Islamabad (Sports Desk):Richard Illingworth and Alex Wharf will be the on-field umpires for the first ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final between South Africa and New Zealand on Wednesday.Illingworth was in the middle for South Africa’s victory at this stage two years ago, when the Proteas dismissed Afghanistan for 56 and won by nine wickets, while Wharf oversaw New Zealand’s win over the same opposition in the group stage this time around.The pair will be joined in Kolkata by Nitin Menon as third umpire, with Rod Tucker in place as fourth umpire and Javagal Srinath appointed as match referee.The second semi-final between India and England, in Mumbai, will be overseen by on-field umpires Chris Gaffaney and Allahuddien Paleker.The two nations met at the same stage in 2024, a match India won by 68 runs, with Gaffaney also in place for that one. In this competition so far, he has been in the middle for India’s matches against South Africa and the West Indies.Paleker has taken control of two England matches, against the West Indies and Scotland, as well as India’s victory over the Netherlands.Adrian Holdstock will be the third umpire in Mumbai, with Paul Reiffel the fourth umpire. Andy Pycroft is the match referee.Semi-Final 1: Kolkata, Wednesday 4 March 2026South Africa v New ZealandOn-Field Umpires: Richard Illingworth & Alex WharfThird Umpire: Nitin MenonFourth Umpire: Rod TuckerMatch Referee: Javagal SrinathSemi-Final 2: Mumbai, Thursday 5 March 2026India v EnglandOn-Field Umpires: Chris Gaffaney & Allahuddien PalekerThird Umpire: Adrian HoldstockFourth Umpire: Paul ReiffelMatch Referee: Andy Pycroft

Islamabad (Sports Desk): England and Pakistan both claimed decisive victories on the second day of the men’s FIH Hockey World Cup Qualifiers in Ismailia on Monday, so securing passage through to the semi-finals.Pakistan came from behind to beat Malaysia 5-3 before England defeated hosts Egypt 3-0. That sees them currently topping their respective groups with one more round of group matches to come on Wednesday.In the other matches of the day, Japan claimed their first points of the tournament with a comprehensive 4-0 victory over the USA, while Austria and China played to a 1-1 draw.(Men’s) Pakistan 5 – 3 MalaysiaPakistan came back from a two-goal deficit to complete a hard-fought 5-3 victory over Malaysia.The Malaysians controlled large parts of the first quarter and found the breakthrough when Muhajir Abdu Rauf managed to push the ball through the keeper’s legs in the 12th minute. With just over a minute remaining, Akhimullah Anuar rocketed another one into the roof of the net from a penalty corner to double the Malaysians’ lead. Pakistan then produced the perfect response just seconds later – Waheed Rana pulling one back with a superb deflection at the other end. The Pakistanis found the equaliser within seconds of the start of the second quarter. An excellent solo run finished with Zikriya Hayat popping the ball across goal, only for it to take a fortunate deflection off a Malaysian defender and trickle in for 2-2, which is how the score remained at half-time.After a more controlled period of play from the Malaysians, Fitri Saari put his side back in front from a penalty stroke in the 40th minute. And it was then a pivotal pass from Waheed Rana that allowed Ahmad Nadeem to tuck the ball in at the far post for Pakistan's equaliser with one second left on the clock in the third quarter. Andy Jeffrynus was struck on the head by the stick of Fayyaz Hamza, who was shown a 10-minute yellow card in the 49th minute, but Pakistan took the lead for the first time in the match from a Sufyan Khan drag directly after the incident. The Malaysians pulled off their keeper with just over five and a half minutes to play, but it immediately cost them as a Pakistan counterattack saw Muhammad Ammad firing in their fifth to wrap up the comeback win.Waheed Rana was named the player of the match and said: “It was a good team effort, and I would give credit to all my team to play such a wonderful game.”