Oftana shines but Gilas Pilipinas falls short vs Bahrain to open Asian Games title defense

Shai Hope remained unbeaten on 89 as West Indies reached 303-7 at lunch on the second day of the first Test against Pakistan at the Brian Lara Stadium. Hope faced 174 deliveries and struck six boundaries and one six during a composed innings that helped the hosts recover from early pressure. Pakistan made an important breakthrough soon after play resumed, removing well-set batter Kavem Hodge for 84. West Indies had started the day on 194-3 after rain severely disrupted the opening day. Hodge’s dismissal came after he edged a delivery from Mohammad Ali towards second slip, where Salman Ali Agha completed the catch. Pakistan’s bowlers had another chance shortly before the wicket when Hope was dropped in the slips by Azan Awais. The missed opportunity proved costly as Hope continued to strengthen West Indies’ position. At the other end, Shamar Joseph provided valuable support to Hope. He was unbeaten on 23 from just 12 balls, hitting four boundaries and a six to keep the scoreboard moving quickly. Mohammad Abbas and Khurram Shahzad also tested the West Indies batters during the morning session, but Hope held firm to guide the hosts through to lunch. West Indies now have an opportunity to build a sizeable first-innings total, while Pakistan will look for quick wickets in the afternoon session to prevent the hosts from taking control of the Test.

ISLAMABAD: Former Pakistan Test cricketer Shoaib Akhtar has expressed deep shock and grief over the deaths of 15 newborn babies in the tragic fire at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad. In a statement shared on social media platform X, Akhtar described the incident as an extremely painful and heartbreaking tragedy. He said the loss of newborn children was devastating and called for a strict and transparent investigation into the incident. Akhtar stressed that those responsible for any negligence or failure should be identified through the investigation. He said accountability was necessary to ensure that such a tragic incident does not happen again. The former cricketer also expressed solidarity with the parents and families who lost their newborn children in the fire. “I share the grief of all the parents and families who have lost their newborn children in such a painful manner,” Akhtar said, while praying that Allah Almighty grant them patience and strength to endure the loss. The PIMS fire has sparked widespread grief and anger across Pakistan, with citizens, political figures and public personalities demanding a thorough investigation and accountability. The incident has also raised questions about safety arrangements, emergency response systems and the overall preparedness of major public hospitals to deal with emergencies.