Kai Sotto overcomes comeback jitters in Gilas Pilipinas win

Pakistan women’s football team player Maryam Mahmood has become the first Pakistani female footballer to be included on the International Honours Board of Wrexham FC Women. The British football club has also recognised Pakistan men’s team player Umar Nawaz on its International Honours Board. Wrexham FC honoured Mahmood after she represented Pakistan at the international level. Speaking about the achievement, Mahmood said she was extremely happy and proud to see her name on the honours board. She described her journey of representing Pakistan internationally as “incredible” and said seeing her name alongside the club’s legends felt surreal. She added that she could not find enough words to express her emotions about representing Pakistan. Mahmood said making her international debut for Pakistan and receiving strong support from fans was an unforgettable experience. She added that inspiring the younger generation is one of her personal goals. The footballer also recalled her experience of playing three matches for Pakistan in Ivory Coast. She said scoring a goal for Pakistan against Turks and Caicos was particularly special for her. Mahmood further said that she did not have a female role model while growing up. She expressed happiness at having the opportunity to become a role model for young girls and inspire them to pursue football. Her recognition by Wrexham FC marks another significant achievement in her career and highlights the growing presence of Pakistani women in international football.

MULTAN: Shaheen Shah Afridi produced a match-winning bowling performance as Pakistan Gold defeated Pakistan Whites by five wickets to book their place in the National Champions Cup 2026 final at Multan Cricket Stadium. Chasing 173, Gold reached their target in just 28 overs, although they lost five wickets along the way. Haider Ali led the chase with an impressive 69 off 48 balls, smashing seven fours and three sixes in an aggressive innings. The victory was particularly striking because Gold had entered the match after suffering two defeats and sitting at the bottom of the table. Their superior net run rate, however, kept their qualification hopes alive, and they capitalised when it mattered most. Gold faced early trouble during the chase, slipping to 61-3 after 10 overs. Haider then steadied the innings alongside Kamran Ghulam, who contributed 30 from 26 deliveries, including four boundaries. Saad Khan also played a valuable supporting role, scoring a patient 33 off 55 balls as Gold moved steadily towards victory. Mohammad Wasim claimed two wickets for Whites, but his efforts were not enough to stop the chase. Earlier, Whites were bowled out for 172 in 41.4 overs after choosing to bat first. Gold’s bowlers immediately put their opponents under pressure, reducing Whites to 26-2 inside the opening 10 overs. Shahzaib Khan fell for two while Haseebullah Khan managed only three. The situation worsened as Usman Khan was dismissed for three and Saim Ayub departed after scoring 30, leaving Whites struggling at 45-4 in 14.5 overs. Hasan Nawaz provided some resistance, scoring a determined 55 off 74 balls with three fours and two sixes. His efforts helped Whites cross the 150-run mark, but the lower order could not carry the innings further. Shaheen led Gold’s attack with three wickets, while Faisal Akram claimed two. The National Champions Cup is being staged in Multan from August 11 to 18 as part of Pakistan’s 2026-27 domestic season and preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup. Match 6 – Sparco Paints Pakistan Gold beat UOL Pakistan Whites by five wickets at Multan Cricket Stadium Pakistan Whites 172 all out, 41.4 overs (Hasan Nawaz 55, Saim Ayub 28, Saad Masood 20; Shaheen Shah Afridi 3-26, Mubasir Khan 2-29, Faisal Akram 2-48) Pakistan Gold 173-5, 28 overs (Haider Ali 69 not out, Saad Khan 33, Kamran Ghulam 30; Mohammad Wasim Jnr) Player of the match – Shaheen Shah Afridi (Pakistan Gold) Tournament schedule: (All matches at Multan Cricket Stadium; All matches to begin at 3pm) 11 August – Pakistan Greens beat Pakistan Whites by five wickets 12 August – Pakistan Blues beat Pakistan Gold by six wickets 13 August –Pakistan Whites beat Pakistan Blues by six runs 14 August – Pakistan Greens beat Pakistan Gold by 128 runs 15 August – Pakistan Greens beat Pakistan Blues by 192 runs 16 August – Pakistan Gold beat Pakistan Whites by five wickets 18 August – Final (Pakistan Greens v Pakistan Gold)

