Inzamam backs India-Pakistan cricket revival, says rivalry can surpas…

Doha, Qatar: The soft-spoken giant, who once caressed the ball through the covers with effortless grace, still carries the calm of his batting days. Even in retirement, Inzamam-ul-Haq speaks in measured tones, choosing diplomacy over drama, but when the conversation turned to India and Pakistan cricket, conviction replaced caution.

While speaking to media in Doha during a private visit, one of Pakistan’s greatest batters leaned on nostalgia and possibility, imagining a rivalry restored to its full theatre. xsportfeed.quest

“If Pakistan and India play a Test series, then the Ashes between England and Australia will be much less popular – there would be at least a 50 percent gap,” Inzamam said, his voice carrying the certainty of a man who experienced cricket’s fiercest rivalry from the middle.

“Politics should be kept aside. At least Pakistan and India must play in ICC [International Cricket Council] events in good spirit. There should even be bilateral series.”

For a generation, few embodied Pakistan’s batting resilience like Inzamam. Blessed with velvet timing rather than visible urgency, he often appeared untroubled even against the quickest bowlers. Where others fought pressure, Inzamam absorbed it. The languid drives, soft hands and ability to find gaps made him one of the most elegant middle-order batters of his era.

By the time he retired, he had piled up 8,830 runs in 120 Tests and 11,739 in 378 ODIs, numbers that placed him among Pakistan’s batting royalty. He struck 25 Test centuries and for years sat just behind mentor Javed Miandad among Pakistan’s leading Test run-scorers before later generations rewrote the record books.

Yet his legacy stretches beyond numbers. As a 21-year-old, Inzamam announced himself on the grandest stage, blasting a breathtaking 60 off 37 balls against New Zealand in the semi-final of the 1992 World Cup – an innings that changed Pakistan’s destiny and paved the way for their only ODI World Cup title.

But for Inzamam, cricket’s most magnetic rivalry has lost part of its soul. Political tensions have confined India and Pakistan to ICC and continental events, with no bilateral cricket since 2012-13.

The rivalry, however, remains unmatched in emotion and expectation. The recent Asia Cup handshake controversy and the trophy presentation row involving India’s captain Suryakumar Yadav and Asian Cricket Council President Mohsin Naqvi again highlighted how even routine moments between Pakistan and India are magnified beyond the field.

“Pakistan and India players shared cordial relations in the past. We used to visit each other’s rooms in the team hotel, but on the field we were rivals,” Inzamam recalled. “This is how it should be.”

Pakistan’s struggles against India in ICC tournaments, particularly at World Cups, have frustrated their supporters. Pakistan have lost all eight matches against India in the ODI World Cup and won only one match while losing eight in the T20 World Cup, but Inzamam dismissed theories of technical inferiority.

“It’s all about pressure. There is a lot of pressure on players when Pakistan and India are playing. Even when we play veterans cricket, there is pressure,” he said with a smile.

“We are waiting for the jinx to be broken, and it will end one day.”

The conversation soon shifted to Pakistan’s current troubles – a side searching for consistency after painful Test setbacks, including a recent defeat against Bangladesh.

Inzamam’s diagnosis was blunt as he said Pakistan are drifting away from the foundations that once made them formidable.

“We need to play four-day cricket. The more we play four-day cricket, the more we can improve our performances in Tests,” he said.

“It’s not that Pakistan do not have talent. The only reason is that they have not played enough four-day cricket.”

He urged young players to spend time in county cricket, arguing that experience cannot be manufactured in dressing rooms.

“No coach will teach what the ground teaches players,” he said.

For a country once blessed with the menace of Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis, the decline in bowling standards worries him.

“In our times, we had many quality bowlers and some had to sit out because there were so many,” he said.

“Unfortunately, we do not have those fast bowlers or even quality spinners now, but the Pakistan board is working on it.”

Asked to name the most influential cricketers of the last two decades, Inzamam quickly turned to modern greats.

“Virat Kohli inspired a generation,” he said, before also naming Steve Smith, Joe Root and James Anderson – players who, in different ways, redefined longevity and excellence.

