Iran’s men’s national football team wore black armbands and held schoolbags as their ‌anthem played ahead of a match in Turkey on Friday, in what a team official said was a protest over the killing of schoolgirls on the first day of the Iran war.

Iran were playing a friendly against Nigeria in the Mediterranean ​resort town of Belek ahead of the World Cup in the US, Mexico and Canada, ​at which their participation is in doubt due to the conflict.

The men lined up ⁠holding pink and purple bags with ribbons on them — a reference to the attack on the ​Shajareh Tayyebeh School that Tehran says killed more than 175 people, including children and teachers, on the ​first day of joint US-Israeli strikes on the country.

Mehdi Mohammad Nabi, a vice president of the Iranian football federation, told Reuters that the players had decided to stage the protest as a symbolic gesture of solidarity with the victims.

“They ​were deeply affected by the bombing of the girls’ school and wanted to express their sympathy,” ​Nabi said, speaking in Farsi through the association’s translator. “This was a collective decision by the team. We are united.”

US ‌military investigators ⁠believe it is likely that US forces were responsible but have not yet reached a final conclusion or completed their investigation.

The UN rights chief urged Washington on Friday to conclude its investigation into the strike at a meeting of the UN Human Rights Council.

Speaking in front of the stadium, Nabi said the ​team was aware of the ​discussions taking place ⁠at the rights council and hoped for a “clear and appropriate decision”.

US President ​Donald Trump ⁠said earlier this month that while Iran’s national team were welcome to play in the US, it might not be appropriate for their “life and safety”.

Iran’s football federation said it was in discussions with football’s world ⁠governing body ​FIFA about moving its World Cup matches to Mexico from ​the US.

The Iranian team lost 2-1 to Nigeria on Friday and will play Costa Rica on Tuesday in another friendly in ​Turkey.

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BERLIN: Germany’s collective strength will be key to their World Cup chances later this year, coach Julian Nagelsmann said ahead of the four-time world champions’ international friendlies in the coming week.

Germany were long known as a ‘Tourniermannschaft’, or tournament team, due to decades of success on the biggest stages.

The term recognised Germany’s history of performing at major tournaments regardless of form or individual quality, but took a hit with group stage exits at the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

And while they may have some talented individuals, Germany probably do not have a squad to match those of England, Spain or France.

“If you have the best squad in the world, you can just play your game,” said Nagelsmann, whose team play Switzerland in Basel on Friday and then host Ghana in Stuttgart on Monday.

“We have a very, very good squad, but we didn’t have the best squad in the world at the Euros in 2024 or last year.

“We need to achieve a level of variability where we can help a very, very good squad deliver a very, very good performance.”

At the heart of Nagelsmann’s squad for the two upcoming friendlies are seven Bayern Munich players — the most he has selected from the German giants for an international squad.

Bayern midfielder Jamal Musiala would have been the eighth but was left out to continue his injury recovery.

Since taking over in 2023, Nagelsmann has picked on form rather than reputation and has spoken about the need to pick a coherent team built on players who are willing to work hard, rather than the best individuals.

In recent squads, this has meant a heavy reliance on players from 2023-24 double winners Bayer Leverkusen or German cup holders Stuttgart.

With Bayern back to their best this season — having won 36 and lost just two of 42 games played in all competitions — it is no surprise to see so many players in this squad.

One of those is Germany captain Joshua Kimmich.

“It helps the national team when many Bayern players are on the pitch, because we’re a well-oiled machine and we train together every day,” he said on Tuesday. “We have certain automatisms.”

Germany’s Bayern core is complemented by a Premier League attacking trident of Kai Havertz, Florian Wirtz and Nick Woltemade, along with in-form Stuttgart striker Deniz Undav, who has 18 goals in 23 Bundesliga games this season.

Often deployed by Nagelsmann as a forward, Havertz embodies the type of flexibility the coach is looking for.

Speaking on Wednesday, Havertz said that he was happy to play wherever he was needed.

“I feel very comfortable in all attacking roles. I’m a very versatile player. I’ve played in various positions for the national team and Arsenal,” Havertz told reporters.

Praising the atmosphere in camp, Havertz said that Germany would use the March friendlies to put the finishing touches on what is already a strong collective.

“(Team spirit) is obviously the most important element — no team can function without cohesion,” he said.

“We’re on the right track there.” He added: “That’s extremely important at a World Cup… I’m very confident the World Cup will be a success.”

Published in Dawn, March 27th, 2026

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LAHORE:Defending champions Lahore Qalandars made a powerful statement on the opening night of the 11th season of the HBL Pakistan Super League, posting a commanding 199 for six before dismantling debutants Hyderabad Kingsmen for just 130 to secure a convincing 69-run victory at Gaddafi Stadium here on Thursday.

Fakhar Zaman provided the perfect launchpad with a brisk 53 off 39 deliveries, studded with 10 boundaries. Mohammad Naeem chipped in with a lively 30 off 19, but it was the lower order that turned the game into a one-sided affair.

