Why the World Cup is so popular with big business, scandal, and everything

Even though the 2018 World Cup in Qatar has been dogged by scandal, businesses and nations alike are vying for a piece of the action.

On Sunday, when the first match of the World Cup got underway in Qatar, Mohamed Jaidah was in a prime spot to watch it. The Qatari executive sat back on a couch in the Al Bayt Stadium V.I.P. hospitality suite, taking in the event from a ringside seat with a buffet and open bar (alcohol is included for the privileged audience while being outlawed for most fans) and a direct view of the pitch.

Mr. Jaidah, group executive director of Jaidah Group and distribution partner in Qatar for Hyundai (a FIFA sponsor), had to go and reopen an old wound. He remarked, "Many people in this country were not pleased when we were awarded the opportunity to host the World Cup in 2010." That we persevered through 12 years of media abyss only strengthens our sense of pride.

Outlets, including The Times, have extensively reported the "hell." Human rights groups have claimed that thousands of migrant laborers died while building 7 seven World Cup stadiums and other projects in the scorching desert heat, but the government has only admitted to three such deaths. The international soccer governing body FIFA has been criticized for allowing a little country where homosexuality is illegal to hold the world's largest athletic event.

All the players want to be heard. Concerned about the persecution of the L.G.B.T.Q. Population in Qatar led several European players to consider wearing rainbow-colored "One Love" armbands in solidarity with minorities until FIFA threatened punishment for teams who did so. On Wednesday, as spectators and T.V. watchers watched, German players protested the FIFA decision by covering their lips before the game. This quiet gesture of defiance echoed for days, even after a stunning loss to Japan.

The sports business is typically chaotic and unpredictable, even when things go smoothly. FIFA is one of the only institutions that has capitalized on this fact to the extent that it now wields unrivaled authority in the professional sports industry. Nations will go to great lengths to host the nearly month-long tournament; the United States (U.S.), Canada, and Mexico will host the next World Cup. Even though governments in Asia, South America, and Africa represent potential development opportunities for big business, many of these regions' leaders are unconcerned with socioeconomic topics that preoccupy Western news outlets. This starkly contrasts the many instances where cities have backed out of Olympic bids due to widespread outcry. Since soccer is a popular program among governments, FIFA has pledged substantial support to its national associations.

In 2010, FIFA's executive members shocked the soccer world by choosing Qatar as the 2022 host instead of the United States. Loretta Lynch indicted 14 FIFA officials and marketing executives in 2015 for "rampant, systemic, and deep-rooted" corruption,  $150 million in bribes to secure World Cup commercial rights over 24 years. Football's governing body was nearly toppled after F.B.I. raids and arrests, and its longstanding president, Sepp Blatter, resigned. In 2020, the Justice Department accused a few FIFA voting officials of accepting millions of dollars in bribery to secure Russia's 2018 World Cup and Qatar's 2022 World Cup.

The Qatari government has denied wrongdoing, and FIFA claims it has eliminated all corrupt officials.

Even with the issue, significant corporations like Visa, Sony, and McDonald's quickly signed up. Bloomberg reached out to 76 FIFA sponsors and teams this month, and not one of them stated it was thinking about pulling out of the tournament. The company estimates that the tournament may increase sales by 400 million euros.

Yet the laws can change even after corporations have spent millions, leaving them with no recourse. Qatar outlawed alcohol consumption in all eight of the tournament's venues just two days before the competition kicked off. A.B. InBev, the beverage company that pays FIFA $75 million every four years so that its Budweiser brand can be a beer sponsor, had to quickly remove its goods from the venues and postpone several promotional events. The Budweiser Twitter account removed the following response: "Well, this is awkward." Budweiser will return as a sponsor for the 2026 World Cup, making things less unpleasant for everyone involved.

There has been no apparent corporate boycott, and FIFA boasts that all available sponsorship opportunities have been snapped up by companies old and new, including Coca-Cola, Adidas, and even Crypto.com.

Many corporations brag about their E.S.G. (environmental, social, and governance) credentials and marketing efforts back home, targeting audiences concerned with issues like L.G.B.T. rights. However, the tournament demonstrates that corporations are ready to risk a reaction they hope will be forgotten as long as the world is watching, even in an era where social media can amplify a corporate blunder in Qatar. The benefits are enormous. Soccer is the most-watched sport in the world, with FIFA estimating five billion viewers for the tournament (think the Super Bowl viewership times roughly 50). The estimated revenue for FIFA's World Cup is $4.7 billion. The company appears to have recovered from the controversy and is now flush with cash and the associated influence.

When he was elected president of FIFA in 2016, the 52-year-old Swiss soccer entrepreneur Gianni Infantino promised to eradicate corruption and restore the organization's shattered reputation. He persists in spreading that ideology. He made a strong case for awarding the World Cup to Qatar and said his organization had undergone a sea change in the days leading up to the tournament. He stated, "Money just doesn't evaporate anymore in FIFA." There is a definite investment in football infrastructure because money flows where it has to go. (Meanwhile, Mr. Blatter has recently stated that Qatar was not entitled to victory. He reportedly told a Swiss media consortium, "It's a country that's too small."

