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Premier League side <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/manchester-city-equal-british-transfer-record-enzo-fernandez-1788287462735">Manchester City broke the bank to get Enzo Fernandez</a> from Chelsea before the transfer deadline on Tuesday (Sep 1). Fernandez now joins Enzo Maresca, his former boss at Chelsea, at City, where Maresca takes over from Pep Guardiola. City spent nearly $169 million (£125 million)—a British record—to bring Fernandez to the Etihad Stadium. Along with him, they also acquired Iliman Ndiaye from Everton (nearly $87 million / £65 million), Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest ($156 million / £116 million), and Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille ($116 million / £86 million).<h2>Fernandez shares thoughts on joining City</h2>The Argentine international has signed a five-year contract with Manchester City, which means he will call the Etihad home until 2031. Reacting to the transfer, Fernandez, 25, said via his new club's statement: "Manchester City are the most successful club in England in recent times. Every player wants to be part of a club like this because everyone knows how well-run City are. I could not be happier to be here, and I am ready for the challenge of helping City continue winning trophies. This is a club built for success."On his goals at City, Fernandez said: "If you look across the squad, City have quality in every area. I want to learn from my new teammates and become a better player. &nbsp;"I pride myself on continually improving my game. Anyone who’s worked with me will know how hard I train every single day and how much I put into matches. I give absolutely everything and I can promise Manchester City that will continue now I’m here."<h2>How Chelsea and Fernandez drifted apart</h2>Fernandez had been looking for a way out of Stamford Bridge since March and initially wanted to join Real Madrid. Maresca's unceremonious exit from Chelsea earlier this year also fuelled his plans. He was suspended for two games in March by the club for speaking out after their Champions League exit at the hands of eventual champions Paris Saint-Germain. He came back after the World Cup but was booed by fans at training. He featured in the club's first game of the season against Fulham but didn't take the field in the next two games. He scored 31 goals during his overall tenure at Chelsea after joining from Benfica in 2023 for nearly $144 million (£106.7 million).

Manchester City signed Enzo Fernandez from Chelsea in a British record $169 million deal on a five-year contract, reuniting him with Enzo Maresca after his relationship with Chelsea deteriorated.

Premier League side Manchester City broke the bank to get Enzo Fernandez from Chelsea before the transfer deadline on Tuesday (Sep 1). Fernandez now joins Enzo Maresca, his former boss at Chelsea, at City, where Maresca takes over from Pep Guardiola. City spent nearly $169 million (£125 million)—a British record—to bring Fernandez to the Etihad Stadium. Along with him, they also acquired Iliman Ndiaye from Everton (nearly $87 million / £65 million), Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest ($156 million / £116 million), and Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille ($116 million / £86 million). Fernandez shares thoughts on joining City The Argentine international has signed a five-year contract with Manchester City, which means he will call the Etihad home until 2031. Reacting to the transfer, Fernandez, 25, said via his new club's statement: "Manchester City are the most successful club in England in recent times. Every player wants to be part of a club like this because everyone knows how well-run City are. I could not be happier to be here, and I am ready for the challenge of helping City continue winning trophies. This is a club built for success." On his goals at City, Fernandez said: "If you look across the squad, City have quality in every area. I want to learn from my new teammates and become a better player. "I pride myself on continually improving my game. Anyone who’s worked with me will know how hard I train every single day and how much I put into matches. I give absolutely everything and I can promise Manchester City that will continue now I’m here." How Chelsea and Fernandez drifted apart Fernandez had been looking for a way out of Stamford Bridge since March and initially wanted to join Real Madrid. Maresca's unceremonious exit from Chelsea earlier this year also fuelled his plans. He was suspended for two games in March by the club for speaking out after their Champions League exit at the hands of eventual champions Paris Saint-Germain. He came back after the World Cup but was booed by fans at training. He featured in the club's first game of the season against Fulham but didn't take the field in the next two games. He scored 31 goals during his overall tenure at Chelsea after joining from Benfica in 2023 for nearly $144 million (£106.7 million).

Manchester City signed Enzo Fernandez from Chelsea in a British record $169 million deal on a five-year contract, reuniting him with Enzo Maresca after his relationship with Chelsea deteriorated.

Enzo Fernandez reacts after joining 'built for success' Manchester City in record deal

The ongoing Caribbean Premier League (CPL) saw a huge no-ball controversy pan out on Tuesday (Sep 1) during the match between St Kitts and Nevis Patriots and Barbados Tridents. Both teams needed a win to bolster their playoff chances in the tournament, but the Patriots came out as winners. The controversy involved Patriots' Johnson Charles being adjudged out on a high full-toss before being called back by the third umpire. Tridents skipper Chris Green wasn't happy about it, and he found an ally in Patriots skipper Jason Holder in calling out the umpiring.<h2>Patriots win but not without controversy</h2>Chasing a mammoth 218, SKNP were 35/0 in 3.4 overs when Tridents' Ramon Simmonds bowled a full-toss to Charles. He was caught at deep square by Sherfane Rutherford. Charles was back in the dugout after scoring 26, but the third umpire reviewed the decision and Charles was called back. He hit a six on the very next ball—a free hit. The batter eventually scored 78 off 45 balls to take his team home and become Player of the Match as well.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/asian-games-2026-cricket-teams-allowed-to-book-own-stays-after-complaints-over-hotel-facilities-1788323869805">Asian Games 2026: Cricket teams allowed to book own stays after complaints over hotel facilities</a><h2>How did teams react?</h2>"The umpires tonight, I thought they managed the game poorly with that decision in the way that a player goes off the field and then comes back on," said Tridents captain Green after the match while talking to the broadcaster. His counterpart Holder, surprisingly, agreed with it and said: "It's probably a wake-up call for the umpires to be a bit firmer and more decisive. It doesn't look good seeing a player go off the field and then have to be called back on. In terms of the wides, we only ask for consistency. They're only human as well and will make mistakes, but hopefully, we can clean that up going forward."Johnson Charles, who was in the middle of all this, said: "From the very get-go, I thought it was a no-ball because it's all about the point of contact, and I thought it was a no-ball right there and then. But you know, some controversies just liven up the game, and it's all up to the umpires."

CPL saw controversy when SKNP's Johnson Charles was recalled after walking off on a no-ball. He scored 78 to beat Tridents, as captains Chris Green and Jason Holder criticized the umpiring delay.

The ongoing Caribbean Premier League (CPL) saw a huge no-ball controversy pan out on Tuesday (Sep 1) during the match between St Kitts and Nevis Patriots and Barbados Tridents. Both teams needed a win to bolster their playoff chances in the tournament, but the Patriots came out as winners. The controversy involved Patriots' Johnson Charles being adjudged out on a high full-toss before being called back by the third umpire. Tridents skipper Chris Green wasn't happy about it, and he found an ally in Patriots skipper Jason Holder in calling out the umpiring. Patriots win but not without controversy Chasing a mammoth 218, SKNP were 35/0 in 3.4 overs when Tridents' Ramon Simmonds bowled a full-toss to Charles. He was caught at deep square by Sherfane Rutherford. Charles was back in the dugout after scoring 26, but the third umpire reviewed the decision and Charles was called back. He hit a six on the very next ball—a free hit. The batter eventually scored 78 off 45 balls to take his team home and become Player of the Match as well. Also Read - Asian Games 2026: Cricket teams allowed to book own stays after complaints over hotel facilities How did teams react? "The umpires tonight, I thought they managed the game poorly with that decision in the way that a player goes off the field and then comes back on," said Tridents captain Green after the match while talking to the broadcaster. His counterpart Holder, surprisingly, agreed with it and said: "It's probably a wake-up call for the umpires to be a bit firmer and more decisive. It doesn't look good seeing a player go off the field and then have to be called back on. In terms of the wides, we only ask for consistency. They're only human as well and will make mistakes, but hopefully, we can clean that up going forward." Johnson Charles, who was in the middle of all this, said: "From the very get-go, I thought it was a no-ball because it's all about the point of contact, and I thought it was a no-ball right there and then. But you know, some controversies just liven up the game, and it's all up to the umpires."

CPL saw controversy when SKNP's Johnson Charles was recalled after walking off on a no-ball. He scored 78 to beat Tridents, as captains Chris Green and Jason Holder criticized the umpiring delay.

