Category: Top News

Bodo/Glimt completed the greatest achievement in the Norwegian minnows’ history on Tuesday by winning 2-1 at Inter Milan and reaching the last 16 of the Champions League, 5-2 on aggregate.

Leading 3-1 from last week’s first leg in the Arctic Circle, goals in the second half from former AC Milan forward Jens Petter Hauge and Hakon Evjen stunned the San Siro and set up a tie with either Manchester City or Sporting of Portugal in the next round.

“For us it’s been unbelievable, we knew it would be very hard against Inter, who are a very strong team and played in the final last season,” said Hauge.

“I have faith in this project, and we’re showing it in the Champions League.”

More than 3,000 fans travelled to Milan to watch their team continue a remarkable debut season in Europe’s elite club competition, a huge number for a club from a city with a population of around 50,000.

There were 20,000 more people at the San Siro than live in Bodo on Tuesday night, and the vast majority left disappointed after Inter, who scored late through Alessandro Bastoni, failed to mount the comeback coach Cristian Chivu believed could happen.

Inter’s elimination was another blow for Italian football on the European stage, with all four Serie A clubs likely to be out of the Champions League come Thursday.

Juventus and Atalanta trail Galatasaray and Borussia Dortmund, respectively, with few giving either much of a chance of getting through ahead of their matches on Wednesday.

“The hardest thing to do today was to open the scoring, and we weren’t able to do it. You can only congratulate them, they beat us twice, so they deserved to go through,” said Inter midfielder Nicolo Barella.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

“Of course, we’re disappointed, we want to fight on every front, and we tried our best, but they were better than us.”

But it was a historic night for Bodo/Glimt, who have been crowned Norwegian champions in four of the last six seasons and will be a tough test for whoever they face next month.

Inter were, as expected, on the front foot from the off, and Pio Esposito headed over a great chance in the third minute from a Federico Dimarco cross.

Dimarco had a fizzing inswinger tipped over the bar by Nikita Haikin while Marcus Thuram watched on as his powerful long-range effort was deflected just over the bar.

But as the match wore on, a pattern emerged of Inter bluntly attacking down the flanks and putting in crosses that were comfortably dealt with by Bodo/Glimt’s defenders.

Hauge pounced in the 58th minute following a confused passage of play in which Inter defender Manuel Akanji, who had only moments before returned to the pitch following treatment for a cut eyebrow, gifted the ball to Ole Didrik Blomberg on the edge of the box.

Blomberg failed to score one-on-one with Yann Sommer, but Hauge was on hand to tuck in the rebound for his sixth goal in the Champions League to send the away fans delirious.

Akanji hit the post 10 minutes later, but Evjen made absolutely sure of Bodo/Glimt’s passage in the 72nd minute when he expertly lashed home Hauge’s searching pass into the box.

Bastoni forced the ball over the line shortly afterwards, but it mattered little for Inter, who are left with trying to secure the Serie A title, which looks likely due to a 10-point lead over local rivals Milan.

READ: Darwin to host first Test since 2004 in Australia-Bangladesh series

International Test cricket will return to Darwin city for the first time in over two decades in August, Cricket Australia (CA) said on Wednesday as they unveiled the schedule for an upcoming series against Bangladesh.

Cricket Australia said the first of two Tests against Bangladesh would kick off on August 13 in the Northern Territory capital, the first such match there since July 2004, when they hosted Sri Lanka.

The second Test from August 22-26 will be played in Mackay in the eastern state of Queensland.

“We’re delighted to bring Test cricket to northern Australia and look forward to a fantastic series against Bangladesh,” Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg said.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

“It is no secret the international calendar is now crowded, and we’re fortunate to have world-class facilities available in August, ensuring we have another window for Test cricket outside summer,” he added.

The Tests will be the Australian men’s first since thrashing England 4-1 in an Ashes series that wrapped up in January.

Touted as a close contest, the Ashes was all over inside three Tests with Australia superior in all departments despite missing some key players.

After the Bangladesh series, Australia will head to South Africa in October for three Test matches against the hosts in Durban, Gqeberha and Cape Town.

Australia-Bangladesh Test series schedule:

• First Test: August 13-17, Marrara Stadium, Darwin, 10am (local)
• Second Test: August 22-26, Great Barrier Reef Arena, Mackay, 10am (local)

READ: Shaheen Afridi blames lack of ‘partnerships’ for defeat against England

KANDY: Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi admitted that his side’s failure to stitch together a meaningful partnership cost them dearly in their two-wicket defeat to England in the Super Eight stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 on Tuesday.

