Category: 6. Sports

As the countdown begins for a high-voltage Pakistan–India encounter in the 2025 Asia Cup, former Pakistan international Bazid Khan has surprised many by underlining a potential weak link in the Indian camp: their captain Suryakumar Yadav, who has repeatedly struggled against the Men in Green.

Speaking on a popular cricket show on a state channel, Bazid noted that while Suryakumar Yadav has established himself as one of the most dominant T20 batters in world cricket, his numbers against Pakistan tell a very different story.

“Suryakumar scores runs against almost everyone, but somehow, against Pakistan, he hasn’t been effective. Whether it is the pace attack or some other reason, it remains an issue,” Bazid said.

Bazid’s statement, while surprising, is based on statistical reality. While Suryakumar Yadav is considered one of the most dangerous batters in T20 cricket, his record against Pakistan is mediocre. In five matches against the Green Shirts, he has scored just 64 runs at a modest average of 12.80 and a strike rate of 118.51. In comparison to his career average of 34.13 and a strike rate of 146.21, the numbers against Pakistan suggest that Salman Ali Agha’s side might hold the edge.

Suryakumar Yadav’s struggles have not been confined to one type of condition. Whether on spin-friendly pitches in Dubai, or on quicker surfaces like Melbourne and New York , Pakistan’s bowlers have consistently kept him in check.

For Bazid, the answer may lie in Pakistan’s pace attack. Four of his five dismissals have come against pace bowlers, with Haris Rauf dismissing him twice and Naseem Shah and Hasan Ali chipping in with one wicket each. Pakistan’s pace attack could test Suryakumar’s technique and temperament once again in the upcoming tournament.

 Suryakumar Yadav’s Stats Against Pakistan:

Year Range	Matches	Innings	Not Out	Runs	High Score	Average	Balls Faced	Strike Rate	50s	100s	4s	6s
2021-2024	5	5	0	64	18	12.80	54	118.51	0	0	7	1

At 34, Suryakumar enters the Asia Cup with the added responsibility of captaining India for the first time in a multi-nation event. The BCCI has surrounded him with a stellar cast as the team looks to defend its title. But whether he will be able to make an impact against Pakistan remains to be seen.

For Pakistan fans, all eyes will be on whether their fast bowlers can once again expose this one weakness in an otherwise formidable Indian batting lineup, which could help them land their third Asia Cup title.

New Tongan coaches Meg Ward and Vanessa Foliaki have begun compiling a depth chart of eligible players for the end-of-season Pacific Championships and 2028 Women’s World Cup.

Ward and Foliaki, who played together for the Jillaroos at the 2017 World Cup, will reunite after being appointed as coach and assistant coach respectively of the Tongan women’s team.

Foliaki, who captained Tonga in last year’s RLWC2026 qualifier against Samoa, has moved into a coaching role with the Bulldogs NRLW squad after retiring earlier this year, while Ward is the Dolphins women’s academy coach.

The former Broncos star has also been a member of the coaching staff for Queensland and PNG Orchids under Tahnee Norris since retiring from the NRLW at the end of the 2022 season.

“I’m just excited to come in and try to help develop and grow some of the awesome talent that’s there,” Ward said.

“It is a little bit disappointing that they haven’t qualified for World Cup, but at the same time to think of the future for Tonga … the next World Cup in 2028 isn’t that far away, so to think about the kind of squad you could put together over the next few years to build towards that is very exciting.”

Ward and Foliaki applied for their roles independent of each other but are now looking forward to working together again.

Among the first tasks the pair have undertaken is compiling lists of players who could play for Tonga now and in the future.

“We’ve just been working closely together to put a depth chart together,” Ward said. “When you look at the depth chart that we’ve got, it’s pretty crazy.

“We are just watching the girls at the moment, watching their footy. We will probably start to contact girls over the next week or two and then start to put the squad together.”

Foliaki, who became an assistant to Bulldogs coach Brayden Williame after coaching the club’s Lisa Fioala Cup U17s squad earlier this year, estimates that up to seven of the NRLW squad are eligible for Tonga.

