ISLAMABAD: A prestigious launch event related to the upcoming FIFA World Cup was held at the U.S Embassy in Islamabad, bringing together prominent figures from sports, government, and various sectors of society.Federal Minister for Railways Hanif Abbasi, President of Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) Mohsen Gilani, Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Youth Programme Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan, and Lahore Qalandars Chief Executive Atif Rana were among the distinguished guests in attendance.Addressing the ceremony, U.S. Chargé d’Affaires to Pakistan Natalie A. Baker said it was an honor that the first special FIFA World Cup-related event was being hosted in Pakistan. She expressed happiness over the positive progress being witnessed in the promotion and development of football in the country and noted that Pakistan is playing an important role in the FIFA World Cup.Natalie Baker highlighted that Pakistan is manufacturing world-class footballs for global use, while the FIFA World Cup to be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico will be the biggest in history, featuring 48 teams for the first time. She said the United States is fully prepared to welcome fans from around the world and celebrate the historic tournament in a grand manner.She added that sports, particularly football, serve as a powerful bridge to strengthen ties and understanding among nations and people across the globe.Speaking on the occasion, PFF President Mohsen Gilani said football is helping deepen relations between Pakistan and the United States. He described the FIFA World Cup as one of the greatest events in the world, adding that FIFA unites nations on a single platform through the spirit of the game.Mohsen Gilani further stated that Pakistan’s women’s football team recently participated in a FIFA event for the first time and secured a victory, calling it a historic milestone for the country. He also revealed that Pakistan Football appointed a woman as manager of the men’s national football team for the first time, terming it a significant step towards women empowerment in sports.He emphasized that sports play a vital role in bringing people from different countries closer together and said Pakistan is proudly contributing to the FIFA World Cup. Referring to his recent meeting with the President of the U.S. Soccer Federation, Gilani said the United States would prove to be an outstanding host for the mega event. He also mentioned that U.S. President Donald Trump has a special attention for football.

Islamabad (PR): FIBA Regional Office-Asia has reaffirmed its commitment to the development of basketball in Pakistan following a high-level visit by its delegation to Lahore and Islamabad, where key meetings were held with top government and sports officials.The delegation, led by Hagop Khajirian, met with Federal Secretary for Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) and Director General Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) Mohyuddin Wani, officials of the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA), and representatives of the Pakistan Basketball Federation (PBBF) including President Brig (R ) Mohammad Iftikhar Mansoor, Secretary General Khalid Bashir, SVP Imtiaz Rafi Butt and Associate Secretary General Ouj E Zahoor.During the meetings, both sides discussed comprehensive measures aimed at strengthening basketball structures in Pakistan and bringing the country back onto the international basketball map.Speaking on the occasion, Hagop Khajirian said empowering national federations remains one of FIBA’s key strategic pillars, adding that Pakistan holds significant importance as a national federation in the Asian region. He assured full cooperation from FIBA for the promotion and long-term development of basketball in Pakistan.Khajirian termed the discussions with Pakistan’s sports stakeholders “highly productive and encouraging,” stating that several important proposals were reviewed to elevate the standard of basketball in the country. He also praised the positive response shown by all stakeholders and expressed confidence that the recent meetings would mark a strong beginning for a new era of basketball development in Pakistan.FIBA Regional Office-Asia also reiterated its continued support for the growth and promotion of basketball across Pakistan in collaboration with national sports authorities and the Pakistan Basketball Federation.

