Islamabad (Sports News): A magnificent hundred from Aaron George saw India pull off a record chase and beat Afghanistan by seven wickets in the ICC Men’s U19 Cricket World Cup 2026 semi-finals.Faisal Khan and Uzairullah Niazai had each reached three figures for Afghanistan as they made 310 for four from their 50 overs.That left India needing to pull off the biggest chase in the history of the competition to progress, and they did just that.George was the star of the show, scoring a sensational 115, having earlier played second fiddle to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and then Ayush Mhatre.Although he could not quite see India home, the job was effectively done as they sealed a date with England in Friday’s final with 8.5 overs to spare.George piles up the runs in brilliant batting displayAfter winning the toss, Afghanistan elected to bat, with Khalid Ahmadzai (31) and Osman Sadat (39) starting strongly as they put on 53 for the first wicket.Osman kicked on after being joined by Faisal Khan, with the pair adding a further 64.Faisal, who already has two fifties and a hundred to his name in the tournament, was in exquisite form, and he and Uzairullah Niazai timed their innings to perfection.Faisal hit 15 boundaries in his 110 and he and Uzairullah combined to take Afghanistan to 265 for three with their 148-run stand.Even before Deepesh Devendran removed Faisal, Uzairullah had started to up the ante, going after the Indian bowling.And he ramped it up and matched his batting partner in making it to three figures, only the second time in the tournament’s history that two batters had hit centuries in the same innings of a knockout clash.With Uzairullah finishing unbeaten on 101, Afghanistan completed their innings on 310 for four, leaving India with history to make to progress to the final.India’s chase needed a fast start and in Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, they had just the man to send them on their way.The 14-year-old showed intent from the off and hammered four sixes in his 33 balls at the crease on his way to a blistering 68.He was given one life, when put down on 22, while opening partner Aaron George was on 20 when Wahid Zadran spilled a chance he had offered up.Sooryavanshi brought up his half-century in 25 deliveries and had brought the required rate down to a manageable level when he top-edged one to midwicket off Nooristani Omarzai.By that point, India had 90 on the board inside 10 overs, and the arrival of Ayush Mhatre did nothing to slow the chase.The skipper got off the mark with a six and took full advantage of good batting conditions as he and George put on 114 for the second wicket.Mhatre (62) fell to Nooristani (2/64) with 107 still required but Vihaan Malhotra quickly settled in alongside George.He got one life when he appeared to have been caught and bowled by Abdul Aziz, only to earn a reprieve thanks to a no-ball.George finally departed for 115 off 104 deliveries with 300 on the board, but Malhotra quickly wrapped things up on his way to 38 not out.Scores in brief: Afghanistan 310/4 in 50 overs (Faisal Khan 110, Uzairullah Niazai 101 not out; Kanishk Chouhan 2/55, Deepesh Devendran 2/64)India 311/3 in 41.1 overs (Aaron George 115, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi 68, Ayush Mhatre 62; Nooristani Omarzai 2/64, Wahid Zadran 1/67)Result: India win by seven wickets

Islamabad (Sports News):Pakistan Air Force started their campaign with a narrow 1-0 victory over Pakistan Navy thanks to Arsalan’s stoppage time goal while three other matches ended in draws as the National Challenge Cup kicked off across two venues in Karachi on Wednesday.The heavyweight clash between two-time defending champions WAPDA and Khan Research Laboratories ended in a goalless draw, while Pakistan Railways scored late to hold Pakistan Army to a 1-1 draw.SA Gardens also came from behind, scoring deep into injury time, to secure a point against PACA.PAF 1-0 Navy (KPT Stadium)The match was on an even keel until a long throw from the left resulted in an error by the goalkeeper and the ball fell kindly to Arsalan, who fired into the roof of the net two minutes into time added on.PAF next play Mamsons on Friday while Navy conclude group play against Mamsons on Sunday.Wapda 0-0 KRL (KMC Stadium)A feisty game saw both teams cancel each other out with chances few and far between. “Both teams were well-matched so a draw is a fair result,” said Wapda head coach Mohammad Habib.KRL are next in action on Friday against Hazara Coal, who play Wapda in the final group fixture on Sunday.Army 1-1 Railways (KPT Stadium):After a goalless first half, Army broke the deadlock in the 58th minute when Rafay broke free to put the ball in the back of the net.Railways grabbed the equaliser in the 88th minute when Mohammad Suleman when got to the end of a throughball by Mohammad Abdullah and ran through to score.“Our plan was to counterattack and it worked in the end,” said Railways head coach Nasir Ismail, whose side are next in action on Friday against International Supply Company.PACA 1-1 SA Gardens (KMC Stadium):SA Gardens scored in the third minute of injury time to secure a draw with Umar Javed tapping in from a low cross.PACA had opened the scoring in the seventh minute of time added on at the end of the first half through Sharef Khan.PACA play NIMSO next on Tuesday.

