Islamabad (Sports Desk); In accordance with its mandate, the FIFA administration is exploring the concept of bringing together FIFA’s commercial rights – spanning broadcast, sponsorship, ticketing, and licensing – with the operational delivery of FIFA tournaments through the creation of FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE). A consultation process has begun following the receipt of a proposal that aims to unlock the full potential of FIFA’s broadcast rights and sponsorships across all of its tournament portfolio in men’s, women’s and youth football.Central to this would be a repositioning of FIFA Forward, FIFA’s flagship development programme, which aims to increase funding per FIFA Member Association (MA) from USD 8 million to USD 20 million for the 2027-30 cycle and grow steadily thereafter cycle-on-cycle. This funding would support infrastructure, coaching, national teams, competitions, grassroots football and the women’s game.The process follows an address by FIFA President Gianni Infantino to the FIFA Council and FIFA Member Associations on the eve of the FIFA World Cup 2026 final in New York, where he reiterated his intention to “unleash the commercial potential and opportunity that FIFA has”, a position that had already been outlined in his speech to the FIFA Congress in Vancouver, Canada, in April 2026.“Football is the world’s most popular sport and an extraordinary engine of human and social development," said FIFA President Gianni Infantino. "Parts of the game have turned that popularity into remarkable commercial value – and we celebrate that success and want it to continue, because it lifts the whole game. Our job is to make sure the rest of football grows with it: FIFA exists to support sustainable, inclusive development in every corner of the world.“As its global governing body, FIFA is responsible for making sure the game reaches every corner of the world, and that the value it creates supports federations and communities everywhere. Our next stage of growth needs a structure built for it, one where the commercial side of the game operates as a focused, dedicated business, with its value shared more and better all around the world. Every FIFA Member Association should have an opportunity to seek a fair share of the available funding to shape its own future, deciding for itself rather than relying on others. This is about the democratisation of football worldwide.“We intend to invest heavily even in the smallest or most remote parts of the footballing world, places that are too often passed over. Every FIFA Member Association, whatever its size, resources, or geographic location will have a voice and the opportunity to determine its own course. Football has become a truly global game and so the benefits must be felt globally.”

Hambantota (SBR): Sri Lanka romped home with an eight-wicket win over Pakistan in the decider of the three-match ICC Women’s Championship (2025-29) ODI series as they chased the 188-run target in 37.2 overs here at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium in Hambantota on Tuesday afternoon.Player of the series Harshitha Samarawickrama scored an unbeaten 71 off 92 balls hitting 11 fours to take her series tally of runs to 173 including a 100 not out in the second game.Samarawickrama arrived the crease when Fatima Sana broke the 46-run opening stand between Chamari Athapaththu and Vishmi Gunaratne, getting the latter caught behind for 12 off 17 in the seventh over of the chase.For the third wicket, Samarawickrama and player of the match Athapaththu added 39 runs off 48 balls before the second breakthrough came via off-spinner Umm-e-Hani. Athapaththu had backed up her superb three for 27 spell with a quickfire 38-ball 52 hitting seven fours and two sixes.From this juncture, Samarawickrama and Hasini Perera grounded out a 106-run unbeaten stand off 137 balls. They were constantly probed by left-arm spinner Nashra Sundhu who went wicketless but only gave away 23 runs in her 10 overs, which also included a maiden.While Samarawickrama brought up her ninth WODI half-century, Perera made sure to register her fourth fifty in the format as he finished exactly on 50 off 77 balls having struck eight fours. Fatima Sana returned figures of 8-2-34-1, while Hani’s only wicket came for 43 runs in six overs including a maiden.Earlier, Pakistan were rocked by right-arm pacer Chethana Vimukthi’s three-wicket strike in just the second over of the game. She first got Sadaf Shamas caught behind after the opening batter had struck two fours in the opening over.Sidra Amin was also caught behind, while Ayesha Zafar was wrapped on the pads for a duck before Muneeba Ali evaded a hat-trick ball safely. Pakistan did try to salvage the innings with a few middle and lower order partnerships but it wasn’t to be as they were bowled for 187 in 40 overs