Skip to content
Search
Please enter at least 3 characters.

Latest Stories

Wahab strikes but Sri Lanka in command of second Test

Paceman Wahab Riaz took three wickets in a fiery spell but Sri Lanka were still in the driving seat after the third day of the second day-night Test in Dubai on Sunday (08).

Riaz grabbed 3-10 to derail Sri Lanka's second innings -- 34-5 at close -- but the visitors were still in a strong position with an overall lead of 254 runs with five wickets intact.


Riaz dismissed Sri Lankan skipper Dinesh Chandimal leg before for nought in the last over before close to give Pakistan a faint hope of upsetting the tables, but it will be an uphill task for their faltering batsmen to improve in the second innings.

Pakistan were dismissed for 262 in their first innings, conceding a big 220-run lead following Sri Lanka's first innings 482.

It was paceman Mohammad Abbas who started the slide, having opener Kaushal Silva caught behind for three before Riaz dismissed first innings centurion Dimuth Karunaratne for seven.

He then had debutant Sadeera Samarawickrama out for 13 in a hostile spell of 3.3 overs. Leg-spinner Yasir Shah had nightwatchman Suranga Lakmal out for one as Pakistan started to stage a fightback.

At close Kusal Mendis was unbeaten on eight.

Sri Lankan spinners Dilruwan Perera (3-72) and Rangana Herath (3-84) had bundled Pakistan out just after dinner to put Sri Lanka in sight of a series win.

They won the first Test by 21 runs in Abu Dhabi.

Only Azhar Ali (59) and Haris Sohail (56) offered some resistance as the Pakistani batsmen once again flopped on a batting friendly Dubai Stadium pitch, losing their last six wickets for 82 runs.

It was 21 runs short of the follow-on mark but Sri Lanka did not enforce it.

Ali and Sohail lifted Pakistan from a precarious 109-4 during a battling fifth-wicket stand of 71, but once Ali was gone the innings unfolded.

Herath trapped Ali leg-before and reviewed it to overturn a not-out decision, triggering the collapse. Ali hit six boundaries in his patient knock.

Sohail was the eighth wicket to fall, trapped in front by Perera to end any hopes of Pakistan reaching a respectable total. He smashed four boundaries and two sixes.

Skipper Sarfraz Ahmed made 14 before he miscued a sweep and was caught off Perera.

When Pakistan resumed at 51-0, paceman Lahiru Gamage who took his first wicket in Test cricket, bowling Shan Masood through the gate after the opener had made 16.

Sami Aslam was trapped leg before by Perera for 39 to leave Pakistan two down with 65 runs on the board.

Asad Shafiq fell for 12 when he edged Lakmal to slip to continue his wretched form in the series. Babar Azam made eight.

Lakmal finished with 2-41 while Gamage had figures of 2-38.

More For You

Sara Davies

Sara Davies steps back from Dragons' Den to focus on Crafter’s Companion

Instagram/saradaviescc

Sara Davies steps back from Dragons' Den to save Crafter’s Companion

Sara Davies, a well-known face on BBC’s Dragons’ Den, has decided to step back from the show to focus on her own business, Crafter’s Companion. The 40-year-old entrepreneur, who joined the series in 2019 as the youngest female Dragon at 35, shared the news on Instagram, explaining that her role as CEO of her craft supply company requires her full attention. While fans will still see her in the second half of the current season, she won’t be part of the next series.

Davies, who founded Crafter’s Companion in 2005 while still at university, built the business from her bedroom into a global brand. She recently returned as CEO after the company faced financial challenges earlier this year, stepping in to save jobs and stabilise the business. In her Instagram post, she described the decision to leave Dragons’ Den as a tough but necessary one, emphasising that being a Dragon involves far more than just filming. “It’s about committing to the businesses you invest in and seeing them grow,” she wrote. “That’s why I need to focus on my first ‘baby’—my own business.”

Keep ReadingShow less
Chhetri

Chhetri, who is the fourth-highest men's international goalscorer, played his last match for India in June 2024 during a World Cup qualifier. (Photo: Getty Images)

Sunil Chhetri comes out of retirement at 40 to rejoin India squad

INDIAN footballer Sunil Chhetri has decided to return to the national team at 40, reversing his retirement announced last year.

The former captain, who is the fourth-highest men's international goalscorer, played his last match for India in June 2024 during a World Cup qualifier.

Keep ReadingShow less
Oscars

Getty Images

Anora’s unconventional Oscar campaign: How a bold $18M strategy turned the indie film into a cultural phenomenon

How did 'Anora’s $18M hype-driven strategy take over the Oscars?

Neon, the indie film distributor, has once again proven its knack for Oscar success, this time with Sean Baker’s Anora, a film about a sex worker’s whirlwind romance. The movie’s big win at the Oscars has left us all in awe, not just for its cinematic experience but also for Neon’s high stakes unconventional marketing strategy. This wasn’t Neon’s first rodeo though. The company had previously helped Parasite (2019) make history at the Oscars, spending around $20 million on its awards campaign.

For Anora, the approach was different. Instead of courting critics and industry insiders, they tapped into the film’s Gen Z appeal and grassroots charm. One of their biggest moves was a pop-up merch shop in an LA auto repair yard, where 300 eager fans lined up hours before opening. The limited-edition Anora merchandise, racy “Little Wifey” thongs for $15, cheeky slogan T-shirts, and retro-style posters quickly became collectibles. Rather than courting Academy members with lavish screenings, Neon filled early showings with sex workers, ensuring buzz that felt authentic to the film’s subject matter.

Keep ReadingShow less
Is the IPL Growing Globally as a Sports League?

Is the IPL Growing Globally as a Sports League?

The Indian Premier League has been played since 2008. It is certainly one of the more recent additions to the world cricket calendar but also one of the most prestigious. There is no doubt the IPL is the richest cricket league in the world but is it growing globally as a sports league?

The Best Players in the World

In terms of attracting the best cricketers in the world, the IPL has grown into a top sports league. It would take forever to list the big-name players who have participated in the IPL over the years but some of the leading names include Chris Gayle, David Warner, Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, MS Dhoni, Jos Buttler, Brendon McCullum, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, and Lasith Malinga. The best players from India, South Africa, Australia, England, West Indies, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan all play in the IPL.

Keep ReadingShow less
Lloyds-UK-Reuters

People walk past a branch of Lloyds bank in London on January 17, 2025. (Photo: Reuters)

Lloyds to hire 4,000 tech workers in India, cut UK jobs: Report

LLOYDS Banking Group is hiring hundreds of IT engineers in India while planning to cut similar jobs in the UK, according to a report.

The bank aims to have 4,000 permanent technology and data employees in India by the end of the year, nearly half of its global engineering workforce, reported the Financial Times.

Keep ReadingShow less