Pakistan Super League star Vince to move to Dubai after attacks on family home

Pakistan Super League star Vince to move to Dubai after attacks on family home
Karachi Kings’ James Vince plays a shot during the Pakistan Super League (PSL) Twenty20 cricket match between Karachi Kings and Quetta Gladiators at the National Cricket Stadium in Karachi on February 29, 2024. (AFP/File)
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Updated 15 January 2025
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Pakistan Super League star Vince to move to Dubai after attacks on family home

Pakistan Super League star Vince to move to Dubai after attacks on family home
  • James Vince saw his family home near Hampshire’s headquarters attacked twice last year
  • He has been retained by Karachi Kings franchise for this season’s T20 Pakistan Super League 

LONDON: World Cup winner James Vince is to stand down as captain of Hampshire after a decade in charge and move to Dubai following attacks on his family home, the English cricket county announced Wednesday.
Although he will miss the 2025 English domestic first-class County Championship or red-ball season, Vince will continue to play white-ball (limited-overs) cricket and skipper Hampshire in the T20 Blast.
The 33-year-old batsman, a member of the England squad that won the 2019 50-over World Cup on home soil, saw his family home near Hampshire’s headquarters attacked twice last year.
Vince, who said the incidents left his young family fearing for their safety, told Britain’s Daily Telegraph in July he believed the attacks were a case of mistaken identity.
“James Vince has signed a revision to the final year of his contract which fulfils his obligation to play for Hampshire Hawks in the 2025 Vitality Blast campaign and confirms that he is not planning to play red-ball cricket this year,” said a Hampshire statement.
“After 10 consecutive years as club captain, Vince will also step down from this position but will remain as team captain of Hampshire Hawks.
“In 2024, Vince endured a challenging year on a personal level, following several attacks on his family home. As a result, the family have taken the decision to move to Dubai.”
Vince added he needed to “understand what is best for my family, and combine that with the stage of my career I am at.”
He made his Hampshire debut in 2009 aged 18 and has scored over 22,000 runs for the county. Vince is the Blast’s all-time leading run scorer and has played in Hampshire’s three title-winning T20 teams, while representing England 55 times across all formats.
Vince has also been retained by the Karachi Kings for this season’s T20 Pakistan Super League on a contract worth a reported £100,000 ($122,000).
The PSL has made a one-off move from its usual February-March slot to take place between April 8 and May 19, the same time as the first half of the County Championship.
English cricket chiefs have introduced rules preventing England-contracted players or red-ball county players from appearing in overseas leagues such as the PSL that take place during the English season, with the exception of the Indian Premier League, cricket’s wealthiest T20 franchise tournament.
But the policy appears to have helped persuade Vince, who won the last of his 13 Test caps in 2018, to abandon English first-class cricket, at least temporarily, rather than reject a lucrative PSL deal.


Al-Hilal win again while Ronaldo inspires Al-Nassr victory

Al-Hilal win again while Ronaldo inspires Al-Nassr victory
Updated 21 January 2025
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Al-Hilal win again while Ronaldo inspires Al-Nassr victory

Al-Hilal win again while Ronaldo inspires Al-Nassr victory
  • Al-Hilal defeat Al-Wehda 4-1 to stay top of the Saudi Pro League
  • Cristiano Ronaldo nets twice to help Al-Nassr to 3-1 win at Al-Khaleej

JEDDAH: Al-Hilal moved three points clear of Al-Ittihad — who are in action at home to Al-Shabab on Wednesday — and were never in danger of dropping points as they netted twice in the first 11 minutes against Al-Wehda before recording a 4-1 verdict.
After only seven minutes Al-Wehda’s goalkeeper Abdullah Al-Owaishir spilled a shot from Ruben Neves and Marcos Leonardo — in red-hot form with eight goals in the previous five games — was on hand to react first to poke the ball home from close range.
Four minutes later it was 2-0. Salem Al-Dawsari picked up possession on the left, slipped the ball into Mohamed Kanno on the edge of the area and the midfielder found Malcom on the edge of the six-yard box. The Brazilian controlled the ball with his first touch and shot home with his second.
Fans in Riyadh sat back in the expectation of more goals but Al-Wehda kept it tight and restricted the scoreline to respectable levels. Malcom added a third with eight minutes remaining and Abdullah Al-Hamdan completed the scoring after Craig Goodwin had pulled one back for Al-Wehda.
Earlier, Al-Nassr moved above Al-Qadsiah into third following a 3-1 victory over Al-Khaleej, although the Yellows are 11 points behind their Riyadh rivals.
It was goalless at the break but Al-Khaleej were already a man down as Saeed Al-Hamsal had been red carded.
Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring midway through the second half, shooting home from the edge of the box for his 100th goal contribution for Al-Nassr.
Al-Khaleej equalized with 10 minutes remaining through Kostas Fortounis from the spot, but Al-Nassr restored their lead almost immediately thanks to Sultan Al-Ghannam.
Ronaldo then scored his 13th of the season in the eighth minute of added time, slotting home into an empty net after an unselfish pass from Saad Haqawi. The strike put the Portuguese star into first place in the goalscoring standings above Aleksandar Mitrovic and Karim Benzema.