(Men’s) Austria 1 – 1 ChinaBoth Austria and China struggled to find their finishing touch in an even contest that resulted in a 1-1 draw.With both sides having lost their opening matches a day earlier, caution dominated proceedings, resulting in a largely defensive contest with few clear-cut chances and little goalmouth action in the first half. The breakthrough finally came in the 27th minute when Josef Winkler fed to Moritz Frey, who controlled well and then lifted the ball into the back of the net over the keeper’s shoulder to hand Austria a 1-0 lead, which they held at the half-time break.China came back at them at the start of the third quarter with Benhai Chen firing in from a penalty corner in the 31st minute. Adrian Fink had the chance to put the Austrians back in front with just over five minutes remaining in the third quarter, but, having done all the work in front of goal, he put his shot wide. With all to play for in the final quarter, neither side managed to dominate. While the Chinese probably shaded the overall scoring opportunities, with four penalty corners earned in the match compared with Austria’s two, ultimately the sides had to settle for a share of the points.Austrian captain Benjamin Kölbl was named the player of the match and said: “We did a really good job today. We tried to defend everything, but we were not dangerous enough in the circle.”(Men’s) Japan 4 – 0 USAJapan did well to bounce back from a five-goal loss at the hands of England a day earlier and claim a 4-0 victory over the USA.The Japanese made an early statement, capitalising on their first opportunity when the ball found an unmarked Kazumasa Matsumoto in space and he fired home for a 1–0 lead. Clear chances were scarce for the Americans, whose defence came under sustained pressure from a series of Japanese penalty corners. They held firm to limit the damage, but in the 23rd minute, a clever variation at another set piece ended with Koji Yamasaki applying the finishing touch to double the advantage. Five minutes later, Ryoma Ooka blasted in a ferocious strike from just inside the circle to make it 3–0, a commanding lead Japan carried into the half-time break.The USA managed to stem the tide in a far more evenly contested third quarter. But they struggled with their penalty corner execution, meaning the score remained at 3-0 heading into the final period. After a relatively subdued third quarter, the Japanese looked livelier in the fourth. Kosei Kawabe came close to adding a fourth goal, only to be denied by the post. But he would not be frustrated for long. In the 56th minute, he got his reward with a sharp first-time deflection that found the back of the net, to consolidate a comprehensive 4–0 victory.Japan’s Kazumasa Matsumoto was named player of the match and said: “I was very happy to score the first goal, and we were very happy to win today’s game.”(Men’s) Egypt 0 – 3 EnglandEngland controlled proceedings well as they posted a hard-fought 3-0 win over hosts Egypt.The English dominated the stats throughout, enjoying long periods of possession and plenty of territorial advantage. Goalkeeper Mohamed Gamal made a series of excellent saves in the Egyptian goal as he led a defensive masterclass under continuous pressure. England survived a couple of dangerous penalty corners before Sam Ward fired them ahead in the 27th minute, his drag flick deflecting off the first wave runner to beat the defence. Nick Bandurak made it 2-0 to England with a sizzling drag flick placed mere millimetres inside the left post.The English continued to boss the third quarter, but there wasn’t much space to move with Egypt adopting a heavily defensive position to see off the 10-minute yellow card received late in the second quarter. Gamal remained vigorous in the defence of his goal throughout the second half before Tom Sorsby finally put the result beyond any doubt in the 57th minute, cleaning up the scraps after the post-man saved the first shot from a penalty corner.England’s Nick Bandurak was named as the player of the match and said: “We really had to work hard in that final third. They got numbers behind the ball, defended well, and they made life really tough. Every shot we had we felt was contested, so credit to them and the way they approached the game, and thankfully we got over the line in the end.”