CPL umpiring controversy: Johnson Charles Recalled after being out as Holder sides with opposition

The Asian Games cricket event landed in the soup when the participating <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/asian-games-2026-cricket-facilities-japan-india-pakistan-acc-concerns-1787987697856">teams raised questions</a> over hotel facilities being provided at Aichi-Nagoya, the host venue of the games. With days to go for the event, Japan Cricket Association CEO Naoki Alex Miyaji has said that the teams can make their own arrangements for stays. AINAGOC [Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games Organising Committee] has been preparing to host players across a variety of stays, including a cruise liner. The teams, including India and Pakistan, however, were not satisfied with the quality of arrangements.<h2>Teams allowed to book own stays at Asian Games 2026</h2>Speaking to news agency PTI, Miyaji confirmed being in touch with the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and reaching a mutual understanding of allowing the participating teams to book their own stays.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/meltdown-in-pakistan-cricket-pcb-director-of-high-performance-aaqib-javed-explains-reasoning-behind-dropping-7-players-sacking-coaches-1788320388158">Meltdown in Pakistan cricket: PCB director of high performance Aaqib Javed explains reasoning behind dropping 7 players, sacking coaches</a>"The participating teams in cricket are being offered hotel accommodation. Many other sports are being accommodated in much more limited facilities such as a cruise ship or container hotels. The teams are free to arrange their own accommodation if they choose to do so," he said."There are both temporary and permanent facilities at the venue. The facilities on the ground are temporary, but AINAGOC has worked very closely with the ACC for over a year now to ensure that the best facilities are provided within the limited timeline and facility restrictions."Despite being temporary, the facilities [make-shift dressing rooms] will provide as comfortable a space as possible for the players and officials. There are also permanent facilities around the ground which will be available to the players," he added.<h2>Cricket schedule in Asian Games 2026</h2>The men's event will feature a total of 10 teams, while the women's event will feature eight teams with games starting directly from the quarter-finals. India had won the gold medal in both the men's and women's events of the sport in the 2023 Asian Games.All the matches will be played at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin from September 17 to 22 (women's event) and September 24 to October 3 (men's event).Apart from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, which have been given direct entry into the knockout round of the men's event, there are six more teams that will play in Round 1. Afghanistan, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Nepal, and Oman have been divided into two groups of three teams each, with the top two teams advancing to join the remaining four teams in the knockouts.As for the women's event, eight teams start directly from the quarter-finals: India, China, Bangladesh, Japan, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Pakistan, and Thailand. The QF match line-ups are: India vs Japan, Bangladesh vs China, Sri Lanka vs Malaysia, and Pakistan vs Thailand.

Cricket teams at the 2026 Asian Games, including India and Pakistan, can book their own stays after expressing dissatisfaction with host facilities, confirmed Japan Cricket CEO Naoki Alex Miyaji.

The Asian Games cricket event landed in the soup when the participating teams raised questions over hotel facilities being provided at Aichi-Nagoya, the host venue of the games. With days to go for the event, Japan Cricket Association CEO Naoki Alex Miyaji has said that the teams can make their own arrangements for stays. AINAGOC [Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games Organising Committee] has been preparing to host players across a variety of stays, including a cruise liner. The teams, including India and Pakistan, however, were not satisfied with the quality of arrangements. Teams allowed to book own stays at Asian Games 2026 Speaking to news agency PTI, Miyaji confirmed being in touch with the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and reaching a mutual understanding of allowing the participating teams to book their own stays. Also Read - Meltdown in Pakistan cricket: PCB director of high performance Aaqib Javed explains reasoning behind dropping 7 players, sacking coaches "The participating teams in cricket are being offered hotel accommodation. Many other sports are being accommodated in much more limited facilities such as a cruise ship or container hotels. The teams are free to arrange their own accommodation if they choose to do so," he said. "There are both temporary and permanent facilities at the venue. The facilities on the ground are temporary, but AINAGOC has worked very closely with the ACC for over a year now to ensure that the best facilities are provided within the limited timeline and facility restrictions. "Despite being temporary, the facilities [make-shift dressing rooms] will provide as comfortable a space as possible for the players and officials. There are also permanent facilities around the ground which will be available to the players," he added. Cricket schedule in Asian Games 2026 The men's event will feature a total of 10 teams, while the women's event will feature eight teams with games starting directly from the quarter-finals. India had won the gold medal in both the men's and women's events of the sport in the 2023 Asian Games. All the matches will be played at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin from September 17 to 22 (women's event) and September 24 to October 3 (men's event). Apart from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, which have been given direct entry into the knockout round of the men's event, there are six more teams that will play in Round 1. Afghanistan, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Nepal, and Oman have been divided into two groups of three teams each, with the top two teams advancing to join the remaining four teams in the knockouts. As for the women's event, eight teams start directly from the quarter-finals: India, China, Bangladesh, Japan, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Pakistan, and Thailand. The QF match line-ups are: India vs Japan, Bangladesh vs China, Sri Lanka vs Malaysia, and Pakistan vs Thailand.

Cricket teams at the 2026 Asian Games, including India and Pakistan, can book their own stays after expressing dissatisfaction with host facilities, confirmed Japan Cricket CEO Naoki Alex Miyaji.

Asian Games 2026: Cricket teams allowed to book own stays after complaints over hotel facilities

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/pak-vs-eng-absolutely-ridiculous-pcb-faces-backlash-after-dropping-7-pakistan-players-and-coaches-mid-tour-in-england-1788252550558">drama around the Pakistan cricket team</a> continues to unfold, with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) director of high performance, Aaqib Javed, now calling for an inquiry into batter Imam-ul-Haq. After losing the first two of three Tests, Pakistan sent back seven players from the squad and sacked red-ball head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed as well as bowling coach Umar Gul. The move came after Pakistan's 194-run loss in the second Test, which followed an innings defeat in the first Test. After the reshuffle, PCB selection committee member <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/misbah-ul-haq-resigns-pakistan-selector-pcb-lords-test-overhaul-1788266768336">Misbah-ul-Haq also resigned</a> from his post amid the ongoing meltdown over Pakistan's performance.<h2>PCB director of high performance Aaqib Javed lashes out at Imam</h2>In an interview with Pakistan-based broadcaster Geo, Aaqib called out Imam specifically for not batting in either inning of the second Test. Imam pulled out of batting due to a calf injury ahead of the second day's play. The PCB stated that the batter had suffered a calf tear and that his participation would be subject to a medical opinion. Imam, however, warmed up with the team on Day 4 and took some throwdowns, leading former England great Stuart Broad to call his actions "all for show" while talking on air.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/pcb-issues-show-cause-notice-selectors-rizwan-imam-picks-1788279578988">PCB demands explanation within 24 hours from selectors over Rizwan, Imam picks</a>"The Imam injury is a big question mark and a deep disappointment," Aaqib said. "Players in the past used to get injuries, but they used to put on casts and still try [to play]. We'll take action against this. How is it possible that a pulled muscle ruled you out of batting in both innings? He should have tried and fought. He'll have to face an inquiry; I can't say he faked it, but a muscle pull like that cannot stop you from batting altogether."<h2>Why Pakistan <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/pakistan-drop-7-players-release-coaches-eng-vs-pak-edgbaston-test-1788199115158">dropped seven players from squad and sacked coaches</a> mid-tour</h2>"No batter in our top seven bowls. We should have included an all-rounder, but most importantly, brought in Ubaid Shah, who bowls close to 140 kph. One fast bowler changes the composition of your attack. I understand dropping [Salman] Agha, who's out of form, but you should have played Ghazi Ghori instead of [Mohammad] Rizwan [as the wicketkeeper]. Someone had to take action. The world is laughing at us because we can't even compete. The message we're sending to the recalled players is that you have to raise your game on important tours and compete, and we should be able to see some effort," explained Aaqib.Pakistan dropped Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Agha, Ali Usman, Aamer Jamal, Awais Zafar, and Khurram Shahzad. Meanwhile, Arafat Minhas, Mohammad Imran Jnr, Saad Baig, Mohammad Imran Randhawa, Razaullah, Saim Ayub, and Abdullah Fazal were called into the squad.The third Test of the series, for which all changes have been made, starts September 9 at Edgbaston in Birmingham.

Following two heavy Test defeats, Pakistan sacked coaches Sarfaraz Ahmed and Umar Gul, dropped seven players, and triggered Misbah-ul-Haq's exit. PCB's Aaqib Javed ordering an inquiry into Imam-ul-Haq.

The drama around the Pakistan cricket team continues to unfold, with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) director of high performance, Aaqib Javed, now calling for an inquiry into batter Imam-ul-Haq. After losing the first two of three Tests, Pakistan sent back seven players from the squad and sacked red-ball head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed as well as bowling coach Umar Gul. The move came after Pakistan's 194-run loss in the second Test, which followed an innings defeat in the first Test. After the reshuffle, PCB selection committee member Misbah-ul-Haq also resigned from his post amid the ongoing meltdown over Pakistan's performance. PCB director of high performance Aaqib Javed lashes out at Imam In an interview with Pakistan-based broadcaster Geo, Aaqib called out Imam specifically for not batting in either inning of the second Test. Imam pulled out of batting due to a calf injury ahead of the second day's play. The PCB stated that the batter had suffered a calf tear and that his participation would be subject to a medical opinion. Imam, however, warmed up with the team on Day 4 and took some throwdowns, leading former England great Stuart Broad to call his actions "all for show" while talking on air. Also Read - PCB demands explanation within 24 hours from selectors over Rizwan, Imam picks "The Imam injury is a big question mark and a deep disappointment," Aaqib said. "Players in the past used to get injuries, but they used to put on casts and still try [to play]. We'll take action against this. How is it possible that a pulled muscle ruled you out of batting in both innings? He should have tried and fought. He'll have to face an inquiry; I can't say he faked it, but a muscle pull like that cannot stop you from batting altogether." Why Pakistan dropped seven players from squad and sacked coaches mid-tour "No batter in our top seven bowls. We should have included an all-rounder, but most importantly, brought in Ubaid Shah, who bowls close to 140 kph. One fast bowler changes the composition of your attack. I understand dropping [Salman] Agha, who's out of form, but you should have played Ghazi Ghori instead of [Mohammad] Rizwan [as the wicketkeeper]. Someone had to take action. The world is laughing at us because we can't even compete. The message we're sending to the recalled players is that you have to raise your game on important tours and compete, and we should be able to see some effort," explained Aaqib. Pakistan dropped Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Agha, Ali Usman, Aamer Jamal, Awais Zafar, and Khurram Shahzad. Meanwhile, Arafat Minhas, Mohammad Imran Jnr, Saad Baig, Mohammad Imran Randhawa, Razaullah, Saim Ayub, and Abdullah Fazal were called into the squad. The third Test of the series, for which all changes have been made, starts September 9 at Edgbaston in Birmingham.

