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                        <title>Latest Sports News &amp; Updates | The Express Tribune</title>
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			<title>FIFA to review ticket strategy</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605859/fifa-to-review-ticket-strategy</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605859/fifa-to-review-ticket-strategy#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 01 May 26 14:34:06 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[The strategy will be reviewed for 2030 World Cup]]>
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				<![CDATA[FIFA said Thursday it will review its ticketing strategy for the 2030 World Cup following anger over skyrocketing prices for the 2026 finals in Canada, Mexico and the United States.

Speaking to reporters after the conclusion of the FIFA Congress in Vancouver, secretary-general Mattias Grafstrom said high ticket prices for this year&#39;s tournament reflected &quot;the reality of the market in North America.&quot;

&quot;I will always have understanding for fans and their opinions, but I think there are quite a wide array of ticket prices -- some are cheap, some are more expensive,&quot; he said.

&quot;But of course, you know, we listen, we take into the account the comments, and of course, as for every World Cup, we will review and see how we do it for the next one,&quot; Grafstrom added.

FIFA has faced searing criticism over soaring ticket prices for this year&#39;s World Cup, with fan organization Football Supporters Europe (FSE) branding the pricing structure &quot;extortionate&quot; and a &quot;monumental betrayal&quot; of fans.

FSE last month filed a lawsuit with the European Commission targeting FIFA over &quot;excessive ticket prices&quot; for the tournament.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino insists ticket prices are simply a consequence of the huge demand.

&quot;In the US in particular there is this thing called dynamic pricing, meaning the prices will go up or down&quot;, depending on the match in question, Infantino has said.

FIFA&#39;s own ticket resale exchange this week showed four tickets on offer for the July 19 World Cup final at MetLife Stadium for an eye-watering $2 million apiece, according to reports.

Other resale platforms commonly show tickets for the World Cup final costing tens of thousands of dollars.

Asked on Thursday if he was concerned that anger over ticket prices would harm the legacy of the 2026 World Cup, Grafstrom pointed out that revenues from the World Cup -- estimated to generate up to $13 billion -- would be pumped back into football.

&quot;I think, you know, the legacy is also what we&#39;ll be able to do with the money that it generates,&quot; Grafstrom said.

&quot;This is a true legacy through the (FIFA) Forward program and in order to really develop the game of football in our member associations, and this will have a true impact.&quot;]]>
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			<title>PSG closing in on another French title</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605856/psg-closing-in-on-another-french-title</link>
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			<pubDate>Fri, 01 May 26 14:24:09 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[They are top, six points clear of challengers Lens with four games to play]]>
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				<![CDATA[Paris Saint-Germain have not been afforded a weekend off this time in between the two legs of their Champions League semi-final against Bayern Munich, but they could instead take a big step towards clinching yet another Ligue 1 title.

Luis Enrique&#39;s side may have preferred to focus on their trip to Germany next Wednesday, when they will defend a 5-4 lead from Tuesday&#39;s first leg, which was arguably the best game in Champions League history.

&quot;It was an incredible game. I have never experienced a match of that intensity as a coach,&quot; said Luis Enrique, who will now take his side back to the Allianz Arena, scene of their triumph over Inter Milan in last season&#39;s final.

However, they must first deal with a home league fixture against mid-table Lorient, when the coach is likely to make numerous changes to his line-up even though the right combination of results on Saturday could effectively end the title race.

PSG are top, six points clear of challengers Lens with four games to play, one of which will be a clash between the two title rivals on May 13.
That meeting with Lens was controversially postponed in early April to give PSG time off in between the two legs of their quarter-final against Liverpool. They were also given the weekend off in the middle of their last-16 tie against Chelsea.

The Parisians also have a goal difference advantage over Lens of 15, meaning two wins from their last four matches will probably suffice even if Lens win all four remaining fixtures.

A fifth straight Ligue 1 crown, and a 12th in 14 years, will be all but in the bag on Saturday should PSG defeat Lorient and Lens then lose away to Nice.

The Qatar-backed club suffered a blow late on at home to Bayern as right-back Achraf Hakimi suffered a thigh injury which will rule him out for potentially several weeks.
Back-up goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier is also injured, while striker Goncalo Ramos is suspended against Lorient after being sent off in last weekend&#39;s 3-0 victory at Angers.

The likes of Ousmane Dembele, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and skipper Marquinhos will all likely be rested against Lorient, the Brittany side who have enjoyed a fine season since winning promotion.

Lorient, who held PSG at home earlier this season, are owned by American businessman Bill Foley. He also owns Premier League Bournemouth and NHL side Vegas Golden Knights.

Lens will hope to keep the title race alive for at least another week, while behind them Lyon and Lille are in pole position to take the final two qualifying spots from Ligue 1 for next season&#39;s Champions League.
&nbsp;
Player to watch

The Brazilian defender has not featured for his country since October and appears to have little chance of making Carlo Ancelotti&#39;s squad for the World Cup.

That is unless he can continue to impress for PSG as a stand-in holding midfielder, as he has to great effect in recent domestic matches.

The 22-year-old has made just one brief appearance off the bench in this season&#39;s Champions League, but he has started 14 times in Ligue 1, including playing in midfield in the last four outings.

He was superb last weekend against Angers, setting up one goal before scoring another. Beraldo is likely to feature against Lorient on Saturday.]]>
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			<title>Formula One drivers welcome rule tweaks</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605854/formula-one-drivers-welcome-rule-tweaks</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605854/formula-one-drivers-welcome-rule-tweaks#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 01 May 26 14:21:33 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Most drivers said the changes would reduce dangers]]>
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				<![CDATA[Formula One&#39;s drivers on Thursday welcomed rules tweaks made on safety grounds, but warned that more was needed to improve the racing at this weekend&#39;s Miami Grand Prix.

Speaking at an official news conference, most drivers said the changes made to the levels of &#39;super-clipping&#39; and &nbsp;of battery power harvesting would reduce dangers, but have little overall effect on the spectacle in the sport&#39;s new hybrid era.

While Aston Martin&#39;s Canadian driver Lance Stroll lambasted the new formula as &quot;fundamentally flawed&quot; and a thousand times less fun than Formula Three, others took a more positive approach.

&quot;The positive thing is that we had some nice meetings with F1 and the FIA and I think that&#39;s probably a starting point for the future even if there is time for that or maybe I&#39;m not here anymore,&quot; said four-time champion Max Verstappen, who has struggled this season.

Verstappen had been a leading critic of this season&#39;s changes, accusing F1 of losing its identity and suggested that he was contemplating his future if the sport did not take action to salvage its heritage as an all-out test of power and speed for drivers and machines.

&quot;I really hope that the driver have more input to the organisers in general because most drivers have a good understanding and a good feel of what is needed to make F1 a good product, a fun product.&quot;

&quot;At the end of the day, it&#39;s a very complex and political sport, but at least I think everyone has tried their best to do something &mdash; but, of course, it won&#39;t change the world!&quot;

The conflict has stemmed &nbsp;from this year&#39;s introduction of the 50-50 split between use of battery power and traditional engine power in an attempt to create a greener sport.

Many drivers feel the sport needs more naturally aspirated power from an engine and less from the battery.

&quot;It&#39;s a step in the right direction,&quot; said Audi&#39;s Nico Hulkenberg. &quot;I&#39;m curious to see how it feels and works on track now.&quot;

McLaren&#39;s Oscar Piastri said the collaboration had produced good changes, but added that he felt the chief problems could not be fixed without a fundamental overhaul of the hardware of the power units.

He said it was good that the rules had been tweaked to reduce the huge imbalance in performance and speed between cars that are using maximum power and those slowing to harvest and store battery power.

A crash in Japan involving Oliver Bearman of Haas, who escaped serious injury left many drivers worried about similar future accidents.

&quot;After Olly&#39;s crash, something needed to change and it is good that they listened to us,&quot; said Piastri. &quot;The tweaks are good, and sensible and well thought out so it is a positive thing, but let&#39;s wait and see how it pans out from a safety point of view.&quot;

Many drivers and observers had criticised the formula for producing artificial racing controlled by computers and the needs for management of battery power.&nbsp;]]>
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			<title>T-Wolves eliminate Denver Nuggets</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605851/t-wolves-eliminate-denver-nuggets</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605851/t-wolves-eliminate-denver-nuggets#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 01 May 26 14:11:18 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[Sixth-seeded Minnesota will play the San Antonio Spurs in the semis]]>
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				<![CDATA[The Minnesota Timberwolves eliminated Nikola Jokic&#39;s Denver Nuggets while the New York Knicks put on one of the most dominant displays in NBA playoff history, destroying Atlanta to advance Thursday.

Sixth-seeded Minnesota will play the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference semi-finals after completing a 110-98 win for a 4-2 series upset defeat of third-seeded Denver.

Three-time NBA Most Valuable Player Jokic top-scored for Denver with 28 but it was not enough to fend off the dogged Timberwolves, who were playing without star man Anthony Edwards due to injury.

The clash in Minneapolis was tight throughout, with no team gaining a double-digit lead until the game&#39;s dying moments.

The Timberwolves edged the first half, leading 57-50 at the break. Jokic roared to life. The Serbian superstar scored 14 points in the third quarter alone to ensure a nail-biting finish. Having already been ejected for unsportsmanlike conduct from game four after a shoving match, Jokic enraged the home crowd by sparking another brawl, with Jaylen Clark.

With his Timberwolves leading by five with 90 seconds remaining, Jaden McDaniels sank a long jump-shot for two to rouse the home fans and force a Nuggets timeout.

When play resumed Denver could only turn over the ball again. McDaniels closed out the win with two free throws, ending his night with a career-high 32 points, to top-score overall.

&quot;It&#39;s a great night. It&#39;s a great victory for us. Hopefully... we&#39;ve got 12 more to go,&quot; said Minnesota coach Chris Finch. &quot;We came into these playoffs not trying to beat Denver, but trying to win a championship.&quot;

A visibly crestfallen Jokic, whose side last won the NBA championship just three years ago, said they &quot;just didn&#39;t do a good job.&quot; &quot;I needed to play better. I must play better,&quot; he added. Edwards -- out with a bone bruise and hyper-extended left knee -- could return for the Timberwolves&#39; series with the high-flying Spurs.
&nbsp;
&#39;Meet the moment&#39;
The Knicks routed the Atlanta Hawks 140-89.

It was the most points scored and the biggest win by the Knicks in a playoff game, setting up an Eastern Conference semi-final with either the Celtics or the 76ers, who are tied 3-3 after a Philadelphia win.

The Knicks wrapped up their 4-2 series victory in emphatic style, leading the Hawks by as many as 61 points before benching their starters for the final quarter.
New York&#39;s 47-point half-time lead, at 83-36, was the widest in NBA post-season history. OG Anunoby top-scored with 29 points, including 26 in the first half, before he was rested. None of New York&#39;s starters played more than 29 minutes.

&quot;We can&#39;t just meet the moment, we&#39;ve got to exceed it, and I thought we did a great job of doing that tonight,&quot; said Karl-Anthony Towns, who recorded a triple-double with 12 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists.

Having finished third in the Eastern Conference, the heavily favored Knicks had been down 2-1 early in the playoff series, before roaring back.

They are the first team to advance to the East&#39;s semi-finals -- their fourth straight year of reaching that stage.

The Hawks briefly led at the start of the game, going up 11-9 before the wheels dramatically came off. They trailed 40-15 at the end of the first quarter.
The final 51-point margin of defeat was not quite the largest in playoff history, which stands at 58 points.

&quot;Obviously you hate to lose anything. And to lose the way we did, I think, particularly given the enthusiasm and support that we&#39;ve had from the people in this building... disappointed on a lot of levels,&quot; said Hawks coach Quin Snyder.
&nbsp;
Historic rivals
The Celtics-76ers playoff series is headed for a decisive game seven in Massachusetts after Philadelphia beat Boston 106-93.

The Celtics had held a 3-1 series lead, but the 76ers proved dominant on their home court to make it 3-3.

Tyrese Maxey top-scored with 30 points. Paul George added 23, and 2023 Most Valuable Player Joel Embiid poured in another 19, plus 10 rebounds and eight assists.

It is the 23rd playoff series between the two historic rivals -- an NBA record]]>
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			<title>Fixture pile-up no excuse for Man City in title race: Guardiola</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605849/fixture-pile-up-no-excuse-for-man-city-in-title-race-guardiola</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605849/fixture-pile-up-no-excuse-for-man-city-in-title-race-guardiola#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 01 May 26 14:08:42 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Guardiola's second-placed side are three points behind leaders Arsenal]]>
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				<![CDATA[Pep Guardiola insists Manchester City cannot use their gruelling schedule as an excuse if they fail to win the Premier League title.
Guardiola&#39;s second-placed side are three points behind leaders Arsenal heading into the final weeks of the season.

But City&#39;s title bid could be hampered by a fixture pile-up after their games against Crystal Palace and Bournemouth were given new dates either side of the FA Cup final against Chelsea on May 16.

Those matches needed to be moved because of City&#39;s progress in both domestic cups, but the new schedule means they need to play three times in the space of seven days from May 13 to 19.

The League Cup winners&#39; title charge concludes against Aston Villa on May 24.

City were reportedly unhappy when the fixtures were confirmed, particularly because they felt the Palace game originally slated for March could have been rearranged earlier.

But Guardiola has accepted the situation as an inevitable consequence of being successful in English football.

&quot;It is what it is. When we won the treble and quadruple we always had this kind of calendar,&quot; the City manager told reporters on Friday.

&quot;Of course it could be better but I&#39;ve never expected help. We&#39;ll do that and go game by game.

&quot;If you don&#39;t like it, go and train in France or Portugal. I like being here, and I&#39;ve said many times, when I was at Barcelona and saw managers here complain about the schedule, it has always been like this.&quot;

City are chasing the seventh Premier League crown of the Guardiola era as they seek to take advantage of Arsenal&#39;s latest title-race stumble.

The Gunners blew substantial leads that allowed City to lift the trophy in 2023 and 2024.

By the time City travel to Everton on Monday, they will be six points behind Arsenal if Mikel Arteta&#39;s men beat Fulham at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

But the Everton game will be the first of City&#39;s two games in hand in a race so tight it could be decided by goal difference or goals scored.

&quot;It&#39;s normal, it&#39;s the calendar. Sometimes you play first, sometimes behind,&quot; Guardiola said.

&quot;It is what it is and nothing changes at this stage -- you know exactly what you have to do.&quot;

Guardiola claimed he did not even know when Arsenal were playing when asked if he would be watching their game against Fulham.

&quot;What time do they play? It&#39;s after a training session, so maybe I will watch it,&quot; said the 55-year-old Spaniard.]]>
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			<title>Wood punishes Digne blunder</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605848/wood-punishes-digne-blunder</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605848/wood-punishes-digne-blunder#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 01 May 26 14:02:13 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Forest earn Europa semi-final lead against Villa]]>
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				<![CDATA[Nottingham Forest seized the advantage in their Europa League semi-final against Aston Villa as Chris Wood&#39;s penalty sealed a 1-0 win in the first leg on Thursday.

Wood netted from the spot in the second half after a needless handball by Villa defender Lucas Digne in the all-English clash at the City Ground.

The New Zealand striker&#39;s fifth goal of an injury-plagued season moved Forest within touching distance of their first European final since 1980.
Vitor Pereira&#39;s side are on a nine-match unbeaten run in all competitions, carrying them five points clear of the Premier League relegation zone and to the brink of the Europa showpiece.

Forest will make the 50-mile trip to Villa Park for the second leg on May 7, with the winners facing Braga or Freiburg in the final in Istanbul on May 20.

Braga won 2-1 in the other semi-final first leg on Thursday.
&quot;It&#39;s nice to have the advantage but going to Villa Park will be a tough game. They&#39;re good at their place,&quot; Wood said.
&quot;It&#39;s small moments that can potentially change games. Thankfully it went in our favour tonight.&quot;

Making it to Istanbul would be a dramatic finale to Forest&#39;s soap-opera season, featuring four managers and a tense relegation battle.
After the sacking of Nuno Espirito Santo, Ange Postecoglou and Sean Dyche, Pereira had led Forest to their first European semi-final since losing against Anderlecht in the 1983-84 UEFA Cup.

Crowned European champions in 1979 and 1980 in their golden era under Brian Clough, Forest have been starved of success over the last three decades.

Playing in Europe for the first time since 1995-96, Forest are chasing a first major trophy since the 1990 League Cup.

They have not been in any major final since losing against Manchester United in the 1992 League Cup.