Islamabad (Sports News):There were no major surprises on the opening day of the men’s FIH Hockey World Cup Qualifiers in Ismailia, Egypt as Malaysia, Pakistan, England and Egypt all racked up important wins.The hosts were pushed all the way by the United States, and Pakistan edged out the Chinese in a fixture that has been evenly contested in recent years. Malaysia and England powered through their matches.(Men’s) Malaysia 6 – 1 AustriaMalaysia had too much pace and energy for Austria as they stormed to a 6-1 win.The Austrians had a promising start when Fülöp Losonci fired them ahead from the penalty spot in the 3rd minute. Malaysia grew into the game though, and by the start of the second quarter, they were in full control, pressing aggressively and looking dangerous around the Austrian circle. They squandered several penalty corners before striking twice in the 24th minute. Azrai Abu Kamal got ahead of his marker to complete a clinical deflection in front of goal, and Shello Silverius’s strike trickled across the line after taking two touches off defenders. Malaysia missed a penalty stroke just before half-time and went in leading 2-1.It was all Malaysia in the second half. Norsyafiq Sumantri got the final touch from a scrappy penalty corner in the 34th, and Kamal tapped in to complete his brace after Akhimullah Anuar eliminated the keeper with an unselfish pass. Anuar pounced on a loose ball at the back post for his goal, and Marhan Jalil slapped in a recycled penalty corner to complete the scoring in the 52nd minute.Faizal Saari was named player of the match for Malaysia and said: “Credit to the boys, we collected the 3 points today… It doesn’t matter if we are down one or two-zero, we just play a normal game, and we come back from 1-0 to 6-1.”(Men’s) Pakistan 5 – 4 ChinaPakistan opened their campaign with a hard-fought 5-4 win over China after threatening to run away with the result at the halfway mark.Pakistan created better opportunities in a high-paced opening quarter and Sufyan Khan fired them ahead in the 8th minute, beating the keeper for pure pace with a drag flick. China hit back in the 16th minute, Shihao Du’s drag flick deflecting horribly off the first wave. Ali Raza then made a good double save for Pakistan before his team got upfield to score two quick goals. First, Waheed Rana worked hard across the circle and pounced on a loose ball for a neat finish in the 20th minute. Muhammad Ammad tapped in a minute later after some brilliant aerial skills from Ahmad Nadeem along the baseline, and Pakistan led 3-1 at the break.Pakistan seemed to be cruising to victory when Abu Mahmood nailed a huge drag flick in the 35th minute to go 4-1 up. But China raised their energy to assert some control. They struck twice in quick succession, Du completing his brace with a sizzling drag flick in the 39th, and Quyang Guan adding a penalty corner variation in the 42nd minute. Waleed Rana edged Pakistan two ahead within a minute, but Xiaojia Zhang’s pass across goal deflected in off a defender in the 49th minute to set up a tense finale. Pakistan came closest to scoring when they rattled the crossbar from a PC with two minutes remaining, and they held on for the three points.The player of the match was awarded to Pakistan’s Ammad Butt who said: “I’m very disappointed in the way we played. The first two quarters, very good, but after that, third and fourth, we had some patches. We have to improve in our midfield, and our attack and PC short corner defence as well. By the way, I’m really happy because of the three points.”(Men’s) England 5 – 0 JapanEngland scored five high-quality goals as they cruised to a 5-0 win over Japan.It took the English some time to settle down, but two goals from acute angles towards the end of the first quarter saw them on their way. Thomas Sorsby’s opener was a sensational slap into the top corner from an acute angle. Sam Ward went even tighter, using his physical strength to drive along the baseline before slapping in with no angle to work with. Henry Croft added a tomahawk in the 17th minute, carrying the ball well into the circle after some quick passing from a free hit. Other than a couple of turnovers late in the half, England were in full control as they led 3-0 at half-time.Sorsby’s second goal came from a piece of individual brilliance as he carried the ball into the circle and tomahawked it in at the back post in the 36th minute. Croft added an excellent deflection from Jacob Payton’s feed off the baseline in the 44th, and England went on to manage the game through to the final whistle. Japan did create some clear chances and earned a couple of penalty corners, but they couldn’t execute in the circle when it mattered.England’s Thomas Sorsby was named the player of the match and said: “Japan are a very good team. We knew we had to prepare well, so a very professional start from us, really enjoyed the game, and hopefully some more of that to come.”(Men’s) Egypt 3 – 1 United StatesHosts Egypt were made to work extremely hard as they came from behind to post a 3-1 win over the United States.An action-packed first quarter saw the USA take the lead in the 6th minute, Aki Kaeppeler launching his drag flick into the top right corner. Ahmed Elganaini equalised with a penalty stroke in the 10th after the post-man was struck on the line defending a penalty corner. Goalkeeper Jonathan Klages then came off his line twice to shut Egypt out as they gained momentum before Hamada Atef eventually fired them ahead with a huge drag flick in the 22nd minute. Mohamed Gamal raced off his line to block a shot and Egypt held a slender 2-1 lead at half-time. Gamal pulled off a series of exceptional saves as the USA bossed a goalless third quarter. The Americans thought they had levelled matters in the 46th minute, but the goal was overturned and a 10-minute yellow card issued on the umpire’s review for a collision with a defender in the build-up. Egypt initially struggled to make their numerical advantage count, but Ahmed Mohsen tapped in from an exquisite feed in the 52nd minute to double their lead. The USA applied plenty of pressure towards the end of the match, but they couldn’t find another goal.Ahmed Elganaini of Egypt was named as the player of the match and said: “So proud for my team. We all played very well today, and USA played very well… it was a tough game.”