Abdul Jabbar FaisalISLAMABAD: A five-man contingent of national athletes on Wednesday left for China to take part in 12th Asian Indoor Athletic Championship-2026.According to president, Athletics Federation of Pakistan, Brig (Rtd), Wajahat Hussain the 12th Asian Indoor Athletic Championship-2026 will be held from February, 6 to 8, at Tianjin,China. The 5-member national team namely, Shajar Abbas (60metre),Tameen Khan (60 metre), Mohammad Naeem (60 metre Hurdles), Mohammad Akhtar (3000 metre),Sohail Amer (1500 metre) will compete in the international fixture.Chaudhry Asghar Ali Gill will act as Manager cum Coach with the team. Men and Woman players from 35 county are participating in 3-day Championship.

Islamabad (Sports Desk):More guests than ever before: The FIFA Museum celebrated a landmark year in 2025, welcoming a total of 430,594 visitors around the world with exhibitions in Zurich, Miami, New York, Asunción and Rabat. The cultural institution also reached a record 9,556,588 engagements globally with its digital content.Advancing its mission to celebrate and safeguard the rich heritage and culture of international football while engaging diverse audiences, the FIFA Museum marked a major highlight in 2025 with the creation of Unidad - The World’s Game in Miami’s Freedom Tower, the FIFA Museum’s new immersive and interactive exhibition in North America to celebrate the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026™ and to leave a lasting legacy after the tournament.In Zurich, alongside a range of pop-up exhibitions, live screenings and events to bring fans and legends of the beautiful game together, the FIFA Museum unveiled “Innovation in Action”, a dynamic special exhibition exploring how technology is supporting football on and off the pitch. Following its successful run in Switzerland, the exhibition will travel to Science World in Vancouver in May 2026.During the final week of the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup™, the FIFA Museum curated The Legacy Tunnel in New York, offering fans an evocative journey through the new era of global club football at Michelob Ultra’s Pitchside Club. Meanwhile, in Rabat, Morocco, the pop-up exhibition Rising Stars: The FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Legends celebrated the champions and emerging talents who have helped define the women’s game. As another milestone, the FIFA Museum marked FIFA’s 120th anniversary with a commemorative exhibition in Asunción, Paraguay, during the 75th FIFA Congress.The FIFA Museum’s new presenter-led video talk format The Away Game was also launched in 2025, connecting football and culture through inspiring panel discussions with legends such as Jürgen Klinsmann and Carli Lloyd, and has already surpassed 1.3 million views on YouTube.“2025 was another significant year for the FIFA Museum, as we took a big step forward in our internationalization and global business development,” said Marco Fazzone, Managing Director of the FIFA Museum. “We want to share the magic of football with fans everywhere in the world, and it’s wonderful to see that last year we did so more than ever before. Now, as we approach the FIFA Museum’s 10th anniversary in the year of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ in the USA, Mexico and Canada, excitement is building. We look forward to connecting with many more football fans through our various exhibitions and events around the tournament.”

