
Pakistan's merry-go-round with coaches continues; PCB keen to release Azhar Mahmood
Also Read: Bangladesh vs Pakistan T20I series Live Streaming: Squads and all you need to knowWhen Mahmood was appointed as the acting coach, his first assignment was the two-match Test series against South Africa at home, scheduled for October this year.The issue arose when white-ball coach Mike Hesson stated that having Azhar on the coaching staff was not part of his plans."The problem arose when Mike Hesson, the recently-appointed white-ball head coach made it clear he would have his own support staff and Azhar was not among his selections."This left the PCB with a major problem of how to utilise Azhar's expertise to justify paying him such a handsome salary, as even if they wanted they couldn't release him without the six months of compensation," the insider added.He previously served as Pakistan's bowling coach from 2016 to 2019. In 2024, he acted as head coach during the T20I series against New Zealand.Mahmood also worked as bowling coach for both the Karachi Kings and Multan Sultans in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), and has also served as head coach of Islamabad United.Pakistan is next scheduled to face Bangladesh in a three-match T20I series, beginning June 20 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.- EndsMust Watch

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News18
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Koneru Humpy Vs Divya Deshmukh, Women's Chess World Cup Final 2025 Live Updates
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4 hours ago
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In April 2004, Bahrain became the first nation in the Middle East to host a Formula 1 race/Image: Instagram TL;DR: In April 2004, Bahrain became the first nation in the Middle East to host a Formula 1 race. The Bahrain International Circuit was designed and built in under 18 months at a cost of around USD 150 million. The inaugural Bahrain Grand Prix was won by Michael Schumacher, establishing Ferrari's dominance in the region. Bahrain's success inspired F1 Grands Prix in Abu Dhabi, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia by 2021. The government secured its F1 hosting rights through 2036, one of the sport's longest contract extensions. In late 2002 Bahrain's leadership, led by Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, announced plans for a world-class racing circuit in the desert. They engaged German architect Hermann Tilke to design the Bahrain International Circuit. 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This move coincided with a broader push by Formula 1 to secure strategic venues across the Middle East as part of its global expansion and sustainability roadmap. Innovation, Night Racing, and Sustainability Over the years, the John Tilke-designed track evolved. In 2014, Bahrain hosted its first night race as a celebration of the Grand Prix's 10th anniversary; Turn One was officially renamed 'Schumacher Corner' in honour of Michael Schumacher's legacy and lauded contributions to the sport. Bahrain also organized two separate races in 2020 using distinct track layouts as part of F1's pandemic-era scheduling innovation. In November 2024, the circuit received the FIA's top-tier three-star environmental accreditation, highlighting initiatives in solar power, carbon reduction, waste management, and biodiversity. This followed a solar farm installation that generated over 5 million kWh during the race weekend, offsetting more than 3,100 tonnes of CO₂ emissions as per FIA. Why Bahrain's F1 Moment Was Revolutionary Bahrain was the first Gulf country to bring Formula 1 to the region. Its commitment led to a long-term hosting deal through 2036, unprecedented in Formula 1. The circuit's design, innovation, and sustainability initiatives set benchmarks for new hosts. Bahrain's Grand Prix continues to act as a launchpad for motorsport in the Arab world. Final Reflection: Bahrain's Grand Prix Legacy in 2025 and Beyond More than two decades since it hosted the region's first-ever Formula 1 Grand Prix, Bahrain continues to define the trajectory of motorsport in the Middle East. As of July 2025, the Kingdom remains a pillar of Formula 1's global calendar, not just due to its longevity, but because of its evolving relevance. In March 2025, the Bahrain Grand Prix once again opened the F1 season, a tradition that has become increasingly symbolic of the sport's eastern shift and its reliance on the Gulf for climate-resilient venues, logistical stability, and long-term financial partnerships. While newer hosts like Las Vegas and Saudi Arabia grab headlines for their opulence and scale, Bahrain's event remains praised for its sporting purity, track layout, and operational precision. Teams, drivers, and broadcasters have increasingly referred to Bahrain as a 'benchmark circuit', one that combines state-of-the-art facilities with a deep-rooted motorsport culture nurtured over years of consistent delivery. The night race, now in its 11th year, draws millions of viewers worldwide, while the track's growing use for pre-season testing has cemented its technical importance to teams and engineers alike. In regional context, Bahrain's foresight in locking down hosting rights through 2036 appears even more strategic. With climate and scheduling pressures mounting globally, Formula 1 has shown a clear preference for stable, well-funded venues that can support its environmental and digital transformation goals. Bahrain International Circuit's solar energy offsetting, electric vehicle trials, and digital fan engagement platforms align seamlessly with F1's 'Net Zero 2030' ambitions, according to FIA and Formula 1's most recent sustainability progress reports. Ultimately, Bahrain's place in the sport today is not just historical, it is foundational. It is the only Gulf nation to have hosted a Grand Prix uninterrupted (except for the 2011 cancellation due to civil unrest), and its operational reliability, coupled with visionary leadership, has made it more than just the region's motorsport pioneer. It is now its institutional anchor. As the Middle East deepens its role in hosting global sporting events, from the Asian Games in Doha to the 2034 FIFA World Cup in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain's success story with Formula 1 stands as a model of how long-term vision, strategic investment, and global sporting alignment can turn a desert dream into a world-class legacy.


India Today
7 hours ago
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Koneru Humpy vs Divya Deshmukh: All you need to know about Chess World Cup final
History will be made on Saturday, 26 July, as the final of the FIDE Women's World Cup 2025 kicks off with an all-Indian showdown between Divya Deshmukh and Koneru Humpy. This marks the first time ever that two Indian players will face each other in the final of the prestigious a rest day on Friday, 25 July, the final match will feature two Classical games, scheduled for Saturday and Sunday (26–27 July). If the scores are tied, tiebreaks will be held on Monday, 28 secured her spot by defeating former world champion Zhongyi Tan of China in the semifinals with a powerful performance in Game 2. Humpy, one of India's most decorated chess players, displayed nerves of steel throughout the knockout stages. She edged out China's Tingjie Lei in a dramatic tiebreaker on Thursday after a 3-3 deadlock, dominating the blitz segment to seal her place in the Read: India to host Chess World Cup 2025 in October-NovemberEarlier, Humpy was taken to tie-breaks in the pre-quarterfinals by Switzerland's Alexandra Kosteniuk, herself a former world champion. She then delivered a clinical performance against Yuxin Song, setting the stage for what was arguably her finest moment—outplaying top seed Lei in the five-minute her wealth of experience and recent momentum, Koneru Humpy enters the final as the favourite. But 19-year-old Divya Deshmukh has proven she can take down giants, and will be looking to script a fairytale finish to her Control for Classical games:Each player has 90 minutes for the first 40 moves, followed by 30 minutes for the remainder of the game. A 30-second increment per move begins from move Format:Two rapid games: 10 minutes + 10-second increment per moveIf still tied: Two games of 5 minutes + 3-second incrementIf still tied: Two blitz games of 3 minutes + 2-second incrementIf still tied: Additional 3+2 blitz games will be played until a winner is determinedWhat's the prize money for the Chess World Cup final?Winner: USD 50,000 (approx. Rs 43.23 lakh)Runner-up: USD 35,000 (approx. Rs 30.26 lakh)Where to watch the Chess World Cup final in India?There is no live telecast of the Chess World Cup final. Live Streaming of the match will be available on the FIDE YouTube to watch the Chess World Cup final in India?The match will start at 4:30 PM IST, 7 AM Eastern Time.- Ends