Dubai (PR): Former Sri Lankan domestic cricketer Saliya Saman has been banned from all cricket for five years after an ICC Anti-Corruption Tribunal found him guilty of breaching the Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) Anti-Corruption Code.Saman was among eight people charged in September 2023 for breaching the Code.The charges relate to the 2021 Abu Dhabi T10 Cricket League and attempts to corrupt matches in that tournament which were disrupted by the ICC, the Designated Anti-Corruption Official (DACO) for the purposes of the ECB’s Code for the tournament.

By: faisalISLAMABAD: Ghazanfar Bilal won the men’s singles title in the Azadi Cup Ten-Pin Bowling Championship, while Ijaz-ur-Rehman bagged second position and Daniyal Shah secured third position. In the team event, the Islamabad team won the field, while the teams of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab were in second and third place respectively.Deputy DG, Pakistan Sports Board, Muhammad Shahid Islam was the chief guest at the concluding ceremony of the championship and distributed medals, trophies and cash awards among the successful players. President, Pakistan Tenpin Bowling Federation, Ijaz-ur-Rehman, Secretary General,  Lt. Col. (retd) Kamran Khalid Janjua, President, Pakistan Taekwondo Federation (Women’s Wing), Madam Saba Shamim Jadoon and President, Pakhtoon Action Committee, Javed Bangash, besides a large number of spectators, were also present and they also distributed prizes among the players of different categories.Ghazanfar Bilal lifted men's singles title with 492 points, Ijaz-ur-Rehman won 2nd position with 359 points, Daniyal Shah got 3rd position with 339 points and Faheem Khan secured 4th position with 307 points. In the team event category, the players of the Islamabad team, Ijaz-ur-Rehman, Daniyal Ijaz, Aizaz Ijaz and Afzaal Akhtar won the victory with 885 points. The second position was won by the players of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa team, Daniyal Shah, Faheem Khan, Shahrukh and Naveed-ul-Haq with 694 points, while the players of the Punjab team, Muhammad Hussain Chatha, Salem Baig, Junaid and Shahzad were in the third position with 659 points.

Lausanne (Switzerland): At the ongoing EuroHockey Championships 2025, following their progression into the final of the competition, Germany have qualified for the upcoming FIH Hockey World Cup Belgium and Netherlands 2026!Germany will take on the Netherlands in the final, but as hosts of the event, Netherlands are already assured of a place at the upcoming World Cup, which leaves Germany to take the direct qualification spot available from Europe to the FIH Hockey World Cup Belgium and Netherlands 2026.Germany started off their EuroHockey campaign, at home in Mönchengladbach, with an absolute thriller against France in the Pool B. France held a two-goal lead going into the final ten minutes of the match but two goals from Justus Weigand and one from Gonzalo Peillat saw the hosts roar back and take all three points. A tight 1-1 draw against England followed, putting Germany firmly in command of Pool B. A final flourish in their last pool game against Poland, which they won 10-0, sent the Honamas into the semi-final as the table toppers, ahead of France who finished second in the pool.Germany were pitted against Spain in the second semi-final. Just over a month ago, Spain had pipped Germany to a World Cup qualification spot at the end of the FIH Hockey Pro League season by denying the Honamas victory in their final two matches of the season in Berlin. This time however Germany turned the tables on the Red Sticks. The Honamas were in the lead throughout the match, scoring two goals in the first quarter. Whilst they conceded a goal in the second one - putting the scoring at 2-1 at half-time - they added a third and a fourth one on the scoresheet in the last quarter, giving Spain no chance for a potential come-back.Commenting on Germany’s qualification for FIH’s flagship event, Justus Weigand said: “Obviously happy to qualify for the World Cup! After our FIH Hockey Pro League match against Spain we were a little bit disappointed. Tonight, in front of our home crowd, winning this match and qualifying for both the World Cup and the final of the EuroHockey Championship is a special feeling. Hopefully we can win the final against the Netherlands!”Germany become the sixth men’s team to qualify for the FIH Hockey World Cup Belgium & Netherlands 2026. Belgium and Netherlands, on account of being hosts of the event, gained direct qualification. Australia and Spain qualified through the previous two editions of the FIH Hockey Pro League. Argentina secured their qualification recently by winning the Pan American Cup. Continental championships in Asia, Africa and Oceania over the coming months will determine three more direct qualifiers for the event, with the remaining seven teams qualifying through the FIH Hockey World Cup Qualifiers in 2026.(SBR)

