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Pakistan’s government revoked national hockey captain Ammad Shakeel Butt’s two-year ban, terming the Pakistan Hockey Federation’s decision illegal and unconstitutional amid ongoing administrative turmoil.

Australia tour fiasco: Pakistan government revokes hockey captain Butt's 2-year ban

Pakistan&rsquo;s government revoked national hockey captain Ammad Shakeel Butt&rsquo;s two-year ban, terming the Pakistan Hockey Federation&rsquo;s decision illegal and unconstitutional amid ongoing administrative turmoil.

The Pakistan government on Friday revoked national hockey team skipper Ammad Shakeel Butt's two-year ban imposed by the national federation (PHF), terming the step as "illegal and unconstitutional".
Just before resigning from his position as Pakistan Hockey Federation president on Thursday, Tariq Bugti banned Butt for two years for his criticism of the PHF following the skipper's outburst against the mismanagement during the recent Australia tour.
But patron-in-chief, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif-appointed interim president of the PHF Muhuydin Ahmed Wani reversed the decision, stating it was an "illegal and unconstitutional step" by Bugti.
Bugti had resigned on Thursday in the wake of a huge fall out after the national side's return from Australia, where they faced logistical nightmares and had to stay in Airbnb residences despite the state-run Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) releasing 10 million rupees to the PHF for five-star hotel accomodation of the team during its FIH Pro League matches in Canberra.
A senior official of the Inter-Provincial Coordination Ministry (which looks after all sports related issues) confirmed that Prime Minister Sharif had immediately accepted Bugti's resignation and appointed Wani as ad-hoc president of PHF and Brig Musratullah as Director-General.
Wani is a senior bureaucrat and was secretary of the ministry. "Both will manage hockey affairs on ad-hoc basis and try to repair the damage done," he said.
Soon after the team returned home in early hours of Wednesday, Butt and some other senior players told the waiting media at the airport that they can't work any further with the current management of PHF and the team management.
Butt disclosed how the players were fed lies, threatened to avoid speaking to the media about their problems in Australia, following which Bugti banned Butt for two years from international and domestic hockey for bringing Pakistan hockey into disrepute.
Butt had lambasted the PHF, stating that players were forced "to clean the kitchen and wash dishes" before going out to compete during the tour in which the side lost all its matches of the FIH Pro League against the home team and Germany.
This was after they spent hours on the road after the hotel earmarked for them declined them entry for lack of an advance payment by the PHF, despite the body getting the requisite funds from the PSB.
Butt had also alleged that a majority of the players were yet to get their daily allowances from the PSB and PHF for the last one year.
But Bugti shifted the blame for the fiasco on PSB, insisting that that the Board handled all the arrangements for the tour and was "responsible for whatever happened there".
Pakistan have so far lost all eight of its matches in the FIH Pro League to Netherlands, Argentina, Australia and Germany and are placed last in the nine-team competition.
Pakistan have to travel to Egypt after four months to take part in the final qualifying tournament for the World Cup.

Pakistan face Namibia in a crucial Group A fixture in Colombo, needing a win to boost their Super 8 qualification hopes after a heavy defeat to India.

Pakistan Gears Up for Crucial Match With Namibia Amid Batting Concerns

Pakistan face Namibia in a crucial Group A fixture in Colombo, needing a win to boost their Super 8 qualification hopes after a heavy defeat to India.

With their backs against the wall, former champions Pakistan will rely on their fragile batting to come good after the jolt against India and seal a Super 8s spot when they face struggling Namibia, in their final league fixture, in Colombo on Wednesday.
In Group A, title favourites India have already sealed their Super 8s berth after their handsome 61-run win over Pakistan the other day.
The second spot is now up for grabs, with the United States having their nose ahead of Pakistan.
Both teams have four points each but Pakistan are behind on Net Run Rate -- Pakistan have a negative NRR of -0.403, while the USA are comfortably placed at 0.788.
Pakistan's equation is simple -- win against the winless Namibia and make the cut as any slip-up could leave them relying on other permutation and combinations.
Led by Salman Ali Agha, Pakistan's campaign has suddenly entered a tense phase after what was meant to be a straightforward progression turned into a battle for survival following the defeat to India.
The spotlight will firmly be on their fragile batting -- including stalwart Babar Azam, openers Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub and their skipper Agha -- which was exposed in their defeat to India in Colombo.
Former Azam has been under pressure, especially after his seven-ball five against India, with calls for his exclusion growing louder.
After being reduced to 13 for 3 by India's pace duo of Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya, Pakistan's middle order offered no resistance -- worrying sign even against a side like Namibia.
Openers Sahibzada and Ayub, along with the middle order, will also need to show greater application.
Pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi also struggled, claiming just one wicket while conceding over 31 runs in his two overs.
The only bright spot was Ayub, who had India's top order in a spot of bother with his three-wicket haul.
Pakistan's key worry is Afridi's inconsistency; his struggle with rhythm and control was glaring when he leaked 15 runs in the crucial final over, handing India the late momentum.
Against Namibia, Afridi must strike early as removing key batters in the first six overs will let Pakistan dictate the match.
Pakistan's powerplay frailties also remain a worry -- they managed barely 40 runs while losing four wickets in the last game.
Frequent middle-order shuffles have created a muddle, putting late-order acceleration in doubt.
Namibia, though winless in three matches so far, have shown flashes of discipline and tactical awareness.
The smart tactics of their skipper Gerhard Erasmus paid dividends against India when the experienced offspinner cleverly released the ball halfway through his run-up and delivered from well behind the stumps to fox Tilak Varma during his splendid 4/20 spell.
He claimed the prized wickets of Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel, and his battle against Pakistan's struggling batters could be a key match-up.
Namibia, often thriving in the underdog role, will look to bow out with pride. If they can drag Pakistan into a low-scoring contest, nerves could once again come into play in what has become a crucial fixture for the 2009 champions.
Left-arm pacer JJ Smuts is also a constant thorn for batsmen, Namibia have the firepower to pull off an upset.
Opening batter Louren Steenkamp has delivered two encouraging knocks, including a half-century, in the previous games, while Jan Nicolaas Frylinck and Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton have added much-needed stability to Namibia's top order.
Teams (from):
Namibia: Gerhard Erasmus (c), Jan Balt, Jack Brassell, Alexander Busing-Volschenk, Jan Frylinck, Zane Green (wk), Max Heingo, Malan Kruger, Dylan Leicher, Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, Willem Myburgh, Bernard Scholtz, JJ Smit, Louren Steenkamp, Ruben Trumpelmann.
Pakistan: Salman Agha (c), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Nafay, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan, Usman Tariq.
Match starts 3:00 p.m.

Zimbabwe advanced to the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup after their rain-hit match against Ireland was abandoned, knocking out Australia and Ireland from the tournament.

T20 World Cup: Rain washout helps Zimbabwe reach Super 8, knocks out Australia and Ireland

Zimbabwe advanced to the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup after their rain-hit match against Ireland was abandoned, knocking out Australia and Ireland from the tournament.

Zimbabwe on Tuesday entered the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup after their crucial Group B match against Ireland was washed out due to rain, a result that also eliminated former champions Australia and Ireland from the tournament.&nbsp;
Both teams were awarded one point each. The shared points took Zimbabwe to five, enough to secure a Super 8 berth. They will face India in their opening Super 8 match on February 26 in Chennai.&nbsp;
Zimbabwe became the seventh team to get a ticket to the Super 8s, completing group G1 also comprising India, South Africa and West Indies. Zimbabwe will play their final group match against co-hosts Sri Lanka on February 19.&nbsp;
With table-toppers Sri Lanka (6) having already qualified for the Super 8s, the contest held significant importance for Zimbabwe and Ireland, who had come into the game with four and two points respectively.&nbsp;
Australia were also on two points following their defeats to Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka. The former champions needed Zimbabwe to lose both their remaining matches to stay in contention, but persistent rain ended their hopes.&nbsp;
The toss at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium was initially delayed due to drizzle, with the ground remaining under covers for a considerable period. However, continuous rain and a wet outfield prevented any play, confirming Zimbabwe's progression to the Super 8 stage.

India registered a 93-run win over Namibia in the T20 World Cup as Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya starred, while Gerhard Erasmus impressed with a four-wicket haul ahead of the Pakistan showdown.

India crush Namibia by 93 runs but concerns linger before Pakistan clash

India registered a 93-run win over Namibia in the T20 World Cup as Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya starred, while Gerhard Erasmus impressed with a four-wicket haul ahead of the Pakistan showdown.

Sanju Samson disappointed again, Ishan Kishan dazzled and his mentor Hardik Pandya entertained but India's 93-run victory over Namibia in New Delhi on Thursday wasn't exactly the Box Office hit one expected ahead of a tense T20 World Cup face-off against Pakistan.
The victory felt less like an assurance and more like the calm before the cricketing tempest with Pakistan lying in wait.
The margin of victory, India's highest in a T20 World Cup, won't depict the entire picture as little-known Namibian captain Gerhard Erasmus came out as a surprise package by taking 4 for 20 in India's final total of 209 for 9, despite Kishan's smashing 24-ball-61 and Pandya's 52 off 28 balls.
In reply, the Namibian batting unit did struggle against the kind of attack that they hardly get to play, as the innings ended on 116 in 18.2 overs.
Varun Chakravarthy (3/7 in 2 overs) and Pandya (2/21 in 4 overs) shared the bulk of the spoils and India now need just one more win in their next two games to qualify for the Super Eights.
Why India's batting show, despite a 200-plus score, would be considered below par is because of the Namibian skipper.
Erasmus' eerie side-arm action created considerable discomfort for the Indian batters, including Kishan, Pandya and Tilak Varma, as he also bowled from behind the crease at times.
The 24 deliveries that Erasmus bowled was certainly an eye opener for the Indian batters as to what they can expect from the Pakistani freak Usman Tariq, who would pose even more probing questions on a tackier Premadasa track in Colombo.
When Namibia batted, they used the long handle to good effect but one always knew that it was just a matter of time before Chakravarthy and Axar Patel (2/20) come and demolish them in unison.
Earlier, Samson's three-sixes innings was akin to a short-lived Instagram reel but Kishan's batting was a gripping web series, full of drama, action and anticipation.
Kishan muscled five sixes and half a dozen boundaries for a 20-ball-50 that set the foundation for a marauding Hardik Pandya (52 off 28 balls) to take the team to a total that looked beyond the reach of this Namibian batting line-up.
However, Erasmus gave a fantastic account of himself and would certainly keep Pakistan's lethal weapon Tariq interested come Sunday.
Erasmus bowled side-arm deliveries in between the stock ball which is round arm.
As a variation, he also bowled from behind the crease to shorten the length, as a set Tilak Varma (25) couldn't reach to the pitch of the delivery.
It was a flat Kotla deck but Sanju Samson (22 off 8 balls) and skipper Suryakumar Yadav, with a run-a-ball 12, missed out on scoring big with the African side making some sort of a comeback with the ball during the middle overs.
Surya certainly got the best delivery of the innings from left arm spinner Bernard Scholtz, who got one to dip and turn as the skipper gave the charge, missed, and was duly stumped.
It was a golden opportunity for Samson to make it count.
The three sixes -- one down the ground and the other two a product of sinewy wrists -- sent the capacity crowd into raptures.
But another cute flick didn't have the wings to clear the fielder at the cow corner.
Samson's knock was full of intent but fell short in effectiveness quotient.
The difference between Kishan and Samson over the past one month has been consistency and understanding the value of a God-send second chance.
The Namibian pacers didn't stand any chance against him and the moment they erred in length, Ishan's willow came down like a sledgehammer at a tremendous bat speed and the sixes soared into the stands.
During the back-10, India's MVP Pandya took charge as his four sixes and four boundaries kept the momentum going, with Shivam Dube (23 off 16 balls) giving him good support in a 81 run stand off just 6.3 overs.

