Stephen Curry ‘wants to finish his career as a Warrior,’ says GM

Two more Pakistani cricketers have secured contracts for the upcoming Lanka Premier League (LPL), while Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi has withdrawn from the tournament due to personal reasons. Young Pakistani batter Khawaja Nafay has signed with Jaffna Kings ahead of the new LPL season. The promising right-handed batter has been drafted into the squad as a replacement for Afghanistan opener Ibrahim Zadran, who is unavailable for the competition. Naafay’s inclusion provides the Jaffna Kings with an exciting batting option as they prepare for the tournament. The youngster has been regarded as one of Pakistan’s emerging talents and will have the opportunity to showcase his skills in one of South Asia’s premier T20 leagues. Playing alongside experienced international cricketers is expected to provide him with valuable exposure and help accelerate his development. Meanwhile, Pakistan all-rounder Iftikhar Ahmed has also earned an LPL contract after being signed by Dambulla Sixers. He joins the franchise as the replacement for Afghanistan fast bowler Fazalhaq Farooqi. Iftikhar brings considerable experience to the Dambulla squad with his ability to contribute in multiple departments. Known for his powerful middle-order batting and useful off-spin bowling, he has represented Pakistan in all three international formats and has featured in numerous T20 leagues around the world. His versatility is expected to strengthen the team’s balance as it aims to challenge for the LPL title. The addition of Khawaja Nafay and Iftikhar Ahmed further increases Pakistan’s representation in the Lanka Premier League, highlighting the growing demand for Pakistani players in franchise cricket. Their participation also provides another platform for both players to perform against international opposition and gain valuable match experience ahead of future assignments. In a separate development, Kandy Royals have confirmed that Pakistan pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi will no longer participate in this year’s Lanka Premier League. According to tournament officials, Afridi informed the organizers that he would be unavailable because of personal reasons. As a result, the left-arm fast bowler has withdrawn from the competition before its start. Shaheen’s absence is a significant setback for Kandy Royals, who were expected to rely heavily on his pace, experience and ability to strike with the new ball. Widely regarded as one of the leading fast bowlers in international cricket, Afridi has consistently delivered match-winning performances for both Pakistan and various franchise teams around the world. The franchise has yet to announce a replacement for the star pacer, and further details regarding his withdrawal have not been disclosed. Tournament organizers have respected the player’s decision and stated only that his absence is due to personal reasons. Despite Afridi’s withdrawal, the presence of Khawaja Nafay and Iftikhar Ahmed ensures continued Pakistani representation in the Lanka Premier League. Fans will now be eager to see how the two players perform as they begin a new chapter in one of the region’s most competitive T20 tournaments.

GILGIT: Search and rescue teams resumed their operation on Saturday morning to locate seven climbers who remain missing after a deadly avalanche struck Broad Peak earlier this week. The mission restarted after weather conditions improved, allowing rescuers to return to one of the world’s most challenging mountain environments. The rescue operation had been suspended late Friday because of heavy snowfall, poor visibility and the continuing risk of avalanches. Officials said improving weather conditions enabled both ground and air teams to resume the search. The avalanche occurred on Thursday while a 10-member international expedition was climbing Broad Peak, an 8,047-metre mountain in Pakistan’s Karakoram range. According to regional authorities, the climbers were ascending at an altitude of around 6,600 metres when they were caught in the massive avalanche. Three climbers were confirmed dead after their bodies were recovered on Friday. The deceased were identified as Omani climber Nadhira Ahmed Abdullah Al Harthy, Nepali mountaineer Pur Bahadur Gurung and American climber Mallory Geis. Their bodies were later airlifted to Skardu. Seven climbers are still missing. They include internationally renowned Nepali mountaineer Nirmal Purja, fellow Nepali climbers Kili Pemba Sherpa, Nima Sherpa, Nawang Thindu Sherpa and Gyalu Sherpa, Pakistani climber Sohail Sakhi and Chinese climber Wang Zhong. According to the local administration, a three-member civilian rescue team led by renowned Pakistani mountaineer Sarbaz Khan resumed the ground search on Saturday morning. Experienced Nepali climbers already stationed at the Broad Peak base camp also joined the rescue effort to assist in locating the missing mountaineers. Pakistan Army helicopters have also been deployed to support the operation. Rescue officials said helicopters are assisting with aerial surveillance, transporting rescue personnel and assessing areas that remain inaccessible by foot. Officials from the Alpine Club of Pakistan said the search operation remains extremely difficult because of steep mountain slopes, unstable snow, harsh weather and the constant threat of further avalanches. These conditions continue to slow rescue efforts and increase risks for search teams. Rescuers have also been using drone technology to scan the mountain. During the operation, drone footage reportedly identified signs of additional climbers at an altitude of around 6,000 metres. Ground teams are attempting to reach the location despite dangerous terrain and difficult weather conditions. The international rescue effort has also received support from renowned Nepali climber Mingma David Sherpa, who travelled to Pakistan to assist in the search for Nirmal Purja and the other missing climbers. Authorities said the expedition team was last in contact on Thursday morning before communication was lost. Data from the climbers’ tracking devices later suggested that several members of the team had been swept hundreds of metres down the mountainside by the avalanche.

