KARACHI: Pakistan included top-order batter Fakhar Zaman in their 15-man squad for the Twenty20 World Cup in Australia on Friday, replacing spinner Usman Qadir after he suffered a thumb injury.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said 32-year-old Zaman is recovering from a knee injury.
"Pakistan have made one change in their squad for the T20 World Cup Australia with Zaman included in the squad while Qadir will be in the travelling reserves," said a PCB statement.
Zaman was initially picked as a reserve, while Qadir was in the 15-man squad.
Qadir has yet to recover from a thumb injury picked up last month, and will not be available for selection before October 22, the PCB added.
All 16 teams can make changes to their squads until October 15, after which they need the approval of the World Cup's technical committee.
Zaman suffered a knee injury during last month's Asia Cup held in the United Arab Emirates.
"Zaman will be available for selection in the two warm-up matches against England (17 October) and Afghanistan (19 October)," the PCB said.
Earlier this week, Pakistan received a boost to their World Cup chances when pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi was declared fit to play after recovering from a knee injury.
Pakistan is in Group Two of the Super 12 stage, and will play their first match against India in Melbourne on October 23.
South Africa, Bangladesh and two qualifying teams will join them in Group Two.
Title holders Australia, England, Afghanistan, New Zealand and two qualifying teams are in Group One.
The first round of the tournament begins on Sunday.
Revised Pakistan squad: Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim Junior, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Shan Masood.
Travelling reserves: Mohammad Haris, Shahnawaz Dahani and Usman Qadir.
Pakistan brings Fakhar Zaman into Twenty20 World Cup squad
https://arab.news/vg7ns
Pakistan brings Fakhar Zaman into Twenty20 World Cup squad
- The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said 32-year-old Zaman is recovering from a knee injury
- Zaman was initially picked as a reserve, while Qadir was in the 15-man squad
Newcastle holding open-top bus parade to celebrate English League Cup title
- Newcastle will get one Saturday when the team holds an open-top bus parade to celebrate its English League Cup title
- The parade route runs from St. James’ Park, through the city center and ends at the Town Moor
NEWCASTLE: Ending a 70-year wait for a domestic trophy deserves an official party.
Newcastle will get one Saturday when the team holds an open-top bus parade to celebrate its English League Cup title.
More than 150,000 fans are expected to join the celebration. The parade route runs from St. James’ Park, through the city center and ends at the Town Moor, an open space where a stage has been erected for an hour-long event that will include comments from players and a trophy lift.
The Saudi-backed team beat Liverpool 2-1 nearly two weeks ago at Wembley Stadium for its first major domestic trophy since the FA Cup in 1955. The club also won the now-defunct Inter-Cities Fairs Cup — a European competition — in 1969.
The bus was scheduled to set off from the stadium at 4:30 p.m. local time.
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe has been nominated for a municipal honor called the ” Freedom of the City. ” Club figures who have received the recognition include Alan Shearer, Bobby Robson and Shaka Hislop.
Global Champions Arabians Tour returns to Riyadh for fourth stage of the 2025 Europe and Middle East Series
- World’s premier Arabian horse series moves to new home at Jump Saudi Arena
RIYADH: Following three stages in Ajman, Doha and Muscat, the Global Champions Arabians Tour makes its return to Riyadh for the fourth stage of the Europe and Middle series — the final stop in the Middle East and the pivotal halfway point of this eight-stage 2025 tour.
With a new home at the purpose-built Jump Saudi Arena, spectators can expect to see close to 250 of the region’s finest Arabian horses competing for a place in the overall rankings and a share of the record-breaking prize money.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Nasser Al-Thani, deputy CEO of the tour, said: “We’re thrilled to be returning to Riyadh following a very successful final stage of the 2024 tour. The Saudis are very passionate about the Arabian horse, bringing high levels of excitement and an electric atmosphere to the tour. We expect high numbers of Saudi-bred horses and welcome the chance to see new competitors in the GCAT arena.”
As with each stage of the tour, the Riyadh event is set to feature local and international retailers and a cultural village with a host of family entertainment. While the contents of the closing ceremony remain under wraps, if the first three stages are anything to go by, Riyadh will be impressive.
The event runs from the April 9-12 and will be open to the public with free admission via the booking link, while hospitality packages are also available.
Offensive Iraq-Palestine World Cup qualifier video ‘fabricated,’ says Jordan Football Association
- Fake video shared widely on social media claimed to show Jordanian fans chanting offensive slogans at the Iraqi players and supporters
- Association says it verified the video was fabricated and is dismayed that some people seem set on inciting conflict, extremism and hatred among sports fans
AMMAN: The Jordanian Football Association expressed regret on Friday over a video widely shared on social media this week that appeared to show Jordanian fans chanting offensive slogans during a World Cup qualifier between Iraq and Palestine.
