Dubai (Sports News): India and Australia have retained their positions at the top of the ICC Men’s T20I Team Rankings and the ICC Women’s T20I Team Rankings, respectively, following the annual updates carried out on Tuesday.The latest rankings, which rate all matches played since May 2025 at 100 per cent and those of the previous two years at 50 per cent, see India’s lead over England trimmed from 14 to 13 points in the men’s table while Australia’s lead over England in the women’s rankings has reduced from 18 to 12 points.India, who retained their title in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup played in India and Sri Lanka this year, are on 275 points, still enjoying a comfortable lead over England (262) and Australia a close third with 258 points in the updated rankings, which see the top seven positions unchanged. New Zealand (247), South Africa (244), Pakistan (240) and the West Indies (233) are the other teams in the top 10 to have retained their positions.Sri Lanka have dropped six rating points and slipped below Bangladesh to ninth position and are now just one point ahead of Afghanistan while the USA have leapfrogged the Netherlands and Scotland to take 13th position. In other movements in the top 20, Nepal have overtaken the United Arab Emirates to 17th position while Oman have moved past Canada to 19th.In other notable changes, Italy have gained 11 points and moved from 26th to 23rd, Spain’s 12-point gain sees them advance from 30th to 26th, Cyprus have gained 10 points to progress from 64th to 53rd and Eswatini have gained 10 points to move from 74th to 65th.Mozambique are the biggest losers, dropping 15 places to 87th position after the latest update that sees a reduction in the number of ranked teams from 102 to 98 with Fiji, Gambia, Greece and Israel not making the cut as they did not play the requisite eight T20Is in the past three years.The Women’s T20I Rankings sees an unchanged top 16 teams with Australia No.1 with 287 points, England on 275 and India third with 264.New Zealand (253), South Africa (243) and the West Indies (238) complete the lineup from fourth to sixth with Sri Lanka (237) closing the gap to just one point while retaining seventh place. Similarly, Bangladesh are just one point behind ninth-placed Ireland after gaining five points.The USA have moved from 22nd to 20th and Germany from 35th to 29th after the latest update, that sees 78 teams ranked after having played at least eight T20Is over the past three yearsCambodia have dropped out of the rankings and need to play four more matches to regain their ranking while Peru are no longer rated as they have not played any match for three years.

Islamabad (Press Release): The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Pakistan Tennis Federation was held on Saturday, 2nd May-2026 held, at the PTF Tennis Complex in Islamabad.The meeting was chaired by Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi, President of the PTF. Senator Salim Saifullah Khan, Patron of the PTF, graced the occasion, along with Col. Zia-ud-din Tufail, Secretary-General of the Federation. Members of the PTF Management Committee and representatives from affiliated units across the country also attended the meeting.During the AGM, comprehensive discussions were held on the development of tennis in Pakistan, with a strong focus on grassroots initiatives, player development, and infrastructure enhancement. Various new projects were proposed and reviewed to further strengthen the tennis framework nationwide.Affiliated units presented their plans and provided valuable input on promoting the sport at the regional and national levels. A key highlight of the meeting was the emphasis on hosting more international tournaments across Pakistan, aimed at providing local players with greater exposure, improving rankings, and facilitating their entry into the international circuit.The Council discussed and agreed on the age eligibility issue for the 12, 14, and 16 & under teams (boys and girls).The Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) will conduct wrist tests for all selected players starting from 1st January-2027.If a player is found to be overage by up to one year, they will remain eligible. However, if a player is overage by more than one year, they will not be selected for the teams. The same rule will also apply to all national tournaments.The President, Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi, appreciated the collective efforts of all stakeholders and reiterated the Federation’s commitment to elevating the standard of tennis in Pakistan through strategic planning, collaboration, and increased international engagement.The meeting concluded with a unified resolve to work collectively for the growth and success of tennis in Pakistan.#pakistantennis #agm #annualmeeting #ptf