It is believed that Qatar invested almost $200 billion in infrastructure (including high-speed rail, highways, and stadiums) in preparation for the World Cup. It would cost over $15 billion, over 15 times what Russia spent on hosting the 2018 tournament. Government data shows that in the first half of 2022, Qatar received nearly $32.2 billion from oil and gas income, a 67 percent increase over the previous year due to war inflation.

Qatar's rise to prominence in world sports goes far beyond its efforts to attract FIFA. "The World Cup is altering everything – it is excellent for us," Nasser al-Khelaifi, C.E.O. of Qatar Sports Investments, told me in 2013. It's a powerful instrument for change.

Qatar bought the financially struggling and underachieving Paris St. Germain professional club in the French capital a year after gaining the right to host the tournament and quickly transformed it into a global powerhouse. P.S.G., led by Mr. al-Khelaifi as president, has bought its way to the top of the domestic league and is widely recognized as a cultural icon. An estimated $1.45 billion has been spent by Qatar to acquire several superstar players for the club. These players include Lionel Messi of Argentina, Neymar of Brazil, and Kylian Mbappé of France, who, at age 23, signed a contract allegedly for $250 million over the next three years.

Mr. Jaidah, a Qatari business leader, says the attacks on human rights have backfired and unified the country. He is particularly upset by claims that Doha bought its way into world sports with the World Cup. He believes Westerners have an "indecent feeling," wondering why they should maintain their money. In the minds of Qataris, "it is our country, our wealth."

Meanwhile, FIFA's financial machine is a winner on and off the field. On December 18, Infantino predicts that billions of viewers will watch the final, making it an irresistible advertising opportunity.

Why the World Cup is so popular with big business, scandal, and everything: Stay tuned for more

Matthew Hayden believes Babar Azam will score in the T20 World Cup semifinals.

Pakistan coach Matthew Hayden speaks at a press conference ahead of Pakistan's first ICC men's Twenty20 World Cup 2022 semifinal match against New Zealand on Tuesday at Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). — AFP

Matthew Hayden says Babar Azam will do "something spectacular" in Wednesday's Twenty20 World Cup semifinal against New Zealand.

The 2009 winners could only advance to the knockout stages as the Netherlands upset South Africa and Pakistan defeated Bangladesh to secure their second consecutive last-four berth.

Former Australia opener Hayden, Pakistan's batting coach during the last World Cup and now team mentor, said the team is determined to make the most of their second chance.

"When the Netherlands beat South Africa, it was a major occasion for us, a very crucial moment for the team in general in terms of reaching its potential," he stated on the eve of the Sydney semifinal.

"There were many prayers as Pakistan awoke to witness that result, 232 million people can't be incorrect, and as a result, I feel there has been a significant lifting in tempo in our group."

"It's been a roller-coaster ride [...] but I truly believe we have yet to play our best game, which poses a significant threat to opponents."

While Pakistan's bowling, led by Shaheen Shah Afridi, has improved, their batting has been brittle, which will be a concern against a top-class New Zealand attack led by Tim Southee, Trent Boult, and Lockie Ferguson.

Azam's form, in particular, is concerning, with the opener scoring only 39 runs in five matches.

Hayden, a destructive opener who played 103 Tests and 161 ODIs, predicted that the skipper would be treated to some "fireworks" on Wednesday.

"There's no doubt Babar has faced difficulty, but it will only make him a better player," he remarked.

"We know from the weather that when there's a lull, a storm follows, so keep an eye on the world because I think Babar is ready to do something extraordinary."

New Zealand has long been a force in white-ball cricket but has yet to win a world crown, including a narrow defeat to Australia in 2021.

Play wisely.

They began their season this year with an 89-run victory over the defending champions in Sydney, and Hayden acknowledged Pakistan was scared of the Black Caps.

"Against Australia, they scored 200" "New Zealand has some devastating batsmen," he remarked.

"They also have a fantastic, well-balanced bowling attack."

"Like New Zealand sport in general, they really punch above their weight; they believe they can and should win this event."

"There are definitely a lot of threats to our camp."

Kane Williamson, New Zealand's captain, downplayed the significance of his team's 200-3 on the Sydney wicket, noting that they only scored 167-7 against Sri Lanka when they returned to the stadium later in the competition.

"The wicket was quite nice the first time we played here, and then it changed the second time," he explained.

"We'll just focus on our cricket and the strategies we're aiming to implement, making sure we adjust to the conditions and attempt to play intelligently."

New Zealand followed up its first Sydney success with a six-wicket win over Sri Lanka, with a game against Afghanistan called off due to rain. They lost by 20 runs to England before smashing Ireland to the semifinals.

When it came to the knockouts, Williamson felt the outcomes didn't matter.

"Sport in the finals may go either way," he remarked. "Both teams match up well; there are some similar patterns, and we've both been playing good cricket."

"They have a fantastic pace attack," he added.