Bangladesh Cricket Board chief Aminul Islam will attend the India-Pakistan T20 World Cup match in Colombo, hoping to ease tensions with the BCCI amid recent disputes involving ICC decisions.

BCB Chief Aims to Mend Ties with BCCI at India-Pakistan T20 Clash

Bangladesh Cricket Board chief Aminul Islam will attend the India-Pakistan T20 World Cup match in Colombo, hoping to ease tensions with the BCCI amid recent disputes involving ICC decisions.

Bangladesh Cricket Board chief Aminul Islam says he will be in Colombo to watch the India-Pakistan T20 World Cup clash on Sunday where he expects to break ice with the BCCI after tense exchanges over the past few weeks.
Speaking to Bangladesh newspaper 'Pratham Alo', Islam said the invitation for the high-profile game has come from the ICC.
"The ICC has taken a decision. The major stakeholders of the ICC are these five Asian countries and for the India-Pakistan World Cup match on the 15th, they want representatives of all five Asian countries to be present at the ground together, watch the match together and talk to one another," Islam said.
India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan form the Asian block in the world body.
Asked if the meet could be an opportunity to end tensions with the BCCI, Islam said, "You can consider it as something like that."
The BCCI-BCB strife started after the Indian Board ordered the release of Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the IPL contract with Kolkata Knight Riders for unspecified "developments all around."
It was widely speculated that the move was triggered by political violence in Bangladesh in which Hindus have been targeted.
Bangladesh responded by refusing to travel to India for their World Cup matches citing security worries.
However, the ICC, led by former BCCI secretary Jay Shah, rejected their concerns, describing the threat perception as low to moderate after its own assessment.
Bangladesh were eventually replaced by Scotland in the tournament after refusing to budge from their position despite lengthy discussions with the world body.
Their omission led to the Pakistan government announcing a boycott of the game against India as an expression of solidarity with Bangladesh.
But the impasse was resolved after the BCB and the Sri Lankan government persuaded Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to withdraw the call.
Following another round of discussions, the ICC decided not to penalise BCB for its previous stance and also allotted one ICC event to Bangladesh in the 2028-2031 cycle.
Islam said the board will prepare a Memorandum of Understanding to ensure that the assurances are cast in stone.
"We will also enter into an agreement. The agreement will be line by line, an MoU-type document, so that there is no uncertainty," said Islam.
"You know that earlier when we held the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Annual General Meeting in Dhaka, a similar issue arose. There as well, we prepared a MoU-type document so that no one could ever deviate from the contract in any way.
"Similar discussions (regarding preparing the MoU) with the ICC are more or less finalised," he added.

India face Namibia in their second T20 World Cup Group A match, but Abhishek Sharma’s hospitalisation due to a stomach infection raises concerns for the team ahead of the crucial clash against Pakistan.

India to Face Namibia with Key Player Absent: T20 World Cup Preview

India face Namibia in their second T20 World Cup Group A match, but Abhishek Sharma&rsquo;s hospitalisation due to a stomach infection raises concerns for the team ahead of the crucial clash against Pakistan.

Abhishek Sharma's stomach infection poses a bigger threat to India than their World Cup opponents Namibia.
After a stuttering batting performance on a tacky Wankhede track in the opener against the USA, the Indian batting line-up would like to go all guns blazing on a Feroz Shah Kotla track that could be called a belter for quality teams.&nbsp;
At the receiving end would Namibia, who are not expected to cause much trouble to the dominant defending champions in their second group A game of the T20 showpiece in New Delhi on Thursday.
When it comes to quality, the defending champions are light years ahead of the African team which hardly looked up to scratch against fellow Associate nation the Netherlands at this very ground. To be fair to India, the match against Namibia is more of an extended warm up tie where they would like to bat first and let the line-up get a good hit in the middle.
The gulf in quality is such that Namibia's bowling line-up could be sent on a leather-hunt every day of the week by any of the middle level Indian state teams plying their trade in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
For India, Abhishek's hospitalisation with a stomach infection and viral fever is concerning. Even if he is discharged on Wednesday, it won't be advisable to put him on the park without allowing him to sufficiently recuperate before the big game against Pakistan on Sunday, where Abhishek's presence is a crucial intimidating factor for the opposition.
The Namibia match could be a God-sent opportunity for an out-of-form Sanju Samson to get into run-scoring mode after a string of failures that saw him lose his place to Ishan Kishan, who is going through a purple patch.
"Sanju is feeling well again, understanding where he fits into the scheme of things now as an injury replacement," assistant coach Ryan Ten Doeschate said at pre-match press conference. "He's a solid guy, he's good around the group, he's training well and that's what we expect from everyone in the team."
For Namibia to stop a batting line-up like India will be an arduous task. Even more challenging for their batters will be to face Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy and Hardik Pandya in tandem.
Out of the top six, only all-rounder JJ Smit has a strike rate of 140 plus while none of the others in the top-five cross the par strike rate figure acceptable in today's day and age.
To face Chakravarthy could be a massive challenge for the Namibian team as they normally don't face operators of such high calibre. "He's actually worked on a few new deliveries which you'll sort of see rolled out in various stages," Ten Doeschate hinted that Namibia match could be a platform for beta testing.
The scheduling team of ICC, along with the broadcasters, who very rightly get to call the shots, have ensured that save the commercial cash cow game against Pakistan, the rest of the league stage matches are against teams who will even lose to an India A, B or C team in this format. A third-string India A team had dismissed Namibia for less than a 100 in a warm up tie before the tournament.
Even if Pakistan match goes haywire, India would eventually make it to Super Eight where the real test starts. Even there, grouping is such that India would face neither Australia nor South Africa if they happen to reach the semi-final.
When it comes to scheduling, choice of venues, match timings and groupings, the commercial compulsions have ensured that till the semi-final, it would be a cakewalk for Men in Blue. If they are in competition till the second last day, it will be all about a bit of luck and a lot of pluck.
For now, it is Namibia's time to get rolled over.
Teams (from):
India: Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Mohd Siraj, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakravarthy, Rinku Singh.
Namibia: Gerhard Erasmus (captain), Jan Balt, Zane Green (wk), Malan Kruger, Dylan Leicher, Lauren Steenkamp, Jan Frylinck, Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, William Myburgh, JJ Smit, Jack Brassel, Max Heingo, Bernard Scholtz, Ben Shikongo, Ruben Trumpelmann.
Match starts: 7pm.

South Africa defeated Afghanistan in a dramatic Group D T20 World Cup match in Ahmedabad after two Super Overs. Quinton de Kock and Ryan Rickelton starred for South Africa.

Thriller at T20 World Cup: South Africa beat Afghanistan after two Super Overs

South Africa defeated Afghanistan in a dramatic Group D T20 World Cup match in Ahmedabad after two Super Overs. Quinton de Kock and Ryan Rickelton starred for South Africa.

In a T20 World Cup game for the ages, South Africa somehow managed to get past a plucky Afghanistan after two wildly oscillating Super Overs at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Wednesday.&nbsp;
Ryan Rickelton (61 off 28) and Quinton de Kock (59 off 41) put together a brilliant century stand with quickfire fifties to power South Africa to 187 for six.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (84 off 42) then singlehandedly kept Afghanistan in the run chase before some lusty hitting from the lower-order helped them tie the game in regulation time. What followed was an incredible sequence of two Super Overs with fortunes swinging either way after every ball.
In the first Super Over, Azmatullah Omarzai struck Lungi Ngidi for two fours and a six to help Afghanistan post 17 runs, but Tristan Stubbs hit two sixes off Fazalhaq Farooqi, including off the last ball, to force another Super Over.
Coming in to bat in the second Super Over, Davis Miller and Tristan Stubbs struck three sixes to notch up 23 runs, a steep target which was made to look very gettable by Rahmanullah Gurbaz. The opening batter smashed seasoned left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj for three consecutive sixes before getting out to complete a sensational finish.
In regulation time, the Afghans started aggressively in the run chase before losing the plot, but some brilliant hitting from Omarzai, Rashid and Noor Ahmad, coupled with a disastrous final over from Kagiso Rabada &mdash; in which he gave away two no balls &mdash; cost South Africa dearly.
Afghanistan made a bright start to their chase, with Gurbaz (84 off 42; 4x4s, 7x6s) smashing Ngidi for two fours in the opening over. Gurbaz continued with his attacking approach, ramping Marco Jansen over the slips for a maximum and then hitting Rabada over the third man fence.
George Linde gave away 17 runs in his opening over as Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran took the attack to the opposition to race to 50 in just four overs. But Ngidi put brakes on the scoring, scalping two wickets in the fifth over in the form of Zadran, who was cleaned up, and then accounting for Gulbadin Naib a ball later with the pacer taking a brilliant return catch.
Gurbaz, however, was in ominous form as he dispatched Linde for two sixes in the eighth over to bring up his fifty in 26 balls, lifting Afghanistan to 93 for 3 in 10 overs. Gurbaz was going great guns before twin blows in the 13th over changed the complexion of the match.
Omarzai (22 off 17) and Rashid (20 off 12) kept Afghanistan in the hunt before Noor Ahmed (15 not out off 9) struck two big sixes to bring down the equation to 13 off the last six balls. South Africa looked to have pocketed the match on the first ball of the last over by dismissing Ahmed, only for an ill-timed no ball from Rabada, and the batter punished the Proteas, clearing the bowler for a maximum.
Rabada bowled another no ball in the fourth delivery before Ahmed was run out going for the winning run as the match finished on level scores, forcing a Super Over.
Earlier, South Africa were dealt an early blow in the form of skipper Aiden Markram (5). De Kock broke the shackles in the fourth over, clearing Mujeeb ur Rahman over the fence and then followed it up with a four. Rickelton then joined the party, hitting Omarzai (3/41) for two boundaries as South Africa managed just 43 for 1 in the powerplay.
Both De Kock and Rickelton pressed the accelerator button thereafter, taking on the spin duo of Mohammad Nabi and Rashid (2/28) with some lusty hits. Ahmad was taken to task by the duo as the spinner gave away 23 runs in his first over.
The onslaught continued as De Kock brought up his fifth T20 World Cup fifty with a boundary off Mujeeb, and then Rickelton added salt to the bowler's wound with a maximum to score a quality fifty of just 23 balls.
It took some brilliance from Rashid and poor shot selection to break the dangerous-looking partnership, with both De Kock and Rickelton departing in the 13th over. Rashid first accounted for De Kock, caught at deep midwicket by Ibrahim Zadran, and then a ball later the Afghan skipper trapped Rickelton plumb in front of the wicket with a quicker delivery that skidded on after pitching.
Brief Scores: South Africa: 187 for 6 in 20 overs (Quinton de Kock 59, Ryan Rickelton 61; Azmatullah Omarzai 3/41, Rashid Khan 2/28). Afghanistan: 187 all out in 19.4 overs (Rahmanullah Gurbaz 84; Lungi Ngidi 3/26).&nbsp;

Bangladesh sports advisor Asif Nazrul said the decision to skip T20 World Cup matches in India was taken by the Cricket Board and players to protect national dignity, as the ICC decided not to impose sanctions.

