Category: Sports

Australia pacer Kane Richardson has announced his retirement from professional cricket, bringing down the curtain on a 17-year-long career.

The 34-year-old revealed his decision on Tuesday, sharing the news first through an Instagram post before issuing an official statement via the Australian Cricketers’ Association.

Richardson had signed a one-year deal with the Sydney Sixers ahead of the recently concluded Big Bash League (BBL) season 15 but was limited to just two appearances, picking up a solitary wicket.

Richardson was among the original cast of the BBL, having been part of the league since its first season. He enjoyed lengthy stints with Adelaide Strikers and Melbourne Renegades, lifting the title with the Renegades in the 2018-19 season.

Over the years, Richardson became one of the most reliable fast bowlers in the tournament. He finished his BBL career as the fifth-highest wicket-taker, claiming 142 wickets at an average of 23.21 and an economy rate of 7.87.

Reflecting on his decision, Richardson said he had given his all throughout his career and felt it was the right time to move on.

“From making my debut back in 2009 until now, I feel like I have squeezed every drop out of myself, and it is the right time to finish such an enjoyable part of my life,” he said.

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He also thanked coaches, administrators, and teammates who helped shape his journey, particularly those from his early days in South Australia and the Northern Territory.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to represent my country, along with many franchise teams around the world, and in Australia,” Richardson added.

“I have never taken the opportunity lightly, and I hope the people watching knew that I had dreamt about being a cricketer since I was a kid in Darwin.”

Kane Richardson’s international career included 25 ODIs and 36 T20Is for Australia, yielding 84 wickets across both formats.

He was part of the Australian squad that won the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 in the UAE, and also featured in the 2019 ODI World Cup.

His franchise career was equally impressive, featuring in four IPL seasons and stints in the T20 Blast, The Hundred, and ILT20.

Overall, Richardson retires with 241 wickets in 201 T20 matches across domestic and franchise competitions, maintaining an average of 23.58.

READ: U19 World Cup: Pakistan’s semi-final qualification scenario explained

HARARE: Pakistan have kicked off their Super Six campaign at the ongoing ICC Men’s U19 World Cup 2026 against New Zealand, with an aim to book their place in the semi-final.

The ongoing match against New Zealand is a virtual knock-out for Pakistan, knowing that a slip-up could seriously dent their qualification hopes in a tightly-packed Super Six Group 2.

For the unversed, the tournament structure sees the top three teams from each group advancing to the Super Six stage, but teams do not start on equal footing. Points earned against fellow Super Six qualifiers during the group stage are carried forward.

At this stage, each team plays only two matches, both against teams from the other group whose group-stage ranking differed from their own.

This means a team that finished second in its group will not face the team that also finished second in the other group.

Groups B and C have combined to form Super Six Group 2, while Groups A and D make up Super Six Group 1. The top two teams from each Super Six group will progress to the semi-finals.

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Pakistan finished second in Group C, behind England, while Zimbabwe also progressed from the group.

As a result, Pakistanare set to face Group B toppers India and Group B third-placed New Zealand in the Super Six stage, but will not play Bangladesh, who finished second in Group B.

Pakistan sit third in Super Six Group 2 with a 0.629 net run rate, while England occupy the top spot after their dominant seven-wicket win over Bangladesh yesterday, which significantly boosted their NRR to 1.989.

India, who entered the Super Six with an already strong NRR of 2.751, are sitting at second position.

Considering Pakistan’s low net run rate, they must defeat New Zealand and then overcome an in-form India on February 1 by substantial margins to leapfrog into the top two.

READ: Bangladesh journalists denied ICC accreditation for T20 World Cup

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has denied accreditation applications from Bangladesh journalists aiming to cover the T20 World Cup 2026, effectively preventing media representatives from the country from accessing on-ground coverage of the tournament.

The development comes amid already strained relations between the ICC and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) following their refusal to travel to India for the World Cup, citing security concerns, a decision that eventually led to their replacement by Scotland.

BCB media committee chairman Amzad Hossain confirmed the matter on Monday, revealing that none of the Bangladeshi journalists who applied were granted accreditation.

“As far as I know, all Bangladeshi journalists were rejected. Around 130 to 150 journalists applied this year, but none received accreditation,” Amzad said.

The situation has further fueled controversy after several Bangladeshi journalists claimed their accreditation approvals were initially granted and later withdrawn.

A handful of photojournalists reportedly received confirmation emails and visa support letters in mid-January, only to be informed days later that their applications had been rejected.

Local journalist Mir Farid said he was among those affected.

“I received an approval email from the ICC media department on January 20, which included a visa support letter. But today I received another email saying my application was rejected,” he said.