Still, one unfinished chapter lingers in memory.

Inzamam ended his Test career agonisingly short of surpassing Miandad’s Pakistan record tally at the time – falling two runs shy of his mentor’s mark.

“I learnt a lot from Javed Miandad,” he said. “Even if I had broken his record, he would still remain a greater batsman,” he added.

Doha, Qatar: The competitions of HH the Amir Table Tennis Cup for the 2025-2026 sports season kicked off Monday at the Abdullah Bin Suhaim Hall at Qatar Sports Club.

Nine clubs are participating in the championship: Al Wakrah, Al Shamal, Qatar Club, Al Rayyan, Al Ahli, Al Sadd, Al Khor, Al Gharafa, and Al Arabi.

Today's matches were strong and exciting, witnessing Al Shamal Club's qualification to the quarterfinals after defeating Al-Wakrah 3-2 in the opening match.

The match was attended by Board Member of the Qatar Table Tennis Association Abdullah Badr Al Sada.

The championship continues Tuesday with the quarterfinal matches: Qatar Club vs. Al Rayyan, Al Ahli vs. Al Sadd, Al Khor vs. Al Shamal, and Al Gharafa vs. Al Arabi.

The two semifinal matches will take place the day after Wednesday, with the final scheduled for next Thursday.

Qatar Club won the title of Hh the Amir Table Tennis Cup last season for the eighth time in its history, after defeating Al Arabi 3-2 in the final match.

London: Chelsea appointed Xabi Alonso as the club's manager on Sunday on a four-year deal with the Spaniard the latest coach tasked with turning around the club's fortunes.

The Blues lost the FA Cup final to Manchester City on Saturday and lie ninth in the Premier League with two games of the campaign to go.

Alonso rose to prominence as one of Europe's brightest coaches by guiding Bayer Leverkusen to an unbeaten German league and cup double in the 2023/24 season.

However, he lasted just seven months in the Real Madrid hotseat. Appointed last year, he departed the Spanish giants in January.

"Chelsea Football Club is delighted to announce the appointment of Xabi Alonso as manager of the men's team," Chelsea said in a statement.

"The Spaniard will begin his role on July 1, 2026, having agreed a four-year contract at Stamford Bridge."

Alonso faces a huge task to get Chelsea back in the running for major honours.

Chelsea did win the World Club Cup and the UEFA Conference League last year but have little else to show for well over one billion pounds ($1.35 billion) of spending on players since as US consortium BlueCo took over in 2022 following Roman Abramovich's trophy-laden ownership of the club.

Defeat at Wembley on Saturday means they have now gone eight seasons without a domestic trophy.

Fans have continuously protested against BlueCo, who have embarked on a scattergun approach to hoovering up young talent from across the globe.

That policy has secured some notable successes such as England international Cole Palmer.

But a lack of experience in both the playing squad and, often in the coaching staff, has been blamed for a lack of consistency.

Alonso becomes the sixth permanent manager to take charge at Stamford Bridge in the past four years after Thomas Tuchel,
Graham Potter, Mauricio Pochettino, Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior.

The 44-year-old has a point to prove after a turbulent short spell in Madrid.

Alonso's arrival is a coup for Chelsea's much-criticised owners.
Many Liverpool fans were desperate for him to return to Anfield, where he starred for five years as a player between 2004 and 2009, to succeed the under-fire Arne Slot.

Doha, Qatar: Team Qatar will make its debut at the iconic 24 Hours of Le Mans from June 10 to 14, marking a landmark moment for Qatari motorsport as the nation takes its place on the grid of one of the world’s most prestigious and demanding races.

The programme is delivered through a strategic partnership between Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) and Iron Lynx, alongside a collaboration with Mercedes-AMG Motorsport, with Team Qatar set to compete in the LMGT3 category aboard the Mercedes-AMG Motorsport LMGT3.

