Lahore (Sports News): A total of 12 pacers and eight spinners have been called up to the National Cricket Academy in Lahore for a two-phase bowlers’ development camp in line with the academy’s player development programme, the Pakistan Cricket Board announced today. Among these are seven uncapped fast bowlers and one uncapped spinner.In the first phase, pacers will undergo a robust five-day camp under the supervision of NCA coaches from 24 to 28 August, while the spinners are set to attend the camp from 31 August to 4 September. During the five-day period, these bowlers will work closely with the NCA and the men’s white-ball team coaches. It will include in-depth work on the technical and tactical skills along with a review of their performance in the recent-most competitive cricket that they have played. Among the fast bowlers, Razaullah (Peshawar region), Mohammad Salman (Lahore region), Qayyum Khan (Faisalabad region), Abdul Subhan (Sialkot region), Abuzar, Mohammad Imran Jnr (both Peshawar region) and Muhammad Imran (Bahawalpur region) are uncapped, while Mohammad Salman Mirza, Ahmed Daniyal (both Lahore region), Akif Javed (FATA region), Mohammad Hasnain (Hyderabad region) and Faheem Ashraf (Faisalabad region) are capped. The spinners include the uncapped Mehran Mumtaz, while Mubasir Khan, Saad Masood (all Rawalpindi region), Faisal Akram, Arafat Minhas (both Multan region), Abrar Ahmed, Danish Aziz (both Karachi region) and Mohammad Nawaz (Rawalpindi region) are capped. Among the cohort of 20 players, only the tearaway pacer Qayyum is yet to make his competitive cricket debut. He made a solitary appearance in this year’s President’s Trophy Grade-II Silver for Sports Board Punjab.

Kabul (Sports News): The ninth edition of the Ahmad Shah Abdali First Class Tournament 2026 will be rolled into action on August 29, 2026. The event features four teams competing in a double round-robin format from August 29 to October 8 across Khost and Nangarhar provinces.

PTF inks a 3-year sponsor deal with Meinhardt for national and international fixturesAbdul Jabbar FaisalISLAMABAD: The Meinhardt National Ranking Tennis Tournament will start on August 29, 2026, at PTF/SDA Tennis Complex, as the Pakistan Tennis Federation (PTF) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Meinhardt Pakistan (Pvt) Ltd for sponsoring the upcoming national and international events.According to the MoU, Meinhardt Grade-1 National Ranking Tennis Tournament will be played from August 29 to September 5, 2026, under the banner of PTF in collaboration with Meinhardt. President, PTF, Aisam-ul-Haq, and Country Director Mohammad Yousaf Gandapur signed the documents, here at Meinhardt office, Blue Area. Secretary PTF Col (Retd) Zia-uddn Tufail, Senior Vice President PTF Gul Rehman, and other official Khalil Ahmed and Sohail Khan were also present on this occasion.President PTF, Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi, said: “I welcome the partnership and appreciate Meinhardt Pakistan’s support for tennis, as the championship will provide valuable competitive opportunities for Pakistani players and contribute significantly to the growth of the sport in the country. Federation is focusing on all players and giving them international exposure. Our two guys, Mohammad Shoaib and Muzammil Murtaza, won international tournaments recently, and this is a nice omen for Pakistan tennis. Also, these remarkable performances are the result of PTF’s efforts. Pakistan Tennis Federation started to hold the training camps at the schools’ level, he said.To a question, Aisam said, “Our junior players are performing well in the different age category competitions. Abubakar Talha, Asad Usman, Aamir Mazari and Nadir Ali are producing acceptable results in the international juniors’ fixtures. Federation is facilitating all players including boys and girls in shape of coaching and international trips. International Tennis Federation (ITF) gave White Status to PTF, and we will get bronze very soon, “he hoped.  “I will try to meet with Chief Minister of Punjab Marium Nawaz to take step in Punjab to uplift the standard of the game at schools and colleges. We will organize an international tennis event in Lahore this year. Two international tournaments will be played in Karachi, and young talent will be provided a chance to excel at the national level and improve their game skills. Country Director, Meinhardt Pakistan, Mohammad Yousaf Gandapur, said: “Our basic aim is to support the youth of the country and provide them maximum opportunities to excel at national and international levels to raise the green flag in international sports arenas. This is our first time making a deal with tennis, and I am optimistic we will move ahead in promoting the game after three years too. No doubt, Aisam is the hero of millions of people, and his efforts are being applauded to make tennis a top game of the country”.To a question, Gandapur said, “There are 64 offices of Meinhardt, and they are sponsoring different sports events; however, here we are focusing on tennis. Youth is our target to help them in sports. Aisam’s services for tennis are unforgettable, and we want to back him in promoting tennis in the country. The companies should come forward to sponsor tennis and to support Aisam ul Haq Qureshi, ‘Mohammad Yousaf concluded. 

