Chiang Rai ‘s Crypto Cobra’s Dominates in TOA 3×3 All Thailand Basketball Tournament

HARARE: India have climbed back to the top of the ICC Men’s T20I team rankings after taking an unassailable lead in their three-match series against Zimbabwe, quickly reclaiming the position they had lost earlier this month. The reigning T20 world champions moved to No. 1 after defeating Zimbabwe by 90 runs in the second T20I at Harare on Saturday. The victory gave India a 2-0 lead in the series and pushed them ahead of England in the rankings. India had slipped to second after a difficult tour of England, where they suffered a heavy series defeat. England had subsequently taken over the top spot after India’s long reign at No. 1 came to an end. The return to the summit has come quickly, with India showing a strong response against Zimbabwe. In the second T20I, India posted 219 for five, powered by Ishan Kishan’s 81 from 44 balls and an unbeaten 60 from Tilak Varma. Zimbabwe were then dismissed for 129 in 17.5 overs as India completed a convincing victory. The first match had also gone India’s way. They chased down Zimbabwe’s 125 for seven in just 13.2 overs, winning by seven wickets, with young opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi hitting a rapid 50 from only 19 deliveries. India’s return to No. 1 underlines the competitiveness at the top of the T20I rankings. Before the Zimbabwe series, England were ranked first with India second, while Australia, New Zealand and South Africa occupied the next three places. Pakistan remain sixth, followed by West Indies, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan in the top 10. With the series already secured, India entered the third T20I with an opportunity to complete a clean sweep. The result could also prove important in what is currently a closely contested battle for the top ranking. For India, however, the immediate message is clear: “after a brief fall from the summit, the world champions are back at No. 1.”

MULTAN: Shaheen Shah Afridi produced a match-winning bowling performance as Pakistan Gold defeated Pakistan Whites by five wickets to book their place in the National Champions Cup 2026 final at Multan Cricket Stadium. Chasing 173, Gold reached their target in just 28 overs, although they lost five wickets along the way. Haider Ali led the chase with an impressive 69 off 48 balls, smashing seven fours and three sixes in an aggressive innings. The victory was particularly striking because Gold had entered the match after suffering two defeats and sitting at the bottom of the table. Their superior net run rate, however, kept their qualification hopes alive, and they capitalised when it mattered most. Gold faced early trouble during the chase, slipping to 61-3 after 10 overs. Haider then steadied the innings alongside Kamran Ghulam, who contributed 30 from 26 deliveries, including four boundaries. Saad Khan also played a valuable supporting role, scoring a patient 33 off 55 balls as Gold moved steadily towards victory. Mohammad Wasim claimed two wickets for Whites, but his efforts were not enough to stop the chase. Earlier, Whites were bowled out for 172 in 41.4 overs after choosing to bat first. Gold’s bowlers immediately put their opponents under pressure, reducing Whites to 26-2 inside the opening 10 overs. Shahzaib Khan fell for two while Haseebullah Khan managed only three. The situation worsened as Usman Khan was dismissed for three and Saim Ayub departed after scoring 30, leaving Whites struggling at 45-4 in 14.5 overs. Hasan Nawaz provided some resistance, scoring a determined 55 off 74 balls with three fours and two sixes. His efforts helped Whites cross the 150-run mark, but the lower order could not carry the innings further. Shaheen led Gold’s attack with three wickets, while Faisal Akram claimed two. The National Champions Cup is being staged in Multan from August 11 to 18 as part of Pakistan’s 2026-27 domestic season and preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup. Match 6 – Sparco Paints Pakistan Gold beat UOL Pakistan Whites by five wickets at Multan Cricket Stadium Pakistan Whites 172 all out, 41.4 overs (Hasan Nawaz 55, Saim Ayub 28, Saad Masood 20; Shaheen Shah Afridi 3-26, Mubasir Khan 2-29, Faisal Akram 2-48) Pakistan Gold 173-5, 28 overs (Haider Ali 69 not out, Saad Khan 33, Kamran Ghulam 30; Mohammad Wasim Jnr) Player of the match – Shaheen Shah Afridi (Pakistan Gold) Tournament schedule: (All matches at Multan Cricket Stadium; All matches to begin at 3pm) 11 August – Pakistan Greens beat Pakistan Whites by five wickets 12 August – Pakistan Blues beat Pakistan Gold by six wickets 13 August –Pakistan Whites beat Pakistan Blues by six runs 14 August – Pakistan Greens beat Pakistan Gold by 128 runs 15 August – Pakistan Greens beat Pakistan Blues by 192 runs 16 August – Pakistan Gold beat Pakistan Whites by five wickets 18 August – Final (Pakistan Greens v Pakistan Gold)

