Islamabad (Sports Reporter):Balochistan Hingol and KPK Himalayas produced commanding performances at the PFF National U-17 Championship 2026 on Sunday, with Hingol defeating GB Karakoram 5-1 before KPK Himalayas overwhelmed Sindh Mehran 6-0 at Jinnah Stadium, Islamabad.Balochistan Hingol took control against GB Karakoram with a series of well-taken goals, combining power, pace and clinical finishing to build a five-goal advantage.Noman opened the scoring in the 26th minute with a rasping drive into the corner, giving the goalkeeper no chance.Hingol doubled their advantage in the 43rd minute when Syed Wasif found the net from a free-kick, before Sajjad added a third just a minute later.The third goal came after Hingol broke quickly on the counter from the left, with Sajjad placing the ball calmly past the goalkeeper.Hingol continued to threaten after the break and extended their lead in the 63rd minute when Shahid reacted quickest to a header that had been spilled by the Karakoram goalkeeper.Zameer made it five in the 89th minute after his initial effort was saved, with the Hingol player following up to place the rebound into the net.GB Karakoram found a consolation in stoppage time, Hassan completing an individual effort by placing the ball past the goalkeeper in the 90+3rd minute.In the second match, KPK Himalayas produced one of the most dominant displays of the championship so far, completely controlling their contest against Sindh Mehran from start to finish.Himalayas attacked from all areas of the pitch, dominating possession and creating chances from left, right and through the middle.Taimoor opened the scoring in the sixth minute before Armaq doubled the advantage in the 20th minute.Taimoor struck again in the 27th minute to make it 3-0, while Armaq added his second just before half-time in the 45th minute.Taimoor completed his hat-trick in the 50th minute as Himalayas continued to dominate, before Irmad rounded off the scoring in the 70th minute to complete a comprehensive 6-0 victory.The two results added another 12 goals to an already goal-rich championship, with the young players continuing to provide attacking football and plenty of excitement in Islamabad.

Lahore (Sports Reporter): Fast bowler Kainat Imtiaz has announced her retirement from international cricket after representing Pakistan women’s cricket team in 19 One-Day Internationals and 21 T20 Internationals across 13 years. She recently began her career as match referee in the PCB National Women’s U19 T20 Tournament held in August and September. Kainat represented Pakistan at the the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2017 featuring in four matches. She became Pakistan women’s T20I cap no.22 in October 2010 against South Africa in Potchefstroom and ODI cap no.64 in Bangladesh’s Fatullah against Ireland women. The right-arm pacer was also part of Pakistan women’s squads in 2010 and 2014 when they won Gold Medal in Asian Games in China and South Korea. She was also part of Pakistan women’s squad for the Commonwealth Games in 2022. Kainat played her last ODI against Australia at the Gabba in January 2023 and her last T20I came at Sylhet against Thailand in October 2022. She started her career in February 2007 representing Karachi Schools U17 team in the PCB National Schools U17 Women’s Championship and later made her domestic List A debut in March 2008 and T20 debut in July.Kainat’s mother Saleema Imtiaz became Pakistan’s first woman umpire on ICC’s International Development Panel in 2024 and has so far officiated nine WODIs and 69 WT20Is. 

Pakistan outclass China 3-0 in third-place play-off, Murad Khan scores 18 points Sports Bulletin ReportAichi-Nagoya (Japan): Pakistan Men’s Volleyball Team created history at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026, defeating China 3–0 in the bronze-medal match to earn a bronze medal for the country after a gap of 64 years.Pakistan delivered an outstanding performance at the Okazaki Chuo Sogo Park Gymnasium, producing a dominant and composed display against China and winning the match in straight sets. The final score-line was just 25-18, 25-16, and 25-18.From the opening points, Pakistan played with confidence and determination. The national team maintained pressure through powerful attacking play, disciplined blocking and effective defensive work, giving China very little opportunity to establish momentum.Pakistan had previously won an Asian Games Bronze Medal in 1962. With today's achievement in Aichi-Nagoya, Pakistan have once again secured a place on the Asian Games volleyball podium in 2026, after a long 64-year gap.OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCESPakistan's players produced an excellent collective performance, with several key players making major contributions in attack.Murad Khan – 18 PointsMurad Khan led Pakistan's scoring with an impressive 18 points, playing a crucial role in Pakistan's attacking success throughout the bronze-medal match.Afaq Khan – 14 PointsAfaq Khan delivered another strong performance, contributing 14 points and providing important attacking options for Pakistan.Usman Faryad Ali – 14 PointsUsman Faryad Ali also scored 14 points, making a major contribution to Pakistan's dominant straight-set victory.

