ALULA: Ikmah and Richard Mille have qualified to the final of the Richard Mille Desert Polo Championship 2025, and will face off in the final showdown that AlUla’s Al Fursan Village hosts on Saturday.
The fourth edition of the prestigious competition’s finale takes place at 4 p.m. Saudi time.
Ikmah showed their real strength and dominance of Group 1 after two victories against Dadan 4-2 and AlUla team 5-4.
Meanwhile, Richard Mille topped Group 2 after defeating Budget 3-0 and drawing 2-2 with Bentley.
The tournament’s Friday matches saw intense competition in the presence of distinguished figures, including Piero Dillier, president of the International Polo Federation, Amr Zidan, president of the Saudi Polo Federation, and Ziyad Al-Suhaibani, head of sports at the Royal Commission for AlUla.
Meanwhile, AlUla battles against Bentley for third place, and Dadan faces Budget to determine the fifth and sixth positions before the final.
Speaking about the event’s significance, Faisal bin Duwies, the Saudi Polo Federation’s CEO,” expressed pride in Saudi Arabia’s growing influence in the global sports arena.
“We take pride in seeing the Kingdom lead the global sports scene through prestigious championships.”
He emphasized the tournament’s role in fostering talent, highlighting the participation of polo legends from around the world, which enriches the experience for all competing players.
As anticipation builds, the final promises to be a thrilling display of skill and strategy, further cementing Saudi Arabia’s position as a premier destination for world-class polo.
The championship is being organized in coordination with the Royal Commission for AlUla.
Ikmah, Richard Mille face off for Richard Mille Desert Polo Final in AlUla
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Ikmah, Richard Mille face off for Richard Mille Desert Polo Final in AlUla
- Ikmah showed their real strength and dominance of Group 1 after two victories against Dadan 4-2 and AlUla team 5-4
- Richard Mille topped Group 2 after defeating Budget 3-0 and drawing 2-2 with Bentley
Pakistan cricketers arrive in Sri Lanka to take part in T20 series ahead of World Cup
- All-rounders Shadab Khan, Rana Faheem Ashraf and pacers Mohammad Wasim and Salman Mirza arrived in Colombo
- Pakistan are set to play three-match series from Jan. 7-11 ahead of T20I World Cup scheduled to begin from Feb. 7
ISLAMABAD: The first batch of Pakistani cricketers have arrived in Sri Lanka to take part in a three-match T20I series scheduled to be played later this week, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said on Monday as the Green Shirts prepare for the upcoming T20 World Cup.
According to the cricket board, Pakistani all-rounders Shadab Khan and Rana Faheem Ashraf as well as pacers Mohammad Wasim and Salman Mirza arrived in Colombo on Sunday night.
Pakistan Head Coach Mike Hesson, Bowling Coach Ashley Noffke, the fielding coach and other members of the support staff have also arrived in Colombo.
“The remaining players of the national squad and other support staff members will depart from Lahore for Colombo on the afternoon of Jan. 5,” the PCB said in a statement.
Pakistan last week announced its 15-member squad for the Sri Lanka series, with Salman Ali Agha retained as captain to lead the side. Khan was recalled to the squad after recovering from a shoulder injury while uncapped batter Khawaja Nafay has also been selected in the team.
Pakistani star cricketers Haris Rauf, Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi are not part of the squad. All three were playing for the Big Bash League, with Afridi returning mid-season after suffering an injury.
All three T20Is are scheduled to be played at the Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium (RDICS) in Dambulla on Jan. 7, 9 and 11.
“The series will provide Pakistan an opportunity to finalize their squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, set to take place in India and Sri Lanka from 7 February to 8 March,” the PCB said last week.
SQUAD:
Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmad, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Nafay (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Mohammad Wasim Jr., Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan (wk), Usman Tariq