"They have some highly seasoned players throughout their team, match winners, so they have great strength in their team."

If you want to read more about the T20 world cup, click here

For the first time, Thailand has advanced to the semifinals of the Women's Asia Cup.

Winners last time around, and current hosts Bangladesh were knocked out of the league after having their final game rained out.

Thailand triumphed over the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, and, most importantly, Pakistan • Asian Cricket Council.

After Bangladesh's penultimate league game against UAE on Tuesday morning was rained off, Thailand secured a spot in the semifinals of the Women's Asia Cup for the first time in their history. Bangladesh, the incumbent champions and hosts, only gained one point from the abandoned game, putting them in fifth place when they needed two to finish fourth and take the last semifinal slot.

Thailand finished with six points after winning three games, whereas Bangladesh only managed two victories. Thailand's three victories were against the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, and, most importantly, Pakistan by a combined total of four wickets.

Nannapat Koncharoenkai, Natthakan Chatham, and captain Naruemol Chaiwai, who often make up the top three of the batting order, have been the driving force behind Thailand's success at the Asia Cup. Left-arm spinner Thipatcha Putthawong has eight wickets, putting him in the top five among bowlers.

Bangladesh appeared to be on track for a semifinal spot to attempt a defence of their Asia Cup title up until the previous 48 hours. They needed two wins from their final two games but fell short against Sri Lanka in a rain-shortened match where they were tasked with scoring 41 runs in seven overs. Bangladesh were 27 for two and needed 14 runs to win off 12 balls with two overs remaining in the chase. However, they lost four wickets in the penultimate over-delivered by Inoka Ranaweera and went down by four runs. Bangladesh's Tuesday match against the United Arab Emirates was a chance to get back on track and pick up two points, but rain washed away their chances.

However, the order of the top four is still in the air. Sri Lanka and Pakistan are now in the semifinals, and if they win their final league game by a large margin, they will bump India off the top spot.

In 2029, the Asian Winter Games will be held in Saudi Arabia.

The Wahhabi kingdom, centered in the technologically advanced metropolis of Trojan, will be the region's first host of the sporting event.

Saudi Arabia's proposal to host the AWG TROJENA2029 has been accepted, and the country's Minister of Sports, Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki al-Faisal, has announced as much.

On Tuesday, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia officially announced that it would play host to the 2029 Asian Winter Games. 

The event, which would take place in a mountain resort in the Wahhabi Kingdom, is currently being planned. Using the money from oil sales, the government in Riyadh is constructing stunning new cities with an eye toward tourism, commerce, and environmental sustainability. Saudi Arabian authorities announced the formation of a closed joint stock corporation called NEOM on January 29, 2019. The Public Investment Fund, the country's sovereign wealth fund, owns this corporation outright, and its mission is to create a thriving economic hub in the NEOM region. In an interview, NEOM joint stock company CEO Nadhmi al-Nasr said that 100% renewable energy would be used to power the project.

The Saudi government suggested designating Trojena as the venue for the Asian Winter Games in a letter submitted to the Asian Olympic Council (AOC) in August. 

This proposal was part of the Saudi government's Vision 2030 strategy. It is anticipated that 32 Asian countries will take part in this edition. In a Twitter post, Minister of Sports Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki al-Faisal said that the organization had approved the plan and that the Kingdom had received the necessary response to the request after discussions on 3 and 4 October in Cambodia. AWG TROJENA2029 is the name of the issue.

Developing a technologically advanced metropolitan area is a primary goal of NEOM. Trojan, a city in the mountains in the country's northeast, has been selected to host the AWG. Vision 2030 calls for finishing the city's development by 2026. Elevations range from 1,500 to 2,600 meters, and it may be found 50 kilometers from the coast of the Gulf of Aqaba. The project's website states that its goal is to "redefine mountain tourism" by capitalizing on the area's varied climates to make it a desirable location for year-round activities, including skiing, water sports, and hiking, as well as residential flats, chalets, and hotels.

When finished in 2026, TROJENA will provide "an unrivalled experience and a global milestone for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia," according to a statement on the resort's website.

King Salman's son is an essential character in the introduction of a massive plan to overhaul the oil-dependent economy of the monarchy.

Mohammed bin Salman ( Prince of Saudi Arabia) has started work on his most ambitious endeavor yet, the National Energy Optimization Plan (NEOM). The massive NEOM high-tech infrastructure on the Red Sea will have a carbon-neutral metropolis in addition to industrial and logistics hubs across 26.5 square kilometers.

The prince stated, "NEOM is a place for individuals who dream of a better tomorrow, and The Line is a confirmation of our strong commitment to propose a project to the whole world."

The NEOM corporation is working on more than just the Trojan City project. The business is planning The Line, the next generation of futuristic cities, as part of its Vision 2030 initiative. MBS, or Mohamed bin Salman, revealed the plans for the NEOM project for the new city and claimed it would serve as a model for other cities worldwide.

"How can we send them empty-handed?" Ramiz Raja's comment after England beat Pakistan.

