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Hasan Raza Tips His Cap : Pakistan's Record Holder Applauds India's New Teen Star
BIPIN DANIIndia’s rising star Vaibhav Sooryavanshi etched his name into cricket history when he became the nation’s youngest male international cricketer — and the youngest debutant from a major Test‑playing country in T20Is — at just 15 years and 99 days during his debut against England at Old Trafford.While the milestone has thrilled Indian fans, the official record for the youngest men’s international cricketer still belongs to Pakistan’s Hasan Raza, who made his Test debut in 1996 at the tender age of 14 years and 227 days.Speaking exclusively over telephone from Dubai, where he has been based for the past year on a coaching assignment, Raza warmly welcomed Sooryavanshi to the elite list: “I am happy for this young boy. I followed his performance in the recent match against England. I also followed his first IPL career season. He has been playing really well and I am sure he will bring glory for the nation. I wish him good luck for his bright future.”Raza is also aware of the special facilities provided to the Indian opener in Ireland and England, including separate change‑room arrangements due to his age. Reflecting on his own teenage debut, Raza recalled a very different era: "At that time in the 1990s, I was not required to use a separate change room. There was no law as such for under‑16 boys. Neither my parents accompanied me on the tour. I was sharing the hotel room with my team captain Aamer Sohail. At that time, the players were accommodated in twin‑sharing rooms.”Now 44, Hasan Raza’s career included 7 Tests and 16 ODIs for Pakistan. Though his record as the youngest debutant remains intact, he expressed genuine delight at seeing another teenager step onto the international stage, carrying forward the legacy of precocious cricketing talent.
PGF Islamabad Junior Championship, Mohammad Irtaza, Saad Habib, and Abdul Rahim Clinch Titles
ISLAMABAD (faisal):The Pakistan Golf Federation (PGF) successfully organized the prestigious Islamabad Junior Amateur Golf Championship 2026 at the scenic Islamabad Club Golf Course. The high-stakes, three-day championship ran from July 3 to July 5, featuring a grueling 54-hole stroke play format. The event drew 72 elite junior golfers from across the country, all competing fiercely across various age categories while showcasing exceptional skill, discipline, and sportsmanship.Under the supervision of Tournament Director Malik Muhammad Kamran, the championship received immense praise from Islamabad Club members, who lauded the determination and grit of the young athletes.In the highly anticipated Category A fixtures, Muhammad Irtaza Hussain delivered a stellar performance to capture the championship title. Hamza Waheed secured the runner-up position, followed closely by Zaid Umar in third place. Category B witnessed an intense battle for the top spot, where Saad Habib ultimately dominated the field to claim victory. Mohammad Raza finished in second place, while Mustafa Zubair took home the third-position trophy.In Category C, Abdul Rahim Usman emerged victorious after displaying great consistency throughout the three days. Mubeen Akram secured second place, and Muhammad Musa Adil finished the tournament in third.Meanwhile, the Girls' Championship action saw Rameen Amin clinch the first-place title after a brilliant display of golf. Zarmeenah Khan secured the second position, and Warisha Shahid rounded out the podium in third place.The championship concluded with a prestigious prize distribution ceremony, which saw enthusiastic participation from the young golfers and their families, fostering a vibrant, community-centric atmosphere. The Chief Guest of the ceremony, Aamir Saleh Abbasi, presented trophies to the podium finishers and highly commended their athletic achievements.
