JEDDAH: ICAD and Pepsi Deccan Knights recorded big wins over Multan Tigers and Peeran XI respectively in the sixth week of the Ace Travel Saudi Cup organized by the Jeddah Cricket Association.
Elsewhere, MB Stars, Hyderabad Sharks and Banswada Ball Burners continued their upward march with resounding wins.
Kashif Shafique continued his form with a scintillating knock of 180 (73 balls 21 fours, 11 sixes) as he massacred Peeran XI bowlers with support from Waqas (44) as PDK raced to 280 for 3. They then returned to bundled out Peeran XI for a paltry 99 runs. Only Imran (39) waged a lone battle. The brothers’ pair of Ather (3 for 0) and Akbar (3 for 21) mesmerized the batsmen with their tempting flight to give PDK a huge 199-run win.
ICAD, led by Mohsin’s unbeaten 81 (45 balls 12, fours 2 sixes), scored a seven-wicket win over Multan Tigers. MB Stars made short work of Jeddah Royal Challengers with a five-wicket win. Moazzam was the man of the match as he took 3 for 18 and later scored 31 runs.
Hyderabad Shark’s pair of Shehzad 86 runs (14 fours, 2 sixes) and Saddam (47) teamed up to take their team past 200 mark but struggled before overcoming Saudi German Hospital who chased but for Mubashir’s (4 for 35) of Sharks who bit them hard at the end to win by 16 runs.
Qaiser of BBB scored 119 (49 balls 13 fours, 2 sixes) and scalped 2 for 19 and with Salman 87 (10 fours 5 sixes) put on 221 run opening partnership to carve out a 119-run win over Rawalpindi Stars.
Brief scores:
PDK 280 for 3: (Kashif Shafeeq 180 n.o, Waqas 44; Ashfaq 2-43) beat Peeran XI 81: (Imran 39; Akbar 3-21, Ather 3-0, Israr 2-16, Wahid 2-24) by 199 runs.
Multan Tigers 190: (Mohammed Ilyas 73, Waqas 58; Usman 3-26, Qaiser 2-19, Awais 2-14) beat ICAD 191 for 3: (Mohsin 81, Shakeel 66 n.o) by 7 wkts.
Jeddah Royal Challengers 120: (Asif 24, Sharoz 25; Akhtar Mehmood 3-4, Moazzam 3-18, Usman 2-33) lost to MB. Stars 121 for 5: (Moazzam 31, Zia Hafiz 25, Ateeq Mansha 26 n.o; Shahrukh 4-38) by 5 wkts.
Hyderabad Sharks 218 for 8: (Shehzad 86, Saddam 47, Sohail 20; Irshad 3-29, Bilal 3-40) beat Saudi German Hospital 202: (Qadir 58, Bilal 31, Shan 23, Talha Ansari 22; Mubashir 4-35, Arif Hashmy 2-46) by 16 runs.
BBB 309 for 4: (Qaiser 115, Salman 87, Zameer 37; Jameel 2-37) beat Rawalpindi Stars 190: (Mukhtar 73, Faiz 58; Usman 3-26, Qaiser 2-19, Awais 2-14) by 119 runs.
Pepsi Deccan Knights, ICAD Record Huge wins in Ace Travel Saudi Cup
Pepsi Deccan Knights, ICAD Record Huge wins in Ace Travel Saudi Cup
Dembele, PSG, Bonmati and Yamal score big at 16th Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai
- Cristiano Ronaldo, named Best Middle East Player, announced the launch of the first Globe Sports Award, presenting it to tennis star Novak Djokovic
- PSG, after the most successful season in their history, were named Best Men’s Club and Ousmane Dembele Best Men’s Player
DUBAI: Ousmane Dembele and Aitana Bonmati were the major winners at the 16th Beyond Developments Globe Soccer Awards on Sunday night in Dubai.
During a ceremony at the Atlantis The Royal hotel, Paris Saint-Germain forward Dembele was crowned Best Men’s Player for the first time, and FC Barcelona midfielder Bonmati made history by being named Best Women’s Player for a third consecutive year.
