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Tyson Fury has passed on his condolences after a car crash in Nigeria which killed two of Anthony Joshua’s team members and left his fellow former world heavyweight boxing champion injured.

Joshua was involved in the smash, which happened on Monday morning on a main road linking Lagos and Ibadan in the southwest of the country.

His promoter said the boxer’s “close friends and team members” Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele were killed and Joshua himself was taken to hospital “for checks and treatment”.

Fury, who has been linked with reversing his retirement to face Joshua in a ‘Battle of Britain’ mega-fight in 2026, wrote on his Instagram page: “This is so sad. May God give them a good bed in heaven.”

Minutes earlier, the self-styled ‘Gypsy King’ revived talk of a ring return by posting a photograph on social media of himself and one of his sons and nephews wearing T-shirts which read: “I’m back.”

Joshua, a British national of Nigerian heritage, called out Fury following a sixth-round knockout win over YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in a Netflix-backed bout in Miami earlier this month.

But Monday’s accident will likely further delay a long anticipated bout between former Olympic champion Joshua and Fury, with Paul saying Monday in an X post: “Life is much more important than boxing. I am praying for the lost lives, AJ and anyone impacted by today’s unfortunate accident.”

Pictures circulating online showed a shirtless Joshua — a British national of Nigerian heritage — surrounded by what appeared to be broken window glass on the seats around him.

“He is in a stable condition and will remain there for observation,” said a statement from his promoter. “Our deepest condolences and prayers are with the families and friends of all those affected –- and we ask that their privacy is respected at this incredibly difficult time.”

Police said the accident occurred around 11:00 am local time (1000 GMT) in the town of Makun, along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway.

Nigeria’s Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) said the Lexus Joshua was in “was suspected to be travelling beyond the legally prescribed speed limit on the corridor, lost control during an overtaking manoeuvre and crashed into a stationary truck… by the side of the road”.

However, a witness who gave his name as Kunle told AFP: “The truck was not stationary when the accident happened.”

Joshua’s family hails from the southwest Nigerian city and he is known to visit there when he is in the country.

Ayodele, also known as Latz, was a personal trainer of Joshua, while Ghami acted as strength and conditioning coach for the 36-year-old.

Former world champion Wladimir Klitschko, stopped in the 11th round by Joshua at Wembley Stadium in 2017, wrote on X: “I’m deeply saddened to hear about AJ and his close-knit group of friends.

“Having had the pleasure of engaging in an unforgettable battle with AJ, I’ve always regarded him as a true class act who commands my utmost respect.

“My heart goes out to him, and I wish him and his loved ones all the best during this difficult time.”

READ: Perth Scorchers thump Sydney Thunder in BBL 15 clash

SYDNEY: Ashton Turner’s gutsy 99* followed by an all-round bowling performance, powered Perth Scorchers to a big 71-run victory over Sydney Thunder in the 16th match of the Big Bash League (BBL) 15.

Set a daunting 203, Sydney Thunder were skittled for a mere 131 in 17.3 overs.

Skipper David Warner, who promoted himself to open the innings alongside Matthew Gilkes, provided a rapid start in pursuit of the chase.

The pair put on a 60-run partnership before a middle-order collapse left them reeling. Warner departed after scoring 21, while Matthew Gilkes followed him soon after for 33.

As a result, Thunder were reduced to 61-2 in 7.3 overs as Cameron Bancroft and Sam Konstas tried to put chase back on the track with a brief 20-run stand.

Yet again, it was a two-wicket over from Cooper Connolly that put Thunder in dire straits. Bancroft (2) and Sam Billings (0) were removed in consecutive deliveries.

The upcoming wickets also fell in a heap, with Shadab Khan not adding much to the scorecard.

Shadab Khan made four before getting caught.

As a result, Thunder slumped from 81-3 to 104-6 in 13 overs and then all out for a modest total.

For Perth Scorchers, it was an all-round performance with Joel Paris, Brody Couch, Aaron Hardie, and Cooper Connolly each scalping two wickets.

Earlier, after being put into bat, Perth Scorchers racked up a massive total of 202-8 at the end of their 20 overs.

Mitchell Marsh’s poor run continued as he went for six, followed by Finn Allen’s wicket, who made 11, which put Scorchers in early trouble with 18-2 in 3.2 overs.

Josh Inglis also fell after scoring 13 as the scorecard read 34-3 in 5.3 overs.

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However, it was a 76-run partnership between Ashton Turner and Cooper Connolly that lifted them out of trouble.

Turner particularly played a lone hand and contributed down the order to propel his side to a massive score at the end of their innings.

