Earlier this month, Daniyal Mirza could be seen and heard on Geo Super, making sense of the sweet science taking place at Azadi Fight Night. This past weekend he could be found in Riyadh, promoting homegrown talent on social media at the Esports World Cup.

And earlier in his life, in the early hours of Sunday mornings, Daniyal could be found glued to the TV in his basement. There, the hopes, dreams, and resolve of budding fighters, mainstay talents, and hardened champions were projected straight into the soul of a man who would soon become a pivotal piece of Pakistani sports. But, the blood, sweat, and tears spilling onto a canvas with the Ultimate Fighting Championship logo plastered across it, wasn’t what captured Daniyal’s interest at first. By that point, he was already firmly within sports entertainment’s grasp.

He was already in love with “the glitz, the glamour, all of that.” And he had “always been a fan.”

The Glitz and The Glamour

‘Always’ began when Daniyal was introduced to the world of professional wrestling by his Dad, which to him, is as far back as his first moments of consciousness. Even now, he still remembers Bret Hart’s pink and black attire accentuating the agony of whatever poor soul was locked in a sharpshooter. He still remembers one of his heroes, Jim Ross, shouting ‘My God!’ with southern base reverberating through the arena and out the TV, exciting any and all as a colorful character emerged out of the tunnel and below the jumbotron. But, most of all, Daniyal remembers the stories that laid the foundation to make every spear through a ladder that much more impactful. 

“The main thing that always got me was the stories of these athletes, of these performers on screen and off screen. Because when you're watching a fight, you’re seeing a story play out.”

Where did a fighter come from? What conditions did they overcome? What have they withstood? From a fighter’s upbringing to the trials and tribulations they overcame. From all the losses they stood up from, to all the victories where they were the last man standing. All of it comes together to grip the audience and pull them into a world where adrenaline is constantly coursing at a steady rate.  

However, beyond the awe he instills in his audience, Daniyal believes he has an added responsibility. To wit, giving the fighters the respect they deserve. Something that wasn’t a given in Pakistan, due to the lack of dedicated broadcasters. While Daniyal credits the commentators and announcers of the past as pioneers, he finds it imperative to mention that although they did what they could, the task wasn’t treated as professionally as it is today. Ultimately, it was a disservice to those risking their health and wellbeing.

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“This guys about to fight, this guy’s about to potentially put his life on the line, his career on the line, years of hard work on the line, because one fight can change everything for somebody.”

And that realisation bestowed Daniyal with an added layer of responsibility. The glitz and the glamour was the inciting incident, capturing his attention and love for the sport. But, if the sport was to grow, the athletes themselves would need to become known. 

What’s Space Without The Stars?

Treating the stories of individual athletes with the "utmost care, the utmost responsibility, and the utmost effectiveness" became the key for Daniyal to convert first time watchers into long-term fans.

“When [athletes] become superstars is when the whole ecosystem expands. Without us having stars in these niche sports, there’s no growth.”

Daniyal points to cricket as one such example. Accompanying the strong infrastructure the sport is built on are the legends and icons that “surpassed the reality of being a normal human being.” Wasim Akram and Shoaib Akthar are a couple names Daniyal remembers as larger-than life. More recently, he finds Babar Azam carving out his own cultural personality. In essence, the goal is to ‘put these guys over’, a professional wrestling term meaning to make someone look good in the eyes of the audience. And to do that, there are three tenets of commentary that Daniyal follows. 

The first is research. And its focal point is a fighter's background. Where are they from? What styles and strategies do they like to employ? How have they fared against the competition recently? Branching off from here is the second tenet, something Daniyal learned listening to former UFC title challenger and current pundit, Chael Sonnen. What the Bad Guy from West Linn taught Daniyal was simple. In fact, it was exactly that, simplicity. Call what you see and don’t lie to the audience.

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“My job is to literally, as a play by play commentator, just say what I see.”

The third tenet serves to refine the second. With numerous techniques at a fighters’ disposal, each with a more complex denomination than the last, keeping up with the action can quickly become a confusing and tedious task. So Daniyal narrates the play by play as non-technical as possible for the average viewer’s sake.

“I shouldn’t be sitting there and just saying, oh, he’s got him in an imanari roll. If I’m being honest, no one knows what an Imanari role is.”

As sad as Tony Ferguson would be to hear that, a better approach for the viewer’s sake would be to explain the literal movements the fighter is doing - i.e. attempting to latch on to his opponents leg to force a takedown - and why the fighter is doing it - i.e. to force a submission via applying pressure to an opponents heel. 

“I try to do my commentary in a way so that even if grandma watching at home is looking at these fights, she should be able to follow along.”

In Pakistan, the systematic step by step explanation becomes even more imperative, as the sport is still, relatively, in its infancy.

Read more: Titanium plates and tested patience: Kashmir’s Saria Khan returns to the cage

Growing Pains

That's not to say that the sport hasn't grown at all. Quite the opposite in fact. In recent years, Daniyal has seen quite a bit of change in the space. When he first entered the industry six years ago, the only MMA promotion was the Flogger series, run out of Rawalpindi by Nasir Khan. The difference between now and then? The degree of social media coverage.

“There was no coverage of what was going on. There’s no kind of place where people can go and just follow along with the news.” 

While they have yet to reach the level of cricket players or TV personalities, some athletes in the space have tens of thousands of followers. The further promotion of these athletes, to further the sport as a whole, is an industry wide effort. And when he’s not announcing or commentating, Daniyal is doing just that on his digital platform, On the Mic, which features podcasts, interviews, and news on everything MMA and football in the country. Change in the combat sports industry may be happening slower than most would hope, but it's happening nonetheless. 

“Even if it's very small compared to cricket, the fandom of mixed martial arts is developing in front of my eyes. I see young kids come up to me, and I’m not the star of the show. I never will be, and I never should be.”

Fighters are getting recognised and stopped for pictures at gyms and events more than ever. Even if there is a long way to go in Daniyal’s eyes, he sees it growing in the right direction.  But as much as the sport has evolved, greater support from potential stakeholders is crucial. That’s not to say that the combat sports industry is expecting charity. 

In fact, Daniyal made the disclaimer that growth begins by putting on fantastic events, marketing fighters, and increasing viewership, all in an effort to showcase the return on investment stakeholders can expect. The onus to bring in sponsors falls on the proponents of the industry. However, it’s here that a bit of a paradox lies.

“It’s still a chicken and egg situation. So is it us as a community that is not giving them enough of a return on investment? Or is it these companies and the government agencies not investing in the first place to get that return?”

To put on the type of events that Pakistan’s MMA scene needs to thrive, build popularity, and cite in order to bring in additional financing, there needs to be some initial investment. There is a degree of support to be found from provincial governments, such as with the Sindh government which funded the aforementioned boxing event that was hosted by Daniyal in Karachi. But, many private sponsors are still yet to see the appeal. Instead, they see a danger to their brands. For Daniyal, it’s a nearly two decade old mentality rooted in a mischaracterisation of the sport. 

