Category: 6. Sports

Saturday morning at the Padel Arena is calm, with a warm summer breeze gently sweeping through the venue. But as the announcement echoes across the arena, the atmosphere shifts. India vs. Pakistan in the quarter-finals. The center court is locked, ready for a historic clash that will be remembered for years to come.

This is more than just a match; it’s a battle of pride, a showdown between two nations with a rivalry that transcends sport. It’s a meeting of cultures, a celebration of spirit, and a moment that sends butterflies through the hearts of millions. The players take the court not just for victory, but for the honor of their countries.

Team Pakistan, under the management of Sindh Padel Collective, enters the arena as proud challengers. As underdogs in many eyes, they are ready to face their formidable rivals with strength and determination. There is no doubt that every drop of sweat, every rally, and every serve will be delivered with the utmost commitment to their nation. This match is more than just a sport – it’s a fight for national glory, a testament to the pride and unity of Pakistan.

The atmosphere is charged with patriotism as the teams prepare to battle it out, but regardless of the outcome, one thing is clear: this quarter-final will be a chapter in history that fans from both nations will cherish forever. The game will go down not just for the victory, but for the courage, passion, and unwavering determination shown by both sides.

Stay tuned as the The Padel Collective and Team Pakistan make their mark at the APPC Cup Quarter finals , and witness the drama and emotion of one of the greatest rivalries in sports.

India has submitted a bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad, hoping it will bolster its credentials to stage the 2036 Olympic Games, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) said.

An IOA delegation submitted the bid proposal at the Commonwealth Sport headquarters in London on Friday.

“This is not just a bid to stage a sporting event – it is our commitment to the Commonwealth family to deliver Games that are athlete-centred, inclusive, sustainable and future-facing,” Harpal Singh, a member of the IOA’s executive council, said.

“Our vision is to use this milestone not only to honour the past but to set the stage for the future – ensuring the Games remain relevant, impactful and viable for the next century.”

India’s federal government on Wednesday gave the go-ahead to sign the host collaboration agreement along with the required guarantees from the concerned ministries.

Singh, also a member of the sports committee of Commonwealth Sport, called it a “proud moment”, which took India closer to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “vision of bringing the Olympic Games 2036 to India”.

A “baggy green” Test cap worn by Australian cricketing legend Don Bradman has been bought for Aus$438,550 (US$287,000) by the country’s National Museum, which called it an iconic slice of history.

Skipper Bradman, who famously averaged 99.94 in Test matches, sported the cap during England’s 1946-47 Ashes tour of Australia, the first to be played between the two sides after World War II.

National Museum director Katherine McMahon said that with cricket far from people’s minds during the war, the Test series represented a sign of hope and optimism.

“Sir Donald’s baggy green marks the life of Australia’s most celebrated batsman and reflects a time when sporting heroes gave Australians hope, following the heartbreak and hardship of World War II,” she said late on Friday.

“We are delighted this national treasure has found a home here at the National Museum of Australia for all Australians to enjoy.”

The cap, bought from a private owner, is one of 11 worn by Bradman known to exist.

One that he used during India’s 1947-48 tour of Australia, his final Test series on home soil, fetched US$250,000 last year.

Australia’s cricketers are awarded the dark green woollen caps before Test debuts and they are revered by players and fans alike.

Arts Minister Tony Burke said the purchase safeguarded an important piece of national history.

“You’d be hard-pressed to meet an Australian that hasn’t heard of the great Donald Bradman, arguably the greatest cricketer of all time,” he said.

“Now to have one of his iconic baggy greens in the National Museum of Australia means visitors will have the opportunity to get up close and connect with our sporting and cultural history.”

The cap will go into the National Historical Collection in Canberra alongside other Bradman memorabilia, including an autographed bat from the first Test at Trent Bridge in Nottingham during the 1934 Ashes series.

Bradman, described by cricket authority Wisden as the greatest to “have ever graced the gentleman’s game”, died in 2001 aged 92.

