San Miguel coach Leo Austria ‘confident’ of PBA return after heart scare

  TAROUBA: Pakistan’s batting line-up came under early pressure as the visitors slipped to 25-3 while chasing a target of 211 against the West Indies on the fourth day of the opening Test at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy on Tuesday. West Indies fast bowler Jayden Seales made an immediate impact with the new ball, removing Pakistan’s top order during an impressive opening spell. His early breakthroughs left the tourists struggling before lunch and handed the hosts complete control of the contest. Pakistan’s chase began on a disappointing note when opener Imam-ul-Haq was dismissed for just five runs. Azan Awais also failed to settle at the crease, contributing only three runs before returning to the pavilion. With both openers dismissed inside the first five overs, Pakistan found themselves under significant pressure at 21-2. Seales continued his destructive spell by trapping Salman Ali Agha leg before wicket without allowing him to score. The dismissal reduced Pakistan to 25-3, placing the visitors in a difficult position with a challenging target still well out of reach. Experienced batter Babar Azam then joined wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan in an attempt to stabilize the innings. The pair negotiated the remaining overs of the morning session without losing another wicket, providing Pakistan with some much-needed resistance after the early collapse. Earlier in the day, Pakistan’s bowlers wrapped up the West Indies’ second innings for 181, setting a victory target of 211. Veteran fast bowler Mohammad Abbas starred with the ball, producing another outstanding spell to claim his seventh five-wicket haul in Test cricket. The West Indies resumed play at 126-7, hoping their lower order could stretch the lead and make Pakistan’s chase more difficult. Shamar Joseph and Kemar Roach responded with an aggressive counterattack, frustrating the Pakistani bowlers with a valuable lower-order partnership. The pair added 28 runs during the morning session to extend their stand to 61 runs. Their attacking approach pushed the West Indies’ overall lead beyond 180 runs, strengthening the hosts’ position in the match. Shamar Joseph played an entertaining innings, scoring 38 runs from just 27 deliveries. His knock featured four towering sixes and one boundary, allowing the West Indies to score valuable quick runs before Pakistan finally broke the partnership. Mohammad Ali provided the breakthrough by deceiving Joseph with a slower delivery, bringing an end to the dangerous stand. Despite the dismissal, the West Indies tail continued to add useful runs as Kemar Roach and Jomel Warrican frustrated Pakistan with another steady partnership. Roach contributed 18 runs before becoming Mohammad Abbas’ fourth victim of the innings. Warrican also added an important 14 runs, helping the West Indies move their lead closer to the 200-run mark. Abbas then completed the innings by dismissing Warrican, finishing with exceptional figures of 5 wickets for 22 runs in 15.5 overs. His disciplined pace bowling proved crucial in preventing the West Indies from posting an even bigger target. Mohammad Ali and Khurram Shahzad also played important supporting roles with the ball. Ali picked up two wickets in his 14-over spell, while Khurram Shahzad claimed two scalps after bowling 15 overs. Although Pakistan succeeded in restricting the West Indies to 181 in the second innings, the visitors’ difficult start with the bat shifted the momentum back in favour of the home side. With Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan at the crease, Pakistan will rely heavily on their experienced pair to steer the chase and keep hopes of victory alive as the first Test heads toward an exciting finish.

Cristiano Ronaldo is preparing for a surprising new chapter away from the football pitch, with the Portugal superstar reportedly set to make his acting debut in an upcoming football drama series. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner is expected to appear in “Day 1s”, a new series centred on the world of football agents. According to British media reports, Ronaldo will make a cameo appearance while also taking on the role of executive producer. The move marks an intriguing expansion of Ronaldo’s already wide-ranging career, as the football icon increasingly explores projects beyond playing the sport that made him a global superstar. Ronaldo moves from football to the screen “Day 1s” is reportedly built around the story of a fictional football agent and the pressures, ambitions and personalities surrounding the modern game. British actor Damian Lewis is set to play the lead role, while British rapper Dave and newcomer actress Carlotta Banat are also part of the cast. Ronaldo’s involvement is expected to add an extra layer of attention to the production, particularly because of his enormous global following and deep connection with football. The series is already in production, with some scenes reportedly filmed at The Hive Stadium, home of English League Two club Barnet. Thierry Henry also joins the cast Ronaldo will not be the only major football name making the jump into the fictional world. Former France and Arsenal star Thierry Henry is also expected to appear in a cameo role. Interestingly, the concept for “Day 1s” was reportedly developed by Darren Dean, Henry’s former agent, who is also involved in the project as an executive producer. The involvement of major football personalities could make the series particularly appealing to fans who want to see what happens behind the scenes of the sport. Streaming battle could be next Reports suggest that several major streaming platforms could show interest in acquiring the rights to “Day 1s”, potentially triggering strong competition for the series. For Ronaldo, the project represents more than just a brief appearance on screen. In addition to his football career, he has expanded into business, media and other entertainment ventures in recent years. His role as both actor and executive producer could therefore signal the beginning of another major chapter in his career. After years of dominating football headlines, Ronaldo may soon have audiences watching him for a completely different reason — not for what he does with a football, but for what he does in front of a camera.

