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US President Donald Trump managed to politicise the World Baseball Final, played between the USA and Venezuela on Tuesday (Mar 17) when he asked followers a question on his social media platform Truth: "STATEHOOD, #51, ANYONE?" Trump's post came after Venezuela had defeated Italy in the semis and now the South American country has beaten the baseball superpower to lift their maiden World Baseball title. Venezuela beat USA 3-2 in the final and Trump posted once again posted, this time more so a statement than a question: "STATEHOOD!!! President DJT." Trump, notably, had authorised the capture of Venezuela president Nicolas Maduro in January in a move that had shocked the world.<h2>Trump bats for Venezuela as US state #51 after USA loses World Baseball title</h2>In a thrilling final, played at Miami's LoanDepot Park, Venezuela's Eugenio Suárez drove in the winning run in the top of ninth against a MLB star-studded USA team. In the bottom of ninth, Daniel Palencia struck out Roman Anthony with 100mph heater and the Venezuelan players ran onto the field of dreams and were absolutely esctatic. With the loss, USA remains trophyless since 2017 in the World Baseball.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/-senegral-forfeited-final-morocco-new-winner-of-africa-cup-of-nations-decalred-confederation-of-african-football-1773805121074">'Senegral forfeited final': Morocco new winner of Africa Cup of Nations</a>"Nobody believed in Venezuela, but now we win the championship today," an Suarez said afterwards. "What can I say about this? God is good! Jesus, he was with us the whole time. We have to glorify [him], put his name in front of everything."<h2>How did players respond to political messaging before and after the final?</h2>Donald Trump took the credit for Venezuela beating Italy in the semis and reaching the final with his Truth post reading: "Wow! Venezuela defeated Italy tonight, 4-2, in the WBC (Baseball!) Semifinal. They are looking really great. Good things are happening to Venezuela lately! I wonder what this magic is all about?" alluding to his move to capture Maduro.After the win, Venezuela's Ronald Acuna Jr declined to be lured into the the political messaging and said: "We’re here to speak baseball," and so they did by beating a country which has the biggest basbeball league in the world and litreally plays "World Series" every year.

In a thrilling World Baseball Classic final, played at Miami's LoanDepot Park on Tuesday (Mar 17), Venezuela's Eugenio Suárez drove in the winning run in the top of ninth against a MLB star-studded USA team to win the maiden title 3-2.

US President Donald Trump managed to politicise the World Baseball Final, played between the USA and Venezuela on Tuesday (Mar 17) when he asked followers a question on his social media platform Truth: "STATEHOOD, #51, ANYONE?" Trump's post came after Venezuela had defeated Italy in the semis and now the South American country has beaten the baseball superpower to lift their maiden World Baseball title. Venezuela beat USA 3-2 in the final and Trump posted once again posted, this time more so a statement than a question: "STATEHOOD!!! President DJT." Trump, notably, had authorised the capture of Venezuela president Nicolas Maduro in January in a move that had shocked the world. Trump bats for Venezuela as US state #51 after USA loses World Baseball title In a thrilling final, played at Miami's LoanDepot Park, Venezuela's Eugenio Suárez drove in the winning run in the top of ninth against a MLB star-studded USA team. In the bottom of ninth, Daniel Palencia struck out Roman Anthony with 100mph heater and the Venezuelan players ran onto the field of dreams and were absolutely esctatic. With the loss, USA remains trophyless since 2017 in the World Baseball. Also Read - 'Senegral forfeited final': Morocco new winner of Africa Cup of Nations "Nobody believed in Venezuela, but now we win the championship today," an Suarez said afterwards. "What can I say about this? God is good! Jesus, he was with us the whole time. We have to glorify [him], put his name in front of everything." How did players respond to political messaging before and after the final? Donald Trump took the credit for Venezuela beating Italy in the semis and reaching the final with his Truth post reading: "Wow! Venezuela defeated Italy tonight, 4-2, in the WBC (Baseball!) Semifinal. They are looking really great. Good things are happening to Venezuela lately! I wonder what this magic is all about?" alluding to his move to capture Maduro. After the win, Venezuela's Ronald Acuna Jr declined to be lured into the the political messaging and said: "We’re here to speak baseball," and so they did by beating a country which has the biggest basbeball league in the world and litreally plays "World Series" every year.

In a thrilling World Baseball Classic final, played at Miami's LoanDepot Park on Tuesday (Mar 17), Venezuela's Eugenio Suárez drove in the winning run in the top of ninth against a MLB star-studded USA team to win the maiden title 3-2.

'STATEHOOD': Trump bats for Venezuela as US state #51 after USA loses World Baseball title

In an unprecedented decision, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has stripped Senegal of Africa Cup of Nations title and has decalred Morocco as the new winner. The decision comes after a fine of more tha $1m was levied along with a ban on both Senegal and Morocco players during the initial hearing. The result, however, was not touched during the intial hearing of the matter but has been changed now with Morocco being declared 3-0 winner. The whole drama is related to Senegal players leaving the final played in january earler this year mid-match in protest. The Senegal players eventually returned after a 15-minute protest and went to win the match as well, but all for nothing.<h2>Why Senegal has been stripped of Africa Cup of Nations trophy?</h2>The Senegal players had left the pitch to mark their protest against Morocco being awarded a penalty in the final. The players eventualy returned 15 minutes later and the match continued. The same has been cited as the reason by CAF to strip Senegal off the title. The CAF said that Senegral "declared to have forfeited the final."Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/we-are-ready-to-host-iran-football-world-cup-matches-if-fifa-approves-mexico-president-us-donald-trump-1773770109017">'We are ready to host Iran’s World Cup games if FIFA approves': Mexico President</a>"The CAF appeal board decided that in application of article 84 of the regulations of the Caf Africa Cup of Nations, the Senegal national team is declared to have forfeited the final match of the Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025, with the result of the match being recorded as 3–0 in favour of the Federation Royale Marocaine de Football."It is declared that the Federation Senegalaise de Football, through the conduct of its team, infringed article 82 of the regulations of the Africa Cup of Nations," it added.<h2>What did Morocco say about being declared winners?</h2>"The federation wishes to recall that its approach has never been intended to challenge the sporting performance of the teams participating in this competition, but solely to request the application of the competition’s regulations," said the new winners in a statement.“The federation reaffirms its commitment to respecting the rules, ensuring clarity in the competitive framework, and maintaining stability within African competitions.”

The whole drama is related to Senegal players leaving the final played in january earler this year mid-match in protest. The Senegal players eventually returned after a 15-minute protest and went to win the match as well, but all for nothing.

In an unprecedented decision, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has stripped Senegal of Africa Cup of Nations title and has decalred Morocco as the new winner. The decision comes after a fine of more tha $1m was levied along with a ban on both Senegal and Morocco players during the initial hearing. The result, however, was not touched during the intial hearing of the matter but has been changed now with Morocco being declared 3-0 winner. The whole drama is related to Senegal players leaving the final played in january earler this year mid-match in protest. The Senegal players eventually returned after a 15-minute protest and went to win the match as well, but all for nothing. Why Senegal has been stripped of Africa Cup of Nations trophy? The Senegal players had left the pitch to mark their protest against Morocco being awarded a penalty in the final. The players eventualy returned 15 minutes later and the match continued. The same has been cited as the reason by CAF to strip Senegal off the title. The CAF said that Senegral "declared to have forfeited the final." Also Read - 'We are ready to host Iran’s World Cup games if FIFA approves': Mexico President "The CAF appeal board decided that in application of article 84 of the regulations of the Caf Africa Cup of Nations, the Senegal national team is declared to have forfeited the final match of the Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025, with the result of the match being recorded as 3–0 in favour of the Federation Royale Marocaine de Football. "It is declared that the Federation Senegalaise de Football, through the conduct of its team, infringed article 82 of the regulations of the Africa Cup of Nations," it added. What did Morocco say about being declared winners? "The federation wishes to recall that its approach has never been intended to challenge the sporting performance of the teams participating in this competition, but solely to request the application of the competition’s regulations," said the new winners in a statement. “The federation reaffirms its commitment to respecting the rules, ensuring clarity in the competitive framework, and maintaining stability within African competitions.”

The whole drama is related to Senegal players leaving the final played in january earler this year mid-match in protest. The Senegal players eventually returned after a 15-minute protest and went to win the match as well, but all for nothing.

'Senegal forfeited final': Morocco new winner of Africa Cup of Nations, decalres Confederation of African Football

Holders Paris Saint-Germain, record 15-time winners Real Madrid and Arsenal surged into the quarter-finals of the Champions League on Tuesday, while Sporting produced a brilliant comeback in Portugal to end Bodo/Glimt's remarkable run. PSG appear to be coming back into the form which saw them win the Champions League for the first time in their history last season, as the French club crushed Chelsea 3-0 in London to claim a comprehensive 8-2 aggregate victory in their last-16 tie. Chelsea had been left with a mountain to climb after a late collapse in last week's first leg, and PSG quickly snuffed out any chance the English club had.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/we-are-ready-to-host-iran-football-world-cup-matches-if-fifa-approves-mexico-president-us-donald-trump-1773770109017">'We are ready to host Iran’s World Cup games if FIFA approves': Mexico President</a>Khvicha Kvaratskhelia followed his first-leg double by opening the scoring on six minutes at Stamford Bridge, with Chelsea defender Mamadou Sarr misjudging a long ball on his Champions League debut and then being outmuscled by the Georgian who applied the finish.Bradley Barcola fired in a brilliant second goal from an Achraf Hakimi assist, and the home fans were streaming for the exits when substitute Senny Mayulu swept in PSG's third on the night just after the hour."We clearly dominated, we are very happy to be in the quarter-finals and I think it is well deserved," PSG coach Luis Enrique told Canal Plus.PSG's fourth victory against English opposition in a two-legged knockout tie since the start of last year sets up a last-eight tie against Liverpool or Galatasaray, who meet on Wednesday at Anfield with the Turkish side leading 1-0 from the first leg.Two-time European champions Chelsea were not the only English club to be eliminated on Tuesday, with Manchester City losing 2-1 at home to Real as they went out 5-1 on aggregate.Real led 3-0 from the first leg in Spain, where Federico Valverde scored a hat-trick, and their qualification was never in doubt after City's Bernardo Silva was sent off on 20 minutes for stopping a goalbound Vinicius Junior shot on the line with his arm.Vinicius converted the penalty, and Pep Guardiola's side had too much to do, even if Erling Haaland levelled the scores on the night before half-time with his 30th goal this season.<h2>Sporting comeback sinks Bodo/Glimt</h2>Real replaced Thibaut Courtois with Andriy Lunin in goal at half-time, and the tie was over long before Vinicius scored again in stoppage time to seal the win on the night."All of us players know that the good games are coming and when Madrid play in this competition, everything changes," said Vinicius, as Real knocked City out for the third season running.Real are almost certain to face Bayern Munich in a heavyweight quarter-final, with the Germans 6-1 up against Atalanta before Wednesday's return match.Premier League leaders Arsenal's dream of a quadruple remains alive after they beat Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium for a 3-1 aggregate success.They had needed a late penalty to draw in Germany last week, and finished the tie off in the return with goals either side of half-time from Eberechi Eze and Declan Rice.Eze broke the deadlock with a long-range rocket late in the first half and Rice's composed finish killed off Leverkusen."We had four or five situations where we should have scored a third but overall we fully deserved to win and be into the quarter-finals," said Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta.His team now face Manchester City in the English League Cup final on Sunday, and will play Sporting in the quarter-finals.The Portuguese champions produced a superb fightback, overturning a 3-0 deficit from last week's first leg against Bodo/Glimt by beating the Norwegians 5-0 after extra time in Lisbon.Goncalo Inacio and Pedro Goncalves scored before a Luis Suarez penalty on 78 minutes forced extra time.Uruguayan full-back Maxi Araujo gave Sporting the lead in the tie for the first time in the 92nd minute, and Rafael Nel made sure of their progress with the fifth right at the end.Bodo/Glimt's fantastic run comes to an end as Sporting reach the quarters of Europe's elite club competition for the first time since 1983.

Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, Arsenal, and Sporting enter last 8 of Champions League. Two-time European champions Chelsea were not the only English club to be eliminated on Tuesday, with Manchester City losing 2-1 at home to Real as they went out 5-1 on aggregate.

Holders Paris Saint-Germain, record 15-time winners Real Madrid and Arsenal surged into the quarter-finals of the Champions League on Tuesday, while Sporting produced a brilliant comeback in Portugal to end Bodo/Glimt's remarkable run. PSG appear to be coming back into the form which saw them win the Champions League for the first time in their history last season, as the French club crushed Chelsea 3-0 in London to claim a comprehensive 8-2 aggregate victory in their last-16 tie. Chelsea had been left with a mountain to climb after a late collapse in last week's first leg, and PSG quickly snuffed out any chance the English club had. Also Read - 'We are ready to host Iran’s World Cup games if FIFA approves': Mexico President Khvicha Kvaratskhelia followed his first-leg double by opening the scoring on six minutes at Stamford Bridge, with Chelsea defender Mamadou Sarr misjudging a long ball on his Champions League debut and then being outmuscled by the Georgian who applied the finish. Bradley Barcola fired in a brilliant second goal from an Achraf Hakimi assist, and the home fans were streaming for the exits when substitute Senny Mayulu swept in PSG's third on the night just after the hour. "We clearly dominated, we are very happy to be in the quarter-finals and I think it is well deserved," PSG coach Luis Enrique told Canal Plus. PSG's fourth victory against English opposition in a two-legged knockout tie since the start of last year sets up a last-eight tie against Liverpool or Galatasaray, who meet on Wednesday at Anfield with the Turkish side leading 1-0 from the first leg. Two-time European champions Chelsea were not the only English club to be eliminated on Tuesday, with Manchester City losing 2-1 at home to Real as they went out 5-1 on aggregate. Real led 3-0 from the first leg in Spain, where Federico Valverde scored a hat-trick, and their qualification was never in doubt after City's Bernardo Silva was sent off on 20 minutes for stopping a goalbound Vinicius Junior shot on the line with his arm. Vinicius converted the penalty, and Pep Guardiola's side had too much to do, even if Erling Haaland levelled the scores on the night before half-time with his 30th goal this season. Sporting comeback sinks Bodo/Glimt Real replaced Thibaut Courtois with Andriy Lunin in goal at half-time, and the tie was over long before Vinicius scored again in stoppage time to seal the win on the night. "All of us players know that the good games are coming and when Madrid play in this competition, everything changes," said Vinicius, as Real knocked City out for the third season running. Real are almost certain to face Bayern Munich in a heavyweight quarter-final, with the Germans 6-1 up against Atalanta before Wednesday's return match. Premier League leaders Arsenal's dream of a quadruple remains alive after they beat Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium for a 3-1 aggregate success. They had needed a late penalty to draw in Germany last week, and finished the tie off in the return with goals either side of half-time from Eberechi Eze and Declan Rice. Eze broke the deadlock with a long-range rocket late in the first half and Rice's composed finish killed off Leverkusen. "We had four or five situations where we should have scored a third but overall we fully deserved to win and be into the quarter-finals," said Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta. His team now face Manchester City in the English League Cup final on Sunday, and will play Sporting in the quarter-finals. The Portuguese champions produced a superb fightback, overturning a 3-0 deficit from last week's first leg against Bodo/Glimt by beating the Norwegians 5-0 after extra time in Lisbon. Goncalo Inacio and Pedro Goncalves scored before a Luis Suarez penalty on 78 minutes forced extra time. Uruguayan full-back Maxi Araujo gave Sporting the lead in the tie for the first time in the 92nd minute, and Rafael Nel made sure of their progress with the fifth right at the end. Bodo/Glimt's fantastic run comes to an end as Sporting reach the quarters of Europe's elite club competition for the first time since 1983.

Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, Arsenal, and Sporting enter last 8 of Champions League. Two-time European champions Chelsea were not the only English club to be eliminated on Tuesday, with Manchester City losing 2-1 at home to Real as they went out 5-1 on aggregate.

Champions League | PSG, Real Madrid, Arsenal through last 8; Bodo/Glimt's fairy tale run ends

In elite sport, the difference between talent and greatness often lies in the unseen hours, and for Gregory Gaultier, that difference is simple: discipline. Speaking in an exclusive interaction with WION, the former world no. 1 and multiple-time World Open and British Open champion broke down what separates a good squash player from a world champion. “It’s the discipline and commitment you bring every single day in training,” he said. “What you produce in training reflects directly in competition.”&nbsp;Gaultier, famously nicknamed “The General,” explained that the moniker, given by commentator Joey Barrington, came from his commanding presence on court. “It was about how I controlled the ‘T’ position. The player who dominates that space usually dominates the match,” he said. Reflecting on his fierce rivalries with players like Ramy Ashour and Nick Matthew, Gaultier said there was no single toughest opponent. “Each player had a unique style. You had to constantly adapt. That generation kept pushing each other and raising the bar.”&nbsp;On reaching world no. 1, he admitted the mental challenge was as significant as the achievement. “The first time brought relief, but also pressure. Everyone wants to beat you. The second time, I was better prepared to handle it.” Turning to the evolution of squash, Gaultier believes the game, especially on the women’s side, has reached new physical and tactical heights. “The pace and intensity have gone up. Matches are longer, tougher, and demanding.”&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/we-are-ready-to-host-iran-football-world-cup-matches-if-fifa-approves-mexico-president-us-donald-trump-1773770109017">'We are ready to host Iran’s World Cup matches if FIFA approves': Mexico President</a>&nbsp;Injuries, he said, are an inevitable part of a long career, but also an opportunity. “You need to understand why it happened. It’s not always bad luck. Recovery is about patience, rehab, and managing expectations when you return.”&nbsp;A major part of the conversation focused on India’s rising star Anahat Singh, whom Gaultier has been coaching for the past two years. “It’s a team effort, but her improvement has been remarkable,” he said. “One thing that stands out is her hunger to learn. She stays back after tournaments, watches top players, trains, and absorbs everything.”&nbsp;He emphasised her fearless mindset as her biggest strength. “Anahat has the approach of a champion. Whether she plays world no. 1 or no. 20, she steps on court to win, not just to compete.” Now entering tournaments as a top seed, Gaultier acknowledged the added pressure, but sees it as a positive. “It’s about converting that pressure into motivation. Her recent performances and maturity will help her handle it.”&nbsp;Looking ahead, the inclusion of squash in the 2028 Summer Olympics marks a historic moment for the sport. While Gaultier himself will miss out as a player, he sees it as a game-changer. “This is huge for squash. It will bring more exposure and take the sport to new heights,” he said. “For players like Anahat, it’s a massive opportunity. Competing, and maybe winning a medal, would be incredible for Indian squash.”<h2>JSW India Open begins today</h2>The second edition of the JSW Indian Open is set to kick off on Wednesday at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai. The tournament will feature 30 matches across men’s and women’s draws, with players competing for valuable PSA ranking points and the prestigious title.&nbsp;Sanctioned by the Professional Squash Association (PSA) and organised under the Squash Rackets Federation of India (SRFI), the event is classified as a PSA Copper tournament. It offers equal prize money in both the men’s and women’s categories and continues to establish itself as a key platform for Indian players to test themselves against top international competition on home turf.&nbsp;All eyes will be on top seed and defending champion Anahat Singh, who returns following a breakthrough season on the PSA Tour. She will be joined by prominent Indian players including Ramit Tandon, Veer Chotrani, Abhay Singh, and seasoned campaigner Joshna Chinappa, each aiming to deliver strong performances before the home crowd. The competition also boasts a formidable international lineup, with players such as Yahya Elnawasny, Nadien Elhammam, and Enora Villard in the mix, ensuring a series of exciting contests throughout the tournament.

Gregory Gaultier backs Anahat Singh’s fearless mindset, discipline and rapid rise, saying she has the mindset needed to win at the highest level

In elite sport, the difference between talent and greatness often lies in the unseen hours, and for Gregory Gaultier, that difference is simple: discipline. Speaking in an exclusive interaction with WION, the former world no. 1 and multiple-time World Open and British Open champion broke down what separates a good squash player from a world champion. “It’s the discipline and commitment you bring every single day in training,” he said. “What you produce in training reflects directly in competition.” Gaultier, famously nicknamed “The General,” explained that the moniker, given by commentator Joey Barrington, came from his commanding presence on court. “It was about how I controlled the ‘T’ position. The player who dominates that space usually dominates the match,” he said. Reflecting on his fierce rivalries with players like Ramy Ashour and Nick Matthew, Gaultier said there was no single toughest opponent. “Each player had a unique style. You had to constantly adapt. That generation kept pushing each other and raising the bar.” On reaching world no. 1, he admitted the mental challenge was as significant as the achievement. “The first time brought relief, but also pressure. Everyone wants to beat you. The second time, I was better prepared to handle it.” Turning to the evolution of squash, Gaultier believes the game, especially on the women’s side, has reached new physical and tactical heights. “The pace and intensity have gone up. Matches are longer, tougher, and demanding.” Also Read: 'We are ready to host Iran’s World Cup matches if FIFA approves': Mexico President Injuries, he said, are an inevitable part of a long career, but also an opportunity. “You need to understand why it happened. It’s not always bad luck. Recovery is about patience, rehab, and managing expectations when you return.” A major part of the conversation focused on India’s rising star Anahat Singh, whom Gaultier has been coaching for the past two years. “It’s a team effort, but her improvement has been remarkable,” he said. “One thing that stands out is her hunger to learn. She stays back after tournaments, watches top players, trains, and absorbs everything.” He emphasised her fearless mindset as her biggest strength. “Anahat has the approach of a champion. Whether she plays world no. 1 or no. 20, she steps on court to win, not just to compete.” Now entering tournaments as a top seed, Gaultier acknowledged the added pressure, but sees it as a positive. “It’s about converting that pressure into motivation. Her recent performances and maturity will help her handle it.” Looking ahead, the inclusion of squash in the 2028 Summer Olympics marks a historic moment for the sport. While Gaultier himself will miss out as a player, he sees it as a game-changer. “This is huge for squash. It will bring more exposure and take the sport to new heights,” he said. “For players like Anahat, it’s a massive opportunity. Competing, and maybe winning a medal, would be incredible for Indian squash.” JSW India Open begins today The second edition of the JSW Indian Open is set to kick off on Wednesday at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai. The tournament will feature 30 matches across men’s and women’s draws, with players competing for valuable PSA ranking points and the prestigious title. Sanctioned by the Professional Squash Association (PSA) and organised under the Squash Rackets Federation of India (SRFI), the event is classified as a PSA Copper tournament. It offers equal prize money in both the men’s and women’s categories and continues to establish itself as a key platform for Indian players to test themselves against top international competition on home turf. All eyes will be on top seed and defending champion Anahat Singh, who returns following a breakthrough season on the PSA Tour. She will be joined by prominent Indian players including Ramit Tandon, Veer Chotrani, Abhay Singh, and seasoned campaigner Joshna Chinappa, each aiming to deliver strong performances before the home crowd. The competition also boasts a formidable international lineup, with players such as Yahya Elnawasny, Nadien Elhammam, and Enora Villard in the mix, ensuring a series of exciting contests throughout the tournament.

Gregory Gaultier backs Anahat Singh’s fearless mindset, discipline and rapid rise, saying she has the mindset needed to win at the highest level

'Anahat has the mindset of a champion—now she’s ready for the big stage', says coach Gregory Gaultier

Mexico is willing to host Iran’s football World Cup matches should FIFA approve it, said the country’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum, on Tuesday (Mar 17). Amid raging conflicts with the US and Israel in West Asia, Iran decided against travelling to America for the FIFA World Cup starting in June, also co-hosted by Mexico and Canada. Placed in Group G, Iran will play all its league phase matches in America, with the US President warning them against risking their ‘safety and life’ should they decide to travel to the US for the showpiece event.&nbsp;In the latest development, Iran’s football federation has requested FIFA to move its World Cup matches out of the US to Mexico amid growing concerns for its players’ safety following the US-Israel joint attack on Iran.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/iran-trying-to-pull-a-pakistan-in-fifa-world-cup-2026-middle-eastern-country-negotiating-to-move-matches-outside-usa-1773727139996">Iran trying to pull a Pakistan in FIFA World Cup 2026? Middle Eastern country 'negotiating' to move matches outside USA</a> &nbsp;An X account of Iran’s embassy in Mexico, which posted a statement late on Monday night, attributed to the president of the Iranian Football Federation, Mehdi Taj, reacted to Trump's remarks on welcoming Iran to play their scheduled World Cup matches in America, but without assuring their team's safety, while suggesting that they stay home instead.&nbsp; &nbsp;“When Trump has explicitly stated that he cannot ensure the security of the Iranian national team, we will certainly not travel to America,” the statement read. “We are currently negotiating with FIFA to hold Iran’s matches in the World Cup in Mexico.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">“Negociamos con la FIFA”: La federación iraní informó que está en búsqueda de jugar sus partidos del Mundial 2026 en México y no en Estados Unidos como estaba pactado. ⚽🌎<a href="https://t.co/yLyHHmqrCm">https://t.co/yLyHHmqrCm</a> <a href="https://t.co/V3YYa4bCVE">pic.twitter.com/V3YYa4bCVE</a>&mdash; El Financiero (@ElFinanciero_Mx) <a href="https://twitter.com/ElFinanciero_Mx/status/2033758111530721510?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 17, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Per the released schedule, Iran will play Belgium and New Zealand in Los Angeles and Egypt in Seattle.&nbsp; &nbsp;Meanwhile, the football’s governing body said The Athletic that the scheduled World Cup matches remain as scheduled.&nbsp; &nbsp;“FIFA is in regular contact with all participating member associations, including IR Iran, to discuss planning for the FIFA World Cup 2026,” the spokesperson said. “FIFA is looking forward to all participating teams competing as per the match schedule announced on 6 December 2025.”

Amid escalating West Asia tensions and safety warnings from the US President, Iran is negotiating a historic move for its Group G fixtures from the United States to Mexico. Get the latest on FIFA's response.

Mexico is willing to host Iran’s football World Cup matches should FIFA approve it, said the country’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum, on Tuesday (Mar 17). Amid raging conflicts with the US and Israel in West Asia, Iran decided against travelling to America for the FIFA World Cup starting in June, also co-hosted by Mexico and Canada. Placed in Group G, Iran will play all its league phase matches in America, with the US President warning them against risking their ‘safety and life’ should they decide to travel to the US for the showpiece event. In the latest development, Iran’s football federation has requested FIFA to move its World Cup matches out of the US to Mexico amid growing concerns for its players’ safety following the US-Israel joint attack on Iran. Also read | Iran trying to pull a Pakistan in FIFA World Cup 2026? Middle Eastern country 'negotiating' to move matches outside USA An X account of Iran’s embassy in Mexico, which posted a statement late on Monday night, attributed to the president of the Iranian Football Federation, Mehdi Taj, reacted to Trump's remarks on welcoming Iran to play their scheduled World Cup matches in America, but without assuring their team's safety, while suggesting that they stay home instead. “When Trump has explicitly stated that he cannot ensure the security of the Iranian national team, we will certainly not travel to America,” the statement read. “We are currently negotiating with FIFA to hold Iran’s matches in the World Cup in Mexico.”

Amid escalating West Asia tensions and safety warnings from the US President, Iran is negotiating a historic move for its Group G fixtures from the United States to Mexico. Get the latest on FIFA's response.

'We are ready to host Iran’s World Cup matches if FIFA approves': Mexico President

After a disappointing ICC T20 World Cup 2026, Pakistan suffered another setback with an ODI series loss to Bangladesh. In the final match, Pakistan opted to bowl first. Bangladesh posted 290/5 in their 50 overs and despite a fighting century from Salman Agha, Pakistan could only manage 279 runs while chasing the target. Former Pakistan cricketer Kamran Akmal strongly criticized the team, questioning their decision to bowl first on a good batting pitch and said they should have chosen to bat. He also noted that Bangladesh could have scored even more, around 350 runs, but were restricted as Litton Das slowed the scoring rate towards the end.&nbsp;“You have lost the match. What experiments are you doing? It was a good pitch. Why did you choose to bowl? Why didn’t you bat? They would have scored 350. Litton Das was slow in the end, that’s why Bangladesh got restricted to 290. It was a series decider. When you do not win the series against teams, how will you progress. Do you plan to steal the ICC trophy?,” said Akmal.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/private-jets-on-standby-pcb-details-evacuation-plan-for-foreign-players-in-psl-2026-amid-pakistan-afghanistan-war-iran-israel-west-asia-conflict-1773761382319">‘Private jets on standby,’ PCB details evacuation plan for players in PSL 2026 amid PAK-AFG war</a>&nbsp;He added that the team’s performance has dropped badly and warned that even smaller teams might start believing that they can beat Pakistan. According to him, the players are not showing enough responsibility.&nbsp;&nbsp;“For god’s sake, think about Pakistan cricket. Just see the levels we have gone down to. The Netherlands must be thinking that if they get to play a three-match ODI series against Pakistan, they can attain Test status, as they can also beat us. You have made a mockery of your cricket. You people just don’t care,” he added.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/all-we-wanted-was-to-win-ollie-pope-defends-england-dressing-room-culture-noosa-excessive-drinking-after-ashes-drubbing-australia-down-under-1773756718817">‘All we wanted was to win’: Pope defends ENG’s culture after 1-4 Ashes drubbing</a>&nbsp;After the final match, Pakistan's captain Shaheen Shah Afridi also had a view, saying that the team is improving and highlighted that many young players are new to international cricket. He stressed the need for hard work, better fitness and development in all areas of the game. He also said the team will continue to support these young players.&nbsp;

During the ODI series against Bangladesh, Pakistan suffered a heavy defeat in the first match, bounced back in the second, but failed to maintain the momentum in the final ODI.

