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Pakistan white-ball batter Asif Ali retires from international cricket

Pakistan white-ball batter Asif Ali retires from international cricket
Pakistan's Asif Ali warms up before the start of the seventh Twenty20 international cricket match between Pakistan and England at the Gaddafi Cricket Stadium in Lahore on October 2, 2022. (AFP/Fiile)
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Updated 11 min 58 sec ago

Pakistan white-ball batter Asif Ali retires from international cricket

Pakistan white-ball batter Asif Ali retires from international cricket
  • Asif Ali, 33, represented Pakistan in 58 T20Is, 21 One-Day International matches 
  • His T20 highlight was 25 off seven balls during win over Afghanistan at 2021 World Cup

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan batter Asif Ali retired from international cricket on Monday after 79 white-ball matches in a career often criticized for being too carefree.

The 33-year-old Asif represented Pakistan in 58 Twenty20s and 21 one-day internationals.

His T20 highlight was 25 off seven balls during a win over Afghanistan at the 2021 T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates.

His last international was at the 2023 Asia Games.

The middle-order power-hitter scored 577 runs in T20s with a top score of 41 not out against Zimbabwe in 2018. In ODIs, he made 382 runs with 21 sixes and 22 fours. His last ODI was against Australia in 2022.

“Wearing the Pakistan jersey has been the greatest honor of my life and serving my country on the cricket field has been my proudest chapter,” Asif said on X.

“To my family and friends, who stood with me in moments of joy and in the deepest of trials, including the loss of my beloved daughter during the World Cup, your strength carried me forward.”


Venus Williams, Fernandez into US Open doubles quarter-finals

Venus Williams, Fernandez into US Open doubles quarter-finals
Updated 02 September 2025

Venus Williams, Fernandez into US Open doubles quarter-finals

Venus Williams, Fernandez into US Open doubles quarter-finals

NEW YORK: Venus Williams prolonged her stay at the US Open on Monday, partnering Leylah Fernandez to reach her first Grand Slam doubles quarter-final in nearly a decade.
The 45-year-old American tennis icon and Fernandez, who was born three years after Williams won the first of her 14 Grand Slam doubles titles in 1999, defeated Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova and China’s Zhang Shuai 6-3, 6-4.
It is the first time Williams has reached a Grand Slam doubles quarter-final since 2016.
Williams is playing in the doubles after receiving a last-minute invitation from US Open organizers to play in the tournament she won twice alongside younger sister Serena.
The Williams-Fernandez pair could face top seeds Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic and American Taylor Townsend in the quarter-finals.
The seven-time Grand Slam singles champion returned to competition at the end of July at the Washington Open after sixteen months away from the WTA Tour.
She indicated after her singles defeat that the US Open would likely be her last tournament of the season.


Ruthless Sinner routs Bublik to reach US Open quarter-finals

Ruthless Sinner routs Bublik to reach US Open quarter-finals
Updated 02 September 2025

Ruthless Sinner routs Bublik to reach US Open quarter-finals

Ruthless Sinner routs Bublik to reach US Open quarter-finals

NEW YORK: Defending US Open champion Jannik Sinner continued his stellar run at the hardcourt Grand Slams with a 6-1 6-1 6-1 hammering of Kazakh 23rd seed Alexander Bublik on Monday to make the quarter-finals at Flushing Meadows.
The Italian top seed came into the Labour Day evening clash at Arthur Ashe Stadium looking for his 25th straight major match win on his preferred surface and he never looked in any trouble against a tricky opponent after shooting out of the blocks.
A double break helped Sinner build a 4-0 lead before Bublik could even get on the board, and the dominant 24-year-old chased down a drop shot to fire home a deep backhand winner that wrapped up the opening set with another break.
Bublik’s attempts to disrupt Sinner’s rhythm with more drop shots proved futile but it was his service errors that left him trailing by two sets, before Sinner wheeled away to his eighth straight major quarter-final and a clash with compatriot Lorenzo Musetti.