Islamabad (Sports Reporter): The Pakistan Football Federation announced the 21 camp probables for the FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival 2026, with the national U-15 camp set to begin on October 6 in Lahore.The camp marks the beginning of Pakistan’s preparations for the landmark youth football festival in Azerbaijan, as the country’s next generation of Shaheens begin their journey towards the FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival 2026. 🇵🇰🦅The 21 camp probables are:1. Ahmed Zahid Ullah Khan2. Ameer Hamza3. Bakshi Hamal Khan4. Danish Masih5. Hassan Zeb Khan6. Illhan Ali Khan7. Kaleem Ullah8. Maqbool Ahmed9. Mohammad Alam10. Mohammad Maaaz Adnan11. Mohammad Mustafa12. Mohammad Salman13. Owais Faiz14. Rameez Riza15. Sahil Khan16. Sameer Abdul Samad17. Shahraz Khan18. Shahzaib Nawaz19. Shayan Abdul Jabbar Marwat20. Zain Ul Abideen21. Zul NoorainThe camp will provide the coaching staff with an opportunity to assess the players as preparations begin for Pakistan’s participation in the FIFA U-15 World Cup & Festival 2026 in Azerbaijan.

Islamabad (Sports Reporter): Sindh Indus produced an outstanding second-half comeback to defeat Punjab Potohar 3-1 on the third day of the PFF National U-17 Championship 2026, while Punjab Harappa held Islamabad Margalla to a 2-2 draw at Jinnah Stadium, Islamabad, on Saturday.Punjab Potohar took the lead in the 16th minute when Mehmood Ali found the net with a superb free kick, the ball going in off the underside of the crossbar and giving the Sindh Indus goalkeeper no chance.The goal, however, came against the run of play.Sindh Indus had been the sharper side in the opening period, playing with pace, aggression and technical confidence. Their quick movement and ability to move the ball through pressure repeatedly caused problems for Punjab Potohar, but they went into half-time trailing by a goal.The second half saw Sindh Indus take complete control.They came out with even greater intensity, swarming all over Punjab Potohar and allowing their opponents very little opportunity to settle. Their speed, technical quality and aggressive approach kept Punjab Potohar pinned back for long periods.The equaliser arrived in the 62nd minute when Yaseen found the bottom corner to bring Sindh Indus level.Five minutes later, Sindh Indus completed the turnaround when Shahid put the ball into his own net, giving Sindh Indus a 2-1 lead.Punjab Potohar struggled to regain a foothold as Sindh Indus continued to press, and their dominance produced a third goal in the 80th minute, with Musa extending the lead to 3-1.There was still a twist to come.Just a minute after Musa’s goal, Sindh Indus were reduced to ten men when Hanzala was shown a red card in the 81st minute.Even with a player less, Sindh Indus held their shape and defended their advantage to complete a memorable 3-1 victory.Having trailed at half-time, Sindh Indus produced a second-half performance that underlined their quality and intent in the championship. Quick, aggressive and technically assured, they maintained their grip on the contest even after going down to ten players.Earlier in the day, Punjab Harappa and Islamabad Margalla shared the points in a four-goal contest that ended 2-2.Islamabad Margalla took the lead through Rameez in the seventh minute, but Punjab Harappa responded five minutes later when Husnain equalised.Islamabad Margalla restored their advantage in the 23rd minute through Shahzaib, before Punjab Harappa fought back once again, with Irfan Ali scoring in the 83rd minute to secure a share of the points.The results added another competitive day to the PFF National U-17 Championship, with the young players continuing to provide plenty of pace, intensity and attacking football as the tournament moves forward.

Islamabad (Sports News): Pakistan have bronze medal in 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026: Pakistan Hockey Team Defeats Korea 5–3.Aichi-Nagoya / Gifu: Demonstrating a brilliant performance in the men's hockey tournament at the 20th Asian Games 2026, Pakistan defeated South Korea 5–3 after a thrilling contest to secure the bronze medal.In the bronze medal match played at the Gifu Prefectural Green Stadium, the Pakistan hockey team showcased aggressive play right from the start. In the 4th minute of the match, Sufyan Khan gave Pakistan the lead by scoring off a penalty corner. Following this, Abdul Rehman in the 30th minute (penalty corner), Rana Waheed in the 52nd and 54th minutes (penalty corner), and Hannan Shahid in the 59th minute scored impressive goals to seal the team's victory.For South Korea, Lee Gang-san (12th minute), Kim Jung-bok (18th minute), and Yang Ji-hun (25th minute – penalty corner) scored the goals.Pakistan Hockey Federation President Muhyuddin Ahmad Wani congratulated the national hockey team, players, and officials on this remarkable achievement and expressed hope that the team will continue to bring honor to Pakistan in the future.

