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Pakistan cricketers Mohammad Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq were questioned by the National Cyber Crimes Investigation Agency (NCCIA) in Lahore, according to ESPNcricinfo. The two players were among seven cricketers dropped from Pakistan’s squad during the ongoing Test series against England following a 194-run defeat in the second Test at Lord’s.&nbsp;&nbsp;Rizwan and Imam were then asked to appear before the NCCIA and visited its office on Thursday. According to the report, at least one of them spent several hours at the agency.&nbsp;The reason for the questioning has not been made public. It is also not known whether the NCCIA matter is linked to an internal inquiry launched by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) earlier this week.&nbsp;The PCB had not named any players when it announced the inquiry. The board said it had "initiated an internal disciplinary inquiry following media reports concerning discipline and conduct, which are currently being reviewed internally".&nbsp;Reports suggested that at least one of the players received a questionnaire from the NCCIA and is expected to submit the completed document next week.&nbsp;Rizwan had a poor run with the bat during the England tour, scoring 12, 41, 7 and 1 in his four innings. His struggles continued in the two Tests that followed in the Caribbean.&nbsp;Imam, meanwhile, suffered a Grade 1 tear in his left calf on the opening day at Lord’s and did not bat in either of Pakistan’s innings. On the final morning, he tried some light knockdowns during the warm-up but appeared to be uncomfortable.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-afg-1st-t20i-when-and-where-to-watch-live-streaming-in-india-1789201647350">IND vs AFG, 1st T20I: When and where to watch live streaming in India?</a>&nbsp;Aaqib Javed, PCB chief selector and director of high performance, later questioned the seriousness of Imam’s injury and suggested that the matter could be investigated.&nbsp;Following the Lord’s defeat, the PCB released seven players from the squad - Rizwan, Imam, Salman Agha, Ali Usman, Aamer Jamal, Awais Zafar and Khurram Shahzad. The result came after Pakistan had already suffered an innings and 103-run defeat against England in the series opener at Leeds.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/record-nine-sixes-on-test-debut-meet-pakistan-s-new-pace-hope-razaullah-1789199429563">Record nine sixes on Test debut! Meet Pakistan’s new pace hope Razaullah</a>&nbsp;Pakistan replaced them with five uncapped players, along with Saim Ayub and Abdullah Fazal. The uncapped players added to the squad were Arafat Minhas, Mohammad Imran Jnr, Saad Baig, Mohammad Imran Randhawa and Razaullah.&nbsp;The PCB also sent head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul back home after the Lord’s loss. Mike Hesson and Ashley Noffke, who are part of Pakistan’s white-ball coaching set-up, were brought in as head coach and bowling coach respectively.&nbsp;&nbsp;With inputs from agencies

Mohammad Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq were questioned by Pakistan’s National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency over alleged dressing-room leaks, adding to the team’s ongoing disciplinary issues.

Pakistan cricketers Mohammad Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq were questioned by the National Cyber Crimes Investigation Agency (NCCIA) in Lahore, according to ESPNcricinfo. The two players were among seven cricketers dropped from Pakistan’s squad during the ongoing Test series against England following a 194-run defeat in the second Test at Lord’s. Rizwan and Imam were then asked to appear before the NCCIA and visited its office on Thursday. According to the report, at least one of them spent several hours at the agency. The reason for the questioning has not been made public. It is also not known whether the NCCIA matter is linked to an internal inquiry launched by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) earlier this week. The PCB had not named any players when it announced the inquiry. The board said it had "initiated an internal disciplinary inquiry following media reports concerning discipline and conduct, which are currently being reviewed internally". Reports suggested that at least one of the players received a questionnaire from the NCCIA and is expected to submit the completed document next week. Rizwan had a poor run with the bat during the England tour, scoring 12, 41, 7 and 1 in his four innings. His struggles continued in the two Tests that followed in the Caribbean. Imam, meanwhile, suffered a Grade 1 tear in his left calf on the opening day at Lord’s and did not bat in either of Pakistan’s innings. On the final morning, he tried some light knockdowns during the warm-up but appeared to be uncomfortable. Also Read - IND vs AFG, 1st T20I: When and where to watch live streaming in India? Aaqib Javed, PCB chief selector and director of high performance, later questioned the seriousness of Imam’s injury and suggested that the matter could be investigated. Following the Lord’s defeat, the PCB released seven players from the squad - Rizwan, Imam, Salman Agha, Ali Usman, Aamer Jamal, Awais Zafar and Khurram Shahzad. The result came after Pakistan had already suffered an innings and 103-run defeat against England in the series opener at Leeds. Also Read - Record nine sixes on Test debut! Meet Pakistan’s new pace hope Razaullah Pakistan replaced them with five uncapped players, along with Saim Ayub and Abdullah Fazal. The uncapped players added to the squad were Arafat Minhas, Mohammad Imran Jnr, Saad Baig, Mohammad Imran Randhawa and Razaullah. The PCB also sent head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul back home after the Lord’s loss. Mike Hesson and Ashley Noffke, who are part of Pakistan’s white-ball coaching set-up, were brought in as head coach and bowling coach respectively. With inputs from agencies

Mohammad Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq were questioned by Pakistan’s National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency over alleged dressing-room leaks, adding to the team’s ongoing disciplinary issues.

Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq questioned by Pakistan’s cybercrime department in Lahore

Jasprit Bumrah’s return to the nets at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium on Friday gave India a boost ahead of their first T20I against Afghanistan on Sunday (Sept 13). The practice session was delayed by rain, but once it began, Bumrah bowled with good intensity and also enjoyed an exciting spell with young batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.&nbsp;However, the series is also significant for Afghanistan, who are taking another step forward in international cricket. India had earlier hosted several of Afghanistan’s home matches, including their first-ever Test against India in Bengaluru. This time, Afghanistan will officially host India in a bilateral series for the first time.&nbsp;The Afghan players are already well-versed with Indian conditions. Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi and Rahmanullah Gurbaz have all made an impact in the IPL, while Afghanistan produced one of their biggest World Cup wins when they defeated England in Delhi in 2023.&nbsp;Afghanistan enter the series as a strong T20 side under captain Ibrahim Zadran, with Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi and Noor Ahmad expected to play key roles. India, meanwhile, have Bumrah and Varun Chakaravarthy back in the squad but still need to find the right combination at the top of the batting order.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/women-s-asia-cup-2026-sri-lanka-stun-pakistan-to-seal-final-against-india-1789196020203">Women’s Asia Cup 2026: Sri Lanka stun Pakistan to seal final against India</a><h2>IND vs AFG, 1st T20I: Match Details</h2><h2>When will the IND vs AFG, 1st T20I be played?</h2>The first T20I between India and Afghanistan will be played on Sunday (Sept 13). The toss is scheduled for 7:00 pm IST.<h2>Where is the match being played?</h2>The match will be held at Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/record-nine-sixes-on-test-debut-meet-pakistan-s-new-pace-hope-razaullah-1789199429563">Record nine sixes on Test debut! Meet Pakistan’s new pace hope Razaullah</a><h2>Where can fans watch the match on television?</h2>The live telecast of the first T20I between India and Afghanistan will be available on Sony Sports Network in India.<h2>Where to livestream IND vs AFG, 1st T20I?</h2>The livestream of the first T20I between India and Afghanistan will be available on the FanCode app and website.<h2>Squads</h2>India:&nbsp;Shreyas Iyer (C), Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Sanju Samson (WK), Ishan Kishan (WK), Tilak Varma (VC), Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh and Yash Thakur&nbsp;Afghanistan:&nbsp;Ibrahim Zadran (C), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Noor Rahman (WK), Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Nangyal Kharoti, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazal Haq Farooqi, Abdullah Ahmadzai and Naveen-ul-Haq

As the crucial T20I clash between India and Afghanistan approaches, here’s a look at the live streaming details for fans in India.

Jasprit Bumrah’s return to the nets at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium on Friday gave India a boost ahead of their first T20I against Afghanistan on Sunday (Sept 13). The practice session was delayed by rain, but once it began, Bumrah bowled with good intensity and also enjoyed an exciting spell with young batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. However, the series is also significant for Afghanistan, who are taking another step forward in international cricket. India had earlier hosted several of Afghanistan’s home matches, including their first-ever Test against India in Bengaluru. This time, Afghanistan will officially host India in a bilateral series for the first time. The Afghan players are already well-versed with Indian conditions. Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi and Rahmanullah Gurbaz have all made an impact in the IPL, while Afghanistan produced one of their biggest World Cup wins when they defeated England in Delhi in 2023. Afghanistan enter the series as a strong T20 side under captain Ibrahim Zadran, with Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi and Noor Ahmad expected to play key roles. India, meanwhile, have Bumrah and Varun Chakaravarthy back in the squad but still need to find the right combination at the top of the batting order. Also Read - Women’s Asia Cup 2026: Sri Lanka stun Pakistan to seal final against India IND vs AFG, 1st T20I: Match Details When will the IND vs AFG, 1st T20I be played? The first T20I between India and Afghanistan will be played on Sunday (Sept 13). The toss is scheduled for 7:00 pm IST. Where is the match being played? The match will be held at Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. Also Read - Record nine sixes on Test debut! Meet Pakistan’s new pace hope Razaullah Where can fans watch the match on television? The live telecast of the first T20I between India and Afghanistan will be available on Sony Sports Network in India. Where to livestream IND vs AFG, 1st T20I? The livestream of the first T20I between India and Afghanistan will be available on the FanCode app and website. Squads India: Shreyas Iyer (C), Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Sanju Samson (WK), Ishan Kishan (WK), Tilak Varma (VC), Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh and Yash Thakur Afghanistan: Ibrahim Zadran (C), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (WK), Noor Rahman (WK), Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Azmatullah Omarzai, Gulbadin Naib, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Nangyal Kharoti, Noor Ahmad, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazal Haq Farooqi, Abdullah Ahmadzai and Naveen-ul-Haq

As the crucial T20I clash between India and Afghanistan approaches, here’s a look at the live streaming details for fans in India.

IND vs AFG, 1st T20I: When and where to watch live streaming in India?

Razaullah’s Test debut came at a difficult time for Pakistan, as the fast bowler was brought into the playing XI as one of seven changes for the third and final Test against England at Edgbaston. He had played only eight first-class matches before making his international debut. During the match, Razaullah quickly made his presence felt with the ball, bowling at good pace and dismissing England batters Joe Root and Jamie Smith. However, it was his batting that grabbed most of the attention.&nbsp;When Razaullah came to the crease, Pakistan were 312/7 and facing the threat of an innings defeat on Friday. What happened next saw the debutant become one of the biggest talking points of the Test.&nbsp;Razaullah played an attacking knock of 81 off just 63 balls, hitting nine sixes against an England pace attack that included Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson and Josh Tongue. His aggressive innings helped Pakistan escape a difficult situation and also earned him a place in the record books. His nine sixes equalled the record for the most sixes by a batter in a Test innings on debut.&nbsp;However, his stunning performance at Edgbaston was not completely unexpected, as the Mardan-born cricketer had already shown his batting ability in domestic cricket.&nbsp;&nbsp;He made his first-class debut in Nov 2025 and scored a century for Peshawar in one of his early matches after opening the innings.&nbsp;Despite his batting skills, Razaullah’s main role remains that of a fast bowler.&nbsp;He gave an early indication of his ability with the ball at Edgbaston when he dismissed England great Joe Root with his fourth delivery in Test cricket. Although his bowling figures later became expensive, but the wicket showed why Pakistan had backed him during a period of major changes in the team.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/women-s-asia-cup-2026-sri-lanka-stun-pakistan-to-seal-final-against-india-1789196020203">Women’s Asia Cup 2026: Sri Lanka stun Pakistan to seal final against India</a>&nbsp;After Pakistan’s defeat at Lord’s, the team went through a major overhaul, with seven players dropped and two coaches also removed. Razaullah was added to the XI at short notice and had very little time to prepare for international cricket.&nbsp;Instead of feeling overwhelmed, he embraced the opportunity.&nbsp;“I enjoyed the standing ovation,” Razaullah said with a smile at the press conference. “I like to enjoy life and I was relishing the moment.”&nbsp;His calm nature was also clear in his batting. Razaullah faced England’s pace attack without fear, trusting his own ability instead of worrying about his opponents.&nbsp;&nbsp;“I was being selective with which balls to slog, but they all seemed within range,” he said casually. “I wanted to take it as deep as possible. I wasn’t scared of pace. I wanted to punish the balls from Archer that landed on a hard length. There’s nothing to be scared of when you’re playing for your country. I was just enjoying myself.”&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/beyond-the-scoreboard-former-aussie-batter-david-warner-on-fans-culture-and-life-after-cricket-1789120951406">'Beyond the Scoreboard': Ex-Aussie Warner on fans, culture, &amp; life after cricket</a>&nbsp;By the time Razaullah was dismissed for 81, Pakistan had turned the match around. Instead of facing an innings defeat, they had put England in a position where they needed to chase a target in the fourth innings.&nbsp;“I just believed in myself. I thought if I played 50 balls, I’d get a positive result. And thankfully that happened,” he said.

Pakistan were 312 for seven and in danger of an innings defeat against England when debutant Razaullah hit a brilliant 81, including nine sixes, to change the course of the match.

Razaullah’s Test debut came at a difficult time for Pakistan, as the fast bowler was brought into the playing XI as one of seven changes for the third and final Test against England at Edgbaston. He had played only eight first-class matches before making his international debut. During the match, Razaullah quickly made his presence felt with the ball, bowling at good pace and dismissing England batters Joe Root and Jamie Smith. However, it was his batting that grabbed most of the attention. When Razaullah came to the crease, Pakistan were 312/7 and facing the threat of an innings defeat on Friday. What happened next saw the debutant become one of the biggest talking points of the Test. Razaullah played an attacking knock of 81 off just 63 balls, hitting nine sixes against an England pace attack that included Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson and Josh Tongue. His aggressive innings helped Pakistan escape a difficult situation and also earned him a place in the record books. His nine sixes equalled the record for the most sixes by a batter in a Test innings on debut. However, his stunning performance at Edgbaston was not completely unexpected, as the Mardan-born cricketer had already shown his batting ability in domestic cricket. He made his first-class debut in Nov 2025 and scored a century for Peshawar in one of his early matches after opening the innings. Despite his batting skills, Razaullah’s main role remains that of a fast bowler. He gave an early indication of his ability with the ball at Edgbaston when he dismissed England great Joe Root with his fourth delivery in Test cricket. Although his bowling figures later became expensive, but the wicket showed why Pakistan had backed him during a period of major changes in the team. Also Read - Women’s Asia Cup 2026: Sri Lanka stun Pakistan to seal final against India After Pakistan’s defeat at Lord’s, the team went through a major overhaul, with seven players dropped and two coaches also removed. Razaullah was added to the XI at short notice and had very little time to prepare for international cricket. Instead of feeling overwhelmed, he embraced the opportunity. “I enjoyed the standing ovation,” Razaullah said with a smile at the press conference. “I like to enjoy life and I was relishing the moment.” His calm nature was also clear in his batting. Razaullah faced England’s pace attack without fear, trusting his own ability instead of worrying about his opponents. “I was being selective with which balls to slog, but they all seemed within range,” he said casually. “I wanted to take it as deep as possible. I wasn’t scared of pace. I wanted to punish the balls from Archer that landed on a hard length. There’s nothing to be scared of when you’re playing for your country. I was just enjoying myself.” Also Read - 'Beyond the Scoreboard': Ex-Aussie Warner on fans, culture, & life after cricket By the time Razaullah was dismissed for 81, Pakistan had turned the match around. Instead of facing an innings defeat, they had put England in a position where they needed to chase a target in the fourth innings. “I just believed in myself. I thought if I played 50 balls, I’d get a positive result. And thankfully that happened,” he said.

Pakistan were 312 for seven and in danger of an innings defeat against England when debutant Razaullah hit a brilliant 81, including nine sixes, to change the course of the match.

