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Pakistan recall Fakhar to Champions Trophy squad after injury rules Saim Ayub out

Pakistan recall Fakhar to Champions Trophy squad after injury rules Saim Ayub out
Pakistan’s Fakhar Zaman celebrates after reaching his century against New Zealand at Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, India on November 4, 2023. (REUTERS/File)
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Updated 31 January 2025
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Pakistan recall Fakhar to Champions Trophy squad after injury rules Saim Ayub out

Pakistan recall Fakhar to Champions Trophy squad after injury rules Saim Ayub out
  • Pakistan is scheduled to host the tournament from February 19 till March 9 and the PCB has until February 11 to make any changes to the squad
  • Same squad will play tri-nation series, featuring New Zealand and South Africa in Lahore and Karachi, in the lead up to Champions Trophy 2025
Updated 31 January 2025
Shahjahan Khurram
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ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Friday announced a 15-player squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, recalling Fakhar Zaman after an injury ruled out Saim Ayub.
Pakistan is scheduled to host the tournament from February 19 till March 9 and the PCB has until February 11 to make any changes to the squad. After that, replacements will only be permitted on medical grounds, subject to approval by an International Cricket Council (ICC) committee.
There are four changes in the 15-player squad that last played a one-day international (ODI) series in South Africa late last year. Abdullah Shafique, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Saim Ayub and Sufyan Moqim have been replaced by Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khushdil Shah and Saud Shakeel.
The same squad will feature in the tri-nation ODI series, featuring New Zealand and South Africa in Lahore and Karachi, in the lead up to the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
“The selectors have continued to adopt a horses-for-courses approach in assembling this squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025,” Asad Shafiq, member of the National Selection Committee, said in a statement shared by the PCB.
“Our focus has been on selecting players who have consistently excelled in domestic competitions under similar conditions, demonstrating their readiness to perform in a global event.”
The squad, captained by Mohammad Rizwan with Salman Ali Agha as vice-captain, includes three members from the 2017 title-winning side: Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf and Fakhar Zaman. Babar and Fakhar, along with Haris Rauf, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Saud Shakeel also featured in the last 50-over Cricket World Cup 2023.
Following the World Cup 2023, Pakistan have played three ODI series, defeating 50-over world champions Australia 2-1, Zimbabwe 2-1 and South Africa 3-0.
Opener Fakhar Zaman, who scored a century in the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 final against India, makes a comeback after overcoming injury and illness that had sidelined him from international cricket since June 2024. Fakhar demonstrated his return to complete fitness and form during the Champions T20 Cup 2024 in December, where he was the third-highest run-scorer with 303 runs at an impressive strike-rate of over 132. In 82 ODIs, Fakhar has scored 3,492 runs with 11 centuries and 16 half-centuries at an average of 46.5 and strike-rate of 93.4.
Pakistan Test vice-captain Saud Shakeel has been rewarded for his consistent and strong performances in home Tests by earning a place in the side. The left-hander played his 15th and last ODI against England in Kolkata in the ICC Men’s 50-over World Cup 2023 but has scored 577 runs in 13 Test innings at home this season with two centuries and two half-centuries against Bangladesh, England and the West Indies.
All-rounders Faheem Ashraf and Khushdil Shah return to the 50-over squad, adding versatility and providing captain Mohammad Rizwan with additional options. Faheem’s 34th and last ODI was in September 2023 and since then he has been one of the most consistent domestic performers across all formats, while Khushdil last represented Pakistan in ODIs in August 2022 and has earned the selectors nod after scoring 176 runs in the Champions One-Day Cup as well as scoring 132 runs and taking nine wickets in the Champions T20 Cup.
“One of the standout qualities of this side is its flexibility, an essential trait in today’s modern-day cricket. We are confident that this squad strikes the right balance between youth and experience, and has all bases covered,” Shafiq said.
“Saim Ayub has not been included in the squad due to an ankle injury, but we remain optimistic about his recovery.”
PAKISTAN SQUAD
Batters: Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir
All-rounders: Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Salman Ali Agha (vice-captain)
Wicketkeeper-batters: Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Usman Khan
Spinner: Abrar Ahmed
Fast bowlers: Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi

Topics: ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Champions Trophy 2025 Fakhar Zaman Faheem Ashraf Saim Ayub Babar Azam Pakistan cricket team

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Morocco’s Salah Eddine Hamli ready to make a mark at PFL MENA in Jeddah

Morocco’s Salah Eddine Hamli ready to make a mark at PFL MENA in Jeddah
Updated 18 April 2025
Arab News
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Morocco’s Salah Eddine Hamli ready to make a mark at PFL MENA in Jeddah

Morocco’s Salah Eddine Hamli ready to make a mark at PFL MENA in Jeddah
  • Hamli faces Bahrain’s Abbas Khan on May 9 at Onyx Arena
Updated 18 April 2025
Arab News

JEDDAH: On May 9 the second season of PFL MENA kicks off in Jeddah with several young fighters battling to make their mark in the sport.

A new talent is Morocco’s Salah Eddine Hamli, who meets Bahrain’s Abbas Khan in a lightweight quarterfinal bout.

Undefeated in eight professional bouts with five wins by stoppage, Hamli has fought for multiple promotions, most recently with WAR MMA in Spain, where he scored back-to-back unanimous decision wins.

Stepping onto the biggest stage of his MMA career, Hamli says that getting to compete in the PFL SmartCage is a dream come true.

“It means a lot to me because it reflects all the hard work I’ve put in,” Hamli said. “Having the opportunity to compete in such a big organization like PFL is a dream come true.”

Hamli says that he followed the first season of PFL MENA, thanks in large part to compatriot Rachid Haz.

Haz fell short of claiming the PFL MENA bantamweight championship, losing by knockout to Ali Taleb in the first round of the finals bout.

“I followed (the first season) especially since Rachid, my fellow Moroccan, made it to the final,” Hamli said. “Even though he didn’t win, we supported him all the way.”

“I’m super prepared and focused, and people are going to see a great show,” Hamli said. “I believe I’m a complete fighter in every aspect, and I’m very hungry for this.”

Hamli knows that Khan will not be an easy assignment. “He’s a good opponent, quite well-rounded. I’m really looking forward to stepping inside the SmartCage with him.”

The complete 2025 PFL MENA 1 Fight Card:

Featherweight quarterfinal: Abdullah Al-Qahtani (10-2) vs. Islam Reda (12-1)

Lightweight quarterfinal: Mohsen Mohammadseifi (7-2) vs. Ahmed El-Sisy (6-1, 1 NC)

Lightweight quarterfinal: Salah Eddine Hamli (8-0) vs. Abbas Khan (8-3)

Featherweight quarterfinal: Izzedine Al-Derbani (15-5) vs. Yanis Ghemmouri (12-3)

Flyweight Showcase: Malik Basahel (0-0) vs. Mountasser Boutouta (1-0)

Featherweight quarterfinal: Abdelrahman Alyhasat (5-0) vs. Taha Bendaoud (4-0)

Featherweight quarterfinal: Hussein Salem (12-5) vs. Assem Ghanem (6-0)

Lightweight quarterfinal: Georges Eid (10-5, 1 NC) vs. Mohammad Fahmi (4-0)

Lightweight Showcase: Ahmed Makki (1-3-1) vs. Hasham Elnamer (3-0)

Lightweight quarterfinal: Abdullah Saleem (5-0, 1 NC) vs. Souhil Tairi (7-6-1)

Featherweight Showcase: Youssef Alhosani (4-1) vs. Neder Jeffel (2-0)

Amateur catchweight 166 pounds (74kg) Showcase: Abdulaziz bin Moammar (10-3 AM) vs. Fares Hamdani (2-0 AM)

Topics: PFL MENA Jeddah Salah Eddine Hamli

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Top drivers geared up for Jeddah F1 weekend

Top drivers geared up for Jeddah F1 weekend
Updated 18 April 2025
SALEH FAREED
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Top drivers geared up for Jeddah F1 weekend

Top drivers geared up for Jeddah F1 weekend
  • Defending champion Max Verstappen hopes to improve on Bahrain
  • Veteran Fernando Alonso thinks ‘high-speed’ circuit suits his team
Updated 18 April 2025
SALEH FAREED

JEDDAH: Some of the world’s top drivers including Max Verstappen, Fernando Alonso and Isack Hadjar are geared up for the 2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in Jeddah this weekend.