Following two heavy Test defeats, Pakistan sacked coaches Sarfaraz Ahmed and Umar Gul, dropped seven players, and triggered Misbah-ul-Haq's exit. PCB's Aaqib Javed ordering an inquiry into Imam-ul-Haq.

Meltdown in Pakistan cricket: PCB director of high performance Aaqib Javed explains reasoning behind dropping 7 players, sacking coaches

Tiger Woods, who pleaded not guilty to driving under the influence after crashing his car in Florida in March, is expected to formally change his plea, court documents showed Tuesday. A "change of plea" hearing early Wednesday (Sep 2) morning was added to the golf superstar's case docket at a Martin County court, online records showed.Woods' lawyer did not immediately respond to AFP request for comment about the nature of the change of plea.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/manchester-city-equal-british-transfer-record-enzo-fernandez-1788287462735">Manchester City equal British transfer record with £125m Enzo Fernandez deal</a>The 15-time major winner crashed his SUV into a trailer being pulled by a pickup truck near his Jupiter Island home in March.He was assessed to be impaired by officers at the scene, and had opioid painkillers with him.Woods pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor charges of DUI with property damage and refusing to submit to a lawful test, telling authorities he was looking at his phone and changing radio channels when he crashed.Days later he said he was "stepping away" to seek treatment and focus on his health.He was cleared by a judge to travel overseas to an inpatient facility, reportedly in Switzerland.Woods made his first public appearance since his arrest at the PGA Tour's Travelers Championship in June.The following month, a judge ruled that prosecutors could review Woods' hospital treatment, as well as the golfer's prescription drug records.In both cases the information can be reviewed only by prosecutors and designated law enforcement officers and experts and Woods's defense team.Woods has undergone multiple back operations and surgeries on severe leg injuries suffered in a separate, 2021 California car crash.

The 15-time major winner crashed his SUV into a trailer being pulled by a pickup truck near his Jupiter Island home in March. He was assessed to be impaired by officers at the scene, and had opioid painkillers with him.

Tiger Woods, who pleaded not guilty to driving under the influence after crashing his car in Florida in March, is expected to formally change his plea, court documents showed Tuesday. A "change of plea" hearing early Wednesday (Sep 2) morning was added to the golf superstar's case docket at a Martin County court, online records showed. Woods' lawyer did not immediately respond to AFP request for comment about the nature of the change of plea. Also Read - Manchester City equal British transfer record with £125m Enzo Fernandez deal The 15-time major winner crashed his SUV into a trailer being pulled by a pickup truck near his Jupiter Island home in March. He was assessed to be impaired by officers at the scene, and had opioid painkillers with him. Woods pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor charges of DUI with property damage and refusing to submit to a lawful test, telling authorities he was looking at his phone and changing radio channels when he crashed. Days later he said he was "stepping away" to seek treatment and focus on his health. He was cleared by a judge to travel overseas to an inpatient facility, reportedly in Switzerland. Woods made his first public appearance since his arrest at the PGA Tour's Travelers Championship in June. The following month, a judge ruled that prosecutors could review Woods' hospital treatment, as well as the golfer's prescription drug records. In both cases the information can be reviewed only by prosecutors and designated law enforcement officers and experts and Woods's defense team. Woods has undergone multiple back operations and surgeries on severe leg injuries suffered in a separate, 2021 California car crash.

The 15-time major winner crashed his SUV into a trailer being pulled by a pickup truck near his Jupiter Island home in March. He was assessed to be impaired by officers at the scene, and had opioid painkillers with him.

Tiger Woods set to change his 'no guilty' plea in DUI crash from March

Premier League giants Manchester City have agreed to sign Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez in a £125 million ($167 million) deal on deadline day, equalling the British transfer record. The latest reports suggest that the two clubs and Enzo have finally reached an agreement, with City chasing the Argentine for several months. Moreover, Fernandez’s move equals the previous British record set by Liverpool when they signed Alexander Isak from Newcastle.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">🚨💣 BREAKING: Enzo Fernández to Manchester City, HERE WE GO! 🇦🇷 Deal in place for fee over £125m after a long negotiation as Chelsea approved the sale. Enzo only wanted Manchester City and he’s now set for medical at <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/MCFC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MCFC</a>. <a href="https://t.co/R8rGpD24rc">pic.twitter.com/R8rGpD24rc</a>&mdash; Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) <a href="https://x.com/FabrizioRomano/status/2094814268042453369?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 1, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Enzo’s move sees him reunite with Enzo Maresca – the current City manager, who was with Chelsea earlier before exiting Stamford Bridge in January. Maresca was keen to land Fernandez after the recent sale of influential World Cup winner Rodri to Barcelona, as well as the departures of fellow midfielders Bernardo Silva, Nico Gonzalez and Tijjani Reijnders.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/premier-league-matchday-2-recap-perfect-starts-for-city-and-arsenal-bruno-s-hat-trick-sparks-manchester-united-comeback-1788246283781">Premier League Matchday 2 recap: Perfect starts for City and Arsenal, Bruno’s hat-trick sparks Manchester United comeback</a> &nbsp;Fernandez would join England's Elliot Anderson and Moroccan Ayyoub Bouaddi in City's revamped central midfield following Pep Guardiola’s departure ahead of this season. While Anderson joined City from Nottingham Forest for £116 million, Bouaddi cost £86 million to become the most expensive teenager in Premier League history.<h2>Enzo Pushed for City Move</h2>After learning about Enzo’s intentions of joining Manchester City, Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso had left him out of his squad for the last two games. Fernandez, who signed for Chelsea from Benfica for £106 million in 2023, strained relations with the club after expressing interest in joining Real Madrid, for which he was dropped for two matches. &nbsp;In his last competitive match for Argentina, the defending world champion lost the FIFA World Cup final to Spain in North America. &nbsp;Earlier, he also angered England fans with a provocative celebration of his country's World Cup semi-final over Thomas Tuchel's men, when Argentina won 2-1 to reach successive finals. &nbsp;The 25-year-old has won the UEFA Conference League and the Club World Cup in his time at Chelsea.

Manchester City have agreed a joint-record £125m deal to sign Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez on deadline day, reuniting him with manager Enzo Maresca.

Premier League giants Manchester City have agreed to sign Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez in a £125 million ($167 million) deal on deadline day, equalling the British transfer record. The latest reports suggest that the two clubs and Enzo have finally reached an agreement, with City chasing the Argentine for several months. Moreover, Fernandez’s move equals the previous British record set by Liverpool when they signed Alexander Isak from Newcastle.

Manchester City have agreed a joint-record £125m deal to sign Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez on deadline day, reuniting him with manager Enzo Maresca.

Manchester City equal British transfer record with £125m Enzo Fernandez deal

Almost a day after dropping seven squad players and releasing two coaches after losing the Lord’s Test to England, the PCB has demanded a detailed explanation within the next 24 hours from the selection committee over Mohammad Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq’s inclusions. &nbsp;The latest reports suggest that the PCB has issued show-cause notices to the four-member selection committee, challenging their decisions to play Rizwan and Imam on away tours of the West Indies and England. The committee, comprising former cricketers, including Aaqib Javed, Asad Shafiq, Sarfaraz Ahmed and Misbah-ul-Haq, has less than a day to respond to the PCB. &nbsp;Cricbuzz reports that a PCB spokesperson confirmed this development.&nbsp; &nbsp;"As advised by competent authority, you are hereby requested to provide an explanation regarding the basis and rationale for the selection of the two players, including relevant selection criteria, performance considerations and any other factors taken into account during the selection process,” the formal wording read.&nbsp; &nbsp;The PCB move comes following underwhelming performance from Rizwan on the English tour and mystery surrounding Imam’s left calf strain. Following a modest Caribbean tour with the bat, Rizwan’s returns against England in the first two Tests never helped Pakistan recover from any dire situation. Although most of their batters failed in the two Tests, where Pakistan didn’t cross 200 in four innings, Rizwan’s lack of game awareness cost Pakistan dearly, as they lost those matches and have conceded the three-match series. Rizwan scored 7, 1, 12 and 41 in four outings.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/misbah-ul-haq-resigns-pakistan-selector-pcb-lords-test-overhaul-1788266768336">Misbah-ul-Haq quits as Pakistan selector amid PCB’s post-Lord’s overhaul</a> &nbsp;On the other hand, opener Imam-ul-Haq, who was amongst the seven players released from the squad, did not bat at Lord’s after suffering a left calf strain. Although he suffered that injury during the series opener at Headingley and batted in both innings with tape around, he did not play any role in Lord’s Test after tea on day one. &nbsp;Imam was taken for scans, which later revealed the severity of his injury, with the team doctors suggesting he rest for 10 days. Meanwhile, these developments came shortly after Misbah tendered his resignation on Tuesday (Sep 1), but reports suggested that the PCB has yet to accept it.&nbsp;

The PCB has issued a 24-hour show-cause notice to its selection committee, demanding a full explanation for picking Mohammad Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq for the West Indies and England tours.

