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TORONTO: World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka made an emphatic return to hard-court tennis with a straight-sets victory over Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima at the WTA 1000 Toronto Open, reinforcing her status as one of the favourites heading into the North American swing. The Belarusian star defeated qualifier Uchijima 6-3, 6-3 in her opening match on Tuesday, bouncing back strongly after disappointing exits at both the French Open and Wimbledon. The convincing win marked another milestone in Sabalenka’s remarkable hard-court campaign, where she has now won 24 of her last 25 matches on the surface. Her only defeat on hard courts this season came against Elena Rybakina in the Australian Open final, highlighting just how dominant Sabalenka has been throughout the year. Despite the comfortable scoreline, the match was far from straightforward. Uchijima stunned the top seed early by breaking serve in the opening game after recovering from a 40-15 deficit, quickly taking a 2-0 lead. However, Sabalenka responded like a champion, winning the next five games to seize complete control and eventually close out the opening set with authority. The second set proved equally competitive, with both players exchanging five service breaks in an entertaining battle. Sabalenka eventually established a crucial 3-2 advantage before tightening her game at the right moment. She held serve confidently to move ahead 4-2 and later sealed victory on her second match point with a powerful overhead winner. Speaking after the match, Sabalenka expressed satisfaction with both her physical condition and mental approach following a short break from competition. “I’m happy with the performance and the fight. I expected some challenges after the break, but I felt mentally and physically ready,” she said. The victory keeps Sabalenka’s momentum alive as she targets another successful North American campaign, including a possible third consecutive US Open title later this month. Awaiting her in the third round is experienced Chinese player Zhang Shuai, who advanced after Jelena Ostapenko retired while trailing 6-0, 4-0. With confidence growing and hard-court form peaking once again, Sabalenka has sent an early warning to the rest of the field that she is ready to challenge for another major title as the road to New York gathers pace.

Fourteen cities across Australia and New Zealand have expressed interest in hosting matches during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2028, highlighting strong enthusiasm for the tournament that will be jointly staged by the two neighboring nations. Tournament organizers invited cities to submit bids for hosting rights, and a total of 14 cities responded with proposals to stage matches during the global event. However, only eight to ten cities are expected to be selected as official host venues, meaning several bidding cities will ultimately miss out. The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2028 is scheduled to take place during October and November and will mark another major cricket event jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand. Both countries have extensive experience organizing ICC tournaments and are expected to provide world-class venues and infrastructure for teams and fans. According to reports, organizers will evaluate each bid based on the International Cricket Council’s hosting guidelines. A key factor in the selection process will be logistics, with officials aiming to create a tournament schedule that minimizes unnecessary travel while ensuring smooth operations throughout the competition. The governing body is expected to prioritize a balanced distribution of venues that allows teams to move efficiently between matches without excessive travel. A more compact tournament structure is also expected to improve scheduling, simplify event management, and provide a better experience for supporters traveling across both countries. Reducing the number of host cities is seen as an important part of the planning process. With Australia and New Zealand separated by the Tasman Sea and both countries covering vast geographical areas, organizers are seeking to strike the right balance between showcasing multiple regions and maintaining practical travel arrangements. Officials believe that selecting fewer venues will help streamline tournament operations, reduce travel demands for participating teams, and make it easier for fans to follow their favorite sides throughout the competition. The bidding process also reflects the continued popularity of international cricket in both nations. Many cities view hosting World Cup matches as an opportunity to attract visitors, boost local tourism, and generate significant economic activity through hotels, restaurants, transportation, and entertainment. Meanwhile, Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) is expected to host the final of the 2028 T20 World Cup. The iconic stadium has a rich history of staging major international cricket events and is widely regarded as one of the sport’s most prestigious venues. If confirmed, the MCG would once again provide the stage for the tournament’s biggest match. The final list of host cities is expected to be announced after organizers complete their evaluation of the bids and finalize venue arrangements in line with ICC requirements. Once confirmed, preparations will begin for upgrading facilities, coordinating logistics, and developing match schedules ahead of the tournament. The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2028 is expected to feature the world’s leading cricket nations and attract thousands of traveling fans, making it one of the biggest sporting events on the international cricket calendar. With significant interest from host cities and careful planning underway, Australia and New Zealand are preparing to deliver another memorable edition of the tournament.

