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News18
2 hours ago
- Sport
- News18
Pakistan Hockey Team Invited To Join FIH Pro League After New Zealand Withdrawal
Last Updated: New Zealand withdrew from the FIH Hockey Pro League Men's 2025–26 season, prompting the FIH to invite runners-up Pakistan, who must confirm participation by August 12. Following New Zealand's decision to withdraw from the upcoming FIH Hockey Pro League Men's 2025–26 season—despite having secured victory in the FIH Hockey Nations Cup last month—the International Hockey Federation (FIH) has extended an invitation to the tournament runners-up, Pakistan, in accordance with its regulations. The Pakistan Hockey Association has been given a deadline of August 12 to confirm whether they will accept or decline the invitation. The recently concluded 2024–25 FIH Hockey Pro League saw both Dutch national teams—men's and women's—claim the championship titles. The forthcoming season will mark the seventh edition of the league. India has suspended all bilateral sporting engagements with Pakistan since the 2008 Mumbai attacks, which it attributed to Pakistan-based militants. Pakistan's last visit to India was for the 2023 Asian Champions Trophy, where they finished fifth out of six competing teams. Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated significantly in May during a four-day conflict that resulted in 70 fatalities, marking the worst violence between the two nations in decades. Pakistan had been scheduled to participate in the Asia Cup, set to be hosted in India next month. However, participation is now uncertain as the Pakistan Hockey Federation awaits government clearance to travel. 'After the recent war, the security and safety of our hockey players will be at risk," a source from Pakistan's sports ministry told AFP. The same source confirmed that Pakistan would also skip the Junior World Cup, scheduled to be held in India this November. Once a dominant powerhouse in international hockey—with three Olympic gold medals and four World Cup titles—Pakistan has since declined to 15th in the global rankings. Pakistan's potential absence from the Asia Cup could jeopardize their qualification for the 2026 senior World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the Netherlands and Belgium. A second government official confirmed the decision to AFP. view comments First Published: July 23, 2025, 19:30 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
New Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Enough is enough, Cklamovski wants to move on
KUALA LUMPUR: Peter Cklamovski had wanted to move on, but the issue just refused to die down, much to the chagrin of the national football team head coach. And Cklamovski is not amused with another round of claims that Malaysia were facing a FIFA ban over alleged misuse of naturalised heritage players. Cklamovski admitted at a press conference today that he's getting tired over the matter. It all started when Harimau Malaya fielded five new heritage players: Jon Irazabal, Joao Figueiredo, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Machuca and Facundo Garces in the 4-0 win over Vietnam in an Asia Cup qualifier in Bukit Jalil on June 10. This led to allegations of illegal naturalisation by the FA of Malaysia (FAM), and Cklamovski refuted it numerous times. He said the win over Vietnam should fill Malaysian fans with pride and get all to stand behind the national team. But yet the heritage players issue continues to ignite debate. The 46-year-old Australian said: "I'm getting tired of it, to be honest. It's been weeks since the Vietnam game, but the talks over the players have never stopped. I have moved on from the match and am looking forward to our upcoming matches. "We had the documentation issued by the Malaysian government and FIFA giving the clearance before the Vietnam match. I don't know what more can be done to prove the legitimacy of the players. "Machuca missed his son's birth to play for the national team and Holgado took a long flight and went back almost immediately after the match to return to his club... I don't know how much more these players can show that they want to play for Malaysia. "Indonesia had been naturalising players before us and I have read that Vietnam had amended their law to allow naturalisation. "The national players are playing for Malaysia, no matter where they are from and they need the support from Malaysians." Cklamovski added that Malaysia will play friendlies against Singapore and Palestine on Sept 4 and Sept 8 in Kuala Lumpur respectively. However, fans have questioned FAM over Malaysia's withdrawal (due to logistical and player availability issues) from the Central Asian Football Association Nations Cup from Aug 29-Sept 8. "We will be playing two quality opponents in September, it will be a derby match against Singapore and another tough match against a top 100 side Palestine," said Cklamovski. "There's plenty of rivalry between Malaysia and Singapore so it will be a good test for the players, and Palestine have qualified for the 2027 Asian Cup and had a good run in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. "These two matches will be a good test for the team before we face Laos in our Asia Cup qualifier in October. We hope to get the best players to join the training camp," said Cklamovski.
News18
6 hours ago
- Sport
- News18
Siraj Can Reach Milestone In 100th Match For India, Needs Just 2 Wickets To...
