Pakistani sisters among 4 gold winners in Australian Squash Championship
Five Pakistani players, including two of the well-known Ali sisters, delivered dominant performances in the finals of the Australian Junior Open Squash Championship in Melbourne, securing four gold medals and one silver across various categories.
Four out of five Pakistani finalists emerged victorious at the Australian Junior Open Squash Championship, with each winner claiming their title without losing a single game, all posting identical 3-0 wins.
Among the standout performers were Mehwish Ali and Sehrish Ali, two of the three squash-playing sisters from Peshawar, often referred to as the Ali sisters.
Top seed Mehwish won the girls' under-17 title, defeating New South Wales' Reden Alma Paulava.
In the girls' under-13 category, top-seeded Sehrish overcame Queensland's Ryo Kua Bata in straight games.
In the boys' under-17 final, Rawalpindi's Azaan Ali Khan, seeded second, beat New South Wales' Henry Cross, while Ahmed Ali Naaz, also seeded second, clinched the boys' under-12 title with a win over the United States' Flee.
Sehrish Ali, who competed in two events, was the only Pakistani to miss out on gold. She earned silver in the girls' under-15 final after a tight five-game battle against Japan's M. Emily Senior, eventually losing 3-2.
This marks just the third time in squash history that three biological sisters qualified for finals in an international platinum-category event.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Recorder
6 hours ago
- Business Recorder
ICC releases new T20 rankings: no Pakistani cricketer in top 10
The Intentional Cricket Council (ICC) on Wednesday released its latest T20 cricket rankings, and once again, no Pakistani player has made it into the top 10 for either batting or bowling. Australia's Travis Head remains at the summit of the batting rankings. India's Abhishek Sharma holds onto the second spot, while countryman Tilak Varma climbs to third after a solid performance. Babar, Rizwan slip in ICC T20I rankings; Haris makes significant leap England's Phil Salt slips one place to fourth, with Jos Buttler rising to fifth, and Suryakumar Yadav dropping to sixth. Pakistan's top batters are Babar Azam, ranked 12th, and Mohammad Rizwan, at 13th. New Zealand's Jacob Duffy holds onto the No. 1 bowling position. England's Adil Rashid jumps two spots to second, and India's Varun Chakravarthy remains third. Pakistan, however, fails to feature in the top ten bowlers. Haris Rauf and Abbas Afridi both show slight improvement, ranking at 19th and 20th respectively. India's Hardik Pandya retains his position at the top of the all-rounder rankings.
Express Tribune
8 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Pakistani players retain positions in latest ICC T20I rankings
Pakistan's bowlers have made notable strides in the latest ICC T20I rankings, propelled by strong performances in recent international matches. Fast bowlers Haris Rauf and Abbas Afridi have both advanced in the rankings, now sharing the 18th position with 605 rating points. Shaheen Afridi, the left-arm pacer, has also risen, securing the 35th spot with 552 points. Pakistan's T20I vice-captain, Shadab Khan, moved up to 58th, alongside spinner Abrar Ahmed, who both earned 476 points. However, young bowlers Naseem Shah and Sufiyan Muqeem have seen a decline, falling to 92nd and 95th positions, with 407 and 406 points, respectively. No Pakistani bowler is currently in the top 10. New Zealand's Jacob Duffy tops the T20I bowling rankings, while England's Adil Rashid holds second place. India's Varun Chakaravarthy has dropped to third. In the T20I batting rankings, Pakistan's Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan remain in the 12th and 13th spots, respectively, while wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Haris holds firm at 30th. Babar is the top-ranked Pakistani batter in his position. Middle-order batter Hasan Nawaz has dropped to 46th, and Saim Ayub has fallen to 62nd. Pakistan's T20I captain (name omitted) has slipped two places to 76th, while Fakhar Zaman has fallen to 87th. Australia's Travis Head continues to dominate the batting rankings, with India's Abhishek Sharma in second. England's Phil Salt has slipped to fourth, as India's Tilak Varma rises to third.
Express Tribune
13 hours ago
- Express Tribune
PCB grants NOCs to top Pakistani players for participation in leagues
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has granted No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to a select group of players, including Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Mohammad Rizwan, enabling them to participate in various high-profile international leagues this summer. This move comes as part of the board's broader strategy to give players valuable exposure while balancing their workload. According to the PCB's announcement, centrally contracted players are permitted to participate in only two foreign leagues per calendar year. The issuance of NOCs is therefore contingent on this rule, which the PCB uses to maintain a balance between players' international commitments and their opportunities to play in lucrative franchise competitions. Breakdown of Players and Leagues Several Pakistani cricketers are set to feature in some of the most renowned international leagues this summer. Among those granted NOCs are: Big Bash League: Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan County Cricket : Mohammad Amir, Shan Masood, Kashif Ali, Abbas Afridi, Khawaja Khurram, Hasan Ali Global Super League : Khawaja Nafay, Muhammad Nawaz Caribbean Premier League: Muhammad Nawaz, Hassan Khan Although Babar Azam's name has not yet appeared in the first phase of registrations for the Big Bash League (BBL) draft, the inclusion of his name in the PCB's NOC list suggests that he will be available for selection. The BBL 15 Draft, scheduled for June 19, 2025, will see several Pakistani players included in the pool, marking the first time players from Pakistan will be eligible for an entire BBL season. The NOCs, issued as a result of the PCB's strategic planning, aim to keep the players match-ready during off-seasons and offer them the chance to hone their skills in different playing conditions. This exposure is expected to help them return to national duty in top form, ready for key tournaments like the ICC T20 World Cup. The PCB's approach also aligns with the shifting dynamics of the global cricket calendar, which increasingly features overlapping franchise leagues. By allowing its top players to participate, the PCB ensures that they remain engaged with the game while preparing for future international commitments. Furthermore, with the rise of franchise cricket, the PCB's decision also reflects an understanding of the financial and career opportunities available to players through these leagues. The board's policy ensures that these opportunities are balanced with the players' national commitments, preventing burnout and allowing them to stay fresh and motivated. As the summer's international leagues approach, the PCB's strategic moves will help its players stay at the top of their game while contributing to the ongoing growth of Pakistani cricket on the global stage.
