Category: 6. Sports

The highly anticipated India-Pakistan showdown in the ACC Asia Cup 2025 is likely to take place on September 7 in Dubai, with Indian media on Wednesday revealing tentative dates and venue details for the tournament.

Despite India being the official hosts, the tournament is expected to be shifted to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) due to ongoing political tensions between the two arch-rivals.

Reports suggest that the Asia Cup 2025 is likely to begin around September 4 or 5, with the final pencilled in for September 21.

The recurring deadlock between the BCCI and PCB has led to the “fusion formula,” under which both boards reportedly agreed not to visit each other’s home soil for multi-nation events for the next three years.

Instead, their matches would be staged at neutral venues. That’s why the 17th edition of the continental event will see the arch-rivals clash in Dubai.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

It’s worth noting that the Asia Cup 2025 will be played in the T20 format and is expected to see India and Pakistan face off at least twice, first in the group stage, and potentially again in the Super Four round, depending on results.

Six teams will participate in the tournament: India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and the UAE. The structure will follow the traditional format of a group stage leading into the Super Four, similar to previous editions.

An official announcement from the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) regarding the final schedule is expected in the second week of July.

Meanwhile, promotions are already in full swing, with teasers airing on Indian television and circulating across digital platforms.

It is worth noting that India are the defending champions, having crushed Sri Lanka by 10 wickets in the ODI-format final of the previous edition.

READ: Shubman Gill drops major hint on India Playing XI for second Test

The 2025 edition of the Asia Cup is expected to take place in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with Indian media reporting that the tournament will begin around September 4 or 5 and conclude on September 21.

According to the reports, the group-stage fixture between India and Pakistan is likely to be held on September 7 in Dubai. The 17th edition of the tournament will be played in the T20 format and will follow the established format of group stages followed by a Super Four round.

There is a strong possibility that India and Pakistan could face each other more than once, depending on results, with a potential second meeting in the Super Four stage.

The participating teams are expected to include India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and the UAE.

While the Asian Cricket Council has not yet issued an official schedule, an announcement is anticipated in the second week of July. Promotional teasers for the event have already started airing on Indian television and circulating across social media.

Speculation that India might withdraw from the tournament due to political tensions was dismissed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which confirmed that no such decision had been made.

Media sources indicated that both countries are expected to continue participating in ICC and ACC tournaments without any official restrictions on fixtures against each other.

India are the defending champions, having won the previous Asia Cup—held in the 50-over format—with a comprehensive 10-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the final.

Yanagita Hiroki – Rising son

Yanagita is from Gunma, a sleepy prefecture to the north of Tokyo. His parents were in track and field, and he followed suit when he was in elementary school – but more as a long jumper than a sprinter.

The awakening, ironically, began for Yanagita during the global pandemic. As meets were cancelled, he began running more to stay in shape which gradually made him faster and faster.

After placing third at the 2022 national championships (10.19), Yanagita made his World Championships debut that year in the 4x100m relay but was disqualified in the heats.

The following season led to better results. He was runner-up at the nationals (10.13) then won his first Asian championship in Bangkok, where he recorded his PB of 10.02.

Yanagita got as far as the semi-finals at the World championships in 2023, when he also helped Japan finish fifth in the 4x100m. At Paris 2024, his first Olympic Games, he ran the heats in the relay but was not picked for the final (Japan wound up fifth).

Yanagita has been on a roll this year, winning the Golden Grand Prix and then defending his Asian title in Gumi, Republic of Korea. He perhaps faces his sternest test yet at these Japanese championships starting on Thursday (4 July), and seems to be fully aware of the mounting challenges lying before him.

His goal is to reach the 100m final at the National Stadium in September – something only Abdul Hakim Sani Brown has done for Japan at the World championships – but first things first.

“You can bet the house everyone will bring it this summer,” Yanagita said. “I have to keep working and start with making the team for Worlds.”

Speaking on The Game Plan Podcast on YouTube, Kamran Akmal expressed his frustration over the Pakistan Board’s decision, stating, “I just don’t understand the logic behind this decision. It’s exactly like the time PCB made Mickey Arthur director of cricket while allowing him to continue working with a county team. I couldn’t understand it then, and I can’t understand it now.”

Since 2021, Azhar Mahmood has been the seventh head coach appointed by PCB, succeeding yet another interim coach in Aaqib Javed, who had previously taken over from Australian cricketer Jason Gillespie. Akmal criticised the PCB for its erratic decision-making, asserting that these appointments have caused long-term problems.

“Lack of seriousness”

Akmal further took aim at PCB’s decision, saying, “That role (Mickey Arthur) has continued, and it has brought many issues into Pakistan cricket. The same thing is now happening with the interim coaching setup. Before this, it was Aaqib Javed, then Mohammad Hafeez and now Azhar.”