Bangladesh sports advisor takes u-turn on World Cup boycott, says decision was for 'national dignity'

Bangladesh sports advisor Asif Nazrul said the decision to skip T20 World Cup matches in India was taken by the Cricket Board and players to protect national dignity, as the ICC decided not to impose sanctions.

Bangladesh's sports advisor Asif Nazrul, who had insisted that the country's refusal to play its T20 World Cup matches in India was driven by his government's security concerns, now says that the decision was taken by the Cricket Board and the players to "protect national dignity".&nbsp;
Bangladesh were replaced by Scotland after the ICC declined the country's request of shifting its share of games to Sri Lanka. However, the world body has decided against penalising the nation for its stance.&nbsp;
Nazrul took centre-stage during the failed negotiations with the ICC prior to the team's ouster and had insisted that it was the Bangladesh government's prerogative to not send the team out of security worries.&nbsp;
"There is no question of regret (not playing the World Cup). This decision was taken by the BCB and the players as they made sacrifices for the safety of the country's cricket, the safety of the people and to protect national dignity," Asif was quoted as saying by 'Cricbuzz' on Tuesday.&nbsp;
Last month, Nazrul, after talks with the Bangladesh Cricket Board and the players, had taken a hard-line position. "I think we did not get justice from ICC. Whether we will play in the World Cup or not is entirely a government decision," he had asserted on January 22.&nbsp;
In the aftermath of their ouster, Pakistan had announced a boycott of the game against India to show solidarity with Bangladesh. However, that impasse was resolved after hectic negotiations that also involved the BCB.&nbsp;
Bangladesh, while expressing gratitude towards Pakistan, asked them to show up for the match against India in the larger interest of the game. The Pakistan government eventually withdrew the boycott call.&nbsp;
"The ICC has said there will be no sanctions and that Bangladesh will be considered for hosting an international tournament. This is a brilliant achievement. I salute the Bangladesh Cricket Board," Nazrul said.&nbsp;

Iran’s football federation is in talks with FIFA to move its 2026 World Cup matches from the United States to Mexico, citing safety concerns amid the ongoing Middle East conflict.

Iran 'negotiating' with FIFA over moving World Cup games to Mexico: embassy

Iran&rsquo;s football federation is in talks with FIFA to move its 2026 World Cup matches from the United States to Mexico, citing safety concerns amid the ongoing Middle East conflict.

Iran's football federation is "negotiating" with FIFA to relocate the country's first-round matches at the World Cup to Mexico from the United States, citing the conflict in the Middle East, Iran's football federation said.
Iran's participation at this summer's finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico has been thrown into doubt since the war began late last month.
"When (US President Donald) Trump has explicitly stated that he cannot ensure the security of the Iranian national team, we will certainly not travel to America," Iranian football chief Mehdi Taj said on Monday in remarks posted on the X account of Iran's embassy in Mexico.
"We are currently negotiating with FIFA to hold Iran's matches in the World Cup in Mexico."
While world football's governing body confirmed to AFP it has been in contact with the Iranian FA, FIFA did not suggest such a rescheduling was on the cards.
"FIFA is in regular contact with all participating member associations, including IR Iran, to discuss planning for the FIFA World Cup 2026," the spokesperson told AFP.
"FIFA is looking forward to all participating teams competing as per the match schedule announced on 6 December 2025."
Iran are scheduled to face New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles, followed by Egypt in Seattle.
The team's base camp for the tournament is currently slated to be located in Tucson, Arizona.
Abolfazl Pasandideh, Iran's ambassador to Mexico, on Monday denounced "the US government's lack of cooperation regarding visa issuance and the provision of logistical support" for the Iranian delegation ahead of the World Cup, in a statement published on the embassy's website.
He added he had also "suggested to FIFA that Iran's matches be moved from the United States to Mexico."
Trump triggered uproar last week after stating that while Iran's football team would be "welcome" in the United States, they should not travel to the tournament "for their own life and safety".
Trump's comments came after FIFA president Gianni Infantino had given assurances the US leader had promised him the Iranian team would be welcome.
Iran hit back at Trump's comments saying "no one can exclude Iran's national team from the World Cup".
Iran were the second Asian team after Japan to qualify for the World Cup, securing their place almost a year ago as they topped their qualifying group.
But Iran's place at the tournament was thrown into question after the United States and Israel launched a massive offensive against the Islamic Republic, which responded with waves of missiles and drones targeting Israeli territory and American targets across the Middle East.
Should Iran not take part in the World Cup, it is not yet clear which country might replace them.

Sports

Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru will open IPL 2026 against Sunrisers Hyderabad on March 28 in Bengaluru as the BCCI released the first phase schedule amid travel disruptions linked to the West Asia conflict.

IPL first phase schedule announced amid travel concerns caused by war in West Asia

Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru will open IPL 2026 against Sunrisers Hyderabad on March 28 in Bengaluru as the BCCI released the first phase schedule amid travel disruptions linked to the West Asia conflict.

Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru will take on Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL 2026 opener in Bengaluru on March 28 as the BCCI announced the first phase of the tournament schedule amid concerns around players' travel arrangements due to the ongoing West Asia conflict.
All matches scheduled at the Chinnaswamy Stadium remain subject to clearance from the Karnataka government appointed expert committee, which is scheduled to meet on March 13 to assess venue preparedness in the wake of the deadly stampede at the stadium last season.
The BCCI announced the schedule of the first 20 games on Wednesday and will unveil the full schedule once the dates of elections in three states -- Tamil Nadu, Assam and West Bengal -- are announced.
Besides the state elections, the escalating conflict in West Asia will also be at the forefront of BCCI officials' minds.
The war has wreaked havoc to international travel with operations of major airports like Doha and Dubai being heavily restricted.
As a result of that, some of the squad members of South Africa and West Indies are yet to reach home a week after the completion of their T20 World Cup campaign.
It remains to be seen if IPL bound players of those two nations report to their respective teams in time.
"There was a substantial delay in departure of West Indies and South Africa players. It would be a tough task to get them back to India on time. Plus the airfares have gone up substantially due to the war in West Asia," a team official told PTI.
Additionally, hotels across India are facing cooking gas shortage due to the raging conflict and on Tuesday, the central government invoked Essential Commodities Act to ensure uninterrupted supply of domestic cooking gas.
Chennai Super Kings CEO Kasi Viswanthan told PTI that he is expecting his players from the West Indies and South Africa -- Akeal Hossein and Dewald Brevis, to join the team well before their IPL opener.
"We are expecting no delays from their end," he said.
The second game of the opening weekend will see Mumbai Indians host Kolkata Knight Riders at the Wankhede Stadium and the opening weekend will not feature any double-headers.
A total of 20 matches will be played across 10 venues: Bengaluru, Mumbai, Guwahati, New Chandigarh, Lucknow, Kolkata, Chennai, Delhi, Ahmedabad and Hyderabad.
"During the season, Royal Challengers Bengaluru will play five home matches in Bengaluru and two in Raipur.
Punjab Kings will play four home matches in New Chandigarh and three in Dharamshala, while Rajasthan Royals will play three home matches in Guwahati and four in Jaipur," said the BCCI in a statement.
"During this period (the first 16 days), the tournament will feature four double-headers, with the afternoon matches beginning at 03:30 PM IST and the evening matches commencing at 07:30 PM IST.
"Following the opening encounter on Saturday, Mumbai Indians will take on Kolkata Knight Riders at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Sunday.
"The matches scheduled in Bengaluru are subject to clearance from the Expert Committee constituted by the Government of Karnataka," the BCCI added.

Indian cricketer Rinku Singh’s father, Khanchand Singh, passed away at a hospital in Greater Noida after battling advanced-stage liver cancer. He was on ventilator support in his final days.

Rinku Singh’s father Khanchand Singh passes away after battling stage 4 liver cancer

Indian cricketer Rinku Singh&rsquo;s father, Khanchand Singh, passed away at a hospital in Greater Noida after battling advanced-stage liver cancer. He was on ventilator support in his final days.

Indian cricketer Rinku Singh's father, Khanchand Singh, passed away at a hospital in Greater Noida early Friday after a prolonged illness, family sources and hospital officials said.
Dr. Sunil Kumar, spokesperson of Yatharth Hospital in Greater Noida, where the cricketer's father was admitted, said Khanchand Singh was battling advanced-stage liver cancer.
"His condition had deteriorated significantly in recent days, following which he had been admitted to the hospital on February 21. He was placed on ventilator support and breathed his last early this morning," Kumar said.
Former coach of Rinku, Masood Amini, told PTI Videos in Aligarh that the cricketer's father had been battling liver cancer.
"Rinku's father has passed away. He was suffering from liver cancer. For the last three to four days, he was on ventilator support. This morning we received the news of his demise," Amini said.
Part of India's T20 World Cup squad, Rinku had returned home midway through the tournament to meet his ailing father in Noida. He rejoined the team ahead of the match against Zimbabwe on February 26.
Though he did not feature in the playing XI, he was seen with the squad during the match, which India won convincingly.
The family said Khanchand Singh's last rites will be performed in Aligarh, and Rinku will attend the funeral expected later in the day.
The 28-year-old cricketer, a resident of Aligarh district in Uttar Pradesh, credits much of his success to his father. Khanchand Singh, who worked in gas cylinder distribution in Aligarh, supported his son's dream of becoming a cricketer despite facing financial hardships.
Rinku is engaged to Samajwadi Party MP Priya Saroj, and his father, despite battling a liver issue, had attended his son's engagement ceremony at a Lucknow hotel in June 2025.

Abhishek Sharma, Hardik Pandya, and Tilak Varma starred as India posted 256/4 to beat Zimbabwe by 72 runs in a Super 8 T20 World Cup clash, keeping semifinals hopes alive.

T20 World Cup: Abhishek, Hardik help India pulverise Zimbabwe by 72 runs; stay in semis race

Abhishek Sharma, Hardik Pandya, and Tilak Varma starred as India posted 256/4 to beat Zimbabwe by 72 runs in a Super 8 T20 World Cup clash, keeping semifinals hopes alive.

