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Australia captain Alyssa Healy is set to call time on her international career in March with a home series against India, bringing down the curtain to an illustrious career.

The 35-year-old wicketkeeper-batter has been playing for her country for 15 years, making her debut as a teenager.

She has played almost 300 matches across all formats, blasting more than 7,000 runs and taking 275 dismissals.

“It’s with mixed emotions that the upcoming India series will be my last for Australia,” said Healy, whose husband is Australia’s pace spearhead Mitchell Starc.

“I’m still passionate about playing for Australia, but I’ve somewhat lost that competitive edge that’s kept me driven since the start, so the time feels right to call it a day.

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“Representing my country has been an incredible honour, and I’m grateful for one last series in the green and gold.”

Taking over as full-time Australian captain in 2023 from Meg Lanning, Healy famously led the side to a historic 16-0 whitewash of England.

One of the most destructive batters and finest wicketkeepers in world cricket, she has been part of eight World Cup titles.

“Alyssa is one of the all-time greats of the game and has made an immeasurable contribution both on and off the field over her 15-year career,” said Cricket Australia chief Todd Greenberg.

“On behalf of Australian cricket, I’d like to thank Alyssa and congratulate her on an incredible career that has inspired so many and changed the game for the better.”

Healy, the niece of Australian Test great Ian Healy, was in the commentary box during the Australian men’s recent 4-1 Ashes thumping of England and is expected to transition to a broadcasting career.

The February-March series with India features three T20s, two one-dayers and a one-off Test in Perth.

Healy will only play the ODIs and the Test.

READ: ICC says no specific security threat to Bangladesh team in India

Alvaro Arbeloa was named as Real Madrid’s new head coach on Monday, replacing Xabi Alonso, who left the role following a 2-3 loss to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final in Saudi Arabia.

Arbeloa has been the coach of Castilla since June 2025 and has developed his entire coaching career in Real Madrid’s academy since 2020.

The Spaniard played 238 times for Madrid between 2009 and 2016, winning two Champions League titles and La Liga once, among other silverware.

Arbeloa also lifted the World Cup with Spain in 2010 and the European Championship in 2008 and 2012, playing alongside Alonso for club and country.

Arbeloa’s first match at the helm is a Copa del Rey last-16 visit to face second-tier Albacete on Wednesday.

Earlier, Real Madrid announced the departure of Xabi Alonso, reached by mutual agreement.

“Real Madrid C. F. wishes to announce that, by mutual agreement between the club and Xabi Alonso, it has been decided to bring his time as first team coach to an end,” the press release wrote.

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“Xabi Alonso will always carry the affection and admiration of all Madridistas because he is a Real Madrid legend and has always represented the values of our club. Real Madrid will always be his home,” it added.

“We would like to thank Xabi Alonso and all his coaching staff for their hard work and dedication throughout this time, and wish them the best of luck in this new stage of their lives.”

Alonso had signed a three-season deal after leaving Bayer Leverkusen, until June 2028.

The team were thrashed 4-0 by Paris Saint-Germain in July in the Club World Cup semi-finals, which was an early setback for the coach.

Despite a Clasico win over Barcelona in October, it appeared president Florentino Perez had not fully warmed to Alonso, who had intended to bring a modern coaching approach to the team.

The team struggled through a run of poor form amid an injury crisis, with Spanish media reporting some players had fallen out with him and that Alonso would be ousted if they failed to beat Manchester City in the Champions League in December.

Madrid lost but the performance was solid enough that Alonso was given more time to try and save his job.

However, the defeat by Barca in Jeddah was the final straw for Madrid, who agreed a deal with Alonso for him to depart.

READ: Alonso steps down as Real Madrid coach

DUBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) said an internal security assessment found no specific threat to the Bangladesh cricket team in India for the Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, Cricinfo reported on Monday.

According to the report, the cricket apex body shared a security assessment with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) in which the team has been cleared to travel to India for the mega event.

The internal evaluation found no overall threat to the team, although it highlighted low to moderate risks in some venues and low to negligible risks in others, which fall within standard ICC security classifications and do not ordinarily constitute sufficient reason to relocate fixtures.

Earlier, the Bangladesh sports advisor claimed that the ICC’s assessment pointed out some difficulties for the Tigers during the World Cup matches.

“We have sent two letters (to the ICC), after which the ICC security team have sent a letter,” Nazrul said.

He claimed that ICC cited three potential security implications for Bangladesh’s travel to India, including Mustafizur Rahman’s presence in the side.

