EJ Obiena earns 2027 World Athletics Championships berth

DUBAI: Pakistan Test captain Babar Azam has climbed back into the ICC’s top 10 Test batting rankings after producing a series of important performances against the West Indies. Babar moved up five places to 10th in the latest rankings released on Wednesday, marking his first return to the elite group since September 2024. The rise comes as the Pakistan captain looks to rebuild his standing in Test cricket following a prolonged period outside the top 10. The 31-year-old played an important role in Pakistan’s campaign in the Caribbean, particularly during the second Test at Queen’s Park Oval. Pakistan won the match by eight wickets, securing an away Test victory after a wait of more than three years and levelling the two-match series 1-1. Babar made a significant contribution in the decisive match, scoring 88 runs in Pakistan’s first innings before finishing unbeaten on 24 during the successful chase. He had also made 23 and an unbeaten 58 in the opening Test, although Pakistan eventually suffered a 90-run defeat. His consistent performances have now been reflected in the latest rankings, providing another boost to the Pakistan captain as the team prepares for its upcoming Test assignments. Babar was not the only Pakistan batter to make substantial progress. Abdullah Shafique made one of the biggest jumps in the rankings after an outstanding return to the Test side. Playing his first Test since October 2025, Shafique struck an unbeaten 160 in the second Test. His innings helped Pakistan secure a 43-run first-innings lead and played a key role in setting up the victory. Shafique climbed an impressive 25 places to 32nd in the Test batting rankings. Pakistan also saw movement in the bowling and all-rounder rankings. Off-spinner Sajid Khan rose five places to 30th among Test bowlers after his performances in the Caribbean. He also climbed five spots to 32nd in the Test all-rounders’ rankings. At the top of the batting chart, Australia’s Travis Head retained the No. 1 position, while India’s Jasprit Bumrah remained the leading Test bowler. India’s Ravindra Jadeja continued to dominate the Test all-rounders’ rankings. Babar’s return to the top 10 gives Pakistan another reason for optimism, while Shafique’s rapid rise underlines the growing depth of the team’s batting options.

RABAT: FIFA has thrown its full support behind president Gianni Infantino despite growing criticism over the now-abandoned proposal to privatise the commercial rights of the FIFA World Cup, while admitting that serious mistakes were made during the handling of the controversial plan. The governing body’s senior leadership met in Rabat, Morocco, on Wednesday to address the crisis that erupted after details of the proposal were leaked to the media. Following the meeting, FIFA issued a statement reaffirming its confidence in Infantino but also apologised to member associations for the way the process was managed. The proposed project, known as the FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE), aimed to create a new commercial subsidiary responsible for managing tournaments such as the FIFA World Cup and Club World Cup. FIFA estimated the venture could generate up to $4.2 billion, based on a valuation of $20 billion, while significantly increasing financial support for its 211 member associations. Under the proposal, each member nation would have received a one-time payment of $20 million in 2027, with regular funding for the 2027–2030 cycle rising from $8 million to $20 million. However, instead of winning support, the initiative sparked fierce opposition from football stakeholders worldwide. UEFA strongly criticised the plan, describing it as an opaque agreement that lacked transparency, while CONCACAF questioned Infantino’s leadership and governance. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney also publicly expressed doubts about Infantino’s ability to continue leading world football. Facing mounting pressure, Infantino withdrew the proposal last weekend, saying FIFA’s primary goal had always been to unite and strengthen the global game. In Wednesday’s statement, FIFA admitted that member associations and the FIFA Council should have been more closely involved from the outset. It also acknowledged mistakes made after the proposal became public and pledged to improve transparency in future decision-making. A formal review of the process will now be conducted, with findings expected to be presented at the next FIFA Council meeting. Officials confirmed that the FFE proposal has been permanently shelved. Later in the day, Infantino attended a Women’s Africa Cup of Nations match in Rabat alongside Moroccan football federation president Fouzi Lekjaa, one of the few senior officials to publicly support him throughout the controversy. Despite surviving the immediate crisis with the backing of FIFA’s leadership, the episode has raised fresh questions about governance, transparency and trust within world football, casting a shadow over Infantino’s bid for another term as FIFA president.