Haseebullah Khan remained unbeaten on 40 off 28 balls, while Sikandar Raza blasted 24 off just 10 deliveries. Skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi capped the innings in style with two successive sixes in the final over.

The Qalandars got off to a flying start as Fakhar and Naeem raced to 64 without loss in the powerplay. Fakhar looked in imperious form, punishing anything short or wide, and brought up his 24th PSL fifty in characteristic fashion. Naeem too played his shots freely, dispatching a massive six off Riley Meredith.

Hyderabad Kingsmen struggled to stem the flow of runs. Akif Javed and Meredith were expensive early on, while part-time spinner Saim Ayub and Marnus Labuschagne could not contain the aggressive batting. Lahore reached 94 for two in the 10th over after losing Naeem to Hassan Khan and suffering a needless run-out of Abdullah Shafique.

Fakhar’s departure shortly afterwards for 53 left the Qalandars at 97 for three.

Parvez Hossain Emon (14) and Haseebullah steadied matters before the death overs witnessed a spectacular surge. Raza smashed two sixes and two fours, Asif Ali cleared the ropes once, and Shaheen’s explosive finish helped the defending champions plunder 80 runs from the last six overs. The Kingsmen’s bowling and fielding left much to be desired in the closing stages.

Hassan Khan emerged as the most successful Kingsmen bowler with figures of 2-30, while Meredith picked up two wickets. However, their poor over-rate and several fielding lapses proved costly.

In pursuit of 200, the Kingsmen began brightly but soon found themselves in trouble. Shaheen drew first blood, dismissing Usman Khan for nine via a controversial caught-behind decision. Ubaid Shah then accounted for Saim Ayub (17), and the middle order collapsed under sustained pressure.

Raza was the star with the ball, claiming two vital wickets including the scalp of captain Marnus Labuschagne, who was brilliantly caught and bowled for 26. Haris Rauf and Mustafizur Rahman bowled tightly, while Ubaid returned impressive figures of 2-27.

The Kingsmen kept losing wickets at regular intervals and could never build any momentum. Brief cameos from Hassan (14) and Hammad Azam (10) were not enough as the asking rate climbed rapidly. Meredith battled till the end with an unbeaten 19, but the innings folded in the final over as Mohammad Ali was run out.

The Qalandars’ attack looked formidable throughout. The pace trio of Shaheen (1-28), Haris Rauf (2-22) and Mustafizur (1-19), complemented by Raza’s two wickets for 27, proved too much for the new franchise. The surface offered decent pace and occasional grip, which the home side exploited well.

This dominant win gives Lahore Qalandars an ideal start to their title defence. For Hyderabad Kingsmen, playing their maiden PSL match, it was a harsh reality check. They will need to regroup swiftly for the challenges ahead.

The match was played in empty stands, a reflection of the decision to stage the tournament behind closed doors this season.

Scoreboard

LAHORE QALANDARS:
Fakhar Zaman c Saim b Hassan53
Mohammad Naeem c Rizwan b Hassan 30
Abdullah Shafique run out4
Parvez Hossain c Rizwan b Meredith14
Haseebullah Khan not out40
Sikandar Raza c Saim b Meredith24
Asif Ali b Ali9
Shaheen Shah Afridi not out12

EXTRAS (B-1, LB-4, NB-2, W-6)13
TOTAL (for six wickets, 20 overs)199
DID NOT BAT: Haris Rauf, Mustafizur Rahman, Ubaid Shah
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-84 (Naeem), 2-94 (Abdullah), 3-94 (Fakhar), 4-131 (Parvez), 5-176 (Raza), 6-187 (Asif)
BOWLING: Meredith 4-0-39-2 (5w), Akif 2-0-18-0, Ayub 4-0-31-0 (1nb), Ali 3-0-50-1 (1w, 1nb), Hassan 4-0-30-2, Labuschagne 3-0-26-0

HYDERABAD KINGSMEN:
Saim Ayub c Asif b Ubaid17
Usman Khan c Haseebullah b Shaheen 9
Marnus Labuschagne c&b Raza26
Kusal Perera lbw b Raza1
Irfan Khan c Ubaid b Mustafizur4
Rizwan Mehmood b Haris8
Hassan Khan c Haseebullah b Haris14
Hammad Azam b Ubaid10
Riley Meredith not out19
Akif Javed run out1
Mohammad Ali run out10

EXTRAS (LB-7, NB-1, W-3)11
TOTAL (all out, 20 overs)130
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-25 (Usman), 2-33 (Saim), 3-49 (Perera), 4-59 (Irfan), 5-65 (Labuschagne), 6-84 (Hassan), 7-95 (Rizwan), 8-101 (Hammad), 9-107 (Akif)
BOWLING: Shaheen 4-0-28-1, Ubaid 4-0-27-2 (1w), Mustafizur 4-0-19-1 (1w, 1nb), Raza 4-0-27-2 (1w), Haris 4-0-22-2RESULT: Lahore Qalandars won by 69 runs. MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Fakhar Zaman

Published in Dawn, March 27th, 2026

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