Author: The Team PK

CHATTOGRAM: Bangladesh spin maestro Taijul Islam was in top form on Monday, bagging his 16th five-wicket haul in Test cricket to put the hosts in control at the end of Day 1 of the second Test against Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe, choosing to bat first after winning the toss, ended the day on 227-9 — a total that would’ve looked much worse if not for gritty half-centuries from Nick Welch and Sean Williams, and some late resistance from the tail. Debutant Tanzim Hasan Sakib opened the account for Bangladesh, dismissing Brian Bennett with an outside edge caught behind. It didn’t take long…

ISLAMABAD: Former Dutch hockey icon Floris Jan Bovelander has voiced strong hope for Pakistan’s hockey revival, asserting that with the right training environment and international exposure, the country can once again dominate the global stage. Currently in Pakistan, Bovelander is leading a series of training clinics aimed at nurturing young hockey talent in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, with a follow-up session planned in Lahore. The initiative is being spearheaded by the Khawaja Junaid Hockey Academy (KJHA), in partnership with the Embassy of the Netherlands and the Pakistan Sports Board, marking Dutch King’s Day with sports diplomacy. Renowned for his role in…

LONDON – Tigst Assefa from Ethiopia made history at the 45th London Marathon on Sunday, shattering the women’s-only world record with an incredible performance, while Sebastian Sawe of Kenya made a brilliant tactical move to claim victory in the men’s race. The 28-year-old Assefa, who had earned a silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, pulled ahead of Kenya’s Joyciline Jepkosgei in the final couple of kilometres after a scorching early pace. Assefa crossed the finish line in 2:15:50, smashing the previous record of 2:16:16, set last year by Kenyan Peres Jepchirchir. Assefa attributed her success to the warm London…

JEREZ – In an unforgettable performance at the Spanish Grand Prix, Alex Marquez of Gresini Racing claimed his first-ever MotoGP victory, snatching the championship lead from his elder brother Marc Marquez who suffered an early crash and finished 12th. With over 100,000 fans cheering him on, Alex Marquez delivered a career-defining ride in front of his home crowd, finally securing his maiden victory after a series of second-place finishes. The 29-year-old Spaniard, who had been waiting for this moment all season, described it as “the best birthday present,” having celebrated his birthday just earlier in the week. The race began…

The HBL Pakistan Super League delivered another unforgettable night at the Gaddafi Stadium as Quetta Gladiators stunned Karachi Kings with a thrilling five-run victory. In a game that Kings seemed to have under complete control until the halfway mark, Gladiators’ fighting spirit and strategic brilliance flipped the script to produce one of the season’s biggest upsets. Karachi Kings were cruising at 82-2 after 10 overs, needing just a run-a-ball with eight wickets in hand to chase down Quetta’s modest 142. However, a dramatic collapse initiated by Tim Seifert’s dismissal turned the tide completely. Seifert, who had set the platform with…

The HBL Pakistan Super League delivered another unforgettable night at the Gaddafi Stadium as Quetta Gladiators stunned Karachi Kings with a thrilling five-run victory. In a game that Kings seemed to have under complete control until the halfway mark, Gladiators’ fighting spirit and strategic brilliance flipped the script to produce one of the season’s biggest upsets. Karachi Kings were cruising at 82-2 after 10 overs, needing just a run-a-ball with eight wickets in hand to chase down Quetta’s modest 142. However, a dramatic collapse initiated by Tim Seifert’s dismissal turned the tide completely. Seifert, who had set the platform with…

LAHORE: In yet another unexpected development, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced another overhaul of the country’s domestic cricket structure. Surprisingly, the new five-member committee formed to oversee this transformation has no designated head and notably excludes officials from domestic departments. This move comes just a year after the PCB revamped its domestic framework, introducing new tournaments such as the Champions Cup and inter-collegiate competitions, while controversially sidelining long-standing events like the National One-Day Cup and junior-level tournaments for boys and girls. Adding to the confusion, the boys’ junior tournament was abruptly halted after just one day of matches…

India’s Olympic gold medalist Neeraj Chopra has addressed the wave of “hate and abuse” directed at him after extending an invitation to Pakistani javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem for the upcoming Neeraj Chopra Classic scheduled for May 24. The event, part of the World Athletics Gold category, aims to bring together elite throwers from around the world, including former champions like Anderson Peters, Julius Yego, Thomas Roehler, and Curtis Thompson. Neeraj’s gesture to include Nadeem, a top global athlete and rival on the field, was made with the spirit of sportsmanship. But his decision sparked controversy due to ongoing diplomatic tensions…

MELBOURNE: Rising sprint star Gout Gout, just 17 years old, has been officially named in Australia’s squad for the World Athletics Championships 2025, set to take place in Tokyo this September. Born to South Sudanese parents and raised in Queensland, Gout has become one of the most exciting young athletes in Australian track and field. His recent performance in Perth, where he ran a wind-assisted 19.84 seconds to win his first national 200m title, has positioned him as a top prospect for the global stage. “It’s a huge honor to be selected for the World Championships,” said Gout, speaking through…

MULTAN: Islamabad United showcased their dominance once again in the HBL Pakistan Super League 2025, cruising to their fifth consecutive victory with a clinical seven-wicket triumph over Multan Sultans at the Multan Cricket Stadium. Despite Multan entering the contest on the back of a solid win against Lahore Qalandars, they couldn’t withstand the balanced and fearless approach of the in-form Islamabad side. The defending champions chased down the 169-run target in just 17.1 overs, highlighting their firepower with both bat and ball. The hero of the night was United’s opener Andries Gous, who delivered a standout performance, smashing a blistering…