Dubai (SBR): Seasoned all-rounder Esha Oza will lead the 15-member UAE squad in the eight-team DP World Women’s Asia Cup 2026 which will be played at the Dubai International Stadium from Thursday, 28 August. UAE are placed in Group B with Bangladesh, Indonesia and Sri Lanka the other three teams in the group. UAE take on Sri Lanka in their tournament opener on Friday, 29 August. They next play Indonesia on Friday, 4 September while their third group match will be against Bangladesh – Tuesday, 8 September. The semi-finals will be played on Thursday 10 September and Friday 11 September. The final is schedule to take place on Sunday, 13 September. All tournament matches will be played from 6:30pm local time. *UAE squad for DP World Women’s Asia Cup 2026:* Esha Oza (captain), Archara Supriya, Heena Hotchandani, Indhuja Nandakumar, Janani Thirukkumaran, Lavanya Keny, Mehul Kulkarni, Rinitha Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Siya Gokhale, Sashikala Silva, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish (wicketkeeper) Uttara Iyer and Vaishnave Mahesh. *Support Staff:* Subha Venkataraman (head coach), Shahzada Saleem (assistant coach), Shyla Alam (strength and conditioning coach) and Merin Saji (physiotherapist). *DP World Women’s Asia Cup 2026 – UAE matches* Friday, 29 August – Sri Lanka vs UAE, Dubai International Stadium – 6:30pm local timeFriday, 4 September – UAE vs Indonesia, Dubai International Stadium – 6:30pm local time Tuesday, 8 September – Bangladesh vs UAE, Dubai International Stadium – 6:30pm local timeThursday, 10 September – Semi-Final 1: A1 vs B2, Dubai International Stadium – 6:30pm local timeFriday, 11 September – Semi-Final 2: A2 vs B1, Dubai International Stadium – 6:30pm local timeSunday, 13 September – Final, Dubai International Stadium – 6:30pm local time

Sports Bulletin ReportDoha (Qatar) Pakistan made an impressive start to their campaign at the FIVB Boys’ U17 World Championship 2026 in Doha, Qatar, defeating Chinese Taipei 3–0 in their opening match of the prestigious global tournament. The final Score-line was 25-0, 25-10 and 25-23.Pakistan established control from the opening points, combining strong serving, effective blocking, powerful attacks, and organized defense. The Green Shirts secured the opening set 25–20 before producing an even more dominant display in the second set, winning 25–10.Chinese Taipei fought strongly in the third set and kept the contest close until the final stages. Pakistan, however, remained composed under pressure and secured the set 25–23 to complete a convincing straight-set victory.Faizan Ullah, Fahad Ali, and Mohammad Irfan produced particularly strong performances for Pakistan, making valuable contributions through attacking, serving, blocking, and overall team play. The collective performance demonstrated the team's confidence and preparation for the highest level of U17 international volleyball.Chairman Pakistan Volleyball Federation (PVF) Mohammad Yaqoob ch said, "I extend my heartfelt congratulations to our young players and the entire coaching staff on this outstanding start to the FIVB Boys’ U17 World Championship. Defeating Chinese Taipei 3–0 is a great achievement and reflects the hard work, discipline, and preparation of our team.""However, this is only the beginning of our World Championship journey. The level of competition is extremely high, and our players must remain focused and confident. I want the team to continue fighting for every point, trust their preparation, and play with the same unity and determination in the remaining matches."Pakistan will now face Iran in their next Pool E encounter.

