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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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“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

HOBART: Veteran Matthew Wade played a vital cameo to power defending champions Hobart Hurricanes past Mohammad Rizwan’s Melbourne Renegades in the 15th fixture of the Big Bash League (BBL) 15 here at the Bellerive Oval on Monday.

Set 163, Hobart Hurricanes chased down the target in 19 overs with four wickets in hand.

Openers Tim Ward and Mitchell Owen put on 31 in 4.2 overs before the latter was caught behind for 10.

After an early wicket, Beau Webster and Tim Ward put on a brief 26-run partnership to bring the total to 59 in 8.4 overs.

However, Renegades made a strong comeback with the wickets of Ward (30 off 26 balls) and Ben McDermott for a duck to leave them reeling.

Despite the wickets, the brisk scoring rate put Hurricanes ahead in the game.

Beau Webster and Nikhil Chaudhary were the other two wickets to fall in a short span of time, while Matthew Wade played a finishing hand down the order to ensure that his side reached home.

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Wade, who top-scored with 43 off 20, striking two fours and four maximums, stitched two crucial stands with Rehan Ahmed and Chris Jordan, respectively, to see his side home.

For Melbourne Stars, Adam Zampa remained the silver lining with three wickets to his name.

Earlier, Melbourne Renegades put on 163-9 at the end of their 20 overs.

Josh Brown and Tim Seifert got off the blocks rapidly, adding 38 in the first three overs. The former was dismissed for a quick-fire 26 off 13 balls, with the aid of three fours and two sixes.

Meanwhile, Seifert continued on, propelling the score to 66 at the end of the powerplay. He was caught after scoring 26 off 14 balls with the aid of two fours and two sixes.

Soon after, Mohammad Rizwan departed for 16, which reduced Renegades to 72-3 in 6.4 overs.

At this stage, the visitors were poised to go big with an above-par scoring rate, but a late lower-order collapse limited their scoring and left them below par.

For Hobart Hurricanes, Nathan Ellis was among the pick of the bowlers with three scalps, while Rishad Hossain chipped in with two wickets.

With this loss, Renegades are now languishing at the bottom of the points table, with only one win out of three games.

READ: Sydney Thunder respond to Shadab Khan’s Pakistan call-up

SYDNEY: Big Bash League (BBL) outfit Sydney Thunder have acknowledged the international call-up of Pakistan all-rounder Shadab Khan for the upcoming T20I series against Sri Lanka.

Shadab, who is currently featuring for the Thunder, will leave Australia after the team’s clash against Hobart Hurricanes on January 4 to join Pakistan’s squad in Sri Lanka.

A Thunder spokesperson confirmed that the 27-year-old will return later in the tournament and remain available for the Sydney Derby at the Sydney Cricket Ground on January 16.

He will also be eligible to feature in the latter stages of the competition should the Thunder progress to the final.

The leg-spinning all-rounder has enjoyed a productive BBL campaign so far, scoring 100 runs at an average of 33.33 while emerging as Sydney Thunder’s leading wicket-taker with six scalps at an impressive average of 19.50.

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Reacting to his selection, Shadab Khan said it was a matter of pride to be recalled to the national side and described his time with Sydney Thunder as a rewarding experience.

“It’s always an honour to represent Pakistan,” Shadab said.

“Playing for Sydney Thunder has been fantastic, and I’m really looking forward to coming back later in the season to help the team stay in the hunt for the final.”

Sydney Thunder General Manager Trent Copeland echoed similar sentiments, stressing that international duty remains a special milestone for any player.

“Representing your country is always a proud moment,” Copeland said. “We’re delighted for Shadab and wish him the very best with Pakistan. We’ll be excited to welcome him back for the crucial part of the season.”

READ: Faheem Ashraf powers Rangpur Riders to victory over Chattogram Royals

SYLHET: Pakistan all-rounder Faheem Ashraf delivered a devastating spell with the ball to steer Rangpur Riders to a commanding eight-wicket victory over Chattogram Royals in the fifth match of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2025-26 here on Monday.

Asked to bat first, Chattogram Royals never found momentum and were bundled out for 102 in 17.5 overs.

Opener Mohammad Naim provided the only real resistance, smashing a brisk 39 off just 20 balls, laced with seven boundaries and a six.

Mirza Baig added 20 from 24 deliveries, but the rest of the batting unit folded cheaply as Rangpur’s bowlers tightened the noose.

Faheem was the standout performer, ripping through the Royals’ middle and lower order with sensational figures of 5 for 17 in 3.5 overs.