“These decisions reflect a lack of seriousness. When the PCB starts thinking seriously and acting professionally, it won’t have to make such compromises or temporary appointments”

Arthur returned to the Pakistan setup in 2023 as team director while still coaching Derbyshire in England, a dual arrangement that Akmal believes led to structural problems in the team. Mahmood, now acting as Test coach, is not expected to retain his role as white-ball assistant coach during this tenure, and he was notably absent from the coaching staff during Pakistan’s recent white-ball series against Bangladesh.

Kamran Akmal finally emphasised the situation by stating, “Everyone has been appeased, and now Azhar has also been rewarded. If you’ve made him head coach, then give him the full time and responsibility. Otherwise, what’s the point?”

Gauff led the head-to-head 3-0, with all those meetings coming on clay. The most recent was in Madrid, at altitude, where Yastremska showed how dangerous she could be.

Gauff prevailed 0-6 6-2 7-5, but under the No.1 Court roof at Wimbledon she confronted an opponent perfectly suited to the conditions – and who possesses the game to go further this fortnight.

“I was actually on fire,” Yastremska smiled. “I really, really enjoyed playing on Court 1.

“I have good memories from this court, even though last year I lost there to Donna Vekic. I still have a nice memory. This court brings me a lot of energy. I really felt it today.”

Yastremska’s giant-killing capabilities are obvious, especially at Grand Slam level – never more so than when she powered to the Australian Open 2024 semifinals, beating Marketa Vondrouova, Emma Navarro and Victoria Azarenka along the way.

But with her win over Gauff, Wimbledon becomes the major tournament at which she has the best winning percentage, nearing 70.

No.1 Court was also where Yastremska appeared in the junior singles final in 2016 – demonstrating her early affection for grass – and where she made the fourth round on her women’s singles main-draw debut in 2019.

That year she beat Sofia Kenin, the 28th seed who looms as a potential third-round opponent.

“I feel pretty good on grass,” Yastremska declared. “I had a couple matches.”

She’s played nine this grasscourt season, to be exact, and won seven.

She’ll be hoping for an eighth when she faces Anastasia Zakharova next.

The last time the one-make cup was held at this venue was during the ADAC Norisring Speedweekend in 2019 – when none of this year’s entrants competed. With no testing permitted on the street circuit just outside Nuremberg, all drivers will arrive at the fourth race weekend (4-6 July 2025) with very little preparation. Their only opportunity to familiarise themselves with the shortest circuit on the calendar – measuring just 2.3 kilometres – has been via simulator training.

This is also the situation for Porsche Junior Alessandro Ghiretti. Like his team, Schumacher CLRT, the 23-year-old Frenchman is contesting his debut season in the German Carrera Cup. Over the first three race weekends, Ghiretti and his engineers were able to draw on existing data. The French squad already knew the Autodromo di Imola, Italy, the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium, and the coastal Zandvoort track in the Netherlands from their experience in the international Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup. The result: two wins from so far six Carrera Cup races and the current lead in the drivers’ standings for Ghiretti.

Round four, however, presents a completely different challenge. While Ghiretti has previously raced on German circuits during a season in ADAC Formula 4, the Norisring is not one of them. “So, none of my competitors has the advantage of track experience,” he noted. The championship leader will be particularly mindful of his closest rivals: Dutchman Robert de Haan of Proton Huber Competition trails by just four points in second place, with Israeli Ariel Levi of Team GP Elite sitting third.

The highest-ranked German in the Porsche Sixt Carrera Cup Deutschland field is Janne Stiak, ranking fifth overall. The 18-year-old recently celebrated his first win of the season at Zandvoort. “I enjoy the challenge of new tracks,” says Stiak, as he looks ahead to the Norisring. “I use a special software to incorporate the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup into my simulator. It helps me get a feel for key aspects like braking points and the racing line. Still, I want to get in as many laps as possible during the one-hour practice session to optimise the 911’s setup.”

In the ProAm class, Kuwaiti driver Ahmad Alshehab, racing for the German outfit [a-workx] by Porsche Paderborn, currently leads the standings. Among the rookies, Dutchman Sacha Norden holds the top spot. The 24-year-old from Proton Huber Competition has already secured four wins in the newcomers’ classification so far this season.

“I’m delighted that the Norisring is back on the German Carrera Cup calendar for the first time in six years,” says Thorsten Rückert, Project Manager of the Porsche Sixt Carrera Cup Deutschland. “With its short layout, the race features more laps than any other round, treating fans to even more on-track action with the Cup 911. The large crowds also create an incredibly special atmosphere.”

