India-Pakistan Asia Cup cricket clash likely on September 7 in UAE — report
For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport
According to a report in Indian publication 'Times of India,' the Asia Cup is likely to start on September 5 with the title clash taking place on September 21. It said that all participating nations, including official hosts India, are close to getting clearances from their respective governments for the tournament which is set to be played in the UAE.
Already-soured relations between India and Pakistan further worsened after four days of intense fighting before a ceasefire was announced in May. Bilateral cricket has been suspended since 2013 between the Asian neighbors, who play each other only in multi-team events as per an International Cricket Council arrangement.
'The 17-day window has been almost finalized by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and India are set to take on Pakistan on September 7 as per the initial schedule,' a report by the Times of India said.
The tournament is set to feature hosts India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and UAE, the report said, adding that it is set to follow the group stage and Super Fours format. This means fans will witness the India-Pakistan contest at least twice, and the second contest could take place on September 14, the report said.
Uncertainty has clouded over the Asia Cup after the two countries were locked in conflict in May. Political tensions have always adversely affected cricket ties between the two countries.
India refused to travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy this year and played all their matches, including the March 9 final, in Dubai.
India will host the women's 50-overs World Cup this year but Pakistan will play all their matches in Sri Lanka under an arrangement made by the International Cricket Council.
India's head coach Gautam Gambhir is against playing Pakistan even in neutral venues but will follow whatever the BCCI decided, he said in May.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab News
12 hours ago
- Arab News
Two-time EuroLeague champion Dzanan Musa signs for Dubai Basketball from Real Madrid
DUBAI: Dzanan Musa, one of Europe's most sought-after shooting guards, joins Dubai Basketball on a three-year deal starting with the 2025-26 season. The two-time EuroLeague champion will join the Dubai side directly from a title-winning campaign with one of the world's most celebrated teams, Real Madrid. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport The 26-year-old Bosnian has created a name for himself with a brief stint in the NBA, followed by his immediate ascent in the EuroLeague. Speaking on his transfer to Dubai that will see him on the team until 2028, Musa commented: 'Joining Dubai Basketball is an incredible opportunity and a challenge I'm fully prepared to take on. Coming off a championship season in Spain, I feel confident in what I can bring to the court, and I'm excited to help this team create history in both the EuroLeague and ABA League. 'It's been an amazing journey to reach this stage of my career. Now being here in Dubai, ready to write a new chapter, it's truly special,' he added. 'I'm looking forward to supporting the growing basketball community here, connecting with our fans, and making them proud. I'm committed to doing whatever it takes to help this team grow and leave a lasting legacy in this city.' Before returning to Europe, Musa spent two seasons in the NBA with the Brooklyn Nets, who selected him 29th overall in the first round of the 2018 NBA Draft. During his time in the US, he appeared in 49 NBA games, gaining playing time alongside All-Star teammates, including NBA stars Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant. Musa also excelled in the NBA G League, where he averaged 19.5 points per game with the Long Island Nets, underlining his offensive potential. Musa made an immediate impact since his debut, which started with Slovenian side Cedevita Olimpija, where he made his first EuroLeague appearance at just 16 years old. Following his time in the US, Dzanan joined Spanish side Rio Breogan in 2021, where he was named the Spanish league's MVP for his standout season. The Bosnian was quickly scouted to join Spanish giants Real Madrid at 23 years old. He became a key figure in the team's 2022-23 EuroLeague title-winning run, contributing an average of 14.8 points and 2.7 assists per game, which led him to be selected in the All-EuroLeague First Team in his inaugural year at Madrid. Musa joins Dubai Basketball after wrapping up a successful domestic league campaign where he contributed a total of 466 points to clinch the Spanish side's 16th league title. Musa becomes the first signing ahead of what promises to be a historic season, not only for Dubai but for European basketball. Since the team's inception in the 2024-25 season, Dubai Basketball has consistently made headlines by reaching milestones, setting records, and paving the way for a new era in the sport. As the club prepares for its EuroLeague debut this season, head coach Jurica Golemac is assembling a roster capable of challenging the very best in Europe.
