KARACHI: In the evolving landscape of Pakistan women’s football, diaspora talent is playing an increasingly important role, and few embody that shift more clearly than Layla Banaras.

Born in Birmingham in 2006 to a Pakistani father and English mother, Banaras has already carved out a professional pathway in English football while simultaneously becoming an important part of Pakistan’s national team setup. 

A midfielder for FA Women’s National League South club Lewes, she represents a growing generation of British South Asian women breaking into elite football environments.

Her journey is not just about football development; it is also about identity, belonging, and opportunity across two cultures.

“It’s like two different worlds coming together, so it has really taught me a lot about myself and about the world, really, and I think I’m so grateful that I was brought up in that sort of household.”

That dual identity has helped shape her outlook, both as a player and as a person navigating the demands of professional sport.

Like many footballers, Banaras’ earliest steps came far away from stadium lights.

“I got introduced to football through, obviously, my brother, my cousins, my family. We always used to play in the garden, so that’s what sort of, you know, pushed me to play football, sort of.”

That informal beginning eventually turned into a historic rise through English football. In January 2023, she made history as the first South Asian heritage woman to appear for Birmingham City in the professional era, debuting in an FA Cup match against Huddersfield Town. Later, she joined Wolverhampton Wanderers on dual registration before moving to Lewes in 2025.

Now firmly established in the English system, Banaras continues to grow as a player in a highly competitive environment while balancing her international commitments with Pakistan.

Her decision to represent Pakistan came at a defining stage in her career“I think for me it was the right time in my career and my life to sort of take that next step to play international football and to represent Pakistan means so much, so I thought when they came, and they offered, I thought, why not, like just do it, and it’s been a dream so far.”

That choice has added a new layer to her football journey, one that connects her to her roots while testing her at the international level.

Like many players of her generation, Banaras grew up watching some of football’s biggest names“I used to watch clips of Messi, Ronaldo, Neymar, Ronaldinho, just all these legends really, and I think they really helped me develop my game and really inspire me.”

Since joining the national setup, Banaras has quickly adapted to international football. In Pakistan’s AFC Women’s Asian Cup qualification campaign in Jakarta, she made an immediate impact from defence, registering assists in key matches against Indonesia and Kyrgyzstan.

Her performances reflect both technical ability and game intelligence, rare qualities for a young footballer adjusting to international demands.

Banaras also highlighted the importance of international exposure in shaping team unity and development“I think the experience in West Africa has been amazing,” she said about the Pakistan team’s tour to the Ivory Coast.

“The hosts have been so welcoming, the people are really lovely, and it’s a really nice place, and I think we’ve really been able to bond here.”

Facing different styles of opposition has also given her a clearer understanding of where the team needs to improve.

“Obviously, the physical side is really big, and it’s shown us that we need to probably work more in the gym, but I think, to be honest, the playing style is quite similar, but I think it’s just the physical aspect of the game, and I think everything else we do really matches in West Africa.”

Despite challenges, Banaras remains confident in Pakistan’s ability to compete on the international stage.

“I think we’re really excited. We’re the underdogs. And I think we’re really excited to go and show a world-class team what we can do and compete against them,” she said.

Beyond her playing career, Banaras has also contributed to athlete welfare and nutrition awareness.

As a teenager, she worked with Birmingham City’s nutrition staff to create Ramadan-specific performance guidance for fasting athletes.

For now, her focus remains split between club football in England and international duty with Pakistan.

“At club level, I’m not sure. When I go back, I’ve still got a week left of the season. So we’ll see what happens in pre-season. And with the national team, I just want to continue to help it grow football to grow in Pakistan and for us to keep showing the world what we can do.”

Layla Banaras represents more than a footballer moving through two systems. She stands at the intersection of English development structures and Pakistan’s emerging football ambitions, a bridge between established professionalism and growing potential.

