International Sports
Babar Azam steps down as Pakistan captain in all three formats
Babar Azam said Wednesday he was resigning as Pakistan captain in all three formats following the team's Cricket World Cup flop but will continue playing for the national team.
"Today, I am stepping down as the captain of Pakistan in all formats," Azam announced on X, formerly Twitter, after meeting Pakistan Cricket Board chief Zakar Ashraf in Lahore.
"It's a difficult decision but I feel it is the right time for this call. I will continue to represent Pakistan as a player in all three formats."
Pakistan lost five of their nine games, including a shock defeat against Afghanistan, bringing Babar's leadership into question.
International Sports
Lanka T10: Kandy Bolts in at 4th spot in playoffs after thrilling day
It was a make-or-break game for Colombo who came off second best against a Jaffna outfit that was formidable in every department of the game
The final day of the inaugural Lanka T10 league matches at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy on Tuesday provided plenty of action for the fans.
Kandy Bolts qualified as the fourth team in the playoffs, Hambantota Bangla Tigers joined Jaffna Titans in Qualifier 1, Kasun Rajitha performed the second hat-trick of the tournament and Kusal Mendis scored the second fastest fifty.
The line-up for today’s playoffs:
Qualifier 1 – Jaffna Titans vs Hambantota Bangla Tigers started play at 2.30pm.
Eliminator – Galle Marvels vs Kandy Bolts will follow at 4:45pm
Qualifier 2 – Runner-up of Qualifier 1 vs Winner of Eliminator at 7pm.
These three matches will be screened live on Ariana Television.
Tuesday’s match however, saw pace setters Jaffna Titans come up with a complete team performance to outplay Colombo Jaguars by nine wickets and consolidate their position at the top of the table with 12 points from 7 matches (5 wins) and keep their unbeaten record in the tournament intact.
It was a make-or-break game for Colombo who came off second best against a Jaffna outfit that was formidable in every department of the game.
Invited to bat first, Colombo struggled against some quality bowling and could muster only 99-8.
In a crucial knockout match that went to the wire, Kandy Bolts edged out Nuwara Eliya Kings by 5 runs to fill the fourth and last slot of the play-offs.
Nuwara Eliya Kings fast bowler Kasun Rajitha’s second hat-trick of the tournament failed to help as Kandy Captain Thisara Perera outshone him to take his team into the next round.
In a low scoring third game for the day Hambantota Bangla Tigers beat Galle Marvels by 5 wickets to grab the second spot and make it to Qualifier 1 pushing Galle to third spot to play in the Eliminator.
International Sports
Winners of The Best FIFA Football Awards 2024 to be revealed Dec. 17
Previous winners include Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Robert Lewandowski and Luka Modrić
The world’s best players, coaches and fans for 2024 – as well as the best goals – will be revealed during a gala dinner at the renowned Aspire Academy in Doha on Tuesday, December 17, FIFA has confirmed.
According to a press release issued on Monday, the Best FIFA Football Awards 2024 will be broadcast live on FIFA.com and takes place on the eve of the FIFA Intercontinental Cup Qatar 202 final between Real Madrid C.F. and CF Pachuca.
It also coincides with the second anniversary of the FIFA World Cup final in Qatar.
The dinner will be attended by dignitaries including the FIFA President, FIFA Council members, FIFA Legends and other local and regional ambassadors and trailblazers of the game.
The categories this year are The Best FIFA Men’s Player; The Best FIFA Women’s Player; The Best FIFA Men’s Coach; The Best FIFA Women’s Coach; The Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper; and The Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper.
There is also the new FIFA Marta Award and the FIFA Puskás Award – for the best goals in women’s and men’s football.
