Saudi Arabia’s brightest e-sports stars to reach greater heights on global stage

Saudi Arabia’s brightest e-sports stars to reach greater heights on global stage
One of the world’s premier electronic sports organizations, the Falcons, signed on Wednesday a landmark partnership with Red Bull, giving Saudi Arabia’s brightest e-sports stars the wings to reach greater heights on the global stage. (Supplied)
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Updated 28 May 2025
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Saudi Arabia’s brightest e-sports stars to reach greater heights on global stage

Saudi Arabia’s brightest e-sports stars to reach greater heights on global stage
  • Red Bull will serve as the Falcons’ official performance partner during the 2025 Esports World Cup
  • The collaboration aims to support players at the highest competitive levels

RIYADH: One of the world’s premier electronic sports organizations, the Falcons, signed on Wednesday a landmark partnership with Red Bull, giving Saudi Arabia’s brightest e-sports stars the wings to reach greater heights on the global stage.

The partnership reflects a shared mission to push boundaries in gaming, e-sports, and entertainment by introducing bold, youth-driven ideas that align with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, said a media statement.

Red Bull will serve as the Falcons’ official performance partner during the 2025 Esports World Cup, taking place in Riyadh from Jul. 7 to Aug. 24, added the statement.

The collaboration aims to support players at the highest competitive levels by enhancing physical and mental performance and providing an ideal environment for creativity and professionalism in the gaming arena.

Official performance partner for the Esports World Cup

Central to this effort is the Athlete Performance Center, where cutting-edge training, fitness, and recovery programs are tailored specifically for e-sports athletes, as Musaed Al-Dossary, known professionally as Msdossary, personally experienced in 2021 as part of his quest to develop his own outstanding skills.

With two main facilities in Salzburg and Los Angeles, and a global network, the center offers training and performance development opportunities for a wide range of athletes, wherever they are in the world, under the best conditions and supervision of a skilled team of medical experts and coaches.

A center for developing bright talents

Red Bull supports ambitious youth around the world through a series of initiatives, including this facility. Prominent athletes have experienced this center, including Formula 1 World Champion Max Verstappen, Austrian Grand Slam tennis champion Dominic Thiem, Dakar Rally winner Sam Sunderland, as well as Saudi motorsport star Dania Akeel.

A new era of esports excellence

Co-founded by Saudi e-sports icon Msdossary, the Falcons have already carved out a dominant international presence. With major championship titles under their belt, the team has set a new benchmark for Middle Eastern representation in competitive gaming.

Making history

The Falcons made headlines by winning the inaugural Esports World Cup in 2024, hosted in Riyadh. Competing in top titles like “Call of Duty: Warzone” and “Free Fire,” they outperformed nearly 500 teams and 1,500 pro players from across the globe.

Their groundbreaking win in a major “Dota 2” championship marked a milestone, not just for the Falcons, but for the entire Middle East e-sports scene. It showcased the region’s growing talent pool and its ability to compete on the global stage.


Pakistan revises ODI, tri-series schedule with Sri Lanka as tour proceeds despite security concerns

Pakistan revises ODI, tri-series schedule with Sri Lanka as tour proceeds despite security concerns
Updated 13 November 2025
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Pakistan revises ODI, tri-series schedule with Sri Lanka as tour proceeds despite security concerns

Pakistan revises ODI, tri-series schedule with Sri Lanka as tour proceeds despite security concerns
  • Sri Lanka players had asked to return home after a suicide bombing in Islamabad killed 12, but their board said no
  • PCB has moved the remaining ODIs to Nov. 14 and 16, shifted the upcoming T20I tri-series entirely to Rawalpindi

KARACHI: Pakistan on Thursday announced a revised schedule for its ongoing One-Day International series against Sri Lanka after confirming the tour would continue as planned, despite concerns raised by some Sri Lanka players following a deadly suicide bombing in Islamabad.

According to Reuters, some Sri Lankan cricketers requested to return home from their Pakistan tour for safety reasons after the incident in Islamabad that killed at least 12 people and injured 36, but their board issued a stern directive to stay put or face consequences.

Sri Lanka are touring Pakistan, playing a three-match ODI series followed by a Twenty20 tri-series along with Zimbabwe this month. Sri Lanka were scheduled to play Pakistan in the second ODI in Rawalpindi, hardly 20 kilometers from Islamabad, on Thursday, but the contest has been rescheduled for Friday.

“The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) would like to inform fans and stakeholders that the schedule for the ongoing One-Day International (ODI) series between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi has been slightly revised,” the PCB said in a statement.

“The 2nd ODI, which was originally scheduled for 13 November 2025, will now be played on 14 November 2025 at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium,” it added. “Tickets purchased for 13 November will remain valid and can be used for entry on 14 November.”

The PCB also said it had revised the schedule of the upcoming T20I Tri-Nation Tournament involving Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe, saying the changes were made in consultation with Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC).

Under the revised schedule, the remaining ODI matches between Pakistan and Sri Lanka will now be played on 14 and 16 November, 2025 at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium (RCS), while the T20I Tri-Nation Tournament shall now completely be played in Rawalpindi, commencing 18 November, with the final scheduled for 29 November 2025.

The PCB said the T20I Tri-Nation Tournament will serve as an important preparatory platform ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026.

It informed the updated fixtures for both the ODI series and the T20I Tri-Nation Tournament will be shared shortly on the PCB’s official platforms.

The Sri Lankan players were targeted by militants in Pakistan’s eastern city of Lahore in 2009 who attacked their bus, injuring at least six players.

The incident brought visits by international teams to Pakistan to a halt. Pakistan’s own team had to play their “home” matches in the United Arab Emirates.

However, security improved in subsequent years in major urban centers and test cricket returned when Sri Lanka toured in 2019.

In the ongoing series, Pakistan have won their first ODI, which was also held in Rawalpindi, by six runs on Tuesday.

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