Sports

New Delhi: With the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 set to begin next week in India and Sri Lanka, Pakistan is once again making headlines for off-field controversies. As of now, it remains uncertain whether Pakistan will participate in the tournament. Jersey Reveal Event Cancelled Ahead of the World Cup, Pakistan is currently hosting Australia for a three-match T20 series. The second match of the series is scheduled today, January 31, at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. Following the toss, Pakistan was expected to unveil its T20 World Cup jerseys in a special ceremony. According to a report by NDTV, the jersey reveal event has been cancelled due to “unavoidable circumstances.” Details regarding the reasons remain sparse. The cancellation adds to ongoing uncertainty about Pakistan’s particip...

New Delhi: The stage is set for a high-stakes clash as India takes on Pakistan in the Under-19 World Cup tomorrow. All eyes are on young batting sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who aims to overcome his past struggles against Pakistan and deliver a match-winning performance. His aggressive style of play could pose a significant challenge for the Pakistani bowlers. A Battle for Semifinal Qualification Tomorrow’s match is far from ordinary—it is a decisive contest for a semifinal berth. A victory for India will secure a direct spot in the semifinals. Pakistan, meanwhile, faces a do-or-die scenario. Not only do they need a win, but they also have to significantly improve their net run rate to stay in contention. This situation may force Pakistan into risky and rushed decisions—an opportun...

Ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup, controversy has erupted in Pakistan cricket circles after Australia decided to rest its key players for the ongoing T20 series against Pakistan. While Pakistan defeated Australia’s inexperienced side by 22 runs in the first T20 in Lahore, analysts and former players in Pakistan have criticized the move, calling it disrespectful to fans and undermining the seriousness of the series. Absence of Star Players Sparks Outrage Australia rested several of its top players, including Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Glenn Maxwell, Tim David, and Nathan Ellis. In addition, experienced players like captain Mitchell Marsh, Marcus Stoinis, and Josh Inglis were also left out of the first match playing XI. Australia justified this decision by citing player fitness concer...

Team India is set to face New Zealand in the 5th T20 International today. All eyes will be on Suryakumar Yadav, who is on the verge of a remarkable milestone in T20 cricket. Suryakumar Yadav Eyes Milestone India’s T20 captain, Suryakumar Yadav, has been in sensational form throughout the ongoing T20 series against New Zealand. He has already scored 927 runs in 42 T20 matches as captain. With just 73 more runs, Suryakumar will become the fourth Indian captain to surpass 1,000 runs in T20 internationals, joining the elite list of MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma. Indian Captains’ T20 Run Records PlayerMatches as CaptainRunsRohit Sharma621905Virat Kohli501570MS Dhoni721112Suryakumar Yadav42927 Suryakumar has played 39 innings in these 42 matches, scoring 1 century and 6 ...

Pallekele, Sri Lanka, Jan 31: England’s limited-overs captain Harry Brook has acknowledged that he still has “more to learn” about his off-field behavior after an incident in a Wellington nightclub last October, which he initially tried to conceal from his teammates. Brook revealed that the nightclub altercation, in which he was struck by a bouncer, had been misrepresented by him to protect his teammates from unnecessary attention. “I need to learn more about how I conduct myself off the field,” Brook admitted during a press interaction in Pallekele. He clarified that on the night of the incident, he was alone when the bouncer struck him, contrary to earlier reports that suggested otherwise. The England captain’s comments reflect a candid self-assessment of the challenges of balancin...

Melbourne, Jan 31: Australia suffered a major setback on Saturday as its star fast bowler Pat Cummins was ruled out of the upcoming T20 World Cup due to injury. The national selectors have named Ben Dwarshuis as his replacement in the 15-member squad. The 32-year-old Cummins has not fully recovered from a persistent back injury and will therefore miss the tournament scheduled to begin on February 7 in India and Sri Lanka. His absence leaves a significant void in Australia’s pace attack, which had been expected to play a key role in defending the team’s title. In addition to Cummins, top-order batsman Matthew Short has also been excluded from the initial 15-member squad. The selection committee cited fitness concerns and team balance as reasons behind the changes. Dwarshuis, a left...

Pallekele (Sri Lanka), Jan 31: England’s limited-overs captain Harry Brook has admitted that he still has a lot to learn about his conduct off the field, following an incident in October last year at a nightclub in Wellington. Brook revealed that he had concealed the full truth of the altercation from his teammates in order to protect them. Speaking to reporters in Pallekele, Sri Lanka, Brook said, “I recognise that my behaviour off the field is something I need to work on and understand better. There are lessons to be learned, and I am committed to doing so.” The incident in question occurred last October, when Brook was involved in a dispute at a Wellington nightclub, which he initially described to the media as a situation in which he was punched by a bouncer while alone. Later di...

Ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026, Australia has suffered a significant setback. Star fast bowler Pat Cummins has been ruled out of the entire tournament due to injury. Cummins, one of Australia’s most experienced and lethal pacers, has been unable to fully recover from a recurring back problem, prompting the team’s medical staff to advise rest and rehabilitation. His absence poses a major challenge for captain Mitchell Marsh, as Cummins not only leads the attack with his pace and skill but also provides vital composure and leadership under pressure. Australia has already named a replacement for Cummins in the squad, ensuring they maintain their bowling strength ahead of the tournament’s start.

The Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 has now entered its final league-stage matches, and all eyes are on which team will clinch the last playoff spot. Gujarat Giants Confirm Playoff Spot The Gujarat Giants sealed their place in the playoffs after defeating Mumbai Indians by 11 runs. With 10 points, Gujarat will finish the league stage in second place. Mumbai, despite the loss, remain in contention for the playoffs, but their fate is no longer entirely in their own hands. Playoff Qualification Hinges on Last Match For Mumbai Indians, the chance to reach the playoffs depends on the outcome of the final league match between Delhi Capitals and UP Warriors on Sunday, 1 February. If UP Warriors fail to defeat Delhi Capitals by a margin of 156 runs or more, Mumbai Indians will secure...

New Delhi: India faces New Zealand today in the 5th T20, which also serves as the team’s final match before the T20 World Cup. One of the key questions heading into this game is whether Ishan Kishan will return to the playing XI. Ishan had been sidelined for the 4th T20 due to a minor injury. However, according to Team India’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, the wicketkeeper-batter is likely to make a comeback in today’s match. Ishan Kishan’s Impact and Comeback Ishan had delivered explosive performances in the second and third T20s, scoring 76 runs off 32 balls and 28 runs off 13 balls, respectively. His absence in the 4th T20 contributed to India’s 50-run defeat. Addressing the media, Kotak gave a positive update, saying there is a “high likelihood” that Ishan will play, as he is ...