Abhishek Sharma rediscovered his form with a blazing fifty, Hardik Pandya bludgeoned a half-century and Tilak Varma allayed strike-rate worries in India&rsquo;s massive 72-run victory over Zimbabwe, keeping them alive in the race to the T20 World Cup semifinals in Chennai on Thursday.
Along with that ticking of several boxes in their must-win Super Eight match here, India posted an imposing 256 for four &mdash; their highest ever total in T20 World Cups, and also the highest in this edition of the ICC showpiece.
In the tournament&rsquo;s scenario, India&rsquo;s win ensured South Africa&rsquo;s (4 points) entry into the last four from Group 1, leaving the hosts and the West Indies locked in a virtual knockout match at Kolkata on March 1.&nbsp;
Both India and West Indies now have two points, going into their last group stage encounter. But all of it could not have happened without contributions from Abhishek (55, 30b, 4x4, 4x6), Pandya (50 not out, 23b, 2x4, 4x6) and Tilak Varma (44 not out, 16b, 3x4, 4x6), which shaped India's recovery from a debilitating 76-run defeat to the Proteas in the previous match.
In reply, Zimbabwe could only garner 184 for six. Opener Brian Bennett, who clobbered Shivam Dube for 26 runs in an over, offered lone resistance with an unbeaten 59-ball 97, a well conceptualised knock but destined to be a mere footnote.
Cutting back to India&rsquo;s innings each of those three aforementioned knocks carried a significance of its own, but the lead act was Abhishek.&nbsp;
Abhi-shakes off rust
Since returning from a stomach bug, the Punjab batter looked a distant shadow of his dominating self, registering three ducks in a row.But on a smooth Chepauk pitch the left-hander found his bearings, also easing the worries of the Indian team management over the sudden slump in his form.
The 25-year-old was involved in two excellent partnerships&mdash; a 48 for the opening wicket with Sanju Samson and then a 72 off 42 balls with Ishan Kishan (38) for the following wicket &mdash; that gave the hosts a strong platform.
Re-drafting Samson into the eleven was predominantly to break the sequence of left-handers at the top, but pairing him with Abhishek proved a good move eventually.
The Kerala right-hander smoked 24 off 15 balls to ease any nerves that his partner had.Once Samson departed, lofting pacer Blessing Muzarabani to Ryan Burl in the deep, Abhishek took charge of Indian innings.
He hammered Tino Maposo, Brian Bennett and Richard Ngarava for sixes as India stormed to 80 for one in the Power Play segment, their second best after the 86/1 made against Namibia in a group match.
The bat flow, feet movement and the eye-hand coordination, which were missing in this interim, and he fetched his first fifty off just 26 balls with a single off spinner Sikandar Raza. But more importantly, Abhishek looked assured against off-spin, his nemesis in previous matches, in this game, putting his feet into better use.
Abhishek&rsquo;s belligerence and the largesse of Zimbabwe fielders helped India maintain the tempo even after the Power Play, scoring 81 runs between overs seven and 14.
The tourists were also guilty of modest catching effort &mdash; dropping Kishan (26) and Suryakumar Yadav (8) However, Abhishek could not further extend his innings, skying Maposa to Raza in the deep, much to Zimbabwe&rsquo;s relief.&nbsp;
Middle-order fires, Tilak&rsquo;s SR soars
However, the relief did not last long as India&rsquo;s middle-order batters, who were struggling to force pace on slower surfaces in earlier matches, rediscovered their range in the mixed soil surface at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.
India reached the team 100 in 9.1 overs but the next 100 flowed in in just 7.3 overs. Pandya (50 not out) and Tilak (44 not out) used the long handle to telling effect, scoring 84 runs for the fifth wicket as India maximised the final five overs, in which 80 runs were scored.
Pandya just reaffirmed his status as a death-over bully of bowlers with a typically scorching fifty but the outing of Tilak might have pleased the think tank to no extent.
Till this match, the left-hander was striking at a well below par 118. But the true-paced Chennai pitch helped him turn his bat into a cudgel, clubbing runs at 275.
Once India raised that massive total, it was always a case of margin and the bowlers, led by left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh (3/24) did the stifling job to perfection to safeguard India's title defence.&nbsp;

South Africa beat West Indies by nine wickets in their Super 8 clash to stay unbeaten and move closer to the T20 World Cup semifinals, with Aiden Markram starring in the chase.

T20 World Cup: Clinical South Africa hammer West Indies by nine wickets, tighten grip on semifinal spot

South Africa beat West Indies by nine wickets in their Super 8 clash to stay unbeaten and move closer to the T20 World Cup semifinals, with Aiden Markram starring in the chase.

A clinical South Africa outclassed West Indies by nine wickets in their Super 8 clash to stretch their unbeaten run and all but seal a place in the semifinals of the T20 World Cup in Ahmedabad on Thursday.
A dominating show by the Proteas pacers was followed by authoritative batting. Yet again, South Africa executed their plans perfectly to further their cause, racking up their sixth win on the trot and halting West Indies' unbeaten run in the tournament.
With South Africa taking two vital points off the West Indies, hosts India now have their qualification hopes firmly in their own hands as a Proteas defeat would have dented their chances severely. The loss hurt the Caribbean side&rsquo;s net run rate that came down to 1.791 from a healthy 5.350.
First it was South Africa pacers that rocked the West Indies&rsquo; batting line-up before a lower-order fightback from Romario Shepherd (52 not out) and Jason Holder (49) lifted the two-time champions to 176 for eight.
Then skipper Aiden Markram (82 not out), Quinton De Kock (47) and Ryan Rickelton (45 not out) batted with authority as the Proteas overhauled the target in 16.1 overs.
By collecting 69 runs from the six Powerplay overs, the South Africans had demoralised the Windies attack. Except for a few hit-and-miss shots, the two openers controlled the proceedings. They struck both pacers and spinners with equal ease and raised a quick 95-run stand in 7.5 overs, hitting 16 boundaries including six shots over the rope.
De Kock hit four sixes and as many fours in his 24-ball knock before offering a catch to Jason Holder at long-on. Markram raised his fifty with a single off Gudakesh Motie. With Rickelton, Markram raised an unbeaten 82-run stand and finished the game in style with a straight four off pacer Jason Holder.
Earlier, from the high of their dominant win over Zimbabwe, the West Indies were in for a rude shock as Kagiso Rabada (2/22) and Lungi Ngidi (3/30) got the ball to bounce from good length to trouble the batters, reducing the big-hitting West Indies line-up to 83 for seven.
Holder (49 off 31) and Romario Shepherd (52 not out off 37) then stitched together a record 89-run stand for the eighth wicket to prevent a complete collapse of the innings.
Opting to bowl, South Africa opened with spinner Keshav Maharaj but Shai Hope (16 off 6) showed early intent, launching him for two sixes and a four. At the other end, Brandon King (21 off 11) threw his bat around against Marco Jansen, collecting quick boundaries as the Caribbean side raced to 29 in just over two overs.
Rabada, however, brought the Proteas back into the contest by having Hope caught behind as the skipper fished outside off stump. It could have been two in two but Shimron Hetmyer (2) was dropped at mid-on by Corbin Bosch, but the reprieve proved brief.
However, Rabada sent back the left-hander three balls later when he miscued a pull. The in-form Ngidi then struck a double blow in the fourth over. After being hit for two consecutive fours by King, he had the opener caught behind and two balls later rattled Roston Chase&rsquo;s (2) stumps.
In the space of 10 deliveries, West Indies had lost four wickets and were 44 for four after four overs.
Sherfane Rutherford (12) briefly counterattacked, smashing Bosch for a towering six over midwicket, but perished next ball, top-edging to Quinton de Kock.
Ngidi&rsquo;s third wicket &mdash; Rovman Powell (9) &mdash; left West Indies tottering at 71 for six, while Matthew Forde (11) became Bosch&rsquo;s second victim soon after a six.
Just when a collapse seemed inevitable, Holder and Romario came to the team's rescue.
Holder, who hammered 22 runs in a Jansen over towards the end, fell to a run-out off the penultimate ball, but Shepherd ensured West Indies finished strongly.

New Zealand eliminated co-hosts Sri Lanka from the T20 World Cup with a commanding 61-run victory in their Super Eight clash. Rachin Ravindra starred with a career-best 4/27 and useful runs.

New Zealand knock out Sri Lanka from T20 World Cup with dominant Super Eight win

New Zealand eliminated co-hosts Sri Lanka from the T20 World Cup with a commanding 61-run victory in their Super Eight clash. Rachin Ravindra starred with a career-best 4/27 and useful runs.

Co-hosts Sri Lanka were on Wednesday knocked out of the T20 World Cup as Rachin Ravindra grabbed a career-best 4/27 in a splendid all-round display to power New Zealand to a comprehensive 61-run victory in their Super Eights clash in Colombo.
Cole McConchie justified his selection with a composed unbeaten 31 off 23 balls (3x4, 2x6) while skipper Mitchell Santner came into his own with a 26-ball 47 (2x4, 4x6) as the duo stitched a match-defining 84-run seventh wicket stand off 47 balls to lift New Zealand to 168/7 after Sri Lanka opted to bowl.
Having let the Kiwis flourish with 70 runs in the last four overs, Sri Lanka, who had collapsed for 95 against England in their Super Eights opener, suffered yet another batting meltdown.
Chasing 169, Sri Lanka could only score 107/8 with Ravindra &mdash; who also made 32 with the bat &mdash; leading the spin charge after pacer Matt Henry rocked the islanders in the powerplay with a sensational bowling display of 2-1-3-2.
The emphatic victory margin not only sealed two crucial points for New Zealand but also put them firmly on the brink of a semifinal berth. Pakistan will now need a massive win in their final game against Sri Lanka to keep their semifinal qualification hopes alive.
New Zealand next face England in their concluding Super Eights fixture on Friday, while Pakistan take on already-eliminated Sri Lanka in Pallekele on Saturday.
Defending 168, New Zealand strangled Sri Lanka in the powerplay through Henry. The pacer struck with the first ball of the opening over, dismissing in-form Pathum Nissanka for a golden duck with a 137kph delivery that pitched on a length outside off, jagged back in and crashed into the stumps.
In the first ball of his next over, Henry removed Charith Asalanka (5), taking pace off to induce a mistimed shot that resulted in a simple catch. Sri Lanka limped to 20 for two in the powerplay with a flurry of dot balls.
Ravindra then took control, dismissing Kusal Mendis with a sharp stumping after pulling his length back and spinning the ball away as the batter stepped out. Two balls later, Pavan Rathnayake charged down the track, was beaten in flight and stumped.
The left-arm spinner struck again, deceiving skipper Dasun Shanaka in the air before removing Dushan Hemantha with another delivery that gripped and turned. Santner quietly completed his quota with 1/19, taking Lankan top-scorer Kamindu Mendis (31) and sealing Sri Lanka&rsquo;s exit.
Invited to bat, New Zealand lost four wickets for nine runs between 9.3 and 12.1 overs as wily offspinner Maheesh Theekshana (3/30) and pacer Dushmantha Chameera (3/38) turned the contest around.
McConchie attacked Chameera in the 17th over, smashing two sixes and a four in an 18-run over. Santner then hit a four and two sixes against Theekshana in the 18th over that yielded 21 runs to seize momentum.
The duo&rsquo;s late onslaught saw New Zealand add 70 runs in the final four overs as Sri Lanka, though sharp earlier, faltered at the death.
At the halfway stage, on a dry Khettarama surface, Theekshana and Chameera shared six wickets to restrict New Zealand after they raced to 73/2 in nine overs.
Finn Allen smashed 23 off 13 balls (3x4, 1x6), while Ravindra looked fluent in his 32 off 22 balls (3x4, 1x6).
Theekshana then applied the brakes, removing Allen with his carrom ball and later dismissing Ravindra with a flighted delivery. He also bowled Mark Chapman for a two-ball duck with a disguised wrong one.
Chameera dismissed Tim Seifert (8) and Glenn Phillips (18), while Wellalage accounted for Daryl Mitchell (3).

Defending champions India face Zimbabwe in a crucial Super 8 clash in Chennai, needing a commanding victory to improve their net run rate after a heavy defeat to South Africa.

T20 World Cup: India seek answers to top-order worries in must-win Super 8s game against Zimbabwe

Defending champions India face Zimbabwe in a crucial Super 8 clash in Chennai, needing a commanding victory to improve their net run rate after a heavy defeat to South Africa.