Karachi (SB Report): Fatima Sana was at her brutal best as she blazed the fastest half-century in women’s T20I internationals off just 15 balls in her fiery 19-ball 62 not out to propel Pakistan to 223-4 in 20 overs against Zimbabwe women in the third T20I here at the National Bank Stadium, Karachi on Friday night.In turn, Left-arm spinners Sadia Iqbal (3-20) and Nashra Sundhu (2-21) shared five wickets to skittle Zimbabwe for 90 all out in 17.1 overs as Pakistan secured a 133-run win – their third largest winning margin by runs in the format.Pakistan also concluded the first-ever white-ball bilateral series against Zimbabwe women with an emphatic manner winning all six games across the ODI and T20I series. This is only the fourth time that Pakistan has complete a series sweep in a three-match WT20I series.Earlier, Pakistan opted to bat first and posted their second-highest total in the format and only the second total in excess of 200-run mark. The highest came in the first match of the series with the hosts posting 237-5 in the allotted 20 overs.Fatima walked in to bat when Pakistan were 152-4 in 16.2 overs after the departure of Iram Javed (29, 20b, 2x4s, 1x6). She blazed a total of 10 fours and two sixes in an unbeaten 71-run fifth-wicket stand off just 22 balls with Saira Jabeen, who notched her maiden half-century finishing 50 not out off 32 balls on the back of eight fours.Saira’s contribution in the breezy partnership was only seven off three as Fatima dominated the last three overs. Pakistan skipper opened her account with a boundary and didn’t look back as she struck Kudzai Chigora for five fours in the 18th over and her counterpart Nomvelo Sibanda for three fours and two sixes in the penultimate over.Fatima made the world record for the fastest women’s T20I fifty and joint-fifth fastest in all T20Is including men’s cricket her own on the second ball of the last over taking a two off Adel Zimunu. The record was previously jointly held by Sophie Devine of New Zealand, Phoebe Litchfield of Australia and Richa Ghosh of India, who all got to the milestone off 18 balls.At the start of the innings, player of the series Ayesha Zafar (45, 28b, 9x4s) and Muneeba Ali (22, 17b, 3x4s) put on a 58-run opening stand in 6.1 overs. Both the openers were pinned leg-before by Lindokuhle Mabhero as she finished with two for 36.Ayesha collected 150 runs in the series including a record-breaking century in the opening match of the series along with one scalp against her name. After Natalia perished for one and Pakistan 93-2 in 10.2 overs, Saira and Iram joined forces to stitch a 59-run stand off 36 balls to steady the innings.In reply to Pakistan’s total Zimbabwe raced to 36-1 in 2.3 overs with opening batter Kelis Ndhlovu scoring 32 off 14 balls striking six fours and one six before Sadia Iqbal struck twice in the third over to stop the visitors run flow.Zimbabwe slipped from their powerplay score of 44-3 to 90 all out in 17.1 overs with Pakistan spinners applying the squeeze as Tuba Hassan (3-0-8-1) and Rameen Shamim (4-1-11-1) only gave away 19 runs in their seven overs combined.Scores in briefPakistan 223-4, 20 overs (Fatima Sana 62 not out, Saira Jabeen 50 not out, Ayesha Zafar 45, Iram Javed 29, Muneeba Ali 22; Lindokuhle Mabhero 2-36)Zimbabwe 90 all out, 17.1 overs (Kelis Ndhlovu 32; Sadia Iqbal 3-20, Nashra Sundhu 2-21)Player of the match – Fatima Sana (Pakistan women)Player of the series – Ayesha Zafar (Pakistan women)Tour results:1st ODI – Pakistan beat Zimbabwe by 168 runs2nd ODI – Pakistan beat Zimbabwe by 206 runs3rd ODI – Pakistan beat Zimbabwe by nine wickets1st T20I – Pakistan beat Zimbabwe by 153 runs2nd T20I – Pakistan beat Zimbabwe by 67 runs3rd T20I – Pakistan beat Zimbabwe by 133 runs

Lahore (Sports News): Asian Champions Pakistan U19 will embark on a tour of England in September to feature in a bilateral series. The tour includes one four-day match and four one-day matches between Pakistan U19 and England U19, scheduled to take place from 2 to 16 September.The only four-day match will be played from 2 to 5 September in Arundel, while the first one-day match of the series will also be held at the same venue on Wednesday, 9 September. The second one-day match will take place in Guildford on Saturday, 12 September.The third and fourth one-day fixtures of the series will be played in Wormsley on 14 and 16 September, respectively.Pakistan U19 in their recent assignments defeated India by 191 runs in the final in Dubai on 21 December 2025 to lift the ACC Men’s U19 Asia Cup trophy. The side then went on to win the tri-series in Zimbabwe, featuring Afghanistan and hosts Zimbabwe in January 2026.Pakistan U19 also featured in the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup in Zimbabwe and Namibia earlier this year, where they played five matches and won three of them.Tour schedule:2-5 Sep – Four-Day match, Arundel9 Sep – First One-Day, Arundel12 Sep – Second One-Day, Guildford14 Sep – Third One-Day, Wormsley16 Sep – Fourth One-Day, Wormsley