Karachi (Sports News): Pakistan Women registered a 168-run victory over Zimbabwe Women while defending their total of 330-5 in the first ODI of the three-match series here at the National Bank Stadium on Monday, opening their account in the historic bilateral series.The result is Pakistan Women's second-biggest ODI victory by runs, only behind the 193-run win against the Netherlands in 2011. The 168-run margin nudges the 157-run win over Ireland in 2013 down to third on the list.This is the first time Zimbabwe Women are touring Pakistan and the first time the two sides are meeting in a bilateral series. The win takes Pakistan to four points from four matches in the ICC Women's Championship.Being put in to bat first, Pakistan posted 330 for five in their 50 overs. Opening batter Sadaf Shamas top-scored with 98 off 130 balls featuring 17 boundaries as she fell two short of a maiden ODI hundred when she was caught off Precious Marange in the 34th over with the scoreboard reading 195 for two.She had earlier added 162 for the opening wicket with Gull Feroza, who made a 60-ball 50 hitting five fours before being bowled by Kudzai Chigora.  The 162-run stand is Pakistan Women's second-highest opening-wicket partnership in ODIs and the third-highest for any wicket.Sidra Amin chipped in with 67 off 59 balls aided by nine boundaries, while Najiha Alvi remained unbeaten on a quick-fire 30-ball 56 laced with eight fours and a solitary six to power Pakistan past 330. Najiha broke skipper Fatima Sana’s record of the fastest half-century for Pakistan in WODIs by a fair margin.She reached her maiden ODI fifty off just 24 balls displacing Fatima’s 35-ball record. This was also the joint-fifth fastest half-century in Women’s ODIs. Meanwhile, Pakistan posted their second-highest total at home in WODIs and third consecutive in the format.For Zimbabwe, Marange finished with three for 39 in 10 overs.In reply, Zimbabwe Women were bundled out for 162 in 36.4 overs. Beloved Biza top-scored with a run-a-ball 53, while Kelis Ndhlovu made 31 at the top. No other batter managed to cross the 20-run mark.Tasmia Rubab led the bowling attack with two for 21, while skipper Fatima Sana chipped in with two for 28 from her five overs. Syeda Aroob Shah returned two for 38 in nine overs, including two maidens.Debutant Momina Riasat, the left-arm spinner who became 95th WODI player for Pakistan, picked up the wicket of Michelle Mavunga to end with one for 38 from her eight overs.Scores in brief: Pakistan 330-5, 50 overs (Sadaf Shamas 98, Sidra Amin 67, Najiha Alvi 56 not out, Gull Feroza 50; Precious Marange 3-39)Zimbabwe 162 all out, 36.4 overs (Beloved Biza 53, Kelis Ndhlovu 31; Tasmia Rubab 2-21, Fatima Sana 2-28, Syeda Aroob Shah 2-38)Player of the match: Sadaf Shamas (Pakistan)Zimbabwe Women’s tour of Pakistan ODI series schedule: (4 May to 9 May; all matches at National Bank Stadium, Karachi)1st ODI – Pakistan beat Zimbabwe by 168 runs2nd ODI – 6 May (3.30pm PKT)3rd ODI – 9 May – (3.30pm PKT)

Lahore (PCB Report)::Title-winning side Peshawar Zalmi’s drought-breaking skipper Babar Azam has also been announced as the captain of the HBL Pakistan Super League 11 Team of the Tournament for his clinical record with the bat and as a leader in the recently concluded edition. Team of HBL PSL 11 consists of three players each from Peshawar Zalmi, Hyderabad Kingsmen, two each from Lahore Qalandars, Islamabad United and one each from Multan Sultans and Quetta Gladiators. The team was selected by a five-member committee from the esteemed commentary team. The jury also selected an Emerging Team of the Tournament as well comprising of young Pakistan players. The HBL PSL 11 saw a total of 44 matches, which were played from 26 March to 3 May in Lahore and Karachi. Babar Azam – who has won his third HBL PSL title as a player and first as captain – scored 588 runs in the tournament opening