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He was well supported by Mustafizur Rahman, who picked up two wickets, while Nahid Rana, Al Islam and Sufiyan Muqeem chipped in with a wicket apiece to ensure Chattogram never recovered.

Rangpur’s chase was equally authoritative. Openers Dawid Malan and Litton Das put the result beyond doubt with a fluent 91-run stand at the top.

Litton fell for 47 off 31 balls, striking four fours and two sixes, while Malan anchored the innings with a composed 51 from 48 deliveries, including five boundaries and a pair of sixes.

Although Mukidul Islam briefly lifted Chattogram’s hopes with figures of 2 for 5 in two overs, Rangpur Riders remained in complete control

Khushdil Shah and Mahmudullah calmly finished the job, guiding the Riders home in 15 overs to seal a comprehensive victory.

READ: ICC rates MCG pitch ‘unsatisfactory’ after two-day Ashes Test

The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) has been rated ‘unsatisfactory’ by the International Cricket Council (ICC) following the conclusion of the fourth Ashes Test, with the iconic venue receiving one demerit point under the ICC Pitch and Outfield Monitoring Process.

The assessment was delivered by Emirates ICC Elite Panel match referee Jeff Crowe, who pointed to the extreme imbalance between bat and ball as the key factor behind the decision.

According to Crowe, the surface offered excessive assistance to bowlers throughout the match, resulting in a rapid collapse of innings on both sides.

“The MCG pitch was heavily in favour of the bowlers. With 20 wickets falling on the first day, 16 on the second, and no batter reaching a half-century, the pitch was deemed ‘Unsatisfactory’ under ICC guidelines,” Crowe explained.

The match statistics reflected those concerns. England, after winning the toss, opted to bowl first and made immediate inroads.

Josh Tongue spearheaded the attack with a superb spell of 5 for 45, as Australia were skittled for 152 in their first innings.

Batting proved just as treacherous for England, who were bundled out for 110 inside 30 overs, despite the modest total on offer.

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Australia were then forced to bat again on the opening day itself, but the struggles continued, with the hosts managing only 132 in their second innings. Travis Head’s 46 stood out as the highest individual score of the match.

England eventually chased down the target in 32.2 overs, losing six wickets in the process, with Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett and Jacob Bethell making valuable contributions in testing conditions.

The fourth Ashes Test concluded in just two days, with a staggering 36 wickets falling across 142 overs and no batter managing to register a half-century, a rare occurrence at one of cricket’s most celebrated venues.

Despite the defeat, Australia had already retained the Ashes, having taken an unassailable 3–0 lead by winning the opening three Tests.

For England, the victory marked their first Test win on Australian soil since 2011, providing a rare highlight in an otherwise difficult tour.

The series will wrap up with the fifth and final Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground, scheduled to begin on January 4.

READ: New Zealand’s Bracewell announces retirement from all forms of cricket

New Zealand all-rounder Doug Bracewell has announced his retirement from all forms of professional cricket, bringing an end to a career that spanned more than a decade at the international and domestic levels.

The 35-year-old, who last represented New Zealand in a Test match in 2023, cited a long-standing rib injury as a key factor behind his decision.

The issue has kept him sidelined for Central Districts throughout the current domestic season, ultimately prompting him to step away from the game.

Bracewell made his international debut in 2011 and went on to represent the Black Caps in 28 Tests, 21 One-Day Internationals and 20 T20 Internationals between 2011 and 2023.

His name is firmly etched in New Zealand cricket folklore for his unforgettable performance in Hobart in December 2011, where he claimed match figures of 9 for 60 in just his third Test.

That effort powered New Zealand to a historic Test victory over Australia, their first on Australian soil in 26 years and, to date, their most recent.

Across his Test career, the bustling fast-medium bowler claimed 74 wickets at an average of 38.82, while adding 46 wickets in white-ball cricket for New Zealand.

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Reflecting on his journey, Doug Bracewell described his career as a source of immense pride.

“It’s been a proud part of my life, and something I aspired to as a young cricketer,” he said in a statement released by Central Districts.

“I will always be grateful for the opportunities I have had through cricket, especially the chance to play for my country.

“It’s a privilege to play first-class and international cricket, and I’m thankful to have enjoyed the game for as long as I have.”

Bracewell belongs to one of New Zealand’s most prominent cricketing families, with his father Brendon and uncle John both having represented the country in Tests, while John also served multiple terms as national head coach.

His uncles Douglas and Mark were first-class cricketers, and he shared the international stage with cousin Michael Bracewell, with whom he played two ODIs and a Test.

READ: Root says ‘silly’ to change England management after Ashes loss