Amaya Cojuangco shoots way to PH’s breakthrough archery silver in Asian Games

TAROUBA: Pakistan and the West Indies officially unveiled the trophy for their upcoming two-match Test series on Friday, setting the stage for an eagerly awaited contest that begins this week at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy. Pakistan captain Babar Azam and West Indies skipper Roston Chase posed with the series trophy during a ceremonial event held at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba, Trinidad. The unveiling marked the official start of the red-ball series between the two cricketing nations. The opening Test is scheduled to begin on July 25 at the same venue, with both teams looking to make a strong start. The second and final Test of the series will be played from August 2, concluding Pakistan’s tour of the Caribbean. Pakistan will enter the series aiming to continue its impressive form in Test cricket, while the hosts will be hoping to capitalize on familiar home conditions and bounce back with a strong performance against the visitors. Meanwhile, Cricket West Indies has announced a 15-member squad for the Test series, with Roston Chase leading the side. The squad includes an exciting new face, as left-arm spinner Joshua Bishop has earned his maiden call-up to the national Test team. Bishop’s inclusion has generated interest among cricket fans, with selectors backing the young spinner to strengthen the West Indies bowling attack against Pakistan’s experienced batting lineup. The series is expected to provide both teams with a valuable opportunity to improve their standing in international Test cricket while giving emerging players a chance to make their mark on the biggest stage. With the trophy now unveiled and preparations complete, anticipation is building for what promises to be a competitive battle between two proud cricketing nations. Fans will be hoping for high-quality cricket as Pakistan and the West Indies renew their long-standing Test rivalry in Trinidad.

KARACHI: Pakistan’s next generation of women cricketers will get a major opportunity to showcase their talent when the National Women’s U19 Tournament begins in Karachi on Thursday, with 75 players from 24 cities set to compete in a two-format competition. Organised by the Pakistan Cricket Board, the tournament will be held from August 20 to September 4 at the NBP Sports Complex and HPC Oval Ground. Five teams — Conquerors, Challengers, Strikers, Stars and Invincibles — will compete in a double round-robin league. Each side will play eight matches, with the top two teams progressing to the final. The competition will introduce players to both 30-over and Twenty20 cricket. The opening 10 matches will be played over 30 overs, while the remaining 10 league games and the September 4 final will be contested in the T20 format. Fizza Fiaz will captain Challengers, while Samiya Afsar, Ravail Farhan, Komal Khan and Zoofishan Ayyaz will lead Conquerors, Strikers, Stars and Invincibles respectively. The squads arrived in Karachi on August 16 and completed three days of training ahead of the tournament. Several players earned selection through trials conducted by the women’s national selection committee in different parts of the country. Members of Pakistan’s U19 squad that recently featured in a five-match T20 series against South Africa will also take part, giving the tournament an additional competitive edge. Beyond the title, the event is designed as an important pathway for identifying players who could represent Pakistan at upcoming international competitions, including the ACC Women’s U19 Asia Cup and ICC Women’s U19 World Cup. The tournament also carries a financial incentive. The champions will receive Rs1 million, while the runners-up will earn Rs750,000. All league matches are scheduled to begin at 9:30am Pakistan time, giving fans and selectors an early look at some of the country’s emerging women’s cricket talent. National Women’s U19 Tournament 2026-27 – squads Conquerors: Samiya Afsar (captain), Nasreen Ashraf (vice-captain, wk), Abeera Riaz, Areeqa Fatima, Amna Shahnawaz, Eashal Emaan, Eeshal Saif (wk), Hadia Mina, Mah Noor, Malaika Suhani, Maryam Sajjad, Narjis Bibi, Nasreen Ashraf (vice-captain, wk), Noor-e-Sahar, Syeda Batool Fatima, Zainab Irfan Challengers: Fizza Fiaz (captain), Memoona Khalid (vice-captain), Aleena Aslam Shah, Esha Tir Razia, Farya Sadaqat, Huba Nadeem, Laiba Karim, Mahnoor, Mahnoor Zeb, Maryam Ahmed, Pakeeza Shabbir, Sualeha Haroon (wk), Urooj Gul, Zainab Fatima (wk), Zala Ali. Strikers: Ravail Farhan (captain), Ifrah Mehroz (vice-captain), Adieyah Noor, Areeba Noor (wk), Areesha Ansari (wk), Maria, Meerab Shaikh, Minahil binte Nasrullah, Raima Imran, Samia Ashraf, Shahar Bano, Toufeeq Fatima, Ume Mayesha, Zahra Ali, Zainab Khanam Stars: Komal Khan (captain, wk), Aqsa Habib (vice-captain), Afsheen Khan, Alishba Yaseen, Anfal Malik, Barirah Saif, Emaan Afridi (wk), Fizza Ameen, Mehak Arif, Meerab Khan, Nabiha Amir, Qamrosh Farhan, Rozina Akram, Rukhsar Arif, Sawera Ramzan. Invincibles: Zoofishan Ayyaz (captain), Alzoha Hammad (vice-captain), Aashal Saeed (wk), Anaya Khan, Anosha Karim, Asma Bint-e-Azad, Ayesha Imran Riaz, Laraib Nizakat, Lubaba Mahmood, Maha Abbas, Maham Nazakat, Maryam Fatima (wk), Minahil Parvaiz, Quratulain Zehra, Raahima Syed Tournament Schedule (All matches to begin at 9.30am PKT) First leg – 30-over matches 20 August Invincibles v Stars at NBP Sports Complex Challengers v Conquerors at HPC Oval Ground 21 August Strikers v Conquerors at NBP Sports Complex Challengers v Stars at HPC Oval Ground 23 August Invincibles v Strikers at NBP Sports Complex Conquerors v Stars at HPC Oval Ground 24 August Challengers v Strikers at NBP Sports Complex Invincibles v Conquerors at HPC Oval Ground 26 August Stars v Strikers at NBP Sports Complex Invincibles v Challengers at HPC Oval Ground Second leg – 20-over matches 27 August Invincibles v Stars at HPC Oval Ground Challengers v Conquerors at NBP Sports Complex 29 August Strikers v Conquerors at HPC Oval Ground Challengers v Stars at NBP Sports Complex 30 August Invincibles v Strikers at HPC Oval Ground Conquerors v Stars at NBP Sports Complex 1 September Challengers v Strikers at HPC Oval Ground Invincibles v Conquerors at NBP Sports Complex 2 September Stars v Strikers at HPC Oval Ground Invincibles v Challengers at NBP Sports Complex 4 September – Final Top two teams – Venue – TBC

