Gilas Women fall short of Asian Games 3×3 gold vs hot-shooting Japan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan have announced their women’s cricket squads for the upcoming Women’s Asia Cup and Asian Games, with Fatima Sana set to lead the national side in both competitions as the team targets success on two major stages. The squads share a core group of players, including Muneeba Ali, Shawal Zulfiqar, Ayesha Zafar, Gul Feroza, Syra Jabeen, Eman Fatima, Eman Nasir, Umme Hani, Tuba Hassan, Nashra Sandhu and Momina Riaz. For the Women’s Asia Cup, Pakistan have added Najiha Alvi, Waheeda Akhtar and Sadia Yousuf to the squad. The Asian Games squad, meanwhile, includes Alia Riaz, Tasmia Rubab and Hamna Bilal. The national team will hold a training camp at the National Cricket Academy from August 16 to 25 as preparations intensify ahead of the two tournaments. The DP World Women’s Asia Cup will be played in Dubai from August 28 to September 13, with all 15 matches scheduled at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Matches will begin at 7:30pm Pakistan Standard Time. Pakistan have been placed in Group A alongside arch-rivals India, Thailand and China. Group B features Bangladesh, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates. Pakistan will begin their Asia Cup campaign against Thailand on September 1, before facing India in a highly anticipated contest on September 5 in Dubai. The semi-finals are scheduled for September 10 and 11, while the final will take place on September 13. The team will then turn its attention to the 20th Asian Games, where the women’s cricket tournament will be held in Japan from September 17 to 22. Pakistan are seeded alongside Thailand and will play their quarter-final against Thailand on September 17. All women’s cricket matches will be staged at the Kurogiy Athletic Park in Aichi. If Pakistan advance, they will play the semi-final on September 20 against either Sri Lanka or Malaysia. The bronze and gold medal matches are scheduled for September 22. Pakistan enter the Asian Games with a proud record, having won women’s cricket gold medals at the 2010 Guangzhou and 2014 Incheon Asian Games. With a settled core, emerging talent and Fatima Sana leading both campaigns, Pakistan will hope to turn their preparation into another memorable chapter in women’s cricket. Pakistan women’s squad for ACC women’s Asia Cup  Fatima Sana (captain), Ayesha Zafar, Eman Naseer, Eyman Fatima, Gull Feroza, Momina Riasat, Muneeba Ali Siddiqui (wk), Najiha Alvi, Nashra Sundhu, Sadia Iqbal, Saira Jabeen, Shawaal Zulfiqar, Tuba Hassan, Umm-e-Hani, Waheeda Akhtar. Reserves – Tasmia Rubab, Humna Bilal, Maham Anees, Sadaf Shamas Support Staff Wahab Riaz (coach/mentor), Ayesha Ashar (team manager), Abdur Rehman (spin bowling coach), Umaid Asif (fast bowling coach), Abdul Majeed (fielding coach), Imran Farhat (batting coach), Waleed Ahmed (performance analyst), Moeen (strength & conditioning coach), Dur Samand (Physiotherapist) and Raza Rashid Kitchlew (media manager) Pakistan women’s squad for Asian Games  Fatima Sana (captain), Aliya Riaz, Ayesha Zafar, Eman Naseer, Eyman Fatima, Gull Feroza, Humna Bilal, Momina Riasat, Muneeba Ali Siddiqui (wk), Nashra Sundhu, Saira Jabeen, Shawaal Zulfiqar, Tasmia Rubab, Tuba Hassan and Umm-e-Hani. Reserves – Natalia Parvaiz, Waheeda Akhtar, Sadia Iqbal, Syeda Aroob Shah, Rameen Shamim Support Staff Wahab Riaz (coach/mentor), Ayesha Ashar (team manager), Abdur Rehman (spin bowling coach), Umaid Asif (fast bowling coach), Abdul Majeed (fielding coach), Imran Farhat (batting coach), Waleed Ahmed (performance analyst) and Tehreem Sumbal (physiotherapist) Schedule of Pakistan’s matches at the ACC women’s Asia Cup: (All matches at Dubai International Cricket Stadium; all matches to begin at 7.30pm PKT) 1 September – Pakistan v Thailand 5 September – Pakistan v India 7 September – Pakistan v Hong Kong, China 10 September – semi-final 1 11 September – semi-final 2 13 September – final Pakistan women at Asian Games (All matches at Korogi Athletic Park in Aichi prefecture) 17 September – Quarter-final 4 – Pakistan v Thailand 20 September – Semi-final 1 & 2 22 September – Bronze and Gold Medal matches

KARACHI: Pakistan’s Nasir Iqbal advanced to the final of the PN Fleet Club Open International Squash Championship after a commanding semifinal victory, while fellow Pakistani Asim Khan bowed out of the tournament following a loss to Egypt’s Salman Khalil. Competing at the Pakistan Navy Roshan Khan-Jahangir Khan Squash Complex in Karachi, Nasir Iqbal delivered a dominant display against Egypt’s Yasee El Shafey, securing a straight-games victory in just 24 minutes. He won the match 11-5, 11-7, 11-5 to book his place in the final. Earlier, Asim Khan’s campaign ended after he was defeated 3-1 by Egypt’s Salman Khalil in the other semifinal. The Egyptian progressed to the title clash with the win. The $41,000 prize-money tournament, organized by the Sindh Squash Association, will conclude with the final on Tuesday at 4:00 pm, where Nasir Iqbal will take on Salman Khalil for the championship title. Nasir’s impressive performance has kept Pakistan’s title hopes alive, with the experienced squash player producing consistent displays throughout the tournament.

KOLKATA: Former India captain and ex-BCCI president Sourav Ganguly and his wife, Dona Ganguly, have reportedly received death threats, prompting police to launch an investigation into a series of threatening letters sent to the family. According to Indian media reports, a fresh threatening letter was opened on Monday at the office of the president of the Bengal Cricket Association. The letter was reportedly written entirely in English and contained threats against Ganguly and his family. The latest incident has raised concern because the family has allegedly been receiving similar letters for around six months. Initially, the messages were reportedly dismissed as letters from overzealous or unhappy fans. However, the increasingly aggressive language and repeated threats eventually prompted the family to approach police. A formal written complaint has been submitted to the local police station by Ganguly’s family. The state government’s security department has also reportedly been informed, with the family seeking appropriate security measures. The complaint stated that unknown individuals had previously sent letters containing offensive and objectionable remarks about the former India captain. At first, the messages were believed to be linked to personal resentment or someone unhappy with Ganguly. The situation took a more serious turn when two recent letters addressed to Sourav and Dona Ganguly reportedly contained threatening language targeting not only the couple but also people working with them. Police sources said their preliminary inquiry indicated that the threatening letters had been sent by courier to Ganguly’s residence. Authorities have assured Ganguly’s personal assistant that an investigation is underway and that necessary steps are being taken to ensure the safety of the former cricketer and his family. Ganguly, one of India’s most influential cricket figures, served as national captain before later becoming BCCI president. The latest threats have now placed his family under increased security attention as investigators work to identify those behind the letters.