ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s interior minister has invited the England cricket team to tour the country for the first time since 2005, after a successful visit by the West Indies amid improved security boosted hopes of an international revival.
A visit by a major Test-playing nation such as England would be hugely significant, in terms of both cricket as well as Pakistan’s wider security and the message it hopes to send about its crackdown on extremism and militancy.
Interior minister Ahsan Iqbal extended the invitation to UK High Comissioner Thomas Drew on Tuesday, urging the international community to recognize the strides Pakistan has made.
“The successful staging of international matches in Pakistan is a clear proof that we have defeated terrorism and extremism,” he said, according to an official statement.
Drew said he was already looking forward to “this summer’s big cricketing event,” Pakistan’s upcoming England tour.
“But I also hope that it will not be long before I can welcome an England team to Pakistan,” he told AFP Wednesday. “That really is something to look forward to.”
For years foreign teams refused to tour Pakistan, wracked by Islamist attacks. In 2009 an attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore drove international cricket from the country entirely, and their fixtures have been played in the UAE.
But security has improved dramatically in recent years, and since 2015 Pakistan has hosted Zimbabwe, a World XI, Sri Lanka, the finals of its domestic T20 league for two years running and, most recently, the West Indies, for a short T20 series which finished on Tuesday.
The matches have been staged in both Lahore and Karachi, the cricket-obsessed country’s two largest cities, both of which have been hit repeatedly by militant violence over the last decade.
Head-of-state level security has been provided for visiting players, most of whom have come away praising the arrangements.
Various military operations across the country have led to the increased security, particularly in the northwestern tribal region, where militants once operated with impunity.
But the US maintains that Pakistan is hosting militant safe havens in the northwest, accusations Islamabad denies; while critics warn that the country has not gone far enough in rooting out the long-term causes of extremism.
Pakistan invites England cricket team back after 13 years
Pakistan invites England cricket team back after 13 years
- England have not not toured there since 2005
- Visiting players enjoy head-of-state level security
Saudi coach Renard expecting a tough game against Japan
- Japan qualified for next year’s World Cup with a 2-0 victory over Bahrain on Thursday
- Renard said the previous game against China, which Saudi Arabia won 1-0 was “a good game”
TOKYO: Saudi Arabia manager Hervé Renard says Japan’s qualification for the World Cup will not affect how either team plays when they meet on Tuesday at Saitama Stadium just north of Tokyo.
Japan qualified for next year’s World Cup with a 2-0 victory over Bahrain on Thursday and remained top of Group C with 19 points from seven games. Australia is second with 10 points followed by Saudi Arabia with nine.
“We still have to play Japan tomorrow, then go to Bahrain and to receive Australia for the last game, so it’s a tough sprint for the second position,” Renard said at a press conference on Monday held in Saitama Stadium near Tokyo. "You always have to adapt yourself to the situation, to be strong and to fight to get the direct qualification. We know Japan are disciplined, we know their philosophy, and there is no doubt they can play this game against us at 100 percent. We are playing against the best team in Asia, so we will be ready to compete on the field tomorrow.”
Goalkeeper Nawaf Al-Aghidi said the Saudi squad have had a positive few days in Japan: “We have a good a couple of days here in Japan and everything has been positive. I would like to thank the Japanese for their warm welcome for the team here and we would like to congratulate them on securing their spot in the World Cup finals. Tomorrow's game is a difficult game for both teams and hopefully we can manage to get the three points.”
Renard said the previous game against China, which Saudi Arabia won 1-0 was “a good game” but admitted his team was not efficient enough. “We didn't score a lot of goals, but we got a lot of opportunities,” he said.
Renard noted that the squad had suffered some injuries, and the demands of Ramadan had also affected some players, but he emphasized, he was not looking for excuses. “Yes, it's true we have some injured players, but this is part of football where we must adapt ourselves. Concerning getting cramp during Ramadan, it is never easy for all the players, but they must adapt themselves. So, we must be ready tomorrow because tomorrow we'll have to run a lot.”
Al-Aghidi said his role as a goalkeeper was just to help the team: “My aim is always to help my national team, and this is why I wanted to have more playing time, and this is the place I want to be. As a goalkeeper, it's very important to have more playing time. I'm ready to play a key role for my team tomorrow. I will do my best to help my fellow players during the game to get the result that we have been working for.”
