Sports world

 Who does Amir want to replace Babar in the 'Do or Die' match?  Former pacer Mohammad Amir suggested reorganizing the top order of the Pakistan team before the important match of the Super Eights in the ongoing T20 World Cup. He especially gave a clear opinion on Babar Azam's place in the top order. While discussing the team's strategy in a special program on Geo News, Amir said that in the current situation, the team has to go with a balanced combination. The left-arm pacer suggested playing Khwaja Nafe in place of Babar in his proposed eleven. According to Amir, Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman, Salman Ali Agha and Khwaja Nafe can be kept in the top order. He also believes that if Nafe is made to bat in Babar's position, the middle order will be more dynamic. Amir also said that Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz should be played later, leaving Usman Khan as the wicketkeeper. He also hinted at taking Abrar Ahmed as a spin alternative if necessary. In Amir's words, ...

Kiwi star returns home on paternity leave in the middle of the World Cup Matt Henry played against England in a very important match for New Zealand in the T20 World Cup. And after this match, he has to catch a domestic flight. The fast bowler is returning home on leave to be with his wife during the birth of his second child. In a statement, New Zealand coach Rob Walters wished Henry and his family well. He expressed hope that the bowler will return if they reach the semi-finals. New Zealand faced England in their last match of the Super Eights on Friday in Colombo. The Kiwis lost the match. However, if they had won this match, the Kiwis would have been assured of a ticket to the semi-finals. Until this match against England, Henry was the joint highest wicket-taker for New Zealand in the tournament with 6 wickets in five innings. The New Zealand team announced early last month that Henry and Lockie Ferguson could return home on paternity leave during the World Cup. Ferguson returned ...

Real-City-Liverpool three-way battle to land PSG star Joao Neves is now at the center of a new transfer drama in European football. Real Madrid, Manchester City and Liverpool are in a three-way battle to sign the young PSG midfielder. Neves has shown outstanding performance in Ligue 1 and the Champions League in the past two seasons. His positioning in the middle of the field, quick decision-making ability and ability to break the opponent's press with one or two touches have made him one of the most sought-after midfielders in Europe. Despite his young age, he is surpassing many senior stars in terms of playing maturity. Real Madrid are looking to add young energy to their midfield. Los Blancos see Neves as the 'final piece' as part of their long-term plan. Spanish media claim that the club's scouts have already submitted a positive report on him. Meanwhile, City are looking for a player who can adapt to Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola's tactical football. The ...

The Champions League last-16 will be a thrilling encounter, with Real-City and PSG-Chelsea facing off The last-16 of the UEFA Champions League will be a thrilling encounter. Spanish club Real Madrid will face English club Manchester City. The draw for the last-16 of the 2025-26 season was held in Nyon, France on Friday (February 27). Another Spanish club Barcelona and English Premier League team Newcastle United will face each other in the fight to reach the quarter-finals. In addition, French club Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), which played in the final of the FIFA Club World Cup last year, and English club Chelsea will meet in the last-16. Arsenal will play against German club Bayer Leverkusen. Spanish club Atletico Madrid has English club Tottenham Hotspur as its opponent. The first legs of the quarter-finals will be played on March 10 and 11. The second legs will be played on March 17 and 18. UEFA Champions League last 16 draw: Real Madrid (Spain) - Manchester City (England). Bodo/Glim...

FIFA has awarded Bangladesh the designation of the new superpower in South Asia! Bangladeshi football has been revitalized after Samit Som joined after Hamza Chowdhury. The red-green representatives are also playing great on the field. Javier Cabrera's disciples fought hard despite not getting a chance in the AFC Asian Cup. In addition, the Bangladesh team has shown their position by defeating India after a long 22 years. The Bangladesh team has improved in football, this time FIFA, the highest governing body of football, has announced it. A post about Bangladesh has been made on the official page of the FIFA World Cup on social media Facebook. There, Bangladesh was not directly called the new superpower of South Asia. The question has been left to football fans. FIFA has posted a picture of the Bangladesh football team on Facebook. And the caption of the picture reads, 'South Asia's new superpower?' Then an emoji of the Bangladesh flag has been given. Mixed reactions w...

