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Gill and Dunkley named ICC Players of the Month for July 2025
Islamabad (Sports Desk): India captain Shubman Gill and England batter Sophia Dunkley have been declared the ICC men’s and women’s Players of the Month for July 2025 following an elaborate process that included votes from an esteemed selection panel as well as those of fans worldwide.Gill became the first male player to win the Player of the Month award four times after a stupendous run in England saw him score 567 runs at an average of 94.50 in the three Tests played in July. His previous ICC Player of the Month awards were in January 2023, September 2023 and February 2025.The highlight for Gill during this period was his aggregate of 430 runs in the second Test in Birmingham, the second highest ever in a Test match. His scores of 269 and 161 in that Test helped level the series 1-1 and he also chipped in with a useful 103 in the second innings of the fourth Test in Manchester that helped draw the match and keep the series alive.The Indian skipper, who won the award ahead of his England counterpart Ben Stokes and South Africa all-rounder Wiaan Mulder, said he was hoping to continue his good form in the season ahead.Shubman Gill said: “It feels great to be named the ICC Player of the Month for July. This time it holds a lot more significance since it has come for my performances during my first Test series as captain. “The double ton in Birmingham is obviously something I will cherish forever and will be one of the highlights of my tour to England. The Test series against England was a learning experience for me as captain and we had some outstanding performances from both sides, which I am sure players from both sides will remember for a long time.”England batter Dunkley edged her team-mate Sophie Ecclestone and Ireland captain Gaby Lewis for the award, showing a fine run during this period in ODIs as well as T20Is. She played in all seven matches at home against India across the two formats, aggregating 126 runs in three ODIs and 144 runs at a strike-rate of 134.57 in four T20Is. Dunkley was England’s leading scorer in the T20I series and smashed a superb 92-ball 83 in the first ODI in Southampton.Dunkley said: “I am delighted to win the ICC Player of the Month award off the back of a really hard-fought series against India. We would have loved to have won the series, but I think we’ll take a lot from it moving towards the ICC Women’s World Cup. India deserved their win, and it was a great series to be a part of.”
FOOTBALL - National 12 Aug, 2025
Sports Bulletin ReportISLAMABAD: The national team’s training camp for the AFC U-23 Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers will commence on August 16 in Abbottabad.Head coach Nolberto Solano is scheduled to arrive in Pakistan on August 15 and will oversee the camp, which is set to run for two weeks under his supervision.A total of 50 players, initially selected through tryouts, will participate in the training camp. The final 23-member squad will be announced at a later stage.As part of the qualifiers, Pakistan will play their first match against Iraq on September 3, followed by a game against host nation Cambodia on September 6. The team will conclude the group stage with a match against Oman on September 9.
HETMYER ANNOUNCED AS THE DESERT VIPERS’ WILD CARD SIGNING FOR SEASON FOUR OF THE DP WORLD ILT20
Dubai, UAE (SBR): The Desert Vipers announced West Indies batting maestro Shimron Hetmyer as the team’s wild card signing for season four of the DP World ILT20. Director of Cricket Tom Moody welcomed the new recruit: “Shimron is a player we rate extremely highly so for us to secure his services is a real coup,” he said.“He has proved a thorn in our side in the DP World ILT20 in the past so to have him in our ranks now is great news.”The left-handed batter, previously a member of the Gulf Giants team, has played some memorable knocks against the Vipers, including smashing 70 off just 35 deliveries in season one. Hetmyer said he was looking forward to joining the squad.“I am so happy to be joining the Desert Vipers. I have enjoyed my battles with the team during the past three seasons. The franchise is filled with quality players and I am looking forward to playing with them rather than against them.”The 28-year-old was part of the Gulf Giants in the first three seasons of the DP World ILT20, including season one where that team won the title by defeating the Desert Vipers in the final. With a strike rate of over 150 across those three seasons, having scored 390 (48 fours and 33 sixes) of his 666 runs in fours and sixes, Hetmyer is a hard hitter who can bring down any opposition on his day. Tom Moody believes he could be a key disruptor for the team: “Shimron is a game-changer with the bat and someone who can fill multiple roles,” he said. “He is capable of batting in the top order and as a finisher, and his power and his ability to clear the fence are attributes we welcome. “But he is also a smart cricketer who knows the T20 format inside-out. I have no doubt Shimron will be a huge asset for the Desert Vipers in the coming season and we look forward to welcoming him to our team later this year.”The Desert Vipers have twice been runners-up in the DP World ILT20 but are yet to win a championship, and Hetmyer is eager to change that statistic.“I have seen the way the Vipers have been run, and the fact the team has reached two finals in three years speaks for itself,” he said. “They have been so close to the trophy and hopefully my arrival will be the final piece of the puzzle to make sure the team finishes season four as winners.“I love the tournament. It is such a great experience as a player, and I cannot wait to link up with the team in Dubai later this year.”Hetmyer brings with him a wealth of experience, having represented the West Indies at junior and senior levels, including leading them to victory in the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup in 2016. The left-hander is also in great demand on the franchise circuit and has played across the globe including in The Hundred, the Pakistan Super League, the Indian Premier League, the Caribbean Premier League, Major League Cricket and the DP World ILT20. Here is a quick reminder of the retained players and direct signings for the Desert Vipers:Retained players:Lockie Ferguson (ENG)Wanindu Hasaranga (SL)Sam Curran (ENG)Max Holden (ENG)Dan Lawrence (ENG)David Payne (ENG)Khuzaima bin Tanveer (UAE)Direct Signing:Andries Gous (USA)