with Fatima Sana and Gull Feroza getting into forties.Gull and Muneeba set out positively after the setbacks and kept the run flow coming at a decent rate as they gathered 68 off 82 balls. Athapaththu got Gull leg-before in the 16th over as she looked to sweep but missed the connection and departed for 40 off 35 balls with the help of five fours.Muneeba also couldn’t convert her scrappy start of 34 off 71 balls hitting three fours as she fell to Inoka Ranaweera. Fatima Sana stuck around for 49 balls at the crease scoring 41 and was the last batter dismissed. Pakistan skipper struck a six and two fours but became one of Kavisha Dilhari’s three quick strikes.Pakistan felt themselves poised to go through all the 50 overs when Fatima and Najiha had joined forces and scored 30 runs off 22 balls in tandem but Athapaththu again intervened in the 29th over to induce a leading edge off the wicketkeeper-batter as she returned for a 39-ball 30 hitting four fours. From this point, Pakistan lost 4-47 in 11.4 overs.Vimukthi returned figures of 8-1-36-3, Athapaththu 6-0-27-3 and Dilhari 7-0-27-3, while Ranaweera gave 41 runs for her solitary wicket.The two teams will now move to Dambulla and take part in a three-match WT20I series with the matches scheduled on 31 July, 2 and 4 August.Scores in briefMatch 3 of 3 – Sri Lanka women beat Pakistan women by eight wickets at Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium, Hambantota  Pakistan 187 all out, 40 overs (Fatima Sana 41, Gull Feroza 40, Muneeba Ali 34, Najiha Alvi 30; Chamari Athapaththu 3-27, Kavisha Dilhari 3-27, Chethana Vimukthi 3-36) Sri Lanka 191-2, 37.2 overs (Harshitha Samarawickrama 71 not out, Chamari Athapaththu 52, Hasini Perera 50 not out)Player of the match – Chamari Athapaththu (Sri Lanka women)Player of the series – Harshitha Samarawickrama (Sri Lanka women)Tour schedule: (All matches to begin at 9.30am Pakistan time)23 July – Pakistan won by five wickets25 July – Sri Lanka won by eight wickets28 July – Sri Lanka won by eight wickets31 July – First T20I at Rangiri Dambulla International cricket stadium, Dambulla2 August – Second T20I at Rangiri Dambulla International cricket stadium, Dambulla4 August – Third T20I at Rangiri Dambulla International cricket stadium, Dambulla 

Pakistan thrash Sri Lanka 3-0 in second semifinal, Bangladesh beat Uzbekistan 3-0Abdul Jabbar FaisalISLAMABAD: Hosts Pakistan and Bangladesh advanced into the final of the Central Asian Volleyball Association (CAVA) Men's Volleyball Championship 2026 after beating Sri Lanka and Uzbekistan respectively in straight games 3-0 in the semifinals here at Liaquat Gymnasium, Pakistan Sports Complex on Tuesday. The final will be played on Wednesday at the same venue.Pakistan crushed their opponents, Sri Lanka 3-0, as the second semifinal witnessed another outstanding performance by the host nation, as Pakistan comfortably defeated Sri Lanka in straight sets to advance to the final.Backed by a packed home crowd, Pakistan played with tremendous confidence and intensity from the opening whistle. The Green Shirts dominated every aspect of the match through powerful serving, exceptional blocking, quick attacks, and disciplined defensive play.Pakistan took complete control after winning the opening set and produced its most dominant volleyball of the tournament in the second set, allowing Sri Lanka only ten points. Although Sri Lanka offered improved resistance in the third set, Pakistan remained calm under pressure and completed another comprehensive victory. The final score-line was 25–18, 25–10 and 25–21. The victory extends Pakistan's remarkable unbeaten record to six consecutive victories, all achieved in straight sets, and secures a deserved place in the championship final. Kazakhstan Defeat Nepal to Finish Fifth:Kazakhstan displayed excellent teamwork, consistent serving, and disciplined attacking play to dominate the match. Nepal fought hard, particularly during the closely contested second set, but Kazakhstan maintained composure during the crucial moments to complete a straight-set victory. Kazakhstan defeated Nepal 3–0 at score of 25–16, 26–24 and 25–20. With this victory, Kazakhstan finished fifth, while Nepal concluded the championship in sixth place.Bangladesh overcome Uzbekistan 3-0:The first semi-final featured an exciting contest between Bangladesh and Uzbekistan. Bangladesh produced one of its finest performances of the tournament, controlling the match with aggressive serving, disciplined blocking, and outstanding teamwork. Uzbekistan attempted to fight back in each set, but Bangladesh remained composed throughout and never allowed its opponents to build momentum. The game score was 25–21, 25–20 and 25–19. The convincing victory secured Bangladesh's first appearance in the championship final, while Uzbekistan will now compete for the bronze medal.