Defeat to South Africa, India must beat West Indies in the last match 83 for 7—Any team could have collapsed in this situation. But West Indies fought back with the determination of Jason Holder and Romario Shepherd. But in the end, everything was in vain. South Africa has reached the semi-finals very close with an easy win with a great performance with the bat. West Indies lost 7 wickets for 83 runs in 10.2 overs of the innings. From there, the Holder-Shepherd pair came to life in the match. Their 87-run partnership from 57 balls included 11 sixes. Holder scored 49, and Shepherd remained unbeaten on 52 runs. In the end, the Caribbeans collected 176/8 in 20 overs. This pair also set some important records. After losing 7 wickets before 100 runs, this is the second highest team total in T20s. Romario Shepherd also made a rare fifty at number 9. 176 seemed like a score to fight for. But South African openers Quinton de Kock and Aiden Markram made the match one-sided from the start. They ...

 India beat Zimbabwe by 72 runs to keep semi-final hopes alive India beat Zimbabwe by 72 runs in a crucial match of the Super Eights in the 2026 T20 World Cup, keeping their hopes of reaching the semi-finals alive. Having escaped the complications of net run rate in the previous match, India's only goal was to win - and they did that with gusto. India, having lost the toss and elected to bat in Chennai on Thursday (February 26), scored a huge total of 256 runs for the loss of 4 wickets in the allotted 20 overs. This is the second highest team total in the history of the T20 World Cup. Several batters contributed greatly to India's batting storm. Abhishek Sharma scored 55 runs off 30 balls, Hardik Pandya scored an unbeaten 50 runs off 23 balls, Tilak Verma scored 44* runs off 16 balls. Besides, Suryakumar Yadav scored 33 runs off 13 balls, Ishan Kishan scored 38 runs off 24 balls, and Sanju Samson scored 24 runs off 15 balls. Richard Engrava, Blessing Mujarabani, Tinotenda Mapos...

 Bodo/Glimt make history in Champions League last 16 On the night the Norwegian club made history, Newcastle United, Atletico Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen also confirmed their place in the last 16. The small Norwegian club Bodo/Glimt created a big event in European football. The club made history. They advanced to the last 16 of the Champions League by eliminating Inter Milan. Bodo/Glimt had one foot in the last 16 after the first leg. They completed the rest of the formalities last night. They defeated the hosts on Tuesday and painted the second leg in the color of victory. They defeated Inter 3-1 at home in the first leg of the play-off, and now they won the return leg at San Siro 2-1. Bodo/Glimt advanced to the last 16 with a 5-2 aggregate score. Bodo/Glimt are showing one surprise after another in their first season in Europe's top club competition. They defeated Manchester City and Atletico Madrid in the league stage. Neither team scored a goal in the first half of this match. ...

Farhan tops the World Cup runs Pakistan did not have much to say about the entire innings. Nevertheless, the team batted first and scored 160-plus runs with effective innings by Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman and Shadab Khan. Especially Farhan's half-century gave Pakistan the capital to fight. Pakistan, who batted first, scored 164 runs for 9 wickets in the Super Eight of the T20 World Cup held in Pallekele on Tuesday. England had scored 17 runs for 2 wickets in 2.3 overs till the writing of this report. The teams won the toss and decided to bat in the first five matches at the Pallekele Stadium. The match against England yesterday was important for Pakistan as the match against New Zealand was abandoned due to rain. To stop the English, they need to score a big score. Pakistan went in with that in mind. But before they could create a storm with the bat, Saim Ayub returned to the dressing room. The first ball of the second over bowled by Jofra Archer was short. Before being caught ...