Almaty (Kazakhstan): Mahad Khan and Sara Amin Khan Crowned Champions at Kazakhstan Junior Open Golf Championship 2025. Pakistan’s rising golf stars delivered a historic performance at the Kazakhstan Junior Open Golf Championship 2025, held at the renowned Zailjau Golf Club, Almaty, with Mahad Khan winning the Boys Category and Sara Amin Khan securing victory in the Girls Category.In the Boys division, Mahad Khan showcased exceptional skill and consistency to outplay a competitive international field, while Zayd Omer Arshad secured the Runner-up position with an equally commendable performance. In the Girls division, Sara Amin Khan displayed great composure under pressure to lift the championship trophy, marking a proud moment for Pakistan.The Pakistan Team also claimed two special accolades including Longest Drive – Mahad Khan (remarkable distance and power) and Closest to Pin – Zayd Omer Arshad (precision and accuracy).The President of the Pakistan Golf Federation (PGF) congratulated both champions, the runner-up, and the entire team for bringing glory to Pakistan, and praised the Secretary PGF for his excellent team selection and preparation. He described this victory as a beautiful Independence Day gift to the nation on 14 August 2025.The championship saw enthusiastic support, with many parents traveling to Kazakhstan to witness their children compete. A large crowd of international spectators warmly applauded the team’s outstanding performance among participants from multiple countries. (SBR)

Darwin (PCB Report): Half-centuries from Abdul Samad, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay and Yasir Khan, followed by a combined seven wickets from the spinners, powered Pakistan Shaheens to a resounding 79-run win over Bangladesh ‘A’ in the opening match of the Top End T20 Series at the TIO Stadium in Darwin on Thursday evening.After opting to bat first, Shaheens posted a formidable 227 for four in 20 overs. Openers Khawaja Nafay (61, 31b, 8x4s, 2x6s) and Yasir Khan (62, 40b, 7x4s, 2x6s) provided a blazing 118-run stand in just 11.1 overs. Abdul Samad then played an unbeaten knock of 56 off 27 balls (1x4, 5x6s), adding 36 runs for the fourth wicket with captain Muhammad Irfan Khan (25, 12b, 1x4, 3x6s) to take the total past 200.In turn, Bangladesh ‘A’ made a brisk start despite losing their first wicket in the opening over, reaching 92 for one in seven overs. Left-arm spinner Maaz Sadaqat struck a decisive blow in the eighth over, removing opener Jishan Alam (33, 17b, 5x4s, 1x6) and breaking an 86-run second-wicket stand.From there, Shaheens’ spinners took control. Faisal Akram (3-19) and Saad Masood (3-30) led the charge, while fast bowler Mohammad Wasim Jnr chipped in with 2-24 to dismiss Bangladesh ‘A’ for 148 in 16.5 overs. Shaheens will now take on the Scorchers in their next fixture on Saturday, 16 August, at the same venue. The first ball of the match will be bowled at 4pm local time.Scores in brief:Pakistan Shaheens beat Bangladesh ‘A’ by 79 runsPakistan Shaheens 227-4, 20 overs (Yasir Khan 62, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay 61, Abdul Samad 56 not out, Mohammad Irfan Khan 25)Bangladesh ‘A’ 148 all out, 16.5 overs (Mohammad Saif Hassan 57, Jishan Alam 33; Faisal Akram 3-19, Saad Masood 3-30, Mohammad Wasim Jnr 2-24)Player of the match – Yasir Khan (Pakistan Shaheens).

Islamabad (SBR): Ayzaz-ur-Rehman and Daniyal Ijaz clinched team event title of the Azadi Cup Tenpin Bowling Championship 2025 while Mohammad Hussain Chattha and Saleem Baig secured the 2nd position, here.The finals of the Azadi Cup Tenpin Bowling Championship 2025 pairs event brought an intense showdown among Pakistan’s top bowling talents. In a thrilling display of skill and consistency, the pair of Ayzaz ur Rehman and Daniyal Ijaz clinched the 1st position, with Ayzaz averaging an impressive 203.75 pins.The pair of Chattha and Saleem Baig secured the 2nd place, with Chattha delivering a strong 184.5 average across his games. Meanwhile, Daniyal Shah and Afzal Akhtar battled their way to the 3rd position, Daniyal Shah maintaining a 177.5 average.The competition was fierce until the last frame, with Ijaz ur Rehman and Junaid Shafique showing solid form and taking the 4th spot, Junaid averaging 175.5 pins.This year’s finals highlighted the depth of bowling talent in the country, setting the stage for even bigger rivalries in the upcoming tournaments.