QUETTA/ISLAMABAD: Brigadier (Retd) Riaz ud Deen Kasi has been elected President of the Balochistan Golf Association (BGA) unopposed in its annual elections. Among other office-bearers elected unopposed are Haji Muhammad Farook Khan as Senior Vice President, Muhammad Zakria Nasir as Vice President, Muhammad Ali as Honorary Secretary, Ramzan Ali as Treasurer, and Lt Col (Retd) Altaf Hussain as Joint Secretary.According to a press release issued by the Pakistan Golf Federation (PGF), the annual elections of the Balochistan Golf Association were successfully conducted at the Quetta Golf Club. The electoral process took place under the supervision of the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) Election Commission, with representatives from the Provincial Olympic Association and the PGF in attendance. The election was conducted in strict accordance with the constitutions of the PGF and BGA, as well as the directives of the PSB, and was officially confirmed following thorough scrutiny and verification by the Election Commission.Extending its heartfelt congratulations to the newly elected office-bearers, the Pakistan Golf Federation expressed confidence that the new leadership will play a pivotal role in strengthening the sport at the grassroots level, encouraging junior players, and raising the standard of golf across the province. The PGF also extended its appreciation to the Pakistan Sports Board, the Provincial Olympic Association, the Election Commission, Quetta Golf Club, and all relevant stakeholders for ensuring a transparent, fair, and orderly election process. (SBR)

Lahore (SBR): The Pakistan Cricket Board will hold an U17 Skills Development Camp at the High-Performance Centre in Faisalabad from Thursday, 30 July.A total of 48 players selected on the basis of their performances in the National Men’s U17 Cup have been invited to participate in the camp. The players will be divided into two groups of 24.In the first phase, the first group of 24 players will arrive on Wednesday, 29 July and will be split into two teams of 12 players each and will compete in four 50-over matches. The second group will subsequently follow the same format, with two teams of 12 players playing four 50-over matches.Following the completion of both phases, 30 players will be selected on the basis of their performances for a two-month High Performance Camp at the High-Performance Centre in Faisalabad.The programme will be conducted under the supervision of Ijaz Ahmed Jnr, Head Coach – High Performance Centre along with the supporting coaching staff.The initiative forms part of the PCB’s commitment to identifying and developing emerging talent at the age-group level. The camp will focus on enhancing the players’ technical, tactical, physical and mental skills, while further strengthening the pathway to the Pakistan U19 team.Team A:Ammar Khan, Hamid Raza, Hammad Khan, Hassan Ali, Humza Abbas Baloch, Mohammad Sanan, Muhammad Abdul Qadeer, Mohammad Asad Abdullah, Mohammad Ibrahim, Mohammad Ihsan, Mohammad Saqib Khan and QudratullahTeam B:Ali Akbar, Huzaifa Khan, Malik Khizar, Mohammad Naveed, Mohammad Noman Ijaz, Muhammad Yaqoob Khan, Mohammad Yousaf, Nafees Akhtar, Shahzaib Zafar, Sher Wali Khan, Taj Mohammad and Zaryan Ali KhanTeam C:Aliyan Qaiser, Amir Khan, Attaullah, Fahad Iqbal, Faiq Ali, Mohammad Abuzar, Mohammad Essa Baloch, Mohammad Usman, Raja Mohammad Jalal, Shahzil Farooqui, Sudias Ahmad and Ubaid UllahTeam D:Abdullah Ahmed Butt, Ali Khokhar, Arslan Hassan, Azan Ahmed, Daud Tauqir Rana, Hassan Ali, Ibrar Ahmed, Mohammad Haseeb, Mohammad Saim, Mohammad Zohaib, Saghir Ahmed and Said Imad Ali Shah