Published on Aug 30, 2025

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has made a surprising decision to recall Imam-ul-Haq from his stint at Yorkshire, where he is in the midst of a career run in the One‑Day Cup. The in‑form opener will now play his last game for the county in Sunday’s semi‑final against Hampshire at Scarborough before returning home.

The 29‑year‑old has been a revelation in the 50‑over competition, scoring 583 runs at an average of 97.16 in seven matches to sit second on the run‑scoring charts behind Hampshire’s Nick Gubbins, who has played nine games. His standout knock came against Northamptonshire Steelbacks, where he smashed a career‑best 159 off 130 balls, underlining his pedigree as one of the tournament’s most consistent performers.

His tally includes three hundreds and three fifties, helping Yorkshire top their group with seven wins from eight matches.

Team‑mate James Wharton paid glowing tribute to Imam, both for his runs and his personality.

“He’s been amazing. The runs he has scored have been superb; we couldn’t have wished for it to go any better,” Wharton told BBC Radio Leeds. “He’s an intelligent man, and batting alongside him is a great learning experience because he talks you through it all. He’s also a rock star off the field—a very funny guy who’s had a real impact in the dressing room. It’s gutting he won’t be with us if we get to the final.”

Signed in July as a replacement for India’s Ruturaj Gaikwad, Imam-ul-Haq’s stint with Yorkshire was initially expected to last the season, including the County Championship. But his blistering form has thrust him back into the sights of Pakistan’s selectors.

After missing the recent Test series against the West Indies, the left‑hander is now being strongly considered for a recall ahead of the October Test series against South Africa.

Selectors are also expected to assess his red‑ball form in the Hanif Mohammad Trophy next month, a key factor in finalizing Pakistan’s Test squad.

Yorkshire, meanwhile, will be left with the sizeable task of filling the void of a player whose short stay has been transformative both on and off the field.

Chelsea host west London neighbours Fulham in Saturday’s lunchtime Premier League derby at Stamford Bridge.

Both clubs have made unbeaten starts to the season and will view this fixture as a springboard to push towards the top end of the table.

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A well-rested Chelsea side, who received a bye in the Carabao Cup, will look to build on a thumping league win last weekend. They face a resilient Fulham team who are also in good spirits after extending their unbeaten start to the season with a midweek cup victory.

This fixture has been dominated by Chelsea historically, but Fulham took four points off the Blues last season, including a famous victory at Stamford Bridge. With both clubs aiming to push towards the top end of the table, this promises to be a compelling derby.

Chelsea vs Fulham – Match preview and team news

• Date: Saturday, 30 August 2025

• Venue: Stamford Bridge, London

• Last meeting: Fulham 1-2 Chelsea, 20 April 2025, Premier League

Team News

Chelsea

Enzo Maresca has ruled out Cole Palmer for the clash. The forward is struggling with a groin injury, and sat out last week’s win at West Ham.

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However, the manager will have been delighted with his attack during last weekend’s 5-1 win, where the front four of Liam Delap, João Pedro, Pedro Neto, and Estêvão all started and combined superbly.

The manager is also without the suspended Mykhaylo Mudryk and long-term absentees Levi Colwill and Benoît Badiashile.

Fulham

Marco Silva has a near fully-fit squad to choose from. He has been boosted by the return to training of left-backs Antonee Robinson and Ryan Sessegnon, who both face late fitness tests.

In attack, Rodrigo Muniz is expected to be recalled after being rested for the midweek cup win, despite a goalscoring performance from his replacement, Raúl Jiménez.

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Form

Chelsea

Chelsea enter this derby in fine form, having had a full week to prepare after their thumping 5-1 victory at West Ham last weekend. Enzo Maresca’s side are unbeaten in their last four competitive games and have scored 13 goals in that time.

Fulham

The Cottagers are also in a strong run of form, having extended their unbeaten start to the season with a 2-0 Carabao Cup victory over Bristol City in midweek.

Marco Silva’s side have lost just one of their last seven competitive matches and will take huge confidence from their 2-1 win at Stamford Bridge on Boxing Day last year.

Predicted Lineups

Chelsea predicted XI: Sánchez; Gusto, Adarabioyo, Chalobah, Cucurella; Caicedo, Enzo Fernández; Neto, João Pedro, Estêvão; Delap.