Bogged down by top-order brittleness and under pressure after a heavy loss, defending champions India would need every ounce of resilience they can muster when they take on a tricky Zimbabwe in their second Super 8 match of the T20 World Cup in Chennai on Thursday.
Winning this contest by a big margin is critical to India's existence in the ICC showpiece given the beating their net run rate (-3.80) took after the 76-run defeat to South Africa on Sunday.
But for that, India need to fix the issues surrounding the opening and No.3 slots.
Coming into this World Cup, the reigning champions rode on excellence from Ishan Kishan and Abhishek Sharma at the pole position to quell the bilateral challenges against South Africa and New Zealand at home.
But light seems to have gone out of Abhishek's batting after a stomach infection.
A combination of dull pitches and off-spinners, who took the ball away from his hitting arc, has reduced the left-hander's firepower.
He is certainly a better batter than his current numbers -- 15 runs from four matches at an average of 3.75 made at a strike-rate of 75.
However, the real question is can he set aside the desire to play his natural game, and grind some runs against his name?
It may not look flashy, but one needs to look ugly, at times, to win.
The changes that England skipper Harry Brook, a batter in Abhishek's mould, made to adapt to the decks got him a match-winning hundred last night in Pallekele.
Watching him will perhaps give the Indian opener an example to follow.
Playing spin was never Brook's forte, but the Yorkshire man sunk Pakistan's spin armada at Pallekele, superbly pacing himself between defence and aggression.
Tilak Varma too needs a course correction, but of a different nature.
One can argue that Abhishek's lean patch has necessitated Tilak to play a more supportive role to Kishan, who continues to impress with a strike-rate of 193 amid the top-order ruins around him.
But even then, a strike-rate of 118 is too less for a batter playing in the Power Play segment as per the modern T20 template.
He generally strikes around 141 in T20Is.
Suryakumar Yadav has 180 runs but those have come at 127, way less than his T20I career strike-rate of 161.
It has left Kishan with the job of doing all the heavy-lifting by himself.
Had it not been for the acceleration given by Shivam Dube and Hardik Pandya, India would have struggled to reach par totals in a couple of matches at least.
Should Samson be back?
The opposition teams have cleverly fielded off-spinners in the Power Play against the three left-handed batters -- Kishan, Abhishek and Tilak -- to reduce their scoring opportunities.
The inclusion of Sanju Samson, a right-hander, in top three can be a quick fix, but the Kerala batter himself is not in the pink of form.
So, the effect of adding another struggling batter to an already difficult space is debatable.
In that context, the team think-tank can ponder over giving a promotion to Suryakumar at No. 3, and push Tilak down to No. 4 to break the sequence of left-handers at the top.
But the management can take heart from the fact that Chepauk might offer them the best surface yet in this tournament.
It is the same track that was used in the match between Afghanistan and New Zealand albeit in an 11am game.
On that occasion, New Zealand quite comfortably chased down a 180-plus target set by the Afghans.
What might work for India is the fact that Zimbabwe's spin attack of Graeme Cremer, Sikandar Raza and Ryan Burl is not as potent as some others that the co-hosts have faced thus far in the tournament.
But their towering quicks, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava and the pacy Brad Evans, are quite capable of asking a few tough questions to the batters on their day.
On the bowling front, India have little to worry about despite a fumble that allowed the Proteas to reach 187 for seven after struggling at 20 for three.
Jasprit Bumrah is as brilliant as he has ever been, and in the company of Varun Chakravarthy, Arshdeep Singh and Hardik Pandya, he should be able to blunt a relatively less experienced Zimbabwe batting unit.
Adding teeth to India's attack, left-arm spinner and vice-captain Axar Patel, who was benched against South Africa, is poised to make a return for this match.
Squads:
India: Suryakumar Yadav (c), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Rinku Singh.
Zimbabwe: Sikandar Raza (c), Brian Bennett, Ryan Burl, Graeme Cremer, Bradley Evans, Clive Madande, Tinotenda Maposa, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Wellington Masakadza, Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Musekiwa, Blessing Muzarabani, Dion Myers, Richard Ngarava, Ben Curran.
Match starts at 7 pm.

Jammu and Kashmir reached 527 for six in the Ranji Trophy final against Karnataka, but Paras Dogra’s half-century was overshadowed by a head-butting incident involving substitute KV Aneesh.

Ranji Trophy Final: Jammu and Kashmir tighten grip with 527/6 vs Karnataka on Day 2

Jammu and Kashmir reached 527 for six in the Ranji Trophy final against Karnataka, but Paras Dogra&rsquo;s half-century was overshadowed by a head-butting incident involving substitute KV Aneesh.

Skipper Paras Dogra made a gutsy 70 but his intentional head-butting of Karnataka substitute KV Aneesh overshadowed an otherwise solid batting performance from Jammu and Kashmir, who reached 527 for 6 at stumps on the second day of the Ranji Trophy final.
Dogra along with keeper batter Kanhaiya Wadhawan (70), Sahil Lotra (57 batting) all made handsome contributions as it became a real toil for the Karnataka bowlers save Prasidh Krishna (3/90 in 29 overs) didn't make much of an impact.
However it was 21-season Ranji vetreran Dogra's boorish behaviour that surprised one and all as he was captured on camera head-butting the silly point fielder Aneesh after getting a streaky boundary when Prasidh had literally squared him up.
It wasn't clear if any of Aneesh's words would have hurt the domestic legend, who confronted Aneesh and butted on Aneesh's helmet prompting his senior teammate Mayank Agarwal to interject and stand between the two.
An animated Agarwal was seen exchanging words with Dogra as on-field umpires Rohan Pandit and Ulhas Gandhe rightly intervened.
After some point, even Karnataka skipper Devdutt Padikkal was seen talking to the umpires, complaining about Dogra.
Since was been an altercation that involved touching of opponents, Dogra should face some sanctions from BCCI match referee Narayan Kutty.
The day started off well for Karnataka as overnight centurion Shubham Pundir (121 off 247 balls) was quickly dismissed.
A flick from southpaw Pundir off medium pacer Vidyadhar Patil (1/104) went straight into substitute Aneesh's hands, ending a fine 124 run-stand.
Pundir's innings had 12 fours and two sixes.
Abdul Samad (61), who also had smashed his way to a half-century on opening day, got one from Prasidh that just moved enough from length to take the outside edge.
At 307 for 4, just when Karnataka smelt an opening, veteran Dogra and J&amp;K's find of the season Wadhawan got together to add 110 runs in 32 overs.
Prasidh, who was spitting fire with semi-new ball and was bowling quick was hit for some streaky boundaries behind square by Dogra and Wadhawan who found extra pace too hot to handle.
However they showed a lot of temperament in not giving away the wicket to the Indian Test pacer.
They didn't score runs at a breakneck pace but once leg-spinner Shreyas Gopal (1/130 in 33 overs) and left-arm spinner Shikhar Shetty (1/112 in 32 overs) were in operation, the duo didn't have problems farming the strike.
While Dogra's 166 ball knock had eight fours, Wadhawan's 109-ball knock comprised of nine hits to the fence.
Once Wadhawan was caught by KL Rahul in the slips off Shetty, Dogra added another 54 with Lotra who also helped himself to a half-ton.
With four overs left for the third new bal, Karnataka bowlers would like to keep the total below 600 and expect its batting line-up filled with former and current Test stars to do the job for them in a game of an innings each.
Brief Scores: Jammu and Kashmir 527/6 in 156 overs (Shubham Pundir 121, Yawer Hassan 88, Paras Dogra 70, Kanhaiya Wadhawan 70, Sahil Lotra 54 batting, Prasidh Krishna 3/90) vs Karnataka.

Cricket

LSG have introduced a new team logo ahead of IPL 2026, saying the redesigned emblem reflects the spirit of Lucknow and Uttar Pradesh. Featuring Garuda, the Crown and the Elephant, the franchise described the symbol as a tribute to fan.

Lucknow Super Giants unveil new logo ahead of IPL 2026 season

LSG have introduced a new team logo ahead of IPL 2026, saying the redesigned emblem reflects the spirit of Lucknow and Uttar Pradesh. Featuring Garuda, the Crown and the Elephant, the franchise described the symbol as a tribute to fan.

Ahead of the upcoming Indian Premier League season, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) have introduced a new team logo, describing it as more than just a visual redesign.
In an official statement, the franchise said the emblem reflects the spirit of the city and the state, along with the unwavering support of its fans since inception. The new design combines three symbols &mdash; Garuda, the Crown and the Elephant &mdash; each representing elements closely associated with Uttar Pradesh.
"Today, Lucknow Super Giants unveil a new logo. Not just a new design. Not just a new look. But a symbol that carries the spirit of this city, this state, and every fan who has stood by the team from the very beginning. This new emblem brings together three powerful symbols, Garuda, the Crown, and the Elephant, each telling a story that feels deeply personal to Lucknow and Uttar Pradesh," the franchise said in its statement.
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Junoon hai, Toofan hai. Lucknow Super Giants ki ye ek nayi udaan hai 💙❤️ <a href="https://t.co/xaLnnnZcwr">pic.twitter.com/xaLnnnZcwr</a>
&mdash; Lucknow Super Giants (@LucknowIPL) <a href="https://twitter.com/LucknowIPL/status/2026258672406675921?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 24, 2026</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Elaborating on the meaning behind the elements, LSG stated, "Garuda represents courage. The courage to rise, to take on challenges, and to never back down. It reflects the fearless cricket the Super Giants strive to play and the belief that no dream is too big when you rise together. The Crown stands for pride and responsibility. Every time the team walks onto the field, it carries the hopes of millions. The Crown is a reminder that wearing this jersey is an honour and that honour must be earned every single day. At the heart of the logo stands the Elephant. The Elephant represents strength, wisdom, patience, and unity. It reflects the steady support of the fans, the kind of loyalty that does not waver with one result but stands strong season after season."
Sharing his views on the new identity, Shashwat Goenka, Owner of Lucknow Super Giants and Vice Chairman of RPSG Group, said, "This new logo is deeply emotional for us. The people of Lucknow and Uttar Pradesh welcomed the Super Giants into their hearts from day one. This symbol is a tribute to that love and belief. Garuda reflects our dreams to rise higher. The Crown reflects the pride you place on us every time we take the field. And the Elephant reflects the strength and loyalty that defines this region."
"This is not just a change in identity. It is a promise. A promise that we will honour this city, respect our roots, and compete with heart. Every run, every wicket, every moment will carry the emotion of our fans," he added.
 Lucknow Super Giants squad for IPL 2026:
Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant (c &amp; wk), Ayush Badoni, Abdul Samad, Avesh Khan, Mohammed Shami, Mayank Yadav, Digvesh Rathi, Akash Singh, Arjun Tendulkar, Arshin Kulkarni, Himmat Singh, M Siddharth, Matthew Breetzke, Mohsin Khan, Prince Yadav, Shahbaz Ahmed, Josh Inglis (Rs 8.5 Crore), Mukul Choudhary (Rs 2.6 Crore), Akshat Raghuwanshi (Rs 2.2 Crore), Wanindu Hasaranga (Rs 2 Crore), Anrich Nortje (Rs 2 Crore), Naman Tiwari (Rs 1 Crore).

Former international umpire Steve Bucknor has acknowledged that his controversial LBW decision against Sachin Tendulkar during the 2003-04 Test at the Gabba was a mistake.

It was a mistake: Bucknor regrets wrong decision against Tendulkar after 22 years

Former international umpire Steve Bucknor has acknowledged that his controversial LBW decision against Sachin Tendulkar during the 2003-04 Test at the Gabba was a mistake.

