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BULAWAYO: Henil Patel picked up a fifer to set up a comprehensive win for India over USA in the U19 World Cup opener here at the Queens Sports Club on Thursday.

India chased down a mere 96-run target with ease in 17.2 overs in a rain-hit encounter.

The USA started strongly in defense of a small target as Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was sent back only in the second over. The left-hander could only score two.

India were further jolted with two quick strikes, with skipper Ayush Mhatre and Vedant Trivedi sent back in a span of two deliveries.

Trivedi and Mhatre were both caught for two and 19 runs respectively. As a result, India were reduced to 25-3 in 5.2 overs.

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However, Abhigyan Kundu and Vihaan Malhotra put chase back on track with 45 run partnership.

Malhotra was dismissed for 18 from 17 after hitting two boundaries, whereas Kundu remained unbeaten 42 from 41 balls with the aid of five fours and a six.

For USA, Ritvik Appidi picked up two wickets.

Earlier, India bowled out USA for 107 in 35.2 overs, thanks to Henil Patel’s bowling, who remained the chief destroyer.

Opener Amrinder Gill made one before a brief partnership of 28 between Sahil Garg and Arjun Mahesh kept Indian bowlers at bay till the eighth over.

However, Deepesh Devendran removed Garg for 18 which sparked a collapse that USA could not recover from.

Indian bowlers continued to chip in with wickets at regular intervals, with Nitish Sudini remaining the highest scorer for his side.

Sudini who made 36 from 52 was the last wicket to fell as USA were bowled out for a partly score.

For India, Henil Patel remained the star bowler as he picked up a five-wicket haul.

READ: West Indies U19 open World Cup 2026 campaign with Tanzania win

DHAKA: The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Thursday announced the immediate removal of M. Najmul Islam from his role as Chairman of the Finance Committee, following a nationwide boycott by the country’s cricketers.

The boycott forced the postponement of Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) fixtures on Thursday.

The decision was taken by BCB President Md Aminul Islam under Article 31 of the BCB Constitution, with the board stating that the move was necessary to ensure the smooth and effective functioning of its operations.

Until further notice, the BCB president will himself serve as the Acting Chairman of the Finance Committee.

In an official statement, the BCB reiterated that players’ interests remain its top priority and stressed its commitment to safeguarding the dignity and honour of all cricketers under its jurisdiction.

The board also urged players to maintain professionalism and continue their participation in the BPL, underlining the importance of the tournament for Bangladesh cricket.

The development comes after a dramatic day on Thursday, when no teams arrived at the venue ahead of the scheduled BPL match between Chattogram Royals and Noakhali Express.

The protest, led by the Cricketers Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB), resulted in both BPL fixtures for the day being postponed.

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The standoff stemmed from controversial remarks made by Najmul Islam earlier this week.

Speaking on the sidelines of a board prayer meeting for the late former prime minister Khaleda Zia, Najmul addressed questions about the financial impact if Bangladesh were to miss matches at the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2026.

He suggested the board would not suffer financially and added that players would receive no compensation if they missed out—comments that were widely condemned by cricketers.

Najmul had already been under fire after accusing former Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal of being an “Indian agent” in a Facebook post.

The remarks were made in response to Tamim’s recent interview, in which he urged the BCB to prioritise cricketing considerations amid uncertainty over Bangladesh’s participation in the T20 World Cup.

That uncertainty arose after the BCB decided against travelling to India for the tournament, citing security concerns, following a request from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for the release of Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the Kolkata Knight Riders’ IPL squad.

READ: West Indies U19 open World Cup 2026 campaign with Tanzania win

WINDHOEK: West Indies made a confident start to their ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup 2026 campaign, registering a comprehensive victory over tournament debutants Tanzania at the High Performance Oval on Thursday.

Playing their first-ever match at the U19 World Cup, Tanzania were put in to bat and found the going tough against a disciplined West Indies bowling attack.

The African side were dismissed for 122 in 34 overs, with openers Dylan Thakrar and Darpan Jobanputra offering the only real resistance at the top.

Thakrar top-scored with 26, while Jobanputra added 19 from 46 deliveries, as just four Tanzanian batters reached double figures.

West Indies bowling attack was led by Vitel Lawes, who claimed three scalps.

Shaquan Belle and Micah McKenzie picked up two wickets each, while Jonathan van Lange and R’Jai Gittens chipped in with one apiece to keep the pressure constant.

