Category: 6. Sports

Three-time champions Pakistan withdrew from the tournament over security concerns and were replaced by Bangladesh.

Pakistan will miss the Asia Cup hockey tournament for the first time in its history due to security concerns as the tournament begins in India on Friday.

The eight-nation tournament is being hosted in Rajgir – a city in India’s northeastern state of Bihar – three months after India and Pakistan returned from the brink of an all-out war on their shared border.

The three-time former champions and one of the founding members of the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) have been replaced by Bangladesh in Group B of the upcoming tournament.

Pakistan’s omission from the competition was confirmed by Hockey India’s (HI) President Dilip Kumar Tirkey last week, citing the Pakistan Hockey Federation’s (PHF) concerns over their squad’s security in India.

“Pakistan is not coming to this tournament due to security concerns,” Tirkey told Indian news agency ANI.

Tirkey said the host nation “never refused” Pakistan the chance to participate in the competition and that they have withdrawn of their own accord.

Reports in Pakistani media said the PHF informed HI and the AHF of their decision earlier in August, while their omission was confirmed when the tournament’s schedule was announced last week.

India and Pakistan were engaged in a four-day conflict in May, their worst standoff since 1999, before a ceasefire was agreed. More than 70 people were killed in missile, drone and artillery fire on both sides, but there are competing claims on the casualties.

Following the escalations, several Indian media outlets reported that the country’s sport bodies would avoid being grouped with Pakistan at global sport tournaments. However, both nations were allocated the same group in the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup hosted in India – but with Pakistan playing its matches at a neutral venue.

The move came on the back of a mutual agreement – brokered by the ICC and signed by the cricket boards of both countries – to “host” its neighbour at a neutral venue at all future global cricket tournaments.

However, no such agreements were signed or brokered by officials for hockey tournaments.

Pakistan’s double jeopardy

Pakistan, which last won the tournament in 1989, will miss out on an opportunity to qualify for the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 by not participating in the Asia Cup.

The Asia Cup champions will earn a direct spot in the 2026 World Cup, while teams ranked second to sixth will enter the qualifiers. Pakistan are currently ranked 15th in the FIH World Hockey rankings for men and have bleak prospects of qualifying for the World Cup.

Meanwhile, India will relish the opportunity to not only win the continental title at home but also book their berth in the World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Belgium and the Netherlands in August 2026.

Defending champions South Korea will also be among the favourites and will target a record-extending sixth Asian crown. Malaysia, Japan, China, Kazakhstan and Chinese Taipei are the other participant nations at the 2025 edition.

Shared hockey glory

Hockey is the national sport in both India and Pakistan, and the two South Asian sides ruled the sport until the early 1990s.

The 1947 partition of India that led to the creation of Pakistan and gave birth to a decades-long mostly political rivalry spilled over into sport.

Up until then, the then-Indian team included players from both sides of the border that now divides them, and won gold at the 1928, 1932 and 1936 Olympic Games.

Between them, India and Pakistan have won 11 Olympic gold medals, five world titles, three FIH Champions Trophy titles and given the world dozens of hockey legends.

The two countries last met on the hockey field in the Asian Champions Trophy in 2024, when India won 2-1 and went on to lift the title.

“I’d call that Match of the Century, I don’t know about Match of the Day,” smiled the breathless BBC commentator Kenneth Wolstenhome at the conclusion of a thrilling encounter, fitting for the first-ever broadcast of what has become the world’s longest-running football TV show.

The British institution began in August 1964. Unlike today’s offering, when action from all the day’s top-flight games is shown, nearly 60 years ago just one match was filmed – hence the title – and our opening day clash against Bill Shankly’s reigning champions was picked for MOTD’s debut later that evening.

At the time, there was a palpable sense of nervousness amongst football chairmen at the prospect of televised highlights of matches. The nagging feeling was that TV coverage would have a detrimental effect on attendances, so details of the match being broadcast that night weren’t released to the public until 4pm on the Saturday afternoon, when paying fans were already inside the ground.

The inaugural show is a wonderfully evocative period piece. Barry Stoller’s (now) classic theme tune wasn’t used until the dawning of the era of colour TV in 1970. Instead the show, which was broadcast on BBC2 and which was only available to viewers within range of the Crystal Palace transmitter, kicked off with Drum Majorette by Arnold Stock.