Record nine sixes on Test debut! Meet Pakistan’s new pace hope Razaullah

Defending champions Sri Lanka edged past Pakistan by four wickets in a thrilling second semi-final to set up a Women’s T20 Asia Cup 2026 final against unbeaten India on Sunday. Chasing 131, Sri Lanka were in deep trouble after losing two wickets for five runs and then slipping to 33/4, however, Harshitha Samarawickrama and Kavisha Dilhari brought their team back into the game with a crucial 67-run partnership.&nbsp;&nbsp;Samarawickrama scored 36 off 31 balls, while Dilhari made 33 off 33 as the duo helped Sri Lanka move closer to the target.&nbsp;Pakistan captain Fatima Sana kept her team in the contest by removing both set batters in her second spell and finished with excellent figures of 4/36.&nbsp;Earlier, Sana had played a key role with the bat as well. After Pakistan were reduced to 52/4, she scored 47 off 36 balls to help her side post 130/5.&nbsp;Sana played an aggressive knock, striking several boundaries and a six to help Pakistan add 78 runs in the final 10 overs after Sri Lanka’s spinners had kept them under pressure early on.&nbsp;&nbsp;For Sri Lanka, captain Chamari Athapaththu made a huge impact with the ball, taking two wickets in her first two overs. She dismissed Shawaal Zulfiqar and Ayesha Zafar, while Sugandika Kumari removed Muneeba Ali to leave Pakistan struggling.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/beyond-the-scoreboard-former-aussie-batter-david-warner-on-fans-culture-and-life-after-cricket-1789120951406">'Beyond the Scoreboard': Former Aussie batter David Warner on fans, culture, and life after cricket</a>&nbsp;Seventeen-year-old left-arm spinner Chamudi Prabodha then added to Pakistan’s problems by having Sadaf Shamas stumped in the 10th over. Pakistan were reduced to 52/4 at that stage.&nbsp;Sana then took charge of the innings. After not scoring from her first six balls, she began attacking the Sri Lankan bowlers and guided Pakistan to a competitive total.&nbsp;Sri Lanka’s chase got off to a poor start, with Sana dismissing two of their top three batters, including Athapaththu, during her opening spell.&nbsp;Samarawickrama and Dilhari then rebuilt the innings with a 67-run stand, but Sana returned towards the end and dismissed both batters, giving Pakistan renewed hope; however, Sri Lanka’s lower order remained calm under pressure.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-pacer-siraj-says-his-body-doesn-t-handle-long-breaks-well-1789114286876">India pacer Siraj says his body 'doesn't handle long breaks well'</a>&nbsp;Nilakshika Silva and Kaushini Nuthyangana took Sri Lanka closer to the target. Nuthyangana then hit a six to leave Sri Lanka needing just five runs from 11 balls.&nbsp;Sri Lanka completed the chase with eight balls remaining. Nilakshika hit Sana for the winning boundary to seal a four-wicket victory.&nbsp;The win sent Sri Lanka into their second straight Women’s T20 Asia Cup final, where they will meet India. The Harmanpreet Kaur-led side had beaten Bangladesh by 40 runs in the first semi-final.&nbsp;India have remained unbeaten throughout the tournament and had also defeated Sri Lanka in the league stage. However, the defending champions will take plenty of confidence into Sunday’s final after recovering from another difficult position against Pakistan.&nbsp;With inputs from agencies

India will face defending champions Sri Lanka in a repeat of the previous edition’s final in the Women’s Asia Cup summit clash in Dubai on Sunday, after Sri Lanka secured a four-wicket win over Pakistan on Friday.

Defending champions Sri Lanka edged past Pakistan by four wickets in a thrilling second semi-final to set up a Women’s T20 Asia Cup 2026 final against unbeaten India on Sunday. Chasing 131, Sri Lanka were in deep trouble after losing two wickets for five runs and then slipping to 33/4, however, Harshitha Samarawickrama and Kavisha Dilhari brought their team back into the game with a crucial 67-run partnership. Samarawickrama scored 36 off 31 balls, while Dilhari made 33 off 33 as the duo helped Sri Lanka move closer to the target. Pakistan captain Fatima Sana kept her team in the contest by removing both set batters in her second spell and finished with excellent figures of 4/36. Earlier, Sana had played a key role with the bat as well. After Pakistan were reduced to 52/4, she scored 47 off 36 balls to help her side post 130/5. Sana played an aggressive knock, striking several boundaries and a six to help Pakistan add 78 runs in the final 10 overs after Sri Lanka’s spinners had kept them under pressure early on. For Sri Lanka, captain Chamari Athapaththu made a huge impact with the ball, taking two wickets in her first two overs. She dismissed Shawaal Zulfiqar and Ayesha Zafar, while Sugandika Kumari removed Muneeba Ali to leave Pakistan struggling. Also Read - 'Beyond the Scoreboard': Former Aussie batter David Warner on fans, culture, and life after cricket Seventeen-year-old left-arm spinner Chamudi Prabodha then added to Pakistan’s problems by having Sadaf Shamas stumped in the 10th over. Pakistan were reduced to 52/4 at that stage. Sana then took charge of the innings. After not scoring from her first six balls, she began attacking the Sri Lankan bowlers and guided Pakistan to a competitive total. Sri Lanka’s chase got off to a poor start, with Sana dismissing two of their top three batters, including Athapaththu, during her opening spell. Samarawickrama and Dilhari then rebuilt the innings with a 67-run stand, but Sana returned towards the end and dismissed both batters, giving Pakistan renewed hope; however, Sri Lanka’s lower order remained calm under pressure. Also Read - India pacer Siraj says his body 'doesn't handle long breaks well' Nilakshika Silva and Kaushini Nuthyangana took Sri Lanka closer to the target. Nuthyangana then hit a six to leave Sri Lanka needing just five runs from 11 balls. Sri Lanka completed the chase with eight balls remaining. Nilakshika hit Sana for the winning boundary to seal a four-wicket victory. The win sent Sri Lanka into their second straight Women’s T20 Asia Cup final, where they will meet India. The Harmanpreet Kaur-led side had beaten Bangladesh by 40 runs in the first semi-final. India have remained unbeaten throughout the tournament and had also defeated Sri Lanka in the league stage. However, the defending champions will take plenty of confidence into Sunday’s final after recovering from another difficult position against Pakistan. With inputs from agencies

India will face defending champions Sri Lanka in a repeat of the previous edition’s final in the Women’s Asia Cup summit clash in Dubai on Sunday, after Sri Lanka secured a four-wicket win over Pakistan on Friday.

Women’s Asia Cup 2026: Sri Lanka stun Pakistan to seal final against India

David Warner is one of the best opening batters the world has ever seen. The former Aussie played 112 Tests donning the famous Baggy Green and scored 8,786 runs. In ODIs, he wore the yellow jersey 161 times and scored 6,932 runs and retired from international cricket in 2024. The Aussie has also long been part of the Indian Premier League (IPL), which he has played since 2009 and represented two teams - SunRisers Hyderabad and Delhi Capitals - entertaining millions of fans.In a recent interview with Parimatch Sports, the Aussie talked about evolution of cricket fandom, his special connection with Indian fans and what it takes to create moments that truly resonate with people.Q1: You've played cricket all over the world. How has the relationship between athletes and fans changed since you started your career? David Warner: When I started, most of your interaction with fans happened at the ground. You'd play the match, maybe sign a few autographs afterwards, and that was pretty much it. Today, it's completely different. Fans follow your journey every day through social media, interviews, short videos and everything happening away from the game. That also means athletes have a chance to show more of who they are. People still care about performances, but they also want to understand the person behind them. An honest connection can last much longer than any result on the scoreboard.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-pacer-siraj-says-his-body-doesn-t-handle-long-breaks-well-1789114286876">India pacer Siraj says his body 'doesn't handle long breaks well'</a> Q2: You have a special relationship with Indian fans that extends well beyond your performances on the pitch. What do you think helped build that connection? David Warner: I think the biggest thing was showing respect for the culture and not being afraid to have some fun. Cricket means so much in India, but so does entertainment. The music, the films and the humour are all part of everyday life. When I started making those videos and joining in with trends, it wasn't because someone told me to do it. I genuinely enjoyed it. Fans can tell when something feels natural, and I think that's why they connected with it. Whether it's through cricket, a funny video or simply sharing a moment with fans. Q3: You've created many memorable moments for fans both on and off the field. What do you think makes a moment something people remember? David Warner: The best sports moments create an emotional connection. Sometimes it's a great story, sometimes it's humour, sometimes it's something completely unexpected. If people are still talking about it or sharing it a week later, that's usually a sign you've done something right. Q4: You've taken part in many projects outside the game. What makes you decide which ones feel right for you? David Warner: For me, it's pretty simple. I want it to feel authentic and enjoyable. If it feels like something fans will genuinely have fun with, I'm interested. I don't want to be standing in front of a camera just holding a product. I'd rather be part of something with a bit of personality. One example was the recent limited-edition T-shirt with Parimatch Sports. When I first saw the design, I immediately connected with it. It brought together lotus flowers, sacred animals and a cricketer, all woven into one illustration. I loved how it captured the culture and passion around cricket in India in a way that felt personal to me. It represented the connection between cricket, India and the fans. Q5: How important has life outside cricket become for you as your career has evolved? David Warner: I think it has become really important. When you're playing cricket all the time, you can get caught up in the game and everything that comes with it. Having time away from cricket gave me the chance to spend more time with my family and focus on myself as a person. For me, it's about getting the best out of myself in every part of life. Cricket is a huge part of who I am, but it's not the only part.

David Warner shared how fan interactions shifted to digital spaces, his genuine love for Indian culture built a strong bond, and balancing life outside cricket keeps him grounded.

David Warner is one of the best opening batters the world has ever seen. The former Aussie played 112 Tests donning the famous Baggy Green and scored 8,786 runs. In ODIs, he wore the yellow jersey 161 times and scored 6,932 runs and retired from international cricket in 2024. The Aussie has also long been part of the Indian Premier League (IPL), which he has played since 2009 and represented two teams - SunRisers Hyderabad and Delhi Capitals - entertaining millions of fans. In a recent interview with Parimatch Sports, the Aussie talked about evolution of cricket fandom, his special connection with Indian fans and what it takes to create moments that truly resonate with people. Q1: You've played cricket all over the world. How has the relationship between athletes and fans changed since you started your career? David Warner: When I started, most of your interaction with fans happened at the ground. You'd play the match, maybe sign a few autographs afterwards, and that was pretty much it. Today, it's completely different. Fans follow your journey every day through social media, interviews, short videos and everything happening away from the game. That also means athletes have a chance to show more of who they are. People still care about performances, but they also want to understand the person behind them. An honest connection can last much longer than any result on the scoreboard. Also Read - India pacer Siraj says his body 'doesn't handle long breaks well' Q2: You have a special relationship with Indian fans that extends well beyond your performances on the pitch. What do you think helped build that connection? David Warner: I think the biggest thing was showing respect for the culture and not being afraid to have some fun. Cricket means so much in India, but so does entertainment. The music, the films and the humour are all part of everyday life. When I started making those videos and joining in with trends, it wasn't because someone told me to do it. I genuinely enjoyed it. Fans can tell when something feels natural, and I think that's why they connected with it. Whether it's through cricket, a funny video or simply sharing a moment with fans. Q3: You've created many memorable moments for fans both on and off the field. What do you think makes a moment something people remember? David Warner: The best sports moments create an emotional connection. Sometimes it's a great story, sometimes it's humour, sometimes it's something completely unexpected. If people are still talking about it or sharing it a week later, that's usually a sign you've done something right. Q4: You've taken part in many projects outside the game. What makes you decide which ones feel right for you? David Warner: For me, it's pretty simple. I want it to feel authentic and enjoyable. If it feels like something fans will genuinely have fun with, I'm interested. I don't want to be standing in front of a camera just holding a product. I'd rather be part of something with a bit of personality. One example was the recent limited-edition T-shirt with Parimatch Sports. When I first saw the design, I immediately connected with it. It brought together lotus flowers, sacred animals and a cricketer, all woven into one illustration. I loved how it captured the culture and passion around cricket in India in a way that felt personal to me. It represented the connection between cricket, India and the fans. Q5: How important has life outside cricket become for you as your career has evolved? David Warner: I think it has become really important. When you're playing cricket all the time, you can get caught up in the game and everything that comes with it. Having time away from cricket gave me the chance to spend more time with my family and focus on myself as a person. For me, it's about getting the best out of myself in every part of life. Cricket is a huge part of who I am, but it's not the only part.

David Warner shared how fan interactions shifted to digital spaces, his genuine love for Indian culture built a strong bond, and balancing life outside cricket keeps him grounded.

'Beyond the Scoreboard': Former Aussie batter David Warner on fans, culture, and life after cricket

Mohammed Siraj is one of India's premier fast bowlers now, and he was leading the pace attack on the recent Test tour of Sri Lanka. The pacer, however, was out of sync for the most part and said it was because of the two-month break he got before the series. Siraj's trouble with rhythm continued in the first innings of the Duleep Trophy final, in which he turned up for South Zone against East Zone, conceding 140 runs in 25 overs at 5.60 per over as East Zone piled up a match-winning 708 runs.<h2>Siraj says long break messed up rhythm</h2>At a time when frequent injuries to Indian players have brought workload management into the spotlight, Siraj's comments about 'getting too much break' are a bit interesting."I'm purely a rhythm bowler. If I'm not in sync, I simply can't explode through the crease. That was the struggle in Sri Lanka—my run-up felt disjointed. Some strides were too short, others were too long, and that broke my flow and cost me pace," said the pacer after the final day of the Duleep Trophy final in sweltering Chennai.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/duleep-trophy-final-kishan-leads-east-zone-to-first-title-in-13-years-with-350-runs-vs-south-zone-1789037623806">Duleep Trophy Final: Kishan leads East Zone to first title in 13 years</a>"Every bowler's body is different, but mine doesn't handle long breaks well. A short breather is fine, but in my 10-year career, I had never taken two full months off. I was working out in the gym and bowling occasionally, but no amount of practice can replicate match intensity. It was a new experience, but a valuable learning curve for me going forward," he added.<h2>What's next for India and Siraj?</h2>India next play a three-match T20I series against Afghanistan from September 13 in New Delhi, with the next two matches scheduled for Sep 15 and 17. The Men in Blue will then go to Japan for the 2026 Asian Games while hosting West Indies for an ODI series at home during the same period. Siraj isn't part of India's squad for either the Afghanistan series or the Asian Games.

Mohammed Siraj admitted a 2-month break disrupted his rhythm, leading to struggles in Sri Lanka and 0/140 in the Duleep Trophy final. He is rested for India's upcoming T20I series vs Afghanistan.

Mohammed Siraj is one of India's premier fast bowlers now, and he was leading the pace attack on the recent Test tour of Sri Lanka. The pacer, however, was out of sync for the most part and said it was because of the two-month break he got before the series. Siraj's trouble with rhythm continued in the first innings of the Duleep Trophy final, in which he turned up for South Zone against East Zone, conceding 140 runs in 25 overs at 5.60 per over as East Zone piled up a match-winning 708 runs. Siraj says long break messed up rhythm At a time when frequent injuries to Indian players have brought workload management into the spotlight, Siraj's comments about 'getting too much break' are a bit interesting. "I'm purely a rhythm bowler. If I'm not in sync, I simply can't explode through the crease. That was the struggle in Sri Lanka—my run-up felt disjointed. Some strides were too short, others were too long, and that broke my flow and cost me pace," said the pacer after the final day of the Duleep Trophy final in sweltering Chennai. Also Read - Duleep Trophy Final: Kishan leads East Zone to first title in 13 years "Every bowler's body is different, but mine doesn't handle long breaks well. A short breather is fine, but in my 10-year career, I had never taken two full months off. I was working out in the gym and bowling occasionally, but no amount of practice can replicate match intensity. It was a new experience, but a valuable learning curve for me going forward," he added. What's next for India and Siraj? India next play a three-match T20I series against Afghanistan from September 13 in New Delhi, with the next two matches scheduled for Sep 15 and 17. The Men in Blue will then go to Japan for the 2026 Asian Games while hosting West Indies for an ODI series at home during the same period. Siraj isn't part of India's squad for either the Afghanistan series or the Asian Games.

Mohammed Siraj admitted a 2-month break disrupted his rhythm, leading to struggles in Sri Lanka and 0/140 in the Duleep Trophy final. He is rested for India's upcoming T20I series vs Afghanistan.

India pacer Siraj says his body 'doesn't handle long breaks well'

The 2026 US Open is drawing to a close, with only a handful of matches remaining in the men's and women's singles events before the winners are decided. There's one player, however, who has stolen the spotlight: Teo Davidov, the 16-year-old US prodigy from Denver, Colorado, who is captivating fans at the US Open Boys' Junior event. What makes him unique is his ability to hit a forehand and serve with both hands, rarely relying on a backhand. He is the only player in the men's, women's, or junior events at this year's US Open who plays almost exclusively with forehands. He can hit a backhand but doesn't bother with it, being the ambidextrous player he is.<h2>Who is Teo Davidov?</h2>Davidov has been on the junior circuit for five years now, and a four-year-old video of him outplaying Carlos Alcaraz's brother Jamie at a tournament in Greece in 2022 is wildly popular on YouTube. Now, the teenager is 5-foot-7 and has become much sharper in his shot-making.

Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/us-open-2026-sabalenka-downs-pegula-in-a-jiffy-sets-up-three-peat-title-clash-with-new-world-no-1-rybakina-1789102618807">US Open 2026: Sabalenka downs Pegula in a jiffy, sets up three-peat title clash with new world no. 1 Rybakina</a>"To be honest, I like the traditional backhand-forehand," he says, as reported by The Guardian. "I like the classiness of it. I like hitting backhands myself just to play around, just for fun."On deciding which hand to use against particular opponents: "Obviously it depends on who I’m playing, but the general foundation is right hand on the deuce side and left hand on the ad," he says. "I've been mixing it up a lot more, different spins, different looks, just making it as hard as possible." He also serves with both hands and US Open's official X handle shared a video of the same.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Ambidextrous and making it look easy. <a href="https://t.co/jdGozcTSZt">pic.twitter.com/jdGozcTSZt</a>&mdash; US Open Tennis (@usopen) <a href="https://x.com/usopen/status/2096752709730758852?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 7, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>How has he performed in the 2026 US Open?</h2>Davidov paired up with Tyler Lee for boys' doubles against the Brazilian pair of Chabalgoity and Storck França, winning 6-4, 3-6, [10-7] in the match tie-break. In the second round, the pair lost to Miguel and Sesko 6-2, 6-2. In singles, Davidov couldn't get past the first round, losing to South Africa's Connor Doig 7-6(4), 6-3.&nbsp;

Ambidextrous 16-year-old Teo Davidov made waves at the 2026 US Open Boys' event by playing with two forehands. He bowed out in the singles first round and reached the doubles second round.

The 2026 US Open is drawing to a close, with only a handful of matches remaining in the men's and women's singles events before the winners are decided. There's one player, however, who has stolen the spotlight: Teo Davidov, the 16-year-old US prodigy from Denver, Colorado, who is captivating fans at the US Open Boys' Junior event. What makes him unique is his ability to hit a forehand and serve with both hands, rarely relying on a backhand. He is the only player in the men's, women's, or junior events at this year's US Open who plays almost exclusively with forehands. He can hit a backhand but doesn't bother with it, being the ambidextrous player he is. Who is Teo Davidov? Davidov has been on the junior circuit for five years now, and a four-year-old video of him outplaying Carlos Alcaraz's brother Jamie at a tournament in Greece in 2022 is wildly popular on YouTube. Now, the teenager is 5-foot-7 and has become much sharper in his shot-making.

Ambidextrous 16-year-old Teo Davidov made waves at the 2026 US Open Boys' event by playing with two forehands. He bowed out in the singles first round and reached the doubles second round.

Meet Teo Davidov - 16-year-old prodigy at US Open with two forehands and no backhand

Aryna Sabalenka is unstoppable right now, and her US Open 2026 women's singles opponent Jessica Pegula agrees after being on the receiving end at the Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York on Thursday (Sep 10). Sabalenka, the two-time defending champion, reached her fourth straight US Open final with a 7-5, 6-2 win in straight sets over the American. The Belarusian is now on the verge of becoming only the third woman ever to win three back-to-back US Open titles after Chris Evert (1975, 1976, 1977, and 1978) and Serena Williams (2012, 2013, and 2014). She will now face Elena Rybakina, who defeated 2023 winner Coco Gauff in the second semi-final.<h2>Sabalenka on verge of US Open three-peat</h2>On a day where nothing seemed to go wrong, Sabalenka was level with Pegula at 4-4 in the first set after 25 minutes of play. A double fault at deuce then handed Pegula the first break point, but it wasn't her day. Sabalenka tore through her American opponent's ambition with a ripping forehand cross-court and marched ahead. Pegula was serving at 5-6 down in the first set, and Sabalenka, playing like she had somewhere else to be, won the first set in 43 minutes. Pegula was no match for Sabalenka's level of tennis, as the Belarusian won the second set 6-2 to enter the final.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/champions-league-manchester-united-make-winning-return-bayern-win-vs-bodo-1789092244082">Champions League: Manchester United make winning return; Bayern win vs Bodo</a>"I don’t know who pissed her off today," the third-seeded Pegula said after the match. "Hopefully it wasn’t me totally, but might have been. I don’t know. She played insane. She played a super-high level. Honestly, I don’t really know if there was much I could do today."Sabalenka agreed and said: "I felt like whatever decision I would make, it was the right decision. So I would definitely say that against Jess probably today, compared to the last matches we played, it was definitely a better level from me."<h2>Rybakina downs Gauff to set up final date with Sabalenka</h2>The Kazakh player, seeded number two in the US Open, and set to replace Sabalenka as the new women's world No. 1 after the tournament, came from a set down to beat 2023 champ Gauff in the second semi-final. Rybakina won 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 to set up the title clash with Sabalenka, with the match set to take place on Saturday (Sep 12) at the Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Aryna Sabalenka defeated Jessica Pegula 7-5, 6-2 to reach her fourth straight US Open final. Seeking a three-peat, she will face Elena Rybakina, who beat Coco Gauff 3-6, 6-4, 6-4.

Aryna Sabalenka is unstoppable right now, and her US Open 2026 women's singles opponent Jessica Pegula agrees after being on the receiving end at the Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York on Thursday (Sep 10). Sabalenka, the two-time defending champion, reached her fourth straight US Open final with a 7-5, 6-2 win in straight sets over the American. The Belarusian is now on the verge of becoming only the third woman ever to win three back-to-back US Open titles after Chris Evert (1975, 1976, 1977, and 1978) and Serena Williams (2012, 2013, and 2014). She will now face Elena Rybakina, who defeated 2023 winner Coco Gauff in the second semi-final. Sabalenka on verge of US Open three-peat On a day where nothing seemed to go wrong, Sabalenka was level with Pegula at 4-4 in the first set after 25 minutes of play. A double fault at deuce then handed Pegula the first break point, but it wasn't her day. Sabalenka tore through her American opponent's ambition with a ripping forehand cross-court and marched ahead. Pegula was serving at 5-6 down in the first set, and Sabalenka, playing like she had somewhere else to be, won the first set in 43 minutes. Pegula was no match for Sabalenka's level of tennis, as the Belarusian won the second set 6-2 to enter the final. Also Read - Champions League: Manchester United make winning return; Bayern win vs Bodo "I don’t know who pissed her off today," the third-seeded Pegula said after the match. "Hopefully it wasn’t me totally, but might have been. I don’t know. She played insane. She played a super-high level. Honestly, I don’t really know if there was much I could do today." Sabalenka agreed and said: "I felt like whatever decision I would make, it was the right decision. So I would definitely say that against Jess probably today, compared to the last matches we played, it was definitely a better level from me." Rybakina downs Gauff to set up final date with Sabalenka The Kazakh player, seeded number two in the US Open, and set to replace Sabalenka as the new women's world No. 1 after the tournament, came from a set down to beat 2023 champ Gauff in the second semi-final. Rybakina won 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 to set up the title clash with Sabalenka, with the match set to take place on Saturday (Sep 12) at the Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Aryna Sabalenka defeated Jessica Pegula 7-5, 6-2 to reach her fourth straight US Open final. Seeking a three-peat, she will face Elena Rybakina, who beat Coco Gauff 3-6, 6-4, 6-4.

US Open 2026: Sabalenka downs Pegula in a jiffy, sets up three-peat title clash with new world no. 1 Rybakina

India pacer Mohammed Shami may be past 36, but the bowler—who last played for India in the Champions Trophy 2025 final and last played red-ball cricket in the WTC 2023 finalisn't letting go of his motivation. In his 100th first-class game, he helped East Zone win the Duleep Trophy after 13 years, taking 2/42 in the only innings East Zone bowled, dismissing Shaik Rasheed and R Smaran. It is not completely unlikely that Shami will feature for India again, but the road ahead seems difficult, and the bowler isn't shy of the challenge.<h2>Shami reveals what keeps him motivated</h2>After the final day of the Duleep Trophy final (Sep 10), held at Chepauk in Chennai, Shami revealed what keeps him motivated, saying: "There are plenty of reasons to stay motivated if you look for them. At this level, if you aren't self-motivated, your approach is wrong. No matter what stage you're playing at, your eyes must always be set on the next level.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/women-s-asia-cup-t20-2026-india-march-into-final-with-40-run-win-over-bangladesh-1789094522508">Women's Asia Cup T20 2026: India march into final with 40-run win over Bangladesh</a>"When you wear that crest on your chest, the level of cricket doesn't matter. If you play for the badge, that hunger will naturally show. Your willingness to fight only grows when you play with that pride. My mindset is simple: whichever level I get an opportunity to play, I want to make it count and fulfil my responsibility toward the team," he added.<h2>Shami's career in numbers</h2>Shami has played 64 Tests for India after making his debut in 2013 and has taken 229 wickets - the sixth-most for an Indian pacer behind Kapil Dev (434), Ishant Sharma (311), Zaheer Khan (311), Javagal Srinath (236), and Jasprit Bumrah (234). In ODIs, he made his debut in 2013 against Pakistan in New Delhi and has played 108 matches for 206 wickets - the fifth-most for an Indian pacer behind Srinath (315), Ajit Agarkar (288), Zaheer (269), and Kapil (253). In T20Is, Shami has donned the Indian jersey 25 times and has taken 27 wickets.

Mohammed Shami took 2/42 in his 100th First-Class match to help East Zone win the Duleep Trophy. The 36-year-old pacer (229 Test, 206 ODI wickets) remains motivated to play for India again.

India pacer Mohammed Shami may be past 36, but the bowler—who last played for India in the Champions Trophy 2025 final and last played red-ball cricket in the WTC 2023 finalisn't letting go of his motivation. In his 100th first-class game, he helped East Zone win the Duleep Trophy after 13 years, taking 2/42 in the only innings East Zone bowled, dismissing Shaik Rasheed and R Smaran. It is not completely unlikely that Shami will feature for India again, but the road ahead seems difficult, and the bowler isn't shy of the challenge. Shami reveals what keeps him motivated After the final day of the Duleep Trophy final (Sep 10), held at Chepauk in Chennai, Shami revealed what keeps him motivated, saying: "There are plenty of reasons to stay motivated if you look for them. At this level, if you aren't self-motivated, your approach is wrong. No matter what stage you're playing at, your eyes must always be set on the next level. Also Read - Women's Asia Cup T20 2026: India march into final with 40-run win over Bangladesh "When you wear that crest on your chest, the level of cricket doesn't matter. If you play for the badge, that hunger will naturally show. Your willingness to fight only grows when you play with that pride. My mindset is simple: whichever level I get an opportunity to play, I want to make it count and fulfil my responsibility toward the team," he added. Shami's career in numbers Shami has played 64 Tests for India after making his debut in 2013 and has taken 229 wickets - the sixth-most for an Indian pacer behind Kapil Dev (434), Ishant Sharma (311), Zaheer Khan (311), Javagal Srinath (236), and Jasprit Bumrah (234). In ODIs, he made his debut in 2013 against Pakistan in New Delhi and has played 108 matches for 206 wickets - the fifth-most for an Indian pacer behind Srinath (315), Ajit Agarkar (288), Zaheer (269), and Kapil (253). In T20Is, Shami has donned the Indian jersey 25 times and has taken 27 wickets.

Mohammed Shami took 2/42 in his 100th First-Class match to help East Zone win the Duleep Trophy. The 36-year-old pacer (229 Test, 206 ODI wickets) remains motivated to play for India again.

India pacer Shami, 36, reveals what keeps him motivated to continue to play

India Women marched into the 2026 Women's T20 Asia Cup final on Thursday (Sep 10) after beating Bangladesh Women by 40 runs in the first semi-final in Dubai, UAE. India, who have won the Women's Asia Cup seven times, will now face the winner of Sri Lanka vs Pakistan in the final on Sunday (Sep 13). India's opener Shafali Verma was named Player of the Match (POTM) for her 40-ball 64 as India posted 149/6 in 20 overs. Deepti Sharma then led the charge in bowling with 3/26 as India restricted Bangladesh to 109/7 in 20 overs.<h2>India march into Women's T20 Asia Cup 2026 final</h2>Batting first after losing the toss, India lost dashing opener Smriti Mandhana (2) at the completion of the second over. Pratika Rawal (20) then added 50 runs for the second wicket with Shafali. Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur was next and added 23 runs for the third wicket before Verma was finally out after being given a life four times (on 6, 11, 50, and 56). Wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh (21 off 16) then added 36 runs for the fourth wicket with skipper Harmanpreet, and Deepti played a handy knock of 13 off 6 as India posted 149, with Kaur remaining 24 not out.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/duleep-trophy-final-kishan-leads-east-zone-to-first-title-in-13-years-with-350-runs-vs-south-zone-1789037623806">Duleep Trophy Final: Kishan leads East Zone to first title in 13 years</a>Bangladesh had a cautious start, adding 66 runs for the first two wickets in 13.3 overs. They lost their next three wickets for 17 runs in 2.2 overs. Bangladesh eventually managed just 109 runs and lost by 40 runs to bow out of the tournament.<h2>What captains said after the match?</h2>India skipper Kaur praised the all-round performance and said at the post-match presentation: "Happy with the way things are going. Happy with the way our batting and bowling is going. There was a value to the good balls. If you were giving revvs, then you were giving value to the balls. Spinners from both teams bowled well today, batters had it hard, spinners used the pitch really well."Bangladesh skipper Nigar Sultana, however, acknowledged not bowling well and said: "We didn't bowl well, unlike the last three games. We fielded well in other games, but not today; we put down chances. That was the pressure, I guess, just a bad day for the whole team. We really wanted to restrict them to a total we could chase; our batting powerplay was not good either."

India Women beat Bangladesh Women by 40 runs in the T20 Asia Cup semi-final in Dubai. Shafali Verma's 64 (40) and Deepti Sharma's 3/26 powered India to 149/6 before restricting Bangladesh to 109/7.

India Women marched into the 2026 Women's T20 Asia Cup final on Thursday (Sep 10) after beating Bangladesh Women by 40 runs in the first semi-final in Dubai, UAE. India, who have won the Women's Asia Cup seven times, will now face the winner of Sri Lanka vs Pakistan in the final on Sunday (Sep 13). India's opener Shafali Verma was named Player of the Match (POTM) for her 40-ball 64 as India posted 149/6 in 20 overs. Deepti Sharma then led the charge in bowling with 3/26 as India restricted Bangladesh to 109/7 in 20 overs. India march into Women's T20 Asia Cup 2026 final Batting first after losing the toss, India lost dashing opener Smriti Mandhana (2) at the completion of the second over. Pratika Rawal (20) then added 50 runs for the second wicket with Shafali. Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur was next and added 23 runs for the third wicket before Verma was finally out after being given a life four times (on 6, 11, 50, and 56). Wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh (21 off 16) then added 36 runs for the fourth wicket with skipper Harmanpreet, and Deepti played a handy knock of 13 off 6 as India posted 149, with Kaur remaining 24 not out. Also Read - Duleep Trophy Final: Kishan leads East Zone to first title in 13 years Bangladesh had a cautious start, adding 66 runs for the first two wickets in 13.3 overs. They lost their next three wickets for 17 runs in 2.2 overs. Bangladesh eventually managed just 109 runs and lost by 40 runs to bow out of the tournament. What captains said after the match? India skipper Kaur praised the all-round performance and said at the post-match presentation: "Happy with the way things are going. Happy with the way our batting and bowling is going. There was a value to the good balls. If you were giving revvs, then you were giving value to the balls. Spinners from both teams bowled well today, batters had it hard, spinners used the pitch really well." Bangladesh skipper Nigar Sultana, however, acknowledged not bowling well and said: "We didn't bowl well, unlike the last three games. We fielded well in other games, but not today; we put down chances. That was the pressure, I guess, just a bad day for the whole team. We really wanted to restrict them to a total we could chase; our batting powerplay was not good either."

India Women beat Bangladesh Women by 40 runs in the T20 Asia Cup semi-final in Dubai. Shafali Verma's 64 (40) and Deepti Sharma's 3/26 powered India to 149/6 before restricting Bangladesh to 109/7.