 Abu Dhabi (Sports News):The second 50-over match between Pakistan Shaheens and England Lions scheduled to be played today at the Oval Stadium in Abu Dhabi will not take place.The decision has been taken following advice from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) in view of the escalating situation in Abu Dhabi. There will be no practice session as well and the team has been advised to remain indoors.The safety and security of the players and support staff remains the utmost priority. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is in constant contact with the team management and players and the wellbeing of the squad is paramount above all other considerations.The PCB is also in regular contact with the ECB and continues to closely monitor the ever-changing situation. As soon as the Middle East airspace reopens, the PCB will decide whether to bring the Shaheens squad back to Pakistan or continue with the series, considering the prevailing security scenario.

Islamabad (PR): Pakistan’s No. 1 ranked ITF junior, Mikaeel Ali Baig, has delivered an exceptional back-to-back performance on the international circuit, reinforcing his position as one of the country’s leading junior athletes.Competing first at the higher-tier ITF J60 Guatemala, Mikaeel advanced to the Doubles Final, demonstrating his consistency and ability to perform against a strong international field. His deep run at a J60 event highlighted both his competitive maturity and growing presence at higher levels of junior tennis.Immediately following Guatemala, Mikaeel traveled to Kingston, Jamaica, where he produced a dominant week at the ITF J30 tournament, capturing both the Singles and Doubles titles.In Singles, Mikaeel defeated opponents from the USA, Brazil, Czech Republic, and Canada en route to the final, where he secured the championship with a commanding 6–3, 6–1 victory. The win marks his 6th ITF Singles title.In Doubles, partnering with USA’s Indra Vergne, he battled through tightly contested matches — including a championship match tiebreak in the semifinals — to earn his 5th ITF Doubles title.Mikaeel’s continued international success reflects not only his discipline and hard work, but also the ongoing support and development efforts of the Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) and Ace Tennis Pakistan. Their commitment to nurturing young talent plays a vital role in enabling Pakistani athletes to compete and succeed on the global stage while proudly representing the country.

Lausanne (PR): With the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 Qualifiers on the cusp of getting underway – with pushback in Ismailia, Egypt and Santiago, Chile, starting tomorrow (1 March), followed by action beginning in Hyderabad, India from next Sunday (8 March) – here’s what the Captains of the participating teams have to say:Women's TeamsSwitzerland - Stephanie Weber, Captain"The preparation period was short but efficient. With Australia, France, and Chile in our pool, we enter the competition as challengers with nothing to lose. We strongly believe we can steal points and win games."Korea - Yuri Lee, Captain"As we have prepared tirelessly to secure our place in the World Cup, I am confident that we can achieve strong results in the upcoming qualifiers.The fitness, teamwork, and trust we have built throughout our training will be our greatest strengths on the field. I believe it is most important to show the unity and resilience we have developed together.We will focus on each match, one game at a time, and as every player is striving toward the same goal, we will fight until the very end without giving up. By giving our absolute best in every moment, we aim to achieve the results we have been working so hard for."France - Emma Ponthieu, Captain“The team is ready and motivated for this tournament despite being in a fairly tough group. Securing qualification would be the culmination of many years of hard work, and we will give everything to achieve it.”Austria - Johanna Czech, Captain“Our preparation is short but intense, and we feel ready for the challenge ahead. We’re going into the tournament as underdogs, but we want to compete with confidence, give everything on the pitch, and make the most of this opportunity.”Italy – Federica Carta, Captain“This tournament is a great opportunity for us and we have great motivation to achieve the goal.”Scotland - Sarah Robertson, Captain“We are looking forward to seeing what we can achieve in India. We’ve been building for a number of years now and the squad is prepared for the challenge ahead.” Chile - Manuela Urroz, Captain“As the most experienced member of the team, it’s my responsibility to lead by example. I want to share my experience and contribute in any way I can after everything I’ve gone through over the years.Each of us plays a very important role on the team, and that’s something we’ve been working on for a long time with the coaching staff. It’s a tough group, but it’s also a great opportunity to secure qualification while playing at home and in front of our fans". England - Lily Walker, Captain“We are looking forward to the qualifiers in Hyderabad and hopefully qualifying for the World Cup in the summer. We have had a good preparation