the batting and won Hanif Muhammad cap for being the leading run scorer. He also bagged the record of joint-most runs in a single HBL PSL season matching Fakhar Zaman’s heroics in 2022.Zalmi skipper also registered two centuries in the tournament against Quetta Gladiators and Islamabad United in a space of four games. Two other Peshawar Zalmi players have also made it to the team and they are Kusal Mendis and the Fazal Mehmood cap winner Suyfan Moqim. Mendis collected 550 runs on the back of four fifties and one century and is also the designated wicketkeeper-batter of the team with eight dismissals to his name as well. His century came against Karachi Kings on 9 April at the National Bank Stadium. Sufyan picked up 22 scalps with his menacing left-arm wrist-spin at a miserly average of 14.40 and economy of 7.20. He was also declared player of the tournament and best bowler as well for his heroics throughout. Three players in the HBL PSL 11 Team of the Tournament feature from the runners-up Hyderabad Kingsmen. Usman Khan, who was fourth on the run charts with 389 runs with the help of a century and three half-centuries is slotted in at no.5 in the team. Left-arm spinner Hassan Khan and Emerging player of the tournament Hunain Shah are the other two from Kingsmen contingent to make it to the team. Apart from his acrobatic and electric fielding, Hassan picked up six wickets and scored 139 valuable runs at a strike rate of 195 lower down the order. Hunain collected 17 wickets in the tournament playing 10 matches and stands as the joint-third leading wicket-taker despite missing a few games at the start. He turned out to be Kingsmen’s hero towards the business end of the tournament. Two players – Fakhar Zaman and Shaheen Shah Afridi – from Lahore Qalandars also feature in the team for their heroics in the tournament. Fakhar, who is the leading run-scorer in the tournament’s history, racked up 401 runs off eight matches to finish third in the season, while Shaheen finished the season 16 wickets off 10 matches at an average of 18.18 and 7.86 economy rate. Shan Masood – the only player from Multan Sultans – is penciled in at no.4 in the team of the tournament which reflects his stellar performance with the bat accumulating 367 runs at average of 45.87 and a strike rate of 158.18. Islamabad United’s captain Shadab Khan and the leading spinner in tournament’s history also makes the HBL PSL 11 team due to his all-round performances, which earned him best all-rounder of the tournament award. Shadab scored 173 runs at a strike rate of 141 and picked up 17 wickets at an average of 14.47 and economy of 7.02. He will be joined by his teammate Richard Gleeson, who proved to be highly effective with the new ball in the tournament pHBL PSL 11 – Team of the Tournament 1. Babar Azam (Peshawar Zalmi) (captain) 2. Fakhar Zaman (Lahore Qalandars) 3. Kusal Mendis (Peshawar Zalmi) (wicket-keeper) 4. Shan Masood (Multan Sultans) 5. Usman Khan (Hyderabad Kingsmen)6. Shadab Khan (Islamabad United) 7. Hassan Khan (Hyderabad Kingsmen) 8. Shaheen Shah Afridi (Lahore Qalandars) 9. Hunain Shah (Hyderabad Kingsmen) 10. Sufyan Moqim (Peshawar Zalmi) 11. Richard Gleeson (Islamabad United) 12. Hasan Nawaz (Quetta Gladiators) (12th player) HBL PSL 11 – Emerging Team of the Tournament 1. Sameer Minhas (Islamabad United) 2. Shamyl Hussain (Quetta Gladiators) 3. Maaz Sadaqat (Hyderabad Kingsmen) 4. Saad Baig (Karachi Kings) (wicketkeeper)5. Farhan Yousuf (Peshawar Zalmi) 6. Saad Masood (Rawalpindiz) 7. Hunain Shah (Hyderabad Kingsmen) 8. Ali Raza (Peshawar Zalmi)9. Mohammad Ismail (Multan Sultans)10. Ubaid Shah (Lahore Qalandars) 11. Momin Qamar (Multan Sultans) 12. Mohammad Farooq (Lahore Qalandars) (12th player) 