Women's Asia Cup T20 2026: India march into final with 40-run win over Bangladesh

Manchester United celebrated their return to the Champions League with a 4-0 thrashing of Sabah on Thursday, as Cesc Fabregas's Como impressed on their debut in Europe's premier club competition. Harry Kane and Michael Olise, with a brace, both scored in the week that they were nominated for the Ballon d'Or as Bayern Munich were made to work before Bodo/Glimt's second-half collapse in a 5-0 rout.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/brazil-announce-26-member-squad-for-friendlies-including-against-india-1789015050304">Brazil announce 26-member squad for friendlies, including against India</a>Matheus Cunha scored his first goal of the season while captain Bruno Fernandes, forward Benjamin Sesko and centre-back Lisandro Martinez were also on the scoresheet on a comfortable night for the Red Devils at Old Trafford."I think it was perfect for everyone, especially our fans," Sesko told TNT Sports."It means a lot to them, especially when they see so many goals. I think it was great for us in general to give us more motivation for the upcoming games."There was one moment of concern after Cunha had given Michael Carrick's team a 27th-minute lead from Patrick Dorgu's cross, as United's defensive frailties almost came back to haunt them.But Joy-Lance Mickels headed wide for the Champions League debutants when free at the back post from less than five yards out.The Azerbaijanis wilted at the end of the first period as Youri Tielemans teed up Fernandes and then Sesko ran onto Bryan Mbeumo's through ball before rounding goalkeeper Stas Pokatilov before sliding the ball home.Midway through the second half, Martinez pounced on a bobbling ball that ricocheted off Pokatilov and a defender from substitute Joshua Zirkzee's backheel as United went into cruise control.Carrick even had the luxury of bringing on youngsters Harry Amass and Shea Lacey for their Champions League bows as he sought to rest legs ahead of Sunday's Manchester derby."I think the confidence boost is definitely big. It's important to recover good and focus on the derby," added Sesko.<h2>Eight in a row for Kane</h2>Goals from Croatia midfielder Martin Baturina, Greece forward Tasos Douvikas and Senegal's Assane Diao put Como in control against RB Leipzig.Serbia midfielder Andrija Maksimovic pulled a goal back for Leipzig before Maximo Perrone sealed a 4-1 victory late on a dream night in northern Italy.Kane scored for the eighth Champions League game in a row as he powered home a header from Olise's free-kick, with Bayern eventually overcoming a spirited Bodo/Glimt.Jamal Musiala had given them the lead shortly after a goalless first half and after Kane's goal, Alphonso Davies shot into the bottom corner when Olise's corner was only half cleared.It was Musiala's first goal since he collapsed on the pitch during pre-season due to a neurological condition."Scoring a goal -- pure happiness," Musiala told DAZN."I just want to perform well again... I just want to get back to my level step by step, playing with a sense of ease, joy, and fun on the pitch."Olise got in on the act with a sumptuous finish seven minutes from time before Odin Bjortuft was dismissed for the Norwegians.Olise then completed the rout with his second.Lens twice came from behind to beat 10-man Slavia Prague 3-2 with injury-time goals from Florian Thauvin and Ruben Aguilar.Danijel Sturm had twice given Slavia the lead, firstly just after Mikulas Konecny was dismissed and then with just two minutes remaining, but the Czechs were unable to hold on.Earlier on, there were 1-1 draws between Fenerbahce and Roma, and between PSV Eindhoven and Shakhtar Donetsk.Fenerbahce coach Ismail Kartal quit after the match in Istanbul, during which he was targeted by a bottle thrown from the crowd.But his president Aziz Yildirim said he had rejected the resignation.

Matheus Cunha scored his first goal of the season while captain Bruno Fernandes, forward Benjamin Sesko and centre-back Lisandro Martinez were also on the scoresheet on a comfortable night for the Red Devils at Old Trafford.

Manchester United celebrated their return to the Champions League with a 4-0 thrashing of Sabah on Thursday, as Cesc Fabregas's Como impressed on their debut in Europe's premier club competition. Harry Kane and Michael Olise, with a brace, both scored in the week that they were nominated for the Ballon d'Or as Bayern Munich were made to work before Bodo/Glimt's second-half collapse in a 5-0 rout. Also Read - Brazil announce 26-member squad for friendlies, including against India Matheus Cunha scored his first goal of the season while captain Bruno Fernandes, forward Benjamin Sesko and centre-back Lisandro Martinez were also on the scoresheet on a comfortable night for the Red Devils at Old Trafford. "I think it was perfect for everyone, especially our fans," Sesko told TNT Sports. "It means a lot to them, especially when they see so many goals. I think it was great for us in general to give us more motivation for the upcoming games." There was one moment of concern after Cunha had given Michael Carrick's team a 27th-minute lead from Patrick Dorgu's cross, as United's defensive frailties almost came back to haunt them. But Joy-Lance Mickels headed wide for the Champions League debutants when free at the back post from less than five yards out. The Azerbaijanis wilted at the end of the first period as Youri Tielemans teed up Fernandes and then Sesko ran onto Bryan Mbeumo's through ball before rounding goalkeeper Stas Pokatilov before sliding the ball home. Midway through the second half, Martinez pounced on a bobbling ball that ricocheted off Pokatilov and a defender from substitute Joshua Zirkzee's backheel as United went into cruise control. Carrick even had the luxury of bringing on youngsters Harry Amass and Shea Lacey for their Champions League bows as he sought to rest legs ahead of Sunday's Manchester derby. "I think the confidence boost is definitely big. It's important to recover good and focus on the derby," added Sesko. Eight in a row for Kane Goals from Croatia midfielder Martin Baturina, Greece forward Tasos Douvikas and Senegal's Assane Diao put Como in control against RB Leipzig. Serbia midfielder Andrija Maksimovic pulled a goal back for Leipzig before Maximo Perrone sealed a 4-1 victory late on a dream night in northern Italy. Kane scored for the eighth Champions League game in a row as he powered home a header from Olise's free-kick, with Bayern eventually overcoming a spirited Bodo/Glimt. Jamal Musiala had given them the lead shortly after a goalless first half and after Kane's goal, Alphonso Davies shot into the bottom corner when Olise's corner was only half cleared. It was Musiala's first goal since he collapsed on the pitch during pre-season due to a neurological condition. "Scoring a goal -- pure happiness," Musiala told DAZN. "I just want to perform well again... I just want to get back to my level step by step, playing with a sense of ease, joy, and fun on the pitch." Olise got in on the act with a sumptuous finish seven minutes from time before Odin Bjortuft was dismissed for the Norwegians. Olise then completed the rout with his second. Lens twice came from behind to beat 10-man Slavia Prague 3-2 with injury-time goals from Florian Thauvin and Ruben Aguilar. Danijel Sturm had twice given Slavia the lead, firstly just after Mikulas Konecny was dismissed and then with just two minutes remaining, but the Czechs were unable to hold on. Earlier on, there were 1-1 draws between Fenerbahce and Roma, and between PSV Eindhoven and Shakhtar Donetsk. Fenerbahce coach Ismail Kartal quit after the match in Istanbul, during which he was targeted by a bottle thrown from the crowd. But his president Aziz Yildirim said he had rejected the resignation.

Matheus Cunha scored his first goal of the season while captain Bruno Fernandes, forward Benjamin Sesko and centre-back Lisandro Martinez were also on the scoresheet on a comfortable night for the Red Devils at Old Trafford.

Champions League: Manchester United make winning return; Bayern win vs Bodo

East Zone finally won their first Duleep Trophy title in 13 years (the premier red-ball tournament in Indian domestic cricket), beating South Zone on the basis of a first-innings lead. The final, which ended in a draw on Day 5 (Sep 10), saw more than 1,300 runs scored at Chepauk in Chennai, more than 1,000 of which were scored by East Zone. Ishan Kishan, the winning captain, was named Player of the Match for his 270 in the first innings. South Zone captain Tilak Varma was named Player of the Series for his 266 runs in three innings across two matches at an average of 266.00, including two fifties (one of which was 99) and a hundred.<h2>East Zone dominates from start to finish</h2>After piling up 708 runs in the first innings, East Zone declared their second innings at 388/7, which resulted in a draw as both teams shook hands. For East Zone, MD Kounain Quraishi remained 116 not out in the second innings, while skipper Kishan added 80 to take his match total to 350. Apart from them, Anukul Roy (64) and Shikhar Mohan (52) also contributed fifties, while Kumar Kushagra chipped in with 46.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/don-t-deserve-to-play-shakeel-calls-out-pak-batting-after-another-sorry-display-in-england-1789025396312">'Don't deserve to play': Shakeel on Pak batting after another sorry display</a>South Zone, which managed 336 runs in the first innings on the back of captain Tilak Varma's 99, was never in the hunt to overtake East Zone's 708, as Varma acknowledged in his post-match comments."The first day we were doing better, but when they scored 708, it was slightly tough chasing that. Props to their batters. We didn't bowl that great, honestly. Honestly, we were just thinking of batting on for three days, and we tried our best to score 700... Credit goes to East Zone, they have totally outplayed us," he said.Kishan, on the other hand, was chuffed with his team's performance as well as his own, saying: "To be honest, it's more about being one unit. We did that as a group, we won this title as a group, and everyone was taking care of each other. [On my role as captain], I think I've been a good leader, but the journey doesn't end here; when you lead a side, there are always mistakes happening... I think it was more about reading the situation, taking care of each other, and getting into the zone where I was. It's a good transformation for me: I've been calmer, I've had more hunger, and you want to lead the team from the front."

East Zone won the Duleep Trophy on a first-innings lead after a drawn final vs South Zone. Ishan Kishan (270 & 80) was Player of the Match, while South Zone skipper Tilak Varma was Player of the Series.

East Zone finally won their first Duleep Trophy title in 13 years (the premier red-ball tournament in Indian domestic cricket), beating South Zone on the basis of a first-innings lead. The final, which ended in a draw on Day 5 (Sep 10), saw more than 1,300 runs scored at Chepauk in Chennai, more than 1,000 of which were scored by East Zone. Ishan Kishan, the winning captain, was named Player of the Match for his 270 in the first innings. South Zone captain Tilak Varma was named Player of the Series for his 266 runs in three innings across two matches at an average of 266.00, including two fifties (one of which was 99) and a hundred. East Zone dominates from start to finish After piling up 708 runs in the first innings, East Zone declared their second innings at 388/7, which resulted in a draw as both teams shook hands. For East Zone, MD Kounain Quraishi remained 116 not out in the second innings, while skipper Kishan added 80 to take his match total to 350. Apart from them, Anukul Roy (64) and Shikhar Mohan (52) also contributed fifties, while Kumar Kushagra chipped in with 46. Also Read - 'Don't deserve to play': Shakeel on Pak batting after another sorry display South Zone, which managed 336 runs in the first innings on the back of captain Tilak Varma's 99, was never in the hunt to overtake East Zone's 708, as Varma acknowledged in his post-match comments. "The first day we were doing better, but when they scored 708, it was slightly tough chasing that. Props to their batters. We didn't bowl that great, honestly. Honestly, we were just thinking of batting on for three days, and we tried our best to score 700... Credit goes to East Zone, they have totally outplayed us," he said. Kishan, on the other hand, was chuffed with his team's performance as well as his own, saying: "To be honest, it's more about being one unit. We did that as a group, we won this title as a group, and everyone was taking care of each other. [On my role as captain], I think I've been a good leader, but the journey doesn't end here; when you lead a side, there are always mistakes happening... I think it was more about reading the situation, taking care of each other, and getting into the zone where I was. It's a good transformation for me: I've been calmer, I've had more hunger, and you want to lead the team from the front."

East Zone won the Duleep Trophy on a first-innings lead after a drawn final vs South Zone. Ishan Kishan (270 &amp; 80) was Player of the Match, while South Zone skipper Tilak Varma was Player of the Series.

Duleep Trophy Final: Kishan leads East Zone to first title in 13 years with 350 runs vs South Zone

The NFL 2026 season kicked off on Wednesday (Sep 9), and last season's Super Bowl champs, the Seattle Seahawks, beat the New England Patriots 13-10 at Lumen Field in Seattle. It was all down to an interception by Seahawks cornerback Josh Jobe in the final seconds of the fourth quarter, which sealed the opening-night win for Seattle. The Super Bowl champions had to face the loss of quarterback Sam Darnold on the opening drive, and after two scoreless quarters, backup QB Drew Lock led them to victory with two late scoring drives.<h2>Seahawks win in Super Bowl rematch despite losing QB on opening drive</h2>In the first Super Bowl rematch on opening night since 2016—which the Seahawks had won 29-13 in Super Bowl LX—Seattle was dealt a bad hand early on when QB Darnold went off the field due to a hip injury he sustained on the opening drive. The Seahawks were unable to score a single point in the first two quarters after that and trailed 7-0 at halftime.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/brazil-announce-26-member-squad-for-friendlies-including-against-india-1789015050304">Brazil announce 26-member squad for friendlies, including against India</a>In the third quarter, the Patriots got a field goal to make the score 10-0 before the Seahawks got on the scoreboard. Lock then tied the game with a 45-yard touchdown pass to Jaxon Smith-Njigba on 4th-and-1, which came after Nehemiah Pritchett intercepted Drake Maye.On the next drive, Maye was intercepted again, this time by Julian Love, setting up a field goal as the Seahawks went up 13-10 in the fourth quarter. It all came down to the final drive by Maye late in the fourth quarter. The Patriots QB, who was the runner-up for MVP last season, threw the ball into the end zone on 3rd-and-5 with seconds left, but it was intercepted by Josh Jobe near the sideline, ending the game.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">JOSH JOBE TOE TAP INT NEvsSEA on NBC/Peacock Stream on <a href="https://x.com/NFLPlus?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NFLPlus</a> <a href="https://t.co/MrmQx0a3fo">pic.twitter.com/MrmQx0a3fo</a>&mdash; NFL (@NFL) <a href="https://x.com/NFL/status/2097889018105184513?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 10, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>How is Darnold doing?</h2>The Seahawks also breathed a sigh of relief after Darnold was cleared of a hip fracture, as informed by head coach Mike Macdonald postgame. The team, as per Macdonald, still doesn't know the extent of Darnold's injury after the QB underwent a CT scan at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. Darnold, per ESPN's Adam Schefter, will undergo an MRI on Thursday (Sep 10).&nbsp;

The Seattle Seahawks defeated the New England Patriots 13-10 in the 2026 NFL opener. Drew Lock replaced the injured Sam Darnold, and Josh Jobe sealed the win with a late interception.

The NFL 2026 season kicked off on Wednesday (Sep 9), and last season's Super Bowl champs, the Seattle Seahawks, beat the New England Patriots 13-10 at Lumen Field in Seattle. It was all down to an interception by Seahawks cornerback Josh Jobe in the final seconds of the fourth quarter, which sealed the opening-night win for Seattle. The Super Bowl champions had to face the loss of quarterback Sam Darnold on the opening drive, and after two scoreless quarters, backup QB Drew Lock led them to victory with two late scoring drives. Seahawks win in Super Bowl rematch despite losing QB on opening drive In the first Super Bowl rematch on opening night since 2016—which the Seahawks had won 29-13 in Super Bowl LX—Seattle was dealt a bad hand early on when QB Darnold went off the field due to a hip injury he sustained on the opening drive. The Seahawks were unable to score a single point in the first two quarters after that and trailed 7-0 at halftime. Also Read - Brazil announce 26-member squad for friendlies, including against India In the third quarter, the Patriots got a field goal to make the score 10-0 before the Seahawks got on the scoreboard. Lock then tied the game with a 45-yard touchdown pass to Jaxon Smith-Njigba on 4th-and-1, which came after Nehemiah Pritchett intercepted Drake Maye. On the next drive, Maye was intercepted again, this time by Julian Love, setting up a field goal as the Seahawks went up 13-10 in the fourth quarter. It all came down to the final drive by Maye late in the fourth quarter. The Patriots QB, who was the runner-up for MVP last season, threw the ball into the end zone on 3rd-and-5 with seconds left, but it was intercepted by Josh Jobe near the sideline, ending the game.

The Seattle Seahawks defeated the New England Patriots 13-10 in the 2026 NFL opener. Drew Lock replaced the injured Sam Darnold, and Josh Jobe sealed the win with a late interception.

