June 15, 2025
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Cricket

Salman Ali Agha in line to become all-format captain for Pakistan team

Salman Ali Agha in line to become all-format captain for Pakistan team

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A file image of Pkistan player Salman Ali Agha | Photo Credit: AP The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is expected to make some sweeping changes in its national team set-up, with Salman Ali Agha in line to become all-format captain, replacing Shan Masood as the skipper of the Test side. Besides the change in captaincy, the board will also be announcing the formation of an “observatory” committee after Eid holidays, a concept meant to keep a close watch on cricket developments, including in the national team and forward recommendations to the board’s chairman. A source in the board said that former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed and ex-pacer Sikander Bakht had been called to Lahore for a meeting. “The two were informed about the decision to form the observatory committee and offered positions on it,” the source said. “Some other players will also be on this committee.” He said PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, after discussions with his close aides, including new white ball head coach Mike Hesson, is also considering redefining the role of the national selection committee. “Either there will be changes in the current selection committee, which would continue to work with the Pakistan team management, or a new selection set-up would be announced with prime focus on looking and finding talent from domestic and age group cricket,” the source said. Naqvi, the source added, wanted to see things move forward with the right people in the right positions and with the coach and captain given powers to select the teams. There is also a move to give more responsibility to Salman Ali Agha, who is currently the national T20 captain, and the board is contemplating replacing Shan Masood as the Test skipper when they announce the new head coach of the red ball format. Pakistan’s next Test assignment, which is their first in the ICC World Test Championship new cycle, will be a two-match home series against South Africa later this year. Pakistan is slated to play just five Tests this calendar year. Published – June 08, 2025 06:14 pm IST

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Alcaraz vs Sinner, French Open Final 2025 Live Score: Carlos Alcaraz bids to defend his Roland Garros title against Jannik Sinner

Alcaraz vs Sinner, French Open Final 2025 Live Score: Carlos Alcaraz bids to defend his Roland Garros title against Jannik Sinner

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Alcaraz vs Sinner, French Open Final 2025 Live Score: A seismic shift in men’s tennis is underway as Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner prepare to meet in the 2024 French Open final, marking the first Grand Slam title match between two players born in the 2000s. With the Big Three era of Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer drawing to a close, Sunday’s showdown promises to be the defining clash of a new generation. Alcaraz, 22, enters the final as the defending champion at Roland Garros, eyeing his fifth Grand Slam title and a chance to become only the third man this century, after Nadal and Gustavo Kuerten, to successfully defend the Coupe des Mousquetaires. Meanwhile, Sinner, 23, ranked world No. 1, seeks his third consecutive Slam title after winning the 2023 US Open and the 2024 Australian Open. He’s unbeaten in Grand Slam finals and has extended his major-winning streak to 20 matches. While Alcaraz leads their head-to-head 7-4, including a recent win in the Italian Open final, Sinner has been dominant in Paris, reaching the final without dropping a single set. His semifinal victory over Djokovic may have signalled the end of the Serbian legend’s French Open dominance, and perhaps even his career at Roland Garros. The match also carries extra emotional weight. Alcaraz has acknowledged the intensity Sinner brings, calling him the “best tennis player right now.” The Spaniard knows he must rise to another level to hold off the red-hot Italian. Meanwhile, Sinner, undistracted by the controversy surrounding his brief doping suspension earlier this year (which authorities ruled accidental), has been all business on court. Both players are unbeaten in Slam finals, but that record will change on Sunday. The winner won’t just walk away with a trophy—they will likely walk into the role of tennis’s next dominant figure. For fans, this is more than a match; it’s the start of a new era, perhaps the modern-day equivalent of Federer vs. Nadal. And as Novak Djokovic said himself: “Their rivalry is something that our sport needs.” Get ready. The future of men’s tennis begins now, and it starts on the red clay of Roland Garros.

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Australia vs South Africa, WTC Final: A look back at Proteas' run during 2023-25 cycle | Cricket News

Australia vs South Africa, WTC Final: A look back at Proteas’ run during 2023-25 cycle | Cricket News

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Temba Bavuma (captain) of South Africa (Photo by Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images/Getty Images) NEW DELHI: After years of near-misses in ICC knockouts, South Africa now have their eyes on history as they prepare to face Australia in the World Test Championship (WTC) Final at Lord’s from June 11. The Proteas bounced back strongly after a shaky start to the WTC 2023-25 cycle, losing three of their first four Tests. However, they turned things around with consistent performances to top the table with eight wins and 100 points.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!South Africa’s campaign kicked off at home against India, splitting the series 1-1. Dean Elgar’s 185 and a dominant pace attack gave them a crushing win in the first Test, while India hit back in Cape Town after collapsing SA’s batting lineup. Elgar retired after the series.The away tour to New Zealand was a setback. Fielding a second-string side, SA lost 0-2. Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson’s heroics overshadowed performances from Bedingham and Piedt, who still managed individual highs.In the Caribbean, South Africa fought back. A drawn first Test was followed by a thrilling 40-run win in the second. Wiaan Mulder starred with both bat and ball, while Keshav Maharaj claimed the Player of the Series award with 13 wickets. Poll Will South Africa finally win their first ICC title in the WTC Final against Australia? Bangladesh proved a happy hunting ground as SA swept the series 2-0. Rabada was sensational with 14 wickets, while de Zorzi and Kyle Verreynne impressed with the bat. This marked SA’s first Test series win in Asia in a decade.Back home, South Africa dominated Sri Lanka with back-to-back wins. Marco Jansen and Dane Paterson spearheaded the bowling unit, while Bavuma led with the bat, earning Player of the Series honours. Bombay Sport Exchange Ep. 6: Harish Thawani on cricket’s TV market and the watershed moments The final series before the WTC Final saw SA edge Pakistan 2-0. A nervy two-wicket win at Centurion was followed by a crushing 10-wicket triumph in Cape Town, featuring a career-best 259* from Ryan Rickelton.Key performers include Kagiso Rabada, who took 47 wickets in 10 matches, and David Bedingham, SA’s top scorer with 645 runs. Skipper Temba Bavuma also played a key role, scoring 609 runs in seven games.Now, with momentum on their side and a balanced squad, South Africa will aim to end decades of ICC heartbreak and finally claim their first global title at the “Ultimate Test”.