for the tournament and can’t wait to get started.”India - Salima Tete, Captain“As we approach the FIH Hockey World Cup Qualifiers Hyderabad, Telangana 2026, the entire team has been training with great intensity and clarity of purpose. We have worked strongly on our fitness, structure, and decision-making under pressure, because tournaments like these are about consistency across every match. Playing at home in India gives us added motivation, and we want to make the most of that energy and support.We know that facing Scotland, Uruguay, and Wales in the pool stage will be tricky, as each team brings a different style and strengths. Our focus is on taking one game at a time, staying disciplined with our plans, and expressing ourselves with confidence on the field. The goal is clear — to play fearless hockey, deliver consistent performances, and make our country proud by securing qualification for the 2026 World Cup.”Malaysia - Juliani Mohamad Din, Captain“Qualifying would be a dream come true, but even competing in the qualifiers is already a valuable experience in one of the toughest tournaments in international hockey.”Australia - Stephanie Kershaw“We know it’s really important obviously with World Cup qualification. So our first job is to come here and qualify for the World Cup. But we’re also a very competitive team and we want to win everything that we come to. So, we’re looking to win this tournament and make World Cup as well.”Men's TeamsMalaysia - Mohammad Marhan Mohd Jalil, Captain“Our preparations have been intense, and the squad is motivated for the World Cup qualifiers. Every match in the pool will be a tough challenge, and we’re ready to give our best.”France - François Goyet, Captain“We are approaching the qualification tournament with great excitement and ambition. After our strong run at EuroHockey 2025, where we were considered outsiders, this time the challenge will be to embrace one of the favourites’ roles in the race to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.The task will obviously be difficult against teams such as Scotland, Wales, and Chile in the group stage, but we are confident in the team’s qualities — a blend of youth and experience — to achieve our ultimate goal.”Austria – Benjamin Kölbl, Captain“Our preparation has been relatively short due to the Indoor European Championship in January. We have only one Training camp/tournament in Granada ahead of the qualifier.Our goal is, of course, to achieve the best possible result. At the same time, it is equally important for us to continue growing together as a team, as we have a very Young squad with several new players from the U21. We want to take the next step in our development following the last outdoor European Championship.”USA – Aki Kaeppeler, Captain"Reaching the final at the last Pan Am Cup gave us a boost and more belief in the group and what we’ve been building. It has been a long time since those last competitive games and we are looking forward to playing some top opposition again. We’re confident in the selected team and ready to perform and fight for a World Cup spot!”Pakistan – Ammad Butt, Captain“Hockey is our identity, and victory is our responsibility. Our sticks don’t merely strike the ball they echo generations of greatness. Glory lives in our game, and the world will witness our rise again.”Chile - Andrés Pizarro, Captain "I’ve had the opportunity to play several tournaments at home, and it’s a matter of great pride to compete with our fans cheering us on. This is going to be a great championship — it will be incredible. All of our opponents are tough, but we’ll leave everything on the field and go for qualification to the World Cup.” England - Zach Wallace, Captain“We are looking forward to starting the World Cup Qualifiers on Sunday. There is a great feeling in the squad right now and following a positive winter period, we’ll be hoping to continue our good form in the upcoming games.”

Lahore (Sports Report):A total of 27 women’s players are set to take part in a skills training camp from 7 to 14 March at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore, the Pakistan Cricket Board announced today.The camp is being organised keeping in mind the preparations for the upcoming National women’s T20 tournament, home series against Zimbabwe women, away T20I tri-series in Ireland and the subsequent ICC women’s T20 World Cup 2026 in England.The players will attend the camp in supervision of the current senior women’s team coaches led by team mentor Wahab Riaz. During the camp, the players will not only hone their skills with the help of the coaches but also work on their fitness for upcoming challenges and take part in scenario based and practice matches.Pakistan’s ODI squad, currently playing the three-match series in South Africa, will return to Pakistan on 2 March.The list of the 27 players is as under:Shawaal Zulfiqar, Sidra Amin, Aliya Riaz, Natalia Parvaiz, Eyman Fatima, Saira Jabeen, Gull Rukh, Hafsa Khalid, Eman Naseer, Ayesha Zafar, Sadaf Shamas, Gull Feroza, Muneeba Ali, Fatima Sana, Tuba Hassan, Rameen Shamim, Umm-e-Hani, Sadia Iqbal, Nashra Sundhu, Momina Riasat, Anosha Nasir, Ayesha Bilal, Syeda Aroob Shah, Tasmia Rubab, Humna Bilal, Diana Baig and Waheeda Akhtar.

