arabnews.com - Qatar’s Akram Afif nominated for third Asian Player of the Year award

Qatar’s Akram Afif nominated for third Asian Player of the Year award

Reigning Asian Player of the Year Akram Afif has again been included on the three-man shortlist for the Asian Football Confederation’s annual award, alongside Saudi Arabia’s Salem Al-Dawsari and Arif Aiman of Malaysia.Australian Holly McNamara, Wang Shuang from China and Japanese defender Hana Takahashi have been nominated for the women’s award.Qatari forward Afif, who also won in 2019, would become the first three-times winner of the title should he lift the trophy at a gala ceremony in Riyadh on October 16.Al-Hilal’s Al-Dawsari is hoping to win for a second time after being crowned in 2022, while Johor Darul Ta’zim winger Arif is the first Malaysian to be nominated for the award.Paris Saint-Germain’s UEFA Champions League winner Lee Kang-in from South Korea has been listed for the AFC’s International Player of the Year Award alongside Iran’s Mehdi Taremi and Takefusa Kubo from Japan.

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.

L’Etape Dubai by Tour de France unveils new 2026 routes and expanded program

DUBAI: L’Etape Dubai by Tour de France, presented by Skoda and supported by the Dubai Sports Council, has announced new 2026 race routes and more activities, both in the buildup and during the race weekend.

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.

Former Barcelona midfielder Busquets to retire at end of MLS season

MIAMI: Former Spain and Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets will retire from football at the end of the Major League Soccer (MLS) season, his club Inter Miami said on Thursday. Busquets came up through the Barcelona youth ranks and spent 18 years overall at the club, making his senior debut in 2008, before joining Miami in 2023 where he was reunited with former teammates Lionel Messi, Jordi Alba and Luis Suarez. He played 143 times for the national team and was part of the side that won the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and the European Championship two years later in Poland and Ukraine. “I feel like the time has come to say goodbye to my career as a professional footballer. It’s been almost 20 years of enjoying this incredible story I always dreamed of,” Busquets said in a video posted on Instagram. “I’m retiring very happy, proud, fulfilled, and above all, grateful...

Hernandez stunner as Al-Hilal strike back to beat Al-Okhdood

RIYADH: Al-Hilal recovered from an early concession to beat Al-Okhdood 3-1 at Kingdom Arena on Matchday 4 of the Saudi Pro League season.

Aston Villa must build on Europa League win over Bologna, says Emery

Aston Villa must use their 1-0 home win over Bologna in the Europa League on Thursday as a springboard, manager Unai Emery said after his side picked up their first win of the season. John McGinn scored Villa’s first home goal of the season to earn the win and provide Emery with a measure of relief after their dismal start to the season left them 17th in the Premier League and out of the League Cup. Villa have three draws and two defeats from their five league games so far and Emery urged his side to build on the momentum from their win over the Italians when they host Fulham on Sunday. “We have to try to keep consistent, we had not been consistent until today,” Emery told reporters. “Today we won and it is important we have to try and keep consistent on Sunday. Different match, different rival, but a lot of things tactically we have to keep on building.

Trump: World Cup games will be moved if host cities aren’t ‘safe’

President Donald Trump would look to move matches for the 2026 World Cup if he deems any of the US cities planning to serve as hosts to be unsafe. Speaking Thursday about the event, which will be co-hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, Trump was asked by reporters in the Oval Office specifically about games in Seattle and San Francisco. “Well, that’s an interesting question ... but we’re going to make sure they’re safe,” he said.

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Qatar’s Akram Afif nominated for third Asian Player of the Year award

UAE women’s team to make cricket history in Zimbabwe

L’Etape Dubai by Tour de France unveils new 2026 routes and expanded program

Pakistan down Bangladesh to set up Asia Cup final with India

Former Barcelona midfielder Busquets to retire at end of MLS season

Hernandez stunner as Al-Hilal strike back to beat Al-Okhdood

Aston Villa must build on Europa League win over Bologna, says Emery

Trump: World Cup games will be moved if host cities aren’t ‘safe’