Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Thomas tears through Pakistan in West Indies World Cup warning

A blistering Oshane Thomas-led pace attack swept Pakistan away for a dismal 105 on Friday as West Indies wrapped up a seven-wicket victory in their World Cup opener at Trent Bridge.

Chris Gayle, set to retire at the end of the tournament, then led the West Indies reply with 50 off 34 balls as the two-times champions reached 108-3 off just 13.4 overs.


Having won the toss and elected to field, West Indies made full use of overcast conditions as Thomas took four wickets for 27 runs, while captain Jason Holder (3-42) and the returning Andre Russell (2-4) completed the demolition job.

"It's good to have a young quick like Oshane, we know he can be expensive at times but he's a genuine wicket-taker," Holder said after the match.

"That's the gamble we need to take in one-dayers, with big scores going around."

Pakistan's batsmen have struggled with short deliveries and West Indies' plan to pepper them with bouncers soon paid off.

Opener Imam-ul-Haq was caught behind down the leg side off fast bowler Sheldon Cottrel before Russell hit Fakhar Zaman on the helmet and the ball ricocheted onto the stumps.

Wicketkeeper Shai Hope grabbed two more catches when Russell and Holder removed Haris Sohail and captain Sarfaraz Ahmed to leave Pakistan on 75-5.

Wahab Riaz struck 18 off 11 balls to help Pakistan breach the 100-run mark before he was cleaned up by Thomas.

"I was confident of running in and doing my job," man-of-the-match Thomas said.

"Andre Russell started it for us, I just followed his footsteps today. Lot of guys tried to mix it up with short balls. We wanted to execute our plans well."

The only concerns for the West Indies were Russell limping with a knee issue in the first innings, while Gayle appeared to have sustained a back injury.

After smashing two fours and a six in the 10th over, Gayle appeared to hold his back and limp to the other end for a single. He looked increasingly edgy before holing out to point for Mohammad Amir's third wicket of the match.

BATTING WOES

Pakistan 21.4-over innings was their lowest World Cup total since making 74 against England at Adelaide in 1992, the year Imran Khan's team went on to lift their only 50-overs crown.

The in-form Zaman and Babar Azam got off to solid starts but were both dismissed for 22, exposing the middle order against the new ball and Pakistan never recovered.

The hammering was Pakistan's 11th consecutive ODI defeat in matches where a result was achieved, following series losses to Australia and England.

"If you lose the toss and lose so many wickets early on, it's tough to come back into the game," Sarfaraz said.

"It was tricky for half an hour, but this is a good batting track, we didn't bat well. I think we have to play positive cricket, didn't do well today but hopefully we'll bounce back."

Pakistan next face hosts England on Monday, while the West Indies take on defending champions Australia three days later.

More For You

India vs Pakistan

The PCB had complained to the ICC, alleging that Pycroft instructed Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha not to shake hands with Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav at the toss in Sunday’s Asia Cup match.

Getty Images

ICC rejects PCB request to drop Pycroft from Asia Cup panel

THE International Cricket Council (ICC) has rejected Pakistan’s request to remove match referee Andy Pycroft from the Asia Cup. The decision came after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) blamed the Zimbabwean official for the “no handshake” incident during their game against India and reportedly threatened to pull out of the tournament.

The PCB had complained to the ICC, alleging that Pycroft instructed Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha not to shake hands with Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav at the toss in Sunday’s Asia Cup match.

Keep ReadingShow less
11th UK Gatka Championship

All winners received medals and trophies

UK Parliament

11th UK Gatka Championship ends with Welsh debut and £1,000 support for Gatka Akharas

Highlights:

  • The 11th UK National Gatka Championship was hosted near Cardiff, marking the first time in Wales.
  • Winners included Roop Kaur (girls), Navjot Singh (boys), and Gurdeep Singh (men’s).
  • Gatka Federation UK awarded £1,000 to each participating Akhara to support martial arts promotion.
  • Chief guests included MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi and Harjeet Singh Grewal, President of the World Gatka Federation.

Gatka Championship marks Welsh debut

The 11th UK National Gatka Championship concluded on a high note near Cardiff, Wales, showcasing the traditional Sikh martial art with flair. Seven leading Gatka Akharas participated, thrilling spectators with their lightning-fast strikes, precision moves and elegant techniques.

Inauguration by global leaders

The tournament was inaugurated by Harjeet Singh Grewal, President of the World Gatka Federation (WGF) and the National Gatka Association of India (NGAI). He was joined by Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi MP, President of Gatka Federation UK, alongside other dignitaries including Jagbir Singh Jagga Chakar, President of Wales Kabaddi Club, and community leaders from the Haveli Hotel Pontyclun.

Keep ReadingShow less
'This Girl Can' calls out erasure of south Asian Muslim women from UK sport with bold new visibility drive

This Girl Can calls out erasure of south Asian Muslim women from UK sport

'This Girl Can' calls out erasure of south Asian Muslim women from UK sport with bold new visibility drive

Highlights:

  • New ‘We Like the Way You Move’ campaign launched by Sport England initiative This Girl Can.
  • Focus on improving representation of South Asian Muslim women in sport and physical activity.
  • Research highlights stark under-representation of women of colour in public sports imagery.
  • Campaign calls on providers to create inclusive, women-only and culturally sensitive spaces.

This Girl Can has unveiled a powerful new campaign spotlighting South Asian Muslim women in sport, aiming to redefine what being active looks like and tackle deep-rooted barriers. The We Like the Way You Move drive, launched by Sport England, uses strong visuals with community-driven storytelling to encourage participation and promote inclusivity. It comes alongside new data exposing how women of colour remain overlooked in public representations of physical activity.

This Girl Can calls out erasure of south Asian Muslim women from UK sport www.easterneye.biz

Keep ReadingShow less
Asia Cup 2025: India and Pakistan brace for high-stakes clash

Cricket fans with their bodies painted in the colours of the Indian and Pakistani national flags pose for photographs ahead of the Asia Cup 2025 match between India and Pakistan, in Ahmedabad. (PTI Photo)

Asia Cup 2025: India and Pakistan brace for high-stakes clash

INDIA and Pakistan face off on Sunday (14) in their first T20 International in more than 15 months, a contest carrying both sporting and political weight.

India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate has urged his players to put emotions aside after recent cross-border tensions, stressing that focus must remain on cricket.

Keep ReadingShow less
India Pak

India began their campaign with a nine-wicket win against the UAE, bowling them out for 57 in 13.1 overs before chasing the target in just 27 balls on Thursday. (Photo: Getty Images)

India and Pakistan set for Asia Cup clash after May conflict

AN INDIA-PAKISTAN cricket match always draws attention, and emotions are set to run high when the two teams meet on Sunday in the Asia Cup. The contest comes months after the neighbours engaged in a four-day military conflict in May.

Bilateral cricket ties between the two countries have been suspended for years, and the arch-rivals now face each other only in multi-nation tournaments. The upcoming Group A fixture will be their first meeting since the May clashes, which nearly escalated into a full-scale war.

Keep ReadingShow less