Abdul Jabbar FaisalISLAMABAD: Pakistan outclassed Kazakhstan 3-0 in their last league match of the Central Asian Volleyball Association (CAVA) Men's Volleyball Championship 2026 after showing an impressive performance here at the Liaquat Gymnasium, Pakistan Sports Complex on Monday. The final score-line was 15-23, 25-19 and 25-21.Uzbekistan Finish League Stage with Straight-Set Victory over NepalThe opening match of the day featured Uzbekistan against Nepal. Nepal challenged Uzbekistan strongly, particularly in the opening set, but Uzbekistan displayed greater consistency during the crucial moments to earn a comfortable victory.The first set proved to be highly competitive, with Uzbekistan narrowly edging Nepal 26-24. After taking the early lead, Uzbekistan gained momentum and controlled the remainder of the match with disciplined blocking, accurate serving, and powerful attacking volleyball. The final score-line was 26–24, 25–20 and 25–22. The victory strengthened Uzbekistan's position in the standings and secured qualification for the semi-finals.Bangladesh Produce Stunning Comeback to Defeat Sri LankaThe second match of the day produced another thrilling five-set encounter as Bangladesh recovered from two sets down to defeat Sri Lanka.Sri Lanka appeared to be heading for victory after winning the opening two closely contested sets 26-24 and 26-24. However, Bangladesh demonstrated remarkable fighting spirit, reducing the deficit by winning the third set before forcing a deciding fifth set with another impressive performance in the fourth.In the decisive set, Bangladesh maintained its composure under pressure and completed one of the tournament's finest comebacks. Bangladesh defeated Sri Lanka 3–2 at 24–26, 24–26, 25–23, 25–21 and 15–12. The dramatic victory earned Bangladesh a place in the semi-finals and delighted spectators with one of the championship's most memorable matches.Results:Uzbekistan beat Nepal 3–0 (26–24, 25–20, 25–22)Bangladesh beat Sri Lanka 3–2 (24–26, 24–26, 25–23, 25–21, 15–12)Pakistan beat Kazakhstan 3–0 (25–23, 25–19, 25–21)Semi-Final Schedule – 28 July 20265th Place Classification Match – Match No. 16Nepal vs Kazakhstan at 10:30 AM1st Semi-Final – Match No. 17Pakistan vs Sri Lanka at 1:00 PM2nd Semi-Final – Match No. 18Bangladesh vs Uzbekistan 3:30 PM

Tarouba (PCB Report): Pakistan’s disciplined bowling attack restricted West Indies to 194 for three on a rain and bad-light-affected opening day of the first Test at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba on Saturday.After West Indies elected to bat, experienced pacer Mohammad Abbas provided Pakistan with the early breakthrough, dismissing Brandon King for 12. King attempted to cut a delivery close to his body but dragged the ball onto his stumps, leaving the hosts at 13 for one.Only 14.1 overs were possible during the morning session due to rain, with West Indies reaching 23 for one at lunch. Pakistan’s seamers maintained tight lines and made scoring difficult in helpful conditions.Following the resumption, Tagenarine Chanderpaul and Kavem Hodge added 51 runs for the second wicket before Aamir Jamal struck in his first over. Chanderpaul, who scored 21, edged a delivery outside off stump to Salman Ali Agha at second slip.Abbas then claimed his second wicket when Amir Jangoo was trapped leg-before for 21. The on-field decision was overturned after Pakistan captain Babar Azam opted for a successful review, reducing West Indies to 106 for three.Hodge, however, led the hosts’ recovery with an unbeaten 83 from 181 balls, including nine fours. He received valuable support from Shai Hope, who remained unbeaten on 39 as the pair added an unbroken 88 runs for the fourth wicket.Pakistan continued to maintain pressure throughout the final session, with Abbas, Khurram Shahzad and Mohammad Ali keeping the scoring rate under control. Test debutant Ali Usman also bowled 12 overs and conceded 34 runs.Play was called off after 67 overs due to bad light, with the hosts closing on 194 for three.Scores in brief (Day-1): West Indies 194-3, 67 overs (Kavem Hodge 83 not out, Shai Hope 39 not out, Tagenarine Chanderpaul 21, Amir Jangoo 21; Mohammad Abbas 2-44, Aamir Jamal 1-54)

