LAHORE: Whenever umpire Ahsan Raza looks at his scars from the deadly militant attack on Sri Lanka's cricket team in Lahore, 10 years ago on Sunday, he shudders.
Raza, 44, was lucky to survive the gun, grenade and rocket assault which changed not only his life, but also the landscape of cricket in Pakistan.
Raza, then a reserve umpire for the second Test, was on his way to the Gaddafi Stadium with other match officials when the team bus just a few yards ahead of them came under fire, killing eight police and bystanders and wounding six others.
Two bullets pierced his lungs and liver, and after emerging from a coma, it was nearly six months before Raza could walk again.
"My wounds have healed but whenever I look at them I remember the gruesome incident," Raza told AFP.
"Whenever someone mentions that incident I request him not to remind me of that tragedy."
The attack proved a heavy blow to cricket-loving Pakistan: international games were suspended in the country, and a decade later most foreign teams still refuse to tour.
With Pakistan playing their home series in the United Arab Emirates, the national cricket board estimates it has missed out on nearly $200 million in revenues.
Even the Pakistan Super League, a star-studded Twenty20 tournament, is mainly played in the UAE although it is gradually inching back to Pakistan by holding more games there each year.
After the attack on the Sri Lankan team, it was six years before Pakistan hosted any international cricket when minnows Zimbabwe toured in 2015.
Under heavy security, Gaddafi Stadium hosted the PSL final in March 2017, and a World XI also played three Twenty20 internationals in Lahore.
But the biggest event was Sri Lanka's return for a one-off Twenty20 international in October 2017 -- eight years after they were attacked and airlifted from the same stadium.
Fittingly Raza, who also officiated during the Zimbabwe series, was one of the on-field umpires in the Sri Lanka match.
"I was very emotional that day," he said. "To their credit PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board) has taken gradual steps and I am 100 percent confident that more foreign teams will come in the near future."
The West Indies also played three Twenty20 internationals in Karachi in last May
From next week eight PSL games will be held in Lahore and Karachi, including the March 17 final, with the PCB confirming the games will go ahead as planned despite escalating tensions over the fiercely disputed Kashmir border with India resulting in military skirmishes in recent days.
Former Pakistan captain Asif Iqbal believes hosting the PSL matches will gradually restore the confidence of foreign teams, but it has been a long, slow process and the major nations are still staying away.
"International cricket will return to Pakistan but it will be through a process which has already started with the holding of the final rounds of the PSL in the country and tours by the World XI, Sri Lanka and the West Indies," said Iqbal.
Last year, New Zealand refused to play a Twenty20 series in Pakistan, and in January, Australia turned down a request to visit for two one-day internationals.
However, the PCB is hopeful it will convince a major team to tour the country this year starting with Sri Lanka, who are scheduled to play two Tests against Pakistan in October.
"I have no doubt that Pakistan is safe. But there is a perception in people's mind, and players have to play in their comfort level so until they have that reassurance it won't be easy, but we are working on that," said PCB chairman Ehsan Mani last in an interview with website Cricnfo last October.
"More people we get from outside, whatever the level, a message goes back that how beautiful the country is and how good people are. So people go back with a good perception, it sends a soft image of the country, and I believe this will work to bring back cricket to Pakistan."
10 years on, Pakistan still reeling from notorious cricket attack
10 years on, Pakistan still reeling from notorious cricket attack
- Militant attack on Sri Lanka's cricket team in Lahore in 2009
- PCB estimates it has missed out on nearly $200 million in revenues
Saudi women’s U20 national team ready for West Asian Football Federation Championship in Jordan
- Team led by head coach Pauline Hamill will face Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria
- Event is part of team’s preparation for the 2026 AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup qualifiers
RIYADH: The Saudi Arabian under-20 women’s national team makes its competitive tournament debut against Palestine on Thursday night at the West Asian Football Federation U20 Women’s Championship in Jordan.
