Lahore (PR): The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced the domestic cricket calendar for the 2025-26 season, with an emphasis on increased competitiveness, highlighted by an eight-team Quaid-e-Azam Trophy (first-class) tournament.The domestic season will commence on 15 August with the 12-team Hanif Mohammad Trophy (non-first-class) being staged in Karachi, Multan, Bahawalpur and Rahim Yar Khan. The teams are divided into two pools, with 31 matches scheduled in the four-day tournament. The top two sides will qualify for this season’s premier first-class competition – Quaid-e-Azam Trophy.The 12 regional sides participating in the Hanif Mohammad Trophy are the same teams that competed in last season’s Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. Based on last season’s standings, these are: Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, FATA, Lahore Region Blues, Hyderabad, Karachi Region Blues, Karachi Region Whites, Multan, Quetta, D.M Jamali, AJK and Larkana.The Quaid-e-Azam Trophy will feature Lahore Region Whites, Sialkot, Peshawar, Islamabad, Abbottabad, Bahawalpur and the two qualifying teams. The tournament is set to begin on 22 September and will comprise 29 matches in a single-league format, with the final scheduled from 3 to 7 November. Matches will be held at four venues across Islamabad and Rawalpindi, with further details to be announced in due course.To further enhance competitiveness, a qualifying stage has also been introduced for the National T20. 10 teams – Abbottabad, Multan, Quetta, Bahawalpur, Rawalpindi, Hyderabad, FATA, Larkana, D.M. Jamali, and AJK will compete in the qualifier round. These teams will be divided into two pools, with the top two sides progressing to the National T20 (Super 10) tournament, which will be held in Faisalabad from 1 to 12 March.The eight teams automatically qualified for the Super 10 stage are: Karachi Region Whites, Lahore Region Whites, Peshawar, Karachi Region Blues, Sialkot, Islamabad and Faisalabad.Four departmental tournaments – President’s Trophy (four-day, first-class), President’s Cup (One-Day), President’s Trophy Grade II and President’s Trophy Grade III will also feature in this domestic season.PCB Chief Operating Officer Sumair Ahmed Syed said: “We are pleased to unveil a domestic structure that places merit, opportunity and competitiveness at its core. The 2025-26 season has been designed to provide a clear pathway for teams and players to progress based on performance, not reputation.“Introducing a qualifier for both the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy and the National T20 ensures that every match in our domestic calendar carries significant weight. This not only raises the standard of competition but also fosters a high-performance culture across all formats.“The Quaid-e-Azam Trophy will now feature the most in-form and deserving teams, while the Hanif Mohammad Trophy gives 12 regions a meaningful chance to stake their claim. Similarly, the Super 10 format of the National T20 is a step towards creating more high-intensity, quality cricket.“Our aim is to reward performance and create a vibrant environment where players and teams are constantly challenged. This structure lays the foundation for a long-term growth and helps us prepare future stars for the demands of international cricket.”Director – Domestic Cricket Operations Abdullah Khurram Niazi said: “The 2025-26 domestic season reflects our commitment to building a competitive and inclusive structure that nurtures talent at every level, from grassroots to senior cricket. By aligning our tournaments across age-group and senior formats, we are creating a clear development pathway for young cricketers.“We have placed equal emphasis on both regional and departmental cricket. The inclusion of a first-class and a one-day tournament exclusively for departments, along with Grade II and Grade III departmental competitions, ensures departments remain a vital pillar of our domestic cricket system.“We are looking forward to U15, U17 and U19 age-group tournaments this season. These competitions will serve as vital stepping stones for young talent, helping us identify and groom future national stars early in their careers.“Also, the top performers of the Hanif Mohammad Trophy will not only be recognised as guest players by the top regions in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, but they will also be considered for domestic contracts, a move aimed at incentivising excellence.”Hanif Mohammad Trophy (non-first-class): 15 Aug to 17 Sep (12 teams, 31 matches, four-day)National U19 Cup: 1-16 Sep (18 teams, 49 matches, one-day, nine venues)Quaid-e-Azam Trophy (first-class): 22 Sep to 7 Nov (eight teams, 29 matches, four-day, four venues)President’s Cup (One-Day) (Departmental tournament): 24 Nov to 10 Dec (eight teams, 31 matches, four venues)President’s Trophy (first-class) (Departmental tournament): 15 Dec to 30 Jan 2026 (eight teams, 29 matches, four venues)National T20 (Qualifier): 3-11 Feb 2026 (12 teams, 30 matches, six venues)National T20 (Super 10): 1-12 Mar 2026 (10 teams, 23 matches, one venue)National U17 Cup (One-Day): 28 Mar to 12 Apr 2026 (18 teams, 49 matches, nine venues)National U15 Cup (One-Day): 16 Apr to 1 May 2026 (18 teams, 49 matches, nine venues)President’s Trophy Grade II (Three-Day) (Departmental tournament): 28 Mar to 3 May 2026 (14 teams, 46 matches, six venues)President’s Trophy Grade III (Two-Day) (Departmental tournament): 28 Mar to 23 Apr 2026 (14 teams, 46 matches, six venues)Regional Inter-District U19: 28 Mar to 10 April 2026 (110 matches)Challenge League (Two-Day): 1 Oct to 10 Nov 2025Regional Inter-District Senior: 10 May to 10 Jun 2026Club Cricket Tournament: Nov 2025 to Jun 2026School Cricket: Sep-Oct 2025College Cricket: Oct-Nov 2025University Cricket: Nov-Dec 2025

