Islamabad (Sports Desk): The Official FIFA World Cup 2026™ Album roll-out begins with the global release of Lighter by Jelly Roll and Carín León, produced by Cirkut, via Def Jam Recordings. Lighter marks the first chapter of a groundbreaking album created for the most inclusive FIFA World Cup™ in history and is now live across all major streaming services.A collaboration between three defining artists from the tournament’s host nations – Jelly Roll (United States), Carín León (Mexico) and Cirkut (Canada), the 2026 GRAMMY® Award Winner for Producer of the Year, Non-Classical – Lighter brings together the three host countries through one collaborative sound. Blending Jelly Roll’s country roots with Carín León’s regional Mexican influence, the track bridges genres, reflecting the shared cultural energy of North America and the global passion for the game.“The FIFA World Cup is one of the rare moments when the entire world moves to the same rhythm,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino. “The Official FIFA World Cup 2026 Album is not simply a musical accompaniment to the tournament; it’s a statement about where the global game is going. By bringing together artists whose voices resonate across continents, we are creating something that mirrors the scale, ambition and cultural impact of this historic competition. Lighter marks the beginning of that journey. It is a powerful expression of resilience, energy and joy – a song that will connect with fans everywhere and become part of the atmosphere in stadiums, fan celebrations and communities around the world throughout the tournament.”Reflecting on the track and collaboration, Jelly Roll shares: “Music has a way of reaching people in places you’d never expect, and the way this song came together with Carín León and Cirkut is proof of that. I’ve had a whole lot of respect for both of them for a long time, so getting to come together on this record has been real special. Grateful to be able to share it with folks all over the world.”“Collaborating with an artist like Jelly Roll, and doing so for nothing less than the biggest sporting event in the world, is something that fills me with pride,” adds Carín León. “As a Mexican, I’m incredibly excited to be part of this project and to bring a piece of our music and culture to so many corners of the world. Very grateful for the opportunity and happy to share what we love most: music from the soul.”On shaping the record, Cirkut notes: “Working with Jelly Roll and Carín León on the first record of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Album was a real honor. We wanted to create something that carries the sound and soul of the host countries, and hits in a way that connects with fans around the world.”

Islamabad (Sports Desk): Following the proposal made by the Palestinian Football Association (PFA) at the 74th FIFA Congress and the subsequent decision of the FIFA Council to mandate the FIFA Disciplinary Committee to investigate the alleged offence of discrimination raised by the PFA, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee has decided that the Israel Football Association (IFA) has committed multiple breaches of its obligations as a FIFA Member Association.As a consequence, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee has imposed the following sanctions on the IFA for breaches of articles 13 (Offensive behaviour and violations of the principles of fair play) and 15 (Discrimination and racist abuse) of the FIFA Disciplinary Code (FDC):a)  The IFA is ordered to pay a fine to the amount of CHF 150,000, subject to lit. c) below.b)  The IFA is issued with a warning regarding its conduct.c)  The IFA is ordered to implement a prevention plan in accordance with the following directives:The Israel Football Association is ordered to display in its next three (3) A-level FIFA competition matches at home a significant and highly visible banner with the words “Football Unites the World – No to Discrimination” alongside the Israel Football Association’s logo. The size, layout, and positioning of the banner in the stadium shall be submitted by the Israel Football Association to FIFA at the latest fifteen (15) days before each match for approval.The Israel Football Association shall, within sixty (60) days of the notification of the present decision, invest one third (1/3) of the fine due as per point a) above towards the implementation of a comprehensive plan to ensure action against discrimination and to prevent repeated incidents, in compliance with art. 15 par. 7 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code. The plan shall be approved by FIFA and shall focus on the following areas: reforms, protocols, monitoring, and educational campaigns in stadiums and on official channels for an entire season. The remainder of the fine is to be paid within 30 days of notification of the decision.The Committee reaffirms that while its mandate is confined to the application of FIFA’s internal regulatory framework, it cannot remain indifferent to the broader human context in which football operates. The sport must remain a platform for peace, dialogue, and mutual respect. Its global reach and unifying power carry with them a responsibility to uphold the values of dignity, equality, and humanity—especially in times of conflict and division.

