Pakistan set New Zealand 129-run target in final T20

Pakistan set New Zealand 129-run target in final T20
Pakistan's Shadab Khan sits on the ground after a fall during the Twenty20 cricket match between New Zealand and Pakistan at Sky Stadium in Wellington on March 26, 2025. (AFP)
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Updated 26 March 2025
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Pakistan set New Zealand 129-run target in final T20

Pakistan set New Zealand 129-run target in final T20
  • Captain Salman Agha scores half-century in fifth T20 in Wellington
  • New Zealand team has 3-1 lead in the series against Pakistan so far

Wellington: A half-century by captain Salman Agha lifted Pakistan to 128-9 in the fifth and final Twenty20 against New Zealand in Wellington on Wednesday.
Salman was eventually dismissed in the penultimate over for 51 after he and Shadab Khan rescued Pakistan from 52-5 in the 10th over.
Jimmy Neesham, who removed both Salman and Shadab, was the most successful New Zealand bowler with 5-22.
New Zealand, with an unbeatable 3-1 lead in the series, need 129 to win.
After another poor start by Pakistan, Salman and Shadab shared a 54-run stand for the sixth wicket.
Shadab was caught behind off Neesham for 28.B
Pakistan again had problems with the top order.
Jacob Duffy claimed the first wicket in the second over when he removed Hasan Nawaz for his third duck in the series.
He added Omair Yousuf in his following over as Pakistan struggled to cope with Duffy’s swing and seam movement, as well as the bounce generated by Will O’Rourke and Ben Sears.
New Zealand, who won the toss, made one change for the match with Sears coming in for Zak Foulkes.
Pakistan made five changes with Omair, Usman Khan, Jahandad Khan, Sufyan Moqim and Mohammad Ali all coming in.


Grant back in Italy hoping to follow Sinner as the country’s next tennis star

Grant back in Italy hoping to follow Sinner as the country’s next tennis star
Updated 07 May 2025
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Grant back in Italy hoping to follow Sinner as the country’s next tennis star

Grant back in Italy hoping to follow Sinner as the country’s next tennis star

ROME: Tyra Caterina Grant grew up playing and living at the same tennis academy in northern Italy that Jannik Sinner attended before he went on to become No. 1.

So perhaps it feels natural that the 17-year-old Grant, a three-time junior Grand Slam doubles champion, will try to follow in Sinner’s footsteps again after announcing that she has switched nationalities from the US and will represent Italy for her promising professional career.

Grant’s father is American basketball player Tyrone Grant, who spent most of his pro career in Italy. Her Italian mother, Cinzia Giovinco, taught her to play tennis. She grew up in Vigevano, a town near Milan, and can switch between fluent Italian and English from one sentence to the next.

“I switched to Italy because I feel mostly Italian even though I’m half and half,” Grant said upon arriving in Rome, where she’s been given a wild card to play the Italian Open. “I’m more connected to the Italian part because I was born here and I grew up here and my friends are here. I feel more connected to the Italian culture and I feel more at home here.”

Grant and Sinner

Grant trained at Riccardo Piatti’s academy in Bordighera from age seven to 14 before she moved to Orlando, Florida.

Sinner, who is 6½ years older than Grant, was already one of Piatti’s star pupils when she arrived.

“Growing up with Jannik was great,” Grant said. “He was I think around 14 when we first met and I was a little younger so obviously it was kind of an age gap, but in Bordighera we were all just like a big family so it was lovely.”

Coco Gauff sees Grant’s potential

While Grant is ranked No. 335 by the WTA Tour, she is No. 6 in the International Tennis Federation’s junior rankings.

Grant also reached the semifinals of the junior singles tournament at last year’s French Open; and got to the semifinals of the senior mixed doubles competition at the US Open with American partner Aleksandar Kovacevic. Grant and Kovacevic were beaten by eventual champions Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori of Italy.

Coco Gauff, the 2023 US Open champion, got to know Grant a bit when she was among the juniors brought in to practice with the US national team.

“I’ve actually never watched her play,” Gauff said. “Based off the results, what I see her doing in juniors, obviously she has a lot of potential. I just never sat there and watched a match. I will now that she’s playing on the same level. I’ll try to get ready. Probably going to play each other sooner than later.”

Gauff and Grant were guests of honor at the Italian Open draw at the Trevi Fountain on Monday.

