Pakistan set to face New Zealand in T20I series opener in Christchurch on Sunday

Pakistan set to face New Zealand in T20I series opener in Christchurch on Sunday
New Zealand’s Glenn Phillips, center, shakes hand with Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan, second right, after winning the tri-series ODI cricket final match against Pakistan, in Karachi on February 14, 2025. (AP/File)
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Pakistan set to face New Zealand in T20I series opener in Christchurch on Sunday

Pakistan set to face New Zealand in T20I series opener in Christchurch on Sunday
  • Skipper Salman Ali Agha says the team will try to produce better results in New Zealand
  • A three-match ODI series, set to follow the T20I action, will run from March 29 to April 5

KARACHI: Pakistan are all set to take on New Zealand in a five-match T20I series starting Sunday, the country's cricket board said in a statement, with the first game to be played at Hagley Oval in Christchurch.
The Pakistan squad arrived in New Zealand on Thursday and held their first training session on Friday afternoon. Before their arrival, the T20I squad underwent a pre-series camp from March 7 to 10 in Lahore.
Pakistan’s squad includes three uncapped players — Abdul Samad, Hasan Nawaz and Mohammad Ali — who earned call-ups to the national side following their impressive performances in recent domestic events.
Skipper Salman Ali Agha, who led the team to a 2-1 T20I series win in Zimbabwe in his first series as captain, expressed satisfaction with the players' performance ahead of the series.
“The team's preparations are going well, and we will try to produce better results in New Zealand," the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) quoted him as saying in a statement. "We have some young players in the side, and it is an opportunity for them to showcase their talent at the international level after performing well in domestic cricket.”
Pakistan have an upper hand over New Zealand in the 44 T20I contests between the two sides, with 23 wins, while the Black Caps have secured victory in 19 fixtures.
The last T20I series featuring the two sides, played in Pakistan in 2024, ended in a 2-2 draw, with one match abandoned due to rain.
More recently, though, Pakistan's cricket squad has come under significant criticism for their performance following their early exit from the 2025 Champions Trophy after losses to New Zealand and India.
During their tour to New Zealand, Pakistan will play their second match at University Oval in Dunedin on March 18, while the third match of the series will be played at Eden Park in Auckland on March 21.
The fourth and fifth T20Is will be played at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui and Sky Stadium in Wellington on March 23 and 26, respectively.
A three-match ODI series will follow the T20I action and will be played from March 29 to April 5.


Man City held by Brighton to leave Champions League hopes in balance

Man City held by Brighton to leave Champions League hopes in balance
Updated 31 min 45 sec ago
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Man City held by Brighton to leave Champions League hopes in balance

Man City held by Brighton to leave Champions League hopes in balance
  • Pep Guardiola’s side led through Erling Haaland’s early penalty at the Etihad Stadium
  • City remain in fifth place in the Premier League, one point behind fourth-placed Chelsea

MANCHESTER: Manchester City twice blew the lead in a 2-2 draw against Brighton on Saturday as Abdukodir Khusanov’s own goal dented their bid to qualify for the Champions League.
Pep Guardiola’s side led through Erling Haaland’s early penalty at the Etihad Stadium.
But Pervis Estupinan hauled Brighton level and, although Omar Marmoush restored City’s lead just before the interval, the Seagulls levelled again in the second half thanks to Khusanov’s mistake.
City remain in fifth place in the Premier League, one point behind fourth-placed Chelsea, who visit Arsenal on Sunday, and one point ahead of Newcastle and seventh-placed Brighton.
The top four are guaranteed a Champions League place, while fifth is also likely to be enough depending on the result of the English clubs remaining in European competitions this term.
Reduced to fighting for a Champions League berth after a shockingly bad season, City are still far from certain to qualify for Europe’s elite club competition.
That would have been unthinkable just 12 months ago, when City were marching toward a fourth consecutive English title and a sixth in seven years.
Since losing 7-0 at Nottingham Forest, Brighton had reeled off four consecutive league wins and this was another impressive display from Fabian Hurzeler’s side, who still harbor genuine hopes of reaching the Champions League for the first time.
Guardiola made four changes from the 1-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest as Phil Foden, Bernardo Silva, Ederson and Matheus Nunes were replaced by Marmoush, Ilkay Gundogan, Stefan Ortega and Rico Lewis.
City won a penalty in the 11th minute when Haaland found Marmoush in the Brighton area and the Egyptian was brought down by Adam Webster.
Haaland took the spot-kick, firing low into the bottom corner for his 100th Premier League goal involvement (84 goals and 16 assists) in just 94 appearances.
The Norway striker is the first Premier League player to reach 100 goal involvements in fewer than 100 games.
Not for the first time in their turbulent season, sloppy City were unable to hold onto their lead as Brighton drew level in the 21st minute.
Estupinan let rip with a fierce free-kick from 20 yards that caught out the wrong-footed Ortega, who was rooted to the spot as it hit the post and flashed into the net.
City tried to respond but Haaland lashed over from Gundogan’s pass and Savinho’s shot was blocked by Jan Paul van Hecke.
Guardiola’s men kept pressing and were rewarded in the 39th minute.
Gundogan picked off a miscued Brighton pass and unfurled a precise pass to set up Marmoush for a blistering finish.
City were still fortunate to go in ahead at half-time after a mix up between Nico Gonzalez and Ruben Dias left space for Joao Pedro to shoot just wide.
It took City’s leaky defense just three minutes of the second half to surrender the lead for a second time.
Adam Webster crossed into the area and Jack Hinshelwood’s shot appeared to be going wide until it took a deflection off City defender Khusanov.
With City’s rearguard in disarray, Brighton should have gone ahead, but Yankuba Minteh shot wastefully wide from close-range after Diego Gomez picked out the Gambian.
In a frantic finale, Brighton’s Carlos Baleba smashed over with the goal at his mercy.