Renard was asked about Japan’s ambition to win the World Cup by 2050.
“It's normal when you have a big ambition,” he replied. “To win the World Cup is a very big ambition, but they can do this in the future, I'm sure, because they have so many quality players. We are playing against a very strong team, so we need to be ready to have a tough game. But in football you must believe in yourself.”
Oman’s Al-Zubair ready for new racing challenges in Europe
- Al-Manar Racing team driver will take part in the sprint and endurance races at the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe
MUSCAT: Having won the opening race of the 2025 Middle East Trophy at the Dubai 24 Hour in January, Omani driver Al-Faisal Al-Zubair of Al-Manar Racing is now set to take on a new challenge in one of Europe’s most prestigious GT racing championships.
The announcement that Al-Manar will race at the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe came at a ceremony on Sunday night held under the patronage of Kamil bin Fahd bin Mahmood Al-Said, the secretary-general of the General Secretariat of the Omani Council of Ministers.
The start of the 2025 season marked a new chapter for Al-Zubair and Al-Manar Racing team as they teamed up with a new partner, the WRT team.
The team began their partnership with a win at Dubai Autodrome, and will now participate in the endurance and sprint races at the Fanatec GT World Challenge. This will be the first time that Al-Zubair has taken part in sprint races after only participating in endurance races last year.
Speaking during the ceremony, at which he was joined by key partners, sponsors, dignitaries, media, family and friends, Al-Zubair said: “I am proud to announce my 2025 racing program, which started off perfectly with a new team and a new car, including our victory in the Dubai 24 Hour.
“I am delighted to be carrying the flag of the Sultanate of Oman and the Arab world, and my goal is to build on last year’s achievements.
“Last year I finished second but in the 2025 season Al-Manar Racing will partner with the world’s most important and best GT team, WRT, so it’s only natural that our goal is to achieve first place. The victory in Dubai came at the perfect time in my first participation with the team, and it provided a morale boost and a great boost for the season.
“For the past three years I have driven a Mercedes, and in 2025 I will move to a BMW GT3 Evo, which I will use to compete in all rounds of the Fanatec GT World Challenge.
“This season is different from last year as I will participate in all 10 rounds of the Fanatec GT Challenge, which includes the long endurance races and the short sprint races where I will compete for the sprint and endurance championship titles, as well as the overall championship title.”
He added: “My teammates, German racing driver Jens Klingmann and British racing driver Ben Tuck, will alternate with me in the team, and our goal is to win the Gold Cup title. I am eagerly awaiting the start of the season at the Paul Ricard Circuit in France next month.”
Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe is renowned for its fiercely competitive field and demanding race tracks, providing the ultimate test of endurance, speed, and precision. The rounds include a number of races, starting in France and then continuing to Britain, Belgium and Italy, along with other locations.
Make-or-break time for Saudi’s hopes of automatic World Cup qualification
- Green Falcons need a result against Japan in Tokyo if top-two finish in the group is to remain realistic target
LONDON: Tuesday could make or break Saudi Arabia’s quest for automatic qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Any result in Japan, the toughest fixture in Asia, as coach Herve Renard admitted, is a good one. A win, however would have belief surging among the Green Falcons and send a message to the other teams in their AFC qualifying group. Defeat would not be a disgrace but could be a blow that almost ends hopes of a top-two finish.
That 1-0 win over China last Thursday was not just welcome and needed, but put Saudi Arabia third in Group C with nine points, one behind Australia. Those two are likely going to be the ones fighting it out for that second automatic spot now that Japan has already qualified.
Missing out does not mean the end of the North American dream, but while some teams would welcome finishing third and fourth and then progressing to another stage of qualification, Saudi Arabia, seeking a seventh World Cup appearance, is not one of them.
There is some good news. Japan are through with 19 points from seven games. Coach Hajime Moriyasu has said that he will try to win the three remaining matches, and while there was never a suggestion that the Samurai Blue would take it easy, there is no doubt that the pressure is off and the intensity on the pitch and in the stands will not be quite as high. Japan do not need to win.
