Hall of Famers Jason Kidd, Tony Parker, Lauren Jackson descend on PH

HONG KONG: Pakistan’s women’s netball team made an impressive start to their campaign at the Asian Women’s Netball Plate Division Championship, defeating Japan 58-34 in a commanding opening match. Pakistan controlled the contest from the early stages and never allowed Japan to establish a meaningful lead. The Pakistani players maintained pressure throughout the game, combining disciplined defending with effective attacking moves to keep their opponents on the back foot. The victory gave Pakistan a strong opening to the championship and will provide the team with valuable confidence ahead of their next fixture. Japan struggled to match Pakistan’s intensity as the match progressed. Pakistan’s consistent scoring and organized play helped them build a comfortable advantage, which they maintained until the final whistle. The 24-point victory underlined Pakistan’s determination to make an impact in the competition and build momentum for the matches ahead. The Asian Women’s Netball Plate Division Championship is being held in Hong Kong, bringing together teams competing for honours in the regional event. Pakistan will now turn their attention to their second match of the tournament. Pakistan are scheduled to face Thailand on August 10, with the team hoping to carry the confidence from their convincing victory over Japan into the next encounter. The Pakistani side’s emphatic opening win has put them on a positive footing, while another strong performance against Thailand could further strengthen their position in the tournament. With the campaign now underway, Pakistan will be looking to maintain their winning momentum and continue their impressive run in Hong Kong.

ZURICH: A major controversy has emerged within FIFA after senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro resigned in protest over a proposal to sell a stake in the commercial rights of the FIFA World Cup, warning that the move could damage the long-term future of global football. According to international media reports, Cordeiro stepped down from his role as senior adviser to FIFA President Gianni Infantino after voicing strong opposition to the plan. He described the proposal as being against the interests of football and FIFA’s 211 member associations. The controversial proposal involves the creation of a new subsidiary, FIFA Forward Enterprise, reportedly valued at around $20 billion. Under the plan, the company would manage the commercial rights of the FIFA World Cup and other major tournaments, with up to 20% of its shares potentially being sold to outside investors. Cordeiro stressed that he had no role in developing the proposal and made it clear that he strongly opposed it. He argued that FIFA is already in a strong financial position, holding billions of dollars in reserves and carrying no debt. He questioned the logic of selling a permanent stake in one of football’s most valuable assets for an estimated $4.2 billion, saying such a decision could have lasting consequences for the sport. The proposal is expected to be reviewed by FIFA’s 211 member associations, which have until September 19 to decide whether to support the plan. Cordeiro also warned that introducing external investors into the commercial structure of the World Cup could weaken FIFA’s long-term control over its flagship tournament and create challenges for future generations of the game. The resignation has intensified debate over the future management of football’s biggest global event, with critics urging FIFA to protect the World Cup’s commercial independence while supporters argue that new investment could unlock fresh opportunities for the sport. The outcome of the upcoming vote is expected to shape the future financial direction of world football.