Mourinho returns to the Bernabeu with a challenge The Santiago Bernabeu was once Jose Mourinho's home. He never set foot in his own home again after leaving Real Madrid in 2013. Mourinho is returning to the Bernabeu after 13 years. This time, however, in a different role, as the coach of Real's opponents Benfica. The two teams will face each other today in the second leg of the Champions League last-16 play-off. Real won 1-0 in the first leg at Benfica thanks to a goal by Vinicius Junior. Mourinho's return to the Bernabeu has been quite challenging. Not only is the team behind, but UEFA has temporarily banned his team's Argentine forward Gianluca Prestianni for allegedly racially abusing Vinicius in the first leg. As a result, he is unable to play in today's important match. UEFA said that the temporary punishment is due to an investigation. If found guilty in the investigation, Prestianni could face a bigger punishment. It could be a 10-match ban. The allegation is...

First-ever Women's BPL Players Draft to be held on March 14 The Women's BPL Players Draft is going to be held for the first time. The draft will be held on March 14 and three teams will participate in it. The players have been divided into five categories: Icon Category: Three national team cricketers – Nigar Sultana, Nahida Akhtar and Sobhana Mostari; Salary 10 lakh taka 'A' Category: 6 players; Salary 7 lakh taka 'B' Category: 12 players; Salary 5 lakh taka 'C' Category: 20 players; Salary 3 lakh taka 'D' Category: Rest of the players; Salary 1.5 lakh taka Foreign cricketers will also be taken in the draft based on interest, but the number of foreign players has not been finalized yet. The matches will be held at two venues: Sher-e-Bangla Cricket Stadium, Mirpur. Bir Shrestha Matiur Rahman Stadium, Chittagong.

Sikandar Raja returns to the top of the all-rounders, debuts at number one in batting Captain Sikandar Raja has been rewarded for leading Zimbabwe to the Super Eights in the T20 World Cup. He has once again taken the top spot in the ICC's weekly updated rankings for T20 all-rounders. Raja played an innings of 45 runs in Zimbabwe's win against Sri Lanka in the group stage. He then scored 27 runs against the West Indies. With his consistent performance, he has moved up to the top spot, pushing Pakistan's Saim Ayub to second. Sikandar Raja - 294 rating points Saim Ayub - 281 rating points The top positions have changed hands between these two cricketers several times in recent times. India's Shivam Dubey has moved up two places to seventh. Afghanistan's Mohammad Nabi has moved up three places to eighth. Despite not getting a big innings in the T20 World Cup, India's Abhishek Sharma has retained the top spot in the batsmen's rankings. After being dismissed for z...

 Argentine football unrest, clubs call for strike Argentina is the current world champion of football. However, their country's club football has been in turmoil for quite some time. Although it is not an incident on the field, the game has become more lively in the courtroom and tax office documents. And as a result, all games of the ninth round of the Argentine Football League have been postponed. The league authorities announced this decision in a statement yesterday. The decision was taken in solidarity with Claudio Tapia, the president of the Argentine Football Association (AFA), who is accused of corruption. The court banned Tapia from leaving the country on charges of tax evasion. Although the ban was later lifted, the league authorities have called for a strike. Last week, the court banned Tapia from leaving the country, stating that an investigation into tax evasion is underway. But yesterday, the court reversed that decision and allowed him to go abroad. The court ruling ...

Pakistan threatens to overpower them with spin, England rely on the same weapon Pakistan has taken the field in the Super Eights match of the T20 World Cup a while ago. Their opponent is England at the Pallekele Stadium in Kandy. Today's match has become very important for Pakistan as the match against New Zealand was abandoned due to rain in Colombo. If they lose to England, the equation of reaching the semi-finals will become complicated for Salman Ali Agar's team. On the other hand, England has taken the field today with a lot of confidence. With a 51-run win over hosts Sri Lanka in their first match in the Super Eights, the English have gone ahead in terms of 2 points as well as net run rate. It can be said that Harry Brook's team has taken a step towards the semi-finals at the moment. Both teams have already announced what their main weapons will be in the match.

Prestianni banned for calling Vinicius a monkey Gianluca Prestianni has been suspended for one match for calling Vinicius Junior a 'monkey' on the pitch; if the allegations are proven, he could be banned for at least 10 matches. Gianluca Prestianni has been punished for racist abuse. He has been suspended for one match for calling Vinicius Junior a 'monkey' on the pitch. However, the punishment does not end here, the ban may be extended further. If the allegations are proven after the investigation, the Argentine star of Benfica could be banned for at least 10 matches. Vinicius Junior's goal gave Real Madrid a win over Benfica in the Champions League play-offs last week. Prestianni lost his temper and made racist comments to Vinicius. The Brazilian forward alleged that he was called a 'monkey'. However, Prestianni denied the allegations of racist abuse. However, Vinicius' club teammate and France star Kylian Mbappe also said that he himself heard Prestia...