Lausanne Switzerland (PR): India have achieved continental glory and punched their direct ticket to the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028 after being crowned champions of the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 women’s hockey competition. In a pulsating gold medal encounter, India edged out Paris 2024 Olympic silver medallists and defending champions China to return to the top step of the podium after 44 years!China claimed the silver medal, while hosts Japan secured the bronze after prevailing in the third-place playoff. With the top four women’s teams outside the continental champion qualifying for the FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers, silver medalists China, bronze medalists Japan, fourth-placed Korea, and fifth-placed Malaysia have all booked their places in the FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers to keep their dreams of reaching Los Angeles alive.The pool phase set the stage for an explosive medal round as the continent’s superpowers dominated preliminary proceedings. In Pool A, defending champions China were in imperious form, storming into the semi-finals with five consecutive victories, racking up 46 goals without conceding once. Korea joined them from the pool after holding their nerve in a crucial 2-1 final group stage clash against a resolute Malaysian team. Meanwhile, Pool B belonged to a rampant Indian side, who swept their five group matches while amassing over 65 goals, spearheaded by ace drag flicker Deepika, who registered 21 goals in the pool phase alone. India stamped their authority on the pool with a decisive 3-1 win over hosts Japan, who rebounded with clean-sheet wins over Thailand and Singapore to seal their place alongside India in the final four.The semi-finals delivered high-stakes, edge-of-the-seat drama. China maintained their momentum by edging ahead of hosts Japan in a shoot-out after a fiercely contested tactical semi-final ended in a tie, while India booked their place in the gold medal match with a commanding 2-0 win against Korea. In the bronze medal match, Japan delighted the passionate home crowd in Kakamigahara, overcoming Korea in a shoot-out to secure continental bronze.The women's final was a showcase of world-class defending, resilience, and clinical execution under immense pressure. Facing a formidable Chinese outfit that had barely put a foot wrong all tournament, India produced a tactical masterclass. The deadlock was broken when forward Lalremsiami, who was celebrating her 200th cap for India in the final, showed razor-sharp instincts inside the circle, smashing home a powerful reverse shot into the top corner that gave the keeper no chance, and proved to be the decisive goal, to put India 1-0 ahead. Backed by disciplined defensive structure and heroic goalkeeping including a stunning penalty stroke save by Savita, India weathered China’s relentless onslaught to preserve the 1-0 lead, claiming their first Asian Games crown in 44 years, and sealing direct passage to LA28.

