Latest news with #WorldCup2023
India Today
12 hours ago
- Sport
- India Today
Pakistan Women call-up 20-year-old batter for Ireland T20I series
Pakistan Women have called up 20-year-old batter Eyman Fatima for their upcoming three-match T20I series against Ireland. Fatima gained attention during the National Women's T20 Tournament, finishing as the fourth-highest run-scorer while playing for the Strikers. She scored 287 runs in eight matches, boasting an average of 71.75 and an impressive strike rate of 155.14, including three fifties and a top score of was also the leading run-scorer for Pakistan in the U19 Women's T20 World Cup 2023 in South Africa, scoring 157 runs in five matches at an average of 52.33, with two fifties and a top score of 65 not out. Talented all-rounder Fatima Sana will lead the 15-member squad. The squad was chosen from 24 players who took part in the Women's Skills Camp. After the camp concluded on July 24, the 15-member team will begin a pre-series training camp in Karachi before heading to Ireland for the bilateral series. The three-match series will get underway on August 6 with all matches to take place at the Clontarf Cricket Club in Dublin. The two teams last faced off in T20Is in 2022 when Ireland secured a famous 2-1 series win. Pakistan squad for Ireland T20I series:Fatima Sana (captain), Aliya Riaz, Diana Baig, Eyman Fatima, Gull Feroza, Muneeba Ali, Najiha Alvi, Nashra Sundhu, Natalia Parvaiz, Rameen Shamim, Sadaf Shamas, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin, Tuba Hassan and Waheeda AkhtarPakistan vs Ireland Women's T20I series Schedule:Aug 6 – First T20I at Clontarf Cricket Club, DublinAug 8 – Second T20I at Clontarf Cricket Club, DublinAug 10 – Third T20I at Clontarf Cricket Club, Dublin- Ends
BBC News
08-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Wales coach Lynn on 'honest' captain conversation
Wales head coach Sean Lynn says he axed Hannah Jones as captain so she could concentrate on her performances heading into the World Jones had skippered Wales for more than two years and held onto the role when Lynn charge at the start of this year's Six after a winless campaign, it was revealed last month Lynn – Jones' former coach at English champions Gloucester-Hartpury - had opted for a Alex Callender and Kate Williams were confirmed on Monday as co-captains for the upcoming two-Test tour of Australia and the World Cup that kicks off in England in August."We had a chat after the Six Nations, some good honest conversations, and I just felt I didn't see a Hannah I saw in Gloucester-Hartpury," Lynn said."She's gone through some tough times as captain and I can't fault what she's done."She was very professional about it; she just said, 'Whatever's right for the team, I will do'." Jones has won 65 caps for Wales and initially replaced Siwan Lillicrap as captain in despite success on the club front at Gloucester, she has endured a difficult time with Wales following back-to-back wooden spoons and a contract dispute that led her to contemplate quitting."She was very disappointed – as you would expect when you're told the captaincy is going to be taken away," added Lynn, who said he was not worried he was risking his relationship with Jones over the move."She was upset but she knew it was my decision and her response has been brilliant in training, going above and beyond."I'm hoping we will see a different Hannah and I want her to lead the way she can lead on the pitch." Jones has been included in the 30-player squad for the two fixtures against the Wallaroos, starting with the first test in Brisbane on Saturday, 26 they will be led by co-captains for the first time, with Lynn praising Callender's "energy" and 25-year-old Williams' "strategic approach"."I think the two personalities just bounce off each other," he said of the back-row pairing, who were told together of the decision by Lynn."We're both really excited about the journey we're on," said Callender, the 24-year-old Harlequins flanker. "Hannah congratulated us; she's done a massive job for us during tough times, including the contracts, but she's been happy for us to lead the team."To do it together takes some of the pressure off just one person, but we're just excited to get going into the World Cup."Meanwhile Gloucester-Hartpury's Swansea-born Williams – who only joined the Wales set-up three years ago having been brought up in New Zealand – said: "I didn't think I'd be at the next World Cup when I first came over, but for the coach to put his trust in me and Alex is a massive opportunity I'm really proud and grateful for." 'Schedule is what it is - but we'll embrace it' Three young uncapped players have been included, with Lynn saying scrum-half Seren Lockwood, prop Katherine Baverstock and lock Tilly Vucaj all have a chance of making it to the World Cup that begins for Wales against Scotland in Salford on Saturday, 23 he hailed the return of prop Sisilia Tuipulotu who has not played since undergoing surgery on a hamstring injury in Natalia John (calf) and centres Kerin Lake (shoulder) and Hannah Bluck (calf) are missing through injury, though none are thought to be at risk of missing the World Cup, where Wales will also face Fiji and trio's recovery will continue at home where Lynn has so far overseen a gruelling fitness regime having identified fitness and discipline as issues following a review of the winless Six Nations has included sand dune running at Merthyr Mawr, training in dojos under the supervision of a new 'collision coach', former Wigan and Wales Rugby League international Ben Flower, as well as military training with the Royal Welsh regiment."I learnt a lot in that Six Nations campaign and the big thing was we needed to work harder," Lynn said, who said accuracy dropped off in games. "Everything about us now is building this identity and making sure that we are competitive and we're a hard team to beat and we work hard for each other."Players and staff have been held accountable and we're in a good place to go to Australia where it will be a challenge."We're not going to be the finished article, but everything will be building, going into Scotland."Wales has lost their last two against Australia following their maiden victory over the Wallaroos in Newport in September though, played down the debatable choice of travelling 10,000 miles for two test matches in the space of six days to prepare for a tournament in if it was ideal preparation, Lynn said: "It is what it is, and we're going to embrace it."He added: "It was booked before I took on the role, but I'm getting excited; we're playing Australia, in Australia and it'll be a great opportunity for us as a group to spend valuable time with each other."