Connolly made 27 while Turner returned unbeaten on 99 from 41 balls, with the aid of eight sixes and the same number of fours.

For Sydney Thunder, Daniel Sams picked up a four-wicket haul while giving away 51 in his quota of four overs.

READ: Shaheen Afridi ruled out of BBL 15 due to injury

Fast bowler Shaheen Afridi has been ruled out of the remainder of the Big Bash League (BBL) 15, a decision he confirmed via his social handle on Tuesday.

Playing for Brisbane Heat, Shaheen bowled three overs during his side’s fixture against Adelaide Strikers on Saturday, 27 December, before getting off the field

The left-arm pacer limped off while pointing to his right knee during the 14th over of the Strikers’ run chase.

Earlier, Brisbane Heat released a statement regarding his injury, stating that the pacer has begun his rehab program and will miss the next fixture.

“Shaheen Shah Afridi (knee) commenced rehab and will be further reviewed upon the team’s return from Adelaide,” the team wrote on its Facebook page.

“Tom Alsop (knee) resumed training yesterday and will be reviewed again on 1 January. Nathan McSweeney (ankle) resumed training, including batting and running; has travelled with the squad to Adelaide and will train again ahead of tomorrow night’s match,” the statement added.

However, Shaheen has confirmed that he has been recalled by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and thanked Heat fans for supporting him throughout his time in Australia.

“I’m massively thankful to the Brisbane Heat team and fans for showering me with immense love and support,” he wrote on his X post.

“Due to an unexpected injury, I have been called back by the PCB and will have to take a rehab. Hopefully, I will be back in the fields soon. Meanwhile, I will be cheering for the amazing team.”

It is pertinent to mention that Shaheen Afridi is not part of the Pakistan T20I squad for the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka. The pacer alongside Babar Azam were not included in the refreshed squad due to their commitment in the BBL 15.

READ: England unveil provisional squad for T20 World Cup 2026

LONDON: England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has named a 15-member preliminary squad for the forthcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

Besides the provisional squad, the Three Lions have also named the side to take on Sri Lanka for three ODIs and the same number of T20I fixtures.

White-ball captain Harry Brook led the side for the first time in an ICC event.

The squad features a bunch of senior players alongside Jofra Archer, who is currently going through rehab after being ruled out of the fourth and fifth Ashes Test.

Meanwhile, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Adil Rashid and Phil Salt are the retained players after featuring in the previous edition of the tournament in 2024.

Among the notable inductees is Josh Tongue, who has impressed in the fourth Ashes Test and is added for the first time in the T20I squad.

The 2010 and 2022 World Cup winners will start their World Cup campaign against Nepal on 8 February, co hosted by Sri Lanka and India.

England Squad (Provisional for ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026)

Harry Brook (C), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Josh Tongue, Luke Wood

England ODI squad v Sri Lanka

Harry Brook (captain), 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

Fixtures against Sri Lanka

ODIs:

22 January 2026 – R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo

24 January 2026 – R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo

27 January 2026 – R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo

T20Is:

30 January 2026 – Pallekele International Stadium, Kandy

1 February 2026 – Pallekele International Stadium, Kandy

3 February 2026 – Pallekele International Stadium, Kandy

READ: Brisbane Heat provides update on Shaheen Afridi’s injury

Brisbane Heat pacer Shaheen Afridi has begun his rehab program after suffering a knee injury during the side’s clash in the Big Bash League (BBL) 15, the outfit announced in a statement released on its social media handle on Tuesday.

Shaheen bowled three overs during the Heat’s fixture against Adelaide Strikers on Saturday, 27 December, before getting off the field

The left-arm pacer limped off while pointing to his right knee during the 14th over of the Strikers’ run chase.

For those unaware, Shaheen has a recurring injury problem in his knee, which required surgery in the past.

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Now, Heat has released a statement about his injury, which said that the pacer has begun his rehab program and will miss the upcoming fixture.

“Shaheen Shah Afridi (knee) commenced rehab and will be further reviewed upon the team’s return from Adelaide,” the team wrote on its Facebook page.

“Tom Alsop (knee) resumed training yesterday and will be reviewed again on 1 January. Nathan McSweeney (ankle) resumed training, including batting and running; has travelled with the squad to Adelaide and will train again ahead of tomorrow night’s match,” the statement added.

It is pertinent to mention that Shaheen Afridi is not part of the Pakistan T20I squad for the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka. The pacer alongside Babar Azam were not included in the refreshed squad due to their commitment in the BBL 15.

Pakistan is scheduled to play three T20Is against Sri Lanka, which will be followed by a home series against Australia at the end of January in a bid to fine-tune their preparations for the T20 World Cup.

