Category: Top News

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.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

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.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

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.”

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

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.”

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

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.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

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.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

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.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

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

LAHORE: Pakistan all-rounder Shadab Khan on Monday expressed confidence ahead of the T20I series against Australia and T20 World Cup 2026, set to begin on 7 February across Sri Lanka and India.

The national team is currently involved in a training camp ahead of three match T20I series against Australia.

Speaking after scenario based practice match, Shadab said he welcomes praise when he performs well but is aware of the criticism he often faces.

“When you do well, you get praise. I know there’s a lot of criticism directed at mem but I focus on my game,” Shadab told reporters.

Talking about conditions in Sri Lanka, he noted that the weather keeps changing but expressed confidence in the team’s approach while praising ace batter Babar Azam.

“Wherever we play, we aim to play good cricket.” “Babar Azam is our biggest player. I have seen him grow into the player he is today,” he added.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

“I am a bowler who can also contribute with the bat. There’s been talk that I focus too much on batting, but I balance both aspects of my game,” Shadab explained.

He admitted he had been away from cricket for some time but is now back and ready to contribute.

“Modern cricket demands that you adopt new strategies and adapt accordingly,” he said.

On conditions in Sri Lanka ahead of the T20 World Cup, he predicted that putting up a big score on the board will be a challenge.

“Big scores will be difficult to come by.”

“The upcoming series against Australia is the best preparation for the World Cup. Our spinners performed well in the Asia Cup, and I hope they continue to perform in the World Cup as well,” he concluded.

For those unaware, 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: West Indies reveal T20 World Cup 2026 squad

ANTIGUA: Cricket West Indies have named a strong 15 member squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, slated to begin on 7 February across Sri Lanka and India.

Shai Hope, who missed out on Afghanistan series due to SA20, will lead the 2016 and 2012 edition winners in the mega event with plenty of names to look out for.

With 11 players from the previous edition in 2024, the squad carries considerable depth.

The batting lineup will be bolstered by Rovman Powell, Shimron Hetmyer, Johnson Charles and Shai Hope whereas the all-round department features former captain Jason Holder and Sherfane Rutherford.

Shamar Joseph will lead the bowling attack alongside Jayden Seales and Quentin Sampson. Akeal Hosein and Gudakesh Motie will provide support to the fast bowlers with their spin bowling.

Among the notable exclusions are opener Evin Lewis and pacer Alzarri Joseph who were unable to recover from their injuries.

Ahead of the T20 World Cup, West Indies will play five T20Is against South Africa, which will begin tomorrow at Paarl.

It is worth mentioning that West Indies second string side suffered a 2-1 defeat in their recent T20I series against Afghanistan, which was held in the UAE, while most of their experienced players were engaged in SA20.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

West Indies are slotted in Group C alongside England, Nepal, Scotland and Italy.

They will begin their campaign on 7 February against Scotland at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. Their second match will be against England on 11 Feb at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.

The West Indies will play  their last matches against Nepal and Italy on 15 and 19 Feb at Eden Gardens and Wankhede Stadium respectively.

West Indies squad

Shai Hope (c), Shimron Hetmyer, Johnson Charles, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Gudakesh Motie, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Quentin Sampson, Jayden Seales, Romario Shepherd

READ: Pakistan considering boycott of T20 World Cup clash against India: sources

Former all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez has suggested that Pakistan should participate in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, scheduled to commence on 7 February across India and Sri Lanka.

Hafeez opined on the decision in ‘X’ post amid the uncertainty regarding the team’s partcipation in the mega event.

“Pakistan should participate in World Cup 2026. @TheRealPCB,” former captain wrote.

Meanwhile, former Pakistan all-rounder Shahid Afridi has strongly criticised the International Cricket Council (ICC) for replacing Bangladesh with Scotland at the T20 World Cup 2026, calling the decision unfair and inconsistent.

Afridi voiced his disappointment through a post on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, questioning the ICC’s approach and accusing the governing body of applying double standards.

“As a former international cricketer who has played in Bangladesh and in ICC events, I’m deeply disappointed by today’s ICC’s inconsistency,” Afridi wrote.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Meanwhile PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi has provided a timeline regarding the decision to play in the forthcoming event.

Naqvi took to his X handle, revealing the details regarding the decision following a ‘producitve meeting’ with the PM Shehbaz Sharif.

“Had a productive meeting with the Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif. Briefed him on the ICC matter, and he directed that we resolve it while keeping all options on the table. It was agreed that the final decision will be taken either on Friday or next Monday,” he wrote.

The whole development comes in the wake of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) decision to replace Bangladesh with Scotland after the former refused to travel to India for the tournament, citing security concerns.

The ICC on Saturday confirmed Bangladesh’s removal from the tournament after the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) refused to send its team to India, citing security concerns.

Despite several rounds of discussions, the ICC rejected Bangladesh’s request to shift their matches to Sri Lanka, eventually opting to replace them with Scotland.

For the unversed, The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 is scheduled to begin on 7 February, with Pakistan originally set to open their campaign against the Netherlands.

READ: Pakistan considering boycott of T20 World Cup clash against India: sources