“So this statement of the ICC security team has proven beyond a doubt that there is no situation for the Bangladesh cricket team to play the T20 World Cup in India.

If the ICC expects us to make a cricket team without our best bowler, our supporters will not be able to wear the Bangladesh jersey, and we will postpone the Bangladesh elections to play cricket, then there can be no more bizarre, unrealistic, and unreasonable expectation than this,” he said.

However, as per the report, ICC considers that Nazrul’s claims are a misreading of routine contingency planning and hypothetical scenarios.

Later, BCB statements clarified that the ICC security assessment was not related to Bangladesh’s official request to move their T20 World Cup games out of India.

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“The correspondence cited today by the Adviser for the Ministry of Youth & Sports was in reference to an internal communication between the BCB and the ICC’s Security Department related to threat assessments for the Bangladesh team ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup,” the BCB said.

“This does not constitute a formal response from the ICC to the BCB’s request for the relocation of Bangladesh’s matches outside India.

“The BCB reiterates that it has formally raised concerns regarding venue arrangements and has requested relocation of Bangladesh’s matches outside India in the interest of the team’s security. The Board confirms that it is still awaiting an official response from the ICC on this matter,” the board concluded.

For the unversed, the entire development follows Bangladesh’s ace pacer Mustafizur Rahman’s release from the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).

The decision was taken in accordance with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), prompting a strong response from Bangladesh.

READ: All squads revealed for ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026

Xabi Alonso has stepped down as Real Madrid coach after mutual agreement, the club announced on Monday.

The news of Alonso’s departure was announced on the club’s website.

“Real Madrid C. F. wishes to announce that, by mutual agreement between the club and Xabi Alonso, it has been decided to bring his time as first team coach to an end,” the press release wrote.

“Xabi Alonso will always carry the affection and admiration of all Madridistas because he is a Real Madrid legend and has always represented the values of our club. Real Madrid will always be his home,” it added.

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“We would like to thank Xabi Alonso and all his coaching staff for their hard work and dedication throughout this time, and wish them the best of luck in this new stage of their lives.”

This comes after Madrid lost the Spanish Super Cup final against Barcelona. Meanwhile, former Spanish footballer Alvaro Arbeloa has been named as his replacement.

In a separate statement, Madrid announced Arbeloa would take Alonso’s place, without specifying the length of the 42-year-old’s contract.

The World Cup winner and two-time European Championship winner, Alvaro Arbeloa, will work as the new manager of Real Madrid.

“Arbeloa has been the coach of Castilla since June 2025 and has developed his entire coaching career in Real Madrid’s academy since 2020,” said the club.

Xabi Alonso joined the club in June 2025, replacing Carlo Ancelotti. But the side’s struggles under Alonso’s leadership played a pivotal role in his departure.

His tenure would have ended earlier at the end of 2025, but five consecutive wins until the Super Cup repeat kept him in the position.

READ: Guardiola prioritises Man City ‘growth’ over trophies

Pep Guardiola says he cares more about how Manchester City “grow up” than winning trophies as he prepares his side for the first leg of their League Cup semi-final away to Newcastle on Tuesday.

City ended last season without a major trophy for the first time in eight years, though they did lift the Community Shield at the start of the campaign, beating Manchester United on penalties.

Guardiola, asked at his pre-match press conference on Monday if he felt extra pressure after missing out on the big prizes last season, insisted he was not focused on silverware.

“It’s not about winning or not winning trophies, it’s about how the team grows up, how the team is better,” the City manager said.

“Last season we didn’t deserve to win more than just one trophy, because we didn’t play good. So satisfaction to win a trophy when we are not playing good, can happen, you know, knockout stages, (you can be) lucky.

“It’s not about that. Believe me, it’s not about that. We are here to make the team play better, the satisfaction is to make a good performance for ourselves, our fans.”

Guardiola, who has rebuilt his squad over the past year following the departures of key players, said the point was to improve game by game.

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“That is the target, and all the time has been like that,” he explained. “And after, when you are in that process, and you fight for the title, you can win it.

“But after the title, big compliments, the day after, a little bit less compliments, two days after, three days, it’s forgotten. It’s another. So it’s the journey, it’s how you improve. That is what you have to do to live our profession.”

City won the League Cup for four seasons in a row from 2018, with the competition proving a launchpad for a decade of domination of English football under Guardiola.

Last season they were dethroned as Premier League champions by Liverpool and they trail leaders Arsenal by six points in the current campaign.

Chelsea host Arsenal in the first leg of the other League Cup semi-final on Wednesday.