Pakistan’s trailblazing boxer Fatima Zehra believes she had the potential to win a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games if she had access to the same level of training facilities and international exposure as many of her competitors. The 22-year-old made history by becoming the first Pakistani woman to win a boxing medal at the Commonwealth Games after claiming bronze in the women’s 60kg category. Although she narrowly missed out on a place in the final, Fatima described the achievement as a proud moment for herself and for Pakistan. Reflecting on her campaign, Fatima said her main objective before the tournament was to secure a medal, while also hoping to progress to the final. She admitted that the competition was extremely challenging, with many of her opponents benefiting from extensive international training and experience. Her journey ended in the semi-finals, where she faced Canada’s Marie-Bathoul Al-Ahmadieh. Fatima acknowledged that her opponent’s speed and international experience proved decisive, making it difficult to overcome the challenge. Despite the defeat, she expressed satisfaction with her bronze medal, saying it was earned against some of the strongest boxers in the competition. She also noted that competing at such a high level allowed her to gain valuable experience by observing other elite athletes and learning from every bout. Fatima highlighted the gap between Pakistan’s sporting infrastructure and that of leading boxing nations. She pointed out that several countries, including regional rivals, organized overseas training camps in the United States before the Games, while Pakistan’s preparations took place entirely at home. According to Fatima, world-class coaching facilities, modern training environments, and regular international competition are essential if Pakistani athletes are to consistently challenge for top honors on the global stage. She believes greater government investment in sports development would significantly improve the country’s chances of success. The young boxer also acknowledged the role played by the Pakistan Army, the Pakistan Boxing Federation, and her coach, Raheel Adnan, crediting them for their guidance and support throughout her preparation. She said their encouragement was instrumental in helping her achieve the historic milestone. Looking ahead, Fatima has already shifted her focus to the upcoming Asian Games, which are scheduled to take place in Japan in September. She hopes the experience gained at the Commonwealth Games will strengthen her performances against Asia’s top competitors. Fatima previously won a bronze medal at the 2025 Islamic Games in Saudi Arabia, and she is determined to build on that success by aiming for an even stronger finish at the Asian Games. Her boxing journey has not been without challenges. She revealed that although boxing now runs in her family, her parents initially opposed her decision to pursue the sport. After competing at the Punjab level, she was forced to step away from boxing because of her family’s concerns. However, her coach Raheel Adnan convinced them to give her another opportunity, a decision that ultimately changed her career. Today, her family fully supports her ambitions, and her two sisters, Dua and Aiman, along with her younger brother Naday Ali, have also taken up boxing. Fatima secured her historic Commonwealth Games bronze after defeating New Zealand’s Jordan Wilson by a unanimous 5-0 decision in the quarter-finals. Under tournament rules, both losing semi-finalists were awarded bronze medals, marking a landmark achievement for women’s boxing in Pakistan.