NFL 2026: Josh gets job done for Seahawks after Seattle lose QB Darnold on opening drive in Super Bowl rematch vs Patriots

Pakistan made seven changes to the squad after the 194-run loss at Lord's against England and four changes to their playing XI for the third and final Test at Edgbaston in a series they were already trailing 0-2. The changes, however, didn't pay off for Pakistan as the visitors were bowled out for 133 in the first innings - their second lowest team total on the tour. Pakistan batter Saud Shakeel, who top-scored with 43 off 47, called the performance 'depressing' as the batters continued to make the same mistakes and failed to build partnerships. After Shakeel, bowler Mohammad Abbas, who came in at No. 10, was the second-highest scorer with 21 - one more than England's 20 extras.<h2>Shakeel calls out Pak batting after another failure</h2>It was never going to be easy for Pakistan under the overcast Birmingham sky after they lost the toss and were asked to bat first. They were 26/4 inside 10 overs, and by the time the team score reached 100 at lunch, seven Pakistani batters were already out. The highest partnership of 26 runs came for the 10th wicket - highlighting their top-order struggles.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/south-africa-batter-jordan-hermann-hits-highest-individual-score-on-odi-debut-1789019503936">SA batter Hermann hits highest individual score on ODI debut</a>"The toss isn't in our hands, but we lost it and batted first, and the overcast conditions favoured England there. That was an opportunity to strike up a partnership because the pitch improved as the day went on. With the new ball, even England's top order struggled, so it was important to see off the new ball," Shakeel said after the day's play."It's depressing, we're making the same mistakes as a batting unit. We're getting out in bunches and there were lots of soft dismissals today. We're trying, but yes it's frustrating that we keep making the same mistakes. I don't think it's a confidence issue. If you don't have the confidence to play at this level, then you don't deserve to play here. But in difficult conditions, poor form can be quite hard to break out of."<h2>England get ahead on 14-wicket Day 1 at Edgbaston</h2>After bowling Pakistan out, England faced early troubles as well, with their first three wickets adding just 39 runs. Emilio Gay (60) and Harry Brook (52 not out) then added 104 runs for the fourth wicket to take England into the lead. Before the end of play, England had scored 156/4, with Brook still batting alongside Dan Lawrence (5).

Pakistan were bowled out for 133 on Day 1 of the third Test against England at Edgbaston. Saud Shakeel top-scored with 43, calling the performance "depressing." England ended the day at 156/4.

Pakistan made seven changes to the squad after the 194-run loss at Lord's against England and four changes to their playing XI for the third and final Test at Edgbaston in a series they were already trailing 0-2. The changes, however, didn't pay off for Pakistan as the visitors were bowled out for 133 in the first innings - their second lowest team total on the tour. Pakistan batter Saud Shakeel, who top-scored with 43 off 47, called the performance 'depressing' as the batters continued to make the same mistakes and failed to build partnerships. After Shakeel, bowler Mohammad Abbas, who came in at No. 10, was the second-highest scorer with 21 - one more than England's 20 extras. Shakeel calls out Pak batting after another failure It was never going to be easy for Pakistan under the overcast Birmingham sky after they lost the toss and were asked to bat first. They were 26/4 inside 10 overs, and by the time the team score reached 100 at lunch, seven Pakistani batters were already out. The highest partnership of 26 runs came for the 10th wicket - highlighting their top-order struggles. Also Read - SA batter Hermann hits highest individual score on ODI debut "The toss isn't in our hands, but we lost it and batted first, and the overcast conditions favoured England there. That was an opportunity to strike up a partnership because the pitch improved as the day went on. With the new ball, even England's top order struggled, so it was important to see off the new ball," Shakeel said after the day's play. "It's depressing, we're making the same mistakes as a batting unit. We're getting out in bunches and there were lots of soft dismissals today. We're trying, but yes it's frustrating that we keep making the same mistakes. I don't think it's a confidence issue. If you don't have the confidence to play at this level, then you don't deserve to play here. But in difficult conditions, poor form can be quite hard to break out of." England get ahead on 14-wicket Day 1 at Edgbaston After bowling Pakistan out, England faced early troubles as well, with their first three wickets adding just 39 runs. Emilio Gay (60) and Harry Brook (52 not out) then added 104 runs for the fourth wicket to take England into the lead. Before the end of play, England had scored 156/4, with Brook still batting alongside Dan Lawrence (5).

Pakistan were bowled out for 133 on Day 1 of the third Test against England at Edgbaston. Saud Shakeel top-scored with 43, calling the performance "depressing." England ended the day at 156/4.

'Don't deserve to play': Shakeel calls out Pak batting after another sorry display in England

South Africa batter Jordan Hermann made his ODI debut on Wednesday (Sep 9) against Namibia in Windhoek and instantly got his name into the history books. Opening the batting, Hermann scored 150 off 126 balls, hitting 17 fours and three sixes in his marathon innings as South Africa posted 348/6 in 50 overs. Hermann's 150 is the joint-highest score for a player on ODI debut, equaling the record set by Matthew Breetzke, also from South Africa, who scored 150 against New Zealand in Lahore in Feb 2025. Hermann is the fifth South African batter to score a ton on ODI debut.<h2>SA batter Hermann enters record books on ODI debut</h2>Hermann had a bit of luck on his side as well. He was on 30 runs when a direct hit at the non-striker's end should have ended his innings. The match, however, had no run-out referral technology / third umpire and he was given not out. The batter then went on to score an additional 120 runs to achieve the joint-highest score on ODI debut. He added 190 runs for the second wicket with Tony de Zorzi (72), and South Africa were 275/3 when he got out in the 42nd over. The match was interrupted by rain, and Namibia, who were set a revised target of 262 runs in 31 overs, could only manage 162/8, losing the match by 99 runs—essentially the runs that came after Hermann got a reprieve.Before Hermann, the South African batters who had scored a ton on ODI debut were: Breetzke (150 vs NZ in 2025), Colin Ingram (124 vs Zimbabwe in 2010), Temba Bavuma (113 vs Ireland in 2016), and Reeza Hendricks (102 vs Sri Lanka in 2018). Only 20 players have scored a ton on ODI debut in the history of 50-over cricket, and Hermann sits at the top of that list alongside Breetzke.The only Indian player on the list is KL Rahul, who scored an exact 100 on his ODI debut against Zimbabwe in 2016.<h2>What did Hermann say after scoring the joint-most runs on ODI debut?</h2>"It's incredibly special," Hermann said about his innings after the match. "I've been taught my whole life that you don't just get a hundred, you try to push it further and further. I think that was also what the conditions were asking, so not just get a hundred but push on a bit. I was trying to kill all sense of any bad patches of play that they can capitalise on. [I'm] chuffed that I could do that and get us in a winning position."

South Africa's Jordan Hermann scored 150 off 126 balls against Namibia, equaling teammate Matthew Breetzke's record for the highest score on ODI debut. SA posted 348/6 and won by 99 runs via DLS.

South Africa batter Jordan Hermann made his ODI debut on Wednesday (Sep 9) against Namibia in Windhoek and instantly got his name into the history books. Opening the batting, Hermann scored 150 off 126 balls, hitting 17 fours and three sixes in his marathon innings as South Africa posted 348/6 in 50 overs. Hermann's 150 is the joint-highest score for a player on ODI debut, equaling the record set by Matthew Breetzke, also from South Africa, who scored 150 against New Zealand in Lahore in Feb 2025. Hermann is the fifth South African batter to score a ton on ODI debut. SA batter Hermann enters record books on ODI debut Hermann had a bit of luck on his side as well. He was on 30 runs when a direct hit at the non-striker's end should have ended his innings. The match, however, had no run-out referral technology / third umpire and he was given not out. The batter then went on to score an additional 120 runs to achieve the joint-highest score on ODI debut. He added 190 runs for the second wicket with Tony de Zorzi (72), and South Africa were 275/3 when he got out in the 42nd over. The match was interrupted by rain, and Namibia, who were set a revised target of 262 runs in 31 overs, could only manage 162/8, losing the match by 99 runs—essentially the runs that came after Hermann got a reprieve. Before Hermann, the South African batters who had scored a ton on ODI debut were: Breetzke (150 vs NZ in 2025), Colin Ingram (124 vs Zimbabwe in 2010), Temba Bavuma (113 vs Ireland in 2016), and Reeza Hendricks (102 vs Sri Lanka in 2018). Only 20 players have scored a ton on ODI debut in the history of 50-over cricket, and Hermann sits at the top of that list alongside Breetzke. The only Indian player on the list is KL Rahul, who scored an exact 100 on his ODI debut against Zimbabwe in 2016. What did Hermann say after scoring the joint-most runs on ODI debut? "It's incredibly special," Hermann said about his innings after the match. "I've been taught my whole life that you don't just get a hundred, you try to push it further and further. I think that was also what the conditions were asking, so not just get a hundred but push on a bit. I was trying to kill all sense of any bad patches of play that they can capitalise on. [I'm] chuffed that I could do that and get us in a winning position."

South Africa's Jordan Hermann scored 150 off 126 balls against Namibia, equaling teammate Matthew Breetzke's record for the highest score on ODI debut. SA posted 348/6 and won by 99 runs via DLS.

Brazil, the five-time FIFA World Cup winner, will be playing three friendlies in the coming days, including their first-ever match against India on October 3 in Kolkata. Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti, who had vowed squad changes after their Round of 16 elimination against Norway in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, has announced a new-look 26-member team. Before India, Brazil will play two friendlies against Australia - on September 25 in Townsville and on September 29 in Brisbane. Brazil's next big tournament is the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028 before preparation for the 2030 FIFA World Cup begins.<h2>Brazil names 26-member squad for friendlies, including match against India</h2>The most noticeable change Ancelotti made was an overhaul of goalkeepers, which includes three new players in Hugo Souza (Corinthians), Pedro Morisco (Coritiba), and Otavio (Cruzeiro), while Liverpool's Alisson Becker failed to find a place.From the 2026 FIFA World Cup squad, the known players missing from the new-look squad are veteran midfielder Casemiro (Inter Miami) and Fabinho. Brazil's all-time highest goalscorer, Neymar, who announced his retirement post the FIFA World Cup debacle, is also not in the squad.Among the players who made the cut are Athletico Paranaense defender Arthur Dias and PSV Eindhoven full-back Mauro Junior.Ancelotti, however, retained experienced players such as Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior, Barcelona's Raphinha, Arsenal's Bruno Guimaraes, and Paris Saint-Germain skipper Marquinhos."With these three friendlies, we will start the new cycle to project the Selecao in the objectives of the coming years, which are the 2028 Copa América and the 2030 World Cup," said Ancelotti while announcing the squad.<h2>Brazil full squad for friendlies, including India:</h2>Goalkeepers: Hugo Souza (Corinthians), Pedro Morisco (Coritiba), and Otavio (Cruzeiro)Defenders: Arthur Dias (Athletico-PR), Douglas Santos (Zenit), Gabriel Magalhaes (Arsenal), Jair (Nottingham Forest), Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain), Matheuzinho (Corinthians), Mauro Junior (PSV), Vitor Reis (Manchester City), and Wesley (Roma)Midfielders: Andrey Santos (Manchester United), Breno Bidon (Corinthians), Bruno Guimaraes (Arsenal), Danilo (Botafogo), Douglas Luiz (Juventus), and Gabriel Bontempo (Santos)Forwards: Endrick (Real Madrid), Estavao (Chelsea), Joao Pedro (Chelsea), Pedro (Flamengo), Raphinha (Barcelona), Rayan (Bournemouth), Samuel Lino (Flamengo), and Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid)

Carlo Ancelotti named a new-look 26-man Brazil squad for upcoming friendlies against Australia and India (Oct 3, Kolkata). Stars Vinicius Jr., Raphinha, and Marquinhos return, while Neymar, Casemiro, and Alisson miss out.

Brazil, the five-time FIFA World Cup winner, will be playing three friendlies in the coming days, including their first-ever match against India on October 3 in Kolkata. Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti, who had vowed squad changes after their Round of 16 elimination against Norway in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, has announced a new-look 26-member team. Before India, Brazil will play two friendlies against Australia - on September 25 in Townsville and on September 29 in Brisbane. Brazil's next big tournament is the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028 before preparation for the 2030 FIFA World Cup begins. Brazil names 26-member squad for friendlies, including match against India The most noticeable change Ancelotti made was an overhaul of goalkeepers, which includes three new players in Hugo Souza (Corinthians), Pedro Morisco (Coritiba), and Otavio (Cruzeiro), while Liverpool's Alisson Becker failed to find a place. From the 2026 FIFA World Cup squad, the known players missing from the new-look squad are veteran midfielder Casemiro (Inter Miami) and Fabinho. Brazil's all-time highest goalscorer, Neymar, who announced his retirement post the FIFA World Cup debacle, is also not in the squad. Among the players who made the cut are Athletico Paranaense defender Arthur Dias and PSV Eindhoven full-back Mauro Junior. Ancelotti, however, retained experienced players such as Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior, Barcelona's Raphinha, Arsenal's Bruno Guimaraes, and Paris Saint-Germain skipper Marquinhos. "With these three friendlies, we will start the new cycle to project the Selecao in the objectives of the coming years, which are the 2028 Copa América and the 2030 World Cup," said Ancelotti while announcing the squad. Brazil full squad for friendlies, including India: Goalkeepers: Hugo Souza (Corinthians), Pedro Morisco (Coritiba), and Otavio (Cruzeiro) Defenders: Arthur Dias (Athletico-PR), Douglas Santos (Zenit), Gabriel Magalhaes (Arsenal), Jair (Nottingham Forest), Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain), Matheuzinho (Corinthians), Mauro Junior (PSV), Vitor Reis (Manchester City), and Wesley (Roma) Midfielders: Andrey Santos (Manchester United), Breno Bidon (Corinthians), Bruno Guimaraes (Arsenal), Danilo (Botafogo), Douglas Luiz (Juventus), and Gabriel Bontempo (Santos) Forwards: Endrick (Real Madrid), Estavao (Chelsea), Joao Pedro (Chelsea), Pedro (Flamengo), Raphinha (Barcelona), Rayan (Bournemouth), Samuel Lino (Flamengo), and Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid)

Carlo Ancelotti named a new-look 26-man Brazil squad for upcoming friendlies against Australia and India (Oct 3, Kolkata). Stars Vinicius Jr., Raphinha, and Marquinhos return, while Neymar, Casemiro, and Alisson miss out.

Brazil announce 26-member squad for friendlies, including against India

Holders Paris Saint-Germain made a smooth start to their bid for a third consecutive Champions League title as Ferran Torres scored a hat-trick in a 6-1 rout of Slovan Bratislava on Wednesday, while Liverpool came from behind to beat Atletico Madrid. Barcelona kicked off their campaign by scoring five goals against Feyenoord, while Arsenal impressed with a 1-0 win at Napoli. PSG, who are hoping to become only the fourth club to win three European Cups in a row, visit Manchester City and host Barca in their next two European games.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ballon-dor-2026-nominees-messi-ferran-torres-shortlist-1788965614180">Ballon d’Or 2026 Nominees: World Cup finalists Messi, Ferran Torres shortlisted</a>"It is the Champions League, we always play against tough teams, but we have to be focused first in Ligue 1 because we didn't start in the right way," said Torres, with PSG yet to win a domestic game this season.But they wasted little time in picking apart Yaya Toure's Slovan at the Parc des Princes.Ousmane Dembele hammered in a rebound and then nodded in a deflected cross to put Luis Enrique's men two goals ahead inside 22 minutes.Torres tapped home Dembele's cross just after the half-hour mark and drilled in his second less than two minutes after the restart.Spain's World Cup final hero completed his hat-trick in the 57th minute, shanking a shot with his knee that spun into the bottom corner.Suleiman Camara crashed in a consolation for Slovan, but Fabian Ruiz had the final say for PSG when he pounced on a mishit clearance.Liverpool made it successive victories after winning at Ipswich in the Premier League last week by beating Atletico 2-1 at Anfield.Atletico grabbed a 17th-minute lead as Julian Alvarez, starting for the first time this season after failing to force a move away from the club, played in Marcos Llorente to dink the ball over Alisson in the Liverpool goal.Llorente has now scored five times in three visits to Anfield, after netting a double at Liverpool last season and in Atletico's dramatic last-16 victory in 2020.Liverpool hit back five minutes before the break through Dominik Szoboszlai, courtesy of a clever backheeled pass from Ronald Araujo.Alexis Mac Allister then hammered the hosts in front five minutes into the second half with a left-footed strike from outside the box, and Atletico could not find a response."I've loved it. The atmosphere has been incredible and I feel lucky, lucky to experience it," said Liverpool's new manager Andoni Iraola after his Champions League coaching debut.<h2>Odegaard sinks Napoli</h2>Arsenal missed several first-half chances at the Stadio Armando Diego Maradona, with Napoli goalkeeper Alex Meret making an excellent save to keep out Mikel Merino's header.Piero Hincapie fired over a golden chance from just three yards out as the English champions continued to push after half-time, but last season's runners-up finally forged ahead with 15 minutes left.Martin Odegaard, who scored the winner against Chelsea at the weekend, played a clever one-two with Christos Tzolis on the edge of the area and crashed a shot in off the far post.Barcelona made an excellent start to their latest bid to end a 12-year wait to lift the trophy, as Raphinha continued his superb form by scoring twice in a 5-1 thumping of Feyenoord.Hansi Flick's men, who lost to Atletico in the quarter-finals last season, have won all five of their matches in all competitions so far this season, scoring five goals in four of them."We controlled the game, we are dominant and this is fantastic to see. This is our style and how we want to play," said Flick.Raphinha put Barca into a third-minute lead before a brilliant long-range strike from summer signing Karim Adeyemi.Brazilian Raphinha, playing up front this season after the departures of Robert Lewandowski and Torres, made it eight goals already for the campaign in the second half.Lamine Yamal netted a free-kick which crept through the wall, and although Sem Steijn pulled one back for Feyenoord, Gabriel Jesus came off the bench and then headed in his first Barca goal.Ermedin Demirovic scored a first-half hat-trick as Stuttgart eased to a 3-1 home win over Norwegian champions Viking, playing in the competition for the first time in 34 years.Sporting, quarter-finalists last season for the first time since 1983, fought back to see off Galatasaray 3-1 in Lisbon.