Series win gives Prendergast big gains in ICC Women’s T20I Rankings
Dubai (PR): Ireland all-rounder Orla Prendergast has made notable progress in the ICC Women’s T20I Player Rankings after helping her team beat Pakistan 2-1 in Dublin even as several other players from either side also gained in the latest weekly update to the rankings.Prendergast, who was named the Player of the Series, finished with 144 runs and four wickets, progressing in all three lists. She made her first appearance inside the top 20 of the batting rankings after advancing eight slots to joint-19th place, thanks to her scores of 51 and 64 in the second and third matches, amassing career-best ratings points of 602.She has also entered the top 50 of the bowling rankings for the first time after taking three for 28 in the series opener that helped her team to victory by 11 runs. Her all-round performance shot her up to sixth among the all-rounders with personal-best rating points of 298.There were movements for her teammates as well. Amy Hunter climbed up one place to 29th among batters while Laura Delany jumped five slots to 50th thanks to her score of 42 runs in the second match – her first time in the top 50 with career-best rating points of 448.Ava Canning is 48th in the bowlers’ list, while Jane Maguire has moved to 50th from last week’s 54th.Pakistan may have lost the series, but individual performances were rewarded. Left-handed opener Muneeba Ali’s match-winning unbeaten century in the final match helped her advance three slots to joint-32nd in the batters’ list (personal best points of 526), while captain Fatima Sana has hopped four places up to 59th.The skipper also moved up one place to joint-39th in the bowling rankings after her haul of four for 26 in the series opener. She ended the series as the leading wicket taker with a total of six scalps.
TENPIN BOWLING - National 12 Aug, 2025
Islamabad (SBR): Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab teams have qualified for the final of the team event of the Azadi Cup Tenpin Bowling Championship.Islamabad team players; Ijaz -ur -Rehman, Daniyal Ijaz, Afzal Akhtar and Ayzaz-ur -Rehman reached in final. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa team, Naveed Khan, Daniyal Shah, , Fahim Akbar, Akhil Shah, Akhil Akhtar, Fahim Akhtar, Akhil Shah, and Fahim Akbar has qualified for final.Mohammad Hussain Chatha, Saleem Baig, Shahzad Rana and Junaid Shafique from Punjab qualified for final.Men and women from across the country are participating in nine categories competitions in the championship. The concluding ceremony of the championship will be held on August 14, in which prizes distributed among the players who are successful.
PTF Appoints Sara as National Development Director NDD-PTF
Islamabad (SBR): Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) announced the appointment of Sara Mansoor as the National Development Director (NDD-PTF).President PTF, Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi, and Secretary General, Col. Zia-ud-din Tufail, extend their best wishes to Sara Mansoor in her new role, confident that her appointment will greatly benefit the growth and development of tennis in Pakistan.
TENNIS - Wheelchair 10 Aug, 2025
London (PR): Asif Gul Abbasi, Pakistan’s leading wheelchair tennis player, has once again made history by reclaiming the prestigious "Play Your Way to Wimbledon" wheelchair tennis title at the iconic Wimbledon grounds in London on 9 August 2025. This remarkable victory marks his second triumph at this elite tournament, further cementing his status as one of Pakistan’s most successful wheelchair tennis athletes on the international stage.Abbasi’s path to Wimbledon began with his dominant win at the national tournament held at Lee Valley Tennis Centre earlier this year, where he secured his place among the top 8 finalists who qualified for the Wimbledon national finals. Displaying exceptional skill and determination, he won both of his group stage matches and convincingly defeated the Welsh number one in the final with straight sets of 4-2, 4-1.His record at national tournaments is equally impressive. Out of 24 national competitions since April 2017, Abbasi has remained unbeaten in 23, becoming a four-time UK National Champion and securing the 2024 National Championship title.Beyond Wimbledon, Abbasi boasts a series of historic achievements for Pakistan:Winner of three international wheelchair tennis tournaments, a milestone never before achieved by any Pakistani wheelchair tennis player.Achieved a career-best world ranking of 82, the highest ever attained by a Pakistani wheelchair tennis athlete.Competed at the Asian Games in China, where he won a match — a first for Pakistan in wheelchair tennis history.Participated in four World Team Cup qualifying events, defeating numerous seasoned international players.Secured a bronze medal for Pakistan at the 2024 World Team Cup qualifiers in Sri Lanka by finishing third, marking Pakistan’s best-ever performance in the competition.Despite these remarkable accomplishments, Abbasi highlights the persistent lack of institutional support for wheelchair tennis athletes in Pakistan. “All I have achieved has come through my own dedication, effort, and financial sacrifice. Currently, there is no sponsorship or official support for Pakistani wheelchair tennis players,” he stated.However, with the recent appointment of Aisamulhaq Qureshi as head of the Pakistan Tennis Federation, Abbasi expresses renewed hope. “Mr. Qureshi has shown great interest and commitment to promoting wheelchair tennis in Pakistan, and I am optimistic that under his leadership, the sport will receive the recognition and support it truly deserves.”Abbasi calls on the Pakistan Tennis Federation, government bodies, and relevant organizations to unite in uplifting wheelchair athletes, especially wheelchair tennis players, and to formally recognize their outstanding achievements at the national level.His inspiring journey stands as a powerful testament to resilience and passion, shining a spotlight on the untapped potential of para-sports in Pakistan.
