Category: Sports

Jofra Archer has been named in England’s squad for the T20 World Cup, despite missing the last two Ashes Tests due to injury. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced the provisional squad, led by Harry Brook, for the upcoming T20 mega event and the white-ball series against Sri Lanka.

Upcoming Matches in Sri Lanka

England will play three ODIs and three T20Is in Sri Lanka in preparation for the T20 World Cup, which starts on February 7 in India and Sri Lanka. Archer, who is still recovering from a side strain sustained during the third Ashes Test in Adelaide, will not be part of the Sri Lanka tour.

New Faces in the Squad

Pace bowler Josh Tongue, who has yet to play a white-ball international for England, has been included in the World Cup squad following his performances in the Ashes. Harry Brook will captain England in the T20 World Cup, with Tom Banton, Jos Buttler, Jacob Bethell, Sam Curran, Ben Duckett, and Phil Salt as key players for this prestigious event.

ECB’s Official Statement

“The England Men’s selection panel has named the squads for next month’s white-ball tour of Sri Lanka, which includes three One-Day Internationals (ODIs), three IT20s, and a provisional squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, hosted jointly by India and Sri Lanka in February and March,” the ECB stated.

“Nottinghamshire seamer Josh Tongue has been selected in the T20 squad for the first time. Sussex fast bowler Jofra Archer is included in the provisional T20 World Cup squad but will miss the tour of Sri Lanka as he continues his rehabilitation with the England medical team following the left side strain sustained during the third Ashes Test in Adelaide earlier this month. Durham seamer Brydon Carse is included in the squad touring Sri Lanka.”

Returning Players

“Surrey batting all-rounder Will Jacks returns to both squads, having missed the New Zealand white-ball tour in October. Kent top-order batter Zak Crawley makes a return to the ODI squad for the first time since December 2023 and will aim to add to his eight caps in the format.”

Tour Details

The tour party is set to depart on January 18, 2026. The ODI series in Sri Lanka will be held on January 22, 24, and 27 at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. The T20Is will then take place at the Pallekele International Stadium in Kandy on January 30, February 1, and 3.

The T20 World Cup will be conducted across different venues in India and Sri Lanka from February 7, with the final scheduled for March 8.

England Squads

T20 World Cup and Sri Lanka Tour Squad:

• Harry Brook
• Rehan Ahmed
• Jofra Archer (World Cup only)
• Tom Banton
• Jacob Bethell
• Jos Buttler
• Brydon Carse (Sri Lanka tour only)
• Sam Curran
• Liam Dawson
• Ben Duckett
• Will Jacks
• Jamie Overton
• Adil Rashid
• Phil Salt
• Josh Tongue
• Luke Wood

ODI Squad for Sri Lanka:

• Harry Brook
• Rehan Ahmed
• Tom Banton
• Jacob Bethell
• Jos Buttler
• Brydon Carse
• Zak Crawley
• Sam Curran
• Liam Dawson
• Ben Duckett
• Will Jacks
• Jamie Overton
• Adil Rashid
• Joe Root
• Luke Wood.

Two-time champions Mumbai Inddigihunt (MI) have commenced their training camp ahead of the upcoming Women’s Premier League (WPL) season. The fourth edition of the WPL will take place across two venues: the first leg at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai and the second at Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara from January 9 to February 5.

Coaching Staff and Arrival of Players

Under the leadership of Head Coach Lisa Keightley, Bowling Coach and Team Mentor Jhulan Goswami, Batting Coach Devieka Palshikaar, and the support staff, players who have already arrived—Saika Ishaque, Sajana S, Sanskriti Gupta, Poonam Khemnar, Triveni Vasistha, N Kranthi Reddy, and Rahila Firdous—began their pre-season training.

Speaking about the camp, Keightley said, “It’s really good. We’ve had one training. It was great to work with domestic players. Really excited to see what they can do. It’s a good opportunity to watch, to see and communicate and make connections with the players. I’m really excited and really impressed with what I have seen so far. So let’s see how we go for the rest of the week.”

Training Emphasis

The session focused on fitness, skill evaluation, and team cohesion, helping players reconnect with match routines under the supervision of the coaching staff. The group laid the groundwork for the upcoming weeks through structured drills and net sessions, as the squad continues to arrive, gaining momentum and building cohesion before the season begins.

