Beat on Track Zumba event planned at Hua Hin Railway Station

DARWIN: Bangladesh’s historic nine-wicket victory over Australia on home soil has been labelled one of the biggest upsets in Australian Test cricket, leaving former players and the country’s media questioning the future of the team. Former Australia batter Mark Waugh described the defeat as a massive upset and warned that selectors may need to make difficult decisions after another disappointing batting performance. “When the batting keeps failing, selectors have to make big calls,” Waugh said, stressing that Australia had entered the match with a full-strength squad. The defeat, he suggested, was therefore even more concerning. Former opener David Warner also raised serious questions about Australia’s batting line-up ahead of the team’s upcoming tour of South Africa. Warner questioned whether Australia could approach such a challenging tour with confidence given the current state of its batting. He pointed out that South Africa possess an experienced bowling attack and said selectors would need to seriously consider changes. Australian media outlets have also intensified scrutiny following the unexpected defeat. Questions have emerged over Jack Wetherald’s future, while doubts have been raised about whether Travis Head can succeed as an opener. However, the concerns are not limited to batting. Analysts have also questioned Australia’s bowling combination and suggested that the squad needs fresh faces. With many members of the current team aged over 30, Australian cricket faces an important transition period. Bangladesh’s victory has therefore done more than rewrite a piece of cricket history—it has exposed vulnerabilities in a team accustomed to dominating at home. The selectors now face pressure to respond before Australia’s next major Test challenge.

MACKAY: Bangladesh’s batting collapsed spectacularly against Australia on Saturday, folding for just 64 runs in the first innings of the second Test as Mitchell Starc produced a devastating spell of fast bowling. Playing at the Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay, Australia won the toss and elected to bowl first. The decision quickly paid off as Bangladesh’s batters struggled to cope with the pace and movement generated by the Australian attack. Starc was the chief destroyer, claiming six wickets for just 12 runs from 10 overs. His relentless spell left Bangladesh’s batting order in tatters and gave Australia complete control of the opening stages of the match. Captain Pat Cummins provided strong support, taking three wickets, while Josh Hazlewood claimed the remaining wicket as Australia’s pace trio ripped through the visitors. Bangladesh’s innings offered little resistance. No specialist batter managed to produce a substantial score, with No. 11 batter Shoriful Islam emerging as the team’s leading scorer with 14 runs. Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Taijul Islam each contributed 11, but the lower order could not prevent Bangladesh from being bowled out for one of their lowest Test totals. The collapse is a dramatic turnaround from the opening match of the series. Bangladesh stunned Australia in the first Test in Darwin, securing a historic nine-wicket victory — their first Test win over Australia on Australian soil. That result had given Bangladesh enormous confidence and put the hosts under early pressure in the series. However, Starc and Australia’s fast bowlers ensured that the second Test began on an entirely different note. For Bangladesh, the immediate challenge is to recover from the huge first-innings setback and find a way to contain Australia’s batting. For the hosts, meanwhile, the emphatic bowling performance offers a chance to level the series after their unexpected defeat in Darwin. Starc’s six-wicket haul has already become the defining moment of the match, with Australia firmly on top after Bangladesh’s dramatic batting collapse.

