Masvingo (Sports News): Ali Raza grabbed three wickets as Pakistan U19 put in a disciplined bowling performance against Bangladesh U19 before persistent rain forced the ICC Men’s U19 World Cup warm-up match to be called off without a result at the Masvingo Sports Club in Zimbabwe on Saturday afternoon.After winning the toss, Pakistan opted to field and made early inroads into the Bangladesh batting line-up. Right-arm fast bowler Ali struck twice in his first over to reduce Bangladesh to 10 for two, dismissing Zawad Abrar and Rifat Beg, while Umar Zaib accounted for skipper Azizul Hakim shortly after to leave Bangladesh reeling at 12 for three.Rain continued to interrupt play at regular intervals. Kalam Siddiki scored an unbeaten 71 off 98 balls, which included six fours. Mohammad Sayyam chipped in with a wicket, while Momin Qamar and Usman Khan picked up one scalp each to keep Bangladesh in check. Ali later returned to dismiss wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Abdullah, completing his three-wicket haul as Bangladesh reached 152 for seven in 36.3 overs when rain interrupted play once again. With rain continuing and conditions failing to improve, the match was eventually called off. Ali Raza said: “I worked closely with the bowling coach during the tri-series and he gave me confidence. In today’s match, I managed to take two wickets early and another later in the innings, which was encouraging for me. It was a bit difficult due to the rain as conditions kept changing, which made it challenging for the players. However, I tried to adapt whenever I got the chance and gave my 100 per cent. We have won two tournaments recently. The entire team put in a lot of effort, everyone is confident and we will give our best in the World Cup.”Pakistan U19 are set to travel to Bulawayo from Masvingo on Sunday, where they will take on USA U19 in their second warm-up match on Tuesday, 13 January at the Bulawayo Athletics Club. The 16-team ICC U19 Men’s World Cup is set to take place in Namibia and Zimbabwe from 15 January to 6 February. Farhan Yousaf-led side are placed in Group C and will take on England in their opening match on 16 January at the Takashinga Sports Club in Harare.Scores in brief:No resultBangladesh U19 152-7, 36.3 overs (Kalam Siddiki 71 not out, Rizan Hossan 18; Ali Raza 3-34) 

Gloucestershire (Sports News): In an extraordinary display of courage and resilience, Pakistan’s wheelchair tennis player Asif Gul Abbasi has finished the 2025 season as the United Kingdom (UK) National No.1, despite of facing multiple severe spinal and arm injuries and after not playing tennis for eight weeks on medical advice.Doctors had advised him (Asif) not to play wheelchair tennis due to C4–C7. The injuries left him unable to fully bend or extend his right arm, forcing him to hold the racquet with only three fingers and a loose grip. He also struggled with lower-body mobility due to L4–L5 nerve-root impingement, which made wheelchair movement extremely difficult.Despite these challenges, Asif showed remarkable determination at the National Finals in Gloucestershire. Playing through constant pain and limited mobility, he reached the Singles final and went on to become the National Doubles champion. His performance was stunning, and spectators applauded his achievement in the top national wheelchair tennis event.Asif Gul Abbasi said, “I did not play tennis for eight weeks, and my body wasn’t ready to enter the arena; however, my heart was encouraging me, and I was willing to do something extraordinary. I relied on faith and gave everything I had. Alhamdulillah, it was accepted. My journey from injury to national success is a powerful message of resilience for Pakistanis around the world.”