Bayern held at Union Berlin to leave title door ajar

Bayern held at Union Berlin to leave title door ajar
Updated 37 min 8 sec ago
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Bayern held at Union Berlin to leave title door ajar

Bayern held at Union Berlin to leave title door ajar
  • Bayern, who also dropped points in a surprise loss at home to Bochum last week, could be just six points ahead if Leverkusen win at Stuttgart on Sunday
  • Bayern had most of the ball but struggled to break through a resolute Union defense

BERLIN: Bayern Munich were held to a 1-1 draw at Union Berlin on Saturday, giving defending champions Bayer Leverkusen an outside chance of dragging themselves back into the Bundesliga title race.
Bayern, who also dropped points in a surprise loss at home to Bochum last week, could be just six points ahead if Leverkusen win at Stuttgart on Sunday.
Bayern had most of the ball but struggled to break through a resolute Union defense.
With few chances in the opening period, Bayern’s best chance came after 51 minutes when Harry Kane drilled a free-kick through the wall but into the palms of Frederik Ronnow.
Leroy Sane put the visitors ahead after 75 minutes when he skated through a crowded penalty area to tap in a Josip Stanisic pass.
Union were however the better team after the goal and the hosts levelled through Benedict Hollerbach, who was on the spot to take advantage of an error from rookie goalkeeper Jonas Urbig.
Union rose in intensity in the dying stages but were unable to land the killer blow which would have seen them beat Bayern for the first time in their history, on their 12th attempt.
Despite hovering dangerously close to the relegation spots for much of the season, Union have a strong record at home against the league’s best sides.
Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, Eintracht Frankfurt, Mainz, Freiburg and now Bayern have all left Berlin without winning.
Unlikely Champions League candidates Mainz and Freiburg drew 2-2 draw. Hosts Mainz, reduced to 10 men when Dominik Kohr saw red after 43 minutes, twice took the lead but Freiburg equalized both times.
The result leaves Mainz third and Freiburg fifth, with neither side having ever played in the Champions League.
An Alassane Plea hat-trick took Borussia Moenchengladbach to a 4-2 win at Werder Bremen, keeping the visitors on track for a return to European football.
Plea’s first-half brace had Gladbach on track but Bremen scored twice in seven minutes through Romano Schmid and Andre Silva, his first for the club, to level things up at half-time.
Plea scored just two minutes into the second half and Germany striker Tim Kleindienst added another to seal the victory.
Augsburg’s impressive 2025 continued with a 1-0 home win over Wolfsburg, with Phillip Tietz scoring the only goal.
Augsburg are now unbeaten in 10 in the league and have conceded just three goals this calendar year, the lowest mark in the top five European leagues.
In Saturday’s late game, RB Leipzig host Dortmund in a must-win game for either side’s hopes of reaching next season’s Champions League.


Slot eyes first Liverpool trophy against Newcastle in League Cup final

Slot eyes first Liverpool trophy against Newcastle in League Cup final
Updated 15 March 2025
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Slot eyes first Liverpool trophy against Newcastle in League Cup final

Slot eyes first Liverpool trophy against Newcastle in League Cup final
  • “You play games like this to win it, and that’s what we’re going to try to do,” said Slot
  • “We’re really looking forward to it because you cannot take a final for granted, especially not in this country with so many good teams“