Lahore (Mohammad Ali): Aaron Hardie's all-round brilliance powered Peshawar Zalmi to a five-wicket victory over Hyderabad Kingsmen in the final of HBL Pakistan Super League 11 at the Gaddafi Stadium here on Sunday night, lifting captain Babar Azam's side to their second HBL PSL title after 2017.The final was played in front of a packed Gaddafi Stadium as the crowd was recorded at 32,461 – the largest ever crowd in HBL PSL history.Player of the final Hardie returned the second-best bowling figures across the 11 HBL PSL final - four for 27 to skittle the Kingsmen for 129 in 18 overs and then anchored the chase with an unbeaten 56 from 39 balls after walking in to bat in first over at 7-2, hitting nine fours, as Peshawar Zalmi reached the target with 28 balls to spare.After Babar opted to bowl, Maaz Sadaqat (11, 6b, 1x4, 1x6) was caught in the second over by Abdul Samad off Mohammad Basit to leave Hyderabad 16 for one.Hyderabad Kingsmen captain Marnus Labuschagne then struck three fours and a six in his 12-ball 20 before edging behind to Mohammad Haris off Hardie at as the Kingsmen flew to 69 for two in the powerplay.The middle order then folded around Saim Ayub, who was the lone batter to cross the 20-run mark for his team. Usman Khan was trapped leg-before-wicket by Sufyan Moqim for eight.Twin blows in the seventh over reduced the Kingsmen to 72 for five as Muhammad Irfan Khan was run out by Michael Bracewell for one and Glenn Maxwell was caught by Farhan Yousaf off Nahid Rana for a golden duck.Kusal Perera was run out by Bracewell for one as Kingsmen slid from 71 for two to 73 for six, losing four wickets for a mere two runs.Saim resisted with a 50-ball 54 featuring five fours and two sixes before being caught by Iftikhar Ahmed off Hardie as the scoreboard read 123 for nine. Akif was caught behind off Hardie as Hyderabad were bundled out for 129 in 18 overs.Nahid Rana returned figures of two for 22 in four overs with a wicket maiden 14th over. Sufyan's lone wicket took his tournament tally to 22 in 11 matches, securing him the Fazal Mahmood Cap as the leading wicket-taker of HBL PSL 11.Chasing 130, Peshawar Zalmi were rocked by Mohammad Ali's two-wicket burst in the first over, with opening batters Haris (6) and Babar (0) back in the hut and Zalmi off to a shaky start. It was at this moment when Hardie walked in to bat.Hunain then landed Kusal Mendis’ wicket as the score read 33 for three in the fourth over. Akif dismissed Michael Bracewell (4) at 40 for four to leave the chase tottering.Hardie and Abdul Samad then forged a match-winning 85-run fifth-wicket stand. Samad struck three fours and four sixes in his 34-ball 48 before being caught by Maxwell off Ali (4-0-38-3) at 125 for five in the 15th over. Hardie sealed the chase along with Farhan Yousaf, who finished unbeaten on a two-ball four, striking the winning boundary.Babar finished as the tournament's top run-scorer with a record-equalling 588 runs in 11 matches, winning the Hanif Mohammad Cap.Scores in brief:Hyderabad Kingsmen 129 all out, 18 overs (Saim Ayub 54, Marnus Labuschagne 20; Aaron Hardie 4-27, Nahid Rana 2-22)Peshawar Zalmi 130-5, 15.2 overs (Aaron Hardie 56 not out, Abdul Samad 48; Mohammad Ali 3-38)Player of the Final: Aaron Hardie (Peshawar Zalmi)Best Batter of the tournament: Babar Azam – 588 runs (Peshawar Zalmi)Best Bowler and player of the tournament: Sufyan Moqim – 22 wickets (Peshawar Zalmi)Best wicket-keeper of the tournament: Kusal Mendis – 550 runs and 8 dismissals (Peshawar Zalmi)All-rounder of the tournament: Shadab Khan – 17 wickets and 173 runs (Islamabad United)Emerging player of the tournament – Hunain Shah – (Hyderabad Kingsmen)Best fielder of the tournament: Farhan Yousuf – 10 catches (Peshawar Zalmi)Player of the tournament: Sufyan Moqim (Peshawar Zalmi)Spirit of cricket award – Hyderabad Kingsmen

Islamabad (faisal): Pakistan’s rising star Mohammad Shoaib etched his name in history by winning the singles title at the Flair Travel ITF Men’s Futures M-15 Championships 2026 at the PTF Tennis Complex, Islamabad.In a thrilling final, Shoaib defeated Russia’s Nikita Ianin with a score of 7-6(7), 4-6, 6-2 in front of a packed and energetic home crowd.This remarkable victory marks the end of a 20-year wait, as Shoaib becomes the first Pakistani player since Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi and Aqeel Khan to win an ITF Futures singles title.A total of 70 men’s players from 23 countries are participated in this prestigious international event. The participating nations include Pakistan, Kuwait, Russia, Uzbekistan, Sweden, Austria, Malaysia, Great Britain, Italy, Lithuania, China, Turkey, Algeria, Canada, USA, Ireland, Poland, Hong Kong, Nepal, Greece, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, and Japan.Speaking after the match, Shoaib said:I thank Almighty Allah for this achievement and for giving me the opportunity to make Pakistan proud on home soil. It was an amazing final, and Insha’Allah I will continue this momentum.

