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Skipper Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan hit brisk centuries to set up India’s 170-run thrashing of Afghanistan in the second ODI and clinch the series in sweltering Lucknow on Wednesday.

India posted 402 after Gill top-scored with 154 and the left-handed Kishan struck 125 as the pair put up a commanding 224 runs for the third wicket.

Indian quicks Arshdeep Singh and Gurnoor Brar took three wickets each to help bowl out Afghanistan for 232 in 44.3 overs for an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

The extreme heat forced organisers to schedule three drinks breaks per innings, with several players from both sides requiring on-field treatment for cramps.

Invited to bat first as temperatures soared above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit), India lost an early wicket before Rohit Sharma (48) and Shubman Gill steadied the innings with an 87-run second-wicket partnership to set the tone.

Rashid Khan broke the stand with a quick googly to bowl Rohit just short of a half-century, but the breakthrough did little to stem India’s momentum.

Gill reached his ninth ODI century with a four, adding to his unbeaten 84 in the series opener, while Kishan raced to a 71-ball hundred with a flurry of boundaries as Afghanistan’s bowlers wilted in the heat.

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Left-arm spinner Nangeyalia Kharote finally broke the marathon stand to get Kishan caught out.

Gill battled cramps during his 110-ball knock, which included 22 fours and two sixes, before falling when his tired reverse sweep was caught at deep cover.

Kharote struck again to remove KL Rahul for a golden duck but was denied a hat-trick by Washington Sundar.

Rashid joined the late burst to pick up more Indian wickets as the innings lost momentum.

India had looked set to surpass their ODI record total of 418 before a late collapse saw them lose seven wickets for 42 runs and bowled out in 49.5 overs.

Kharote claimed four wickets, while Rashid returned figures of 3-38 in his eight overs.

India’s Gill did not take the field in the second innings with his deputy Shreyas Iyer standing in as skipper.

In reply, Afghanistan lost an attacking Rahmanullah Gurbaz for 41 as he fell caught behind off Brar.

Debutant Prince Yadav made his mark with a good catch in the deep to dismiss Ibrahim Zadran for 21 off Arshdeep and later bowled Kharote for his debut wicket.

Rahmat Shah top-scored with 79 and Sediqullah Atal scored 42, but India struck regular blows to deflate Afghanistan.

Debutant Darwish Rasooli left retired hurt on six and never came back in a forgettable first ODI outing as he was injured while fielding and stretchered off the field in India’s innings.

The final match is on Saturday in Chennai.

READ: Adam Zampa leads Australia to victory over Bangladesh in series opener

HOUSTON: Portugal defender Ruben Dias has been ruled out of his side’s opening FIFA World Cup 2026 against the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). 

Head coach Robert Martinez announced that Dias will be unavailable for the opening game after sustaining an injury during a World Cup friendly against Nigeria.

“Rúben is not at 100 per cent; there is no point in taking risks. He is recovering and will be available later,” he said.

Before the tournament began, Dias expressed confidence in his side’s ability to lift the coveted FIFA World Cup trophy.

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“Personally, I feel really good physically and mentally,” said Dias. “It’s going to be my third World Cup, and it’s always an exciting moment for the country, for all of us.”

He described representing the country at the mega event as a moment of pride and a special opportunity.

“I know the vibe when you’re in a World Cup. I know how special it is for the players, for the fans, for our families, for our country. It’s just a joy and a unique experience. I feel like this one is going to be a special one. For a long time, everyone’s been waiting for it to happen,” he said.

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In Ruben’s absence, Tomas Araujo could be picked in the starting lineup. Additionally, Renato Veiga and Ruben Neves could also play a role from the bench if needed.

It is worth mentioning that Manchester City center-back Dias has made four World Cup appearances for Portugal, all in 2022. Notably, Dias has won 12 trophies with Man City over the past six years.