Holders Paris Saint-Germain rout Slovan Bratislava, while Liverpool came from behind to beat Atletico Madrid. Barcelona scored five goals against Feyenoord and Arsenal beat Napoli 1-0.

Holders Paris Saint-Germain made a smooth start to their bid for a third consecutive Champions League title as Ferran Torres scored a hat-trick in a 6-1 rout of Slovan Bratislava on Wednesday, while Liverpool came from behind to beat Atletico Madrid. Barcelona kicked off their campaign by scoring five goals against Feyenoord, while Arsenal impressed with a 1-0 win at Napoli. PSG, who are hoping to become only the fourth club to win three European Cups in a row, visit Manchester City and host Barca in their next two European games. Also Read - Ballon d’Or 2026 Nominees: World Cup finalists Messi, Ferran Torres shortlisted "It is the Champions League, we always play against tough teams, but we have to be focused first in Ligue 1 because we didn't start in the right way," said Torres, with PSG yet to win a domestic game this season. But they wasted little time in picking apart Yaya Toure's Slovan at the Parc des Princes. Ousmane Dembele hammered in a rebound and then nodded in a deflected cross to put Luis Enrique's men two goals ahead inside 22 minutes. Torres tapped home Dembele's cross just after the half-hour mark and drilled in his second less than two minutes after the restart. Spain's World Cup final hero completed his hat-trick in the 57th minute, shanking a shot with his knee that spun into the bottom corner. Suleiman Camara crashed in a consolation for Slovan, but Fabian Ruiz had the final say for PSG when he pounced on a mishit clearance. Liverpool made it successive victories after winning at Ipswich in the Premier League last week by beating Atletico 2-1 at Anfield. Atletico grabbed a 17th-minute lead as Julian Alvarez, starting for the first time this season after failing to force a move away from the club, played in Marcos Llorente to dink the ball over Alisson in the Liverpool goal. Llorente has now scored five times in three visits to Anfield, after netting a double at Liverpool last season and in Atletico's dramatic last-16 victory in 2020. Liverpool hit back five minutes before the break through Dominik Szoboszlai, courtesy of a clever backheeled pass from Ronald Araujo. Alexis Mac Allister then hammered the hosts in front five minutes into the second half with a left-footed strike from outside the box, and Atletico could not find a response. "I've loved it. The atmosphere has been incredible and I feel lucky, lucky to experience it," said Liverpool's new manager Andoni Iraola after his Champions League coaching debut. Odegaard sinks Napoli Arsenal missed several first-half chances at the Stadio Armando Diego Maradona, with Napoli goalkeeper Alex Meret making an excellent save to keep out Mikel Merino's header. Piero Hincapie fired over a golden chance from just three yards out as the English champions continued to push after half-time, but last season's runners-up finally forged ahead with 15 minutes left. Martin Odegaard, who scored the winner against Chelsea at the weekend, played a clever one-two with Christos Tzolis on the edge of the area and crashed a shot in off the far post. Barcelona made an excellent start to their latest bid to end a 12-year wait to lift the trophy, as Raphinha continued his superb form by scoring twice in a 5-1 thumping of Feyenoord. Hansi Flick's men, who lost to Atletico in the quarter-finals last season, have won all five of their matches in all competitions so far this season, scoring five goals in four of them. "We controlled the game, we are dominant and this is fantastic to see. This is our style and how we want to play," said Flick. Raphinha put Barca into a third-minute lead before a brilliant long-range strike from summer signing Karim Adeyemi. Brazilian Raphinha, playing up front this season after the departures of Robert Lewandowski and Torres, made it eight goals already for the campaign in the second half. Lamine Yamal netted a free-kick which crept through the wall, and although Sem Steijn pulled one back for Feyenoord, Gabriel Jesus came off the bench and then headed in his first Barca goal. Ermedin Demirovic scored a first-half hat-trick as Stuttgart eased to a 3-1 home win over Norwegian champions Viking, playing in the competition for the first time in 34 years. Sporting, quarter-finalists last season for the first time since 1983, fought back to see off Galatasaray 3-1 in Lisbon.

Holders Paris Saint-Germain rout Slovan Bratislava, while Liverpool came from behind to beat Atletico Madrid. Barcelona scored five goals against Feyenoord and Arsenal beat Napoli 1-0.

Champions League: PSG start title defence with rout of Slovan; Liverpool, Barca, Arsenal win

Anti-immigration demonstrators in southern England massed outside a hotel where Pakistan's Under-19 cricket team were staying after mistaking them for asylum seekers, British media reported Wednesday. The incident Tuesday evening in a northern suburb of Portsmouth occurred some 48 hours after protesters disrupted the disembarkation of scores of migrants near the port city and confronted police in widely condemned scenes. Immigration and the arrival of tens of thousands of asylum seekers annually on small boats from mainland Europe has become a politically toxic issue in Britain, sparking numerous protests in recent years, some turning violent.&nbsp;Tuesday's incident came after reports online about a coach with young Asian men on board being seen at a Marriott Hotel in the Portsmouth suburb of Cosham drew protestors to the venue, according to media reports.&nbsp;A councilor from anti-immigration party Reform UK went to the scene and helped disperse the crowd after confirming the men were in fact members of Pakistan's teenage cricket team, The Guardian newspaper said.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ask-them-why-pak-skipper-babar-azam-on-pcb-s-wholesale-changes-after-lord-s-defeat-1788926295318">'Ask them why': Pak skipper Babar Azam on PCB's wholesale changes after Lord's defeat</a>&nbsp;The senior Pakistan men's side are currently involved in the third Test against England at Birmingham's Edgbaston ground.&nbsp;A spokesman for Hampshire Police -- which is responsible for the region -- said the force "were notified that a group of people were starting to congregate" near the hotel Tuesday evening.&nbsp;"Officers subsequently attended and spoke to members of the public that had gathered who were expressing concerns about a coach that had been seen in the area," the spokesman added. "The officers explained that their concerns were not correct," the spokesman said, without confirming the Pakistani cricketers were the mistaken target.&nbsp;He noted the crowd of around 30 people dispersed a short time later and no offences were identified.&nbsp;Michael Bradley, a national organiser from the Stand Up To Racism organisation, condemned the incident as showing "where the scapegoating of refugees and migrants can lead".&nbsp;"When a Pakistan U-19's team is faced by protests because it 'might' in fact be a group of migrants it means that effectively any group of black or Asian people coming into the city are being seen by the far right as a potential target," he said. "It's obvious where all this is going to end -- racist attacks and more violence."

Anti-migrant protesters gathered at a Portsmouth hotel after mistaking the Pakistan U-19 cricket team for asylum seekers. Read full details on the incident.

Anti-immigration demonstrators in southern England massed outside a hotel where Pakistan's Under-19 cricket team were staying after mistaking them for asylum seekers, British media reported Wednesday. The incident Tuesday evening in a northern suburb of Portsmouth occurred some 48 hours after protesters disrupted the disembarkation of scores of migrants near the port city and confronted police in widely condemned scenes. Immigration and the arrival of tens of thousands of asylum seekers annually on small boats from mainland Europe has become a politically toxic issue in Britain, sparking numerous protests in recent years, some turning violent. Tuesday's incident came after reports online about a coach with young Asian men on board being seen at a Marriott Hotel in the Portsmouth suburb of Cosham drew protestors to the venue, according to media reports. A councilor from anti-immigration party Reform UK went to the scene and helped disperse the crowd after confirming the men were in fact members of Pakistan's teenage cricket team, The Guardian newspaper said. Also read| 'Ask them why': Pak skipper Babar Azam on PCB's wholesale changes after Lord's defeat The senior Pakistan men's side are currently involved in the third Test against England at Birmingham's Edgbaston ground. A spokesman for Hampshire Police -- which is responsible for the region -- said the force "were notified that a group of people were starting to congregate" near the hotel Tuesday evening. "Officers subsequently attended and spoke to members of the public that had gathered who were expressing concerns about a coach that had been seen in the area," the spokesman added. "The officers explained that their concerns were not correct," the spokesman said, without confirming the Pakistani cricketers were the mistaken target. He noted the crowd of around 30 people dispersed a short time later and no offences were identified. Michael Bradley, a national organiser from the Stand Up To Racism organisation, condemned the incident as showing "where the scapegoating of refugees and migrants can lead". "When a Pakistan U-19's team is faced by protests because it 'might' in fact be a group of migrants it means that effectively any group of black or Asian people coming into the city are being seen by the far right as a potential target," he said. "It's obvious where all this is going to end -- racist attacks and more violence."

Anti-migrant protesters gathered at a Portsmouth hotel after mistaking the Pakistan U-19 cricket team for asylum seekers. Read full details on the incident.

Anti-migrant crowd mistakes Pakistan U-19 squad for asylum seekers at UK hotel

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has opened an unused sixth-tier seating area at Eden Park in Auckland for the first time in six years for the 4th T20I against India, having last been used during a match against the Men in Blue in 2019. A surge in ticket demand for India’s tour of New Zealand later this winter forced the home board to tap the unused seating space for the crowd. &nbsp;“High demand at Eden Park has required the stadium’s sixth tier of seating to open for the first time since the 2019 India tour of New Zealand, with the upper level available for the fourth T20I against India on Friday, October 30,” said NZC in a statement. &nbsp;“The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in 2015 and a men’s T20I against Australia in 2018 are the only other times in recent history that the sixth tier has opened up, signalling huge anticipation for the rematch between this year’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup finalists.”&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/joe-root-surpasses-waugh-ponting-third-most-capped-test-player-1788955580781">Joe Root surpasses Steve Waugh, Ponting to become third-most capped Test player</a> &nbsp;Over 50,000 tickets have been sold in the first week of tickets going live for the public. The NZC opened tickets for the fans on Monday after a two-week pre-sale window ‘for Cricket Nation members, Sky customers, and ANZ customers, with several matches on track to sell out, including the second T20I against India in Christchurch which sits at 75% sold out.’ &nbsp;Considering India will tour New Zealand for a full tour, including white-ball matches (ODIs and T20Is) and two Tests, NZC’s Head of Marketing Tim Ellis said that the board is ‘deep into planning for a number of events surrounding the tour and have some exciting at-game activations in the works.’ &nbsp;“Being able to open up the top level of Eden Park for the first time in years is really exciting and speaks to the swell of excitement building around the tour,” he said. “Matches at Hagley Oval (which will host the first two T20Is and the second Test) have always been well attended, but to have one of them over three-quarters sold already is quite remarkable.”

NZC opens Eden Park's sixth tier for the 4th T20I against India as ticket sales surge past 50,000 in the first week for the 2026 tour.

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has opened an unused sixth-tier seating area at Eden Park in Auckland for the first time in six years for the 4th T20I against India, having last been used during a match against the Men in Blue in 2019. A surge in ticket demand for India’s tour of New Zealand later this winter forced the home board to tap the unused seating space for the crowd. “High demand at Eden Park has required the stadium’s sixth tier of seating to open for the first time since the 2019 India tour of New Zealand, with the upper level available for the fourth T20I against India on Friday, October 30,” said NZC in a statement. “The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in 2015 and a men’s T20I against Australia in 2018 are the only other times in recent history that the sixth tier has opened up, signalling huge anticipation for the rematch between this year’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup finalists.” Also read| Joe Root surpasses Steve Waugh, Ponting to become third-most capped Test player Over 50,000 tickets have been sold in the first week of tickets going live for the public. The NZC opened tickets for the fans on Monday after a two-week pre-sale window ‘for Cricket Nation members, Sky customers, and ANZ customers, with several matches on track to sell out, including the second T20I against India in Christchurch which sits at 75% sold out.’ Considering India will tour New Zealand for a full tour, including white-ball matches (ODIs and T20Is) and two Tests, NZC’s Head of Marketing Tim Ellis said that the board is ‘deep into planning for a number of events surrounding the tour and have some exciting at-game activations in the works.’ “Being able to open up the top level of Eden Park for the first time in years is really exciting and speaks to the swell of excitement building around the tour,” he said. “Matches at Hagley Oval (which will host the first two T20Is and the second Test) have always been well attended, but to have one of them over three-quarters sold already is quite remarkable.”

NZC opens Eden Park's sixth tier for the 4th T20I against India as ticket sales surge past 50,000 in the first week for the 2026 tour.

NZC opens Auckland’s unused seating tier for India T20I amid surge in ticket demand

Ferran Torres, who scored the winning goal for Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final against Argentina, has been nominated for the coveted Ballon d’Or this year. Besides him, Lionel Messi also received his 17th nomination, with the two leading the 30-man Ballon d’Or list revealed on Tuesday. Torres has since joined the Champions League winners, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), and is one of six Spanish World Cup winners, including Rodri and teen sensation Lamine Yamal, to make the cut. Yamal finished second behind France and PSG forward Ousmane Dembele for the ultimate prize last season. &nbsp;Amongst women’s nominations, three-time winner Aitana Bonmatí failed to make the list after breaking her leg midway through the season; however, her former Barcelona teammate Alexia Putellas, who won the women’s Ballon d’Or in 2021 and 2022, is there. &nbsp;Spanish forward Torres also won La Liga with Barcelona in May, but will now team up with Dembele, who is one of nine PSG players on the list, who have also won back-to-back Champions Leagues in the last two years. Torres’s summer move to PSG brings the French champions’ total to 10 nominees.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/champions-league-mourinho-makes-winning-comeback-as-real-madrid-beat-inter-milan-1788922260426">Champions League: Mourinho makes winning comeback as Real Madrid beat Inter Milan</a> &nbsp;However, Fabian Ruiz is the only player to have won the Champions League and World Cup in 2026. Besides them, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and the Portuguese midfield pair of Vitinha and Joao Neves have also been nominated for the top individual prize in all of football this year.<h2>Messi nominated for 17th time</h2>2022 World Cup winner and record eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, Lionel Messi, continued to lead nominations for the 17th time for his prize, while his long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo missed out. Messi inspired Argentina to back-to-back World Cup finals before losing to Spain in extra time in what was a lopsided final in New Jersey. &nbsp;Other high-profile names include England captain and talismanic striker Harry Kane, who won the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich. His German club teammate and French playmaker Michael Olise has also been nominated. &nbsp;Real Madrid and England midfield maverick, Jude Bellingham, also earned his nomination for a stellar World Cup, scoring seven goals – as many as Norwegian striker and fellow nominee Erling Haaland’s tally at the tournament. Only Messi (eight) and Kylian Mbappe (10) scored more goals than them. &nbsp;Bellingham’s Madrid teammate Kylian Mbappé also features on the shortlist after becoming the first player to win the World Cup golden boot a second time, while also leading the tournament’s all-time tally. &nbsp;Interestingly, Vozinha, the 40-year-old goalkeeper from Cape Verde, who earned recognition for his heroics in his maiden World Cup, has also been nominated for the Yachine Trophy (goalkeeper category).&nbsp; &nbsp;The winners will be announced in a ceremony at the London Palladium Theatre on October 26.

Lionel Messi earns his 17th Ballon d’Or nomination alongside Spain World Cup hero Ferran Torres as the 2026 30-man shortlist is revealed.