Islamabad (PR): The Pak-China Friendship Cup 3x3 Basketball Championship 2026 will tip off on March 5 at the Pakistan Sports Complex, Islamabad to commemorate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China. According to Federal Basketball Association (FBBA) Secretary Dr. Ouj-e-Zohoor, the four-day event, being organized under the umbrella of the Pakistan Basketball Federation with the support of the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB), will conclude on March 8 and promises high-level basketball action.The FIBA-endorsed 3x3 championship has attracted record participation from across the country. A total of 48 teams will compete in the club category, 16 teams in the departmental category, and 26 teams in the women’s category. The large turnout highlights the rapid growth of 3x3 basketball in Pakistan and the continued commitment of the Pakistan Basketball Federation to promoting the sport nationwide.Ouj-e-Zohoor emphasized that the event reflects the strong and longstanding brotherly ties between Pakistan and China, noting that sports diplomacy plays a vital role in fostering cooperation, unity, and international goodwill.As a FIBA-endorsed tournament, the championship will also contribute points toward the FIBA 3x3 international rankings, further strengthening Pakistan’s presence in the global basketball community. The organizing committee has ensured professionally managed arrangements, promising competitive and thrilling basketball action throughout the four-day event.

Centurion (Sports News):Pakistan women were bowled out for 345 in pursuit of a 362-run target in the second ODI as South Africa gained a 2-0 lead in the series here at the SuperSport Park in Centurion on Wednesday night. Pakistan registered their highest ever ODI total surpassing the previous 335-3 against Ireland women in 2022 in Lahore. The third ODI of the series will take place on Sunday, 1 March at the Kingsmead Cricket Stadium in Durban.Pakistan’s spirited effort was led by fluent half-centuries from Ayesha Zafar, Sadaf Shamas and skipper Fatima Sana. Syeda Aroob Shah and Diana Baig also chipped in with valuable contributions lower down the order as the visitors threatened to set the record for the highest ever successful chase in women’s ODIs. At the start of the chase, Pakistan lost Muneeba Ali in second over and Sidra Amin in sixth with 24 runs on the board. Opening batter Sadaf Shamas then knitted an 87-ball 97-run partnership for the third wicket with top-scorer Ayesha Zafar (75, 68b, 8x4s), who scored her second consecutive half-century.Sadaf departed on the penultimate delivery of the 20th over after getting to her second ODI half-century, scoring 61 off 62 including nine fours. Sune Luus provided South Africa the vital breakthrough. Ayesha then combined with Natalia Parvaiz (27, 32b, 3x4s) to add 76 runs for the fourth wicket off 60 balls as Pakistan were 197-3, requiring another 165 off 122 balls. At this point, South Africa were brought back into the contest by Nondumiso Shangase and player of the match Annerie Drecksen. Shangase removed Ayesha and Aliya Zafar on the last two balls of the 30th over, while Drecksen got rid of Natalia in the subsequent over to reduce Pakistan to 199-6. Skipper Fatima Sana then took it upon herself to continue the momentum as she combined with Syeda Aroob Shah to add 81 runs off 65 balls for the seventh wicket. Fatima’s 52, her fouth ODI half-century, came off 36 balls on the back of six fours and one six before falling in the 42nd over with 280 runs on the board.  