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COLOMBO: The Kandy Royals have received a timely boost ahead of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2026 playoffs, with Pakistan pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi set to rejoin the squad for the tournament’s decisive knockout stage. Afridi’s return comes as welcome news for the Royals, who are preparing for a high-stakes Eliminator after sealing a dramatic place in the playoffs. The left-arm fast bowler had briefly left the tournament last week due to personal commitments, leading to widespread speculation that his LPL campaign had ended. However, the franchise has confirmed that the Pakistan star will return just in time for the business end of the competition. Adding further firepower to the squad, Kandy have also recruited Pakistan all-rounder Khushdil Shah and explosive batter Hassan Nawaz. The trio is expected to significantly strengthen both the batting and bowling departments as the Royals chase their first LPL title in recent years. The arrivals come following the departure of experienced all-rounder Moeen Ali, Afghanistan opener Sediqullah Atal, and Scotland international Brandon McMullen, who have left the squad after completing their commitments. Despite losing three key overseas players, Kandy management moved swiftly to secure quality replacements capable of making an immediate impact. Kandy Royals’ road to the playoffs was anything but straightforward. At one stage, their qualification hopes appeared to be fading, but fortune smiled on the franchise when a rain-affected clash between Jaffna Kings and Dambulla Sixers produced the result they needed to advance. The dramatic turn of events kept their championship dream alive and set the stage for an exciting knockout campaign. With Shaheen Afridi leading the pace attack once again, expectations among supporters have risen considerably. The Pakistani left-armer has consistently been one of the world’s premier white-ball bowlers, renowned for his ability to strike early with the new ball and deliver under pressure in crunch moments. The LPL 2026 playoffs begin on August 5 at Colombo’s iconic R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium. The opening day will feature a Qualifier between Jaffna Kings and Galle Gallants, while Kandy Royals will face Colombo KAPS in a must-win Eliminator. Victory would keep Kandy’s title hopes alive and move them one step closer to lifting the LPL trophy. With Shaheen Afridi back in the lineup and two more Pakistani stars joining the squad, the Royals believe they have the experience, balance and firepower needed to challenge for championship glory in Sri Lanka’s premier T20 competition.

DAMBULLA: Pakistan women ended their Sri Lanka tour on a positive note as Ayesha Zafar produced an all-round performance to guide her side to a four-wicket victory in the third and final T20I at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium on Tuesday. Although Pakistan claimed the final match, Sri Lanka secured the three-match T20I series 2-1 after winning the opening two encounters. Chasing a modest target of 114, Pakistan reached 117 for six in 18.2 overs, with Ayesha leading the run chase through a composed 39 off 31 balls. Her innings featured six boundaries and came at a crucial stage when Pakistan needed stability after losing early wickets. Young batter Shawaal Zulfiqar provided valuable support with a quick 21 from just 12 deliveries, striking three fours and a six to keep the momentum firmly in Pakistan’s favour. Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu and Kavisha Dilhari picked up two wickets each, but the hosts were unable to defend their total as Pakistan finished the chase with 10 balls to spare. Earlier, after being asked to bat first, Sri Lanka posted 113 for six in 20 overs. Athapaththu was once again the standout performer for the home side, scoring 34 runs and hitting five fours during her innings. Pakistan’s bowling attack was led by 23-year-old Momina Riasat, who delivered an impressive spell of 2 for 18 in four overs. Ayesha Zafar also contributed with the ball, claiming one wicket before making the decisive impact with the bat. The victory gave Pakistan a much-needed confidence boost after a difficult tour, where they managed two wins from six matches across the ODI and T20I series. Despite losing the T20I series, the final-match triumph offered encouraging signs, particularly through the performances of Ayesha Zafar and Momina Riasat. With several young players stepping up under pressure, Pakistan will take valuable positives from the tour as they begin preparations for upcoming international assignments.

GLASGOW: A mystery has emerged following the conclusion of the Commonwealth Games after Pakistani boxer Qudrat Ullah reportedly disappeared from Glasgow just hours before the national squad was scheduled to fly back to Pakistan, prompting an investigation by the Pakistan Boxing Federation. According to federation sources, Qudrat Ullah failed to rejoin his teammates ahead of the team’s departure from Scotland. The boxer is believed to have gone missing approximately six hours before the group’s scheduled return flight, raising concerns among officials accompanying the contingent. The team had been instructed to assemble in the hotel lobby at 9 a.m. before leaving for the airport. However, when officials went to Qudrat Ullah’s room to escort him, they found it empty. Sources said he had last been seen in his room around 2 a.m., but by morning there was no sign of him. The circumstances surrounding his disappearance have deepened the mystery because his passport and return airline ticket were reportedly still in the custody of the team manager. Officials have not explained how the boxer could have left without the travel documents required for his scheduled journey home. The Pakistan Boxing Federation has confirmed that the athlete is missing and said the matter is under investigation. Federation officials are coordinating with relevant authorities to determine his whereabouts and establish the sequence of events leading to his disappearance. No official statement has yet been issued regarding whether local Scottish authorities have launched a formal search or whether there is any indication of foul play. Federation officials have urged caution, saying further details will be shared once the inquiry progresses. The incident has revived memories of a similar episode during the 2022 Commonwealth Games in England, when two Pakistani boxers reportedly separated from the national team and failed to return with the delegation. That case sparked debate over athlete monitoring during international competitions and the challenges sports federations face in ensuring team discipline while abroad. Qudrat Ullah’s unexplained disappearance is likely to draw renewed scrutiny of travel protocols for national teams representing Pakistan at major sporting events. As officials continue their investigation, questions remain over what happened in the final hours before the squad’s departure and when the missing boxer will be located.