COLOMBO: Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi has reportedly withdrawn from the Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2026, bringing an early end to a turbulent campaign that was overshadowed by an administrative mix-up and below-par performances. According to media reports, the 26-year-old informed his franchise, Kandy Royals, that he was leaving the tournament for personal reasons. Neither Afridi nor the franchise has disclosed further details, while Kandy Royals are yet to announce a replacement. Afridi’s departure comes just days after he was at the centre of an unusual selection controversy. Reports claimed he had initially been listed as the team’s Impact Player for a match against Colombo Capitals, but was unable to feature after an administrative error left his name off the official team sheet. The mistake reportedly occurred after Kandy Royals elected to bat first, with team officials later informing Afridi that an analyst had accidentally omitted his name from the final squad submitted before the match. The incident prompted the Pakistan pacer to raise the issue with an official from the tournament’s Anti-Corruption Unit, after which the matter was referred to the match referee for review. Franchise officials and tournament organisers later apologised to Afridi for the error. Reports suggested the left-arm fast bowler had briefly considered leaving the competition immediately after the incident but decided to stay with the squad following the apology. Despite remaining in the tournament, Afridi struggled to make his usual impact with the ball. He claimed seven wickets in six matches, averaging 32.00, while conceding runs at an economy rate of 10.18, figures well below the standards expected from one of Pakistan’s premier fast bowlers. Meanwhile, the LPL continues to see changes in team combinations, with two more Pakistani cricketers joining the competition as replacement signings. Young batter Khawaja Nafay has been drafted by Jaffna Kings to replace Afghanistan opener Ibrahim Zadran, while experienced all-rounder Iftikhar Ahmed has signed with Dambulla Sixers as a replacement for Afghanistan fast bowler Fazalhaq Farooqi. Shaheen’s reported withdrawal marks another twist in an eventful LPL campaign and is likely to spark further discussion about player management and tournament administration as the competition heads toward its decisive stages.

Pakistan continued their impressive run at the World Junior Squash Team Championship, securing a place in the pre-quarter-finals after defeating Switzerland 3-0 in their second group-stage match. The national junior side delivered another dominant performance, with all three Pakistani players winning their respective matches in straight games. The comprehensive victory followed Pakistan’s successful opening fixture, giving the team two wins from two matches and ensuring qualification for the knockout stage. Pakistan started the contest with confidence, taking control of the opening match from the outset. Their first player maintained a consistent tempo throughout, comfortably defeating his Swiss opponent without dropping a game. The momentum continued in the second match as Pakistan once again displayed superior skill, movement, and composure on court. The Swiss player struggled to match the pace and precision of the Pakistani representative, who wrapped up the contest in straight games to give his team an unassailable 2-0 lead. With the tie already secured, Pakistan’s third player completed the clean sweep in equally convincing fashion. Producing another composed display, he claimed victory in straight games to seal a 3-0 triumph for the team. The result highlighted Pakistan’s strong form in the tournament, with every player contributing to back-to-back victories during the group stage. Winning all three individual matches against Switzerland also underlined the team’s depth and consistency. Having already registered a victory in their opening group fixture, Pakistan finished the group phase with a perfect record of two wins from two matches. The unbeaten run has earned the team a place in the pre-quarter-finals, where the competition is expected to become even more challenging. Pakistan has a rich history in squash and continues to produce promising young talent through its junior development system. Performances such as these offer encouragement that the country’s next generation of players can continue the legacy established by former world champions. The team will now shift its focus to the knockout rounds, where stronger opposition awaits. Maintaining the same level of discipline, consistency, and confidence will be crucial as Pakistan aims to progress deeper into the championship. With two commanding victories and every player contributing positively, Pakistan enters the pre-quarter-finals with growing momentum and hopes of extending its impressive campaign on the world stage.