The 32-year-old had intended to play for the Sharks again this season but has become one of first NRLW stars to transition into an off-field role. 

“It has been a pretty quick jump for me, I am new and starting in my coaching career, but I am definitely learning a lot.

“It wasn’t until I took on the Lisa Fiaola Cup role that I realised how much I loved it and that is ultimately why I ended up announcing my retirement. I thought I would rather pursue the opportunity to coach.

“I had done everything I wanted to do in the game, and for me coaching was the next chapter.”

Coincidentally, Foliaki’s last game was for Tonga in last year’s World Cup qualifier against Samoa, who won 30-16 and edged Fiji 16-12 to qualify for RLWC2026 in Australia and Papua New Guinea.

“I bring experience because I have played for so long but I guess for me, I am Tongan, so understanding our culture and the role that women play on and off the field is probably the biggest part,” she said.

“I have actually played for Australia with Meg, so I know her really well. The universe just put us together again. Coming from a Tongan background I’ll be able to help Meg understand our culture and our customs.

“I think a key thing for myself, and probably Meg too, is that we have really good relationships with the players. Having two females who have already built connections with the girls is probably going to entice more players to come over and play for Tonga.”

Among the big-name stars eligible for Tonga are Raiders captain Simaima Taufa and Cronulla’s Tiana Penitani Gray, who both play for Australia, and Bulldogs co-captain Angelina Teakaraanga-Katoa, who is a mainstay for New Zealand.

While the trio are expected to play for the Jillaroos and Kiwi Ferns at this year’s Pacific Cup and RLWC2026, Ward and Foliaki are hopeful they may represent their Tongan heritage at the 2028 World Cup.

“I think the qualifying for us begins next year, so 2028 is coming around very quick and it is very exciting. It is about building our team now and getting everyone back,” Foliaki said.       

“We have seen in the men’s game what Jason Taumalolo and Andrew Fifita did and now it is happening with Samoa too. We want it to be like that for us.”

 

Sporting a bordeaux-coloured Rafael Nadal-esque sleeveless top, the second seed humbled the big-serving American 6-4, 7-5, 6-4 to begin his US Open 2025 campaign on a winning note, to lift his sixth career major and second at the Flushing Meadows at the end of the fortnight in New York.

Alcaraz celebrated the win with a fresh new celebration, as he took a golf swing after beating Opelka. With golf star Rory McIlroy in the stands, Alcaraz dedicated the win to him. The two earlier met on Monday when Alcaraz was training for his first-round match at the US Open. McIlroy was also in attendance for Novak Djokovic’s match on Sunday.

Taking to the on-court interview, Alcaraz was then asked about his new David Beckham-style haircut and whether it made him feel faster. The Spaniard got the crowd roaring as he asked the spectators, “I gotta ask the people if they like the new haircut or not. Do you like it, guys?” Following the reaction from the crowd, Alcaraz asserted, “I think they like it.”

Later in the press conference, Alcaraz broke the silence on his haircut, explaining that he had planned a trim before the tournament, but a slip of the clipper by his brother left him with no option but to shave it all off.

“Quite different, I guess. I felt like my hair was really long already. And before the tournament, I said that I really wanted to get a haircut. Suddenly, my brother just misunderstood the machine. He just cut it, and the only way to fix it is just to shave it off. To be honest, it’s not that good… It’s not that bad, I guess,” he said.

Earlier this year, during the French Open tournament, Alcaraz invited his personal hairstylist, Víctor Martínez, to Paris. The Spaniard said that he isn’t fussy about hairstyles, joking that New York was too far for his usual barber. “I’m the guy who thinks, okay, hair grows, and in a few days it’s gonna be fine. It just happened, and that’s it,” he shrugged.

WASHINGTON:

About 100 women, some having already made baseball history, competed in Monday’s final tryouts for the Women’s Pro Baseball League with hopes of jobs for the inaugural 2026 campaign.