READ: FIFA World Cup 2026: Venomous snakes spark concerns among teams

Germany, Switzerland and Norway players have raised concerns over the presence of venomous snakes around their training camps during the FIFA World Cup 2026.

According to the BBC, Germany captain Joshua Kimmich has disclosed that he saw a snake at the team’s training camp and expressed his concerns.

“We saw a snake yesterday, we were told it was venomous. If you get bitten, you have to go to the hospital,” he said.

He remarked that accidentally stepping on one of the reptiles was worrying and could have serious consequences.

“I don’t think you’ll die, but it’s certainly dangerous. I have the feeling that if you step on a snake like that, it can end badly.”

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“That’s why we’re trying to keep our distance from animals here. I have respect for the people here. In Germany, I have the feeling there aren’t so many dangerous animals,” Kimmich explained.

The 31-year-old also said the unexpected concern had forced players to remain alert while preparing for the biggest tournament in football.

“Once you hear what kind of snake it is and what can happen if you’re bitten, it stops being funny very quickly,”

“We’re here trying to prepare for the biggest tournament in football, and suddenly players are looking at the ground before every step they take,” Kimmich concluded.

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Norway, which is in North Carolina, has also reported on the snakes common in that area. Captain Kristian Thorstvedt admitted he was unhappy to learn about the local wildlife.

“I’m not happy at all to hear that,” he said when told about the local wildlife.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 is underway across three countries — Canada, Mexico and United States. The United States is hosting 78 matches of the expanded 48-team tournament across 11 host cities.

READ: Adam Zampa leads Australia to victory over Bangladesh in series opener

Adam Zampa took a three-wicket haul before Cooper Connolly struck a rapid-fire 47 off 27 balls to steer Australia to a four-wicket win over Bangladesh in the opening T20 international on Wednesday.

Australia chased down 132 with 10 balls to spare, finishing on 133-6 in 18.2 overs to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Connolly anchored the chase after early setbacks, hitting four fours and three sixes before falling three runs short of a maiden half-century.

Bangladesh made early inroads as Shoriful Islam dismissed Josh Inglis for five before Mustafizur Rahman removed Mitchell Marsh for 13, leaving Australia at 38-2 inside five overs.

Connolly rebuilt the innings in a 40-run third-wicket stand with Tim David, who made 20 before falling to Mehidy Hasan.

Connolly then pushed Australia towards the target before he was caught attempting a six off debutant Abdul Gaffar Saqlain.

Australia stumbled again as Matt Renshaw and debutant Nikhil Chaudhary both fell for 18, with Saqlain and Rishad Hossain striking to keep Bangladesh in the contest.

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But debutant Joel Davies and Xavier Bartlett saw the visitors home in 18.2 overs, finishing unbeaten on seven and four respectively.

Davies said Australia’s bowlers had adapted their plans to the venue’s dimensions.

“Here in Bangladesh, the grounds are a fair bit smaller than in Australia, so if there were any parts of the ground that were slightly bigger, I had to use that to my advantage,” he said after the match.

Saqlain returned 2-32, while Shoriful, Mustafizur, Mehidy and Rishad took one wicket each.

Earlier, Australia’s spinners dominated as Bangladesh were bowled out for 131 after electing to bat.

Adam Zampa (3-18) and Davies (3-17) led the attack, with Australia’s spinners taking nine wickets, the most by Australian spin bowlers in a T20I innings.

Bangladesh lost momentum after a brisk powerplay, finishing with only 131 despite reaching 52 in six overs.

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Mehidy top-scored with an unbeaten 29, while stand-in captain Towhid Hridoy, captain in place of the injured Litton Das, made eight.

Bangladesh pace bowling coach Talha Jubair said the hosts failed to build on a promising powerplay.

“Our powerplay was excellent, we scored 52 in six overs, but from there we could not carry on,” he said.

“We went too far for boundaries when we could have built a partnership. We lost three wickets between overs seven and 15, where we needed to build our innings,” he said.