“They’re still stuck in 2010, a lot of them, where they’re like, this is a barbaric sport and there's blood and there’s this.”

What Daniyal believes they fail to see is one of the fastest growing sports in the world. One based on honor, respect, dignity, and discipline. Values that Pakistani’s need, for both themselves as individuals and the nation as a whole, to succeed. 

“You compare that to Eastern European countries, where there’s a massive boom of government investment and support towards combat sports. You see a change.”

Daniyal described that change as he reminisced about the streets of Uzbekistan, where he served as a ring announcer this past November for the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation World Championships. He saw a level of fitness and a level of general health that paints Pakistan in a less than favourable light when compared. 

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So incentives for investment exist, both in the industry itself - seeing as it is one of the fastest growing sports in the world - and for the general population’s wellbeing. The onus may be on the combat sports industry to put on the best events possible, but equally, private entities must recognize the value in the field. One of the reasons they may struggle to do so are the constant forced comparisons drawn between cricket and every other sport in the country. Obviously, the former, with its much greater viewership, will fare better no matter what it’s compared against. 

“If we constantly make the comparison to cricket, then the sport is just never going to grow. But people don’t understand that we need alternative sources of entertainment in Pakistan.” 

However, the ‘cricket’ issue may run deeper than just unfavourable comparisons.

Monopoly and Mentality

Cricket’s dominance in the Pakistani zeitgeist has left little room for other sports to shine. It’s tried, tested, and tied to our nation’s identity. It’s safe, trustworthy, and the way in which it eclipses all else leaves people wondering if there's even anything else to watch. 

“When I say sports monopoly, I just mean it's a very myopic and tunnel vision of like, this is the only thing which is working. So let's just keep growing that.”

It's a poor argument from Daniyal’s perspective. A sport won’t just explode onto the scene with the production value many demand. It takes a concerted effort from the fans to help build the sport. Because it all begins with viewership. 

It's a simple model. If MMA, or a relatively niche sport like it is to grow, it takes investment from the aforementioned stakeholders, so that different organisations can put on events that sports fans will be excited to see, with the media coverage that will allow them to see it. But in order to get that investment, sponsors need some guaranteed marketing mileage. If their brand’s name is printed and painted onto a canvas and cage that no one's watching, what's the point? 

Instead, they can continue to invest in cricket, where banks, fast food chains, and telecommunication providers know they will get guaranteed eyes on their brands with every PSL match. However, Daniyal feels it’s pertinent to clarify who is at fault here. Because while it may seem like cricket is to blame, replace it with any other sport, and the real culprit comes to light. 

“If MMA was in the position that cricket’s in, it would also be the same thing. It’s not the sport’s fault. It’s the people’s fault.” 

Despite how much the national team loses, despite each and every poor performance, no one ever thinks to stop watching. No one ever thinks to hold the team accountable. They may groan and complain about the poor play. But they will still watch. 

And so, investment will keep pouring in. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chief Financial Officer Javed Murtaza confirmed this past March that a budget of PKR 18 billion had been allocated for stadium upgrades prior to, and following, this year's Champions Trophy. Daniyal believes a fraction of that could change the entire trajectory of some of the other, more niche, sports in the country. What makes such a realisation even more frustrating, is that while Pakistan flails and flounders on the cricket pitch, the country is dominating in other sports. 

Read more: Samar Khan and the snowstorm at the summit

In Spite Of The Load-shedding

Esports provides an alternative perspective that highlights the failure of both the average consumer and private entities in supporting sports in Pakistan, for two reasons. Firstly, it’s globally recognised to a degree that other niche sports aren't. The multi-billion dollar industry is expected to be viewed by over 600 million people this year. Secondly, unlike in Cricket, Pakistan is dominating certain fields within Esports. Look no further than Tekken. 

“If cricket and these other sports can get that kind of recognition for being, quite honestly, a mid-tier performer within the international cricket sphere, then these esports athletes need to be recognised just as well.”

Daniyal explained that after six EVO championships, Pakistan’s own Arsalan Ash is widely considered to be at the top of the Tekken world. And he did it despite all the blockades. In spite of the loadshedding. In spite of the lack of infrastructure. In spite of a lack of government support in helping athletes attend some of the biggest tournaments, such as EVO Japan, where Pakistan's presence has been severely lacking. These past two years, no Pakistanis have gotten a visa to go. Not even the greatest Tekken player of all time. 

“And that is again, a failure on our government's part to make sure that this kind of relationship doesn't exist between two countries in such a big industry where your players can't go and compete at the highest level.”

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It’s a regrettable state of affairs considering the numerous hurdles Esports athletes like Arsalan have had to overcome to compete. Not only is the talent present. Not only is Esports one of the fastest growing industries out there. Not only is the country decorated in the field. But, most importantly, it's fun to watch.

“It's so fast-paced, you know, it's so continuous, so dynamic, that you forget that you're watching two dudes play a video game. You're now watching reactions, movements, split-second decisions.”

Still, some are hesitant to give Esports the legitimacy it so justly deserves. The distinction between video games and ‘real’ sports is still firmly held for many. But, that hasn’t stopped Daniyal and others within the industry from making waves. Baaz Esports is one such organisation. Led by Danyal Chishty, Baaz has put on a myriad of record breaking events, including Takedown 2023, the largest attended Esports event in Pakistan’s history, and Baaz Gauntlet 2024, the most watched Esports broadcast in the country’s history.

Earlier this year, Baaz took Pakistani Esports to even higher heights by partnering with SOOP to create Pakistan vs Korea, which became the most watched fighting game event of 2025 globally. Later this year, they’re putting on Takedown 2025, which for the first time will be part of Bandai Namco’s Tekken World Tour Circuit, marking Pakistan’s entry into international competitive gaming. 

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Daniyal has been in the midst of Baaz’s ascent, working with the organisation as content director, as well as a commentator. Like MMA, the three tenets apply here as well, with Daniyal doing his best to give both the game and the players the respect they deserve, while making the viewing experience fun regardless of the technicalities. 

“And that's number one, because in both sports, MMA and esports, the job is to create new fans. It's our job to generate more interest. And you can only do that when they're actually enjoying themselves, regardless of the technical details that they may not understand yet.”

Rising Tide Raises All Boats 

Whether it's guiding the audience as a commentator, getting that adrenaline coursing as an announcer, or his day to day work as a freelance sports management consultant, it's clear that Daniyal is committed to bringing greater attention to niche sports in the country. 