More than 600 women from 10 nations began four days of evaluation at Nationals Park, the home stadium of Major League Baseball’s Washington Nationals.

From there, the group was trimmed to the final top talent to compete on four teams over two seven-inning scrimmages on Monday as scouts begin to assemble ideas on talent for first-year clubs, all of them eligible for the first league draft in October ahead of next May’s launch.

“Not a moment, a movement,” the WPBL said in social media posting on X. “Not a trend, a transformation. More than a league, a turning point.”

Mo’ne Davis, a 24-year-old American, was the first girl to win a game and pitch a shutout in Little League World Series history when she competed against boys in the 2014 youth baseball showdown.

“This is probably some of the most fun I’ve had, these last four days,” Davis told the MLB website. “The women here are incredible. They’re very approachable.

“This is also my first time ever playing baseball with women, so I felt right at home. And it was just super fun out there. It’s very competitive, and the energy is great. No matter what’s going on, everyone’s super supportive.”

After a graduate degree at Columbia University, Davis almost left behind competitive sport, but was among those attracted to what the WPBL could offer, a group that included women from Australia, Japan and Canada as well as Americans.

The league “just encouraged me to go out, like, ‘You’re still young. You’re still active. Why not give it a chance?’” Davis said. “I never wanted to have a regret of not trying so that’s what went into it.”

Kelsie Whitmore, who played in the men’s minor leagues in 2022 for the Staten Island FerryHawks, has already signed a deal with the WPBL, the league posted on its Instagram site.

“It’s a great opportunity,” Whitmore said. “I’m grateful to be here and I want to thank everyone that’s here because that means you support what we do and the passions that we have.

“Being able to have this league… it brings freedom… I’m really grateful for it, and I’m really looking forward to it.”

Pakistan bowling coach Ashley Noffke has revealed what he believes to be the reason behind Shaheen Afridi’s recent struggles in the international arena, and he has expressed that the seasoned pacer still has more gears to unlock despite being widely regarded as the country’s premier fast bowler.

Shaheen, who had a sublime PSL this year, faced a rare setback earlier in the summer when he was overlooked for back-to-back T20I series against Bangladesh. At the time, new head coach Mike Hesson made it clear the left-armer had areas to address in his bowling.

The 25-year-old, however, responded with six wickets across Pakistan’s white-ball series against the West Indies. That showing was enough to secure his place in the squad for the upcoming tri-series in the UAE and the Asia Cup next month.

Speaking after Pakistan’s training session in Dubai, Ashley Noffke commented on Shaheen Afridi’s challenge of rediscovering his top pace following the knee injury that sidelined him in 2023. According to Noffke, the signs are now more encouraging.

“He knows his speed dipped after the injury, and recovery takes time. But against the West Indies, we saw more balls in the 140s again. That’s a very good sign,” he noted.

After consistently hitting the mid-140s kph during his heyday, the left-armer’s pace has gradually dropped to an average speed of 134.5 kph, with only 4% of his deliveries touching the 140 mark this year. However, with his own self-dedication and a coach eager to help him, the signs of his bowling speed picking back up are positive.

While praising Shaheen Afridi’s strike power, the Australian stressed there was no room for complacency.

“You can assume he’s a threat, and he is a threat. His numbers speak for themselves,” Noffke said. “But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have things to work on if he wants to become the superstar he’s aiming to be.”

The coach revealed that much of the current focus is on Shaheen Afridi’s ability to swing the ball, which was his trademark for most of his career.

“He’s very dangerous when the ball comes back in. We want him to make swing, both ways, a real weapon again,” Noffke added.

Shaheen Afridi will be crucial to Pakistan’s ambitions during the upcoming tri-series and the 2025 Asia Cup. At his very best, the 25-year-old is a cheat code against opening batters, and it is now up to him to deliver those results for Pakistan once more.

The first test of his form will begin against Afghanistan on Friday in Sharjah, and if he can show a glimpse of his previous self, Pakistan will go into the Asia Cup riding high on confidence.