Lahore (SBR):: The Pakistan Cricket Board will host Sri Lanka and England men’s cricket teams for bilateral and tri-series from 9 October to 21 November, it was announced today.Sri Lanka will arrive on 4 October to feature in a three-match T20I series, which will be played in Rawalpindi from 9 to 13 October. Following the T20I series, England will arrive in Pakistan to take part in an ODI tri-series, scheduled to be played in Rawalpindi and Lahore from 18 to 31 October.At the conclusion of the tri-series, Sri Lanka will feature in a three-day match in Islamabad from 4 to 6 November. Pakistan and Sri Lanka will then compete in a two-match Test series, which will be part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27. The first Test will be played at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi from 9 to 13 November, while the second Test will take place at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore from 17 to 21 November.This will be the second Test series hosted by Pakistan in the current 2025-27 ICC World Test Championship cycle after South Africa visited Pakistan for a two-Test series in October last year.The forthcoming ODI tri-series will be the second tri-series in this format hosted by Pakistan in as many years. Last year, ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, Pakistan hosted New Zealand and South Africa for an ODI tri-series in February.The tri-series will begin with Pakistan taking on Sri Lanka at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday, 18 October. The hosts will face England in the second match at the same venue on Tuesday, 20 October, while Sri Lanka and England will meet in the third match at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Thursday, 22 October.All three sides will then move to Lahore, where Pakistan will face England in the fourth ODI of the tri-series at Gaddafi Stadium on Sunday, 25 October. Pakistan and Sri Lanka will meet in the fifth match at the same venue on Tuesday, 27 October.Sri Lanka and England will take part in the sixth match of the tournament at Gaddafi Stadium on Thursday, 29 October, while the top two sides will meet in the final at the same venue on Saturday, 31 October.Schedule:Sri Lanka tour to Pakistan (T20Is and Test series)9 October – First T20I at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi11 October – Second T20I at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi13 October – Third T20I at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi4-6 November – Three-day match, Islamabad9-13 November – First Test at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi17-21 November – Second Test at Gaddafi Stadium, LahoreODI tri-series (England, Pakistan, Sri Lanka)18 October – Pakistan v Sri Lanka, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi20 October – Pakistan v England, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi22 October – Sri Lanka v England, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi25 October – Pakistan v England, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore27 October – Pakistan v Sri Lanka, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore29 October –Sri Lanka v England, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore31 October – Tri-series final, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore 

Sports Bulletin ReportLAHORE: The third day of the Treet 8th World Taekwondo President’s Cup (Asian Region) wrapped up at the Jinnah Sports Complex in Lahore Cantt, featuring high-intensity finals across four senior Kyorugi weight categories. Athletes from Thailand, South Korea, Iran, and Uzbekistan captured top honors in a tightly contested showcase of martial arts excellence.  In the women’s division, Thailand’s Chatekan clinched the gold medal in the 53kg category, leaving Iran’s Nachafi Shaparak with the silver. South Korea expanded its medal tally in the women’s 67kg class as Hong Yu-rim delivered a stellar performance to secure gold, while Uzbekistan’s Sobirjonova took home silver.The men’s categories saw equal intensity on the mats. Iran’s Mehdi Haji outpointed South Korea’s Jung Woo to win the 63kg gold medal. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan’s Jasurbek dominated the 80kg division to earn gold, edging out Jordan’s Saleh, who finished with the silver medal.Evaluating the tournament's impact, Lt. Col. (R) Waseem Ahmad Janjua, Chairman of the Pakistan Taekwondo Federation (PTF), emphasized the vital experience local athletes are gaining on home soil. He noted that hosting an event of this scale in Lahore provides invaluable international exposure and serves as ideal preparation for national fighters ahead of the upcoming Asian Games.