Sports NewsLAHORE: The HBL Pakistan Super League Trophy ‘Infinity’ made a memorable trip across the country visiting a number of scenic destinations and it reached Lahore on Thursday. The artfully designed trophy by Hanif Jewelers is a product of the hard work of 18 master artisans and was completed in 2,600 hours.The trophy, which will be pursued by eight teams from 26 March onwards, was unveiled on Wednesday, 11 March at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi in presence of PSL Chief Executive Officer Salman Naseer, franchise and title sponsor HBL representatives.After undertaking its journey from Quaid’s mausoleum, the Infinity was taken to Empress Market, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Mereweather Tower, Lyari and Sea view in Karachi followed by Makli Necropolis, Shah Jahan Mosque and Hyderabad Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad. It then made the next stop in Islamabad, where it was taken to the historic Faisal Mosque, Pakistan Monument and the shared home turf of Islamabad United and Rawalpindiz, the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.The scenic beauty and stunning views of Pakistan’s northern areas were captured during Infinity’s tour to Skardu where fans witnessed it at the Khaplu Fort, Katpana Desert, Upper Kachura Lake, Keris Suspension Bridge and Ghawari.The trophy made a stop at the Imran Khan Cricket Stadium and the vintage Sethi Mohalla in Peshawar before being driven back to Lahore, where the HBL PSL 11 action is set to begin in a week’s time. In Lahore, it was taken to the iconic Lahore fort, Minar-e-Pakistan and Badshahi Mosque.The Infinity is also set to make trips to Quetta and Multan during the tournament capturing imaginations of the HBL PSL fans in those destinations. It will also make trips to all HBL PSL venues on various match days.It is worth noting that the specially crafted Infinity trophy has eight emerald-cut Gemstones at its base representing the colours of all HBL PSL franchises. A Crescent and Star at the top of the trophy add more to its sublime beauty, while it is adorned with 1,600 Gemstones, depicting masterful craftmanship and creativity by Hanif Jewelers.

Billie Jean King Cup Asia/Oceania Qualifiers: Pakistani Girls Qualify for Top-8Islamabad (Staff Report): Pakistan junior girls’ tennis team advanced to the Top-8 of the Junior Billie Jean King Cup Asia/Oceania Qualifying event going on in Colombo, Sri Lanka.According to the Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF), Pakistani girls were placed in Group A alongside Singapore and Macau, as Pakistan lost their opening tie against Singapore but made a strong comeback by defeating Macau 2-1 to secure qualification for the quarterfinal stage.First singles: Hajra Sohail lost to Emma Ieong 0-6, 3-6Second singles: Zunaisha Noor beat Hong Tai Woo 6-0, 6-4Doubles Zunaisha Noor / Hajra Sohail beat Emma / Hong Tai 7-6(2), 6-3The Pakistan team is consist of Sara Mansoor (Captain), Romaisa Malik, Hajra Sohail and Zunaisha Noor (Players).

