Kashif Ali, Abbas Afridi, Khawaja Khurram and Hasan Ali have been cleared to play County Cricket in England. Meanwhile, Khawaja Nafay and Hasan Nawaz will participate in the Global Super League and Muhammad Nawaz and Hassan Khan are set to join the Caribbean Premier League.

Meanwhile, Babar Azam’s name is not officially in the first phase of BBL 15 draft registrations; however, his inclusion in the PCB’s NOC list indicates that he is available for selection.

The BBL 15 Draft is scheduled for 19 June 2025, when Pakistani players will be up for grabs. This year marks the first time that Pakistani cricketers will be available for the entire BBL season, giving teams greater flexibility in selecting their squads.