READ: Netherlands name squad for T20 World Cup 2026

SYLHET: Tanzid Hasan played an impressive knock of 76 from 43 balls to help Rajshahi Warriors ease past Dhaka Capitals in the 24th fixture of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2025-26.

With this win, Warriors are now in pole position with 12 points in eight games.

Rajshahi Warriors moved to the top spot after chasing down a partly target of 132 in 16.1 overs, losing three wickets in the process.

Muhammad Waseem and Tanzid Hasan started the chase on a positive note with a 38-run stand in 4.2 overs.

Waseem made 22 off 13 with the aid of a six and two fours.

Meanwhile, Tanzid and skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto kept the Capitals bowlers away with a 33-run partnership.

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Tanzid Hasan did the bulk of the scoring, with the latter being dismissed for five in the eighth over of the game. Shanto could only add five to the total.

At this stage, Rajshahi Warriors were 71-2 with seasoned batter Mushfiqur Rahim joining Tanzid. The pair put on a 44-run partnership, which gave the Warriors the insight they needed for the victory.

Imad Wasim eventually broke the stand with Tanzid’s wicket, who was cleaned up after hitting five sixes and seven fours.

Eventually, the Warriors cruised to a victory with Mushfiqur Rahim (12*) and James Neesham (10*) at the crease.

For Dhaka Capitals, Saif Hassan, Nasir Hossain, and Imad Wasim picked up a wicket each.

Earlier, Dhaka Capitals could not capitalize on the decision to bat first as the whole side was skittled out for 131 on the last ball of the final over.

Usman Khan remained the top scorer with 41 off 27 balls, striking five fours and two sixes.

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Despite an opening partnership of 54 runs in the first over, the Capitals’ middle order could not rise to the occasion with wickets tumbling at regular intervals.

Abdul Gaffar Saqlain and Ripon Mondol were the chief destroyers as they never allowed Capitals batters to bat freely, resulting in a below-par total.

For Rajshahi Warriors, Abdul Gaffar Saqlain starred with the ball, taking a four-wicket haul. Ripon Mondol continued his impressive run in the tournament with three scalps to his name.

READ: Netherlands name squad for T20 World Cup 2026

AMSTELVEEN: The Netherlands have announced a 16-member squad for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, set to commence on 7 February across Sri Lanka and India.

The Dutch overall squad includes experienced campaigners who have been part of the team in the last couple of years.

The squad will be led by Scott Edwars, who also captained the side in the 2024 edition of the tournament.

The batting unit will be led by Max O’Dowd, Michael Levitt, and all-rounder Bas de Leede.

While the spin department will be spearheaded by veteran Roelof van der Merwe, who will be appearing in his sixth T20 World Cup since his maiden appearance for South Africa in 2009.

Following the squad announcement, the Netherlands head coach Ryan Cook expressed confidence in their chances in the World Cup.

“With experience in the past few World Cups, having played against all of the teams in our group recently and having exposure to the conditions in Sri Lanka and India, we are confident in our preparations over the past few months,” he said.

“Players and staff have been working hard and making many sacrifices to put the team in a great position to succeed in the tournament.”

He also mentioned the squad and emphasized conditions in a bid to advance through to the next round.

“Our squad has depth and variety in options which we feel will be effective against the opposition and in these conditions as well experience which will be important as we look to advance through the group stages,” he explained.

The Netherlands will kickstart their campaign against Pakistan at Colombo in the T20 World Cup opener.

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For the unversed, the marquee event will be played from 7 February to 8 March across Sri Lanka and India.

The event will feature 20 teams, divided into four groups of five, with the top two from each group advancing to the Super Eight stage. A total of 41 matches will be played in the tournament, including the semi-final and final.

Netherlands squad

Scott Edwards (c), Colin Ackermann, Noah Croes, Bas de Leede, Aryan Dutt, Fred Klaassen, Kyle Klein, Michael Levitt, Zach Lion-Cachet, Max O’Dowd, Logan van Beek, Timm van der Gugten, Roelof van der Merwe, Paul van Meekeren, Saqib Zulfiqar

READ: WATCH: Rizwan becomes first Pakistan player to be retired out in T20s

SYDNEY: Wicket-keeper batter Mohammad Rizwan became Pakistan’s first player to be retired out in T20 cricket during the 33rd fixture of the Big Bash League (BBL) 15 between Melbourne Renegades and Sydney Thunder.

Rizwan scored a sluggish 26 from 23 balls with the help of two fours and a six before Renegades skipper Will Sutherland called the batter back to the pavilion.