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Chasing a modest target, the Caribbean side completed the task with little trouble, reaching 123-5 in 21 overs.

Tanez Francis anchored the run-chase with a composed half-century, scoring 52 off 55 balls, including six boundaries and a six.

Jewel Andrew played a crucial supporting role, contributing 44 from 44 deliveries with six fours and a six.

Tanzania’s bowlers showed some fight, with Raymond Francis and Augustino Mwamele taking two wickets each, while Laksh Bakrania accounted for one, but the total proved far too small to defend.

Meanwhile, the Group C fixture between hosts Zimbabwe and Scotland was abandoned without a ball being bowled in Harare due to adverse conditions, resulting in both teams sharing a point each.

READ: ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2026: Everything You Need to Know

Pakistan’s emerging squash talents, Mehwish Ali, Mahnoor Ali, and Sehrish Ali, collectively known as the Ali Sisters, are set to represent Pakistan at the 17th WSF/ESF Czech Junior Open 2026, one of Europe’s most prestigious European Junior Gold-level squash tournaments, scheduled to take place in Prague, Czech Republic, from 15 to 18 January 2026.

Sanctioned by the World Squash Federation (WSF) and the European Squash Federation (ESF), the event will feature participation from 32 countries, making it a highly competitive international junior squash tournament.

The Ali Sisters will compete in the Under-15 and Under-17 categories, aiming to test their skills against top junior players from around the world while proudly carrying Pakistan’s flag on the international stage.

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Matches will be held at two premier venues in Prague, Hector Sport Centre and Squash Bowling Centrum (SBC).

All matches will be streamed live on the ESF Squash website, providing global access for squash fans.

Pakistan’s participation in the Czech Junior Open highlights the nation’s ongoing efforts to nurture young squash talent and uphold its strong legacy in the sport.

READ: Finn Allen helps Scorchers knock Renegades out of BBL 15

MELBOURNE: A scintillating century from Finn Allen propelled Perth Scorchers to a commanding victory over Melbourne Renegades, effectively ending the hosts’ campaign in the Big Bash League (BBL) 15 at Docklands Stadium on Thursday.

Already assured of a playoff berth, the Scorchers strengthened their push for a top-two finish with the emphatic win.

They will now face Melbourne Stars in their final league fixture, with both sides locked on 12 points and battling for the top spot.

Hobart Hurricanes, meanwhile, are guaranteed to finish second on 13 points after completing their league games.

Put in to bat, Perth made full use of the conditions as Allen and Mitchell Marsh launched the innings with a rapid 64-run opening stand.

Marsh departed for 20 off 15 deliveries, dismissed by Sam Elliott, but that did little to slow the Scorchers’ momentum.

Allen remained the driving force, combining fluency with brute power. He added 56 runs with Cooper Connolly and followed it up with a 44-run stand alongside Aaron Hardie, keeping the scoreboard ticking at a brisk pace.

The New Zealand batter eventually fell in the 17th over, caught off Adam Zampa after a blistering 101 off 53 balls, laced with eight sixes and five fours.

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Perth Scorchers posted an imposing 219-7 from their 20 overs, with Elliott the standout bowler for Melbourne Renegades, claiming four wickets. Zampa, Brendan Doggett and Will Sutherland chipped in with a wicket apiece.

Facing a daunting chase, the Renegades were immediately on the back foot as Josh Brown was dismissed for a duck in the opening over.

Jake Fraser-McGurk briefly injected hope with a counter-attacking 42 off just 18 balls, smashing five sixes before Luke Holt brought his cameo to an end.

With the asking rate climbing rapidly, wickets continued to fall at regular intervals.

Tim Seifert anchored the innings from one end and later added a one-sided 60-run partnership with Sam Elliott, but the target proved well beyond reach.

Seifert eventually perished for 66 off 43 balls while attempting to accelerate, effectively sealing the Renegades’ fate.

The hosts finished on 169-7, falling 50 runs short and bowing out of the tournament.

For the Scorchers, Cooper Connolly and Mahli Beardman picked up two wickets each, while Holt and Hardie contributed with one apiece.

READ: Mitchell Starc crowned ICC Men’s Player of the Month for December 2025

DUBAI: Australia fast bowler Mitchell Starc has been named the ICC Men’s Player of the Month for December 2025, following a series of match-winning performances in the 4-1 Ashes triumph at home.

Starc edged out West Indies batter Justin Greaves and New Zealand seamer Jacob Duffy for the honour.

