UP outguns Ateneo in altercation-marred thriller to clinch Final Four anew

PESHAWAR: A nine-member mountaineering team has successfully climbed the 6,050-metre Thalo Zom peak in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. The achievement is being seen as an important milestone for mountaineering and adventure tourism in the province. The team completed the difficult expedition after spending eight days on challenging mountain routes. The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Tourism Authority said Thalo Zom is one of the most difficult and less frequently climbed peaks in the Hindu Kush mountain range. Its difficult terrain makes the climb demanding even for experienced mountaineers. The expedition started on July 9. The team continued its journey through difficult mountainous terrain before reaching the summit on July 17. After reaching the top, the mountaineers raised the national flag. The moment marked the successful completion of a challenging expedition in one of the region’s difficult mountain areas. The climbers had to pass through difficult routes in Kumrat and Chitral during the expedition. The journey involved steep and rugged terrain. The team also crossed glaciers and areas containing deep cracks in the ice. Glacial crevasses can make high-altitude expeditions particularly dangerous. Mountaineers must carefully choose their routes while crossing such areas. The difficult conditions required careful planning and sustained effort from the team. The eight-day expedition tested the climbers as they moved through remote and challenging parts of the Hindu Kush. The successful ascent also highlights the potential of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa for adventure tourism. The province is home to several high-altitude mountains and remote valleys. The region’s mountainous landscape attracts climbers and adventure enthusiasts. However, many peaks remain difficult to access because of their rugged terrain and limited routes. The Tourism Authority said Thalo Zom has a notable history in international mountaineering. Australian climbers first reached the summit in 1971. The peak was climbed again in 2019 by Italian mountaineers. The latest expedition adds another successful ascent to the mountain’s history. The achievement also draws attention to the broader tourism potential of Kumrat and Chitral. Both areas are known for their mountainous landscapes and challenging terrain. Successful mountaineering expeditions can help promote lesser-known destinations among domestic and international adventure tourists. They can also bring greater attention to the natural attractions of the province. The latest climb demonstrates the determination and endurance required to reach high-altitude peaks. The team had to overcome glaciers, steep routes and dangerous ice formations during the journey. The successful ascent of Thalo Zom is therefore more than a mountaineering achievement. It also showcases the natural beauty and adventure tourism potential of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

Bangladesh has a new face leading its One-day International side. Litton Das has officially taken over ODI captaincy duties from Mehidy Hasan Miraz, with the Bangladesh Cricket Board confirming the change on Wednesday. The decision comes not long after Bangladesh suffered a series defeat against Zimbabwe earlier this month. It is worth noting that the shift only affects the ODI format. Najmul Hossain will keep his position as Test captain, so the two roles remain separate. Litton was already Bangladesh’s T20 captain before this appointment. With this move, he now leads two of the three formats, while the board continues its approach of splitting captaincy responsibilities. Board president Tamim Iqbal explained that having separate leaders for white-ball and red-ball cricket was part of preparations for next year’s ODI World Cup, which South Africa, Namibia, and Zimbabwe will jointly host. Tamim spoke positively about Mehidy’s time as captain, highlighting his strong results across several series. Still, he pointed to a dip in Mehidy’s batting form as the main reason behind the change. He mentioned having a conversation with Mehidy directly and said the outgoing captain was understanding of the board’s decision. Mehidy stepped into the ODI captaincy role about a year ago, replacing Najmul, who had briefly captained the team in all three formats. During his tenure, Bangladesh secured ten wins out of twenty ODIs. The early stretch of his captaincy was difficult, with the team losing several matches in a row. Things improved significantly afterward, as Bangladesh strung together four consecutive series wins at home against the West Indies, Pakistan, New Zealand, and Australia. That momentum slowed following the away series loss to Zimbabwe. This is not new territory for Litton either. He previously captained Bangladesh in seven ODIs, a stretch that included a memorable series win over India in 2022. Tamim also addressed questions surrounding Bangladesh’s proposed home series against India in September. He said he remained hopeful the tour would proceed, describing Bangladesh as a safe environment for visiting teams. He added that talks with India’s cricket board had been going well and that more clarity was expected soon. This uncertainty follows an earlier standoff, when Bangladesh’s previous board opted out of playing in India during this year’s T20 World Cup due to security concerns tied to a Bangladeshi bowler’s IPL release. Tamim acknowledged that some decisions were beyond his control, since government involvement plays a role too, but said an update should come soon.

BRIDGETOWN: West Indies fast bowler Alzarri Joseph has responded to comments made by head coach Darren Sammy regarding his absence from the ongoing Test series against Pakistan, saying his decision was taken out of context and has created a misleading public perception. The controversy emerged after Cricket West Indies initially cited “personal reasons” for Joseph’s unavailability. However, subsequent remarks by Sammy suggested that the pacer had declined selection for the series, sparking widespread discussion among cricket fans and analysts. In a statement, Joseph clarified that his decision was based solely on his physical condition following a lengthy recovery from his second stress fracture in the back within the past year. The fast bowler explained that he had only recently returned to Test cricket and had already played two demanding Tests against Sri Lanka, followed by five consecutive One-Day Internationals against New Zealand. After that workload, he felt his body was not ready for another Test series without adequate rest. Joseph said the coach’s comments were made without presenting the full background, leading many to misunderstand his position. “I believe the remarks were incomplete and created the wrong impression among the public,” he said, stressing that his commitment to West Indies cricket remains unchanged. The 29-year-old also dismissed suggestions that he had turned his back on the national team, saying he has always been proud to represent the West Indies whenever he is physically fit. Joseph reaffirmed that he remains a professional cricketer dedicated to serving his country and its supporters. He added that his responsibility is to the West Indies team and the people of the Caribbean, not to any individual. His clarification comes as the West Indies continue their Test campaign against Pakistan, with discussions over player workload and injury management increasingly becoming an important issue in international cricket. The latest exchange has highlighted the challenges teams face in balancing player fitness with the demands of a packed international schedule.