SPORTS NEWS

Zurich, 17 October, 2026 (Ghufran): FIFA President Gianni Infantino is facing criticism from European football officials over a controversial $4.2 billion project amid concerns about a lack of transparency and inadequate consultation. Infantino has apologised for shortcomings in the consultation process, but European officials remain dissatisfied with the failure to provide clear explanations and relevant documentation. The proposed project involved giving private investors a stake in the commercial rights of football competitions and was abandoned in July following strong opposition. English Football Association Chair Debbie Hewitt said Infantino must answer the questions raised, warning that failure to provide satisfactory explanations could lead to further scrutiny of his presidency. FI...

Lahore, 17 October, 2026 (Ghufran): The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) has confirmed that the national hockey team will participate in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup scheduled to take place in November. PHF President Mohiuddin Wani said Pakistan had accepted the invitation to compete in the prestigious international tournament, providing national players with an opportunity to gain valuable experience by facing teams from around the world. He emphasized that participation in international competitions would help improve players’ skills and strengthen the team’s performance. Meanwhile, the PHF announced that Pakistan’s Under-21 hockey team was already in Malaysia to participate in the Sultan of Johor Cup. According to the federation, the tournament will offer young players valuable internation...

Rawalpindi, 17 October, 2026 (Kamran Raja): The trophy for the upcoming One-Day International (ODI) tri-series featuring Pakistan, Sri Lanka and England has been unveiled ahead of the much-anticipated tournament. Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi, England skipper Harry Brook and Sri Lanka captain Kusal Mendis attended the unveiling ceremony and posed for photographs with the trophy. The tournament will begin on October 18 at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, where hosts Pakistan will face Sri Lanka in the opening match, scheduled to start at 1:00 pm Pakistan Standard Time. The first three matches will be played in Rawalpindi before the tournament moves to Lahore. The final is scheduled to take place at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on October 31. Under the double round-robin format, each team wil...

 RAWALPINDI, 16 October 2026 (Nosheen): Pakistan’s 16-member squad, led by Shaheen Shah Afridi, began preparations for the upcoming One-Day International (ODI) tri-nation series with an intensive three-hour training session at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Thursday. The training session, held from 4pm to 7pm under the supervision of head coach Mike Hesson, batting coach Mike Smith, bowling coach Shaun Tait and fielding coach Mansoor Amjad, included skill development and batting practice for all squad members. Fast bowlers Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Razaullah, Faheem Ashraf and Naseem Shah worked on their bowling under the guidance of Shaun Tait, while spinners Shadab Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Arafat Minhas and Sufyan Moqim bowled extended spells in the nets. Pakistan will face Sri ...

 ISLAMABAD, 16 October, 2026 (Ghufran): England’s One-Day International (ODI) cricket team arrived in Pakistan on Friday to participate in an upcoming tri-nation series featuring Pakistan, England and Sri Lanka. The visiting squad landed at Islamabad International Airport, where officials from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) welcomed the players. The English team later travelled to its hotel and is scheduled to hold a practice session at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Saturday. The tri-series will begin on October 18, with Pakistan facing Sri Lanka in the opening match at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Pakistan and England will meet at the same venue on October 20. Matches in the tournament will be played in Rawalpindi and Lahore, with the final scheduled for October 31 at Lahore’s G...

Jeddah, 15 October, 2026 (Kamran Raja): FIFA and the Saudi Esports Federation have postponed the FIFAe Finals 2026, which were scheduled to take place in Jeddah from October 16 to 25, following recent attacks in Saudi Arabia and concerns over the regional security situation. Organisers announced the decision on Thursday, saying it followed an assessment of recent developments and their impact on the logistical arrangements required to stage the international esports tournament. They added that further announcements regarding the rescheduled event would be made in due course. The postponement came after a strike on Riyadh’s international airport on Saturday reportedly killed at least 12 people and wounded more than 300, with Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement claiming responsibility. Japa...

 Islamabad, 15 October, 2026 (Nosheen): The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) and Vital Group on Thursday signed a sponsorship agreement aimed at promoting hockey, supporting young talent and improving Pakistan’s performance in international competitions. The signing ceremony was held in Islamabad and attended by Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Prime Minister’s Youth Programme Chairman Rana Mashhood Ahmed Khan, PHF President Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani, Vital Group’s Mian Asad, national team players and former Olympians. Addressing the ceremony, Ahsan Iqbal said hockey was an important symbol of Pakistan’s national identity and expressed confidence that the country could regain its lost glory in international hockey. He said talented young players were being encouraged to restore Pakistan’...

 Miami, 15 October, 2026 (Ghufran): Lionel Messi provided an assist for Rodrigo De Paul, while German Berterame ended his scoring drought as Inter Miami secured a place in the Major League Soccer (MLS) playoffs with a 2-0 victory over New York City FC on Wednesday. The win gave head coach Cristian “Kily” Gonzalez his first consecutive victories since taking charge last month and guaranteed second-placed Miami at least a place in the wild-card round, with five regular-season matches remaining. Messi, who scored twice on Saturday after returning from Argentina’s emotional farewell to him, played a key role in both first-half goals. In the 20th minute, Messi helped launch the move that led to Berterame’s opening goal, as Rodrigo De Paul combined with Luis Suarez before the ball r...

 Lahore, 15 October, 2026 (Kamran Raja): Pakistan’s star cricketer Babar Azam celebrated his 32nd birthday in a simple and private gathering with his brothers and close friends, according to media reports published on Thursday. The celebration included a cake-cutting ceremony, with the cake decorated with bat and ball designs reflecting the cricketer’s passion for the game. Pictures from the occasion were shared on social media by Babar’s brothers, prompting fans to send congratulatory messages and birthday wishes to the Pakistan batter. The low-key event brought together family members and close friends, keeping the celebration away from a large public gathering. Babar Azam remains one of Pakistan’s prominent international cricketers and an important figure in the country’s batti...