Upcoming Matches

The defending champions will kick off their campaign on the opening day of the tournament, January 9, 2026, against the WPL 2024 champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.

Historical Dominance

Notably, after three seasons of the WPL, the Mumbai Inddigihunt remain the most successful team, having won the first and third editions of the tournament. With Harmanpreet Kaur leading the team, they aim to defend their title successfully as the WPL fast approaches.

MI Squad for WPL 2026

• Harmanpreet Kaur
• Nat Sciver-Brunt
• Hayley Matthews
• Amanjot Kaur
• Kamalini G
• Amelia Kerr
• Shabnim Ismail
• Rahila Firdous
• Sajana S
• Sanskriti Gupta
• Nicola Carey
• Poonam Khemnar
• Triveni Vasistha
• Nalla Reddy
• Milly Illingworth
• Saika Ishaque

India batter Tilak Varma recently visited the Tirumala Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple to seek divine blessings. He was accompanied by BCCI Apex Council member and former first-class cricketer V. Chamundeswaranath.

Blessings at the Temple

During their visit on Vaikunta Ekadasi, they offered prayers and had darshan of Lord Venkateswara, passing through the sacred Vaikunta Dwaram. Officials from the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams made special arrangements for their darshan and facilitated their visit to the hill shrine.

A Good Omen for the T20 World Cup

As India aims to defend its T20 World Cup title, Tilak’s visit to Tirupati might serve as a lucky charm in what is expected to be an intense and closely contested tournament. Earlier in August this year, he also visited the shrine before the ACC Asia Cup, where his crucial 69-run innings helped India secure a victory against arch-rivals Pakistan in the final.

Recent Performances

Tilak’s latest performance for India was during the recently concluded T20I series against South Africa, where he played a key role in leading the Men in Blue to a 3-1 series victory over the Proteas. In the T20I series opener against South Africa earlier this month, he made history by becoming the first Indian batter to score 1000 runs in T20Is before turning 25, accumulating scores of 26, 62, 26, and 73 throughout the series.

Upcoming Action

The 23-year-old batter will next be in action in the T20I series against New Zealand, starting on January 21. These matches will serve as a preparatory series for both teams before the T20 World Cup, which is scheduled to begin on February 7.

India’s T20 World Cup and New Zealand T20 Series Squad

India will enter the T20 World Cup as defending champions, having won the 2024 edition in Barbados by defeating South Africa in the final. The squad for the T20 World Cup and the New Zealand T20 series includes:

• Suryakumar Yadav (captain)
• Abhishek Sharma
• Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper)
• Tilak Varma
• Hardik Pandya
• Shivam Dubey
• Axar Patel (vice-captain)
• Rinku Singh
• Jasprit Bumrah
• Harshit Rana
• Arshdeep Singh
• Kuldeep Yadav
• Varun Chakravarthy
• Washington Sundar
• Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper)

A resounding victory at the Asia Cup in Rajgir, Bihar has reinstated the Indian men’s hockey team’s status as the No.1 side in Asia. The title victory after a gap of eight years was a highlight of 2025 for Craig Fulton and his team, as they trounced giants like Korea, China, and Malaysia during the tournament.

Strong Start to the Year

The year began positively with a strong performance in the home leg of the FIH Pro League, following the revamped Hero Hockey India League (HIL). Players on the fringes showcased their talent, pushing for a place in the senior side.

The international season kicked off with the Pro League in Bhubaneswar, where India delivered impressive results against Spain, Germany, Ireland, and England. Under the leadership of Harmanpreet Singh, the team won six out of eight matches, building on the momentum from a long HIL season that followed their bronze medal success at the Paris Olympics and a victory in the Asian Champions Trophy in China.

Mixed Results in Europe

However, the Pro League concluded on a disappointing note for India in Europe, as they managed only a consolation win against Belgium while losing matches to Australia, the Netherlands, and Argentina in June.

Asian Crown Achieved

In August, the team turned things around by lifting the Asian crown. Another noteworthy event for this squad was their outing in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, where the India ‘A’ side, featuring many key players like Harmanpreet Singh, Manpreet Singh, and Hardik Singh rested, put up a valiant display. They narrowly lost the title to Belgium (0-1) but secured victories against Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, and Canada in an inspiring manner.

