Sports

Dhaka, January 23, 2026: The Bangladesh cricket team will not participate in the T20 World Cup 2026, dealing a severe blow to players’ aspirations and fans’ expectations. The decision comes after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), citing security concerns, refused to allow the team to travel to India. ICC sources indicate that Scotland is likely to take Bangladesh’s place in the tournament. The team’s frustration was visible as captain Litton Kumar Das and his teammates left their hotel with subdued expressions, signaling their resignation to the fate dictated by the BCB and the government. Despite a meeting between players and sports advisor Asif Nazrul, players’ voices were largely unheard. According to sources, the meeting was not intended to solicit players’ opinions but merely to ...

A video featuring former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan warmly greeting Pakistani cricketers has gone viral on social media, triggering widespread discussion given the strained relations between India and Pakistan both on and off the cricket field. In the viral clip, recorded after a match in a private cricket league, Pathan is seen shaking hands and embracing Pakistani players, including veteran cricketer Shoaib Malik. The moment stands in sharp contrast to the tense atmosphere that has surrounded India–Pakistan cricket encounters in recent times. What the Video Shows The footage captures players from both sides exchanging handshakes and high-fives after the match. The embrace between Irfan Pathan and Shoaib Malik has particularly caught public attention, with many users describ...

New Delhi: South Africa’s preparations for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 have suffered a serious blow, with two key batters ruled out of the tournament and uncertainty looming over the fitness of veteran finisher David Miller. The injuries come at a crucial time, just days before the World Cup and ahead of the upcoming T20 series against West Indies. Tony de Zorzi Ruled Out of World CupLeft-handed batter Tony de Zorzi has been officially ruled out of both the West Indies T20 series and the T20 World Cup 2026. De Zorzi sustained a right hamstring injury during the ODI series against India last month. His recovery has taken longer than expected, prompting the team management to avoid rushing him back into action. Donovan Ferreira Also Misses OutSouth Africa suffered another setback as agg...

New Delhi: With the T20 World Cup 2026 just around the corner, New Zealand has suffered a major setback. Star fast bowler Adam Milne has been ruled out of the tournament due to a hamstring injury, and 31-year-old Kyle Jamieson has been named as his replacement, the New Zealand Cricket Board announced on Friday. Milne Injured During SA20 LeagueMilne sustained the injury while playing for Sunrisers Eastern Cape in the SA20 League on Sunday. Subsequent X-rays confirmed the severity of the hamstring tear. The fast bowler, known for his pace and lethal bowling, was in excellent form, having impressed in eight matches for the team in the league. Kyle Jamieson Steps InJamieson, who was already traveling with New Zealand as a standby player for the tournament, will now take Milne’s place in ...

New Delhi: The Indian cricket team is evaluating potential replacements for all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja in the ODI format, with discussions gaining momentum following his underwhelming performances in the recent series against New Zealand. With the 2027 ODI World Cup on the horizon, selectors are exploring new options to strengthen India’s all-rounder department. Shahbaz Ahmed: A Strong ContenderWest Bengal’s Shahbaz Ahmed is emerging as a leading candidate to succeed Jadeja. Boasting extensive domestic experience and notable performances in the IPL, Shahbaz is currently in excellent form. His recent outing in the Vijay Hazare Trophy was particularly impressive—he scored 390 runs in 6 innings at an average of 130 and a strike rate of 103.78, while also taking 6 wickets, demonstrating hi...

New Delhi: The five-match T20 series between India and New Zealand continues with the second game today, 23 January, at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium in Raipur. India had won the series opener in Nagpur by 48 runs, setting New Zealand a target of 239 and restricting them to 190. Rinku Singh delivered a stellar performance in the first T20 and now has the chance to break one of MS Dhoni’s notable records. Rinku Singh Could Surpass MS DhoniIn T20 cricket for India, Hardik Pandya holds the record for hitting the most sixes in the 20th over, with 15 sixes. Rinku Singh, along with MS Dhoni, currently ranks second, having hit 12 sixes each in the 20th over. If Rinku manages even one six in the 20th over today against New Zealand, he will surpass Dhoni and become...

Raipur: Team India will take on New Zealand in the second T20 of the five-match series today at Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium, Raipur. After a commanding 48-run win in the series opener, India looks to extend their lead to 2-0, with two changes expected in the playing XI. Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma to OpenWhile Sanju Samson struggled in the first T20, Abhishek Sharma starred with a blistering 84 off just 35 balls in Nagpur, showcasing his power-hitting prowess. In the Raipur clash, India may deploy this left-right opening combination to give the innings a fiery start. Shreyas Iyer ReturnsShreyas Iyer is back in the squad following Tilak Varma’s injury but didn’t feature in the first T20. In the second match, Iyer is likely to replace Ishan Kishan. With the T2...

Vadodara: After suffering three consecutive defeats, Gujarat Giants finally got back to winning ways in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026, defeating UP Warriors by 45 runs in their 14th match of the season at the Baroda Cricket Association Stadium. The victory propelled Gujarat from the bottom of the points table straight to second place, earning six points from six matches. Gujarat Post Competitive TotalGujarat batted first after losing the toss and scored 153 for 8 in their allotted overs. Openers Beth Mooney and Daniel Wyatt-Hodge added 23 runs in the initial three overs before Hodge was dismissed for 14. Mooney continued to build small partnerships, contributing 38 runs off 34 balls, including 5 boundaries. The star of the innings, Sophie Devine, anchored the middle order, sc...

New Delhi: Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), one of the most popular franchises in the Indian Premier League (IPL), is reportedly on the radar of Serum Institute CEO Adar Poonawalla. The buzz comes shortly after RCB clinched their maiden IPL title in 2025. RCB’s First IPL Title and Potential SaleRCB secured their first IPL trophy last season, 17 years after the league began in 2008. The franchise is currently owned by the liquor giant Diageo, which, according to media reports, plans to sell the team by 31 March this year. Following this, Adar Poonawalla fueled speculation by posting a significant tweet about his intentions to bid for the team. What Did Adar Poonawalla Say?In his tweet, Poonawalla wrote: “In the next few months, I will be placing a strong and competitive bid for RCB....

Harare: In an exciting turn of events at the U19 World Cup 2026, West Indies stunned South Africa with a 55-run victory, while Pakistan registered a comfortable win over Zimbabwe. Despite the loss, Zimbabwe managed to secure a place in the next round. West Indies Outshine South AfricaIn the 21st match of the tournament, West Indies defeated South Africa by 55 runs. Both teams, along with Afghanistan, had already qualified for the Super-6 stage. Winning the toss, West Indies opted to bat first and were restricted to 234 in 47.5 overs. Zakari Carter starred for the Caribbean side, scoring a brilliant 114 off 104 balls, including 8 sixes and 8 boundaries. Basan was the pick of the bowlers for South Africa, taking 5 wickets for 23 runs, while Jason Rolls claimed 2 wickets. Chasing 235, S...