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Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka by 82 runs in the second T20I at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Sunday and took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bowl. Pakistan posted 215 for 3, their highest T20I total at home in this series context. Maaz Sadaqat top-scored with 96 off 51 balls (six fours, seven sixes) and was named player of the match. Captain Sahibzada Farhan made 73 off 44. After a quieter powerplay, Farhan and Sadaqat rebuilt, then Sadaqat and Hasan Nawaz accelerated; Pakistan scored heavily in the final 12 overs.

Chasing 216, Sri Lanka collapsed to 64 for 5 and finished on 133 for 7. Mohammad Imran took 3 for 11 in four overs. Maheesh Theekshana (32 not out) and Chamindu Wickramasinghe (29) offered late resistance but could not salvage the chase. Pakistan had already won the first T20I by four wickets; the third match remains scheduled. The result gives Farhan his first series win as T20 captain.

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More than 30 Pakistani and Pakistani-origin runners are set to participate in the 2026 Chicago Marathon on October 11, joining approximately 55,000 athletes from around the world for the 42.195-kilometre race. The event, now in its 48th edition, is one of the seven Abbott World Marathon Majors and highlights the growing presence of Pakistani runners on the international stage.

Among the participants is Houston-based Nizar Nayani, who will compete in his fifth Chicago Marathon with a target of finishing in under three hours. Despite facing challenging training conditions due to extreme heat in Houston, Nayani expressed confidence ahead of the race and excitement about returning to Chicago.

The Pakistani contingent includes Abdul Lateef, Ahmad Zubair, Aisha Intesar, Amaad Shaikh, Babar Javed, Basil Khan, Ghassan Tayyab, Hasan Saleem, Nida Syed, Sadia Sattar, Sara Rathore, Taha Hussain, Taimoor Malik and several other runners looking to achieve personal bests and strengthen Pakistan's representation in international distance running.

Six additional runners of Pakistani origin will participate under other nationalities, including British-Pakistani athletes Hamad Ali, Wardah Mir, Nazakat Ali and Hassan Abbas Ali, as well as Pakistani-Americans Babar Ghias and Farah Charania. Hamad Ali will return to major marathon competition just two weeks after completing the Berlin Marathon in 4:17:49.

The Chicago Marathon is renowned for its relatively flat and fast course, which starts and finishes in Grant Park and passes through 29 neighbourhoods. Its route attracts athletes aiming to improve their personal records and qualify for other major races. Following the participation of more than two dozen Pakistanis in the Berlin Marathon last month, the strong turnout in Chicago reflects the growing popularity of long-distance running among Pakistanis at home and abroad.

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Zimbabwe have named experienced all-rounder Sikandar Raza as captain for the upcoming ODI tri-series against Bangladesh and Afghanistan in the United Arab Emirates from October 17 to 23, 2026. Raza will continue leading the side in the absence of regular captain Richard Ngarava, who is recovering from a back injury.

Zimbabwe have made two changes to their ODI squad, bringing in uncapped players Tafadzwa Tsiga and Vincent Masekesa as replacements for Graeme Cremer and Innocent Kaia. Cremer has been left out of the squad, while Kaia is unavailable due to a thigh injury sustained during the recent ODI series against Australia.

Zimbabwe will begin their tri-series campaign against Bangladesh on October 17 before facing Afghanistan on October 19. The tournament will provide an important opportunity for the team to test its strength against two competitive international sides ahead of their upcoming assignments.

Following the ODI tri-series, Zimbabwe will face Afghanistan in a three-match T20I series from October 27 to November 1, followed by two Test matches in Sharjah. Vincent Masekesa has also been included in the T20I squad, while Cremer and Dion Myers have been omitted.

The ODI squad features experienced players such as Ben Curran, Blessing Muzarabani, Brendan Taylor, Craig Ervine and Ryan Burl alongside emerging talents Tsiga and Masekesa. Zimbabwe will look to build a competitive side under Raza's leadership as they prepare for a busy international schedule.

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New Zealand fast bowler Will O’Rourke has been ruled out of the upcoming home ODI and Test series against India due to hamstring and calf injuries, dealing a major setback to the Black Caps ahead of the highly anticipated contest.

New Zealand Cricket confirmed that the 25-year-old pacer will miss all five ODIs and two Tests against India as a precaution. O’Rourke is continuing his rehabilitation, with the team management prioritising his full recovery rather than risking further injury.

New Zealand head coach Rob Walter expressed disappointment over losing one of his key fast bowlers but stressed the importance of managing his workload carefully. The team hopes O’Rourke will recover in time for the four-match Test series against Australia, scheduled to begin in early December.

Since making his Test debut in 2024, O’Rourke has established himself as an important member of New Zealand’s bowling attack, claiming 49 wickets in 14 Test matches at an average of under 25. He also impressed during New Zealand’s 2-1 Test series victory in England earlier this year, taking 10 wickets before suffering a hamstring injury in the final Test.

The fast bowler later sustained a calf injury during a training session in August, further delaying his return. He had previously spent seven months on the sidelines recovering from a back stress fracture.

New Zealand are also facing other injury concerns ahead of India's visit. Mark Chapman and Zak Foulkes have been ruled out of the five-match T20I series starting October 22, with Josh Clarkson and Blair Tickner named as their replacements.

With several important players unavailable, New Zealand face a challenging home series against India, while O’Rourke focuses on making a fully fit return ahead of the Australia Tests.

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Abu Dhabi has launched the Abu Dhabi Sports Championship for Schools, bringing together more than 350 schools across 19 sporting disciplines. Organised by the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) in partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi and Abu Dhabi Sports Council, the championship will run throughout the academic year across Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Dhafra.