The black and white montage at the beginning shows glimpses of football in the black and white era. Lads and lasses sway in unison on a Spion Kop, wearing flat caps and headscarves, smoking cigarettes, and swigging brown ale.

When the programme starts, and with the Fab Four chanting ‘Yeah, yeah, yeah’ in the background over the PA system, Wolstenhome, some two years before his famous ‘They think it’s all over’ commentary during the 1966 World Cup Final, welcomes viewers to ‘Beatleville.’

The on-pitch action lasts for just shy of an hour, with the sole focus on the Anfield clash. In the first hour, the hosts dominated. Winger Ian Callaghan set up Roger Hunt for a superbly executed lobbed finish, and then Callaghan crossed to Gordon Wallace who headed home to make it 2-0.

But Billy Wright’s Arsenal, fielding a front five of George Armstrong, Geoff Strong, Joe Baker, George Eastham and Terry Anderson, came roaring back. Following a neat one-two with Eastham, Strong fired home impressively from 20 yards, which the Kop sportingly applauded. Armstrong’s clever cross then saw Joe Baker acrobatically head us level, but in the dying seconds of the match, Gordon Wallace fired home Liverpool’s winner, leaving the vast majority of the 47,620 crowd streaming away in high spirits.

Years later, Eastham recalled: “The match summed up Arsenal in that era. We were good going forward, but less than secure at the back. Geoff [Strong] did well out of it, though. Bill Shankly liked the look of what he saw so much that he signed him for Liverpool in November!” Strong won the league title at Anfield in 1966, with his former club treading water in mid-table.

Dozens of clashes between the two red-shirted rivals – from title deciders, to European encounters and domestic cup finals – have received top TV billing in the decades since. But the timeless classic from 1964 will always remain a unique piece of television history.

Asia Cup 2025: Sri Lanka Cricket, on Thursday, August 28, named their 16-member squad for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025, which is starting on September 9.

Star all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga has also been included in the 16-member squad after being out of the field from T20Is since January 2025.

Hasaranga has been suffering from a long injury spell, which has kept him out of the field. Previously in the T20I series against Bangladesh, the Sri Lankan allrounder was out of the squad due to a hamstring injury.

Wanindu Hasaranga made his T20I debut in 2019, against New Zealand. In the 20-over format for Sri Lanka, the 28-year-old picked 131 wickets at an economy rate of 6.98. He also scored 712 runs from 67 T20I innings.

In the Indian Premier League (IPL), Hasaranga bagged 46 wickets after playing 37 matches and 37 innings in the cash-rich tournament.

Chamika Karunaratne, Dasun Shanaka, and Matheesha Pathirana are among the pace bowling attack for the Sri Lankans in the upcoming tournament. On the other hand, Dunith Wellalage, Wanindu Hasaranga, and Maheesh Theekshana will be leading their spin bowling attack.

Charith Asalanka will be leading Sri Lanka in the upcoming Asia Cup 2025.

Sri Lanka have been placed in Group B, alongside Afghanistan, Hong Kong, and Bangladesh. On the other hand, Group A consists of Oman, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Pakistan, and India.

Sri Lanka will start their voyage in the Asia Cup 2025, against Bangladesh, on September 13, at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. The final match of the Asia Cup 2025 will take place on Sunday, September 28.

Sri Lanka Squad for Asia Cup 2025: Charith Asalanka (C), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Nuwanidu Fernando, Kamindu Mendis, Kamil Mishara, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Binura Fernando, Nuwan Thushara, Matheesha Pathirana.

KARACHI:

Pakistan’s recently announced squad has once again sparked debates among fans and experts alike.

With a mix of youthful talent and bold exclusions, the selection raises an important question: has the PCB finally struck the right balance, or is this another gamble on the big stage?

The PCB confirmed Pakistan’s squad for the upcoming tri-series against UAE and Afghanistan, followed by the Asia Cup 2025. On paper, the side looks fresh, energetic, and hungry to prove itself. Yet, for a tournament of this magnitude—where Pakistan has not lifted the trophy since 2012—the absence of experience looms large.

