Skip to content 
Search

Latest Stories

Amir fit and plays in Champions Trophy final

Pace bowler Mohammad Amir is fit and will play for Pakistan in the Champions Trophy final at The Oval on Sunday, coach Mickey Arthur has told a news conference.

A back spasm kept Amir out as Pakistan defeated hosts England brilliantly on Wednesday but Arthur is now pinning his hopes on a full-strength attack to contain India's batsmen better than most other sides have managed so far.


"If we can get amongst them with the new ball, we can expose the middle order that hasn't batted much in this competition, so that's pretty much our aim and focus," the South African Arthur said on Saturday.

Arthur believes that the way his players recovered from a heavy defeat by India in the group stage with impressive victories over South Africa and England proves that it was merely "an aberration".

"That was something we hadn't prepared for," he said.

"We knew how hard the guys had prepared. So what we've produced after that doesn't come as any surprise because that's how we trained, and that's what we worked at.

"It was very disappointing to see that go wrong in the Indian game. But we've closed the chapter on that. We're now moving forward. And the guys have played really well."

With eight wins in the teams' previous 10 World Cup and Champions Trophy meetings, India are firm favourites but Arthur has taken confidence from their defeat in the group stage by Sri Lanka.

"Sri Lanka batted exceptionally well there. They played fielders' cricket. They took the game on. But we've got to look at our strengths, and our strength has been the fact that we've been able to take wickets consistently through the middle periods.

"We've got to play to our strengths, and our strength certainly is with the ball. I said it before the England game, if we put our "A" game together and do the basics well, we can beat anybody."

As for the intense pressure that will surround the final, Arthur said he hoped his young players could draw on their experience of the Pakistan Super League.

"Exposure to high-pressure situations is what India have had above Pakistan," he said.

"The PSL has been a very, very successful competition. So that exposes more and more young players to pressure situations, and I think the more we can expose our guys to those situations, the better results we get out on the ground."

More For You

india-england-lords-getty

Brydon Carse celebrates dismissing Karun Nair during day four of the 3rd Test between England and India at Lord's Cricket Ground on July 13, 2025. (Photo: Getty Images)

India stumble after bowling out England, third Test set for final-day finish

INDIA were left needing 135 more runs to win with six wickets in hand after a top-order collapse on the fourth day of the third Test against England at Lord’s on Sunday.

Chasing 193 for victory, India ended the day on 58-4 after earlier bowling out England for 192 in their second innings. Washington Sundar was the pick of the bowlers with 4-22, dismissing Joe Root, Jamie Smith and England captain Ben Stokes on an increasingly challenging surface.

Keep ReadingShow less
Sinner-Wimbledon-Trophy-Getty

Sinner said he was living his 'dream', receiving a loud reaction from the Centre Court crowd. (Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images

Sinner claims maiden Wimbledon crown, beats Alcaraz in final

Highlights:

  • Sinner becomes the first Italian man to win singles at the All England Club
  • Sinner avenges French Open loss, wins in four sets
  • Sinner and Alcaraz have now shared the last seven Grand Slam titles

Jannik Sinner beat Carlos Alcaraz 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 on Sunday to win his first Wimbledon title and take revenge for his loss to the Spaniard in the French Open final.

Keep ReadingShow less
Crawley's last-over 'theatrics' ignite time-wasting controversy at Lord's

England's Zak Crawley clashes with India's Shubman Gill. Reuters/Peter Cziborra

Crawley's last-over 'theatrics' ignite time-wasting controversy at Lord's

A GRIPPING third day of the third Test at Lord’s ended in controversy on Saturday (12) as England opener Zak Crawley was accused of time-wasting, with tempers flaring between players from both sides.

What began as a tense cricketing contest turned into a verbal battle, as England and India pointed fingers at each other over questionable delays late in the day.

Keep ReadingShow less
Iga Swiatek crushes Anisimova to claim historic Wimbledon title

Poland's Iga Swiatek celebrates with the trophy after winning the women's singles final against Amanda Anisimova of the US. REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq

Iga Swiatek crushes Anisimova to claim historic Wimbledon title

IGA SWIATEK took another stride towards tennis greatness by ruthlessly tearing apart American 13th seed Amanda Anisimova 6-0 6-0 and lifting her first Wimbledon trophy on Saturday (12).

The big occasion turned into a nightmare for Anisimova who became the first woman to lose a Wimbledon final by that painful scoreline since 1911 and the first to do so at any major since Steffi Graf routed Natasha Zvereva at the 1988 French Open.

Keep ReadingShow less
Sinner-Getty

Sinner, who has already won the US Open and Australian Open, will now face defending champion Carlos Alcaraz. (Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images

Sinner thrashes Djokovic to reach first Wimbledon final

Highlights:

     
  • Sinner will face Carlos Alcaraz in a rematch of the French Open final
  •  
  • Djokovic admits physical struggles and injury played a role in defeat
  •  
  • Despite loss, Djokovic says he plans to return to Wimbledon next year

JANNIK SINNER defeated Novak Djokovic in straight sets in the Wimbledon semi-final on Friday to reach his first final at the All England Club. The world number one won 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 and will face Carlos Alcaraz in Sunday’s final.

Keep ReadingShow less