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Fulham predicted XI: Leno; Tete, Andersen, Bassey, Sessegnon; Berge, Lukić; Castagne, Smith Rowe, Iwobi; Muniz.

How to watch Chelsea vs Fulham?

The match will be broadcast live in the UK on TNT Sports 1 and TNT Sports Ultimate. Coverage is scheduled to begin at 12pm BST, and subscribers can stream the action via discovery+ and the TNT Sports app.

Read – Garnacho transfer fee revealed as Chelsea agree deal with Man Utd

See More-  Power Rankings: Spurs in, Dutch gatecrasher, no Liverpool?

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The 29-year-old upset ninth seed Karen Khachanov in a five-set battle on Thursday on Court 11. After the match, Majchrzak took off his cap and tried to give it to a boy in the stands, as reported by Daily Mail.

A man standing next to the child reached over, took the cap, and shoved it in his bag while the boy looked on, upset, asking, “what are you doing?” The player walked away without realizing what had happened.

Also Read: Kamil Majchrzak’s ‘selfish’ fan creates a scene at US Open; kid left in tears – Watch

Majchrzak used Instagram to track down the boy

The clip spread quickly online, with many calling the man “selfish” and “a jerk.” On Friday, Majchrzak posted on Instagram asking for help to find the boy. He said he had plenty of caps from his sponsor and wanted to make sure the child received one. Hours later, he confirmed the boy had been found, writing, “I am impressed by the power of the internet. We got it! All good now.”

The incident came after the biggest win of Majchrzak’s career. He beat Khachanov 2-6, 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-5, 7-6(5) in four and a half hours, saving five match points. It was his first win over a Top 10 player and moved him into the third round of the US Open, matching his best result at the tournament.

Khachanov won the first two sets and led 5-3 in the fifth while serving for the match, but Majchrzak refused to give in. He saved match points, broke back, and forced a tiebreak, which he won 10-5.

“This is the biggest win of my career,” Majchrzak said. “It shows I can compete with the very best and gives me so much belief.”

He will now face Swiss qualifier Leandro Riedi, ranked 435, who also pulled off an upset by defeating No. 19 seed Francisco Cerundolo. A win would send Majchrzak into the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time.

Soccer officials in Oceania hope a new western Pacific-based competition might enable the region to better compete on the global stage and establish a blueprint for others to follow.

The Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) on Friday announced eight preferred clubs that will participate in its first ever OFC Professional League in January if they successfully complete the final stages of the licensing and compliance process.

New Zealand, the premier power in the confederation, has two: Auckland FC and Christchurch United. Fiji, the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea are represented respectively by Bula Boys, Solomon Kings and Hekari United.

There is also Vanuatu FC and Tahiti United. South Melbourne joins from Australia, although the nation left the OFC in 2006 to join the Asian Football Confederation.

The small populations scattered across the islands of Oceania make it difficult for countries to develop their own infrastructures and challenge on the international stage.

“This is the first ever professional league specifically for the Oceania region,” league manager Stuart Larman told The Associated Press. “It provides a professional pathway for players, coaches, referees and administrators, something that will help all hone their skills and competitiveness.”

A chance to play more matches is a priority.

“When I first traveled around the member associations of the OFC, I was told that the best players tend to have two or three highly competitive matches in a year,” said Larman. “The league guarantees that high level competition for at least 17 matches per club every season.”

More competition could help at the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup.

At the 2025 edition, Auckland City, the OFC’s highest-ranked club, lost 10-0 to Bayern Munich and 6-0 to Benfica, although it went on to draw 1-1 with Boca Juniors of Argentina.

The new league will provide a way to qualify for the 2029 tournament.

“The league will certainly provide the conditions for the OFC representatives to be best prepared in FIFA competitions,” said Larman.

It should help raise standards off the field, too.

“The licensing metrics required by the OFC will necessitate the selected clubs to implement professional governance, infrastructure, and sporting standards,” James Kitching, a former senior FIFA and AFC executive, told AP. “Those flow-on effects may include increased training compensation and solidarity mechanism payments to clubs, or even payment of transfer fees.”