Shaheen’s 7-36 inspire Sparco Paints Pakistan Gold to National Champions Cup titleMultan (Irum Abdullah): Shaheen Shah Afridi led Sparco Paints Pakistan Gold to the Al Batal Presents University of Lahore National Champions Cup 2026-27 title with a stunning haul of seven for 36 including a hat-trick as Rivaj Pakistan Greens fell short by 101 runs in the final chasing 341 here at the Multan Cricket Stadium on Tuesday night. The seventh and final match of the tournament concluded with Fazal Mahmood and Imran Khan stands packed to capacity. Pakistan Gold won the toss and were led to a strong total after opting to bat first by two southpaws Shamyl Hussain and Saad Khan who both registered sparkling centuries and shared a 137-run stand. In turn, Greens were cruising at 143-1 in 20.4 before they crashed spectacularly, losing nine for 96, seven of which were plucked by Shaheen as he finished the game with hat-trick. Shaheen’s 7-36 in 8.3 overs are his best List A figures and his fourth haul of five or more wicket in the format. He also claimed the 19th List-A hat-trick on Pakistan soil along with returning ninth best List-A figures in Pakistan. Greens got off to a brisk start collecting 53 runs before Fakhar fell to off-spinner Mubasir Khan for a 28-ball 31. Saad Baig (67, 51b, 9x4s, 2x6s) and Omair Bin Yousuf (44, 50b, 2x4s, 2x6s) then steered the chase with a brisk 90-run stand which felt like taking the game away from Gold but they struck back with Razaullah removing the latter. Faisal Akram then pinned Saad in 22nd overr before Shaheen got into the act by first claiming Farhan Yousuf, then Shadab Khan and Mohammad Suleman both in 27th over. With Greens 167-6 in 26.5 overs, Faheem Ashraf (38, not out, 30b, 4x4s, 1x6) and Naseem Shah (31, 27b, 2x4s, 2x6s) arrested the imminent collapse with a threatening 61-run stand which was broken by Shaheen in 36th over. The Pakistan ODI captain returned in 38th over to claim Mehran Mumtaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza and Mohammad Hasnain on the first three balls and finished the game in style. Earlier, Shamyl registered his third List-A century, while Saad scored his second in the format as they showcased their talent with the bat. The duo were united at the crease in the 17th over and separated in the 34th. Shamyl had first shared a 78-run opening stand with Muhammad Akhlaq (31, 44b, 4x4s), while Kamran Ghulam departed early. Shamyl brought up his century in style with consecutive sixes against Mohammad Hasnain in the 29th over before falling for 111 off 93 balls (11x4s, 4x6s). Saad fell for 112 off 102 balls and struck 11 fours and four sixes in his outing. Abdul Samad (25, 25, 1x4, 2x6s) and Mubasir (21, 17b, 1x4, 1x6) contributed enough to stretch the score well beyond the 300-run mark. For the Greens, Shaheen, Faheem and Shadab picked up two wickets each, while Mehran and Hasnain accounted for one batter each. Scores in brief Pakistan Gold 340 all out, 50 overs (Saad Khan 112, Shamyl Hussain 111, Mohammad Akhlaq 31, Abdul Samad 25, Mubasir Khan 21; Faheem Ashraf 2-40, Shadab Khan 2-45, Naseem Shah 2-59) Pakistan Greens 239 all out, 37.3 overs (Saad Baig 67, Omair Bin Yousuf 44, Faheem Ashraf 38 not out, Naseem Shah 31, Fakhar Zaman 31; Shaheen Shah Afridi 7-36) Player of the match – Shaheen Shah Afridi (Pakistan Gold) Best batter and player of the tournament – Fakhar Zaman (260 runs, 1 wicket) Best bowler of the tournament – Shaheen Shah Afridi (9 wickets) Best wicketkeeper of the tournament - Saad Baig (170 runs, 5 dismissals)  Tournament results: (All matches at Multan Cricket Stadium)11 August – Pakistan Greens beat Pakistan Whites by five wickets 12 August – Pakistan Blues beat Pakistan Gold by six wickets 13 August –Pakistan Whites beat Pakistan Blues by six runs           14 August – Pakistan Greens beat Pakistan Gold by 128 runs 15 August – Pakistan Greens beat Pakistan Blues by 192 runs 16 August – Pakistan Gold beat Pakistan Whites by five wickets 18 August – Final – Pakistan Gold beat Pakistan Greens by 101 runs 