FOOTBALL - Int News 10 Aug, 2025
Lahore (SBR): In a groundbreaking step toward gender equality in sports, the newly elected leadership of the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) has appointed Arooj Butt as the Team Manager of the Pakistan Men’s U-17 National Team. This historic appointment makes her the first woman in the country’s football history to hold such a key position at both national and international levels.Arooj Butt, who has been actively working with PFF since 2022 as Safeguarding Officer, holds multiple certifications in child safeguarding and welfare from FIFA, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF).With this appointment, PFF is sending a strong message: women have a place at every level of the game, from the field to the boardroom.The initiative closely aligns with FIFA’s global objectives, especially its commitment to human rights, anti-discrimination and the inclusion of women in football governance, as outlined in Article 3 of the FIFA Statutes. FIFA’s 2016 reforms also emphasized the importance of women’s full participation in shaping the future of the sport.On the occasion, PFF President Syed Mohsen Gilani said: I am proud to see women taking managerial role in the history of Pakistan football. We believe her presence will inspire more women to take up key roles in football.
TENPIN BOWLING - National 10 Aug, 2025
Islamabad (SBR):Ladies singles and Deaf Men singles competitions of Azadi Cup Tenpin Bowling Championship concluded at leisure City Bowling Club,Safa Gold, F-7 Markaz, Islamabad.Maryam and Wajid lifted ladies and deaf titles of Azadi Cup Tenpin Bowling Championship, respectively.While Rana Azam Khan got 2nd position in Deaf Men singles and Noor bagged 2nd position in the Ladies singles.President, Pakistan Tenpin Bowling Federation, Ijaz Ur Rehman and a large number of peoples were also present on the occasion.Results Deaf Men singles; Wajid Ali got first position with 190 points, Rana Azam khan secured 2nd position with166 points, Umer Farooq obtained 3rd position with 166 points and Nasir received 4th position with 156 points.Results Women singles;Maryam bagged first position with273 points, Noor obtained 2nd position with 222 points, Shaista obtained 3rd position with201points and Mehr Noor got 4th position with 183 points. Players from all over the country are taking part in the Championship. The Championship is being played under the auspices of Pakistan Tenpin Bowling Federation. The Championship will continue till August 14.
FOOTBALL - Int News 09 Aug, 2025
Islamabad (Sports Desk): Women’s football has enjoyed an action-packed two months, with continental competitions causing a shake-up in the FIFA/Coca-Cola Women’s World Ranking. England retained their European title by seeing off the challenge of Spain, Brazil successfully defended their South American crown, and the Solomon Islands took full advantage of New Zealand’s absence to lay claim to the Oceania throne.World champions Spain (1st, up 1) had an impressive run to the final of the UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 with five back-to-back wins, which was enough to see them reclaim top spot in the ranking, a position they previously held from December 2023 to June 2024. The USA (2nd, down 1) have therefore been knocked off their perch, which they had occupied since August 2024. However, three convincing home wins in friendlies during this period have kept the Stars and Stripes in contention, and they are now sitting less than two points behind La Roja.The top 10 has been shaken up completely since the June edition of the ranking, with France (6th, up 4) performing best among them. Les Bleues completed a flawless group stage at the European Championship before falling to Germany in the quarter-finals.Brazil (7th, down 3) have lost ground despite picking up their ninth continental trophy. They lost to France prior to the tournament, which subsequently saw the Seleção held to two draws by a hard-working Colombia side in the group stage as well as the in final, before prevailing on penalties.Further down the ranking, the Asian qualifiers for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027™ and the OFC Women’s Nations Cup have stirred things up. Bangladesh (104th, up 24) recorded the biggest jump in places and points (+80.51), courtesy of their historic both qualification for the AFC final qualifying tournament for Brazil 2027, following dramatic victories over Myanmar, Bahrain and Turkmenistan.Vanuatu (100th, up 19) have also made considerable progress, as have the Solomon Islands (73rd, up 13), who have hit a new high in the ranking. No fewer than 10 teams are currently higher in the ranking than ever before, including Poland (26th, up 1), Haiti (49th, up 1), and Saudi Arabia (164th, up 1).
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