Blocked from international football, Greenland will begin talks with CONCACAF

Blocked from international football, Greenland will begin talks with CONCACAF
Updated 21 January 2025
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Blocked from international football, Greenland will begin talks with CONCACAF

Blocked from international football, Greenland will begin talks with CONCACAF
  • The football-crazy Arctic Island, which US President Donald Trump said he wants to make part of the United States, has never played competitive international football
  • Greenland had for years sought to become a member of UEFA

COPENHAGEN: Greenland’s Football Association will send a delegation to the United States next month to begin talks on entering North American soccer body CONCACAF, hoping it will boost national pride at a time of global attention.
The football-crazy Arctic Island, which US President Donald Trump said he wants to make part of the United States, has never played competitive international football.
Yet in May last year, it applied for membership of CONCACAF, the governing body for soccer in North and Central America and the Caribbean.
Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory under Denmark but geographically part of the North American continent, had for years sought to become a member of UEFA, European football’s governing body.
Now, Greenland has been invited by CONCACAF general secretary Philippe Moggio for a meeting on Feb. 27 at the body’s headquarters in Miami, according to the head of Greenland’s Football Association, Kenneth Kleist.
UEFA requires its members to be recognized as fully independent by the United Nations. CONCACAF allows autonomous territories to join.
The meeting will take place at a time of renewed US interest in the strategically important island and amid an increasing desire for independence from Denmark among the island’s population of just 57,000.
“The invitation is not related to the current geopolitical interest in Greenland,” Kleist said in a press release.
The world’s biggest island, with just 18 football pitches, would be the 42nd member of the continental association if approved. The outdoor season on the Arctic Island runs from May to August.
“It’s about standing tall and showing that the Greenlandic people are capable and brave enough to take on the big guys,” national head coach Morten Rutkjer told Reuters.
The national team is made up of amateurs playing only friendlies. Greenland is planning three matches later this year against smaller CONCACAF nations.
“There is significant interest in playing against us from several major football nations,” Rutkjer said.


Djokovic tames Alcaraz; Sabalenka keeps Melbourne hat trick alive

Djokovic tames Alcaraz; Sabalenka keeps Melbourne hat trick alive
Updated 21 January 2025
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Djokovic tames Alcaraz; Sabalenka keeps Melbourne hat trick alive

Djokovic tames Alcaraz; Sabalenka keeps Melbourne hat trick alive
  • The 37-year-old Serb, who is chasing a record 25th Grand Slam crown, outlasted the Spaniard, 16 years his junior, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 despite having his left thigh heavily strapped

MELBOURNE: Ageless Novak Djokovic won an epic generational clash against Carlos Alcaraz on Tuesday to stay on track for an 11th Australian Open title with Alexander Zverev next in the semifinals.

The 37-year-old Serb, who is chasing a record 25th Grand Slam crown, outlasted the Spaniard, 16 years his junior, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 despite having his left thigh heavily strapped.

It was a vintage 3hrs 37mins performance and put him into the last four at Melbourne Park for a 12th time, with only Roger Federer (15) doing so more often.

The win also extended his all-time record for most Grand Slam semifinal appearances to 50, four clear of the Swiss great.

To reach another final, he will need to beat second seed Zverev, who battled into the last four for a second year running with a 7-6 (7/1), 7-6 (7/0), 2-6, 6-1 win over American 12th seed Tommy Paul.

As the wind swirled, Djokovic opened with a commanding hold then broke immediately as Alcaraz struggled to find his range.

Meanwhile, Aryna Sabalenka battled through “unbelievable” windy conditions Tuesday to reach the Melbourne semifinals and keep her dream of an Australian Open hat-trick alive.