Riyadh (PR): President of the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF), Mohsen Gillani, called on Ambassador of Pakistan to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Ahmad Farooq, in Riyadh.During the meeting, opportunities to further strengthen cooperation and explore avenues for the development and promotion of football in Pakistan were discussed. The discussion also focused on potential collaboration and engagement with relevant stakeholders in the Kingdom to support Pakistan’s football ecosystem and create greater opportunities for players and sporting institutions.President Mohsen Gillani briefed the Ambassador on the PFF’s ongoing efforts and future initiatives aimed at promoting football at the national and grassroots levels.Ambassador Ahmad Farooq appreciated the efforts of the Pakistan Football Federation and assured his support in exploring avenues for greater cooperation and engagement between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in the field of sports.The meeting reaffirmed the shared commitment to utilizing sports, particularly football, as a platform to strengthen people-to-people ties and further deepen the longstanding brotherly relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.

Sports Bulletin ReportLAHORE: Pakistan made a flying start to the World Taekwondo 8th President’s Cup (Asia Region) 2026, claiming three gold medals on the opening day of the prestigious championship at the Jinnah Sports Complex Lahore on Monday.The hosts delivered an impressive performance in the poomsae competitions, collecting three gold, three silver and nine bronze medals to establish themselves among the leading nations on the opening day. Korea secured two gold and one silver, while Iran won three silver and three bronze medals.The championship opened with a colourful and vibrant ceremony that showcased Pakistan’s rich cultural heritage alongside the traditions of taekwondo. Ali Mustafa Dar, Adviser to the Chief Minister Punjab on AI and Special Initiatives, attended as chief guest and formally inaugurated the event.Cultural performances representing Pakistan’s provinces and Azad Jammu and Kashmir added colour to the ceremony and received an enthusiastic response from athletes, officials, guests and spectators. The performances also provided international participants with an opportunity to experience Pakistan’s diverse cultural traditions.Talking to The Nation, Pakistan Taekwondo Federation (PTF) Chairman Col (R) Waseem Ahmad Janjua said: “Our three-gold opening-day haul reflects Pakistan’s growing strength in poomsae and gives us an encouraging start to the championship. Competing against leading international athletes is also providing our players valuable world-class exposure.”The PTF chairman added, “Hosting an event of this scale demonstrates Pakistan’s ability to stage major international competitions and further strengthens the country’s position on the global taekwondo calendar.”Col Waseem also thanked World Taekwondo, the Asian Taekwondo Union, Headquarters 4 Corps, the Punjab government and other stakeholders for their support in staging the championship. He expressed his gratitude to Treet Corporation, the title sponsors, along with other corporate partners and supporting organisations, for their valuable contribution and continued support in making the prestigious event a success.The G3 taekwondo event has brought together a large contingent of international athletes, coaches, referees, technical officials and administrators from across Asia and other regions. Teams from Afghanistan, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Chinese Taipei, Chile, Ecuador, Egypt, Great Britain, Hong Kong, Iran, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Saudi Arabia, Kyrgyzstan, Oman, Palestine, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Sri Lanka, Türkiye, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates and Uzbekistan, along with the World Taekwondo Refugee Team, are competing in Lahore.In addition, 28 Pakistani teams are taking part, underlining the scale and significance of the championship for the country's domestic taekwondo structure. According to the PTF, the event has attracted 869 athletes and officials, including 347 international athletes, 163 international officials, 263 Pakistani athletes and 96 Pakistani officials.The strong international participation has provided Pakistani athletes with a valuable opportunity to compete against high-level opponents on home soil and gain exposure to international standards of competition. The championship is being conducted under the technical supervision of World Taekwondo Technical Delegate Rajendran Muthusamy, with World Taekwondo-appointed technical officials and referees overseeing the competitions to ensure strict compliance with international rules and regulations.With the opening-day poomsae events setting the tone, attention now turns to the remaining competitions, where Pakistani athletes will look to build on their promising start and add further medals to the country's tally.