Record-breaking Albert Ian delos Santos earns Asian Games bronze

West Indies won the toss and chose to bat first against Pakistan in the second Test at the Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad on Sunday. The hosts went into the match with an unchanged playing XI from the series opener. Pakistan, meanwhile, made four changes to their lineup for this fixture. Pacer Mohammad Abbas was among those dropped, with captain Babar Azam citing the pitch and match conditions as the reasoning behind the call. Two players were handed their maiden Test caps for this match. Ubaid Shah and Awais Zafar both made their debuts for the side. Alongside them, Abdullah Shafique and Sajid Khan returned to the playing eleven after being left out previously. On the flip side, a few key names were missing from Pakistan’s squad this time around. Aamer Jamal and Khurram Shahzad were both left out of the XI. Captain-in-waiting Shan Masood also remained unavailable due to injury, adding to the selection headaches facing the team management. West Indies currently hold a 1-0 lead in the two-match series. They sealed that advantage with a 90-run win over Pakistan in the opening Test, played at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy. The stakes in this second Test are significant for the hosts. A win, or even a draw, would be enough to hand West Indies their first Test series victory over Pakistan in 26 years. Their most recent series win against Pakistan dates back to 2000, making this a rare opportunity for the Caribbean side to end a long wait. For Pakistan, the changes reflect an attempt to find the right balance after their defeat in the first Test. The inclusion of two debutants suggests the team management is looking to inject fresh energy into the squad, while also adjusting the bowling attack to better suit local conditions. West Indies fielded Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Brandon King, Kavem Hodge, Shai Hope (wk), Amir Jangoo, Justin Greaves, Roston Chase (capt), Jomel Warrican, Shamar Joseph, Kemar Roach, and Jayden Seales for this Test. Pakistan’s playing eleven featured Azan Awais, Imam-ul-Haq, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam (capt), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Ali Agha, Awais Zafar, Ali Usman, Sajid Khan, Mohammad Ali, and Ubaid Shah. With both sides fielding largely settled top orders, the outcome of this Test could go a long way in shaping the final result of the series.

RABAT: FIFA has thrown its full support behind president Gianni Infantino despite growing criticism over the now-abandoned proposal to privatise the commercial rights of the FIFA World Cup, while admitting that serious mistakes were made during the handling of the controversial plan. The governing body’s senior leadership met in Rabat, Morocco, on Wednesday to address the crisis that erupted after details of the proposal were leaked to the media. Following the meeting, FIFA issued a statement reaffirming its confidence in Infantino but also apologised to member associations for the way the process was managed. The proposed project, known as the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), aimed to create a new commercial subsidiary responsible for managing tournaments such as the FIFA World Cup and Club World Cup. FIFA estimated the venture could generate up to $4.2 billion, based on a valuation of $20 billion, while significantly increasing financial support for its 211 member associations. Under the proposal, each member nation would have received a one-time payment of $20 million in 2027, with regular funding for the 2027–2030 cycle rising from $8 million to $20 million. However, instead of winning support, the initiative sparked fierce opposition from football stakeholders worldwide. UEFA strongly criticised the plan, describing it as an opaque agreement that lacked transparency, while CONCACAF questioned Infantino’s leadership and governance. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney also publicly expressed doubts about Infantino’s ability to continue leading world football. Facing mounting pressure, Infantino withdrew the proposal last weekend, saying FIFA’s primary goal had always been to unite and strengthen the global game. In Wednesday’s statement, FIFA admitted that member associations and the FIFA Council should have been more closely involved from the outset. It also acknowledged mistakes made after the proposal became public and pledged to improve transparency in future decision-making. A formal review of the process will now be conducted, with findings expected to be presented at the next FIFA Council meeting. Officials confirmed that the FFE proposal has been permanently shelved. Later in the day, Infantino attended a Women’s Africa Cup of Nations match in Rabat alongside Moroccan football federation president Fouzi Lekjaa, one of the few senior officials to publicly support him throughout the controversy. Despite surviving the immediate crisis with the backing of FIFA’s leadership, the episode has raised fresh questions about governance, transparency and trust within world football, casting a shadow over Infantino’s bid for another term as FIFA president.

MULTAN: Pakistan white-ball head coach Mike Hesson has arrived in Multan for the National Champions Cup, where he held an important meeting with the coaching staff of all four participating teams as the domestic tournament gets ready to kick off the 2026-27 season. Hesson met the head coaches of the four sides — Misbah-ul-Haq, Ijaz Junior, Iqbal Imam and Aizaz Cheema — to discuss ways of improving players’ one-day cricket skills and ensuring that the tournament serves as a meaningful platform for national selection and development. Pakistan bowling coach Ashley Noffke and National Cricket Academy (NCA) Head of Coach Education Shahid Aslam also attended the meeting, adding further weight to discussions around player development and coaching standards. The meeting comes at an important time for Pakistan cricket, with the Champions Cup being viewed as the first major step towards preparations for next year’s World Cup in South Africa. Hesson’s presence in Multan signals the national team management’s focus on closely monitoring domestic performances while identifying players capable of making the jump to international cricket. Particular attention is expected to be given to players’ consistency, tactical awareness and ability to handle pressure in the 50-over format. The tournament will also provide coaches with an opportunity to assess emerging talent in a competitive environment. The National Champions Cup will begin on August 11, coinciding with the official start of Pakistan’s 2026-27 domestic cricket season. With the World Cup on the horizon, the tournament could prove crucial in shaping Pakistan’s next generation of one-day performers.