Islamabad (Sports Desk): The player list, seedings and draws have been announced ahead of this month's World Squash Junior Championships as 234 of the world's best squash talents aged under 19 prepare to head to Egypt for a chance to earn the title of World Champion. The individual championships are taking place from August 21-26 at Cairo's Black Ball Sporting Club, with the team event following at the same venue from August 27-01 September.Cairo-born Orfi, aged 18 and already women's World No.5, is aiming to make history by becoming the first player to win the competition four times after lifting the title in 2022, 2023 and 2024. 17-year-old men's World No.14 Zakaria of Alexandria, meanwhile, will be aiming to defend the title he won last year in Houston, when he became the youngest ever male World Squash Junior Champion with victory over Republic of Korea's Jooyoung Na.In the men's event, Marwan Asal - younger brother of current World No.1 and reigning World Champion Mostafa - and Eiad Daoud have been made 3/4 seeds, while in the women's event Nadien Elhammamy and Janna Galal are 3/4 seeds and Malika Elkaraksy and Sohayla Hazem are 5/8 seeds.Completing the seedings in the men's event are last year's finalist Na, who has been made No.2 seed, while the 5/8 seeds are US duo Christian Capella and Alexander Dartnell, Pakistan's Abdullah Nawaz and Malaysia's Low Wa-Sern.In the women's event, India's Anahat Singh is at No.2 seed, while France's Lauren Baltayan and Hong Kong, China's Ena Kwong are the 5/8 seeds.Top Eight Seeds (Women's Event):1 - Amina Orfi (EGY)2 - Anahat Singh (IND)3/4 - Nadien Elhammamy (EGY)3/4 - Janna Galal (EGY)5/8 - Lauren Baltayan (FRA)5/8 - Malika Elkaraksy (EGY)5/8 - Sohayla Hazem (EGY)5/8 Ena Kwong (HKG)Top Eight Seeds (Men's Event):1 - Mohamad Zakaria (EGY)2 - Jooyoung Na (KOR)3/4 - Marwan Asal (EGY)3/4 - Eiad Daoud (EGY)5/8 - Christian Capella (USA)5/8 - Alexander Dartnell (USA)5/8 - Abdullah Nawaz (PAK)5/8 - Low Wa-Sern (MAS).