Villa boss Unai Emery has a well-earned reputation as a Europa League specialist after winning the competition three times with Sevilla and once with Villarreal, as well finishing as a runner-up with Arsenal.

But Villa have been semi-final flops under Emery, losing in the last four against Olympiacos in the 2024 UEFA Conference League and Crystal Palace in the 2025 FA Cup.
Digne disaster&nbsp;

Villa remain on course to qualify for next season&#39;s Champions League via a top-five finish in the Premier League.
But crashing out against Forest would sting, given Villa have not won a major trophy since the 1996 League Cup, while their last major continental final was the iconic 1982 European Cup triumph against Bayern Munich.

Villa threatened in the frantic early stages when Youri Tielemans&#39; long-range blast forced a good save from Stefan Ortega.
They were quickly back on the attack as Ollie Watkins picked out Morgan Rogers for a curler that Ortega saved at full stretch.
Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson escaped a red card for his ugly tackle on Watkins and the hosts gradually found their stride after the early Villa assault.

Anderson&#39;s deft chipped pass reached Morgan Gibbs-White and his cross found Igor Jesus for a close-range volley that Emiliano Martinez repelled with a brilliant one-handed stop.

Watkins should have turned in Rogers&#39; shot early in the second half, but the striker miscued his effort straight at Ortega from five yards.
There was little to separate the teams and when the opening goal arrived in the 71st minute it came with a helping hand from Digne.
Omari Hutchinson chased an overhit cross and hooked it back in play just before the ball crossed the byline, with Digne foolishly sticking his arm up to block it.

A VAR check confirmed the ball hadn&#39;t gone out of play and Wood stepped up to lash the penalty past Martinez.
The City Ground was rocking and Emery immediately hauled off the hapless Digne, sending on Jadon Sancho, Douglas Luiz and Ian Maatsen.

But Forest held firm to secure a victory that took them to the verge of an historic achievement.]]>
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			<title>Antonelli bids for F1 hat-trick</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605685/antonelli-bids-for-f1-hat-trick</link>
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			<pubDate>Thu, 30 Apr 26 13:55:58 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[The Formula 1 action returns in Miami this week]]>
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				<![CDATA[Italian teenager Kimi Antonelli, the youngest championship leader in F1 history, will seek to complete a hat-trick of early season victories this weekend as Formula One returns after a month&#39;s enforced absence due to the Middle East war.

The 19-year-old Mercedes driver, triumphant in China and Japan, leads team-mate George Russell, who won the season-opening Australian race, by nine points ahead of what is effectively the start of another season, complete with revised rules and widespread car upgrades, at the Miami Grand Prix.

&quot;After a month without any racing, we are ready to get back on track,&quot; said Mercedes team chief Toto Wolff. &quot;We&#39;ve used this break to analyse the opening races, address our weaknesses and rase our level.

&quot;We&#39;ve started the season well, but that counts for very little if you stand still. We know our competitors will have used this time to improve and build a deeper understanding of their cars so we expect the field to be closer in Miami.

&quot;That&#39;s the reality of F1 &ndash; it&#39;s a challenge we must rise to.&quot;

Antonelli&#39;s early triumphs made him the first Italian driver since Alberto Ascari in 1953 to win two consecutive races. Ascari completed his treble that season.

Wolff also addressed the tweaks to the regulations to be introduced in Miami, aimed at making the cars and the spectacle more natural with reduced battery re-charging in qualifying and increased super-clipping power to reduce dangerous speed differentials.

He said the revised rules would &quot;respect the DNA of our sport&quot; and deliver an improved spectacle without any significant reduction to Mercedes&#39; early-season performance advantage.

For Mercedes, this Sunday&#39;s race is an opportunity for a first win in Florida since the event was launched five years ago. It has been won twice by four-time champion Max Verstappen for Red Bull and twice by McLaren with a win apiece for world champion Lando Norris and team-mate Oscar Piastri.
&nbsp;
&#39;Completely new car&#39;

They will harbour hopes of claiming points too with success in Saturday&#39;s sprint race, won last year by Norris, but Ferrari are widely expected to be strong contenders too as they arrive in Miami, like McLaren, who are bringing an almost &quot;completely new car&quot;, with a heavily revised package.

&quot;It was one of our best tracks for pure pace, compared to others, last year,&quot; said Norris. &quot;It&#39;s a different track and it may still suit us a little more than others.&quot;

After winning in 2022 and 2023, Verstappen will be aiming to stop Mercedes&#39; winning run and revive Red Bull&#39;s challenge this year after a discouraging start. He is ninth, on 12 points, 60 adrift of Antonelli, with team-mate Isack Hadjar 12th on four.

Ferrari&#39;s duo of Charles Leclerc and seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton are third and fourth respectively on 49 and 41 points with many paddock observers suggesting they are poised to fight for a first win since Carlos Sainz&#39;s success in Mexico in October 2024.

Leclerc&#39;s eighth and last win came at Austin, Texas, shortly before Sainz&#39;s triumph while Hamilton is chasing his 106th win and first since the 2024 Belgian race before he joined Ferrari. After a desultory first year, the Briton said he is relishing the challenge of a new formula that has seen him rediscover his racing mojo.

&quot;We&#39;re all re-charged after the break,&quot; said Russell, expressing the feelings of most drivers. &quot;I&#39;m hoping we can continue where we left off.&quot;
It will mark newcomers Cadillac&#39;s first racing appearance on home soil in the United States when Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas venture out at the Hard Rock Stadium in a new American livery.&nbsp;]]>
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			<title>Afghan women footballers celebrate 'historic moment'</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605684/afghan-women-footballers-celebrate-historic-moment</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605684/afghan-women-footballers-celebrate-historic-moment#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 30 Apr 26 13:53:34 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[They will in future be eligible to qualify for the Women's World Cup]]>
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				<![CDATA[A FIFA rule change allowing Afghanistan&#39;s women footballers to compete in official matches is a &quot;historic moment&quot; and &quot;basic human right&quot;, former captain Khalida Popal told AFP on Thursday.

Afghanistan will in future be eligible to qualify for the Women&#39;s World Cup and the Olympics, something Popal said was the culmination of a &quot;long fight&quot;.

&quot;I woke up this morning imagining a young Afghan girl opening her eyes and saying, &#39;I&#39;ve got the right to play&#39;. This is a basic human right,&quot; Popal said from Copenhagen.

She added: &quot;It&#39;s fantastic news, it&#39;s a historic moment we are trying to absorb.&quot;

The Afghanistan Women&#39;s National Team was founded by Popal and other players in 2007 in Kabul.

After the Taliban authorities retook power in 2021, about 100 players and family were evacuated to Melbourne in Australia, with team members also relocating to Europe, Britain and the United States.

Women in Afghanistan are banned from participating in sport, and the Taliban authorities have shut down clandestine exercise groups held behind closed doors.

A team of Afghan refugee players was formed between Europe and Australia, playing their first international matches at the FIFA Unites: Women&#39;s Series last year in Morocco.

The team could not play official competitions because FIFA rules previously required the approval of the Taliban-controlled Afghanistan Football Federation.

The FIFA amendment this week allows the official recognition of the Afghanistan team through agreement between FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation.

It will also apply to other teams in exceptional circumstances that may be unable to register a national team.
&quot;It has been a long fight but we are so grateful this history is made not only for the women of Afghanistan,&quot; said Popal.
&quot;No team, if they face a situation like us, will suffer what we have sacrificed and suffered.&quot;

Afghanistan&#39;s women footballers hope to build an internationally competitive team drawing from players scattered across the globe, she said.
&quot;This announcement will allow us to find the talent within the diaspora,&quot; she said.

The next step is for players to go for trials, ahead of a possible game in June.

Afghanistan will not be eligible to qualify for the 2027 Women&#39;s World Cup but will be able to try and reach future editions.
&quot;This is a powerful and unprecedented step in world sport,&quot; FIFA president Gianni Infantino said following the decision.

&quot;FIFA has listened to these players as part of its responsibility to protect the right of every girl and woman to play football and to represent who they are.&quot;

He added: &quot;FIFA is proud to lead this historic initiative and to stand alongside these courageous players on and off the pitch.&quot;]]>
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			<title>Parker leaves Burnley after relegation</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605683/parker-leaves-burnley-after-relegation</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605683/parker-leaves-burnley-after-relegation#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 30 Apr 26 13:46:58 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Their fate was confirmed after a home defeat by Man City]]>
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				<![CDATA[Scott Parker has left his position as head coach of Burnley by mutual consent following the club&#39;s relegation from the Premier League, it was announced on Thursday.

Burnley said in a statement that Parker and the board had &quot;mutually agreed that his time at Turf Moor would conclude&quot; following one season back in the English top division.

Parker led the Clarets to promotion last year but this season has been a struggle, with just four league wins in total.

Burnley&#39;s fate was confirmed on April 22 after a 1-0 home defeat by Manchester City, two days after Wolves were relegated.

Parker, who has previously managed Fulham, Bournemouth and Belgian side Club Brugge, signed a three-year contract in July 2024, succeeding Vincent Kompany.

He oversaw a remarkable 2024/25 season in the Championship, which included a 31-match unbeaten run and 30 clean sheets, taking them back into the Premier League at the first time of asking.

But Burnley have conceded 68 goals in 34 league matches in the current campaign, the most of any side, and were knocked out of the FA Cup and League Cup by third-tier teams.

&quot;The club would like to place on record its sincere thanks to Scott for his professionalism, dedication and contribution,&quot; Burnley said in a statement.

&quot;He leaves with the respect and gratitude of everyone connected with Burnley Football Club.&quot;

Former England midfielder Parker, 45, said in a statement on the club&#39;s website that it had been an &quot;immense privilege&quot; to lead Burnley.

&quot;I have enjoyed every moment of our journey together, but feel that now is the right time for both parties to move in a different direction,&quot; he said.

&quot;I reflect back with great pride on what we achieved during my time at the club, especially our unforgettable promotion season in 2024/25, and it was a true honour to lead this team into the Premier League.&quot;

The club said Parker&#39;s assistant, Mike Jackson, would take charge for the club&#39;s four remaining Premier League fixtures, beginning with Friday&#39;s match at Leeds United.

It said the process of appointing a new permanent head coach ahead of the 2026/27 season had begun]]>
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			<title>Sawe receives hero's welcome in Kenya</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605682/sawe-receives-heros-welcome-in-kenya</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605682/sawe-receives-heros-welcome-in-kenya#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 30 Apr 26 13:44:53 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2605682</guid>
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				<![CDATA[He made history in London marathon on Sunday]]>
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				<![CDATA[There was a hero&#39;s welcome for marathon world record-breaker Sabastian Sawe as he returned to Kenya and was lauded by President William Ruto on Thursday.

Sawe made history in London on Sunday by becoming the first athlete to run a sub-two hour marathon in race conditions.
Receiving Sawe at State House in Nairobi, Ruto said it was &quot;a defining moment in the story of human endurance&quot;.
He compared it to milestones in human history including the first four-minute mile by Roger Bannister in 1954 and even the moon landing.

&quot;Future generations will look back on 26 April, 2026, as the day a man broke through a physical and psychological barrier long thought insurmountable; and the name forever attached to that moment will be Sabastian Sawe,&quot; Ruto said in a speech.

Sawe clocked 1hr 59min 30sec in a tight battle with Ethiopia&#39;s Yomif Kejelcha, who also came in under two hours.

Sawe was mobbed at Nairobi&#39;s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport when he landed late Wednesday.

&quot;It is such a beautiful day. I&#39;m glad you have joined me in celebrating, and that you have shown a spirit I never expected could be like this. I&rsquo;m very grateful,&quot; he told the crowd.

&quot;I didn&#39;t do it just for myself, I did it for all of us. And I would like us all to enjoy it and for it to stand as a record for all of us,&quot; he added.

Kenya has dominated long-distance running, and its runners are superstars in the country.
The pressure to break into the elite means doping is a major problem in Kenya.

Two former Kenyan winners of the men&#39;s race at the London Marathon -- Wilson Kipsang, the victor in 2012 and 2014, and 2017 winner Daniel Wanjiru -- are among those to have been subsequently banned.

In a bid to allay such suspicions about his own performances, Sawe has voluntarily subjected himself to extra drug testing, even paying $50,000 to be tested 25 times in the year by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) before last year&#39;s Berlin race.]]>
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			<title>NZ name T20 World Cup squad</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605490/nz-name-t20-world-cup-squad</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605490/nz-name-t20-world-cup-squad#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 29 Apr 26 14:01:34 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Devine, Bates and Tahuhu were named in the squad]]>
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				<![CDATA[Retiring New Zealand cricket greats Sophie Devine, Suzie Bates and Lea Tahuhu were named Wednesday in the White Ferns&#39; Women&#39;s T20 World Cup squad for their &quot;final mission&quot; of defending the title.

The 15-strong squad is led by star all-rounder Amelia Kerr and features 10 players who won the title in Dubai in 2024, beating South Africa in the final.

Devine, Bates and Tahuhu had all announced they would retire after the World Cup, which takes place in England and Wales in June-July.
&quot;To have our three most senior players all finishing their careers at the same tournament is a rare and special occasion,&quot; coach Ben Sawyer said.

&quot;All three have had distinguished careers in their own right and given so much to this team and the game in general.&quot;
Sawyer called the tournament their &quot;final mission&quot;.

New Zealand were shock winners in 2024 but did so without having to face Australia or England, viewed by most as the top two teams in women&#39;s cricket.

Australia were stunned by South Africa while England were beaten by the West Indies.

The White Ferns beat India in the semi-final and then South Africa to win the title.
Kerr was the star of the tournament taking 15 wickets and scoring 135 runs.

Sawyer said New Zealand have only got stronger since 2024, having won seven of their last eight T20 matches, including big scores of 190 plus on four occasions.

Ahead of 2024 the White Ferns had lost 11 T20 matches in a row.

&quot;I believe we&#39;ve landed on a well-balanced squad that features a mix of experience and exciting young talent,&quot; Sawyer said.
&quot;We&#39;ve worked really hard over the past 12 months to develop our batting depth in particular, which we&#39;ve seen bear fruit in our recent home series against South Africa and Zimbabwe.&quot;

New Zealand will play the West Indies, Sri Lanka, Ireland, Scotland and England in their group.
Squad: Amelia Kerr (capt.), Suzie Bates, Sophie Devine, Flora Devonshire, Izzy Gaze, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Bree Illing, Polly Inglis, Jess Kerr, Rosemary Mair, Nensi Patel, Georgia Plimmer, Izzy Sharp, Lea Tahuhu.]]>
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			<title>Coach Sarfaraz unfazed by criticism</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605457/coach-sarfaraz-unfazed-by-criticism</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605457/coach-sarfaraz-unfazed-by-criticism#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 29 Apr 26 10:54:38 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Hamza Khan]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[The former captain is focused on building a cohesive unit ahead of Bangladesh series]]>
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				<![CDATA[Pakistan Test head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed on Wednesday brushed aside criticism over his appointment, saying he remains focused on preparing the national side for their upcoming ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025&ndash;27 fixtures against Bangladesh.

Speaking during a training camp at the Hanif Mohammad High-Performance Centre in the National Bank Stadium in Karachi, Sarfaraz acknowledged the debate surrounding his transition from player to head coach but insisted external opinions would not distract him.

&ldquo;Former cricketers and my ex-colleagues have their own opinions,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I am very positive about making the most of this new opportunity.&rdquo;
Sarfaraz, who recently took over as Pakistan Test head coach, emphasised that his focus remains on building a cohesive unit ahead of the two-match Test series against Bangladesh, a key assignment in the World Test Championship 2025&ndash;27 cycle.

The former Pakistan captain expressed confidence in his support staff, highlighting a collective approach to coaching.

&ldquo;My team management, including Umar Gul, Asad Shafiq, Grant Luden and Abdul Saad, and I are very confident about coaching the team to success,&rdquo; he said.

Pakistan are set to face Bangladesh in two Tests, with the first match scheduled to begin on May 8 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka. The second Test will be played at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium from May 16 to 20.

The series comes at an important stage for Pakistan, who currently sit fifth in the WTC standings with 12 points after playing two matches in the current cycle.

Sarfaraz also addressed questions regarding Babar Azam&rsquo;s form, backing the star batter ahead of his return to the Test squad following Pakistan Super League (PSL 11) commitments.

&ldquo;It is good to see Babar scoring runs and that too with a technical comeback. He is looking solid,&rdquo; Sarfaraz said. &ldquo;Once he joins us, we will assess his role in the longer format.&rdquo;

Babar recently led Peshawar Zalmi to the PSL 11 final, boosting confidence ahead of the Bangladesh tour. Other players, including captain Shan Masood and fast bowler Khurram Shahzad, are also expected to join the squad after completing their PSL campaigns.