After a disappointing ICC T20 World Cup 2026, Pakistan suffered another setback with an ODI series loss to Bangladesh. In the final match, Pakistan opted to bowl first. Bangladesh posted 290/5 in their 50 overs and despite a fighting century from Salman Agha, Pakistan could only manage 279 runs while chasing the target. Former Pakistan cricketer Kamran Akmal strongly criticized the team, questioning their decision to bowl first on a good batting pitch and said they should have chosen to bat. He also noted that Bangladesh could have scored even more, around 350 runs, but were restricted as Litton Das slowed the scoring rate towards the end. “You have lost the match. What experiments are you doing? It was a good pitch. Why did you choose to bowl? Why didn’t you bat? They would have scored 350. Litton Das was slow in the end, that’s why Bangladesh got restricted to 290. It was a series decider. When you do not win the series against teams, how will you progress. Do you plan to steal the ICC trophy?,” said Akmal. Also Read - ‘Private jets on standby,’ PCB details evacuation plan for players in PSL 2026 amid PAK-AFG war He added that the team’s performance has dropped badly and warned that even smaller teams might start believing that they can beat Pakistan. According to him, the players are not showing enough responsibility. “For god’s sake, think about Pakistan cricket. Just see the levels we have gone down to. The Netherlands must be thinking that if they get to play a three-match ODI series against Pakistan, they can attain Test status, as they can also beat us. You have made a mockery of your cricket. You people just don’t care,” he added. Also Read - ‘All we wanted was to win’: Pope defends ENG’s culture after 1-4 Ashes drubbing After the final match, Pakistan's captain Shaheen Shah Afridi also had a view, saying that the team is improving and highlighted that many young players are new to international cricket. He stressed the need for hard work, better fitness and development in all areas of the game. He also said the team will continue to support these young players.

During the ODI series against Bangladesh, Pakistan suffered a heavy defeat in the first match, bounced back in the second, but failed to maintain the momentum in the final ODI.

'Plan to steal ICC trophy': Kamran Akmal criticises Pakistan Team after series defeat to Bangladesh

The Pakistan-Afghanistan war has reached its boiling point following the Kabul hospital airstrike that killed 400 innocents. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has laid out contingency plans for all players, including foreigners, should the situation escalate midway through PSL 2026. With the growing fear among touring players, mainly from Australia, including David Warner and Steve Smith, and the Australian government classifying Peshawar ‘do not travel’ zone due to security concerns, the PCB has reportedly promised immediate evacuation via private jets, which are to be on standby at all times.&nbsp;Considering that the flights in and out of the region have already been affected, adding to the uncertainty, Warner and Smith are among the marquee overseas players contemplating their participation in PSL 2026. With all eight teams continuing to prepare for the upcoming edition, and some Australian players also expected to arrive in the country sooner, the current situation has left a few professionals working on honouring franchise commitments.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/afg-speedster-naveen-ul-haq-compares-pakistan-with-israel-after-kabul-airstrike-that-killed-over-400-1773746255741">AFG speedster Naveen-ul-Haq compares Pakistan with Israel after Kabul airstrike that killed over 400</a> &nbsp;Also, Peshawar’s Arbab Niaz Stadium, now renamed Imran Khan Stadium, which is located roughly 40 to 50 kilometres away from the Afghanistan border, will host two PSL games for the first time on Saturday (Mar 28). &nbsp;Among the Australian players travelling to Pakistan for PSL 2026 are Smith, Warner, Adam Zampa, Peter Siddle, Aaron Hardie, Marnus Labuschagne, Ashton Turner, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Josh Philippe, Riley Meredith and Ben McDermott, among others. &nbsp;Meanwhile, a PCB source close to the information has dismissed all reports of Australia being dicey over sending its players to Pakistan for PSL 2026 over raging West Asia conflict and one involving against Afghanistan, saying, "All travel arrangements and plans are in place, and we will have all the Australian players who have signed for the PSL 11 start arriving from next week.” &nbsp;PSL 2026 will take place from March 26 to May 3.

The PCB details emergency evacuation plans for PSL 2026 as the Pakistan-Afghanistan conflict intensifies. With 400 dead in a Kabul airstrike and Australia issuing a 'Do Not Travel' alert for Peshawar, find out how the board plans to protect stars like Steve Smith and David Warner."

The Pakistan-Afghanistan war has reached its boiling point following the Kabul hospital airstrike that killed 400 innocents. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has laid out contingency plans for all players, including foreigners, should the situation escalate midway through PSL 2026. With the growing fear among touring players, mainly from Australia, including David Warner and Steve Smith, and the Australian government classifying Peshawar ‘do not travel’ zone due to security concerns, the PCB has reportedly promised immediate evacuation via private jets, which are to be on standby at all times. Considering that the flights in and out of the region have already been affected, adding to the uncertainty, Warner and Smith are among the marquee overseas players contemplating their participation in PSL 2026. With all eight teams continuing to prepare for the upcoming edition, and some Australian players also expected to arrive in the country sooner, the current situation has left a few professionals working on honouring franchise commitments. Also read | AFG speedster Naveen-ul-Haq compares Pakistan with Israel after Kabul airstrike that killed over 400 Also, Peshawar’s Arbab Niaz Stadium, now renamed Imran Khan Stadium, which is located roughly 40 to 50 kilometres away from the Afghanistan border, will host two PSL games for the first time on Saturday (Mar 28). Among the Australian players travelling to Pakistan for PSL 2026 are Smith, Warner, Adam Zampa, Peter Siddle, Aaron Hardie, Marnus Labuschagne, Ashton Turner, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Josh Philippe, Riley Meredith and Ben McDermott, among others. Meanwhile, a PCB source close to the information has dismissed all reports of Australia being dicey over sending its players to Pakistan for PSL 2026 over raging West Asia conflict and one involving against Afghanistan, saying, "All travel arrangements and plans are in place, and we will have all the Australian players who have signed for the PSL 11 start arriving from next week.” PSL 2026 will take place from March 26 to May 3.

The PCB details emergency evacuation plans for PSL 2026 as the Pakistan-Afghanistan conflict intensifies. With 400 dead in a Kabul airstrike and Australia issuing a 'Do Not Travel' alert for Peshawar, find out how the board plans to protect stars like Steve Smith and David Warner."

‘Private jets on standby,’ PCB details evacuation plan for players in PSL 2026 amid PAK-AFG war

England Test number three, Ollie Pope, addressed the elephant in the room during Surrey’s pre-season media day. Months after England conceded the away Ashes (1-4) to Australia, Pope detailed the ‘misconception’ of his team’s lack of will to perform and win, doubled up with several allegations that made it tough for everyone to comprehend. England lost the Ashes Down Under, with the ECB taking stern steps, including launching a review, scrutinising planning, preparation, individual performances and player conduct.&nbsp;In addition to the embarrassing scoreline, concerns about the dressing room culture during the Noosa break, where reports of excessive drinking by players made headlines. The shocking revelation of the team vice-captain, Harry Brook, being involved in an altercation outside the Wellington pub earlier, made things worse. &nbsp;Pope, however, insists England were fully focused on regaining the Ashes and might have been more successful had they cemented an encouraging start to the first Test in Perth.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/very-different-to-anything-else-liam-livingstone-eyes-ipl-2026-with-srh-fallen-relationship-england-coaches-robert-key-brendon-mccullum-1773674089865">‘Very different to anything else’: Liam Livingstone eyes ‘blockbuster’ IPL 2026 with SRH</a>&nbsp;"Going into that series, there was a lot spoken about the preparation of it," Pope told reporters on Tuesday (Mar 17). "As a team, the misconception might be that we weren't as fussed as it came across."&nbsp;The 28-year-old, speaking at county side Surrey's media day, added: "The tough thing for everyone in that first game (Test) was the nature of it. Had we won that, and we'd done slightly better on day two, the idea is different.&nbsp;"Of course, we want to be a well-liked team, on and off the pitch, and unfortunately, our performance didn't allow that to happen in Australia.<h3>‘Take the pressure off’</h3>"I can understand why people felt that way, but at the same time, the perception that we weren't fussed was probably the hard thing. All we wanted to do was go and win the Ashes...All anyone wanted to do was to win.&nbsp;"And for us at times it was just trying to, in our minds, take the pressure off the actual Test match."&nbsp;Even before the trip started, questions were raised about a lack of preparation in Australian conditions, which consisted of a three-day match against the second-string England Lions at Lilac Hill in Perth.&nbsp;"As we've done over the previous years, we tried to treat it like a normal series to get the best out of ourselves," said Pope. “Unfortunately, it didn't quite go to plan.” He added, “I know what I need to be as ready as I can be. From a personal point, I felt as ready as I could have been for that first Test.”&nbsp;Pope was dropped after the third Test after averaging only 20.83 runs across the first three games, with replacement Jacob Bethell going on to score a century in the fifth Test at Sydney. But Pope insisted he was determined to regain his England place, saying: “I still feel like my best batting years are to come.” The Surrey batsman was speaking after the England and Wales Cricket Board went back on a plan to stop its Ashes players speaking to the media ahead of the new county season while it conducts its review.&nbsp;(With inputs from AFP)

Ollie Pope breaks his silence on England’s disastrous 1-4 Ashes loss, hitting back at claims the squad "wasn't fussed" about the result. Speaking at Surrey’s media day, the batter defends the team's culture amidst the Noosa drinking controversy and an ongoing ECB review.

England Test number three, Ollie Pope, addressed the elephant in the room during Surrey’s pre-season media day. Months after England conceded the away Ashes (1-4) to Australia, Pope detailed the ‘misconception’ of his team’s lack of will to perform and win, doubled up with several allegations that made it tough for everyone to comprehend. England lost the Ashes Down Under, with the ECB taking stern steps, including launching a review, scrutinising planning, preparation, individual performances and player conduct. In addition to the embarrassing scoreline, concerns about the dressing room culture during the Noosa break, where reports of excessive drinking by players made headlines. The shocking revelation of the team vice-captain, Harry Brook, being involved in an altercation outside the Wellington pub earlier, made things worse. Pope, however, insists England were fully focused on regaining the Ashes and might have been more successful had they cemented an encouraging start to the first Test in Perth. Also read | ‘Very different to anything else’: Liam Livingstone eyes ‘blockbuster’ IPL 2026 with SRH "Going into that series, there was a lot spoken about the preparation of it," Pope told reporters on Tuesday (Mar 17). "As a team, the misconception might be that we weren't as fussed as it came across." The 28-year-old, speaking at county side Surrey's media day, added: "The tough thing for everyone in that first game (Test) was the nature of it. Had we won that, and we'd done slightly better on day two, the idea is different. "Of course, we want to be a well-liked team, on and off the pitch, and unfortunately, our performance didn't allow that to happen in Australia. ‘Take the pressure off’ "I can understand why people felt that way, but at the same time, the perception that we weren't fussed was probably the hard thing. All we wanted to do was go and win the Ashes...All anyone wanted to do was to win. "And for us at times it was just trying to, in our minds, take the pressure off the actual Test match." Even before the trip started, questions were raised about a lack of preparation in Australian conditions, which consisted of a three-day match against the second-string England Lions at Lilac Hill in Perth. "As we've done over the previous years, we tried to treat it like a normal series to get the best out of ourselves," said Pope. “Unfortunately, it didn't quite go to plan.” He added, “I know what I need to be as ready as I can be. From a personal point, I felt as ready as I could have been for that first Test.” Pope was dropped after the third Test after averaging only 20.83 runs across the first three games, with replacement Jacob Bethell going on to score a century in the fifth Test at Sydney. But Pope insisted he was determined to regain his England place, saying: “I still feel like my best batting years are to come.” The Surrey batsman was speaking after the England and Wales Cricket Board went back on a plan to stop its Ashes players speaking to the media ahead of the new county season while it conducts its review. (With inputs from AFP)

Ollie Pope breaks his silence on England’s disastrous 1-4 Ashes loss, hitting back at claims the squad "wasn't fussed" about the result. Speaking at Surrey’s media day, the batter defends the team's culture amidst the Noosa drinking controversy and an ongoing ECB review.

‘All we wanted was to win’: Ollie Pope defends England’s culture after 1-4 Ashes drubbing

India captain Harmanpreet Kaur has climbed to seventh place in the latest women’s ODI batting rankings announced on Tuesday (Mar 17) and her teammate and vice-captain Smriti Mandhana continues to stay at number one. Harmanpreet moved up after New Zealand’s Sophie Devine dropped two spots to ninth, while middle-order batter Jemimah Rodrigues remains unchanged at 12th position. New Zealand batter Maddy Green improved her ranking after scoring 94 runs in the final match of the ICC Women’s Championship series against Zimbabwe and her quick 73-ball innings in Dunedin helped her team win by 200 runs and complete a 3-0 series sweep. This performance moved her up five places to 17th among batters.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/afg-speedster-naveen-ul-haq-compares-pakistan-with-israel-after-kabul-airstrike-that-killed-over-400-1773746255741">AFG speedster Naveen-ul-Haq compares Pakistan with Israel after Kabul airstrike that killed over 400</a>&nbsp;All-rounder Amelia Kerr also made progress and moved from 21st to joint-19th in the rankings. In the final ODI, she scored 80 runs and took five wickets for 22 runs, earning the Player of the Match award.&nbsp;&nbsp;Isabelle Gaze (up three places to 61st) is another New Zealander moving up the batting rankings, while seam bowlers Rosemary Mair (up seven places to 58th) and Bree Illing (up five places to 79th) made progress in the bowling rankings.&nbsp;In T20 Internationals batting rankings, Kerr reached her best-ever rating of 694 points (eight) after scoring 78 runs off 44 balls against South Africa in Mount Maunganui. She also kept her eighth place in the bowling rankings.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/is-ms-dhoni-role-in-csk-unjustified-ab-de-villiers-sparks-debate-as-pujara-backs-thala-to-turn-games-around-in-ipl-2026-news-chennai-super-kings-1773752490757">Is Dhoni’s CSK role ‘unjustified’? ABD sparks debate as Pujara backs 'Thala' to turn games around in IPL 2026</a>&nbsp;In the bowling rankings, Jess Kerr’s figures of two for 13 helped her climb 11 places to 23rd, while Sophie Devine’s career-best four for 12 advanced her from 104th to 79th position.&nbsp;With inputs from agencies

The Indian captain gained a spot in the batter rankings after New Zealand’s Sophie Devine slipped two places to ninth.

