Author: PTV Sports HD

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan all-rounder Arafat Minhas has ruled out replacing Mohammad Nawaz after the opening ODI of the series against Australia. Asked at the post-match media interaction after the first ODI if his fine debut had led to suggestions that he could be a contender to oust Mohammad Nawaz for a place in the side, despite Nawaz’s experience and long-standing role with the national team, Arafat said: “I don’t want to be a substitute for anyone. “I want to be a permanent member of the team and to deliver match-winning performances for the side,” he told reporters. He also said that…

RAWALPINDI: Weather conditions could be a decisive factor in the opening ODI between Pakistan and Australia as thunderstorms are expected in parts of the city ahead of Saturday’s series opener.The first of the three-match ODI series will be played at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, as both sides return to 50-over action in Pakistan for the first bilateral ODI fixture between the two sides in the country since 2022.Temperatures are expected to reach 30C under partly sunny skies, with the latest weather forecast predicting warm and humid conditions for the day.But there’s still a good chance we could see thunderstorms pop…

Brazilian club Santos have allayed fears regarding the fitness of star player Neymar ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 and are hopeful that the veteran forward will recover in time to participate in the tournament. The 34-year-old reported to Brazil’s training camp earlier this week, where further medical tests revealed a grade two muscle strain in his right calf. Brazil team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar said on Thursday that Neymar would likely be out of action for at least two weeks, casting doubt on his availability for Brazil’s opening World Cup match against Morocco on June 13. The injury will…

ISLAMABAD: The trophy for the upcoming three-match ODI series between Pakistan and Australia was unveiled here on Friday with both captains posing with the silverware ahead of the much-anticipated contest.Pakistan skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi and Australia’s stand-in captain Josh Inglis were present at the ceremony held at a local hotel in the capital, where the trophy for the bilateral series was unveiled in front of media representatives and officials. The ODI series will be Australia’s first 50-over bilateral tour to Pakistan since 2022, when the hosts won the series 2-1. Unveiled today, the trophy is a modern design, in silver,…

RAWALPINDI: Cricket Australia (CA) has added batting all-rounder Cooper Connolly to their squad for the upcoming ODI series against Pakistan ahead of the first game, which is scheduled for May 30. The series will start at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium and then move to Lahore for the remaining two matches at Gaddafi Stadium on June 2 and June 4. Connolly’s selection follows regular Australian skipper Mitchell Marsh being ruled out with an ankle injury sustained while playing for Lucknow Super Giants in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season. Wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis has been named stand-in captain for the series in…

FIFA released another batch of World Cup 2026 tickets on Thursday, with the global football tournament starting in North America in 14 days. “Tickets will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis while supplies last,” an official social media post read. FIFA, the sport’s governing body, said in April that tickets would be made available for sale on its official website occasionally until the final on July 19. FIFA President Gianni Infantino has said that more than five million tickets have been sold and that some seven million tickets are expected to be made available. The previous World Cup ticket…

Mexico will allow Iran to base in the country during the FIFA World Cup 2026 so its players can avoid US visa restrictions, President Claudia Sheinbaum said Monday. Iran’s national team, scheduled to play three first-round matches in U.S. stadiums, said Saturday that FIFA approved its plan to spend the night on the Mexican side of the border to avoid visa issues. The Iranian team’s participation in the tournament has been shrouded in uncertainty since an offensive by the US and Israel against the Islamic republic began in late February. The team had originally planned to camp in the US…

Lionel Messi will captain Argentina at the FIFA World Cup 2026, national coach Lionel Scaloni said Thursday as he picked his 26-man squad. Messi, 38, had not previously confirmed his participation in what will be a record-breaking sixth tournament for the Argentine superstar. But it had been widely assumed the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner would be again leading Argentina, four years after lifting the trophy in Qatar. Thursday’s announcement confirmed Messi’s presence but notably excluded Real Madrid’s Franco Mastantuono from the Argentina squad. Mastantuono is one of the brightest prospects in Argentine football at just 18 years of age. The…

DUBLIN: The trophy for the T20I tri-series involving Pakistan, Ireland, and the West Indies was unveiled on Thursday. The series forms part of the build-up to the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 and will be played from 28 May to 4 June with all matches to be played at Castle Avenue. All three team captains, Hayley Matthews, Orla Prendergast, and Fatima Sana, posed with the silverware. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) shared the pictures of the trophy unveiling in a caption on social media. Captains with the trophy. The Ireland T20I tri-series kicks off tomorrow, and Pakistan will play…

COLOMBO: Pakistan opening batsman Sahibzada Farhan was among the top pre-signed players ahead of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2026. The five franchises of the tournament have announced their pre-signed players, with the remaining squad spots to be filled during the player Draft on 1 June to be held in Colombo. Dambulla Sixers have roped in Farhan, the breakout star of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, as an overseas icon player. South Africa’s Reeza Hendricks and Sri Lankan duo Dinesh Chandimal and Dushmanta Chameera will be joined by him. Meanwhile four-time champions Jaffna Kings have roped in veteran Bangladesh…