Since Pakistan’s last Asia Cup win, Sri Lanka have claimed titles in 2014 and 2022, while India dominated in 2016, 2018, and 2023. Pakistan came close in 2022, under Babar Azam’s leadership, but lost the final from a winning position.

A year later, under his leadership, the team crashed out in fourth place. That painful history makes this squad announcement all the more significant.

No two omissions have created more noise than those of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan. Both were once seen as the backbone of Pakistan’s T20I side, but the stats reveal why the selectors chose a different path.

Babar last played a T20I in 2024, and since that year’s T20 World Cup, he has gone 10 matches — including the mega event — without scoring a single fifty. His strike rate in this period is 118.59 at an average of 26.22.

Rizwan’s case is even worse. In his last 8 T20Is, he managed just 211 runs at a strike rate of 94.19. His knocks of 16 off 26 against Australia, 74 off 62 against South Africa, and 31 off 44 against India in the T20 World Cup were game-changing—but for the wrong reasons.

These numbers show why the selectors felt justified in moving on. For too long, Pakistan’s top order has been accused of playing “anchor cricket” in a format that demands fearless hitting.

In their place, Sahibzada Farhan and Mohammad Haris bring a refreshing intent. Farhan, with three Player of the Match awards in his last six T20Is, has shown he can deliver under pressure. Haris, too, has the aggressive mindset Pakistan’s batting has been crying out for.

The bowling department looks balanced. Shaheen Shah Afridi leads the attack with form and confidence, having topped the wicket charts in the PSL 10. In contrast, Naseem Shah’s exclusion seems harsh to some fans, but the numbers are telling—an economy rate of 8.01 and an average of 34.68 in T20Is does not inspire confidence. His ODI performances may be solid, but in T20 cricket, he remains costly.

The spin department could prove decisive, especially in UAE conditions. Mohammad Nawaz’s all-round utility, along with Sufiyan Muqeem and Abrar Ahmed, offers flexibility.

Pakistan’s middle order finally shows signs of balance. Mohammad Haris, Hasan Nawaz, and Khushdil Shah are capable of finishing games with power. Yet, the key lies with Salman Ali Agha, the newly appointed skipper. His ability to anchor chases, rotate strike, and handle spin will be vital in UAE conditions. This leadership test could define not just Pakistan’s Asia Cup but also his captaincy career.

Dropping big names like Babar and Rizwan is never easy. For years, they were considered “untouchables” in Pakistan cricket. But cricket is a game of evolution, and their inability to adapt to the modern T20 tempo made this move inevitable.

Pakistan’s squad for the Asia Cup 2025 carries the energy of youth, the sharpness of new talent, and a clear intent to play fearless cricket. But the real question remains: will this new look side rise to the occasion, or will inexperience cost Pakistan another shot at silverware?

One thing is certain—all eyes will be on this squad. And if they click, the Asia Cup drought since 2012 may finally come to an end.

Hello and welcome to Olympics.com’s live coverage of the Diamond League Final 2025 men’s javelin throw competition from Zurich’s iconic Letzigrund Stadium.

India’s Neeraj Chopra, the reigning world champion, will look to reclaim his Diamond League Trophy tonight at the same venue where he first clinched the crown in 2022.

This will be Neeraj’s sixth Diamond League Final appearance. He qualified after finishing second in Doha with a national record 90.23m and winning in Paris with 88.16m. He then skipped Silesia and Brussels to focus on Zurich.

The Zurich Final features a stacked seven-man field with six throwers ranked inside the world’s top 10.

KATOWICE (Poland) – In front of two passionate fanbases, Israel and Iceland opened the curtain on Group D action at FIBA EuroBasket 2025. Only the first one could celebrate a win, though.

Imposing their physicality, limiting Iceland’s quickness, and eventually finding defensive adjustments to close the paint, Deni Avdija and co. started their tournament with a 83-71 victory.

Turning Point

Israel went on a 10-0 run in the first quarter to jump in the driver’s seat and led by as many as 8 points early on but Iceland exploited Tryggvi Hlinason’s presence in the paint to make it a two-possession game, cutting the deficit to 36-32 at halftime.

The start of the third quarter told a different story, as Ariel Beit-Halahmy’s team quickly created a 17-point lead; they also forced one eight-second and one backcourt violation, tightening their grip on the game.