Pakistan Test squads announced for West Indies and England tours
Lahore (SBR): :Pakistan Men’s National Selection Committee has announced Test squads for the tours of the West Indies and England during a press conference at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Sunday, 5 July.Babar Azam has been named captain for both series. Pakistan will play a two-match Test series against the West Indies from 25 July to 6 August, followed by a three-match Test series in England from 19 August to 13 September.A 16-member squad has been named for the West Indies series, while a 17-member squad has been announced for the England series. Saud Shakeel has been included as the 17th member for the England series, subject to fitness.Left-arm spinner Ali Usman, right-handed batter Mohammad Awais Zafar, right-arm fast bowler Ubaid Shah and wicket-keeper batter Mohammad Ghazi Ghori are the uncapped players in the squad.16-member squad (in alphabetical order) for West Indies series:Babar Azam (captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Fazal, Ali Usman, Azan Awais, Imam ul Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper), Mohammad Awais Zafar, Mohammad Ghazi Ghori (wicket-keeper), Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Shan Masood and Ubaid Shah17-member squad for England series:Babar Azam (captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Fazal, Ali Usman, Azan Awais, Imam ul Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper), Muhammad Awais Zafar, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wicket-keeper), Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel (subject to fitness), Shan Masood and Ubaid ShahSchedule for West Indies series:25-29 July – First Test, Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Tarouba2-6 August – Second Test, Queen's Park Oval, Port of Spain, Port of SpainSchedule for England series:19-23 August – First Test, Leeds27-31 August – Second Test, Lord’s9-13 September – Third Test, Birmingham
Pakistani Juniors Shine at ITF J30 Dushanbe Cup 2026
Islamabad: Pakistan’s young tennis talent continues to make the nation proud as Muhammad Hassan Usmani and Amir Mazari have become the Boys’ Doubles Finalist's at the ITF J30 Dushanbe Cup 2026, held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan from 29 June to 3 July 2026.The Pakistani pair displayed outstanding determination, teamwork, and fighting spirit throughout the week, defeating strong opponents from Russia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan on their way to this great achievement.(SBR)
Samaira Dharnidharka to lead UAE in the ACC Women’s U19 Premier Cup 2026
Dubai (PR): Pacer Samaira Dharnidharka will lead the 14-member UAE Women’s U19 team in the 13-team ACC Women’s U19 Premier Cup 2026 which begins in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Saturday, 11 July. The tournament is the qualifier for the ACC Women’s U19 Asia Cup 2026 which will be played later this year. The top four teams from the ACC Women’s U19 Premier Cup 2026 (winners of the four quarterfinals) will earn qualification for the ACC Women’s U19 Asia Cup 2026. UAE have been drawn in Group B with Oman and Bhutan, the other two teams. UAE play Oman in their opening game on 11 July at the YSD UKM Oval at 9:30am local time. They play Bhutan on Thursday, 14 July at the Bayuemas Oval. The match will begin at 2:00pm local time. The top two teams from each of the four tournament groups will compete in the quarterfinals which will be played on Friday, 15 July. The semifinals will be played on Sunday, 17 July with the final scheduled for Monday 18 July at the Bayuemas Oval. The winners of the quarterfinals will earn ACC Women’s U19 Asia Cup 2026 qualification. *UAE U19 Women’s squad – ACC Women’s U19 Premier Cup 2026:* Samaira Dharnidharka, (captain), Afsha Afzal Khan, Al Maseera Jahangir, Avanee Patil, Emily Thomas (wicketkeeper), Janani Thirukkumaran, Lavanya Keny, Mehul Kulkarni, Mehak Thakur, Neha Kumari, Rishitha Rajith, Sai Nikhil Thite, Simran Sheth and Vaishnave Mahesh. *Support Staff:* Subha Venkataraman (interim head coach), Shyla Alam (strength and conditioning coach) and Merin Saji (manager and physiotherapist). *ACC Women’s U19 Premier Cup 2026 – UAE matches schedule:*Saturday, 11 July – UAE vs Oman, YSD UKM Oval – 9:30amThursday, 14 July – UAE vs Bhutan, Bayuemas Oval – 2:00pmFriday, 15 July – QuarterfinalsSunday, 17 July – Semifinals, Bayuemas Oval Monday, 18 July – Third position playoff and final,
BASKETBALL - National 30 Jun, 2026
Karachi (SBR): Ali Hasan Brohi unanimously elected President and Dleep Singh Secretary of the Sindh Basketball Association.Karachi, 30th June 2026: The elections of the Sindh Basketball Association were held on 30th June , 2026 at a local restaurant in Karachi under the supervision of the Pakistan Basketball Federation. Meeting was chaired by Mr Khalid Bashir, Secretary General, Pakistan Basketball Federation.Representatives from all six Divisional Basketball Associations of Sindh attended the election meeting. Mr.Asghar Baloch attended as rep of Sindh Olympic Association. Former Secretary to the Government of Sindh, Mr. Ali Hasan Brohi, was unanimously elected as President, while Mr. Dleep Singh(Mirpur Khas) was elected as Secretary of the Sindh Basketball Association.The other office-bearers elected were:- Yaqoob Qadry –(Karachi) Senior Vice President- Arshad Saeed –(Sukkur) Vice President- Raja Sheeraz –(Hyderabad) Treasurer- Sahir Hussain –Larkana)- Executive Member- Shabbir Chandio –(Benazirabad) Executive MemberSpeaking on the occasion, President Ali Hasan Brohi said that the Association's priority would be the promotion of basketball among youth (boys and girls) with special focus on the interior districts of Sindh.Secretary Dleep Singh expressed his gratitude for the confidence reposed on him and stated that the Association's future development programme would be announced soon after in consultation with the newly elected Executive Committee.The newly elected office-bearers reaffirmed their commitment to the development and promotion of basketball throughout Sindh.