Meanwhile, the severity of the injury could also cast doubt on Shaheen’s participation in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, which will begin on 7 February in India and Sri Lanka.

READ: Six-star Sajid puts SNGPL on top against Sahir Associates

Former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua suffered “minor injuries” in a fatal car accident that killed two people on Monday, Nigerian police said.

Pictures circulating online showed a shirtless Joshua — a British national of Nigerian heritage — surrounded by what appeared to be broken window glass on the seats around him.

The circumstances around the wreck are “currently being investigated,” said police in Ogun state, just north of Nigeria’s economic capital Lagos, which throngs with visitors from across the country and diaspora each December.

Joshua “was seated in the rear of the vehicle, sustained minor injuries and (is) receiving medical attention,” the police statement said.

Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn told Daily Mail Sport he was on a family holiday and “awoke to the news of this incident”.

“We are trying to contact Anthony and in the meantime we don’t want to speculate on how he is but thankfully he appears OK from what I have seen in the images,” he said.

Police said the wreck, in which two people in Joshua’s car were killed, occurred around 11:00 am, in the town of Makun, along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway.

Nigeria’s Federal Road Safety Corps said in a statement that the Lexus Joshua was riding in “was suspected to be travelling beyond the legally prescribed speed limit on the corridor, lost control during an overtaking manoeuvre and crashed into a stationary truck… by the side of the road”.

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Witness Adeniyi Orojo told Punch news Joshua was travelling in a two-vehicle convoy, and was seated behind his driver.

“The passenger beside the driver and the person beside Joshua died on the spot,” he said.

The police gave the same toll, saying the two killed were “passengers in the vehicle” who “lost their lives at the scene”.

The names of the victims have not been released but a spokesman for the Ogun state governor said preliminary reports indicated they were “two male foreign nationals”.

Earlier this month Joshua knocked out YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in a Netflix-backed bout in Miami.

The former Olympic champion Joshua has since been linked with a fight against compatriot and fellow former world champion Tyson Fury.

Joshua’s last fight prior to the match with Paul was a fifth-round knockout loss to fellow Briton Daniel Dubois in September last year.

READ: Amorim opens up on ‘formation change’ ahead of Wolves clash

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim insisted he had to establish a formation at Old Trafford before asking his squad to demonstrate tactical flexibility, as succumbing to media pressure would have been “the end” for him.

Amorim departed from a back three with wing-backs for the first time in Friday’s 1-0 win over Newcastle and instead fielded a conventional back four with two holding midfielders.

The Portuguese boss memorably once said not even the Pope could force him to change his system.

But Amorim, with United now just three points adrift of a Champions League place, insisted he was never as obstinate as he appeared.

“When I came here last season, I understood maybe I don’t have the players to play well in that system, but it was the beginning of a process,” he said ahead of Tuesday’s match against relegation-threatened Wolves at Old Trafford.

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“We were trying to build an identity. Today is a different moment. We don’t have a lot of players, and we need to adapt, so they understand why we are changing.”

The 40-year-old former Sporting Lisbon boss added: “When you (the media) talk about changing the system all the time, I cannot change because the players will understand I’m changing because of you, and I think that is the end for the manager.

“When we are playing well in our system, that is the moment to change.

“We are going to become a better team because when all the players return, we are not going to play with three defenders all the time.”

United only had two wins in eight games prior to beating Newcastle and will be without seven senior players for the match against bottom-of-the-table Wolves, still without a victory after 18 Premier League fixtures this season.

Club captain Bruno Fernandes will miss the Wolves game, despite telling his manager he wants to return to action following a hamstring injury in a December 21 defeat at Aston Villa.

“Bruno is already saying he needs to train,” said Amorim.

“But there is no chance he is going to play against Wolves. No chance. You can write that.”

However, the 31-year-old playmaker will still have an influence on the game.

“The guy is a leader,” said Amorim. “He cannot be that guy that when he is not playing, he’s not talking and speaking. He’s always speaking. That’s why he’s the captain.”

READ: Rajshahi Warriors inflict third straight defeat on Noakhali Express

SYLHET: Ripon Mondol’s four-wicket haul propelled Rajshahi Warriors to a six-wicket victory over Noakhali Express in the sixth match of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2025-26 here at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on Monday.

Rajshahi Warriors chased down a mere target of 125 with ease in 17.5 overs, losing four wickets in the process.

After losing Sahibzada Farhan for two in the very first over, Rajshahi batters made light work of the chase with Tanzid Hasan and skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto bringing the total to 67 in 6.4 overs.

However, after the powerplay ended, three wickets in quick succession brought Noakhali Express back into the game.