Almost a day after dropping seven squad players and releasing two coaches after losing the Lord’s Test to England, the PCB has demanded a detailed explanation within the next 24 hours from the selection committee over Mohammad Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq’s inclusions. The latest reports suggest that the PCB has issued show-cause notices to the four-member selection committee, challenging their decisions to play Rizwan and Imam on away tours of the West Indies and England. The committee, comprising former cricketers, including Aaqib Javed, Asad Shafiq, Sarfaraz Ahmed and Misbah-ul-Haq, has less than a day to respond to the PCB. Cricbuzz reports that a PCB spokesperson confirmed this development. "As advised by competent authority, you are hereby requested to provide an explanation regarding the basis and rationale for the selection of the two players, including relevant selection criteria, performance considerations and any other factors taken into account during the selection process,” the formal wording read. The PCB move comes following underwhelming performance from Rizwan on the English tour and mystery surrounding Imam’s left calf strain. Following a modest Caribbean tour with the bat, Rizwan’s returns against England in the first two Tests never helped Pakistan recover from any dire situation. Although most of their batters failed in the two Tests, where Pakistan didn’t cross 200 in four innings, Rizwan’s lack of game awareness cost Pakistan dearly, as they lost those matches and have conceded the three-match series. Rizwan scored 7, 1, 12 and 41 in four outings. Also read| Misbah-ul-Haq quits as Pakistan selector amid PCB’s post-Lord’s overhaul On the other hand, opener Imam-ul-Haq, who was amongst the seven players released from the squad, did not bat at Lord’s after suffering a left calf strain. Although he suffered that injury during the series opener at Headingley and batted in both innings with tape around, he did not play any role in Lord’s Test after tea on day one. Imam was taken for scans, which later revealed the severity of his injury, with the team doctors suggesting he rest for 10 days. Meanwhile, these developments came shortly after Misbah tendered his resignation on Tuesday (Sep 1), but reports suggested that the PCB has yet to accept it.

The PCB has issued a 24-hour show-cause notice to its selection committee, demanding a full explanation for picking Mohammad Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq for the West Indies and England tours.

PCB demands explanation within 24 hours from selectors over Rizwan, Imam inclusion

Former England captain Ben Stokes has signed up for Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash League (BBL), the franchise announced on Tuesday (Sep 1). Available to play franchise cricket worldwide following his shock international retirement in June, Stokes picked Australia’s BBL as his first step towards a new journey. The talismanic English all-rounder has also become the first overseas player to join since the new contracting system was confirmed last week, which allows teams to make direct signings.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Stoked. The Adelaide Strikers are thrilled to announce the signing of one of cricket&#39;s greatest all-rounders, Ben Stokes, ahead of BBL|16. Details → <a href="https://t.co/a18wsyxP5y">https://t.co/a18wsyxP5y</a> <a href="https://t.co/SozHIsrdTw">pic.twitter.com/SozHIsrdTw</a>&mdash; Adelaide Strikers (@StrikersBBL) <a href="https://x.com/StrikersBBL/status/2094717657623011352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 1, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

In Stokes’ case, local media reports that his deal is in the region of AU$500,000 (US$360,000 approx.) – significantly higher than the previous highest band at the platinum level of the draft which was AU$420,000. More overseas signings in the coming weeks could fetch huge numbers.&nbsp; &nbsp;Several BBL clubs were interested in signing Stokes, but it was the Strikers, coached by former Australian Test captain Tim Paine, who secured his services for one year.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/josh-hazlewood-australia-south-africa-tour-crowd-abuse-1788180061686">Josh Hazlewood expects South Africa sledging, insists Aussies won't be fazed</a> &nbsp;"I'm really excited to be joining the Adelaide Strikers for BBL|16," Stokes said in a statement. "I've always enjoyed playing in Australia, and when the opportunity came up to join the Strikers it was one I couldn't pass up. &nbsp;"Adelaide Oval is an incredible place to play cricket, the Big Bash is a fantastic competition, and the Strikers have an exciting group, so I'm looking forward to meeting the players, getting stuck in and contributing to a successful season. &nbsp;"I can't wait to get started, create some special memories with the group and give Strikers fans plenty to cheer about,” he continued. &nbsp;On Stokes’ signing, Paine said, “Ben is one of the greatest all-rounders the game has seen, a proven match-winner and a competitor who thrives under pressure. We're thrilled to have a player of his ability join our squad and can't wait to see him put on a show in BBL|16.”<h2>Touchdown Australia</h2>Meanwhile, Stokes will return to Australia for the first time since leading England in an away Ashes in late 2025. The visitors suffered an embarrassing 3-1 series loss Down Under, having last won an Ashes on Australian soil in 2011/12. &nbsp;The left-handed batter will also make only his second appearance in the BBL, since last representing Melbourne Renegades for a four-game stint in 2014. &nbsp;While Stokes' first game for the Strikers will be against Sydney Thunder, which would include David Warner, on December 16 in Canberra, his first home match will be against Thunder in the return fixture at the Adelaide Oval on December 23.

Former England captain Ben Stokes has signed a record AU$500,000 deal with the Adelaide Strikers for BBL|16. Read the full details on his full-season commitment.

Former England captain Ben Stokes has signed up for Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash League (BBL), the franchise announced on Tuesday (Sep 1). Available to play franchise cricket worldwide following his shock international retirement in June, Stokes picked Australia’s BBL as his first step towards a new journey. The talismanic English all-rounder has also become the first overseas player to join since the new contracting system was confirmed last week, which allows teams to make direct signings.

Former England captain Ben Stokes has signed a record AU$500,000 deal with the Adelaide Strikers for BBL|16. Read the full details on his full-season commitment.

Ben Stokes joins Adelaide Strikers in record AUD $500k BBL deal

Ace seamer Jasprit Bumrah has returned to the India squad for the three-match Afghanistan T20Is starting September 13 in Delhi. The BCCI selection committee also recalled all-rounders Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar and Harshit Rana for the upcoming series. Bumrah’s selection, however, remains subject to getting fitness clearance from BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE). While Sanju Samson, Axar Patel and Arshdeep Singh return to the 15-man squad after being rested for the Zimbabwe T20Is, Hardik Pandya misses out.<h3>India’s T20I squad for Afghanistan Series –</h3>Shreyas Iyer (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy*, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar*, Varun Chakravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah*, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana* &nbsp;*Subject to fitness clearance &nbsp;Varun Chakravarthy, who hurt his hamstring midway through the England T20Is and missed the subsequent Zimbabwe series, has also returned to the T20I squad. Among those left out were Rinku Singh, Prabhsimran Singh, Harsh Dubey, Suryansh Shedge, Ashok Sharma, Prince Yadav, Mayank Yadav and Yash Thakur. &nbsp;Meanwhile, Bumrah featured in the first two ODIs against England before getting ruled out of the third One-Dayer and the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka. He suffered a recurrence of an injury in his left knee – an issue he has been nursing since the T20 World Cup. Rana and Sundar also suffered hamstring injuries on the England tour, while Reddy tore his quadriceps during the home three-match ODI series against Afghanistan.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/east-zone-beat-central-zone-duleep-trophy-final-mukesh-shami-sooryavanshi-1788263366686">Mukesh, Sooryavanshi &amp; Shami fire East Zone past Central Zone into Duleep Trophy final</a> &nbsp;On the other hand, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has also retained his place in the T20I side, with India playing two specialist keepers in Samson and Ishan Kishan. Shivam Dube and Tilak Varma will handle middle and lower-order duties. In the spin bowling department, India picked Varun and Ravi Bishnoi as frontline spinners, leaving out Kuldeep Yadav.&nbsp; &nbsp;India will play Afghanistan in Delhi on September 13, 15 and 17. Though the matches are being played in India, Afghanistan are the official hosts of this series.

Jasprit Bumrah returns to India's T20I squad alongside Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar for the three-match series against Afghanistan in Delhi. Read the full squad details. 

Ace seamer Jasprit Bumrah has returned to the India squad for the three-match Afghanistan T20Is starting September 13 in Delhi. The BCCI selection committee also recalled all-rounders Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar and Harshit Rana for the upcoming series. Bumrah’s selection, however, remains subject to getting fitness clearance from BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE). While Sanju Samson, Axar Patel and Arshdeep Singh return to the 15-man squad after being rested for the Zimbabwe T20Is, Hardik Pandya misses out. India’s T20I squad for Afghanistan Series – Shreyas Iyer (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy*, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar*, Varun Chakravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah*, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana* *Subject to fitness clearance Varun Chakravarthy, who hurt his hamstring midway through the England T20Is and missed the subsequent Zimbabwe series, has also returned to the T20I squad. Among those left out were Rinku Singh, Prabhsimran Singh, Harsh Dubey, Suryansh Shedge, Ashok Sharma, Prince Yadav, Mayank Yadav and Yash Thakur. Meanwhile, Bumrah featured in the first two ODIs against England before getting ruled out of the third One-Dayer and the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka. He suffered a recurrence of an injury in his left knee – an issue he has been nursing since the T20 World Cup. Rana and Sundar also suffered hamstring injuries on the England tour, while Reddy tore his quadriceps during the home three-match ODI series against Afghanistan. Also read| Mukesh, Sooryavanshi & Shami fire East Zone past Central Zone into Duleep Trophy final On the other hand, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has also retained his place in the T20I side, with India playing two specialist keepers in Samson and Ishan Kishan. Shivam Dube and Tilak Varma will handle middle and lower-order duties. In the spin bowling department, India picked Varun and Ravi Bishnoi as frontline spinners, leaving out Kuldeep Yadav. India will play Afghanistan in Delhi on September 13, 15 and 17. Though the matches are being played in India, Afghanistan are the official hosts of this series.