Karachi (PCB Report): Pakistan will face Zimbabwe in a six-match women’s white-ball series, commencing from 4 May at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi.The series comprises three ODIs, which are part of the ICC Women’s Championship 2025-29, followed by three T20Is. The ODIs will be staged on 4, 6 and 9 May, with the first ball of all matches to be bowled at 3.30pm PKT. The T20Is will be played on 12, 14 and 15 May, with matches scheduled to begin at 7.30pm PKT.Pakistan’s 15-member ODI squad will be captained by Fatima Sana. The squad features one uncapped player, Momina Riasat. The squad for the T20I series will be announced in due course.Pakistan are currently placed fifth in the ICC Women’s Championship standings with two points after featuring in an away ODI series against South Africa earlier this year.The forthcoming T20I series will provide Pakistan women’s team an opportunity to fine-tune preparations ahead of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, scheduled to take place in England and Wales from 12 June to 5 July. Prior to the ICC event, Pakistan will participate in a T20I tri-nation tournament in Ireland also featuring Ireland and West Indies, from 28 May to 4 June.Talking to media in a pre-series press conference, Fatima Sana said:“This series is a crucial opportunity for us to start strong in the ICC Women’s Championship 2025-29 cycle. Playing at home always gives us added confidence and we are looking to make the most of these conditions.“Our preparations have been thorough and the players are clear about their roles. While our bowling attack has been one of our strengths, we are working hard to ensure more consistency from the batting unit so that we can perform collectively as a team.”Zimbabwe captain Nomvelo Sibanda in a pre-series press conference said:“This tour is a historic moment for us as it is Zimbabwe women’s team’s first visit to Pakistan. The players are excited about the opportunity and we are looking forward to competing in different conditions.”15-member squad:Fatima Sana (captain), Aliya Riaz, Ayesha Zafar, Diana Baig, Gull Feroza, Momina Riasat, Muneeba Ali (wicket-keeper), Najiha Alvi (wicket-keeper), Nashra Sundhu, Natalia Parvaiz, Rameen Shamim, Sadaf Shamas, Sidra Amin, Syeda Aroob Shah and Tasmia Rubab.Reserves: Iram Javed, Eyman Fatima, Saira Jabeen, Tuba Hassan and Ambar Kainat.Player support personnel:Ayesha Ashhar (team manager), Wahab Riaz (mentor/head coach), Abdur Rehman (spin bowling coach), Umaid Asif (fast bowling coach), Abdul Majeed (fielding coach), Imran Farhat (batting coach), Muhammad Arslan (media manager), Waleed Ahmed (analyst), Moeen (strength and conditioning coach), Tehreem Sumbal (physiotherapist) and Kiran Shahzadi (masseuse).Pakistan v Zimbabwe women series (all matches at National Bank Stadium, Karachi)4 May – First ODI (3.30pm PKT)6 May – Second ODI (3.30pm PKT)9 May – Third ODI (3.30pm PKT)12 May – First T20I (7.30pm PKT)14 May – Second T20I (7.30pm PKT)15 May – Third T20I (7.30pm PKT)

Mohammad Abid and Muzammil Murtaza Clinch Doubles TitleSports Bulletin ReportISLAMABAD: A rising star Mohammad Shoaib has reached the final of the Flair Travel ITF Men’s Futures M-15 (Leg-1) Islamabad - becoming the first Pakistani in 20 years to achieve this remarkable feat in an ITF Futures event.In a dominant semifinal, Shoaib outclassed China’s Fenming Meng with an emphatic 6-1, 6-1 victory. Displaying exceptional skill, confidence, and composure, Shoaib thrilled the home crowd and marched into the final in style, marking a proud moment for Pakistan tennis.Adding to the celebrations, Pakistan’s duo Mohammad Abid Ali Khan Akbar and Muzammil Murtaza captured the doubles title after 9 years in an exciting all-Pakistani final. They defeated the experienced pair of Aqeel Khan and Barkatullah with a score of 6-2, 2-6, 10-7 to clinch the championship. Their victory highlights the growing depth and strength of Pakistan’s doubles circuit.Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi, President of the Pakistan Tennis Federation, stated:This is a truly historic and proud moment for Pakistan tennis. Seeing a Pakistani player reach an ITF Futures final after 30 years is something very special, not just for the player but for the entire nation. We are proud to be hosting international tournaments in Pakistan, and it is extremely encouraging to witness our players rising to the occasion and delivering outstanding performances on home soil.He further elaborated on the vision behind hosting international events: The core idea of bringing international tournaments to Pakistan is to provide our players with the opportunity to compete at home, gain valuable ATP ranking points, and smoothly transition into the professional ATP circuit. It is very satisfying to see that this vision is now becoming a reality, as our players are performing impressively and steadily improving their rankings.President-PTF also praised the doubles champions, adding: The doubles title victory by Abid and Muzammil is a great honour for Pakistan. Their success is a reflection of their dedication, teamwork, and the continuous hard work being put in by our players.Expressing his satisfaction over the overall standard of play in Leg-1, he concluded: We remain fully committed to organizing more international tournaments in Pakistan. With increased exposure, competitive opportunities, and the right support system, our players will continue to grow, gain confidence, and achieve even greater success on the international stage in the years to come.On the second Semifinal, Nikita Ianin (RUS) bt Arvid Nordquist (SWE) 6-4,6-4The Men’s Singles Final will be played tomorrow, 3rd May 2026.

Lahore (Sports News): Fast bowler Hunain Shah defended six runs in the 20th over against Islamabad United as Hyderabad Kingsmen bagged a thrilling two-run win in defence of their total of 186-5 in the second Eliminator of the HBL Pakistan Super League 11 here at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore on Friday night.Hyderabad Kingsmen, who have now won seven out of their last eight matches, will face Peshawar Zalmi in the final of the tournament on Sunday.The second Eliminator saw many ebbs and flows before being settled by a mere two runs courtesy Hunain’s brilliance as he backed his Eliminator 1 figures of 2-31 with 2-37 against United and currently on a tally of 16 wickets – joint-third leading wicket-taker in the tournament so far.Hunain was up against the raging duo of Faheem Ashraf (19, 11b, 2x6s) and Chris Green (21 not out, 9b, 3x4s, 1x6) with only six runs to defend after Mohammad Ali’s penultimate over going for 22 runs. He began the over with a dot and a single before bowling a yorker to Faheem with United needing five off three.Faheem holed out on the fourth ball to Hassan Khan, whose acrobatic brilliance in the 16th over at the midwicket boundary had already saved a sure fire six off the same batter. Imad could only take a single on the fifth ball, while Green was unable to put bat on ball on the last ball mustering a leg-bye.Mark Chapman top scored for Islamabad United with 43 off 26 balls and swung the pendulum in favour of his team after walking in to bat at 57-3 in eight overs replacing Devon Conway (30, 25b, 3x4s, 1x6) in the middle. He saw the back of Shadab Khan (22, 24b, 1x4) in the 11th over with United needing 119 off 59 balls.Shadab and Conway had early resurrected the innings from 15-2 in 2.2 overs as Akif and Mohammad Ali removed Sameer Minhas and Mohsin Riaz for single-digit scores. Haider Ali (31, 16b, 2x4s, 2x6s) and Chapman then stitched a game-turning 64-run stand for the fifth wickets off 33 balls, which was broken by Mohammad Ali in the 16th over. At this juncture Chapman was joined by Faheem and the duo took 13 runs off Akif’s over. Chapman fell to Hunain in the 18th over after hitting him for a maximum.Hunain finished his third over and 18th of the innings giving away 13 runs and leaving Mohammad Ali 28 runs off 12 balls. Green pumped Ali for two fours and a six, while Faheem hit him for a six on the last ball of 19th over with Hyderabad almost ousted and the equation razed to six off as many balls.Earlier, Hyderabad were inserted in by Shadab Khan and lost their player of the match from Eliminator for a four-ball duck. Richard Gleeson struck in his first over to jolt Kingsmen and after which skipper Marnus Labuschagne (39, 32b, 4x4s, 1x6) and Saim Ayub (38, 27b, 7x4s) put on 70 runs for the second wicket.Islamabad struck back with the wicket of Saim in the 10th over and then Imad dealt a double blow in the 13th over removing Marnus and Glenn Maxwell in a space of three balls. Usman Khan (61 not