Category: 6. Sports

Peshawar Zalmi are stepping beyond the cricket field to stand with the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa once again, announcing a charity exhibition match at the Imran Khan Cricket Stadium on August 30, with all proceeds going towards flood relief and rehabilitation in the province.

The initiative was confirmed by franchise owner Javed Afridi on Tuesday, who underlined that the fixture represents a cause “larger than cricket itself.” Every rupee from ticket sales, he said, will be directed entirely to support families whose lives and homes have been torn apart by devastating floods.

“Every ticket counts. One hundred percent of proceeds will directly support flood relief and rehabilitation across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” Afridi wrote on social media, urging fans to show solidarity by filling the stands.

The announcement has drawn widespread appreciation, with cricket supporters and civil society groups praising Peshawar Zalmi for once again blending sport with social responsibility as they have done so many times in the past. Known as one of the most community-driven franchises in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), Zalmi have previously taken initiatives for education, youth development, and humanitarian causes and now their focus is firmly on helping flood-hit families rebuild.

Javed Afridi stressed the importance of unity in times of crisis. “We stand with every flood-affected family of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. This is our time to reunite and rebuild together,” he said.

A strong turnout is expected at the Imran Khan Cricket Stadium for Peshawar Zalmi’s charity game, where the atmosphere will carry more weight than just competition. Proceeds will fund immediate relief efforts like shelter, food, and medical support, while also contributing to long-term rehabilitation projects aimed at restoring livelihoods and rebuilding critical infrastructure.

By staging this charity match, Zalmi aim to send a powerful message: cricket is not just a sport but a tool to bring people together when it matters most. For the flood victims of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the exhibition game promises to be more than just a contest; it will be a symbol of hope.

The third One-Day International between Australia and South Africa at Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay saw some of Western Australia’s stars shine brightly.

After slipping to defeat in the first two games of the series, the Australian side was out to avoid a series whitewash in the final game.

After winning the toss and electing to bat for the first time in his captaincy, Mitch Marsh set the tone for his side.

Marsh and opening partner Travis Head put together a stunning partnership of 250, the fifth-highest opening stand for Australia in an ODI.

The 33-year-old notched his first century as Australian Captain soon after Head was dismissed.

Fellow all-rounder Cameron Green then made the most of his promotion to no.3 in the line-up, belting 118 from just 55 deliveries.

It took Green just 47 balls to reach his maiden ODI century, the second-fastest by an Australian in the format.

Only Glenn Maxwell’s 40-ball century against Netherlands in the 2023 World Cup bettered Green’s effort.

Green, who batted at no.3 at Test level in the World Test Championship and Sir Frank Worrell Trophy earlier this year, said he enjoyed the opportunity to come in off the back of the opening partnership.

“We discussed it at the 30 over mark, we were like if he gets to the 35^th we might make a few changes,” Green told reporters after the match.

“It becomes a bit of a T20 for the rest of us.

“I got told I was in next one ball before Heady got out.

“When you switch positions, your role does change.

“Instead of nudging it around and getting Bison (Marsh) on strike, I think it was get out there and get on with it straight away.”

The Australian total of 2-431 was the nation’s second highest in the 50 over format.

While Green and Marsh starred with the bat, it was another one of their state teammates who stole the show with the ball.

Cooper Connolly, who had yet to feature for the hosts through the South African tour of the Top End, recorded the best bowling figures by an Australian spinner in ODI cricket with 5-22 off six overs.

Connolly’s deeds saw him eclipse those of former WA spinner Brad Hogg, who previously had the best figures of 5-33 against the West Indies in 2005.

Green spoke glowingly of Connolly’s performance and capitalising on another opportunity in Australian colours.

“It’s been a long few months for Coop,” Green said.

“He’s been on the road for a while and not been playing at times.

“I think it’s his first five-for ever and he’s never got one in junior cricket.

“It’s a bit of a relief for him to get a few wickets and I think he bowled beautifully.”

The 276-run victory was Australia’s second biggest win in ODI Cricket. 

Wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis also had an impact on the series with a stylish 87 in the second match, which saw South Africa record a 98-run victory.

Coco Gauff displayed the fighting spirit of a Grand Slam tennis champion at Flushing Meadows on Tuesday 26 August, recovering from a tricky second set to sneak past Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic 6-4, 6-7 (2-7) and 7-5 at the 2025 US Open.