TCL Player of the Game

Roman Sorkin was the big protagonist of Israel’s victory, especially on the offensive end, and produced one of his best national-team games ever with 31 points and 5 rebounds, shooting 9-of-12 from two-point range and 4-of-7 from three.

He was had lots of help by Deni Avdija. Despite a rough three-point shooting afternoon (0-of-5), the Portland Trail Blazers star still had a well-rounded performance with 20 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 blocks.

Stats Don’t Lie

We have been enjoying Iceland’s fast-paced transition game for quite some time, but Craig Pedersen’s team couldn’t deliver their best version as they struggled hugely from deep. They shot only 5-of-29 beyond the arc.

Moreover, it definitely wasn’t Martin Hermannsson’s day. The Icelandic leader scored only 4 points, shooting 2-of-14 from the field.

Bottom Line

Propelled by the Avdija-Sorkin duo, Israel demonstrated why they have the tools to establish themselves as the darkhorse of Group D. Their upcoming matchup against co-hosts Poland should be a challenge to their ambition.

Entering their third-ever FIBA EuroBasket with a loss, Iceland still haven’t grabbed a victory at this stage, but they will take hear from Elvar Fridriksson’s 17-point performance in a losing effort; the paint colossus Tryggvi Hlinason had his first-ever FIBA EuroBasket double-double with 13 points and 14 rebounds.

They Said

For more quotes, tune in to the official post-game press conference!

FIBA

More than 190 delegates from 45 countries gathered in Astana to discuss the future of parasport.

“We made a lot of important decisions. We discussed chapters of the strategic plan, what we achieved, the goals, the KPIs, and we set new strategic goals,” said Majid Rashed, President of the Asian Paralympic Committee (APC).

“For us, this is a platform to hear new ideas, learn about new sports that will be adapted for para-athletes and find out about medical requirements,” added Kairat Boranbayev, President of Kazakhstan’s National Paralympic Committee and APC board member.

Building a stronger Paralympic movement

The APC meets every two years to exchange ideas, review reports, approve motions and set strategic direction. This year was the first time the event took place in Central Asia.

“Kazakhstan’s National Paralympic Committee is showing commitment and responsibility for the Paralympic movement. They are working very hard, they have a strategic plan, they know where to go and what they want,” said Rashed.

Boranbayev stressed that Kazakhstan is working to expand accessibility in sports and to create more opportunities for athletes. Each year, the country holds around 800 para competitions of various levels, involving more than 10,000 participants.

Dr Deepa Malik, a former Indian Paralympian and APC board member, highlighted the importance of legal and policy frameworks to support people with disabilities. India’s 2016 disability act identified inclusion as a human right, leading to a sharp rise in para-athletes.

“In 48 years, from 1968 to 2016, we had won only 12 medals, but since then we have won 48 medals from just two Paralympics,” she said. Malik also underlined the growing role of women, noting that since 2016, 14 female athletes from India have won Paralympic medals, with her as the pioneer.

“Sport is one place where people with friendship, peace and a common vision come together. It creates a sustainable planet. It changes mindsets when we see persons with disabilities emerging, proving their abilities,” she added.

Asian Awards 2025 honour athletes

The three-day conference concluded with the Asian Awards 2025, celebrating athletes and contributors to parasport across the continent.

Japanese Wheelchair Rugby Team took the Best Team Performance award. Best Youth Athlete went to He Shenggao, swimmer from China. Best Male Athlete went to Abdelkareem Khattab, Jordanian powerlifter, while Best Female Athlete went to Ho Yuen Kei, boccia (precision ball sport) player from Hong Kong.

“It’s my honour to receive this Best Female Athlete award. It means so much to me. This is not only about my personal journey, but also about the people who helped me along the way,” said Ho Yuen Kei.

At the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, she won two gold medals before founding a charity association in Hong Kong to help people with disabilities take part in sport.

Looking ahead to upcoming Asian Para Games

The APC is now preparing for the Aichi–Nagoya 2026 Asian Para Games in Japan, as well as the 5th Asian Youth Para Games in Dubai.

The United Arab Emirates National Paralympic Committee has invited athletes and spectators to attend the Youth Para Games in December 2025, where 1,783 athletes from 31 countries will compete across 11 sports.