Jasprit Bumrah returns to India's T20I squad alongside Nitish Kumar Reddy and Washington Sundar for the three-match series against Afghanistan in Delhi. Read the full squad details.&nbsp;

Jasprit Bumrah returns for Afghanistan T20Is; Nitish Reddy, Washington Sundar recalled

Hours after PCB dropped seven players from the Test squad and sent them home alongside the two coaches, Sarfaraz Ahmed and Umar Gul, following the loss at Lord’s, Misbah-ul-Haq tendered his resignation as the Pakistan selector. Pakistan lost the second Test by 194 runs and conceded the three-match Test series 2-0. &nbsp;With one game to go at Edgbaston in Birmingham, the board overhauled the squad, sending key players and management home. White-ball coaches Mike Hesson and Ashley Noffke will take over coaching duties for the final Test, and five uncapped players among a total of seven have been picked as replacements. &nbsp;Per the latest reports, the PCB has yet to accept Misbah’s resignation, and he has also decided to step down as batting consultant at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/pakistan-drop-7-players-release-coaches-eng-vs-pak-edgbaston-test-1788199115158">Pakistan drop 7 players, release coaches after Lord’s Test loss to England</a> &nbsp;Meanwhile, among those released from the Test squad are Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Agha, Ali Usman, Aamer Jamal, Awais Zafar, and Khurram Shahzad. Five uncapped players - Arafat Minhas, Mohammad Imran Jnr, Saad Baig, Mohammad Imran Randhawa, and Razaullah have been called up, alongside Saim Ayub and Abdullah Fazal, who were recalled to the side for the Edgbaston Test starting Wednesday (Sep 9). &nbsp;Since retiring as Pakistan’s most successful Test captain in 2017, Misbah took over several roles within the PCB. He was appointed as the head coach and chief selector in 2019, before retiring from the selection panel in October 2020. Misbah continued to focus on his role as head coach before resigning from that next year. Misbah kept moving around in different roles within the domestic setup for the next few years. &nbsp;In March this year, he joined a four-member selection committee, including former players like Aaqib Javed, Asad Shafique and Sarfaraz Ahmed. Since then, he has been on a 180-day contract with the PCB as the batting consultant. &nbsp;Babar Azam-led Pakistan is languishing at the bottom of the World Test Championship points table, with just 16 points, including six losses and two wins in eight contested matches. Out of contention for next year's WTC final, Pakistan will look to salvage pride and avoid a series whitewash in Birmingham.

Misbah-ul-Haq resigns as Pakistan selector after the PCB axed seven players and coaches following a 194-run Lord's Test loss to England. Read the full squad overhaul details.

Hours after PCB dropped seven players from the Test squad and sent them home alongside the two coaches, Sarfaraz Ahmed and Umar Gul, following the loss at Lord’s, Misbah-ul-Haq tendered his resignation as the Pakistan selector. Pakistan lost the second Test by 194 runs and conceded the three-match Test series 2-0. With one game to go at Edgbaston in Birmingham, the board overhauled the squad, sending key players and management home. White-ball coaches Mike Hesson and Ashley Noffke will take over coaching duties for the final Test, and five uncapped players among a total of seven have been picked as replacements. Per the latest reports, the PCB has yet to accept Misbah’s resignation, and he has also decided to step down as batting consultant at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore. Also read| Pakistan drop 7 players, release coaches after Lord’s Test loss to England Meanwhile, among those released from the Test squad are Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Agha, Ali Usman, Aamer Jamal, Awais Zafar, and Khurram Shahzad. Five uncapped players - Arafat Minhas, Mohammad Imran Jnr, Saad Baig, Mohammad Imran Randhawa, and Razaullah have been called up, alongside Saim Ayub and Abdullah Fazal, who were recalled to the side for the Edgbaston Test starting Wednesday (Sep 9). Since retiring as Pakistan’s most successful Test captain in 2017, Misbah took over several roles within the PCB. He was appointed as the head coach and chief selector in 2019, before retiring from the selection panel in October 2020. Misbah continued to focus on his role as head coach before resigning from that next year. Misbah kept moving around in different roles within the domestic setup for the next few years. In March this year, he joined a four-member selection committee, including former players like Aaqib Javed, Asad Shafique and Sarfaraz Ahmed. Since then, he has been on a 180-day contract with the PCB as the batting consultant. Babar Azam-led Pakistan is languishing at the bottom of the World Test Championship points table, with just 16 points, including six losses and two wins in eight contested matches. Out of contention for next year's WTC final, Pakistan will look to salvage pride and avoid a series whitewash in Birmingham.

Misbah-ul-Haq resigns as Pakistan selector after the PCB axed seven players and coaches following a 194-run Lord's Test loss to England. Read the full squad overhaul details.

Misbah-ul-Haq quits as Pakistan selector amid PCB’s post-Lord’s overhaul

India internationals, including seamers Mukesh Kumar and Mohammed Shami, alongside batting prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, powered East Zone past Central Zone by four wickets to reach the Duleep Trophy final this year. While Mukesh returned with seven wickets across two innings and Shami five, Sooryavanshi’s exploits at the top in the first innings were enough to keep their noses in front as East Zone reached the summit clash. Captain Ishan Kishan remained unbeaten during the run chase, scoring 39, including four fours and a six. &nbsp;East Zone’s Kishan won the toss and elected to bowl first at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence Ground 1 in Bengaluru. Opener and keeper batter Aryan Juyal weathered the early storm despite wickets falling regularly at the other end with his gritty 46 off 113 balls. The lower middle-order provided the base as Rinku Singh top-scored with 60 off 88 balls.&nbsp; &nbsp;Yash Thakur’s 30 at the death helped Central Zone put on 266 in the first innings. For the East Zone, seamers Mukesh and Shami picked up four and two wickets, respectively.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/asian-games-2026-cricket-lack-of-5-star-hotel-facilities-japan-1788177468377">Lack of 5-star room service plagues Asian Games cricket, official says</a> &nbsp;In reply, East Zone got off to a flyer. Sooryavanshi became the youngest to score a fifty in the competition’s history, and domestic giant Abhimanyu Easwaran scored 69. Vaibhav missed out on a well-deserved hundred by just eight runs (92 in 81 balls), with Harsh Dubey accounting for Kumar Kushagra on the very next ball. Easwaran departed soon after and so did the rest of the batters, as the batting collapse saw East Zone equalling Central Zone’s tally of 266 runs.<h2>East Zone Storm into Duleep Trophy Final</h2>Shami and Mukesh tore through Central Zone’s second innings by dismissing them for a mere 158. Shami, who last played for India during the triumphant 2025 Champions Trophy campaign, picked up three wickets. Mukesh was the star with the ball in hand, returning with four to complete a seven-wicket haul in the match. &nbsp;Sooryavanshi and Easwaran added 61 for the first wicket during the chase before Yash Thakur dismissed the dangerous Sooryavanshi on 40, courtesy of a world-class catch by Central Zone captain Rajat Patidar in the deep.&nbsp;

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">What. A. Catch 😮 Central Zone captain Rajat Patidar pulls off an absolute blinder 🔥 Scorecard ▶️ <a href="https://t.co/kyExeix2VY">https://t.co/kyExeix2VY</a><a href="https://x.com/hashtag/DuleepTrophy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DuleepTrophy</a> | <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/CZvEZ?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CZvEZ</a> <a href="https://t.co/NfAD3Kk9RH">pic.twitter.com/NfAD3Kk9RH</a>&mdash; BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) <a href="https://x.com/BCCIdomestic/status/2094714202913145340?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 1, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Wickets kept falling, but Kishan stood his ground, and alongside Shami, who hit the winning runs, helped his team enter the Duleep Trophy final.

Mukesh Kumar’s seven-wicket match haul and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s explosive 92 powered East Zone past Central Zone by four wickets to secure their spot in the Duleep Trophy final.

India internationals, including seamers Mukesh Kumar and Mohammed Shami, alongside batting prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, powered East Zone past Central Zone by four wickets to reach the Duleep Trophy final this year. While Mukesh returned with seven wickets across two innings and Shami five, Sooryavanshi’s exploits at the top in the first innings were enough to keep their noses in front as East Zone reached the summit clash. Captain Ishan Kishan remained unbeaten during the run chase, scoring 39, including four fours and a six. East Zone’s Kishan won the toss and elected to bowl first at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence Ground 1 in Bengaluru. Opener and keeper batter Aryan Juyal weathered the early storm despite wickets falling regularly at the other end with his gritty 46 off 113 balls. The lower middle-order provided the base as Rinku Singh top-scored with 60 off 88 balls. Yash Thakur’s 30 at the death helped Central Zone put on 266 in the first innings. For the East Zone, seamers Mukesh and Shami picked up four and two wickets, respectively. Also read| Lack of 5-star room service plagues Asian Games cricket, official says In reply, East Zone got off to a flyer. Sooryavanshi became the youngest to score a fifty in the competition’s history, and domestic giant Abhimanyu Easwaran scored 69. Vaibhav missed out on a well-deserved hundred by just eight runs (92 in 81 balls), with Harsh Dubey accounting for Kumar Kushagra on the very next ball. Easwaran departed soon after and so did the rest of the batters, as the batting collapse saw East Zone equalling Central Zone’s tally of 266 runs. East Zone Storm into Duleep Trophy Final Shami and Mukesh tore through Central Zone’s second innings by dismissing them for a mere 158. Shami, who last played for India during the triumphant 2025 Champions Trophy campaign, picked up three wickets. Mukesh was the star with the ball in hand, returning with four to complete a seven-wicket haul in the match. Sooryavanshi and Easwaran added 61 for the first wicket during the chase before Yash Thakur dismissed the dangerous Sooryavanshi on 40, courtesy of a world-class catch by Central Zone captain Rajat Patidar in the deep.