India captain Harmanpreet Kaur has climbed to seventh place in the latest women’s ODI batting rankings announced on Tuesday (Mar 17) and her teammate and vice-captain Smriti Mandhana continues to stay at number one. Harmanpreet moved up after New Zealand’s Sophie Devine dropped two spots to ninth, while middle-order batter Jemimah Rodrigues remains unchanged at 12th position. New Zealand batter Maddy Green improved her ranking after scoring 94 runs in the final match of the ICC Women’s Championship series against Zimbabwe and her quick 73-ball innings in Dunedin helped her team win by 200 runs and complete a 3-0 series sweep. This performance moved her up five places to 17th among batters. Also Read - AFG speedster Naveen-ul-Haq compares Pakistan with Israel after Kabul airstrike that killed over 400 All-rounder Amelia Kerr also made progress and moved from 21st to joint-19th in the rankings. In the final ODI, she scored 80 runs and took five wickets for 22 runs, earning the Player of the Match award. Isabelle Gaze (up three places to 61st) is another New Zealander moving up the batting rankings, while seam bowlers Rosemary Mair (up seven places to 58th) and Bree Illing (up five places to 79th) made progress in the bowling rankings. In T20 Internationals batting rankings, Kerr reached her best-ever rating of 694 points (eight) after scoring 78 runs off 44 balls against South Africa in Mount Maunganui. She also kept her eighth place in the bowling rankings. Also Read - Is Dhoni’s CSK role ‘unjustified’? ABD sparks debate as Pujara backs 'Thala' to turn games around in IPL 2026 In the bowling rankings, Jess Kerr’s figures of two for 13 helped her climb 11 places to 23rd, while Sophie Devine’s career-best four for 12 advanced her from 104th to 79th position. With inputs from agencies

The Indian captain gained a spot in the batter rankings after New Zealand’s Sophie Devine slipped two places to ninth.

ICC Women’s ODI Rankings: Harmanpreet climbs to seventh, Mandhana stays at top

MS Dhoni is a CSK veteran, a five-time IPL-winning captain, let alone considering his countless accolades as batter, skipper and wicketkeeper. However, as time and life have it, good things come to an end, and sooner or later, his decorated IPL career would also. But as long as he is around, he is untouchable in the team. Or is he? Former cricket giants AB de Villiers and Cheteshwar Pujara shared alternative views on Dhoni’s role in the current CSK setup. While ABD calls it wrong on Dhoni’s part to not contribute enough with the bat, Pujara hails ‘Thala’ for still having it in him to change the game’s course in IPL 2026.&nbsp;Since signing Sanju Samson ahead of this season, CSK has invested in Dhoni’s potential replacement for seasons to come, with the recently-crowned T20 World Cup winner ticking all the boxes the management was seeking.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/suryakumar-yadav-credits-his-wife-devisha-for-career-turnaround-reveals-one-chat-that-changed-everything-t20-world-cup-2026-ipl-journey-kkr-to-mi-1773748224041">‘Wife is always right!’ SKY credits partner for career turnaround; reveals 'one chat' that changed everything</a> &nbsp;As Samson is sure to open from this edition onwards, questions are raised around MS Dhoni’s role in the team. Although he remains the first-choice wicketkeeper and an unsaid leader of the pack on the field, choosing to come at number eight or even nine sometimes, as he has done earlier, diminishes his x-factor as a batter. &nbsp; &nbsp;“If he is going to play the role of batting at No. 8 or No. 9, and not really captaining, then I just feel it’s almost making up a spot and just almost there for the wrong reasons. It’s not the individual that goes on to win a trophy; it ultimately ends up being a team performance. I do feel that Ruturaj Gaikwad and Sanju are the perfect players to take over from MS,” AB de Villiers said during a Star Sports chat.<h3>Pujara differs, backs Mahi to deliver with bat</h3>Cheteshwar Pujara, however, partially differed with de Villiers’ opinion. While he echoed similar worries (around Dhoni’s batting position), Pujara believes that with the potential that he has, Dhoni can change the course of a game single-handedly.&nbsp; &nbsp;“I don’t see a point in MS Dhoni batting at No. 8 or 9, because he has the potential to turn games around single-handedly, something no other batter in the CSK team can do. If he bats for only five or ten balls, imagine what Mahi bhai can do if he plays 25 or 30 balls,” Pujara said on JioStar. &nbsp;Meanwhile, Ruturaj Gaikwad-led CSK will open its campaign against Rajasthan Royals in an away clash on Sunday (Mar 29) in Guwahati.&nbsp;

"Is MS Dhoni just 'making up a spot'?" AB de Villiers questions Thala’s role at CSK following the blockbuster arrival of Sanju Samson. While ABD calls his No. 8 position "unjustified," Cheteshwar Pujara insists Mahi can still turn games on his head. Inside the debate of IPL 2026.

MS Dhoni is a CSK veteran, a five-time IPL-winning captain, let alone considering his countless accolades as batter, skipper and wicketkeeper. However, as time and life have it, good things come to an end, and sooner or later, his decorated IPL career would also. But as long as he is around, he is untouchable in the team. Or is he? Former cricket giants AB de Villiers and Cheteshwar Pujara shared alternative views on Dhoni’s role in the current CSK setup. While ABD calls it wrong on Dhoni’s part to not contribute enough with the bat, Pujara hails ‘Thala’ for still having it in him to change the game’s course in IPL 2026. Since signing Sanju Samson ahead of this season, CSK has invested in Dhoni’s potential replacement for seasons to come, with the recently-crowned T20 World Cup winner ticking all the boxes the management was seeking. Also read | ‘Wife is always right!’ SKY credits partner for career turnaround; reveals 'one chat' that changed everything As Samson is sure to open from this edition onwards, questions are raised around MS Dhoni’s role in the team. Although he remains the first-choice wicketkeeper and an unsaid leader of the pack on the field, choosing to come at number eight or even nine sometimes, as he has done earlier, diminishes his x-factor as a batter. “If he is going to play the role of batting at No. 8 or No. 9, and not really captaining, then I just feel it’s almost making up a spot and just almost there for the wrong reasons. It’s not the individual that goes on to win a trophy; it ultimately ends up being a team performance. I do feel that Ruturaj Gaikwad and Sanju are the perfect players to take over from MS,” AB de Villiers said during a Star Sports chat. Pujara differs, backs Mahi to deliver with bat Cheteshwar Pujara, however, partially differed with de Villiers’ opinion. While he echoed similar worries (around Dhoni’s batting position), Pujara believes that with the potential that he has, Dhoni can change the course of a game single-handedly. “I don’t see a point in MS Dhoni batting at No. 8 or 9, because he has the potential to turn games around single-handedly, something no other batter in the CSK team can do. If he bats for only five or ten balls, imagine what Mahi bhai can do if he plays 25 or 30 balls,” Pujara said on JioStar. Meanwhile, Ruturaj Gaikwad-led CSK will open its campaign against Rajasthan Royals in an away clash on Sunday (Mar 29) in Guwahati.

"Is MS Dhoni just 'making up a spot'?" AB de Villiers questions Thala’s role at CSK following the blockbuster arrival of Sanju Samson. While ABD calls his No. 8 position "unjustified," Cheteshwar Pujara insists Mahi can still turn games on his head. Inside the debate of IPL 2026.

Is Dhoni’s CSK role ‘unjustified’? ABD sparks debate as Pujara backs 'Thala' to turn games around in IPL 2026

Hours after a deadly airstrike by Pakistan’s military in Kabul on Monday night reportedly claimed the lives of over 400 Afghans, Afghanistan cricketer Naveen-ul-Haq took to Facebook to share his reaction. He said the strike on a drug rehabilitation centre reminded him of Israel’s attacks on Gaza, adding that he sees almost no difference between the two situations.&nbsp;“Hard to find any difference between Israel and Pakistani regime period," said Naveen, who was part of Afghanistan’s 2023 ODI World Cup and 2024 T20 World Cup squads.&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Naveen Ul Haq’s Facebook post. <a href="https://t.co/hjJlh0GrwX">pic.twitter.com/hjJlh0GrwX</a>&mdash; Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) <a href="https://twitter.com/mufaddal_vohra/status/2033739208645611718?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 17, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Apart from Naveen, other Afghan cricketers, including Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi and Azmatullah Omarzai, also criticised Pakistan and expressed grief over the deaths of innocent civilians.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/nz-vs-sa-2nd-t20i-hamilton-devon-conway-comes-good-with-bat-as-new-zealand-crush-proteas-to-level-t20i-series-1773744613341">Conway comes good with bat as New Zealand crush Proteas to level T20I series</a>&nbsp;“I am deeply saddened by the latest reports of civilian casualties as a result of Pakistani airstrikes in Kabul. Targeting civilian homes, educational facilities or medical infrastructure, either intentional or by mistake, is a war crime. The sheer disregard for human lives, especially during the holy month of Ramadan, is sickening and deeply concerning. It will only fuel division and hatred. I call upon the UN and other human rights agencies to thoroughly investigate this latest atrocity and hold the perpetrators to account. I stand with my Afghan people in this difficult time. We shall heal, and we will rise as a nation. We always do. Inshallah !," Rashid tweeted.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">I am deeply saddened by the latest reports of civilian casualties as a result of Pakistani airstrikes in Kabul. Targeting civilian homes, educational facilities or medical infrastructure, either intentional or by mistake, is a war crime. The sheer disregard for human lives,… <a href="https://t.co/DbFRRh2qAJ">pic.twitter.com/DbFRRh2qAJ</a>&mdash; Rashid Khan (@rashidkhan_19) <a href="https://twitter.com/rashidkhan_19/status/2033682054039408703?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Azmatullah Omarzai said his thoughts are with the families who lost loved ones in Kabul and that he hopes for justice and peace.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/suryakumar-yadav-credits-his-wife-devisha-for-career-turnaround-reveals-one-chat-that-changed-everything-t20-world-cup-2026-ipl-journey-kkr-to-mi-1773748224041">‘Wife is always right!’ SKY credits partner for career turnaround; reveals 'one chat' that changed everything</a>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Earlier tonight we heard a powerful explosion here in Kabul. Soon after, flames rose into the sky from a hospital struck in Pakistani airstrikes. In the month of Ramadan, after people had opened their fasts, innocent lives were lost and many others wounded. My heart is with…&mdash; Azmatullah Omarzai (@AzmatOmarzay) <a href="https://twitter.com/AzmatOmarzay/status/2033698375049023620?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 17, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Mohammad Nabi also condemned the attack, saying, "Tonight in Kabul, hope was extinguished at a hospital. Young men seeking treatment were murdered in a bombing by the Pakistani military regime. Mothers waited at the gates, calling their sons’ names. On the 28th night of Ramadan, their lives were cut short."

Afghanistan pacer Naveen-ul-Haq hit out at Pakistan after a deadly Kabul airstrike reportedly killed 400 people. Here's what he said

Hours after a deadly airstrike by Pakistan’s military in Kabul on Monday night reportedly claimed the lives of over 400 Afghans, Afghanistan cricketer Naveen-ul-Haq took to Facebook to share his reaction. He said the strike on a drug rehabilitation centre reminded him of Israel’s attacks on Gaza, adding that he sees almost no difference between the two situations. “Hard to find any difference between Israel and Pakistani regime period," said Naveen, who was part of Afghanistan’s 2023 ODI World Cup and 2024 T20 World Cup squads.

Afghanistan pacer Naveen-ul-Haq hit out at Pakistan after a deadly Kabul airstrike reportedly killed 400 people. Here's what he said

AFG speedster Naveen-ul-Haq compares Pakistan with Israel after Kabul airstrike that killed over 400

Wife is always right! Most readers would agree, and those who don’t are either not married or enjoy disagreeing for fun. Even Team India’s T20 World Cup-winning captain Suryakumar Yadav says so, let alone just agreeing to it. For someone who emerged late on the international scene, 11 years after his domestic debut, precisely, his partner’s role played a massive hand in shaping who he is today. A genuine team player and a likeable leader, SKY credits his wife, Devisha, 100% for her advice, not on cricket, but about life, which SKY is grateful for, especially after winning back-to-back T20 World Cups.&nbsp;India lifted its third T20 World Cup by beating New Zealand in a one-sided final in Ahmedabad early this month, and the winning captain, Suryakumar, was among several players who won it successively. Having earlier tasted success under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy in 2024 in the Americas, SKY repeated the heroics, with a younger and more passionate side.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/telangana-cm-revanth-reddy-honours-tilak-varma-following-t20-world-cup-triumph-1773733250053">Telangana CM Revanth Reddy honours Tilak Varma following T20 World Cup triumph</a> &nbsp;When asked about the difference between the two victorious teams, SKY explained, "There were just minor differences between the two teams. That was an experienced team, and very committed. This team is passionate. This year, I can say that we had less experience but more enthusiasm. All the guys are 25 to 27 years old [actually, ten of the 15 players in the side that won the tournament were over 27, and nine were over 30]. &nbsp;"It was necessary to explain to them how it feels to win a World Cup in India, when people will cheer so much for you, 50,000 people, a lakh people, in the stadium,” SKY said in a chat with PTI.<h3>Wife’s role in his success</h3>A credible T20 batter, a two-time T20 World Cup winner and having as many IPL titles to his name (with the Mumbai Indians since switching teams in 2018), SKY has a decorated career in cricket, let alone considering his T20 milestones across franchise leagues and for India. &nbsp;Although SKY's coaches, teammates and everyone in the setup pushed him to succeed on the field, his wife kept him motivated. During the chat, he revealed that one conversation he had with his wife that flipped his career for good.&nbsp; &nbsp;"We got married in 2016 when I was still playing for KKR [Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL]. Everything was going very smooth. I was playing well, enjoying, and she looked at my journey and my routines till 2018 when I joined the Mumbai Indians [MI]," Suryakumar said. "I think we started doing things a little differently [after that]. She told me that all those who played with you in the age group, a lot of them are now playing for India. What do you have in mind? I said I wanted to play for India too. 'How do you plan to do it?' she asked.&nbsp; &nbsp;"It was a nice little conversation with her, not an argument but a discussion. But yes, it was a discussion about how can you take one extra step forward in your endeavour. If I want to play for India and want to win games for India, how do I do it?"&nbsp; &nbsp;Crediting his wife for his success today, SKY said, "She [Devisha] has been a big influence behind the scenes in telling me honest things. If it is your partner, she will always be honest because all she would want is your growth, because if you want to grow together, conversations have to be honest. At times, it has been brutal, too, but then it has been good. If I am where I am today, those conversations have gone a long way.&nbsp; &nbsp;"I give her 100% credit because it is not that she gave me cricketing advice, but she told me a lot of things related to life. What do I do? How to approach a certain situation? How do I carry myself?” he added. &nbsp;Meanwhile, SKY will be in action for the Mumbai Indians in IPL 2026, starting March 28.

"Wife is always right!" India’s T20 World Cup-winning captain Suryakumar Yadav opens up about the "brutal" but life-changing conversation with his wife, Devisha, that flipped his career. From KKR's struggles to back-to-back World Cup glory, discover the secret behind SKY's rise.

