Sports
The gloomy atmosphere of Gaddafi Stadium | The Express Tribune
The HBL PSL 11 trophy is being displayed at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi. Photo: PCB
LAHORE:
This is similar to what happened during COVID times, when silence prevailed in the stadium. There were no chants or applause echoing around, and the surrounding roads were deserted. It still feels the same now except for one difference: people are no longer wearing masks.
If I ask you whether you would prefer no cricket at all or matches being played in empty stadiums, most people would probably say that at least being able to watch the game on TV from home is a blessing.
If you look at videos from India, earlier people were wandering around desperately with gas cylinders, and now there are long queues for petrol. In such circumstances, if the Government of Pakistan has taken early measures to conserve energy, we should support them.
I have covered the PSL since the beginning and have also traveled to the UAE for it, but this time the color seems somewhat faded. The tense, war-like environment in our region is one of the reasons.
Only a few hundred people will be allowed to watch PSL matches live in the stadium. Each team and sponsor has been given one hospitality box, where owners, families, and sponsors will be present. Players’ families will also be able to watch the matches.
When I arrived at the stadium, the security arrangements looked similar to the past. However, the absence of smiling faces, children and youngsters holding national flags, was very noticeable. The media box was crowded with journalists.
I feel that once one or two matches are played, we will start focusing on players’ performances, and the discussion about the lack of crowd will fade somewhat.
At the stadium, I also met Wasim Akram and Mushtaq Ahmed. Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz was the chief guest of the match. Undoubtedly, she has transformed Lahore. It felt as if we were in another country,wide roads, greenery,everything makes you say “Lahore is truly Lahore.” Those of us from Karachi can only feel envious when we see such development compared to our broken roads.
Before the match, Maryam Nawaz was introduced to the teams and franchise owners. Mohsin Naqvi was also present. Wasim Akram entered the ground carrying the trophy.
Now let me take you a day back. When I arrived in Lahore, not only at the airport but even around the stadium, there was no sign that such a big event was taking place. Even if crowds are restricted, there could have been promotions for the PSL billboards or something but perhaps the organizers did not think of it.
A cricket team consists of 11 players, but the PSL staff seems to be just 6–7 people. I have said before that Salman Naseer needs to build a strong team. There is no need to call people part-time from their homes ,if you look for talent, you will find capable individuals.
Anyway, this is Pakistan’s league, and we must support it, but it is also important to point out its issues.
On the day I arrived, the captains’ press conference was scheduled, but it started late. Interestingly, all four captains Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, Shadab Khan, and Mohammad Rizwan are searching for form. Saud Shakeel does not even play white-ball cricket regularly. His performance last season was disappointing, and even his behavior in the final was discussed. He was barely picked, yet he is fortunate to have retained the captaincy. It is true that his team reached the final last year, but the captain’s contribution was minimal.
Most questions in the press conference were directed at Babar Azam. Despite being out of form for years, his brand value remains strong,although he is no longer called “King.” As he was leaving, several journalists took selfies with him.
At the hotel, team flags were displayed, indicating the presence of players. I later went to the office and participated live from the Lahore studio in the “Sports World” show for the first time.
A franchise owner invited me to a team dinner. Later, at the hotel’s poolside, I attended the gathering and saw foreign cricketers enjoying Pakistani dishes like tikka, kebabs, and chicken karahi. They were joking and laughing among themselves, which showed they had adapted well to the environment.
I also had a long conversation with a Pakistani star cricketer. Later, a franchise official called me to the lobby to introduce me to someone, where I also met Quetta Gladiators’ co-owner Hassan Nadeem Umar. I have known his father for a long time. Whenever I visited his office in the past, he would stand up respectfully with folded hands upon seeing his father. Respect for everyone is part of his nature, and he has instilled the same values in his children.
On match day, I also visited the PCB office for a meeting. Later, after a coffee meeting with a friend, I returned to the stadium with my colleague Mian Muhammad Asghar Saleemi, the details of which I described at the beginning.
Indians were mocking us for having no opening ceremony and no crowd at PSL matches, but now even their IPL might take place without an opening ceremony, and they may also have to restrict crowds.
Recent issues are not limited to one country their effects are being felt worldwide in one way or another. It is unclear how long this situation will last; perhaps cricket matches in our region will continue like this for the next few months.
Just as the COVID period eventually passed, this too shall pass. For now, we can only wait for better conditions.
Jannik Sinner won the Italian Open on Sunday. Photo: AFP
ROME:
Jannik Sinner has his eyes on a first Roland Garros title after winning the Italian Open on Sunday to claim a record-extending sixth consecutive Masters 1000 tournament victory.
World number one Sinner beat Casper Ruud 6-4, 6-4 to complete the ‘Golden Masters’ by winning all of the ATP’s top-ranked events, in the process becoming the first Italian men’s champion in Rome since Adriano Panatta 50 years ago.
Only Novak Djokovic had previously won all nine Masters 1000 events before Sunday, but there was little doubt about Sinner triumphing over the last 10 days.
Sinner heads into Roland Garros, which starts next weekend, on a 29-match winning streak and will be intent on banishing the ghosts of last year’s final when he wasted three championship points before losing to Carlos Alcaraz.
And his run of match wins is even longer in Masters 1000 tournaments — now at 34 — another record he has established in a season in which he has dominated the men’s tour.
Sinner can complete his collection of Grand Slams and, with his great rival Alcaraz out of action, few would bet against him securing a first title on Paris clay.
“I need to keep myself in form because there’s my most important tournament of the year coming up,” Sinner told reporters.