Islamabad (Sports News): The International Table Tennis Federation announced the creation of the ITTF Doubles World Cup, a landmark new competition approved by the ITTF Executive Board that will bring Men's Doubles, Women's Doubles and Mixed Doubles together on the world stage. The event will take place in 2027. The announcement means that every LA28 Olympic table tennis event now has an equivalent on the World Cup stage: the ITTF Men's and Women’s World Cup covering Singles, the ITTF Mixed Team World Cup, and now the ITTF Doubles World Cup spanning Men's Doubles, Women's Doubles and Mixed Doubles.  At Los Angeles 2028, Men's Doubles and Women's Doubles will return to the Olympic programme for the first time since Athens 2004, joining Mixed Doubles, introduced at Tokyo 2020, to complete a full Doubles lineup. The ITTF Doubles World Cup is the sport's new premier doubles competition, giving the world's best doubles players a World Cup stage to call their own. "Doubles is returning to the Olympic Games, and the ITTF Doubles World Cup is how we rise to meet that moment, giving the world's best doubles players the World Cup stage they deserve, and building the pathway to Los Angeles. In our centenary year, we are not just celebrating 100 years of table tennis. We are building the next 100," commented Petra Sörling, ITTF President and IOC MemberThe momentum behind doubles table tennis has never been stronger. At the ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals 2025, the doubles events delivered some of the most memorable moments of the year. Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha sent Chinese fans into ecstasy by claiming Mixed Doubles gold for the third consecutive time, cementing their status as the greatest doubles partnership of their generation. In Men's Doubles, Japan's Shunsuke Togami and Hiroto Shinozuka ended a 64-year wait for a world title in a five-game thriller. In Women's Doubles, Wang Manyu and Kuai Man claimed the title on their very first World Championships appearance as a pair. The stories kept coming in 2026. At WTT Singapore Smash, Alexis and Félix Lebrun became the first French players to win a Grand Smash title across any discipline, claiming Men's Doubles honours and rising to World No.1. On the same courts, Brazil's Hugo Calderano and Bruna Takahashi made history of their own, becoming the first players from the Americas to claim Mixed Doubles honours at this level.  These are the stories that a Doubles World Cup was made for.  The announcement comes during ITTF's centenary year, marking 100 years since the federation was founded. As the sport reflects on a century of history, the ITTF Doubles World Cup is a commitment to the future of table tennis. The event joins a World Cup calendar that has grown significantly in recent years. The Men's and Women's World Cup returned in 2024 and has delivered two successful editions, while the Mixed Team World Cup launched in 2023.The creation of the ITTF Doubles World Cup was approved by the Executive Board to provide more playing opportunities and a qualification pathway for doubles players. Further information on the host, dates and competition format will be confirmed in due course. 

Abdullah AsjadISLAMABAD: Pakistani all-rounder, Salman Ali Agha has surged to a career-best ninth position in the ICC Men’s ODI batting rankings, while Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz has returned to the top 10 among bowlers in the latest weekly update on Wednesday.Salman’s fluent knocks of 64 and 106 in the second and third ODIs at Mirpur have powered his rise from 18th to joint-ninth with India’s K.L. Rahul. Mehidy’s hauls of three for 29 and two for 34 in the first two matches have helped him gallop nine places to seventh position.Salman and Mehidy have also progressed in the all-rounders’ list, Salman up to joint-10th from seventh and Mehidy jumping two slots to second in the list led by Azmatullah Omarzai of Afghanistan.Meanwhile, Bangladesh’s Tanzid Hasan has also made a significant leap, jumping 31 places to 55th after registering his maiden ODI century in the series decider, as the hosts sealed a 2-1 victory. Towhid Hridoy (up two places to 32nd) and Litton Das (up 10 places to 82nd) are other Bangladesh batters to gain.Bangladesh fast bowler Taskin Ahmed’s haul of four for 49 in the third match has lifted him from 40th to 28th position even as Mustafizur Rahman (up 13 places to 47th) and Nahid Rana (up 65 places to 98th) have also made notable progress.Pakistan fast bowlers Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf have inched up one slot each to 17th and 19th positions, respectively. Shaheen grabbed four wickets in three matches and Haris six in two. Leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed is the only Pakistan bowler ahead of the pair, in 13th position.In the ICC Men’s T20I Player Rankings, New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner’s figures of 4-0-8-1 and 3-0-19-2 in the first two T20Is against South Africa have enabled him to move up from 24th to 13th in the bowling rankings.Fast bowler Lockie Ferguson is another New Zealander to progress, his haul of three for 16 in the second match in Hamilton lifting him from 69th to 51st position while South Africa fast bowler Ottneil Baartman’s three wickets in two matches see him go from 96th to 73rd.New Zealand’s left-handed opener Devon Conway has moved up to 70th after his knock of 60 in the second match.