FIFA has launched disciplinary proceedings against Argentina following a series of incidents that allegedly took place during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including player misconduct, political displays, crowd behavior, and security-related concerns. According to reports, several Argentine players and officials are under investigation for their conduct during the tournament, while the Argentine Football Association is also facing scrutiny over alleged breaches of FIFA regulations. One of the key incidents under review occurred during the World Cup final, where Argentine players were involved in an on-field altercation with Spain’s players after the match. The confrontation has led FIFA to investigate the actions of multiple individuals associated with the Argentine team. Midfielder Leandro Paredes is reportedly facing three separate disciplinary cases over his alleged involvement in the post-match clash. Defender Nahuel Molina is the subject of two disciplinary cases, while assistant coach Roberto Ayala is also under investigation in connection with the same incident. In addition, Thiago Almada is expected to face disciplinary action over allegations of inappropriate conduct during the tournament. Apart from the final, FIFA is also examining incidents that occurred after Argentina’s semifinal victory over England. The Argentine Football Association is being investigated over the display of a political banner related to the Falkland Islands by members of the team on the field after the match. FIFA regulations generally prohibit political messages or demonstrations during official competitions, making the incident a significant part of the disciplinary review. The governing body is also looking into several other alleged violations involving Argentina throughout the tournament. These include discriminatory chants by supporters inside stadiums, delays to kick-off times, failures to comply with security protocols, and multiple incidents in which spectators allegedly threw objects onto the field during matches. FIFA’s disciplinary process will assess whether these incidents breached the organization’s disciplinary code and competition regulations. The governing body has informed all individuals and organizations involved that they will be given an opportunity to submit their responses and present their respective positions before any sanctions are imposed. The FIFA Disciplinary Committee will review all available evidence, including official match reports, video footage, witness statements, and the submissions provided by the parties involved. Once the review process is complete, the committee will announce its decision in accordance with FIFA’s disciplinary procedures. At this stage, no final ruling or punishment has been issued. Any potential sanctions against the players, coaching staff, or the Argentine Football Association will depend on the findings of the ongoing investigation and the committee’s final verdict. The disciplinary proceedings highlight FIFA’s continued efforts to enforce its competition rules and ensure that players, officials, teams, and supporters adhere to the standards of conduct expected during the world’s biggest football tournament.

DAMBULLA: Pakistan women ended their Sri Lanka tour on a positive note as Ayesha Zafar produced an all-round performance to guide her side to a four-wicket victory in the third and final T20I at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium on Tuesday. Although Pakistan claimed the final match, Sri Lanka secured the three-match T20I series 2-1 after winning the opening two encounters. Chasing a modest target of 114, Pakistan reached 117 for six in 18.2 overs, with Ayesha leading the run chase through a composed 39 off 31 balls. Her innings featured six boundaries and came at a crucial stage when Pakistan needed stability after losing early wickets. Young batter Shawaal Zulfiqar provided valuable support with a quick 21 from just 12 deliveries, striking three fours and a six to keep the momentum firmly in Pakistan’s favour. Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu and Kavisha Dilhari picked up two wickets each, but the hosts were unable to defend their total as Pakistan finished the chase with 10 balls to spare. Earlier, after being asked to bat first, Sri Lanka posted 113 for six in 20 overs. Athapaththu was once again the standout performer for the home side, scoring 34 runs and hitting five fours during her innings. Pakistan’s bowling attack was led by 23-year-old Momina Riasat, who delivered an impressive spell of 2 for 18 in four overs. Ayesha Zafar also contributed with the ball, claiming one wicket before making the decisive impact with the bat. The victory gave Pakistan a much-needed confidence boost after a difficult tour, where they managed two wins from six matches across the ODI and T20I series. Despite losing the T20I series, the final-match triumph offered encouraging signs, particularly through the performances of Ayesha Zafar and Momina Riasat. With several young players stepping up under pressure, Pakistan will take valuable positives from the tour as they begin preparations for upcoming international assignments.