If everything goes according to plan, there could be new regional leagues springing up elsewhere in the world, especially as the governing body’s attitude has changed.

“FIFA has taken a much more liberal and flexible approach to the traditional ‘same country, same league’ model that is common across world football,” Kitching added. “The cross-border model could be potentially adopted in several regions of the world, whether for sporting, commercial, infrastructure or other reasons.”

The OFC Professional League will be officially launched in Auckland at the end of October.

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

August has been a very good month for Pakistani footballers securing deals in Europe, and women’s team striker Mariam Mahmood has added her name to the list after signing with Wrexham AFC Women.

The Welsh club confirmed the signing, with the Pakistan international penning a one‑year deal to play in the first tier of women’s football in Wales.

The 21‑year‑old’s arrival was announced alongside new teammates Josie Smith and Hannah Snape, further bolstering Wrexham’s squad following recent additions Katie Barker and Jodie Bartle.

Mariam Mahmood, who rose through the youth ranks at West Brom, made 80 first‑team appearances under head coach Jenny Sugarman. She has already established herself on the international stage for Pakistan, memorably scoring twice in a 2–1 win over Kyrgyzstan during the AFC Women’s Asian Cup qualifiers—a performance that turned heads across Asia.

Speaking after the signing, Mahmood expressed her excitement: “I’m delighted to be signing. It’s such a big club, with a good fan base and a lot of potential. I’m really excited to be joining.”

Wrexham AFC Women compete in the Adran Premier, the top tier of women’s football in Wales. The team is part of Wrexham A.F.C., which has gained notoriety in recent years after being purchased by Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds.

Mariam Mahmood’s move is seen as another positive sign for Pakistan women’s football, which has been steadily gaining momentum as more players secure professional contracts abroad.

Backed by the club’s growing global profile, Wrexham’s women’s team will look to Mariam Mahmood’s attacking flair to push them to new heights in the coming season, which starts in September.

The infamous IPL 2008 ‘slapgate’ incident between Harbhajan Singh and Sreesanth became fresh in the memories of the Indian cricket fans once again after former Indian Premier League (IPL) chairman Lalit Modi shared the unseen footage in a podcast recently. One of the darkest incidents in the history of the IPL, then Mumbai Indians cricketer Harbhajan Singh had slapped Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) pacer Sreesanth at the end of the game in Mohali on the night of April 25.

While no video of the incident came out in public, an image of Sreesanth crying uncontrollably dominated the media space for all these years. While Harbhajan was suspended for the remainder of the season and also got a five-ODI ban from BCCI as a part of punishment, the former India off-spinner had time and again apologized to Sreesanth and his family.

At a time when both the cricketers and their families have moved on from the incident, Modi’s video has once again complicated things. However, one question that came up in everyone’s mind was why the video was hidden for close to two decades?

According to cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle, the video was kept hidden to save the image of the IPL, which was at his nascent stage at that point of time. Making the video public would have had a negative impact on the league.

“Interesting that the Harbhajan-Sreesanth video has found its way out after 17 years. Very few of us had seen it and we had given our word that it would stay out of the public domain because the IPL was in its first year and it wouldn’t have been the best bit of news for it,” Bhogle wrote on X.

Why only Lalit Modi had IPL 2008 slapgate video?

According to Modi, the video was captured by one of his security cameras since the broadcasting cameras had been shut off following the game. “As players were exchanging handshakes, Bhajji just looked at Sreesanth, said something, and gave him a backhander. That’s what the footage shows. I’ve had it for 18 years,” Modi said at Beyond23 Cricket Podcast with former Australian captain Michael Clarke.

However, Modi’s recent act didn’t go well with Sreesanth’s wife Bhuvneshwari, who called both the former IPL boss and Clarke “inhumane and heartless”. She stated that the video will heavily impact both the families after having moved on from the incident. Interestingly, ex-cricketers have restrained from commenting on the matter, keeping in mind the privacy of both Sreesanth and Harbhajan.