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Argentine football star Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football at the age of thirty-nine. He made the announcement on social media, saying the decision was painful but the time had come to step aside and give young players an opportunity. Messi played 207 matches for Argentina and scored 125 goals since making his international debut in 2005. He led Argentina to the FIFA World Cup title in 2022 and won the Copa America in 2021 and 2024. via Original Source

Former Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq has decided to resign from the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) selection committee, sources close to the former cricketer said on Tuesday. Sources said that Misbah has informed the PCB about his decision and will serve a notice period before formally stepping down from his role. The development comes a day after the cricket board announced that seven players alongside two coaches, Sarfaraz Ahmed and Umar Gul, have been released from the Pakistan Test squad ahead of the Third Test against England in Birmingham. Those released included Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Ali Agha, Ali Usman, Aamir Jamal, Muhammad Awais Zafar and Khurram Shahzad, according to a press release issued by the cricket board. The PCB has named seven replacements, comprising five players yet to make their Test debuts and two capped players, ahead of the third Test against England in Birmingham. According to the cricket board, Mike Hesson and Ashley Noffke will repla...

England beat Pakistan by 194 runs in the second Test of the three-match series at Lord’s on Sunday, taking an unassailable lead of 2-0. Chasing a mammoth target of 389, Pakistan were bowled out for 194 despite an exceptional 97 from Saud Shakeel, which ultimately went in vain, while opener Imam-ul-Haq did not come out to bat in the second innings due to injury. Pakistan endured a disastrous start to their chase. Opening batter Azan Awais became the first wicket to fall on the third delivery of the fifth over, with Robinson trapping him leg before wicket for six off 14 deliveries, including one boundary. Robinson struck again on the final delivery of the same over, removing Abdullah Shafique for a duck. Pakistan were subsequently reduced to 14/3 after 7.1 overs when Jofra Archer dismissed captain Babar Azam for six off eight deliveries, with the right-hander hitting one boundary. Pakistan then showed resilience in the second session as Shakeel produced an impressive batting display,...

Pakistan finished 11th at the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 on Friday after beating South Africa 4-3 on penalties in the classification match at Wagener Stadium. The 11th-place finish marked the Green Shirts' best in 20 years as they secured 12th spot in the 2010 and 2018 editions of the mega event, while failing to qualify for the World Cup in 2014 and 2023. Their previous best finish came at the 2006 edition, when they secured sixth place. The enthralling fixture got off to a contrasting start as South Africa took an early lead in the eighth minute through Trevor de Lora, while Dayaan Cassiem doubled their advantage three minutes into the second quarter. Pakistan, however, staged a remarkable comeback in the second quarter, scoring through Afraz and Mohammad Ammad to neutralise South Africa's lead heading into halftime. Rana Waheed Ashraf pulled Pakistan ahead in the second minute of the penultimate quarter, which, however, concluded with the scoreboard reading 3-3 as Mustaph...

Pakistan’s bowlers struck at regular intervals to put England under pressure on a rain-hit opening day of the second Test at Lord’s, with Mohammad Abbas leading the attack with four wickets. Only 56 overs could be bowled during the opening day, which got off to a delayed start due to the rain, and ultimately came to a close around an hour before the scheduled time due to the bad light. At the stumps, the home side were reeling at 248/9 with lower-order batters Gus Atkinson and Josh Tongue, unbeaten on 34 and one, respectively. The final session, comprising just 12 overs, saw Pakistan force their comeback through their pace trio of Mohammad Ali, Khurram Shahzad and Abbas, respectively, as England could muster 68 runs for the loss of four wickets, including that of both set batters, Jordan Cox and Jamie Smith. Cox and Smith resumed England's first innings in the final session from 180/5 and could add seven more to their sixth-wicket partnership before the former was dismissed by ...

Pakistan are considering changes to their playing XI for the second Test against England at Lord's after suffering a heavy defeat in the series opener at Headingley, sources said on Sunday. England defeated Pakistan by an innings and 120 runs in the opening Test on Friday. Pakistan, who faced a 238-run deficit after England's first innings, were bowled out for 118 in their second innings as the hosts secured a convincing victory. The second Test of the three-match series is scheduled to begin at Lord's Cricket Ground, London, on August 27. The sources said the team management is considering changes to the line-up following the defeat, with the playing XI expected to be finalised after assessing conditions in London. Wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan could be rested for the second Test, sources said, while the management is hopeful of star batter Babar Azam returning to the side after he missed the first Test due to a finger injury. If Babar returns, top-order batter ...