UAE women’s team to make cricket history in Zimbabwe
DUBAI: The Esha Oza-led UAE women’s team are set to make history tomorrow with their first ODI in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.
Pakistan Sport News
Pakistan down Bangladesh to set up Asia Cup final with India
DUBAI: Pakistan will face India in the Asia Cup final for the first time after their bowlers made amends for poor batting to upstage Bangladesh in an 11-run victory on Thursday. Bangladesh fast bowler Taskin Ahmed grabbed 3-28 as Pakistan batters were sloppy on a sticky Dubai stadium pitch in their last Super Four match, managing a modest 135-8 in 20 overs. Pakistan staged a fight back through pacers Shaheen Shah Afridi (3-17) and Haris Rauf (3-33) to keep Bangladesh down to 124-9 in 20 overs and book a place in Sunday’s showpiece against India. Shamim Hossain top-scored for Bangladesh with a 25-ball 30 and Saif Hassan scored 18. Pakistan’s second win in the Super Four stage set them up for a third encounter against archrivals India. They have lost both previous meetings with their neighbors so far in the tournament, with the two matches marred by controversy. India players refused to shake hands with Pakistan after the first game and the two sides also did not shake hands after the second. Pakistan skipper Salman Agha said he looks forward to meeting India again. “We are very excited,” said Agha.
Asia Cup 2025 edges towards a seemingly inevitable end
The Asia Cup 2025 has always been a troubled soul and it has struggled to cast off this characteristic. Originally meant to be hosted by India, the position was scuppered by recent Indo-Pakistan political tensions.
Modric and De Bruyne meet in Serie A for the first time when AC Milan hosts Napoli
ROME: Luka Modric and Kevin De Bruyne have grown accustomed to facing each other in the Champions League. On Sunday at the San Siro, the two midfield standouts will have their first meeting in Serie A since their recent moves to Italy. When Modric’s AC Milan host De Bruyne’s Napoli, they will also be a showdown between two of the Italian league’s best performing teams. At age 40, Modric has helped transform Milan into a potential title challenger. De Bruyne, who is 34, has helped defending champion Napoli remain the team to beat. Napoli will be looking to extend their perfect start, while Milan will be aiming for their fifth straight win across all competitions. Modric’s move to Milan came after 13 seasons at Real Madrid.
Sponsor urges Israel Premier Tech cycling team to change their name in face of protests
MADRID: Israel Premier Tech cycling team have been urged by their title sponsor to change their name in the face of pro-Palestinian protests. Riders were targeted at the recent Spanish Vuelta, causing disruption to the Grand Tour event. Spain’s government estimated that more than 100,000 people were on the streets in Madrid during the final stage when protesters criticized the presence of Israel Premier Tech. In a statement reported by Radio Canada, Premier Tech said “the current situation regarding the team’s name is no longer sustainable to achieve our goal.” Premier Tech is a multinational company based in Quebec, Canada. It is the title sponsor of the cycling team co-owned by Israeli Canadian billionaire Sylvan Adams. The Spanish Vuelta, which concluded this month, turned into a diplomatic battleground.
European soccer body UEFA moves toward vote to suspend Israel
GENEVA: European soccer body UEFA is moving toward a vote to suspend its member federation Israel over the war in Gaza, people familiar with the proposal told The Associated Press on Thursday. A majority of UEFA’s 20-member executive committee is expected to support any vote in favor of suspending Israeli teams from international play, two sources told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the subject. The move comes two weeks before the Israel men’s team is due to resume its 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign with away games against Norway and Italy. It is unclear whether world soccer body FIFA will support excluding Israel given the close relations between FIFA’s leader, Gianni Infantino, and President Donald Trump.
Alcaraz survives injury scare and rain delay to win Tokyo opener
TOKYO: World number one Carlos Alcaraz shrugged off an ankle injury to beat Argentina’s Sebastian Baez 6-4, 6-2 on Thursday in a gritty start to his Japan Open campaign. US Open champion Alcaraz crumpled to the ground chasing a shot in the fifth game of the opening set in Tokyo and sat on the court grimacing for several minutes. The Spaniard had his left ankle heavily strapped during a medical timeout before gingerly returning. He soon began to move comfortably and broke world number 41 Baez to take a 5-4 lead. The match was delayed for a further half an hour as organizers closed the stadium roof with rain falling. Alcaraz returned strongly and closed out the first set before breezing past Baez in the second. “I have to see later if the outcome is going to be good,” Alcaraz said of his injury after the match. Alcaraz is playing at the Japan Open for the first time and the crowd gave him a warm cheer as he emerged in a burgundy sleeveless outfit with platinum blond hair. But their applause soon turned to concern when he went down injured halfway through the first set, with his reaction suggesting he may be unable to continue. Alcaraz somehow found a way to carry on and went on to dominate the match, winning in 1 hour and 30 minutes when Baez hit a return long. Number two seed Taylor Fritz of the US survived a tough opening test against Canada’s Gabriel Diallo to go through 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/3). Fritz, the world number five, beat Alcaraz at the Laver Cup in San Francisco last week. Norway’s number four seed Casper Ruud also advanced, with a 4-6, 6-1, 6-1 win over Japan’s Shintaro Mochizuki. Number five seed Tomas Machac of the Czech Republic went out after losing 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) to Japanese qualifier Sho Shimabukuro.
Mbappe is on a scoring run for Madrid before visiting Atletico in the capital derby
BARCELONA: Only six weeks into La Liga and Atletico Madrid already faces what seems to be a must-win derby when it hosts Real Madrid on Saturday. Despite revamping a significant part of the squad this summer, Atletico is off to its worst start – two wins in six matches – since coach Diego Simeone took over more than a decade ago. They take on their top rival well behind in the standings: Real Madrid leads the league and Atletico Madrid is eighth, nine points adrift. Key matchups Madrid is the only team to have won all six rounds.