What led him to dedicating his time and effort to Pakistan was frustration with the current sports landscape, which is purely cricket focused. Even when presented with the opportunity to seek out his masters degree from Berlin on a scholarship, Daniyal chose to stay in the country. To study here and invest his own time into building a runway from which Pakistani sports could take off. 

“Why? Because I feel like there's a lot of work to be done and there's not a lot of people doing that work, especially in smaller sports.”

It’s not simply altruism however. It’s a tittle of that aforementioned frustration, mixed with an undying passion for the sports he covers. Because for Daniyal, when it comes to the entertainment and excitement that sports like MMA bring, cricket can’t compare. 

“It's night and day. When you see two dudes fighting in a cage under the bright lights, there's nothing like it.”

But what sets him apart from everyone else is a third element. One that sharpens his passion, turning it into motivation. It’s his hunger to be the best at what he does, not just in Pakistan, but the world.

“I want to work in the local scene for as long as I can, for as long as it allows me to. But my personal goal is to be the best ring announcer in the world. And I don't say that lightly.”

It’s not hyperbole for Daniyal.

That much is clear when you look at his track record. In the last six years he’s done 129 events including 50 MMA shows, 23 concerts, 20 Esports events, 13 boxing events, four pro-wrestling events, three futsal events, two badminton events, two football events, and a racing event. But to become an established name in the industry, he had to sacrifice pay early on as well. Something he didn’t mind, as long as it meant he could help smaller promotions.

“Most of the time promoters, small promoters, can barely afford to pay fighters. So I don't charge them, you know, smaller events, smaller promotions, organic efforts. What am I charging them for if fighters aren't getting paid?”

Out of the aforementioned 129, 40 shows were unpaid. Daniyal’s willingness to help smaller organisations expand their operations, and in turn the industry as a whole, highlights one of his core beliefs. A belief that summarises his philosophy regarding the sports industry aptly.

“The rising tide lifts all boats.”

If Daniyal can put a spotlight on the often overshadowed sports in Pakistan, the sports ecosystem as a whole will grow. Pakistani MMA will grow. Pakistani Esports will grow. Pakistani football will grow. And with them, the homegrown voice of Pakistani sports will too. 

The post The rising tide lifts all boats: Daniyal Mirza and Pakistan’s growing sports ecosystem appeared first on HUM News English.

WEB DESK: Pakistani volleyball star Murad Khan signed with Portuguese first division side Benfica on Saturday, in what was landmark move for volleyball in the country.

The 25-year-old opposite last played on the national level at the AVC Nations Cup 2025, where he helped Pakistan finish second among the 11 participating nations. On the domestic level, Murad last played for Chinese side Beijing BAIC Motor. He also has experience in the Serbian Super League, the Bulgarian Efbet Super Volley, and the Korean V-League, having played for Spartak Subotica, Neftochimik Burgas, and the Incheon Korean Air Jumbos, respectively.

Now, Murad will take the wealth of experience he has earned playing in leagues around the world to the Portugal, where he will compete in Liga A1 with one of the best European clubs in the world, S.L. Benfica. The club, founded in 1939, have a rich history in Liga A1, winning nine titles in the last 12 seasons. They have won a total of 12 titles in their history, which is the third most of any franchise in the league.

They fell just short of what would have been their sixth consecutive league title after losing to Sporting CP in the Liga A1 final. However, Benfica did triumph at the 21st Portuguese Cup, winning the trophy for the 21st time, nine times more than any other team.

With the addition of one of Asia’s best Opposite hitters in Murad, Benfica have strengthened an already dominant side.

Also read: Pakistan tour of West Indies 2025 – ODI series preview

Pakistan beat USA in U19 Volleyball Championship

The Pakistan U19 volleyball team beat USA in their 13-16 position play-off match at the u19 volleyball world championship.

The boys in green managed to beat the US in four sets. After a dominant first set performance that saw Pakistan win 25-14, the US put up a better effort in the second, winning 25-22. However, that would be the final set the Americans would win, with Pakistan winning the next two 25-18 and 25-23.

It was a return to form for Pakistan, as they had lost three matches straight against China, Poland, and Argentina. It was a disappointing turn of events after Pakistan topped Pool A, winning four of their five matches.

Pakistan will now play their final match tomorrow, hoping to claim 13th position.

Also read: Five local climbers summit Tirich Mir for climate awareness

The post Pakistan’s Murad Khan signs with Benfica, U19 team beats USA appeared first on HUM News English.

On July 12, Saria Khan entered the cage for the first time in a long time. And it was to be her most intimidating bout yet. Not because her opponent presented a novel threat. But because the last time she left the cage, she did so with a broken jaw. An injury she sustained in the first round, but one she gritted through and fought in spite of till the end of the last.

The injury would mean two surgeries, and a long time away from the sport.

If the physical pain of titanium plates restructuring her face wasn’t enough, the mental struggles of being out of the cage added another layer of dismay. For training had become an essential part of Saria’s routine, and a pivotal part of her life.

MMA as a teacher

“MMA honestly was a saviour for me. The day I started doing it, literally within a few months, I started seeing so much change in me.”

Growing up, Saria had to deal with a slew of health issues. Time and time again she would get sick, and time and time again, she would end up in the hospital. Repeated hospitalisation and the perpetual need for medication took its toll on Saria mentally. And that’s where MMA came into her life and made a lasting change.

It wasn’t a miracle. Her health issues didn’t vanish. But her time training MMA built up a tolerance to fight back. And when life became too much, it served as an escape. Saria has lost many in her life to cancer, including her father and more recently, a close friend. The people she calls “the real fighters in my life.”

“I remember the day I lost my father. After a few days, I was in the gym. I was training. I used to cry my heart out during the training, but it was the only escape.”

The rising tide lifts all boats: Daniyal Mirza and Pakistan’s growing sports ecosystem

Training was Saria’s way to tackle grief. It reminded her that she had to live. That she was living for a purpose. The sport made Saria independent, instilled discipline, and raised her confidence, bringing her to a good space both physically and mentally.

Saria as a student

So staying away from it all was tough to say the least. However, that didn’t mean Saria succumbed to despondency. Rather the opposite. Maybe it was because of that discipline the training instilled. The persistence needed to be successful. Regardless of what it was, Saria took the year and half off as a learning experience.

“It was just a journey of every other day. Just getting up with that injury, with the pain, with a lot of other aspects that came along with it.”

Saria explained that it taught her patience, to “go with the flow.” No longer was she on a tight schedule, pressed to rack up accomplishments by a certain age. No longer was it about the fame. It was about being better than she was yesterday.

“It’s not just about proving that you’re better than your opponent or you’re better than anyone else in the field. It’s more about being better every other day.”

The time off seemed to be just what Saria needed to evolve. The pressures she was putting on herself, the need to prove herself. It all dissipated. It wasn’t just about embracing the competition anymore, but the sport itself.