In a high-intensity contest at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pakistan posted 164-9 after being put in to bat.

England, however, chased down the target in the final over despite losing eight wickets, riding on a superb century from skipper Harry Brook.

Afridi, who produced a fiery spell of 4-30 and removed the well-set Brook, was left to ponder what might have been.

The left-arm pacer believed Pakistan fell short primarily due to their inability to build momentum through the middle overs.

“I feel on a wicket like this you need a partnership and a set batter who can bat through the middle overs,” Afridi said after the match.

“But unfortunately, we lost wickets back to back, which is why we did not reach that 180-190 score.”

Pakistan’s innings never quite found stability. Several batters got starts, but none were able to convert them into a commanding stand.

The middle order, in particular, struggled to rotate strike regularly against a disciplined England attack.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Shaheen Afridi pointed to the importance of maintaining a steady flow of singles and twos, a factor he felt England executed far better.

“If you see, when England batted, Harry Brook stayed at the crease. He was rotating the strike and building partnerships. I think we missed that opportunity,” he said.

“A partnership means you need someone at the crease who can take singles and twos. In a T20 innings, you need eight or nine runs an over consistently if you want to build partnerships.”

The surface at Pallekele was noticeably fresher compared to the one used in England’s previous outing against Sri Lanka, offering better conditions for stroke play. In hindsight, Pakistan’s total of 164 appeared slightly under par.

Shaheen Afridi also credited England leg-spinner Adil Rashid for tightening the screws during the middle phase.

“I think that middle phase, Adil Rashid bowled really well, so credit goes to him as well,” he added.

Despite Afridi’s impressive four-wicket haul, Pakistan were left to rue a missed opportunity as England sealed qualification to the semi-finals.

For Pakistan, the defeat has left their campaign hanging by a thread, with little room for further error in the tournament.

READ: T20 World Cup 2026: Pakistan’s semi-final qualification scenario explained

KANDY: Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha opened up after a narrow loss against England in the Super Eight clash of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

Pakistan set England a challenging 165 here under lights at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.

However, England skipper Harry Brook made the target look easy with his sublime century.

The right-hander made 100 off 51 balls, striking four sixes and 10 boundaries.

Speaking after the match, Agha highlighted the shortcomings and praised Brook for his brilliance with the bat.

“Started well with the bat, but couldn’t finish the way we wanted to. But some days you have to give credit to other batters. I think Harry batted brilliantly,” he said in the post-match presentation.

“Our score was a bit short. And then Brook took the game away from us. We threw everything at him,” he continued.

Pakistan captain, the leading run scorer of the tournament, Sahibzada Farha’s performance, noting that the other batters could not step up to the occasion.

“I think he’s batted very well throughout the World Cup. Other batters haven’t played the way we wanted to, but it can happen like that in World Cups, the skipper maintained.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

For Pakistan, it was returning Shaheen Afridi who impressed with the ball, picking up a four-wicket haul.

“He bowled really well today.  He’s famous for early wickets, and he did that today,” Salman Ali Agha said of Shaheen.

He concluded by saying that England played Pakistan bowling really well, particularly their nemesis, Brook, who took the game away from them.

“Whenever we play against England and lose, it’s always him [Harry Brook] have to say hats off to him and the way he batted today.”

“Very challenging, the way he batted. He can play all around the ground so it can get challenging.”

“The way Nawaz bowled the 19th over, I thought maybe, you never know. Even if there’s a 1% chance, my team will go for it,” he concluded.

READ: Brook hits ton as England qualify for T20 World Cup semis

CHENNAI: India batter Rinku Singh has returned home owing to a family emergency, casting serious doubt over his availability for the upcoming Super Eight fixture against Zimbabwe on February 26 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.

Rinku was notably absent from India’s training session at the Chepauk on Tuesday evening, while the rest of the squad went through their preparations ahead of the must-win encounter.

The left-hander has endured a difficult campaign in the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2026 so far, managing scores of 6, 1, 11* and 6 not out during the group stage.

His struggles continued in the Super Eight clash against South Africa in Ahmedabad, where he was dismissed for a two-ball duck in India’s 76-run defeat.

With the defending champions under pressure to stay alive in the tournament, Rinku’s potential absence adds another layer of concern.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

India are currently in a position where they must win both of their remaining Super Eight matches to strengthen their case for a semi-final berth.

