Former Pakistan captain Azhar Ali has been appointed as the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) Head of Youth Development following a recruitment process.

"This role will be an extension of Azhar’s existing responsibilities, as he also serves as a member of the Men’s National Selection Committee," PCB said in a statement on Friday.

Azhar, a prominent figure in Pakistan cricket, started his career at the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup in 2002 before progressing to the senior national team. Between 2010 and 2022, he played 97 Tests and 53 ODIs, captaining Pakistan in nine Tests and 31 ODIs. He was also a crucial member of Pakistan's historic ICC Champions Trophy victory squad in 2017.

Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu and Anupama Upadhaya suffered early exits from the ongoing China Masters after losing their respective second round matches here on Thursday.

Sindhu lost to Singapore's Yeo Jia Min 16-21, 21-17, 21-23 in the one hour and nine minutes encounter. It was Sindhu's seventh straight tournament where she failed to progress beyond quarter-final this year.

The ace Indian shuttler lost the first game despite once levelling the score 14-14 but failed to carry on the momentum as the World No. 13 went on to claim the opener.

India secured the Women’s Asian Champions Trophy 2024 title with a hard-fought 1-0 victory against China in the final here on Wednesday. Deepika’s decisive back-handed strike in the third quarter proved to be the difference, as the hosts defended their lead resolutely to claim their second consecutive title.

Overall, this is the third time that India have won the Women's Asian Champions Trophy, joining South Korea as the most successful team in the competition. After their maiden triumph in 2016 in Singapore, the Indian women's team won their second title in Ranchi in 2023 and have now followed it up with victory in Rajgir on Wednesday. India have claimed silver medals twice in 2013 and 2018 and bronze in 2010.

The match on Wednesday saw both teams trade blows in the first half but India upped the intensity in the second session and a goal from Deepika in the 31st minute ensured India defended their Asian Champions Trophy title.

India secured the Women’s Asian Champions Trophy 2024 title with a hard-fought 1-0 victory against China in the final here on Wednesday. Deepika’s decisive back-handed strike in the third quarter proved to be the difference, as the hosts defended their lead resolutely to claim their second consecutive title.

Overall, this is the third time that India have won the Women's Asian Champions Trophy, joining South Korea as the most successful team in the competition. After their maiden triumph in 2016 in Singapore, the Indian women's team won their second title in Ranchi in 2023 and have now followed it up with victory in Rajgir on Wednesday. India have claimed silver medals twice in 2013 and 2018 and bronze in 2010.

The pivotal moment came midway through the third quarter when India earned a penalty corner. Deepika showcased her composure and skill, firing a back-handed shot into the far corner to give her side the lead. The forward had a chance to double the advantage minutes later with a penalty stroke but missed it, leaving the team with a slender one-goal cushion.

Nayanika Sanga, who is looking for her maiden win on the Women’s Pro Golf Tour (WPGT), took a slender one-shot lead after the first day in the 15th and final leg of the Tour at the Boulder Hills Golf & Country Club here on Wednesday.

Nayanika, 20, had seven birdies, including three in a row on the back nine from the 11th to the 13th. Her 4-under 68 gave her a one-shot edge over last week’s winners, Hitaashee Bakshi (69) and Jasmine Shekar (69). Four players, Amandeep Drall, Gaurika Bishnoi, and Sneha Singh, alongside Sri Lankan amateur Kaya Daluwatte were tied for fourth place with cards of 2-under 70 each.

Nayanika, who turned pro in 2022, had an early bogey on the second, but birdies on the fourth and the eighth ensured she turned in 1-under. A bogey on the tenth pulled her back to even par, but a hat-trick of birdies from the 11th to the 13th and two more on the 15th and 18th with a bogey in between on the 16th saw her finish at 68.

While all the focus of IPL teams has been on planning their IPL 2025 mega auction strategy, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru have also been building up the potential and skills of their current players in both men’s and women’s teams.

"Our camps are about more than just player evaluation—they're about building potential. By analysing current players and inviting promising talent from across the country, we form a solid team structure and boost every player’s game. It isn’t something that happens only once a year; we try to do it as many times as possible,” said Malolan Rangarajan, RCB head of scouting and assistant coach in women’s team, in a franchise statement.

India all-rounder Hardik Pandya has reclaimed the top spot in the ICC Men's T20I All-Rounder Rankings. Meanwhile, rising star Tilak Varma has made a meteoric rise into the top 10 batters as the ICC released the latest rankings updates on Wednesday.

Pandya’s consistent performances during India’s 3-1 series win in South Africa have earned him accolades. His unbeaten 39 in the second T20I stabilised India’s innings, while his economical spell of 1/8 in three overs during the decisive fourth game was pivotal in sealing the series. This marks Pandya’s second stint as the No. 1 T20I all-rounder, having previously achieved the ranking after the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup earlier this year.

Rafael Nadal started the final tournament of his farewell season with a defeat in a quarterfinal match against the Netherlands in the Davis Cup finals here on Tuesday. Nadal, the 22-time Grand Slam winner, opened Spain's campaign against the Netherlands with a 4-6, 4-6 defeat to Botic van de Zandschulp.

Van de Zandschulp smashed eight aces to two by Nadal. Though he also served seven double faults compared to two by Nadal, the Dutch star won 77% points on the first serve compared to 67% by the Spanish legend.

By winning this match, Botic van de Zandschulp put Netherlands 1-0 ahead in their quarterfinal tie against Spain. Unfazed by the magnitude of the occasion, The 29-year-old delivered a blow to Nadal’s hopes of drawing the curtain on his professional career with a sixth Davis Cup crown.

India pacer Harleen Deol returned from injury as India revealed their squad for next month's women's ODI series in Australia, commences in Brisbane on December 5.

Harmanpreet Kaur will be leading the squad while Smriti Mandhana will be her deputy in the three-match series.

Yastika Bhatia and Richa Ghosh are the two wicket-keeping options within the 16-player squad. Harleen was included in the squad, after battling a knee complaint for much of the year.

There is no room for batter Shafali Verma, while inexperienced duo Tejal Hasabnis and Saima Thakor get another chance to show their capabilities after impressing during the recent ODI series against New Zealand.

The first two ODIs will be held at the Allan Border Field in Brisbane before the action shifts to WACA Ground, Perth for the final match of the series, which is a part of the ICC Women’s Championship.

Josko Gvardiol struck a second half equaliser as Croatia secured a 1-1 UEFA Nations League home draw with Portugal to qualify for the quarterfinals.

Defender struck on 65 minutes to cancel Joao Felix’s first half opener in what was a high quality clash in Split.

Felix’s crisp finish gave Portugal the lead inside 33 minutes, but Zlatko Dalic’s substitutions inspired a second half turnaround from the hosts. Kristijan Jakic's excellent cross found Gvardiol at the far post in the 65th minute and the defender's confident finish placed qualification back in their hands.

While Portugal were already guaranteed top spot in Group A1, Croatia kicked off knowing a point would be enough to seal second place and so a place in the last eight.