Karachi (Sports News): Pakistan women’s team continued to dominate Zimbabwe women in the ongoing white-ball tour as they clinched a 67-run victory in the second T20I taking an unassailable lead in the three-match series here at the National Bank Stadium, Karachi on Thursday night.Pakistan – after opting to bat first – posted 170-4 in the allotted 20 overs and then restricted Zimbabwe to 103-8 in 20 overs with the incoming Nashra Sundhu picking up two for 18. The Fatima Sana-led outfit have now won all five white-ball matches on the trot against Zimbabwe including a three-nil win in the ODI series.The triumph in the second T20I for the hosts was headlined by maiden international half-century for 21-year old Eyman Fatima – playing her fifth game of the shortest format besides the three ODI caps – as she finished unbeaten with 79 off 43 balls hitting 10 fours and four sixes.Eyman walked in to bat when Pakistan were 46-3 in 7.4 overs and had lost three for 19 in previous 3.1 overs with opener Gull Feroza, first T20I’s centurion Ayesha Zafar and the incoming batter Iram Javed – playing her first game for Pakistan since October 2024 – falling for single-digit scores.Pakistan reached halfway mark with 60-3 on the board and Eyman changing gears to hit her first four and six on consecutive balls to go from two off nine to 12 off 11. She smashed another six and four to get the 46-run fourth-wicket stand going with opening batter Muneeba Ali (36, 33b, 4x4s).Muneeba fell to Lindokuhle Mabhero (1-20) on the second ball of the 14th over with 92 runs on the board. Pakistan collected 78 runs off the remaining 40 balls on the back of a fiery stand between Eyman and Natalia with the former contributing a breezy total of 50 runs off 21 balls in this phase.Eyman brought up her half-century in the 17th over off 32 balls before helping her team finish strong with a six and a four-laden 20th over, which yielded 15 runs. Natalia remained unbeaten for 24 off 19 balls striking three fours. For Zimbabwe, Precious Maranage and Michelle Mavunga also picked up one wicket each.In turn, Zimbabwe lost six wickets and stitched together 51 runs in the first 50 balls of the chase with spinners Nashra, Tuba and Sadia applying the squeeze following Fatima Sana’s first strike to remove Beloved Biza in the third over.Zimbabwe never threatened to hunt down the total as they managed to add only 53 more runs to the total in the remaining 11.4 overs with skipper Sibanada (18 not out, 37b) adding 22 and 20 runs with Mabhero (12, 16b, 1x4) and Kudzai Chigora (14 not out, 11b, 3x4s), respectively for the eighth and ninth wickets.Apart from Nashra’s two wickets, Fatima, Sadia, Tuba, Ayesha and Natalia accounted for one batter each. The third T20I of the series will be played on Friday at the same venue with the first ball scheduled to be bowled at 7.30pm PKT.Scores in briefPakistan 170-4, 20 overs (Eyman Fatima 79 not out; Muneeba Ali 36, Natalia Parvaiz 24 not out; Lindokuhle Mabhero 1-20)Zimbabwe 103-8, 20 overs (Nomvelo Sibanda 18 not out, Kudzai Chigora 14 not out; Nashra Sundhu 2-18)Player of the match – Eyman Fatima (Pakistan women)

Islamabad (PR): The Pakistan 16 & under Boys Team has departed for Shymkent, Kazakhstan, to participate in the Davis Cup Juniors Asia/Oceania Final Qualifying event, scheduled to be held from 16th to 24th May 2026.The team comprises the following members:• Abubakar Talha – Player • Mohammad Hassan Usmani – Player • Zohaib Afzal Malik – Player • Mohammad Haseeb Aslam – Captain #pakistantennis #tennis #daviscupjuniors

Islamabad (Sports Desk):Today, excitement for the FIFA World Cup 2026™ continues to build with the release of Dai Dai, featuring Shakira and Burna Boy via Sony Music Latin.Dai Dai will be the Official FIFA World Cup 2026™ Song in support of FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which aims to raise USD100 million by the end of the tournament to provide children around the world with access to quality education and football opportunities.Shakira is partnering with Global Citizen and FIFA to provide access to education for children in underserved communities with Shakira’s royalties from Dai Dai being donated to the Education Fund, and Sony Music will match the first USD250,000 raised with a donation.Shakira will also co-headline the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Final Halftime Show on Sunday, 19 July. Marking a historic first for the FIFA World Cup™, the final will feature a halftime show, bringing together global artists for a singular moment at the intersection of sport, culture, and purpose, to support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund.Following the release of Lighter, Por Ella, Echo and Illuminate, the Official FIFA World Cup 2026™ Album will continue to unfold in the upcoming weeks, with additional singles set to be released as anticipation for the tournament continues to build.Featuring artists from across continents, genres and cultures, the growing soundtrack reflects the global spirit and diversity of the FIFA World Cup™, bringing fans together through the universal languages of music and football.