For Pakistan women’s football, she is not just a member of the squad. She is part of a longer project: building belief, experience, and identity on the international stage.

Bayern Munich turned the tables on old rival Real Madrid in a dramatic series between the European giants that ended with the German team prevailing.

Luis Díaz and Michael Olise scored late for the Bavarian powerhouse to beat Madrid 4-3 and advance to the Champions League semifinals on Wednesday.

“What a special night, Harry Kane said after the game. “I mean, a crazy game, to be honest, and obviously, being a quarter-final, being a big game like it was, to have the ebbs and flows and the highs and lows throughout the first half, especially, was pretty unique.”

The victory extended Bayern’s unbeaten run to 16 games in all competitions and sealed a 6-4 aggregate triumph, a first over Madrid in a two-legged tie since 2012.

The second-leg quarterfinal game ended in acrimony with Madrid’s players furious that referee Slavko Vinčić sent off substitute Eduardo Camavinga in the 86th minute with a second yellow card for an innocuous challenge on Kane.

Díaz fired inside the right post three minutes later and Olise ended the contest definitively with a spectacular strike in stoppage time to give Bayern a 6-4 win on aggregate after the Bavarian powerhouse won the first leg of their quarterfinal 2-1 in Madrid last week.

Bayern will play defending champion Paris Saint-Germain in the semifinals.

“One of the best in Europe for sure, reigning European champions for a reason,” Kane said about PSG.

“We obviously had a tough game against them earlier in the Champions League stages. So, yeah, we’ll expect an open game, a lot of man-for-man pressure, a lot of individual quality. Hopefully, we can come out on top.”

Bayern, which smashed the Bundesliga goals record last weekend, can clinch yet another German league title on Sunday – the 13th in 14 years – if Borussia Dortmund drops points the day before.

Bayern also faces Bayer Leverkusen in the semifinals of the German Cup on April 22 as it chases a repeat of the treble it won in 2013.

LAS VEGAS – WrestleMania 42 is the big-ticket item on pro wrestling fans’ checklist this weekend in Las Vegas, but before the bell rings, WWE will enshrine its 2026 class into the Hall of Fame.

AJ Styles, Stephanie McMahon, Sycho Sid, Bad News Brown, Dennis Rodman, the tag team duo known as Demolition and Hulk Hogan’s match with Andre the Giant from WrestleMania 3 are included this year.

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Jade Cargill, the current WWE women’s champion, is also excited about the Hall of Fame festivities. She told Fox News Digital she was a big fan of the Attitude Era of the WWE and was hopeful to meet “Stone Cold” Steve Austin.

“I hope he is there because I want to meet him,” she told Fox News Digital in a recent interview. “He’s one of the people, other than Paul Heyman and Booker T, Paul Heyman I was like I have to meet him. How did this guy survive this long? He’s bigger than life. He’s just natural with it. I have to meet him, have to take a picture with him, talk to him, I have to do that.

WRESTLEMANIA 42 CARD REVEALED AS MAIN EVENTS AND MAJOR MATCHES ARE SET

Stone Cold Steve Austin speaks during WrestleMania 41 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nev., on April 20, 2025. (WWE/WWE/Getty Images)

“And Stone Cold is the other person. I’m very hopeful that he’s gonna be there at the Hall of Fame. He was there last year. But I couldn’t like, there was so many people crowding him. And just to see Stephanie (McMahon) get her flowers is one-of-one. I love that for her.”

Austin was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2009 as a wrestler. Last year, he was inducted as part of the immortal moment wing. His match with Bret Hart at WrestleMania 13 was inducted last year. He’s one of eight wrestlers who are in the Hall of Fame multiple times.

WWE Women’s Champion Jade Cargill performs in the ring during “SmackDown” at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Ariz., on March 13, 2026. (Bradlee Rutledge/WWE)

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The WWE Hall of Fame ceremony will take place at Dolby Live at Park MGM on Friday night at midnight ET.