Lausanne (Sports News): Scotland men’s hockey stand on the brink of history as they prepare for the FIH Hockey World Cup Qualifiers 2026, with captain Rob Field describing the opportunity as something players “dream about as kids”.For Scotland, qualification would mark a first-ever appearance at a men's FIH Hockey World Cup, a milestone that adds extra meaning to the challenge ahead.“To captain the team is a real honour,” said Field. “And knowing it could be the pathway to our first-ever World Cup makes it even more special. It’s something you dream about as a kid.”While the stakes are high, Field believes the balance between excitement and pressure is one the squad is embracing rather than fearing.“There’s definitely a mix of excitement and pressure, but I see that as a positive thing,” he explained. “The excitement comes from the opportunity. Not many groups get the chance to create history, and that’s something we’re embracing.”Scotland arrive at the qualifiers in Santiago, Chile with a squad that blends youth, form and growing experience on the international stage. Despite not having previously featured at a World Cup, the team has steadily built belief through recent campaigns. “We’ve got a really exciting group of players right now,” Field said. “There’s a lot of quality in the squad, a number of guys in great form, and I genuinely believe we play a brand of hockey that’s exciting. That gives us confidence.”Key to that confidence is the experience gained from recent FIH tournaments and continental competitions, including last year’s triumph at the inaugural FIH Hockey Men's Nations Cup 2.“We’re a relatively young group, but we’ve also been together for a while,” Field noted. “A lot of our younger players have already experienced multiple international tournaments. Winning the Nations Cup 2 showed us that we can handle the pressure of knockout hockey and that we can find ways to win.”For Field, the prospect of leading Scotland onto the world’s biggest stage is deeply personal, but the focus remains firmly on the task at hand.“Absolutely, it would be a dream come true,” he said. “Representing your country at a World Cup is the highest level of the game, and to help Scotland reach one for the first time would be incredibly special.”“We’re trying not to get too far ahead of ourselves,” Field added. “The focus is on taking each game as it comes and giving ourselves the best possible chance to make that dream a reality.”As the qualifiers approach, Scotland men carry not only the hopes of a squad, but the possibility of making history for their nation.

Peshawar (Sports News): The Men٫s Singles of the 62nd National Badminton Championships, 2026 started here on Wednesday. Men Singles (Round-1):Irfan Saeed (Wapda) beat Mohammad Zaid (SNGPL) by 21-16, 21-9Raja Zulqarnain Haider (Army) beat Raja Mohammad Hasnain (Army) by 21-14, 19-21, 21-17Awais Zahid (Wapda) beat Shahzaib Shabbir (HEC) by 21-10, 21-14Raja Hassan Mujtaba (Army) beat Raza Ali Adil (SNGPL) by 21-11, 21-14Jalees Konain (SNGPL) beat Mohammad Suleman (PB) by 23-21, 21-16Muqeet Tahir (Army) beat Amir Saeed (Wapda) by 22-20, 21-14Anjum Bashir (Army) beat Mekael Khan (KP) by 21-12, 21-8Shoaib Riaz (Army) beat Rai Abdul Manan (Army) by 21-17, 21-18Mohammad Adnan (Wapda) beat Abdulla Siddique (Wapda) by 13-21, 21-17, 21-13Aoun Abbas (Wapda) beat Hamza Khan (Wapda) by 21-17, 18-21, 21-11Mohammad Uzair (KP) beat Ahsan Asif (Wapda) by 13-21, 21-17, 21-16Murad Ali (KP) beat Tahir Khan (Police) by 21-17, 21-19Umar Jehangir (SNGPL) beat Faiz Ahmad (Army) by 23-21, 21-16Aashan Tanveer (Wapda) beat Ahmad Asif (Wapda) by 21-15, 8-21, 22-20Azeem Sarwar (Wapda) beat Muhammad Ahmad Sohaib (SNGPL) by 21-11, 21-16Women Singles round of 32Ghazala Siddique (Wapda) beat Sehra Akram (Wapda) by 21-8, 21-3Huma Javed (Wapda) beat Mariam Hamza (Sindh) by 21-16, 21-11Kanzul Eman (SNGPL) beat Noor Un Nisa (AJK) by 21-8, 21-4Zubaira Islam (Wapda) beat Humna Irshad (PB) by 21-10, 21-17Bushra Qayum (Wapda) beat Saima Waqas (Wapda) by 21-17, 21-13Sana Hanif (SNGPL) beat Tayyab Shafiq (PB) by 21-15, 21-16Sehar Abdul Majeed (PB) beat Ms Shukria (Balo) by 21-19, 16-21, 21-12Palwasha Bashir (Army) beat Summaya Tariq (Army) by 21-9, 21-12Umama Usman (SNGPL) beat Huma Akhtar (PB) by 21-4, 21-5Mariyam Hanif (Wapda) beat Laiba Mushtaq (KP) by 21-13, 21-16Mahoor Shahzad (wapda) beat Sania Sohail (PB) by 21-5, 21-6Khizra Rasheed (Wapda) beat Saba Rasheed (Wapda) by 21-10, 12-21, 21-10Farzana Ali (Wapda) beat Samha Naveed (PB) by 21-14, 21-18Alja Tariq (Army) beat Aila Malik (ISL) by 21-5, 21-3