There may even be a little experimentation from Moriyasu as he takes a look at some of the other squad members. There are already fitness doubts over English Premier League star winger Kaoru Mitoma as well as Ayase Ueda and Hidemasa Morita. Any suggestion that Japan will be below strength would be welcomed by the visitors.
China could also lend a helping hand. Australia are a point ahead of the Saudis with a far superior goal difference after thrashing Indonesia 5-1, and take on Team Dragon in Hangzhou. After the action at Saitama Stadium finishes, whatever the result, fans back in Riyadh, Jeddah and elsewhere will be tuning in to the goings-on in China, willing the hosts to get a point or even three. It is not just about the points, but erasing Australia’s goal difference advantage. There may come a time when this becomes crucial.
How Japan set up and how Australia get on may be on the minds of fans, but the most important factor is how Saudi Arabia approach this game. Renard’s best result in charge was that 2-1 win over Argentina at the 2022 World Cup when the team played with courage and skill.
Noises coming out of the camp as they touched down in the east (that long journey could be a factor but there is nothing that can be done about that) is that the coaching staff want a slow start in Saitama to try to calm things down in the opening period of the game — the worst thing that could happen is Japan taking an early lead.
At some point, there has to be aggression and ambition. Going to Japan and defending deep for 90 minutes is unlikely to work. In eight games in 2024, the Blues scored 32 (including that 2-0 win in Jeddah). There were 34 scored in the eight before that including a 4-1 win over Germany in Germany.
Saudi Arabia have been practising attacks from wide positions, looking to get behind the hosts. The injury to Roma right-back Saud Abdulhamid, who made the goal last week, does not help in that regard. Midfielder Mohamed Kanno is another big miss, as is defender Hassan Kadesh, carried off against China.
That win in Riyadh was promising as well as deserved. The major criticism was that too many of the chances made were wasted but, after four previous qualifiers without a goal, at least the opportunities were there to begin with.
Salem Al-Dawsari was the man who made the difference once again and there is also good news in that midfielders Nasser Al-Dawsari and Musab Al-Juwayr look to be fit and ready.
Japan are not going to sit back, which will mean plenty of defending to do but also opportunities to attack. Just how well Saudi Arabia manage both will determine whether this goes down as a glorious result and a big step toward the 2026 World Cup, or something a little different.
Shabab Al-Ahli and Al-Jazira to meet in ADIB Cup final
- Shabab Al-Ahli will be aiming for a record-extending sixth ADIB Cup victory when the clubs meet on April 19
DUBAI: An intriguing ADIB Cup showpiece awaits next month after Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai Club gained revenge on Sharjah, and on-song Al-Jazira produced a rapid comeback against Wasl, in their gripping semifinal deciders.
Shabab Al-Ahli will be aiming for a record-extending sixth ADIB Cup victory when the clubs meet in the final on April 19, while Jazira are aiming to add to their solitary triumph in 2010.
Sunday night’s rollercoaster tie at Rashid Stadium pitted ADNOC Pro League leaders Shabab Al-Ahli against second-placed perennial rivals Sharjah.
A 2-2 draw earned the club their 5-3 aggregate triumph, which featured two Fede Cartabia spot-kicks. It was the fourth-successive meeting between the clubs in five-consecutive fixtures across all competitions.
Sharjah had given themselves hope with Corinthians loanee Biro’s precise, low 12th-minute finish.
Cartabia converted the first of two penalties at the start of the second half, with center-back Shahin Abdulrahman returning the favor from 12 yards. This was prior to Cartabia’s second settling any Shabab Al-Ahli nerves about a fightback.
It was recompense for being eliminated by the same opponent in AFC Champions League Two’s quarterfinals prior to the international break.
On Saturday evening, France superstar Nabil Fekir was among the scorers when a rampant Jazira first-half performance at Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium helped turn a 1-0 first-leg deficit into an eventual 3-2 triumph.
Jazira had burst out the blocks with goals from Argentine forward Ramon Mierez, Vinicius Mello and Fekir within the first 45 minutes of the second leg.
A second-half Joao Pedro penalty then proved inconsequential as Wasl added ADIB Cup elimination to this month’s earlier AFC Champions League Elite exit.