At a press conference on Thursday, Red Bull’s Verstappen, the defending champion, said: “I hope it will be better than Bahrain (where he finished sixth), there are high-speed corners with a different asphalt.

“And I hope we will be more competitive. Here we have always done one stop but we will see how the tires hold up, it will be quite hot. We are making an improvement process.”

Aston Martin’s Alonso said: “The first few weekends have not been easy for us but I think the high-speed nature of Jeddah should suit us better.

“We are still discovering the car, the first GPs showed that the slow corners were our weak points but there were other concerns about bouncing and we are still working on it.

“Here there is much more grip and it should be a better weekend. I think in Formula 1 there is never a quick fix to solve the problems but we have some ideas, some are related to the set-up that we will try this weekend.”

Red Bull Junior Hadjar shared his excitement about racing in Jeddah: “Bahrain wasn’t as good as the previous two GPs. I don’t think our level was that low and I think this track will suit us better.

“Every track is always impressive for the first time, I think I got into the rhythm straight away and I’m looking forward to trying the track here, especially the first sector.”

Several other drivers also spoke to the media on Thursday including Williams’ Alex Albon, Haas’ Ollie Bearman and Stake’s Gabriel Bortoleto.

Topics: 2025 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix

Luka Doncic eager to start playing big games for Lakers, starting in playoff date with Timberwolves

Luka Doncic eager to start playing big games for Lakers, starting in playoff date with Timberwolves
Updated 18 April 2025
AP
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Luka Doncic eager to start playing big games for Lakers, starting in playoff date with Timberwolves

Luka Doncic eager to start playing big games for Lakers, starting in playoff date with Timberwolves
  • Doncic is one of the top playoff performers of his generation, and he is just one year removed from his remarkable effort in carrying the Dallas Mavericks to the NBA Finals
  • Doncic’s supporting cast in Hollywood is more impressive than it was in Dallas last
Updated 18 April 2025
AP

EL SEGUNDO: Luka Doncic has been with the Los Angeles Lakers for 2 1/2 months now, and he’s feeling fairly comfortable in his new home. He is building chemistry with his new teammates, who are getting used to his brilliant passes, prolific scoring outbursts and fiery competitiveness.

But the playoffs begin this weekend, and the Lakers know they’re about to see yet another side of their Slovenian superstar.

“I like big games,” Doncic said Thursday with his typical understatement. “The playoffs is a fun time. Everybody plays 100 percent. It’s just fun to be out there.”

Doncic is one of the top playoff performers of his generation, and he is just one year removed from his remarkable effort in carrying the Dallas Mavericks to the NBA Finals despite significant injuries to his right knee, left ankle and chest.

Doncic is healthier now — and he has LeBron James on his side this spring when the third-seeded Lakers begin the first round against the surging Minnesota Timberwolves in Game 1 on Saturday night.

While Los Angeles drew a difficult opening-round matchup for a team still assembling an identity around its new centerpiece, the Lakers expect to see something special from Doncic.

“Oh man, it’s exciting,” said Lakers swingman Dorian Finney-Smith, Doncic’s teammate for five seasons in Dallas. “I already know bro is going to come with the juice. He loves the moment. Knowing him, probably got to calm him down, too, because he’s going to be barking. It’s going to be exciting.”

Doncic faced Minnesota in the playoffs just last season, and it was one of the finest series performances of his career. He led the Mavericks past the Timberwolves in five games in the Western Conference finals, averaging 32.4 points, 9.6 rebounds, 8.2 assists and 2.2 steals while hitting 23 3-pointers.

Doncic’s entire 2024 postseason was outstanding — incredibly, he led the NBA in playoff points, rebounds and assists — but it wasn’t even his most prolific playoff performance. His 28.9 points per game over the 22-game stretch actually comprised his lowest scoring output in his four trips to the postseason.