Among more than 20 awards presented, French giants PSG, capping off an extraordinary year in which they won the UEFA Champions League and Super Cup, Ligue 1, and Coupe de France, were named Best Men’s Club.
Individual awards went to Luis Enrique (Best Coach), Vitinha (Best Midfielder), Desire Doue (Emerging Player), Luis Campos (Best Sporting Director), and Nasser Al-Khelaifi (Best President).
Dembele said on stage: “The first half of the season was a bit more difficult, but there was a lot of work being poured into what happened in the second half.
“You have to work hard always and continue at it. And then when the moments that were hard to beat arrived, I just kept at it and now find myself where I am now.”
As well as celebrating Bonmati’s honor, it was a big night for FC Barcelona as they won the Best Women’s Club trophy.
Barca’s 18-year-old sensation Lamine Yamal, the Spain international, also secured a double with the Best Forward and Maradona awards.
“I don’t want to be compared to anybody, because people, like the legends like Cristiano, actually have made their own path, and that’s what I want to do.”
A highlight of the evening saw Cristiano Ronaldo announce, in partnership with Globe Soccer, the first Globe Sports Award. Ronaldo presented the award to tennis icon Novak Djokovic, the 24-time Grand Slam champion.
Al-Nassr and Portugal star Ronaldo, named the Best Middle East Player, said: “We have a similar story, so I think it’s deserved because you are a great example for this generation, the older generation, and the generation to come, so you deserve it.
“Football is our life, it’s my life. But for me, sport means more than only football. For me, this is a new era, so we have to open our minds for the other sports.
“This is why we create this amazing award, in my opinion, and because the world needs to see different things with huge quality.”
Djokovic said: “To be here tonight is a privilege and honor, obviously, receiving an award from another sporting legend is a dream come true. Honestly, I wasn’t expecting this. I’m a big fan of football.
“I came here to obviously celebrate the incredible year that all of the football stars were having, and I was caught off guard, but in a positive way, so I couldn’t be happier.”
Career awards were presented to Spaniard Andres Iniesta, who scored the winning goal for his country in the 2010 FIFA World Cup final against the Netherlands, and former Japan midfielder Hidetoshi Nakata, a two-time AFC Player of the Year and Serie A winner with AS Roma.
In a tribute, a special award was presented to the parents of Diogo Jota, the Liverpool and Portugal forward who tragically died in a car accident alongside his younger brother Andre Silva in July.
During the invite-only event in Dubai, awards were presented to Jorge Mendes (Best Agent), Portugal (Best National Team), Paul Pogba (Comeback Award), Los Angeles Football Club (Best Club Branding).
In addition, awards went to Nicoletta Romanazzi (Best Mental Coach), Right to Dream (Best Academy), and Bilal Haddad (Koora Break Best Content Creator).
Nine core categories were decided by more than 30 million fan votes during two global voting windows: Best Men’s Player, Best Women’s Player, Best Men’s Club, Best Women’s Club, Best Coach, Best Midfielder, Best Forward, Emerging Player, and Best Middle East Player.
The final winners were then determined by a combination of fan votes and the Globe Soccer Jury, made up of Marcello Lippi, Francesco Totti, Iker Casillas, and Luis Figo.
Tommaso Bendoni, founder and CEO of Globe Soccer, said the awards “delivered an unforgettable celebration of football, bringing together the world’s greatest players, coaches, executives and legends in Dubai.
“The incredible engagement from fans, alongside the expertise of our distinguished jury, once again demonstrated the unique spirit of the Globe Soccer Awards.”
It was also a special night for Spain’s La Liga EA Sports as the country’s top-flight presented the winners of its 2024-2025 season awards. FC Barcelona trio Raphinha, Hansi Flick, and Yamal were named Best Player, Best Coach, and Best Emerging Player respectively.
The Best Goal award went to Real Sociedad midfielder Luka Sucic, while the Best Save award was presented to Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Jan Oblak.