Wie West returning from retirement to participate in the women's indoor golf league Former U.S. Women's Open champion Michelle Wie West is returning from retirement to participate in the women's edition of the tech-driven indoor golf league established by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, as announced by the organizers on Monday. Wie West, who left professional golf in 2023 after achieving five LPGA Tour victories, is a limited partner of TGL's Los Angeles Golf Club team, which includes Collin Morikawa, Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Rose, and Sahith Theegala. "I’m thrilled about the opportunity to compete again through WTGL, which will serve as a significant platform for women’s golf," Wie West, a five-time member of the U.S. Solheim Cup team, stated in a TMRW press release. "I’m dedicated to promoting the game, and TGL has demonstrated how innovative formats can attract a wider audience to golf." In January, the LPGA and TMRW Sports announced the formation of...

Windies' big win in a match that set multiple records West Indies set several records in the Super Eight match of the T20 World Cup against Zimbabwe. In the record-breaking match, the Windies defeated Zimbabwe by a huge margin of 107 runs. On Monday, the West Indies, after losing the toss at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, India, batted first and scored a record 254 runs for 6 wickets. This is the highest score recorded in the current edition of the T20 World Cup. In the history of the T20 World Cup, Sri Lanka had previously made a record 260/6 against Kenya in the first edition of the T20 World Cup in 2007. That record is still intact after 19 years. Today, for the West Indies, Simran Hetmyer scored a team-high 85 runs in just 34 balls with the help of 7 fours and 7 sixes. This is the highest score in his 80th T20 career. Rovman Powell scored the second highest 59 runs in 35 balls with 4 fours and a six. Coming out to bat towards the end of the innings, Sherefani Rutherford scored...

UEFA has temporarily suspended Benfica's Prestianni due to accusations of discriminatory conduct. UEFA has temporarily suspended Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni for one match following accusations that the Argentine winger directed a racist slur at Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr. during the first leg of the Champions League playoff, which ended in a 1-0 victory for the Spanish team, as stated by the governing body of European soccer on Monday. Prestianni will be unavailable for Wednesday's return match at the Santiago Bernabeu, where Real Madrid currently leads 1-0 from the initial leg played in Lisbon. This suspension is subject to the results of the ongoing investigation, as UEFA has designated an Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector to look into the claims of discriminatory conduct. "This is without prejudice to any ruling that the UEFA disciplinary bodies may subsequently make following the conclusion of the ongoing investigation and its respective submission to the UE...

Shohei Ohtani of the Dodgers is unlikely to pitch for Japan in the World Baseball Classic. Shohei Ohtani concluded spring training camp with a cautionary label as the Dodgers' two-way star dedicates his skills to assisting Japan in securing a fourth World Baseball Classic title. Well, most of his skills, at least. Ohtani's forthcoming step in his journey to becoming a full-time two-way player this season does not involve pitching for his home country next month in the WBC. "Given his recent surgery and the previous year he had, pitching through October, the quick turnaround at such an intense level post-surgery is a concern," stated Andrew Friedman, the Dodgers' president of baseball operations. "Moreover, we aim to play through October this year, with Shohei being a significant contributor on the mound. Coupled with his desire to pitch for the next eight years, and our wish for him to do so, we are being very cautious about all these factors." He contin...