Captain’s Reflection

“Winning the Asia Cup was definitely a highlight for the Indian team, but I think Azlan Shah was one of the highlights of the year for the Indian team, where many of us from the main team were rested, but the development squad ended up doing well,” stated Captain Harmanpreet Singh. He capped off the year as the highest goal scorer for India, noting, “This puts us in good stead for a busy year in 2026 with the Asian Games and the World Cup being close to each other, and we can have different options in the squad.”

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has postponed both Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) matches scheduled for Tuesday, following the death of Khaleda Zia, the country’s former prime minister, earlier in the morning.

The decision was made shortly after the news of her passing and just a couple of hours before the toss for the first match of the day, featuring Sylhet Titans against Chattogram Royals at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium.

“The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Begum Khaleda Zia, Chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and former Prime Minister of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh,” the BCB stated in an X post.

“The BCB recalls with gratitude her constant blessings and good wishes for the progress of cricket in the country. During her tenure as Prime Minister, she provided outstanding support for the development of cricket in Bangladesh, significantly contributing to improvements in cricket infrastructure and the growth of the sport nationwide. Her vision and encouragement helped pave the way for many of the advancements the game enjoys today.

“The Bangladesh Cricket Board joins the whole country in profound grief at this great loss and extends its heartfelt condolences. We pray for the eternal peace of her soul,” the post read further.

In another post, the board mentioned, “In respect of the nation’s mourning and in honour of Begum Khaleda Zia’s legacy, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announces that today’s scheduled Bangladesh Premier League T20 2025–26 matches, Sylhet Titans vs Chattogram Royals and Dhaka Capitals vs Rangpur Riders — have been cancelled and will be rescheduled.”

The 2025-26 season of the BPL kicked off on December 26, with three matchdays already completed. The second match, scheduled for Tuesday, was set to feature Dhaka Capitals and Rangpur Riders.

Due to multiple breaks between matchdays, the postponement is not expected to affect the overall schedule significantly.

Quinton de Kock’s batting masterclass powered Sunrisers Eastern Cape to a 48-run bonus point win over Pretoria Capitals at St George’s Park.

The victory propelled the Sunrisers to the top of the SA20 table with 10 points, while the Capitals remain winless after two matches. The Gqeberha locals turned out in their thousands, filling South Africa’s oldest Test venue in a sea of orange for the first home game of Season 4. The iconic brass band added to the festive spirit, ensuring another memorable SA20 night.

De Kock provided plenty of reasons for the crowd to cheer, scoring 77 off just 47 balls (5×4, 6×6). He struck the ball sweetly from the start, showcasing a couple of rasping lofted cover drives along with powerful pull shots. Matthew Breetzke (52 off 33 balls) complemented De Kock perfectly after the early dismissal of Jonny Bairstow, with the duo forming an electrifying 116-run partnership off just 70 balls.

This partnership set the stage for the in-form Jordan Hermann (37 off 20 balls), who unleashed a series of conventional and reverse sweeps, pushing the Sunrisers to an impressive total of 188/6. The Player of the Match candidates included Matthew Breetzke, Quinton de Kock, Shai Hope, and Adam Milne, with ‘QDK’ winning 69.3 percent of the fan vote.

The total proved to be far beyond the Capitals’ reach as the Sunrisers unleashed their three-pronged pace attack of Marco Jansen, Adam Milne, and Anrich Nortje. Jansen made an impact quickly, removing Capitals opener Bryce Parsons with a delivery that the left-hander could only fend off to De Kock behind the stumps after just six balls. Kiwi pacer Milne (4-25) then dismissed West Indian Shai Hope (36 off 19 balls) just as he seemed set to build an innings of substance.

A crucial breakthrough came from Lewis Gregory, who flummoxed Dewald Brevis (12 off five balls) into taking on the longest boundary at the ground, where Breetzke was waiting to take an easy catch.

The Capitals’ innings fell apart from that point on, with Milne tearing through the visitors’ tail, while left-arm spinner Senuran Muthusamy delivered possibly the ball of the night, clean bowling a well-set Will Smeed (35 off 27 balls).

Shrachi Bengal Tigers Open HIL 2025-26 Season with Victory

Shrachi Bengal Tigers clinched a 1-0 win against Soorma Hockey Club in their inaugural match of the Women’s Hockey India League (HIL) 2025-26 season at the Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Munda Astro Turf Stadium.