Wife is always right! Most readers would agree, and those who don’t are either not married or enjoy disagreeing for fun. Even Team India’s T20 World Cup-winning captain Suryakumar Yadav says so, let alone just agreeing to it. For someone who emerged late on the international scene, 11 years after his domestic debut, precisely, his partner’s role played a massive hand in shaping who he is today. A genuine team player and a likeable leader, SKY credits his wife, Devisha, 100% for her advice, not on cricket, but about life, which SKY is grateful for, especially after winning back-to-back T20 World Cups. India lifted its third T20 World Cup by beating New Zealand in a one-sided final in Ahmedabad early this month, and the winning captain, Suryakumar, was among several players who won it successively. Having earlier tasted success under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy in 2024 in the Americas, SKY repeated the heroics, with a younger and more passionate side. Also read | Telangana CM Revanth Reddy honours Tilak Varma following T20 World Cup triumph When asked about the difference between the two victorious teams, SKY explained, "There were just minor differences between the two teams. That was an experienced team, and very committed. This team is passionate. This year, I can say that we had less experience but more enthusiasm. All the guys are 25 to 27 years old [actually, ten of the 15 players in the side that won the tournament were over 27, and nine were over 30]. "It was necessary to explain to them how it feels to win a World Cup in India, when people will cheer so much for you, 50,000 people, a lakh people, in the stadium,” SKY said in a chat with PTI. Wife’s role in his success A credible T20 batter, a two-time T20 World Cup winner and having as many IPL titles to his name (with the Mumbai Indians since switching teams in 2018), SKY has a decorated career in cricket, let alone considering his T20 milestones across franchise leagues and for India. Although SKY's coaches, teammates and everyone in the setup pushed him to succeed on the field, his wife kept him motivated. During the chat, he revealed that one conversation he had with his wife that flipped his career for good. "We got married in 2016 when I was still playing for KKR [Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL]. Everything was going very smooth. I was playing well, enjoying, and she looked at my journey and my routines till 2018 when I joined the Mumbai Indians [MI]," Suryakumar said. "I think we started doing things a little differently [after that]. She told me that all those who played with you in the age group, a lot of them are now playing for India. What do you have in mind? I said I wanted to play for India too. 'How do you plan to do it?' she asked. "It was a nice little conversation with her, not an argument but a discussion. But yes, it was a discussion about how can you take one extra step forward in your endeavour. If I want to play for India and want to win games for India, how do I do it?" Crediting his wife for his success today, SKY said, "She [Devisha] has been a big influence behind the scenes in telling me honest things. If it is your partner, she will always be honest because all she would want is your growth, because if you want to grow together, conversations have to be honest. At times, it has been brutal, too, but then it has been good. If I am where I am today, those conversations have gone a long way. "I give her 100% credit because it is not that she gave me cricketing advice, but she told me a lot of things related to life. What do I do? How to approach a certain situation? How do I carry myself?” he added. Meanwhile, SKY will be in action for the Mumbai Indians in IPL 2026, starting March 28.

"Wife is always right!" India’s T20 World Cup-winning captain Suryakumar Yadav opens up about the "brutal" but life-changing conversation with his wife, Devisha, that flipped his career. From KKR's struggles to back-to-back World Cup glory, discover the secret behind SKY's rise.

‘Wife is always right!’ SKY credits partner for career turnaround; reveals 'one chat' that changed everything

New Zealand opener Devon Conway smashed a fifty in the first innings, with handy contributions from seamers Ben Sears and Lockie Ferguson guiding the Kiwis to a thumping 68-run win over South Africa in the second T20I on Tuesday (Mar 17). After being sent out to bat first, New Zealand hammered 175 for six, thanks to a gritty 60 off 49 from Conway, and a late blitz from the lower order at Hamilton’s Seddon Park. The quicks dismissed the Proteas for 107 inside 16 overs, with Sears and Ferguson returning with three wickets each.&nbsp;Earlier, South Africa won game one in Mount Maunganui on Sunday by seven wickets.&nbsp;The two teams are fielding their second-string line-ups, choosing to rest their first-team players following a month-long T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/-no-one-cares-about-you-england-all-rounder-livingstone-drops-bombshell-review-of-mccullum-era-1773719325523">'No one cares about you': England all-rounder Livingstone drops bombshell review of McCullum era</a>&nbsp;Meanwhile, Conway produced the most important innings of the game easily, smashing five fours and two sixes. The South African-born left-hander played with controlled aggression as wickets fell around him to reach his 13th half-century in the format. Conway was delighted to contribute after being an unused squad member throughout the World Cup.&nbsp;"It has been a very quiet couple of months for me, going over to India and not featuring at the World Cup," he said. "It's been nice to come back and play and be able to contribute for the boys and the group."&nbsp;Josh Clarkson raced to 26 not out at the death while allrounder Wiaan Mulder took 2-14.&nbsp;Mulder's addition was the only change to South Africa's team from the previous match, replacing Jordan Hermann, who was ruled out for the remainder of the series with a hamstring injury.&nbsp;The tourists never recovered from 31-3, and four wickets fell for three runs late in the chase, before George Linde added some respectability by top-scoring with 33.&nbsp;The third T20I between New Zealand and South Africa will take place in Auckland on Friday.&nbsp;(With inputs from AFP)

Devon Conway’s gritty 60 and a dominant bowling display from Ben Sears and Lockie Ferguson led New Zealand to a 68-run victory over South Africa at Seddon Park. The series is levelled 1-1 heading into the Auckland decider. Read the full match report here.

New Zealand opener Devon Conway smashed a fifty in the first innings, with handy contributions from seamers Ben Sears and Lockie Ferguson guiding the Kiwis to a thumping 68-run win over South Africa in the second T20I on Tuesday (Mar 17). After being sent out to bat first, New Zealand hammered 175 for six, thanks to a gritty 60 off 49 from Conway, and a late blitz from the lower order at Hamilton’s Seddon Park. The quicks dismissed the Proteas for 107 inside 16 overs, with Sears and Ferguson returning with three wickets each. Earlier, South Africa won game one in Mount Maunganui on Sunday by seven wickets. The two teams are fielding their second-string line-ups, choosing to rest their first-team players following a month-long T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. Also read | 'No one cares about you': England all-rounder Livingstone drops bombshell review of McCullum era Meanwhile, Conway produced the most important innings of the game easily, smashing five fours and two sixes. The South African-born left-hander played with controlled aggression as wickets fell around him to reach his 13th half-century in the format. Conway was delighted to contribute after being an unused squad member throughout the World Cup. "It has been a very quiet couple of months for me, going over to India and not featuring at the World Cup," he said. "It's been nice to come back and play and be able to contribute for the boys and the group." Josh Clarkson raced to 26 not out at the death while allrounder Wiaan Mulder took 2-14. Mulder's addition was the only change to South Africa's team from the previous match, replacing Jordan Hermann, who was ruled out for the remainder of the series with a hamstring injury. The tourists never recovered from 31-3, and four wickets fell for three runs late in the chase, before George Linde added some respectability by top-scoring with 33. The third T20I between New Zealand and South Africa will take place in Auckland on Friday. (With inputs from AFP)

Devon Conway’s gritty 60 and a dominant bowling display from Ben Sears and Lockie Ferguson led New Zealand to a 68-run victory over South Africa at Seddon Park. The series is levelled 1-1 heading into the Auckland decider. Read the full match report here.

Conway comes good with bat as New Zealand crush Proteas to level T20I series

Australian pacers Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins are set to miss the start of the 2026 Indian Premier League as they continue to recover from injuries, according to Code Sports. Hazlewood, representing Royal Challengers Bengaluru, is struggling with hamstring and Achilles tendon issues. The 35-year-old is expected to miss at least the team’s first two matches, having not played competitive cricket for nearly five months since his last Sheffield Shield game for New South Wales.&nbsp;RCB acquired Hazlewood for INR 12.5 crore in the 2025 auction and he made a strong impact last season, claiming 22 wickets in 12 matches to help the team secure their first IPL title.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/telangana-cm-revanth-reddy-honours-tilak-varma-following-t20-world-cup-triumph-1773733250053">Telangana CM Revanth Reddy honours Tilak Varma following T20 World Cup triumph</a>&nbsp;On the other hand, Cummins, who leads Sunrisers Hyderabad, is recovering from a back injury. He will miss their first match against RCB on Mar 28 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Since it’s not clear when he will return, Ishan Kishan or Abhishek Sharma could captain SRH in their earlier matches, as both have leadership experience in domestic cricket.&nbsp;&nbsp;In the Indian Premier League, Cummins has featured in 72 matches and picked up 79 wickets. Across the last two seasons with SRH, he has picked up 34 wickets in 30 games.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/iran-trying-to-pull-a-pakistan-in-fifa-world-cup-2026-middle-eastern-country-negotiating-to-move-matches-outside-usa-1773727139996">Iran trying to pull a Pakistan in FIFA World Cup 2026? Middle Eastern country 'negotiating' to move matches outside USA</a>&nbsp;In Hazlewood’s absence, bowlers like Jacob Duffy or Nuwan Thushara may lead RCB’s pace attack. For Sunrisers Hyderabad, Cummins could be replaced by Brydon Carse or Ehsan Malinga in the first few matches.

Josh Hazlewood played a key role in helping Royal Challengers Bengaluru win their first IPL title last season, while Pat Cummins has guided Sunrisers Hyderabad as they set new standards in power-hitting in the league.

Australian pacers Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins are set to miss the start of the 2026 Indian Premier League as they continue to recover from injuries, according to Code Sports. Hazlewood, representing Royal Challengers Bengaluru, is struggling with hamstring and Achilles tendon issues. The 35-year-old is expected to miss at least the team’s first two matches, having not played competitive cricket for nearly five months since his last Sheffield Shield game for New South Wales. RCB acquired Hazlewood for INR 12.5 crore in the 2025 auction and he made a strong impact last season, claiming 22 wickets in 12 matches to help the team secure their first IPL title. Also Read - Telangana CM Revanth Reddy honours Tilak Varma following T20 World Cup triumph On the other hand, Cummins, who leads Sunrisers Hyderabad, is recovering from a back injury. He will miss their first match against RCB on Mar 28 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Since it’s not clear when he will return, Ishan Kishan or Abhishek Sharma could captain SRH in their earlier matches, as both have leadership experience in domestic cricket. In the Indian Premier League, Cummins has featured in 72 matches and picked up 79 wickets. Across the last two seasons with SRH, he has picked up 34 wickets in 30 games. Also Read - Iran trying to pull a Pakistan in FIFA World Cup 2026? Middle Eastern country 'negotiating' to move matches outside USA In Hazlewood’s absence, bowlers like Jacob Duffy or Nuwan Thushara may lead RCB’s pace attack. For Sunrisers Hyderabad, Cummins could be replaced by Brydon Carse or Ehsan Malinga in the first few matches.

Josh Hazlewood played a key role in helping Royal Challengers Bengaluru win their first IPL title last season, while Pat Cummins has guided Sunrisers Hyderabad as they set new standards in power-hitting in the league.

IPL 2026: Major setback for RCB and SRH as Aussie duo to miss early matches

US President Donald Trump, in a Truth Social post, again floated the idea of Venezuelan statehood for the US. Trump hinted that since his takeover of the country, there had been positive changes in the South American country. He was pointing out the victory of the Venezuelan Baseball team over Italy in the World Baseball Classic (WBC) semifinals on March 16, 2026. Trump then suggested, “STATEHOOD, #51, ANYONE?”"Wow! Venezuela defeated Italy tonight, 4-2, in the WBC (Baseball!) Semifinal," wrote Trump, “Good things are happening to Venezuela lately! I wonder what this magic is all about?”The remark follows the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, after Operation Absolute Resolve, in Venezuela, in the early hours of January 3, 2026. Maduro was then paraded through the city of New York before being placed on trial. The first hearing of the trial was on January 5, 2026, for Nacro terrorism charges. Both Maduro and Flores pleaded “not guilty”. Originally set for March 17, the second hearing was rescheduled to March 26. He is being represented by Barry Pollack, who also represented the journalist and whistleblower Julian Assange.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-iran-war-claims-former-presidents-deny-talks-1773725925327">No talks with Trump on Iran attack, say Clinton, Obama, Bush and Biden</a>

Venezuela will head for a matchup with the US in the final on Tuesday, March 17, at loanDepot Park in Miami. Both the US and Venezuela were among the favourites in the tournament. Venezuela dealt a huge upset in the tournament by defeating the Defending Champion Japan on its way to the final. A victory for Venezuela at the widely considered national sport of the US and favourite pastime of the country will serve as a sweet moment of redemption for the South American nation. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Donald Trump suggested Venezuela could become the 51st US state after its WBC win, amid ongoing US intervention and Nicolas Maduro’s trial.

US President Donald Trump, in a Truth Social post, again floated the idea of Venezuelan statehood for the US. Trump hinted that since his takeover of the country, there had been positive changes in the South American country. He was pointing out the victory of the Venezuelan Baseball team over Italy in the World Baseball Classic (WBC) semifinals on March 16, 2026. Trump then suggested, “STATEHOOD, #51, ANYONE?” "Wow! Venezuela defeated Italy tonight, 4-2, in the WBC (Baseball!) Semifinal," wrote Trump, “Good things are happening to Venezuela lately! I wonder what this magic is all about?” The remark follows the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, after Operation Absolute Resolve, in Venezuela, in the early hours of January 3, 2026. Maduro was then paraded through the city of New York before being placed on trial. The first hearing of the trial was on January 5, 2026, for Nacro terrorism charges. Both Maduro and Flores pleaded “not guilty”. Originally set for March 17, the second hearing was rescheduled to March 26. He is being represented by Barry Pollack, who also represented the journalist and whistleblower Julian Assange. Also Read: No talks with Trump on Iran attack, say Clinton, Obama, Bush and Biden

Donald Trump suggested Venezuela could become the 51st US state after its WBC win, amid ongoing US intervention and Nicolas Maduro’s trial.