LAHORE (Azhar Masood): The 2nd Ace Junior Golf League (AJGL) Amateur Golf Championship, dedicated to Pakistan’s most celebrated professional golfer Shabbir Iqbal, concluded at Lahore Garrison Greens, reinforcing the growing depth and discipline of junior golf in the country. Recognised by the World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR), the three-day championship brought together Pakistan’s leading junior talent in a competitive and professionally structured setting.Shabbir Iqbal’s legacy in Pakistan golf is unparalleled. With over 210 professional victories and nearly two decades as the nation’s top-ranked professional, his dominance is historic. Internationally, he recorded a Top 7 finish at the Asian Tour Q-School, Top 11 at the Pakistan Open (Asian Tour), and represented Pakistan at the 2009 World Cup in China. Domestically, his record includes five Pakistan Open titles, twelve Punjab Open wins, and countless major triumphs, setting a benchmark of excellence that continues to inspire generations.In the Boys Championship, Sharaan Ali of Rumanza Golf Club claimed the overall title with rounds of 68, 71, and 75, underlining his rise as one of Pakistan’s leading junior prospects. The Girls Championship was won by Aleesa Rashid of Gymkhana Golf Club, who finished with scores of 86, 89, and 85, displaying composure and resilience throughout the three-round contest.Strong performances were also recorded across the age categories. In the Boys Elite Category, Abdul Moez secured first place, followed by Shahvaiz Niazi. The Albatross Boys Category saw Sharaan Ali add a second title, finishing ahead of Zayd Omer, while Mustafa Khan topped the Eagle Boys Category, narrowly edging Haseeb Naeem.The Birdie Boys Category (ages 6–10) highlighted AJGL’s developmental focus, with Muhammad Huzaifa and Muhammad Aoun taking the top two positions. Played over nine holes for three days, the format prepares young golfers for future 18-hole championship play.In the girls’ divisions, Rimsha Irfan won the Elite Girls Category, while Aleesa Rashid continued her fine form by claiming the Albatross Girls Category, followed by Zarish Irfan. The Eagle Girls Category was won by Zoay Qureshi, with Dua Farid Rao finishing second.Gen Hilal Hussain, Patron-in-Chief, AJGL, served as President of the Pakistan Golf Federation for four years. Dr Asma Shami, Chairperson AJGL, has the distinction of serving four years as Chairperson Ladies Golf, PGF, with twelve years at PGF and two years with the Punjab Golf Association as an Executive Committee member. The League is further strengthened by Ms Munazza Shaheen, Pakistan’s first lady Rules Official, holding a prestigious qualification from R&A St Andrews.With Lady Vice Presidents nationwide, AJGL conducts monthly competitions for 150 juniors aged 6–21. As a nursery for junior golfers, the League plays a key role in supporting PGF and shaping Pakistan’s golfing future.A defining feature of AJGL is its commitment to inclusion. At both the November 2026 championship at Rumanza and the Lahore event, 14 underprivileged juniors from Peshawar were fully sponsored on each occasion, with travel, accommodation, and participation costs covered. The aim is to ensure that no golfing talent is lost due to financial constraints or humble backgrounds. This initiative was made possible through the relentless efforts of Col. Shahadat Hussain, with the support