Neymar parts ways with Al-Hilal

Brazilian forward Neymar has parted ways with Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal after an injury-plagued stint with the Riyadh club. (AFP)
Short Url
Updated 28 January 2025
Follow

Neymar parts ways with Al-Hilal

  • The star arrived in Riyadh in August 2023 after signing from PSG, but has only played 7 games due to injuries
  • Recent reports have linked Neymar with Santos, the Brazilian club where his professional career took off

RIYADH: Brazilian forward Neymar has parted ways with Al-Hilal after an injury-plagued stint with the Riyadh club, the team said early Tuesday, and is set to return to Santos, where he played as a teenager.
“The club expresses its thanks and appreciation to Neymar for what he has provided throughout his career at Al-Hilal, and wish the player success in his career,” Hilal said in an announcement on X.
The star arrived in Riyadh in August 2023 after signing from PSG, but has only played 7 games due to injuries.
A short while after joining the Blues, he underwent surgery in his native Brazil in November 2023 to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus damage suffered during a national team match the month before.
Neymar also suffered a hamstring injury late last year and missed another five weeks.
Recent reports have linked Neymar with Santos, the Brazilian club where his professional career took off.
Fabrizio Romano, an Italian sports journalist, wrote on X “Neymar’s return to Santos now imminent as verbal agreement has been reached,” he added that formal steps are due to happen next week.


Pakistan cricketers arrive in Sri Lanka to take part in T20 series ahead of World Cup

Updated 05 January 2026
Follow

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