More than two decades after making what was then widely seen as a "dreadful" decision against Indian cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar, legendary umpire Steve Bucknor has finally expressed regrets and accepted that "it was a mistake."
Bucknor, who retired in 2009, was one of the most respected umpires in world cricket for over two decades. However, he did a make a few contentious calls involving Tendulkar, the most shocking being an LBW dismissal during an India-Australia Test match at Brisbane's Gabba 22 years ago.
In an interview with the West Indies Cricket Umpires' Association, when Bucknor was asked about one of the most difficult decisions he had to live with as an umpire, he said, "Giving Sachin Tendulkar out leg before wicket, and it's a matter of knowing that it was a mistake, but until this day, every day, people talk about it.
"Why did I give him out? Was he out and so on? But then in life, mistakes happen. I have accepted that it was a mistake, and life goes on."
In that match at Gabba in the 2003-04 series, Tendulkar was given out LBW by Bucknor following a loud appeal from Australian fast bowler Jason Gillespie and his teammates.
Batting on 3, Tendulkar had attempted to leave the ball, which struck him high on the pads, but Bucknor was convinced by the Australian appeal. Television replays later confirmed the ball was clearly going over the stumps.
In the commentary box, the late Tony Greig had referred to it as "a dreadful" decision and he was not the only one who thought that way at the time.
The match, the first of a four-match series and in which India skipper Sourav Ganguly struck a fluent 144, ended in a draw.
That was not the only instance when Bucknor gave Tendulkar out wrongly. In a match against Pakistan at Eden Gardens in 2005, the Jamaican adjudged Tendulkar caught behind off Abdul Razzaq despite a half-hearted appeal. Replays, however, showed a wide gap between the bat and the ball.
During an interactive session with fans in 2024, Tendulkar was asked about his relationship with Bucknor, and in lighter vein, he had said, "When I am batting, give him boxing gloves to wear (so he can't raise his finger)."
Bucknor, 79, officiated in 128 Test matches between 1989 and 2009 and also holds the record for standing in five consecutive World Cup finals from 1992 to 2007.

Pakistan will tour Bangladesh next month for a three-match ODI series on March 11, 13, and 15 at Dhaka’s Sher-e-Bangla stadium as preparation for the 2027 ODI World Cup.

Pakistan to tour Bangladesh next month for 3-match ODI series

Pakistan will tour Bangladesh next month for a three-match ODI series on March 11, 13, and 15 at Dhaka&rsquo;s Sher-e-Bangla stadium as preparation for the 2027 ODI World Cup.

The Pakistan cricket team will tour Bangladesh next month to play a three-match One-Day International series as part of its preparations for the 2027 50-over World Cup.&nbsp;
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Friday that the matches would be played on March 11, 13 and 15 at the Shera Bangla stadium in Dhaka. Pakistan last toured Bangladesh in July 2025 for a T20 series which they lost.&nbsp;
Pakistan are also due to tour Bangladesh this year for a two-Test series which is part of the ICC World Test Championship.&nbsp;
The 2027 ODI World Cup will be jointly hosted by three African nations -- South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia in October and November.&nbsp;

Australia captain Mitchell Marsh said the team respects criticism back home after crashing out of the T20 World Cup in the group stage, with a forensic review of the campaign set to follow.

Australia captain Marsh says team respects criticism back home for T20 World Cup debacle

Australia captain Mitchell Marsh said the team respects criticism back home after crashing out of the T20 World Cup in the group stage, with a forensic review of the campaign set to follow.

Australia captain Mitchell Marsh on Friday said that his team respects the criticism back home after its exit from the T20 World Cup in the group stage after shock loss to Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka.
The former champions are set to face a "forensic review" of their disappointing T20 World Cup campaign after the injury-ravaged team prematurely crashed out of the showpiece being co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
"Yeah, we certainly respect the noise back home when things don&rsquo;t quite go to plan for us as a team. We sort of know that&rsquo;s coming, we respect it," Marsh said before Australia's final group match against minnows Oman.
"We reflect on ways to get better moving forward. But the last couple of days, obviously, a really disappointed group to not make through the Super 8s."
Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka have progressed to the Super Eights as Australia failed to get past the group stage for the first time since 2009.
Australia, the limited overs titans with six ODI and one T20I World Cup titles, were eliminated in the group stage after Tuesday's game between Zimbabwe and Ireland in Kandy was washed out, which paved the way for the much-improved African side's entry into the Super Eights from Group B along with tournament co-hosts Sri Lanka.
An injury-ravaged Australia showed glimpses of their batting prowess in the first half of their innings in the loss against Sri Lanka, but it was their shock defeat to Zimbabwe that really blew their campaign apart, forcing the administrators back home to announce a "forensic review" of their performance once the players return to the country.
The forgettable campaign was marked by injuries to key players, poor form, and baffling selection calls. The result was that the 2021 winners failed to progress beyond the group stage for the first time since 2009.
Australia were without their star pace trio of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc, but they entered the tournament as one of the favourites, but things went downhill quickly following the reverse against Zimbabwe.
The team also lost captain Mitchell Marsh, also to injury, during the tournament, disturbing its balance to a great extent. Marsh did not the team's first two matches, including An in-form Steve Smith was not picked and could only come in as cover once Hazlewood was declared ruled out just hours before their loss to Zimbabwe.
Selector Tony Dodemaide had said a full review of the performance would be done once the players are back home.
Australia are the co-hosts of the 2028 T20 World Cup along with New Zealand.

South Africa defeated UAE by six wickets in a low-scoring Group D match in New Delhi, powered by quickfire knocks from Ryan Rickelton and Dewald Brevis while chasing 123.

T20 World Cup: South Africa beat UAE by six wickets

South Africa defeated UAE by six wickets in a low-scoring Group D match in New Delhi, powered by quickfire knocks from Ryan Rickelton and Dewald Brevis while chasing 123.

Dewald Brevis warmed up nicely with some monstrous sixes as South Africa hardly broke sweat during a walk-in-the-park six-wicket victory over United Arab Emirates in their final group league fixture of the T20 World Cup in New Delhi on Wednesday.
Chasing a target of 123, the Proteas romped home in 13.1 overs with Aiden Markram smashing 28 off 11 balls to set the stage for young Brevis who also helped himself to a 36 off 25 balls.
Ryan Rickleton hit some lusty sixes to get 30 off 16 balls in an all-round effort.
With the big Super Eights match against India coming up on Sunday, South Africa needed Brevis to fire, and he did have a good session out there in the middle.
The pull off a bouncer sent down by wrong-footed left-arm seamer Muhammad Jawadullah was a treat for the eyes. Brevis quickly went onto the backfoot and pulled it from above eyeline into the top tier of the square leg stand.
When left-arm spinner Haider Ali tossed one outside the off-stump, Brevis thumped it over extra cover into the Hill B of the Feroz Shah Kotla stands.
The two shots were indicators that Brevis was in prime form. He then picked up a slower one from Mohammed Arfan to dispatch it into the cow corner as South Africa finished proceedings in a jiffy.
Earlier, young Alishan Sharafu led a charmed life with double reprieves but Anrich Nortje, playing his first match of the tournament, bowled quick and straight to restrict UAE to 122 for 6 in stipulated 20 overs.
With Lungi Ngidi and Marco Jansen rested before the India game in Ahmedabad on Sunday, Nortje (2/28 in 4 overs) and Corbin Bosch (3/12 in 4 overs) bowled short and quick consistently as the UAE batting unit never really looked in control of the situation.
While Sharafu managed a 38-ball 45 with five fours and a six, he was lucky due to the 'butter-fingered' Proteas fielders, who dropped two catches.
With conditions overcast and floodlights being put on, Aiden Markram was spot on in opting to bowl and unleash his pace battery on the minnows by making use of the underlying moisture.
Although skipper Muhammad Waseem (22 off 12 balls) and Aryansh Sharma moved a bit from the line of quick deliveries and got a few boundaries in the process using the pace, it was left-arm spinner George Linde, who got the first breakthrough.
Waseem went to sweep a much fuller delivery and was left plumb in-front.
Once the powerplay got over, UAE batters, save Sharafu's attacking strokes, could never come to terms with the pace and bounce on offer.
Sohaib Khan, who had back-to-back half-centuries against Canada and Afghanistan, had no clue when Bosch let one fly and all he could do was nick it to Quinton de Kock behind the stumps.
How UAE wilted could be gauged from the fact that they hit 10 boundaries in all, in which Sharafu and Waseem hit nine cumulatively.
Just when the UAE innings ended, steady drizzle forced the ground staff to cover the centre square.
Brief Scores: UAE: 122 for 6 in 20 overs (Alishan Sharafu 45; Anrich Nortje 2/28, Corbin Bosch 3/12). South Africa: 123 for 4 in 12.3 overs (Aiden Markram 28, Ryan Rickelton 30, Dewald Brevis 36).&nbsp;

Jammu and Kashmir made history by defeating Bengal by six wickets to reach their maiden Ranji Trophy final, powered by key performances from Vanshaj Sharma, Abdul Samad, and Auqib Nabi’s nine wickets.

Jammu and Kashmir Reaches Ranji Trophy Semifinal: A Historic Achievement

Jammu and Kashmir made history by defeating Bengal by six wickets to reach their maiden Ranji Trophy final, powered by key performances from Vanshaj Sharma, Abdul Samad, and Auqib Nabi&rsquo;s nine wickets.

Sixty seven years after their maiden appearance, Jammu and Kashmir stormed into the Ranji Trophy finals for the first time on Wednesday, upstaging two-time former champions Bengal by six wickets in the semifinals in Kalyani (West Bengal) to add another historic chapter to a fairytale season so far.
Auqib Nabi's stunning nine-wicket match haul and their IPL star Abdul Samad's fearless strokeplay ensured that the side once labelled "perennial underachievers" now stands one step away from the title.
Chasing a modest 126 at the Bengal Cricket Academy ground, J&amp;K rode on Samad's unbeaten 30 off 27 balls (3x6, 1x4) and rookie Vanshaj Sharma's composed 43 not out off 83 balls (4x4) as the pair stitched an unbroken 55-run stand for the fourth wicket to seal history on the fourth and penultimate day of the semifinal.
In a heartwarming gesture, Samad, who had done the bulk of the damage, allowed the 22-year-old Vanshaj to finish it in style and the youngster launched Mukesh Kumar over long-on for six to spark wild celebrations in the visiting camp.
 From strugglers to history-makers
Jammu and Kashmir had played 334 Ranji matches before this season, winning only 45. It took them 44 years to register their first victory, against Services in 1982-83. Knockout appearances were rare.
A breakthrough came in 2013-14 when they edged Goa on net run rate to reach the quarterfinals, and in 2015-16 they stunned Mumbai at the Wankhede Stadium under state icon Parveez Rasool. But consistency eluded them for decades as this season, under coach Ajay Sharma and captain Paras Dogra, they transformed belief into results.
After an opening loss to Mumbai, they bounced back with innings wins over Rajasthan and key victories against Delhi and Hyderabad to enter the knockouts. A dramatic 56-run win over Madhya Pradesh in the quarterfinal, powered by Nabi&rsquo;s 12/110, brought them to the semifinals for the first time.
 Bengal's big names, bigger letdown
With four India internationals in Mohammed Shami, Akash Deep, Mukesh Kumar and Shahbaz Ahmed, and India A star batter Abhimanyu Easwran along with home advantage to boot, this was Bengal's game to lose.
They did exactly that after folding for 99 in 25.1 overs on day three that set Jammu and Kashmir a paltry 126 to win.
Resuming at 43/2 on the penultimate day, J&amp;K lost an early wicket but Bengal failed to sustain pressure despite Akash Deep's relentless 15-over morning spell (3/46) and Shami's probing 1/24 from 24 overs.
There were anxious moments when Shubham Pundir was cleaned up and Dogra edged behind &mdash; a low diving catch by Abishek Porel off Akash Deep eventually upheld after review.
But Bengal looked fatigued and short of ideas once Samad counterattacked. The IPL batter, retained by Lucknow Super Giants, turned the tide in a single over against Akash Deep that fetched 18 runs.
He did not spare Shahbaz either, dancing down the track to deposit him over mid-wicket and then through covers as J&amp;K crossed the 100-run mark. From there, shoulders dropped in the Bengal camp.
The introduction of part-time options and a visible dip in intensity underlined a campaign that promised much but fizzled when it mattered most.
 Nabi's season for the ages
The foundations of Jammu and Kashmir's win, however, were laid by Nabi.
"Last time we missed it in the quarters but we did all the hard work and we deserved it," said Nabi after winning the man-of-the-match.
The 29-year-old pacer followed his 12-wicket match haul in the quarterfinal against Madhya Pradesh with another devastating effort, finishing with nine wickets in the match, including a five-for in the first innings, to take his season's tally to 55 wickets at an average of under 13.
Nabi had also contributed with the bat playing a decisive knock at No.9. J&amp;K had posted 302 in their first innings, reducing the deficit to 26, thanks to Dogra's gritty 58 (112 balls), Samad's counterattacking 82 (85 balls) and a crucial late surge from Nabi (42 off 54) and Yudhvir Singh (33) in a 64-run last-wicket stand.
 Dogra's milestone
For 41-year-old captain Paras Dogra, it was a week of personal and collective milestones.
In a career spanning 24 years across Himachal Pradesh, Pondicherry and now J&amp;K, Dogra also became only the second batter after Wasim Jaffer to score 10,000 Ranji Trophy runs.
Introduced to the game by his father Kultar, Dogra's journey has been one of endurance and quiet steel.
"It's a big achievement, never thought about it. I enjoyed the journey full of ups and downs. The game makes you a strong human being," Dogra said.
His resolute half-century in a 143-run partnership with Samad in the first innings set the tone for the side's resilience.
&nbsp;
Brief scores: Bengal: 328 and 99 in 25.1 overs. Jammu and Kashmir: 302 and 126 for 4 in 34.4 overs (Vanshaj Sharma 43 not out, Abdul Samad 30 not out).&nbsp;