Pakistan Tennis Federation asks 13 players to join camp on January 12 in LahoreAbdul Jabbar FaisalISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) announced on Saturday that the Davis Cup Training Camp would be kicked off on January 12 at Defence Club Grass Courts Lahore aim to prepare the boys for the upcoming Davis Cup tie against Senegal, scheduled to be held on February 6 and 7, 2026 at the Pakistan Sports Complex, Islamabad. PTF invited 13 players for first phase.According to an official of PTF, as many as 13 players will participate first phase of the training camp which will be concluded on January 24 and camp will be shifted to Islamabad for the final phase of training camp. PTF invited Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi, Aqeel Khan, Muzammil Murtaza, Mohammad Shoaib, Yousaf Khalil, Barkatullah, Huzaifa Abdul Rehman, Ahmad Nael Qureshi, Mikaeel Ali Baig, Abubakar Talha, Nadir Mirza, Ahtesham Humayun and Zohaib Afzal Malik.Later, in the second round of camp, four local tennis lads including Hamza Roman, Hassan Usmani, Abdul Basit and Haziq Asim will join the camp along with other senior players. Former Davis Cupper and Non-Playing captain Rashid Malik will supervise the training camp. Also, Mushaf Zia, Mohammad Khalid, and Shahzad Khan will serve as coach in the camp.Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi, President-PTF, said: “The training camp is an important step in building a strong and competitive national team for the forthcoming Davis Cup tie against Senegal. After the conclusion of the camp, the final team will be announced. We have also invited top junior players to train alongside senior players so they can gain valuable experience and which will work for them in the future.”Zia-ud-Din Tufail, Secretary General PTF, said: “The training camp is scheduled on the Lahore grass courts, and we are confident that the players will prepare well. We encourage the junior players to make the most of this valuable opportunity provided by the Pakistan Tennis Federation.”

Karachi, Pakistan (Sports News): World No.11 Mohamad Zakaria and World No.14 Aly Abou Eleinen advanced to their maiden Gold-level finals on the PSA Squash Tour after overcoming former World Champions Karim Gawad and Mohamed ElShorbagy, respectively, on semi-finals day at the Rich Venus Karachi Open 2026.Zakaria came into his meeting with top seed Gawad on the back of three straight defeats against the World No.4, the last of which was a well-contested five-game loss in the quarter-finals of the U.S. Open.However, the two-time World Junior Champion reversed the form book with a near-faultless performance which limited the attacking prowess of Gawad.After powering through a first-game win, the crucial moments in the match came late on in the second when locked in at 9-9, with 18-year-old Zakaria seeing consecutive no-let and yes-let decisions upgraded to strokes upon review.From there, Zakaria showed no let-up, continually pressurising Gawad with some immaculate line hitting down the backhand wall and moving through to an 11-3, 11-9, 11-4 victory after 52 minutes of play.After the match, Zakaria said: “I lost to Gawad the last three times I played him. I watched back some of those matches today and something clicked. I knew what I was going to do and I’m so happy with how it turned out.“The last four times, he was pinning me down the backhand wall. He was always taking a further step down the ‘T’ and I was having to take the big line around him. Today I tried to hit it tight and move beside him, so if he was going to do that, I would be right next to him. Today, my counter game was so good.“It’s so difficult to play against Karim. He has so many gears to shift to. I’m still a bit in disbelief at how well my plan turned out.”No.6 seed Eleinen, meanwhile, defeated former World No.1 ElShorbagy in commanding style, overcoming 'The Beast' by an 11-4, 11-8, 11-6 scoreline.The 26-year-old Alexandrian picked up where he left off from his superb three-game win over Mohamed’s brother, Marwan, in the previous round, delivering an intelligent performance which neutralised the threats of the attack-minded ElShorbagy.In the women's draw, No.2 seed Sivasangari Subramaniam and top seed Amina Orfi set up a title-deciding showdown after defeating Aifa Azman and Nada Abbas, respectively.World No.7 Sivasangari was given a stern examination by compatriot Azman throughout their 58 minutes on court, with the pair trading games to reach a decider.After seeing a match ball slip through her grasp at the backend of the fourth, Sivasangari regained her composure impressively to eventually prevail past the No.8 seed by an 11-8, 6-11, 11-9, 12-14, 11-5 scoreline.After the match, Sivasangari said: “I knew Aifa was going to come in strong today, especially after beating Fayrouz in three yesterday. She did the same thing today and put me under a lot of pressure.