The left-arm quick played a central role throughout the Ashes, setting the tone early with a 10-wicket haul in the opening Test in Perth before backing it up with eight wickets in Brisbane.

He continued to make telling contributions in the latter half of the series, claiming four wickets each in Adelaide and Melbourne to finish December with 16 wickets for the month.

Starc’s influence was not limited to the ball. Timely half-centuries in Brisbane and Adelaide added valuable runs down the order and helped Australia establish an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series.

Australia eventually sealed the Ashes 4-1, with Starc finishing as the leading wicket-taker with 31 scalps and collecting the Player of the Series award for his all-round impact.

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“It’s an honour to be named the ICC Player of the Month, and even more special that it came on the back of such a successful home Ashes,” Starc said.

“Playing a part in winning such an iconic series in front of our home crowd is something we will all cherish for a long time.”

Looking ahead, he underlined the importance of sustaining Australia’s recent momentum as the side targets further success in the longest format.

“As a team, we’ve had some outstanding performances in recent years. The focus now is on building that momentum towards next year’s ICC World Test Championship Final,” he added.

The award marks Starc’s first ICC Men’s Player of the Month recognition and ends a two-year wait for an Australian winner, with Pat Cummins having last claimed the honour in December 2023.

READ: India suffer major blow as key player ruled out of New Zealand T20Is

India have suffered an early setback in their build-up to the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 after all-rounder Washington Sundar was ruled out of the upcoming five-match T20I series against New Zealand, scheduled to run from January 21 to 31.

The series forms a crucial part of India’s preparations for the global event, which gets underway on February 7, but Sundar will play no part after picking up a side strain during the opening ODI against New Zealand in Vadodara last week.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) termed the issue as an “acute onset discomfort in his left lower rib”.

At this stage, there is no clarity on whether the injury could threaten Sundar’s availability for the T20 World Cup, where India will begin their campaign against the USA in Mumbai on the opening day of the tournament.

In response to Sundar’s absence, the selectors have drafted in Delhi batting all-rounder Ayush Badoni as a replacement for the remainder of the ODI series.

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However, the BCCI has yet to confirm whether Badoni will also be added to the T20I squad for the New Zealand series.

Despite the setback, India are not expected to be overly concerned about the all-rounder’s unavailability for the T20Is, with several key players set to link up with the squad in the coming days.

Hardik Pandya, vice-captain Axar Patel, Abhishek Sharma and Shivam Dube are all expected to bolster the group as India fine-tune combinations ahead of the World Cup.

India will also be without Tilak Varma for the opening three T20Is, with the young batter continuing his recovery after undergoing groin surgery.

The absence of Washington Sundar and Varma will test India’s squad depth, but the management is likely to view the series as an opportunity to assess alternatives before finalising their plans for the T20 World Cup.

India squad for New Zealand T20Is

Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Tilak Varma (unavailable for first three matches), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel (vice-captain), Rinku Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper).

READ: Carlos Alcaraz completing Grand Slam at 22 would be ‘crazy’: Roger Federer

Roger Federer said on Thursday that Carlos Alcaraz winning the Australian Open to complete the career Grand Slam aged just 22 would be “crazy”.

Spain’s Alcaraz already has six major titles, but success on the Melbourne Park hard courts is a glaring hole in his resume.

Should the world number one snap his Australia drought at the tournament starting on Sunday, he would become the youngest man to seal a career Grand Slam.

“At his young age to be able to complete the career Grand Slam already would be crazy,” Swiss legend Federer said at Melbourne Park, where he will headline a “Battle of the World No.1s” at the official launch of the 2026 Australian Open on Saturday.

“Let’s see if he’s able to do ‘crazy’ this week. I hope he does because for the game that would be an unbelievable and special moment.”

Carlos Alcaraz is aiming to surpass retired compatriot Rafael Nadal, who secured all four majors by the age of 24, but the top seed has not made it past the quarter-finals in four previous Australian Opens.

Roger Federer, a six-time Melbourne champion, compared Alcaraz’s wait to lift the title there to Rory McIlroy’s agonising attempts to win a first Masters in golf.

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The Northern Irishman finally did it last year to complete the Grand Slam.

“It’s like Rory going for the Masters. Those things are tough,” said Federer.

Alcaraz faces home hope Adam Walton in the first round.

The now-retired Federer was also asked by reporters about Joao Fonseca, an up-and-coming Brazilian tennis talent aged 19.