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Bangladeshi journalists have consistently covered ICC events since the country’s involvement in World Cups began in 1999, regardless of whether Bangladesh were active participant in the tournament.

Veteran journalist Arifur Rahman Babu, who was among the Bangladeshi reporters covering the 1996 World Cup, expressed strong disappointment over the ICC’s move.

“Even if a team is not playing, journalists from an ICC Associate Member nation can still receive accreditation. I find no reason why everyone was rejected. I am surprised, and I strongly condemn and protest this decision,” said Arifur, who is also the president of the Bangladesh Sports Journalists Association (BSJA).

Arifur further indicated that the BSJA would consult with the Bangladesh Sports Press Association (BSPA) and the Bangladesh Sports Journalists Community (BSJC) to decide on a collective response.

“It appears the ICC is unhappy that Bangladesh are not participating and has shut the door on Bangladeshi sports journalists. This goes beyond courtesy and professionalism. I believe this episode has exposed a dark side of the ICC,” he said.

He also suggested that alternative arrangements could have been made, particularly with Sri Lanka being a co-host.

“A strong protest letter should be sent to the ICC through the Ministry of Information and the BCB, seeking an explanation. Since Sri Lanka is a co-host, arrangements could have been made for us there,” he added.

READ: Last-minute entrants Scotland name squad for T20 World Cup 2026

EDINBURGH: Cricket Scotland (CS) on Monday announced a 15-member squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, set to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8.

38-year-old batter Richie Berrington will continue to lead the European side at the 20-team marquee event, with selectors largely backing experience as 11 players from the 2024 T20 World Cup in the West Indies and USA retained their places.

The squad also sees fresh faces, with Tom Bruce, Finlay McCreath and Oliver Davidson set to make their World Cup debuts.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan-born fast bowler Zainullah Ihsan earned his maiden international call-up after recently becoming eligible to represent Scotland.

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In addition to the main squad, Cricket Scotland named two travelling and three non-travelling reserves, while clarifying that all selections remain subject to visa approvals, following Scotland’s late inclusion in the tournament after replacing Bangladesh.

Scotland will begin their T20 World Cup 2026 campaign against the West Indies on February 7 in Kolkata, followed by group-stage fixtures against Italy on February 9 and England on February 14 at the same venue.

The European side will then head to Mumbai to face Nepal on February 17 in their final group match.

Scotland squad for T20 World Cup 2026

Richie Berrington (c), Tom Bruce, Matthew Cross, Bradley Currie, Oliver Davidson, Chris Greaves, Zainullah Ihsan, Michael Jones, Michael Leask, Finlay McCreath, Brandon McMullen, George Munsey, Safyaan Sharif, Mark Watt, Bradley Wheal.

Travelling reserves: Jasper Davidson, Jack Jarvis

Non-travelling reserves: Mackenzie Jones, Chris McBride, Charlie Tear

READ: West Indies reveal T20 World Cup 2026 squad

Last year’s runner-up, Alexander Zverev, served his way into the Australian Open semi-finals on Tuesday as he crushed young American Learner Tien under a barrage of aces.

Zverev won 6-3, 6-7 (5/7), 6-1, 7-6 (7/3) and faces world number one Carlos Alcaraz or home hope Alex de Minaur for a place in the Melbourne final.

German world number three Zverev is desperate to finally win a Grand Slam at age 28, having been well beaten in last year’s title decider by Jannik Sinner.

“Without my aces I probably would not have won today,” said Zverev, who sent down 24 aces and made only one double fault, on a match point. “Obviously very happy with my serve.

“Learner off the baseline was playing unbelievable,” he added. “The way he is playing is incredible.”

The quarter-final took place under a closed roof at Rod Laver Arena to fend off temperatures forecast to hit 45 °C outside.

At 29 in the world, the Californian Tien was the lowest-ranked player left in the men’s draw.

He was also the youngest at age 20 and was playing in the biggest match of his life, having never reached the last eight at a major before.

In contrast, Zverev is an experienced campaigner at the deep end of Grand Slams, but has famously never captured one of the four biggest tournaments.

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He was also a runner-up at the US Open in 2020 and again at the French Open in 2024.

The more experienced man made the better start, breaking Tien for a 4-2 lead on the way to clinching the first set.

Tien, who won his first ATP title in November and is coached by the 1989 French Open champion Michael Chang, went toe-to-toe with Zverev in the second set.

With serve dominating, they went to a tiebreak, where Zverev upped the ante to go 5-3 up.

But Tien refused to buckle and defended brilliantly, clawing back and then overhauling the deficit to level the match.

