Alex Eala gets chance for another payback as Ruse awaits in Cincinnati Open

CHITRAL: A team of Pakistani mountaineers has successfully crossed the historic Phargam An Pass in the Hindu Kush mountain range for the first time in 27 years, marking a major achievement for the country’s mountaineering community. The expedition successfully reached the 5,100-metre-high Phargam An Pass, completing a challenging journey through one of the most remote and difficult mountain routes in northern Pakistan. The expedition also made history as female climbers reached the summit for the first time, highlighting the growing participation of women in Pakistan’s adventure and mountaineering sector. The mission was organised in Upper Chitral with the support of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Culture and Tourism Authority. During the expedition, the team also discovered the memorial of Austrian mountaineer George Kronberger, who lost his life in the area in 1975. Despite facing dangerous glaciers, steep snow-covered slopes, rocky terrain and the constant threat of avalanches, the team completed the expedition safely. Expedition guide Zamrud Khan said the route to Phargam An Pass has changed significantly over the years due to the effects of climate change, making the journey more challenging than in the past. Three sisters from Chitral—Mehrosh Akhtar, Ismail Roz and Madhu Shala Akhtar—took part in the historic expedition, setting a new milestone for women in Pakistani mountaineering. Other members of the expedition included Kamran Khan, Samar Khan, Nauman Khan, Noorul Rahman, Zohaib Khan, Umar Khattab Sherani, Sohniya Babar, Amina Shabbir and Madiha Syed. The successful expedition is being seen as an important milestone for adventure tourism and mountaineering in Pakistan, while showcasing the country’s growing potential as a destination for high-altitude exploration.

Naseem Shah has responded to concerns about his fitness. He is preparing for his return to competitive cricket. The pacer says injuries are simply a part of the game. According to him, they should not be seen as a sign of poor conditioning. The 23-year-old has been out since April. He suffered a side strain while playing for Rawalpindiz in PSL 11. The injury ruled him out for the rest of that tournament. He has not played a competitive match since. He is now set to make his comeback. The stage will be the National Champions Cup. It is a 50-over tournament featuring four teams. These are Pakistan Greens, Pakistan Whites, Pakistan Blues and Pakistan Gold. The event runs from August 11 to 18. It will be held at the Multan Cricket Stadium. Naseem has been picked for the Pakistan Greens squad. All-rounder Shadab Khan will lead the side. The tournament also plays a bigger role. It forms part of Pakistan’s build-up to the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. Selectors are currently tracking a wider pool of 44 players. Speaking to the media, Naseem explained an important distinction. He said physical fitness and match fitness are not the same thing. An injury during a match or training session does not mean a player is unfit. He added that any player can get hurt while playing. He also spoke about workload management. He said today’s game demands careful planning from players. Cricket keeps evolving, and fast bowlers must adapt with it. This, he said, is now part of the job. Naseem also touched on Pakistan’s fast-bowling legacy. He said success was never just about raw pace. Line and length, he explained, matter just as much as speed. He credited this balance for the team’s past bowling success. On his own pace, Naseem stayed confident. He said he still bowls at competitive speeds. In T20 cricket, he touches close to 140 kilometres per hour. He noted that one-day cricket brings a different challenge altogether. He ended by addressing his availability. Naseem said he is ready for any format. He added that it is not his job to choose. His only responsibility, he said, is to play whenever Pakistan calls upon him.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has issued a strong defence of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, accusing critics of focusing on controversy while overlooking what he described as a tournament that united millions of people around the world. In an open letter published on Monday and shared on his personal social media accounts as well as FIFA’s official platforms, Infantino responded to criticism surrounding the tournament, which was jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico and won by Spain. The FIFA chief argued that many detractors ignored the positive impact of the competition and instead concentrated on negative narratives. He praised the atmosphere created by fans and highlighted football’s ability to bring people together across generations. Addressing critics directly, Infantino wrote, “To all of you who missed watching kids, babies, grandparents, and parents come together for the beautiful game, I say sorry that the matches are now over and sorry that you missed all that joy and togetherness.” He continued, “Sorry that you were so consumed by hate and criticism that you missed it all.” The 56-year-old also appeared to criticise journalists and commentators, claiming that while FIFA had worked tirelessly to organise a successful tournament, others had focused on spreading misinformation. “To those behind their pens and papers, behind their screens spreading hate and false rumours, I want to say that while you are sitting behind, we at FIFA are on the front lines organising, working hard, and delivering the best show in the world,” he wrote. Infantino pointed to what he described as the tournament’s outstanding security record. According to the FIFA president, nearly seven million spectators from more than 200 countries attended matches throughout the competition. “We experienced no violence, no incidents, 100% safety and security, only joy and happiness,” he said. Despite the successful attendance figures, the tournament faced criticism over travel and visa restrictions affecting supporters and officials from several participating nations, including Iran, Haiti, Senegal and Ivory Coast. Somali referee Omar Artan was also reportedly denied entry to the United States after not receiving a visa. Responding to those concerns, Infantino said, “You mentioned the few people denied visas and overlooked the millions who were approved, from all parts of the world. Because football unites the world, and it was demonstrated impressively this summer.” The FIFA president also addressed debates over refereeing decisions, player suspensions and disciplinary rulings during the tournament. He argued that controversial officiating is common across football and questioned why FIFA had received such intense scrutiny. “Potentially mistaken red or yellow cards or subsequent decisions not to ban players in certain situations are routine and widely accepted in some of the biggest leagues worldwide,” he said, adding, “It’s curious that the same countries employing these practices are the ones criticising.” Concluding his message, Infantino urged critics to focus on football’s ability to unite people rather than dwell on controversy. “To those spending their time and energy hating us, please take a moment to reflect, meditate, pray, or watch a football match and truly observe the faces, the eyes, the emotions,” he wrote, ending with the message, “May football rise above all hate.”