Loftus-Cheek is hospitalized following a collision with the Parma goalkeeper as AC Milan loses at home. AC Milan lost more ground to city rival Inter Milan after a 1-0 loss to Parma at home on Sunday in a match which saw Milan midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek hospitalized after a collision with the Parma goalkeeper. Loftus-Cheek was struck on the head after colliding with Edoardo Corvi after a cross into the area about 10 minutes into the match at San Siro. The 30-year-old Loftus-Cheek had a bloodied face while being treated on the field. He was stretchered off with a neck and head brace, and later taken to hospital. Italian media reports said the England international and former Chelsea player sustained broken teeth and was being examined for head trauma. “Our thoughts are with him,” Parma coach Carlos Cuesta said. Mariano Troilo scored with a header off a corner in the 80th minute to give Parma the win. The goal was initially disallowed for a foul but the call was reversed after video r...

Barcelona takes advantage of Real Madrid's error and defeats Levante 3-0 to reclaim the top spot in La Liga. Barcelona took advantage of Real Madrid’s stumble and regained the Spanish league lead with a comfortable 3-0 win over relegation-threatened Levante on Sunday. Marc Bernal, Frenkie de Jong and Fermín López scored a goal each as Barcelona ended a two-game losing streak to get back in front of rival Madrid, which lost 2-1 at Osasuna on Saturday. Barcelona moved one point ahead of Madrid, which had won eight in a row in the league before losing to Osasuna. “We know it isn’t easy to start winning again after two defeats, but the team gave a very good response” Barcelona coach Hansi Flick said. Barcelona was coming off a 2-1 loss to Girona in the league and a 4-0 loss to Atletico Madrid in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semifinals. “It was important to win and earn three points again,” Barcelona defender João Cancelo said. “Soccer gives you these opportunities to rebound and t...

Mac Allister nets a stoppage-time winner for Liverpool following a VAR decision that disallowed an earlier goal. Alexis Mac Allister demonstrated remarkable perseverance. After an 89th-minute goal was disallowed due to a VAR review, the Argentine midfielder found the net again in the seventh minute of stoppage time — and this time, it was validated after a video check — securing Liverpool a 1-0 win against Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Sunday. The thrilling conclusion at the City Ground revolved entirely around Mac Allister, who believed he had scored without realizing it after turning away from a clearance by Nottingham Forest defender Ola Aina. The ball deflected off Mac Allister and into the goal, but VAR intervened, indicating it had touched his arm, leading to the disallowance of the goal. Nevertheless, he was present for what was virtually the final kick of the match when Virgil van Dijk’s header was mishandled by Forest goalkeeper Stefan Ortega. From just six meters...

Freiburg ascends to 7th place in the Bundesliga following a 2-1 victory against Gladbach Matthias Ginter and Igor Matanović found the net as Freiburg triumphed over Borussia Mönchengladbach with a score of 2-1, elevating them to seventh place in the Bundesliga on Sunday. Ginter opened the scoring in the 38th minute, executing an acrobatic maneuver to direct the ball into the net following a long throw-in, despite the presence of Gladbach defender Joe Scally. Having previously played five seasons with Gladbach, Ginter chose to temper his celebrations. Matanović, however, displayed no such hesitation when he netted Freiburg’s second goal in the 74th minute, easily tapping the ball in after Moritz Nicolas had saved a shot from Maximilian Eggestein’s cross. Haris Tabaković managed to score a consolation goal for Gladbach late in the match, just one minute after another of his goals was disallowed for offside. Freiburg extended their home winning streak to five matches across all competitio...

Ronaldo fasts for 2 days during Ramadan Cristiano Ronaldo left European club football at the beginning of 2023 to join Saudi Arabian club Al Nasr. Since moving to the Muslim-majority country in the Middle East, some differences have been noticed in Ronaldo. Sometimes he has been seen wearing the traditional Saudi dress, the Jabba. Now, former Al Nasr footballer Shaye Sharahili has brought more surprising information about Ronaldo. He claims that Ronaldo fasted for 2 consecutive days last Ramadan out of an interest in understanding Saudi culture and the experience of fasting. Recently, while talking to Thamaniyah Sports, Sharahili talked about the Ramadan experiences of Arab and foreign players in the Saudi Pro League. He said that while it is relatively easy for Arab players to play while fasting, it is quite challenging for foreign players. In Sharahili's words, 'Playing during Ramadan is not easy. However, Arab players are used to it. It becomes difficult for foreign players ...