If Rinku is ruled out for the Zimbabwe game, India have a couple of options on the bench.

Sanju Samson could come into the XI, though his inclusion would likely trigger a reshuffle in the batting order. Alternatively, Axar Patel can slot in at number eight, the position Rinku occupied in the previous outing.

Following the Zimbabwe fixture, India will conclude their Super Eight campaign against the West Indies in Kolkata on March 1.

Should they progress to the knockout stage, their semi-final is scheduled for March 5 in Mumbai. However, if they are drawn against Pakistan, the match will instead take place a day earlier in Colombo.

READ: Sialkot Stallionz owner Hamza Majeed denies bankruptcy rumours

LAHORE: Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Sialkot Stallionz owner Hamza Majeed rejected reports suggesting that OZ Developers had gone bankrupt after securing the team for Rs 1.85 billion.

Speculation surrounding the franchise intensified in recent weeks, with claims circulating that the parent company had offloaded as much as 98 per cent of its shares following the withdrawal of one of its partners soon after the PSL auction.

The controversy deepened when co-owner Mohammad Shahid, in a video statement, alleged that his Alpha Sports Group now holds a 76 per cent stake in the franchise and accused Majeed of transferring shares without prior consent or approval from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

Subsequent media reports went further, claiming that OZ Developers was facing bankruptcy and that the franchise would be taken over by CD Ventures.

Addressing the matter at a press conference in Lahore, Majeed dismissed the allegations in unequivocal terms, insisting that he had met all financial commitments to the PCB.

“By the grace of Almighty Allah, on 15th January, I submitted all my financial obligations to PCB. There is also the allegation that I am bankrupt, that I don’t have money,” Hamza Majeed said.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Questioning the basis of the reports, he added, “Did PCB tell you that I am in default? Did any bank tell you that I am in default? PCB has submitted the bank guarantee of my first year’s franchise fee.”

Majeed further revealed that he has provided a three-year corporate guarantee to the board, assuring his capacity to fulfil the financial requirements over the agreed period.

“On top of it, there is a three-year corporate guarantee. I have confirmed that I am capable of paying it for three years. I can do it,” he stressed.

Calling the claims damaging and unfounded, Majeed described the bankruptcy narrative as a “baseless allegation” that unfairly questioned his credibility and financial standing.

He also expressed disappointment over what he termed misinformation being circulated on social media and urged media outlets to verify facts with relevant authorities before publishing such reports.

Regarding the reported involvement of CD Ventures, Majeed confirmed that discussions are ongoing but refrained from disclosing details, citing a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) between the parties.

READ: Shadab achieves major T20I milestone against England

KANDY: Pakistan all-rounder Shadab Khan on Tuesday achieved a major landmark against England during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Super Eight fixture here at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. 

Shadab played a vital role at the back end of the innings, scoring a valuable 23 from 11 balls with the help of four boundaries to propel Pakistan’s total to 164.

In doing so, Shadab breached the 1000-run landmark, becoming the 11th player overall from Pakistan to cross the barrier.

Babar Azam is currently leading the runs chart in T20Is, accumulating 4596 runs in 145 innings. Mohammad Rizwan is in second place with 3414 runs in 93 innings.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Interestingly, Shadab Khan also became the first Pakistani to take 100 wickets and score 1000 runs in the shorter format. He currently has 123 scalps to his name in 122 matches at an average of 23.79.

Most runs for Pakistan in men’s T20Is

Babar Azam – 4596 runs in 145 innings
Mohammad Rizwan – 3414 runs in 93 innings
Mohammad Hafeez – 2514 runs in 108 innings
Shoaib Malik – 2423 runs in 110 innings
Fakhar Zaman – 2410 runs in 109 innings
Umar Akmal – 1690 runs in 79 innings
Ahmed Shehzad – 1471 runs in 59 innings
Shahid Afridi – 1405 runs in 90 innings
Saim Ayub – 1298 runs in 64 innings
Sahibzada Farhan – 1205 runs in 44 innings
Shadab Khan – 1002 runs in 68 innings

READ: Santner ready for spin test with eye on Pakistan-England clash

France World Cup-winning attacker Antoine Griezmann is holding talks with Major League Soccer (MLS) club Orlando City, a source close to the discussions told AFP on Monday.