READ: Shamar, Alzarri return as West Indies announce squad for Sri Lanka Test series

Portugal midfielder Bernardo Silva has signed a two-year deal with Real Madrid, the La Liga giants announced on Wednesday.

Silva had left Manchester City after nine trophy-laden years when the 31-year-old’s contract expired at the end of last season.

“Real Madrid C.F. and Bernardo Silva have reached an agreement for him to become a Real Madrid player for the next two seasons, until June 30, 2028,” the club said.

Silva, who has 109 Portugal caps, is currently on international duty at his third World Cup.

He will be part of the Portuguese squad that kicks off their campaign against DR Congo in Group K action in Houston later on Wednesday.

Silva made 459 appearances for Manchester City in total, scoring 76 goals, since joining from Monaco in 2017 — where he won the Ligue 1 title alongside France captain and current Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe.

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He won 20 major trophies with City, including four successive Premier League titles from 2021-2024 in amongst six overall.

He was part of the Champions League- and treble-winning side in 2023 and the 2019 team that did a domestic treble.

It has been a different story recently for Madrid, however.

Last season, they finished eight points behind La Liga champions Barcelona and were knocked out in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

After failing to win any major trophies for two consecutive seasons, newly re-elected Madrid president Florentino Perez appointed Jose Mourinho as coach earlier in June.

Catch all FIFA World Cup 2026 live updates here!

On Monday, Madrid announced the signing of Spanish left-back Marc Cucurella from Chelsea for a reported fee of 55 million euros ($63.8 million).

Los Blancos are set to sign Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate at the end of his contract at Anfield and have also been linked with Inter Milan’s Denzel Dumfries.

German defender Antonio Rudiger this week signed a contract extension with Real until 2027.

READ: ‘Rejuvenated’ Modric determined to enjoy World Cup swan song

West Indies have recalled pace bowlers Shamar Joseph and Alzarri Joseph for their upcoming two-match ICC World Test Championship (WTC) series against Sri Lanka, as the Caribbean side named a strong 15-member squad.

The fast-bowling pair return to the Test setup after last featuring in the format in July 2025, strengthening a West Indies side eager to revive its fortunes in the ongoing WTC cycle.

Captain Roston Chase will continue to lead the team, while Joshua Da Silva and Amir Jangoo have also earned recalls following impressive performances in domestic cricket.

Jangoo, who played his only Test against Pakistan in Multan in January 2025, has forced his way back into contention after a prolific domestic campaign.

The wicketkeeper-batter amassed 411 runs in seven innings during the West Indies Championship, finishing second on the run-scoring charts.

Da Silva enjoyed an equally productive tournament, topping the batting standings with 413 runs from seven innings to secure his return to the national side.

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The two-match series will be played entirely at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua, with the first Test scheduled from June 25 to 29 and the second from July 3 to 7.

West Indies head coach Daren Sammy expressed confidence in his squad and viewed the series as an important opportunity for the team to continue its development in red-ball cricket.

“Every Test series is an opportunity for us to grow as a team and strengthen our identity,” Sammy said. “Sri Lanka are a quality side, so we know we’ll have to be at our best, but we’re excited about the challenge ahead.”

The former West Indies captain stressed the importance of discipline and resilience as his side looks to improve its standing in the World Test Championship.

“For us, it’s about playing with discipline, showing character when the game gets tough, and representing the West Indies with pride. The players have been putting in the work, and we’re looking forward to putting on a strong display for our fans across the Caribbean,” he added.

The series comes at a crucial time for the West Indies, who currently sit at the bottom of the nine-team WTC table after suffering seven defeats in their eight matches so far in the current cycle.

West Indies squad: Roston Chase (captain), John Campbell, Tagenarine Chanderpaul, Joshua Da Silva, Justin Greaves, Kavem Hodge, Shai Hope, Amir Jangoo, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Anderson Phillip, Kemar Roach, Jayden Seales and Jomel Warrican.