Saka signs new contract extension with Arsenal ‘I feel great. I think it’s a fantastic moment for me and my family. I’m very happy to continue my journey at this club.’Star forward Bukayo Saka has extended his contract with English Premier League club Arsenal. Arsenal confirmed the extension of Saka’s contract in a statement on their website. However, the length of the extension was not disclosed. According to media reports, Saka has extended his contract with Arsenal until June 2030. His current contract with Arsenal was until 2027. Saka is happy to have signed a new contract with Arsenal. He said, ‘I feel great. I think it’s a fantastic moment for me and my family. I’m very happy to continue my journey at this club.’ He also said, ‘The decision to commit to this club was easy for me and I expect to win everything here.’ Saka joined Arsenal’s academy at the age of eight. He first got a chance in the first team in 2018. Saka has scored 78 goals in 297 matches for Arsenal in all competi...

Megan Keller's decisive goal at the Olympics for the United States is explained, detailing the pass and the maneuver. Taylor Heise felt fatigued, yet she recognized Megan Keller's speed on the ice. The outcome was the golden goal in overtime, securing an emotional victory for the U.S. over Canada in the women’s hockey final at the Milan Cortina Olympics on Thursday night. Keller’s goal, scored 4:07 into the 3-on-3 overtime, was a stunning highlight from beginning to end. It commenced with an impeccable, nearly 100-foot outlet pass from Heise, originating behind her own goal line, directed to Keller just beyond the center red line. “Meg was flying up the ice,” Heise remarked. “She was calling for the puck, and I was somewhat inclined to change, so I tossed it up to her.” Keller took it from there. With the puck on her forehand, she executed a backhand move to completely outmaneuver defender Claire Thompson. “When she received the puck, I thought, ‘I know where she’s going to sco...

Bangladeshi girls leave country to play in Asian Cup Afida Khandaker and Rituparna Chakmara left for Australia to play in the AFC Women's Asian Cup, the highest tournament in Asian women's football, last August. They are now looking to make that achievement even greater. The Bangladeshi women have left for Australia to play in the AFC Women's Asian Cup, the highest tournament in Asian women's football. Afida Khandaker and Rituparna Chakmara left from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in the capital at 11:50 pm on Thursday (February 19). The AFC Women's Asian Cup will be held in three cities in Australia from March 1 to March 21. Bangladesh will be playing in this highest tournament in Asian football for the first time. Afida Khandaker and Rituparna Chakmara brought good news to Bangladesh to play in the AFC Women's Asian Cup, the highest tournament in Asian football, last August. They are now looking to make that achievement even greater. However, it will n...

Indians dominate in The Hundred, Pakistanis fear not getting a team The English news media BBC has claimed that Indian-owned teams are not considering Pakistani cricketers. Pakistani cricketers are worried about getting a team in The Hundred. Indian-owned teams are turning their backs on Pakistanis. Which is making cricket questionable. The auction for The Hundred will be held next month. However, the league is embroiled in a new controversy. The English news media BBC has claimed that Indian-owned teams are not considering Pakistani cricketers. The rudeness of cricket, a game of polite people, is also seen from time to time. The ban on Pakistanis in India's popular cricket league IPL is a big example of this. This time the same incident has happened with Bangladesh. However, such discrimination is not limited to the IPL. As Indian franchises spread, the distance with Pakistani cricketers is increasing in many other leagues. South Africa's franchise league SA T20 starts in 2023...

Arsenal relinquishes a two-goal advantage against Wolves, enhancing Manchester City's prospects for the Premier League title. Arsenal squandered a two-goal advantage against last-placed Wolves on Wednesday, significantly aiding Manchester City in their pursuit of the Premier League title. The league leaders were unexpectedly held to a 2-2 draw at Molineux, despite having a 2-0 lead in the second half. Teenage debutant Tom Edozie netted a goal in the fourth minute of stoppage time, completing Wolves’ remarkable comeback. "There was a significant contrast in our performance between the first half and the second half. We lowered our standards and were punished for it," stated Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka in an interview with the BBC. This draw indicates that Arsenal has dropped points in consecutive matches, leaving them just five points ahead of second-placed City, although they have played one more game. With the top two teams yet to face each other at City’s Etihad Stadium...