of Ms Shehzil Fareed and Peshawar Golf Club, giving these juniors ample opportunity and support to play golf.A rules session for the players was organised by Munazza Shaheen after the second round, during which she emphasised the importance of ethics and the rules of golf. Mr Shahid Javaid, a professional golfer himself, also addressed the juniors, highlighting Shabbir Iqbal’s regimen of intense practice and dedication. He remarked, “It is heartening to note that, for the first time in history, golf icons are being eulogised and appreciated. The credit goes to the visionary, trend-setting organisers of the AJGL team.”The prize distribution ceremony was attended by the Patron of Lahore Garrison Greens as Chief Guest, along with the President, LGG, and senior members of the golfing fraternity, reflecting the championship’s growing institutional support. Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Guestremarked, “It is a great pleasure to watch these enthusiastic, highly competitive juniors striving to bring honour to Pakistan. The credit goes to Dr Asma Shami and her team for their commendable efforts in providing the future of our country a springboard from which to take flight.”This championship marked AJGL’s first use of live scoring, allowing real-time access for parents, officials, and golf followers. The system, developed by Astute Solutions, enhanced transparency and modernised event delivery. Special appreciation was extended to Julke, owned by Bela Azam, for its continued financial support of youth development, and to Lahore Garrison Greens for its facilitation and cooperation throughout the championship.As the tournament concluded, AJGL once again demonstrated that junior golf in Pakistan is no longer merely aspirational—it is structured, competitive, and steadily shaping the future of the sport. What began as an idea has evolved into a movement, laying the foundations on which Pakistan’s next generation of champions will rise.

LAHORE (PR): The historic Aibak Polo Cup, being organised by the Lahore Polo Club in collaboration with Ecostar, commenced with great enthusiasm and competitive spirit. This year marks the 49th edition of the prestigious tournament, which remains one of the most anticipated events on Pakistan’s polo calendar.Two exciting matches were played on the opening day, attracting a large number of spectators and families who gathered at the Lahore Polo Club to witness top-quality polo action. A press conference regarding the tournament will be held on Wednesday (February 4, 2026) at 3:00 PM at Lahore Polo Club. During the briefing, tournament sponsor Ecostar and Lahore Polo Club President Malik Azam Hayat Noon will share further details about the event.In the opening match, FG Polo registered a hard-fought victory against BN Polo, winning by 7.5 to 6 goals in a closely contested game. Raja Mikayial Sami led FG Polo’s charge with an impressive performance, scoring four fabulous goals, while Marcos Rivarola added two goals. FG Polo also benefited from a half-goal handicap advantage, which proved decisive.For BN Polo, Hamza Mawaz Khan delivered a strong performance by scoring four goals, while Ibrahim Khalil contributed one goal. Both teams are scheduled to face each other again on Thursday in the next four chukkers. The winning team will qualify for the final, while the losing side will compete in the subsidiary final.The second match of the day provided spectators with intense excitement as SQ Seagold edged past Master Paints in a dramatic sudden death extra-time victory, winning the nail-biting encounter 6-5 in the fifth chukker. For SQ Seagold, Raja Samiullah delivered an outstanding performance by scoring three goals, while Bilal Haye scored two goals, and Ahmed Ali Tiwana added one.Master Paints fought valiantly, with Amirreza Behboudi emerging as top scorer with four superb goals, while Raja Temur Nadeem added one goal. Despite their spirited effort, Master Paints narrowly missed victory in extra time.