The footage was fabricated, it said.
The video, which claimed to show Jordanian fans directing insulting chants at the Iraqi players and supporters, began to spread online after Palestine defeated Iraq 2-1 in the match at the Amman International Stadium on Tuesday. It provoked heated exchanges online among the two sets of fans.
The JFA said it regretted the fabricated video and affirmed the depth of the historical, deep-rooted ties between the Jordanian and Iraqi peoples, which it said could not be damaged by people who act in ways that do not reflect true sporting values, the Jordan News Agency reported on Friday.
The association said it had verified the video was fake, and was dismayed that some individuals seem set on inciting conflict, extremism and hatred among sports fans. It urged supporters in Jordan to avoid being drawn into online exchanges of disrespectful remarks that “do not reflect the values of Jordanians.”
It praised the efforts of Jordanian and Iraqi sports journalists who had attempted to alert their followers on social media to the fact that the video was fake and urge them not to fall victim to such “provocative and inciteful” videos.
The association also reminded fans of the tremendous efforts made by Prince Ali bin Hussein, the president of the JFA, to help lift a long-running FIFA ban on international games in Iraq, and that Jordan had played Iraq in 2017 in the first international game played at Basra International Stadium, which was also the first international game to take place in the country in four years.
The JFA added: “While we support our national team in its quest for direct qualification to the World Cup with all our capabilities, we emphasize the importance of adhering to the spirit of sportsmanship and the depth of shared Arab relations.
“We wish all other Arab teams success in their journey in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.”
Brazil fires coach Dorival Júnior after worst defeat in World Cup qualifying
- Júnior’s replacement has yet to be picked
- Brazil are fifth in South American qualifying for the 2026 World Cup
SAO PAULO: Brazil coach Dorival Júnior was fired on Friday after 14 months amid poor results and disappointing performances from the national team.
Júnior’s sacking by Brazilian Football Confederation president Ednaldo Rodrigues came three days after a 4-1 defeat to bitter rival Argentina in Buenos Aires, Brazil’s heaviest defeat in a World Cup qualifier.
Júnior’s replacement has yet to be picked.
Brazil are fifth in South American qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. The top six qualify automatically.
Under the 62-year-old Júnior, Brazil won seven matches, drew another seven, and lost two. The team scored 25 goals and conceded 17.
In the Copa America last year, Brazil were eliminated in the quarterfinals by Uruguay on penalties.
Rodrigues was just re-elected on Monday to head the confederation to 2030. In 2023, he bet on Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti to take over one year later. While waiting for Ancelotti, Brazil retained Fernando Diniz as their coach.
Diniz was fired in January 2024 after six matches on the job after Ancelotti extended his contract in Spain.
PSG ‘feel like champions’ as Ligue 1 title nears, says Luis Enrique
- “We’re never champions until it’s mathematically certain, but we can feel like champions,” Luis Enrique told reporters
- “We’re going to use these last eight matches for other goals, to be competitive against all opponents”
POISSY, France: Coach Luis Enrique said Paris Saint-Germain “can feel like champions” knowing they could seal the Ligue 1 title this weekend but warned his players not to let their level drop.
The unbeaten league leaders go to second-bottom Saint-Etienne, where a win would secure an 11th French title in 13 seasons if Marseille lose away to Reims and Monaco draw with Nice on Saturday.
“We’re never champions until it’s mathematically certain, but we can feel like champions, we’re the best team in Ligue 1,” Luis Enrique told reporters on Friday.
“We’re going to use these last eight matches for other goals, to be competitive against all opponents... to be ready for the three months that remain.
“There’s the French Cup and the Champions League, where we want to be right to the end.”
PSG face second-tier Dunkerque in the semifinals of the French Cup in Lille next week before taking on Aston Villa in the last eight of the Champions League.
Luis Enrique doesn’t believe the possibility of wrapping up a record-extending 13th Ligue 1 title on Saturday should have any effect on his team’s mindset.
“It seems totally unimportant to me, there are eight games left in the league, we want to be competitive because that will prepare us in the best way for the other competitions,” said the Spaniard.
“I feel almost the same as I did this time last year, we were almost champions, in the semifinals of the cup and quarter-finals of the Champions League, with young players who have a year’s more experience.”
PSG will be without Lee Kang-in against Saint-Etienne after the South Korean picked up an ankle injury on international duty. Achraf Hakimi is also being rested after playing for Morocco in World Cup qualifying.