Ahmedabad (PR): Adani Sportsline today announced the appointment of veteran Australian cricket strategist Simon Helmot as Head Coach of Gulf Giants ahead of the upcoming season of the DP World UAE ILT20.Helmot brings more than two decades of experience across domestic, international and franchise cricket, including assignments in some of the world’s leading T20 leagues. He has been associated with the Hyderabad side in the Indian Premier League (IPL) since 2013 and has contributed to multiple title-winning campaigns across leading T20 tournaments in Australia, the Caribbean and the UAE. Over the years, he has earned a strong reputation for building high-performance team environments and maximising player potential in pressure situations.Prior to this appointment, Helmot completed a five-season tenure with Melbourne Renegades, leading the team to its maiden Women’s Big Bash League title in 2024.As part of his onboarding with Gulf Giants, Helmot recently met Mr Pranav Adani, Director, Adani Enterprises Limited (AEL), in Ahmedabad to discuss the long-term vision for Gulf Giants and the franchise’s preparations for the upcoming ILT20 season.Speaking on his appointment, Helmot said: “I’m excited to join Gulf Giants and be part of the next phase of the franchise’s journey in the UAE ILT20. My discussions with Mr Pranav Adani reflected Adani Sportsline’s long-term commitment towards building strong sporting ecosystems, nurturing talent and creating competitive teams. I look forward to working closely with the players and support staff as we build towards a successful season.”Pranav Adani said: “We are pleased to welcome Simon to Gulf Giants and the Adani Sportsline family. Simon brings deep experience across global franchise cricket, a strong understanding of the T20 ecosystem and a proven ability to build competitive, high-performing teams. His leadership approach and focus on player development align closely with our long-term vision for Gulf Giants, and we look forward to the upcoming season under his guidance.”Since its launch in 2023, the UAE ILT20 has quickly emerged as one of the world’s leading franchise T20 leagues, featuring top international players, coaches and franchises from major cricketing nations.Gulf Giants also thanked former Head Coach Jonathan Trott for his leadership and contribution during the previous season and wished him continued success for the future.About Adani Sportsline Adani Sportsline is the sports arm of the diversified Adani Group, which has a presence in ports, logistics, energy, utility, infrastructure, electric power generation and transmission, mining, airport operations, natural gas, and food processing.Formed in 2019, Adani Sportsline has an overarching philosophy to inculcate a culture of sports at the grassroots level and create globally competitive opportunities for future champions in India. In line with the group’s vision of nation-building, the company aims to build a world-class ecosystem that nurtures sporting talent, accelerates the sports economy and plays the role of an enabler in India’s journey to become a leading sporting nation.

Islamabad (SB News): Pakistan’s premier F-Class long-range shooter, Mohsin Nawaz, has become the first athlete from shooting sports to receive the prestigious Tamgha-e-Imtiaz, marking a historic moment for the country’s sporting landscape.  The award was conferred by Asif Ali Zardari during the Presidential Awards ceremony held in Islamabad on May 13, recognising Mohsin Nawaz’s outstanding contributions to long-range shooting and his role in elevating Pakistan’s profile in the international arena. Speaking after receiving the award, Nawaz described the honor as a milestone not only for himself but for the entire shooting sports community in Pakistan. He expressed gratitude to his parents, supporters, and coaches, while also dedicating the achievement to young athletes striving for recognition in less-publicized sports. Nawaz also credited the development of Pakistan’s shooting sports infrastructure to the patronage of Syed Asim Munir and the establishment of the Pakistan Long Range Rifle Association, which enabled Pakistani shooters to gain recognition through affiliation with the International Confederation of Fullbore Rifle Associations. Currently preparing for the 2026 F-Class World Championship in the United Kingdom, Nawaz continues to advocate for sports reforms, including improved training facilities and reduced import duties on specialized sporting equipment. His long-term vision, he says, is to ensure future generations of Pakistani shooters receive the opportunities and support needed to compete successfully on the world stage. Widely regarded as Pakistan’s most accomplished F-Class shooter, Nawaz has spent more than two decades building a reputation in a discipline that has traditionally received limited institutional support in the country. Born in Faisalabad on August 23, 1986, he began his competitive shooting career in 2004 at the Pakistan Ordnance Factory shooting club in Wah. Over the years, he pursued international competition largely through personal commitment, private sponsorships, and self-funded campaigns while also seeking professional coaching abroad. Nawaz currently holds 10 international individual medals in F-Class long-range shooting, the highest tally achieved by any Pakistani athlete in the sport. His international achievements include podium finishes in the United States, South Africa, and Europe, including medals at the European Long Range Shooting Championship and the prestigious Imperial Championship. In 2023, he equalled a European record during the European Long Range Shooting Championship, further cementing his standing among elite long-range shooters worldwide. At the national level, Nawaz has consistently dominated competitive shooting events, winning multiple gold medals in PARA Army Championships, national long-range championships, and benchrest competitions. He has also set several national records, including performances at the 2025 F-Class National Long Range Shooting Championship in Jhelum. Beyond his competitive achievements, Nawaz has played a prominent role in promoting shooting sports in Pakistan. He recently joined Hawksmith Gun & Shooting Club as a brand ambassador to support the development of world-class tactical training and precision shooting facilities in the country. Internationally, he also serves as a brand ambassador for Austrian optics manufacturer KAHLES Sports Optics and South African bullet manufacturer Peregrine Bullets.