Ferran Torres, who scored the winning goal for Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final against Argentina, has been nominated for the coveted Ballon d’Or this year. Besides him, Lionel Messi also received his 17th nomination, with the two leading the 30-man Ballon d’Or list revealed on Tuesday. Torres has since joined the Champions League winners, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), and is one of six Spanish World Cup winners, including Rodri and teen sensation Lamine Yamal, to make the cut. Yamal finished second behind France and PSG forward Ousmane Dembele for the ultimate prize last season. Amongst women’s nominations, three-time winner Aitana Bonmatí failed to make the list after breaking her leg midway through the season; however, her former Barcelona teammate Alexia Putellas, who won the women’s Ballon d’Or in 2021 and 2022, is there. Spanish forward Torres also won La Liga with Barcelona in May, but will now team up with Dembele, who is one of nine PSG players on the list, who have also won back-to-back Champions Leagues in the last two years. Torres’s summer move to PSG brings the French champions’ total to 10 nominees. Also read| Champions League: Mourinho makes winning comeback as Real Madrid beat Inter Milan However, Fabian Ruiz is the only player to have won the Champions League and World Cup in 2026. Besides them, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and the Portuguese midfield pair of Vitinha and Joao Neves have also been nominated for the top individual prize in all of football this year. Messi nominated for 17th time 2022 World Cup winner and record eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, Lionel Messi, continued to lead nominations for the 17th time for his prize, while his long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo missed out. Messi inspired Argentina to back-to-back World Cup finals before losing to Spain in extra time in what was a lopsided final in New Jersey. Other high-profile names include England captain and talismanic striker Harry Kane, who won the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich. His German club teammate and French playmaker Michael Olise has also been nominated. Real Madrid and England midfield maverick, Jude Bellingham, also earned his nomination for a stellar World Cup, scoring seven goals – as many as Norwegian striker and fellow nominee Erling Haaland’s tally at the tournament. Only Messi (eight) and Kylian Mbappe (10) scored more goals than them. Bellingham’s Madrid teammate Kylian Mbappé also features on the shortlist after becoming the first player to win the World Cup golden boot a second time, while also leading the tournament’s all-time tally. Interestingly, Vozinha, the 40-year-old goalkeeper from Cape Verde, who earned recognition for his heroics in his maiden World Cup, has also been nominated for the Yachine Trophy (goalkeeper category). The winners will be announced in a ceremony at the London Palladium Theatre on October 26.

Lionel Messi earns his 17th Ballon d’Or nomination alongside Spain World Cup hero Ferran Torres as the 2026 30-man shortlist is revealed.

Ballon d’Or 2026 Nominees: World Cup finalists Lionel Messi and Ferran Torres shortlisted

Ollie Robinson claimed his 100th Test wicket as Pakistan collapsed to 100/7 in the opening session on day one of the third Test at Edgbaston in Birmingham. Pakistan made several changes, naming three debutants in their playing XI for this Test, but failed to alter their fate. Beyond the fresh faces and recalled players, including opener Saim Ayub, who departed for a 10-ball duck, batting mainstays like Shan Masood, Abdullah Shafique and even captain Babar Azam departed cheaply. Lord’s Test hero for Pakistan, Saud Shakeel, however, remains the only seasoned batter to hold onto his wicket at lunch on day one. &nbsp;For the third time in this series, Robinson provided an early breakthrough with the new ball. Coming from around the wicket to the left-handers, the right-arm seamer set up Ayub before trapping him in front of the wickets for a duck. Jofra Archer removed his opening partner Azan Awais, caught at mid-wicket for nine, before Robinson claimed Shafique’s wicket for just three. Archer’s extra pace caught Masood off guard, as he top-edged one for five, with Pakistan’s scorecard reading 26/4 inside 10 overs.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/joe-root-surpasses-waugh-ponting-third-most-capped-test-player-1788955580781">Joe Root surpasses Steve Waugh, Ponting to become third-most capped Test player</a> &nbsp;Captain Babar and Shakeel tried reviving Pakistan’s batting with a brief 22-run stand for the fifth wicket, only for Josh Tongue to clean up Babar’s off stump for seven. His dismissal saw Pakistan register an unwanted record of becoming the first Test side to have its top five batters get out without entering double digits in the first innings of a Test match in England.&nbsp;WATCH Babar Azam's Wicket -

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Josh Tongue on target 🎯 Follow every ball live 👉 <a href="https://t.co/VUdUehsgT2">https://t.co/VUdUehsgT2</a> <a href="https://t.co/uzGWAoT65y">pic.twitter.com/uzGWAoT65y</a>&mdash; England Cricket (@englandcricket) <a href="https://x.com/englandcricket/status/2097648645944345063?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 9, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Shakeel was, however, impressive with his clean stroke-making but failed to get any assistance from the other end as wickets kept tumbling. By lunchtime, Pakistan had lost seven wickets for 100, with Robinson returning and Archer picking up two, and Tongue grabbing three.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">New stump please... Click here to follow the action 📲 <a href="https://t.co/VUdUehsgT2">https://t.co/VUdUehsgT2</a> <a href="https://t.co/3mhb78TFhh">pic.twitter.com/3mhb78TFhh</a>&mdash; England Cricket (@englandcricket) <a href="https://x.com/englandcricket/status/2097655611559198910?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 9, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Soon after play resumed, Robinson picked his third and Tongue his fourth by breaking Shakeel’s stumps as Pakistan’s batting continued to struggle.&nbsp;WATCH Shakeel's Dismissal -

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Josh Tongue with his fourth of the day 🤝 Click here to follow the action 📲 <a href="https://t.co/VUdUehsgT2">https://t.co/VUdUehsgT2</a> <a href="https://t.co/8jnSQI08gW">pic.twitter.com/8jnSQI08gW</a>&mdash; England Cricket (@englandcricket) <a href="https://x.com/englandcricket/status/2097673641009787206?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 9, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Ollie Robinson claims his 100th Test wicket as Pakistan collapse to 100/7 in the opening session on day one of the third Test at Edgbaston. 

Ollie Robinson claimed his 100th Test wicket as Pakistan collapsed to 100/7 in the opening session on day one of the third Test at Edgbaston in Birmingham. Pakistan made several changes, naming three debutants in their playing XI for this Test, but failed to alter their fate. Beyond the fresh faces and recalled players, including opener Saim Ayub, who departed for a 10-ball duck, batting mainstays like Shan Masood, Abdullah Shafique and even captain Babar Azam departed cheaply. Lord’s Test hero for Pakistan, Saud Shakeel, however, remains the only seasoned batter to hold onto his wicket at lunch on day one. For the third time in this series, Robinson provided an early breakthrough with the new ball. Coming from around the wicket to the left-handers, the right-arm seamer set up Ayub before trapping him in front of the wickets for a duck. Jofra Archer removed his opening partner Azan Awais, caught at mid-wicket for nine, before Robinson claimed Shafique’s wicket for just three. Archer’s extra pace caught Masood off guard, as he top-edged one for five, with Pakistan’s scorecard reading 26/4 inside 10 overs. Also read| Joe Root surpasses Steve Waugh, Ponting to become third-most capped Test player Captain Babar and Shakeel tried reviving Pakistan’s batting with a brief 22-run stand for the fifth wicket, only for Josh Tongue to clean up Babar’s off stump for seven. His dismissal saw Pakistan register an unwanted record of becoming the first Test side to have its top five batters get out without entering double digits in the first innings of a Test match in England. WATCH Babar Azam's Wicket -

Ollie Robinson claims his 100th Test wicket as Pakistan collapse to 100/7 in the opening session on day one of the third Test at Edgbaston.&nbsp;

Robinson reaches 100 Test wickets as Pakistan collapse to 100/7 in opening session at Edgbaston

England Test captain Joe Root became the third-most capped Test player in cricket history after taking the field on day one of the Edgbaston Test against Pakistan on Wednesday (Sep 9). Root surpassed former Australian captains and Test veterans Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting – who appeared in the same number of Test matches (168) – to feature in his 169th Test match and counting. Only two cricketers have played more Test matches than Root: James Anderson (188) and Sachin Tendulkar (200).<h2>Players to Play Most Test Matches –</h2><ul><li>Sachin Tendulkar (India) – 200 Test Matches</li><li>James Anderson (England) – 188 Test Matches</li><li>Joe Root (England) – 169 Test Matches*</li><li>Ricky Ponting (Australia) – 168 Test Matches</li><li>Steve Waugh (Australia) – 168 Test Matches</li></ul>Root is the only active cricketer on this top-five list, with the remaining four retired from all forms of the game. Tendulkar’s number of Test appearances is not the only record that Root is chasing, as the current England captain is only second to the Master Blaster for most Test runs scored. Root is 1,713 runs behind Sachin’s tally of 15,921 runs that he scored in 200 Test matches.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ollie-robinson-100th-test-wicket-pakistan-collapse-edgbaston-1788956659241">Robinson reaches 100 Test wickets as Pakistan collapse to 100/7 in opening session at Edgbaston</a> &nbsp;Meanwhile, Root was named England’s Test captain after talismanic all-rounder Ben Stokes announced his shock retirement after the New Zealand Test series. Root, who led England for six years until 2022, returned to the helm, with the ECB not too confident of handing over the Test baton to white-ball skipper Harry Brook. &nbsp;Since assuming the leadership role once again, Root began the second innings of his captaincy stint with thumping wins in the first two Tests against Pakistan, leading England to convincing wins in Leeds and Lord’s. The pace trio of Robinson, Archer and Tongue never allowed the visitors to score more than 200 in any of the four innings, with England staying at the top throughout. &nbsp;Even during the ongoing third and final Test at Edgbaston, Root’s England wrapped up Pakistan for 133 inside the second session on day one.

Joe Root surpassed Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting to become the third-most capped Test player in history during the Edgbaston Test against Pakistan.

England Test captain Joe Root became the third-most capped Test player in cricket history after taking the field on day one of the Edgbaston Test against Pakistan on Wednesday (Sep 9). Root surpassed former Australian captains and Test veterans Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting – who appeared in the same number of Test matches (168) – to feature in his 169th Test match and counting. Only two cricketers have played more Test matches than Root: James Anderson (188) and Sachin Tendulkar (200). Players to Play Most Test Matches – Sachin Tendulkar (India) – 200 Test Matches James Anderson (England) – 188 Test Matches Joe Root (England) – 169 Test Matches* Ricky Ponting (Australia) – 168 Test Matches Steve Waugh (Australia) – 168 Test Matches Root is the only active cricketer on this top-five list, with the remaining four retired from all forms of the game. Tendulkar’s number of Test appearances is not the only record that Root is chasing, as the current England captain is only second to the Master Blaster for most Test runs scored. Root is 1,713 runs behind Sachin’s tally of 15,921 runs that he scored in 200 Test matches. Also read| Robinson reaches 100 Test wickets as Pakistan collapse to 100/7 in opening session at Edgbaston Meanwhile, Root was named England’s Test captain after talismanic all-rounder Ben Stokes announced his shock retirement after the New Zealand Test series. Root, who led England for six years until 2022, returned to the helm, with the ECB not too confident of handing over the Test baton to white-ball skipper Harry Brook. Since assuming the leadership role once again, Root began the second innings of his captaincy stint with thumping wins in the first two Tests against Pakistan, leading England to convincing wins in Leeds and Lord’s. The pace trio of Robinson, Archer and Tongue never allowed the visitors to score more than 200 in any of the four innings, with England staying at the top throughout. Even during the ongoing third and final Test at Edgbaston, Root’s England wrapped up Pakistan for 133 inside the second session on day one.

Joe Root surpassed Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting to become the third-most capped Test player in history during the Edgbaston Test against Pakistan.

Joe Root surpasses Steve Waugh, Ponting to become third-most capped Test player

Ace India all-rounder Hardik Pandya has returned to competitive cricket for the first time since IPL 2026, with the BCCI selectors picking him for the three-match One-Day series between India A and Australia A. Devdutt Padikkal and Ruturaj Gaikwad were handed captaincy duties for the four-day and 50-over series, respectively. Puducherry will host five Australia A matches, including two four-day games, starting September 22. The three 50-over games will follow on October 6, 9 and 11. The second multi-day game will take place from September 29 to October 2. &nbsp;Hardik Pandya has not played any white-ball cricket for India since IPL 2026, where his team, Mumbai Indians (MI), finished ninth on the table. Although his selection is subject to fitness, the selectors would be keen on tapping his progress, with plenty of white-ball cricket scheduled for the senior men’s team in the coming months.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/asian-games-2026-whatever-they-are-providing-we-are-staying-there-rajiv-shukla-on-india-cricketers-accommodation-1788888280164">Asian Games 2026: ‘Whatever they are providing, we are staying there’: Rajiv Shukla on India cricketers' accommodation in Nagoya</a> &nbsp;Earlier reports suggested that Pandya underwent a Performance Block Programme at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) to recover from a back spasm.<h2>Padikkal, Gaikwad named captains</h2>In-form Test batter Devdutt Padikkal will lead the India A team in two four-day matches against Australia A. Fresh from his breakthrough series in Sri Lanka and a handy contribution for South Zone in the ongoing Duleep Trophy final, Padikkal will have Sai Sudharsan as his deputy for the red-ball matches.&nbsp; &nbsp;Promising names like Aman Mokhade, Ayush Pandey, Yash Rathod and Shaik Rasheed have also been picked, while Kumar Kushagra and N Jagadeesan are the two wicketkeeping options. Among the bowlers, Shams Mulani, Tanush Kotian, Tushar Deshpande and Anshul Kamboj have made the cut for the multi-day matches. &nbsp;Indian opener and CSK captain Gaikwad will lead the One-Day team against Australia A.&nbsp; &nbsp;While Padikkal will serve as his deputy, Sudharsan, Rajat Patidar, Priyansh Arya, Nishant Sindhu, Arshin Kulkarni and Naman Dhir are among those picked for the 50-over games.&nbsp; &nbsp;India A Multi-Day Squad:&nbsp;&nbsp;Aman Mokhade, Ayush Pandey, Devdutt Padikkal (captain), Sai Sudharsan (vice-captain), Yash Rathod, Shaik Rasheed, Kumar Kushagra (WK), Shams Mulani, Tanush Kotian, Tushar Deshpande, Anshul Kamboj, Praful Hinge, Narayan Jagadeesan (wk), Nachiket Bhute and V Vyshak* (subject to fitness) &nbsp;India A One-Day Squad:&nbsp;&nbsp;Ruturaj Gaikwad (captain), Priyansh Arya, Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal (vice-captain), Rajat Patidar, Kumar Kushagra (wk), Nishant Sindhu, Vipraj Nigam, Arshin Kulkarni, Arshad Khan, Naman Dhir, Hardik Pandya* (subject to fitness), Prabhsimran Singh (WK), Gurjapneet Singh and Yash Thakur<h3>India A vs Australia A 2026 Schedule -&nbsp;</h3>

<figure class="table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Date</td><td>Match</td><td>Venue</td></tr><tr><td>Sep 22 - 25&nbsp;</td><td>1st Multi-Day Match</td><td>Puducherry</td></tr><tr><td>Sep 29 - Oct 2</td><td>2nd Multi-Day Match</td><td>Puducherry</td></tr><tr><td>Oct 6</td><td>1st One-Day Match</td><td>Puducherry</td></tr><tr><td>Oct 9</td><td>2nd One-Day Match</td><td>Puducherry</td></tr><tr><td>Oct 11</td><td>3rd One-Day Match</td><td>Puducherry</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>

Hardik Pandya makes his return as BCCI announces India A squads for the Australia A series in Puducherry. Devdutt Padikkal and Ruturaj Gaikwad are named captains. 