The championship will feature women’s national U20 sides from Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. Head coach Pauline Hamill’s side will play their opening match in Aqaba, before facing the remaining sides to determine the winners of the tournament.
After a camp in Jeddah in October, the upcoming tournament concludes the U20 side’s first year since the formation of the team as part of the Women’s National Team program in December 2023.
As the first competitive tournament appearance for Hamill’s squad, the U20 WAFF Women’s Championship will provide a platform to prepare for the upcoming qualification matches for the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup in 2026.
Aalia Al Rasheed, head of women’s football at the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, said: “We believe in the abilities of our players, and this tournament is an opportunity to build competitive experience for the players and develop their football capabilities.
“It’s incredible to look at the growth of this team since the formation of the squad in December 2023, we look forward to seeing our under-20 side performing in their tournament debut and representing our nation with honor in a fitting conclusion to their first year.”
The latest tournament for the Saudi Women’s National Team programme highlights the rapid growth of women’s football in the Kingdom since the official introduction of the national team in 2021 and the first professional football league in 2022, with more than 70,000 girls also participating in the national schools’ league.
Valtteri Bottas nears a return to Mercedes as F1 reserve after Mick Schumacher leaves
- “We’re talking and it’s going well. Still a bit of work to do but we’re talking,” Bottas said ahead of this weekend’s Qatar Grand Prix
- Bottas won 10 Formula 1 races over five seasons at Mercedes as Lewis Hamilton’s teammate from 2017-21 but hasn’t scored a point this season with Sauber
LUSAIL, Qatar: Valtteri Bottas says he is nearing an agreement to return to Mercedes as its reserve driver for next year after Mick Schumacher, son of seven-time champion Michael Schumacher, announced he was leaving.
“We’re talking and it’s going well. Still a bit of work to do but we’re talking,” Bottas said ahead of this weekend’s Qatar Grand Prix.
Bottas won 10 Formula 1 races over five seasons at Mercedes as Lewis Hamilton’s teammate from 2017-21 but hasn’t scored a point this season with Sauber.
Bottas added he still needs to “finalize some things” on a possible return but feels he could be a mentor to 18-year-old Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who will partner George Russell at Mercedes next year. Antonelli is stepping up from Formula 2 to replace Hamilton when the British driver heads to Ferrari for 2025.
“If I end up there, I think I would have a lot to give for a rookie driver who has not raced in Formula 1 yet,” Bottas said. “That would be, for sure, one part of my role, to give my input and try to share my knowledge as much as I can.”
Bottas is without a seat for 2025 after Sauber replaced him and Zhou Guanyu with a new lineup of the experienced Nico Hulkenberg and Brazilian newcomer Gabriel Bortoleto, ahead of rebranding as the Audi works team in 2026.
The new Cadillac team backed by General Motors is also on Bottas’ radar before it joins the series in 2026 as the 11th team on the grid.
“It’s interesting to me, and I think it’s great for F1. It’s a great brand and GM is a big backer behind, so for sure, it’s an interesting project,” Bottas said. He indicated he would seek to speak with Cadillac about possible opportunities.
Schumacher is moving on from his Mercedes reserve driver role after two years as he seeks a full-time racing role elsewhere.
It’s “tough” to watch F1 cars race without being able to take part, he said in a Mercedes statement.
“I want to get back to focusing 100 percent on racing. I want to be fully committed to the sporting side of motorsport. Ultimately, it is racing that you want to do as a driver, it is racing that gives you that feeling you love,” he added.
Schumacher raced in F1 with Haas in 2021 and 2022 and has been competing this year with Alpine in the world endurance championship alongside his Mercedes duties.
‘Europe’s best’ Liverpool aim to pile pain on Man City
- Jude Bellingham said Real Madrid were beaten by “the best-performing team in Europe
LIVERPOOL: Jude Bellingham said Real Madrid were beaten by “the best-performing team in Europe” as Liverpool’s dismantling of the Spanish giants set a new bar in Arne Slot’s stunning start at Anfield.