Earlier, Pakistan announced a balanced squad for the Bangladesh Test series, featuring experienced players such as Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan and Hasan Ali alongside emerging talent.

Sarfaraz said the focus during the camp is on preparation, discipline and adapting to conditions in Bangladesh.
Despite scrutiny over his appointment, Sarfaraz maintained that results on the field will ultimately define his tenure as Pakistan Test head coach.

It is worth mentioning here that the Pakistan Test team is currently training at the Hanif Mohammad High-Performance centre ahead of a two-match Test series against Bangladesh, which is also a part of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 cycle.
The series will begin with the first Test at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka from 8 to 12 May.
The second Test is set to take place at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium from 16 to 20 May.

Pakistan squad:
Shan Masood (captain), Abdullah Fazal, Amad Butt, Azan Awais, Babar Azam, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wk), Noman Ali, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel and Shaheen Shah Afridi

Team management: Naveed Akram Cheema (manager), Sarfaraz Ahmed (head coach), Asad Shafiq (batting coach), Umar Gul (bowling coach), Abdul Saad (fielding coach) Cliffe Deacon (physiotherapist), Grant Luden (strength and conditioning coach), Usman Hashmi (analyst), Syed Naeem Ahmad (media manager), Lt. Col. (r) Usman Anwari (security manager), Dr Wajid Ali Rafai (team doctor) and Muhammad Ehsan (masseur)]]>
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			<title>Babar Azam’s 57-ball hundred sends Zalmi into PSL final</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605318/babar-azams-59-ball-hundred-sends-zalmi-into-psl-final</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605318/babar-azams-59-ball-hundred-sends-zalmi-into-psl-final#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 28 Apr 26 19:24:15 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Web Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Zalmi post 221 on the back of Babar ton, bowl out Islamabad United for 151 to win by 70 runs]]>
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				<![CDATA[Captain Babar Azam struck a fluent 57-ball hundred as Peshawar Zalmi outclassed Islamabad United by 70 runs in the first qualifier of the 10th edition of the HBL Pakistan Super League at the National Stadium, Karachi, sealing a place in the final for a record fifth time.

Put into bat after Islamabad United won the toss and opted to field, Zalmi made a strong start as Babar Azam and Mohammad Haris laid a solid foundation, taking the score to 68 inside the powerplay.

United struck their first breakthrough in the seventh over when Haris, who made 35 off 16 balls, failed to find the gap and was caught at long-off by Mark Chapman.



Peshawar Zalmi cruising to cover 200+👀#HBLPSL11 | #NewEra | #PZvIU pic.twitter.com/YsJE6r3jiM
&mdash; PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) April 28, 2026


Babar then anchored the innings alongside Kusal Mendis, with whom he has formed several productive partnerships this season. The pair added 84 runs for the second wicket, blending control with acceleration to keep Zalmi on course for a big total.



Mendis tonks two fours down the ground to bring up 150 for Peshawar Zalmi#HBLPSL11 | #NewEra | #PZvIU pic.twitter.com/9NudO8O3xu
&mdash; PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) April 28, 2026


Mendis contributed a brisk 41 off 26 balls, hitting five fours and a six, before falling as Babar continued to dominate.



𝐒𝐤𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟𝐟 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐢𝐠 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐡 ⚔️

Babar hits Shadab Khan for two sixes in 14th over 💥#HBLPSL11 | #NewEra | #PZvIU pic.twitter.com/7m7CZxrIu8
&mdash; PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) April 28, 2026


The right-hander reached his half-century off 38 balls before shifting gears, bringing up his next fifty in just 19 deliveries to complete his second century of the season.



بابر اعظم مینه والو ته ډیر ډیړ مبارک شي او دا نیشنل سټیډیم رونقونه هم ټولو ته مبارک شي💛#HBLPSL11 | #NewEra | #PZvIU pic.twitter.com/BvMzLOILan
&mdash; PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) April 28, 2026


Babar made 103 off 59 balls, striking 12 fours and four sixes, and also moved to the top of the tournament&rsquo;s run-scoring charts, overtaking Mendis.



With one game to go for him in HBL PSL 11, Babar Azam has already matched Fakhar Zaman&#39;s tally of most runs in a single HBL PSL season.#HBLPSL11 | #NewEra | #PZvIU pic.twitter.com/r6J1ekNaus
&mdash; PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) April 28, 2026


Although Zalmi lost a cluster of wickets in the final overs, the foundation had already been laid for a commanding finish as they posted 221 for 7 in their 20 overs.

For Islamabad United, captain Shadab Khan was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets for 42 runs, while Richard Gleeson chipped in with two wickets.

Chasing 222, Islamabad United openers Devon Conway and Sameer Minhas provided a positive start, putting on 58 runs in the first five overs. Conway, who made 20 off 14 balls, was dismissed by Michael Bracewell.



📸from #PZvIU second innings✨#HBLPSL11 | #NewEra pic.twitter.com/7chfWgwLHC
&mdash; PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) April 28, 2026


Minhas continued to look promising, scoring 44 off 23 balls, but was sent back when Aaron Hardie induced a straightforward catch to Babar Azam.

From that point onwards, Islamabad&rsquo;s innings unravelled under sustained pressure. Wickets fell at regular intervals as they lost any semblance of momentum, eventually being bowled out for 151.



Basit takes the final wicket, and with that, Peshawar Zalmi hand Islamabad United a 70-run thumping.#HBLPSL11 | #NewEra | #PZvIU pic.twitter.com/nGEfplfJIX
&mdash; PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) April 28, 2026


The chase never recovered after the top-order dismissals, with seven batters failing to reach double figures in a stark reflection of their collapse.



Clinical all-round display from Peshawar Zalmi led from the front by skipper Babar Azam&#39;s century sees them storm into the HBL PSL 11 final 🥳#HBLPSL11 | #NewEra | #PZvIU pic.twitter.com/Tlw02iyDSm
&mdash; PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) April 28, 2026


With the win, Zalmi closed out a comprehensive win to book their place in the final for a record fifth time in PSL history.



Zalmay of the night!💫#HBLPSL11 | #NewEra | #PZvIU pic.twitter.com/mFgBO7lEc4
&mdash; PakistanSuperLeague (@thePSLt20) April 28, 2026


Babar Azam was named Player of the Match for his outstanding century]]>
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			<title>PM Shehbaz approves spectators' presence for HBL PSL playoff matches: Naqvi</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605097/pm-shehbaz-approves-spectators-presence-for-hbl-psl-playoff-matches-naqvi</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605097/pm-shehbaz-approves-spectators-presence-for-hbl-psl-playoff-matches-naqvi#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 27 Apr 26 14:12:56 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Web Desk]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[Encourages fans to use public transport or minimise fuel consumption]]>
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				<![CDATA[Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman&nbsp;Mohsin Naqvi announced on Monday that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif granted permission for spectators to attend the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 playoff matches.

In a post on X, Naqvi said, &quot;I just had a meeting with PM Shehbaz, and I&rsquo;m pleased to share that we have secured his approval for public attendance at all three PSL playoff matches.&quot;

However, he said this came&nbsp;with an important condition from the premier&#39;s side that&nbsp;fans were strongly encouraged to use public transport or minimise fuel consumption while attending the matches&nbsp;in line with government austerity measures,



Just had a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and I&rsquo;m pleased to share that we have secured his approval for public attendance in all three PSL playoff matches as well.

However, this comes with an important condition from his side that fans are strongly encouraged to&hellip; pic.twitter.com/SXtyhrIBpF
&mdash; Mohsin Naqvi (@MohsinnaqviC42) April 27, 2026


Naqvi added that PM Shehbaz conveyed his best wishes to the four teams participating in the playoffs. &quot;Looking forward to some exciting and entertaining cricket ahead,&quot; he said.

The decision came two days after PM Shehbaz allowed spectators to attend the final of HBL PSL 11 at the stadium, following a request from franchise owners.

Read: PSL to commence without spectators, matches limited to Karachi, Lahore

Last month, Naqvi announced that the PSL would be held without spectators amid government austerity measures due to the ongoing regional situation that has impacted fuel supplies. He further restricted the matches to Lahore and Karachi to minimise movement in view of the energy crisis. The PCB chief also cancelled the opening ceremony.

Both federal and provincial governments have since introduced a range of austerity measures, including an additional weekly holiday, cuts in free petrol allocations for ministers, limits on protocol vehicles&nbsp;and proposals for subsidised fuel for students.]]>
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			<title>FIFA to review ticket strategy</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605859/fifa-to-review-ticket-strategy</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605859/fifa-to-review-ticket-strategy#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 01 May 26 14:34:06 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[The strategy will be reviewed for 2030 World Cup]]>
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				<![CDATA[FIFA said Thursday it will review its ticketing strategy for the 2030 World Cup following anger over skyrocketing prices for the 2026 finals in Canada, Mexico and the United States.

Speaking to reporters after the conclusion of the FIFA Congress in Vancouver, secretary-general Mattias Grafstrom said high ticket prices for this year&#39;s tournament reflected &quot;the reality of the market in North America.&quot;

&quot;I will always have understanding for fans and their opinions, but I think there are quite a wide array of ticket prices -- some are cheap, some are more expensive,&quot; he said.

&quot;But of course, you know, we listen, we take into the account the comments, and of course, as for every World Cup, we will review and see how we do it for the next one,&quot; Grafstrom added.

FIFA has faced searing criticism over soaring ticket prices for this year&#39;s World Cup, with fan organization Football Supporters Europe (FSE) branding the pricing structure &quot;extortionate&quot; and a &quot;monumental betrayal&quot; of fans.

FSE last month filed a lawsuit with the European Commission targeting FIFA over &quot;excessive ticket prices&quot; for the tournament.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino insists ticket prices are simply a consequence of the huge demand.

&quot;In the US in particular there is this thing called dynamic pricing, meaning the prices will go up or down&quot;, depending on the match in question, Infantino has said.

FIFA&#39;s own ticket resale exchange this week showed four tickets on offer for the July 19 World Cup final at MetLife Stadium for an eye-watering $2 million apiece, according to reports.

Other resale platforms commonly show tickets for the World Cup final costing tens of thousands of dollars.

Asked on Thursday if he was concerned that anger over ticket prices would harm the legacy of the 2026 World Cup, Grafstrom pointed out that revenues from the World Cup -- estimated to generate up to $13 billion -- would be pumped back into football.

&quot;I think, you know, the legacy is also what we&#39;ll be able to do with the money that it generates,&quot; Grafstrom said.

&quot;This is a true legacy through the (FIFA) Forward program and in order to really develop the game of football in our member associations, and this will have a true impact.&quot;]]>
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			<title>PSG closing in on another French title</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605856/psg-closing-in-on-another-french-title</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605856/psg-closing-in-on-another-french-title#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 01 May 26 14:24:09 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2605856</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[They are top, six points clear of challengers Lens with four games to play]]>
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				<![CDATA[Paris Saint-Germain have not been afforded a weekend off this time in between the two legs of their Champions League semi-final against Bayern Munich, but they could instead take a big step towards clinching yet another Ligue 1 title.

Luis Enrique&#39;s side may have preferred to focus on their trip to Germany next Wednesday, when they will defend a 5-4 lead from Tuesday&#39;s first leg, which was arguably the best game in Champions League history.

&quot;It was an incredible game. I have never experienced a match of that intensity as a coach,&quot; said Luis Enrique, who will now take his side back to the Allianz Arena, scene of their triumph over Inter Milan in last season&#39;s final.

However, they must first deal with a home league fixture against mid-table Lorient, when the coach is likely to make numerous changes to his line-up even though the right combination of results on Saturday could effectively end the title race.

PSG are top, six points clear of challengers Lens with four games to play, one of which will be a clash between the two title rivals on May 13.
That meeting with Lens was controversially postponed in early April to give PSG time off in between the two legs of their quarter-final against Liverpool. They were also given the weekend off in the middle of their last-16 tie against Chelsea.

The Parisians also have a goal difference advantage over Lens of 15, meaning two wins from their last four matches will probably suffice even if Lens win all four remaining fixtures.

A fifth straight Ligue 1 crown, and a 12th in 14 years, will be all but in the bag on Saturday should PSG defeat Lorient and Lens then lose away to Nice.

The Qatar-backed club suffered a blow late on at home to Bayern as right-back Achraf Hakimi suffered a thigh injury which will rule him out for potentially several weeks.
Back-up goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier is also injured, while striker Goncalo Ramos is suspended against Lorient after being sent off in last weekend&#39;s 3-0 victory at Angers.

The likes of Ousmane Dembele, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and skipper Marquinhos will all likely be rested against Lorient, the Brittany side who have enjoyed a fine season since winning promotion.

Lorient, who held PSG at home earlier this season, are owned by American businessman Bill Foley. He also owns Premier League Bournemouth and NHL side Vegas Golden Knights.

Lens will hope to keep the title race alive for at least another week, while behind them Lyon and Lille are in pole position to take the final two qualifying spots from Ligue 1 for next season&#39;s Champions League.
&nbsp;
Player to watch

The Brazilian defender has not featured for his country since October and appears to have little chance of making Carlo Ancelotti&#39;s squad for the World Cup.

That is unless he can continue to impress for PSG as a stand-in holding midfielder, as he has to great effect in recent domestic matches.

The 22-year-old has made just one brief appearance off the bench in this season&#39;s Champions League, but he has started 14 times in Ligue 1, including playing in midfield in the last four outings.

He was superb last weekend against Angers, setting up one goal before scoring another. Beraldo is likely to feature against Lorient on Saturday.]]>
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			<title>Arsenal aim to extend EPL lead</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605852/arsenal-aim-to-extend-epl-lead</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605852/arsenal-aim-to-extend-epl-lead#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 01 May 26 14:16:57 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2605852</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[They are going toe-to-toe with Man City in the title race]]>
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				<![CDATA[Arsenal have a chance to crank up the pressure on Manchester City this weekend as they seek to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League.

The Gunners can go six points clear of their in-form rivals if they beat Fulham on Saturday, two days before City face a tricky trip to Everton.
At the other end of the table, West Ham face Brentford while relegation rivals Tottenham take on Aston Villa.

AFP Sport looks at three talking points ahead of the action:
&nbsp;
Tight margins

Arsenal can pull well clear of Manchester City, at least for 48 hours, but they must re-discover their scoring touch in a season that could be decided by the tightest of margins.

Before the Gunners&#39; win against Newcastle last weekend, the top two were level on points and goal difference.
Arsenal know even if they win their four remaining games it may not be enough -- they have failed to score more than one goal in any game since mid-March.

City, with a game in hand, have clicked into gear and are scoring much more freely than their rivals.
Former England defender Gary Neville believes Arsenal will have to be &quot;wheelbarrowed&quot; over the line if they are to win their first Premier League title since 2004.

&quot;They&#39;re not going to sail over the line -- it&#39;s going to be a real struggle. They&#39;re not going to all of a sudden hit form in this next couple of weeks,&quot; he said on The Gary Neville Podcast.
&nbsp;
Spurs count cost of injuries

Just when Tottenham showed encouraging signs of life under new manager Roberto De Zerbi, their injury curse has struck again.
Dutch midfielder Xavi Simons suffered a serious knee injury in last week&#39;s 1-0 win at relegated Wolves, while Dominic Solanke could miss the rest of the campaign with a hamstring issue.

The club&#39;s injury list this season makes sobering reading, with long-term absentees including Dejan Kulusevski, Mohammed Kudus, James Maddison and Wilson Odobert. Captain Cristian Romero is another recent victim.
&quot;We can win the games with the players, not with the coaches,&quot; said De Zerbi. &quot;The coaches are important but the players are more important. But I want to be positive.&quot;

Tottenham, who face a tricky match at Aston Villa this weekend, remain in the drop zone, trailing two points behind 17th-placed West Ham despite the first win of De Zerbi&#39;s tenure.
&nbsp;
Can Chelsea stop the rot?

Chelsea can still end the season on a high despite a horrific run of five successive Premier League defeats that led to Liam Rosenior&#39;s recent sacking.

Marginally improved under interim boss Calum McFarlane, the Blues beat Leeds 1-0 last weekend to set up an FA Cup final against Manchester City.
Although they are languishing in eighth in the Premier League, Chelsea still have a slender chance of grabbing a Champions League spot as well.

If Villa finish fifth -- their current position -- and win the Europa League, the Champions League place they would earn by ending in that position would be passed down to the Premier League&#39;s sixth-placed team.