Faisalabad (Sports Reporter): Bangladesh opened their account in the Rivaj Presents the University of Lahore U19 Women’s T20 Tri-nation series with a 30-run win over hosts Pakistan, defending their total of 117-8 as Iqbal Stadium Faisalabad became host to an international women’s fixture for the first time on Friday. Pakistan will take the field against on Saturday against Sri Lanka with the first ball set to be bowled at 11am at the same venue. Player of the match Nishita Akter Nishi starred for Bangladesh with both bat and ball as she followed her 23-run effort at no.3 with a clinical four-over spell taking two for 16. Pakistan were restricted to 87-6 in 20 overs in their pursuit of the target as Komal Khan top-scored with 29 off 39 striking three fours. Komal had stitched a 21-run opening stand with Ravail Farhan, who got off the blocks quickly hitting four boundaries before falling for 17 off 12 – pinned leg-before by left-arm spinner Afrin Mim. Pakistan lost their way losing five for 37 as Bangladesh bowlers applied pressure from both ends with both mainstays of hosts’ batting Zoofishan Ayyaz (12, 15b, 2x4s) and Aqsa Habib (9, 14b) falling to the right-arm off-spin of Nishita Akter. Debutant Pakeeza Shabbir could only contribute six runs batting at no.3 following her impressive run of form in U19 domestic T20 tournament, while pinch hitter Shahar Bano was also kept quiet by Bangladesh as she struggled to hit a boundary in her 18-ball stay at the crease. Apart from Nishita and Afrin’s strikes, Farjana Easmim Medha and Oddrita Nowshin picked up one wicket each as all the six bowlers employed by Bangladesh conceded less than six an over. Earlier, Bangladesh opted to bat first after winning the coin toss and were kept in check by Pakistan bowlers who claimed first four wickets for 47 runs in 9.4 overs. At this juncture, Sadia Akter walked in and scored a valuable 34 not out off 25 balls hitting one four and two sixes and was supported by Sraboni Shill who hit two fours in her 11-ball 12. Nishita was the fifth Bangladesh batter to fall after scoring 23 off 33 with the help of a solitary boundary, while no.4 Sadia Aslam scored 12 off 11 balls striking two fours. Sadia Akter added 19 runs for the ninth wicket with Oddrita (6 not out, 2b). For Pakistan, left-arm pacer Mahnoor Zeb picked up three wickets for 24 runs in her four overs, off-spinner Rozina Akram dismissed two batters, left-arm pacer Shahar Bano and local left-arm spinner Maham Nazakat dismissed one batter each. Scores in brief U19 Women’s T20 Series - Match 1 – Bangladesh beat Pakistan by 30 runs at Iqbal Stadium, FaisalabadBangladesh 117-8, 20 overs (Sadia Akter 34 not out, Nishita Akter Nishi 23; Mahnoor Zeb 3-24, Rozina Akram 2-33)Pakistan 87-6, 20 overs (Komal Khan 29; Nishita Akter Nishi 2-16)Player of the match – Nishita Akter Nishi (Bangladesh women’s U19)Women’s U19 T20 tri-series schedule: (All matches at Iqbal Stadium, Faisalabad)2 October – Bangladesh beat Pakistan by 30 runs  3 October – Pakistan v Sri Lanka 5 October – Sri Lanka v Bangladesh 6 October – Pakistan v Bangladesh 8 October – Bangladesh v Sri Lanka 9 October – Pakistan v Sri Lanka 11 October – Pakistan v Bangladesh 12 October – Pakistan v Sri Lanka14 October – Sri Lanka v Bangladesh 16 October – Final 

Sports Reporter ISLAMABAD: Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF), Shahid Niaz Khokhar, has said that the PFF has restored domestic football after a long time by starting the U17 National Football Championship 2026 here at Jinnah Stadium, Pakistan Sports Complex, as 10 teams from all over the country will fight for the top honour.On Thursday, addressing a press conference along with other officials including PFF Vice President Hafiz Zakaullah, Islamabad Football Association President and Local Organising Committee Chief Sheikh Ahmed Rehan, and PFF Executive Committee Member Wasim Raja, he further added that the game of football was moving up in the country under the control of PFF president Mohsin Gillani.Shahid Niaz Khokhar said the competition represented an important step in the revival of structured youth football in the country. “For a long time, we have been missing a consistent national platform for our young footballers. This championship is about reviving youth football in Pakistan and, more importantly, putting structures in place that can continue beyond one tournament. We want young players to have regular opportunities to compete, to develop and to be identified, wherever they are in the country.”He said the Federation’s objective was to connect youth competitions with a broader development structure, creating clearer pathways from grassroots football towards the national teams. For many years, Pakistan’s youth national teams have largely relied on open trials and short selection camps whenever international competitions approached. While such trials provide an opportunity for players to be seen, they offer only a limited window in which a young footballer can demonstrate his ability.Islamabad Football Association President Sheikh Ahmed Rehan said the time had come to move away from that model. “For years, whenever Pakistan had to send a team abroad, we would announce open trials. Thousands of boys would come, and we would have a very limited period in which to identify the players. That cannot be the only way we identify talent. What we are now building is a competition-based merit system, where players have the opportunity to perform over time, and where sustained performance can define their progression.”Rehan said the increased football activity undertaken by the Federation over the past 15 months under the leadership of President Syed Mohsen Gilani had created the foundation for this change. “The idea is simple. If a player performs consistently, he should be seen. If he performs at a high level against strong competition, that should count. We want to move towards a system where merit and long-term performance matter, rather than one trial or one day deciding a player’s future.”Hafiz Zakaullah highlighted that the merit-based approach should extend beyond players to the coaches and technical staff working with them. “This system is not only about identifying talented players. It will also help us identify the coaches and technical staff who are doing outstanding work at the grassroots and competition level. If a coach is consistently producing good results and developing players, we should be able to recognise that work and give them