Pakistan’s veteran tennis stars Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi and Aqeel Khan produced a dramatic comeback to reach the men’s 45+ doubles semifinals at the ITF Masters World Championship. The Pakistani pair defeated Spain’s Francisco Xavier Martinez Vina and Pedro Nieto Oriana in a thrilling quarterfinal that went down to a deciding match tiebreak. After losing the opening set 6-7, Aisam and Aqeel refused to let the match slip away. They raised their intensity in the second set, saving two match points before forcing the contest into a tiebreak. The Pakistanis held their nerve when it mattered most, winning the second-set tiebreak 7-6 to level the contest and set up a decisive match tiebreak. They then produced their best tennis of the match, racing to a commanding 10-2 victory in the deciding breaker to complete an impressive turnaround. The result sends the experienced Pakistani duo into the semifinals, where they will face a Ukrainian pair for a place in the final. The success also adds to an already impressive campaign for both players. Aisam and Aqeel have reached the semifinals in mixed doubles as well, although they are competing with different partners. Aqeel has advanced alongside Germany’s Eline Aranas Roth, while Aisam has reached the mixed doubles semifinals with Austria’s Nina Hermann. For Aisam, the tournament continues to underline his remarkable longevity in international tennis. The former Pakistan Davis Cup star remains a major presence in the Masters circuit, while Aqeel’s performances have further strengthened Pakistan’s challenge in Lisbon. Their latest comeback will give the pair considerable confidence heading into the semifinals. After surviving two match points and overturning a first-set defeat, Aisam and Aqeel now stand just one victory away from reaching the championship final. Pakistan will be hoping the experienced duo can carry their momentum into the next round and add another major achievement to their impressive Masters campaign.

GLASGOW: The 2026 Commonwealth Games have officially begun in Glasgow and will continue until August 2, bringing together nearly 3,000 athletes from 74 countries to compete across multiple sporting disciplines. Pakistan has sent a 36-member contingent, including 20 athletes, along with coaches and officials, to participate in this year’s event. The national team will compete in six sports: athletics, boxing, judo, gymnastics, lawn bowls and swimming. Pakistan’s biggest medal hope is Olympic javelin champion Arshad Nadeem, who will defend his Commonwealth Games title. Having achieved historic success for Pakistan on the international stage in recent years, Arshad is widely regarded as the country’s strongest contender for a gold medal. In athletics, Pakistan will be represented by Arshad Nadeem, Faiqa Riaz, Ansar Abbas, Muhammad Akhtar, Muhammad Ismail, Muhammad Yasir and Noreen Hussain. The boxing squad includes Afzal Khan, Fatima Zahra, Malaika Zahid, Qudratullah and Samama Rehman. Shah Hussain Shah will compete in judo, while Shehzad Ali will represent Pakistan in gymnastics. In lawn bowls, Maqsood Waseem Khan and Muhammad Ayub Qureshi will compete, while Hamza Asif, Hareem Malik, Jehanara Nabi and Muhammad Ahmed Durrani will represent Pakistan in swimming. Sports analysts believe Pakistan’s brightest medal prospect is Arshad Nadeem in the men’s javelin throw. If he performs at his best, he is considered a leading favourite to win gold. Pakistan could also challenge for medals in boxing, although the competition is expected to be tough. In judo, Shah Hussain Shah is viewed as another strong contender, given Pakistan’s previous success in the sport at the Commonwealth Games. In gymnastics, lawn bowls and swimming, the main objective for Pakistani athletes will be to reach the final rounds and achieve personal best performances. Overall, experts believe Pakistan has the potential to win one to three medals, with the strongest possibility being a gold medal through Arshad Nadeem. A standout performance in boxing or judo could further improve the country’s medal tally. As the Games get underway, Pakistani fans will be closely following Arshad Nadeem, whose achievements have made him one of the country’s most celebrated athletes and an inspiration for the next generation of sportsmen and women.