The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) is preparing to appoint a foreign coach for the national women’s hockey team in a move aimed at strengthening player development and improving the team’s international competitiveness. According to sources familiar with the matter, the PHF is currently in discussions with a European coach to take charge of the women’s national side. The negotiations are progressing, and officials are hopeful that an agreement will be finalized by the end of this month. The proposed appointment is part of the federation’s broader strategy to modernize women’s hockey and provide players with greater exposure to international coaching methods and high-performance training. Sources said the incoming coach would also oversee a series of training tours across Europe. These tours are expected to give Pakistan’s women hockey players the opportunity to compete against stronger opposition, gain valuable match experience and adapt to international standards of play. In addition to coaching the national squad, the foreign coach is likely to play a key role in organizing practice matches and training camps during overseas visits. These fixtures are expected to help the team improve its tactical awareness, fitness levels and overall performance ahead of future international competitions. The move reflects the PHF’s growing focus on rebuilding women’s hockey, which has struggled to maintain a consistent presence on the international stage in recent years. Officials believe that exposure to European coaching techniques and competitive environments could accelerate the team’s progress. While the federation has yet to make an official announcement regarding the coach’s identity, insiders say discussions are in the final stages and optimism is high that the appointment will soon be confirmed. If finalized, the hiring of a European coach would mark an important step in Pakistan’s efforts to revive women’s hockey and create a stronger pathway for future success at regional and global tournaments.

CHICAGO: A heated Indiana Fever-Chicago Sky matchup has sparked a fresh controversy in the WNBA after Sky guard DiJonai Carrington was ejected for a Flagrant 2 foul on Sophie Cunningham and later posted “WHITE PRIVILEGE” on social media. The incident happened during Saturday’s game in Chicago when Cunningham was driving toward the basket on a fast break. Carrington chased her down and struck Cunningham high around the head and neck, sending the Fever guard to the floor. After a video review, officials upgraded the foul to a Flagrant 2, which carries an automatic ejection. Cunningham immediately confronted Carrington before teammates stepped in to separate the players. Carrington later posted the words “WHITE PRIVILEGE” on Threads while tagging the Indiana Fever, bringing a racial dimension to an already tense incident. Cunningham strongly rejected that interpretation after the game. “I think the league is taking care of that. This has nothing to do with race,” Cunningham said, pointing out that she had previously been ejected for a similar incident and accepted the punishment at the time. She also described Carrington’s foul as unnecessary and said she believed there was intent behind the contact. “I’ve never really spoken to her and have no beef with her,” Cunningham said, adding that she believed Carrington had some pent-up frustration. Despite the confrontation, the Fever guard’s coach offered a more measured assessment of the incident. Indiana coach Stephanie White agreed that the Flagrant 2 call was appropriate but said she did not believe Carrington deliberately targeted Cunningham’s neck. White previously coached Carrington during their time with the Connecticut Sun. Carrington’s own coach, Tyler Marsh, also said he initially believed the play was a legitimate attempt to make a defensive play and had not immediately considered it a Flagrant 2. He said the team would address Carrington’s social media post internally. The controversy comes as Cunningham has already attracted considerable attention away from the basketball court because of her public comments about transgender athletes in women’s sports. Her views have prompted both supporters and protesters to appear around Fever games in recent weeks. The game itself ended in a 90-86 victory for Indiana, while Carrington’s early exit dramatically changed the contest. She had scored eight points in only four minutes before being ejected. Cunningham finished with three points in 17 minutes, with all three points coming from the free throws awarded after the flagrant foul. The latest clash adds another chapter to the increasingly intense rivalry surrounding the Fever, which has attracted enormous national attention. For now, the basketball incident has moved beyond the court, with questions about the foul, Carrington’s social media post and the wider debate surrounding Cunningham continuing to generate discussion across the WNBA.