Aston Villa Brings Europa League Magic to Thailand: Epic Clash Against BG Pathum United

Several Pakistan cricketers have improved their positions in the latest ICC Men’s ODI Player Rankings, with former captain Babar Azam and fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi making notable gains following recent international matches. Babar Azam climbed one place in the ODI batting rankings and is now sixth with 689 rating points. The experienced batter continues to be Pakistan’s highest-ranked player among ODI batters and remains among the world’s leading performers in the format. Pakistan’s ODI captain Salman Ali Agha also registered progress in the latest rankings. He moved up two places to 16th after consistent performances, taking his rating to 630 points and strengthening his position among the world’s top batters. Former captain and wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan retained his 31st position with 560 rating points, while opening batter Fakhar Zaman slipped one place to 37th. Young opener Saim Ayub remained unchanged in 44th position. New Zealand batter Daryl Mitchell continues to lead the ICC ODI batting rankings. India captain Shubman Gill occupies second place, while veteran batter Virat Kohli remains third. In the bowling rankings, Pakistan left-arm fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi climbed two places to seventh with 604 rating points after his recent performances. Fast bowler Haris Rauf also improved his standing, moving up two positions to 20th with 556 points. On the other hand, pacer Naseem Shah dropped two places and is now ranked 49th with 477 points. Mohammad Wasim Jr gained one position to move up to 70th, while spinner Mohammad Nawaz retained his place in the rankings. Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan continues to hold the number one position in the ICC ODI bowling rankings. Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed remains second, maintaining pressure on the Afghan star. England fast bowler Jofra Archer moved into third place after improving his ranking.

Football trophies, medals and cash bonuses are common rewards for World Cup champions, but two Spanish stars have received a prize unlike any other. Following Spain’s 2026 FIFA World Cup triumph, Fabián Ruiz and Gavi were honored in their hometown with fresh tomatoes equal to their body weight, turning a local celebration into a viral moment. The unusual tribute took place in Los Palacios y Villafranca, a town in Spain’s Seville province that is famous for producing high-quality tomatoes. Instead of presenting conventional awards, local authorities chose a gift that reflects the town’s agricultural identity and long-standing tradition. During the ceremony, both midfielders were first weighed before baskets of freshly harvested tomatoes matching their exact weight were presented to them. Fabián Ruiz, who weighs 85 kilograms, received 85 kilograms of tomatoes, while 21-year-old Gavi was awarded 68.5 kilograms of the locally grown produce. The colorful ceremony, held at the town hall, drew applause from residents who gathered to celebrate their hometown heroes. Spain lifted the 2026 FIFA World Cup on July 19, sparking celebrations across the country. While players have been receiving congratulations and awards from football organizations and government officials, the tomato-themed tribute quickly stood out for its originality and connection to local culture. Fabián Ruiz played a significant role in Spain’s successful World Cup campaign. The 30-year-old midfielder featured for a total of 366 minutes during the tournament and scored Spain’s opening goal in the quarter-final victory over Belgium. His performances were widely praised as Spain marched to the title. Gavi, despite limited playing time, also contributed to Spain’s championship-winning squad. The young midfielder appeared for 85 minutes during the tournament and remained an important member of the national team throughout the campaign. Local officials also announced another lasting tribute to commemorate the players’ achievements. Two football grounds in Los Palacios y Villafranca will be renamed after Fabián Ruiz and Gavi, ensuring that future generations remember their contribution to Spain’s historic World Cup success. The heartwarming celebration highlighted how communities often honor sporting heroes in ways that reflect their own traditions. For the people of Los Palacios y Villafranca, there could be no better symbol of local pride than the tomatoes that have made their town famous—making the gift just as memorable as Spain’s World Cup victory itself.

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