Sports Bulletin ReportDubai (UAE): South Africa batter Aiden Markram and fast bowler Kagiso Rabada have been nominated for the ICC Player of the Month awards, joining Sri Lanka opener Pathum Nissanka on the men's shortlist, while for the women’s award, the candidates include West Indies players Hayley Matthews and Afy Fletcher, along with South Africa's Tazmin Brits.Markram and Rabada were the stars of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final while Nissanka’s fine form in the two-Test series against Bangladesh helped him edge ahead of other performers. The women’s shortlist is based primarily on performances during South Africa’s tour of the West Indies.Aiden Markram (SA): The 30-year-old opening batter was the Player of the Match in the ICC WTC Final against Australia at Lord’s as South Africa won their first ICC title since the Champions Trophy in 1998. He struck a solid 136 off 207 balls and featured in a 147-run third wicket stand with captain Temba Bavuma as South Africa chased a target of 282 with five wickets in hand. Markram also chipped in with a wicket in each innings including that of Steve Smith in the first innings.Kagiso Rabada (SA): Rabada grabbed nine wickets at an average of 12.22 in the WTC Final – his figures reading five for 51 and four for 59. The formerly top-ranked Test bowler struck important blows to ensure that Australia did not get big starts - dismissing opener Usman Khawaja and number three batter Cameron Greene cheaply in both innings.Pathum Nissanka (SL): The 27-year-old opener set the platform for a huge first innings score in the drawn first Test in Galle, knocking up 187 and featuring in an important second wicket stand with Dinesh Chandimal. He then struck 158 in the second Test in Colombo as the home side defeated Bangladesh by an innings and 78 runs. Nissanka was named the Player of the Match as well as the Player of the Series for his aggregate of 369 runs in the two-Test WTC series.Tazmin Brits (SA): The South Africa opener had a memorable tour of the Caribbean, showing fine form in both ODIs and T20Is. She struck 184 runs at a strike rate of 87.61 in three ODIs including a 101 off 91 balls in the final match. In the subsequent T20I series, she scored 132 runs at a strike rate of 122.22 which included a 98 not out from 63 deliveries in the first match.Hayley Matthews (WI): The West Indies skipper scored 104 runs in the three ODIs against South Africa, including a half-century in the third match. She also chipped in with four wickets. She then elevated her performances in T20Is, scoring 147 runs at a strike-rate of 120.49, with two half-centuries. Matthews also grabbed two wickets. She was named the Player of the Series in the T20Is as the West Indies won 2-1.Afy Fletcher (WI): The leading wicket-taker in both the ODI and T20I series against South Africa, the 38-year-old leg-spinner finished with nine wickets in ODIs during June, which included one in a preceding series in England. Her eight wickets in the series against South Africa included a four-wicket haul in the second ODI and three in the final match. She also scored a total of 30 runs in these ODIs. In the T20Is, she claimed five wickets from three outings at an economy rate of 6.75.

Jakarta(SBR): Pakistan women’s football team concluded their maiden appearance in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers on a high note, defeating Kyrgyzstan 2-1 in their final group match and finishing second among four teams. Despite the impressive win and finishing second in the group, Pakistan could not advance to the next round, with Chinese Taipei securing qualification. In Group standings, Chinese Taipei led the table with a commanding 9 points, having secured victory in all their matches. Pakistan follow in second place with 6 points, showcasing solid performances and winning two out of three games. Indonesia secured third position with 3 points while Kyrgyzstan were at the bottom of the group without a point. In the crucial encounter, star forward Mariam Mahmood emerged as the hero, scoring both goals for Pakistan. She opened the scoring in the 4th minute and calmly converted a penalty in the 26th minute to give her side a 2-0 lead. Though Kyrgyzstan managed to pull one back, the Pakistani defense held firm to secure the victory. President of the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF), Syed Mohsen Gilani, praised the national team for their commendable performance throughout the tournament. "Our national women’s team displayed great character and fighting spirit during their debut campaign at the AFC Qualifiers.” “Despite winning two matches and finishing second, we were unfortunate not to progress to the next round. But this is just the beginning,” said Gilani and added: “With continued support and sincere efforts, I am confident that our team will perform even better in future international events."

Lahore (PR): Vice President of the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF), Dr. Muhammad Ali, has praised the progressive and visionary leadership of PFF President Syed Mohsen Gilani, as Pakistan’s women’s national team concluded their AFC Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers campaign with a historic 2-1 victory over Kyrgyzstan.Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Mohammad Ali said:“We are keen to work tirelessly under the visionary leadership of Syed Mohsen Gilani for the betterment and development of football in Pakistan. His dedication, strategic approach, and passion for the game have already begun to inspire positive change. The recent performance of our women’s team is a testament to the direction we are heading in.” He further emphasized that the new PFF leadership is deeply committed to strengthening football infrastructure, developing grassroots initiatives, and enhancing talent pathways to elevate Pakistan’s presence on the regional and international stage.In a historic outing at the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers held in Jakarta, Pakistan finished second in their group after an inspiring 2-1 win over Kyrgyzstan. Star forward Mariam Mahmood was the standout performer, scoring twice—once in the 4th minute and then converting a penalty in the 26th minute—to seal the win.Despite the strong finish, Pakistan narrowly missed out on qualification, with Chinese Taipei topping the group with nine points. Pakistan followed with six points, having secured two wins out of three matches. Hosts Indonesia placed third, while Kyrgyzstan ended without a point.Dr. Ali concluded by stating:“This performance by our women’s team reflects the potential and resilience of our players. We are committed to providing them with the resources, training, and international exposure they deserve, as part of a broader vision to transform football in Pakistan.”

