Category: Sports

Former Australian pacer Shaun Tait has stepped down as Bangladesh’s fast bowling coach ahead of the multi-format series against Australia. 

According to the Daily Star, former pacer Talha Jubair has replaced him as the interim coach with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) operations chairman Shahreer Nafees confirming the appointment.

Earlier, the board confirmed Tait’s departure from his position in a press release statement.

“Since informing the BCB of his circumstances, Shaun had expressed his willingness to continue in the role with a shortened time. However, it was ultimately agreed that stepping down from the position was the most appropriate course of action. The decision has been reached amicably and with mutual understanding,” the BCB said in its statement.

Tait played a key role in nurturing several fast bowlers, notably Nahid Rana, who has caught the eye with his raw pace in recent times.

Shaun Tait described the decision as difficult and lauded Bangladesh players for their commitment.

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“It has been a privilege to work with the Bangladesh National Team and to be part of a talented and committed group of players and support staff This was not an easy decision, and I sincerely appreciate the understanding and support shown by the BCB throughout our discussions,” Tait was quoted as saying in the BCB statement.

“I am proud of what the pace bowlers have achieved, and I believe they have an exciting future ahead. I wish the team every success going forward,” he added.

For the unversed, Tait took charge of the position in May 2025, with his contract running until the ICC World Cup 2027.

Bangladesh will begin their preparation camp for the Australia series on June 6. Australia are scheduled to arrive in Dhaka on Friday afternoon for a tour featuring three ODIs and three T20Is.

Bangladesh are set to play three ODIs and T20Is against Australia from 9 to 21 June for a six-match white-ball series.

The ODI series will commence at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka with the T20I series commencing on 17 June in Chattogram.

READ: Injured Virat Kohli ruled out of ODI series against Afghanistan

LAHORE: Australia have won the toss and opted to field bat in the third One Day International (ODI) of the three-match series against Pakistan at Gaddafi Stadium here on Thursday.

Playing XIs

HEAD TO HEAD

Pakistan and Australia have clashed in a total of 113 One Day International (ODI) matches. The Australian side has emerged dominant, claiming victory in an impressive 72 encounters. Meanwhile, Pakistan has managed to win 37 games. Interestingly, four games ended without a result, and one thrilling match concluded in a tie.

Matches 113, Australia 72, Pakistan 37, No Result 3, Tie 1

It’s worth noting that the ongoing ODI series is Australia’s first 50-over bilateral tour of Pakistan since 2022, when the hosts secured a 2-1 series victory.

READ: Shaheen Afridi breaks silence on Mohammad Rizwan’s ODI future 

LAHORE: The toss for the third ODI between Pakistan and Australia has been delayed due to rain at Gaddafi Stadium here on Thursday.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) revealed on their official X account that the toss will take place at 4:15 PM, while the game will begin at 4:45 PM.

Notably, both teams are heading into this third ODI with the series levelled 1-1. The hosts earned a dominant victory in the first game before the visitors bounced back in style in the second match to level the series.

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Overall, Pakistan and Australia have clashed in a total of 113 One Day International (ODI) matches.

The Australian side has emerged dominant, claiming victory in an impressive 72 encounters. Meanwhile, Pakistan has managed to win 37 games.

Interestingly, four games ended without a result, and one thrilling match concluded in a tie.

Matches 113, Australia 72, Pakistan 37, No Result 3, Tie 1

It’s worth noting that the ongoing ODI series is Australia’s first 50-over bilateral tour of Pakistan since 2022, when the hosts secured a 2-1 series victory.

Pakistan squad: Shaheen Shah Afridi (c), Salman Ali Agha (vc), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Maaz Sadaqat, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wk), Naseem Shah, Rohail Nazir (wk), Sahibzada Farhan, Shadab Khan, Shamyl Hussain and Sufyan Moqim.

Australia squad: Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis (c/wk), Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Riley Meredith, Ollie Peake, Matthew Renshaw, Tanveer Sangha, Liam Scott, Matt Short, Billy Stanlake, Cooper Connolly and Adam Zampa.

READ: Injured Virat Kohli ruled out of ODI series against Afghanistan

India have been dealt a major blow ahead of their limited-overs assignment against Afghanistan, with star batter Virat Kohli ruled out of the upcoming ODI series due to a hamstring injury, which he suffered during the recently concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026.