Last Updated: Mohammed Siraj is playing his 100th international match in the fourth Test against England at Old Trafford, aiming to reach 200 wickets. India's persistent pacer Mohammed Siraj is playing his 100th international match in the fourth Test against England at Manchester's Old Trafford Stadium. Siraj also has the opportunity to make this milestone memorable by taking two wickets to reach 200 international scalps. What Is Siraj's Record For India? In his 99 international matches, Siraj has taken 198 wickets at an average of 28.53, with his best figures being 6/15, including five five-wicket hauls. In 39 Tests, he has taken 113 wickets at an average of 30.88, with best figures of 6/15 and four five-wicket hauls. In 44 ODIs, he has claimed 71 wickets at an average of 24.04, with best figures of 6/21. In 16 T20Is, he has taken 14 wickets at an average of 32.28, with best figures of 4/17. Despite his relatively short career, Siraj has earned numerous accolades, including the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 title and the Asia Cup 2023 title. He was named 'Player of the Match' in the Asia Cup final for his outstanding 6/21 that bowled out Sri Lanka for just 50 runs. He also became the first Indian to take four wickets in an over in international cricket during this match. Additionally, Siraj has been ranked as the number one bowler in the ICC ODI Rankings. Siraj excels in overseas conditions, having secured five-wicket hauls in South Africa, Australia, the West Indies, and England. Since his Test debut in 2020, he is India's second most successful bowler overseas, with 88 wickets in 23 Tests at an average of 29.77, with best figures of 6/15 and four five-wicket hauls. Leading the list is Jasprit Bumrah, with 100 wickets in 20 Tests at an average of below 20, best figures of 6/61, and eight five-wicket hauls. Siraj holds the record for the best bowling figures by an Indian at Lord's, with 8/126 achieved in 2021. In the ongoing series, Siraj is the leading wicket-taker with 13 wickets in three matches at an average of 32.00, with best figures of 6/70. Will Siraj deliver a match-winning performance at Manchester? (With inputs from ANI) view comments Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Time of India
IND vs ENG 4th Test: Mohammed Siraj reaches big milestone in career, could make it even more special in Manchester
Mohammed Siraj (Getty Images) India fast bowler Mohammed Siraj will play his 100th international match in the fourth Test against England at Manchester's Old Trafford Stadium, where he needs just two more wickets to reach the milestone of 200 international scalps. Throughout his international career spanning 99 matches, Siraj has claimed 198 wickets at an average of 28.53. India vs England 4th Test Day 1 LIVE Siraj's Test cricket record shows 113 wickets in 39 matches at an average of 30.88, including four five-wicket hauls and best figures of 6/15. In the ODI format, he has taken 71 wickets in 44 matches at an average of 24.04, with his best performance being 6/21. Mohammed Siraj press conference: Akash Deep and Bumrah update, on India vs Pakistan, warning to ENG Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! His T20I statistics include 14 wickets from 16 matches at an average of 32.28, with best figures of 4/17. Siraj has achieved significant success in his career, winning both the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 and Asia Cup 2023. The Asia Cup final proved particularly memorable as he earned the Player of the Match award for his exceptional bowling figures of 6/21 against Sri Lanka, helping dismiss them for just 50 runs. During this match, he became the first Indian to take four wickets in a single over in international cricket. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like This Could Be the Best Time to Trade Gold in 5 Years IC Markets Learn More Undo Siraj has demonstrated particular prowess in overseas conditions, securing Test five-wicket hauls in South Africa, Australia, West Indies, and England. Since his Test debut in 2020, he ranks as India's second-most successful overseas bowler with 88 wickets in 23 Tests at an average of 29.77. Only Jasprit Bumrah has taken more overseas wickets during this period, with 100 dismissals in 20 Tests at an average under 20, including eight five-wicket hauls. Siraj holds the record for the best bowling figures by an Indian at Lord's, achieving match figures of 8/126 in 2021. In the current series against England, he leads the wicket-taking charts with 13 wickets in three matches at an average of 32.00, with best figures of 6/70. For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
News18
6 hours ago
- Sport
- News18
'Fresh Hope': Karthi Selvam Hopes Euro Tour Will Open The Doors For India Comeback
Last Updated: Tamil Nadu's Karthi Selvam hopes to rejoin the senior India men's hockey squad after gaining experience on the India 'A' tour of Europe. Tamil Nadu forward Karthi Selvam is optimistic about earning a recall to the Senior India men's hockey squad after gaining valuable experience on the recent India 'A' tour of Europe. He believes this tour has significantly boosted his chances of wearing national colours again. Karthi, who last represented the senior India side at the Asian Champions Trophy in Chennai in 2023, mentioned that the exposure and specific inputs from the coaching staff have renewed his confidence in pushing for a place in the core group. 'The recent India 'A' tour to Europe has instilled fresh hope for India comeback for me," Karthi stated in a Hockey India release. 'It's going to be two years since I last wore the India colours, and there've been a lot of learnings for me on this tour, which had a mix of young players and experienced ones," he added. The India 'A' squad has now returned to the SAI centre in Bengaluru, where they will train alongside the senior core group and contend for selection for the upcoming Australia tour and the Asia Cup in Rajgir, Bihar next month. Karthi's return to the probables was prompted by a strong performance for Tamil Nadu Dragons in the revamped Hockey India League earlier this year, which impressed the selectors enough to include him in the national camp and the development squad under coach and former India striker Shivendra Singh. The India 'A' side started the tour brightly with back-to-back wins over Ireland (6-1 and 6-0), and a win and a loss against France (3-2 and 0-2). They narrowly lost to England (2-3), before being defeated by Belgium (1-3) and the Netherlands (0-3 and 2-8). 'We started the tour very well, and the match against England was also quite close. However, we couldn't finish the tour on a high note, with the Netherlands posing stiff competition. Overall, it was a top experience for us," he said. The young forward credited the coaching team for helping him refine his game, particularly with off-the-ball tactics. 'There have been some specific inputs that Craig (Fulton) has given me, and also Cosma, our Analytical Coach, has provided valuable insights for my game, particularly on off-the-ball tactics. I've been implementing this in my game and look forward to breaking into the India side again," Karthi said. Karthi acknowledges the challenges ahead. 'There is still a lot of hard work to do. There is a fine difference between how the senior team performs and how we have fared as a development team. There are some gaps that we need to work on, and that will be our focus in this camp," he concluded. With PTI Inputs view comments First Published: July 23, 2025, 14:16 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
