EJ Obiena back to golden ways with victory in Germany

Sri Lanka’s ODI captain Kusal Mendis has been ruled out of the remainder of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2026 after suffering a hamstring injury during Colombo Caps’ match against Kandy Royals. The wicketkeeper-batter sustained the injury while attempting a run during the contest, although Colombo Caps went on to register a six-wicket victory. Following medical assessments, Sri Lanka Cricket confirmed that Mendis will begin his rehabilitation at the National High Performance Centre. His absence is a significant setback for Colombo Caps, who have appointed Kamindu Mendis as captain for the rest of the tournament. The injury also raises concerns for Sri Lanka ahead of their two-match series against India, scheduled to begin on August 15. Mendis is a key member of the national side across formats and was expected to play a leading role, including wicketkeeping duties. However, officials have not yet announced a timeline for his recovery. Before the injury, Mendis had been in outstanding form. He opened his LPL campaign with a brilliant 79-run knock against Galle Gallants and continued to demonstrate the consistency that has made him one of Sri Lanka’s most dependable batters. Earlier this year, he enjoyed a memorable Pakistan Super League season, scoring 550 runs in 11 innings at an impressive strike rate of 168.19, making him one of the competition’s standout performers. Mendis has also carried that momentum into international cricket in 2026, scoring 408 runs in 14 innings across all formats. In One-Day Internationals alone, he has accumulated 211 runs in four innings at an outstanding average of 70.33. Sri Lanka’s medical staff will now closely monitor his recovery, hoping the experienced batter regains full fitness in time for the upcoming international assignments. His absence from the remainder of the LPL is a major blow for Colombo Caps as they continue their campaign without their captain and leading run-scorer.

LONDON: Pakistan’s national shooting team delivered an impressive performance at the F-Class British Open 2026, winning 13 medals, including seven gold medals. The team was led by Lieutenant General Ahsan Gulrez. Pakistan competed with a relatively small contingent compared with several other participating countries but still produced strong results. The F-Class British Open was held from August 3 to 8 in Bisley, United Kingdom. Around 185 elite shooters from 24 countries took part in the prestigious international competition. Pakistan participated with a 12-member shooting team. Despite the limited size of the contingent, Pakistani shooters produced notable results in both individual and aggregate events. The team secured a total of 13 medals. These included seven gold, two silver and four bronze medals. The performance highlighted the consistency and competitive ability of Pakistani shooters against some of the world’s experienced F-Class rifle competitors. The British Open was also considered an important preparation event for the 7th F-Class World Championship. The world championship is being held in Bisley from August 10 to 16. Following their strong showing at the British Open, Pakistani shooters are now competing at the world championship. They are facing some of the leading teams and top shooters from around the world. Officials associated with the team said the results at the British Open demonstrated Pakistan’s growing strength in long-range competitive rifle shooting. They said Pakistani shooters have shown that they can compete successfully at the highest international level. The national team, under the leadership of Lieutenant General Ahsan Gulrez, will now aim to build on its medal-winning performance at the F-Class World Championship.

BECKENHAM: Pakistan batter Shan Masood has taken another important step towards returning to Test cricket, resuming batting practice with the national squad ahead of the three-match series against England. Masood, 36, suffered a fractured index finger during the opening Test against the West Indies in Tarouba, despite scoring a century in the first innings. The injury forced him to miss the second Test, but the former Pakistan captain remained with the squad to continue his rehabilitation under the supervision of the team’s medical staff. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has now confirmed that Masood participated in a training session at Kent County Cricket Club in Beckenham, where Pakistan players worked through batting and bowling drills. “Under the supervision of the medical team, he carried out batting practice,” the PCB said in an update. Masood’s progress will be closely monitored as Pakistan prepare for a demanding series against England. His availability for the first Test will depend on his recovery and clinical assessment. The opening Test is scheduled to begin at Headingley on August 19, leaving Masood only a limited window to prove he is fit enough for the challenge. Before the series begins, Pakistan will play a four-day warm-up match against PCC Select XI starting Wednesday. The fixture will provide the squad with valuable preparation in English conditions. The second Test will be played at Lord’s from August 27, followed by the final match at Edgbaston from September 9. For Pakistan, Masood’s return could provide a significant boost to the batting line-up. His century in the Caribbean showed his ability to make an impact, and his recovery now gives the team hope that the experienced left-hander could be back when the England challenge begins. Pakistan squad Babar Azam (c), Aamir Jamal, Ali Usman, Abdullah Shafique, Azan Awais, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Awais Zafar, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wk), Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel* (subject to fitness), Shan Masood and Ubaid Shah.

KARACHI: Pakistan’s Hockey World Cup campaign reaches a decisive moment on Wednesday when the Green Shirts face arch-rivals India in a must-win Group D encounter at the Wagener Hockey Stadium in Amstelveen. The match, scheduled for 6pm Pakistan Standard Time, carries enormous significance for Pakistan. After suffering a 4-1 defeat against England and being held to a 3-3 draw by Wales, Pakistan have only one point from two matches. India, meanwhile, have three points after defeating Wales 3-1. The equation is simple for Pakistan: win or exit. India can secure their place in the next stage with a draw, putting additional pressure on Pakistan to produce their first victory of the tournament. England currently lead the group after winning both of their opening matches and have already secured qualification for the top-eight stage. The high-pressure contest is expected to bring out the intensity traditionally associated with one of international hockey’s most closely followed rivalries. Former Pakistan captain and 1984 Los Angeles Olympics gold medallist Nasir Ali believes the psychological battle could be just as important as tactics and fitness. “Both nations feel pressure when they play against each other,” Nasir said, stressing that India’s three-point advantage gives them greater room for error. Pakistan’s opening two matches have produced mixed results. The heavy defeat against England exposed weaknesses in finishing, while the comeback against Wales showed encouraging signs of improvement. However, Pakistan surrendered a lead late in the Wales match and were forced to settle for a draw. Nasir believes missed opportunities could prove costly against India. He pointed to chances wasted against England, including Rana Waheed’s effort that struck the post, and urged the players to be more clinical in front of goal. Despite the results, the former Olympian sees progress in Pakistan’s overall play. He highlighted the team’s improved possession compared with their performances in the Pro League, suggesting that the side is beginning to regain confidence and control. But possession alone will not be enough against India. Pakistan must turn their control into goals while maintaining composure during a fast-paced encounter. “Today’s hockey is very fast,” Nasir said, urging the players to remain accurate and deal with pressure professionally. The tournament’s new top-eight format has added another layer of importance to the group-stage results. The top two teams from each group progress to the next phase, with results against fellow qualifiers carried forward. For Pakistan, however, calculations have little value now. They need a win. With World Cup survival at stake and the India-Pakistan rivalry providing an emotional backdrop, Wednesday’s clash promises to be one of the most eagerly watched matches of Pakistan’s tournament campaign.