Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chief Mohsin Naqvi is reportedly scheduled to attend the U19 Asia Cup 2025 final between Pakistan and India, and the following closing ceremony in Dubai.

The fierce rivals will face off in the ultimate game of the tournament on Sunday at Dubai’s The Sevens.

Sources said that Naqvi, who is also the president of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), is scheduled to travel to Dubai and will be there for the final, which he will be witnessing live at the venue.

The PCB chairman will also attend the closing ceremony of the continental tournament, which would see the winning team lifting the coveted silverware, they added.

The upcoming clash will be the second Asia Cup final between the two arch-rivals, with the previous being played between the senior men’s teams of the two countries in September, which India won by five wickets.

However, despite prevailing in the eight-team tournament, the India men’s cricket team chose not to collect their winners’ medals and silverware from ACC President Naqvi.

The closing ceremony, which started after an hour-long delay, saw India’s Kuldeep Yadav, Shivam Dube, and Tilak Varma collect individual awards for their respective performances, while Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha received the runners-up prize money.

However, the ceremony concluded without the Indian team receiving the winner’s trophy.

The following month, the ACC, while responding to the Board of Control for Cricket India’s (BCCI) correspondence, proposed that the trophy presentation ceremony be held in Dubai during the first week of November.

“If you want the trophy, we can hold a ceremony where you can receive it,” the ACC had reportedly told the BCCI.

The BCCI, however, did not accept the proposal, and the trophy has since then been kept in the ACC headquarters in Dubai.

Chelsea completed a remarkable second-half comeback to leave St James’ Park with a 2-2 draw after Newcastle United had roared into a 2-0 halftime lead in a breathless Premier League encounter.

A brilliant free kick from captain Reece James on 49 minutes — Chelsea’s 50th goal in all competitions this season — completely changed the complexion of a game that Newcastle looked in danger of running away with at the break. João Pedro then drew Chelsea level on 66 minutes, showing the coolest of heads to slot past Aaron Ramsdale in the Newcastle goal.

Inspired by England‘s Anthony Gordon, Newcastle began the game at a pace that Chelsea simply couldn’t handle. After a miserable afternoon in the Tyne-Wear derby last weekend, the home side’s fans were given the perfect antidote to that shock defeat to Sunderland in an incredible opening 45 minutes.

Nick Woltemade was the pantomime villain in that derby-day defeat, scoring an own goal as the Black Cats won that match 1-0. But it took him just four minutes to erase that memory by opening the scoring, and he added a second goal on 20 minutes.

At that point, Chelsea’s UEFA Champions League push looked to have stalled completely. But after their second-half comeback, they head into the festive period in high spirits.

Positives

Completely overrun in the first half, Chelsea looked shell-shocked as Newcastle sprinted into a 2-0 lead. But their second-half display showed this is a side who never known when they’re beaten.

Negatives

Chelsea can’t afford to start matches the way they started this one. Their defending for the second goal, when Woltemade was played onside, also needs addressing. The effort required to pull this game back might also be a concern ahead of a hectic Christmas period, although this is a side with strength in depth.

Manager rating out of 10

Enzo Maresca, 8 — Chelsea were slow to react to Newcastle’s high press in a first half that the Geordies utterly dominated, but it must have been some halftime team talk from their manager. His Chelsea side were completely unrecognizable in a brilliant second-half performance.

Player ratings (1-10; 10 = best, players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating)

GK Robert Sánchez, 7 — Pulled off a great save to deny Anthony Gordon on four minutes but was powerless to stop the loose ball from being slammed home by Woltemade, and there was nothing he could do about Newcastle’s second. Also claimed an assist with his long kick upfield that led to João Pedro’s leveler.

DF Marc Cucurella, 7 — The man rival fans just to love to hate. Never relinquished his defensive duties but still a threat going forward as Chelsea fought their way back into the game.

DF Trevoh Chalobah, 6 — Too slow to move up for Newcastle’s second goal and struggled against their aggressive forward line in the opening period. More than made up for it as part of a stunning second-half performance from the visitors, although he may consider himself fortunate not to concede a penalty for a barge on Gordon.