LONDON: Liverpool can win the first trophy of the Arne Slot era in Sunday’s League Cup final against a Newcastle side desperate to end the club’s 56-year wait for major silverware.
In the first final of the English domestic season, runaway Premier League leaders Liverpool head to Wembley aiming to erase the bitter taste of their Champions League exit against Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday.
The Reds were beaten 4-1 on penalties by PSG in the last 16 second leg at Anfield.
It was a rare blow in what has been a successful first season in charge for Slot, who arrived from Feyenoord to succeed Jurgen Klopp last year.
Sitting 15 points clear at the top of the Premier League, the Reds are within touching distance of a record-equalling 20th English title and their first since 2020.
That will be the culmination of Slot’s seamless transition to life with Liverpool.
But first the Dutchman has his sights set on putting yet another League Cup in the Anfield trophy cabinet.
Liverpool, who beat Chelsea in last season’s final, have won the League Cup a record 10 times and are looking to lift the trophy for a third time in four years.
“You play games like this to win it, and that’s what we’re going to try to do,” said Slot, who will be without injured right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold.
“We’re really looking forward to it because you cannot take a final for granted, especially not in this country with so many good teams.”
Slot, who will be making his first ever visit to Wembley, hopes Liverpool can recover quickly from having their treble bid shattered by PSG.
“It’s a great occasion to be in and especially after losing against Paris Saint-Germain. It’s maybe the perfect game,” he said.
Aside from a brief period when Kevin Keegan’s team challenged for the title in the 1990s, Newcastle have endured decades of underachievement and self-inflicted wounds that rendered them a laughing stock for long periods.
All that changed in 2021 when a Saudi-backed consortium completed a takeover from unpopular owner Mike Ashley and quickly made the decision to hire Eddie Howe as their manager.
Newcastle have been transformed from relegation candidates to contenders for silverware, with a Champions League appearance in 2023-24 underlining their revival.
However, Newcastle are still waiting to win their first major trophy since the 1969 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup — the predecessor to the Europa League.
The Magpies’ last significant domestic prize was the 1955 FA Cup and they have lost a combined five finals in that competition and the League Cup since then.
They have never won the League Cup, most recently losing the 2023 final against Manchester United.
Since the Magpies lifted the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, 30 different English teams have won silverware, while Liverpool have clinched 38 major trophies in that time, including an FA Cup final success against Newcastle in the clubs’ last showpiece meeting in 1974.
With the weight of history against them, Howe has urged his players to embrace the chance to become Newcastle legends by ending their trophy drought.
“We want to break that wait for a trophy. It’s not a negative, he said.
“We’re trying to look at it the other way round, it’s the chance to make history and be remembered positively.”
Liverpool eased to a 2-0 win in their most recent Premier League clash with Newcastle in February.
And the Magpies’ task is made even harder by the absence of suspended England forward Anthony Gordon and injured defenders Lewis Hall, Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles.
But Howe is confident Newcastle will not freeze in front of a sell-out crowd and a television audience of millions around the world.
“We’ve stayed competitive, in the main, in big games,” he said. “Our style, we have adaptability, but also we have a clear method.”


Barca’s Flick demands ‘focus’ ahead of crunch Atletico clash

Barca’s Flick demands ‘focus’ ahead of crunch Atletico clash
Updated 15 March 2025
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Barca’s Flick demands ‘focus’ ahead of crunch Atletico clash

Barca’s Flick demands ‘focus’ ahead of crunch Atletico clash
  • “I think we have had really two great matches and of course we have to be focussed from beginning to the end of the match,” Flick said
  • “When you make mistakes Atletico can hurt you and this is what we have to defend against“

BARCELONA: Hansi Flick warned his Barcelona stars they need to focus to avoid crumbling against Atletico Madrid on Sunday in La Liga as they have in their previous two meetings this season.
Leaders Barcelona are a point ahead of Diego Simeone’s Atletico, third, going into the huge title clash at the Metropolitano stadium in the Spanish capital.
Barcelona led against Atletico in the first league match in December but Rodrigo De Paul levelled for the visitors and Alexander Sorloth hit a 96th minute winner which helped them usurp the Catalans at the top of the table.
Then in the Copa del Rey semifinal first leg Barcelona let in two goals in the first six minutes and two late goals, including another Sorloth stoppage time strike in a wild 4-4 draw.
“I think we have had really two great matches and of course we have to be focussed from begninning to the end of the match,” Flick told reporters Saturday.
“I think in the first match, at the end of the match we were not so focussed like we can be, and also the second match was (the same) in the beginning and also at the end, so we have to take care about that.
“When you make mistakes Atletico can hurt you and this is what we have to defend against.”
Atletico Madrid were knocked out of the Champions League on Wednesday on penalties by rivals Real Madrid, while Barcelona beat Benfica to reach the quarter-finals.
Former Manchester City striker Julian Alvarez scored a penalty in the shoot-out for Atletico which was controversially disallowed because he may have touched the ball twice when he slipped as he took it.
“It was an unlucky situation, I feel for him, he’s one of the best strikers,” said Flick, adding that it was “not a problem” for Atletico to have played 120 minutes because of their squad depth.
Flick has plenty of options himself with Dani Olmo seemingly ahead of Gavi in the pecking order for the attacking midfield spot.
Gavi and Barca defender Alejandro Balde were not included in the Spain squad to face the Netherlands in the Nations League quarter-finals next week, but the Barca coach hailed both players.
“(Gavi) came from a huge injury and he’s 20 years old and now at the moment he is I think, not the first (choice)... a more difficult situation but he’s doing great,” said Flick.
“At the moment our midfield is doing really good. I’m happy he’s here and I think he will play many, many years for this amazing club and be one of the superstars here.
“He can improve a lot, he will do this. His attitude is unbelievably good, he’s really focussed and really happy he is here.
“I think for the World Cup 2026 he will be there and be able to play, 100 percent.”
Flick said Balde was “one of the best” left-backs in the world, and also praised veteran center-back Inigo Martinez, who was called up for Spain by national team coach Luis de la Fuente.
“With his attitude and mentality he’s unbelievably good for every team,” added Flick.