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IND vs ENG Test series: Shubman Gill-led India begin training in England

IND vs ENG Test series: Shubman Gill-led India begin training in England

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Head coach Gautam Gambhir with Test captain Shubman Gill during a press conference. | Photo Credit: ANI India hit the ground running with a high-intensity training session at Lord’s, ahead of the five-match series against England beginning June 20 at Leeds. The pace quartet of Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj and Arshdeep Singh, alongside new captain Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja trained under head coach Gautam Gambhir. Gill was made India’s 37th Test captain following the retirements of stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. He is leading a relatively young side eyeing their first Test series win in England since 2007. The series begins at Headingley followed by Tests at Edgbaston, Lord’s, Old Trafford and The Oval. India A players, including some from the main squad, are already acclimatising in English conditions, currently involved in the second official Test against England Lions in Northampton. Published – June 08, 2025 12:52 pm IST

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Colombian presidential candidate shot at rally

Mauricio Pochettino rules out return as Tottenham Hotspur manager amid vacancy

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United States head coach Mauricio Pochettino has dismissed speculation linking him with a return to Tottenham Hotspur, calling the idea “not realistic” as the Premier League club begins its search for a new manager. Spurs parted ways with Ange Postecoglou on Friday, just over two weeks after he led them to their first major trophy in 17 years with a 1-0 victory over Manchester United in the Europa League final. Despite that success, the club endured a dismal domestic campaign, finishing just above the Premier League’s relegation zone after 22 defeats-marking their worst season in nearly 50 years. Pochettino, who previously managed Tottenham from 2014 to 2019 and guided them to the Champions League final in 2019, has long been linked with a potential return whenever the manager’s seat becomes vacant. But speaking after the U.S. national team’s 2-1 defeat to Turkey in a friendly on Saturday, the Argentine played down the rumours. “After I left in 2019, every time I was free and the manager’s position at Tottenham was open, my name appeared,” said Pochettino. “If you’ve seen the rumours, I think there are 100 coaches on the list. Don’t worry about that.” The 53-year-old, who previously managed Espanyol, Southampton, and Paris Saint-Germain, signed a two-year deal to lead the U.S. men’s national team in September. His current focus is preparing the squad for the 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. “If something happened, for sure you would see, but we can’t talk about this kind of thing because today, it’s not real. It’s not realistic,” he added. “And look at where I am, where we are. The answer is so clear, no? But we’re talking about it because it’s my club-like Newell’s or Espanyol.” Spurs have been linked with several potential candidates to replace Postecoglou, including Brentford’s Thomas Frank, Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner, and Fulham’s Marco Silva. Whoever takes the reins will become the club’s fifth permanent manager in just six years. The U.S. will aim to bounce back when they host Switzerland in Nashville on Tuesday, hoping to avoid a fourth straight defeat under Pochettino’s leadership. Published By: Saurabh Kumar Published On: Jun 8, 2025

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Aryna Sabalenka

Aryna Sabalenka’s plans to deal with French Open heartbreak: Tequila and gummy bears

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World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka said she plans to cope with the heartbreak of not winning the 2025 French Open title by swimming, enjoying gummy bears, and sipping tequila on the Greek island of Mykonos. On Saturday, June 7, Sabalenka gave herself a strong chance of becoming champion after winning the opening set of the women’s singles final against Coco Gauff from the United States. However, she lost momentum as Gauff mounted a comeback, ultimately winning the match 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-4 in two hours and 38 minutes pm Court Philippe-Chatrier. French Open 2025 women’s singles final Highlights Devastated by the loss, Sabalenka admitted she needs some time off to process the outcome and move on from the disappointment of missing out on her maiden Roland Garros title. “I already have a flight booked to Mykonos and alcohol, sugar. I just need couple of days to completely forget about this crazy world and this crazy — if I could swear, I would swear right now, but this crazy thing that happened today,” Sabalenka told the reporters after the match. “I think everyone understands. I’m just trying to be very polite right now, but there is no other word that could describe what just happened today on the court. “Tequila, gummy bears and swimming, being like a tourist for a couple of days,” Sabalenka added. Aryna Sabalenka falls short in Paris Back in 2023, Sabalenka had lost to Gauff in the final of the US Open. She had a chance to make amends two years later, but couldn’t have the last laugh. Sabalenka made as many as 70 unforced errors, leading to her downfall. Gauff became the first woman in tennis history to rally from a set down to win their first two major titles. Gauff also made amends from her straight set loss to Sabalenka in the final of the Madrid Open. Published By: sabyasachi chowdhury Published On: Jun 8, 2025

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