ICC announced World Cup 2027 Schedule, Johannesburg to host final on November 21Sports Bulletin ReportCape Town (South Africa): The International Cricket Council (ICC) today unveiled the schedule for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 at a spectacular ceremony in Cape Town, officially setting the countdown in motion to the world’s biggest ODI cricket event as the ticket ballot opened to fans across the globe. Under the banner of “Three Nations, One Heartbeat”, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia will come together to host a World Cup that will unite fans across the region and around the world through a shared passion for cricket.Held at the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Zeitz MOCAA), the ceremony marked the official one-year countdown to the tournament and brought together representatives of the ICC, the Local Organising Committee (LOC) and the three host nations. The 14-team tournament will feature 57 matches across 12 venues in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia from 2 October to 21 November 2027.The tournament will burst into life with a blockbuster opening weekend, headlined by a heavyweight clash between defending champions Australia and 2023 finalists India on 7 October. The two cricketing powerhouses will open the tournament matches at Newlands Cricket Ground in Cape Town, with the highly anticipated encounter.World Cup fever will then sweep across the three host nations. On 8 October, Afghanistan will take on Pakistan in Centurion, while England face Bangladesh in Windhoek.Co-hosts Zimbabwe will mark their return to the Men’s Cricket World Cup after a 12-year absence when they take on Qualifier-A at Queen’s Sports Club in Bulawayo on Saturday, 9 October. In Cape Town, South Africa will begin their World Cup campaign against New Zealand at Newlands.The opening weekend will reach a crescendo on Sunday, 10 October, when traditional rivals India and Pakistan renew their iconic competitiveness at Wanderers Stadium. In Windhoek, Sri Lanka will also begin their World Cup campaign against Qualifier-B, bringing the opening weekend to a thrilling close.Zimbabwe will break new ground at the Mosi-oa-Tunya Stadium at the iconic Victoria Falls when they host India in Match 33.The semi-finals will take place in Cape Town and Centurion on 17 and 18 November respectively, before Johannesburg’s iconic cityscape provides the backdrop for the 21 November final, bringing the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 to a spectacular close in the City of Gold.Jay Shah, ICC Chairman, said: “The announcement of the schedule and opening of the ticket ballot are major milestones on the road to the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027, bringing fans one step closer to a spectacular celebration of cricket across the three nations.“The ICC remains committed to making its World Cup events accessible to as many fans as possible, with affordable ticket prices and options that bring families, young people and local communities closer to the action.“South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia will provide an unforgettable stage for the world’s best teams, combining a deep passion for cricket, extraordinary destinations and a renowned warmth of welcome. We look forward to welcoming fans from across the world and creating memories that will last long beyond the final.”The World Cup will be staged across eight venues in South Africa, three in Zimbabwe and one in Namibia, bringing the competition to Johannesburg, Tshwane (formerly Pretoria), Cape Town, Durban, Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth), Bloemfontein, Paarl and KuGompo City (formerly East London) in South Africa; Harare, Bulawayo and Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe; and Windhoek in Namibia.The tournament will kick off with a Super Series hosted in Namibia, featuring the three lowest ranked of the 14 qualified teams. These teams will compete in a round robin format, with the team finishing top of the standings progressing to the Group Stage.Following this, 12 teams (including a direct entrant from a preceding World Cup Qualifier tournament) will be divided in two groups: India, Australia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe and Qualifier A in Group A and New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka, England, Bangladesh and Qualifier B in Group B.The first few matches between top-ranked teams will be a showdown between last time’s finalists India (A1) and Australia (A2) in Cape Town on Thursday, 7 October, and a faceoff between New Zealand (B1) and South Africa (B2) in Tshwane on Friday, 8 October. India face Pakistan (A3) in Johannesburg on Sunday, 10 October.This will be followed by a Super Sevens tournament to determine the semi-finalists. Cape Town (17 November) and Tshwane (18 November) will be the host cities for the semifinals while the final will be played in Johannesburg on 21 November.Trevor Manuel, independent chairperson of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 LOC Board, said: “South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia are ready to welcome the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup and supporters from around the world back to our continent. Southern Africa has a proud tradition of hosting major global sporting events, and we approach 2027 with the same confidence, ambition and determination to deliver a tournament worthy of the occasion.“While the cricket will rightly take centre stage, this World Cup is also an opportunity to showcase the people, places and spirit that make Southern Africa so remarkable. We hope supporters will arrive in their multitudes for the cricket and leave with lasting memories of the warmth, energy, diversity and extraordinary welcome of our region.”