Mukesh Kumar’s seven-wicket match haul and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s explosive 92 powered East Zone past Central Zone by four wickets to secure their spot in the Duleep Trophy final.

Mukesh, Sooryavanshi & Shami fire East Zone past Central Zone into Duleep Trophy final

Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) decision to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/pakistan-drop-7-players-release-coaches-eng-vs-pak-edgbaston-test-1788199115158">cut loose seven players</a> after two Test losses against England might have been done with good intentions, but the move has attracted widespread criticism instead. PCB, after losing the first Test by an innings and the second Test by 194 runs, removed seven players from the third Test squad, which starts on September 9. Along with the players, including Salman Ali Agha who led the team in the first Test, Pakistan also removed head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul as well.<h2>Former players and coaches call out PCB for sending back 7 players from England Test squad</h2>The move, which came on Monday (Aug 31), saw Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Agha, Ali Usman, Aamer Jamal, Awais Zafar, and Khurram Shahzad being dropped, while Arafat Minhas, Mohammad Imran Jnr, Saad Baig, Mohammad Imran Randhawa, Razaullah, as well as Saim Ayub and Abdullah Fazal were called into the squad.Also Watch - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/us-open-2026-what-an-honour-allen-iverson-reacts-after-naomi-osaka-round-1-outfit-pays-tribute-to-nba-legend-1788237425166">US Open 2026: Osaka's statement 'Iverson' look before 1st round win</a>As for the coaches, white-ball head coach Mike Hesson and bowling coach Ashley Noffke replaced their red-ball counterparts, Sarfaraz Ahmed and Umar Gul.The personnel change, however, didn't go down well with Mickey Arthur, former Pakistan coach, who wrote on X: "Absolutely ridiculous decisions by the PCB — this is the reason they are in the mess they are in because they constantly chop and change players, coaches and selectors and there is no stability! Planning, stability and structure = consistent performance."Former skipper Shoaib Malik called the players' treatment disrespectful and wrote on X: "The players dropped from the squad are still our national cricketers who have served Pakistan. Phrases like ‘sent on the first flight back’ are disrespectful. Accountability should start with those who broke the system, not with players especially those who were on the bench or have played 2-3 Test matches. Plus, accountability starts once a tour is done, not in the middle of it."Shahid Afridi also didn't mince his words and wrote: "Not sure what is the logic or reasoning behind this decision! Even the replacements make no sense – T20 players have been included for a Test match in England?"Pakistan, who have now lost 10 of their last 11 away Tests, will face England in the third and final Test on September 9 at Edgbaston, Birmingham.

The PCB faces severe backlash from former coaches and players after dropping seven players and changing coaching staff midway through the England Test series following back-to-back heavy defeats.

Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) decision to cut loose seven players after two Test losses against England might have been done with good intentions, but the move has attracted widespread criticism instead. PCB, after losing the first Test by an innings and the second Test by 194 runs, removed seven players from the third Test squad, which starts on September 9. Along with the players, including Salman Ali Agha who led the team in the first Test, Pakistan also removed head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul as well. Former players and coaches call out PCB for sending back 7 players from England Test squad The move, which came on Monday (Aug 31), saw Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Agha, Ali Usman, Aamer Jamal, Awais Zafar, and Khurram Shahzad being dropped, while Arafat Minhas, Mohammad Imran Jnr, Saad Baig, Mohammad Imran Randhawa, Razaullah, as well as Saim Ayub and Abdullah Fazal were called into the squad. Also Watch - US Open 2026: Osaka's statement 'Iverson' look before 1st round win As for the coaches, white-ball head coach Mike Hesson and bowling coach Ashley Noffke replaced their red-ball counterparts, Sarfaraz Ahmed and Umar Gul. The personnel change, however, didn't go down well with Mickey Arthur, former Pakistan coach, who wrote on X: "Absolutely ridiculous decisions by the PCB — this is the reason they are in the mess they are in because they constantly chop and change players, coaches and selectors and there is no stability! Planning, stability and structure = consistent performance." Former skipper Shoaib Malik called the players' treatment disrespectful and wrote on X: "The players dropped from the squad are still our national cricketers who have served Pakistan. Phrases like ‘sent on the first flight back’ are disrespectful. Accountability should start with those who broke the system, not with players especially those who were on the bench or have played 2-3 Test matches. Plus, accountability starts once a tour is done, not in the middle of it." Shahid Afridi also didn't mince his words and wrote: "Not sure what is the logic or reasoning behind this decision! Even the replacements make no sense – T20 players have been included for a Test match in England?" Pakistan, who have now lost 10 of their last 11 away Tests, will face England in the third and final Test on September 9 at Edgbaston, Birmingham.

The PCB faces severe backlash from former coaches and players after dropping seven players and changing coaching staff midway through the England Test series following back-to-back heavy defeats.

'Absolutely ridiculous': PCB faces backlash after dropping 7 Pakistan players and coaches mid-tour in England

Premier League Matchday 2 is over for all 20 teams, and Manchester City are at the top with six points from two wins in two matches, while defending champions Arsenal are right behind in second place. Hull City continue to enjoy their return to top-flight English football with a second consecutive win. Manchester United, meanwhile, have bounced back from their season-opening loss to Hull City and have earned their first points with a win against Ipswich Town. Below are the complete results for all teams from Premier League Matchday 2:<ul><li>Manchester City 4-1 Crystal Palace</li><li>Liverpool 2-2 Nottingham Forest</li><li>Bournemouth 1-1 Everton</li><li>Coventry City 0-1 Hull City</li><li>Tottenham Hotspur 0-2 Newcastle United</li><li>Chelsea 4-3 Brighton &amp; Hove Albion</li><li>Leeds United 1-1 Brentford</li><li>Sunderland 1-0 Fulham</li><li>Manchester United 5-2 Ipswich Town</li><li>Aston Villa 0-1 Arsenal</li></ul><h2><a href="premierleague.com/en/stats/top/players?statMetric=goals&amp;season=2026">Who leads the Golden Boot race?</a></h2>Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes leads the goal tally with three goals after scoring a hat-trick against Ipswich Town on Matchday 2. Jack Hinshelwood (Brighton), João Pedro (Chelsea), Rayan Cherki (Man City), Anthony Elanga (Newcastle), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), and Erling Haaland (Man City) each have two goals.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/us-open-2026-stan-wawrinka-2016-winner-bids-adieu-to-new-york-after-first-round-loss-1788233290607">US Open 2026: Wawrinka, 2016 winner, bids adieu to New York after 1st round loss</a><h2>Which team has scored the <a href="https://www.premierleague.com/en/tables/premier-league/2026-27/all-matchweeks">most goals and conceded the least</a>?</h2>After two matches each, Chelsea and Brighton have scored the most goals for a team, with seven each. Arsenal and Hull City, meanwhile, have not conceded a single goal so far in the two matches played this season.<h2><a href="https://www.premierleague.com/en/stats/top/players?statMetric=cleanSheets&amp;season=2026&amp;position=Goalkeeper">Who is the best goalkeeper?</a></h2>Arsenal's David Raya and Hull City's Konstantinos Tzolakis are tied at the top for the Golden Glove award with two clean sheets in two matches played so far.<h2><a href="https://www.premierleague.com/en/stats/goal-assists/2026-27">Who is leading the Golden Playmaker race?</a></h2>Joao Pedro (Chelsea), Julio Enciso (Ipswich Town), Riccardo Calafiori (Arsenal), Rayan Cherki (Man City), Evanilson (Bournemouth), and Phil Foden (Man City) are in a six-way tie for the Golden Playmaker award for the most assists, with two assists each.<figure class="table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Team</td><td>Matches</td><td>Win</td><td>Loss</td><td>Draw</td><td>Points</td></tr><tr><td>Manchester City</td><td>2</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>6</td></tr><tr><td>Arsenal</td><td>2</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>6</td></tr><tr><td>Hull City</td><td>2</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>6</td></tr><tr><td>Chelsea</td><td>2</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>6</td></tr><tr><td>Brentford</td><td>2</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>4</td></tr><tr><td>Newcastle</td><td>2</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>4</td></tr><tr><td>Everton</td><td>2</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>4</td></tr><tr><td>Leeds</td><td>2</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>4</td></tr><tr><td>Brighton and Hove Albion</td><td>2</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>3</td></tr><tr><td>Manchester United</td><td>2</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>3</td></tr><tr><td>Sunderland</td><td>2</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>3</td></tr><tr><td>Ipswich Town</td><td>2</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>0</td><td>3</td></tr><tr><td>Liverpool</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>0</td><td>2</td><td>2</td></tr><tr><td>Bournemouth</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>Nottingham Forest</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>1</td><td>1</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>Fulham</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>Coventry City</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>Crystal Palace</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>Aston Villa</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>0</td></tr><tr><td>Tottenham Hotspur</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>2</td><td>0</td><td>0</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>

Manchester City lead Premier League Matchday 2 on goal difference with six points, while Arsenal sit second. Bruno Fernandes tops the Golden Boot race with three goals for Manchester United.