‘Statehood #51?’: Trump’s sneaky Venezuela remark after WBC victory

India batter Tilak Varma was felicitated by Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy for his key role in India’s T20 World Cup 2026 victory. The ceremony took place in Hyderabad following the team’s historic title defence, making India the first side to win back-to-back T20 World Cups. Tilak scored 207 runs in nine matches at a strike rate of 154.47, contributing significantly to the team’s success. Sharing the moment on social media, Revanth Reddy praised Tilak and appreciated his efforts for the country.&nbsp;&nbsp;“On the occasion of the Indian team winning the T20 World Cup 2026 and arriving in Hyderabad, Team India player Shri Tilak Varma paid a courtesy visit,” Reddy wrote.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/iran-trying-to-pull-a-pakistan-in-fifa-world-cup-2026-middle-eastern-country-negotiating-to-move-matches-outside-usa-1773727139996">Iran trying to pull a Pakistan in FIFA World Cup 2026? Middle Eastern country 'negotiating' to move matches outside USA</a>&nbsp;“On this occasion, I felicitated and congratulated Tilak. In this program, ministers Shri Vakiti Srihari and Shri Azharuddin, Rajya Sabha member Shri Vem Narendra Reddy, SATG Chairman Shri Shivasena Reddy, and others participated,” he added.&nbsp;Looking ahead, Tilak Varma will now turn his focus to the IPL 2026 season, where he will represent Mumbai Indians alongside stars like Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya and Rohit Sharma. The franchise will begin their campaign against Kolkata Knight Riders on Mar 29 at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/f1-2026-mercedes-boss-wolff-blames-horrendous-to-drive-car-for-verstappen-s-horror-show-1773733178567">F1 2026: Mercedes boss Wolff blames 'horrendous to drive' car for Verstappen's horror show</a>&nbsp;After his impressive World Cup performance, Tilak will aim to carry his momentum into the IPL and continue his growth in international cricket.

After his impressive World Cup performance, Tilak will aim to carry his momentum into the IPL and continue his growth in international cricket.

India batter Tilak Varma was felicitated by Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy for his key role in India’s T20 World Cup 2026 victory. The ceremony took place in Hyderabad following the team’s historic title defence, making India the first side to win back-to-back T20 World Cups. Tilak scored 207 runs in nine matches at a strike rate of 154.47, contributing significantly to the team’s success. Sharing the moment on social media, Revanth Reddy praised Tilak and appreciated his efforts for the country. “On the occasion of the Indian team winning the T20 World Cup 2026 and arriving in Hyderabad, Team India player Shri Tilak Varma paid a courtesy visit,” Reddy wrote. Also Read - Iran trying to pull a Pakistan in FIFA World Cup 2026? Middle Eastern country 'negotiating' to move matches outside USA “On this occasion, I felicitated and congratulated Tilak. In this program, ministers Shri Vakiti Srihari and Shri Azharuddin, Rajya Sabha member Shri Vem Narendra Reddy, SATG Chairman Shri Shivasena Reddy, and others participated,” he added. Looking ahead, Tilak Varma will now turn his focus to the IPL 2026 season, where he will represent Mumbai Indians alongside stars like Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya and Rohit Sharma. The franchise will begin their campaign against Kolkata Knight Riders on Mar 29 at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Also Read - F1 2026: Mercedes boss Wolff blames 'horrendous to drive' car for Verstappen's horror show After his impressive World Cup performance, Tilak will aim to carry his momentum into the IPL and continue his growth in international cricket.

After his impressive World Cup performance, Tilak will aim to carry his momentum into the IPL and continue his growth in international cricket.

Telangana CM Revanth Reddy honours Tilak Varma following T20 World Cup triumph

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has blamed the Red Bull car for four-time world champion Max Verstappen's horror show in the ongoing Formula 1 2026 season. After finishing sixth in the season opener Australian Grand Prix on March 8, Verstappen failed to complete Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday (Mar 15). Mercedes, on the other hand, finished 1-2 in both races with Kimi Antonelli finishing first on the podium in the Chinese GP. Behind Mercedes, 7-time world champions Lewis Hamilton and his team partner Charles Leclerc finsihed 3-4 in both the races.<h2>Wolff blames car for Verstappen's horror in F1 2026</h2>"Max is really, I think, in a horror show," Wolff said about the Red Bull driver. “When you look at the onboard he has in qualifying, this is just horrendous to drive," opined Wolff on the Red Bull car this season. The comments came on the back of Verstappen's comments on the new F1 regulations, especially the 50-50 divide of internal combustion and battery-powered engine.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/kimi-antonelli-sets-record-as-f1-s-second-youngest-race-winner-1773580415113">Kimi Antonelli sets record as F1’s second-youngest race winner</a>"It’s terrible," Verstappen said about the current situation of F1. "If someone likes this, then you really don’t know what racing is like. Not fun at all. Playing Mario Kart. This is not racing and I would say the same if I would be winning races because I care about the racing product."<h2>How are the fans liking the new rules?</h2>The F1 leadership was expected to meet after the Chinese GP and bring changes, if required, in the ongoing rules. After the the race, however, the any changes look unlikely as fans did enjoy multiple takeovers during the race involving Mercedes and Ferrari."From an entertainment perspective, I believe what we’ve seen between Ferrari and Mercedes was good racing, many overtakes. We were all part of Formula One when there was no overtaking. Sometimes we’re too nostalgic about the good old years, but the product is good in itself. We saw quite some racing in the midfield also and that is the positive," Wolff said.

After finishing sixth in the season opener Australian Grand Prix on March 8, Verstappen failed to complete Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday (Mar 15). Mercedes, on the other hand, finished 1-2 in both races, while Ferrari finished 3-4.

Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has blamed the Red Bull car for four-time world champion Max Verstappen's horror show in the ongoing Formula 1 2026 season. After finishing sixth in the season opener Australian Grand Prix on March 8, Verstappen failed to complete Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday (Mar 15). Mercedes, on the other hand, finished 1-2 in both races with Kimi Antonelli finishing first on the podium in the Chinese GP. Behind Mercedes, 7-time world champions Lewis Hamilton and his team partner Charles Leclerc finsihed 3-4 in both the races. Wolff blames car for Verstappen's horror in F1 2026 "Max is really, I think, in a horror show," Wolff said about the Red Bull driver. “When you look at the onboard he has in qualifying, this is just horrendous to drive," opined Wolff on the Red Bull car this season. The comments came on the back of Verstappen's comments on the new F1 regulations, especially the 50-50 divide of internal combustion and battery-powered engine. Also Read - Kimi Antonelli sets record as F1’s second-youngest race winner "It’s terrible," Verstappen said about the current situation of F1. "If someone likes this, then you really don’t know what racing is like. Not fun at all. Playing Mario Kart. This is not racing and I would say the same if I would be winning races because I care about the racing product." How are the fans liking the new rules? The F1 leadership was expected to meet after the Chinese GP and bring changes, if required, in the ongoing rules. After the the race, however, the any changes look unlikely as fans did enjoy multiple takeovers during the race involving Mercedes and Ferrari. "From an entertainment perspective, I believe what we’ve seen between Ferrari and Mercedes was good racing, many overtakes. We were all part of Formula One when there was no overtaking. Sometimes we’re too nostalgic about the good old years, but the product is good in itself. We saw quite some racing in the midfield also and that is the positive," Wolff said.

After finishing sixth in the season opener Australian Grand Prix on March 8, Verstappen failed to complete Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday (Mar 15). Mercedes, on the other hand, finished 1-2 in both races, while Ferrari finished 3-4.

F1 2026: Mercedes boss Wolff blames 'horrendous to drive' car for Verstappen's horror show

Mumbai Indians star batter Rohit Sharma has sparked excitement among fans after a training video went viral before IPL 2026. In the clip, the former India captain is seen batting aggressively during a practice match in the nets. In one instance, Rohit tried a strong pull shot, but the ball took the top edge and went high in the air before being caught by a fielder, drawing reactions from teammates.&nbsp;The five-time champions started their IPL 2026 pre-season training on Monday, marking their first session ahead of the tournament. Head coach Mahela Jayawardene led the session, alongside bowling coaches Paras Mhambrey and Lasith Malinga, while fielding coach Carl Hopkinson was also present.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/iran-trying-to-pull-a-pakistan-in-fifa-world-cup-2026-middle-eastern-country-negotiating-to-move-matches-outside-usa-1773727139996">Iran trying to pull a Pakistan in FIFA World Cup 2026? Middle Eastern country 'negotiating' to move matches outside USA</a><h2>Watch the viral video</h2>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Rohit Sharma played a brilliant shot, but it hit the top edge so the ball went up and the fielder took the catch during the match simulation practice with Mumbai Indians yesterday. bRO is practicing with full intent and dedication before the IPL.💪🔥 <a href="https://t.co/M2XspGPFQX">pic.twitter.com/M2XspGPFQX</a>&mdash; 𝐑𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐢𝐢⁴⁵ (@rushiii_12) <a href="https://twitter.com/rushiii_12/status/2033581909906002008?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The first group of players to report to the camp included Shardul Thakur, Mayank Markande, Allah Ghazanfar, Naman Dhir, Raja Angad Bawa, Robin Minz, Raghu Sharma, Mayank Rawat, Danish Malewar, Mohammad Izhar and Ashwani Kumar. The rest of the squad is expected to join the training camp over the next few days.&nbsp;Mumbai Indians will play their first match of IPL 2026 against Kolkata Knight Riders on Mar 29 at the Wankhede Stadium.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/former-aussie-no-1-tennis-player-matosevic-calls-itia-corrupt-gets-four-year-ban-six-weeks-later-on-doping-charges-1773723987196">Ex-Aussie no. 1 tennis player calls ITIA corrupt, gets banned for 4 years</a>&nbsp;In IPL 2025, Rohit Sharma played a key role as Mumbai Indians reached the playoffs. After stepping down as captain, he played under Hardik Pandya and was often used as an Impact Player. He finished the season with 418 runs in 15 matches.&nbsp;Rohit also reached a big milestone by becoming only the second player to score 6,000 runs in the IPL. Fans now hope that he continues this form in IPL 2026.

Mumbai Indians will play their first match of IPL 2026 against Kolkata Knight Riders on Mar 29 at the Wankhede Stadium.

Mumbai Indians star batter Rohit Sharma has sparked excitement among fans after a training video went viral before IPL 2026. In the clip, the former India captain is seen batting aggressively during a practice match in the nets. In one instance, Rohit tried a strong pull shot, but the ball took the top edge and went high in the air before being caught by a fielder, drawing reactions from teammates. The five-time champions started their IPL 2026 pre-season training on Monday, marking their first session ahead of the tournament. Head coach Mahela Jayawardene led the session, alongside bowling coaches Paras Mhambrey and Lasith Malinga, while fielding coach Carl Hopkinson was also present. Also Read - Iran trying to pull a Pakistan in FIFA World Cup 2026? Middle Eastern country 'negotiating' to move matches outside USA Watch the viral video

Mumbai Indians will play their first match of IPL 2026 against Kolkata Knight Riders on Mar 29 at the Wankhede Stadium.

WATCH: Rohit Sharma gears up in nets ahead of IPL 2026

After US President Donald Trump warned Iran to come to the US for the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026 at 'their own risk', the Middle Eastern country is negotiating with the FIFA to move first round matches out of the USA. Iran is scheduled to play its Group G matches against New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles before facing Egypt in Seattle. Iran's statement came amid the country's uncertainty over particiapting in the upcoming FIFA tournament because of ongoing US-Israel-Iran war. The FIFA World Cup 2026 is being co-hosted by the USA, Mexico, and Canada from Jun 11 to Jul 19.<h2>Iran to play its FIFA World Cup 2026 maches outside USA?</h2>"When (US President Donald) Trump has explicitly stated that he cannot ensure the security of the Iranian national team, we will certainly not travel to America," Iranian football chief Mehdi Taj said via the country's Mexican embassy X account. "We are currently negotiating with FIFA to hold Iran’s matches in the World Cup in Mexico," he added.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/afc-general-secretary-iran-still-slated-for-fifa-world-cup-2026-participation-despite-withdrawal-rumors-us-president-donald-trump-iran-israel-war-usa-1773648150617">AFC: Iran still slated for World Cup participation despite withdrawal rumours</a>Earlier, Mehdi had claimed that it is diffcult for 'Iran to participate' in the FIFA event, given in the ongoing geopolitical situation. FIFA chief Gianni Infantino, on question of Iran playing the World Cup matches in the USA, had said that Trump assured him of 'welcoming' Iran in the USA.Shortly after Trump said that Iran is 'welcome' to play the FIFA World Cup 2026 but 'should come to the USA at own risk.'<h2>Iran's schedule in FIFA World Cup 2026</h2>Iran is placed in Group G of the 48-team event along with Belgium, New Zealand, and Egypt. The Middle Eastern country starts the FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign on June 15 vs New Zealand at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, California. Iran next plays Belgium on June 21 at the same venue before facing Egypt in the last group-stage match on June 26 at Lume Field in Seattle, Washington.

Earlier, Mehdi had claimed that it is diffcult for 'Iran to participate' in the FIFA event, given in the ongoing geopolitical situation. FIFA chief Gianni Infantino, on question of Iran playing the World Cup matches in the USA, had said that Trump assured him of 'welcoming' Iran in the USA.

After US President Donald Trump warned Iran to come to the US for the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026 at 'their own risk', the Middle Eastern country is negotiating with the FIFA to move first round matches out of the USA. Iran is scheduled to play its Group G matches against New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles before facing Egypt in Seattle. Iran's statement came amid the country's uncertainty over particiapting in the upcoming FIFA tournament because of ongoing US-Israel-Iran war. The FIFA World Cup 2026 is being co-hosted by the USA, Mexico, and Canada from Jun 11 to Jul 19. Iran to play its FIFA World Cup 2026 maches outside USA? "When (US President Donald) Trump has explicitly stated that he cannot ensure the security of the Iranian national team, we will certainly not travel to America," Iranian football chief Mehdi Taj said via the country's Mexican embassy X account. "We are currently negotiating with FIFA to hold Iran’s matches in the World Cup in Mexico," he added. Also Read - AFC: Iran still slated for World Cup participation despite withdrawal rumours Earlier, Mehdi had claimed that it is diffcult for 'Iran to participate' in the FIFA event, given in the ongoing geopolitical situation. FIFA chief Gianni Infantino, on question of Iran playing the World Cup matches in the USA, had said that Trump assured him of 'welcoming' Iran in the USA. Shortly after Trump said that Iran is 'welcome' to play the FIFA World Cup 2026 but 'should come to the USA at own risk.' Iran's schedule in FIFA World Cup 2026 Iran is placed in Group G of the 48-team event along with Belgium, New Zealand, and Egypt. The Middle Eastern country starts the FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign on June 15 vs New Zealand at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, California. Iran next plays Belgium on June 21 at the same venue before facing Egypt in the last group-stage match on June 26 at Lume Field in Seattle, Washington.

Earlier, Mehdi had claimed that it is diffcult for 'Iran to participate' in the FIFA event, given in the ongoing geopolitical situation. FIFA chief Gianni Infantino, on question of Iran playing the World Cup matches in the USA, had said that Trump assured him of 'welcoming' Iran in the USA.