READ: World Cup goals record ‘just a number’, says Lionel Messi

Midfield great Luka Modric said on Tuesday that he was determined to enjoy every second of his last FIFA World Cup and had been “rejuvenated” by being with Croatia for a fifth time on football’s biggest stage.

Croatia face England on Wednesday in Texas in one of the most attractive fixtures of the group stage in North America.

The 40-year-old Modric will lead out Croatia, who beat England in the World Cup semi-finals in 2018, and will pull the strings once more in midfield.

Along with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, this will be the last dance for one of the most acclaimed players in the world over the past 20 years.

Modric, now with AC Milan after more than a decade at the heart of Real Madrid’s midfield, is set to win his 200th cap for his country in North America.

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“Every game, every tournament is special at 40 with the national team,” Modric said on the eve of the England clash.

“My aim in this tournament is to enjoy it, to do my best, but enjoy it,” he added. “I want to enjoy each match, every training with these guys.”

Croatia strolled through qualifying but came into the World Cup with little fanfare, much like at other recent major tournaments. But England will underestimate them at their peril, even if the Croatia squad is one of the older ones at the tournament.

Another veteran of past campaigns, 37-year-old winger Ivan Perisic, is also in the squad alongside Manchester City pair Josko Gvardiol and Mateo Kovacic.

There is excitement about defender Luka Vuskovic, 19, who is expected to start against England, and Modric said, “There are a lot of young players, so I feel rejuvenated with them.”

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Long-serving coach Zlatko Dalic is looking forward to facing England once more, and seeing how his men stand up to an attack led by the prolific skipper Harry Kane.

“The opponent is high quality,” he said.

“We know their quality, we analysed them, and they know us too… they’re very dangerous.

“They have the best strikers in the world. They have Kane — Kane can do a lot, a hell of a lot,” he added, saying he was also wary of the threat posed by Thomas Tuchel’s side from set-pieces.

“We are quite prepared for that,” he said.

READ: Austria earn FIFA World Cup win against debutants Jordan

SANTA CLARA: Austria were given a scare by tournament debutants Jordan on Tuesday before securing a 3-1 win, in the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026, rounded off by a penalty in added time from veteran forward Marko Arnautovic.

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The Austrians went ahead at Levi’s Stadium, currently known as San Francisco Bay Area Stadium for the World Cup, near San Francisco, when Romano Schmid produced a brilliant opening goal, smashing in a shot from distance.

Jordan never stopped chasing the game, and Ali Olwan’s glancing header nearly put them level before he scored the first World Cup goal in his country’s history, and it was worth the wait.

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He cut in and directed a superb right-footed shot at Austria’s keeper, Alexander Schlager and off the post.

But Austria regained the lead in the 76th minute thanks to an own goal from Yazan al-Arab before 37-year-old former West Ham man Arnautovic added a stoppage-time penalty to make the game safe.

READ: World Cup goals record ‘just a number’, says Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi savoured a “beautiful moment” after claiming the World Cup’s joint all-time leading goalscorer record on Tuesday, but said, “ultimately, it is just a statistic, nothing more”.

The 38-year-old Argentina captain etched another memorable chapter in his glittering career with a brilliant hat-trick in the South Americans’ 3-0 win over Algeria in Kansas City.

Messi’s hat-trick, his first ever at a World Cup, vaulted him alongside Germany’s Miroslav Klose as the top scorer in the tournament’s history with 16 goals.

Next on the list is Brazilian great Ronaldo, with 15 goals, one ahead of Gerd Muller and current France star Kylian Mbappe.

“To enjoy this with my family, with my teammates, the ones who are always there, is a really beautiful moment,” Inter Miami star Messi said. “I’m happy.”

“It’s an honour to be there, given what it means to stand alongside Klose or the others.

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“Ronaldo is there too, but I don’t think it means anything — Mbappe as well, who scored two today (in a 3-1 win against Senegal).

“In the end, it’s just a statistic and nothing more.”