The two-time Grand Slam singles champion punched her ticket to the second round of the final Grand Slam of the year in electric fashion, clinching the third and decisive set with a masterful forehand swing, much to the approval of the partisan crowd gathered around centre court at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

“It was a tough match,” admitted the world no. 3 during an on-court interview. “I had chances for it to be straight sets, but Ajla was tough.”

“It wasn’t the best, but I’m happy to get through to the next round.”

Advancing to the second round of the 2025 US Open, the 21-year-old American tennis star will hope to draw inspiration from her first Grand Slam singles title, which she won at Flushing Meadows in 2021.

She’ll certainly welcome the wisdom gained from that experience, as she faces Croatia’s Donna Vekic – silver medallist in women’s singles at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 – in a hotly-anticipated second round duel.

More to follow…

Olympic tennis champion Novak Djokovic will continue his pursuit of a remarkable fifth title at Flushing Meadows on Wednesday, 27 August, returning to the iconic blue and green hard court of Arthur Ashe Stadium for a second round match against world no. 145 Zachary Svajda at the 2025 US Open.

The pair are scheduled to commence play on centre court at 11:30 local time (EDT, GMT-4), with plenty of top names waiting in the wings for their own chance to move forward at the final Grand Slam of the year.

Among those looking to progress further on the fourth day of singles action at Flushing Meadows is world no. 2 Carlos Alcaraz, who lost to Djokovic in the men’s singles final at the Olympic Games Paris 2024, but already added a French Open title to his trophy cabinet earlier this season.

He’ll face Mattia Bellucci – world no. 65 – during the first match of the evening session at Arthur Ashe Stadium (19:30 local time), which will be followed by a duel between Aryna Sabalenka and Polina Kudermetova in the women’s singles tournament.

Home favourite Jessica Pegula will also be in action against Anna Blinkova, while Emma Raducanu – herself a women’s singles champion at the US Open 2021 – will dazzle fans gathered at the Louis Armstrong Court.

Below, you can find out the start times and pairings for all the matches at Flushing Meadows on Wednesday, 27 August.

For the first time in Western Force history, the Club will take Super Rugby to Perth’s fast-growing northern corridor with one game at Arena Joondalup’s HIF Health Insurance Oval in the 2026 season proper.

The Force have worked with the City of Joondalup and VenuesWest to bring to life the exciting opportunity for the Round 2 fixture on Saturday 21 February.  

Joondalup has a population of 164,000 residents and is a rugby heartland with Fortescue Premier Grade clubs Joondalup Brothers and Wanneroo located in the region.

Register your interest in a 2026 Western Force Membership

The Joondalup venue, which features a main grandstand and large grass hill surrounding the playing arena with a total capacity of 12,500, previously hosted the Perth Spirit in the 2014 National Rugby Championship season.

The Force have taken the opportunity to connect with community, due to a venue clash at HBF Park for the Women’s AFC Asian Cup featuring the Matildas in February and March.

Under the agreement with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), HBF Park will be unavailable from March 1–21 2026, including a two-week period prior to the tournament as they prepare the venue and pitch for the event.

Working with HBF Park operator VenuesWest and meeting Super Rugby Pacific venue standards, the Force identified Arena Joondalup’s HIF Health Insurance Oval as the replacement venue for the Round 2 game with the requisite broadcast, corporate and changeroom facilities within the Perth metropolitan area. It is fully accessible by Perth’s rail network.

The announcement comes after the Force revealed its two Super Rugby AUS home games in September will be played at Fortescue Premier Grade club Palmyra RUFC’s ground Tompkins Park, located south of the river.

Western Force CEO Niamh O’Connor said: “We’re really excited to take the Western Force and Super Rugby to Joondalup for one game in the 2026 season to connect with the community which is a key pillar of our organisation. We are a Club for the whole of the state and the whole of Perth.

“Working with VenuesWest, with HBF Park unavailable for a five-week period, we determined that Arena Joondalup was the ground in Perth’s metropolitan area best suited to meet Super Rugby’s venue standards whilst also offering us an opportunity to engage the community and create a grass-roots atmosphere for the one-off game.

“We’ll continue to work with VenuesWest and the City of Joondalup to bring to life an awesome gameday experience for our fans and Members at Arena Joondalup.”

Joondalup, which is located 26 kilometres north of Perth’s CBD, is a region full of British expatriates and rugby fans. Joondalup mayor Albert Jacob said the game was exciting for the area.