The competition aims to encourage students to participate in sports, develop their athletic abilities and promote values such as discipline, teamwork, respect and sportsmanship. Students from different age groups will compete through two formats: the Elite League for under-17 and under-19 athletes, and school tournaments for students aged under 9 to under 19.

The Elite League will feature seven sports, including football, basketball, volleyball, padel, athletics, jiu-jitsu and swimming. The tournament format will cover a wider range of disciplines, including rugby, archery, badminton, chess, cycling, fencing, judo, obstacle course racing, laser run, table tennis, taekwondo and wrestling, alongside selected team sports for younger age groups.

The championship will also include Unified Leagues in partnership with Special Olympics UAE, creating opportunities for Students of Determination to participate in an inclusive sporting environment. A new rewards programme will recognise outstanding schools, student athletes, teachers and coaches through scholarships, sports infrastructure funding and professional development opportunities.

The initiative will also help identify promising young athletes through the All-Star Programme, offering selected students access to professional coaching, regional and international competitions, and pathways towards sports clubs and academies. The championship aims to strengthen school sports and support the development of future sporting talent in Abu Dhabi.

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Pakistan T20I captain Sahibzada Farhan has joined the world’s top five T20 run-scorers since the start of 2025, crossing the 3,000-run mark with an impressive 3,007 runs in 83 innings at a strike rate of 151.1. He currently ranks fourth on the list, ahead of India’s Abhishek Sharma and alongside some of the world’s leading T20 batters.

Nicholas Pooran leads the rankings with 3,179 runs, followed by Tim Seifert with 3,167 and Jos Buttler with 3,095. Farhan’s achievement highlights his consistency and outstanding form across domestic and international T20 cricket.

Farhan enjoyed a remarkable 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup campaign, finishing as the tournament’s leading run-scorer with 383 runs at a strike rate of 160.25. He also broke Virat Kohli’s record for the most runs in a single edition of the Men’s T20 World Cup, previously set at 319 in 2014, and became the first batter to score two centuries in one edition of the tournament.

The Pakistan batter also topped the run charts in PSL 2025, scoring 449 runs in 12 innings at an average of 37.41. Recently appointed Pakistan’s T20I captain, Farhan made an impressive start to his leadership tenure by scoring 89 off 53 balls against Sri Lanka on October 9, helping Pakistan secure a four-wicket victory in Rawalpindi.

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Max Verstappen secured a dramatic victory for Red Bull in the Singapore Sprint on Saturday, October 10, 2026, holding off Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton by 2.50 seconds in a rain-affected race at the Marina Bay Street Circuit. Charles Leclerc finished third after a chaotic contest marked by changing track conditions, crashes and late-race drama.

The race was delayed by 30 minutes following a heavy shower before the start, with all drivers beginning on intermediate tyres. George Russell initially took the lead from Verstappen but crashed into the pit lane wall on the opening lap after losing control on a slippery white line, bringing out the safety car and ending his race.

Hamilton capitalised on Russell’s crash with an excellent start from sixth on the grid, moving into second place ahead of his Ferrari teammate Leclerc and the two McLarens. Verstappen maintained his advantage after the restart and controlled the race to claim the sprint victory.

The final lap brought further drama when McLaren teammates Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri made contact and spun while battling for position. Championship leader Kimi Antonelli benefited from the incident to finish fourth, while Liam Lawson took fifth for RB. Oliver Bearman finished sixth, followed by Nico Hulkenberg in seventh, with Norris recovering to eighth to secure the final points-paying position.

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Chelsea star Cole Palmer has signed an improved contract that will keep him at the Premier League club until 2034, rewarding his impressive performances since joining from Manchester City in 2023. The 24-year-old England international has become one of Chelsea’s key attacking players, contributing goals, assists, and creativity to the team.

Palmer joined Chelsea for £42.5 million and had previously been contracted until 2033. His latest renewal reflects the club’s desire to retain its established stars and secure key players for the long term. He has made a strong start to the 2026–27 season, scoring four goals and providing two assists in seven appearances, according to the report.

However, Palmer has also faced fitness challenges after struggling with a persistent groin problem last season. The injury affected his availability for both Chelsea and England, and he admitted previously that he had continued playing when he probably should not have. Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso said Palmer had been training and feeling better but stressed that the club did not want to rush his return before he was fully fit.

The contract news comes as Chelsea look to improve their Premier League form. The club sit 10th after five matches, having conceded 12 goals. With Palmer tied down until 2034, Chelsea will hope the attacking star can regain full fitness and play an important role in the team’s progress.

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Canadian woman Donna Jean Wilde has reportedly broken her own women’s plank record after holding the position for an incredible five hours on October 4. The 61-year-old endurance athlete surpassed her previous mark by approximately 30 minutes during the attempt, demonstrating remarkable strength, stamina, and determination. According to the report, Wilde began the challenge at 3:03 p.m. and completed it at 8:03 p.m. at the World Senior Games.

Wilde’s achievement is particularly impressive given the physical endurance required to maintain a plank for such an extended period. The exercise requires a person to keep their forearms and toes on the ground while holding the rest of the body above the surface in a straight position. Maintaining this posture for hours demands sustained muscle strength, stability, focus, and mental resilience. Several judges reportedly took turns overseeing the attempt.

The 61-year-old Canadian, who has 12 grandchildren, previously established the women’s plank record with a time of 4 hours, 30 minutes, and 11 seconds, according to the report. Her latest five-hour effort would extend that mark by nearly 30 minutes. However, official Guinness World Records approval of the new record is still pending.

Wilde’s remarkable performance highlights how dedication and perseverance can push the limits of physical endurance, inspiring people of different ages to challenge themselves and pursue their goals.

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