Fauzia Haimani has done it again. The Pakistani athlete, who is based in Canada, has completed her fourth full Ironman triathlon. This latest finish came at the Ironman event held in Ottawa, where she once again showed off her fitness and endurance. The Ironman is widely considered one of the toughest challenges in endurance sports. It is not a single race. It is three gruelling events combined into one long day. Athletes start with a 3.8-kilometre swim. From there, they move straight into a 180-kilometre cycling stretch. The event then wraps up with a full 42.2-kilometre marathon. All three legs happen back to back, with no rest days in between. Completing all three takes serious physical and mental preparation. Fauzia finished the entire course in 15 hours, 22 minutes, and 35 seconds. Her swim alone took 1 hour and 45 minutes. She then moved on to cycling, completing that portion in 7 hours and 7 minutes. The final stretch, the marathon, took her 6 hours and 11 minutes to finish. This is not new territory for her. Fauzia has completed the full Ironman challenge three times before this latest finish. She first did it in 2021. She returned to complete it again in 2024, and once more in 2025. That makes this her fourth full Ironman overall. Her endurance résumé does not stop there. Alongside the full Ironman races, Fauzia has also completed the half Ironman challenge five separate times. Together, these accomplishments paint the picture of an athlete who has built real consistency in one of the most demanding sports out there. Events like these require months of training. Long swims, long rides, and long runs all need to be built up gradually. Athletes also have to manage nutrition, pacing, and recovery carefully to make it through such a demanding single-day event. Fauzia’s latest finish adds another achievement to her growing list. It also reflects the kind of discipline and determination it takes to keep coming back to one of the hardest physical challenges an athlete can attempt. Her continued participation in international endurance events also highlights the presence of Pakistani athletes on demanding global sporting stages, even outside more commonly covered sports.

Work has officially started on upgrading two of Pakistan’s key cricket facilities. Both the National Cricket Academy (NCA) and the LCCA ground are set to receive major upgrades, bringing them closer to international standards. According to sources, the first step has already begun. The boundary wall that separates the NCA and LCCA grounds is being taken down. This is expected to open up the space for a larger, more connected training hub. Once the wall is cleared, work will begin on a new pavilion at the LCCA ground. The pavilion will come equipped with modern facilities. The ground’s drainage system is also getting an upgrade as part of the same project. The National Cricket Academy itself is set for a bigger transformation. Sources say a modern gym will be added. A swimming pool is also part of the plan. Along with these, new training and rehabilitation facilities will be built specifically for national cricketers. Once finished, both grounds are expected to offer training facilities on par with international standards. Officials believe this upgrade will make a real difference in how players train and prepare going forward. Fitness levels, recovery, and overall match readiness are all expected to improve as a result. This move comes at a time when Pakistan cricket has faced repeated calls for better domestic infrastructure. Many current players have had to look abroad for facilities like rehabilitation centers and proper swimming pools. A setup like this could help change that. Combining the NCA and LCCA grounds into one upgraded space is also expected to simplify things for coaches and support staff. Managing schedules, monitoring fitness, and coordinating training sessions should become easier with everything centralized in one location. So far, no official timeline has been announced for when the project will be completed. Still, the early progress, especially the wall coming down, suggests that the plan is already moving forward without unnecessary delays. If everything goes as planned, this could turn out to be one of the more meaningful infrastructure upgrades for Pakistan cricket in recent memory. Giving players access to modern training resources at home, instead of depending on facilities overseas, could go a long way in supporting long-term player development. For now, all eyes remain on how quickly the project moves from demolition to full completion.

Pakistani taekwondo player Ehsanullah Mahsud has dedicated his latest gold medal to the people of Pakistan. He credited their prayers and support as a major reason behind his success in the competition. Speaking to Geo News after his win, Mahsud did not hold back his gratitude. He said the medal was not just his own achievement. It belonged to the nation that stood behind him throughout the tournament. The gold came at the Thailand International Taekwondo Championship. Mahsud put together a strong run from the very first round. He opened his campaign with a win against a Kazakh opponent. That victory set the tone early and gave him the momentum he needed heading into the tougher rounds ahead. He carried that form into the semi-final. There, he faced off against an Indian competitor. Mahsud came out on top in that matchup, securing his place in the final. Beating a regional rival at that stage is never easy, and the win added extra weight to his overall run. In the final, Mahsud went up against a player from Sri Lanka. He delivered another strong performance, finishing the tournament with a win and claiming the gold medal. Each stage of the competition tested him differently. From facing a Central Asian opponent early on, to going head-to-head with regional rivals in the later rounds, Mahsud’s path to gold wasn’t a simple one. Every match added pressure, and every win built on the last. This is not just a personal milestone for him. Wins like these also add to Pakistan’s growing presence in international taekwondo, a sport that continues to produce strong performances from Pakistani athletes on the global stage. For Mahsud, the victory reflects months of preparation and discipline. Competing internationally requires consistent training, sharp reflexes, and the ability to perform under pressure across multiple rounds in a short span of time. As he continues competing on the international circuit, this gold adds another achievement to his growing list of accomplishments. It also reinforces his position as one of the athletes representing Pakistan on international platforms. For now, Mahsud’s focus remains on what comes next, as he continues building on this latest success and preparing for future competitions ahead.