Category: 6. Sports

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West Indies have been dealt a major blow ahead of their three-match ODI series against Pakistan.
Fast bowler Matthew Forde has been ruled out due to an injury he sustained while fielding during practice on Wednesday.
He dislocated his left shoulder while trying to take a catch, leaving the team without one of its key players for the upcoming matches.

Having lost the T20I series 1-2 against Pakistan a few days ago, West Indies will aim to turn the tables in ODIs, the first of which starts on August 8 at the Brian Lara Cricket Stadium in Trinidad. Ranked 10th in the world, West Indies didn’t had a good 2025 so far. In six ODIs so far this year, the Shai Hope-led side were able to win just one game and lost four. One game ended in no result.

The series against Pakistan also serves a perfect opportunity for West Indies to change the statistic and secure an automatic automatic qualification for 2027 ODI World Cup. The West Indies team will be bolstered by the return of all-rounder Romario Shepherd, who is making a comeback to the national ODI side since last year.

On the other hand, Pakistan are led by Mohammad Rizwan in the 50-over format with T20I skipper Salman Ali Agha as his deputy. It also features Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, and Mohammad Nawaz, besides promising talents such as Hasan Nawaz and Sufyan Muqeem.

Venue: Brian Lara Cricket Stadium, Tarouba, Trinidad

West Indies vs Pakistan Head-to-head in ODIs

West Indies have played 137 ODIs against Pakistan, winning 71 and losing 63. Only three games ended in no result. At home, West Indie have played Pakistan in 33 games, winning 16 and losing 15 in ODIs. Only two games ended in ties.

West Indies vs Pakistan 1st ODI probable XIs

Pakistan: Abdullah Shafique, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan (wk/c), Salman Ali Agha, Hasan Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Abrar Ahmed

West Indies: Brandon King, Evin Lewis, Keacy Carty, Shai Hope(wk/c), Amir Jangoo, Justin Greaves, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Gudakesh Motie, Shamar Joseph, Jayden Seales

How to watch WI vs PAK 1st ODI live in India?

Unfortunately, no television channel will live telecast the ODI series between West Indies and Pakistan. Live streaming of the West Indies vs Pakistan ODI series will be available on Fancode app and website.

Pakistan batsman Haider Ali is currently under criminal investigation in England, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said Thursday. The investigation follows an alleged incident during the Pakistan Shaheens’ recent tour of England.

Also Read: Ex-Pakistan cricketer takes dig at Shubman Gill’s men after Oval Test, says ‘India used Vaseline, send this ball to lab’

What did the police say?

Greater Manchester Police confirmed an arrest in connection with a rape allegation. The PCB acknowledged that the matter involves Haider Ali and said it is cooperating with relevant authorities, according to a report by the Associated Press.

The PCB did not specify the nature of the investigation into the 24-year-old Ali. 

Greater Manchester Police told AP they received a rape report on Monday and “arrested a 24-year-old man.”

The police statement added, “It’s alleged that the incident occurred on Wednesday 23 July 2025 at a premises in Manchester. The man has since been bailed pending further enquiries.”

Also Read: Who is Salman Iftikhar? Pak man who threatened Virgin Atlantic staff with rape has 2 wives, owns Rolls Royce, Bentley

Police in Britain typically do not name suspects at this stage of an investigation.

The Shaheens team represents Pakistan in second-tier international cricket. Their 15-day tour started on July 22.

The PCB suspended Ali “effective immediately, pending the outcome of the ongoing investigation.”

“The PCB fully respects the legal procedures and processes of the United Kingdom and acknowledges the importance of allowing the investigation to run its due course,” it said.

Also Read: Pakistani man jailed in UK for threatening to gang-rape Air Hostess mid-flight

Ali has played two one-day internationals and 35 T20s for Pakistan since making his international debut in 2020.

The PCB said Ali was provided appropriate legal support.

“Once the legal proceedings are concluded and all facts have been duly established, the PCB reserves the right to take appropriate action under its Code of Conduct, if necessary,” it added.

“I was thinking back to when Monica won the epic AO 1993 final against Graf, when she’s down in the second set and she fired a 164km/h ace down the middle, which was the fastest serve of the match,” said Petkovski, referencing another full match ausopen.com revisited.

“That was seen as a bomb in those days. And then [in this match] Venus is serving at 192km/h against Monica.

“Nine years on, it spoke to the new athletic level that the Williams sisters brought to the game. And to Monica’s credit, even against the biggest serve that we’d seen, she was still standing inside the baseline to fire her returns.

“She knew she could not afford to be put on the defensive. Once her movement was involved, and she was forced to take a second hand off the racquet, then she was playing defensive ball and she wouldn’t survive against Venus.”

Deep in the third set, Williams staged one final surge, arriving at 0-40 when Seles was serving with a 4-3 lead.