The American had the crowd on his side, but Zverev’s serve was relentless, and he barrelled into a 5-1 lead in the third set.

Zverev romped through the set in 28 minutes as Tien’s unforced error count mounted.

With Chang a vocal presence, Tien regathered in the fourth and had a set point at 6-5, only for Zverev to dig himself out of trouble and force the tiebreak.

With his serve blazing, the German raced through the tiebreak to wrap up victory.

READ: Bayern Munich confirm talks to extend Harry Kane’s contract

Bayern Munich sporting director Max Eberl on Monday confirmed the club are in talks to extend Harry Kane’s deal at the club.

The 32-year-old England forward, who joined Bayern in 2023, has a deal until 2027.

“We’re talking to Harry, we’re talking,” Eberl said at a Bundesliga event in Frankfurt.

“Everyone knows at some point a decision has to be made,” he added.

Club CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen said on Monday: “Harry has great confidence in us, and he feels comfortable in Munich.

“He and his family are settled in. Therefore, we’ve got absolutely no reason to rush.”

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Long without a team trophy, Kane broke his drought in 2025 when Bayern won the Bundesliga.

This campaign, Bayern are eight points clear in the league and sit second in the 36-team Champions League table.

Speaking in October, Kane said he could “definitely imagine” extending his stay in Germany.

Kane has scored 119 goals in 126 games for Bayern, while adding 30 assists.

In this campaign, Kane has 34 goals in 30 games. With 21 goals in 19 Bundesliga matches, Kane is on track to break the single-season league record of 41 goals set by Robert Lewandowski in 2020-21.

READ: Former Spain coach Moreno denies using AI to manage club

Former Spain coach Robert Moreno denied using artificial intelligence tool ChatGPT to prepare for games during his time in charge of Russian club Sochi on Monday.

Moreno left top-flight side Sochi in September 2025 after a poor run of results and reports emerged recently in Russia saying he had heavily relied on ChatGPT in his role, even using it to decide between potential signings.

“I have never used ChatGPT or any AI to prepare matches, decide line-ups, or choose players. That is completely false,” wrote Moreno in an open letter sent to Spanish newspaper Marca.

The 48-year-old said he used technology in his job but made his decisions himself and with his staff.

“My career in football began precisely through data and video analysis. It’s what I specialise in and what made the difference in my early days,” continued Moreno.

“Like any professional coaching staff, we use analysis tools — GPS, Wyscout (a football analytics database), video, scouting platforms.

“Technology helps process information faster, but the sporting decisions are always made by the coaching staff.”

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Moreno said the reports about his use of ChatGPT came from former club executive Andrei Orlov whom he had differences with.

“My departure was by mutual agreement at a time of inconsistent results and disagreements over sporting planning, as is common in football,” added Moreno.

“To present it as being ‘fired for using ChatGPT’ simplifies something much more complex and is also untrue.”

Moreno, who has also coached Monaco and Granada, took over the Spanish national team on a temporary basis in 2019 from Luis Enrique.

He was appointed on a full-time basis in June that year after Luis Enrique resigned because his daughter Xana was diagnosed with a rare bone cancer.

Spain rehired Luis Enrique to replace Moreno in November 2019 after his daughter’s death. The coach accused Moreno of being “disloyal” for trying to stay in charge for Euro 2020.

READ: Sir Donald Bradman’s cap sells for record price at auction

A baggy green cap worn by Donald Bradman fetched A$460,000 (US$319,000) at public auction in Australia on Monday, a record price for a cap worn by the Australian cricket legend.

The price paid for the cap, once a 16.5% buyer’s premium of A$75,900 is added, totals A$535,900, beating the previous record holder, a baggy green from the same series — against India in 1947/48 — that was sold in 2024.

That cap was bought for A$479,700, including the buyer’s premium, at auction.

Bradman, who died aged 92 in 2001, had given the cap sold on Monday to Indian all-rounder Sriranga Wasudev ‘Ranga’ Sohoni.

Inside, it bears the inscriptions: ‘D.G. Bradman’ and ‘S.W. Sohoni’.

Back in Bradman’s day the baggy green cap was awarded for each series they played — a contrast to the present day where only one is handed out on Test debut.

Sohoni’s family looked after the cap until it was put up for auction — Sohoni died in 1993 aged 75.

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The buyer requested anonymity but it will go on display at an Australian museum.

“That’s over three generations under lock and key,” said Lee Hames, the chief operating officer of Lloyds Auctioneers and Valuers, who held the auction.

“If you were a family member you were only allowed to look at it when you were 16-years-old for five minutes.”