The first English cricket team to tour Pakistan in 17 years was a huge success. Moeen Ali guided the squad to a 4-3 victory in the best-of-five series after Jos Buttler was sidelined with a calf injury. Although England's average skipper took a knock and may be questionable for the upcoming Twenty20 World Cup, the team nevertheless managed to defeat Pakistan on home soil.

Banners praising the England team for visiting the country were displayed by many Pakistani fans in Karachi and Lahore, the two locations where the matches took place. After Australia's entire tour of Pakistan earlier this year, Pakistan is continuing its reintegration as a host in international cricket with the coming of England. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja congratulated the English side on their win, stressing that the hosts would not let the visitors go home empty-handed.

It has been an honour to play host to England. After waiting 17 years to return, how could we deny them their prize? Ramiz said after Sunday's seventh T20I, "We're not letting them leave empty-handed, but they were the superior team."

Although Pakistan was decisively outplayed in the final two games, the entire series was relentless and exciting. It's clear that Pakistan has much to learn before the World Cup, but I encourage our fans to support the team. I've enjoyed serving England; thank you. He wished them a safe journey until the next Test.

After the Twenty20 World Cup, England will travel back to Pakistan to play three more Tests. Both will begin on December 1; the first will be played in Rawalpindi until December 9, and the second will be played in Multan until December 15. Karachi will play host to the third and final Test match on December17.

Ultimately, Leclerc views his Formula One races as a testbed for Ferrari's strategy.

Formula One driver Charles Leclerc has suggested that Ferrari use the remaining races of the 2022 season as a proving ground to perfect the implementation of the team's strategy.

Although the Monaco driver still has a theoretical possibility of preventing his Dutch rival Max Verstappen from winning the championship, the latter is set to do so this weekend in Japan.

After losing the championship, Leclerc could quickly write off the rest of the season as wasted time. However, he doesn't.

In particular, he believes his superiors at Maranello can take the chance to perfect their race plans after a few missteps in 2022.

As much as he wanted to win the Singapore Grand Prix, he had to be happy that Ferrari had got the timing of its pit stops correctly.

I want to use the remaining races to improve the team's racing execution, and he thinks they've made progress this weekend.

"More steps are needed. Positive growth, although I'm dissatisfied by my second-place finish."

Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto said the team did an excellent job being aggressive on the pit wall in Singapore, where Sergio Perez ultimately won the race.

I think we made the correct choices," he declared. "As early pioneers in mounting slicks on a track that was not yet totally dry, we ultimately forced Perez to pull over. It was an attempt to alter the course of human history."

The Singapore Grand Prix marked the first occasion since the May race in Miami that Ferrari had two cars on the podium (Leclerc in second and Carlos Sainz in third).

Sainz thought the squad had learnt a lot from its mistakes this year and might continue to improve in the coming weeks, giving it an edge heading into 2023.

The Spaniard was pleased to hear that both teams had a successful race. "I am still sure that there are ways in which we can enhance our performance, but the squad has made tremendous strides forward.

"We're taking in information from every experience. These next five races, or six with this one, will serve as excellent training for us to improve our performance at the front of the pack next season, as Charles put it.

"The vehicle, its drivers, and ourselves can all be seen. We need just sharpen our performance in that regard and make the most of every available opening."

The English cricketer Moeen Ali prefers the food in Karachi over that in Lahore.

The England captain, Moeen Ali, spoke highly of the hospitality he received in Pakistan during a postgame press conference. Tweet from England's Cricket Team

Moeen Ali, captain of the English cricket team, said he preferred the food in Karachi to that in Lahore.

"Lahore has not quite lived up to my expectations in terms of its cuisine. It was great to visit Karachi, "On Sunday, after his team had defeated Pakistan in the seventh and final match of the Twenty20 International series, Ali revealed as much in a news conference following the game.

On Sunday, Pakistan lost the seven-match series to England by a 67-run defeat in the final Twenty20 International (T20I).

Ali thought England did well against Pakistan. Throughout the series, he said that English players had strong showings, so it was a good one for us.

In addition, he said, "I am glad to see that batters and bowlers took the challenge and won the series." This was after his team had dropped the series' first two games in a row.

Moeen Ali said that the people of Pakistan were exceptionally welcoming and that he enjoyed the cuisine in the city of Karachi.

For his part, Ali has no complaints about the series' security.

The level of security has been excellent and much beyond our expectations. He remarked on how wonderfully we were taken care of.

After his last over heroics, Pakistan's newest star received widespread acclaim

On Wednesday in Karachi, Pakistan's T20I debutant Aamir Jamal bowled a stunning final that helped his team secure a close six-run victory over England in the match.

Jamal, a 26-year-old rookie international bowler, was given the responsibility of bowling the final over of the match by Pakistan captain Babar Azam. Despite facing off against England's stand-in captain Moeen Ali, Jamal kept his cool and defended 15 runs.

Jamal's wide yorker was spot on, as Moeen was held to just eight runs off his final six deliveries. Pakistan took a 3-2 lead in the seven-game series.