London: Liverpool’s 16-year-old Rio Ngumoha etched his name into the club’s history books as their youngest-ever scorer, striking in stoppage time to seal a dramatic 3-2 victory over Newcastle United on Monday at St. James’ Park.

Ryan Gravenberch put the champions 1-0 up in the 35th minute, ahead of the Magpies going down to 10 men on the stroke of half-time when Anthony Gordon was given a red card.

Though Hugo Ekitike made it 2-0 moments after the restart, the hosts clawed themselves back level through Bruno Guimaraes and William Osula.

But up stepped Premier League debutant Ngumoha off the bench to restore Liverpool’s lead and clinch the three points.

At the age of 16 years and 361 days, the attacker became the Reds’ youngest scorer of all time by settling a topsy-turvy affair at St. James’ Park.

The match was played in a feverish atmosphere, heightened by Liverpool’s recent pursuit of Newcastle striker Alexander Isak. What followed was a rollercoaster contest that saw the Premier League champions surrender a two-goal lead before Ngumoha delivered the decisive blow.

Newcastle started strongly, putting Liverpool under pressure, but the visitors struck first 10 minutes before halftime when Ryan Gravenberch’s low shot deflected off Fabian Schar and beat Nick Pope. Tensions escalated in first-half stoppage time when Anthony Gordon was sent off for a reckless challenge on Virgil van Dijk, a decision confirmed by VAR.

Liverpool doubled its lead almost immediately after the restart, with Hugo Ekitike — who turned down Newcastle in favor of Anfield — finishing coolly.

Despite being reduced to 10 men, Eddie Howe’s side refused to fold. Captain Bruno Guimaraes pulled one back with a diving header in the 57th minute, and substitute Will Osula bundled in an 88th-minute equalizer as Liverpool wobbled.

The game appeared destined for a draw until Ngumoha, introduced from the bench, struck in the 100th minute from an unmarked position to secure a sensational win.

At 16 years and 361 days, Ngumoha became not only Liverpool’s youngest scorer but also the fourth-youngest in Premier League history, behind James Vaughan, James Milner and Wayne Rooney.

Following a string of social media teasers from all the clubs, the full 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season draw is set for release this Thursday, 28 August.

However, fans are already set for a taste of what is to come with a confirmed blockbuster opening round filled with local derbies.

Trans-Tasman derbies are set for a shake-up in the 2026 draw, with the Queensland Reds hosting the Crusaders at Suncorp Stadium on April 11, ending a three-year run of away games against the perennial powerhouse.

In addition, the ACT Brumbies will also welcome the Blues to Canberra on February 28, the first time the Auckland-based side have played at GIO Stadium since 2022.

The confirmed fixtures follows news that Super Round will return in 2026, launching the new home of the Crusaders at One New Zealand in Christchurch.

The defending champions will kick off their 2026 season with a classic South Island derby clash, as they head to Dunedin to face the Highlanders at Forsyth Barr Stadium.

Last year’s runners up, the Chiefs, will also start their season on the road as they head to Auckland to face the Blues.

Across the ditch, Aussie fans will be treated to a spectacular opening weekend with local derbies confirmed for successive February nights.

The NSW Waratahs will host the Queensland Reds at Allianz Stadium on Friday 13 February, before the Western Force welcome the ACT Brumbies to HBF Park on Saturday 14 February.

In a statement, Waratahs coach Dan McKellar welcomed the push for early season derbies.

“It’s good for the competition that we’re starting with a game of such significance,” McKellar said.

“Round 1 … New South Wales versus Queensland. I don’t think it gets any bigger than that.

“It’s a rivalry that goes back more than a hundred years [to 1882], and one that the fans will get excited about in 2026.”

Meanwhile, the Force-Brumbies game holds particular significance with the West Australian club’s first-ever competition clash in 2006 coming against their ACT rivals.

Finally, one of the newest derbies in the competition is also set to re-ignite in the Pacific, as 2025 wooden spooners Fijian Drua will host Moana Pasifika in Lautoka to open their 2026 campaign.