“I couldn’t quite find my game, but I just tried to stick in and play it point by point and not overthink it. I just tried to stay as composed as I could, and I’m glad that I did – it worked out in the end. It was a bit more comfortable at the backend of the fifth game because I managed to get a bit more of a lead on the scoreboard.”In the first match of the day, World No.3 Amina Orfi eased past an under-the-weather Nada Abbas to reach her sixth final of the 2025/26 PSA Squash Tour season.As was the case in her opening two matches of the event against Mariam Metwally and Farida Mohamed, No.4 seed Abbas' struggles with illness continued in the one-sided semi-final match, with Orfi rarely having to hit top gear during her comfortable 11-4, 11-6, 11-5 victory inside DA Creek Club.Results – Men’s Semi-Finals: Rich Venus Karachi Open 2026[5] Mohamad Zakaria (EGY) bt [1] Karim Gawad (EGY) 3-0: 11-3, 11-9, 11-4 (52m)[6] Aly Abou Eleinen (EGY) bt [4] Mohamed ElShorbagy (ENG) 3-0: 11-4, 11-8, 11-6 (31m)Results – Women’s Semi-Finals: Rich Venus Karachi Open 2026[1] Amina Orfi (EGY) bt [4] Nada Abbas (EGY) 3-0: 11-4, 11-6, 11-5 (26m)[2] Sivasangari Subramaniam (MAS) bt [8] Aifa Azman (MAS) 3-2: 11-8, 6-11, 11-9, 12-14, 11-5 (58m)Draw – Men's Final: To Be Played January 11[5] Mohamad Zakaria (EGY) v [6] Aly Abou Eleinen (EGY)Draw – Women's Final: To Be Played January 11[1] Amina Orfi (EGY) v [2] Sivasangari Subramaniam (MAS)

Lahore (PR): Pakistan football is set to enter a new chapter as the country’s U-16 men’s national team prepares to feature in a UEFA-sanctioned competition for the first time in history, with matches scheduled to be played in Kazakhstan from April 24 to 30.The landmark participation represents a significant milestone for Pakistan’s youth football programme and reflects the renewed international engagement and reform-driven vision of the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF). The development comes under the leadership of PFF President Syed Mohsen Gillani, whose tenure has focused on restoring Pakistan’s presence on the global football stage through structured planning, governance reforms, and increased international exposure for emerging talent.Officials within the PFF view the invitation to a UEFA competition as a major endorsement of Pakistan football’s credibility, particularly at the grassroots and youth levels. Competing against international opposition in a high-standard environment is expected to provide invaluable experience to young Pakistani players and accelerate their technical and tactical development. The initiative aligns with the PFF’s broader strategy to strengthen the national football pathway by offering consistent competitive opportunities beyond the regional level. By engaging with UEFA competitions and international federations, the PFF aims to bridge the development gap and prepare future national players for elite-level football. “This is not just a tournament appearance; it is a statement of intent,” a PFF official said, noting that the opportunity highlights Pakistan’s growing acceptance within the international football community after years of administrative challenges and isolation. The U-16 team’s participation is also being viewed as a symbol of renewed confidence in Pakistan football’s governance and direction, showing the Pakistan Football Federation and its leadership’s commitment to long-term planning, youth investment, and international collaboration. The PFF official added: "As Pakistan’s young footballers prepare to test their skills on a European platform, the historic tour is expected to inspire the next generation and reinforce the belief that Pakistan can steadily reclaim its place in global football through structured development and sustained international engagement."