Sports Bulletin ReportRiyadh (Saudi Arabia): The Saudi Pro League (SPL) has announced the fixture list for the 2025-26 Roshn Saudi League (RSL), and it promises to be a blockbuster start to what is shaping up to be the league’s most competitive season yet. The new campaign kicks off on Thursday, August 28, and the opening rounds will deliver instant drama, marquee matchups, and fresh storylines across Saudi football.Which are the standout matches in the opening round?Matchday 1 sees reigning champions Al Ittihad begin their title defence away to Al Okhdood, while Cristiano Ronaldo – fresh from signing his new contract – and Al Nassr also hit the road to take on Al Taawoun, one of last season’s surprise packages. Following their superb run to the FIFA Club World Cup quarter-finals, Al Hilal start their campaign with a city derby clash against Al Riyadh.Arguably the match of the round takes place in Jeddah, where AFC Champions League winners Al Ahli host promoted Neom, who dominated the Saudi First Division last season. Neom have since bolstered their squad with the signings of former Arsenal captain Alexandre Lacazette, goalkeeper Marcin Bulka, and highly-rated midfield youngster Amadou Koné as manager Christophe Galtier aims to establish the Tabuk-based club in the top tier.Fast start in store for ‘Big Four’In a clear demonstration of the depth of quality in the RSL, there is no easing into the season for last year’s top three and Asian champions Al Ahli.Al Hilal immediately follow their opening match with a home clash against Al Qadsiah, last season’s fourth-place finishers and King’s Cup finalists, before travelling to Jeddah to take on Al Ahli on Matchday 3. Three rounds later, Al Hilal are back in Jeddah for the first Clasico against rivals Al Ittihad, meaning the Riyadh giants face several early-season tests that could be pivotal to the rest of their campaign.Following their opening trip to Al Taawoun, Al Nassr’s early schedule also includes a massive visit to Jeddah to play Al Ittihad on Matchday 4, followed by a home clash with Neom on Matchday 8. A challenging winter stretch between Matchdays 13 and 16 sees Jorge Jesus’ side face Al Ahli (A), Al Qadsiah (H), Al Hilal (A) in the Capital Derby, and Al Shabab (H).Al Ittihad’s start away to Al Okhdood is followed by home matches against Al Fateh and Al Nassr, either side of a trip to promoted Al Najma, before the blockbuster showdown with Al Hilal in Jeddah on Matchday 6. Their final game of the season will be a rematch of last season’s Kings Cup final in Jeddah against Al Qadsiah, whom they defeated to clinch the domestic double.After welcoming Neom on the opening day, Al Ahli clash with Al Hilal (H) on Matchday 3 and take on Al Ittihad (A) in the Sea Derby on Matchday 8. The reverse derby match is scheduled for Matchday 25.Derby days to mark on the calendarAl Hilal vs Al Nassr (Capital Derby): Matchday 15 (Al Hilal home) and Matchday 32 (Al Nassr home)Al Ittihad vs Al Ahli (Sea Derby): Matchday 8 (Al Ittihad home) and Matchday 25 (Al Ahli home)Al Qadsiah vs Al Ettifaq (Eastern Province derby): Matchday 9 (Al Qadsiah home) and Matchday 26 (Al Ettifaq home)Al Hilal vs Al Ittihad (Saudi Clasico): Matchday 6 (Al Ittihad home) and Matchday 23 (Al Hilal home)Surprise packages and record chasers:Beyond the usual title contenders, there will be many storylines to follow throughout the season as the drama unfolds. Among these could be Al Taawoun following an excellent 2024-25 season when they reached the semi-finals of the AFC Champions League 2 and placed eighth in the RSL.Péricles Chamusca, who was Al Taawoun manager between 2022 and 2024, is back in the dugout having steered Neom to promotion, and with a kind-looking early fixture list – Al Nassr are the only opponents in their first five games to finish in last season’s top six – Al Taawoun have an opportunity to build some early momentum before the first international break.Al Shabab start their season with four of their first six matches at home in Riyadh, which could provide a springboard for Abderrazak Hamdallah to make some monumental history. The Moroccan striker is just five goals shy of equalling the RSL’s all-time scoring record – currently held by Omar Al Somah with 155 goals – and a fast start to the campaign could see the prolific forward become the league’s greatest goalscorer.New season set to build on soaring success:The RSL enters the new campaign aiming to build on the league’s remarkable progress in recent years. The 2024-25 season saw a record 183 broadcast partners worldwide while more than 2.5 million fans attended matches throughout the Kingdom. Global interest in Saudi football has also soared, with a 200% increase in international sponsorship revenue.