LEEDS: England strengthened their position in the first Test against Pakistan at Headingley on Thursday, reaching 409 runs in their first innings to secure a substantial 238-run lead after Pakistan were bowled out for 171. Pakistan’s bowlers managed to break through England’s batting line-up on the third morning, but the home side’s tailenders added valuable runs to push the total beyond the 400-run mark. England resumed the day on 366-8, with Jofra Archer and the lower order looking to extend their advantage. Archer remained unbeaten on 23, while Jamie Smith contributed 25 before being dismissed. Josh Tong was also removed after scoring eight. Earlier, England’s top and middle order had laid the foundation for the imposing total. Harry Brook missed out on a century but made a valuable 91, while Jordan Cox scored 73. Captain Joe Root continued his dependable form with 66, and Dan Lawrence added 51. The combined efforts of England’s senior batters ensured that Pakistan faced a demanding bowling assignment and left their opponents with a sizeable deficit to overcome. For Pakistan, Ali Usman emerged as the standout bowler. The spinner claimed his maiden five-wicket haul in Test cricket, providing a major highlight for the visitors despite England’s strong batting performance. Khurram Shahzad supported him with three wickets, while Mohammad Abbas and Mohammad Ali took one wicket each. Pakistan’s first innings had lasted only long enough to produce 171 runs, leaving their bowlers with the difficult task of restricting England and preventing the hosts from building an overwhelming advantage. England’s ability to extend their innings through the lower order proved particularly costly for Pakistan. Archer’s unbeaten 23 ensured that the hosts crossed the 400 mark, while the additional runs from Smith and Tong further increased the pressure on the visitors. With England now holding a 238-run lead, Pakistan face a challenging second innings. Their batters will need to produce a vastly improved performance if they are to prevent England from taking control of the Test. The Headingley contest has already produced a contrasting display from the two sides: England’s batting depth has stood out, while Pakistan’s Ali Usman has provided a significant individual breakthrough with his first five-wicket haul in Test cricket. The match remains a stern test of Pakistan’s resilience as they look to recover from their modest first-innings total and keep their hopes alive in the opening Test.