Karachi, Pakistan (Sports News): Former World No.1 Mohamed ElShorbagy held off an inspired comeback from Pakistan No.1 Noor Zaman to clinch a five-game thriller and advance to the semi-finals of the Rich Venus Karachi Open 2026. No.5 seed ElShorbagy was forced to show all his years of experience to negate both an attacking onslaught from Zaman and the vocal crowd inside DA Creek Club to prevail by an 11-2, 11-8, 6-11, 8-11, 11-9 scoreline. After a nervy start to his first Gold quarter-final appearance in which he fell 2-0 down in a flash, Zaman began to find his marks as the third game got underway, firing in a string of high-tariff winners. The World No.38 rode the wave of momentum to force a decider, and moved his way into the latter stages of the fifth level-pegging with the Englishman. However, ElShorbagy's big-match experience came to the fore in the subsequent deciding moments of the match, with the 34-year-old edging ahead from 8-8 to clinch a thrilling win after 58 minutes of play. "I felt quite comfortable in the first two games, maybe he got caught up with the stage a little bit," ElShorbagy said after the match. "Definitely, the vibe of the match changed at the start of the third game. He started motivating himself. He was like a train - it was really hard to stop him. "Of course, I did doubt myself. I haven't won tough matches like this in a while. So to get a win is great. I'm just really glad to get through and to be into the semis."No.5 seed Mohamad Zakaria was the other men's winner on day four after he put Hong Kong's Alex Lau to the sword with a clinical 29-minute victory. The two-time World Junior Champion looked in top form as he set up a semi-final showdown with top seed Karim Gawad by an 11-0, 11-3, 11-6 scoreline. In the women's event, World No.33 Aifa Azman claimed one of the biggest wins of her career as she stunned No.3 seed Fayrouz Aboelkheir to reach her maiden Gold-level semi-final on the PSA Squash Tour. No.8 seed Azman had won the pair’s last meeting on tour at the 2025 Australian Open, and made it two wins from their last two meetings with a brilliant attacking display on the all-glass court in DA Creek Club.  The Malaysian produced some gutsy squash, in particular, to come from two game balls down in the second to take the subsequent tie-break, before racing through to a three-game win against an under-par Aboelkheir after 32 minutes of play. After the match, Azman said: “I don’t know how to describe my feelings right now! I’m just so thankful for my team and my family. I’m so happy to win 3-0 this time.“[My sister] and I have both seen each other go through our ups and downs with injuries. So I’m just happy that we are starting 2026 really well – she made the quarter-final as well – but I’m really happy I got one step further than her! I’m really grateful for all her support and I’m proud of both of us.”Azman will face fellow Malaysian Sivasangari Subramaniam in the semi-finals, after the No.2 seed overcame a slow start to defeat England's Lucy Turmel. Despite falling 7-2 down early on in the first game, World No.7 Sivasangari maintained a cool composure to battle her way back into the match and clinch a 13-11, 11-7, 11-9 victory over the World No.30. Results – Men’s Quarter-Finals: Rich Venus Karachi Open 2026[5] Mohamad Zakaria (EGY) bt Alex Lau (HKG) 3-0: 11-0, 11-3, 11-6 (29m)[4] Mohamed ElShorbagy (ENG) bt Noor Zaman (PAK) 3-2: 11-2, 11-8, 6-11, 8-11, 11-9 (58m)Results – Women’s Quarter-Finals: Rich Venus Karachi Open 2026[8] Aifa Azman (MAS) bt [3] Fayrouz Aboelkheir (EGY) 3-0: 11-9, 13-11, 11-3 (32m)[2] Sivasangari Subramaniam (MAS) bt [7] Lucy Turmel (ENG) 3-0: 13-11, 11-7, 11-9 (35m)Draw – Men's Semi-Finals: To Be Played January 10[1] Karim Gawad (EGY) v [5] Mohamad Zakaria (EGY)[4] Mohamed ElShorbagy (ENG) v [6] Aly Abou Eleinen (EGY)Draw – Women's Semi-Finals: To Be Played January 10[1] Amina Orfi (EGY) v [4] Nada Abbas (EGY) [8] Aifa Azman (MAS) v [2] Sivasangari Subramaniam (MAS)

 Abdul Jabbar FaisalISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is pleased to announce the successful conclusion of the HBL PSL Teams Auction 2026 for induction of two new Franchises, marking a significant milestone in the continued growth and evolution of the league. As a result of the auction process, Team 7 has been awarded to Hyderabad, while Team 8 will represent Sialkot, officially expanding the HBL PSL to eight teams.The auction attracted strong interest from prospective investors, with nine bidders participating in the Live Auction at Jinnah Convention Centre, Islamabad, reflecting the growing commercial strength, global appeal, and long-term sustainability of the HBL PSL. The induction of Hyderabad & Sialkot Teams further strengthens the league’s national footprint and underscores PCB’s commitment to inclusivity, regional representation, and fan engagement across Pakistan.In the first round of the Auction, the base price for the seventh team was set at PKR 110 crore and after a fierce round of bidding US-based FKS Group led by Mr Fawad Sarwar made the