“If I had a cool option like Italy — I think they’re a great place to represent — I might do the same,” Gauff said, before quickly adding, “I love being American, too.

“When I see her interacting with Italians here, I’m like, ‘OK, yeah, I see why she made the change,’” Gauff said.

More attention in Italy

Italy has only one woman in the top 50 of the WTA rankings with Jasmine Paolini at No. 5.

Gauff, who is No. 3, leads a group of 10 Americans in the top 50.

So Grant could potentially attract more attention in Italy than in the US

“Obviously the US is bigger and probably has more female players but I was (already) one of the top players there so it’s not much of a difference,” she said.

Tyra or Tyra Caterina?

While Grant is often referred to by only her first name, her official bio on the WTA website lists her as Tyra Caterina Grant.


NEOM launches Champions of Progress initiative to drive community football

NEOM launches Champions of Progress initiative to drive community football
Updated 07 May 2025
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NEOM launches Champions of Progress initiative to drive community football

NEOM launches Champions of Progress initiative to drive community football
  • Scheme open to nominations from across Middle East, Asia
  • The initiative is open to individuals aged 18 and above from across the region

NEOM: The Asian Football Confederation’s official partner, NEOM, on Wednesday launched an initiative that aims to celebrate community heroes in football across Saudi Arabia, the Middle East and Asia.
Known as Champions of Progress, the scheme will use football’s global platform to drive positive change across the region and help the development of talent from grassroots to elite players.
The partnership supports NEOM’s vision to grow football in the Kingdom, improve access to physical activity for people and help make the country a global sports destination, it said in a statement.
“Champions of Progress seeks to celebrate individuals and projects that promote positive community engagement, support innovative sports development and show a commitment to diversity and inclusion in football,” it said.
The initiative is open to individuals aged 18 and above from across the region, as well as projects that have had a significant impact in the development of football at a community level, increased participation numbers or improved accessibility.
A panel of judges, including experts from NEOM and AFC, will review all submissions to determine the winners.
The six “champions” will be invited to the AFC Champions League Elite at the beginning of the 2025/26 season where they will meet senior members of the Saudi football community.
Their stories will also be shared across selected partnership channels to drive awareness and encourage positive change in pan-Asian football.


‘Mr Dakar’ Peterhansel returns with Defender for 2026

‘Mr Dakar’ Peterhansel returns with Defender for 2026
Updated 07 May 2025
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‘Mr Dakar’ Peterhansel returns with Defender for 2026

‘Mr Dakar’ Peterhansel returns with Defender for 2026
  • The Frenchman did not enter this year after Audi withdrew but will be back in Saudi Arabia next January
  • Peterhansel won the Dakar six times on motorcycles

RABAT: ‘Mr Dakar’ Stephane Peterhansel, a record 14 times winner of the Dakar Rally, will return to the gruelling endurance event next year aged 60 as a driver for Jaguar Land Rover’s Defender brand.
The Frenchman, who turns 60 in August, did not enter this year after Audi withdrew but will be back in Saudi Arabia next January competing in the Stock category for production-based vehicles.

It will be Peterhansel’s 36th career Dakar, an event he last won in 2021 with Mini. He will also compete in the full World Rally-Raid Championship.
Peterhansel won the Dakar six times on motorcycles between 1991 and 1998 before switching in 1999 to cars and winning with Mitsubishi, Mini and Peugeot.
“I’m looking forward to taking on this new challenge and together I hope we can take Defender to the top step of the podium,” he said in a statement after prototype testing in Morocco’s Sahara desert.
While Peterhansel holds the record for most wins, Spaniard Carlos Sainz — father of the namesake Formula One driver — is the oldest winner after taking his fourth victory in 2024 at the age of 61.
Defender also announced the signing of Lithuanian driver Rokas Baciuska, 25. A third driver and the co-drivers will be announced at a later date.


Riyadh to host final of World Polo Championship Asia qualifiers

Riyadh to host final of World Polo Championship Asia qualifiers
Updated 07 May 2025
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Riyadh to host final of World Polo Championship Asia qualifiers

Riyadh to host final of World Polo Championship Asia qualifiers
  • Iran and Pakistan compete for the honor of representing Asia at the 2025 FIP Arena World Polo Championship in the United States
  • First time that Saudi Arabia has hosted the Asian polo final and is in line with the Kingdom’s successful record of hosting international events across various sports

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia will host the final of the 2025 Federation of International Polo (FIP) Arena World Polo Championship Asia qualifiers at Nofa Equestrian Resort, west of Riyadh.