Beleaguered Manchester City are next to run the gauntlet against the rampant Reds on Sunday as Liverpool sense the opportunity to land a knockout blow to Pep Guardiola’s men in the Premier League title race.
Slot has won 17 and drawn one of his 19 matches in all competitions since replacing a legendary figure in Jurgen Klopp.
Liverpool enjoy a commanding eight-point lead at the top of the Premier League and have one foot in the last 16 of the Champions League as the only side in the competition with a perfect record from five games.
Overcoming the might of Madrid was the sweetest one so far as Slott did what Klopp could not do during his glorious reign in leaving the kings of the Champions League with a bloodied nose.
Liverpool had not won in the previous eight meetings between the clubs, including defeats in the 2018 and 2022 Champions League finals.
“You know how special it is to play against a club that won this Champions League so many times, are the reigning champions and were a pain in the ass for Liverpool many times as well,” said Slot.
“We are happy where we are but we are not getting carried away by only winning in a group-stage game. This club wants more than only winning group-stage games.”
Slot described the visits of Madrid and City within the space of five days as an “incredible week.”
Halfway through they remain unscathed and are big favorites to take a huge step toward just a second league title in 35 years on Sunday.
Even at their strongest under Guardiola, City have not won in front of an Anfield crowd since 2003.
This version of the English champions is winless in six games and suffering from an existential crisis of confidence.
City blew a 3-0 lead to draw 3-3 with Feyenoord on Tuesday on the back of Guardiola’s first ever five-game losing streak as a coach.
Liverpool have often been the victim of City’s relentless consistency in the Guardiola era.
Twice Klopp’s sides finished second by the finest of margins despite amassing 97 points in 2018/19 and 92 three years later.
Now they have the chance to open up an 11-point lead that even Guardiola has conceded would be too much for his side to bridge.
“Man City is Man City. They have a bad time now but they have great players,” said Liverpool’s top goalscorer Mohamed Salah.
“We have a game against them so hopefully, we win it and go 11 points clear.”
In stark contrast to Manchester United’s struggles after the departure of Alex Ferguson, Liverpool have thrived despite the loss of a much-loved and charismatic leader in Klopp.
The German explained that part of his reasoning for stepping down when he did was that he was leaving the club in a good place.
Liverpool were on course for a quadruple deep into last season before faltering in the final months of the campaign as injuries and fatigue took hold.
But Klopp had helped rebuild a team in his final year that Slot is now bearing the fruits of.
Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo scored the goals against Madrid, neither of which were part of Klopp’s major glories in winning the Champions League and Premier League in 2019 and 2020 respectively.
Slot also credited the club’s academy for adding depth to his squad after Caoimhin Kelleher and Conor Bradley shone against Madrid to mitigate the loss of Alisson Becker and Trent Alexander-Arnold to injury.
“We know that players that come in are really important to finish the games and if you want to win trophies, you need them,” said Mac Allister.
“Of course, you don’t want to be on the bench but we know that every guy here, when he comes in, does his best for the team.”
All three sides that have ever enjoyed an eight-point lead at the top of the Premier League after 12 games went on to win the title.
On current form, Liverpool are an unstoppable force that an under-par City look incapable of handling.
Snyman leads International Series Qatar after first-round seven-under-par 65
- Advice from South African great David Frost helps Snyman flourish
DOHA: South African Ian Snyman says spending two days in the company of one of his country’s finest golfers, David Frost, played a big part in his fine run of form recently — a run that includes taking the lead on the opening day of the $2.5 million International Series Qatar on Wednesday.
Snyman carded a confident seven-under-par 65 at Doha Golf Club to lead the way from compatriot Louis Oosthuizen, Spaniard David Puig and Zach Bauchou from the United States, who carded 66s.