The 65-run stand ended with Shanto’s wicket, who made 24 off 20 balls, which included two fours and a six.

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Soon after Tanzid and Hussain Talat fell, which slumped Rajshahi to 73-4 from 67-1.

But it was Mushfiqur Rahim’s rescue act that ensured that his side ended on the winning side. The wicket-keeper batter stitched an unbeaten 52-run partnership with Yasir Ali that took Rajshahi Warriors over the line.

Rahim top-scored with 28* from 30 while Ali struck a boundary and six in his 23 off 26 balls.

For Noakhali Express, Hasan Mahmud managed to take two wickets in his quota of four overs.

Earlier, after being put into bat first, a clinical bowling effort restricted Noakhali Express to 124-8 in their 20 overs.

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After a vivid 18-run opening over from Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Rajshahi Warriors bowlers pulled things back and removed Habibur Rahman Sohan, who made five.

Sabbir Hossain was the second wicket to fall, leaving Noakhali Express two down at 37 in 4.1 overs.

Maaz Sadaqat, who was looking good, also departed after scoring 25 from 19 balls. The soutpaw struck two fours and a six in his knock.

Rajshahi bowlers continued to take wickets in the middle overs, which never allowed the opposition bowlers to get going except skipper Haider Ali, who top-scored with 33 from 28 balls with the aid of four boundaries.

For Rajshahi Warriors, Ripon Mondol starred with a four-wicket haul. Tanzim Hasan Sakib remained the other notable contributor with two wickets to his name.

READ: Faheem’s five-for powers Rangpur Riders to victory over Chattogram Royals

HARARE: The third fixture of the One Day International (ODI) tri-series between Pakistan and Zimbabwe U19 teams has been called off due to persistent rain.

After Pakistan posted a massive 354-7 on the board at the end of their 50 overs, rain played spoilsport, preventing Zimbabwe from batting.

The Green Shirts won the toss and capitalized on favourable conditions with Sameer Minhas and Usman Khan scoring sublime centuries.

After losing Ali Hassan Baloch for eight in the fifth over, Minhas and Usman forged a monumental 199-run partnership.

The duo brought the score to 239 in 33.3 overs with Sameer Minhas bowing out after another magnificent innings.

The right-hander continued his run spree and scored 142 from 106 balls, peppered with 17 fours and four maximums. Meanwhile, Usman marched on and went on to score a hundred.

He eventually departed after propelling the team’s score to over 300 run mark. He made 121 from 112, which included 12 fours and two sixes.

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Huzaifa Ahsan remained the other notable contributor, providing the innings a late impetus with 54 off  53 deliveries. The Karachi-born batter struck three fours and two sixes in his knock.

For Zimbabwe, Kirby Madharamete picked up three wickets, whereas Panashe Mazai also managed to take two.

For the unversed, the tri-series featuring Pakistan, Zimbabwe, and Afghanistan is serving as a preparatory ground ahead of the ICC Men’s U19 World Cup, which will begin on 15th January.

READ: WATCH: Javelin ace Arshad wins ‘Global Breakthrough Athlete’ award

DUBAI: Pakistan ace javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem was conferred with the ‘Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Sports Award’ in the Global Breakthrough Athlete category here at the World Sports Summit.

The two-day summit, taking place on December 29-30, brings together over 1,500 athletes, sports leaders, and policymakers to discuss the future of the industry under the theme “Uniting the World Through Sport.”

Nadeem was honoured with the award on the back of his landmark triumph at the Paris Olympics, where he ended up with a gold medal after a record-breaking throw of 92.97 metres.

With this, Arshad broke Pakistan’s gold medal jinx at the Olympics, marking the country’s first in 40 years.

Following the accolade, Nadeem expressed pride in the achievement, noting that the award would encourage emerging athletes in nurturing the sport in Pakistan.

“Alhamdulillah. Honored to receive the Global Breakthrough Athlete Award at the World Sports Summit in Dubai. This prestigious award was presented by His Highness Sheikh Mansoor bin Muhammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum,” Arhsad wrote on his Instagram handle.

 

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A post shared by Arshad Nadeem Olympian (@arshadnadeem29)

“Sincere thanks to the Dubai Sports Council for the kind invitation and warm hospitality. Thankful for the unwavering support, prayers, and encouragement from everyone who stood by me throughout this journey,” Arshad added.

“Proud to represent Pakistan on the global stage,” he concluded with gratitude.

It is pertinent to mention that the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Sports Award recognises exceptional sporting achievements and contributions worldwide.

READ: BBL 15: Wade stars as Rizwan’s Renegades slide to bottom