The Best FIFA Men’s Player nominees
Dani Carvajal, Spain and Real Madrid
Erling Haaland, Norway and Manchester City
Federico Valverde, Uruguay and Real Madrid
Florian Wirtz, Germany and Bayer Leverkusen
Jude Bellingham, England and Real Madrid
Kylian Mbappé, France and Paris Saint-Germain/Real Madrid
Lamine Yamal, Spain and Barcelona
Lionel Messi, Argentina and Inter Miami
Rodri, Spain and Manchester City
Toni Kroos, Germany and Real Madrid (now retired)
Vinícius Jr, Brazil and Real Madrid
The Best FIFA Men’s Coach nominees
Carlo Ancelotti (ITA), Real Madrid
Lionel Scaloni (ARG), Argentina
Luis de la Fuente (ESP), Spain
Pep Guardiola (ESP), Manchester City
Xabi Alonso (ESP), Bayer Leverkusen
The Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper nominees
Andriy Lunin, Ukraine and Real Madrid
David Raya, Spain and Arsenal
Ederson, Brazil and Manchester City
Emiliano Martínez, Argentina and Aston Villa
Gianluigi Donnarumma, Italy and Paris Saint-Germain
Mike Maignan, France and AC Milan
Unai Simón, Spain and Athletic Club
FIFA Puskás Award nominees
Hassan Al Haydos (QAT), Qatar v. China PR
Terry Antonis (AUS), Melbourne City v. Western Sydney Wanderers
Yassine Benzia (ALG), Algeria v. South Africa
Walter Bou (ARG), Lanús v. Tigre
Michaell Chirinos (HON), Costa Rica v. Honduras
Federico Dimarco (ITA), Inter Milan v. Frosinone
Alejandro Garnacho (ARG), Everton v. Manchester United
Mohammed Kudus (GHA), West Ham United v. Freiburg
Denis Omedi (UGA), KCCA v. Kitara
Paul Onuachu (NGA), Trabzonspor v. Konyaspor
Jaden Philogene (ENG), Rotherham United v. Hull City
The Best FIFA Women’s Player nominees
Aitana Bonmatí, Spain and Barcelona
Barbra Banda, Zambia and Shanghai Shengli/Orlando Pride
Caroline Graham Hansen, Norway and Barcelona
Keira Walsh, England and Barcelona
Khadija Shaw, Jamaica and Manchester City
Lauren Hemp, England and Manchester City
Lindsey Horan, USA and Olympique Lyonnais
Lucy Bronze, England and Barcelona/Chelsea
Mallory Swanson, USA and Chicago Red Stars
Mariona Caldentey, Spain and Barcelona/Arsenal
Naomi Girma, USA and San Diego Wave
Ona Batlle, Spain and Barcelona
Salma Paralluelo, Spain and Barcelona
Sophia Smith, USA and Portland Thorns
Tabitha Chawinga, Malawi and Paris Saint-Germain/Olympique Lyonnais
Trinity Rodman, USA and Washington Spirit
The Best FIFA Women’s Coach nominees
Arthur Elias (BRA), Brazil
Elena Sadiku (SWE), Celtic
Emma Hayes (ENG), Chelsea/USA
Futoshi Ikeda (JPN), Japan
Gareth Taylor (ENG), Manchester City
Jonatan Giráldez (ESP), Barcelona/Washington Spirit
Sandrine Soubeyrand (FRA), Paris FC
Sonia Bompastor (FRA), Olympique Lyonnais/Chelsea
The Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper nominees
Alyssa Naeher, USA and Chicago Red Stars
Ann-Katrin Berger, Germany and Chelsea/NJ/NY Gotham
Ayaka Yamashita, Japan and INAC Kobe Leonessa/Manchester City
Cata Coll, Spain and Barcelona
Mary Earps, England and Manchester United/Paris Saint-Germain
FIFA Marta Award nominees
Delphine Cascarino (FRA), Olympique Lyonnais v. Benfica
Marina Hegering (GER), Essen v. Wolfsburg
Sakina Karchaoui (FRA), France v. Sweden
Paulina Krumbiegel (GER), Duisburg v. Hoffenheim
Marta (BRA), Brazil v. Jamaica
Nina Matejić (SRB), Serbia U-19 Women v. England U-19 Women
Beth Mead (ENG), Arsenal v. West Ham United
Giuseppina Moraca (ITA), Lazio v. Bologna
Asisat Oshoala (NGA), Barcelona v. Benfica
Mayra Pelayo (MEX), Mexico v. USA
Trinity Rodman (USA), USA v. Japan
FIFA Fan Award nominees
José Armando (MEX)
Craig Ferguson (SCO)
Guilherme Gandra Moura (BRA)
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International Sports
Messi vs Ronaldo: A look at their market values over the years
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have been football’s biggest stars for nearly two decades and have won 13 Ballon d’Or titles between them; Messi eight and Ronaldo five.
While the two superstars dominated the sport and set records that may never be broken, Transfermarkt this week analyzed the market values of each player over the years.
Both players are now in their late 30s; Ronaldo is 39 and Messi is 37. Despite their ages however both players remain key players in global football.
Messi currently plays for MLS club Inter Miami, and Ronaldo for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia.
But their market values have seen significant drops.
According to Transfermarkt, Messi’s current value is €20 million ($21 million), while Ronaldo’s has fallen to €12 million ($12.6 million).
The player valuation tracker reported this week that Ronaldo’s rise came earlier than Messi’s, as he is two years older.
Back in 2006, both players had similar values at around €20 million, according to Transfermarkt.
Ronaldor surged to €60 million in 2008 after winning his first Ballon d’Or. Messi however, quickly caught up and by 2011 had surpassed Ronaldo.
Between 2012 and 2018, Messi’s market value remained at a steady €120 million, while Ronaldo had some ups and downs. He hit his peak at €120 million in 2018 during his final season at Real Madrid.
That year, Messi, who was regarded as the best player in the world, reached his record-high valuation of €180 million.
But both players have seen their values drop with age. Ronaldo saw this when he moved to Juventus and then again when he returned to Manchester United.
Messi’s value has however been higher than Ronaldo’s for the past ten seasons.
Both Messi and Ronaldo remain valuable players despite being near the end of their careers - Ronaldo being a goal machine for Al-Nassr, and Messi defying the odds for MLS.
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