However, if Villa finish fourth or above and win the Europa League, there would be no extra Champions League place for an English club.
As it stands, Brighton would be the team to benefit as they are in sixth place on 50 points.

But Bournemouth, Chelsea, Brentford and Fulham are all within one or two points of the Seagulls, while Everton and Sunderland are also within striking distance.&nbsp;]]>
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			<title>Fixture pile-up no excuse for Man City in title race: Guardiola</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605849/fixture-pile-up-no-excuse-for-man-city-in-title-race-guardiola</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605849/fixture-pile-up-no-excuse-for-man-city-in-title-race-guardiola#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 01 May 26 14:08:42 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2605849</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Guardiola's second-placed side are three points behind leaders Arsenal]]>
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				<![CDATA[Pep Guardiola insists Manchester City cannot use their gruelling schedule as an excuse if they fail to win the Premier League title.
Guardiola&#39;s second-placed side are three points behind leaders Arsenal heading into the final weeks of the season.

But City&#39;s title bid could be hampered by a fixture pile-up after their games against Crystal Palace and Bournemouth were given new dates either side of the FA Cup final against Chelsea on May 16.

Those matches needed to be moved because of City&#39;s progress in both domestic cups, but the new schedule means they need to play three times in the space of seven days from May 13 to 19.

The League Cup winners&#39; title charge concludes against Aston Villa on May 24.

City were reportedly unhappy when the fixtures were confirmed, particularly because they felt the Palace game originally slated for March could have been rearranged earlier.

But Guardiola has accepted the situation as an inevitable consequence of being successful in English football.

&quot;It is what it is. When we won the treble and quadruple we always had this kind of calendar,&quot; the City manager told reporters on Friday.

&quot;Of course it could be better but I&#39;ve never expected help. We&#39;ll do that and go game by game.

&quot;If you don&#39;t like it, go and train in France or Portugal. I like being here, and I&#39;ve said many times, when I was at Barcelona and saw managers here complain about the schedule, it has always been like this.&quot;

City are chasing the seventh Premier League crown of the Guardiola era as they seek to take advantage of Arsenal&#39;s latest title-race stumble.

The Gunners blew substantial leads that allowed City to lift the trophy in 2023 and 2024.

By the time City travel to Everton on Monday, they will be six points behind Arsenal if Mikel Arteta&#39;s men beat Fulham at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

But the Everton game will be the first of City&#39;s two games in hand in a race so tight it could be decided by goal difference or goals scored.

&quot;It&#39;s normal, it&#39;s the calendar. Sometimes you play first, sometimes behind,&quot; Guardiola said.

&quot;It is what it is and nothing changes at this stage -- you know exactly what you have to do.&quot;

Guardiola claimed he did not even know when Arsenal were playing when asked if he would be watching their game against Fulham.

&quot;What time do they play? It&#39;s after a training session, so maybe I will watch it,&quot; said the 55-year-old Spaniard.]]>
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			<title>Pakistan launches school-based plan to revive national hockey</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2596858/pakistan-launches-school-based-plan-to-revive-national-hockey</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2596858/pakistan-launches-school-based-plan-to-revive-national-hockey#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 10 Mar 26 13:22:39 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Sports Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2596858</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The meeting was attended by directors of physical education from educational boards as well]]>
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				<![CDATA[Officials in Pakistan have unveiled a new strategy aimed at reviving the country&rsquo;s national sport by strengthening hockey at school and education-board level.

The initiative was discussed during a meeting of the National Education&ndash;Hockey Coordination Committee hosted by the Inter Boards Coordination Commission at its secretariat in Islamabad on 10 March.

The meeting, focused on rebuilding Pakistan&rsquo;s hockey talent pipeline through the education system, was co-chaired by Dr Ghulam Ali Mallah and Mohyuddin Ahmed Wani.

During the session, the Federal Secretary for the Inter-Provincial Coordination Division presented the IBCC&ndash;PHF School and Inter-Board Hockey Revival Programme (2026&ndash;2029).

The programme &mdash; developed in collaboration with the Pakistan Hockey Federation &mdash; outlines a roadmap to rebuild Pakistan hockey by expanding the sport across schools and educational boards.

Officials said the initiative will focus on increasing participation in school hockey in Pakistan, organising inter-board hockey tournaments, and establishing a structured pathway for talented players to progress from grassroots level to the Pakistan men&#39;s national field hockey team.

The meeting was attended by directors of physical education from educational boards as well as former Olympians including Hassan Sardar, Islahuddin Siddique and Khwaja Junaid.

Participants welcomed the proposed strategy and expressed support for reviving Pakistan hockey through collaboration between sports authorities and the education sector.

A joint steering committee &mdash; which will include former Olympians and representatives from education boards &mdash; will oversee the implementation of the Pakistan school hockey revival programme and monitor its progress over the coming years.

Pakistan remains one of the most successful nations in the history of international hockey, but officials believe rebuilding the sport at grassroots level will be key to restoring its competitiveness on the global stage.]]>
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			<title>Refusing to collapse: How Pakistan hockey fought its way back to the World Cup</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2596298/refusing-to-collapse-how-pakistan-hockey-fought-its-way-back-to-the-world-cup</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2596298/refusing-to-collapse-how-pakistan-hockey-fought-its-way-back-to-the-world-cup#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 07 Mar 26 10:30:44 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Nabil Tahir]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[The Green Shirts beat Japan 4-3 to reach the World Cup after eight years]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[Instead of celebrating wildly after the final whistle, several Pakistan players dropped to the turf in relief.

For a team that had spent months navigating administrative turmoil, travel controversies and uncertainty around their own federation, the victory over Japan felt less like a single match and more like an emotional release and a return to the Hockey World Cup after eight years.

Having covered Pakistan hockey for more than a decade, I have learned that the sport rarely moves in straight lines. Even the moments that look simple from the outside often carry their own complications, and victories in Pakistan hockey rarely arrive without a story behind them. Pakistan&rsquo;s dramatic 4&ndash;3 win over Japan in the World Cup qualifiers semi-final in Ismailia was one of those moments.

On paper, it will be remembered as a thrilling comeback. Pakistan opened the scoring in the ninth minute before Japan fought back to take a commanding 3&ndash;1 lead. For long stretches of the match, the Japanese side appeared in control.

But between the 52nd and 57th minute, Pakistan scored three goals in the space of five minutes to turn the match around and secure qualification for the FIH Hockey World Cup after eight years.

The speed of that turnaround was remarkable. Yet what stood out even more was the manner in which the players carried themselves when the match seemed to be slipping away.

At 3-1 down, Pakistan even missed a penalty corner opportunity that could have brought them back into the contest earlier. In many matches, that moment can drain a team&rsquo;s belief. Instead, the reaction was the opposite.

The players remained composed. There was urgency, but not the panic that often creeps into a team chasing the game. The team continued to push forward, trusting that another opportunity would come.

On the sidelines, head coach Khawaja Junaid was equally animated, often standing on the edge of the technical area directing players until the final whistle. It was a small detail, but one that reflected a team that refused to mentally step out of the contest.

The players arrived at this tournament after months of uncertainty surrounding the sport. Administrative disputes, funding questions and management changes had once again placed Pakistan hockey under uncomfortable scrutiny. Even the team captain, Ammad Butt, found himself under pressure after being banned by the previous federation leadership before the decision was later reversed.

Such situations often divide teams. In this case, it appears to have had the opposite effect. Throughout the qualifiers, Pakistan remained unbeaten, and Butt continued to lead the side despite everything happening around the team. For a captain to carry that kind of pressure while keeping the squad united says much about the trust the players place in him.

The semi-final victory over Japan ultimately reflected that collective belief. For long stretches, there were no visible signs of a team weighed down by the off-field turbulence that has followed Pakistan hockey for years. Instead, there was a group of players determined to control the only part of the story they could, their performance on the pitch.

Qualification for the World Cup after eight years is significant for a sport that once defined Pakistan&rsquo;s sporting identity. But it would be misleading to describe this moment as a full revival.

The deeper structural problems surrounding hockey in the country have not disappeared overnight.

What the victory in Ismailia does show, however, is something equally important. Even within an imperfect system, the players have demonstrated that the competitive spirit of Pakistan hockey still survives.

Even in the final moments, that resolve was tested once more. With less than a minute remaining, Japan earned a penalty stroke that could have forced the match into a shootout. Goalkeeper Ali Raza stepped up and saved it, holding Pakistan&rsquo;s lead and effectively securing their place at the World Cup. In many ways, the moment captured the evening itself, a team refusing to let the opportunity slip away.

Pakistan hockey may still be struggling to rebuild its structure. But on the field, the fight is clearly still alive.]]>
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			<title>Pakistan target World Cup momentum with FIH Pro League debut</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2596279/pakistan-target-world-cup-momentum-with-fih-pro-league-debut</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2596279/pakistan-target-world-cup-momentum-with-fih-pro-league-debut#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sat, 07 Mar 26 07:12:51 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Sports Desk]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2596279</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The Green Shirts sealed their place in the World Cup after eight years]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Pakistan men&#39;s national field hockey team is preparing for a crucial stretch in 2026 after securing qualification for the FIH Men&#39;s Hockey World Cup 2026, with upcoming matches in the FIH Pro League expected to play a key role in their preparations.

Pakistan sealed their place at the World Cup with a dramatic 4&ndash;3 victory over Japan men&#39;s national field hockey team on 6 March 2026, ending an eight-year absence from the sport&rsquo;s biggest tournament.

Officials from the Pakistan Hockey Federation say the focus has now shifted to the team&rsquo;s first-ever participation in the FIH Pro League, where Pakistan will face several of the world&rsquo;s top-ranked sides.

Pakistan will travel to Europe in June for a series of high-profile fixtures in Belgium and England.

The Pro League matches are expected to serve as a vital testing ground for Pakistan ahead of the FIH Men&#39;s Hockey World Cup 2026, which will be staged across Belgium and Netherlands from 14 to 30 August.

The Pakistan Hockey Federation Adhoc Committee says it is committed to providing the team with the resources and support needed to compete at the highest level during the European tour and beyond.

Pakistan&rsquo;s return to the Hockey World Cup after eight years has raised hopes among supporters that the former champions can re-establish themselves among the sport&rsquo;s leading nations.

The upcoming FIH Pro League matches in Belgium and England will offer an early indication of how ready the side is for the challenge ahead.

&nbsp;

Belgium leg (Wavre)

13 June &ndash; Pakistan vs Belgium&nbsp;

14 June &ndash; Pakistan vs Spain

18 June &ndash; Pakistan vs Belgium

20 June &ndash; Pakistan vs Spain

&nbsp;

England leg&nbsp;

23 June &ndash; Pakistan vs India&nbsp;

24 June &ndash; Pakistan vs England

26 June &ndash; Pakistan vs India

28 June &ndash; Pakistan vs England]]>
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			<title>Baptiste ends Sabalenka's title defence</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605484/baptiste-ends-sabalenkas-title-defence</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605484/baptiste-ends-sabalenkas-title-defence#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 29 Apr 26 13:38:06 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[She defeated the defending champion 2-6, 6-2, 7-6 (8/6) in the quarter final]]>
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				<![CDATA[Hailey Baptiste ended Aryna Sabalenka&rsquo;s title defence in Madrid on Tuesday and halted the world number one&#39;s 15-match winning streak with a 2-6, 6-2, 7-6 (8/6) quarter-final victory to deliver the biggest shock of the tournament so far.
The American saved five match points at 4-5 in the decider and a sixth in the tiebreak before she handed Sabalenka just her second defeat of the year, and her first since the Australian Open final three months ago.
Sabalenka is a three-time champion in Madrid and reached the final in the Spanish capital in each of the last three editions of the event but was unable to shake off the 30th-seeded Baptiste, who peppered her with huge serves and ultra-aggressive groundstrokes to reach a maiden WTA 1000 semi-final.
Baptiste came up with huge serves in several crucial moments &ndash; finishing the duel with a total of 12 aces and 10 double faults &ndash; and even saved a match point with a bold serve-and-volley approach on her way to a memorable two-hour 30-minute triumph.
&quot;I feel incredible... It was a super tight match, 7-6 in the third, I had to fight off some match points,&rdquo; Baptiste said.
&quot;It just shows me where my game lies, and I&#39;ve always believed it. And I feel like now I&#39;m starting to put it into action, and the world is seeing it as well. So I&#39;m very confident right now.&quot;
Next up for the 24-year-old Baptiste is ninth-seeded Mirra Andreeva, who gave herself an early birthday gift by defeating Canadian Leylah Fernandez 7-6(7/1), 6-3 to reach her first Madrid semi-final.
The Russian teenager, who turns 19 on Wednesday, was a recent champion in Linz and improved her clay-court record to 11-1 this season.
Earlier in the day, Jannik Sinner suggested the Madrid Open organisers should reconsider their tournament scheduling to avoid late-night finishes like the one Rafael Jodar experienced in the third round on Sunday.
In a rare 11:00 am start on Tuesday, Sinner moved past British 19th seed Cameron Norrie 6-2, 7-5 to reach the quarter-finals.
He explained he was put on first on Manolo Santana Stadium so that Jodar, his potential next opponent, would be scheduled in the afternoon to give the Spaniard time to recover from his three-set win over Joao Fonseca that ended at 1:00 am on Monday morning.

Unusual early start&nbsp;

&quot;It&#39;s quite unusual for me,&quot; Sinner told Tennis TV about his early kick-off.
&quot;There was a question if it would be me or Jodar to play at 4. But I think it&#39;s right he plays at 4, because he finished very, very late.
&quot;But at the same time, I feel like we need to make some adjustments to the scheduling of the day. Two matches (starting) from 8pm is very late.
&quot;Even though you have one day in between. But still it&#39;s very, very late.
&quot;You finish at 1:30am, and you need to eat, you need to have treatment, so it&#39;s very late. But we try to adapt ourselves, our bodies, our minds, so from my side it was a good performance today.&quot;
Sinner, who is bidding to reach the semi-finals for the first time in the Spanish capital, will next face 19-year-old Jodar in what will be a highly-anticipated last-eight showdown.
Jodar&#39;s dream run on home soil continued with a convincing 7-5, 6-0 thumping of world number 66 Vit Kopriva.
Casper Ruud fought back from the brink to keep his title defence alive with a 6-7 (4/7), 7-6 (7/2), 7-6 (7/3) victory over former finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas.
In a high-quality three-hour contest, Tsitsipas led 5-3 in the decider, holding two match points, and served for the victory at 5-4, but Ruud, who was 0/11 in break points up until then, found a way to take down the Greek&#39;s serve and went on to clinch the tie-break.
Ruud will square off with 21-year-old Belgian Alexander Blockx for a semi-final spot.
Last week&#39;s Barcelona champion Arthur Fils advanced to the quarter-finals at the Caja Magica with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Argentine 25th seed Tomas Martin Etcheverry.
The Frenchman will take on Jiri Lehecka, who beat sixth-seeded Italian Lorenzo Musetti 6-3, 6-3, for a place in the last four.]]>
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			<title>Sinner motors on in Madrid</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605072/sinner-motors-on-in-madrid</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605072/sinner-motors-on-in-madrid#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 27 Apr 26 10:59:56 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[He is eyeing to win five Masters 1000 tournaments in a row]]>
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				<![CDATA[Jannik Sinner continued his quest to become the first man in history to win five Masters 1000 tournaments in a row with a smooth 6-2, 6-3 victory over Danish qualifier Elmer Moller at the Madrid Open on Sunday.

The world number one extended his winning streak to 19 matches, a run that began early March in Indian Wells, and he has also captured 24 consecutive victories at the Masters 1000 level, dating back to the Paris Masters last October.

Searching for a maiden title at this level on clay, Sinner advanced to the round of 16 at the Caja Magica with a 77-minute performance against the 169th-ranked Moller.

The Italian broke Moller four times and dropped serve just once late in the opening set to book a last-16 meeting with Cameron Norrie.

&quot;I tried to stay calm, trying to serve well in the important moments,&quot; Sinner told Tennis TV on court after the win.

&quot;I think today that was the key. And not a lot of rhythm, so I tried to stay quite compact.&quot;

Another Italian enjoyed a successful Sunday in the form of Lorenzo Musetti, who overcame Dutch 29th seed Tallon Griekspoor 6-4, 7-5.

The sixth-seeded Musetti will face Czech 11th seed Jiri Lehecka for a spot in the quarter-finals.

