SPORTS NEWS

Islamabad, 21 October, 2026( Kamran Raja): Pakistan has decided not to participate in the Over-50s Cricket World Cup 2027 scheduled to be held in India after failing to obtain government permission for the tournament. The competition is set to take place in Hyderabad Deccan from January 23 to February 7, 2027. Pakistan was due to compete as the defending champion after winning the 2025 edition in Sri Lanka. Fawad Ejaz Khan, chairman of the Pakistan Veterans Cricket Association (PVCA), said Indian veterans cricket officials had assured the Pakistani team of visa arrangements and high-level security during the tournament. He said the association had sought permission to participate from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Interior. However, Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman and...

 Islamabad, 21 October, 2026(Nosheen): The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the schedule and groupings for the 2027 Women’s Under-19 T20 World Cup, with Pakistan and India drawn into separate groups for the tournament. The third edition of the ICC Women’s U19 T20 World Cup will be co-hosted by Bangladesh and Nepal, with the competition scheduled to commence on January 21. A total of 16 teams will participate in the tournament, divided into four groups, with 41 matches to be played across four venues in the two host countries. India have been placed in Group A alongside Ireland, the West Indies and Nepal, while Pakistan will compete in Group B against South Africa, New Zealand and Samoa. Group C comprises Australia, Bangladesh, Nigeria and the United Arab Emira...

 Lahore, October 20, 2026 (Ghufran): The International Cricket Council (ICC) has reprimanded Indian women’s cricketer Shafali Verma for breaching the code of conduct during a match against Zimbabwe. According to the ICC, Verma committed a Level 1 offence after angrily throwing the ball onto the ground following a dropped catch in the 12th over of the match. The incident was deemed a breach of the ICC’s code of conduct, prompting the governing body to issue a formal reprimand. The ICC has also awarded Verma one demerit point for her conduct on the field.

Rawalpindi, 20 October, 2026 (Kamran Raja): Pakistan ended their seven-year wait for an ODI victory over England with a commanding 87-run win in the tri-nation series at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Tuesday. Arafat Minhas delivered an outstanding all-round performance, scoring a crucial half-century before claiming six wickets to help dismiss England for 215 in 38.4 overs while chasing a target of 303 runs. Pakistan’s previous ODI victory over England came during the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup, when they secured a 14-run win in Nottingham. The latest triumph marked a significant achievement for Pakistan as they continued their strong run in the tournament. The victory was Pakistan’s second consecutive win in the tri-nation series, following their 37-run triumph over Sri Lanka in the openi...

Islamabad, 20 October, 2026 (Nosheen): The International Cricket Council (ICC) has fined Pakistan and Sri Lanka for maintaining slow over-rates during the opening match of the tri-nation One-Day International series at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. According to the ICC, Pakistan were fined 10 percent of their match fees, while Sri Lanka received a penalty of five percent after falling short of the required over-rate. Pakistan were found to be two overs behind the stipulated rate, while Sri Lanka were one over short. Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi and Sri Lanka captain Kusal Mendis admitted their respective offences and accepted the penalties. The match was played on Sunday, with Pakistan securing a 37-run victory over Sri Lanka in the series opener. Batting first, Pakistan set a target...

Islamabad, 20 October, 2026 (Ghufran): Portuguese football star Cristiano Ronaldo has been handed a 30-day suspension by the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) after leaving the national team’s training camp following a dispute with coach Jorge Jesus over his role in the squad. The federation’s disciplinary council announced on Monday that it had upheld the charge against the 41-year-old forward in full and imposed a fine of 255 euros. Ronaldo reportedly left Portugal’s camp in Copenhagen ahead of the team’s Nations League match against Denmark earlier this month after accusing Jesus of breaking his word twice regarding his role in the side. The dispute arose after Ronaldo was left on the bench during Portugal’s match against Norway. Jesus denied reaching any agreement with the veteran f...

Islamabad, 20 October 2026 (Kamran Raja): Former US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro is leading the list of player nominees for induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame’s Class of 2027. The Argentine has been joined on the ballot by former world number one Ash Barty of Australia and Russian tennis star Svetlana Kuznetsova, the Hall announced on Monday. Del Potro won 22 titles on the ATP Tour, with his most memorable achievement coming at the 2009 US Open, where he defeated Rafael Nadal in the semifinals before overcoming Roger Federer in the final to claim his only Grand Slam singles title. He rallied from a two-sets-to-one deficit against Federer, ending the Swiss player’s five-year reign as champion at the tournament. Del Potro also played a key role in Argentina’s histori...

DHAKA, 19 October, 2026 (Nosheen): Bangladesh has appointed left-arm spinner Nahida Akter as the new captain of its women’s Twenty20 International (T20I) team for a one-year term, replacing Nigar Sultana, who stepped down from the leadership role. Middle-order batter Shobhana has been named vice-captain of the national side. Nigar led Bangladesh in 82 T20I matches, recording 32 victories during her tenure, but decided to relinquish the captaincy following disappointing performances in the Asia Cup and Asian Games. The appointment of Nahida, 25, marks a new chapter for the women’s team as Bangladesh looks to strengthen its performance in international cricket. Nahida made her international debut in September 2015 and has established herself as one of the team’s leading bowlers. She is Bangl...

 WUHAN, 19 October, 2026 (Ghufran): Poland’s Maja Chwalinska staged an impressive comeback to defeat Britain’s Sonay Kartal 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 and claim the first tour-level title of her career at the Wuhan Open on Sunday. The 25-year-old, seeded 16th, recovered from a set and a break down to become only the fourth player to win her maiden tour-level title at a WTA 1000 event, joining Naomi Osaka, Bianca Andreescu and Victoria Mboko. Chwalinska, who began the year ranked 146th in the world, had already made headlines by reaching the French Open final as a qualifier in June. Following her Wuhan triumph, she is set to climb to a career-high world ranking of No. 11 and make her debut in the top 20. Speaking after the match, Chwalinska said the victory felt special after the difficult peri...

LONDON, 19 October, 2026 (Kamran Raja): Arsenal secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Nottingham Forest on Sunday, scoring late in the match to maintain pressure on Premier League leaders Manchester City. The Gunners entered the fixture a day after City recorded their seventh consecutive home victory against Ipswich Town, strengthening their position at the top of the table despite the fallout from the club’s guilty verdict over serious financial irregularities. Arsenal struggled to break down Nottingham Forest’s defence and found it difficult to create clear scoring opportunities against Oliver Glasner’s side. However, substitute Noni Madueke finally broke the deadlock in the 80th minute when his effort deflected off Forest defender Jair Cunha and found the back of the net. The goal prov...