The Guardian
03-07-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
‘Everything is better': how Rubiales's unwanted kiss transformed Spanish women's football
For years, they battled on multiple fronts: pushing back against the misogyny, misconduct and mistreatment of their football federation while simultaneously seeking to be the best in the world. The conflicts of Spain's women's team exploded into public view after they won the World Cup in 2023 – a historic triumph that was almost immediately overshadowed by an unwanted kiss on the lips from the country's football chief. On Thursday evening, La Roja will take to the field for their first match of the Women's Euro 2025, in a tournament that is set to be a showcase of the squad's prowess on both battlefields. Widely seen as the favourites to win, the reigning world champions have also become a global symbol of women's fight for equality, on and off the field. 'I think these players represent a 'before and after' for all young girls who want to play football,' said the film director Joanna Pardos. Her Netflix documentary It's All Over: The Kiss that Changed Spanish Football delves into the long-running push for equal treatment that was thrust into the spotlight after Luis Rubiales planted an unsolicited kiss on the player Jenni Hermoso. 'Rubiales' terrible behaviour at the World Cup was like the straw that broke the camel's back,' said Pardos. 'In a way, it was like the tip of an iceberg. I wish it hadn't happened because it was disgusting, but the kiss helped to expose the whole iceberg underneath.' Before the World Cup, 15 La Roja players faced public smears and belittling by some media after they refused to play for Jorge Vilda, the coach at the time, complaining about his tactics, training methods and controlling management style. One year later, as media around the world captured Rubiales' refusal to resign, with the football chief instead hitting out at the 'scourge' of 'false feminism', the spotlight was recast on the team's struggle for flight times that would allow them a decent night's sleep before games and equal pay, among other problems. In the lead-up to the Women's Euro 2025, players were swift to highlight how things have changed. 'I remember when I used to come play for the national team and I didn't enjoy it; I just wanted to go home, to be honest,' the two-time Ballon d'Or winner Aitana Bonmatí told reporters late last month. 'It was tough to play here; the situation wasn't good … Now everything is better.' That sentiment was echoed by La Roja's other two-time Ballon d'Or winner, Alexia Putellas. 'The conditions have changed a lot,' she said. 'Especially in terms of travel, nutrition, training, things have changed radically. Now we're enjoying conditions that are at the top level of the men's team. It's something that has taken a lot of effort and work by many people.' Earlier this year, Rubiales was convicted of sexual assault over the unsolicited kiss. He was ordered to pay more than €10,000 in fines and barred from contacting or approaching Hermoso for a year. He has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and his lawyer has said he will file an appeal against the verdict with the supreme court. La Roja's push for equality gripped Spain, setting off a conversation that swiftly spilled into other spheres of society. 'What was very clear was that it was never about the kiss,' said Prof Helena Legido-Quigley, of Imperial College London. 'It was much more about power, about consent and also the way that institutions protect power for men.' With fellow members of Women in Global Health Spain, Legido-Quigley seized on the moment, calling for women in academia and healthcare who identified with Hermoso to share their own experiences. Within five days, more than 200 stories had poured in. It was a clear sign of how the squad's struggle had tapped into a wider vein of discontent, one that Legido-Quigley said she hoped would pave the way for Spain to start tackling the structural problems that had long allowed this behaviour. Instead she watched as the backlash began. 'A new narrative has emerged,' she said. 'It's about discrediting feminism and making people doubt the seriousness of these issues.' While the pushback has seemingly been smaller in Spain than in some other countries, Legido-Quigley said she worried that this reaction would hinder the search for solutions. The global scrutiny of Spain came after years of the country positioning itself as a leader in women's equality, putting in place laws and protocols to ensure equal treatment. The longstanding treatment of the country's female football squad, however, hinted at a glaring void of sanctions and inspectors to ensure these regulations were followed, said Mar Mas, who leads the Spain-based Association for Women in Professional Sports. 