Ace India all-rounder Hardik Pandya has returned to competitive cricket for the first time since IPL 2026, with the BCCI selectors picking him for the three-match One-Day series between India A and Australia A. Devdutt Padikkal and Ruturaj Gaikwad were handed captaincy duties for the four-day and 50-over series, respectively. Puducherry will host five Australia A matches, including two four-day games, starting September 22. The three 50-over games will follow on October 6, 9 and 11. The second multi-day game will take place from September 29 to October 2. Hardik Pandya has not played any white-ball cricket for India since IPL 2026, where his team, Mumbai Indians (MI), finished ninth on the table. Although his selection is subject to fitness, the selectors would be keen on tapping his progress, with plenty of white-ball cricket scheduled for the senior men’s team in the coming months. Also read| Asian Games 2026: ‘Whatever they are providing, we are staying there’: Rajiv Shukla on India cricketers' accommodation in Nagoya Earlier reports suggested that Pandya underwent a Performance Block Programme at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) to recover from a back spasm. Padikkal, Gaikwad named captains In-form Test batter Devdutt Padikkal will lead the India A team in two four-day matches against Australia A. Fresh from his breakthrough series in Sri Lanka and a handy contribution for South Zone in the ongoing Duleep Trophy final, Padikkal will have Sai Sudharsan as his deputy for the red-ball matches. Promising names like Aman Mokhade, Ayush Pandey, Yash Rathod and Shaik Rasheed have also been picked, while Kumar Kushagra and N Jagadeesan are the two wicketkeeping options. Among the bowlers, Shams Mulani, Tanush Kotian, Tushar Deshpande and Anshul Kamboj have made the cut for the multi-day matches. Indian opener and CSK captain Gaikwad will lead the One-Day team against Australia A. While Padikkal will serve as his deputy, Sudharsan, Rajat Patidar, Priyansh Arya, Nishant Sindhu, Arshin Kulkarni and Naman Dhir are among those picked for the 50-over games. India A Multi-Day Squad: Aman Mokhade, Ayush Pandey, Devdutt Padikkal (captain), Sai Sudharsan (vice-captain), Yash Rathod, Shaik Rasheed, Kumar Kushagra (WK), Shams Mulani, Tanush Kotian, Tushar Deshpande, Anshul Kamboj, Praful Hinge, Narayan Jagadeesan (wk), Nachiket Bhute and V Vyshak* (subject to fitness) India A One-Day Squad: Ruturaj Gaikwad (captain), Priyansh Arya, Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal (vice-captain), Rajat Patidar, Kumar Kushagra (wk), Nishant Sindhu, Vipraj Nigam, Arshin Kulkarni, Arshad Khan, Naman Dhir, Hardik Pandya* (subject to fitness), Prabhsimran Singh (WK), Gurjapneet Singh and Yash Thakur India A vs Australia A 2026 Schedule -

Hardik Pandya makes his return as BCCI announces India A squads for the Australia A series in Puducherry. Devdutt Padikkal and Ruturaj Gaikwad are named captains.&nbsp;

Hardik Pandya back in India A squad; Devdutt Padikkal, Ruturaj Gaikwad appointed captains

Hundreds of Asian Games athletes in Japan were briefly evacuated from their accommodation as record rainfall lashed host city Nagoya, with competition beginning in 10 days. Rainwater also leaked into some competition venues, with more wet weather forecast for the coming days. About 104mm (four inches) of rain fell in an hour in part of Nagoya on Tuesday, prompting municipal officials to issue an evacuation order for parts of the city.&nbsp;Cars were forced to plough through heavily flooded roads, causing huge jams, while water streamed into subway stations. Scientists say human-induced climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of weather events in Japan and elsewhere.&nbsp;There is no dedicated athletes' village at this year's Asian Games, with organisers instead relying on a cruise ship, temporary wooden containers and hotels.&nbsp;An official with Nagoya Port Authority told AFP that "hundreds" of athletes staying at the city's Garden Pier area, where the wooden container huts are located, were told to move to safety.&nbsp;The athletes returned after the evacuation order was lifted about two hours later.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Asian Games officially begin with an opening ceremony on September 19, but several events get under way before that. The basketball competition begins on Thursday. Rainwater was found in several competition venues, but Nagoya Mayor Ichiro Hirosawa said the facilities were not seriously affected and that events would go on as scheduled.&nbsp;"There has been limited impact like rainwater leaking from the roofs of some buildings, but the situation is not so serious that the opening on the 19th is in jeopardy for now," he said. "Given the current circumstances, I believe there will be no obstacles to holding the Asian Games."&nbsp;More than 17,000 athletes and officials are expected at the Games -- a bigger number than the Olympics.<h2>‘Unable to go home’</h2>Subway and bus services in Nagoya were temporarily halted on Tuesday, and the Japan Meteorological Agency issued its highest flood warning for a major river in the area.&nbsp;Television footage showed rainwater pouring onto a railway line like a waterfall from elevated ground.&nbsp;In another part of Nagoya, an abandoned car sat on a pedestrian sidewalk on Wednesday.&nbsp;"Traffic congestion is terrible because cars that can't move any more are here and there, blocking the roads," said Hitomi Terada, who works at a hotel in hard-hit Chigusa district. "Most of our 25 guest rooms were filled with guests who were unable to go home because of traffic congestion," the 44-year-old told AFP.&nbsp;"Some of our hotel employees couldn't come this morning for work because of traffic problems."&nbsp;Japan's weather agency issued warnings Wednesday for heavy rain and landslides, with rainfall expected to continue intermittently through Thursday in many areas of the country, including Aichi Prefecture, which is hosting the Asian Games.

Record rainfall and heavy flooding in Nagoya forced the brief evacuation of hundreds of Asian Games athletes from temporary accommodations, though officials confirm events will proceed as scheduled.

Hundreds of Asian Games athletes in Japan were briefly evacuated from their accommodation as record rainfall lashed host city Nagoya, with competition beginning in 10 days. Rainwater also leaked into some competition venues, with more wet weather forecast for the coming days. About 104mm (four inches) of rain fell in an hour in part of Nagoya on Tuesday, prompting municipal officials to issue an evacuation order for parts of the city. Cars were forced to plough through heavily flooded roads, causing huge jams, while water streamed into subway stations. Scientists say human-induced climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of weather events in Japan and elsewhere. There is no dedicated athletes' village at this year's Asian Games, with organisers instead relying on a cruise ship, temporary wooden containers and hotels. An official with Nagoya Port Authority told AFP that "hundreds" of athletes staying at the city's Garden Pier area, where the wooden container huts are located, were told to move to safety. The athletes returned after the evacuation order was lifted about two hours later. The Asian Games officially begin with an opening ceremony on September 19, but several events get under way before that. The basketball competition begins on Thursday. Rainwater was found in several competition venues, but Nagoya Mayor Ichiro Hirosawa said the facilities were not seriously affected and that events would go on as scheduled. "There has been limited impact like rainwater leaking from the roofs of some buildings, but the situation is not so serious that the opening on the 19th is in jeopardy for now," he said. "Given the current circumstances, I believe there will be no obstacles to holding the Asian Games." More than 17,000 athletes and officials are expected at the Games -- a bigger number than the Olympics. ‘Unable to go home’ Subway and bus services in Nagoya were temporarily halted on Tuesday, and the Japan Meteorological Agency issued its highest flood warning for a major river in the area. Television footage showed rainwater pouring onto a railway line like a waterfall from elevated ground. In another part of Nagoya, an abandoned car sat on a pedestrian sidewalk on Wednesday. "Traffic congestion is terrible because cars that can't move any more are here and there, blocking the roads," said Hitomi Terada, who works at a hotel in hard-hit Chigusa district. "Most of our 25 guest rooms were filled with guests who were unable to go home because of traffic congestion," the 44-year-old told AFP. "Some of our hotel employees couldn't come this morning for work because of traffic problems." Japan's weather agency issued warnings Wednesday for heavy rain and landslides, with rainfall expected to continue intermittently through Thursday in many areas of the country, including Aichi Prefecture, which is hosting the Asian Games.

Record rainfall and heavy flooding in Nagoya forced the brief evacuation of hundreds of Asian Games athletes from temporary accommodations, though officials confirm events will proceed as scheduled.

Asian Games athletes evacuated as heavy rain triggers flooding in Nagoya

Ben Shelton and his girlfriend, Trinity Rodman, recreated the American tennis player's iconic 'dialed in' phone celebration on Wednesday (Sep 9) at the US Open 2026. The moment came after Shelton <a href="https://www.usopen.org/en_US/players/overview/ben-shelton/atps0s1.html">beat defending champion Carlos Alcaraz</a> in a five-set thriller at Arthur Ashe Stadium in a quarterfinal match that went on for four hours and 28 minutes before a roaring New York City crowd. With the 6–7(5), 6–1, 6–3, 1–6, 7–6(10–7) win in five sets, Shelton now has a place in the semifinals against fellow countryman Frances Tiafoe, ensuring the US has a presence in the final of the event.<h2>Ben Shelton performs iconic 'phone' celebration with soccer star girlfriend Trinity Rodman at US Open</h2>After Alcaraz won the first set in a tiebreaker, Shelton won the next two sets before losing the fourth set. The fifth and final set went into a tiebreaker as well, and Shelton came out the winner, 10–7. After the win, both Alcaraz and Shelton shook hands and hugged at the net. Shelton then acknowledged his girlfriend Trinity Rodman—who plays for the Washington Spirit in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)—in the crowd. Trinity, the daughter of former NBA star Dennis Rodman, gestured a phone with her hand. Shelton did the same back to her, and the couple shared a laugh.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Ben Shelton scores the biggest win of his career and a spot in the US Open semifinals! <a href="https://t.co/2PCndRLcpL">pic.twitter.com/2PCndRLcpL</a>&mdash; US Open Tennis (@usopen) <a href="https://x.com/usopen/status/2097590532910297451?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 9, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The celebration symbolizes that Ben is "dialed in", meaning fully focused on winning.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/us-open-2026-let-s-go-ben-shelton-beats-alcaraz-in-five-set-qf-thriller-before-roaring-nyc-crowd-and-girlfriend-trinity-rodman-1788940478584">US Open 2026: 'Let's go, Ben' - Shelton beats Alcaraz in five-set QF thriller before roaring NYC crowd</a><h2>Who is Trinity Rodman?</h2>Trinity is the daughter of former NBA star and Michael Jordan's ex-teammate Dennis Rodman. She is a professional soccer player who plays for the Washington Spirit in the NWSL. The soccer star caught the eyes of the cameras during her boyfriend Ben's quarterfinal against Alcaraz and was praised for her fashion as well. Trinity donned an orange cap on backwards along with a patterned Adidas jacket.

Ben Shelton and girlfriend Trinity Rodman recreated his 'dialed-in' phone celebration after his 5-set US Open quarterfinal win over Carlos Alcaraz. Shelton faces Frances Tiafoe in the semifinals.

Ben Shelton and his girlfriend, Trinity Rodman, recreated the American tennis player's iconic 'dialed in' phone celebration on Wednesday (Sep 9) at the US Open 2026. The moment came after Shelton beat defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in a five-set thriller at Arthur Ashe Stadium in a quarterfinal match that went on for four hours and 28 minutes before a roaring New York City crowd. With the 6–7(5), 6–1, 6–3, 1–6, 7–6(10–7) win in five sets, Shelton now has a place in the semifinals against fellow countryman Frances Tiafoe, ensuring the US has a presence in the final of the event. Ben Shelton performs iconic 'phone' celebration with soccer star girlfriend Trinity Rodman at US Open After Alcaraz won the first set in a tiebreaker, Shelton won the next two sets before losing the fourth set. The fifth and final set went into a tiebreaker as well, and Shelton came out the winner, 10–7. After the win, both Alcaraz and Shelton shook hands and hugged at the net. Shelton then acknowledged his girlfriend Trinity Rodman—who plays for the Washington Spirit in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)—in the crowd. Trinity, the daughter of former NBA star Dennis Rodman, gestured a phone with her hand. Shelton did the same back to her, and the couple shared a laugh.

Ben Shelton and girlfriend Trinity Rodman recreated his 'dialed-in' phone celebration after his 5-set US Open quarterfinal win over Carlos Alcaraz. Shelton faces Frances Tiafoe in the semifinals.

US Open 2026: Trinity Rodman recreates boyfriend Ben Shelton's iconic 'phone' celebration after QF win over Alcaraz

American Ben Shelton earned the biggest win of his career, <a href="https://www.usopen.org/en_US/players/overview/ben-shelton/atps0s1.html">beating Carlos Alcaraz 6–7(5), 6–1, 6–3, 1–6, 7–6(10–7)</a> in a five-set thriller at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Wednesday (Sep 9) in the US Open 2026 quarterfinals. With his girlfriend, Trinity Rodman, the US soccer star, in attendance and the crowd chanting "Let's go, Ben" well past midnight in New York City, Shelton rose to the occasion and sealed a spot in the final four of the year's last Grand Slam. Shelton will face fellow countryman Frances Tiafoe - who beat No. 46 Alex Michelsen, also an American, in the quarterfinals - ensuring the presence of an American in the final.<h2>Shelton overcomes Alcaraz in five-set thriller</h2>The first set between Shelton and defending champion Alcaraz, who did not play the French Open and Wimbledon earlier this year because of an injury, went to a tiebreaker, which the Spaniard won. Shelton was sensational in the next two sets, winning them 6–1, 6–3. Alcaraz, known for his comebacks, won the next set 6–1 to take the match into a final set. The fifth set also went into a 10-point tiebreaker as both players refused to give an inch. Shelton eventually came out the winner, 10–7, to take the match.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">All the credit to the crowd from Ben 🫶 <a href="https://t.co/AZ53MfaD3d">pic.twitter.com/AZ53MfaD3d</a>&mdash; US Open Tennis (@usopen) <a href="https://x.com/usopen/status/2097592147037851856?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 9, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Shelton credits crowd for win as girlfriend Trinity steals the show</h2>After the match, Shelton credited the crowd for staying put for the match, which ran for nearly four and a half hours, saying: "For me, it's always about the crowd. Whether it's my coaches or my team, all my family and friends over here, or the City of New York tonight that showed up till 3 a.m. with the USA chants until the very end, that's what kept me going and that's what got me this win tonight."&nbsp;Ben's girlfriend Trinity, daughter of former NBA star Dennis Rodman, who plays for the Washington Spirit in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), was also in attendance and stole the show with her orange hat and patterned Adidas jacket.

Trinity Rodman cheers for boyfriend Ben Shelton at US Open 2026 QF

Ben Shelton beat Carlos Alcaraz 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(7) at Arthur Ashe Stadium to reach the US Open semifinals. Cheered on past 3 a.m. by the NYC crowd and girlfriend Trinity Rodman, he faces Frances Tiafoe next.

American Ben Shelton earned the biggest win of his career, beating Carlos Alcaraz 6–7(5), 6–1, 6–3, 1–6, 7–6(10–7) in a five-set thriller at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Wednesday (Sep 9) in the US Open 2026 quarterfinals. With his girlfriend, Trinity Rodman, the US soccer star, in attendance and the crowd chanting "Let's go, Ben" well past midnight in New York City, Shelton rose to the occasion and sealed a spot in the final four of the year's last Grand Slam. Shelton will face fellow countryman Frances Tiafoe - who beat No. 46 Alex Michelsen, also an American, in the quarterfinals - ensuring the presence of an American in the final. Shelton overcomes Alcaraz in five-set thriller The first set between Shelton and defending champion Alcaraz, who did not play the French Open and Wimbledon earlier this year because of an injury, went to a tiebreaker, which the Spaniard won. Shelton was sensational in the next two sets, winning them 6–1, 6–3. Alcaraz, known for his comebacks, won the next set 6–1 to take the match into a final set. The fifth set also went into a 10-point tiebreaker as both players refused to give an inch. Shelton eventually came out the winner, 10–7, to take the match.

Ben Shelton beat Carlos Alcaraz 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(7) at Arthur Ashe Stadium to reach the US Open semifinals. Cheered on past 3 a.m. by the NYC crowd and girlfriend Trinity Rodman, he faces Frances Tiafoe next.

US Open 2026: 'Let's go, Ben' - Shelton beats Alcaraz in five-set QF thriller before roaring NYC crowd and girlfriend Trinity Rodman

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Duleep Trophy Final: Kishan leads East Zone to first title in 13 years

NFL 2026: Seahawks beat Patriots in Super Bowl rematch without Darnold

'Don't deserve to play': Shakeel calls out Pak batting after another sorry display in England

SA batter Hermann hits highest individual score on ODI debut

Brazil announce 26-member squad for friendlies, including against India

UCL: PSG start title defence with rout of Slovan; Liverpool, Barca, Arsenal win

Anti-migrant crowd mistakes Pakistan U-19 squad for asylum seekers at UK hotel

NZC opens Eden Park's unused tier for India T20I amid surge in ticket demand

Ballon d’Or 2026 Nominees: World Cup finalists Messi, Ferran Torres shortlisted

Day 1: Robinson reaches 100 Test wickets as Pakistan collapse to 100/7 at lunch

Joe Root surpasses Steve Waugh, Ponting to become third-most capped Test player

Hardik Pandya back in India A squad; Padikkal, Gaikwad appointed captains

Asian Games athletes evacuated as heavy rain triggers flooding in Nagoya

US Open: Trinity does boyfriend Ben's 'phone' celebration after win vs Alcaraz

US Open: 'Let's go, Ben' - Shelton beats Alcaraz in five-set thriller to SF spot