Also read: Samar Khan and the snowstorm at the summit

Return to the cage

Even with all the lessons she learned, the new approach to the sport she embraced, returning to the cage was no less difficult. In fact, it was likely tougher than many would expect. For she was re-entering that same cage, at the same event, in which Saria had suffered the injury that side-lined her a year and half ago.

After readjusting to the competitive nature of combat sports with an IFT grappling competition, which she won gold in, Saria was thrust into a short notice fight, giving her just 20 days to prepare before entering the gauntlet once again.

Saria still had that confidence she had built from her previous fights. She had become attuned to the pressure, the nerves that came with each bout. All the feelings she overcame each time in order to remind herself that this was her cage. Even still, there was a different flavour of fear there this time, which hadn’t been there before.

She was more conscious of herself than she had been before. More careful to not get injured again. And so, she played it safe. While it didn’t stop her from winning the fight, the split decision nature of her victory meant Saria left the cage feeling like she could have done more.

“What was lacking was confidence. I was not confident in my technique.”

However, with another victory under her belt, and that too one coming off of a serious injury, she was re-instilled with excitement for fighting. Having overcome the hurdle life put in front of her, Saria was ready for the next challenge, with even greater confidence than before.

“It’s a very good feeling that I competed. My fear is gone.”

Inspirations

As Saria continues on her MMA journey, she looks to compatriot and teammate Anita Karim for inspiration, while hoping she can do the same for girls across the country. In a sport dominated by men, Anita took a step that no other woman in the country had before and began competing internationally, winning multiple bouts in organisations such as ONE Championship.

“So I just look up to her so much, and I’m so proud of her that she’s my teammate,” Saria said, adding that “her techniques are amazing, phenomenal.”

Saria is taking a step into similarly uncharted territory, being the first female MMA fighter from Kashmir. After seeing a schoolmate in her childhood boxing, it set her off on the path she currently walks. But immediately, she encountered the barriers many women face when entering sport in the country.

“While growing up, the concept of sport in Kashmir was for females specifically, just not looked up to. Like, they didn’t want girls to play at all.”

A young Saria was advised to go to Islamabad where she could hopefully find a home to foster her interest in the sport. And with the aid of her elder sister, who introduced Saria to the head coach of Team Fight Fortress, Saria began training with the team she now calls family.

Saria’s parents helped to fund her time in the gym training, and even despite some squabbles at home over dropping grades, they remained supportive. Even if they weren’t always sure just where this passion for MMA was taking their daughter.

“It was always very questionable, whether this was something that I would be continuing or not.”

Now, Saria hopes to share some of the support she received by changing the perceptions around women’s involvement in MMA and sport more generally. Saria wants to show that in spite of the barriers one faces, and the sacrifices they have to make, that everything is still possible.

“I really want a lot of other girls from Kashmir to get into sports, to play, and to look to me as someone who did it from a very young age.”

One way that Saria is spreading awareness is through self-defence seminars across Pakistan, promoting the necessity of learning basic self-defence for women. She hopes to one day host one in Kashmir.

A Better Tomorrow

Already, the landscape is changing from when Saria first started her journey, as more women in Pakistan are competing in MMA than ever before.

“Now there are a lot of female fighters who are coming up, who are fighting from different areas, and it's just amazing to see them doing it.”

Saria hopes she can continue to play a “small role” in promoting women’s participation in combat sports. For Saria herself, she hopes to continue readjusting to competing in the amateurs, and make her pro-debut in one to two years.

“Professional MMA is very different from amateur. It’s a level of very, very good techniques. And I think I’m good with my techniques and everything, but I have to learn a lot still.”

However long it takes for Saria to enter the next stage of her career, she has the patience one needs to keep at it, and the steeled resolve to not falter.

Also read: England women return home to heroes’ welcome after Euro 2025 win

The post Titanium plates and tested patience: Kashmir’s Saria Khan returns to the cage appeared first on HUM News English.

WEB DESK: In the latest batch of International Cricket Council (ICC) test rankings released on Wednesday, English, Australian, and Indian players saw some fluctuation.

Team Rankings

Australia remains at the top of the test world after whitewashing West Indies in their three-match series. Below them is South Africa in second, and England, who recently took a 2-1 series lead against India in their five-match test affair, round out the top three.

Batting Rankings

In the batting rankings, Joe Root took the top spot, while compatriot Harry Brook fell two places to third. In the third test against India, Brook made a total of 34 runs across both innings, while Root scored a ton in the first, and 40 in the second. Sandwiched in between is Kiwi Kane Williamson.

Australia’s Steve Smith also rose one spot into fourth. He scored a total of 127 runs in the two tests he played. India’s Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant both fell one place each, with the two now occupying fifth and eight place, respectively. Jaiswal only managed to score 13 runs in the third test against England, with his second inning knock ending on the seventh ball he faced, as he was sent off for a duck. Pant fared better, scoring 74 in the first innings, but only nine in the second.

Skipper Shubman Gill also fell in the rankings, losing three places which dropped him down to ninth. Gill only managed to score 22 runs across both innings.

Also read: PSL valuation expected to be completed by August-end

Bowling Rankings

Jasprit Bumrah retains the top spot this week, as he continued to dominate, taking a total of seven wickets in the third test against England, including a five-wicket haul in the first innings. Right below him is Kagiso Rabada, with Pat Cummins close behind rounding out the top three. Cummins took a total of eight wickets in the three-match series against The Windies.

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Josh Hazlewood, who took a total of 14 wickets across the three matches against the West Indies, is still ranked fourth. Two places below him is Scott Boland, who rose six rankings after taking six wickets in the final test, which including a hat trick in the 14th over of the second innings. Mitchell Starc is ranked 10th, after taking 15 wickets in the series, and close behind is The Windies’ Jayden Seales, who took 13 wickets in the series but dropped two places. Notably, Shamar Joseph rose 15 places, after a fantastic series performance which saw him lead all players in wickets taken with 22.

All-rounder Rankings

Ravindra Jadeja remains the top test allrounder. In the third test against England, he scored 72 runs in the first innings, and an unbeaten 61 in the second. Cummins rose one place to fourth, while compatriot Mitchell Starc rose two places to eight. The Windies’ Jason Holder dropped two places to ninth.

Also read: Pakistan T20 squad sets off on Bangladesh tour

The post ICC test rankings: English and Aussie players climb as India sees decline appeared first on HUM News English.

LONDON: England were docked two World Test Championship (WTC) points and fined 10pc match fees on Wednesday for their slow over rate in the third test against India at Lord's.

The hosts went 2-1 up in the five-test series with a thrilling 22-run victory but were found two overs short of target in a match where the Dukes ball went out of shape several times and had to be replaced.

"England captain Ben Stokes pled guilty to the offence and accepted the proposed sanction, so there was no need for a formal hearing," the International Cricket Council said in a statement.