“I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself because the pressure comes anyway. The most important thing to do right now is take a break and do the right things.
“I don’t even want to think too much about tennis right now.”
Ruud has won more matches and tournaments on clay than anyone else on the men’s tour since the start of 2020 — his last title on the surface coming at the Madrid Masters last year — but he couldn’t beat Sinner for the first time.
‘Better and better’
Norwegian Ruud had never won a set against Sinner in any of their previous four meetings, but immediately improved on the fearful hammering he received here from the Italian last year by winning the first two games.
But Sinner broke straight back and took the lead in the match after an opening set in which the world number 25 held his own against a player he’d previously said “cannot lose”.
Sinner then broke Ruud again at the start of the second set and from there it was just a matter of time before he won the championship, even though Ruud performed with credit in front of a packed centre court crowd.
“I know that in football it’s a different story,” joked Ruud, whose country will play in a World Cup for the first time since 1998.
Norway reached this summer’s World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico at the expense of Italy, who in March failed for a third consecutive time to qualify for the global showpiece.
“I never played the big three in their prime… But I’m sure Roger, Novak, Rafa, 25, 26 years old was also the same feeling for the other players,” said Ruud of Sinner to reporters afterwards.
“I don’t see him getting any worse, unfortunately. You just have to think that you have to be better and better because he’s also going to get better and better.”
It was a golden Sunday for Italian tennis as Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori also won the men’s doubles title, beating second seeds Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos 7-6 (10/8), 6-7 (3/7), 10-3.
LONDON: World Cups are where rising stars of football quickly transform into global icons.
AFP Sport looks at five of the contenders to become the game’s next superstar at this year’s finals in the United States, Mexico and Canada:
Nico Paz (Argentina)
The son of former Argentine international Pablo Paz has opted to play for the world champions despite being born and raised in Spain.
A rising star in the Real Madrid academy, Paz has flourished in two years working under Cesc Fabregas since a move to Como in Italy.
Madrid are reportedly set to exercise their buyback option on the 21-year-old.
His technical ability and eye for goal from range has alerted Europe’s other top clubs.
Paz could have the daunting task of filling in for Lionel Messi with Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni expected to manage the 38-year-old’s minutes during the champions’ title defence.
Desire Doue (France)
Doue has already lit up the biggest stage in club football, winning the man-of-the-match award and scoring twice in Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League final thrashing of Inter Milan last year.
But this will be the 20-year-old’s first taste of a major international tournament.
Doue has a battle just to ensure he starts for Les Bleus among a dazzling display of attacking talent that includes Kylian Mbappe, Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele and Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise.
But Doue gave Didier Deschamps a timely reminder of his quality with his first two international goals in a 3-1 friendly win over Colombia in France’s last outing in March.
Nico O’Reilly (England)
O’Reilly, 21, has already earned the trust of Pep Guardiola to become a regular for Manchester City.
Scorer of two goals from left-back in City’s League Cup final win over Arsenal in March, O’Reilly began his career as a goalscoring midfielder.
Guardiola has harnessed his blend of height, speed and skill as an attacking weapon from deep and may have solved a problem position for England coach Thomas Tuchel in the process.
England reached the final of Euro 2024 without a natural left-back for the majority of the tournament due to Luke Shaw’s lack of fitness.
“What a player,” said Guardiola. “He has made an incredible step up and he has had a lot of minutes, but he deserves it.”
Endrick (Brazil)
A teenage prodigy who made his Palmeiras debut at 16 and was snapped up by Real Madrid before his18th birthday, Endrick’s hopes of shining at the World Cup have been rekindled by a successful loan move at French club Lyon.
Endrick burst onto the international scene by scoring the winner against England at Wembley two years ago and becoming Brazil’s youngest goalscorer since Ronaldo in the process.
Relegated behind international team-mate Vinicius Junior and Mbappe after his big move to Madrid two years ago, the 19-year-old has found his scoring touch since his switch to France in January.
Often compared to another Brazilian great Romario for his squat but powerful physique, Endrick will be hoping to recreate the former’s success in scoring five goals as Brazil won the World Cup on US soil in 1994.
Pedri (Spain)
Spain’s latest passing metronome, Pedri has proven to be a fitting heir to Xavi Hernandez for both club and country.
After first rising to prominence as an 18-year-old at Euro 2020, Pedri was key to Spain’s run to conquering Europe two years ago in Germany, but injury prevented him from featuring in the semi-finals and final.
For Barcelona he has put his fitness troubles behind him under Hansi Flick, playing a starring role in back-to-back La Liga title triumphs over the past two seasons.
Pakistan’s young squash players are all set to showcase their talent at the 33rd Asian Junior Individual Squash Championships 2026, scheduled to be held from May 20 to 24 in Panzhihua, China.
According to Pakistan Squash Federation, the national contingent, led by Director Academies Group Captain (R) Irfan Asghar and Head Coach Fahim Gul, will compete against top emerging players from across Asia in the prestigious junior event.
Pakistan’s squad comprises five boys and two girls competing in different age categories.
In the boys’ events, Abdullah Nawaz will participate in the Under-19 category, Nouman Khan in Under-17, Ahmed Rayyan Khalil and Sohail Adnan in Under-15, while Mustafa Khan will feature in the Under-13 category.
In the girls’ competitions, Sehrish Ali and Mahnoor Ali will represent Pakistan in the Under-15 category.
The championship is regarded as one of Asia’s premier junior squash events and provides a major platform for young players to gain international exposure and improve continental rankings.
Pakistan squash officials expressed confidence that the young players would deliver strong performances and continue the country’s rich legacy in the sport.
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