Premier League Matchday 2 is over for all 20 teams, and Manchester City are at the top with six points from two wins in two matches, while defending champions Arsenal are right behind in second place. Hull City continue to enjoy their return to top-flight English football with a second consecutive win. Manchester United, meanwhile, have bounced back from their season-opening loss to Hull City and have earned their first points with a win against Ipswich Town. Below are the complete results for all teams from Premier League Matchday 2: Manchester City 4-1 Crystal Palace Liverpool 2-2 Nottingham Forest Bournemouth 1-1 Everton Coventry City 0-1 Hull City Tottenham Hotspur 0-2 Newcastle United Chelsea 4-3 Brighton & Hove Albion Leeds United 1-1 Brentford Sunderland 1-0 Fulham Manchester United 5-2 Ipswich Town Aston Villa 0-1 Arsenal Who leads the Golden Boot race? Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes leads the goal tally with three goals after scoring a hat-trick against Ipswich Town on Matchday 2. Jack Hinshelwood (Brighton), João Pedro (Chelsea), Rayan Cherki (Man City), Anthony Elanga (Newcastle), Cole Palmer (Chelsea), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), and Erling Haaland (Man City) each have two goals. Also Read - US Open 2026: Wawrinka, 2016 winner, bids adieu to New York after 1st round loss Which team has scored the most goals and conceded the least? After two matches each, Chelsea and Brighton have scored the most goals for a team, with seven each. Arsenal and Hull City, meanwhile, have not conceded a single goal so far in the two matches played this season. Who is the best goalkeeper? Arsenal's David Raya and Hull City's Konstantinos Tzolakis are tied at the top for the Golden Glove award with two clean sheets in two matches played so far. Who is leading the Golden Playmaker race? Joao Pedro (Chelsea), Julio Enciso (Ipswich Town), Riccardo Calafiori (Arsenal), Rayan Cherki (Man City), Evanilson (Bournemouth), and Phil Foden (Man City) are in a six-way tie for the Golden Playmaker award for the most assists, with two assists each. Team Matches Win Loss Draw Points Manchester City 2 2 0 0 6 Arsenal 2 2 0 0 6 Hull City 2 2 0 0 6 Chelsea 2 2 0 0 6 Brentford 2 1 0 1 4 Newcastle 2 1 0 1 4 Everton 2 1 0 1 4 Leeds 2 1 0 1 4 Brighton and Hove Albion 2 1 1 0 3 Manchester United 2 1 1 0 3 Sunderland 2 1 1 0 3 Ipswich Town 2 1 1 0 3 Liverpool 2 0 0 2 2 Bournemouth 2 0 1 1 1 Nottingham Forest 2 0 1 1 1 Fulham 2 0 2 0 0 Coventry City 2 0 2 0 0 Crystal Palace 2 0 2 0 0 Aston Villa 2 0 2 0 0 Tottenham Hotspur 2 0 2 0 0

Manchester City lead Premier League Matchday 2 on goal difference with six points, while Arsenal sit second. Bruno Fernandes tops the Golden Boot race with three goals for Manchester United.

Premier League Matchday 2 recap: Perfect starts for City and Arsenal, Bruno’s hat-trick sparks Manchester United comeback

Naomi Osaka knows how to make fashion statements, and that too with a message. The Japanese tennis star revealed her latest look while entering the court for her first-round ladies' singles US Open 2026 match on Monday (Aug 31) at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Osaka took inspiration from NBA legend Allen Iverson, who was famous for his oversized clothes and tattoos during his playing days. Osaka recreated Iverson's hairdo as well as his elbow bands. As for the match, she beat Russia's Anastasia Zakharova 7-6(6), 7-6(3) in straight sets to enter round two.<h2>Osaka honours NBA legend Allen Iverson with US Open 2026 look</h2>Osaka entered the court through the tunnel in a washed, sleeveless, and oversized grey hoodie along with a tulle ball-gown white skirt. She wore her hair in braids like Iverson and also fashioned an athletic headband along with red and black athletic elbow sleeves. The look was <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DcumwlLnF0g/">courtesy of Who Decides War</a> and commissioned by Zendaya's stylist Law Roach. Have a look at her entrance below:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Naomi takes the New York stage! 🤩 <a href="https://t.co/n0klTeDxzz">pic.twitter.com/n0klTeDxzz</a>&mdash; US Open Tennis (@usopen) <a href="https://x.com/usopen/status/2094611284918407671?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 1, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Why Osaka chose Iverson as muse</h2>After the match started, Osaka's team shared a <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DcuktK_FkKy/?img_index=1">photoshoot on Instagram</a> where the tennis player was clicked in multiple poses in front of a bridge. The photos also had old newspaper cuttings sewn into them, and the caption read, 'The Answer', the nickname Iverson went by during his NBA days.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/us-open-2026-stan-wawrinka-2016-winner-bids-adieu-to-new-york-after-first-round-loss-1788233290607">US Open 2026: Stan Wawrinka, 2016 winner, bids adieu to New York after first round loss</a>Osaka, before the match, told reporters that <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DcuEVaHnJZG/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;ig_rid=AOgcmv1fsVvJw-0d8AR-yPy&amp;img_index=2">she was inspired by the NBA and Iverson</a> while wearing a T-shirt featuring an image of Iverson's famous "Soul on Ice" SLAM magazine cover. The NBA player replied promptly and wrote: "Wow, what an honor!! BIG FAN can't wait to meet you."Osaka, in recent years, has become more famous for her court-entering looks at the Grand Slams rather than the results. The former world No. 1, who has won four majors - Australian Open (2019 and 2021) and US Open (2018 and 2020) - has been trying hard to make it back to the top ever since returning from maternity leave.&nbsp;

Naomi Osaka made a bold fashion statement at the 2026 US Open, honoring NBA legend Allen Iverson in a custom Law Roach outfit before winning her first-round match against Anastasia Zakharova.

Naomi Osaka knows how to make fashion statements, and that too with a message. The Japanese tennis star revealed her latest look while entering the court for her first-round ladies' singles US Open 2026 match on Monday (Aug 31) at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Osaka took inspiration from NBA legend Allen Iverson, who was famous for his oversized clothes and tattoos during his playing days. Osaka recreated Iverson's hairdo as well as his elbow bands. As for the match, she beat Russia's Anastasia Zakharova 7-6(6), 7-6(3) in straight sets to enter round two. Osaka honours NBA legend Allen Iverson with US Open 2026 look Osaka entered the court through the tunnel in a washed, sleeveless, and oversized grey hoodie along with a tulle ball-gown white skirt. She wore her hair in braids like Iverson and also fashioned an athletic headband along with red and black athletic elbow sleeves. The look was courtesy of Who Decides War and commissioned by Zendaya's stylist Law Roach. Have a look at her entrance below:

Naomi Osaka made a bold fashion statement at the 2026 US Open, honoring NBA legend Allen Iverson in a custom Law Roach outfit before winning her first-round match against Anastasia Zakharova.

US Open 2026: Naomi Osaka enters court with statement 'Iverson' look ahead of 1st round win - WATCH

Stan Wawrinka, the Swiss who was always in the shadow of tennis great Roger Federer, finally got his chance to say goodbye to the game with the spotlight on him. The 41-year-old, who announced his retirement at the end of the season, <a href="https://www.usopen.org/en_US/news/articles/2026-08-31/stan_wawrinka_says_farewell_to_new_york_at_the_2026_us_open.html">thanked the fans</a> at the ongoing US Open after losing his last Grand Slam match. Wawrinka, ranked 127, was beaten by Matteo Berrettini, 7-6(4), 7-6(3), 6-0 on Monday (Aug 31) at Grandstand, bringing an end to his major career. Wawrinka had won the US Open in 2016 - one of his three majors, which also include the Australian Open (2014) and French Open (2015).<h2>Wawrinka bids adieu to New York after 1st round loss at US Open 2026</h2>Wawrinka gave a good fight in his last major match, at least for the first two sets which went into tie-breakers, but ran out of steam in the third set. He, nonetheless, enjoyed playing before the New York faithful and told reporters after the match: “Amazing atmosphere, that's for sure. That for me was the most important, having one more opportunity to play in this tournament. Of course, I was super happy to receive the wild card to come here.”Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/us-open-defending-champion-alcaraz-makes-winning-return-to-flushing-meadows-1788229492618">US Open: Defending champion Alcaraz makes winning return to Flushing Meadows</a>"I was super grateful for the support I received tonight," Wawrinka added. "New York is a really special city. It became one of my favorite cities by far, to come here, to spend time. I have many friends here.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">One last time for Stan the Man 🙌 <a href="https://t.co/SmGbxZiWPJ">pic.twitter.com/SmGbxZiWPJ</a>&mdash; US Open Tennis (@usopen) <a href="https://x.com/usopen/status/2094560522788053168?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 31, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

"It's the city that never sleeps. I think here the US Open is always an amazing atmosphere. You can feel the support. You can feel the way in America they love the sport. They like to make a show around that, and as a player, it's always enjoyable."<h2>How Wawrinka went down against Berrettini</h2>Wawrinka pushed the first set to a tie-breaker which he lost 6(4)-7, but kept the momentum going in the second set as well. The Swiss once again forced a tiebreaker in the second set but lost 6(3)-7. Down two sets, it needed a Herculean effort from the Swiss, but he ran out of gas in the third set and surrendered 6-0, losing the match in three straight sets."It was a good level for two sets," Wawrinka noted after the match. "I had many opportunities in the first and second. I couldn't take them. It's, of course, always more and more difficult when you win less and less matches to get the confidence to finish those sets, so it was a bit difficult."But I think the level during two sets was really high, and the atmosphere, of course—the support was really special. Knowing that it was my last time here, it's never easy, that's for sure, especially when you love something so much and you enjoy it so much," he added.