Also read: Pakistan T20 squad sets off on Bangladesh tour

Players lose 5 per cent of their match fees for every over their team fail to bowl in the allotted time. It also costs the team one WTC point.

England slipped from second to third in the WTC standings behind Sri Lanka following the points deduction. Australia, who completed a 3-0 sweep of West Indies earlier this week, lead the standings in the new 2025-2027 cycle.

Also read: PSL valuation expected to be completed by August-end

The post England fined, docked two WTC points for slow over rate at Lord’s appeared first on HUM News English.

DHAKA: The Pakistan T20I squad, led by Salman Ali Agha, has now fully arrived in Dhaka, after the second batch of players departed from Karachi on Wednesday.

The second group is comprised of players Mohammad Haris, Abbas Afridi, Sahibzada Farhan, Hasan Nawaz, Sufiyan Muqeem, Hussain Talat, Ahmed Daniyal, and Salman Mirza, as well as support staff.

Bangladesh will get their first chance at revenge this Sunday, July 20. It hasn’t been long since the two teams last faced each other, with Bangladesh touring Pakistan in May and June for three T20s, all of which they lost.

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A total of three matches will be played on July 20, 22, and 24. All three matches will take place at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka at 6PM local time, 5PM Pakistan time.

Currently, Bangladesh is in the midst of a three match T20I series against Sri Lanka. The two teams have won one game each, with the third being contested later today.

Pakistan squad

Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Hassan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza and Sufyan Muqeem.

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LAHORE: Pakistan’s new white ball coach, Mike Hesson, outlined the path that Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi will need to walk in order to make their return to the T20 side.

After falling out of favour with selectors, likely due to poor performances in the most recent Champions Trophy, Babar and Shaheen were notably absent from the side that swept Bangladesh last month in the three-match T20 series.

In regards to Babar, Hesson stated that he is battling for a top-order spot against Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub. He also dismissed speculation that Babar was being considered as a wicket-keeping option.

“Not sure where that came from, but I have heard that speculation. Babar is competing for one of the opening positions at the moment. But obviously we have Fakhar and Siam in those two roles at the moment, so he’s competing for that.”

Hesson pointed to Babar’s strike rate, which is lower than both Fakhar and Zaman’s, as one area of necessary improvement.

"There's a good reason why our ranking in T20 cricket is as low as it is, because our strike rates from a batting point of view are not high enough.”

Despite the criticism, Hesson was confident that Babar would be able to make the necessary improvements and that he’s already begun to tweak his game.

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"Babar is one of many who have the ability to make those improvements. And I'm here to work with them and help them. In the last month or so, he's made some really good changes.

In regards to Afridi, Hesson was less transparent on the areas of his game which need improvement, simply stating that “we've identified some areas that Shaheen needs to work on, as does every player at this camp."

Hesson also emphasized his role in getting players to be their best selves on the pitch.

"Players go through good periods and periods where they're a little bit down in their game. And it's up to us as coaching staff to try and get our best players on the park and make them better, so when they play for Pakistan, they perform better.”

Both Babar and Afridi will be absent from the upcoming three match T20 series against Bangladesh, which kicks off on July 20.

PAKISTAN SQUAD

Salman Ali Agha (capt), Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Hassan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Sufyan Moqim.

Also read: 15-man squad announced for Bangladesh T20I series

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LAHORE: The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) is reportedly holding a meeting on July 24 regarding the Asia Cup, Indian media reported on Thursday.

The meeting is currently scheduled to be held in Dhaka, but the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has requested a change in venue due to the current political situation in Bangladesh. If the meeting is unable to be shifted, the BCCI may refuse to attend according to media reports.

As for the Asia Cup itself, the BCCI is waiting for instruction from the Indian government regarding the defending champion’s participation. Their inclusion in the tournament was put in question due to the recent conflict with Pakistan.

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If it is decided that India will not compete in this year’s iteration of the ACC tournament, they may compete in a tri-nation series instead. Sri Lanka has reportedly offered to play a bilateral series if the tournament is postponed.

While the tournament was originally scheduled to be hosted by India, due to the aforementioned conflict, three venues in the UAE are being discussed as potential alternatives including, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah.

Last week, Indian media reports claimed that the tournament would kick off on September 5, and end on September 21, with the marquee matchup between Pakistan and India reportedly set for September 7.

This year’s tournament will be in the T20 format, and will feature eight teams, including the likely hosts UAE, the five permanent members, and Oman and Hong Kong.  

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DUBAI: The United Arab Emirates’ Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) stated that rumours regarding the granting of lifetime Golden Visas to certain nationalities, which had been circulating on Indian media, were false.

Clarification by the ICP was needed after news articles claimed that a consultancy office based in Dubai, the Rayad Group, could issue a Golden Visa for all categories for a one time fee of just over $27,000. The ICP explained that these claims were made without consulting the relevant authorities within the UAE, and that they have no legal basis. Rayad Group has since issued an apology, which was quoted by the Press Trust of India (PTI).

"We apologise unreservedly for the public confusion caused by recent reports and commentary, and we take full responsibility for ensuring future communications are clear, accurate, and consistent with the UAE's stringent regulatory frameworks. We also wish to take this opportunity to acknowledge that certain public comments made by Rayad Group’s Managing Director were misplaced and have contributed to the misinterpretation of our role and the nature of the initiative in question," the Rayad Group was quoted as saying.

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The ICP reiterated that all applications are handled through official government channels and directed all concerned individuals to the authority’s website on which all relevant regulations are outlined.

Individuals were warned to not respond to false news, and to be wary of submitting personal documents or paying fees to any party spreading such claims. The ICP also threatened legal action to any party spreading false information.

“Legal action will be taken against entities spreading such false information in an attempt to illegally collect money from individuals aspiring to live and reside in the UAE, exploiting their hopes for a dignified and secure life,” the ICP stated as shared by the Emirates News Agency (WAM).

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DAZHOU: Pakistan continued their dominance at the U18 Men’s Asia Cup, winning their thid match against Bangladesh on Tuesday.

Previously, the men in green had already triumphed over Hong Kong and Sri Lanka, beating the two teams 8-0 and 9-0, respecitvely. 

The clash against Bangladesh was the toughest test for Pakistan yet, as the two teams were tied 3-3 by halftime. However, Pakistan took charge in the second half, scoring three more goals before the final whistle. 

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The game ended 6-3 in Pakistan’s favour, with Abdullah Awan and Hanzala Ali scoring two goals each, and Atif Ali and Asim adding two more.

Pakistan currentyl sits at the top of Group A with nine points. Bangaldesh, who have also won all three matches, sits right beneath Pakistan due to a lower point difference. Pakistan has scored 23 goals thus far in the tournament, while only condeding three. 