In night-session WTA action, world number two and reigning Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina shook off a stubborn Zheng Qinwen, knocking out the Olympic gold medallist 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 to reach the round of 16.

In a rare moment of frustration, the usually calm and collected Rybakina argued with umpire Julie Kjendlie late in the second set over a mark on the court, which she felt clearly indicated a Zheng serve was out but was deemed in by the electronic line-calling system.

&quot;Are you kidding me? This is not a joke. The system is wrong,&quot; argued Rybakina, but her protests were in vain because Kjendlie is not permitted to leave her chair, check a mark and overrule the electronic line-calling system.

Rybakina didn&rsquo;t let her anger take over though as she grabbed the set two games later to force a decider, and wrapped up the win after two hours and 21 minutes of play.

&nbsp;

Gauff sick on court

Earlier in the day, Coco Gauff became the latest victim of the stomach virus that has been sweeping through the draw in Madrid but the ailing American still found a way to beat Sorana Cirstea 4-6, 7-5, 6-1 and reach the round of 16.

Several players have been struggling with illness in the Spanish capital this week, including Iga Swiatek, who was forced to retire from her match against Ann Li on Saturday, and Marin Cilic, who had to withdraw ahead of his second-round meeting with Joao Fonseca on Friday.

Liudmila Samsonova also pulled out of the tournament on Sunday citing illness ahead of her third-round match with Linda Noskova.

Gauff vomited in a bin on the court during her clash with Cirstea, and asked for a medical timeout during the latter stages of the match before she completed the win in two hours and 21 minutes.

&quot;Yeah, I don&#39;t know, honestly (how I got through that),&quot; said Gauff, who will face Noskova in the last 16.

&quot;I was just trying to finish the match and one point turned into another. I think I got what everybody else is having here in Madrid, unfortunately. So, I&#39;m just going to try to push through for tomorrow.&quot;

A runner-up to Aryna Sabalenka in the Spanish capital 12 months ago, Gauff has 3,300 points to defend on clay from Madrid through to her Roland Garros title defence in early June.

&quot;I pulled out in Indian Wells. I&#39;m not someone who likes to pull out, so I didn&#39;t want to pull out again today. So, I&#39;m glad that I was able to get through it,&quot; added the two-time Grand Slam champion.

Fellow American Jessica Pegula was unable to join Gauff in the next round as the fifth seed suffered a 6-1, 6-4 upset against Ukraine&#39;s Marta Kostyuk.]]>
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			<title>Swiatek laid low by illness</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2604913/swiatek-laid-low-by-illness</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2604913/swiatek-laid-low-by-illness#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 26 Apr 26 14:51:26 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2604913</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Sabalenka marched on into Madrid Open last 16]]>
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				<![CDATA[Iga Swiatek was forced to retire in the third round of the Madrid Open on Saturday due to a viral illness, while reigning champion Aryna Sabalenka extended her winning run to 14 matches.

A champion in the Spanish capital in 2024, Swiatek rebounded from a one-set deficit against American 31st seed Ann Li to level the contest but put an end to proceedings while down 0-3 in the decider.

The Polish six-time Grand Slam champion asked for the doctor after getting broken early in the third set and got her vitals checked.

She tried to break Li back but when her opponent held for a 3-0 advantage, the fourth seed realised she was unable to continue.

She revealed after the match that she has been fighting a stomach virus for the last two days and was hoping she could still find a way to win despite feeling &quot;terrible&quot;.

&quot;I heard there is something going on between players, that the virus is somewhere on site. I&#39;m sure I&#39;ll be fine in a couple of days, but I had zero energy and zero stability and just felt really bad physically, and yesterday even worse,&quot; said Swiatek.

It is Swiatek&#39;s earliest ever exit in five appearances in Madrid.

&quot;On the court before the tournament I felt like I&#39;m playing great, so actually it&#39;s sad for me that I can&#39;t play, because I was feeling really good with my game, and I was moving forward in the process, so, this was positive,&quot; she said. &quot;But for me the tournament has just started and I couldn&#39;t even compete today, so it&#39;s disappointing.&quot;

Meanwhile, Sabalenka surged into the last 16 with a smooth 6-1, 6-4 victory against Romania&#39;s Jaqueline Cristian, who told her at the net she was &quot;too good&quot; and that she hopes the world number one would go on and win the tournament.

Sabalenka played a near-flawless opening set, winning 89 percent of her points on serve.

Cristian put up a bigger fight in the second set but Sabalenka got the decisive break in the ninth game en route to a convincing win.

The three-time Madrid champion, who next plays ex-world number one Naomi Osaka or Ukrainian qualifier Anhelina Kalinina, is known for her power game but she showcased some flair against Cristian, pulling off a running one-handed backhand passing shot in the first set and finishing the contest with a cunning drop shot winner.

&quot;Especially in the first set, that was incredible level from me. I even hit a one-handed backhand, which is a little bit crazy,&quot; said the four-time major winner. &quot;I think that was the shot of my life, that&#39;s for sure.&quot;

Earlier in the day, 15th-seeded Iva Jovic squandered a lead and fell 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 to Canadian 24th seed Leylah Fernandez, who will be Li&#39;s opponent in the last 16.

&nbsp;

Wins for Andreeva and Zverev

Ninth-seeded Russian Mirra Andreeva overcame an inspired Dalma Galfi 6-3, 6-2 in a match that was much closer than the scoreline suggested.

The Hungarian qualifier ranked 117 in the world broke early in both sets but was unable to maintain her advantage as Andreeva recovered to improve her clay-court record this season to 9-1 and set-up a last-16 showdown with another Hungarian, Anna Bondar.

In ATP action, defending champion Casper Ruud raced into the third round with a 6-0, 6-1 demolition of home favourite Jaume Munar.

The 12th-seeded Norwegian will next take on Spain&#39;s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.

Second-seeded Alexander Zverev recovered from a &quot;terrible&quot; second set to begin his campaign with a 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 performance against recent Bucharest champion Mariano Navone.

&quot;First set was almost perfect, and then I lost focus completely, and then the second set was terrible,&quot; admitted Zverev, who previously clinched the trophy in Madrid in 2018 and 2021.

&quot;But that&#39;s what happens sometimes, first match of a tournament. I definitely have to focus a bit better, but the level was there.&quot;

Zverev will next square off with Terence Atmane, who overcame excruciating cramps to triumph in an all-French duel 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/5) over 30th seed Ugo Humbert.]]>
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			<title>Gauff beats Cirstea in Madrid</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2603807/gauff-beats-cirstea-in-madrid</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2603807/gauff-beats-cirstea-in-madrid#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 20 Apr 26 15:07:13 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2603807</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The American seen became the latest victim of the stomach virus]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Coco Gauff became the latest victim of the stomach virus that has been sweeping through the draw at the Madrid Open but the ailing American still found a way to beat Sorana Cirstea 4-6, 7-5, 6-1 on Sunday and reach the round of 16.

Several players have been struggling with illness in the Spanish capital this week, including Iga Swiatek, who was forced to retire from her match against Ann Li on Saturday, and Marin Cilic, who had to withdraw ahead of his second-round meeting with Joao Fonseca on Friday.

Liudmila Samsonova also pulled out of the tournament on Sunday citing illness ahead of her third-round match with Linda Noskova.

Gauff vomited in a bin on the court during her clash with Cirstea, and asked for a medical timeout during the latter stages of the match before she completed the win in two hours and 21 minutes.

&quot;Yeah, I don&#39;t know, honestly (how I got through that),&quot; said Gauff, who will face Noskova in the last 16.

&quot;I was just trying to finish the match and one point turned into another. I think I got what everybody else is having here in Madrid, unfortunately. So, I&#39;m just going to try to push through for tomorrow.&quot;

A runner-up to Aryna Sabalenka in the Spanish capital 12 months ago, Gauff has 3,300 points to defend on clay from Madrid through to her Roland Garros title defence in early June.

&quot;I pulled out in Indian Wells. I&#39;m not someone who likes to pull out, so I didn&#39;t want to pull out again today. So, I&#39;m glad that I was able to get through it,&quot; added the two-time Grand Slam champion.

&quot;I did start to feel better, not feeling like I had to throw up. They gave me some pills, so that definitely helped.

&quot;But I was really tired... The first part was literally just trying to keep whatever I ate down. Once they gave me something to help with that, then I was just nauseous and tired. But I can deal with that.&quot;]]>
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			<title>Martin wins US MotoGP sprint</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2599946/martin-wins-us-motogp-sprint</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2599946/martin-wins-us-motogp-sprint#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Sun, 29 Mar 26 12:43:18 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Reuters]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2599946</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[He overtook Francesco Bagnaia on the final lap]]>
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				<![CDATA[Jorge Martin won the U.S. MotoGP sprint in Austin on Saturday while Aprilia Racing teammate and championship leader Marco Bezzecchi crashed and failed to finish &zwnj;a sprint for the second time this season.

Martin overtook Francesco Bagnaia during the final lap at the Circuit of the Americas where he made a move at turn 12 before crossing the line in 20 minutes 19.546 seconds, winning by 0.755 seconds.

&quot;I never thought, when I was starting the season in ⁠Thailand, that after three rounds I would be winning races again. So it&#39;s unbelievable,&quot; Martin said after a record-extending 17th sprint win, but his first with Aprilia.

&quot;I&#39;m so thankful to Aprilia. They are helping a lot to raise my level. And yeah, I did it already. I mean, I feel a better rider than I was in the past.&quot;

Pedro Acosta of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing had finished third but after the race received an eight-second penalty due to low tyre pressure, a move &zwnj;that ⁠dropped him to eighth place and promoted Enea Bastianini to the podium.

After securing the win, Martin, who took the lead in the standings by one point over Bezzecchi, crashed on the cool-down lap while doing a wheelie but escaped without injury.

&quot;I think a lot of riders ⁠can win but not a lot of riders can nearly crash on the way back to the pits,&quot; Martin joked. &quot;Luckily I&#39;m okay, the bike isn&#39;t really damaged.&quot;

The race unfolded under intense pressure at the Circuit of the Americas, with multiple incidents shaping the outcome and testing riders&rsquo; composure. Martin&rsquo;s decisive move highlighted his growing confidence with Aprilia, while his ability to recover from earlier setbacks this season underlined his championship credentials.

Bezzecchi suffered a shocking ⁠start as he quickly dropped from second to seventh but he worked his way back before crashing out of a late second place after pressure from Martin.

Defending ⁠champion Marc Marquez was briefly up to second on the opening lap but eventually crashed and took pole-sitter Fabio di Giannantonio down with him, resulting in a long-lap penalty for Sunday&#39;s Grand Prix .]]>
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			<title>PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi announces jobs, medical support for national hockey team</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2597078/naqvi-announces-jobs-medical-support-for-national-hockey-team</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2597078/naqvi-announces-jobs-medical-support-for-national-hockey-team#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 11 Mar 26 15:48:24 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Web Desk]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[PCB chairman meets national hockey team, congratulates them on qualifying for Hockey World Cup 2026]]>
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				<![CDATA[Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi on Wednesday announced employment opportunities and medical support for members of the national hockey team, saying the board would bear treatment expenses for injured players, according to an official statement.

He said steps would be taken to provide employment opportunities to hockey players who are currently without jobs, adding that the PCB would also bear the medical expenses of injured players. He made the announcement during a meeting with players of the national side led by captain Imad Butt.

&ldquo;Hockey players will be provided full support in terms of fitness and medical facilities,&rdquo; Naqvi said, adding that the PCB would continue its cooperation with the national hockey team as it had done in the past.



لاہور۔ چئیرمین پاکستان کرکٹ بورڈ محسن نقوی سے قومی ہاکی ٹیم کے کپتان عماد بٹ کی قیادت میں کھلاڑیوں کی ملاقات

چئیرمین پی سی بی محسن نقوی نے 8 برس بعد ورلڈ کپ کے لئے کوالیفائی کرنے پر کھلاڑیوں کو مبارکباد دی

چئیرمین پی سی بی محسن نقوی نے ورلڈ کپ کوالیفائر ٹورنامنٹ میں بہترین&hellip; pic.twitter.com/GQ9rnZn9j4
&mdash; PCB Media (@TheRealPCBMedia) March 11, 2026



He further said the board would always play its role in providing maximum facilities to the players and expressed hope that Pakistan would deliver an impressive performance in the upcoming Hockey World Cup.

The PCB chairman also congratulated the team for qualifying for the Hockey World Cup 2026 after eight years and praised the players for their dedication and hard work during the World Cup qualifying tournament, the statement added.

Read: Bangladesh crush Pakistan in ODI series opener

Meanwhile, the national team coach Khawaja Junaid thanked the PCB chairman for his support, saying it had boosted the morale of the players and helped the team during difficult times.



قومی ہاکی ٹیم کی چیئرمین پی سی بی محسن نقوی سے قذافی سٹیڈیم میں ملاقات

ملاقات کے بعد ہیڈ کوچ خواجہ جنید اور کپتان عماد بٹ کی پی سی بی ڈیجیٹل سے خصوصی گفتگو

ماہِ رمضان میں قوم کی دعاؤں سے ٹیم ورلڈ کپ کھیلنے کی اہل ہوئی، خواجہ جنید، ہیڈ کوچ پاکستان ہاکی ٹیم

ٹیم کی سب سے بڑی طاقت&hellip; pic.twitter.com/PqqcxwAogs
&mdash; Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) March 11, 2026



Pakistan qualified for the Hockey World Cup 2026 after defeating Japan in the semi-final of the qualifying tournament last week. The event is scheduled to begin on August 14 this year in Belgium and the Netherlands.

Pakistan had failed to qualify for the previous edition of the World Cup and last secured a place in the tournament in 2018.

This was the second meeting between the PCB chairman and the national team within a month. Last month, Naqvi met the players after Tariq Bugti, former head of the Pakistan Hockey Federation, stepped down following complaints by national players during their tour of Australia.

During that meeting, the players informed Naqvi about unpleasant incidents they had encountered during the league. He expressed regret over the mistreatment of hockey players and assured them that measures would be taken to ensure better treatment in the future.]]>
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			<title>How Pakistan can qualify for T20 World Cup semi-finals after New Zealand loss?</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2594936/how-pakistan-can-qualify-for-t20-world-cup-semi-finals-after-new-zealand-loss</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2594936/how-pakistan-can-qualify-for-t20-world-cup-semi-finals-after-new-zealand-loss#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 27 Feb 26 18:13:26 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Web Desk]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[A win over Sri Lanka would tie Pakistan with New Zealand on points, with net run rate deciding semi-final progression]]>
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				<![CDATA[Pakistan&rsquo;s hopes of qualifying for the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup remain alive following New Zealand&rsquo;s defeat against England in the Super Eight stage.

England beat New Zealand by four wickets in a thrilling encounter in Colombo, denying the Kiwis a guaranteed place in the semi-finals while keeping Pakistan&rsquo;s slender chances intact.

England, having already qualified for the semi-finals, sit at the top of the table with six points from three wins, whereas New Zealand are second with three points.



A nail-biter sees England hold their nerve to edge past New Zealand in their final #T20WorldCup Super 8 fixture 🔥

📝: https://t.co/SPOfO9xhOb pic.twitter.com/Khi40f6hbx
&mdash; ICC (@ICC) February 27, 2026


Pakistan, who lost their crucial Super Eight match against England, are third with one point, earned from a washed-out match against New Zealand. Co-hosts Sri Lanka, having lost both of their opening Super Eight matches, are already out of contention for the final four.

Pakistan&rsquo;s semi-final fate now rests on their match against Sri Lanka, scheduled for tomorrow at Pallekele. A win would level Pakistan and New Zealand on points, leaving net run rate as the deciding factor for progression.

However, the path to qualification is far from straightforward. Pakistan will need to secure a convincing victory over the hosts or chase their target rapidly to overcome New Zealand&rsquo;s net run rate advantage, following the Kiwis&rsquo; comprehensive win against Sri Lanka.

If batting first, Pakistan must defeat Sri Lanka by 64 runs or more to improve their net run rate sufficiently. Alternatively, if chasing, they must reach the target within 13.1 overs to ensure a semi-final berth.]]>
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			<title>Pakistani runners take part in prestigious Tokyo Marathon 2026</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2595632/pakistani-runners-take-part-in-prestigious-tokyo-marathon-2026</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2595632/pakistani-runners-take-part-in-prestigious-tokyo-marathon-2026#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 03 Mar 26 16:05:32 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[Web Desk]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[12 Pakistani runners participated in event, highlighting the growing interest in endurance running within Pakistan]]>
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				<![CDATA[A strong contingent of Pakistani distance runners proudly represented the country at the Tokyo Marathon 2026, one of the world&rsquo;s most prestigious road races and a major fixture on the international marathon calendar.