Iran trying to pull a Pakistan in FIFA World Cup 2026? Middle Eastern country 'negotiating' to move matches outside USA

Marinko Matosevic, former Australia number 1 and a once number 39 in world, has been banned for four years by International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) for five anti-doping related charges betwee 2018 and 2020. The ban comes six weeks after Mastosevic criticised the ITIA 'corrupt'. Mastosevic has refuted all the charges against him and the agency has also denied any allegations levelled by the former Aussie number 1 who is now a tennis coach. Matosevic was reprimanded for using prohibited method through blood doping and facilitating another player to blood dope, providing advice to others on how to avoid positive tests, and use and possession of the prohibited substance clenbuterol.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/-no-one-cares-about-you-england-all-rounder-livingstone-drops-bombshell-review-of-mccullum-era-1773719325523">'No one cares about you': England all-rounder Livingstone drops bombshell review of McCullum era</a>Througout the hearing process, the 40-year-old denined all the charges levelled against him except accepting blood doping in a social media post shortly before the hearing on the matter. He termed his actions of getting a blood transfusion done in Mexico in 2018 as 'stupid.' Matosevic retired shortly afterwards.In a statement to Australian tennis website The First Serve last month, Matosevic said: "I am writing this confession letter firstly to warn other athletes against doing anything that may harm their health and put their lives at risk, because there is a long life after an athlete’s career.""Secondly, I am writing this letter to let the tennis world know how corrupt and unjust the ITIA process is."They take your phone number under threatening circumstances and make legal cases over photos and text message assumptions that are literally five years old."The whole process is corrupt and lacks credibility, as we have seen over the last few years!'"The ITIA, meanwhile, has said that it "acted within the authority conferred" upon it by the Tennis Anti-Doping Protocal (TADP).

Througout the hearing process, the 40-year-old denined all the charges levelled against him except accepting blood doping in a social media post shortly before the hearing on the matter. He termed his actions of getting a blood transfusion done in Mexico in 2018 as ‘stupid.’

Marinko Matosevic, former Australia number 1 and a once number 39 in world, has been banned for four years by International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) for five anti-doping related charges betwee 2018 and 2020. The ban comes six weeks after Mastosevic criticised the ITIA 'corrupt'. Mastosevic has refuted all the charges against him and the agency has also denied any allegations levelled by the former Aussie number 1 who is now a tennis coach. Matosevic was reprimanded for using prohibited method through blood doping and facilitating another player to blood dope, providing advice to others on how to avoid positive tests, and use and possession of the prohibited substance clenbuterol. Also Read - 'No one cares about you': England all-rounder Livingstone drops bombshell review of McCullum era Througout the hearing process, the 40-year-old denined all the charges levelled against him except accepting blood doping in a social media post shortly before the hearing on the matter. He termed his actions of getting a blood transfusion done in Mexico in 2018 as 'stupid.' Matosevic retired shortly afterwards. In a statement to Australian tennis website The First Serve last month, Matosevic said: "I am writing this confession letter firstly to warn other athletes against doing anything that may harm their health and put their lives at risk, because there is a long life after an athlete’s career." "Secondly, I am writing this letter to let the tennis world know how corrupt and unjust the ITIA process is. "They take your phone number under threatening circumstances and make legal cases over photos and text message assumptions that are literally five years old. "The whole process is corrupt and lacks credibility, as we have seen over the last few years!'" The ITIA, meanwhile, has said that it "acted within the authority conferred" upon it by the Tennis Anti-Doping Protocal (TADP).

Througout the hearing process, the 40-year-old denined all the charges levelled against him except accepting blood doping in a social media post shortly before the hearing on the matter. He termed his actions of getting a blood transfusion done in Mexico in 2018 as ‘stupid.’

Former Aussie no. 1 tennis player Matosevic calls ITIA corrupt, gets four-year ban six weeks later on doping charges

England all-rounder Liam Livingstone has hit at the Brendon McCullum-Robery Key regime which saw him not playing for the country in over an year. Livingstone, in a recent interview with the ESPNCricinfo, has accused the McCullum-Key (England coach-ECB director) of 'not caring' about the players who are not in the squad or the team. Livingstone's comments, however, can be seen as disappointment from an out-of-favour player who was dropped from the central contracts for 2025-26 season. The batter was also asked about the recent T20 World Cup 202 and he said that he 'didn't miss being in the team one bit."<h2>Why Livingstone is not happy with McCullum-Key England era?</h2>Livingstone outlined the lack of communication from head coach McCullum after being dropped in May last year and said: “I don’t think it (call) would have reached a minute. I asked why; they said they wanted to try someone else. That was off Baz. Brooky [Harry Brook] sent me a text."Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/-contributing-to-indian-casualties-gavaskar-hits-out-at-srh-owners-signing-pak-s-abrar-in-england-s-hundred-1773715297570">'Contributing to Indian casualties': Gavaskar hits out at SRH owners signing Pak's Abrar in England's Hundred</a>The 32-year-old also revealed his conversation with ECB director Robert Key and said: "Keysy said nothing, [he] said I’ll speak to you in the summer. I actually rang him one day and he said he was busy at a Test camp at Loughborough and then I didn’t hear from him until the end of September."That probably sums that group up as a collective. That was a bit of an eye-opening experience about the group and the regime: if you’re in, you’re in, and if you’re not in, no one cares about you. That put my mind at ease that my cricket was going to be more enjoyable going forward."I was asking for help and pretty much all I got was that I care too much and I need to chill out a little bit."<h2>Does LIvingstone play IPL?</h2>Yes, Livingstone has been integral in the IPL over the past few years, including winning the trophy with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in IPL 2025 final. For the upcoming IPL, he's been contracted with SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) for $1.3 million. In addition, he was also picked up by the London Spirit in the recent Hundred draft for $465,000. &nbsp;

Livingstone's comments, however, can be seen as disappointment from an out-of-favour player who was dropped from the central contracts for 2025-26 season. The batter was also asked about the recent T20 World Cup 202 and he said that he 'didn't miss being in the team one bit."

England all-rounder Liam Livingstone has hit at the Brendon McCullum-Robery Key regime which saw him not playing for the country in over an year. Livingstone, in a recent interview with the ESPNCricinfo, has accused the McCullum-Key (England coach-ECB director) of 'not caring' about the players who are not in the squad or the team. Livingstone's comments, however, can be seen as disappointment from an out-of-favour player who was dropped from the central contracts for 2025-26 season. The batter was also asked about the recent T20 World Cup 202 and he said that he 'didn't miss being in the team one bit." Why Livingstone is not happy with McCullum-Key England era? Livingstone outlined the lack of communication from head coach McCullum after being dropped in May last year and said: “I don’t think it (call) would have reached a minute. I asked why; they said they wanted to try someone else. That was off Baz. Brooky [Harry Brook] sent me a text." Also Read - 'Contributing to Indian casualties': Gavaskar hits out at SRH owners signing Pak's Abrar in England's Hundred The 32-year-old also revealed his conversation with ECB director Robert Key and said: "Keysy said nothing, [he] said I’ll speak to you in the summer. I actually rang him one day and he said he was busy at a Test camp at Loughborough and then I didn’t hear from him until the end of September. "That probably sums that group up as a collective. That was a bit of an eye-opening experience about the group and the regime: if you’re in, you’re in, and if you’re not in, no one cares about you. That put my mind at ease that my cricket was going to be more enjoyable going forward. "I was asking for help and pretty much all I got was that I care too much and I need to chill out a little bit." Does LIvingstone play IPL? Yes, Livingstone has been integral in the IPL over the past few years, including winning the trophy with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in IPL 2025 final. For the upcoming IPL, he's been contracted with SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) for $1.3 million. In addition, he was also picked up by the London Spirit in the recent Hundred draft for $465,000.

Livingstone's comments, however, can be seen as disappointment from an out-of-favour player who was dropped from the central contracts for 2025-26 season. The batter was also asked about the recent T20 World Cup 202 and he said that he 'didn't miss being in the team one bit."

'No one cares about you': England all-rounder Livingstone drops bombshell review of McCullum era

Former India skipper and legendary batter Sunil Gavaskar has hit out at Pakistan player Abrar Ahmed's signing by SunRisers Hyderabad group-owned Sunrisers Leeds in England's Hundred. The signing came amid the fears of Pakistan players being sidelined by four IPL-linked franchises in the Hundred. Gavaskar, in his column for Mumbai-based news outlet Mid-day wrote that the owners signing Pakistan players are responsible for the "Indian casualties." The Sunrisers Leeds owner Sun Group, which also own SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) IPL, faced <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/why-sunrisers-leeds-x-account-got-suspended-is-it-because-they-signed-pak-s-abrar-ahmed-1773379640529">social media backlash</a> in India for the action while the BCCI said that the signing of a Pakistan player in Hundred is beyond their jurisdiction.<h2>Why Gavaskar is not happy with SRH-owned Sunrisers Leeds buying Pak's Abrar in Hundred?</h2>Ever since the 2008 Mumbai terror attack, carried out by Pakistan-based terrorists, the IPL franchises are not allowed to sign the Pakistan players. Last year, the two countries were involved in a four-day millitary conflict following India's precision strike on Pakistan's terrorist camps under Operation Sindoor. The strike came after Pak-based terrorists killed tourists in India's Jammu and Kashmir in April. Since then, the tensions between the tour nations has been at all-time high.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bcb-asks-bangladesh-government-to-close-invesitgation-of-election-rigging-allegations-1773710809559">BCB asks Bangladesh government 'to close' invesitgation of election rigging allegations</a>The two neighbours also do not play bilateral series since 2007 and now do not travel to each other's country even for ICC events as visible in 2025 Champions Trophy which India played in UAE and T20 World Cup 2026 which Pakistan played in Sri Lanka.Gavaskar's point of contention is that by signing a Pakistan player, the Indian onwer is responsible for the Indian casualties, directly or indireclty."Whether it is an Indian entity or an overseas subsidiary of the entity that is making the payment, if the owner is Indian then he or she is contributing to the Indian casualties. It's as simple as that," he wrote in his column.<h2>What is Gavaskar's logic behind criticism of Sunrisers Leeds for signing up Pak's Abrar Ahmed?</h2>"The furore created by the acquisition of a Pakistani player by the Indian owner of a franchise in The Hundred is hardly surprising," Gavaskar wrote."Ever since the Mumbai attacks in November 2008, Indian franchise owners have simply ignored Pakistani players for the IPL."Although belated, the realisation that the fees that they pay to a Pakistani player, who then pays income tax to his government which buys arms and weapons, indirectly contributes to the deaths of Indian soldiers and civilians is making Indian entities refrain from even considering having Pakistani artistes and sportspersons."&nbsp;

Pakistan player Abrar Ahmed's was signed up by SunRisers Hyderabad group-owned Sunrisers Leeds in England's Hundred. Gavaskar's point of contention is that by signing a Pakistan player, the Indian onwer is responsible for the Indian casualties, directly or indireclty. 

Former India skipper and legendary batter Sunil Gavaskar has hit out at Pakistan player Abrar Ahmed's signing by SunRisers Hyderabad group-owned Sunrisers Leeds in England's Hundred. The signing came amid the fears of Pakistan players being sidelined by four IPL-linked franchises in the Hundred. Gavaskar, in his column for Mumbai-based news outlet Mid-day wrote that the owners signing Pakistan players are responsible for the "Indian casualties." The Sunrisers Leeds owner Sun Group, which also own SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) IPL, faced social media backlash in India for the action while the BCCI said that the signing of a Pakistan player in Hundred is beyond their jurisdiction. Why Gavaskar is not happy with SRH-owned Sunrisers Leeds buying Pak's Abrar in Hundred? Ever since the 2008 Mumbai terror attack, carried out by Pakistan-based terrorists, the IPL franchises are not allowed to sign the Pakistan players. Last year, the two countries were involved in a four-day millitary conflict following India's precision strike on Pakistan's terrorist camps under Operation Sindoor. The strike came after Pak-based terrorists killed tourists in India's Jammu and Kashmir in April. Since then, the tensions between the tour nations has been at all-time high. Also Read - BCB asks Bangladesh government 'to close' invesitgation of election rigging allegations The two neighbours also do not play bilateral series since 2007 and now do not travel to each other's country even for ICC events as visible in 2025 Champions Trophy which India played in UAE and T20 World Cup 2026 which Pakistan played in Sri Lanka. Gavaskar's point of contention is that by signing a Pakistan player, the Indian onwer is responsible for the Indian casualties, directly or indireclty. "Whether it is an Indian entity or an overseas subsidiary of the entity that is making the payment, if the owner is Indian then he or she is contributing to the Indian casualties. It's as simple as that," he wrote in his column. What is Gavaskar's logic behind criticism of Sunrisers Leeds for signing up Pak's Abrar Ahmed? "The furore created by the acquisition of a Pakistani player by the Indian owner of a franchise in The Hundred is hardly surprising," Gavaskar wrote. "Ever since the Mumbai attacks in November 2008, Indian franchise owners have simply ignored Pakistani players for the IPL. "Although belated, the realisation that the fees that they pay to a Pakistani player, who then pays income tax to his government which buys arms and weapons, indirectly contributes to the deaths of Indian soldiers and civilians is making Indian entities refrain from even considering having Pakistani artistes and sportspersons."

Pakistan player Abrar Ahmed's was signed up by SunRisers Hyderabad group-owned Sunrisers Leeds in England's Hundred. Gavaskar's point of contention is that by signing a Pakistan player, the Indian onwer is responsible for the Indian casualties, directly or indireclty.&nbsp;

'Contributing to Indian casualties': Gavaskar hits out at SRH owners signing Pak's Abrar in England's Hundred

The Bangaldesh Cricket Board (BCB) has warned the national goverment against interferrence in the internal matter of the board. This comes as Bangladesh government has made a committee to look into the alleged malpractice in last year's elections. The BCB's warning comes based on the previous instances where the International Cricket Council (ICC) - the apex cricket body - has suspended the national cricket board for governement interferrence, for instance Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe. The Bangladesh government, meanwhile, has given the formed committee 15 days from March 11 to look into "irregularities, manipulation and abuse of power" allegations during the BCB election which saw Aminul Islam being reelected as the president.<h2>Why Bangladesh government is investing BCB elections?</h2>The BCB elections, held in October 2025, saw Animul Islam being reelected as the chief but not without allegations of rigging the election process. At the forefront of the allegations was former Bangladesh skipper Tamim Iqbal who was also in the race before withdrawing his name on October 1 - four days before the elections. Tamim, in the weeks leading to the elections, had asked the sports ministry in a signed letter to change councillors from certain districts. The former skipper also alleged that the BCB had extedned the deadline for filing the nominations twice.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ishan-kishan-to-captain-srh-against-rcb-in-ipl-2026-opener-as-pat-cummins-continues-to-recover-report-abhishek-sharma-back-injury-m-chinnaswamy-1773678549805">Ishan Kishan to captain SRH against RCB in IPL 2026 opener as Cummins continues to recover – Report</a><h2>What BCB has said to the national government about investigative committee?</h2>"The matter has been informally referenced in discussions with senior representatives of the ICC leadership," the BCB statement said. "It was indicated that developments which could be interpreted as interference in the affairs of a democratically elected cricket board may raise governance concerns within the international cricket framework.""Accordingly, the BCB has requested the National Sports Council to close this matter in a manner that safeguards the stability, independence, and continued progress of Bangladesh cricket, while also ensuring that the country's standing within the international cricket community remains fully protected," the statement added.