Real Madrid have mutually parted ways with coach Xabi Alonso after less than eight months, replacing him with former player Alvaro Arbeloa, who will lead the team starting with Copa del Rey clash against Albacete.

Arbeloa Replaces Alonso as Real Madrid Manager

Real Madrid have mutually parted ways with coach Xabi Alonso after less than eight months, replacing him with former player Alvaro Arbeloa, who will lead the team starting with Copa del Rey clash against Albacete.

Real Madrid said on Monday coach Xabi Alonso has left the Spanish giants by mutual consent, to be replaced by Alvaro Arbeloa.
After losing the Spanish Super Cup final against Barcelona on Sunday the club decided to part ways with the Basque coach, in charge for less than eight months, and immediately appointed former Madrid player Arbeloa who was coaching the reserve side.
"Real Madrid announces that, by mutual agreement between the club and Xabi Alonso, it has been decided to bring his tenure as first-team coach to an end," said Los Blancos in a statement.
In a separate statement Madrid then announced Arbeloa would take Alonso's place, without specifying the length of the 42-year-old's contract.
"Arbeloa has been the coach of Castilla since June 2025 and has developed his entire coaching career in Real Madrid's academy since 2020," said Los Blancos.
Arbeloa's first match at the helm is a Copa del Rey last-16 visit to face second-tier Albacete on Wednesday.
The Spaniard played 238 times for Madrid between 2009-2016, winning two Champions League titles and La Liga once, among other silverware.
Arbeloa also lifted the World Cup with Spain in 2010, as well as the European Championship in 2008 and 2012, playing alongside Alonso for club and country.
Alonso joined in June, replacing veteran Carlo Ancelotti, but Madrid struggled to find consistency under the Basque coach and are second in La Liga, four points behind Barcelona.
Los Blancos were outplayed in a 3-2 defeat in Saudi Arabia on Sunday by Hansi Flick's side, the 44-year-old's last at the helm.
"It's been short but it was a pleasure to play for you and learn from you," French superstar Kylian Mbappe wrote on Instagram.
"I will remember you as a manager who ahd clear ideas, and knows many things about football. Best of luck for (your) next chapter."
 - No 'rock'n'roll' - Alonso was close to the sack towards the end of 2025 but a run of five consecutive wins kept him in his position, until the Super Cup defeat.
Alonso had signed a three-season deal at the Bernabeu after leaving German side Bayer Leverkusen, with whom he won the Bundesliga in 2024.
Real Madrid were thrashed 4-0 by Paris Saint-Germain in July in the Club World Cup semi-finals, which was an early setback for the coach.
A 5-2 drubbing by Atletico Madrid in September was another blow for Alonso, although it was the team's only league defeat until December.
Despite a Clasico win over Barcelona in October, it appeared president Florentino Perez had not fully warmed to Alonso, who had intended to bring a modern coaching approach to the team.
While Ancelotti, who led Madrid to three Champions League wins across two spells in charge, was hailed for his man-management, Alonso was appointed for his tactical nous.
Early on during his time in charge Alonso said the "rock'n'roll" was about to begin, but it never came, with few entertaining attacking displays, despite the superb output of Mbappe, La Liga's top scorer.
Madrid struggled through a run of poor form amid an injury crisis, losing at home against Celta Vigo, and away at Liverpool in Europe, as well as drawing several domestic games.
In that period many of the tactical ideas Alonso had tried to implement, including high pressing, faded away, amid reports some star players had fallen out with him.
Brazilian wingers Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo Goes dropped out of form, going several months without finding the net.
Spanish media also said Alonso would be ousted if they failed to beat Manchester City in the Champions League in December.
Madrid lost against Pep Guardiola's side but the performance enough of an improvement that Alonso was given more time to try and save his job.
However, the defeat by Barca in Jeddah was the final straw for Madrid, who agreed a deal with Alonso for him to depart.

Football

Lionel Messi thanked India for its warm hospitality during his three-day tour and expressed hope for a bright future for football in the country, visiting Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Kolkata.

Lionel Messi's Memorable India Tour: Football Hopes & Promises

Lionel Messi thanked India for its warm hospitality during his three-day tour and expressed hope for a bright future for football in the country, visiting Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Kolkata.

Lionel Messi hoped that football has a "bright future" in India and expressed gratitude for the "generous hospitality" that he received during a whirlwind three-day tour, which had thousands of fans jostling to catch a glimpse of the Argentine star in four different cities.
Messi, after extending his stay by a day to visit the Anant Ambani-founded Vantara wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, and conservation centre in Jamnagar, left for his base in Miami on Wednesday.
Taking to Instagram, the 38-year-old posted a one-minute highlights clip of the tour, featuring his interactions with Indian cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar, Bollywood actor Kareena Kapoor Khan, and several young footballers.
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<blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DSVUB6HjLw0/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14">
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"What amazing visits to Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Kolkata. Thank you for the warm reception, generous hospitality, and all the feelings of love with which you surrounded me throughout my tour. I hope that football has a bright future in India," he wrote underneath the video.
His good wishes come at a time when Indian football finds itself at its lowest ebb. The domestic season has been brought to a halt for the want of a commercial partner, and the national team's fortunes have been in a free-fall following a string of poor results. An ongoing court case over administrative issues has further deepened policy paralysis.
The superstar striker, who is among the most recognisable and adored sportspersons in the world, did not play any competitive football during the trip. He was accompanied by Uruguay great and close friend Luis Suarez and Argentina teammate Rodrigo de Paul.
Messi made stadium appearances for ticketed events in all four cities, starting with Kolkata, where things turned ugly after politicians and officials surrounded him, denying fans who had paid thousands for a seat a clear view of the icon. Agitated by this, the gathered spectators indulged in vandalism at the Salt Lake Stadium, prompting Messi to be whisked away sooner than originally planned.
However, his visits to Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi passed off smoothly as he charmed fans by posing for pictures, showcasing some of his warm-up routines, and playing briefly with young players.
"...we carry all this love with us, and we will definitely return, hopefully one day to play a match or on another occasion, but we will definitely return to visit India," he said after the final leg of the tour in Delhi.

FIFA has reduced World Cup ticket prices for loyal fans, offering $60 seats for all games, including the final, following criticism over high prices and limited access for supporters.

FIFA Cuts World Cup Ticket Prices, Faces Global Criticism

FIFA has reduced World Cup ticket prices for loyal fans, offering $60 seats for all games, including the final, following criticism over high prices and limited access for supporters.

FIFA slashed the price of some World Cup tickets for teams' most loyal fans following a global backlash, with some fans now able to get $60 seats for the final instead of paying $4,185.
It was a rare climbdown by the soccer body and its president Gianni Infantino after facing waves of criticism for World Cup strategies, including top-dollar prices and closer political alignment with U.S. President Donald Trump.
FIFA said Tuesday that $60 tickets will be made available for every game at the tournament in North America, going to the national federations whose teams are playing. Those federations decide how to distribute them to loyal fans who have attended previous games at home and on the road.
The number of $60 tickets for each game is likely to be from 400 to 750 per team, in what FIFA is now calling a &ldquo;Supporter Entry Tier&rdquo; price category. FIFA is using 16 host cities, including 11 NFL stadiums in the United States, plus two in Canada and three in Mexico.
FIFA did not specify exactly why it so dramatically changed strategy, but said the lower prices are &ldquo;designed to further support traveling fans following their national teams across the tournament.&rdquo; However, the Football Supporters Europe (FSE) group, which represents grassroots fan groups, said the limited price cut was &ldquo;an appeasement tactic due to the global negative backlash.&rdquo;
&ldquo;This shows that FIFA's ticketing policy is not set in stone, was decided in a rush, and without proper consultation,&rdquo; the group said in a statement.
The World Cup in North America will be the first edition that features 48 teams &mdash; up from 32 &mdash; and is expected to earn FIFA at least $10 billion in revenue while being the most expensive ever for fans.
Despite the outcry over prices, FIFA says it has already received more than 20 million ticket requests in its latest sales phase.
The FSE group said that even with Tuesday's announcement, &ldquo;the vast majority would still have to pay extortionate prices, way higher than at any tournament before.&rdquo;
Initial pledge for cheap tickets
Fans worldwide reacted with shock and anger last week on seeing FIFA's ticketing plans that gave participating teams no tickets in the lowest-priced category. Their standard allocation is 8% of stadium capacity per team.
The cheapest prices ranged from $140 to $265 for group-stage games that did not involve co-hosts the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The $265 games involve Lionel Messi's Argentina, Portugal with Cristiano Ronaldo, and well-supported teams like Brazil and England.
FIFA had set those prices despite the co-hosts having pledged eight years ago &mdash; when they were bidding for the tournament &mdash; that hundreds of thousands of $21 tickets would be made available for games before the knockout rounds.
The hospitality program in modern NFL venues, now managed in-house instead of outsourced to an agency, is expected to earn FIFA billions of dollars rather than hundreds of millions.
European criticism
Criticism from fans, especially in Europe, had been increasing for several months over plans for &ldquo;dynamic pricing&rdquo; plus extra fees on a FIFA-run resale platform &mdash; both features common in the U.S. entertainment industry but not to soccer fans worldwide.
Fan anger intensified last week when it became clear loyal supporters would have no access to the cheapest category tickets, and fans who wanted to reserve a ticket for all of their team's potential games &mdash; through the final &mdash; would not get refunded until after the tournament.
In another climbdown Tuesday, FIFA said it would waive its administrative fees when refunds are made after the July 19 final.
Fans with disabilities Even before the FIFA statement, the supporter group FSE called Tuesday for a re-think on World Cup policy for fans with disabilities.
It said FIFA's resale platform was offering disability access seats at multiple times face value with no assurances those tickets actually would be sold to people with a disability. Those fans also can no longer get free tickets for companions as they could at the last World Cup in Qatar.
In Qatar, Infantino started an eve-of-tournament speech with a tirade at perceived critics of the host nation, FIFA, and himself that included the line &ldquo;today I feel disabled.&rdquo;
&ldquo;True inclusion requires action,&rdquo; FSE said Tuesday, reminding Infantino of that speech. &ldquo;It's time for FIFA to move away from populistic statements and respect its own commitments.&rdquo;

Argentine football star Lionel Messi arrives in Delhi for the last leg of his G.O.A.T India tour following a delayed Mumbai flight. He will attend a meet-and-greet, ticketed event, and photoshoot before returning to Miami.