A total of 12 Pakistani runners participated in the event, highlighting the growing interest in endurance running within Pakistan. The marathon, held on March 1, attracted nearly 40,000 runners from around the globe, solidifying its status as a key event in the global running scene.

The fastest Pakistani runner was Zeeshan Ali, who completed the 42.195 km race in an impressive 2:40:09. His performance placed him at the forefront of the Pakistani contingent in a highly competitive and fast-paced race on the Tokyo course.

Other Pakistani runners who took part in the event included Sadiq Shah, Ayaz Abdulla, Bilal Umar, Mohammad Abu Bakr Afzal, Bacha Khan, Asad Tungekar, Hassan Ijaz, Miqdad Mohammad, Semeena Khan, and Shazia Nawaz, representing both male and female athletes from Pakistan.

In addition to the competitive runners, Express News anchorperson Rehman Azhar also participated, marking the completion of his 5th World Major Marathon.

The Tokyo Marathon, a World Athletics Platinum Label race, is part of the Abbott World Marathon Majors, placing it among the most important marathons globally, alongside events in Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago, and New York.

In the elite competition, Ethiopia&rsquo;s Tadese Takele won the men&rsquo;s race with a time of 2:03:37, successfully defending his title. Kenya&rsquo;s Brigid Kosgei triumphed in the women&rsquo;s race, setting a new course record with a time of 2:14:29.

The Tokyo Marathon is recognised as a major event in the global running calendar. It is known for its fast course, excellent organisation, and international prestige, attracting both elite and amateur athletes from around the world.

The participation of Pakistani runners in the Tokyo Marathon 2026 underscores the steady growth of marathon running in Pakistan and highlights the increasing presence of Pakistani athletes at major international races.]]>
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			<title>Babar Azam dropped lower down against Namibia for scoring too slowly, says coach Hesson</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2593684/babar-azam-dropped-against-namibia-for-scoring-too-slowly-says-coach-hesson</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2593684/babar-azam-dropped-against-namibia-for-scoring-too-slowly-says-coach-hesson#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 20 Feb 26 17:07:13 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[Says Babar is 'well aware that his strike rate in the power play in the World Cup is less than 100']]>
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				<![CDATA[Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson said on Friday that batting great Babar Azam was dropped lower down for the final T20 World Cup group game against Namibia for scoring too slowly.

Babar, who is the highest run-scorer in T20 international history with 4,571 runs, was left out for the must-win game against Namibia as Pakistan racked up 199-3 and secured a place in the Super Eights by 102 runs.

The 2009 champions face New Zealand in Colombo on Saturday in the opening match of the second phase.

&quot;I think Babar is well aware that his strike rate in the power play in the World Cup is less than 100 and that&#39;s clearly not the role we think we need,&quot; Hesson told reporters after Pakistan&#39;s final practice session on Friday was washed out by rain.

Pakistan left out Azam for the same reason at last year&#39;s Asia Cup and even after dismal showing in the Big Bash League, he was still selected for the T20 World Cup.

&quot;We brought Babar back in for a specific role post the Asia Cup,&quot; said Hesson.

&quot;We&#39;ve got plenty of other options who can come in and perform that role towards the end.

&quot;Babar is actually the first to acknowledge that.

&quot;He knows that he&#39;s got a certain set of skills that the team requires and there are certain times where other players can perform that role more efficiently.&quot;

Hesson also defended dropping pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi after he conceded 101 runs in three matches, including 31 in two overs against India.

&quot;We made a call that Salman Mirza was coming in for Shaheen, and he bowled incredibly well,&quot; said Hesson.

&quot;To be fair, he was probably really unlucky to not be playing the second and third games.&quot;

Hesson was wary of Pakistan&#39;s opponents on Saturday.

&quot;New Zealand have played a huge amount in the subcontinent in recent times so we have to play at our best.&quot;]]>
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			<title>Formula One drivers welcome rule tweaks</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605854/formula-one-drivers-welcome-rule-tweaks</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605854/formula-one-drivers-welcome-rule-tweaks#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 01 May 26 14:21:33 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2605854</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Most drivers said the changes would reduce dangers]]>
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				<![CDATA[Formula One&#39;s drivers on Thursday welcomed rules tweaks made on safety grounds, but warned that more was needed to improve the racing at this weekend&#39;s Miami Grand Prix.

Speaking at an official news conference, most drivers said the changes made to the levels of &#39;super-clipping&#39; and &nbsp;of battery power harvesting would reduce dangers, but have little overall effect on the spectacle in the sport&#39;s new hybrid era.

While Aston Martin&#39;s Canadian driver Lance Stroll lambasted the new formula as &quot;fundamentally flawed&quot; and a thousand times less fun than Formula Three, others took a more positive approach.

&quot;The positive thing is that we had some nice meetings with F1 and the FIA and I think that&#39;s probably a starting point for the future even if there is time for that or maybe I&#39;m not here anymore,&quot; said four-time champion Max Verstappen, who has struggled this season.

Verstappen had been a leading critic of this season&#39;s changes, accusing F1 of losing its identity and suggested that he was contemplating his future if the sport did not take action to salvage its heritage as an all-out test of power and speed for drivers and machines.

&quot;I really hope that the driver have more input to the organisers in general because most drivers have a good understanding and a good feel of what is needed to make F1 a good product, a fun product.&quot;

&quot;At the end of the day, it&#39;s a very complex and political sport, but at least I think everyone has tried their best to do something &mdash; but, of course, it won&#39;t change the world!&quot;

The conflict has stemmed &nbsp;from this year&#39;s introduction of the 50-50 split between use of battery power and traditional engine power in an attempt to create a greener sport.

Many drivers feel the sport needs more naturally aspirated power from an engine and less from the battery.

&quot;It&#39;s a step in the right direction,&quot; said Audi&#39;s Nico Hulkenberg. &quot;I&#39;m curious to see how it feels and works on track now.&quot;

McLaren&#39;s Oscar Piastri said the collaboration had produced good changes, but added that he felt the chief problems could not be fixed without a fundamental overhaul of the hardware of the power units.

He said it was good that the rules had been tweaked to reduce the huge imbalance in performance and speed between cars that are using maximum power and those slowing to harvest and store battery power.

A crash in Japan involving Oliver Bearman of Haas, who escaped serious injury left many drivers worried about similar future accidents.

&quot;After Olly&#39;s crash, something needed to change and it is good that they listened to us,&quot; said Piastri. &quot;The tweaks are good, and sensible and well thought out so it is a positive thing, but let&#39;s wait and see how it pans out from a safety point of view.&quot;

Many drivers and observers had criticised the formula for producing artificial racing controlled by computers and the needs for management of battery power.&nbsp;]]>
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			<title>T-Wolves eliminate Denver Nuggets</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605851/t-wolves-eliminate-denver-nuggets</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605851/t-wolves-eliminate-denver-nuggets#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 01 May 26 14:11:18 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2605851</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Sixth-seeded Minnesota will play the San Antonio Spurs in the semis]]>
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				<![CDATA[The Minnesota Timberwolves eliminated Nikola Jokic&#39;s Denver Nuggets while the New York Knicks put on one of the most dominant displays in NBA playoff history, destroying Atlanta to advance Thursday.

Sixth-seeded Minnesota will play the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference semi-finals after completing a 110-98 win for a 4-2 series upset defeat of third-seeded Denver.

Three-time NBA Most Valuable Player Jokic top-scored for Denver with 28 but it was not enough to fend off the dogged Timberwolves, who were playing without star man Anthony Edwards due to injury.

The clash in Minneapolis was tight throughout, with no team gaining a double-digit lead until the game&#39;s dying moments.

The Timberwolves edged the first half, leading 57-50 at the break. Jokic roared to life. The Serbian superstar scored 14 points in the third quarter alone to ensure a nail-biting finish. Having already been ejected for unsportsmanlike conduct from game four after a shoving match, Jokic enraged the home crowd by sparking another brawl, with Jaylen Clark.

With his Timberwolves leading by five with 90 seconds remaining, Jaden McDaniels sank a long jump-shot for two to rouse the home fans and force a Nuggets timeout.

When play resumed Denver could only turn over the ball again. McDaniels closed out the win with two free throws, ending his night with a career-high 32 points, to top-score overall.

&quot;It&#39;s a great night. It&#39;s a great victory for us. Hopefully... we&#39;ve got 12 more to go,&quot; said Minnesota coach Chris Finch. &quot;We came into these playoffs not trying to beat Denver, but trying to win a championship.&quot;

A visibly crestfallen Jokic, whose side last won the NBA championship just three years ago, said they &quot;just didn&#39;t do a good job.&quot; &quot;I needed to play better. I must play better,&quot; he added. Edwards -- out with a bone bruise and hyper-extended left knee -- could return for the Timberwolves&#39; series with the high-flying Spurs.
&nbsp;
&#39;Meet the moment&#39;
The Knicks routed the Atlanta Hawks 140-89.

It was the most points scored and the biggest win by the Knicks in a playoff game, setting up an Eastern Conference semi-final with either the Celtics or the 76ers, who are tied 3-3 after a Philadelphia win.

The Knicks wrapped up their 4-2 series victory in emphatic style, leading the Hawks by as many as 61 points before benching their starters for the final quarter.
New York&#39;s 47-point half-time lead, at 83-36, was the widest in NBA post-season history. OG Anunoby top-scored with 29 points, including 26 in the first half, before he was rested. None of New York&#39;s starters played more than 29 minutes.

&quot;We can&#39;t just meet the moment, we&#39;ve got to exceed it, and I thought we did a great job of doing that tonight,&quot; said Karl-Anthony Towns, who recorded a triple-double with 12 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists.

Having finished third in the Eastern Conference, the heavily favored Knicks had been down 2-1 early in the playoff series, before roaring back.

They are the first team to advance to the East&#39;s semi-finals -- their fourth straight year of reaching that stage.

The Hawks briefly led at the start of the game, going up 11-9 before the wheels dramatically came off. They trailed 40-15 at the end of the first quarter.
The final 51-point margin of defeat was not quite the largest in playoff history, which stands at 58 points.

&quot;Obviously you hate to lose anything. And to lose the way we did, I think, particularly given the enthusiasm and support that we&#39;ve had from the people in this building... disappointed on a lot of levels,&quot; said Hawks coach Quin Snyder.
&nbsp;
Historic rivals
The Celtics-76ers playoff series is headed for a decisive game seven in Massachusetts after Philadelphia beat Boston 106-93.

The Celtics had held a 3-1 series lead, but the 76ers proved dominant on their home court to make it 3-3.

Tyrese Maxey top-scored with 30 points. Paul George added 23, and 2023 Most Valuable Player Joel Embiid poured in another 19, plus 10 rebounds and eight assists.

It is the 23rd playoff series between the two historic rivals -- an NBA record]]>
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			<title>Antonelli bids for F1 hat-trick</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605685/antonelli-bids-for-f1-hat-trick</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605685/antonelli-bids-for-f1-hat-trick#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 30 Apr 26 13:55:58 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[The Formula 1 action returns in Miami this week]]>
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				<![CDATA[Italian teenager Kimi Antonelli, the youngest championship leader in F1 history, will seek to complete a hat-trick of early season victories this weekend as Formula One returns after a month&#39;s enforced absence due to the Middle East war.

The 19-year-old Mercedes driver, triumphant in China and Japan, leads team-mate George Russell, who won the season-opening Australian race, by nine points ahead of what is effectively the start of another season, complete with revised rules and widespread car upgrades, at the Miami Grand Prix.

&quot;After a month without any racing, we are ready to get back on track,&quot; said Mercedes team chief Toto Wolff. &quot;We&#39;ve used this break to analyse the opening races, address our weaknesses and rase our level.

&quot;We&#39;ve started the season well, but that counts for very little if you stand still. We know our competitors will have used this time to improve and build a deeper understanding of their cars so we expect the field to be closer in Miami.

&quot;That&#39;s the reality of F1 &ndash; it&#39;s a challenge we must rise to.&quot;

Antonelli&#39;s early triumphs made him the first Italian driver since Alberto Ascari in 1953 to win two consecutive races. Ascari completed his treble that season.

Wolff also addressed the tweaks to the regulations to be introduced in Miami, aimed at making the cars and the spectacle more natural with reduced battery re-charging in qualifying and increased super-clipping power to reduce dangerous speed differentials.

He said the revised rules would &quot;respect the DNA of our sport&quot; and deliver an improved spectacle without any significant reduction to Mercedes&#39; early-season performance advantage.

For Mercedes, this Sunday&#39;s race is an opportunity for a first win in Florida since the event was launched five years ago. It has been won twice by four-time champion Max Verstappen for Red Bull and twice by McLaren with a win apiece for world champion Lando Norris and team-mate Oscar Piastri.
&nbsp;
&#39;Completely new car&#39;

They will harbour hopes of claiming points too with success in Saturday&#39;s sprint race, won last year by Norris, but Ferrari are widely expected to be strong contenders too as they arrive in Miami, like McLaren, who are bringing an almost &quot;completely new car&quot;, with a heavily revised package.

&quot;It was one of our best tracks for pure pace, compared to others, last year,&quot; said Norris. &quot;It&#39;s a different track and it may still suit us a little more than others.&quot;

After winning in 2022 and 2023, Verstappen will be aiming to stop Mercedes&#39; winning run and revive Red Bull&#39;s challenge this year after a discouraging start. He is ninth, on 12 points, 60 adrift of Antonelli, with team-mate Isack Hadjar 12th on four.

Ferrari&#39;s duo of Charles Leclerc and seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton are third and fourth respectively on 49 and 41 points with many paddock observers suggesting they are poised to fight for a first win since Carlos Sainz&#39;s success in Mexico in October 2024.

Leclerc&#39;s eighth and last win came at Austin, Texas, shortly before Sainz&#39;s triumph while Hamilton is chasing his 106th win and first since the 2024 Belgian race before he joined Ferrari. After a desultory first year, the Briton said he is relishing the challenge of a new formula that has seen him rediscover his racing mojo.

&quot;We&#39;re all re-charged after the break,&quot; said Russell, expressing the feelings of most drivers. &quot;I&#39;m hoping we can continue where we left off.&quot;
It will mark newcomers Cadillac&#39;s first racing appearance on home soil in the United States when Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas venture out at the Hard Rock Stadium in a new American livery.&nbsp;]]>
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			<title>Sawe receives hero's welcome in Kenya</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605682/sawe-receives-heros-welcome-in-kenya</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605682/sawe-receives-heros-welcome-in-kenya#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 30 Apr 26 13:44:53 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[He made history in London marathon on Sunday]]>
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				<![CDATA[There was a hero&#39;s welcome for marathon world record-breaker Sabastian Sawe as he returned to Kenya and was lauded by President William Ruto on Thursday.

Sawe made history in London on Sunday by becoming the first athlete to run a sub-two hour marathon in race conditions.
Receiving Sawe at State House in Nairobi, Ruto said it was &quot;a defining moment in the story of human endurance&quot;.
He compared it to milestones in human history including the first four-minute mile by Roger Bannister in 1954 and even the moon landing.

&quot;Future generations will look back on 26 April, 2026, as the day a man broke through a physical and psychological barrier long thought insurmountable; and the name forever attached to that moment will be Sabastian Sawe,&quot; Ruto said in a speech.

Sawe clocked 1hr 59min 30sec in a tight battle with Ethiopia&#39;s Yomif Kejelcha, who also came in under two hours.

Sawe was mobbed at Nairobi&#39;s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport when he landed late Wednesday.

&quot;It is such a beautiful day. I&#39;m glad you have joined me in celebrating, and that you have shown a spirit I never expected could be like this. I&rsquo;m very grateful,&quot; he told the crowd.

&quot;I didn&#39;t do it just for myself, I did it for all of us. And I would like us all to enjoy it and for it to stand as a record for all of us,&quot; he added.

Kenya has dominated long-distance running, and its runners are superstars in the country.
The pressure to break into the elite means doping is a major problem in Kenya.

Two former Kenyan winners of the men&#39;s race at the London Marathon -- Wilson Kipsang, the victor in 2012 and 2014, and 2017 winner Daniel Wanjiru -- are among those to have been subsequently banned.