The Bangladesh government, meanwhile, has given the formed committee 15 days from March 11 to look into "irregularities, manipulation and abuse of power" allegations during the BCB election which saw Aminul Islam being reelected as the president.

The Bangaldesh Cricket Board (BCB) has warned the national goverment against interferrence in the internal matter of the board. This comes as Bangladesh government has made a committee to look into the alleged malpractice in last year's elections. The BCB's warning comes based on the previous instances where the International Cricket Council (ICC) - the apex cricket body - has suspended the national cricket board for governement interferrence, for instance Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe. The Bangladesh government, meanwhile, has given the formed committee 15 days from March 11 to look into "irregularities, manipulation and abuse of power" allegations during the BCB election which saw Aminul Islam being reelected as the president. Why Bangladesh government is investing BCB elections? The BCB elections, held in October 2025, saw Animul Islam being reelected as the chief but not without allegations of rigging the election process. At the forefront of the allegations was former Bangladesh skipper Tamim Iqbal who was also in the race before withdrawing his name on October 1 - four days before the elections. Tamim, in the weeks leading to the elections, had asked the sports ministry in a signed letter to change councillors from certain districts. The former skipper also alleged that the BCB had extedned the deadline for filing the nominations twice. Also Read - Ishan Kishan to captain SRH against RCB in IPL 2026 opener as Cummins continues to recover – Report What BCB has said to the national government about investigative committee? "The matter has been informally referenced in discussions with senior representatives of the ICC leadership," the BCB statement said. "It was indicated that developments which could be interpreted as interference in the affairs of a democratically elected cricket board may raise governance concerns within the international cricket framework." "Accordingly, the BCB has requested the National Sports Council to close this matter in a manner that safeguards the stability, independence, and continued progress of Bangladesh cricket, while also ensuring that the country's standing within the international cricket community remains fully protected," the statement added.

The Bangladesh government, meanwhile, has given the formed committee 15 days from March 11 to look into "irregularities, manipulation and abuse of power" allegations during the BCB election which saw Aminul Islam being reelected as the president.

BCB asks Bangladesh government 'to close' investigation of election rigging allegations

Kylian Mbappe is ready to return from injury as Real Madrid aim to eliminate Manchester City in the Champions League last-16 second leg on Tuesday. Mbappe was sidelined by a knee injury for Real's 3-0 win over City in the first leg in Madrid last week. But the France forward, who has scored 38 goals in 33 appearances this season, is set to feature at the Etihad Stadium."Mbappe is ready to play," Real boss Alvaro Arbeloa told reporters on Monday.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/eden-hazard-willian-transfers-investigated-premier-league-punishes-chelsea-with-10-75m-fine-suspended-transfer-ban-2026-1773676350418">Hazard, Willian Transfers Investigated: PL punishes Chelsea with £10.75m fine</a>"I cannot wait to see him back on the pitch, to enjoy watching him play, to score the goals he scores. Of course he'll be important."England midfielder Jude Bellingham has also travelled with the Real squad as he steps up his recovery from a hamstring problem, but is not ready to feature against City."Bellingham wanted to come with his team-mates," Arbeloa said."I'm very happy to see him getting closer to the team. It is important to be around his team-mates, during the team-talk and at half-time he'll be one of the leaders as he always is."Real are expected to knock City out of the Champions League for a third successive season after establishing a substantial first leg advantage.Real defender Antonio Rudiger believes the key to victory is stopping City striker Erling Haaland from rediscovering his top form after a poor recent run."Players like Haaland, it's a huge pleasure to play against this type of player," Rudiger said."I like the physical battle, I want it and need it, the same as him. I'm looking forward to it."He's a world-class striker, very strong, and I like these type of duels."Rudiger acknowledged his combative approach as he addressed recent claims from Getafe defender Diego Rico about his conduct.Rico said Rudiger committed an "assault" against him in a challenge earlier this month."In slow motion it looks terrible but in the action itself and also what the player said, it was like I almost killed him," Rudiger said."He doesn't need to exaggerate because if I'd had the intention to do that he wouldn't have stood up."I don't justify it but the way he spoke after the game was like I killed him, but he was running afterwards."We all know I like to be tough on the pitch but I still have boundaries. I am a human being."

England midfielder Jude Bellingham has also travelled with the Real squad as he steps up his recovery from a hamstring problem, but is not ready to feature against City.

Kylian Mbappe is ready to return from injury as Real Madrid aim to eliminate Manchester City in the Champions League last-16 second leg on Tuesday. Mbappe was sidelined by a knee injury for Real's 3-0 win over City in the first leg in Madrid last week. But the France forward, who has scored 38 goals in 33 appearances this season, is set to feature at the Etihad Stadium. "Mbappe is ready to play," Real boss Alvaro Arbeloa told reporters on Monday. Also Read - Hazard, Willian Transfers Investigated: PL punishes Chelsea with £10.75m fine "I cannot wait to see him back on the pitch, to enjoy watching him play, to score the goals he scores. Of course he'll be important." England midfielder Jude Bellingham has also travelled with the Real squad as he steps up his recovery from a hamstring problem, but is not ready to feature against City. "Bellingham wanted to come with his team-mates," Arbeloa said. "I'm very happy to see him getting closer to the team. It is important to be around his team-mates, during the team-talk and at half-time he'll be one of the leaders as he always is." Real are expected to knock City out of the Champions League for a third successive season after establishing a substantial first leg advantage. Real defender Antonio Rudiger believes the key to victory is stopping City striker Erling Haaland from rediscovering his top form after a poor recent run. "Players like Haaland, it's a huge pleasure to play against this type of player," Rudiger said. "I like the physical battle, I want it and need it, the same as him. I'm looking forward to it. "He's a world-class striker, very strong, and I like these type of duels." Rudiger acknowledged his combative approach as he addressed recent claims from Getafe defender Diego Rico about his conduct. Rico said Rudiger committed an "assault" against him in a challenge earlier this month. "In slow motion it looks terrible but in the action itself and also what the player said, it was like I almost killed him," Rudiger said. "He doesn't need to exaggerate because if I'd had the intention to do that he wouldn't have stood up. "I don't justify it but the way he spoke after the game was like I killed him, but he was running afterwards. "We all know I like to be tough on the pitch but I still have boundaries. I am a human being."

England midfielder Jude Bellingham has also travelled with the Real squad as he steps up his recovery from a hamstring problem, but is not ready to feature against City.

Champions League R16: Mbappe to turn up for Real Madrid vs Man City in second leg

In a massive development surrounding the IPL 2026 opener, SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) regular captain Pat Cummins could be out for the first few matches as he continues to recover from his injury, opening doors for star batter and recently crowned T20 World Cup winner, Ishan Kishan, to fill in as the stand-in skipper. With <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bengaluru-m-chinnaswamy-stadium-cleared-to-host-ipl-2026-matches-after-expert-committee-approval-karnataka-government-ksca-safety-measures-1773660270558">SRH facing the defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the M Chinnaswamy</a> on March 28, Kishan could walk wearing the captain’s hat, per the latest report.&nbsp;Cummins is recovering from a persistent back injury (lumbar bone stress) that forced him to sit out of four of the five Ashes Tests at home and also the recently concluded T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. While he remains on the sidelines with SRH coaches working on his fitness, reports suggest that he could potentially miss the tournament opener and a few more games.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/very-different-to-anything-else-liam-livingstone-eyes-ipl-2026-with-srh-fallen-relationship-england-coaches-robert-key-brendon-mccullum-1773674089865">‘Very different to anything else’: Liam Livingstone eyes ‘blockbuster’ IPL 2026 with SRH</a> &nbsp;A Times of India (TOI) report claims that the SRH management is aware of Cummins’ potential absence, identifying Ishan Kishan as the potential candidate to fill his shoes. &nbsp;Cummins' absence could hurt SRH’s bowling, which was dependent on the seasoned campaigner to lead the attack and bail them out whenever needed. His absence would leave Sri Lanka’s Eshan Malinga the only overseas pacer available for SRH for the opening game.<h3>Ishan Kishan all the way!</h3>Since returning to the Indian side following a blockbuster domestic home season, Ishan Kishan has just made headlines. After cementing his place at the top with blistering knocks against New Zealand just before the T20 World Cup, the attacking left-hander made the showpiece event about himself. &nbsp;Following his match-winning knock against Pakistan in the group stage, Ishan slammed two more fifties in India’s triumphant campaign, including in the final against New Zealand in Ahmedabad. He finished with 317 runs in his second T20 World Cup, helping India create history with its record third T20 crown. &nbsp;Meanwhile, Kishan moved to SRH (from MI) last season, slamming 354 runs in 13 innings, including a match-winning 106* in the opener. Besides, several reports of Abhishek Sharma leading the race to captain SRH in Cummins’ absence are also circulating on the internet. But the franchise hasn’t made anything official yet.

Ishan Kishan is the frontrunner to lead SRH in the IPL 2026 opener against RCB as Pat Cummins recovers from a back injury. Get the latest on the captaincy race and Ishan’s stellar form!

In a massive development surrounding the IPL 2026 opener, SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) regular captain Pat Cummins could be out for the first few matches as he continues to recover from his injury, opening doors for star batter and recently crowned T20 World Cup winner, Ishan Kishan, to fill in as the stand-in skipper. With SRH facing the defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the M Chinnaswamy on March 28, Kishan could walk wearing the captain’s hat, per the latest report. Cummins is recovering from a persistent back injury (lumbar bone stress) that forced him to sit out of four of the five Ashes Tests at home and also the recently concluded T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. While he remains on the sidelines with SRH coaches working on his fitness, reports suggest that he could potentially miss the tournament opener and a few more games. Also read | ‘Very different to anything else’: Liam Livingstone eyes ‘blockbuster’ IPL 2026 with SRH A Times of India (TOI) report claims that the SRH management is aware of Cummins’ potential absence, identifying Ishan Kishan as the potential candidate to fill his shoes. Cummins' absence could hurt SRH’s bowling, which was dependent on the seasoned campaigner to lead the attack and bail them out whenever needed. His absence would leave Sri Lanka’s Eshan Malinga the only overseas pacer available for SRH for the opening game. Ishan Kishan all the way! Since returning to the Indian side following a blockbuster domestic home season, Ishan Kishan has just made headlines. After cementing his place at the top with blistering knocks against New Zealand just before the T20 World Cup, the attacking left-hander made the showpiece event about himself. Following his match-winning knock against Pakistan in the group stage, Ishan slammed two more fifties in India’s triumphant campaign, including in the final against New Zealand in Ahmedabad. He finished with 317 runs in his second T20 World Cup, helping India create history with its record third T20 crown. Meanwhile, Kishan moved to SRH (from MI) last season, slamming 354 runs in 13 innings, including a match-winning 106* in the opener. Besides, several reports of Abhishek Sharma leading the race to captain SRH in Cummins’ absence are also circulating on the internet. But the franchise hasn’t made anything official yet.

Ishan Kishan is the frontrunner to lead SRH in the IPL 2026 opener against RCB as Pat Cummins recovers from a back injury. Get the latest on the captaincy race and Ishan’s stellar form!

Ishan Kishan to captain SRH against RCB in IPL 2026 opener as Cummins continues to recover – Report

Chelsea have been fined £10.75 million ($14.27 million) and received a suspended one-year transfer ban in relation to historical breaches of Premier League rules, it was announced on Monday. The London club have also been hit with an immediate nine-month academy transfer ban, the Premier League said. The sanctions relate to information shared with the league by the consortium led by American businessman Todd Boehly following their takeover of Chelsea from Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich in 2022.&nbsp;The Premier League found that between 2011 and 2018, undisclosed payments by third parties associated with Chelsea were made to players, unregistered agents and others.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/afc-general-secretary-iran-still-slated-for-fifa-world-cup-2026-participation-despite-withdrawal-rumors-us-president-donald-trump-iran-israel-war-usa-1773648150617">AFC: Iran still slated for FIFA World Cup participation despite withdrawal rumours</a>&nbsp;However, the league determined that even if the payments had been properly included in historical financial submissions, the club would not have been in breach of the profitability and sustainability rules (PSR).&nbsp;Officials said that Chelsea's "proactive self-reporting, admissions of breach and exceptional co-operation" were also mitigating circumstances when it came to deciding the severity of the punishments to be imposed upon the west London side.&nbsp;Chelsea have also been charged by the Football Association with 74 alleged breaches of the English governing body's rules, also in connection with the information shared by the Blues' new owners.&nbsp;Responding to Monday's announcement, the club issued a statement saying: "Chelsea Football Club is pleased to confirm that the club has reached a settlement with the Premier League in relation to historical regulatory matters that were self-reported by the club in 2022."&nbsp;The Blues also said they welcomed the Premier League's recognition of its "exceptional co-operation" and that "without those voluntary disclosures and the act of self-reporting, a number of the Premier League rule breaches may never have come to the attention of the League".&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

The Premier League has slapped Chelsea with a record £10.75m fine following an investigation into historical transfers like Eden Hazard and Willian. Full details on the suspended ban and the academy sanctions inside.

Chelsea have been fined £10.75 million ($14.27 million) and received a suspended one-year transfer ban in relation to historical breaches of Premier League rules, it was announced on Monday. The London club have also been hit with an immediate nine-month academy transfer ban, the Premier League said. The sanctions relate to information shared with the league by the consortium led by American businessman Todd Boehly following their takeover of Chelsea from Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich in 2022. The Premier League found that between 2011 and 2018, undisclosed payments by third parties associated with Chelsea were made to players, unregistered agents and others. Also read | AFC: Iran still slated for FIFA World Cup participation despite withdrawal rumours However, the league determined that even if the payments had been properly included in historical financial submissions, the club would not have been in breach of the profitability and sustainability rules (PSR). Officials said that Chelsea's "proactive self-reporting, admissions of breach and exceptional co-operation" were also mitigating circumstances when it came to deciding the severity of the punishments to be imposed upon the west London side. Chelsea have also been charged by the Football Association with 74 alleged breaches of the English governing body's rules, also in connection with the information shared by the Blues' new owners. Responding to Monday's announcement, the club issued a statement saying: "Chelsea Football Club is pleased to confirm that the club has reached a settlement with the Premier League in relation to historical regulatory matters that were self-reported by the club in 2022." The Blues also said they welcomed the Premier League's recognition of its "exceptional co-operation" and that "without those voluntary disclosures and the act of self-reporting, a number of the Premier League rule breaches may never have come to the attention of the League". Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

The Premier League has slapped Chelsea with a record £10.75m fine following an investigation into historical transfers like Eden Hazard and Willian. Full details on the suspended ban and the academy sanctions inside.

Hazard, Willian Transfers Investigated: Premier League punishes Chelsea with £10.75m fine

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Hazard, Willian Transfers Investigated: PL punishes Chelsea with £10.75m fine