Jamal's heroics in the last over were crucial to the win, as the hosts' score of 145 was the lowest total ever defended by any side in a T20I in Pakistan.

Moeen was entirely complimentary of the bowling all-rounder who took 1/13 off of two overs and thinks the youngster has a bright future in the sport.

Moeen commented after the game, "It was a very good last over and you can't take anything away from him."

The only thing I could think about was that he would miss the wide yorker like the one I caught (and hit for six on the third delivery of the final over).

He bowled effectively, especially considering the conditions (wet ball, ball potentially out of shape, him making his debut and scared).

On Friday, the sixth and penultimate game of the series will be played in Lahore, with the series finale taking place on Sunday at the exact location.

After facing India at the MCG in Melbourne on October 23, Pakistan will play two more games in Australia before heading to New Zealand for four more warm-up matches before the ICC Men's T20 World Cup.

Pakistan is unlikely to use youngsters in England series

The Men in Green won a nail-biting fourth T20 International on the Karachi leg of the historic series between Pakistan and England, bringing the series score to 2-2.

The series' next three games will be played at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium, with both nations hoping to win to improve confidence before next month's Twenty20 World Cup in Australia.

Shadab Khan and Naseem Shah are expected to be added to the starting eleven as Babar Azam tries to establish the best lineup for the remainder of the series.

It has been agreed that Pakistan should go all out and with the best available combination for the remaining three matches versus England," a team management official stated in a statement before the fifth game.

To be clear, Naseem Shah only played in the Karachi leg once, while Shadab Khan missed all four games owing to an injury he got in the Asia Cup 2022 final, but both are expected to play in the fifth game.

A team official commented on Shadab's fitness, saying that despite his fitness improvement a week ago, the team decided to rest him more to have him at optimum performance for the upcoming New Zealand and the T20 World Cup.

If the Men in Green win both of their Lahore matches, several young players, including backup wicket-keeper Mohammad Haris, will play in the seventh and final Twenty20 International.

It would have been great to see some new faces like Aamer Jamal and Abrar Ahmed in this series, but I don't think that will happen.

Rauf arouses the animal instincts of Karachians with his lightning speed

He didn't bother with the clever changes and deft touches that are staples of twenty-over bowling nowadays.

Mohammad Hasnain has the raw pace and ability to be a Pakistani fast bowler. Still, somewhere along the highly guarded state secret that is the Pakistan pace-bowling production line, enthusiastic confidence was forgotten in favour of a delicate vulnerability.

Hasnain had been his team's lone bright spot all day, but he eventually buckled under the pressure of defending a total they had no business protecting. Hasnain's self-doubt seemed to grow with each boundary Liam Dawson smashed, the young quick's assurance taking a hammering as Dawson pounded madly away. By the time the over ended, Hasnain, who looked both like the happiest child in the world and like someone on the point of being overwhelmed, was punch-drunk, and Pakistan was on the brink of defeat.

The 22-year-old possesses the most contagious smile in Pakistani cricket, but he didn't even bother to lift his head as he stumbled towards the midwicket boundary. Hasnain had England on the ropes in the powerplay earlier that night, and Karachi was aglow with his brilliance. As early as the 16th over, he was so sure of himself that he threw six consecutive yorkers, four of them to the same hitter who had just ripped him apart. A second man marked his run-up as he stepped onto the boundary rope and kept his gaze firmly on the ground.

Nothing went wrong on the assembly line the day they made Haris Rauf; he may have gotten some of Hasnain's outgoing personality and self-assurance. England seems to have come out of nowhere and is now in a position to steal a game they have no business in. It only took one over for Pakistan to move from joy to despair. However, Rauf speaks for the Lahore Qalandars, so he is familiar with that sentiment.

Babar Azam has buried his head in his hands to express his disbelief. As a native of Lahore, many locals hoped he'd be drafted by the Qalandars of the Pakistan Super League to play in the team's home stadium. Given recent developments, it's hard to imagine that happening anytime soon. But now, he has a small taste of what life will be like outside of Karachi if he decides to make a move.

Rauf has simplified the issue to its most straightforward equation. There is a batter and a bowler; if the bowler can match the batter's speed, the batter's stumps will be knocked over.

Rauf's look could mean that he is at ease with the seemingly complex task he has been given or that he has no idea what he is doing. Rauf's emotional ambivalence is evident most clearly when he is put in a difficult situation. Early in his career, he was thought to have "bottled it" when things didn't go his way, and he was accused of lacking situational awareness. He'd been given a hospital pass and ordered to pull off a legendary theft.

When Dawson hits what appears to be a slower, shorter ball over midwicket for four, reducing the required rate to five of ten, that door appears to be firmly shut. Commentator Mark Butcher says of Dawson, "always the bridesmaid, never the bride," maybe convinced that he, too, had finally made it to centre stage. Pakistan may be playing in their 200th Twenty20 International. However, it appears they comprehend this format less than any other side on days like today.