winning bid worth PKR 1,750,000,000 and chose Hyderabad out of the six available city names.The second round saw the base price of the eighth team set to PKR 170 crore, which led to deep interest from the investors as there were two calls for strategic timeout. In the end OZ Group led by Mr Hamza Majeed snapped the eighth team for PKR 1,850,000,000 and chose Sialkot as their team.Congratulating the successful bidders, PCB Chairman, Mr. Mohsin Naqvi, welcomed the new franchise owners into the HBL PSL family:“The expansion of the HBL Pakistan Super League with the addition of Hyderabad and Sialkot is a landmark moment for Pakistan cricket. We warmly welcome the new franchise owners and look forward to their contribution in strengthening the league, enhancing competition, and further elevating the HBL PSL’s global stature.”Chief Executive Officer of the HBL PSL, Mr. Salman Naseer, also expressed his confidence in the expansion:“The successful live and competitive auction reflects the immense trust investors have in the HBL PSL brand. Hyderabad and Sialkot bring with them rich sporting heritage and passionate fan bases. We are keenly looking forward to working closely with the new owners to deliver an even more compelling and competitive HBL PSL experience for fans worldwide. The League is thriving and we can't wait for the next few weeks to unfold as they promise to be even more exciting.”The owner of the Hyderabad franchise, Mr. Fawad Sarwar expressed their appreciation and enthusiasm:“We are delighted to have successfully secured the Hyderabad franchise in the HBL Pakistan Super League. This is an exciting new chapter for FKS Group, and we look forward to bringing our philosophy of professional management, innovation, and excellence of execution to the HBL PSL. The league presents both tremendous opportunity and meaningful challenges, and we are fully committed to building a franchise that represents Hyderabad with pride and contributes positively to the growth of Pakistan cricket across the world.Similarly, the owner of the Sialkot franchise, Mr. Hamza Majeed shared his excitement at joining the league:“"It is a tremendous honour to acquire a franchise in the HBL Pakistan Super League, and we are delighted to bring the league to Sialkot, a city that has contributed immensely to Pakistan’s sporting identity. It is both a privilege and a huge responsibility to become the league's eighth team as we begin our journey in HBL PSL 11 with pride and ambition."Sialkot has a rich legacy of cricket and sporting excellence, from producing world-class sports equipment to achieving notable success in domestic cricket, including T20 titles. This team is for the people of Sialkot and their energy, pride and love for the game will be our greatest strength. We are honoured to represent this historic city on the HBL PSL stage and are committed to building a franchise that reflects its winning spirit. We also look forward to contributing to the continued success of the league in close coordination with HBL PSL management and the seven other teams."With the addition of Hyderabad & Sialkot, the HBL PSL enters a new era of expansion, competitiveness, and opportunity. The PCB and HBL PSL Management will work closely with the new franchises to ensure seamless integration ahead of upcoming HBL PSL 11 and beyond.

Karachi, Pakistan (Sports News): World No.14 Aly Abou Eleinen claimed his biggest scalp of the 2025/26 season after a dominant performance saw him defeat No.2 seed Marwan ElShorbagy at the Rich Venus Karachi Open 2026. Eleinen, who has had his battles with injuries over the last 12 months, looked back to his best on the all-glass court at DA Creek Club, with the Egyptian racing through to the semi-finals of the Gold-level event by an 11-7, 11-1, 11-9 scoreline. After edging a high-quality first game by asserting himself in the closing exchanges, Eleinen continued to build momentum as the match progressed, dictating a one-sided second game to the loss of a single point. Despite an ElShorbagy resurgence early on in the third game, Eleinen once again raised his level to pull away from 7-7 to seal a thoroughly deserved victory after 41 minutes of play. After the match, Eleinen said: "In my preparation for the match, I just wanted to focus on me. The whole season, I have just tried to focus on myself, and if I can do this against Marwan, it's a good sign because he's such a good player. I'm really pleased with that performance today."I wanted to find my targets on that court today. I knew that Marwan had played an extra match on the glass court