Arab News
13 hours ago
- Arab News
Cricket stars confirm return to DP World ILT20 for season 4
DUBAI: For the fourth consecutive season, some of the biggest T20 superstars from around the world will feature in the DP World International League T20. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport England's ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022 winners Alex Hales, Chris Woakes, Liam Livingstone, Moeen Ali, Phil Salt and Sam Curran (Season 3 Red Belt Winner — Most Valuable Player) will again display their talent in the Gulf region's biggest T20 tournament. Besides the star-studded England lineup, West Indies mega stars Rovman Powell, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Sherfane Rutherford and Shai Hope (season three Green Belt Winner — Best Batter of the Tournament) will also return to their respective franchises. Zimbabwean all-rounder Sikandar Raza and Afghanistan's premier new-ball bowler Fazalhaq Farooqi (Season 3 White Belt Winner — Best Bowler of the Tournament) will ake part in the month-long competition. Australia's big-hitting batter Tim David and New Zealand's fast bowling duo Lockie Ferguson and Tim Southee have also declared their availability for Season 4. The teams have now completed the halfway stage in the squads' selection process for Season 4 (eight players each). The first phase for the squad selection included the retention window for players from Season 3 and the new signings window which finished on June 16 and 30, respectively. In the second phase of the Season 4 squad selection process, the teams will complete their respective squads at the DP World ILT20 Season 4 Player Auction, with date and details to be announced in the next few days. Defending champions Dubai Capitals have added more depth to their bowling stocks by including Season 2 White Belt Winner — Afghanistan left-arm-wrist spinner Waqar Salamkheil as a new signing (previous team MI Emirates) alongside left-arm pacers Luke Wood (previous team Desert Vipers) and Muhammad Jawadullah (previous team Sharjah Warriorz). Abu Dhabi Knight Riders have added firepower to their batting with three explosive T20 batters Alex Hales (previous team Desert Vipers), Liam Livingstone (previous team Sharjah Warriorz) and Sherfane Rutherford (previous team Desert Vipers). The Desert Vipers have included former ADKR opener Andries Gous as their new signing; the Season 1 and Season 3 finalists have retained the core of their Season 3 squad. Dan Lawrence, David Payne, Khuzaima Bin Tanveer, Lockie Ferguson, Max Holden, Sam Curran and Wanindu Hasaranga will be rejoining the Vipers for Season 4. Season 1 winners Gulf Giants have signed Afghanistan's globally recognized all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai, who will be making his DP World ILT20 debut this season while donning the Giants kit as one of their new signings. England's Moeen Ali (previous team Sharjah Warriorz) returns to the DP World ILT20, the T20 great will be playing for the Giants as a new signing. Dashing Afghanistan opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz is the other new Giants' Season 4 signing. Gurbaz's earlier DP World ILT20 stints were with Sharjah Warriorz (Season 1), Dubai Capitals (Season 2) and Desert Vipers (Season 3). Season 2 winners MI Emirates have added all-round strength to their squad by including the all-format all-rounder — Chris Woakes (previous team Sharjah Warriorz) as a new signing. Sri Lanka's upcoming all-rounder Kamindu Mendis is the other MI Emirates new signing for Season 4. Mendis will be making his DP World ILT20 debut. Sharjah Warriorz have added Sikandar Raza (previous team Dubai Capitals). The globetrotting Zimbabwean all-rounder was the Season 2 Red Belt Winner — Most Valuable Player. Sri Lanka's star white-ball spinner Maheesh Theekshana returns to the side as a new signing. He had appeared in eight games for the Warriorz in Season 2 of the DP World ILT20. Warriorz have also bolstered their batting prowess for Season 4 with the inclusion of Australia's big-hitting batter Tim David as a new signing. David played for MI Emirates in Season 1 and the Gulf Giants in Season 2. USA left-arm fast bowler Saurabh Netravalkar has also joined the Warriorz. The DP World International League T20 Season 4 will begin on Tuesday, Dec. 2 — UAE National Day (Eid-Al-Etihad) with a blockbuster opening, the six-team, 34-match tournament will conclude with the final on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. DP World ILT20 Season 4 — players rejoining their Season 3 teams: Abu Dhabi Knight Riders: Alishan Sharafu, Andre Russell, Charith Asalanka, Phil Salt and Sunil Narine. Desert Vipers: Dan Lawrence, David Payne, Khuzaima Bin Tanveer, Lockie Ferguson, Max Holden, Sam Curran and Wanindu Hasaranga. Dubai Capitals: Dasun Shanaka, Dushmantha Chameera, Gulbadin Naib, Rovmann Powell and Shai Hope. Gulf Giants: Aayan Afzal Khan, Blessing Muzarabani, Gerhard Erasmus, James Vince and Mark Adair. MI Emirates: AM Ghazanfar, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Kusal Perera, Romario Shepherd, Tom Banton and Muhammad Waseem. Sharjah Warriorz: Johnson Charles, Kusal Mendis, Tim Southee and Tom Kohler-Cadmore. DP World ILT20 Season 4 — new signings: Abu Dhabi Knight Riders: Alex Hales, Liam Livingstone and Sherfane Rutherford. Desert Vipers: Andries Gous. Dubai Capitals: Luke Wood, Waqar Salamkheil and Muhammad Jawadullah. Gulf Giants: Azmatullah Omarzai, Moeen Ali, Rahmanullah Gurbaz. MI Emirates: Chris Woakes and Kamindu Mendis. Sharjah Warriorz: Maheesh Theekshana, Sikandar Raza, Saurabh Netravalkar and Tim David.
Al Arabiya
16 hours ago
- Al Arabiya
Ricky Hatton, 46, To Make Boxing Comeback In Dubai
Ricky Hatton, the 46-year-old former two-weight world champion, will return to the ring to fight in the United Arab Emirates on December 2, 13 years after he retired. The Manchester native, who turns 47 in October, will face Eisa Al Dah in Dubai, it has been announced. Hatton (45–3) has not fought since losing in his last comeback bout to Vyacheslav Senchenko in November 2012. 'Fight! Fight! Fight! It's official,' Hatton posted on X. He won world titles at welterweight and light-welterweight, with his other two losses coming against pound-for-pound greats Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao. He is the latest former champion to announce a comeback long after retirement in a growing market for such events, with Pacquiao, Mike Tyson, Roy Jones Jr., and Julio César Chávez Jr. all making lucrative returns. Al Dah, also 46, has not fought since 2021 and only once since 2012. But he was adamant it will be action-packed. 'It will not be like the Mike Tyson–Jake Paul fight,' Al Dah said. 'It will be a true fight. True action, and I will do my best.' Hatton became a British sporting hero after winning epic battles against Kostya Tszyu, José Luis Castillo, and Paulie Malignaggi. They earned him clashes with Mayweather and Pacquiao – but both ended in knockout defeats. He retired for the first time after his brutal second-round knockout defeat against Pacquiao in 2009 but returned more than three years later and fought Ukrainian Senchenko at the Manchester Arena. That fight also ended in defeat, with a ninth-round stoppage that left Hatton in tears. Since retiring, Hatton has trained other fighters in his Manchester gym. He said he hoped his fight would lead to more being staged in Dubai. 'There's a market for it,' he said, 'and I think it'll be a sensational evening.'