In a bid to allay such suspicions about his own performances, Sawe has voluntarily subjected himself to extra drug testing, even paying $50,000 to be tested 25 times in the year by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) before last year&#39;s Berlin race.]]>
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			<title>Champion Zhao Xintong succumbs to 'Crucible curse'</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605680/champion-zhao-xintong-succumbs-to-crucible-curse</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605680/champion-zhao-xintong-succumbs-to-crucible-curse#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Thu, 30 Apr 26 13:31:56 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
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				<![CDATA[He suffered a 13-10 quarter-final defeat against Shaun Murphy]]>
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				<![CDATA[Defending champion Zhao Xintong fell victim to the &quot;Crucible curse&quot; as he was knocked out of the World Snooker Championship on Wednesday following a 13-10 quarter-final defeat by Shaun Murphy.

Zhao, 29, was the first Chinese player to be crowned world champion when he beat three-time winner Mark Williams 18-12 in last year&#39;s final.
But Wednesday&#39;s outcome means no first-time world champion has retained the title since the tournament moved to Sheffield&#39;s Crucible Theatre in 1977.

Murphy&#39;s victory leaves the Englishman just two wins away from a second world title, 21 years after lifting snooker&#39;s most prestigious trophy.
Zhao established an early 3-0 lead only for the 43-year-old Murphy to come back into the best-of-25-frames contest.

&quot;Shaun played really well, he gave me big pressure and played perfect snooker today,&quot; Zhao told the BBC. &quot;He deserved to win.
&quot;I felt some pressure (as defending champion) but I still felt alright. I tried to get better, but Shaun is a good player and he played very well so congratulations to him.&quot;

The players were all square at 8-8 but Murphy edged ahead Wednesday with a break of 98 before reeling off several more telling contributions, including a match-clinching effort of 69, against a player he labelled the &quot;best on the planet&quot; earlier this week.
&quot;When you&#39;re playing great players, which Zhao Xintong unquestionably is, it makes it straightforward for you,&quot; Murphy said afterwards.
&nbsp;
Wu Yize &#39;like a Playstation&#39;

But there will be Chinese representation in the last four after the 22-year-old Wu Yize beat Iran&#39;s Hossein Vafaei 13-8 to set up a semi-final with Mark Allen.

The match was level at 4-4 early on but Wu eventually pulled clear of Vafaei to book his first appearance in the semi-finals of the World Championship with some impressive potting.

&quot;The last session I finally found my rhythm which I&#39;m really happy about,&quot; said Wu. &quot;It&#39;s going to be my first time playing the one-table session so I feel I can do anything now.&quot;
Vafaei, who edged world number one Judd Trump 13-12 in the previous round, likened Wu to a computer game.
&quot;The guy was potting from everywhere -- I lost four or five frames out of nowhere... It was like playing against a Playstation you know? You are thinking, where can I put the cue ball?&quot; said Vafaei.

Earlier, Allen capitalised on an astonishing error by Barry Hawkins to book his place in the semi-finals for the second time in four years with a 13-11 win.
The match was heading for a deciding final frame after Hawkins fluked a red and was faced with a simple tap up behind the pink to leave Northern Ireland&#39;s Allen in trouble.

But Hawkins, who lost in the 2013 final to snooker great Ronnie O&#39;Sullivan, somehow came up short with the cue ball, and his mistake paved the way for the 40-year-old Allen to clinch victory.&nbsp;]]>
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			<title>Spurs advance in NBA playoffs</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605488/wembanyamas-spurs-advance-in-nba-playoffs</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605488/wembanyamas-spurs-advance-in-nba-playoffs#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 29 Apr 26 13:55:20 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[They punched their ticket following a 114-95 victory over Trail Blazers]]>
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				<![CDATA[The San Antonio Spurs punched their ticket to the second round of the NBA playoffs on Tuesday, leading wire to wire in a 114-95 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers.

Victor Wembanyama scored 17 points, grabbed 14 rebounds and blocked six shots to help the Spurs wrap up a 4-1 win in their best-of-seven Western Conference first-round series.

In the East, Philadelphia star Joel Embiid scored 33 points and handed out eight assists as the 76ers fended off elimination with a 113-97 victory over the Boston Celtics.

The Spurs, who clawed back from a 19-point deficit to win game four, burst out of the blocks and pushed their lead to as many as 28 before taking a 65-45 lead into half-time.

Portland unleashed an 11-0 run that cut a 20-point fourth-quarter deficit to nine, but the Spurs responded.
De&#39;Aaron Fox scored 13 of his 21 points in the final period and Wembanyama -- playing his second game after missing one with a concussion -- delivered two massive blocks as San Antonio won a playoff series for the first time since 2017.
&quot;It did feel like we let our foot off the gas,&quot; Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said. &quot;NBA games are long, it&#39;s not an excuse. That means we&#39;ve got to be better, but zero lead changes is zero lead changes.

&quot;We have a lot of things we can be better at,&quot; Johnson added of his young team, who had six players score in double figures. &quot;But we&#39;re ready to step up to the plate and swing.&quot;

Seeded second in the West, they are chasing a sixth NBA title and their first since 2014.

They will face either the Denver Nuggets or Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference semi-finals.

The Timberwolves lead the Nuggets 3-2 in their series.

Embiid in rhythm

In Philadelphia, a dominant second half by Cameroon-born big man Embiid -- playing just his second game since an April 9 emergency appendectomy -- enabled the Sixers to cut the series deficit against Boston to 3-2.
&quot;It&#39;s kind of hard. I only had one chance to go up and back (on the court) before I came back,&quot; Embiid said.
&quot;Using this game and last game to kind of get back into it.

&quot;I found my rhythm in the second half. We adjusted some stuff at half-time. I feel OK. I feel good. We got a win. That&#39;s all that matters.&quot;
The series shifts back to Philadelphia for game six on Thursday with a seventh game, if needed, in Boston on Saturday.
&quot;We did our job,&quot; Embiid said. &quot;We&#39;re going to need everybody to come back to Boston.&quot;

Tyrese Maxey added 25 points and 10 rebounds for the 76ers, who also had 16 points and nine rebounds from Paul George.
Jayson Tatum had 24 points and 16 rebounds for the Celtics, and Jaylen Brown added 22 points.

Boston were outscored 28-11 in the fourth quarter, producing their fewest points in any quarter this season with the series clincher up for grabs.

The Celtics, who have missed the playoffs only once since 2007, are trying to reach the second round for the fifth year in a row.
The Sixers have not won a playoff series since sweeping Brooklyn in the first round in 2023.

The Celtics, chasing a second NBA title in three seasons, or 76ers will face either the New York Knicks or Atlanta Hawks in the second round.

The Knicks seized a 3-2 lead in their series with a 126-97 home victory over the Hawks.
Jalen Brunson scored 17 of his 39 points in the fourth quarter and added eight assists while Karl-Anthony Towns had 16 points and 14 rebounds for the hosts.

Atlanta must win at home in game six on Thursday to force a winner-take-all game seven in New York on Saturday.]]>
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			<title>Toulouse fall to first home defeat for a year</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605085/toulouse-fall-to-first-home-defeat-for-a-year</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605085/toulouse-fall-to-first-home-defeat-for-a-year#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 27 Apr 26 11:46:37 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
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			<description>
				<![CDATA[They still have a 12-point cushion over their closest challengers Pau]]>
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				<![CDATA[Clermont stunned Toulouse 27&ndash;24 on Sunday to hand the Top 14 leaders their first home defeat in nearly a year.

Toulouse still have a 12-point cushion over their closest challengers Pau at the top of the table, but this result showed coach Ugo Mola and his staff have work to do before the end of the season.

&quot;It&#39;s a bit more than just a reminder. We&#39;ll take the time to analyse this in order to come back with a different mindset,&quot; Mola said.

Clermont, on the other hand, climbed to fifth place with 61 points, cementing their status as serious contenders for a playoff spot.

Toulouse had not lost at home since May 17, 2025, but perhaps it was the the sight of France superstar Antoine Dupont on the bench or their unfamiliar beige jerseys -- matching those worn by the city&#39;s football team the same weekend -- that upset the league leaders.

They began smoothly enough as Teddy Thomas crossed the try line after just 42 seconds, superbly set up by Romain Ntamack.

The prospect of a one-sided match grew when Emmanuel Meafou powered over in the ninth minute, and then Paul Graou, in his 100th appearance for Toulouse, made it 21&ndash;0 after just 10 minutes.

But Toulouse lost their grip on the game.

Second-rower Marcos Kremer picked up an orange card and a 20-minute suspension and Harry Plummer was shown a yellow -- both for head contact with Kalvin Gourgues -- allowing Clermont to work their way back into the match, relying on solid set pieces and Toulouse&rsquo;s many errors.

Leon Darricarrere got Clermont back on track before captain Baptiste Jauneau brought his team within seven points in the 31st minute.

After the break, prop Giga Tutisani helped Clermont close the gap to just three points and their iron defence, combined with Toulouse&#39;s indiscipline, then turned the match on its head, with New Zealand kicker Harry Plummer kicking two penalties to give his side the lead.

Clumsy and lacking inspiration, Toulouse squandered chances in the opposition 22 and ultimately had to concede defeat.]]>
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			<title>Houston Rockets thrash LA Lakers</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605083/houston-rockets-thrash-la-lakers</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605083/houston-rockets-thrash-la-lakers#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 27 Apr 26 11:32:21 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2605083</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Wembanyama triumphant on Spurs return]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[The Houston Rockets routed the Los Angeles Lakers 115-96 on Sunday to stay alive in the NBA playoffs as San Antonio&#39;s Victor Wembanyama made a triumphant return to put the Spurs on the brink of advancing.

Amen Thompson scored 23 points to fuel the Rockets, who bounced back from a crushing overtime loss on Friday to cut the deficit in their best-of-seven Western Conference series to 3-1.

The Spurs and the Boston Celtics took commanding 3-1 leads in their series, San Antonio rallying from 19 points down to beat the Trail Blazers 114-93 in Portland and Boston thrashing the 76ers 128-96 in Philadelphia.

In Toronto, the Raptors edged the Cleveland Cavaliers 93-89 to level their series at two games apiece.

Denied a sweep in Houston, the Lakers can still finish off the Rockets when they host game five on Wednesday.

The Rockets, still without star Kevin Durant, harried the Lakers into 24 turnovers yielding 30 Houston points.

Four-time NBA champion LeBron James made just two of nine attempts from the floor on the way to 10 points. He handed out nine assists but made eight turnovers.

With Los Angeles still missing their top scorers in injured Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, center Deandre Ayton led the Lakers with 19 points and 10 rebounds.

But Los Angeles were already down by 19 when he was ejected in the third quarter after catching Rockets center Alperen Sengun in the head with his forearm.

Tari Eason added 20 points and Sengun scored 19 for Houston, who are trying to become the first NBA team to rally from an 0-3 deficit to win a playoff series.

In Portland, Wembanyama returned after missing one game because of a concussion and scored 27 points with 11 rebounds, three assists, four steals and a whopping seven blocked shots.

&quot;I had lots of emotions in me before the game, obviously,&quot; said Wembanyama, named the 2026 NBA Defensive Player of the Year and in the running for Most Valuable Player.

&quot;Excitement, frustration, so I let it all out tonight,&quot; he said.

The 22-year-old Frenchman praised the doctors who oversaw his path through the NBA concussion protocol, but voiced dissatisfaction with the process that requires a gradual return to physical activity under medical supervision.

&quot;The way the situation was handled was very disappointing,&quot; Wembanyama said, declining to elaborate.

&nbsp;

Celtics spoil Embiid return

San Antonio&#39;s De&#39;Aaron Fox led all scorers with 28 points, and the Spurs out-scored the Trail Blazers 73-35 in the second half.

They&#39;ll try to clinch the series when they host game five on Tuesday.

The Celtics spoiled the return of 76ers star Joel Embiid, who played his first game since having an emergency appendectomy on April 9.

Payton Pritchard scored 32 points off the bench and Jayson Tatum scored 30 points with seven rebounds and 11 assists for the Celtics, who led by 16 points after one quarter and by double digits the rest of the way.

Embiid led the 76ers with 26 points and 10 rebounds, but Philadelphia couldn&#39;t counter the Celtics&#39; rain of 24 three-pointers.

In Toronto, Scottie Barnes and Brandon Ingram scored 23 points apiece as the Raptors held off the Cavaliers despite making just four of 30 from three-point range.

The Raptors trailed by five with 2:10 left to play but powered to the lead with a 9-0 scoring burst and held on.

Donovan Mitchell scored 20 points to lead the Cavs and James Harden added 19, but Mitchell missed two attempts in the final 30 seconds as Barnes made six free throws down the stretch to seal it.]]>
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			<title>Steep mountainside offers respite for daring Afghans</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605077/steep-mountainside-offers-respite-for-daring-afghans</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2605077/steep-mountainside-offers-respite-for-daring-afghans#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 27 Apr 26 11:21:08 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2605077</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[Hundreds of visitors travel each weekend to Reg-e-Rawan -- the moving sands]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[Backflipping down a steep and sandy mountainside, Afghan teenager Imran Saeedi wows the crowds of men who gather each springtime to unwind beside breathtaking views.

Hundreds of visitors travel each weekend to Reg-e-Rawan -- &quot;the moving sands&quot; in Dari -- to practice parkour or roll down the honey-coloured sand in Kapisa province.

&quot;I feel afraid when I&#39;m going for a flip or a jump, and of course I can get injured,&quot; said 16-year-old Saeedi, who nonetheless loves the thrill.

&quot;When the week starts, I&#39;m just waiting for the weekend so I can come to Reg-e-Rawan to have fun again,&quot; said the high school student.

Men and boys clapped in admiration as he ran down the hill and flipped forwards, then backwards, while his friends filmed on their phones.

Less daring onlookers sat atop rocks surrounding the mountain, picnicking together and enjoying the scenery.

Reg-e-Rawan is off limits to women and girls, who are banned by the Taliban authorities from recreational spots such as parks.

Families with women were turned away when AFP journalists visited, while officials under the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice patrolled the area.

&nbsp;

&#39;Humans need nature&#39;

Mirwais Kamran, a 48-year-old businessman, had driven three hours north from the capital Kabul with some of his 12 children.

&quot;I feel joy when I come here with my children and friends,&quot; said Kamran, who climbed up the slope but stopped short of rolling down.

Nusratullah Nusrat, the provincial head of tourism at the Kapisa Department of Information and Culture, said the site dates back thousands of years.

&quot;The unique feature of this place is that the sand never decreases despite people climbing up and sliding down,&quot; he told AFP.

Some people believe rolling in the sand also helps treat rheumatism, added Nusrat.

For visitors such as Nohzatullah Ahmadzai, who travelled from Kabul with a group of friends, Reg-e-Rawan lifts his mood.

&quot;I&#39;m someone who gets depressed when I&#39;m sad, so visiting such places erases that feeling,&quot; said the 22-year-old, who works for a cargo firm.

Climbing the slope takes about an hour, rewarding visitors with views over green fields dotted with villages.

&quot;We humans need nature,&quot; said Ahmadzai. &quot;When we feel stressed, we can visit natural places for relaxation or relief.&quot;]]>
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			<title>India climbers face obstacles</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2604553/india-climbers-face-obstacles</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2604553/india-climbers-face-obstacles#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Fri, 24 Apr 26 10:26:57 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2604553</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[IMF estimates there are thousands of people who sport-climb regularly]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[Blink and you might miss Indian speed climber Deepu Mallesh scaling a wall five buses high in five seconds.
India, a country obsessed with cricket, has seen a surge in popularity in climbing but those who want to compete internationally have had to crowdfund and there is little government recognition or help.
Some have had to quit the sport they love.

&quot;What I like most about climbing is how raw and honest it is,&quot; said 28-year-old Mallesh, who has climbed for his country and dreams of being the first Indian climber to qualify for the Olympics.
&quot;It&#39;s just you, the wall and the clock.&quot;

Mallesh works part-time as a climbing instructor while pursuing his goal of reaching the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

&quot;I have to somehow make some money. That is the only way for me to survive in this sport,&quot; he said.
The Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF) estimates there are tens of thousands of people who sport-climb regularly, with more than a dozen climbing gyms opening in the last decade.

But the rise in those picking it up as a professional career is slow -- high costs and scarce sponsorship deals hold back many.
There are about 3,500 climbers who compete across various levels in the country and among them, about 60 participate internationally annually.

Mallesh didn&#39;t win at the world championship in China this month, but at 5.39 seconds he set a national record in men&#39;s speed climbing.
He also qualified for the Asian Games in Japan in September-October.

Shoes, chalk powder&nbsp;

Mallesh only manages to compete with support from the IMF.
Previously he raised the cash to compete via crowdfunding. Two years ago he collected about one million rupees ($10,500) to attend six international competitions.

