Runners, this one’s for you: Hua Hin race season begins

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.

MONTREAL: French Open champion Alexander Zverev suffered a surprise early exit from the ATP Montreal Masters after falling 6-7 (3/7), 6-2, 6-4 to Dutch underdog Tallon Griekspoor in a dramatic second-round clash on Wednesday. The top-seeded German entered the tournament hoping to bounce back from his Wimbledon final defeat to Jannik Sinner, but instead endured one of the toughest losses of his season. Despite claiming a tightly contested opening-set tiebreak, Zverev struggled to maintain his rhythm as Griekspoor mounted an impressive comeback. The world No. 69 displayed remarkable composure and consistency, taking control in the second set before sealing the biggest victory of his campaign after two hours and 34 minutes of intense tennis. A visibly disappointed Zverev did not hide his frustration after the match. “I didn’t expect to play well, but I also didn’t expect to play this badly,” the German admitted. “This was probably the worst match of the season. Tennis has its ups and downs, and now it’s about finding my best level again.” The defeat marked Zverev’s first match since finishing runner-up to Sinner at Wimbledon and brought an abrupt end to his Montreal campaign. Griekspoor’s reward is a place in the third round, where he will meet the winner of the match between Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi and Hungary’s Fabian Marozsan. The tournament had already witnessed another setback for the top seeds after second seed Felix Auger-Aliassime withdrew before his opening match because of a back injury sustained during training earlier this week. Despite the disappointing result in Montreal, Zverev has enjoyed an impressive 2026 season. He reached the semi-finals at the Australian Open, Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo and Munich, finished runner-up in Madrid, and captured his maiden Grand Slam singles title at the French Open. However, his latest defeat serves as a reminder that even the game’s biggest stars can face unexpected setbacks as the North American hard-court season gathers momentum.

Pakistan’s young taekwondo athletes delivered a memorable performance in Singapore, returning from the Grand Slam Youth Taekwondo League with an impressive haul of five medals, including three golds. The international youth competition was held in Tampines, Singapore, from July 24 to 26, bringing together talented athletes from more than 13 countries. The event provided young competitors with a valuable platform to test their skills against international opposition. The Singapore edition was also officially listed as the second edition of the Grand Slam Youth League. Pakistan’s Qadeer Khan, Wajahat Ali Khan and Arham Manaf emerged as the standout performers, securing gold medals in their respective categories after impressive displays. Their victories highlighted the growing confidence and ability of Pakistan’s young taekwondo athletes on the international stage. Competing against athletes from a wide range of countries, the Pakistani trio demonstrated determination, speed and technical skill to finish at the top. The country’s medal tally was further strengthened by Ayan Miraj and Syed Ahmed Ayaz, who claimed bronze medals after strong performances. The five-medal haul represents an encouraging development for Pakistan’s youth taekwondo programme. Beyond the medals themselves, the results offer a glimpse of the potential emerging among the country’s younger athletes. The Grand Slam Youth League is designed to give young competitors high-level international experience while allowing them to showcase their abilities in a competitive environment. For Pakistan, the Singapore success could prove an important confidence boost as these young athletes continue their development. Their performances have not only raised the national flag on the international stage but also underlined the depth of talent available in Pakistan’s next generation of taekwondo competitors.