yesterday, so it was just about adapting as quickly as possible today and I think I did that."Top seed Karim Gawad was the other winner in the men's draw on day three, with the former World No.1 battling past Malaysian No.1 Eain Yow Ng in a testing three-game clash. Gawad had to produce some quality squash throughout the 50-minute encounter to prevail in straight games, with No.7 seed Eain Yow holding multiple game balls on his racket in an entertaining third game. However, the World No.4 managed to show his class in the pressure moments to progress by an 11-3, 11-8, 16-14 scoreline. Meanwhile, in the women's event, top seed Amina Orfi and Nada Abbas set up a semi-final tie after coming through their respective encounters with Aira Azman and Farida Mohamed.  Despite having never dropped a game against No.6 seed Azman from their three prior meetings on the PSA Squash Tour, four-time World Junior Champion Orfi was given a stern test by the Malaysian. On a severe court which brought the best out of Azman's deceptive short game, Orfi had to be on her mettle at numerous stages of the match to eventually progress. After a slow start, the World No.3 managed to overturn a 7-2 deficit in the first game while later moving away from 8-8 in the crucial fourth game when a decider looked very much on the cards. After the match, Orfi said: "I think today Aira played very well. Maybe I didn't quite play that well. Today, she had nothing to lose with our last three matches all going 3-0 to me. I'm happy to get through today because I think she played well."Meanwhile, No.4 seed Abbas battled through illness to defeat No.5 seed Mohamed in a back-and-forth all-Egyptian encounter. After trading games into a decider, an injury to Mohamed's shoulder when clattering into the sidewall proved decisive when she was well placed at 6-3 up in the fifth. Upon resumption, it was Abbas who managed to take eight from the next eleven points to advance to the semi-finals. The quarter-finals of the Rich Venus KaResults – Men’s Quarter-Finals: Rich Venus Karachi Open 2026[1] Karim Gawad (EGY) bt [7] Eain Yow Ng (MAS) 3-0: 11-3, 11-8, 16-14 (50m)[6] Aly Abou Eleinen (EGY) bt [2] Marwan ElShorbagy (ENG) 3-0: 11-7, 11-1, 11-9 (41m)Results – Women’s Quarter-Finals: Rich Venus Karachi Open 2026[1] Amina Orfi (EGY) bt [6] Aira Azman (MAS) 3-1: 12-10, 11-8, 5-11, 11-8 (51m)[4] Nada Abbas (EGY) bt [5] Farida Mohamed (EGY) 3-2: 11-4, 9-11, 11-6, 0-11, 11-9 (52m)Draw – Men's Quarter-Finals: To Be Played January 9[4] Mohamed ElShorbagy (ENG) v Noor Zaman (PAK) [6] Aly Abou Eleinen (EGY) v [2] Marwan ElShorbagy (ENG)Draw – Women's Quarter-Finals: To Be Played January 9[3] Fayrouz Aboelkheir (EGY) v [8] Aifa Azman (MAS)[7] Lucy Turmel (ENG) v [2] Sivasangari Subramaniam (MAS) 

Islamabad (Sports News): Seventeen umpires and four match referees from the Emirates ICC International Panels of Umpires and Referees will officiate at the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026 in Zimbabwe and Namibia.Thirteen different nationalities will be represented, including two umpires from one of the host nations, Zimbabwe.Forster Mutizwa, who represented Zimbabwe 21 times across all three formats, will be joined by compatriot Iknow Chabi as two of the 18 umpires.Among the others who will officiate in the tournament are former West Indies international Deighton Butler, and Englishman Graham Lloyd, whose father David was an accomplished umpire in his own right before going onto become an acclaimed broadcaster.The four match referees are Dean Cosker, of England, India’s Prakash Bhatt, as well as Graeme La Brooy and Neeyamur Rahul, who represented Sri Lanka and Bangladesh internationally respectively.ICC CEO, Sanjog Gupta said: “This ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup is a tremendous opportunity for rising stars in the game to shine, but it is also an invaluable reward system for up-and-coming match officials.“We hope that this will be the perfect springboard for their careers as we see them progress in their officiating journeys.”Match officials for the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2026:Umpires: Ahmad Shah Durrani (Afg), Aidan Seaver (Ire), Cory Black (NZ), Deighton Butler (WI), Faisal Afridi (Pak), Forster Mutizwa (Zim), Graham Lloyd (Eng), Iknow Chabi (Zim), Lubabalo Gcuma (SA), Masudur Mukul (Ban), Nitin Bathi (Neth), Prageeth Rambukwella (SL), Russell Warren (Eng), Shaun Haig (NZ), Shawn Craig (Aus), Virender Sharma (Ind), Zahid Bassarath (WI).Referees: Dean Cosker (Eng), Graeme La Brooy (SL), Neeyamur Rahul (Ban), Prakash Bhatt (Ind).