2026 SUPER RUGBY PACIFIC – ROUND 1 FIXTURES

Highlanders v Crusaders – Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin – 7.05pm (local) Friday 13 February

NSW Waratahs v Queensland Reds – Allianz Stadium, Sydney – 7.35pm (local) Friday 13 February

Fijian Drua v Moana Pasifika – Churchill Park, Lautoka – 3.35pm (local) Saturday 14 February

Blues v Chiefs – TBC, Auckland – 7.05pm (local) Saturday 14 February

Western Force v ACT Brumbies – 4.35pm (local) Saturday 14 February

The Pakistan Independence Day National Ranking Tennis Tournament commenced here at the PTF Tennis Complex on Monday.
A total of 110 entries across nine categories (Men’s Singles, Men’s Doubles, Ladies’ Singles, Boys 18&under, Girls 18&under, Boys 14&under, Girls 14&under Boys 12&under, and Girls 12&under are participating in the event.

Among the top players in action are Aqeel Khan, Muzammil Murtaza, Yousaf Khalil, Barkat Ullah, Shahzad Khan, Hamza Roman, Sami Zeb Khan, Ushna Suhail, Sheeza Sajid, Esha Jawad, and Noor Malik.
The tournament is being organized to commemorate Pakistan’s Independence Day and to celebrate the spirit of sports.
Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi -President-PTF and Col. (R) Zia-ud-Din Tufail Secretary General-PTF extended their best wishes to all participants, encouraging them to demonstrate their talent, sportsmanship, and commitment throughout the event.

In Men’s Singles 1st Round 1st Round: Aqeel Khan beat Sami Zeb Khan 6-3,6-3; Ahmed Nael Qureshi beat Muhammad Salar 6-3,6-2; Hamza Roman beat Abdullah Adnan 6-0,6-3; Yousaf Khalil beat Muhammad Yahya 6-1,6-0; Muzammil Murtaza beat Shahzad Khan 6-1,6-3; Barkatullah beat Ahmed Chudhary 6-3,5-0(retd); Hamza Asim beat M.Tlah Khan 6-1,6-2; Mudassir Murtaza beat Huzaifa Khan 6-0,6-4.
In Ladies Singles 1st Round 1st Round: Sheeza Sajid beat labika Durab 6-3,6-0; Shimza Naz Durab beat Sania Zahra 6-0,6-0; Shandana Rabi beat Sofia Tariq 6-0,6-3 ; Soha Ali beat Lalarukh Sajid 6-0,6-0; Romaisa Malik beat Maria Rasheed 6-1,6-0.
In Boys 18&under Singles 1st Round: Abdul Basit beat Amir Mazari 6-0,6-0; Haziq Asim beat Inam Qadir 6-1,6-2; Razik Sultan beat Moazzam Babar 6-0,6-3 ; Hassan Usmani beat Mahad Mehmood 6-0,6-1; Hamza Roman beat Rajam Taha 6-0,6-0; Muhammad Yahya beat ahmed Raza 6-1,7-5.
In Girls 14&under Singles 1st Round: Zainah Abdullah beat Zoya Mustaf 4-1,4-1; Shahreen Umer beat Areeba Adnan 4-0,4-1.
In Boys 14&under Singles 1st Round: Behroze Mahmood beat M.Turab Bhatti 4-1,4-0; M.Ayyan beat Haseeb Mustafa 4-0,4-0; Ahmed Afzal beat Abdullah Haider 4-0.4-0; M, Faizan beat Mozzam Babar 5-4(6), 4-0; M.Umar Ali beat M.Ehsan Bari 4-0.4-0 Mahad Mehmood beat Ashtar Alam 5-4 (6), 5-4(4); M.Muaz beat Raja Taha 4-0,4-0.
In Boys 12&under Singles 1st Round: M.Turab Bhatti beat Ali Asghar 5-4(5), 4-1; Behroze Mehmood beat Zulfiqar Omer 4-1,4-1; Salar Khan beat Saifullah Omer 4-0,4-0.