Federer spoke glowingly of the teenager, saying: “What separates him from a lot of the other guys in the draw is just his power — forehand, backhand, serve and just what he’s able to bring point by point.

“He’s exciting, he’s got a good aura, he’s a very likeable character as well. I like watching him play. The sky’s the limit.”

READ: Adil Rashid, Rehan Ahmed face Indian visa delay ahead of T20 World Cup

England spinners Adil Rashid and Rehan Ahmed faced delays in securing visas from Indian authorities for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, reportedly due to their Pakistani heritage.

The issue has complicated England’s build-up to the tournament, with both players now unlikely to travel with the rest of the squad this weekend for a six-match white-ball series against Sri Lanka.

The timing of their clearance remains uncertain, leaving head coach Brendon McCullum short of two frontline spin options at a critical stage of preparation.

Rashid and Ahmed are currently overseas, with the senior leg-spinner featuring in South Africa’s SA20, while Ahmed is playing in Australia’s Big Bash League (BBL).

It is understood that once their visas are approved, both players may travel directly from their current locations to either Sri Lanka or India to rejoin the squad.

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Notably, similar bureaucratic hurdles have surfaced in recent years amid strained diplomatic relations between India and Pakistan.

During England’s tour of India two years ago, Shoaib Bashir missed the opening Test after being forced to return to London to complete his visa process, while pacer Saqib Mahmood has also encountered comparable issues in the past.

The ECB is understood to have received assurances from Indian authorities that there are no objections to the applications of Rashid and Ahmed.

However, with uncertainty over timelines persisting, the board has reportedly sought assistance from the UK government in an effort to expedite the process.

Despite the disruption, England remain confident that both spinners will be available in time for the T20 World Cup, which begins for them with a group-stage clash against Nepal in Mumbai on February 8.

READ: BPL match delayed as players enforce nationwide cricket boycott

The Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) was thrown into uncertainty on Thursday after the scheduled match between Chattogram Royals and Noakhali Express was delayed, with neither team arriving at the venue following a nationwide boycott called by the country’s cricketers.

The disruption comes after the Cricketers Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB) urged players to withdraw from all forms of cricket until Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) director and finance committee chairman M. Najmul Islam tenders his resignation.

The protest is in response to what players described as “humiliating and objectionable” public remarks made by Najmul earlier this week.

The notice of delay was issued a couple of hours before the day’s BPL fixture was due to begin at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium.

The impact of the boycott was felt beyond the franchise league, with all four first-division Dhaka Cricket League matches scheduled for Thursday morning also failing to get underway, raising serious concerns within the BCB.

CWAB had earlier issued an ultimatum, making it clear that players would not take the field for the BPL clash unless Najmul stepped down.

After a meeting between BCB officials and player representatives ended without a breakthrough, the players’ body held an impromptu press conference at a city hotel at 1:00pm local time, reiterating its stance and confirming the continuation of the boycott.

The BCB, meanwhile, announced that it has initiated formal disciplinary proceedings against Najmul.

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In an official statement, the board distanced itself from the comments made by its director and expressed regret over the controversy.

“The Bangladesh Cricket Board reiterates its regret over the recent objectionable comments made by a Board member. We acknowledge the concern caused by the remarks and reaffirm our commitment to professionalism, respect for cricketers, and the values that uphold the game,” the statement read.

The board added that due process would be followed in addressing the matter.

“As a constitutional body, the BCB is duty-bound to address such matters according to established rules and professional guidelines,” the statement added.

“Formal disciplinary proceedings have been initiated, a show-cause letter issued, and the individual instructed to submit a written response within 48 hours. Appropriate action will be taken based on the outcome of these proceedings.”

Emphasising the significance of the ongoing tournament, the BCB underlined that players remain central to the success of the league.

“The Bangladesh Premier League T20 2026 is in its final phase and remains the country’s most popular and globally recognised domestic franchise competition. The Board firmly believes that players are the main stakeholders and the lifeblood of all cricketing activities under the BCB.”

The controversy stems from comments made by Najmul on the sidelines of a board prayer meeting for the late former prime minister Khaleda Zia.

Addressing questions about the financial implications if Bangladesh were to miss matches at the upcoming T20 World Cup, Najmul suggested that the board would not suffer financially, adding that players would receive no compensation if they missed out.

READ: Tickets for Pakistan-Australia series to go on sale from THIS date