Islamabad (Sports Desk): India captain Shubman Gill and England batter Sophia Dunkley have been declared the ICC men’s and women’s Players of the Month for July 2025 following an elaborate process that included votes from an esteemed selection panel as well as those of fans worldwide.Gill became the first male player to win the Player of the Month award four times after a stupendous run in England saw him score 567 runs at an average of 94.50 in the three Tests played in July. His previous ICC Player of the Month awards were in January 2023, September 2023 and February 2025.The highlight for Gill during this period was his aggregate of 430 runs in the second Test in Birmingham, the second highest ever in a Test match. His scores of 269 and 161 in that Test helped level the series 1-1 and he also chipped in with a useful 103 in the second innings of the fourth Test in Manchester that helped draw the match and keep the series alive.The Indian skipper, who won the award ahead of his England counterpart Ben Stokes and South Africa all-rounder Wiaan Mulder, said he was hoping to continue his good form in the season ahead.Shubman Gill said: “It feels great to be named the ICC Player of the Month for July. This time it holds a lot more significance since it has come for my performances during my first Test series as captain. “The double ton in Birmingham is obviously something I will cherish forever and will be one of the highlights of my tour to England. The Test series against England was a learning experience for me as captain and we had some outstanding performances from both sides, which I am sure players from both sides will remember for a long time.”England batter Dunkley edged her team-mate Sophie Ecclestone and Ireland captain Gaby Lewis for the award, showing a fine run during this period in ODIs as well as T20Is. She played in all seven matches at home against India across the two formats, aggregating 126 runs in three ODIs and 144 runs at a strike-rate of 134.57 in four T20Is. Dunkley was England’s leading scorer in the T20I series and smashed a superb 92-ball 83 in the first ODI in Southampton.Dunkley said: “I am delighted to win the ICC Player of the Month award off the back of a really hard-fought series against India. We would have loved to have won the series, but I think we’ll take a lot from it moving towards the ICC Women’s World Cup. India deserved their win, and it was a great series to be a part of.”

Sports Bulletin ReportISLAMABAD: The national team’s training camp for the AFC U-23 Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers will commence on August 16 in Abbottabad.Head coach Nolberto Solano is scheduled to arrive in Pakistan on August 15 and will oversee the camp, which is set to run for two weeks under his supervision.A total of 50 players, initially selected through tryouts, will participate in the training camp. The final 23-member squad will be announced at a later stage.As part of the qualifiers, Pakistan will play their first match against Iraq on September 3, followed by a game against host nation Cambodia on September 6. The team will conclude the group stage with a match against Oman on September 9.

Dubai, UAE (SBR): The Desert Vipers announced West Indies batting maestro Shimron Hetmyer as the team’s wild card signing for season four of the DP World ILT20. Director of Cricket Tom Moody welcomed the new recruit: “Shimron is a player we rate extremely highly so for us to secure his services is a real coup,” he said.“He has proved a thorn in our side in the DP World ILT20 in the past so to have him in our ranks now is great news.”The left-handed batter, previously a member of the Gulf Giants team, has played some memorable knocks against the Vipers, including smashing 70 off just 35 deliveries in season one. Hetmyer said he was looking forward to joining the squad.“I am so happy to be joining the Desert Vipers. I have enjoyed my battles with the team during the past three seasons. The franchise is filled with quality players and I am looking forward to playing with them rather than against them.”The 28-year-old was part of the Gulf Giants in the first three seasons of the DP World ILT20, including season one where that team won the title by defeating the Desert Vipers in the final. With a strike rate of over 150 across those three seasons, having scored 390 (48 fours and 33 sixes) of his 666 runs in fours and sixes, Hetmyer is a hard hitter who can bring down any opposition on his day.  Tom Moody believes he could be a key disruptor for the team: “Shimron is a game-changer with the bat and someone who can fill multiple roles,” he said. “He is capable of batting in the top order and as a finisher, and his power and his ability to clear the fence are attributes we welcome. “But he is also a smart cricketer who knows the T20 format inside-out. I have no doubt Shimron will be a huge asset for the Desert Vipers in the coming season and we look forward to welcoming him to our team later this year.”The Desert Vipers have twice been runners-up in the DP World ILT20 but are yet to win a championship, and Hetmyer is eager to change that statistic.“I have seen the way the Vipers have been run, and the fact the team has reached two finals in three years speaks for itself,” he said. “They have been so close to the trophy and hopefully my arrival will be the final piece of the puzzle to make sure the team finishes season four as winners.“I love the tournament. It is such a great experience as a player, and I cannot wait to link up with the team in Dubai later this year.”Hetmyer brings with him a wealth of experience, having represented the West Indies at junior and senior levels, including leading them to victory in the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup in 2016. The left-hander is also in great demand on the franchise circuit and has played across the globe including in The Hundred, the Pakistan Super League, the Indian Premier League, the Caribbean Premier League, Major League Cricket and the DP World ILT20. Here is a quick reminder of the retained players and direct signings for the Desert Vipers:Retained players:Lockie Ferguson (ENG)Wanindu Hasaranga (SL)Sam Curran (ENG)Max Holden (ENG)Dan Lawrence (ENG)David Payne (ENG)Khuzaima bin Tanveer (UAE)Direct Signing:Andries Gous (USA)