Kohli picked up the injury during the season finale while representing Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) against the Gujarat Titans.

Despite visibly struggling while running between the wickets, the former India captain continued his innings and played through discomfort in a high-pressure final that saw RCB clinch their second consecutive title.

However, the effort came at a cost, with medical reports confirming a hamstring issue that has now ruled him out of international duty.

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India’s schedule against Afghanistan begins with a one-off Test in New Chandigarh from June 6 to 10, followed by a three-match ODI series between June 13 and 20, to be played across Dharamsala, Lucknow, and Chennai.

Kohli’s absence adds to India’s selection concerns, with former captain Rohit Sharma also facing a race against time to regain full fitness.

Rohit has been included in the squad but remains subject to medical clearance after sustaining an injury during the IPL season.

India ODI squad for series against Afghanistan: Shubman Gill (c), Rohit Sharma, Shreyas Iyer (vc), KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Prince Yadav, Gurnoor Brar and Harsh Dubey.

READ: Bangladesh recall THIS all-rounder in ODI squad for Australia series

MIRPUR: Bangladesh have named express fast bowler Nahid Rana as well as returning all-rounder Mosaddek Hossain in their ODI squad for the opening two matches against Australia, starting June 9 at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka.

The first two ODIs will be played on June 9 and June 11 in Dhaka, while the third match is scheduled for June 14 at the same venue.

One of the key talking points of the squad is the return of all-rounder Mosaddek to the ODI setup after a four-year absence. His last appearance in the format came against Sri Lanka in May 2022, marking a significant comeback to international white-ball cricket.

Wicketkeeper-batter Quazi Nurul Hasan has also been recalled after missing the recent New Zealand series. Both players come into the side as replacements for batters Afif Hossain and Mahidul Islam Ankon.

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Despite those changes, the core of the squad remains intact, with captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz continuing to lead a stable and in-form group.

Bangladesh will be aiming to carry forward their strong home form into a challenging series against Australia before shifting focus to a three-match T20I series that follows immediately after.

The T20Is will be played in Chattogram from June 17 to June 21, with matches scheduled on June 17, 19 and 21 at the Bir Shrestha Shahid Flight Lieutenant Motiur Rahman Cricket Stadium.

Bangladesh squad: Mehidy Hasan Miraz (c), Soumya Sarkar, Saif Hassan, Tanzid Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Towhid Hridoy, Litton Das, Mosaddek Hossain, Quazi Nurul Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Tanvir Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Nahid Rana.

READ: Haris named in Guyana Amazon Warriors squad for Global Super League

World number one Aryna Sabalenka made a startling admission after crashing out of the French Open, revealing that she briefly felt like quitting tennis following a stunning quarter-final defeat to Diana Shnaider on Wednesday.

Sabalenka appeared firmly in control of the contest on Court Philippe Chatrier after claiming the opening set and racing to a 4-1 lead in the second with a double-break advantage.

However, the Belarusian suffered a remarkable collapse as Shnaider stormed back to secure a 3-6, 7-5, 6-0 victory and book her place in the semi-finals.

The top seed struggled badly as the match slipped away, committing 57 unforced errors and losing the final 10 games of the contest in one of the most dramatic turnarounds of the tournament.

Speaking moments after the defeat, Sabalenka did not hide her frustration when asked about her emotions.

“No thoughts, no emotions. Just want to quit tennis right now,” she said during her post-match press conference. “But we’ll see. We’ll see in a few days. Hopefully I’ll get back on track mentally.”

The three-time Grand Slam champion later elaborated on her mental struggles during the match, admitting she found herself unable to recover after momentum shifted in Shnaider’s favour.

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“I don’t know when was the last time that happened to me, that I lost 10 games in a row. I don’t know. I guess mentally I got into very deep, deep, dark hole over there, and I just couldn’t get back mentally on track,” Aryna Sabalenka told reporters.

Despite establishing herself as one of the dominant players on the WTA Tour, Sabalenka’s greatest successes have come on hard courts, where she has won all four of her Grand Slam titles. Her quest to capture a maiden French Open or Wimbledon crown, however, continues to prove elusive.