China sit in third place after beating Sri Lanka and Hong Kong, but falling short against Bangladesh. Beneath them sit Hong Kong in fifth, and Sri Lanka in sixth, both of whom have lost each of their three matches.

Pakistan will now face China tomorrow, July 9.

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ZURICH: It was nearly a decade ago that Lucy Bronze played a lead role in England's first victory over France in 43 years, with her pinpoint through ball to Jodie Taylor for the goal that fired them into the 2017 Women's European Championship quarter-final.

England begin the defence of their Euro 2022 title against their familiar foes on Saturday in Zurich, and if they once feared the French, their steady improvement in the years since has turned that into a healthy -- and mutual -- respect.

"Now we just look at France as another team to beat, analyse as we would any other team, whether we played them two weeks ago or two years ago," Bronze said on Thursday at England's base camp in Zurich. "It's another team that if we play our best, we can win.

"It's a game that we're excited for," she added. "Both teams are full of exciting attacking talent, and it's the game I think everyone's going to be watching, it surely has to be the most exciting group game, England-France.

"I don't know that France necessarily fear England. I think they just have a lot of respect ... and likewise."

Bronze is her team's oldest player at 33, and is playing in her seventh major tournament, while England have seven players with no major tournament experience at all.

The veteran defender was excited about the youngsters, including bulldozer forward Michelle Agyemang, who scored 41 seconds into her England debut in April.

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"She just runs into people and bodies them. She's so strong," Bronze said of the 19-year-old. "She's so sweet and unassuming as a person, but on the pitch, she'd probably be one of my favourite ones to play against, because I can just run into her dead hard, and she likes to give it back.

"She's been told that she needs to go a little bit easier. I said, 'no I prefer that'. I want her to give everything, it makes it hard for us. I don't think she's surprised any of us. She settled in like she's been here for years."

France are also a team in transition, although Bronze said she was shocked when coach Laurent Bonadei dropped captain Wendie Renard, the team's heart and soul for more than a decade and who played with Bronze at Olympique Lyonnais.

"I would rather she was here. I think it would have been good for the game, good for the France team. I would have loved her to be on the pitch on Saturday," Bronze said.

In their last five encounters, France have won three and England two, including a 2-1 victory in their most recent clash a year ago.

Asked if she felt like things were coming together for England in training, Bronze said that "click" moment does not usually come until the whistle blows for their opening game.

"And I think we've got a good team as well, where, even if it's not clicking in the first five minutes, we've got the brains to figure out," she added.

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WEB DESK: Hans Zimmer, a German film score composer, took to Instagram on Wednesday to show his support for the Palestinian people.

The post references the controversy surrounding rap group Bob Vylan, who at this year’s Glastonbury festival in the United Kingdom led chants of “Death to the IDF”, in an attempt to show the difference in attention being given to the controversy and the genocide in Palestine.

Referencing mass starvation, the intentional shooting of civilians, and the speculation of food poisoning using opioids, Zimmer paints a stark picture of the Palestinian plight. However, the post was later deleted from Zimmer’s Instagram, with no explanation provided.

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The Jewish composer, whose music was played by the International Symphony Orchestra in a series of shows held in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Beersheba earlier this year, has previously raised $1.2 million for the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra in 2014. At that event, Zimmer was bestowed a lifetime achievement award.

The film industry has been criticised for its silence on the genocide in Gaza, at times by actors and filmmakers themselves. Earlier this year, Joaquin Phoenix, Pedro Pascal, Riz Ahmed, and director Guillermo del Toro became the latest to add their names to a letter condemning that silence, which has been signed by over 370 people within the industry.

Notably, last year’s No Other Land, a documentary showcasing the destruction of the Masafer Yatta community on the West Bank by Israeli soliders, won the academy award for best documentary feature. Another documentary, Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk, which depicts life in Gaza in the midst of Israel’s genocide through converstaions between director Sepideh Farsi and Gaza photojournalist Fatima Hassona, was shown at the Cannes film festival earlier this year. The day after its selection was announced, Hassona was killed by an Israeli airstrike.

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WEB DESK: Indian media reports claimed on Wednesday that this year’s Asia Cup would be held between September 5 and September 21.

Hostilities between Pakistan and India put the 2025 edition of the Asia Cup in question, but recent foreign media reports claim that the tournament will in fact take place later this year.

The T20 tournament is set to take place in the United Arab Emirates, with the host country joining the likes of Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and of course, India and Pakistan, to round out the six competing teams. Following the group stage, the top four teams will compete in the super fours. The top two teams of the second stage will then face off in the final in either Dubai or Abu Dhabi.

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The contest between India and Pakistan will reportedly take place on September 7. Depending on their performances in the group stage, a second meeting between the rival nations could take place on September 14, during the super four stage.

India have won the previous two Asia Cups, held in 2023 and 2018, which were both contested in the 50 over format. They have won the tournament a total of seven times since the inaugural edition in 1984. Sri Lanka have won the tournament the second most amount of times with five. Pakistan have won the cup twice, in 2000 and in 2012.

An official schedule is expected to be released in the second week of July.

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BASEL: The traditionally green trams of Basel have been dressed in the purple and sky blue of the Women's Euro 2025 logo, while banners draped across buildings in the northwestern Swiss city read "Welcome to the Summit of Emotions," the tournament's slogan.

About a dozen people watched a band perform at the city's Euro Fan Zone, but looked more like shoppers keen to escape the heat under the picnic table umbrellas than football fans.

Euro 2025 hosts Switzerland kick off their tournament on Wednesday against Norway in Basel, a city better known as the country's unofficial cultural capital with its scores of museums.

While the sweltering heat and sold-out stadiums are early themes, the Swiss hosts are hoping the legacy of the tournament -- played out across eight cities over the next month -- will bolster female football in the country as Euro 2022 did for England.

"It's incredible, it's something when I started my national team career, I was never picturing," Switzerland captain Lia Walti said on Tuesday.

"I never thought we were going to be able to host a tournament and sitting here right now in Basel, just one day before a first game of a European Championship -- it's extremely special for all of us.

"Women's football is growing worldwide, extremely fast as well in Switzerland, but we do still have a lot of steps to go here and we want to use the tournament and be positive role models, inspire the nation -- and make sure that we can also be really successful in Switzerland in the future."

England's Football Association reported a 140% jump in participation levels among girls and women in the season after Euro 2022, amounting to 2.3 million more players.

"Especially since that tournament, you're a lot more recognised when you're walking down the street, when you're doing your shopping," said England midfielder Ella Toone, who was part of the squad that won Euro 2022.

"It's still a bit of a pinch me-moment that someone's recognised me buying eggs from Aldi, you know what I mean?

"We wanted it to grow, and that's what comes along with it. You've got to embrace it."

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BAR RAISED

If Euro 2022 was considered a watershed moment for women's football, this year's tournament is raising the bar.