DF Wesley Fofana, 6 — Gave away the ball for Newcastle’s first goal, as Gordon dispossessed the defender as he moved into Chelsea’s midfield.

DF Malo Gusto, 5 –– Booked in the first half for protesting over the non-award of a free kick. Never let his head drop in the face of Newcastle’s bombardment but not given a moment’s peace by Gordon. Replaced early in the second half.

MF Moisés Caicedo, 7 — Most of Chelsea’s best work revolves around the Ecuador international, but Newcastle’s incredible midfield running meant he couldn’t bring his influence to bear until the second half. Instrumental in some of Chelsea’s best moments as they clawed their way back into the game.

MF Reece James, 8 — Never given an opportunity to settle as Newcastle’s midfield over-ran their London opponents in the first half but started the second period with a sensational free kick that completely changed the momentum of the game. Did superbly at right back after Enzo Fernández‘s introduction.

MF Alejandro Garnacho, 5 — Booked in the first half, and lucky to escape a red card, which was probably his most significant contribution of a forgettable opening period for the visitors. Did have a powerful shot blocked but struggled to make an impact against an inexperienced full-back in the form of Lewis Miley.

MF Cole Palmer, 6 — An elegant chip within the first two minutes gave notice of his attacking intentions but rarely threatened thereafter. He will have better afternoons and is still the Chelsea player most capable of moments of magic.

MF Pedro Neto, 7 — Had a goal disallowed as the clock ticked down in the first half, with the Portugal winger adjudged to have handled. One of Chelsea’s most lively attackers in a true game of two halves.

FW João Pedro, 7 — Largely anonymous as Chelsea’s attacking opportunities were strictly limited in the first half but more than made up for it with the coolest of finishes to equalize, squeezing the ball past the on-rushing Ramsdale.

Substitutes

Enzo Fernández (Gusto, 54′), 7 — Brought on to bring some additional creativity to the Chelsea midfield, with James moving to right back. Fernández brought craft, energy and cool-head to the Blues’ engine room.

Andrey Santos (Palmer, 79′), N/R — Introduced in the last 10 minutes and understandably struggled to adapt to the pace of an incredible game.

The 2025 College Football Playoff got underway in Norman, Oklahoma, on Friday night, and we’ve already seen a first. After all four home teams won by demonstrative margins in last year’s first round, Alabama became the first road team to prevail in a playoff game with a stirring comeback against Oklahoma and a 34-24 win.

Here are the main takeaways. We will update this with each completed game.

What just happened?

Oklahoma’s offense had only 20 minutes in it. The Sooners were perfect out of the gate, bursting to a 17-0 lead against an Alabama team that looked completely unprepared for the moment. But the Crimson Tide adjusted and rallied, and OU had only a brief answer. From 17 down, Bama outscored its hosts 34-7 from there.

We use the word “momentum” far too much in football, but this was an extremely momentum-based game.

1. Over the first 19 minutes, Oklahoma went up 17-0 while outgaining Bama by a stunning 181-12 margin. It could have been worse, too, as the Sooners’ Owen Heinecke came within millimeters of a blocked punt that might have produced a safety or a touchdown.

2. Over the next 21 minutes, Bama outscored the Sooners 27-0, outgaining them 194-59. Freshman Lotzeir Brooks caught two touchdown passes — the first on a fourth-and-2 to finally get Bama on the board (after he caught a huge third-down pass earlier in the drive), and the second TD came on a 30-yard lob that put the Tide up for good. The Tide defense got pressure on John Mateer, and his footwork and composure vanished. An egregious pick-six thrown directly to Zabien Brown tied the score, and Bama scored the first 10 points of the second half as well.

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Zabien Brown stuns OU with game-tying pick-six before halftime

Zabien Brown takes a big-time interception 50 yards to the house to tie the score before halftime.