Having watched the ball hit the ground, Rauf charges in and repeats his previous delivery. However, this time he has done away with the crafty variations and deft sleights of hand that are essential to twenty-over bowling nowadays. He sprinted like he could have while playing gully cricket in Rawalpindi's alleys or during his tryout for the Lahore Qalandars' Pace Development Programme, propelling him into the limelight. Rauf's strengths and preferences lay in this style of cricket. He was Pakistani, and Pakistanis were known for their fast bowling.

Dawson is caught off guard by the fast pace and little width of the delivery, and he pulls weakly into the inside, where Mohammad Haris catch it in the middle of the park. It's a tiny window of opportunity for Pakistan, but Rauf has apparently escaped the constraints of the situation and is now acting as if from some other dimension. As he waits menacingly at the bottom of his run-up as rookie Olly Stone stands guard, he appears unconcerned with the context in which he finds himself. Stone isn't exceptionally skilled in this area, but Rauf is.

Rauf has simplified the issue to its most straightforward equation. In cricket, there is a batsman and a bowler; if the ball is thrown at a high enough speed, the bowler will outpace the batter and knock over the batter's batting stumps. In the imagination of a bowler, this is the first dismissal they can imagine and the one that gives them the most primal thrill. Rauf's current state of mind has awakened the animal nature of every Karachiite.

It moves quickly, quite quickly. Stone hardly has time to finish his backlift before the ball whizzes past the outside edge and crashes into off stump. Haris walks confidently to his captain at short cover, knowing that the ball will rebound away to deep third. The following delivery is on his mind, along with the unfortunate Reece Topley.

The Dawson boundary seems like ages ago, and England is still five runs away. This is moot in the heady present as Rauf seeks a hat trick, the only acceptable conclusion to the match in his and Karachi's eyes. Topley's ankles take a direct hit as the ball is thrown down at 156 kilometres per hour. Even though it's falling, he has no control over Rauf's review.

The Hawk-Eye reveals that it went missing and was pitched outside leg, leaving Adil Rashid with only one ball to utilise as protection from the blow. England is four runs down, but a bat to a ball blasted down at 155 kph looks impossible.

They are doomed to fail in their goal. They opted to go for a single with two balls remaining, but Pakistan ended up eliminating them from the game. The arrival of Rauf has thrown them off balance.

As a clump forms in the circle's centre, Hasnain charges in from the perimeter. This time, the person's head is up, and their gleaming, contagious grin is fully displayed. Rauf could perform no Houdini trick without his initial burst of speed. In any case, he has no problem with Rauf stealing the show. To which Haris Rauf responds by basking in the glory.

Federer retires from tennis in tears after losing the Laver Cup

Despite not receiving a happy finale to his tennis career, Roger Federer calls it a "wonderful voyage."

Switzerland's During an interview following his final match doubles match with Rafael Nadal of Spain for Team Europe versus Jack Sock and Frances Tiafoe of the United States for Team World in the 2022 Laver Cup at the O2 Arena in London early on September 24, 2022, Roger Federer sheds a tear. — AFP

LONDON: Roger Federer said of his tennis career, "It's been a beautiful ride," despite not having the fairytale conclusion he had hoped for after losing in the Laver Cup doubles with Rafael Nadal early on Saturday morning.

After announcing his retirement last week at 41 due to a knee ailment, the 20-time Grand Slam winner last played in the quarterfinals of Wimbledon in 2021.

Although he had been sidelined for a long time due to injury, the Swiss showed flashes of his old smooth self in the match against Frances Tiafoe and Jack Sock of Team World at London's O2 venue.

The two former world number ones, playing alongside longtime friend and adversary Nadal, won the first set to the ecstatic cheers of a vibrant, hostile audience, but the Americans came back to win in three sets, 4-6, 7-6 (7/2), 11-9.

As a result, after the first day of the Ryder Cup-style competition, Team Europe and Team World were tied at 2-2.

"Isn't it true that we'll make it through this? Right?" Federer stated in a choked-up farewell on the court after the match.

"I don't feel any sadness; rather, I feel joy. Having arrived, I took pleasure in fastening my shoes for the final time. It was like the very last time. Really, I couldn't be more pleased with how the match turned out. Amazing, truly."

A heartfelt "Thank You."

Throughout their nearly two-decade-long rivalry, Federer and Nadal, now 36 and from Spain respectively, have won a combined 42 Grand Slam singles titles, ushering in a golden age for the men's game.

The match began late on Friday and was a fitting send-off for Federer, who started his professional career over 25 years ago.

The crowd went wild when the Swiss tremendous and Nadal walked out onto the black court in blue shirts, white shorts, and matching white headbands.

Amid chants of "Let's go, Roger, let's go!" at 3-3, both doubles teams served very well to start the match.

After ten games, Federer and Nadal finally had their first break point, and they took full advantage by winning the opening set when Sock missed a backhand.

The Americans won relatively quickly when the second set went to a tie-break, bringing the score to a stalemate.