UEFA, the governing body for European soccer, announced a record 600,000 tickets have been sold for the tournament, already beating the previous event before a ball has been kicked, with 22 of the 31 games sold out.

"And that's without an opening match at Old Trafford or a final at Wembley," said Nadine Kessler, UEFA's director for women's football, referring to Euro 2022.

"One of our key goals was to sell out the event. I remember how people laughed when we set this goal, but it's now turning into a reality."

Norway captain Ada Hegerberg said players embrace the idea of leaving a legacy.

"Being a women's footballer today, it's a cliché but it's the truth -- you play for the whole next generation," she said at Tuesday's pre-game press conference.

"And as much as it can be tiring, it's also a big role and a task for us, and it should inspire us to be at our best at all times."

This year's tournament also boasts a record prize pot for a Women's Euros, with a 156% jump from 2022 to 41 million euros ($48.30 million). Club benefits doubled to nine million euros, while players get a guaranteed percentage for the first time.

A heatwave that has sent temperatures in Switzerland above 30 degrees Celsius (86°F) is expected to continue on Wednesday, when Iceland and Finland play in the tournament's opening game in Thun.

"For me, water is really important," Walti said. "Shading, putting your feet up before the game, but still going out once a day to get used to the temperature, because otherwise it almost hits you. It's something you can't influence, (but) we are already preparing for playing at these temperatures."

Basel will also host the tournament final on July 27 at St. Jakob-Park, the largest football stadium in Switzerland.

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Bulawayo: South Africa are trying their best to end the first test against Zimbabwe in the first session of day 4, as five wickets fell in less than 15 overs.

Corbin Bosch began day 4 just as he ended day 3, by taking a wicket. He dismissed Nick Welch on the very first ball the Zimbabwean batter faced to take his second wicket of Zimbabwe’s second innings, with a little help from Tony de Zorzi at short leg.

Bosch would strike again in the 25th over, sending Sean Williams off the field after he was caught behind on a delivery that found the top edge of the bat. Williams scored 26 off 18, hitting five fours in the process.

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Debutant Codi Yusuf joined in the fun a few overs later, putting on his best Bosch impression by taking a wicket on his first ball of the day as well. He dismissed Prince Masvaure, who scored 12 off 76, off a delivery that found the outside edge of the bat, before ending up in Wiaan Mulder’s hands at second slip.

In Yusuf’s very next over, Wessly Madhevere would be sent off. The slightest of edges was all South Africa needed dismiss another, as Verreynne took a simple catch to put Zimbabwe five down. Then again, in Yusuf’s next over, Tafadzwa Tsiga was sent off, with Bosch providing the necessary help at fourth slip after the ball found yet another edge. Yusuf now has a total of six wickets in the match, three in each inning.

Zimbabwe have passed the 100-run threshold, but they still require over 400 runs. South Africa will likely take a 1-0 lead in the two match test series by the end of the day.

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AUSTIN: Brian Johnson, better known online as Liver King, is a fitness and lifestyle influencer who was arrested at the Four Seasons Hotel in Austin, Texas, this Tuesday for threats made against popular podcaster Joe Rogan.

The Liver King gained notoriety online for what he dubbed the “ancestral” lifestyle, which primarily concerned eating raw meats, such as animal liver. Johnson’s dietary advice, which has drawn criticism from many medical experts, is just one of his nine tenets, with the other eight relating to sleep, movement/training, cold exposure, sun exposure, avoiding so called modern-day hazards such as Wi-Fi, and stepping out of one’s comfort zone.

The 48-year-old influencer was charged with "Terroristic Threat", a Class B misdemeanor, for making Instagram posts in which he repeatedly challenged Joe Rogan to a fight, while travelling to Austin where the podcaster lives.

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“Guess what, you’re dead bitch,” Johnson said in one post.

Austin police revealed that Rogan stated he “never had any interaction with Johnson and considered the posts to be threatening.”

While the podcaster may have never had direct contact with the fitness influencer, Rogan did discuss Johnson on a 2022 episode of the Joe Rogan Experience. On that episode which garnered over eight million views, Rogan detailed the Liver King’s steroid use, something Johnson himself admitted to in December of 2022.

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DALLAS: San Francisco continued their perfect streak on Monday as they defeated MI New York in their fifth match of the Major League Cricket (MLC) season.

San Francisco's Innings

Matthew Short’s fantastic knock of 91 off 43, which included nine fours and five sixes, propelled the Unicorns into a winning position after they batted first. Apart from the skipper, It was Jake Fraser-McGurk who put the majority of San Francisco’s runs on the board, scoring 64 off 26. A late flurry from Hassan Khan, who scored 31 runs off just nine deliveries, added another 31 runs to his team’s total. Tim Seifert and Sanjay Krishnamaruthi added 26 and 27 runs respectively.

New York’s Nosthush Kenjige took the first wicket of the match, dismissing Seifert in the eighth over. Kieron Pollard then took the wickets of the two highest run scorers, Short in the 14th over and Fraser-McGurk in the 16th, both with some help from the long on fielder Heath Richards. Naveen-ul-Haq dismissed Romario Shepherd on just the fourth ball the Unicorn’s player faced, as a mistimed swivel pull stroke sent the ball to deep mid-wicket, where Pollard took the catch. Shepherd left the field with only two runs to his name.

The Unicorns ended their innings 246 for 4.

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New York's Innings

An opening partnership of 119 off 58, courtesy of Quinton de Kock and Monank Patel, gave New York a fighting chance. However, Patel would be dismissed in the tenth over by Liam Plunkett, on a slower bouncer that took a leading edge before substitute fielder Cooper Connolly took the catch. Patel scored 60 off 33. Later, in the 16th over, New York skipper Nicholas Pooran after San Francisco used a review, believing that Haris Rauf’s Yorker had nicked the bat before it ended up in Seifert’s gloves. It paid off, and Pooran left the field after scoring 15 off 17.

In the very next over, Shepherd took back to back wickets, first bowling Quinton de Kock as the ball was dragged onto the stumps. Quinton was the highest scorer for New York, making 70 off 46. Michael Bracewell was sent off next for a golden duck, as the ball made it through the gap between bat and pad before taking out the off stump. Xavier Bartlett took two wickets as well, dismissing Tanjinder Singh in the 18th over, and Heath Richards in the 20th, both with some help from Karima Gore. Both batters only managed to score one run.

New York finished their innings at 199 for 6, losing by 47 runs. Matthew Short was named player of the match.

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WEB DESK: While only receiving a fraction of the oodles of praise this year’s earlier AA smash hit, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, did, The Alters is no less of an astounding achievement.