Taking place from June 13 to 14 at Circuit de la Sarthe in Le Mans, France, the 24 Hours of Le Mans stands as the pinnacle event of endurance racing and the centerpiece of the FIA World Endurance Championship calendar. First held in 1923, the race tests drivers, teams, and manufacturers across an uninterrupted 24-hour contest where speed, reliability, strategy, and endurance determine success.

Team Qatar will arrive at Le Mans following a rapid rise in international endurance racing competition. In a short period, the programme has established itself through a series of standout performances across leading endurance championships and events.

Recent milestones include securing the 2025 24H Series Overall championship with victories in the 992 AM Drivers Championship, 992 AM Teams Championship and Overall 992 Teams Championship. Team Qatar also claimed victory in the 24 Hours of Dubai in the 992 AM category and continued its momentum into 2026 with category wins at the 6 Hours of Abu Dhabi and the 12 Hours of Mugello.

The team has also delivered strong performances in the European Le Mans Series campaign with pole positions in Barcelona and Paul Ricard in the LMGT3 category. At the season opener in Barcelona, Abdulla Al Khelaifi earned Most Valuable Driver honours after leading the race for more than seventy percent of the event before Team Qatar ultimately secured fourth position.

The Team Qatar lineup for Le Mans brings together Qatari driver Abdulla Al Khelaifi alongside Julian Hanses and Giuliano Alesi, combining international endurance racing experience with local talent on motorsport’s biggest stage.

Abdulrahman bin Abdullatif Al Mannai, President of Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) and Lusail International Circuit (LIC), said: "Team Qatar’s participation in the 24 Hours of Le Mans is an important moment for Qatari motorsport and reflects the country’s growing presence on the international stage. The achievements and the participation of Team Qatar represents the fruition of the long-term investment and vision of QMMF, and its continuous goal to inspire future generations, and creating a pathway for them to compete at the highest level of motorsport. Through our partnership with Iron Lynx and collaboration with Mercedes-AMG Motorsport, we are creating opportunities to learn, grow, and establish a stronger foundation for Qatar in global endurance racing. We are proud to see Team Qatar compete at one of motorsport’s most iconic events and look forward to what this journey can achieve."

Andrea Piccini, Iron Lynx Team Principal and CEO, said: "We are proud to have joined forces with QMMF, especially for this landmark moment, the first entry in the world's most legendary race. Working with such a brilliant and dynamic federation is an important step for our team and we really appreciate the trust that they put into us.”

He also added, "The QMMF achieved outstanding results in a really short time and we will give our maximum effort to help it continue its rise. We are confident in the potential of our lineup for this race and we will give our one hundred percent to deliver the best results possible."

Abdulla Al Khelaifi said: "For all of us at Team Qatar, competing at Le Mans is a proud and exciting moment. This race represents the highest level of endurance racing and being part of it is an incredible opportunity for our team. We arrive with great respect for the challenge ahead and with a strong desire to learn from the experience, continue developing as a team, and represent Qatar in the best possible way. We are excited for the opportunity ahead and hope to make our mark on one of the biggest stages in motorsport."

Doha, Qatar: Qatar's men's volleyball team will meet Bahrain on Tuesday in a decisive match to determine the gold medal winner at the 4th GCC Games Doha 2026.

Both teams enter the final round level on six points, setting up a direct contest for the title at Aspire Hall.

Qatar have already secured at least a silver medal after winning their previous matches, including a straight-sets victory over Oman.

The UAE and Oman will also play earlier in the day to decide the bronze medal.

Qatar are aiming to defend their title, while Bahrain seek to add to their previous Gulf Games successes, having won gold in the first two editions.

Secretary-General of the Qatar Volleyball Association Yousef Ahmed Kanoo expressed confidence in Qatar's ability to retain the title despite the challenge posed by Bahrain.

"We trust our players and their ability to deliver the required performance and achieve victory," he said.

"We know the Bahrain match will not be easy given their experienced squad and quality players, but the determination of our team and their desire to defend the title will be a strong motivation."

Kanoo also called on Qatari supporters to attend the match, saying fan support could provide an important boost for the players in the crucial encounter.