'You can fill a city with traffic lights, but if there's nobody to fine those who sail through red lights, it's not going to make any difference.' While Mas welcomed the changes that had been made, she emphasised that much work remained to be done. When Spain takes to the pitch on Thursday, the squad will not include Hermoso, the all-time leading scorer for Spain's national team with 57 goals in 123 matches – a controversial decision that has sparked questions about how far-reaching the federation's changes have been. In the wake of the World Cup kiss, the coach Montse Tomé left Hermoso out of the squad, describing it as a 'way to protect her'. Tomé did eventually call Hermoso up again but this time has declined to do so, citing the competition for her position. Mas said she believed Hermoso was being made to pay a personal price for speaking up. 'What is clear in this country is that there are many women who have spoken out against their federations and who have ended up sacrificing their athletic careers. That is how it works. Despite all the laws on equality and protocols, women are still not fully protected when it comes to exercising their rights.'
Arab News
25-06-2025
- Sport
- Arab News
Pakistan to play T20I series in Bangladesh next month
LAHORE: The Pakistan men's team will travel to Bangladesh next month to play three Twenty20 internationals as part of the build-up to next year's World Cup. Pakistan's tour will be a reciprocal one after they hosted Bangladesh for three T20Is in May-June this year, all won by the home team and played in Lahore. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said it has arranged various series to build for the World Cup to be co-hosted in India and Sri Lanka next year. 'Pakistan will arrive in Dhaka on 16 July before taking on the home side in the matches on July 20, 22 and 24 as part of the build-up for the World Cup,' the PCB said in a statement. All three T20Is will be held at the Sher-e-Bangla National cricket stadium in Dhaka. From Bangladesh, Pakistan team will fly to the West Indies to play three T20Is and as many one-day internationals the schedule of which will be announced later. Series schedule in Bangladesh 16 July — Pakistan men's team arrival 20 July — First T20I at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Dhaka 22 July — Second T20I at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Dhaka 24 July — Third T20I at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Dhaka
Mint
14-06-2025
- Sport
- Mint
'Hes a big match player': Keshav Maharaj hails Aiden Markrams knock in WTC final against Australia
ANI Published 14 Jun 2025, 09:48 AM IST London [UK], June 14 (ANI): South Africa's left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj called opener Aiden Markram a "big-match player" as the latter scored a century during his outing in the World Test Championship (WTC) Final 2025 against Australia at the Home of Cricket, Lord's in London on Friday. Markram (102* runs off 159 balls) scripted history by becoming the first Proteas batter to score a hundred in an ICC tournament final. He also became the fourth batter after Jacques Kallis (113* against Sri Lanka in the 1998 ICC Knockout semifinal against SL), Herschelle Gibbs (116* against India in CT 2002 semifinals), and David Miller (101 against Australia in the World Cup 2023 semifinal) to hit a century for SA in ICC knockout matches. Speaking at ICC Digital after Day 3, Maharaj said, "I saw a different sort of desire and focus in Aiden's eyes today when he came off the field (prior to batting) as I think he wanted to rectify the mistake that he made in the first innings." "Kudos to him to put that into place. He's a big match player and big players rise up to the moment and rectify their mistakes very quickly. There's no better fitting moment for him to get a Test hundred here at Lord's in a final against probably a team that I don't think they've ever lost a final," the Proteas cricketer added. Maharaj also paid tribute to captain Temba Bavuma (65* runs from 121 balls), after his captain showed enormous determination to battle a hamstring injury and played a vital role in the unbeaten stand of 143 that has South Africa close to victory. "He had a little bit of a niggle, but the warrior and fighter that he is was there with Aidan to support it. It was amazing to hear how they complemented each other when they came off at the tea break, just hearing about how they're going to go about their business and understanding that obviously Temba can't run at full tilt, but Aiden embraced that," the 35-year-old player concluded. (ANI)