Can he do something similar in his first trip to the playoffs with the 17-time NBA champion Lakers? Doncic isn’t guaranteeing anything, but he will be hungry and healthy after getting seven days off since the Lakers clinched the No. 3 seed by beating Houston last Friday.

“The goal is to win a championship,” Doncic said. “I think we have a great team. We have guys that are willing to go to war. Everybody is staying together. The chemistry is high, so I think we for sure have a chance.”

Doncic’s supporting cast in Hollywood is more impressive than it was in Dallas last season, when Kyrie Irving was the only other major offensive contributor. Along with the top scorer in NBA history, the Lakers also have capable third option Austin Reaves and a gallery of solid role players on a team that has gone 19-12 since Doncic arrived.

Doncic is averaging 28.1 points, 8.1 rebounds and 7.5 assists in his 28 games with the Lakers — just 21 of those with both James and Reaves alongside him. That’s not much time to build a championship-winning dynamic, but Doncic and James both have ample experience as postseason leaders and winners.

And whatever Doncic manages to accomplish, his teammates know he’ll do it with style.

“He’s smiling on the court and off the court, talking a lot of trash on the bench or with whatever fans he’s picking out that’s yelling at him, and it’s exciting,” Finney-Smith said. “He brings an excitement to the game. He makes unbelievable passes. That last (regular-season) game, the Houston game, I cut, thinking he wasn’t going to throw the ball to me. He threw it my direction, and he was like, ‘What, you think I didn’t see you?’”

Topics: Lakers

Justin Thomas makes 11 birdies for a 61 to take the lead at Harbor Town

Justin Thomas makes 11 birdies for a 61 to take the lead at Harbor Town
Updated 18 April 2025
AP
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Justin Thomas makes 11 birdies for a 61 to take the lead at Harbor Town

Justin Thomas makes 11 birdies for a 61 to take the lead at Harbor Town
  • Fifty players in the 72-man field broke par on a course that yielded an average score of 69.2
  • Justin Thomas makes 11 birdies for a 61 to take the lead at Harbor Town
Updated 18 April 2025
AP

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C.: Justin Thomas had a round to match the immaculate weather Thursday at Harbor Town with 11 birdies that allowed him to tie the course record with a 10-under 61 to lead the RBC Heritage.

The best shot he hit all day was an 8-iron that dropped near the pin and settled 5 feet away. He missed that birdie putt, one of the few chances he didn’t convert.

There was little to complain about on a day of hardly any wind, a course in mint condition and warm sunshine that added to the RBC Heritage being the ideal place to decompress from the hectic week at the Masters.

Defending champion Scottie Scheffler, coming off a tie for fourth at the Masters, had very little stress at Harbor Town in a round of 64 that looked easy — which is not to say it felt that way.

“I will never say that golf is easy, ever. Golf is hard,” Scheffler said with a laugh.

But he was out of position only once off the tee and one other time when he went long of a green and both times he saved par. Otherwise, he putted for birdie or better on the other 16 holes and converted enough chances for a start that only looked good — not great — because of Thomas with the lowest score at Harbor Town in 10 years.

Bay Hill winner Russell Henley also had a 64, while Wyndham Clark was another shot back at 65. The group at 66 included former Hilton Head winner Matt Fitzpatrick and Gary Woodland, on the road back from brain surgery and building momentum from a runner-up finish in Houston.

Fifty players in the 72-man field broke par on a course that yielded an average score of 69.2

“I felt like if you compared my four rounds last week to today, today would be a much less stressful round of golf in terms of scrambling for a par,” Scheffler said. “A lot of the stuff I had to do last week I felt like I didn’t have to do today to shoot a good score. The golf course is obviously a bit different, but I was in position most of the day today.

“Overall, yeah, I would say stress-free day.”

Thomas is winless since capturing his second PGA Championship title in 2022, though his game has been trending enough in the right direction that he is No. 8 in the world. The Masters was a disappointment — no round lower than 70, 13 shots behind in a tie for 36th — but he put in some good work at Hilton Head for two days and made it pay off.