Messi’s razor-sharp eye for goal augurs well for Argentina’s hopes of becoming the first team since Brazil in 1962 to win back-to-back World Cup titles.

“The squad, it’s a very united, very strong group,” he said.

“I feel good. We were lucky enough to win a tough match. It’s important to start off with a win in the first game.

“I’m grateful to the fans, because once again they’ve shown that Argentina is crazy about this — we packed the stadium again.”

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Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said he no longer had “the words to describe Messi.”

“For 20 years, he’s had us used to seeing things like this, and he inspires everyone who watches him play,” he said of Messi’s masterclass.

Argentina midfielder Alexis Mac Allister said Messi was still the heartbeat of the team despite his veteran status.

“If anyone thought this group was better off without Leo, today it became clear that Leo is the most important of them all,” he said.

Rodrigo De Paul, who supplied the pass for the first goal on Tuesday, described the former Barcelona star as “a beast”.

READ: Argentina beat Algeria 3-0 as Messi ties World Cup goals record

KANSAS CITY: Lionel Messi scored a dazzling hat-trick for Argentina on Tuesday to equal Miroslav Klose’s all-time record of 16 goals at World Cups as the defending champions swept Algeria aside 3-0.

On a night for the ages in Kansas City, the records kept tumbling for Argentina’s miracle man, considered by many to be the greatest footballer of all time.

When the match kicked off at the home of the NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs, Messi became the first player to feature in six World Cup tournaments in his 200th international match.

And the 38-year-old lit up the occasion with three goals in a clinical display by the reigning world champions.

Messi produced a majestic finish from distance in the 17th minute, sparking a frenzy among his adoring fans, who had turned the match into a virtual home game.

Algeria goalkeeper Luca Zidane, the son of France great Zinedine Zidane, got his hands to the ball, but could not keep it out.

Messi netted again in the second half from close range, gobbling up a rebound to take him just one goal behind the all-time record held by Germany’s Klose.

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And he completed his first hat-trick at a World Cup with an unstoppable finish in the 76th minute. The diminutive genius was substituted shortly afterwards, forcing Argentine fans to wait to see their hero have a shot at the outright record.

The Group J match in the open-air stadium started at a frantic pace, and both sides had early goals ruled out for offside, including one from Messi.

But Argentina took the lead when Rodrigo De Paul played a beautifully measured through ball, which Messi picked up before driving at goal and unleashing a fierce drive from outside the penalty area that curled away from Zidane.

The South American team were largely in control of the match, fluid in attack with their Number 10 pulling the strings.

But as the clock ticked towards half-time, Algeria enjoyed a better spell, with Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez forced to parry a shot from Fares Chaibi from a tight angle.

Messi curled another effort over the bar in the early minutes of the second half, and Zidane kept out a shot from Lautaro Martinez.

But the crowd did not have to wait long to celebrate another goal from the veteran forward, who plays for MLS side Inter Miami.

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Zidane could not handle a sizzling Alexis Mac Allister strike from distance, and Messi was there to sweep home in the 60th minute.

Time stood still six minutes later as Messi was through again, but this time Zidane pushed the ball over the bar. However, he was not to be denied, completing his hat-trick after being set up by substitute Nico Gonzalez.

Lionel Scaloni’s Argentina are seeking to become the first back-to-back winners since Brazil managed the feat in 1962.

Algeria are hoping to reach the knockout round for only the second time, in a group that also includes Austria and Jordan.

Earlier, the roads around the Kansas City Stadium were clogged as tens of thousands of Argentine fans streamed towards the ground dressed in blue and white, many with Messi’s name on the back of their shirts.

Argentina’s all-time top-scorer is just the third man to reach 200 caps after Cristiano Ronaldo and Kuwait’s Bader Al-Mutawa.

Ronaldo will equal Messi’s record of six World Cup appearances if he plays for Portugal against DR Congo on Wednesday.

READ: Zidane Iqbal becomes first footballer of Pakistani heritage to play at World Cup