Madison Keys suffers shock loss from Filipino wildcard at Miami Open
- Alexandra Eala becomes first woman from the Philippines to beat a top-10 opponent since the ranking system came into being in 1975
- Russian Mirra Andreeva, coming off back-to-back WTA 1000 wins in Dubai and Indian Wells, also exited in the third round
MIAMI GARDENS, United States: Australian Open champion Madison Keys crashed out of the Miami Open on Sunday suffering a shock loss to 19-year-old Filipino wildcard Alexandra Eala.
Russian 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva, coming off back-to-back WTA 1000 wins in Dubai and Indian Wells, also exited in the third round, her 13 match wining streak ending with a three sets loss to American Amanda Anisimova.
The 6-4, 6-2 win for Eala over fifth-seeded American Keys prompted her to hug her team and celebrate passionately after she became the first woman from the Philippines to beat a top-10 opponent since the ranking system came into being in 1975.
Eala, the 2022 US Open girls’ singles champion who has been based to the Rafael Nadal academy in Mallorca since she was 13, will now take on Spain’s Paula Badosa for a spot in the quarterfinals.
“Growing up it was tough,” she said. “You didn’t have anyone from where you’re from to pave the way. Of course you had many people to look up to around the world, but I think — I hope this takes Filipino tennis to the next step,” Eala said in her on-court interview.
Keys, who was badly beaten by Aryna Sabalenka in the Indian Wells semifinals, conceded she was well short of her best form.
“My serve was not really there today and I just kind of felt a little flat — and when you are playing someone who makes a ton of balls back and absorbs really well, that’s not really the keys to success,” said the American.
Andreeva, the 11th seed, hoped to continue her rise up the rankings with a strong showing in Miami but appeared to be hampered by injury as she lost to 17th seeded Miami resident Anisimova.
Andreeva received lengthy medical attention in her abdominal area when 2-1 down in the first set, which she lost 7-6 (7/5).
She bounced back, dominating the second set 6-2 but Anisimova won the third set of the 2 hour and 49-minute battle 6-3.
Anisimova will face Emma Raducanu in the fourth round, after the British player advanced when her American opponent McCartney Kessler retired injured in the second set of their encounter.
Iga Swiatek overcame a determined Elize Mertens to secure a 7-6 (7/2), 6-1 victory and take her place in the last 16 at a WTA 1000 tournament for a record 25th straight event.
Second-seeded Swiatek has not lost before the last 16 at this level since Cincinnati 2021.
The Pole was 5-2 up in the first set but Mertens fought back to make it 5-5 before Swiatek was able to regain her dominance in the tie-break.
Swiatek didn’t look back from that point on, making short work of the second set as her struggles on serve improved.
In the men’s draw, Novak Djokovic broke the record for the most ATP Masters 1000 match wins with his 6-1 7-6 (7/1) win over Argentine Camilo Ugo Carabelli.
The Serb’s 411th win at this level takes him past the previous record set by Nadal.
Belgian veteran David Goffin, who eliminated world number three Carlos Alcaraz in the previous round, fell to American Brandon Nakashima, who won 6-3 6-7 (5/7) 6-3.
Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas, who won his first title in over a year last month at Dubai, fell to 24th-seeded American Sebastian Korda 7-6 (7/4), 6-3.
“It’s awesome. I was born in Florida. My whole family is here. It’s just a lot of fun to play here and get my first Top 10 win of the year,” said Korda.
“I tried to serve well, tried to come to the net when I could, and I’m just happy with my performance today,” he said.
Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov battled to a 6-7 (3/7), 6-4, 7-5 win over Karen Khachanov in a contest in which the baseline predictably dominated.
The 33-year-old’s victory, secured over two hours and 38 minutes, made Dimitrov the fourth active player to tally 100 Masters 1000 hard-court wins.
“It’s great. Last year I think I hit 100 wins indoors, now this. It’s beautiful I think every time you hit such a milestone,” said Dimitrov.
“We know each other very well, we practice with each other a lot, so there weren’t really secrets. At the end of the day, it came down to a few points.”
38-year-old Frenchman Gael Monfils delighted his supporters defeating Spaniard Jaume Munar 7-5, 5-7, 7-6 (7/1).
