Shoaib Akhtar denies rumors of appointment as Pakistan team's chief selector

Indian squash players demonstrated outstanding results at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, qualifying for the semi-finals. Abhay Singh and Anahat Singh won their semi-final matches, guaranteeing India at least a silver medal.

Abhay Singh, who holds a gold medal from the Asian Championships, defeated Mohammed Irfan of Pakistan in the men's singles category. He won with a score of 3-0 in sets. Abhay maintained control of the match from the beginning, winning the first set 11-3. In the second set, Irfan from Pakistan created serious competition, but Abhay remained calm and won the set 12-10, increasing his lead to 2-0.

In the third set, the Indian athlete once again asserted his dominance, winning 11-6 and securing his place in the final.

Meanwhile, in the women's singles category, Anahat Singh played a tense match against Satomi Watanabe of Japan, winning 3-2. Anahat initially lost the first set 9-11, and in the second set, she trailed 11-13. However, after this, the Indian athlete made an impressive comeback, winning the third set 12-10.

Subsequently, Anahat Singh leveled the score at 2-2, winning the fourth set 11-6. In the decisive fifth set, she gave Satomi Watanabe no chance and won the set 11-3, advancing to the final. This victory made Anahat Singh the first Indian woman to reach the final of the women's singles squash event at the Asian Games. Abhay Singh's victory also sustains hopes of winning gold in the men's singles category.

Now both Indian athletes will advance to the final, where they will have a chance to win a gold medal for India at the Asian Games. Winning gold qualifies both players for the Los Angeles Olympics.

Pakistani wicket-batsman Muhammad Ridwan sought to publicly clarify the situation related to the investigation against him and the seizure of his mobile phone after the match at Lord's, but the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) did not grant him such permission. According to Geo News, Ridwan approached the board twice requesting permission to make a public statement, but both times his request was denied.

Ridwan wanted to present his perspective on the entire dispute concerning the investigation by the National Cyber Crime Agency (NCCIA). He intended to explain the circumstances of his phone's seizure after the match at Lord's and outline his position regarding the allegations made against him. Furthermore, he wished to make public information available about a letter he sent to the International Cricket Council (ICC).

According to the report, Ridwan requested permission from the PCB in accordance with the provisions of his central contract. Clause 4.1 of the contract stipulates that before making any public statements regarding any matter related to the contract, the player must obtain approval from the board. Ridwan also allegedly referenced clause 16, which provides for mutual cooperation between the player and the PCB. Sources claim that Ridwan did not intend to accuse the PCB or any other organization; he simply wanted to present the sequence of events and his stance to the public.

As of now, Ridwan's phone has not been returned. The situation began after the match against England at Lord's, when Muhammad Ridwan's mobile phone was allegedly seized for inspection. During hearings at the Lahore High Court last week, Ridwan's lawyer, Qazi Umair Ali, mentioned this incident. The lawyer stated that after the match, Ridwan was summoned to the hotel lobby for questioning, claiming he received no notification. According to the lawyer, he was promised the phone would be returned within three hours, but it has not been returned yet.

Muhammad Ridwan also contacted the ICC Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) regarding this matter. He allegedly tried to ascertain whether the ICC anti-corruption unit or the ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board) was aware of the actions to seize his phone or participated in them. He also raised questions concerning the procedure for seizing the mobile phone, its transfer to the relevant agency, and the forensic examination. Ridwan sought clarity on the compliance of the adopted procedure with the ICC anti-corruption code.

The NCCIA investigation is linked to online betting and gambling in Pakistani cricket. Reports also connect this investigation to an alleged leak of information from the Pakistan dressing room during a series of matches against England. Muhammad Ridwan and Imam Ul-Haq appeared before the NCCIA in Lahore earlier this month.

Significant changes have occurred in the men's cricket team of Pakistan ahead of the Asian Games 2026. Fast bowler Salman Mirza was excluded from the squad due to a fracture of his left thumb.

Mohammad Wasim Jr. has been included in the team to replace him. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officially announced these changes. According to the PCB, Salman Mirza is undergoing rehabilitation after the injury and, although he is expected to make a full recovery by the first week of October, he will be unable to participate in Pakistan's campaign at the Asian Games due to the finger fracture.

The leadership of the Pakistan team for the Asian Games has been entrusted to Sahibzada Farhan, while Abdul Samad will serve as vice-captain. Players such as Babar Azam, Shakib Al Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Naseem Shah were not included in the squad. The reasons for their absence are either rest or a decision by the selectors, but no clear information has been provided on this matter.

The men's cricket tournament at the Asian Games will begin on September 24. India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh advanced directly to the quarterfinals. It should be noted that the Indian and Pakistani teams cannot meet in the semi-finals; their confrontation is only possible in the bronze or gold medal matches. Both teams will play their quarterfinal matches on September 28.

The Pakistan team squad for the Asian Games includes: Sahibzada Farhan (captain), Abdul Samad (vice-captain), Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Akif Javed, Ali Raja, Arafat Minhaj, Haider Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Maj Sadakat, Mohammad Wasim Jr., Saad Masood, Samee Ayub, Sufian Mukeem, and Usman Khan (wicketkeeper).