Jacob said: “The City of Joondalup welcomes the opportunity to host the Western Force for one Super Rugby Pacific match in our community.

“Arena Joondalup is the premier sporting precinct in Perth’s northern growth corridor, home to world-class facilities and one of Western Australia’s premier playing surfaces.

“Nearly 40 per cent of residents in our region were born overseas, predominantly from the United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand and South Africa, and the chance to see premier domestic rugby in our backyard will be eagerly-anticipated.

“We also look forward to seeing Joondalup showcased internationally through millions of viewers around the globe.”

VenuesWest CEO David Etherton said: “We’re excited to welcome the Western Force to Arena Joondalup in February 2026 for their game against the Blues.

“A Super Rugby game at the venue will increase the visibility of elite sport to grassroots players, and this is a rare opportunity for the community and patrons to get close to the action.

“VenuesWest appreciates the understanding from the Force and their Members, and we look forward to bringing together the rugby community and the northern suburbs for this exciting fixture.”

Due to the one-off Joondalup game, 2026 Force Memberships will be structured as six-game packages at HBF Park, with pricing adjusted accordingly.

The Joondalup game will be ticketed separately via Ticketmaster, and Force Members will receive priority access when tickets go on sale in the new year. The Club will be in touch with Members with more information closer to the time.

The full 2026 Super Rugby Pacific fixtures will be confirmed later this week.

Register your interest in a 2026 Western Force Membership

Western Force vs Blues

2026 Super Rugby Pacific season, Round 2

Saturday 21 February, 4:35pm WST

HIF Health Insurance Oval, Arena Joondalup

Socceroos goalkeeper Mat Ryan has found a new club ahead of next year’s World Cup, inking a one-year deal with LaLiga side Levante.

Ryan, who previously played in the Spanish top flight with Real Sociedad and Valencia, had been without a club since leaving French side Lens in May after the conclusion of his short-term contract.

The deal with Levante, who won promotion to LaLiga last season, also includes an option for a one-year extension. Ryan will hope to quickly assume the side’s starting goalkeeper spot in a bid to strengthen his chances of going to a fourth straight World Cup and being Australia’s No.1 in 2026.

The 33-year-old was knocked down the pecking order at the expense of Joe Gauci in the early days of Tony Popovic’s era after struggling for game time with Italian giants AS Roma.

But the 100-cap veteran fought his way back with strong performances for Lens to reclaim the captaincy and the starting jersey. It has been a busy European transfer window for Australia’s goalkeepers, with Gauci signing a loan deal to join English League One side Port Vale.

The Socceroos, who have already qualified for next year’s World Cup in the US, Canada and Mexico, will play New Zealand in friendlies in Canberra and Auckland next month.

Another 2025 Grand Slam, another upset by Laura Siegemund.

The No. 52-ranked 37-year-old came through a wildly entertaining Court 5 barnburner to put out No. 20 seed Diana Shnaider — last week’s Monterrey champion — 7-6(3), 2-6, 6-3 in 2 hours and 32 minutes.

US Open: Draws | Scores | Order of play

Siegemund has now notched a Top 20 upset in the first week of three of this year’s four majors after defeating Zheng Qinwen at the Australian Open second round and Madison Keys in the Wimbledon third round. She’s the fourth player this decade to accomplish such a feat, following:

• Sorana Cirstea in 2021 (d. Petra Kvitova, Australian Open R2; Johanna Konta, Roland Garros R1; Victoria Azarenka, Wimbledon R2)
• Alizé Cornet in 2022 (d. Garbiñe Muguruza, Australian Open R2; Jelena Ostapenko, Roland Garros R2; Iga Swiatek, Wimbledon R3; Emma Raducanu, US Open R1)
• Marketa Vondrousova in 2023 (d. Ons Jabeur, Australian Open R2; Veronika Kudermetova, Wimbledon R2; Ekaterina Alexandrova, US Open R3)

Siegemund’s tenacity, touch and tactics have all become familiar on the major stage this year, and all of them were on show against Shnaider. The German came from a break down in both the first set, in which she trailed 4-2, and the decider, in which momentum shifted back and forth before she ran through the last three games in a row. She won 22 out of 28 points at net, conjured a series of breathtaking lobs and painted lines as she went toe-to-toe with Shnaider in several electrifying exchanges.