BECKENHAM: England have received a timely boost ahead of their Test series against Pakistan, with opener Emilio Gay included in the Professional County Club Select XI squad for a three-day warm-up match. Gay’s participation is encouraging news after the left-handed batter suffered a right shoulder injury while representing Durham against Middlesex in the One-Day Cup last week. He experienced discomfort early in his innings before aggravating the problem while playing a straight drive against Toby Roland-Jones. The 26-year-old was forced to leave the field after scoring nine runs from 17 deliveries, raising concerns over his availability for England’s upcoming Test assignment. However, medical scans reportedly showed no serious damage, allowing Gay to return to competitive action as England assess his fitness. The warm-up fixture at Beckenham was initially scheduled for four days but has been shortened to three following an agreement between the England and Wales Cricket Board and the Pakistan Cricket Board. Gay will feature alongside England Test squad members Shoaib Bashir and Matthew Fisher in the PCC Select XI. The match could provide England with an important opportunity to monitor Gay’s shoulder before the first Test. Gay earned his place in England’s Test plans after an impressive run of form and made his international debut earlier this summer. His availability is particularly significant as England reshape their batting line-up following Ben Stokes’ retirement. Bashir, meanwhile, remains highly regarded by England’s selectors despite limited recent county appearances. The young spinner may not feature in the Test XI, with England considering a four-seamer attack and relying on Dan Lawrence and Joe Root for occasional off-spin. The PCC Select XI will be coached by England Under-19 head coach Mike Yardy, with the England Lions head-coach position currently vacant. For England, Gay’s return offers a welcome sense of relief — but the warm-up match will reveal whether the opener is truly ready for the pressure of Test cricket against Pakistan. PCC Select XI squad Tom Haines (c), Shoaib Bashir, Luc Benkenstein, Caleb Falconer, Matt Fisher, Emilio Gay, Nathan Gilchrist, Josh Hull, Manny Lumsden, James Rew, James Sales, Charlie Tear, Noah Thain, Saif Zaib.

OSLO: Norway’s Football Federation has announced that it will call for FIFA President Gianni Infantino to resign, intensifying pressure on the football governing body’s leader ahead of next year’s presidential election. Norwegian federation president Lise Klaveness said Infantino no longer has the institutional trust needed to lead FIFA, arguing that the organisation requires stronger and more credible leadership in the current climate. “He does not have the institutional trust required to lead FIFA in a stable manner,” Klaveness told reporters on Friday. “We are going to ask the FIFA president to resign now.” Infantino, who has led FIFA since 2016, is seeking a fourth and final term. He is currently the only declared candidate and would need a majority of votes from FIFA’s 211 member associations to secure re-election. Candidates have until November 18 to enter the race. Norway has been among Infantino’s most vocal critics, particularly over the governance of FIFA and decisions made under his leadership. Klaveness said the federation believed there was “no turning back” for the FIFA chief. The latest dispute follows the collapse of Infantino’s reported plan to allow private investors to participate in FIFA competitions, including the World Cup. The proposal drew criticism and added to concerns over the organisation’s direction. Norway’s federation has also decided to refer three matters to FIFA’s ethics committee. These include the abandoned private-investment plan, the lifting of US footballer Folarin Balogun’s suspension during the 2026 World Cup following an intervention by US President Donald Trump, and FIFA’s decision to award a so-called “Peace Prize” to Trump. The Norwegian federation is also seeking a comprehensive review of reforms previously promised by Infantino. Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter has suggested Klaveness could eventually challenge Infantino for the presidency, potentially making her the first woman to lead FIFA. However, Klaveness has rejected speculation about her own candidacy, saying the focus should remain on football governance rather than individuals. The challenge from Norway comes as Infantino prepares for a closely watched election campaign, with growing questions over his leadership and FIFA’s future direction.