End of trot chapter in Afghan cricket, Rashid showered with praise Jonathan Trott is stepping down as the head coach of the Afghanistan cricket team. The match against Canada in the T20 World Cup will be the team's last match under his leadership. Captain Rashid Khan has made an emotional comment about the outgoing coach. The day before the match, Rashid said, "We have a series against Sri Lanka right after the World Cup and then the IPL. Tomorrow is Jonathan Trott's last match with us. We have had some amazing matches and tours with him. He has played a big role in bringing Afghan cricket to where it is today." He added, "He has worked hard with every player. We will all miss him a lot. He has played a key role in taking the team forward in the right direction." Under Trott, Afghanistan has consistently shown its ability to fight against strong teams. The team's performance has improved in discipline and tactics. According to Rashid, this progress has c...

Badosa criticizes online 'disrespect' following her retirement due to injury in Dubai Paula Badosa expressed her frustration on Wednesday regarding a "disrespectful" comment made online and pledged to extend her career, which has been marred by injuries, after a right thigh issue compelled the former world number two to withdraw from her match at the already diminished Dubai Tennis Championships. The Spaniard had successfully returned to the top 10 in the world last year with impressive performances following a series of injuries, including a persistent back issue, which had her considering an early retirement in 2024.Badosa initially led 4-1 against Elina Svitolina in her second round match in Dubai on Tuesday, but subsequently lost the next five games, dropped the first set, and after calling for treatment, ultimately decided to concede the match. She later took to social media to respond to a comment from an individual who accused her of disrespecting the sport. ...

A Benfica defender has been accused of using a racial slur directed at Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr. Portuguese soccer club Benfica on Wednesday expressed their support for Argentine winger Gianluca Prestianni who was accused of using a racial slur against Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr during Tuesday's Champions League playoff first-leg. Europe's soccer governing body UEFA said an Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector has been appointed to investigate the allegations of discriminatory behaviour levelled by Real Madrid.Vinicius' repeated targeting with racist abuse has become a central test for Spanish soccer, with several high-profile incidents involving fans from rival teams over the years. TV footage showed Prestianni covering his mouth with his shirt - a common move by players or coaches to prevent anyone reading their lips - while making a comment that Vinicius and nearby teammates interpreted as a racial slur against the 25-year-old Brazilian. MATCH SUSPENDED FOR 11 MINUT...

Bangladesh to play directly in 2028 T20 World Cup, says ICC The ICC has excluded Bangladesh from the 2026 T20 World Cup in India due to security reasons. However, the world cricket governing body today confirmed that Bangladesh will play directly in the 2028 T20 World Cup even if it is not in the current tournament. Australia and New Zealand will jointly host the 11th edition of the T20 World Cup after two years. 20 teams will also participate in that tournament. Australia and New Zealand have automatically secured a place by virtue of being the hosts. The ICC today announced the names of 10 more teams along with them. India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, England, West Indies and South Africa, which have made it to the Super Eight stage of this year's T20 World Cup, are on the list. And Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Ireland have been given a chance based on their rankings. Among the teams that failed to make it to the Super Eight of the current T20 World Cup or were not the hosts, B...

  Yamal's penalty miss shatters Barca's dreams Barcelona missed a golden opportunity to return to the top of La Liga. Girona won 2-1 with a last-minute goal from Fran Beltran, leaving Barca disappointed after the Catalan derby. The two teams played attacking football from the start of the match at Girona. Rafinha and Lamine Yamal had chances for Barca but failed to score. Although they were awarded a penalty in the first half, Yamal's spot kick hit the post. After the break, Barcelona took the lead in the 59th minute through a header from Pau Kuberci. But within two minutes, Thomas Lemar scored to equalize the match. After that, Girona increased the pressure with one attack after another. In the 86th minute of the match, Fran Beltran's low shot sent the ball into the net, causing the home fans to burst into cheers. Despite the objections of the Barca camp, the goal stood. The home team's Joel Roca was sent off in extra time, but the result did not change. With this ...