The world No. 1 faces Spain’s Paula Badosa for a place in the final after grinding past Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-2, 2-6, 6-3 at the Rod Laver Arena.

“The conditions were unbelievable. The wind was so strong. It was very difficult for both of us,” said Sabalenka, who can become the first woman since Martina Hingis in 1999 to win the Australian Open three years in a row.

If she does, she will join a select group of five women who have completed the Melbourne three-peat. The others are Margaret Court, Evonne Goolagong, Steffi Graf and Monica Seles.

“I’m really happy that I put myself in this situation where I have the opportunity to become one of them,” said Sabalenka.

“To be next to those names, wow, that’s just a dream.”

The 11th seed Badosa earlier stunned world No. 3 Coco Gauff in straight sets to reach her maiden Grand Slam semifinal at the age of 27.

“She’s a great player and she has been through a lot. Now she’s back on her best game. I’m really happy to see that,” said Sabalenka of Badosa, who a year ago almost quit tennis because of a chronic back condition.

Sabalenka’s 19th win in a row at Melbourne Park turned into a battle for survival in increasingly blustery conditions.


Bayern sign Germany youth international Bischof

Bayern sign Germany youth international Bischof
Updated 21 January 2025
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Bayern sign Germany youth international Bischof

Bayern sign Germany youth international Bischof
  • Bischof, 19, signed a deal which runs until 2029
  • He will join Bayern at the end of the season

MUNICH: Bayern Munich on Tuesday announced the signing of Germany youth international Tom Bischof on a free transfer from Hoffenheim.
Bischof, 19, signed a deal which runs until 2029 and he will join Bayern at the end of the season.
“(He is) one of the biggest German talents, who has also attracted international interest,” Bayern sporting director Christoph Freund said in a statement.


The midfielder joined Hoffenheim’s youth system aged just six and has played for Germany at various age-group levels.
Bischof has played 16 Bundesliga games this season, scoring two goals and laying on two assists, while he has also started each of Hoffenheim’s six Europa League matches.
Bischof has been earmarked to replace 29-year-old Bayern midfielder Leon Goretzka, whose contract expires in 2026.


Finishing touches being put on Pakistan stadiums ahead of ICC Champions Trophy

Finishing touches being put on Pakistan stadiums ahead of ICC Champions Trophy
Updated 21 January 2025
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Finishing touches being put on Pakistan stadiums ahead of ICC Champions Trophy

Finishing touches being put on Pakistan stadiums ahead of ICC Champions Trophy
  • Eight-team 50-overs tournament will be first global competition held in Pakistan in 28 years
  • India will play all their matches in Dubai due to political tensions with the northern neighbor

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) this week allayed fears about the preparedness of the venues for this year’s Champions Trophy as they welcomed media for a tour of Lahore’s Qaddafi Stadium on Monday.

Arshad Khan, manager of National Bank Stadium, addresses media persons regarding the progress of the renovation work ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 tournament at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi on January 20, 2025. (REUTERS)

The eight-team 50-overs tournament will be the first global competition to be held in Pakistan in 28 years.
India, however, will play all their matches in Dubai due to political tensions with their Northern neighbors.

Laborers work during a media tour, organized by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), to showcase the progress of the renovation work ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 tournament at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi on January 20, 2025. (REUTERS)

Stadiums in Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi are being upgraded for the tournament whose success could invite more global tournaments to a country, which was deemed unsafe to tour after a 2009 attack on the visiting Sri Lankan cricketers.

Journalists attend a media tour organized by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), to showcase the progress of the renovation work ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 tournament at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi on January 20, 2025. (REUTERS)

“We are in the finishing phase. Our work is almost complete, the finishing touches remain. We will complete it by the end of this month,” PCB director of infrastructure, Qazi Jawad, told Reuters in Lahore.
The stadium’s capacity has been increased to accommodate 35,000 fans while new hospitality areas have also been constructed.

Laborers work during a media tour, organized by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), to showcase the progress of the renovation work ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 tournament at the Qaddafi Stadium in Lahore on January 20, 2025. (REUTERS)

Lahore and Karachi will host a tri-nation series involving New Zealand and South Africa next month to prove their readiness for the Champions Trophy beginning on February 19.

Laborers work during a media tour, organized by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), to showcase the progress of the renovation work ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 tournament at the Qaddafi Stadium in Lahore on January 20, 2025. (REUTERS)