Faheem Haider becomes president, Sumair Ashraf catches secretary seat of FGAAbdul Jabbar FaisalISLAMABAD: Faheem Haider has become the president of the Federal Golf Association (FGA), as the house elected its new office bearers for the next four-year term, 2025 to 2029, here in a meeting the other day.The Federal Golf Association also elected other office bearers, including Air Vice Marshall (AVM) Tariq Mehmood Ghazi (Senior Vice President), Ibrar Khan (Vice President), Brig Sumair Ashraf Sheikh (Honorary Secretary), Bilal Tariq Khan (Honorary Treasurer), and Syed Amer Gilani (Honorary Joint Secretary).Faheem Haider is also Mari Petroleum Company Limited’s nominated Director on the PIOL Board since July 15, 2021. He possesses a strong understanding of the Exploration & Production (E&P) business from technical, operational, and commercial perspectives.During his international career spanning over 28 years, Haider has held various technical and leadership roles with renowned international oil and gas companies, Union Texas Petroleum, OMV Pakistan Exploration GmbH, Helix RDS Limited, UK, BG Group Plc, UK, Neptune Energy Group, UK (formerly Engie E&P International).He holds a Master’s degree in Petroleum Engineering & Production Management (with Distinction) from Imperial College London, UK, a Postgraduate Diploma from the College of Petroleum Studies, Oxford, UK, and a BSc (Honors) in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Engineering & Technology, Lahore, Pakistan.The elections were conducted by Malik Mohammad Kamran, Manager of the Pakistan Golf Federation, under the supervision of representatives from the Election Commission of the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) and the Islamabad Olympic Association (IOA), ensuring compliance with the applicable sports regulations and governance framework.Pakistan Golf Federation extends its congratulations to the newly elected office bearers and wishes them success in promoting and developing the game of golf in the federal area.

Peshawar (Mohammad Ali Salazar):Karachi Region Whites and Abbottabad Region advanced to the final of ABS Developers National T20 Cup 2026 after contrasting semi-final outcomes at the Imran Khan Cricket Stadium in Peshawar on Tuesday night.Abdullah Fazal’s scintillating 88 off 41 balls powered Karachi Whites to a five-wicket win in a 166-run chase over Sialkot Region with 29 balls to spare in the first semi-final.In the second semi-final, Imran Dogar’s blistering 31-ball 62 helped Lahore Region Whites post 194 for six. However, persistent rain forced the match to be abandoned, sending Abbottabad through to the final as they finished higher than Lahore Whites at the end of Group stage.Karachi Region Whites and Abbottabad Region will face off in the final on Wednesday 18 March at 7.30pm, with 19 March set aside as the reserve day.Chasing 166, Karachi Whites made an emphatic start as Abdullah and skipper Saud Shakeel raced to 92 in seven overs. Saud set the tone with a 21-ball 45, hitting five fours and three sixes, before he was dismissed off the first ball of the eighth over. He ransacked 26 runs off the third over clubbing Shoaib Akhtar Jnr for three sixes and two fours.Shan Masood fell for one soon after, but Abdullah kept up the charge and all but sealed the contest in Karachi’s favor. Dominating the Sialkot bowling with six fours and seven sixes, Abdullah hammered a match-winning 88 before falling in the 14th over with victory well within sight.Haroon Arshad, unbeaten on 15 off nine balls with two fours, and Danish Aziz (7 not out, 6b, 1x4) completed the chase in 15.1 overs as Karachi Whites romped home by five wickets.Sialkot’s skipper Usama Mir accounted for the scalps of Shan, Saud and Khawaja Mohammad Nafay but in vain. He ended up with 16 wickets in five matches.Batting first, Sialkot got off to a brisk start through Khawaja Arham and Mohsin Riaz, who took the score to 31 without loss in three overs. Mohsin (15, 10b, 2x6s) and Abdullah Shafique (8, 6b, 