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The Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) is preparing to appoint a foreign coach for the national women’s hockey team in a move aimed at strengthening player development and improving the team’s international competitiveness. According to sources familiar with the matter, the PHF is currently in discussions with a European coach to take charge of the women’s national side. The negotiations are progressing, and officials are hopeful that an agreement will be finalized by the end of this month. The proposed appointment is part of the federation’s broader strategy to modernize women’s hockey and provide players with greater exposure to international coaching methods and high-performance training. Sources said the incoming coach would also oversee a series of training tours across Europe. These tours are expected to give Pakistan’s women hockey players the opportunity to compete against stronger opposition, gain valuable match experience and adapt to international standards of play. In addition to coaching the national squad, the foreign coach is likely to play a key role in organizing practice matches and training camps during overseas visits. These fixtures are expected to help the team improve its tactical awareness, fitness levels and overall performance ahead of future international competitions. The move reflects the PHF’s growing focus on rebuilding women’s hockey, which has struggled to maintain a consistent presence on the international stage in recent years. Officials believe that exposure to European coaching techniques and competitive environments could accelerate the team’s progress. While the federation has yet to make an official announcement regarding the coach’s identity, insiders say discussions are in the final stages and optimism is high that the appointment will soon be confirmed. If finalized, the hiring of a European coach would mark an important step in Pakistan’s efforts to revive women’s hockey and create a stronger pathway for future success at regional and global tournaments.

Pakistan’s boxing campaign at the 2026 Commonwealth Games received a major boost after Fatima Zahra delivered an impressive knockout victory to book her place in the women’s 60kg quarter-finals in Scotland. The Pakistani boxer produced a commanding performance against Lesotho’s Real Ebuoha, overwhelming her opponent from the opening exchanges. Fatima displayed sharp technique, powerful punches and complete control throughout the contest, leaving little room for a comeback. Her dominance was so decisive that the referee stopped the bout before the scheduled finish, awarding the contest to the Pakistani boxer by technical knockout. The victory secured Fatima’s place in the quarter-finals and kept Pakistan’s hopes alive for a medal in women’s boxing. The convincing win has been welcomed by Pakistan’s sporting community, with many praising the young boxer’s confidence and composure on one of the biggest stages in Commonwealth sport. Fatima now faces a far tougher challenge in the quarter-finals, where she is scheduled to take on Jordan Wilson of New Zealand. The upcoming bout is expected to be one of the key contests in the 60kg division, with both athletes aiming to move closer to a place on the podium. The Commonwealth Games have brought together top athletes from across the Commonwealth, making every victory increasingly significant as the competition progresses. For Pakistan, Fatima’s success represents another encouraging moment for women’s boxing, a sport that has steadily gained momentum in recent years. Sports analysts believe her aggressive style, quick movement and ability to control the pace of a fight could make her a serious contender if she maintains her current form. However, they also note that the knockout stages will present stronger and more experienced opponents. Pakistan will now look to Fatima Zahra to continue her impressive run as she prepares for the crucial quarter-final clash against New Zealand’s Jordan Wilson. A victory would guarantee her a place in the semi-finals and move her one step closer to securing a historic Commonwealth Games medal for Pakistan in women’s boxing. Her commanding performance has already become one of Pakistan’s standout moments at the Games, raising hopes that the country’s boxing contingent can make a lasting impact in Scotland.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s hockey team suffered a disappointing defeat against India in the group stage of the Asian Five-a-Side Hockey Tournament after a serious mistake by the team management resulted in a breach of tournament rules. During the match, Pakistan mistakenly fielded six players instead of the permitted five. In Five-a-Side Hockey, each team is allowed to have only five players on the field at any given time. The error was spotted by match officials, who immediately informed the umpires. After the violation was identified, the umpires ordered two Pakistani players to leave the field. The decision left Pakistan with only three players on the pitch for a short period as a penalty for the rules breach. India took full advantage of Pakistan’s numerical disadvantage. Playing with fewer players made it difficult for Pakistan to defend and maintain possession, allowing India to dominate the game during that phase. The Indian team eventually secured victory in the group-stage encounter. The defeat has been linked to the management’s mistake rather than the players’ performance on the field. The incident has raised concerns over the handling of team operations and compliance with tournament regulations during an important international competition. Five-a-Side Hockey follows strict rules regarding the number of players on the field. Any violation can result in immediate penalties that may significantly affect the outcome of a match. Officials acted quickly after noticing the extra player, ensuring that tournament regulations were enforced. Despite the setback, both Pakistan and India have qualified for the final of the Asian Five-a-Side Hockey Tournament. The two rivals are set to meet once again in the title clash later today. The final will give Pakistan an opportunity to recover from the earlier defeat and compete for the championship. The team will also aim to avoid the costly mistakes that affected its performance in the group-stage match. Hockey fans will be hoping for a disciplined display as Pakistan looks to avenge its earlier loss and challenge India for the tournament trophy.

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.