Islamabad (Sports Desk): The IFSC Speed World Cup visits its second new location of the year as Krakow, Poland is set to host the fourth event of the 2025 season.Home to two Olympic Games Paris 2024 Speed medallists, gold medallist Aleksandra Miroslaw and bronze medallist Aleksandra Kalucka – Poland follows Denver, USA as a new host venue for the ever growing discipline.With a Speed wall on the Market Grand Square in the heart of Krakow Old Town - the UNESCO World Heritage site - both locals and the tens of thousands of tourists that visit the Polish capital will see the worlds best Speed climbers in action and welcome home the Olympic medal winners.Speaking ahead of a press conference to open the event, USA’s Olympic medallist and world record holder Sam Watson was excited to showcase the sport and bring climbing to a new live audience: “I feel really lucky to be in Poland, it’s a really cool place and it’s my first time in the country. “The venue looks amazing. The city of Krakow, walking around, it’s such a cool, old town, and this venue, the square, the backdrop, it all looks amazing.”

Dubai (PR): MH Developers, a leading Dubai real estate company, today announced the appointment of Afghan cricket icon Rashid Khan as its new brand ambassador. This strategic partnership underscores the company's commitment to growth during a period of strong market momentum and economic stability in the emirate.Dubai's real estate market is experiencing a significant upward trend, with the first half of 2025 figures showing a 15% year-on-year increase in average property prices and a 20% surge in transaction volumes. This growth is driven by Dubai's resilient economy, strategic governance, and investor-friendly policies, making it one of the safest and most attractive property markets globally."We view this partnership as a strategic move to capitalize on Dubai's rising profile as a global hub for investment and luxury living," said Murtaza Hashmi, CEO of MH Developers. "Partnering with Rashid Khan, whose global reputation and relentless pursuit of excellence mirror our own values, will enable MH Developers to engage with a wider audience and strengthen our foothold in this thriving market."Rashid Khan, one of the world's highest-paid cricketers and the leading wicket-taker in T20 cricket, brings a spirit of determination and success. "The UAE has been like a spiritual home for Afghan cricket for many years, providing a safe haven and platform amid the challenges back home," Khan said. "I am honored to represent MH Developers at a time when Dubai is not only growing rapidly but doing so in a stable and secure economic setting."With this collaboration, MH Developers aims to harness the ongoing real estate upswing, delivering projects that combine sophisticated design with robust investment opportunities, all within Dubai's safe and forward-looking economic framework.About Rashid KhanRashid Khan is one of the world's leading cricketers and a global ambassador of Afghan sports. Known for his explosive leg-spin and match-winning performances across formats, Khan has represented Afghanistan on the international stage since 2015 and has featured in major T20 leagues around the world.

Taxila (Sports Report): Faisal Hills Riders defeated Faisal Hills Badshah by 7 wickets in the 9th match of the second edition of the CAM Super League 2025, thanks to an all-round performance by their captain, Tahir Naqash.Winning the toss, Faisal Hills Riders opted to bowl first—a decision that proved to be tactically brilliant. Their bowlers executed the plan perfectly, restricting Faisal Hills Badshah to 168/9 in the allotted 20 overs. For Badshah, Sohail (34), Bilal Ahmadzai (27), Hamad Khan (27), and Syed Bilal (25 off few deliveries) contributed key runs, while Abasyn remained unbeaten on 18*. In the bowling department, Riders’ skipper Tahir Naqash led from the front, claiming 3 crucial wickets, while Hamza and Mani picked up 2 wickets each.Chasing 169, Faisal Hills Riders started with a composed and steady approach. Talha Ashraf anchored the innings with a solid 47, while Sardar Yaseen remained not out on 19*. The star of the show was Captain Tahir Naqash, who showcased his power-hitting skills with an explosive 50* off just 23 deliveries, steering his team to victory in the 19th over with 7 wickets in hand. The bowlers from Faisal Hills Badshah struggled to contain the Riders’ batsmen. Qasim Shah Gore was the only bowler to make notable impact with 2 wickets, supported by Usman Shah with 1.Player of the Match was rightly awarded to Captain Tahir Naqash for his outstanding all-round performance—smashing an unbeaten half-century and taking 3 wickets. Impact Player of the Match was declared Syed Bilal, who played a quick-fire cameo of 25 runs and took a crucial catch during the fielding.