In the early hours of September 24, 2022, at the O2 Arena in London, Roger Federer of Switzerland does a lap of honor after playing his final match, doubles match for Team Europe with Rafael Nadal of Spain against Jack Sock and Frances Tiafoe of the United States on behalf of Team World in the 2022 Laver Cup. — AFP

In a nail-biting tie-break match, Tiafoe and Sock eventually prevailed after Federer failed to serve for the victory at 9-8.

The Swiss teammate hugged and congratulated Nadal, and the player waved to the fans.

Federer thanked everyone, including his parents, wife Mirka, and their four children, for the opportunity to play on the same team as Rafael Nadal.

He says, "It does feel like a celebration to me." "This is precisely how I anticipated feeling at the conclusion, so thank you. A fantastic trip; I wish I could do it again."

Nadal, who was similarly overcome with emotion, admitted that he had struggled to deal with the event's significance.

The Spaniard reflected on their time together, saying, "For me, it has been a big honour to be a part of this amazing moment in the history of our sport and at the same time a lot of years sharing a lot of things together."

Having Roger leave the tour is like having a big part of my life and departing with him.

Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray, two of the men's "Big Four," are also on Team Europe.

The 'vacuum' left by Federer.

Swiss tennis legend Roger Federer has decided not to play any singles matches this weekend, and Italian player Matteo Berrettini will fill in for him as an alternate.

Europe, who have won the last four Laver Cups, are up 2-0 following the first day of play in London, with victories from Casper Ruud of Norway and Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece.

Tsitsipas beat Diego Schwartzman of Argentina 6-2, 6-1, despite an on-court protest by a man who set his arm on fire to protest the usage of private aircraft.

Even though Federer was the main attraction, everyone watched Murray's grueling 5-7, 6-3, 10-7 loss to Alex de Minaur in the evening session.

Roger Federer (R) and Rafael Nadal (L), representing Team Europe, exchange signals during the 2022 Laver Cup men's doubles match in London's O2 Arena on September 23, 2022. Reuters

The Swiss player retired 19 years after winning Wimbledon in 2003.

He leaves the game with a men's record of eight Wimbledon wins, 103 titles, and more than $130 million in prize money, all winning with grace and accuracy to his truly unparalleled playing.

Even though Nadal (22) and Djokovic (21) have won more Grand Slams than Federer, Team World captain John McEnroe remarked that Federer's retirement will create "a hole that will never be replaced."

 

Moeen Ali admits England may make 'few adjustments for the next T20I.

England may be trying to rework their offensive and get back on track, so Olly Stone and Tom Helm might make their national team debut.

The English team is trying to manage their roster through seven games in 13 days, so they plan to make "a handful of changes" for Friday night's third Twenty20 International against Pakistan in Karachi.

After Richard Gleeson departed the field in the first T20I with "some minor pain," they were forced to replace him with Liam Dawson for Thursday's ten-wicket loss. However, they are likely to make more lineup changes for the series' third game.

In the second T20I, England used three left-arm seamers and three spinners, but they may attempt to switch up their attack with the addition of Olly Stone and Tom Helm. Luke Wood's second international debut was far more challenging than his first, while David Willey has struggled in this series, giving up 85 runs in 7.3 wicketless overs.

"There will be a handful of changes tomorrow, with guys coming back," England captain Moeen Ali said. "We haven't decided who just yet, but we need to think of creative solutions to obtain wickets. The most critical factor in a game is not how many runs you score but how many doors you take.

"To my mind, we bowled quite competently. Today, Dawson was outstanding and delivered four excellent overs. But I felt like we could have accomplished much more. Not a single person delivered a true bouncer, and we missed some opportunities to go better. In any case, we may take the necessary lessons from that."

Moeen said that Will Jacks, one of two fit hitters sidelined in the first two games along with his Oval Invincibles teammate Jordan Cox, will have to wait his turn before being included in England's bowling attack adjustments.

Moeen promised that everyone would get a shot at it eventually. "You shouldn't just give out games because of their popularity. They have to prove themselves worthy of being there. Alex Hales has entered the competition, Phil Salt is batting leadoff, and Jos Buttler has yet to join. Someone of the caliber of Will Jacks will have to wait.

"Everybody in England knows he's a fantastic player, so I have no doubt you'll get to watch him play at some point during this tour. We have a lot of people returning from injuries, so we're going to switch things up a bit over the course of these next five games."

Chris Woakes and Mark Wood, who have both bowled with solid pace in training and pre-match warm-ups, are not anticipated to participate until the Lahore leg of the tour. At the same time, Reece Topley may also come into contention as England tries to ease him back from an ankle niggle.

First MotoGP race in Japan since COVID promises to heat the championship race.

Enea Bastianini, Francesco Bagnaia, and Aleix Espargaro at Aragon

Tochigi, MOTEGI....... After world champion Fabio Quartararo's crash in Aragon, which opened up the championship race with five races, the exciting MotoGP season proceeds to Japan this weekend.

Frenchman's advantage is still at 10 points, but it has been cut in half by Francesco Bagnaia of Italy and Aleix Espargaro of Spain.

