Pakistan’s boxing campaign at the 2026 Commonwealth Games received a major boost after Fatima Zahra delivered an impressive knockout victory to book her place in the women’s 60kg quarter-finals in Scotland. The Pakistani boxer produced a commanding performance against Lesotho’s Real Ebuoha, overwhelming her opponent from the opening exchanges. Fatima displayed sharp technique, powerful punches and complete control throughout the contest, leaving little room for a comeback. Her dominance was so decisive that the referee stopped the bout before the scheduled finish, awarding the contest to the Pakistani boxer by technical knockout. The victory secured Fatima’s place in the quarter-finals and kept Pakistan’s hopes alive for a medal in women’s boxing. The convincing win has been welcomed by Pakistan’s sporting community, with many praising the young boxer’s confidence and composure on one of the biggest stages in Commonwealth sport. Fatima now faces a far tougher challenge in the quarter-finals, where she is scheduled to take on Jordan Wilson of New Zealand. The upcoming bout is expected to be one of the key contests in the 60kg division, with both athletes aiming to move closer to a place on the podium. The Commonwealth Games have brought together top athletes from across the Commonwealth, making every victory increasingly significant as the competition progresses. For Pakistan, Fatima’s success represents another encouraging moment for women’s boxing, a sport that has steadily gained momentum in recent years. Sports analysts believe her aggressive style, quick movement and ability to control the pace of a fight could make her a serious contender if she maintains her current form. However, they also note that the knockout stages will present stronger and more experienced opponents. Pakistan will now look to Fatima Zahra to continue her impressive run as she prepares for the crucial quarter-final clash against New Zealand’s Jordan Wilson. A victory would guarantee her a place in the semi-finals and move her one step closer to securing a historic Commonwealth Games medal for Pakistan in women’s boxing. Her commanding performance has already become one of Pakistan’s standout moments at the Games, raising hopes that the country’s boxing contingent can make a lasting impact in Scotland.

LEEDS: Pakistan’s stand-in captain Salman Ali Agha has admitted that England exposed weaknesses across the board after Pakistan suffered a heavy defeat in the opening Test, while expressing hope that Babar Azam will return for the next match. Speaking at the post-match press conference, Salman acknowledged that Pakistan were outplayed by England and failed to maintain the consistency required at international level. “England outclassed us in every department,” Salman said, adding that the team repeatedly failed to execute its plans when it mattered most. The defeat has raised fresh questions about Pakistan’s preparations for the challenging England conditions. Salman said the team had arrived only about a week before the start of the series, leaving limited time for players to adjust to the unfamiliar conditions. “We always face tough challenges in England,” he said, stressing that adapting to local conditions requires time and experience. Pakistan’s problems were particularly visible with the bat. After being dismissed for 171 in their first innings, the visitors managed only 135 in the second, allowing England to complete a comprehensive innings victory. Salman also admitted that several senior players are struggling for form. He pointed to his own performance, as well as those of Mohammad Rizwan and Saud Shakeel, saying the lack of runs from key batters has become a major concern for the side. The captain nevertheless insisted that Pakistan have enough talent to improve. “We are going through a difficult rebuilding phase,” Salman said, describing the current team as a side being prepared with an eye on the future. He acknowledged that Pakistan’s bowling attack is relatively young and inexperienced but argued that the experience gained during difficult overseas tours could prove valuable in the long term. The captain’s comments come as Pakistan attempt to recover from a disappointing start to their three-Test series against England. The visitors will need a significant improvement in both batting and execution if they are to challenge the hosts in the remaining matches. One potential boost could come from the return of Babar Azam. Salman expressed hope that the former Pakistan captain would be fully fit and available for the next Test. Babar’s return could provide Pakistan with much-needed experience and stability in the batting order at a crucial stage of the series. Pakistan’s recent struggles have highlighted the difficulty of competing overseas, particularly when a team is undergoing transition. For Salman, however, the priority is clear: Pakistan must learn quickly and raise their standards. The stand-in captain stressed that the current level of performance is not acceptable and urged the team to improve its execution in foreign conditions. With two Tests still remaining, Pakistan have an opportunity to respond on the field. But after a one-sided opening defeat, the pressure will be firmly on the visitors to show that their rebuilding project can deliver results as well as promise.

Pakistan’s difficult start to the Masters Hockey World Cup continued on Monday as Ireland handed them a crushing 11-0 defeat in their second Group D match. The one-sided result leaves Pakistan searching for answers after another disappointing outing in the tournament. Ireland dominated proceedings and repeatedly breached the Pakistani defence, eventually finishing with an emphatic 11-goal victory. Pakistan struggled to create a meaningful attacking threat throughout the contest, while Ireland maintained pressure and capitalised on their opportunities. The Pakistani side failed to find the net despite efforts to regain control of the match. The defeat was particularly disappointing for a team featuring experienced former Olympians. Olympians Shahbaz Senior and Khalid Hameed were unable to produce the kind of performance that could inspire a turnaround as Ireland maintained their control from start to finish. The 11-0 scoreline also highlights the challenge facing Pakistan as they attempt to recover from back-to-back defeats at the competition. Pakistan will now have little time to regroup. Their next Group D assignment is scheduled for August 11, when they will face Wales. The upcoming match could provide Pakistan with an opportunity to put the heavy defeat behind them and restore some confidence. However, they will need a much stronger defensive display and greater attacking organisation if they are to avoid another difficult outing. For Pakistan, the focus now shifts from the disappointment against Ireland to the immediate task of responding against Wales. With the tournament moving quickly, the team will be hoping to turn the page and produce a more competitive performance in its next appearance.

DAMBULLA: A sensational unbeaten century from opener Ameesha Delani powered Sri Lanka Women to a commanding six-wicket victory over Pakistan Women in the opening T20 International of the three-match series on Friday, overshadowing impressive batting performances from Pakistan captain Muneeba Ali and Shawaal Zulfiqar. After winning the toss, Sri Lanka elected to bowl first, allowing Pakistan to make a confident start. Captain Muneeba Ali led from the front with a blistering 42 off just 24 balls, striking nine boundaries during a 66-run opening partnership that gave the visitors early momentum. Following Muneeba’s dismissal, Shawaal Zulfiqar anchored the innings with a composed 63 runs, while Iman Nasir contributed 21 during a valuable 61-run stand for the second wicket. However, Pakistan lost wickets at regular intervals in the closing overs and finished on 176 for 7 from their allotted 20 overs. For Sri Lanka, Kavisha Dilhari claimed two wickets, while Kavya Kavindi, Sugandika Kumari and Chamudi Praboda picked up one wicket each to restrict Pakistan from crossing the 180-run mark. In reply, Sri Lanka produced an even stronger batting display. Opener Ameesha Delani stole the spotlight with a magnificent unbeaten 101, combining aggressive stroke play with calm composure to guide her team to victory with an over to spare. Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu provided excellent support with 39 runs as the hosts comfortably chased down the 177-run target, finishing on 177 for 4 in 19 overs. Pakistan’s bowlers struggled to contain the Sri Lankan batters despite efforts from Nashra Sandhu, who claimed two wickets. Humna Bilal and Umm-e-Hani took one wicket each but were unable to prevent the hosts from taking a 1-0 lead in the series. The defeat leaves Pakistan needing a strong response in the second T20I, scheduled for August 2, to keep the series alive before the final match on August 4. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, will head into the next game full of confidence after a dominant all-round performance led by Delani’s match-winning century.