Lausanne (Switzerland): The International Hockey Federation (FIH) can confirm that the “Green Army” Ireland’s national hockey team nickname – will join the FIH Hockey Pro League for the 2025-26 season. It will be the first time that the finalists of the 2018 FIH Hockey Women’s World Cup will join the “League of the Best”.Ireland was promoted through the FIH Hockey Nations Cup played in Chile earlier this year. Whilst New Zealand won that event against Ireland in the final, Hockey New Zealand later indicated that the Black Sticks would not proceed with the invitation to join Pro League this time. Therefore, as stipulated in the regulations, FIH extended the invitation to the runners-up, namely Ireland, who have confirmed their participation.FIH President Tayyab Ikram said: “Congratulations to the Ireland Women team for joining the next season of the FIH Hockey Pro League! It’s wonderful to see a new team participating in the ‘League of the Best’. Qualifying through the FIH Hockey Nations Cup confirms how much the latter is a great springboard to join hockey’s elite.”Speaking after the announcement, Irelad Wnomen’s Head Coach Gareth said Grundie: “I am delighted that we have been given the opportunity to participate in the FIH Pro League 2025/26 Season 7. It’s a testament to the quality of play this team has achieved to date and is an excellent and invaluable opportunity for further improvement. It comes at an ideal time for us as a programme also, pitting us against the World’s best teams as we go in search of qualification for the 2026 FIH World Cup in the Netherlands and Belgium.”Finishing the 2024-25 Women’s Pro League season in the last place of the rankings, India is relegated to the FIH Hockey Nations Cup.On the men’s side, following the Black Sticks victory at the recent Nations Cup in Malaysia, FIH has extended an invitation to Hockey New Zealand for their men’s team to join Pro League again next season. Since New Zealand’s hockey governing body is currently undertaking a thorough analysis and decision-making process in this regard, FIH has approved their request for an extension of the deadline to confirm or decline their participation until 21 July.Should New Zealand eventually decide to not participate, the runners-up of the Men’s Nations Cup, namely Pakistan, would have the opportunity to consider joining the 2025-26 FIH Hockey Pro League season.

Sports Bulletin ReportWah Cantt (Rawalpindi): Irfan Saeed from WAPDA Ammarah Ishtiaq from Pakistan Army clinched the men’s singles and women’s singles titles respectively of the 1st SNGPL All Pakistan Ranking Badminton Tournament after registering victories in the finals that concluded here at the POF Sports Complex on Monday.In the doubles category, Mohammad Ali Larosh (WAPDA) pairing with Raja Zulqarnain Haider (Army) won the men’s doubles title, while the formidable duo of Ghazala Siddique (WAPDA) and Ammarah Ishtiaq (Army) secured victory in the women’s doubles event.In the men’s singles final, Irfan Saeed produced a sparkling performance and thrashed his opponent Mohammad Ali Larosh in straight games with the score-line of 21-9, 21-12. On the women’s side, Ammarah Ishtiaq triumphed over her Army teammate Alja Tariq with scores of 21-18, 21-12, displaying excellent control and agility throughout.Men’s doubles champions Mohammad Ali Larosh and Raja Zulqarnain Haider outclassed Mohammad Adnan and Amir Saeed (both of WAPDA) in a thrilling three-set match at 21-12, 16-21, 21-14. In the women’s doubles final, Ghazala Siddique and Ammarah Ishtiaq overcame Zubaira Islam and Umama Usman, eventually winning 21-16, 21-19.The closing ceremony was graced by Saqib Arbab, Deputy Managing Director of SNGPL, who served as the chief guest. He distributed trophies, medals, and a total cash prize of Rs 840,000 among the winners and runners-up. Arbab praised the competitive spirit and sportsmanship exhibited during the tournament and reaffirmed SNGPL’s commitment to supporting such prestigious events in the future.Results (Finals):Men’s Singles: Irfan Saeed (WAPDA) beat Mohammad Ali Larosh (WAPDA) 21-9, 21-12Women’s Singles: Ammarah Ishtiaq (Army) beat Alja Tariq (Army) 21-18, 21-12Men’s Doubles: Mohammad Ali Larosh (WAPDA) & Raja Zulqarnain Haider (Army) beat Mohammad Adnan & Amir Saeed (WAPDA) 21-12, 16-21, 21-14Women’s Doubles: Ghazala Siddique (WAPDA) & Ammarah Ishtiaq (Army) beat Zubaira Islam & Umama Usman (SNGPL) – 21-16, 21-19