Lionel Messi Wraps Up G.O.A.T India Tour With Delayed Arrival in Delhi

Argentine football star Lionel Messi arrives in Delhi for the last leg of his G.O.A.T India tour following a delayed Mumbai flight. He will attend a meet-and-greet, ticketed event, and photoshoot before returning to Miami.

Argentine football superstar Lionel Messi arrived in Delhi on Monday for the final leg of his G.O.A.T India Tour after his flight from Mumbai was delayed considerably due to inclement weather.&nbsp;
Messi, who was in Mumbai for the second day of his three-day whirlwind trip to India, was to land in the national capital around 10:45am but his charter flight was held up due to foggy conditions. He landed at the Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport around 2:30pm, and straightaway proceeded to the Leela Palace Hotel where he will have a Meet and Greet session for around an hour with a select group of people.&nbsp;
His final set of engagements includes an appearance at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium for a ticketed event and a photo-shoot programme at Purana Qila before leaving for the airport for the return to Miami, his current base.&nbsp;
The World Cup winner regaled fans in Mumbai last evening, posing alongside cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar and a bevy of Bollywood stars and politicians.&nbsp;
Before Mumbai, he also made similar appearances in Hyderabad and Kolkata. The Kolkata leg was marred by chaotic scenes at the venue as frustrated fans ripped apart seats and stormed the Salt Lake Stadium pitch after failing to catch a glimpse of the superstar, who was surrounded by politicians and officials.&nbsp;

Cristiano Ronaldo could miss Portugal’s opening match at the 2026 World Cup after receiving a red card for elbowing Ireland defender Dara O’Shea during a crucial qualifier in Dublin.

Cristiano Ronaldo Faces Possible World Cup Opening Match Ban

Cristiano Ronaldo could miss Portugal&rsquo;s opening match at the 2026 World Cup after receiving a red card for elbowing Ireland defender Dara O&rsquo;Shea during a crucial qualifier in Dublin.

Cristiano Ronaldo is at serious risk of being banned for the first game of the 2026 World Cup if Portugal qualifies as expected.
The soccer superstar was sent off for elbowing Ireland defender Dara O'Shea in the second half of a qualifying game Thursday that Portugal lost 2-0 in Dublin.
Ronaldo will serve a mandatory one-game ban imposed for any red card when Portugal hosts Armenia on Sunday knowing a win will secure a place at the World Cup hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
FIFA disciplinary rules require its judges to impose a ban of &ldquo;at least two matches for serious foul play.&rdquo; The ban should be &ldquo;at least three matches for violent conduct&rdquo; or &ldquo;at least three matches or an appropriate period of time for assault, including elbowing.&rdquo; A FIFA ban would apply to competitive games and could not be served in pre-tournament exhibitions.
Ronaldo spun round and swung his right elbow into O'Shea's back as they waited for the ball to be crossed around the hour mark at Aviva Stadium with Ireland holding a surprise 2-0 lead.
The referee issued a yellow card but minutes later upgraded it to red after a video review at the pitchside monitor.
Ronaldo curled his lips in a wry look as he walked off the field being jeered and mocked by Ireland fans. He stopped and looked at the fans, clapped his hands toward them and raised two thumbs up in an apparent sarcastic gesture.
Ronaldo, who turns 41 in February, is aiming to play at a record sixth World Cup tournament. The tournament draw is made Dec. 5 in Washington DC when Portugal, if it qualifies, will learn its schedule of three opponents in the group stage.
Ireland forward Troy Parrott had scored twice in the first half Thursday to revive Irish hopes of qualification likely through the playoffs ahead of facing second-place Hungary on Sunday.
Portugal tops Group F with 10 points, two ahead of Hungary. Ireland is third with seven points.

Kylian Mbappé’s brace sent France to the 2026 World Cup with a 4-0 win over Ukraine, while Cristiano Ronaldo received his first international red card in Portugal’s 2-0 loss to Ireland, delaying their qualification.

France qualifies for 2026 World Cup; Ronaldo sent off as Portugal loses to Ireland

Kylian Mbapp&eacute;&rsquo;s brace sent France to the 2026 World Cup with a 4-0 win over Ukraine, while Cristiano Ronaldo received his first international red card in Portugal&rsquo;s 2-0 loss to Ireland, delaying their qualification.

Kylian Mbapp&eacute; and France are going to the 2026 World Cup. And Cristiano Ronaldo might be banned from Portugal's first game there if his team finally wins its European qualifying group.
Two goals from star striker Mbapp&eacute; helped two-time champion France qualify with a 4-0 home win against Ukraine on Thursday. But Ronaldo was ejected for the first time in his international career, and Portugal will have to wait until Sunday to secure a qualifying spot for the seventh straight time after it was stunned 2-0 by Ireland in Dublin.
Midfielder Michael Olise and substitute forward Hugo Ekitik&eacute; added the other goals in a dominant second half from France, the World Cup runner-up in 2022.
Mbapp&eacute; sent the penalty straight down the middle to break the deadlock in the 55th minute before Olise turned inside the penalty area to curl home the second goal in the 76th at Parc des Princes in western Paris.
Mbapp&eacute; poked in France's third goal from close range in the 83rd following a goal-mouth scramble. He moved onto 55 goals &mdash; just two behind Olivier Giroud as France's all-time top scorer.
&ldquo;The French national team will always be better with him in it,&rdquo; coach Didier Deschamps said about Mbapp&eacute;. &ldquo;He makes things easier for us. He performed his role perfectly this evening, as both a player and the captain of the national team.&rdquo;
Mbapp&eacute; went close to a hat trick moments later but blazed over after going clean through.
France has won Group D with 13 points. Ukraine and Iceland are tied on seven points and will play for second place when they meet on Sunday.
Ronaldo's 1st international red card
Portugal will host last-place Armenia in the final qualifying game on Sunday, when Hungary hosts Ireland at the same time.
Portugal tops Group F with 10 points, two ahead of Hungary. Ireland is third with seven points.
Ronaldo was sent off for elbowing Ireland defender Dara O'Shea on the hour. The referee issued a yellow card but minutes later upgraded it to red after a video review.
Portugal coach Roberto Martinez said he thought the ejection was &ldquo;a bit harsh,&rdquo; pointing out that Ronaldo "has never been sent off before in 226 games.&rdquo;
Ronaldo will serve a mandatory one-game ban imposed for any red card when Portugal plays Armenia. FIFA disciplinary rules require judges to impose a ban of &ldquo;at least two matches for serious foul play.&rdquo;
Troy Parrott put the hosts ahead with a close-range header following a corner in the 17th minute against the run of play, with Portugal dominant. Parrott added his second in the final minute before the break, beating Diogo Costa with a low shot from inside the area. Haaland's double
Erling Haaland scored twice as Norway moved closer to qualifying for the World Cup for the first time since 1998 by beating Estonia 4-1 in Oslo.
The win virtually secures a spot for the high-scoring Norwegians in next year's tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Italy had to rely on late goals from Gianluca Mancini and substitute Francesco Pio Esposito to win 2-0 at Moldova and is second in Group I, trailing leader Norway by three points.
Italy will likely have to settle for the playoffs, where the four-time World Cup champion was eliminated in the past two editions. It hosts Norway on Sunday and would have to win by a nine-goal margin to directly qualify because of Norway's vastly superior goal difference.
Haaland has scored 14 of Norway's European-best 33 goals in seven group-stage games. The Manchester City striker was born two years after Norway last reached the World Cup.
&nbsp; Still perfect England Already-qualified England continued to cruise.
It beat Serbia 2-0 at Wembley Stadium to keep a perfect record in Group K and is yet to concede a goal.
Bukayo Saka fired England ahead on a rebound with a left-foot volley in the 28th minute after an initial shot by Nico O'Reilly was blocked. Substitute forward Eberechi Eze added the second in the 90th off a pass from another substitute, Phil Foden.
Albania beat Andorra 1-0 in the same group to secure the runner-up spot.

Cristiano Ronaldo, 40, says the 2026 World Cup will mark the end of his illustrious career. The Portuguese superstar plans to retire from football in the next one to two years while continuing at Al Nassr.

Cristiano Ronaldo confirms 2026 World Cup will be his last

Cristiano Ronaldo, 40, says the 2026 World Cup will mark the end of his illustrious career. The Portuguese superstar plans to retire from football in the next one to two years while continuing at Al Nassr.

Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo on Tuesday said next year's World Cup would be his last as he winds down one of the all-time great careers.
The 40-year-old forward, with more than 950 club and international goals, also said he would retire from football in "one or two years".
"Definitely, yes," he told a Saudi forum by video link, when asked if 2026 would be his final World Cup. "I'm gonna be 41 years old and I think it will be the moment."
Ronaldo, who began a lucrative stint at Saudi Arabia's Al Nassr in 2023, also elaborated on comments last week when he said he would retire "soon".
"Let's be honest, when I mean soon, it's probably one or two years I'll still be at the game," he said.
The five-time Ballon d'Or winner is hoping to play at a sixth World Cup next year. He came closest to lifting the trophy on debut in 2006, when Portugal lost to France in the semi-finals.
Portugal have yet to qualify for the 2026 tournament in the USA, Canada and Mexico, but can secure their spot if they beat Ireland on Thursday.
Last month, Ronaldo became the top goalscorer in World Cup qualifying history when he netted twice against Hungary to reach 41 goals, overtaking retired Guatemalan international Carlos Ruiz's 39.
The former Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus forward is also the all-time leading international goalscorer with 143 strikes.
During an interview on Piers Morgan Uncensored last week, Ronaldo opened up further about the realities of his looming retirement.
"It will be difficult? Yes. Probably will cry, yes. I'm an open person. It will be very, very difficult, yes," he said.
Ronaldo joined Al Nassr after leaving Manchester United for a second time in late 2022, a move that heralded a influx of late-career stars to the oil-rich kingdom.
Ronaldo initially signed for 200 million euros a year, according to a source close to Al Nassr at the time, and inked a two-year contract extension in June.
Last month, he was named by Bloomberg as the sport's first billionaire, and topped the Forbes list of highest-paid footballers for the sixth time in a decade.
With on-and off-field earnings of an estimated $280 million, Ronaldo will earn more than double that of second-placed rival Lionel Messi during the upcoming season, according to Forbes.
Saudi Arabia, which is spending big on sports and entertainment as part of its economic diversification plan, was named as host of the 2034 World Cup last December.

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