The latest defeat echoed last year’s heartbreaking French Open final loss against Coco Gauff, another match in which Sabalenka failed to convert a strong position.

The 28-year-old insisted she remains comfortable on clay and grass courts but acknowledged that her desire to break through on those surfaces may be creating additional pressure.

“I really feel great on clay. I feel great on grass,” she said. “I think maybe I’m focusing too much on the fact that I never won a Slam on either surface. Maybe that’s making me overthink things and become too emotional in certain moments.”

Sabalenka added that managing her emotions has become a priority as she looks to bounce back from another painful Grand Slam disappointment.

“This is something I have to step back and find a solution for because I’m tired of losing matches in this way simply because I became overemotional,” she concluded.

READ: Pakistan’s Hassan Ali Bhola wins silver medal at Asian Grappling Championship 2026

Pakistan continued its impressive run on the international wrestling stage as Hassan Ali Bhola secured a silver medal in the 70kg category at the Asian Grappling Championship 2026.

The young wrestler delivered a series of strong performances throughout the competition to reach the final and add another international medal to Pakistan’s tally.

Hassan began his campaign with a convincing victory over the Philippines’ Angelo Lucian Salud in the quarterfinals before overcoming a wrestler from Kazakhstan in the semifinals to book his place in the gold-medal bout.

In the final, Hassan put up a spirited fight but ultimately had to settle for silver after losing to Kazakhstan’s Shynggyskhan Seidakhmet, who claimed the gold medal in the category.

The achievement marks Hassan’s second medal at the continental level this year. Earlier in 2026, he also captured a silver medal at the U-17 Asian Beach Wrestling Championship, underlining his emergence as one of Pakistan’s most promising young wrestlers.

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Following the success, Pakistan Wrestling Federation’s Secretary General, Muhammad Inam Butt, congratulated Hassan, coach Ghulam Fareed and the entire contingent for their efforts.

He said the consistent performances of Pakistan’s young wrestlers on the international stage reflect the country’s growing potential in the sport and demonstrate their ability to compete against the strongest athletes in Asia.

Pakistan Wrestling Federation President Arshad Sattar also praised the team’s achievements, stating that the recent successes at both the Asian Beach Wrestling Championship and the Asian Grappling Championship have strengthened Pakistan’s hopes of securing qualification for the Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026.

The Pakistan Wrestling Federation extended its congratulations to the athletes, coaches and support staff, expressing confidence that the country’s wrestlers will continue to earn honours and raise Pakistan’s profile in international competitions.

READ: New Zealand footballer Tim Payne meets El Scarso after viral fame

New Zealand footballer Tim Payne met the influencer behind his stunning viral fame on Wednesday, presenting him with a team shirt after gaining almost five million Instagram followers in a week.

Argentine social media giant Valen Scarsini, known as “El Scarso”, last week asked his fans to boost unheralded Payne’s following, calling him the “least known” player at the World Cup.

It sparked an online explosion of interest, with Payne’s follower count increasing from 4,000 to 4.9 million in just a few days.

The two met for the first time at New Zealand’s training camp in Florida, with Payne thanking Scarsini for his support.

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“It’s obviously good for myself and New Zealand football too,” Payne said. “It puts a light on us which is a positive thing but at the same time, for me, I don’t change.”

“I’m still the person I am, so I just keep trying to do what I do, which is play football and focus on trying to perform for my country.”

Scarsini was asked, “Why me man?” by the defender who plays for Wellington Phoenix.

“Fly to Argentina!” Scarsini told him.

 

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Payne’s Instagram account now has more followers than the rugby-obsessed country’s All Blacks team, who have a mere 2.8 million.

Scarsini travelled to Florida to watch Payne and New Zealand in a pre-World Cup friendly at Inter Miami’s stadium on Tuesday, where they were beaten 4-0 by fellow World Cup qualifiers Haiti.

New Zealand will play England on Saturday in their final friendly before the World Cup begins.

They will face Iran, Egypt and Belgium in World Cup Group G.

READ: Nepali climber alive after six days missing on Mount Everest

Nepali climbing guide, Hillary Dawa Sherpa, who went missing on Mount Everest for six days and was feared dead, has been found alive after crawling back to Base Camp, officials told AFP on Thursday.

The experienced climber vanished on the upper reaches of the world’s highest mountain early on May 30.