Six of his birdie putts were inside 10 feet, and he threw in three birdies from the 35-foot range, one of them on the 17th hole that put him in range of the course record.

He thought he had it with that 8-iron to a front pin on the 18th, which runs along the Calibogue Sound, only to miss the putt. He also missed a 4-foot par putt on the 10th.

“I’ve been playing really well, really solid. Felt good about things,” Thomas said. “I just didn’t play well last week. Put some really good work in the couple days leading into the start today, and I felt prepared. It was just about going out and doing it, and it was nice to do so.”

Among those who played later as the breeze — and nothing more than a breeze — began to pick up was Justin Rose, who lost in a playoff last week. He birdied his last two holes for a 67 to join a group that included Jordan Spieth, Patrick Cantlay and Tommy Fleetwood.

Masters champion Rory McIlroy decided to skip this signature event even before the Masters got started. Hilton Head was not a course he felt suited him with its tight, tree-lined angles.

Thomas felt differently.

“I love it. I wish we played more places like it,” Thomas said. “I think more architects should design places like this. It kind of stands of test of time, I think. Especially if we continue to get weather like this and if these fairways get firm — the greens are already getting firm — it’s going to be everything we want by the end of the week.”

He got everything he could have wanted — save for that birdie putt on the 18th — at the start of the week.

Topics: Justin Thomas Harbor Town

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SPL title race blown wide open as Al-Ittihad lose and Al-Hilal win

SPL title race blown wide open as Al-Ittihad lose and Al-Hilal win
Updated 18 April 2025
John Duerden
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SPL title race blown wide open as Al-Ittihad lose and Al-Hilal win

SPL title race blown wide open as Al-Ittihad lose and Al-Hilal win
  • Al-Ittihad’s lead at the top of the table has been cut to just four points with six games to play
  • They lost 2-0 at relegation battlers Al-Fateh, while closest rivals Al-Hilal defeated Al-Khaleej 3-0
Updated 18 April 2025
John Duerden

JEDDAH: Al-Ittihad lost 2-0 at Al-Fateh on a dramatic day of Saudi Pro League action, while closest rivals Al-Hilal defeated Al-Khaleej 3-0 to blow the title race wide open with just six games left to play.

Al-Ittihad’s lead at the top of the table has been cut to just four points, and given that Al-Hilal’s goal difference is far superior, there is a lot to play for.

Al-Hilal were the first of the top two to play and made the most of the opportunity to put the league leaders under pressure. Salem Al-Dawsari opened the scoring after 26 minutes. Kaio Cesar twisted and turned in the area and the Brazilian’s pass to the left-hand corner of the six-yard area was swiftly converted by the 2022 Asian Player of the Year.

With six minutes of the game remaining, the Saudi international struck again to seal the win. Aleksandar Mitrovic found Al-Dawsari on the edge of the area, who took a touch and then slotted home. There was still enough time for Mitrovic to remove all doubt about the result.

The victory meant Al-Ittihad had to win to restore their advantage at the top of the league. However it was Amine Sbai who opened the scoring for Al-Fateh after just 10 minutes, shooting high into the net from just inside the area.

Ten minutes before the break Mourad Batna missed a chance to put his team further ahead from the spot. The Moroccan must have felt a bit better about his miss nine minutes later when Al-Ittihad midfielder Fabinho saw his penalty, after a handball in the area, saved by Nawaf Al-Aqidi.

And so the score remained 1-0 (though Karim Benzema had a goal ruled out for offside just after the hour mark) until the 69th minute, when Matias Vargas ran onto to a long ball over the top from deep and slotted past Al-Ittihad goalkeeper Mohammed Al-Mahasneh. That was the end of the scoring and the victory moved Al-Fateh into 13th place in the league, four points clear of the relegation places.

Third-place Al-Nassr have a chance to pile more pressure onto Al-Ittihad on Saturday, as a win at Al-Qadsiah would move them within five points of the leaders.

Topics: SPL Al-Fateh SPL Al-Hilal SPL Al-ittihad

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