Shnaider played her part in the quality, too. The 21-year-old might have been forgiven for suffering a post-title let-down, given that just three days ago she had been battling through a three-set final in Mexico — over 3,000 km, eight hours’ flight and two time zones away. But Shnaider’s shot-making and scrambling were both superb for most of the contest — a leaping backhand hooked smash early in the decider might have been the shot of the match — and only faded in the home stretch.

Remarkably, the result was Siegemund’s first singles win at the US Open since 2019, and just her fourth in nine main-draw appearances. She improved to 3-0 overall against Shnaider.

There was no hint of a Monterrey hangover for beaten finalist Ekaterina Alexandrova. The No. 13 seed also faced a tricky opener after her arduous journey — 2018 semifinalist Anastasija Sevastova, whose comeback from maternity leave and an ACL injury this year has seen her notch wins over Jelena Ostapenko and Jessica Pegula. But Alexandrova was dialled-in throughout, and needed just 68 minutes to advance 6-4, 6-1. She will next face Wang Xinyu, who overcame Caroline Dolehide 2-6, 6-4, 6-2. Alexandrova and Wang’s last meeting was a 4-6, 7-5, 7-6(6) barnburner in last year’s Wuhan quarterfinals, won by Wang.

Elsewhere, surprise Roland Garros semifinalist Lois Boisson fell 3-6, 7-6(3), 6-2 to Viktorija Golubic in the Frenchwoman’s first Grand Slam main-draw appearance since her fairytale run in Paris. Boisson backed up her Roland Garros success by capturing her first Hologic WTA Tour title in Hamburg in July, but in her first two tour-level hard-court tournaments this month she has gone 0-2.

Golubic was initially overpowered by Boisson’s heavy topspin, but the stylish Swiss player began to find creative ways through it in the second set. She took control of the tiebreak with smart forays to the net, and continued her momentum in the decider with several fine passing shots — including one breathtaking angle with her single-handed backhand. Boisson took a medical timeout in which her blood pressure was taken trailing by a break at 2-1, and was undone by mounting double faults and cheap errors in the home stretch.

The result was 32-year-old Golubic’s first main-draw win in Flushing Meadows. She made her debut in 2016, but lost in the first round in each of her first seven appearances until this year. She will next face No. 18 seed Beatriz Haddad Maia, who avenged a loss in Indian Wells to Sonay Kartal by defeating the Briton 6-3, 1-6, 6-1.

Elsewhere, No. 8 seed and Wimbledon finalist Amanda Anisimova eased past Kimberly Birrell 6-3, 6-2. She will next face another Australian, 19-year-old Maya Joint, who came from 5-1 down in the second set and saved two set points to defeat Andorran qualifier Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva 6-4, 7-6(6).

 

West Ham boss Graham Potter has admitted the Hammers are “in pain” but called for unity after captain Jarrod Bowen had to apologise for trying to confront fans.

The forward was held back by stewards at the final whistle following the Hammers’ 3-2 EFL Cup defeat at Molineux – late goals consigning them to a third-straight loss.

Bowen had gone over to the travelling fans to salute them, only to react as something seemed to be said in the stands.

Defeat – after a late Jorgen Strand Larsen brace – condemned the winless Hammers to another loss at the start of an already turbulent season.

Potter said: “We’re all in pain so we need everybody to help, we need everybody’s support, we need to push forward and on to the next match.

“The team’s suffering at the moment, we all are, we’re all hurting. I can assure you no-one’s happy.

“I have no idea what was said or anything. Our supporters have been fantastic, they are hurting because of the results we’ve had and Jarrod obviously cares about the club and the team. It’s just an exchange of views by people who care.

“Everyone is hurting, rightly so because we haven’t had the results we’d like. Jarrod has been a fantastic captain and servant for the club.”

The loss at Molineux added to the pressure on Potter, who has won just five of his 22 games in charge since replacing Julen Lopetegui in January.

The Hammers have conceded 11 goals in their three defeats – including last week’s 5-1 thumping by Chelsea – and go to Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Sunday.

Bowen was the player who went closest to the away supporters to applaud them but then became incensed. However, within 45 minutes of the final whistle he had apologised for his reaction.

“Apologies to the fans for tonight’s reaction,” the England forward wrote on Instagram.

“I’m someone who is passionate and will fight every time I step on the pitch. But I need to set a better example and you fans know how much I love you and this club.

“We ride through the bad times together and I’ll see you all Sunday.”