Due to its compact length, roughly half that of for example the Hockenheimring, the Norisring requires a unique qualifying format. The Porsche Sixt Carrera Cup Deutschland field will be split into two qualifying groups, allowing each driver a better chance to set a clean flying lap without interference from traffic.

Racing with synthetic fuel

Committed to cutting CO₂ emissions in motorsport, the Porsche Sixt Carrera Cup Deutschland will use the synthetic fuel “DTM Pro Climate” across all eight race weekends in the 2025 season. Partnering with the Carrera Cup, ADAC is also adopting this fuel for the first time for its DTM, ADAC GT Masters, and GT4 Germany series.

The racetrack: Norisring, Nuremberg

The Norisring, named after the medieval name for Nuremberg, is the only street circuit on the German Carrera Cup calendar. Located on the city’s historic Zeppelin and Beuthener Strasse, the track is transformed each year over a three-week period with the installation of barriers, a temporary pit lane, additional grandstands, and motor racing infrastructure.

Today measuring just 2.3 kilometres, the Norisring first hosted motorcycle racing in 1938. Automobile racing followed in 1948, gaining prominence in the 1960s with the “200 Miles of Nuremberg,” a major fixture in sports prototype championships including the World Sportscar Championship. In 1987, the DTM made its debut at the Norisring, which today remains the centrepiece of the ADAC Norisring Speedweekend.

The Porsche Carrera Cup has a long history at the circuit, appearing on the calendar regularly since its inaugural season in 1990. Most recently, in 2019, the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup thrilled fans on the imposing stone grandstand opposite the pits, with Frenchman Julien Andlauer and Germany’s Michael Ammermüller each taking a victory at the doubleheader event.

The Porsche Sixt Carrera Cup Deutschland on the internet

Fans can follow all the races live with English commentary on the internet, including on the Porsche Motorsport Hub and the Porsche Sixt Carrera Cup Deutschland social media channels on YouTube and Facebook.

Aside from the race weekends, the one-make cup is also present with dedicated channels via the social networks Instagram and X.

Schedule Round 4, Norisring Nuremberg (Germany)

Friday, 4 July
11:55 – 12:55 hrs: Practice
17:42 – 18:20 hrs: Qualifying

Saturday, 5 July
11:20 hrs: Start race 7 (30 minutes plus 1 lap)

Sunday, 6 July
11:15 hrs: Start race 8 (30 minutes plus 1 lap)

Standings after 6 of 16 races

1. Alessandro Ghiretti (FRA/Schumacher CLRT), 105 points/2 wins
2. Robert de Haan (NLD/Proton Huber Competition), 101 points/2 wins
3. Ariel Levi (ISR/Team GP Elite), 71 points

Full results and championship standings on the Porsche Motorsport Hub.

Calendar Porsche Sixt Carrera Cup Deutschland 2025

18–20 April: Imola (ITA), FIA World Endurance Championship WEC
8–10 May: Spa-Francorchamps (BEL), FIA World Endurance Championship WEC
6–8 June: Zandvoort (NLD), DTM
4–6 July: Norisring Nuremberg (DEU), DTM
8–10 August: Nürburgring (DEU), DTM
22–24 August: Sachsenring (DEU), DTM
12–14 September: Red Bull Ring, Spielberg (AUT), DTM
3–5 October: Hockenheimring (DEU), DTM

She is a two-time World Championships bronze medallist, a three-time Commonwealth Games champion and gold medallist at both the Asian Games and Asian Championships.

A member of the famed Phogat sisters, Vinesh is also a three-time Olympian.

At Rio 2016, her debut Summer Games, the Indian wrestler made the quarter-finals but had to retire from her quarter-final match after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury while wrestling against the People’s Republic of China’s Sun Yanan.

Her campaign at Tokyo 2020 also ended in the quarters.

At Paris 2024, Vinesh Phogat reached the final of the women’s 50kg weight category after defeating defending champion Yui Susaki of Japan, former European champion Oksana Livach of Ukraine and Pan American Games champion Yusneylis Guzman of Cuba.

However, a technicality kept her from becoming the first Indian woman to compete in a wrestling final at the Olympics as Vinesh failed to make the weight on the morning of the gold medal bout and was disqualified.

Despite taking some drastic measures to cut down her weight the night before, Vinesh was found marginally overweight at the mandatory weigh-in.

In the aftermath, Vinesh had to be taken to a polyclinic at the Olympic Village owing to dehydration caused by the lack of food and fluids, which she restricted in order to cut weight.

A dejected Vinesh announced her retirement from the sport after the heartbreak and has since joined politics and presently serves as the MLA of Julana constituency in Haryana.