Griezmann currently plays for Atletico Madrid, where he is the Spanish club’s all-time leading scorer, and also netted 44 goals in an illustrious career for his international side.

The 34-year-old’s potential move stateside has been rumoured for years, with the player known to be an admirer of other American leagues such as the NBA and NFL.

A source close to the player confirmed to AFP on Tuesday that “talks had taken place” between the two parties, but “nothing has yet has been agreed.”

Griezmann’s transfer would be a further boost to the rapidly growing US soccer league.

Orlando owns Griezmann’s “discovery rights,” an MLS mechanism giving one team the priority to negotiate a player’s transfer — the source said, confirming a report by The Athletic.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Though Griezmann is no longer a guaranteed starter for Atletico Madrid, he has already scored 12 goals in 35 appearances this season.

The 2018 World Cup winner has scored 210 goals in total for the La Liga club, interrupted by a hiatus at Barcelona from 2019-2022, and extended his contract in Madrid last year until June 2027.

He retired from the French national side in 2024, having made 137 appearances.

The MLS season began on Saturday, and its transfer window is open until late March, before re-opening mid-season during the summer.

Orlando City failed to qualify for the last MLS playoffs, but has a history of big-name signings, with former players including Ballon d’Or winner Kaka.

READ: Morocco football captain Romain Saiss announces retirement

Veteran Morocco captain Romain Saiss announced on Tuesday his retirement from international football, bringing to a close what he called “the most beautiful chapter of my life”.

Saiss’s decision comes after repeated injuries, including in the last Africa Cup of Nations, where he only played 18 minutes in the opening match against Comoros before he was substituted due to an issue with his left thigh.

The 35-year-old former Angers and Wolverhampton Wanderers centre-back said on social media the decision followed “careful reflection” and was made with “immense emotion”.

“Wearing the colours of Morocco and becoming their captain will remain the greatest honour of my career,” he wrote.

“Every time I wore it, I felt the weight of responsibility, but above all an indescribable pride.”

His brief AFCON return in December had followed an 18-month absence, also due to injury, having skippered the side to the 2022 World Cup semi-final.

Saiss’s retirement comes just three months ahead of this year’s World Cup, in which Morocco are set to face Brazil, Scotland and Haiti.

“I will now be your number one supporter,” he said.

“I am leaving the national team, but I will forever remain a Lion.”

Saiss will still play for Qatar Stars League club Al Sadd.

READ: Santner ready for spin test with eye on Pakistan-England clash

New Zealand skipper Mitchell Santner said on Tuesday that adapting to slow-turning pitches in Colombo would be key for their crucial T20 World Cup clash against co-hosts Sri Lanka.

The Black Caps need a win in their second Super Eights match in Group 2 on Wednesday at the R. Premadasa Stadium after their first match against Pakistan was washed out at the same venue.

Pakistan and England are currently facing off at the Pallekele International Stadium.

Santner’s team have been in the Sri Lankan capital for a week after finishing their group stage in India.

“Yeah I mean it’s I guess yeah it is what it is I mean you obviously want to play every game, and Pakistan are in the same boat so yeah I guess we’ll be watching the game tonight between Pakistan and England,” Santner said in the pre-match press conference.

“I guess that’s the challenge when you play a tournament in two countries — we played in Chennai and Ahmedabad on flat pitches and here we have to play a bit differently,” the left-arm spinner added.

“But I think you pick a squad of 15, knowing that you could potentially be in both countries on slightly slower wickets, on some flat ones as well.”

Santner also noted that, “So I think we have the spin kind of options covered as well, which is nice, but it’s just going out there and adjusting as fast as you can.”

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Sri Lanka come into the contest in a must-win situation after they suffered a huge loss to England in their Super Eights opener in Kandy.

But Santner said Sri Lanka are always a tough nut to crack in their own den.

“Sri Lanka are a very strong side at home and they dominate conditions here,” said Santner.

“They are missing a couple of players but there’s quality in that line-up. We are lucky that we have played them a lot in recent years and there are no secrets.”

New Zealand have one point from the rained-off match against Pakistan, while Sri Lanka stay bottom among four teams in the Super Eights group.

A defeat for New Zealand will dent their chances of making the semi-finals.

“Any game in the Super Eight is sort of knock out,” said Santner. “We know that it is the same for Sri Lanka. We want to put out a good show tomorrow and walk out with a win.”

READ: T20 World Cup: West Indies thrash Zimbabwe in Super Eight clash