Before last weekend's race in Aragon, Spain, when Yamaha's Quartararo made a stunning and painful first-lap withdrawal after clipping the Honda of six-time world champion Marc Marquez, Ducati rider Bagnaia had ratcheted up the pressure by winning four consecutive races.

While Enea Bastianini's last-lap pass prevented Bagnaia from winning for the sixth time in a row, the Italian's second-place finish was enough to put pressure on the shaky Quartararo and give him the upper hand in the future.

The 25-year-old Bagnaia, seeking his first MotoGP world championship, said, "I gave my all, and I would want to have another fight in Japan."

The Italian added that he would have been satisfied with second place and the 20 points it would have earned him rather than risking it all to try and win the race and gain 25 points.

Motegi will host the first MotoGP race in Japan since the epidemic, and only 17 points separate the top three riders.

Despite being 48 points behind Quartararo, Bastianini is still in the championship hunt.

However, Bagnaia is uncomfortable with discussions of titles.

Our relationship has deepened, and we can talk more openly about the championship now that we're closer, but he didn't want to. "For the remainder of the tournament, I'd like to spend more weekends in Japan.

I know how much potential we have, but it's been three years since we last visited there, so I expect the beginning to be complicated.

While Aprilia Racing's Pol Espargaro is excited to contend for the MotoGP world title, teammate Francesco Bagnaia is more reserved.

After finishing third in Aragon, 33-year-old stated, "The championship is getting really hot." He was trailing Ducati's Bastianini and Bagnaia.

Bagnaia is "today riding better than us," in his opinion, and hence the guy to defeat.

Neither Fabio nor I will have it easy, as he has the most fantastic bike and is racing at an extremely high level, according to Espargaro. "However, anything can happen in MotoGP.

Now we're headed to weird circuits distant from Europe, where the weather and surface conditions will inevitably affect tire grip.

The next stop on tour is in Japan on Sunday; then it's off to Thailand, Australia, and Malaysia before the season finale in Valencia, Spain.

Despite being "sore" from his collision and friction burns from sliding across the Aragon track, Quartararo must resume his world title defense at Motegi.

Photos of the 23-year-old show him with multiple huge bandages covering his chest, yet he appears to be in good spirits despite the ordeal.

He told the press, "Japan is a track I enjoy." "Despite the high rate of acceleration, I think Japan could be a fantastic track for us due to the high rate of braking. That's where we really shine."

 British High Commissioner Christian Turner on the Pak vs. Eng series: "I couldn't be happier."

The envoy wears a hybrid England–Pakistan jersey to show his allegiance to both teams.

Christian Turner, the British High Commissioner in Pakistan, is sporting a jersey showing his support for the England and Pakistan teams in the current Twenty20 International series. — Twitter/@CTurnerFCDO

Karachi: Christian Turner, the British High Commissioner to Pakistan, has been in Pakistan since before the England team's tour and has said he has been waiting for it.

On the eve of the 1ST Twenty20 International between Pakistan and England at the National Stadium Karachi, Turner said in an exclusive interview with Geo. tv that he believed cricket would bring people together after the recent hardships experienced by both countries.

Seventeen years together, and I haven't been happier. On the eve of the inaugural Twenty20 International between Pakistan and England at the National Stadium Karachi, Turner stated cricket would bring people together after recent struggles.

I'm happy after 17 years together. After three years of effort, we have been waiting. It's been three years since I first came to Pakistan, and I've never stopped saying that I can't wait to get them back. Many people made it happen. The PCB and ECB deserve appreciation for their work. "I couldn't be happier for both countries today," he said regarding this series.

.Both countries have had terrible weeks. All proceeds from tonight's game will go toward Pakistan flood relief. That's big. Also, the United Kingdom lost its monarch with the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. The ambassador continued, "So I truly hope tonight's game gives everyone a great lift."

According to the British High Commissioner, the England team's choice to give Pakistan flood relief conveys a message of unity and proves that cricket brings people together across borders.

Cricket helps us bond. "We're genuinely united now, which is difficult between Pakistan and the UK," he remarked.

Turner was dismayed that England canceled Pakistan's tour last year.

He said it was his responsibility to assemble the tour's organizers.

Ramiz Raja and his Pakistan board team have done an excellent job of laying the groundwork for this. The English version of the board includes two more games. Seven Twenty20 Internationals have been played so far. He added, "The next ten days are going to be quite busy with the World Cup and then coming back for the test."

The diplomat has high hopes for the cricket matches between Pakistan and England in the series.

Either Pakistan or England might win the series by several games. Not until the very last game is played. This competition promises to be exciting. There is a lot of talent on both sides. Both sides have suffered a few wounds. The pitches are solid, in my opinion. I can't wait until the spinners go on tonight to see what happens," he stated.

When asked which team he backs, Tuner pointed to his shirt, which bore the flags of both England and Pakistan.

"That's a very interesting query. Please allow me to demonstrate. Yes, of course. For the unlikely event that Pakistan actually does well, I also have a few England shirts on hand. I work as a diplomat. I'm safe in either case," he said.