With 82 required off 49 balls, Aroob (40, 44b, 4x4s) knitted a 34-run alliance with Diana Baig before to keep Pakistan in the hunt. South Africa again managed to struck twice in an over with Nadine de Klerk eking out the scalps of well-set Aroob and Nashra Sundhu in 47th over. Diana Baig and Sadia Iqbal then got into the act as Pakistan were faced with an uphill task of scoring 46 off the last three overs. The duo hit a four each in the 48th over to take 12 runs, while Diana hit a six and a four against de Klerk in the penultimate over as the visitors needed 23 runs off the final six balls. Diana remained unbeaten on 38 off 25, her career best score, with the help of five fours and a six as Pakistan were bowled out for 345 in 49.5 overs. For South Africa, Dercksen bagged three for 59, while Shangase (5-0-30-2), de Klerk (9-0-66-2) and Nonkululeko Mlaba (9.5-1-68-2) picked up two wickets each. Earlier, South Africa posted their second-highest total in WODIs after being asked to bat first. They were aided by No.5 batter Dercksen, who top-scored with a 68-ball 90, hitting six fours and four sixes after walking in to bat at 118-3 in 18.5 overs. Opening batter Tazmin Brits scored 77 off 62 balls, featuring ten fours and two sixes, after losing her Laura Wolvaardt for 20 as the duo put on 55 off the first 8.4 overs. Pakistan struck in 16th and 19th over as Faye Tunnicliffe and Brits departed to spinners Aroob and Nashra, respectively.At this juncture, Luus (57, 67b, 4x4s) and Dercksen shared a vital 102-run stand to take the score to 220-4 in 37.1 overs with the former pinned leg-before by Aroob. An over later Sadia Iqbal castled Sinalo Jafta to 234-5 in 39.2 overs. While Fatima denied Dercksen her second ODI century, Nadine de Klerk (49, 26b, 7x4s, 1x6), batting at no.8, and Chloe Tryon (37, 23b, 5x4s, 1x6) at 9, went all guns blazing as South Africa ransacked 127 runs off the last 62 balls of their innings. For Pakistan, Sadia, Fatima and Aroob picked up two wickets each. Scores in brief:2nd ODI - South Africa women beat Pakistan women by 16 runs at SuperSport Park, CenturionSouth Africa 361-8, 50 overs (Annerie Dercksen 90, Tazmin Brits 77, Sune Luus 57, Nadine de Klerk 49, Chloe Tryon 37, Laura Wolvaardt 20; Syeda Aroob Shah 2-49, Sadia Iqbal 2-65, Fatima Sana 2-72)Pakistan 345 all out, 49.5 overs (Ayesha Zafar 75, Sadaf Shamas 61, Fatima Sana 52, Syeda Aroob Shah 40, Diana Baig 38 not out, Natalia Pervaiz 27; Annerie Dercksen 3-59, Nondumiso Shangase 2-30, Nadine de Klerk 2-66, Nonkululeko Mlaba 2-68)

 Lahore (Sports Report): The Pakistan Cricket Board today announced the completion of a successful bidding process of HBL Pakistan Super League (HBL PSL) Brand Partnership rights for a four-year cycle (2026-2029), starting from HBL PSL 11.The Brand Partnership includes six category rights along with one umpire branding right.Prior to the opening of the financial bid, the PCB had announced the reserve price for the rights in line with its transparent and robust bidding process. Trans Group FZE exceeded the reserve price, securing the Brand Partnership rights.The record deal reflects a 1,226 per cent increase in brand partnership value compared to the inaugural edition of the HBL PSL which commenced in 2016.Salman Naseer, CEO PSL:“We are extremely pleased with the outcome of the Brand Partnership rights sale, which have grown remarkably by 1,226 per cent since the start of the league. This growth is a strong validation of the HBL PSL brand, its competitive quality and its increasing appeal to cricket fans around the world.“We are grateful to Trans Group for stepping up in the New Era, shattering past records and standing firmly by the HBL PSL for a decade. We all are eagerly awaiting commencement of the next edition to begin across the country with eight teams participating in the league for the first time across two new venues.”Rao Omar Hashim, Group Director Trans Group FZE:“TransGroup FZE is proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Pakistan Cricket Board as we enter a New Era of the HBL Pakistan Super League through the Category Sponsorship rights for 2026–2029. From the very inception of the HBL PSL, TransGroup FZE has believed in the league’s vision to transform Pakistan’s cricketing and commercial landscape and this milestone reflects our continued commitment to its long-term success.“The HBL PSL has grown into a globally respected property, driven by passionate fans, world-class players and a forward-looking strategy from the PCB. TransGroup FZE remains aligned with the PCB’s ambitions to strengthen Pakistan cricket through innovation, stability, global collaboration and we look forward to contributing meaningfully to the continued growth of the HBL PSL in the years ahead.”