Norris edges Piastri for pole as McLaren lock out Melbourne front row

Norris edges Piastri for pole as McLaren lock out Melbourne front row
Updated 15 March 2025
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Norris edges Piastri for pole as McLaren lock out Melbourne front row

Norris edges Piastri for pole as McLaren lock out Melbourne front row
  • Lando Norris clinched pole position on Saturday for the season-opening Australian Grand Prix ahead of teammate Oscar Piastri as McLaren fired a warning shot to their rivals

MELBOURNE: Lando Norris clinched pole position on Saturday for the season-opening Australian Grand Prix ahead of teammate Oscar Piastri as McLaren fired a warning shot to their rivals.
In scorching hot conditions at Melbourne’s Albert Park, world champion Max Verstappen came third in tense qualifying.
Mercedes’ George Russell will keep Red Bull’s four-time world champion company on the second row. Lewis Hamilton will start in eighth on his Ferrari debut.
“It’s the perfect way to start the year. A big congrats to the team, everyone has done an amazing job to start with a one-two,” said Norris after his 10th career pole.
“But it is just quali, right? Let’s see tomorrow,” he added.
“The car is extremely quick. When you put it together it is unbelievable, but it is hard to put it together.
“I’m never going to get ahead of myself, I’m confident the car is in a good place but we have never run it in the wet.”
The forecast for Sunday’s race is cooler temperatures and rain.
Norris eclipsed his rivals with a flying lap of one minute 15.096 seconds on soft tires, 0.084sec ahead of Piastri.
“Pretty happy, great to start the year on the front row,” said Piastri.
“Pretty happy with how qualifying went but just not quite enough in Q3, but it is a long season so a good start,” added the Australian.
“Maybe left a little bit on the table.”
No Australian driver has won their home race since Alan Jones in 1980, but that was a non-championship race before Australia was added to the F1 calendar in 1985.
Verstappen, who was the pole-sitter in 2023 and 2024, was three-tenths behind Norris.
But his rookie teammate Liam Lawson, who replaced the underperforming Sergio Perez, failed to get out of Q1.


Mercedes’ teenager Kimi Antonelli was another big Q1 casualty after gravel damaged the floor of his car.
“It was good, yesterday was quite tough so for us to be P3 today, I’d take that,” said Verstappen.
“Quali laps are exciting, good grip around here and some fast corners.”
Verstappen is chasing a second win in Australia after his 2023 victory to kickstart his bid for a fifth consecutive world title, a feat only Michael Schumacher has achieved.
RB’s Yuki Tsunoda will start a surprise fifth alongside the Williams of Alex Albon.
Ferrari pair Charles Leclerc and Hamilton were a disappointing seventh and eighth with Alpine’s Pierre Gasly and Carlos Sainz in the other Williams filling out the top 10.
Last year in Melbourne it was a Ferrari one-two with Sainz holding off teammate Leclerc for the win, ahead of Norris.
“It isn’t quite where we wanted to be but overall I’m satisfied with the progress we have made over the past two days,” said Hamilton.
“We didn’t expect to be eight or nine tenths behind pole but given this is a weekend of firsts for me, I didn’t underestimate how steep the learning curve would be.”
Fernando Alonso and his Aston Martin teammate Lance Stroll have struggled for pace all weekend and failed to get through Q2 alongside Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto, RB’s Isack Hadjar and Alpine’s Jack Doohan.
Haas’s Ollie Bearman failed to set a time in Q1 and was eliminated with teammate Esteban Ocon, Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg, Lawson and Antonelli.
Briton’s Bearman has endured a horror weekend, smashing into the barriers in first practice on Friday and unable to take part in the second session.
He skidded into the gravel Saturday on his first lap in third practice, before reporting his gearbox was “broken” without completing a lap in qualifying.