Hua Hin Muay Thai event backs youth safety

CHICAGO: A heated Indiana Fever-Chicago Sky matchup has sparked a fresh controversy in the WNBA after Sky guard DiJonai Carrington was ejected for a Flagrant 2 foul on Sophie Cunningham and later posted “WHITE PRIVILEGE” on social media. The incident happened during Saturday’s game in Chicago when Cunningham was driving toward the basket on a fast break. Carrington chased her down and struck Cunningham high around the head and neck, sending the Fever guard to the floor. After a video review, officials upgraded the foul to a Flagrant 2, which carries an automatic ejection. Cunningham immediately confronted Carrington before teammates stepped in to separate the players. Carrington later posted the words “WHITE PRIVILEGE” on Threads while tagging the Indiana Fever, bringing a racial dimension to an already tense incident. Cunningham strongly rejected that interpretation after the game. “I think the league is taking care of that. This has nothing to do with race,” Cunningham said, pointing out that she had previously been ejected for a similar incident and accepted the punishment at the time. She also described Carrington’s foul as unnecessary and said she believed there was intent behind the contact. “I’ve never really spoken to her and have no beef with her,” Cunningham said, adding that she believed Carrington had some pent-up frustration. Despite the confrontation, the Fever guard’s coach offered a more measured assessment of the incident. Indiana coach Stephanie White agreed that the Flagrant 2 call was appropriate but said she did not believe Carrington deliberately targeted Cunningham’s neck. White previously coached Carrington during their time with the Connecticut Sun. Carrington’s own coach, Tyler Marsh, also said he initially believed the play was a legitimate attempt to make a defensive play and had not immediately considered it a Flagrant 2. He said the team would address Carrington’s social media post internally. The controversy comes as Cunningham has already attracted considerable attention away from the basketball court because of her public comments about transgender athletes in women’s sports. Her views have prompted both supporters and protesters to appear around Fever games in recent weeks. The game itself ended in a 90-86 victory for Indiana, while Carrington’s early exit dramatically changed the contest. She had scored eight points in only four minutes before being ejected. Cunningham finished with three points in 17 minutes, with all three points coming from the free throws awarded after the flagrant foul. The latest clash adds another chapter to the increasingly intense rivalry surrounding the Fever, which has attracted enormous national attention. For now, the basketball incident has moved beyond the court, with questions about the foul, Carrington’s social media post and the wider debate surrounding Cunningham continuing to generate discussion across the WNBA.

Pakistan’s Test squad has arrived in England for a three-match series, with the team set to begin preparations ahead of the opening Test on August 19. The national side reached England after drawing their recent Test series in the West Indies 1-1. The upcoming tour will present another demanding challenge, particularly with England’s conditions expected to test Pakistan’s batters and bowlers. The Pakistan squad will take a short break on August 8 and 9 before returning to training. The team is scheduled to begin its first practice session on August 10 at the County Ground in Beckenham. Training is scheduled to start at 9:30am local time as the players begin adapting to the English conditions. Before the Test series gets underway, Pakistan will have an important opportunity to fine-tune their combinations during a four-day practice match against a Select XI. The warm-up fixture is scheduled to take place from August 12 to 15. The practice game is expected to help the team management assess players ahead of the first Test while allowing the squad to adjust to the pace, movement and weather conditions in England. Pakistan and England will then begin their three-Test series on August 19. The visitors will be hoping to carry lessons from their West Indies campaign into the tour and make a strong start in England. For Pakistan, the series will also provide an important test of their red-ball depth, with both experienced players and younger members of the squad expected to play key roles. With training, a four-day practice match and the opening Test all lined up, Pakistan’s preparations are now officially underway. The team will be eager to use the coming days wisely before the real contest begins on August 19, when Pakistan and England resume their battle in the longest format of the game.

OSLO: A 15-year-old Pakistani footballer has gone missing after reportedly leaving the Better Future Pakistan camp in Norway without informing team officials, prompting an immediate police search during the team’s stay in Oslo. According to a statement issued by Better Future Pakistan, the young player departed the camp on his own without seeking permission from the management. The organization said his whereabouts remain unknown despite ongoing efforts to locate him. Officials stressed that preliminary findings suggest the footballer left the camp voluntarily, with no evidence so far indicating foul play, kidnapping or coercion. They urged the public to avoid speculation while authorities continue their investigation. The camp management said police were notified within 20 minutes of the player last being seen. Norwegian authorities responded promptly, launching search operations and initiating the necessary legal procedures to trace the missing teenager. Better Future Pakistan stated that it is maintaining close contact with local law enforcement agencies and is fully cooperating with the investigation. The organization also said it is providing updates to the player’s family and relevant Pakistani authorities as new information becomes available. The incident occurred after the conclusion of the Norway Cup, one of the world’s largest international youth football tournaments, which was held in Oslo from July 25 to August 1. Better Future Pakistan had sent a group of young footballers to participate in the event as part of its youth development program. While the missing player’s disappearance has raised concern, officials confirmed that all other members of the Pakistani contingent have safely returned home following the completion of the tournament. The case has drawn attention in Pakistan’s sporting community, coming shortly after other reports involving Pakistani athletes going missing during overseas tours. However, Better Future Pakistan emphasized that each case is unique and cautioned against drawing premature conclusions. Authorities in Norway continue their search, while the football community hopes the teenager is found safe and reunited with his family as soon as possible. Both police and team officials have appealed for anyone with credible information about the player’s whereabouts to contact the relevant authorities immediately.