First Quarter Breakthrough

Agustina Gorzelany’s powerful drag flick in the 11th minute helped the Shrachi Bengal Tigers take an early lead. Despite a strong attacking effort from the JSW Soorma Hockey Club, they could not penetrate the Tigers’ solid defence for the remainder of the match.

Intense Battle in Midfield

Both teams started with a fierce midfield battle, but Soorma Hockey Club gradually gained confidence, making several entries into the Tigers’ shooting circle without attempting a shot. The Tigers countered by advancing down the wings, earning a penalty corner with five minutes remaining in the quarter. Gorzelany expertly flicked the ball into the bottom right corner. In a bid to equalise, Soorma earned a penalty corner at the end of the quarter, but Shihori Oikawa’s shot was deflected wide.

Soorma Pushes Forwards

The second quarter saw Soorma maintaining their offensive pressure, penetrating the Tigers’ defence and earning multiple penalty corners. However, Lalremsiami’s brave rushing play ensured the Tigers preserved their lead. Maria Granatto of Soorma attempted a run through the middle following a turnover, but Valentina Raposo managed to force her wide, allowing the Tigers to hold onto their slender advantage.

Penalties and Near Misses

Baljeet Kaur won a penalty corner for Soorma to kick off the second half, but a variation by Salima Tete went wide of the target. Soorma continued to press into the Tigers’ half, yet the Tigers exhibited outstanding defensive efforts while occasionally counter-attacking.

As the quarter progressed, the Tigers demonstrated increased initiative, creating several opportunities but failing to convert. Meanwhile, Soorma aimed to rely on penalty corner variations to score, but again found no success. The end of the third quarter saw both teams frantically searching for a goal, but the score remained unchanged.

Final Minutes of Tension

After a brief period of midfield turnovers, Soorma regained their footing and advanced again, yet the Tigers’ defence countered effectively. The Tigers worked to slow down the game tempo and manage the clock. In the final moments, Soorma intensified their efforts, earning another penalty corner with two minutes to go. However, Penny Squib’s attempt flew wide. The Tigers held their composure as a unit, securing a 1-0 victory in their season opener.

Sreejith V. Nair has been elected as the new President of the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) during the organisation’s 75th Annual General Body Meeting (AGM) held on Monday.

Nair, a former treasurer and secretary of the Association, succeeds Jayesh George, who is currently serving as Chairman of the Women’s Premier League (WPL). Satheesan K, a former member of the Apex Council, has been elected as the Vice President.

Incumbent Secretary Vinod S. Kumar and Joint Secretary Bineesh Kodiyeri will continue in their respective positions. T. Ajith Kumar, Secretary of the Palakkad District Cricket Association, has been elected as the new Treasurer, while Muhammed Naufal T., Secretary of the Kasaragod District Cricket Association, has been appointed as the General Body Representative to the Apex Council.

Development Plans

The new office bearers approved a one-year comprehensive development plan aimed at upgrading cricket infrastructure in all 14 districts and enhancing player development systems across the state to meet international standards.

“KCA will implement major projects under the Kerala Sports Infrastructure Development Scheme announced by the State Government, utilising the special concessions granted under the Land Act,” the KCA stated.

As part of the plan, cricket grounds and related facilities will be developed in all 14 districts. Infrastructure for other sports will also be improved alongside cricket facilities, with the objective of ensuring uniform training standards and modern amenities across districts.

Future Endeavours

Nair stated that the KCA aims to construct an international cricket stadium in Kochi in collaboration with the state government. “Further discussions will be held with the government to secure a long-term lease of the Sports Hub International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram and to establish a High Altitude Sports Centre at Munnar for cricket, football and other sports,” he added.

Additionally, the KCA plans to launch the Kerala Women’s Premier League to bolster women’s cricket in the state. They also announced plans to set up new academies in Idukki and Thiruvananthapuram to identify young talent and provide scientific, performance-oriented training, focusing on fitness, skill development, and modern coaching methods.

“In addition, the General Body resolved to further strengthen the existing High Performance Centre, ensuring advanced training facilities, sports science laboratories, fitness and rehabilitation centres, and access to expert coaches,” concluded the KCA.