DUBAI: The Women’s T20 Asia Cup 2026 is expected to be staged in the United Arab Emirates, with participating teams reportedly being informally notified about the tournament window ahead of the official announcement by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC). According to cricket media reports, the ACC is expected to confirm both the venue and the complete schedule in the coming days. The tournament is likely to run from August 28 to September 13, featuring eight of Asia’s leading women’s cricket teams. The competing nations are expected to include Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Malaysia, Thailand and hosts UAE, promising an exciting contest as teams battle for continental supremacy ahead of future ICC events. The UAE has emerged as the frontrunner to host the tournament due to its world-class cricket infrastructure, favorable playing conditions and extensive experience in organizing major international events. Several global tournaments have previously been held in the Emirates, making it a reliable venue for multinational competitions. The tournament is expected to showcase some of Asia’s biggest women’s cricket stars, with traditional rivals Pakistan and India likely to attract significant attention if they meet during the competition. Meanwhile, the Board of Control for Cricket in India has already announced India’s squad for the tournament. Veteran batter Harmanpreet Kaur will continue to lead the Indian side as captain, reflecting the board’s confidence in her leadership and experience. Other participating teams are also expected to finalize and announce their squads in the coming weeks as preparations gather pace. With the official schedule still awaited, anticipation continues to build among cricket fans across Asia. The Women’s Asia Cup is regarded as one of the region’s premier tournaments and provides teams with valuable international competition while helping them prepare for upcoming global events. If confirmed, the UAE will once again become the center of Asian cricket, hosting another high-profile tournament that promises thrilling matches, emerging talent and intense regional rivalries.

Persistent rain caused major disruption to professional tennis events in North America on Sunday, forcing officials to suspend the Washington Open women’s final and postpone several matches at the Canadian Open in Toronto and Montreal. The highly anticipated Washington Open women’s singles final between defending champion Jessica Pegula of the United States and rising Philippine star Alexandra Eala was interrupted during the second set after heavy rain made playing conditions unsafe. The match had already faced a delay of nearly three hours before it finally began. Pegula managed to secure the opening set 6-4 after a competitive contest. Eala responded strongly in the second set and had taken a 2-1 lead when rain returned, forcing tournament officials to suspend play. Organisers later confirmed that the final would resume on Monday at 12:00 p.m. local time, with both players returning to complete the unfinished match. The weather also affected the men’s singles final in Washington. The championship clash between American Taylor Fritz and Spain’s Rafael Jodar was postponed and rescheduled for Monday, with organisers announcing that the match would begin no earlier than 1:00 p.m. local time after the completion of the women’s final. Tournament officials issued an update through social media, informing fans that all remaining matches scheduled for Sunday evening had been cancelled because of the adverse weather conditions. Meanwhile, the Canadian Open also experienced significant interruptions as rain swept across both host cities. The prestigious tournament, running from August 1 to August 14, features the women’s competition in Toronto and the men’s event in Montreal. In Toronto, action on the Grandstand Court was suspended during the women’s singles match between Poland’s Magdalena Frech and France’s Leolia Jeanjean. After monitoring the weather, officials decided to cancel the remainder of Sunday’s schedule, assuring spectators that play would resume once conditions improved. Tournament organisers expressed optimism despite the disruption, saying they expected clear weather for the following day and looked forward to restarting the competition. Montreal faced similar challenges, with rain first delaying several daytime matches before worsening conditions forced organisers to cancel the entire evening session as well.