The Asian Football Confederation has taken a clear stand, and it is backing UEFA and CONCACAF on a growing football dispute. The issue centres on a FIFA proposal. It involves bringing private investment into the World Cup’s business operations. The AFC confirmed its position on Friday. In its statement, the AFC expressed solidarity with the two other confederations. It raised serious concerns over FIFA’s plan. The organisation represents 47 member nations. These include Australia, China, Japan and Saudi Arabia. Its statement made clear how seriously the body views the matter. The AFC did not stop there. It pointed out that talk of a possible World Cup boycott has already entered public discussion. According to the AFC, this alone should concern anyone who cares about the sport’s future. It added that this concern should apply across all confederations, not just a few. FIFA responded with its own statement soon after. It said every member association should get a fair chance to review the proposal. The governing body also acknowledged the feedback it had received from UEFA and CONCACAF. FIFA confirmed something significant in its response. All 41 member associations under CONCACAF had rejected the plan. This body oversees football across North and Central America. Their rejection focused specifically on selling a stake in the World Cup’s operations. FIFA also addressed reports around its consultation process. It said the process had been disrupted by what it called inaccurate media coverage. Still, it maintained respect for the concerns raised publicly. It reaffirmed its commitment to keeping things open and democratic. The organisation said it plans to continue with its consultation as scheduled. Its goal, according to the statement, is to let every member vote based on facts. FIFA wants to avoid decisions being shaped by speculation instead. This disagreement adds to a growing list of tensions. FIFA’s push for private investment has already faced resistance from two major confederations. Now, with the AFC joining them, the pressure on football’s global body appears to be increasing. For now, attention remains fixed on FIFA’s next move. All eyes are on how it plans to carry out its consultation process. Many are also watching to see whether these mounting concerns can be addressed, without deepening the divide among football’s governing bodies worldwide.

Pakistan’s tennis stars have delivered a memorable performance at the ITF Masters World Championships in Lisbon, Portugal, winning an impressive four medals and adding another chapter to the country’s international tennis story. The biggest highlight came from veteran tennis star Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi, who successfully defended his world title in the 40+ mixed doubles category. Partnering Austria’s Nina Hermann, Qureshi defeated the top-seeded Portuguese pair in a closely fought final to retain the championship for a second consecutive year. The victory marked another significant milestone in Qureshi’s long and distinguished international career. His achievement also underlined his enduring competitiveness on the world stage, even after decades of representing Pakistan at major international events. Pakistan’s medal tally grew further in the men’s 45+ doubles category, where Qureshi and fellow veteran Aqeel Khan combined to secure a silver medal. Their run demonstrated the experience and consistency of Pakistan’s senior tennis players against strong international opposition. The national team also added another silver medal in the men’s 45+ World Team Championship, giving Pakistan a strong finish in the team competition. Aqeel Khan completed Pakistan’s four-medal haul by winning bronze in the 40+ mixed doubles event. His podium finish ensured that Pakistan’s campaign ended with medals across both individual and team competitions. The results in Lisbon are a significant boost for Pakistani tennis, particularly in the Masters categories, where experienced players continue to compete at the highest international level. Qureshi’s successful title defence stands out as the headline achievement, but the combined medal haul highlights the depth of experience within Pakistan’s veteran tennis ranks. With four medals secured, Pakistan’s performance in Lisbon offers a timely reminder that the country’s tennis talent continues to make its mark beyond the domestic circuit.

LONDON: Pakistan’s national shooting team delivered an impressive performance at the F-Class British Open 2026, winning 13 medals, including seven gold medals. The team was led by Lieutenant General Ahsan Gulrez. Pakistan competed with a relatively small contingent compared with several other participating countries but still produced strong results. The F-Class British Open was held from August 3 to 8 in Bisley, United Kingdom. Around 185 elite shooters from 24 countries took part in the prestigious international competition. Pakistan participated with a 12-member shooting team. Despite the limited size of the contingent, Pakistani shooters produced notable results in both individual and aggregate events. The team secured a total of 13 medals. These included seven gold, two silver and four bronze medals. The performance highlighted the consistency and competitive ability of Pakistani shooters against some of the world’s experienced F-Class rifle competitors. The British Open was also considered an important preparation event for the 7th F-Class World Championship. The world championship is being held in Bisley from August 10 to 16. Following their strong showing at the British Open, Pakistani shooters are now competing at the world championship. They are facing some of the leading teams and top shooters from around the world. Officials associated with the team said the results at the British Open demonstrated Pakistan’s growing strength in long-range competitive rifle shooting. They said Pakistani shooters have shown that they can compete successfully at the highest international level. The national team, under the leadership of Lieutenant General Ahsan Gulrez, will now aim to build on its medal-winning performance at the F-Class World Championship.