OU responded briefly, cutting the margin to three points early in the fourth quarter thanks to a 37-yard Deion Burks touchdown. But the Sooners’ offense couldn’t do enough, and kicker Tate Sandell, the Groza Award winner, missed two late field goal attempts to assure a Bama win.

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Tate Sandell’s back-to-back FG misses help Alabama secure 1st-round win

Tate Sandell misses a pair of late field goals as Alabama holds on to beat Oklahoma 34-24 in the CFP first round.

Impact plays

Oklahoma beat Alabama in Tuscaloosa in November — in the game that eventually certified the Sooners’ CFP bid — thanks to a pick-six and special teams dominance. But the tables turned completely in Norman. Brown’s pick-six was huge, and special teams abandoned the Sooners, both with Sandell’s misses and a botched punt in the second quarter.

The botched punt was the second of a two-part sequence that turned the game against the Sooners. First, Mateer passed up an easy third-and-3 conversion to throw downfield to a wide-open Xavier Robinson, but Mateer short-armed the pass and Robinson dropped it. On the next snap, punter Grayson Miller dropped the ball while moving into his punting motion. Bama’s Tim Keenan III recovered the ball at the OU 30, and though OU’s defense held the Tide to a field goal, what could have been a 24-3 OU lead turned into a 17-10 advantage. That set the table for Brown’s pick-six and everything that followed.

The blown early lead leaves Oklahoma with quite the ignominious feat: In the history of the College Football Playoff, teams are 28-2 with a 17-point lead: OU is 0-2, and everyone else is 28-0. Ouch.

See you next fall, Sooners

We knew that whenever Oklahoma’s season ended, offense would be the primary reason. The Sooners survived playing with almost no margin for error for most of the year. Their No. 49 ranking in offensive SP+ was the worst of any CFP team, but they got enough defense (third in defensive SP+), special teams (21st in special teams SP+) and quality red zone play to overcome it.

The Sooners’ defense still played well Friday night — Bama gained only 260 total yards (4.8 per play) — but the special teams miscues put more pressure on the offense, and after a brilliant start, it ran out of steam. Mateer began the game 10-for-15 for 132 yards with a touchdown, 26 rushing yards and a rushing TD, but his last 31 pass attempts gained just 149 yards with five sacks and the pick, and his last nine non-sack rushes gained just 15 yards.

Brent Venables heads into the offseason facing some decisions. OU’s offense technically improved after the big-money additions of coordinator Ben Arbuckle and Mateer, but Mateer was scattershot before his midseason hand injury and poor after it. Do the Sooners run it back with the same roster core, hoping that better health and a theoretically improved run game can give the defense what it needs to take OU to the next level? Does Venables hit the reset button again? Can he ever get all the arrows pointed in the right direction at the same time?

What’s next

Alabama’s reward for the comeback win is a trip out West: The Tide will meet unbeaten and top-seeded Indiana in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1. Bama’s defense will obviously face a stiffer test from Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza and the Hoosiers’ attack, but Bama’s defense has been mostly up for the test this season. The Tide’s ability to pull an upset will be determined by Ty Simpson and the Alabama passing game.

Simpson began Friday night’s win just 2-for-6 with a sack, and though he improved from there and didn’t throw any interceptions — his final passing line: 18-for-29 for 232 yards, 2 touchdowns and 4 sacks (6.0 yards per attempt) — his footwork still betrayed him quite a bit during the game, and he misfired on quite a few passes. Oklahoma’s pass rush is fearsome, but Indiana’s defense ranks seventh in sack rate, and with almost no blitzing. The Hoosiers generate pressure and clog passing lanes, and they held Oregon‘s Dante Moore and Ohio State‘s Julian Sayin to 5.1 yards per dropback with 11 sacks, 2 touchdowns and 3 picks. Bama will be an underdog for a reason.

But kudos to the Tide for getting off the mat. They were lifeless at the start, missing tackles and blocks and looking as unprepared as they did in their season-opening loss to Florida State. But Brooks’ playmaking lit the fuse, and Bama charged back.