1x6) departed in quick succession with 44 runs on the board. Arham kept the innings together with Hasan Nawaz, adding 42 runs for the third wicket before departing in the 12th over after a 33-ball 40, laced with two fours and three sixes.At the other end, Hasan continued to anchor the innings despite regular wickets. His resistance ended in the 16th over when Mohammad Asghar dismissed him for a 33-ball 43, studded with two fours and two sixes, with Sialkot then 118 for six.A late push came from wicketkeeper-batter Ali Afzal and skipper Usama Mir, who stitched together a 37-run stand off 21 balls. Usama made 19 off 14 balls with three fours, while Ali struck 26 off 13 deliveries, smashing one four and three sixes as Sialkot stumbled t0165 for nine in their 20 overs.For Karachi Whites, Mohammad Umar was the pick of the bowlers with three for 29 in four overs, whileAsghar claimed two wickets for 23 runs, including the key scalps of of Arham and Hasan.In the rain-hit second semi-final, Lahore Whites piled up 194 for six in their 20 overs, powered by a fiery knock from no.3 batter Imran, who struck 62 off 31 balls with three fours and five sixes.After Mohammad Faiq’s 18 off 11 balls, featuring two fours and a six, ended in the fifth over with 38 runs on the board, Mohammad Akhlaq joined Imran at the crease. The pair added 64 for the second wicket, taking Lahore Whites to 102 in 11.1 overs.Imran’s aggressive stroke play kept Lahore Whites on the front foot, while Akhlaq played the supporting role with a composed 42 off 35 deliveries, hitting six fours.Lahore Whites received a timely lift at the back end of the innings through Farhan Yousuf and Mohammad Mohsin, who added valuable late runs. Mohsin made 24 off 16 balls, striking one four and two sixes, while Farhan remained unbeaten on 33 off 19 deliveries, cracking six fours, as Lahore Whites finished with a commanding total.For Abbottabad, left-arm pacer Shahab Khan was the standout bowler, returning four for 28 in his four overs.Abbottabad’s reply, however, never got underway as persistent rain forced the match to be abandoned. Having topped Group B, Abbottabad advanced to the final ahead of Lahore Whites, who had finished second in Group A.Scores in brief: Semi-final 1: Karachi Region Whites beat Sialkot Region by five wickets at Imran Khan Cricket Stadium, PeshawarSialkot 165-9, 20 overs (Hasan Nawaz 43, Khawaja Arham 40, Ali Afzal 26; Mohammad Umar 3-29, Mohammad Asghar 2-23)Karachi Whites 167-5, 15.1 overs (Abdullah Fazal 88, Saud Shakeel 45; Usama Mir 3-46)Player of the match: Abdullah Fazal (Karachi Whites)Semi-final 2: Lahore Region Whites v Abbottabad Region abandoned due to rain at Imran Khan Cricket Stadium, PeshawarLahore Whites 194-6, 20 overs (Imran Dogar 62, Muhammad Akhlaq 42, Farhan Yousaf 33 not out, Mohammad Mohsin 24; Shahab Khan 4-28)Final: 18 March, 2026Karachi Whites v Abbottabad at 7.30pm PKT

Traditional foes, India and Pakistan draw in a same Pool D in Mega Hockey Fixture Lausanne, Switzerland (PR): An exciting official draw ceremony held today at the iconic Wagener Stadium in Amsterdam, Netherlands - one of the two venues where the upcoming World Cup will be held, alongside the brand-new Belfius Hockey Arena in Wavre, Belgium – has determined the eight Pools of the group stage of the FIH Hockey World Cup Belgium and Netherlands 2026:Women:Pool A: Netherlands, Australia, Chile, Japan (playing in the Netherlands)Pool B: Argentina, Germany, USA, Scotland (playing in Belgium)Pool C: Belgium, Spain, New Zealand, Ireland (playing in Belgium)Pool D: China, England, India, South Africa (playing in the Netherlands)Men:Pool A: Netherlands, Argentina, New Zealand, Japan (playing in the Netherlands)Pool B: Belgium, Germany, France, Malaysia (playing in Belgium)Pool C: Australia, Spain, Ireland, South Africa (playing in Belgium)Pool D: England, India, Pakistan, Wales (playing in the Netherlands)The draw was done by international hockey legends Naomie van As, Barbara Neelen and Teun de Nooijer, as well as DJ La