Departmental cricket tournaments for 2026-27 domestic season
Lahore, 27 June 2026:The domestic cricket season 2026-27 is set to begin in August, while the departmental cricket tournaments in this iteration are set to kick off in September as opposed to the December-January start in the previous two seasons, the Pakistan Cricket Board confirmed today. The departmental cricket tournaments include the four-day first-class President’s Trophy Grade-I, List A President’s Cup and the three-day President’s Trophy Grade-II Gold and Silver tournaments. The eight-team President’s Trophy and Cup will be of critical importance in the coming domestic season with the PCB set to work closely with the departmental teams on a number of fronts to ensure high competition, player development and creating stable and transparent revenue streams for the domestic players. The eight-team President’s Cup One-Day tournament will be in the spotlight due to the focus on preparation for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027. The PCB will also work with the departments across the four tournaments to maintain best possible standards of fitness as well, comprising pre-season fitness tests for selection of players. In order to maximise the playing opportunities for centrally contracted and national pool players, the Guest Player concept will also be introduced for the upcoming departmental cricket season. The finalists of the President’s Trophy Grade-II Silver, which recently concluded in Faisalabad, are set to be promoted to the Gold tournament, while the bottom two teams of the Gold tier will be relegated. The winner of the President’s Trophy Grade-II Gold final between MIT Solutions and Kingsmen Academy will secure berth in the President’s Trophy Grade-I starting in September and will replace the bottom team from previous edition of the tournament. The bottom finishers of the President’s Trophy Grade-I 2025-26 are set to feature in Grade-II Gold. (SBR)
Gulf Giants Strengthen Coaching Staff with Michael Klinger and Shane Bond
Ahmedabad (SBR); Adani Sportsline today announced Gulf Giants' coaching and support staff for the upcoming season of the DP World UAE ILT20, assembling a group that blends continuity with fresh expertise ahead of the new campaign.Michael Klinger has been appointed Batting Coach, joining a coaching team led by Head Coach Simon Helmot. Shane Bond continues as Bowling Coach, Kadeer Ali joins as Fielding Coach, James Pipe remains Physiotherapist, Gary Brent takes over as Strength and Conditioning Coach and Saurabh Walkar continues as Analyst.The appointments reinforce a support structure designed to build on Gulf Giants' strong record in the competition, including their title-winning campaign in the inaugural ILT20 season in 2023.Helmot, whose appointment was announced last month, arrives with an accomplished track record in white-ball cricket and extensive experience across leading T20 leagues. He will lead a coaching group that combines established relationships within the franchise with specialist expertise drawn from across the global game.Klinger brings extensive experience as both a player and coach. Currently Head Coach of Gujarat Giants in the Women's Premier League (WPL), he is well acquainted with Adani Sportsline's high-performance environment and player development approach.Bond, one of the most respected fast-bowling coaches in world cricket, continues in his role after joining the franchise last season. The former New Zealand international has worked with elite teams and players around the world and will continue to oversee the development of Gulf Giants' bowling unit.Kadeer joins from Worcestershire County Cricket Club, where he serves as Assistant Head Coach, adding specialist fielding expertise to the coaching setup.Pipe continues as Physiotherapist, providing continuity in player care and recovery, while former Zimbabwe international Brent joins as Strength and Conditioning Coach after previous stints within the Adani Sportsline ecosystem. Walkar also retains his role as Analyst, supporting match preparation and performance planning.Speaking on his appointment, Klinger said, “I’m familiar with Adani Sportsline’s philosophy through my time with Gujarat Giants, so this is an exciting opportunity to join another team within the group. Gulf Giants have strong foundations and I’m looking forward to working closely with Simon and the rest of the staff to help build a solid unit that can make a big impact in the new season.”Bond added, “We’ve got a strong setup at Gulf Giants and I’m excited to continue working with the group as we prepare for the new season. There’s quality in the squad, and with Simon coming in as Head Coach as well as Klinger joining as Batting Coach, it’s a great opportunity for us to keep building and push standards even higher.”The coaching group brings experience from international cricket, franchise leagues and domestic competitions across multiple countries. As preparations gather pace, Gulf Giants will look to build the momentum required to challenge for a second title in the DP World UAE ILT20, which was launched in 2023 and has quickly established itself as one of the leading T20 leagues in world cricket.