Osaka routs Gauff to reach US Open quarter-finals

Osaka routs Gauff to reach US Open quarter-finals
Updated 02 September 2025

Osaka routs Gauff to reach US Open quarter-finals

Osaka routs Gauff to reach US Open quarter-finals
  • Japanese four-time Grand Slam champion Osaka dominated American third seed Gauff on her way to wrapping up a 6-3, 6-2 victory

NEW YORK: Naomi Osaka blew past Coco Gauff to reach the quarter-finals of the US Open on Monday in a lopsided battle of former champions.
Japanese four-time Grand Slam champion Osaka dominated American third seed Gauff on her way to wrapping up a 6-3, 6-2 victory in one hour four minutes on the Arthur Ashe Stadium Court.
The eagerly anticipated showdown between 2018 and 2020 US Open champion Osaka and 2023 title-winner Gauff never quite lived up to the billing.
Gauff, who changed her coaching team on the eve of the tournament in an effort to improve her serving, once again struggled on serve.
She was broken four times by Osaka, who looked far more assured throughout as she coasted into her first Grand Slam quarter-final in four years.
“I’m a little sensitive and I don’t want to cry,” said Osaka, who also beat a 15-year-old Gauff at the US Open in their first meeting in 2019.
“I had so much fun out here. This is my favorite court in the world and it means so much to me to be back here.”
Osaka’s current US Open campaign is her best performance in a Grand Slam singles tournament since she returned to tennis last year following the birth of her daughter in 2023.
Osaka conceded just two points off her serve in the entire opening set, which she took with her second break of Gauff, who double-faulted on set point.
The second set was a similar story, with Osaka giving up only four points on serve while pressuring Gauff relentlessly.
Osaka edged clear after breaking Gauff to go 4-2 up and then broke the American again to complete victory.
Osaka will face either Czech 11th seed Karolina Muchova or Ukrainian 27th seed Marta Kostyuk in Wednesday’s quarter-finals.


Al-Qadsiah sign German midfielder Julian Weigl from Borussia Monchengladbach

Al-Qadsiah sign German midfielder Julian Weigl from Borussia Monchengladbach
Updated 02 September 2025

Al-Qadsiah sign German midfielder Julian Weigl from Borussia Monchengladbach

Al-Qadsiah sign German midfielder Julian Weigl from Borussia Monchengladbach
  • 29-year-old joins on a two-year contract with an option to extend for a third year

AL-KHOBAR: Saudi Pro League side Al-Qadsiah has completed the signing of German midfielder Julian Weigl from Borussia Monchengladbach, the club announced on Monday.

The 29-year-old joins on a two-year contract with an option to extend for a third year. According to reports, Weigl will earn up to €7 million ($8.2 million) annually with the newly-promoted SPL club.

Weigl, a defensive midfielder, arrives as a direct replacement for Argentine international Equi Fernandez, who recently made the switch to Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen.

During his time at Borussia Monchengladbach, Weigl made 94 appearances, scoring three goals and providing six assists.

He brings a wealth of experience from European football, having also previously played for clubs like Benfica and Borussia Dortmund.

Al-Qadsiah welcomed the player via its official account on X (formerly Twitter), posting: “For the Knights Battalion... security has increased. From the German League, Weigl has arrived.”


Al-Ahli sign Matheus Goncalves from Flamengo

Al-Ahli sign Matheus Goncalves from Flamengo
Updated 02 September 2025

Al-Ahli sign Matheus Goncalves from Flamengo

Al-Ahli sign Matheus Goncalves from Flamengo
  • Al-Ahli paid 9 million euros to secure the services of the attacking midfielder
  • Brazilian played 18 matches with Flamengo last season, during which he scored 5 goals with 2 assists

JEDDAH: Al-Ahli have announced the signing of Brazilian midfielder Matheus Goncalves from Flamengo on a two year contract, with an option to extend for a third season.

The move comes as part of the Al-Ahli’s efforts to strengthen their squad ahead of upcoming domestic, continental and international competitions.

Al-Ahli paid €9 million ($10.5m) to secure the services of the attacking midfielder.

Goncalves will be registered among the list of foreign professional players born in 2004 and after, according to the club.

The Brazilian played 18 matches with Flamengo last season, during which he scored 5 goals and made 2 assists in 627 minutes of playing time.

Goncalves was a key player in Flamengo’s U-20 Intercontinental Cup triumphs in 2024 and 2025.