He was found on Thursday morning close to Base Camp by the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee (SPCC), a Nepali team that helps set routes on Everest and clean up waste left behind.

“He was crawling down,” Pemba Sherpa of 8K Expeditions, which was overseeing search and rescue efforts, told AFP. “A helicopter has been sent to bring him to a hospital in Kathmandu.”

Climber Chris Thrall, a former British Royal Marine, said he successfully summited the 8,849-metre (29,032-foot) peak with Sherpa around 5:00 pm on May 29.

He posted a video message on Instagram on Wednesday, mourning what he thought was the death of Sherpa. He called Sherpa an “absolute gentle giant of a man and a true ‘tiger of the mountains'”, in a post that assumed the worst.

Thrall described how on May 30, he had begun to descend from Camp Four — at around 7,950m — and just below the low-oxygen “death zone”.

He said that as he descended, Sherpa stopped.

“He sat down for a rest with his backpack, these guys carry huge loads,” he said. “And I turned, and I said, ‘Hillary, are you okay, brother?’ He said, ‘Yes, yes, fine, Chris, please go, go!’ This is nothing new, you know, I’d go ahead, he’d go ahead.”

As Thrall went down, he found a Polish climber who was struggling after running out of supplementary oxygen and had suffered frostbite.

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“It had been a long summit push. What should have been five days to the summit and back took us 11 days, that’s how challenging the conditions were,” said Thrall.

“So, do I go back for Sherpa, who’s probably going to rock up and be fine, as he has done hundreds of times before?” he added.

“Or do I help my fellow climber, who’s got no oxygen, frostbite in his fingers, and obviously you’re never far off hypothermia up there?”

Thrall described tough conditions, sharing his oxygen cylinder with the Pole as they descended, taking 11 hours to get to Camp Three. It would usually take two hours.

He said: “I realised we had a really serious situation.”

Search teams set out to find Hillary Dawa Sherpa, but he was not seen again until Thursday morning, having made his way down on his own.

The climb was one of the last of the season, meaning that there were few other mountaineers on the peak.

At least five people have died this season, two Indians and three Nepali climbers involved in Everest preparations.

More than one thousand climbers reached the summit of Everest this season, according to initial tallies by Nepali officials, making it the busiest season on record.

READ: FIFA World Cup 2026: Fans barred from bringing water bottles into stadiums

FIFA has banned fans from bringing refillable water bottles into World Cup 2026 venues in a last-minute policy change that will force thirsty supporters to pay for bottled water, The Athletic reported on Wednesday.

As recently as last month, FIFA’s official stadium code of conduct included a clause which read: “For the avoidance of doubt, empty, transparent, reusable plastic bottles, up to (1 litre in) capacity, may be brought into the Stadium.”

However, The Athletic reported on Wednesday that those guidelines had now been tweaked to explicitly ban refillable bottles.

“For the avoidance of doubt, reusable water bottles may not be brought into the stadium,” an updated stadium code of conduct read.

In a statement to AFP, a FIFA spokesperson said the rule change was taken on safety grounds, noting that several World Cup venues already barred the use of refillable water bottles.

“FIFA is committed to protecting the health and safety of all players, referees, fans, volunteers, and staff,” the statement read. “FIFA made the decision to prohibit bottles to prevent risk and injury to players and attendees.”

“Outside bottles are already prohibited at several of these venues for safety considerations, and FIFA is applying this consideration across its tournament stadiums.”

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The statement added that misting stations, fans, hydration stations and cooling tents would be available in “the stadium footprint”.

It added that bottled water inside the venue would be sold at prices which “remain consistent with other events held at each stadium.”

The rule change comes despite experts warning fans could face health risks from extreme heat at open-air venues during the World Cup, which is being co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

A report published by the World Weather Attribution research group last month estimated that 26 of 104 games at the World Cup are likely to be played in conditions where the Wet Bulb Global Temperature (WBGT) exceeds 26 degrees.

WBGT is a measure of heat stress on the human body, combining temperature, humidity, wind, and sunlight.

At last year’s FIFA Club World Cup in the United States, where fans complained of searing temperatures, supporters were also barred from bringing water bottles into venues.

READ: Jose Mourinho ready for Real Madrid if Florentino Perez re-elected