Hamza Waheed wins PGF Hazara Juniors Golf Championship
Abbottabad: The Pakistan Golf Federation (PGF) successfully concluded the 8th PGF Jinnah Development Tour 2026 and the PGF Hazara Junior Amateur Golf Championship 2026 at PIFFERS Golf & Country Club, Abbottabad, from 18–21 June 2026.The championships attracted leading professional, amateur and junior golfers from across Pakistan and provided an excellent platform for competition, talent identification and player development.The 8th PGF Jinnah Development Tour witnessed highly competitive golf amongst the professional field, while a strong contingent of elite amateurs, including World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) players, competed alongside professionals and demonstrated the growing depth of golf talent in Pakistan.In the Junior Championship, Pakistan Golf Federation implemented a comprehensive age verification process in accordance with the directions of the Pakistan Sports Board to ensure fair competition and eligibility across all junior categories.The Closing Ceremony was graced by Commandant PIFFERS Centre, Brigadier Adnan Orakzai, SI(M), who distributed prizes amongst the winners and congratulated all participants on their outstanding performances. Brigadier Adnan Orakzai appreciated the efforts of the Pakistan Golf Federation in promoting golf and junior player development in the country.On the occasion, Brigadier Adnan Orakzai also presented a commemorative shield to Malik Kamran, Tournament Director, Pakistan Golf Federation, in recognition of his efforts and the successful conduct and management of both championships.Speaking at the conclusion of the championships, Malik Kamran, Tournament Director, thanked PIFFERS Centre, PIFFERS Golf & Country Club, participating players, officials, coaches, parents and volunteers for their support and reaffirmed PGF's commitment to developing future champions through structured pathways, transparent competition and enhanced junior development programmes.PGF HAZARA JUNIOR AMATEUR GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP 2026BOYS CATEGORY AChampion: Hamza Waheed – 216 (E)Runner-Up: Muhammad Barik Ayub – 222 (+6)2nd Runner-Up: Mustafa Asif – 228 (+12)BOYS CATEGORY BChampion: Larib Ur Rehman – 207 (-9)Runner-Up: Ahmed Murad Ghumman – 209 (-7)2nd Runner-Up: Mahad Khan – 219 (+3)BOYS CATEGORY CChampion: Jashwa Amjad – 218 (+2)Runner-Up: Mustafa Zubair – 222 (+6)2nd Runner-Up: Mohammad Razaullah Waheed – 222 (+6)GIRLS CATEGORYChampion: Sara Amin Khan – 220 (+4)Runner-Up Jasia Tassawar Hussain – 241 (+25)2nd Runner-Up Amna Malak – 270 (+54)Leading Professionals After 54 Holes1. Muhammad Sahil – 219 (+3)2. Ralfe E Aslam Raja – 220 (+4)3. Waris Ali – 220 (+4)4. Shahbaz Ali – 221 (+5)5. Shahbaz Masih – 223 (+7)
SPORTS NEWS - National 21 Jun, 2026
Islamabad (PR): The Islamabad Olympic Association (IOA) celebrated Olympic Day 2026 at Rawal Lake, Islamabad, with great enthusiasm and active participation from the sports community. The event was organized to promote the Olympic values of excellence, friendship, respect, and a healthy lifestyle through sports and physical activity.More than 80 participants representing various affiliated sports associations of the Islamabad Olympic Association took part in the Olympic Day Walk and a range of recreational and fitness activities organized to mark the occasion.The celebrations commenced with the playing of the Olympic Anthem, reaffirming the participants’ commitment to the ideals and values of the Olympic Movement.On the occasion, Treasurer Islamabad Olympic Association, Mr. Ijaz-ul-Haq, highlighted the significance of Olympic Day and emphasized the importance of promoting sports, physical activity, and Olympic values within society.The celebrations were graced by the presence of Olympian Sadaf Siddiqui and Asian Gold Medalist in Rowing, Chaudhry Maqbool, who joined participants in commemorating the global Olympic Movement and encouraged young athletes to pursue sporting excellence.Secretary General Islamabad Olympic Association, Mr. Rizwan-ul-Haq Razi, along with members of the Executive Committee of the Islamabad Olympic Association, office bearers of affiliated associations, athletes, and sports officials, was also present and actively participated in the day’s activities.To commemorate Olympic Day and reinforce the Olympic Movement’s commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility, a special tree plantation activity was conducted at the venue. Participants planted saplings as a symbol of their commitment to a greener and healthier future.Speaking at the conclusion of the event, Vice President Islamabad Olympic Association, Mr. Ouj E Zahoor, thanked all participants, affiliated associations, and officials for their valuable contribution in making the Olympic Day celebrations a success.The Islamabad Olympic Association reaffirmed its commitment to promoting Olympic values, encouraging mass participation in sports, and supporting initiatives that contribute to the well-being of society and environmental conservation.
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