Two other Spaniards, Luis Masaveu and Eugenio Lopez-Chacarra, fired 67s, as did Sadom Kaewkanjana from Thailand and Japan’s Tomoyo Ikemura, in the penultimate event of the season for the Asian Tour and The International Series.
After today’s opening salvo, consisting of an eagle, seven birdies, and one double, Snyman is on course to make his 12th successive cut on the Asian Tour, as well as put himself in position to claim his first title on the circuit.
“My coach, Paul McKenzie, and I have been working on a few things and I also got some advice from David Frost. He is a former Asian Tour winner having won in Hong Kong,” Snyman said of Frost — winner of the Hong Kong Open in 1994 and 29 titles around the world.
“About five months ago we spent two days with David. We were trying to find some consistency, that was my main concern. Looks like we are getting there. Just need to get some low ones like we did today, which is exciting.
“The big thing we worked on with David was the takeaway. I always take the club back outside and get laid off at the top. He kind of helped me feel a way to get it straighter.
“Another big thing was not to be so rigid. I would be very stickman-like golf, my left arm would be very stiff and strong but he kind of got me to relax a bit more, you can actually bend that left arm.”
He was cruising at eight under with two to play but made double on the par- three 17th.
He duffed his chip and three putted but bounced back on the par-five 18th hitting his third to two feet.
Puig is making his first appearance on the Asian Tour since April — in that time he has played in the LIV Golf League, three majors and the Olympics, where he played alongside Jon Rahm.
“Pretty solid, especially after a month off tournaments. Super, super proud of how I fought,” said Puig, winner of the season-opening Malaysian Open and runner-up in the International Series Macau presented by Wynn, where American John Catlin beat him in a play-off.
“Didn’t hit it that good but somehow managed to post a pretty good score. Hit a lot of greens in regulation, which is something I have been working on.”
His compatriot Masaveu, 21, was even happier because the day marked his debut as a professional in a Tour event.
“First tournament as a professional, so very happy,” said the Spaniard, who birdied the last three holes and has his dad, Rafa, caddying for him.
“To be honest, I didn’t really think about this being my first event as a pro. The good thing is my coach Gonzalo (Fernandez-Castano) is also playing. We did a good plan. I just tried to stay focused on my emotions.”
Masaveu finished third in this year’s US Amateur, having been beaten by compatriot and eventual winner Jose Luis Ballester 3&2 in the semis, and could be one to watch this week.
The International Series Rankings, which will reward the champion with a place in next year’s LIV Golf League, will go down to the wire at next week’s $5 million PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers.
Thailand’s Ratchanon Chantananuwat, the amateur star currently in his freshman year at Stanford University, returned a 71 in his first appearance on the Asian Tour since April.
International Series Qatar takes place at Doha Golf Club from Nov. 27-30. For tickets and further information, visit www.internationalseries.com.
Pakistan wins the toss and elects to bat in third and final ODI against Zimbabwe
- Pakistan recovered from a first-match loss with a 10-wicket win in the second ODI
- ODI series will be followed by three Twenty20 matches at Bulawayo from Sunday
BULAWAYO, Zimbabwe: Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat in the third and final one-day international against Zimbabwe on Wednesday.
Pakistan bounced back from a shocking loss in the rain-affected first match with a 10-wicket win in the second game after a maiden ODI century from Saim Ayub.
The tourists retained the same winning combination with Faisal Akram, Abrar Ahmed, and Salman Ali Agha the three spin options.
Ahmed and Salman sliced through the Zimbabwe batting lineup in the second match by sharing seven wickets between them with leg-spinner Abrar getting 4-33 in his debut ODI.
Zimbabwe brought in wicketkeeper-batter Clive Madande and fast bowling all-rounder Faraz Akram for their first game of the series in place of Brandon Mavuta and Trevor Gwandu.
The ODI series will be followed by a three-match Twenty20 series starting at Bulawayo from Sunday.