Islamabad (Sports Desk): Egypt’s Mohamad Zakaria and India’s Anahat Singh have been crowned the 2026 World Squash Junior Champions after recording victories over compatriots Adam Hawal and Ruqayya Salem at White Oaks Resort & Spa in Niagara-on-the-Lake.The pair produced dominant performances throughout the tournament, with both writing their names into the history books.Zakaria became the first men's player ever to win the World Junior title three times, while Singh became the first Indian player to lift the prestigious trophy.Already ranked World No.7, Zakaria has quickly established himself as one of squash's brightest young stars, having become the youngest-ever men's World Junior champion at just 16 years old in 2024.His performance in the final underlined why he entered the match as a two-time World Junior champion, producing another commanding display to defeat No.2 seed Adam Hawal in straight games.From the outset, it was clear Zakaria would have to work hard to overcome his compatriot, with long and intense rallies a constant throughout the opening game. Nonetheless, the No.1 seed overcame these challenges, producing some high-quality squash to take the opener 11-4.After claiming the opener, the second game proved far more competitive, with Hawal refusing to give the World No.7 any space on court as the pair battled into a tie-break. However, Hawal was unable to capitalise on his opportunities as Zakaria swung the momentum back in his favour to edge the second game 12-10.With Hawal's best chance of getting back into the match slipping away in the second, the momentum remained firmly with the top seed.Despite play being halted after Zakaria was accidentally struck on the chin by Hawal's racket, the Egyptian quickly regained his composure and sealed the title by taking the third game 11-4."Winning this tournament three times in a row without dropping a game is a huge thing," Zakaria said after the match."Adam played an amazing final. He pushed very hard and is a force to be reckoned with on the Tour. He made it very tough and I'm glad I won it in three, so I'm over the moon."Zakaria continued: "I've always thought of myself as the best junior ever to play, and now I've basically stated that. I'm happy that I was able to back up my words with my actions and make sure I got it done."In the women's final, India's Anahat Singh became the first Indian player to win the World Junior title, following a straight-games victory over Egypt's No.2 seed Ruqayya Salem.Singh, a former quarter-finalist and semi-finalist at the event, enjoyed an impressive run throughout the tournament, recording a string of victories to become the first Indian to reach the World Junior final since Joshna Chinappa in 2005.With the chance to secure a historic title, Singh made a fast start to the final, taking control of the match as she claimed the opening game 11-3.Having taken the opener, the match appeared to be moving in only one direction as Singh found her rhythm, building a commanding lead over her opponent to take the second game 11-7.However, despite leading by two games, the third initially threatened to swing in Salem's favour as the Egyptian moved into an 8-6 lead.With the pressure mounting and a fourth—and potentially fifth—game looming, the Indian No.1 clawed her way back to seal the third game 11-9 and secure a historic victory."I still feel like I'm dreaming!" Singh said after the final.She continued: "This tournament has been the worst tournament for me. I've been losing in the semis and quarters over the last four years. I've always said, if anyone's asked, 'This tournament's a curse,' and I've never been able to play well in the event."This is my last year [as a junior] and my only chance to win it. It means the world."So, I knew if I'm stressed, I play terribly, so I just came out on court and hit my lines well. It's always tough with her and I wanted to enjoy every moment of getting to play in a world championship final."