Fuente, who was announced as Dutch Ambassador for the World Cup during the ceremony.Today’s milestone event was attended by FIH President Tayyab Ikram, FIH Vice-President and EuroHockey President Marcos Hofman, FIH Executive Board Member Erik Cornelissen, Dutch Hockey Federation President Erik Klein Nagelvoort, Belgian Hockey Federation President Patrick Keusters, the captains from the Netherlands (Renée van Laarhoven, Marijn Veenand, Thierry Brinkman and Lars Balk) and Belgium (Charlotte Englebert, Michelle Struijk, Arthur Van Doren and vice-captain Arthur De Sloover), the head coaches from the Netherlands (Raoul Ehren and Jeroen Delmee) and Belgium (Adam Commens and Shane McLeod), representatives from the local authorities, commercial partners and numerous other guests.FIH President Tayyab Ikram said: “Today’s draw marks another major milestone on the road to the most prestigious FIH event, the FIH Hockey World Cup! The upcoming edition, for both women and men, co-hosted by two hockey powerhouses, promises to be a resounding success. We are very grateful to both Belgium and the Netherlands for hosting our top athletes and the global hockey community in less than six months' time.In today’s fractured world, sport—and events such as this in particular—can play a substantial role in bringing people together. It can foster peace at times when our world is torn apart by conflict.I invite all fans around the world to join in, and I already wish all participating athletes an unforgettable experience!”Match scheduleThe FIH Hockey World Cup Belgium and Netherlands 2026 will be held in Amsterdam and Wavre from 15 to 30 August 2026.

Lahore (PR): Pepsi has joined the HBL Pakistan Super League as the Official Beverage and Entertainment partner for 11th, 12th and 13th editions of the tournament, the Pakistan Cricket Board announced on Monday. As Pepsi continues to be the most loved beverage of Pakistan, its partnership with one of the top T20 leagues and country’s biggest sporting extravaganza will diversify the fan’s experience at the venues.The three-year deal was inked during a ceremony held at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, which was attended by CEO PSL Salman Naseer and Senior Marketing Director PepsiCo, Hakima Mirza.In a testament to the HBL PSL’s commercial growth, the Beverage and Entertainment rights have been separated from the traditional In-Stadia brand partnership portfolio and sold as standalone entity for the upcoming three seasons.As part of the tender process, PepsiCo emerged as the winning bidder following a thorough process, which also included determination of the technical qualification of the bidders.As Entertainment partner, Pepsi will also collaborate with the HBL PSL for the official anthem of season 11.HBL PSL Chief Executive Officer, Salman Naseer:“We are delighted that Pepsi is joining us in the New Era of the HBL PSL as our official Beverage and Entertainment partner. Pepsi and cricket have been synonymous in Pakistan for a long time and now this association will again unite to not only quench the thirst of our fans for one of the best drinks but also advance on the entertainment front.“The PCB is thankful to PepsiCo for their trust and confidence in the HBL PSL for the upcoming three seasons. I’m sure this partnership will pay unprecedented dividends to the both parties involved and to our valued fans.” Senior Marketing Director PepsiCo, Hakima Mirza:“It is a matter of great pride for PepsiCo to be partnering with the HBL PSL. Our historic association with Cricket in Pakistan puts us in great stead to lead on the official Beverage and Entertainment front for one of the best T20 Leagues in the World.“The expansion of the HBL PSL and the dawn of the New Era for the league heralds an exciting time and we are honored to be one of the key contributors to its growth for the next three years. I hope the fans will also benefit a great deal from this partnership as we strive to set new standards for entertainment in the league.”