Tag: thepakistantimes.net

Islamabad, 20  September, 2026 (Ghufran): The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) has announced that the PFF U-17 Championship 2026 will be held in Islamabad from September 23 to October 4, bringing together provincial and regional teams from across Pakistan. The championship will provide young footballers with an opportunity to compete at the national level and gain valuable competitive experience. Each participating team will comprise 23 players and five officials. The tournament is part of the PFF’s ongoing efforts to revive and strengthen domestic football, expand opportunities for young players and establish a stronger pathway for youth development across Pakistan. The PFF will bear all expenses related to the participation of the teams, along with other costs associated with organisin...

 NAGOYA, 20 September, 2026 (Ghufran): The opening ceremony of the 20th Asian Games has begun in Japan, with 10,840 athletes from 45 countries participating in competitions across 43 sports. Pakistan is also taking part in the Games, with both its men’s and women’s cricket teams competing in the event. Pakistan’s women’s cricket team has reached the semifinals of the cricket competition, while star javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem is also set to compete at the Games. The 20th Asian Games are bringing together athletes from across Asia for competitions in a wide range of sporting disciplines.

MANCHESTER, 20 September, 2026 (Kamran Raja): Former Pakistan Test captain Wasim Akram has criticised Babar Azam’s decision to take charge of the national Test side, describing it as a mistake and saying the batter should have continued playing only as a player. Speaking at a charity fundraising event in Manchester alongside Waqar Younis, Akram said he did not want to blame anyone and acknowledged that his assessment could be wrong. He recalled an incident during the toss for the third Test when Babar was asked about changes involving seven players and the coaching staff and reportedly responded that he was unaware of the changes. Akram said a captain must stand by his players, arguing that a player cannot perform at his best if he feels his captain is not supporting him. In Akram’s view, ...

SEVILLE, 20 September, 2026 (Ghufran): Raphinha scored a superb hat-trick as Barcelona came from behind to beat Sevilla 3-1 in La Liga on Saturday, maintaining their perfect record and moving six points clear of Real Madrid. Sevilla took the lead in the 19th minute through Youssouf Fofana, but Raphinha equalised before the break with a low finish. The Brazil international then put Barcelona ahead early in the second half with a header before completing his hat-trick with a fine chip over the goalkeeper. Teenage forward Lamine Yamal played a key role in Barcelona’s comeback, providing the assists for Raphinha’s second and third goals. The victory marked Barcelona’s eighth win from eight matches across all competitions this season, while Raphinha took his tally to 12 La Liga goals in seven a...