Sports Bulletin ReportHambantota (Sri Lanka): Sri Lanka overhauled Pakistan’s 273-run total with eight wickets in hand and 19 balls to spare as Vishmi Gunaratne and Harshitha Samarawickrama scored centuries to level the three-match ICC Women’s Championship series here at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium, Hambantota on Saturday.The two sides will now face off in the all-important series decider on Tuesday, 28 July after Pakistan had started the series on winning note, chasing a 210-run target with five wickets left.Sidra Amin spearheaded Pakistan’s effort with the bat after they were inserted in to bat by Chamari Athapaththu. She had walked in to bat after Sadaf Shamas was run out for 12 off 16 in the fifth over. Sidra was then part of five partnerships including two half-century stands with Ayesha Zafar and Muneeba Ali.Previous game’s player of the match Gull Feroza departed after getting a start of 27 runs off 33 balls having sent the ball to the boundary four times. At this juncture Sidra and Ayesha took hold of the proceedings and saw off 14.5 overs collecting 78 runs.Ayesha was denied a sixth WODI half-century as Kavisha Dilhari castled her for a 45-ball 49 that also included two sixes and five fours. Muneeba also fell five runs short of her fifty having added 88 runs with Sidra as left-arm spinner Inoka Ranaweera got the left-hander stumped to dent Pakistan’s progress as they were left 221-4 in 43.4 overs.Sidra brought up her half-century in the 34th over, while she completed her century off 120 balls on the fourth ball of the 5oth over. Fatima Sana’s 18-ball 25 including four boundaries and her quickfire 29-ball 41-run stand with Sidra ensured Pakistan crossed the 260-run mark.Najiha remained unbeaten for eight off six balls and executed a delightful scoop towards fine leg on the penultimate ball of Pakistan’s innings. For Sri Lanka, Athapaththu accounted for Fatima and was one of the four solitary wicket-takers along with Chethana Vimukthi, Ranaweera and Kaveesha Dilhari.In turn, Fatima gave Pakistan an early breakthrough with the prized scalp of Athapaththu in the fifth over as she was caught behind by Najiha for just one. The next 211 balls saw Vishmi and Harshitha churn a record 203-run stand – the highest for Sri Lanka in WODIs.Player of the match Vishmi scored a run-a-ball 123 including 11 fours and one six and was finally removed by Nashra Sundhu. She was stumped by Najiha in the 40th over after bringing up her second WODI century in the 34th over off 107 balls.At the time the match-winning partnership was broken, Sri Lanka required 51 off 64 balls. Harshitha remained unbeaten for 100 off 119 balls hitting nine fours in her second WODI century. Dilhari (40 not out, 33b, 5x4s) stitched an unbeaten 45-ball 52-run stand with Harshitha to get Sri Lanka over the line in 47th over.

Abdul Jabbar FaisalISLAMABAD: Hosts Pakistan thrashed Bangladesh in straight games 3-0 in their second match of the ongoing Volleyball Association (CAVA) Men's Volleyball Championship 2026 after producing a sparkling performance here at Laiquat Gymnasium, Pakistan Sports Complex on Thursday. The final score-line was 25-16, 25-17 and 25-22.Pakistani players maintained their habit and posted a comprehensive victory against Bangladesh, as skipper Jehan Khan, Usman and Khizar Hayat played excellent game skills and played a pivotal role in the victory. Pakistan outclassed Bangladesh to record the second consecutive victoryThe final match of the day saw hosts Pakistan continue their excellent form with another impressive straight-set victory over Bangladesh. Pakistan dominated from the opening whistle with aggressive serving, excellent blocking, quick attacks, and disciplined defensive play. Bangladesh showed greater resistance during the third set, but Pakistan maintained complete control and comfortably sealed the match in three sets.Sri Lanka Defeat Nepal 3-2The opening match of Day Two witnessed an entertaining battle between Sri Lanka and Nepal. After winning the opening set, Sri Lanka lost momentum as Nepal fought back to take the second and third sets. However, Sri Lanka displayed remarkable resilience, winning the fourth set before dominating the deciding fifth set to register their first victory of the championship. The score-line was 25–18, 21–25, 19–25, 25–21 and 15–10.Uzbekistan overcome Kazakhstan 3-2The second match produced one of the finest contests of the championship as Uzbekistan defeated Kazakhstan in a dramatic five-set thriller. Kazakhstan opened strongly by winning the first set 25–19 before Uzbekistan levelled the match by taking the second set 25–22. The third set turned into a marathon contest, with Kazakhstan narrowly winning 29–27 to regain the advantage.Uzbekistan responded brilliantly in the fourth set, winning 26–24 to force a deciding fifth set. The final set produced breathtaking volleyball as both teams fought for every point. Uzbekistan remained composed in the closing moments to secure a memorable 16–14 victory. The score-line was 19–25, 25–22, 27–29, 26–24, and 16–14. Kazakhstan wasted two match points in the final set, as they were up at 14-12.Friday’s Schedule:Uzbekistan vs Sri Lanka at 10:30 AMBangladesh vs Kazakhstan at 2:30 PMPakistan vs Nepal at 5:00 PM.