At this stage, Renegades were 154-5 at the end of the 18th over.

The video set social media abuzz with fans questioning the decision to retire Rizwan.

Notably, Rizwan also became the first overseas batter in the ongoing tournament to be retired out.

Overall, Mohammad Rizwan is going through a horror run in the BBL 15, scoring 167 runs in eight matches at a modest average of 20.87, with a strike rate of 101.82.

 

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Nonetheless, Melbourne Renegades eventually managed to put on a show with the bat as they racked up 170/8 at the end of their allotted 20 overs.

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Hassan Khan remained the star batter as he hit four sixes and a boundary on his way to 46 from 31 balls.

For Sydney Thunder, Wes Agar, Ryan Hadley, and David Willey picked up two wickets each.

In reply, Sydney Thunder scored 140-5 in 15.2 overs before rain arrived, which handed them a four-wicket victory as per the DLS method.

Nic Maddinson and Chris Green starred with the bat, particularly the latter, scoring an unbeaten 34 from 13 balls with the aid of three sixes and three fours.

For Melbourne Renegades, it was Gurinder Sandhu again with the ball as he picked up his third fourth-wicket haul of the tournament.

READ: Parvez Hossain Emon guides Sylhet Titans to victory over Rangpur Riders

SYLHET: Parvez Hossain Emon’s unbeaten 52 powered Sylhet Titans to a six-wicket win over Rangpur Riders in a Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2025-26 clash here on Monday.

Titans captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s decision to field first paid immediate dividends as Rangpur Riders stumbled to 27-3 inside the first five overs.

Litton Das fought briefly with 22 off 12 balls, while Pakistan’s Iftikhar Ahmed struggled for 17 off 20 deliveries.

Khushdil Shah top-scored for the Riders with 30 off 24, and Mahmudullah contributed 29 off 23, but the visitors were eventually bowled out for 114 in 19.1 overs.

Nasum Ahmed and Shohidul Islam led the Titans’ bowling attack with three wickets apiece, while Moeen Ali chipped in with two.

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In reply, Sylhet Titans got off to a solid start with an opening partnership of 54 between Tawfique Khan and Parvez Hossain Emon.

Sufiyan Muqeem broke the stand by removing Tawfique for 33 off 22, but Emon anchored the innings alongside contributions from Ariful Islam (21 off 26) and Afif Hossain (12).

Emon’s composed 52 off 41 balls, which included three sixes and three fours, guided Sylhet to a six-wicket victory with 15 balls to spare.

The win propelled Sylhet Titans to second place in the BPL points table, while Rangpur Riders remained fourth with four wins from eight games.

READ: Rashid Latif backs Khawaja Nafay as wicket-keeper in World Cup 2026

Former captain Rashid Latif has thrown his support behind young wicketkeeper-batter Khawaja Nafay, backing him for selection in Pakistan’s squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 following his promising international debut against Sri Lanka.

Nafay made his first appearance for Pakistan in the rain-affected third and final T20I at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium on Sunday.

The right-hander impressed in a high-pressure chase, scoring a brisk 26 off 15 balls as Pakistan pursued a revised target of 161 in a shortened 12-over contest.

Although Pakistan eventually fell 14 runs short, Nafay’s composure and clean striking drew praise from several quarters, including Latif.

Taking to social media platform X after the match, the former wicketkeeper-captain lauded Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha’s late onslaught and strongly endorsed Nafay as a World Cup option behind the stumps.

“Captain played well tonight. Khawaja Nafey Wicket Keeper for WC 26,” Latif wrote.

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The match saw Sri Lanka level the three-match series 1-1 after the second T20I was washed out due to rain.

Batting first, the hosts piled up 160-6 in 12 overs, powered by a sensational cameo from captain Dasun Shanaka, who smashed 34 off just nine deliveries, including five sixes.

Kusal Mendis chipped in with 30 off 16 balls, while Janith Liyanage (22 off 8), Dhananjaya de Silva (22), and Charith Asalanka (21) added valuable runs in a frenetic innings.

In reply, Pakistan showed intent but fell short despite a stunning effort from Salman Ali Agha, who top-scored with 45 off just 12 balls, striking five fours and three sixes.

Mohammad Nawaz contributed 28 off 15, while Nafay’s knock stood out on debut in a demanding situation.

Sri Lanka’s bowlers held their nerve in the closing stages, with Wanindu Hasaranga leading the attack with figures of 4-35 in three overs.

READ: ICC considers alternate venues for Bangladesh’s World Cup games: reports