Sports Bulletin ReportIsmailia (Egypt): Following an official advisory on 3 March 2026 from the US State Department urging all US citizens to depart from nations within or close to the conflict zones in the Middle East, including Egypt, the USA Men's team, with the full support of the International Hockey Federation (FIH), has withdrawn from the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 Qualifier currently taking place in Ismailia, Egypt. The team departed Egypt earlier today. The results of the first two USA matches will stand, and remaining matches involving the USA will be cancelled. The Ismailia event progresses to the classification stage on Friday and the finals on Saturday.

Lahore (PR): FG Polo secured a thrilling 7-6 victory over BN Polo through a sudden-death goal in extra time in the 63rd Allied Bank National Open Polo Championship for the Quaid-e-Azam Gold Cup at the Lahore Polo Club on Wednesday.The nail-biting clash kept spectators on the edge of their seats, culminating in a decisive goal in the sixth chukker during extra time. FG Polo’s Argentine star Raul Laplacette emerged as the standout performer, scoring six magnificent goals to lead his side to victory. He was ably supported by Ahmed Ali Tiwana, who contributed one crucial goal to complete FG Polo’s tally of seven.On the opposing side, BN Polo delivered a spirited performance, with Tito Ruiz Guinazu putting up an impressive display by scoring five impressive goals. His teammate Lao Abelenda added one goal, but their efforts ultimately fell just short in the sudden-death finish.The match proved to be a showcase of top-tier polo, featuring fast-paced action, tactical brilliance, and exceptional horsemanship. Both teams fought fiercely throughout the regulation chukkers, with neither side willing to concede dominance. The closely contested encounter reflected the high competitive standards that define the National Open Polo Championship.A large number of spectators and families attended the match, creating an electric atmosphere at the club grounds. The presence of polo enthusiasts added to the grandeur of the occasion, reinforcing the tournament’s status as a premier sporting event in Pakistan’s polo calendar.Senior officials from title sponsor Allied Bank Limited were present to witness the thrilling contest. Also in attendance were President of Lahore Polo Club Malik Azam Hayat Noon, executive committee members, prominent polo lovers, Secretary Maj Amjad Ghafoor (Retd), and several leading polo players.

LAHORE: (PR): The students who won gold and silver medals in the World Indoor Virtual Rowing Championship 2026, Abdul Rahman and Zarq Khan met Punjab University Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Mohammad Ali in his office and presented their medals and certificates. After the evaluation, the Vice-Chancellor re-awarded medals and certificates to the students. Director Sports Dr. Shabir Sarwar was also present there. Speaking to the media on this occasion, the Vice Chancellor said that these medals are an honor not only for PU but for the whole of Pakistan. “We will give special prize to these students and also appeal to the government to encourage and patronize these two talented athletes, VC remarked. It is noteworthy that Abdul Rahman of PU Law College won the gold medal in the lightweight category, while Zarq Khan of PU Hailey College won the silver medal in the open weight category. Over 2200 players from all over the world participated in the competitions. In the lightweight category, Abdul Rahman of PU won the first position, France won the second position and Egypt won the third position. In open weight, Latvia won the first position, Pakistan PU's Zarq Khan got the second position and Germany got the third position. Secretary Pakistan Olympics Association Khalid Mehmood, Hamdan Nazir President Pakistan Rowing Federation, Rizwanul Haq Razi Secretary Islamabad Olympic Association, Zaheer Ahmed Secretary Pakistan Rowing Federation, Major Irfan Secretary Pakistan Boxing Federation and Abdul Rahman Coach Pakistan Rowing Team also witnessed the performance of these students and appreciated their skills.

Islamabad (Sports Report):The Pak-China Friendship Cup All Pakistan 3x3 Basketball Championship will commence from Thursday at the Liaquat Gymnasium, Pakistan Sports Complex, Islamabad, in celebration of 75 years of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China.According to Ouj-e-Zahoor, Secretary of the Federal Basketball Association (FBBA), the event is being organized to reflect the deep-rooted and time-tested friendship between the two nations.“The championship is being held under the auspices of the Federal Basketball Association, in collaboration with the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB), and under the supervision of the Pakistan Basketball Federation (PBBF),” he said. He added that the event will feature competitions in three major categories — Women’s, Club, and Departmental — with significant participation from across the country.He said that in the Women’s Category, 28 teams will compete, including strong departmental sides such as Pakistan Army and WAPDA. The Club Category will witness participation from 48 teams representing Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar, and other cities, highlighting the growing popularity of the 3x3 format nationwide.In the Departmental Category, 13 teams will take part, including Pakistan Army, WAPDA, Pakistan Police, Pakistan Air Force, Pakistan Ordnance Factories, and Pakistan Navy.Ouj-e-Zahoor further said that as part of the celebrations, a special exhibition match between a Chinese team and a local Pakistani club will be held on March 7, symbolizing sports diplomacy and further strengthening bilateral ties through basketball.Additionally, the Embassy of China in Pakistan will host a cultural ceremony during the championship to celebrate the Chinese New Year — the Year of the Horse — promoting cultural exchange and goodwill. On the direction of DG PSB Yasir Pirzada, the Pakistan Sports Board is extending full support and facilitation to ensure the successful conduct of the championship.

Islamabad (Sports News):Pakistan defeated Nepal 2-1 to secure a place in the Top 8 in the 2026 Asia Oceania Pre-Qualifying Event – ITF World Juniors Competition, held from 2nd to 7th March 2026 at NovaWorld Phan Thiet, Vietnam,Pakistan defeated Nepal 2-1 to secure a place in the Top 8.Seeded 6th in the event, Pakistan topped their group (F) after a strong performance in the group stage and successfully qualified for the quarterfinals (last 8).The decisive doubles match showcased remarkable fighting spirit by the Pakistani girls. They won the first set convincingly 6-0. In the second set, they were trailing 1-3 but made a strong comeback to win it 6-4, sealing the tie 2-1 in Pakistan’s favor.

Six uncapped players selected for the three-match ODI seriesLahore (Sports Report):The Pakistan Cricket Board has named a 15-member ODI squad for the three-match series with Bangladesh scheduled to take place in Bangladesh from 11 to 15 March. All three ODIs will be played at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka.Left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi will continue to lead the ODI side, with six uncapped players included in the squad. The uncapped players are Abdul Samad, Maaz Sadaqat, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori, Saad Masood, Sahibzada Farhan and Shamyl Hussain.Among them, Abdul Samad, Maaz Sadaqat, Saad Masood and Shamyl Hussain were part of the Pakistan Shaheens squad that played against England Lions in Abu Dhabi recently.15-member squad:Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Hussain Talat, Maaz Sadaqat, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Mohammad Ghazi Ghori (wk), Saad Masood, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha and Shamyl HussainSeries schedule:March 8 – Pakistan arrivalMarch 10 – Practice March 11 – First ODI at Shere Bangla National Cricket Stadium, DhakaMarch 13 – Second ODI at Shere Bangla National Cricket Stadium, DhakaMarch 15 – Third ODI at Shere Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Dhaka

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.