The highly anticipated event will run from May 8 to 9, 2025, featuring a two-legged playoff between the national teams of Pakistan and Iran, with the winner qualifying for the 2025 FIP Arena World Polo Championship in the United States.

Saudi Polo Federation CEO Faisal bin Duwaiyes said that it is the first time that Saudi Arabia has hosted the Asian final and the achievement is in line with the Kingdom’s successful record of hosting international events across various sports.

Bin Duwaiyes emphasized that preparations for the final began early in coordination with the Saudi Olympic & Paralympic Committee and the Ministry of Sport, in order to ensure a successful hosting.

Bin Duwaiyes concluded by welcoming the participating delegations and expressed his hope for a strong competitive display that will showcase the evolution of polo across Asia.


Man Utd seek to finish off Athletic Bilbao in chase for Europa glory

Man Utd seek to finish off Athletic Bilbao in chase for Europa glory
Updated 07 May 2025
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Man Utd seek to finish off Athletic Bilbao in chase for Europa glory

Man Utd seek to finish off Athletic Bilbao in chase for Europa glory
  • United have now suffered their highest number of league defeats in a campaign for 35 years
  • “Thursday is the most important game. The end of this season is very important,” Amorim said

MANCHESTER: Manchester United are preparing for the second leg of their Europa League semifinal against Athletic Bilbao knowing only a calamity will prevent a likely showdown with Tottenham later this month.
Ruben Amorim’s men came away from the first leg in northern Spain last week with one foot firmly in the final, also in Bilbao, after an impressive 3-0 win.
It was an extraordinary result in a season of ceaseless turmoil at United and the club reverted to type on Sunday, crashing to their 16th Premier League loss of a miserable season at Brentford.
United have now suffered their highest number of league defeats in a campaign for 35 years.


They are 15th in the Premier League — on course for their worst finish since they were relegated in 1974, though this time they are safe from the drop.
Amorim has made no secret of his priorities for the rest of the season, making eight changes to his starting team at Brentford, naming the third-youngest side in Premier League history.
“We are losing games in the Premier League, we are fighting for the Europa League, so we need to accept that and to think about Thursday as the most important game for us,” said the Portuguese boss.
“Thursday is the most important game. The end of this season is very important.”
This season and next hang on whether United can complete the job against Athletic and go on to win the final against Tottenham or Norwegian champions Bodo/Glimt, with Spurs 3-1 up after the first leg in London.
Winning the competition would not make up for a disastrous Premier League campaign but it would bring a place in the 2025/26 Champions League — a potential game-changer for United financially and for their ability to attract top players.
Former Sporting Lisbon boss Amorim admits that even though winning the Europa League is crucial, his team are not ready to balance the demands of the Premier League and the Champions League.
“We know that, but we need to win, and we need to fight to win this competition (Europa League), to give something to our fans, and to go to the Champions League,” he told Sky Sports.
“Then we will have time to prepare the team to cope with those two competitions. So, it is a dilemma, but we want to win, of course.”
Amorim has had a nightmare start to his United reign — only relegated sides Ipswich, Leicester and Southampton have won fewer Premier League matches than United’s tally of six since he replaced the sacked Eric ten Hag in November.
That they are even on the brink of the Europa League final is thanks largely to inspirational captain Bruno Fernandes, who scored two goals in Bilbao in a match in which United were helped by the first-half dismissal of Athletic defender Dani Vivian.
The Portugal international’s 31 goal involvements in 32 knockout-stage appearances in the Europa League (19 goals, 12 assists), are the most of any player in the history of the competition since it was rebranded in 2009.
If Tottenham complete the job in Norway and United progress, they would compete in the sixth all-English final in the Champions League or Europa League.
Spurs themselves have had a traumatic season in the Premier League — they are one place below United with an eye-catching 19 defeats in 35 games.
But Ange Postecoglou still has the chance to make good on his claim that he always wins a trophy in his second season at a club by collecting Tottenham’s first silverware since 2008.
If either English club go on to win the Europa League there would be six Premier League teams in next season’s Champions League.