out, 30b, 10x4s) and Kusal Perera (37 not out, 21b, 4x4s, 2x6s) then blazed 101 off 50 balls with the partnership only ending on the last ball of the innings.The duo had hit at least a boundary each in all the over after the 12th over went for only three runs. For United, Imad picked up two wickets, while Green, Gleeson and Faheem dismissed one batter each.Scores in brief:Hyderabad Kingsmen 186-5, 20 overs (Usman Khan 61 not out, Marnus Labuschagne 39, Saim Ayub 38, Kusal Perera 37; Imad Wasim 2-16)Islamabad United 184-7, 20 overs (Mark Chapman 43, Devon Conway 30, Haider Ali 31, Shadab Khan 22, Chris Green 21 not out, Faheem Ashraf 19; Hunain Shah 2-37, Mohammad Ali 2-44)Player of the Match – Hunain Shah (Hyderabad Kingsmen)Sunday’s Final: Peshawar Zalmi v Hyderabad Kingsmen at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore; 7pm PKT 

Islamabad (Sports Desk): The World Climbing Series 2026 gets underway in Keqiao, China, with the first Boulder competition of the season. The event brings together a world-class field and marks the start of a new campaign defined by record prize money announced earlier in the off-season.All eyes will be on Janja Garnbret, the two-time Olympic champion, who returns to the Chinese venue where she claimed gold in 2024. The Slovenian arrives in top form after securing another world title in Seoul in September 2025, and is now closing in on a remarkable milestone: her 50th gold medal across World Climbing Series and former World Cup events.A DEEP AND COMPETITIVE FIELDPacked with Olympians and World Cup winners, the field sets the stage for a highly competitive season opener. Among the participants are also World Championships silver medallist Oriane Bertone of France, and bronze medallist Melina Costanza of the USA, both returning after their podium finishes in Seoul.COSTANZA READY FOR A FULL RETURNFor Costanza, Keqiao represents a fresh start after limited appearances in recent seasons. “I’m doing well. We had pretty easy travel in, and I’m feeling excited about the season,” she said. “This will be my first time doing a lot of World Cups in Boulder in one season – my first time doing any Boulder World Cup since 2022 – so I’m really excited.”After dealing with injuries, including a knee issue last year, the US climber arrives confident in her physical condition: “I’m gonna knock on wood, but they feel good right now. I had injured my knee last season, and this year I haven’t had any knee issues so far… so I’m feeling healthy and excited for the first event and many more.”Her confidence is also rooted in her breakthrough performance at last year’s Climbing World Championships in Seoul, where she secured bronze: “That was definitely, by far, my best result ever. I had never made a final or semi-final even at a Boulder World Cup before, so it definitely was kind of a fairy tale finish to that season.”Despite that result, Costanza remains grounded in her expectations: “Going into the season with no expectations, hoping to make my first semi-final, and take it step by step, day by day.”She is also fully aware of the level she will face in Keqiao: “I know how strong the competition is, and I definitely do not underestimate that. I feel really grateful to be here, surrounded by so many people who are so talented and so strong and so dedicated. I think it pushes the level higher for everyone.”A BOLD PREDICTIONLooking ahead, Melina Costanza anticipates a shift in the style of Climbing this season: “I think the trajectory has been more toward a classical bouldering style. Not so much every single boulder being some sort of coordination, or really complicated to figure out. I think we’ll see some straightforward, hard Climbing this year, and I think it’ll be exciting for everyone to participate and to watch!”MEN’S FIELD ABUNDS WITH TALENTThe men’s field is equally competitive, led by defending Keqiao winner Anraku Sorato of Japan, who returns after claiming victory at this venue in 2024. He is joined by the two athletes who shared the podium with him at the 2025 World Championships in Seoul: Mejdi Schalck of France and Lee Dohyun of South Korea, following what was a high-level and tightly contested final.With a record prize pool, a stacked field, and evolving Climbing styles, the Boulder opener in Keqiao promises to set the tone for the World Climbing Series 2026.