&quot;I have had to miss competitions because I could not gather the requisite amount,&quot; he said.

&quot;If I get proper funding and proper support I might see my career through till the Olympics. Otherwise I will have to find something else to do.&quot;
Since 2002, India have won nearly 70 medals in international climbing competitions, including in the Asian youth championships.
Among them is Joga Purty, who won silver in 2024.

Purty, 19, said she was lucky because she was sponsored by the Tata conglomerate.
&quot;If I didn&#39;t have this I also would be one of those who quit the sport,&quot; she said.
A decent pair of shoes and a harness cost about 10,000 rupees ($106) each. A chalk bag, used to dust the hands for grip, costs 5,000 rupees.
&quot;The shoes also will only last three to six months, sometimes even less depending on the athlete&#39;s use,&quot; she said. &quot;And we have to carry an extra pair of shoes.&quot;
Game-changer?&nbsp;

Unlike many other sports in India, there is little government support.
The IMF&#39;s Keerthi Pais, 50, said the organisation was in talks to get the sport recognised under the National Sports Governance Act.

&quot;This recognition will help them continue their climbing career,&quot; Pais said.

Mallesh said wider recognition &quot;would definitely help&quot;.
&quot;It&#39;s not just about validation, it directly impacts support, funding, infrastructure and sponsorship opportunities,&quot; he said.

Pais said government support to make it easier to build climbing gyms would help too.
&quot;That will be the game-changer... this is how it will grow.&quot;

Mumbai-based Shaiv Gandhi from The Indian Bouldering Company gym said facilities like his have been a catalyst for growth.

&quot;I think the two biggest things that the commercial climbing gym help with is awareness... and the infrastructure in order to train for the sport,&quot; &nbsp;the 30-year-old said.

&quot;We already have a programme where we have told our instructors to keep an eye out for budding talent... if anyone you think has potential, let them climb.
&quot;It&#39;s on me.&quot;&nbsp;]]>
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			<title>Blazers stun Spurs after Wemby injury</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2604168/blazers-stun-spurs-after-wemby-injury</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2604168/blazers-stun-spurs-after-wemby-injury#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Wed, 22 Apr 26 10:56:46 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2604168</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[He was injured in a collision with Portland's Jrue Holiday]]>
			</description>
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				<![CDATA[The Portland Trail Blazers exploited an injury to Victor Wembanyama to score an upset 106-103 victory over the second-seeded San Antonio Spurs in their NBA Western Conference playoff series on Tuesday.
San Antonio superstar Wembanyama -- who had scored 35 points in the Spurs&#39; game one win on Sunday -- exited in the second quarter at the Frost Bank Center in Texas after hitting his head on the court floor following a collision with Portland&#39;s Jrue Holiday.
The 22-year-old looked groggy as he lay on the floor for several minutes before getting to his feet and jogging to the locker room.
The 7ft 4in (2.24m) forward was subsequently ruled out of the remainder of the game after entering the concussion protocol.
San Antonio looked to have overcome Wembanyama&#39;s injury as they pulled into a 14-point lead early in the fourth quarter, leading 93-79 with just over eight minutes left on the clock.
But with victory seemingly in sight, San Antonio&#39;s shooting went ice cold and the absence of newly crowned NBA defensive player of the year Wembanyama was keenly felt as a determined Portland snaffled victory, closing the fourth quarter with a 27-10 run.
Scoot Henderson led Portland&#39;s scoring with 31 points, while Holiday added 16.
&quot;Basketball is a game of runs, and the basketball gods are always gonna repay the ones that play the game right,&quot; Henderson told NBC television afterwards.
Game three of the best-of-seven series takes place in Portland on Friday.
&nbsp;
LeBron sparks Lakers
Elsewhere Tuesday, the depleted Los Angeles Lakers produced another disciplined defensive effort to defeat the Houston Rockets 101-94 and take a surprise 2-0 lead in their Western Conference first round series.
With Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves injured in the final weeks of the regular season, many had all but written off the Lakers chances of mounting a serious challenge in the playoffs.
But LeBron James, Marcus Smart and Luke Kennard combined superbly to carry the Lakers to a second straight win over the Kevin Durant-led Rockets.
James finished with 28 points, while Smart added 25 and Kennard 23 to give the Lakers hope of advancing as the series heads to Houston for game three on Friday.
&quot;As hard as we played in game one, we knew we had to double that in game two,&quot; James said.
&quot;They were going to come in with desperation, so we had to be even more desperate. I thought we played a hell of a game.
&quot;Our own mindset now is focused on game three,&quot; the 41-year-old NBA icon added.
&quot;We know we&#39;re going into a hostile environment. Guys tend to play better at home than they do on the road so we have to be ready for that.&quot;
&nbsp;
Sixers bounce back
In the Eastern Conference playoffs, Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe combined for 59 points as the Philadelphia 76ers scored a series-leveling 111-97 victory on the road over the Boston Celtics.
Edgecombe made six-of-10 three-point attempts before finishing with 30 points, 10 rebounds and two assists in a stunning victory for the Sixers, who had trailed 26-13 early in the first quarter before rallying.
Maxey was also lethal from long-range, making five three-pointers on his way to a 29-point haul.
The bounce-back victory came after the Sixers were thrashed 123-91 in game one on Sunday, after a performance that Philadelphia coach Nick Nurse lambasted as &quot;absolutely unacceptable.&quot;
Nurse was unsurprisingly happier with his team&#39;s winning display on Tuesday.
&quot;I thought we just played much better team defense tonight,&quot; said Nurse, who also saluted his team&#39;s resolve after Boston surged into an early double-digit lead.
&quot;I think we did a great job of just taking that punch,&rdquo; Nurse said.
Jaylen Brown led Boston&#39;s scoring with 36 points but Jayson Tatum was the only other Celtics player to make double figures with 19 points. The Celtics made just 35-of-89 shots from the field throughout the game.
Game three takes place in Philadelphia on Friday.&nbsp;]]>
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			<title>Timberwolves stun Nuggets in playoffs</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2603973/timberwolves-stun-nuggets-in-playoffs</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2603973/timberwolves-stun-nuggets-in-playoffs#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Tue, 21 Apr 26 12:50:22 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2603973</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[They staged a double-digit fightback for a series-leveling 119-114 upset]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Anthony Edwards scored 30 points as the Minnesota Timberwolves staged a double-digit fightback for a series-leveling 119-114 upset of the Denver Nuggets in the NBA playoffs on Monday.
A titanic duel in Denver saw the Wolves overturn an early 19-point deficit before a clinical fourth-quarter display sealed a crucial victory in the best-of-seven Western Conference first-round series.
The Nuggets, 116-105 winners in game one on Saturday, picked up where they left off with a blistering first-quarter performance that pushed them into a 39-25 lead.
But the Timberwolves bounced back in the second quarter to tie the game 64-64 at halftime before edging the second half.
Edwards was backed by 24 points from Julius Randle while Donte DiVincenzo added 16.
Jamal Murray led the Denver scoring with 30 points while Nikola Jokic added 24 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists.
&quot;We did what we expected to do,&quot; Randle said.
&quot;When you&#39;re coming on the road to start a series you want to steal one. So we did that, and now we go home and we&#39;ve got two days to get our bodies right.&quot;
CJ McCollum scored 32 points and led a dramatic fourth-quarter comeback as the Atlanta Hawks overturned a 12-point deficit to score a series-leveling 107-106 defeat of the New York Knicks.
Atlanta looked poised to fall 2-0 down in the series after trailing a confident Knicks line-up by as much as 14 points in the third quarter at Madison Square Garden.
But the Hawks roared back to life in the fourth quarter, hauling themselves back into the contest with an 11-0 run to take a 103-100 lead with under two minutes remaining.
A Jalen Brunson three-pointer tied it at 103-103 but McCollum calmly nailed a fadeaway jump shot to put Atlanta back in front before Jalen Johnson&#39;s dunk gave the Hawks a 107-103 lead with 10 seconds remaining.
Another Brunson three-pointer cut the lead to 107-106 to set up a frantic finale, but Mikal Bridges missed an attempted buzzer-beater for New York and Atlanta claimed the win.

Cavs in control&nbsp;

&quot;It&#39;s not a series until you get one on the road -- and we&#39;ve got one,&quot; McCollum said. &quot;We&#39;re tough, we&#39;re young, but we&#39;re gaining experience by the day.
&quot;We didn&#39;t play our best basketball tonight but we gave ourselves a bunch of chances and we did enough to win.&quot;
Donovan Mitchell and James Harden combined for 58 points as the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Toronto Raptors 115-105 to take a commanding 2-0 lead in their Eastern Conference series.
Fourth seeds Cleveland, convincing 126-113 victors in game one on Saturday, once again proved too strong for fifth-seeded Toronto as they powered to a wire-to-wire victory.
Mitchell scored 30 points including four three-pointers while Harden finished with 28 points, five rebounds and four assists.
Evan Mobley also had a big night for the Cavs, weighing in with 25 points from an efficient 11-of-13 shooting display.
The Cavs&#39; victory provided more evidence that the offensive partnership between Mitchell and the 36-year-old Harden, who was traded to the team in February, is blossoming at the right time for Cleveland.
&quot;He&#39;s been doing it a little bit longer than me but we&#39;ve still been doing it for a long time -- just trying to find ways to win,&quot; Mitchell said of Harden.
&quot;Whether it&#39;s passing, it&#39;s rebounding, getting stops -- when you have two guys who are trying to chase the same thing, it definitely helps for sure,&quot; Mitchell added.
Toronto&#39;s scoring was led by Scottie Barnes with 26 points while RJ Barrett added 22.
Game three of the series takes place in Toronto on Thursday.]]>
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			<title>Australia's Green wins playoff</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2603798/australias-green-wins-playoff</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2603798/australias-green-wins-playoff#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 20 Apr 26 14:50:49 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2603798</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[She had muscled her way into the playoff with a four-under-par 68]]>
			</description>
			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Australia&#39;s in-form Hannah Green birdied the first hole of a three-way playoff to capture her third LA Championship title on Sunday on the LPGA Tour.

Green curled in a long birdie putt at the first hole of sudden death to edge South Koreans Kim Sei-young and Im Jin-hee for her eighth LPGA crown.

She had muscled her way into the playoff with a four-under-par 68 that included five birdies on the back nine.

The victory in the last event before the first women&#39;s major of the year, next week&#39;s Chevron Championship in Houston, is Green&#39;s fourth worldwide this year.

&quot;I felt like I was doing what I said I wanted to do yesterday, hit more greens,&quot; said Green, who started the day two shots off Kim&#39;s lead and admitted that after a birdie and two bogeys on the front nine &quot;I honestly didn&#39;t think I was in the tournament still.&quot;

&quot;I&#39;m just fortunate that I at least got into the playoff,&quot; said Green, who joined Kim and Im on 17-under 217.

&quot;I had that putt, very similar line, in regulation. It still was a tough putt so really glad it went in the hole.&quot;

Green is in red-hot form, winning the HSBC Women&#39;s World Championship in Singapore and the Women&#39;s Australian Open and Australian WPGA this year.

Although it&#39;s her third LA Championship crown, Green couldn&#39;t lean on familiarity with the course.

She won in 2023 and 2024 at Wilshire Country Club, while this year&#39;s edition was played at El Caballero for a second straight season because of course renovations at Wilshire.

Kim, a 13-time LPGA winner, started the day with a two-shot lead after a rollercoaster third round that saw her eight-shot advantage evaporate with four straight bogeys.

With the help of a chip-in eagle at the par-five 11th she was up by one with two holes to play but bogeyed the par-three 17th on the way to a two-under 70.

&quot;Just a little disappointed because I had a good chance for the win,&quot; she said.

Im&#39;s chances of a second LPGA title looked dim after a double bogey at the 10th but she powered back with a five-under 67, joining the leaders with an eagle at the par-five 16th.

They returned to 18 for the playoff, where Im missed the green with her second shot and Kim missed her birdie attempt to set the stage for Green.]]>
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			<title>FIA hails 'invaluable input' from drivers ahead of F1 meeting</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2603797/fia-hails-invaluable-input-from-drivers-ahead-of-f1-meeting</link>
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			<pubDate>Mon, 20 Apr 26 14:48:31 +0500</pubDate>
			<dc:creator>
				<![CDATA[REUTERS]]>
			</dc:creator>
			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2603797</guid>
			<description>
				<![CDATA[The sport has undergone the biggest change in decades]]>
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			<content:encoded>
				<![CDATA[Formula One&#39;s governing body has hailed drivers for their &#39;invaluable&#39; input ahead of a teams ​meeting on Monday that will put forward proposed rule changes to improve racing.

The &zwnj;sport has undergone the biggest change in decades on the chassis and engine with new power units that are split roughly 50-50 between electric and combustion power.

Drivers have, however, complained about the impact on racing and ​raised safety concerns from having to ease off the throttle early and coast ​into high-speed corners so the combustion engine can recharge the battery.

International Automobile ⁠Federation (FIA) president Mohammed Ben Sulayem said on social media on Sunday that there had been &quot;constructive ​and collaborative discussion&quot; between the governing body and drivers ahead of the meeting with team principals ​and F1 stakeholders.

&quot;The drivers have provided invaluable input on adjustments which they feel should be made, particularly in the areas of energy management to ensure safe, fair and competitive racing.&quot;

Ben Sulayem said a series of ​meetings had also been held with technical representatives of teams and engine manufacturers to discuss ​proposed changes.

&quot;Safety and the best interests of the sport are the main focus of these discussions,&quot; he added.

&quot;Following &zwnj;the ⁠meeting tomorrow, the final proposals will be put before a FIA WMSC (World Motor Sport Council) e-Vote.&quot;

Mercedes driver George Russell, a director of the Grand Prix Drivers&#39; Association (GPDA), told reporters last week that the relationship between the drivers and FIA was &quot;probably the closest&quot; it had been in years ​and the governing body ​understood what needed ⁠to be done.

&quot;There have been some very positive conversations with the FIA, and everybody is aligned with what we&#39;re trying to achieve,&quot; he ​said. &quot;I think the two headline points are flat-out qualifying, so no lift ​and coast, ⁠and then reducing the closing speeds.&quot;

Haas driver Oliver Bearman crashed heavily in Japan last month in an incident that sparked calls for the FIA to make safety-related changes.

Bearman&#39;s car hit the barriers ⁠with a ​force of 50G after approaching and swerving to avoid ​Franco Colapinto&#39;s Alpine with a 50-kph difference in speed between the cars as one deployed an electrical power boost ​while the other was low on battery and lacked power. REUTERS]]>
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			<title>India 'extremely high' doping risk: AIU</title>
			<link>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2603796/india-extremely-high-doping-risk-aiu</link>
			<comments>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2603796/india-extremely-high-doping-risk-aiu#comments</comments>
			<pubDate>Mon, 20 Apr 26 14:46:17 +0500</pubDate>
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				<![CDATA[AFP]]>
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			<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>
			<guid isPermaLink="false">https://tribune.com.pk/?p=2603796</guid>
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				<![CDATA[They have been elevated to a list of nations including Russia]]>
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				<![CDATA[India has been elevated to a list of nations including Russia where there is an &quot;extremely high&quot; risk of doping, the Athletics Integrity Unit said on Monday.

The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) joins the likes of Russia, Belarus, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria and Ukraine in the AIU&#39;s highest rating of Category A after being moved up from Category B.

Category A means India&#39;s athletes must now comply with more stringent anti-doping requirements.

The world&#39;s most populous country ranked in the top two for the most anti-doping violations in athletics between 2022 and 2025, the AIU said.

&quot;The doping situation in India has been high-risk for a long time and, unfortunately, the quality of the domestic anti-doping programme is simply not proportionate to the doping risk,&quot; AIU chair David Howman said.

&quot;While the AFI has advocated for anti-doping reforms within India, not enough has changed.

&quot;The AIU will now work with the AFI to achieve reforms to safeguard the integrity of the sport of athletics, as we have done with other Category A member federations.&quot;

The AIU is an independent body tasked with fighting corruption and wrongdoing, including doping, in athletics.

India is set to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games, seen as a stepping stone for its ambition of staging the 2036 Olympics.

In the latest doping case in Indian athletics, Asian Games gold medallist archer Prathamesh Jawkar has been banned for two years.

He accepted the punishment for a whereabouts failure and will miss the Asian Games in September-October in Japan.

World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) chief Witold Banka was in New Delhi last week and said India is the biggest producer of performance-enhancing drugs.

However he noted that India consistently leading the list of drug cheats will not hamper its chances of hosting prestigious global sporting events.]]>
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