Seles erased all three break points to move ahead 5-3, then broke Williams to complete a famous triumph.

Martina Hingis ultimately ended her run in a thrilling semifinal, the last time Seles would advance that deep at a major tournament.

A few weeks later, Williams debuted at world No.1, and avenged her AO defeat to Seles at both Roland Garros and the US Open later that year. She also beat Seles at the 2002 WTA Finals, meaning this remains Seles’ only victory against Williams in 10 career meetings.

By the time 2003 rolled around, Seles was contending with a foot injury, falling in the second round of the Australian Open to qualifier Klara Koukalova.

She then lost in the first round of Roland Garros to Nadia Petrova – the last professional match of her career.

With a $100 million budget, fans can select the ultimate team from the Southern Hemisphere’s premier international rugby competition, with players from the All Blacks, Wallabies, Los Pumas and Springboks. Fantasy players will earn points based on their chosen team’s on-field actions, like tries, conversions, line-breaks, tackles, offloads, and 50:22s. 

While many will have their sights set on the $5,000 USD grand prize, fans can also create leagues to compete for ultimate bragging rights with friends, family, and other fans around the world. 

Two of the highest-priced players in the game are both outside backs, South African winger Cheslin Kolbe and All Blacks fullback Will Jordan, each valued at $10 million. 

Ardie Savea and Springboks captain Siya Kolisi are the most expensive forwards, both priced at $8 million. 

Fullback Tom Wright is Australia’s highest-priced player at $8.5 million, while flyhalf Tomás Albornoz leads the way for Argentina at $8 million. 

Fans are restricted to a minimum of three players and a maximum of six players from any Rugby Championship nation in their fantasy team.  

Fans will also have access to three boosters designed to supercharge their scoring: 

Triple Captain 
Triples your captain’s points for one match. 

Co-Captains 
Doubles the points for two selected captains for one round. 

Limitless 
Grants unlimited budget for one round only.   

With The Rugby Championship taking place over seven weeks, boosters will be a key part of Fantasy players strategy as they make their weekly selections.

Fantasy rugby is the ultimate test of rugby knowledge and tactical thinking, and no one has proved that more than Callum Brown of Melbourne, the inaugural winner of Fantasy Super Rugby Pacific. 

He’s provided fans with some hot tips ahead of The Rugby Championship starting.  

– It’s a short competition, you will need to take some risks, but don’t be too reckless, consistency will win out.
– Pick consistent players as captain. Having a solid and safe captain score each round will be better than taking a huge risk each round.
– Enjoy watching the games outside of your favourite team!
– Get familiar with the scoring system, being a player on the field doesn’t always translate to fantasy points!

With the game now live, fans can take the reins and put their rugby knowledge to the test throughout the 2025 season. 

Play now at playfantasyrugby.com

Josh Allen is looking back on how everything worked out perfectly at his and Hailee Steinfeld’s wedding.

The Buffalo Bills quarterback, 29, featured in the premiere of this season’s Hard Knocks recently, where he was to comment on his May wedding.

“Yeah, that was the best night of my life, honestly,” the NFL star responded, adding with a smile, “and my wife’s life, I think. That’s what she says.”

Allen also touched upon what he did this summer during his appearance on the first episode of the HBO series.

“I’ve golfed a lot. That was pretty cool,” he said. “I golfed at Augusta after the Masters.”

“I will mention that I did get married, and that was the most important part. Yeah, it’s been a good offseason,” he added with a smile.

Allen and Steinfeld, 28, exchanged vows on May 31 in an outdoor California ceremony in front of family and friends, including his Bills teammates and Curb Your Enthusiasm star Larry David.

Per Steinfeld’s Beau Society newsletter, the couple began with a family-only dinner on May 29, which was followed by a welcome party with signature cocktails the next day.

The couple then broke tradition by having breakfast together on the wedding morning. Their ceremony, held at San Ysidro Ranch in Santa Barbara, featured a phone-free rule.

Steinfeld then walked down the aisle in a custom Tamara Ralph gown with sheer opera gloves and a lace veil. She accessorised with a pair of Mikimoto pearl and diamond earrings.

The guests were then treated to a reception, a lemon olive oil cake, and an underground after-party. 

The NFL pro proposed to the singer in November 2024, a year after first being spotted together.

Victoria Mboko cemented her credentials as the buzziest giant slayer in women’s tennis on Thursday 7 August, fighting back from a one set deficit to best four-time Grand Slam singles champion Naomi Osaka 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 on home soil at the Canadian Open in Montreal, Canada.

The teenager completed her almost unbelievable feat in two hours and four minutes, claiming her first-ever tour-level title to become only the third Canadian player to win the Canadian Open in the Open era.

She reacted to what is likely to be a career-defining moment with shock and amazement, further underlining the almost unbelievable nature of her championship run, which saw her beat four Grand Slam champions in the space of seven matches.

More to follow…