Venus Williams went out in the first round of the 2025 US Open in three sets at the hands of Karolina Muchova on Monday (26 August).

The 45-year-old Williams won the hearts of Arthur Ashe Stadium but lost the match 6-3, 2-6, 6-1 in two hours at her 25th US Open main draw, the most ever during tennis’s Open era – female or male.

Playing at the tournament for the first time in two years, Williams was the oldest singles player at the US Open since 1981 when Renee Richards played at 47. She only hit the comeback trail in July, after being away from the tour for a year and four months.

“My team and I, we worked as hard and as fast as we could,” said Williams, whose eyes were rheumy during the press conference.

“We literally took no days off. I haven’t gone to dinner. I haven’t seen friends. I haven’t done anything except train for three months as hard as I could. From each match that I didn’t win, then I tried to go back and learn from that and then get better.

“I think for me, getting back on the court was about giving myself a chance to play more healthy. When you play unhealthy, it’s in your mind. It’s not just how you feel. You get stuck in your mind too.

“So it was nice to be freer.”

Williams was up 3-2 in the first set but Muchova, semi-finalist the last two years here, clawed her way back in, winning the next four games to take the set.

Two-time US Open winner Williams broke to start the second which she would cruise through, but it was all Muchova in the final set.

The Czech raced out to a 3-0 lead before Williams held serve. Muchova won the remaining games to close the deal.

“It was an unbelievable atmosphere,” Muchova said as she paid her respects to Williams. “She’s such a legend of our sport. It’s so nice to play, to share a court with her and I’m just glad that I was lucky to win today.”

Williams has not won a singles match at the US Open since 2019.

Neymar’s chances of appearing at the 2026 FIFA World Cup are looking slimmer by the moment. 

Once a stalwart for Brazil’s squad, the 33-year-old was left off manager Carlo Ancelotti’s 23-man roster for the Seleção‘s final two World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Bolivia next week.

It now extends Neymar’s absence from international duty to nearly two years.

Ancelotti cited a leg muscle injury sustained last week as the reason for Neymar’s latest omission. Brazil have already secured their place at the 2026 World Cup.

The former Barcelona and PSG superstar, who now plays at boyhood club Santos in Brazil, last donned the iconic yellow jersey in October 2023. Numerous knee injuries have seen plagued his comeback attempts.

“Neymar sustained a minor injury last week. This will be the final two matches of the qualifiers and it will be very demanding, so we need players in their prime conditions so we can perform at the highest level,” Ancelotti said Monday.

The Italian coach, who has previously expressed his commitment to getting Neymar match-ready for the 2026 World Cup, opted for caution over the 33-year-old’s fitness. 

“We don’t need to evaluate Neymar, we all know who he is and what he is capable of. We need him in peak condition so he can help the national team the way we all know he can,” the former Real Madrid and AC Milan coach said. 

The squad features a blend of established stars like Alisson, Marquinhos and Casemiro alongside emerging talents including Chelsea teenager Estevao and the comeback of West Ham midfielder Lucas Paqueta, as Brazil look to end their qualifying campaign on a high note. 

Ancelotti’s list:

GOALKEEPERS: Alisson (Liverpool), Bento (Al-Nassr), Hugo Souza (Corinthians).

DEFENDERS: Alexsandro Ribeiro (Lille), Alex Sandro (Flamengo), Caio Henrique (Monaco), Douglas Santos (Zenit), Fabricio Bruno (Cruzeiro), Gabriel Magalhaes (Arsenal), Marquinhos (PSG), Vanderson (Monaco), Wesley (Roma).

MIDFIELDERS: Andrey Santos (Chelsea), Bruno Guimaraes (Newcastle), Casemiro (Manchester United), Joelinton (Newcastle), Lucas Paqueta (West Ham).

FORWARDS: Estevao (Chelsea), Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal), Joao Pedro (Chelsea), Kaio Jorge (Cruzeiro), Luiz Henrique (Zenit), Matheus Cunha (Manchester United), Raphinha (Barcelona), Richarlison (Tottenham).

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