The series was notable for being India’s first as an independent country and Bradman’s last on home soil.

Bradman made it a memorable one, scoring 715 runs — including his 100th first-class century — as the Australians romped to a 4-0 series win.

Bradman is widely regarded as cricket’s greatest-ever batter and averaged 99.94 in his 52-match Test career.

READ: U19 World Cup: England edge closer to semis, Sri Lanka beat Afghanistan

England continued their dominant run with a seven-wicket win over Bangladesh while Sri Lanka handed Afghanistan their first defeat in the ICC Men’s U19 World Cup 2026 Super Six fixtures.

Set a partly 137 to chase at the Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo, England hit the winning runs on the first ball of the 24th over, losing three wickets in the process.

With this victory, England moved one step closer to sealing a semi-final berth, going top of Group 2 with six points from three matches.

After opener Joseph Moores was sent back for one in the second over, Ben Mayes and Ben Dawkins stabilized the innings with a 36 run partnership.

Dawkins made 27 from 29 with the help of five fours before getting caught.

As a result, England were reduced to 39-2 at the end of nine overs with skipper Thomas Rew and Ben Mayes at the crease.

Both batters put the chase back on track with a steady 78 run partnership with the Three Lions nearing the victory.

Mayes made 34 from 50 balls with the help of a six and two fours.

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At this stage England were 117 in 20.2 overs as Caleb Falconer partnered with Rew to get his team over the line.

Thomas Rew remained unbeaten 59* from 50, striking five fours and two sixes whereas Falconer made 9*, finishing the match with a boundary.

Earlier, after opting to bat first, Bangladesh were bowled for 136 in 38.1 overs.

Zawad Abrar was sent back in the first over, which was followed by a half-century stand between Rifat Beg (31 off 36) and captain Azizul Hakim (20 off 46).

As a result, Bangladesh score crossed the 50 run mark, however England bowlers tore through the middle-order as the Tigers slumped from 53-2 to 90-5 and then all-out in 38.1 overs.

For England, Sebastian Morgan was the pick of the bowlers. Ralphie Albert and Manny Lumsden picked up a brace each.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka defeated Afghanistan by four wickets in a close encounter in Group 1 of the Super Sixes, ending the Young Atlans unbeaten run in the tournament.

After choosing to bowl first at the Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek, Sri Lanka folded Afghanistan innings for 193 in 49.5 overs.

Osman Sadat top-scored with 61 from 107, hitting three fours whereas Azizullah Miakhil also contribute the bat, scoring 43 off 58 with the help of five fours.

For Sri Lanka, Viran Chamuditha and Kugathas Mathulan shared four wickets between them.

In reply, Sri Lanka huffed and puffed before reaching towards the target. The Islanders eventually managed to get over the line, losing six wickets in the process with 19 balls to spare.

Senuja Wekunagoda remained the highest scorer for them who hit five fours in his 43 off 79 balls.

Dimantha Mahavithana and Dulnith Sigera also chipped in with the bat, both scoring 37 and 30 runs respectively.

For Afghanistan, Roohullah Arab scalped two wickets.

In 16th place playoff played at the Harare Sports Club, USA defeated Scotland by seven wickets to finish their campaign in style.

USA chased down 237 in only 38.4 overs, thanks to Adnit Jhamb’s century, who hit 17 boundaries and a six in his unbeaten 116 from 93 balls.

Skipper Utkarsh Srivastava also scored a brisk half-century with the help of eight fours and a six.

READ: Saim Ayub hits ton in scenario-based practice match

LAHORE: Pakistan opening batter Saim Ayub dazzled with a century during the scenario based pracitce match ahead of the three match T20I series against Australia. 

The national team is currently involved in a training camp, commenced on Sunday. The Green Shirts will undergo another three hour training session tomorrow.

On day two of the training camp, the T20 squad played a scenario-based practice match in which both teams were assigned different targets.

Opening batter Saim Ayub showcased his batting prowess, scoring 106 runs, including eight sixes and nine fours.

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Meanwhile, Faheem Ashraf was hurt and went back to the pavilion, after being hit by an attempted shot from Babar Azam.

For the unversed, the series will be played at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, from 29 January to 1 February. The games will start at 4pm PKT with the coin toss set to take place at 3.30pm PST.

Australia are set to arrive in Pakistan on Wednesday, 28 January and will play just their second series in the format on Pakistan soil after a solitary T20I in April 2022 at Gaddafi Stadium.

Pakistan squad for Australia series

Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan (wk) and Usman Tariq

READ: Shadab reflects on Pakistan preparations ahead of T20 World Cup