Sports Bulletin ReportKARACHI: Top seed Karim Gawad and No.3 seed Fayrouz Aboelkheir narrowly avoided shock second-round exits at the Rich Venus Karachi Open 2026, with the pair coming through nervy five-game encounters at the Gold-level event. Former World No.1 Gawad, who, with victory this week, will overtake World No.3 Diego Elias in the PSA Rankings, battled back to defeat Pakistan's Mohammad Ashab Irfan in five games, while Aboelkheir edged past Hong Kong's Chan Sin Yuk in a thrilling fifth-game tie-break. At 2-0 down, and 5-2 down in the third game, World No.4 Gawad looked in serious trouble against an inspired showing from World No.47 Ashab Irfan. However, the 34-year-old drew upon all his years of experience to flip the match on its head as the physical toll of Ashab Irfan's early efforts began to tell. The Egyptian clinched the key third game 11-8, before easing through the subsequent two games to book his spot in the quarter-finals after 56 minutes of play. “I’m really happy to get through to the quarters today," Gawad said after the match. "Irfan was my training partner when I was in Houston, staying there for the full summer in 2023, so I knew how tough it was going to be today. “I wasn’t as quick as I should have been in the early stages. I wasn’t there quite physically and I should have waited a little bit for my chances to attack. That is what I did in the final three games and I didn’t allow him to attack as much.”Meanwhile, on the same court where she was crowned U23 World Champion last April, World No.9 Aboelkheir came through an entertaining five-game clash with the unseeded Sin Yuk. In a match that pitted Aboelkheir against her opponent from that memorable day at DA Creek Club, the Egyptian was forced to maintain her composure deep in a frantic fifth game, saving a match ball at 11-10 down before clinching victory after 46 minutes of high-octane squash. Elsewhere, Hong Kong's Alex Lau advanced to his first Gold-event quarter-final after overcoming an injury-hampered World No.6 Youssef Ibrahim in five games, setting up a tie with World Junior Champion Mohamad Zakaria. Pakistan's Noor Zaman remains the sole home hope left in the event, following a contentious ending to his matchup with No.8 seed Fares Dessouky. The Pakistani No.1 led 7-3 in the fifth game before a debate between Dessouky and the match referee ended in a conduct match being awarded in Zaman's favour. Results (Men’s Round-2):[1] Karim Gawad (EGY) beat Mohammad Ashab Irfan (PAK) 3-2: 7-11, 9-11, 11-8, 11-5, 11-5 (56m)[7] Eain Yow Ng (MAS) beat Iker Pajares (ESP) 3-0: 11-6, 11-9, 11-8 (47m)[5] Mohamad Zakaria (EGY) beat Nasir Iqbal (PAK) 3-1: 11-6, 7-11, 11-7, 11-5 (53m)Alex Lau (HKG) beat [3] Youssef Ibrahim (EGY) 3-2: 11-9, 4-11, 11-1, 7-11, 11-8 (45m)[4] Mohamed ElShorbagy (ENG) beat Karim El Hammamy (EGY) 3-1: 9-11, 11-8, 11-8, 11-7 (56m)Noor Zaman (PAK) beat [8] Fares Dessouky (EGY) 3-2: 8-11, 9-11, 11-5, 11-9, 7-3 [conduct match] (60m)[6] Aly Abou Eleinen (EGY) beat Yahya Elnawasany (EGY) 3-0: 11-4, 11-5, 11-3 (29m)[2] Marwan ElShorbagy (ENG) beat Toufik Mekhalfi (FRA) 3-0: 11-4, 11-7, 11-5 (27m)Results (Women’s Round-2):[1] Amina Orfi (EGY) beat Haya Ali (EGY) 3-0: 11-1, 11-7, 11-2 (20m)[6] Aira Azman (MAS) beat Nour Aboulmakarim (EGY) 3-0: 11-4, 11-8, 13-11 (26m)[5] Farida Mohamed (EGY) beat Amina El Rihany (EGY) 3-0: 11-7, 11-5, 12-10 (24m)[4] Nada Abbas (EGY) beat Mariam Metwally (EGY) 3-2: 9-11, 11-9, 11-8, 8-11, 11-8 (58m)[3] Fayrouz Aboelkheir (EGY) beat Sin Yuk Chan (HKG) 3-2: 11-5, 9-11, 10-12, 11-5, 13-11 (46m)[8] Aifa Azman (MAS) beat Nardine Garas (EGY) 3-1: 5-11, 11-9, 11-5, 11-9 (33m)[7] Lucy Turmel (ENG) beat Torrie Malik (ENG) 3-0: 11-9, 11-2, 11-7 (26m)[2] Sivasangari Subramaniam (MAS) beat Nadine Shahin (EGY) 3-1: 11-2, 8-11, 11-8, 11-8 (29m).