Jorge Messi, father of football superstar, dies at 68

France have appointed former midfielder and Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane as their new head coach, beginning a new era for the national team. The French Football Federation confirmed the appointment on Tuesday. The 54-year-old succeeds Didier Deschamps, who stepped down after 14 years in charge. Deschamps guided France to the 2018 World Cup title and the 2020-21 Nations League trophy. He also led the team to the Euro 2016 and 2022 World Cup finals. Zidane now returns to the national setup more than two decades after helping France win the 1998 World Cup on home soil. He played a key role in that historic campaign and won the Ballon d’Or the same year. The appointment brings together Zidane’s successful playing career and an impressive managerial record. As Real Madrid coach, he won three consecutive Champions League titles and established himself as one of Europe’s most successful managers. Zidane’s first major challenge will be to build on France’s strong squad and prepare the team for the next international cycle. His appointment is expected to bring a fresh tactical approach while maintaining France’s status as one of the world’s leading football nations. His tenure is set to run through the 2030 World Cup. The new France boss is expected to begin his international campaign with a Nations League match away to Turkey. France will then host Italy at the Stade de France on October 2.

LEEDS: Pakistan’s World Test Championship campaign suffered another setback on Friday as they slipped to the bottom of the WTC 2025-27 standings after England completed a crushing innings victory in the first Test at Headingley. The defeat leaves Pakistan with just two wins from seven matches and a points percentage of 19.05, increasing the pressure on the team ahead of the remaining two Tests of the three-match series. England, meanwhile, remain seventh in the standings with a points percentage of 29.76, having won five of their 14 matches. Australia continue to dominate the WTC table. They sit top with seven wins from nine Tests, collecting 84 points at a winning percentage of 77.78. Defending champions South Africa are second with three wins from four matches and a 75% percentage. New Zealand occupy third place, followed by Bangladesh and India. Pakistan’s latest defeat exposed familiar problems with both their batting and ability to handle England’s pace attack. After being asked to bat, Pakistan were dismissed for just 171 in their first innings. England’s bowlers Ollie Robinson and Josh Tongue were particularly effective, claiming five wickets each. England then turned their advantage into a commanding position, piling up 409 runs in their first innings. Jordan Cox, Joe Root, Harry Brook and Dan Lawrence all contributed half-centuries, while Pakistan spinner Ali Usman fought back with an impressive five-wicket haul. Pakistan entered their second innings facing a massive 238-run deficit and needed a determined batting effort to save the match. Instead, their resistance lasted only 37.3 overs. Pakistan were bowled out for 135, handing England a comprehensive innings victory and leaving their opponents with a 1-0 lead in the series. Robinson was the standout performer. His eight wickets across the match earned him the Player of the Match award and helped England secure a dominant start to the series. Pakistan had entered the England tour after drawing their two-Test series against the West Indies 1-1, but their Headingley collapse has put their WTC campaign under renewed pressure. With two Tests still remaining, Pakistan will need a dramatic turnaround in batting consistency and bowling execution to keep their hopes of climbing the championship table alive.

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.