Lahore (Sports News): Six franchises including defending champions Lahore Qalandars have unveiled their retentions for the HBL PSL season 11, while Multan Sultans have not retained any players from their previous squad, the Pakistan Cricket Board confirmed on Wednesday.All franchises except Islamabad United have retained four players each. United have kept hold of three players. The two new franchises Sialkot Stallionz and Hyderabad are set to announce their retentions by Saturday, 7 February.The only captain to win HBL PSL three times, Shaheen Shah Afridi has been retained in Platinum category, while Abdullah Shafique has been retained in Diamond category by Lahore Qalandars.Zimbabwean all-rounder Sikandar Raza will also stay with Qalandars in Gold category. Emerging player of the HBL PSL X Mohammad Naeem has been retained by the reigning champions in Silver category.Quetta Gladiators have retained mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed in Platinum category, Usman Tariq in Diamond, HBL PSL X player of the tournament Hasan Nawaz in Gold and left-handed batter Shamyl Hussain in emerging category.Babar Azam, the leading run-getter of the HBL PSL history and one of the only two players to feature in 100 HBL PSL games, has been retained by 2017 champions Peshawar Zalmi. They have also kept left-arm wrist-spinner Sufyan Moqim in Diamond, Abdul Samad in Gold and pacer Ali Raza in Emerging category.Shadab Khan’s nine-year long journey with Islamabad United will reach the decade-mark as he has been retained by the three-time HBL PSL champions in Platinum category.Fast bowler Salman Irshad in Gold and USA wicketkeeper-batter Andries Gous in Silver categories are the other two retentions by Islamabad United.Hasan Ali – the leading wicket-taker in HBL PSL history – will continue to star for Karachi Kings as he has been retained in Platinum category. Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Khushdil Shah and Saad Baig have been retained in Diamond, Gold and Emerging, respectively by the 2020 champions.Full retentions:Lahore Qalandars: Shaheen Shah Afridi (Platinum), Abdullah Shafique (Diamond), Sikandar Raza (Gold) and Mohammad Naeem (Silver)Quetta Gladiators: Abrar Ahmed (Platinum), Usman Tariq (Diamond), Hasan Nawaz (Gold) and Shamyl Hussain (Emerging)Islamabad United: Shadab Khan (Platinum), Salman Irshad (Gold) and Andries Gous (Silver)Peshawar Zalmi: Babar Azam (platinum), Sufyan Moqim (Diamond), Abdul Samad (Gold) and Ali Raza (Emerging)Karachi Kings: Hasan Ali (platinum), Mohammad Abbas Afridi (Diamond), Khushdil Shah (Gold) and Saad Baig (Emerging)Multan Sultans: Zero retentions

Lahore (Sports News): Lahore Qalandars have announced the retention of four key players for the upcoming 11th edition of the tournament, ahead of the PSL auction. Lahore Qalandars have retained captain Shaheen Shah Afridi, premier batter Abdullah Shafique, dynamic all-rounder Sikandar Raza, and emerging talent Mohammad Naeem. The decision ensures continuity and reinforces the core of the squad as the franchise prepares for the next phase of team building. “We are delighted to retain these players, but this has been the hardest decision we have faced as a franchise,” said Sameen Rana, owner of Lahore Qalandars. “Some of the players we have had to leave out have been our core for years. They helped shape the identity of Lahore Qalandars and were central to our journey and success. Unfortunately, the rules meant we could only pick four. It came down to that, and these are the four we had to choose, even though it was an extremely painful call.” The retained players are expected to play a central role in the team’s plans and on-field performances as Lahore Qalandars aim to build a competitive squad at the auction. With a strong core in place, the defending champions are gearing up to make a powerful statement in PSL 11 as they set their sights on continuing their winning legacy.