Earlier this month, Polish developers 11 Bit Studios released their latest take on the survival, resource management genre, a space they’ve been at the forefront of since the release of Frostpunk in 2018. A culmination of that experience, interlaced with a base building social sim, and wrapped together in a gripping sci fi narrative, gave birth to The Alters. And it's the synergy between those three elements, each pushing the player further in the other two, that makes the studio’s latest offering an experience like no other.

An Enthralling Set-up (Spoilers for Prologue ahead!)

After crash landing on an enigmatic planet, Jan Dolski finds that he is the only surviving member of his mining mission. Attempting to escape the growing radiation of night, Dolski runs to the mobile base he was meant to inhabit alongside his crew. Now, alone, the lone builder finds that time is running out for him. The sun is approaching. He must out run it. But he can’t do it alone.

That opening sets the stage for the central hook of the game. Alters.

It’s revealed to Dolski through a nebulous call with his company, that by combining the very element he’s mining with his own DNA, he can create alternate versions of himself. And with the help of the quantum computer, these alters will have their own unique personalities and demeanours, all stemming from pivotal moments in their life where they strayed away from choices made by the original Dolski.

And so, an impossible social sim is born. One in which the dissonance present in each moment of socialisation is off-putting and yet indubitably intriguing. Each alter is Dolski, and yet each is unmistakably their own person, a point that the player can stress during each waking sequence to calm the newest member of the crew before they realise the life they knew was but a dream, and that they were created for the singular purpose of survival.

Similar in early core memories, each alters’ depth comes to life in encounters with the player character or each other, as it becomes clear how one decision branched them off into a completely different life, giving them a completely unique outlook and personality to match.

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To Each Their Own

What holds the compelling drama together are the stunning performances of Alex Jordan, who plays each of the alters. Despite ever member of the crew presenting the same initially, Jordan’s performances further reify the fact that each is a different person. There’s the botanist, with levity and softness in his inflections to convey the happily docile married life he lived. There’s the scientist, with an air of superiority audible in even his scoffs. There’s the technician, with the rough, low tone of an immovable force unwilling to compromise. There’s the miner, equally low, but defeated rather than defiant in pitch. And that’s just the first few the player has the honour of meeting.

As Jordan creates the foundation for the story to engross, it’s the emergent gameplay within the social sim that steals the show and keeps the player coming back for more. As the player character deals with scenarios that emerge from either his alters’ responses to the current crises they find themselves in, or their inability to escape their past and come to terms with their present, a slew of branching paths become available. Alters may even share their own two cents on any given situation, and depending on who the player chooses to side with, both their internal feelings and relationships between each other will change.

Emergent Gameplay (Spoilers for Act 1 ahead)

One scenario from Act 1 that gives a feel for how the story and sim ebb and flow involves the miner. Unable to differentiate from his simulated life in which he lost an arm, and the reality in which he still has it, the miner informs the player character that he feels excruciating phantom pain. The player is then given the choice to give the miner pain medication. Choosing to do so leads to the miner, who has a history of addiction, succumbing to accident after accident. If the player chooses to stop his medication, the miner will do his best surgeon impression, cutting off his own arm in the kitchen, leaving his fellow alters to clean the blood off the floor.

This one path based on the decision to provide or not provide medication opens up even more possibilities, as the scientist and technician have differing views on how to move forward. The former, favouring the practical and efficient method, offers to create a prosthetic, while the latter, more concerned with the mental wellbeing of his fellow crew, suggests a more human and considerate approach, to try and regrow his arm using a serum. Whoever the player sides with will feel appreciated, while the other will feel disrespected, leading to complications down the road.

The base building element provides the player with another balancing act, choosing to create necessities to further the ultimate goal of running from the sun and towards the extraction team, or spaces that help with the management of the alters’ moods, such as a dormitory, the social room, or the contemplation room. While not immediately apparent, the latter becomes a necessity as well when an amicable crew is needed for efficient resource gathering. What’s more, failing to keep the alters happy can lead to them creating their own goals. And those don’t always align with yours.

Its that cycle of management involving resources, the base, and alters’ moods, in a scenario of tension, mystery, and synergy, that creates a game, one-part existential crises in space and one-part survival sim. Both parts composing a must-play.

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GALLE: Sri Lanka still need 262 runs as the first test against Bangladesh enters its last session on day 5. Bangladesh declared in the day’s second session after scoring 285 runs in their second innings.

Sri Lanka has only played eight overs so far, scoring 34 runs, all of which came from the opening partnership between Pathum Nissanka and Lahiru Udara.

The Lion’s debutant was dismissed in the sixth over after being stemmed by wicket keeper Litton das on a delivery from Taijul Islam that Udara couldn’t make contact with. He only made nine runs off the 13 deliveries he faced.

Nissanka fared better, scoring 24 runs off 25, including four fours. However, he too was dismissed in the very next over after chipping a delivery from Nayeem Hasan in the seventh over to short mid-wicket where Najmul Hossain Shanto took the catch.

Dinesh Chandimal and Angelo Mathews are currently on the pitch for Sri Lanka. The lions stand at 34 for two, after 8 overs. They require 262 runs in just 29 overs to win.

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MIAMI: The newly-elected Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) president Syed Mohsen Gilani discussed the growth of the sport in the country with FIFA President Gianni Infantino at the Executive Football Summit 2025.

The PFF held its first election in ten years last month, setting the stage for a renewed focus on the growth of the sport in Pakistan. Gilani earned his international masters in management, law, and humanities of sport from the International Centre for Sports Studies in 2003, under the FIFA Masters program. He has previously been a sitting member of the FIFA Master Alumni Association board, and has contributed to FIFA studies.

“We did not have an election for quite some time, but we are here now and we are here to build football together with FIFA,” Gilani said.

Among the topics discussed was the development of women’s football and the men’s teams possibly participating in next years FIFA series. The Pakistan national women’s team has entered the AFC Women’s Asia Cup, for which they will be playing their first qualifying match on June 29 against Chinese Taipei, and the FIFA Women’s World Cup. The men’s team have previously shown their mettle by defeating Cambodia in October 2023, marking the first time the team has won a FIFA World Cup qualifier.

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“I was very happy to meet the new Pakistan Football Federation President, Syed Mohsen Gilani, in Miami to understand his football development plans and how FIFA can continue to support the sport in his country,” said Infantino.

Earlier this month, the PFF was invited to join the Football for Schools programme, which seeks to promote the growth of the sport among children. As part of the initiative, FIFA will distribute 164,940 footballs to children aged 4 to 14 in primary and secondary schools around the country, as well as a one-time financial contribution of $50,000 to aid in the implementation of the programme. A team of professionals will also help to organise courses to train physical education teachers in the country.

“President Gilani brings significant experience and football management know-how to the role, and I look forward to seeing our game take positive strides under his leadership,” Infantino said.

Gilani presented Infantino with a ajrak stating that “it symbolised a long-lasted, very good friendship.”

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