Pakistan suffered a heavy eight-wicket defeat against Sri Lanka in the second women’s ODI despite a brilliant unbeaten century from opener Sidra Amin. After being asked to bat first, Pakistan posted 273 for five in their 50 overs. Sidra led the innings with a composed 100 not out from 120 balls, striking 13 boundaries. It was her seventh century in women’s ODIs. Ayesha Zafar added 49 from 45 deliveries, while Muneeba Ali scored 45. Captain Fatima Sana contributed a quick 25 from 18 balls to help Pakistan reach a competitive total. Sri Lanka, however, produced a dominant response and chased down the target in just 46.5 overs, winning by eight wickets and drawing the three-match series level at 1-1. The hosts’ chase was built around a record partnership between Vishmi Gunaratne and Harshitha Samarawickrama. The pair put together 203 runs, the highest partnership for any wicket in Sri Lanka’s women’s ODI history and the team’s first 200-plus stand in the format. Gunaratne played an aggressive innings, scoring 123 from 123 balls with 11 fours and a six. Samarawickrama remained unbeaten after reaching her century, while Kavisha Dilhari provided the finishing push with an unbeaten 40 from 33 balls. Pakistan made an early breakthrough when Fatima Sana dismissed Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu for just one run. However, Gunaratne and Samarawickrama quickly took control and kept Pakistan’s bowlers under pressure. Sidra said Pakistan had adapted well to the conditions but needed to improve their approach against Sri Lanka’s slower bowling. She also acknowledged that the bowling attack needed to be more disciplined in the decisive match. She said Pakistan would look to bowl straighter and target the stumps to restrict Sri Lanka’s batters from opening up and scoring freely. With the series tied 1-1, both teams will now compete in the final ODI with the series trophy at stake.

Pakistani mountaineer and trail runner Anam Uzair has achieved another major milestone by winning the country’s first 100-kilometre Galiyat Mountain Trail Ultra Marathon. The demanding race took participants through challenging mountain terrain, dense forests and areas exposed to natural and wildlife-related risks. Anam delivered an outstanding performance to secure victory in the gruelling competition. Speaking about her achievement, Anam said she was dedicating the victory to all Pakistani women, especially female runners. She said she hoped to take on more difficult and unique challenges in the future and represent Pakistan on the international stage. Anam acknowledged that completing the 100km trail was far from easy. She said she was aware of the dangers involved in mountain activities and trail running. According to her, participants had to remain alert to severe weather conditions, including the possibility of lightning. She said trail running in Galiyat also presented a significant challenge because of the region’s wildlife. Recalling one of her training experiences, Anam said she had previously completed a 40km trial run as preparation for the ultra marathon. During that run, she spotted a leopard sitting on her route about 200 feet away. She said the experience initially highlighted the dangers of running through the mountainous terrain. However, facing such challenges gradually helped her overcome her fear. Anam said she now trains every day and considers physical fitness an essential part of life. She urged people to make regular exercise and training part of their lifestyle, regardless of whether they participate in competitive events. She said fitness should not be limited to professional athletes or runners. Anam also revealed that she already has another challenging goal in mind for the future. She said she intends to take on the next difficult challenge for Pakistan and hopes to continue bringing recognition to the country through mountaineering and trail running. Her victory in the inaugural 100km Galiyat Mountain Trail Ultra Marathon marks another significant achievement in Pakistan’s growing endurance sports community.

HARARE: India have climbed back to the top of the ICC Men’s T20I team rankings after taking an unassailable lead in their three-match series against Zimbabwe, quickly reclaiming the position they had lost earlier this month. The reigning T20 world champions moved to No. 1 after defeating Zimbabwe by 90 runs in the second T20I at Harare on Saturday. The victory gave India a 2-0 lead in the series and pushed them ahead of England in the rankings. India had slipped to second after a difficult tour of England, where they suffered a heavy series defeat. England had subsequently taken over the top spot after India’s long reign at No. 1 came to an end. The return to the summit has come quickly, with India showing a strong response against Zimbabwe. In the second T20I, India posted 219 for five, powered by Ishan Kishan’s 81 from 44 balls and an unbeaten 60 from Tilak Varma. Zimbabwe were then dismissed for 129 in 17.5 overs as India completed a convincing victory. The first match had also gone India’s way. They chased down Zimbabwe’s 125 for seven in just 13.2 overs, winning by seven wickets, with young opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi hitting a rapid 50 from only 19 deliveries. India’s return to No. 1 underlines the competitiveness at the top of the T20I rankings. Before the Zimbabwe series, England were ranked first with India second, while Australia, New Zealand and South Africa occupied the next three places. Pakistan remain sixth, followed by West Indies, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan in the top 10. With the series already secured, India entered the third T20I with an opportunity to complete a clean sweep. The result could also prove important in what is currently a closely contested battle for the top ranking. For India, however, the immediate message is clear: “after a brief fall from the summit, the world champions are back at No. 1.”

HARARE, July 26: India have returned to the top of the ICC Men’s T20I rankings after securing a 2-0 lead in their three-match series against Zimbabwe. The reigning T20 World Cup champions had recently slipped from the No. 1 position after England swept them 4-0 in a five-match series. India have now responded strongly by winning the opening two matches of their Zimbabwe tour and reclaiming the summit. India began the series with a comfortable seven-wicket victory. Young opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi provided the main highlight, scoring a rapid half-century from just 19 balls. The second match saw an even stronger batting performance from India. They posted 219-5 in their 20 overs, with Ishan Kishan producing an aggressive 81 and Tilak Varma remaining unbeaten on 60. Zimbabwe struggled in their chase. India’s bowlers restricted the hosts to 129 runs and secured a commanding 90-run victory. The result gave India an unassailable lead in the series and pushed them back to the top of the T20I rankings. Kishan said India’s batting approach was based on reading the pitch and adjusting their plans according to the conditions. He said the team focused on building partnerships after losing early wickets. The wicketkeeper-batter also highlighted the partnership with Shreyas Iyer. He said they aimed to take the innings deep rather than chase an unnecessarily high total. India’s return to the top comes after a difficult period in T20 cricket. Their latest success has provided a strong response to the setbacks suffered on the previous tour. With the series already secured, India have also strengthened their position ahead of the final T20I. A clean sweep would give the world champions further momentum after their return to the top of the rankings.