Karachi (Sports Report): Ayesha Zafar struck an unbeaten 47-ball 102 not out to lead Pakistan to 237-5 in 20 overs – their highest-ever total in WT20Is - as the hosts thumped Zimbabwe in the opening match of the three-game T20I series by a record margin of 153 runs here at the National Bank Stadium, Karachi on Tuesday night.Zimbabwe were bundled out for 84 in 18.2 overs in reply to Pakistan’s mammoth total with skipper Fatima Sana leading the charge with miserly figures of 3-0-7-3 including an early double strike in the third over, while Sadia Iqbal and Natalia Parvaiz also chipped in with two wickets each.It is Pakistan’s largest winning margin by runs, overtaking their 147-run thumping of Malaysia in 2018 in Kuala Lumpur. The second and third T20Is of the series will take place on 14 and 15 April at the National Bank Stadium with the first ball scheduled to be bowled at 7.30pm PKT.Ayesha walked in to bat in the second over after Pakistan lost Muneeba Ali to Nomvelo Sibanda for two with 23 runs on the board. Ayesha and Gull Feroza (37, 19b, 8x4s) then shared a 34-run stand off 16 balls to set the foundation of the big total.Zimbabwe removed Gull and debutant Saira Jabeen – who became 59th WT20I cap for Pakistan – in a space of six balls to reduce Pakistan to 68-3 in 5.4 overs. Pakistan were 101-4 in 10 overs after Natalia’s departure, which brought Aliya Riaz to the middle.That Pakistan were able to ransack 136 runs off the last 60 balls in their innings was due to Ayesha’s 35-ball 67-run stand with Aliya (48, 23b, 4x4s, 4x6s) and then a fiery unbeaten 27-ball 70-run partnership with captain Fatima (21 not out, 13b, 3x4s).Ayesha’s 47-ball unbeaten century – the fastest besides Muneeba Ali’s two centuries in the format for Pakistan and joint-third fastest overall – came after she accelerated brilliantly in the last three overs of the innings going from 67 off 38 to 102 unscathed. Ayesha was on 90 with three balls left in the innings when she struck Sibanda for a six, a double and a memorable four on the last ball to bring up her first international century in style.Pakistan’s total is also the third-highest WT20I score by a full member nation in the format besides Bangladesh’s 255-2 in 2019 against Maldives and England’s 250-3 in 2018 against South Africa. Meanwhile, Ayesha’s 15 fours and two sixes are the most boundaries by a Pakistan batter in WT20Is to go with 37 boundaries overall in innings – the most by hosts in the format as well.In turn, only Natasa Mtomba (24, 20b, 4x4s) Adel Zimunu (18, 34b, 1x4) and Beloved Biza (10, 7b, 2x4s) managed to enter double figures for Zimbabwe. Fatima’s three strikes also made her the leading wicket-taker among pacers for Pakistan in WT20Is as she now has 46 scalps in the format after overtaking Asmavia Iqbal’s tally of 44 wickets.Apart from Sadia and Natalia’s two wickets each, Rameen picked up one, while another debutant Amber Kainat – WT20I cap 60 for Pakistan – bowled two overs of right-arm pace for 14 runs. Scores in briefPakistan 237-5, 20 overs (Ayesha Zafar 102 not out, Aliya Riaz 48, Gull Feroza 37, Fatima Sana 21 not out; Nomvelo Sibanda 2-59)Zimbabwe 84 all out, 18.2 overs (Natasha Mtomba 24; Fatima Sana 3-7, Natalia Parvaiz 2-3, Sadia Iqbal 2-14)Player of the match – Ayesha Zafar (Pakistan women)Tour schedule:1st ODI – Pakistan beat Zimbabwe by 168 runs2nd ODI – Pakistan beat Zimbabwe by 206 runs3rd ODI – Pakistan beat Zimbabwe by nine wickets1st T20I – Pakistan beat Zimbabwe by 153 runs2nd T20I – 14 April3rd T20I – 15 April