Pakistan’s disappointing run in swimming continued on the second day of the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. All four Pakistani swimmers competing on Saturday failed to advance beyond the heats in their respective events. In the women’s 200-metre freestyle, Jehan Ara Nabi finished 29th among 36 competitors. She recorded a time of 2 minutes and 11.16 seconds. Her performance was not enough to secure a place in the final. Ahmed Durrani competed in the men’s 400-metre freestyle. He completed the race in 4 minutes and 14.85 seconds. He finished 22nd among 27 swimmers. As a result, he could not qualify for the final. Hamza Asif took part in the men’s 50-metre freestyle. He finished the race in 24.17 seconds. He stood 39th among 68 swimmers. Only the top 16 competitors progressed to the semi-finals. Asif therefore missed out on the next round. Hareem Malik represented Pakistan in the women’s 100-metre breaststroke. She clocked 1 minute and 22.51 seconds. She finished 27th among 28 swimmers. Her result also ended her campaign in the event as she failed to qualify for the semi-finals. The results added to a difficult start for Pakistan’s swimming team at the Games. None of the four swimmers competing on the second day managed to move into the next stage of their events. Durrani and Jehan Ara Nabi had also failed to advance beyond the heats on the opening day. Their second-day performances therefore continued Pakistan’s struggle to make progress in the swimming competition. Pakistan is competing at the 2026 Commonwealth Games with a 36-member contingent. The national athletes are taking part in different sporting events and are seeking strong performances against competitors from across the Commonwealth. For the Pakistani swimmers, however, the opening days in Glasgow have proved challenging. The national contingent will now look to its remaining athletes and events for improved results as Pakistan continues its campaign at the Games.

Brazilian star Neymar marked his long-awaited return to action for Santos by scoring twice and responding to recent criticism with a playful goal celebration inspired by poker. The veteran forward helped Santos come from behind to secure a 2-2 draw against bottom-placed Chapecoense in Brazil’s Serie A on Saturday. The 34-year-old made his first appearance for Santos after spending two-and-a-half months on the sidelines. His return came at a crucial stage of the season, with Santos battling to avoid relegation from Brazil’s top flight. Although the draw earned the club an important point, Santos remain in danger, sitting just one point above the relegation zone. Neymar had come under renewed criticism earlier in the week after taking part in a poker tournament while his Santos teammates were playing a Copa Sudamericana match in Venezuela. His decision sparked debate among fans and pundits, with many questioning his priorities during his injury lay-off. The Brazilian forward appeared to respond to those comments after opening the scoring. Following his first goal, Neymar celebrated by pretending to deal playing cards, an apparent reference to the poker tournament that had attracted criticism. Moments later, he added another light-hearted celebration by using the corner flag to imitate a golf swing, further acknowledging the public scrutiny surrounding his off-field activities. Despite the criticism, Neymar delivered when Santos needed him most. His two goals helped the struggling side recover from a difficult position and earn a valuable draw. While the result did not move Santos away from the relegation battle, it provided encouragement as the club fights to remain in Brazil’s top division. The match also marked Neymar’s first appearance since Brazil’s disappointing FIFA World Cup campaign. The country’s all-time leading goalscorer recently announced the end of his international career after Brazil were eliminated by Norway in the Round of 16, bringing an end to one of the most successful international careers in the nation’s history. Having stepped away from international football, Neymar is now expected to focus entirely on helping Santos improve their domestic fortunes. His experience and leadership will be vital as the club attempts to avoid relegation during the remainder of the season. Fans welcomed Neymar’s return, with many praising his immediate impact despite the recent controversy. His performance demonstrated that he remains capable of making the difference on the pitch, even as discussions about his lifestyle continue off it. While his poker-themed celebration is likely to generate further debate, Neymar made one thing clear through his display against Chapecoense: he intends to answer his critics with performances rather than words. With Santos still facing a difficult fight for survival, the club will hope their star forward can maintain his fitness and continue producing decisive performances in the weeks ahead.