Stan Wawrinka, 41, ended his Grand Slam career at the 2026 US Open. The 2016 champion fell 7-6(4), 7-6(3), 6-0 to Matteo Berrettini in round one, thanking fans before his season-ending retirement.

Stan Wawrinka, the Swiss who was always in the shadow of tennis great Roger Federer, finally got his chance to say goodbye to the game with the spotlight on him. The 41-year-old, who announced his retirement at the end of the season, thanked the fans at the ongoing US Open after losing his last Grand Slam match. Wawrinka, ranked 127, was beaten by Matteo Berrettini, 7-6(4), 7-6(3), 6-0 on Monday (Aug 31) at Grandstand, bringing an end to his major career. Wawrinka had won the US Open in 2016 - one of his three majors, which also include the Australian Open (2014) and French Open (2015). Wawrinka bids adieu to New York after 1st round loss at US Open 2026 Wawrinka gave a good fight in his last major match, at least for the first two sets which went into tie-breakers, but ran out of steam in the third set. He, nonetheless, enjoyed playing before the New York faithful and told reporters after the match: “Amazing atmosphere, that's for sure. That for me was the most important, having one more opportunity to play in this tournament. Of course, I was super happy to receive the wild card to come here.” Also Read - US Open: Defending champion Alcaraz makes winning return to Flushing Meadows "I was super grateful for the support I received tonight," Wawrinka added. "New York is a really special city. It became one of my favorite cities by far, to come here, to spend time. I have many friends here.

Stan Wawrinka, 41, ended his Grand Slam career at the 2026 US Open. The 2016 champion fell 7-6(4), 7-6(3), 6-0 to Matteo Berrettini in round one, thanking fans before his season-ending retirement.

US Open 2026: Stan Wawrinka, 2016 winner, bids adieu to New York after first round loss

Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz didn't miss a beat as he returned from a four-month injury absence with a straight-sets first-round victory in the US Open on Monday (Aug 31). Out of action with a wrist injury since April, Alcaraz passed his first test with flying colors, beating Russian Roman Safiullin 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 at Arthur Ashe Stadium, where women's defending champion Aryna Sabalenka also made it safely into the second round."It's been a really tough five months for me," Alcaraz said. "Being able to step on the Arthur Ashe, being able to compete again, I couldn't decide to come back in a better tournament. It's a really special place for me."Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/us-open-venus-williams-suffers-first-round-exit-in-record-26th-appearance-1788160905576">US Open: Venus Williams suffers first-round exit in record 26th appearance</a>"I tried to enjoy as much as I can," he added. "I missed the crowd, I missed the energy, I missed competition. I missed everything."Alcaraz is trying to bookend his season with Grand Slam titles after his Australian Open triumph in January made him the youngest man to complete a career Grand Slam.Monday's performance might not have been peak Alcaraz, but the seven-time Grand Slam champion unleashed his powerful forehand with increasing confidence and displayed his familiar touch at the net."I think the level of tennis is going to be better for sure," said Alcaraz, who said he was most proud that he was able to quell his own doubts about his fitness."I tried to forget everything, I tried to enjoy," he said.Alcaraz's smooth move into the second round came less than 24 hours after ailing Novak Djokovic suffered his earliest Grand Slam exit in 20 years, falling in five brutal sets to Mariano Navone.The tournament was already missing top-ranked Jannik Sinner, absent with a bad knee, and Djokovic's exit removed another possible obstacle for Alcaraz, who could have met the Serb superstar in the semi-finals.<h2>Aggressive Sabalenka</h2>Sabalenka's bid for a rare US Open three-peat comes amid a worrying drop in form, but the Belarusian star rose to the occasion in a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Camila Osorio.She was slowed by 23 unforced errors but belted 32 winners to more than compensate, her thunderous groundstrokes proving enough to see off a counter-punching opponent who stepped up her game in the second set."She brought the fight," Sabalenka said. "She battled really well and I just tried to stay as aggressive as possible."I think I played great. She's a tough opponent, makes you work really hard to get every point, so I'm happy that I was able to close the match in straight sets," she added.Sabalenka hasn't reached a final since capturing the prestigious "Sunshine Double" of Indian Wells and Miami back in March.Poland's six-time Grand Slam singles champion Iga Swiatek sailed into the second round with a straight sets victory over China's Wang Xiyu.Eighth-seeded Swiatek, who defeated Sabalenka on the way to her lone US Open triumph in 2022, eased past Wang 6-2, 6-3 in 1hr 28min."It was a good day in the office," Swiatek said afterwards. "I felt pretty good right from the beginning and I had the energy and the intensity. I want to keep it that way."Elsewhere Frenchman Arthur Fils, flying high after his first ATP Masters title in Cincinnati, was brought back to earth by Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas 4-6, 7-6 (7/3), 6-1, 6-4.Tsitsipas bagged his first win over 22-year-old Fis in six encounters."I am speechless, I don't know what to say," said Tsitsipas, a former top five player who has slumped to 53 in the world. "It's an amazing start to the tournament."With top-seeded German Alexander Zverev due to open his campaign on Tuesday, Monday night's showcourt action on Ashe saw American eighth seed Ben Shelton overcome a rocky start before booking his place in the second round with a four-set defeat of the Netherlands' Tallon Griekspoor.Shelton looked out of sorts as Griekspoor roared through the first set with three breaks of serve to win 6-1.But Shelton turned the tables to score a 1-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7/3), 6-2 victory in 2hr 35min."Started off with a little bit of nerves tonight, but I found my rhythm," Shelton said.The final game on the Ashe court sees Naomi Osaka, whose four Grand Slam titles include two US Opens, take on Anastasia Zakharova.

Alcaraz is trying to bookend his season with Grand Slam titles after his Australian Open triumph in January made him the youngest man to complete a career Grand Slam.

Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz didn't miss a beat as he returned from a four-month injury absence with a straight-sets first-round victory in the US Open on Monday (Aug 31). Out of action with a wrist injury since April, Alcaraz passed his first test with flying colors, beating Russian Roman Safiullin 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 at Arthur Ashe Stadium, where women's defending champion Aryna Sabalenka also made it safely into the second round. "It's been a really tough five months for me," Alcaraz said. "Being able to step on the Arthur Ashe, being able to compete again, I couldn't decide to come back in a better tournament. It's a really special place for me." Also Read - US Open: Venus Williams suffers first-round exit in record 26th appearance "I tried to enjoy as much as I can," he added. "I missed the crowd, I missed the energy, I missed competition. I missed everything." Alcaraz is trying to bookend his season with Grand Slam titles after his Australian Open triumph in January made him the youngest man to complete a career Grand Slam. Monday's performance might not have been peak Alcaraz, but the seven-time Grand Slam champion unleashed his powerful forehand with increasing confidence and displayed his familiar touch at the net. "I think the level of tennis is going to be better for sure," said Alcaraz, who said he was most proud that he was able to quell his own doubts about his fitness. "I tried to forget everything, I tried to enjoy," he said. Alcaraz's smooth move into the second round came less than 24 hours after ailing Novak Djokovic suffered his earliest Grand Slam exit in 20 years, falling in five brutal sets to Mariano Navone. The tournament was already missing top-ranked Jannik Sinner, absent with a bad knee, and Djokovic's exit removed another possible obstacle for Alcaraz, who could have met the Serb superstar in the semi-finals. Aggressive Sabalenka Sabalenka's bid for a rare US Open three-peat comes amid a worrying drop in form, but the Belarusian star rose to the occasion in a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Camila Osorio. She was slowed by 23 unforced errors but belted 32 winners to more than compensate, her thunderous groundstrokes proving enough to see off a counter-punching opponent who stepped up her game in the second set. "She brought the fight," Sabalenka said. "She battled really well and I just tried to stay as aggressive as possible. "I think I played great. She's a tough opponent, makes you work really hard to get every point, so I'm happy that I was able to close the match in straight sets," she added. Sabalenka hasn't reached a final since capturing the prestigious "Sunshine Double" of Indian Wells and Miami back in March. Poland's six-time Grand Slam singles champion Iga Swiatek sailed into the second round with a straight sets victory over China's Wang Xiyu. Eighth-seeded Swiatek, who defeated Sabalenka on the way to her lone US Open triumph in 2022, eased past Wang 6-2, 6-3 in 1hr 28min. "It was a good day in the office," Swiatek said afterwards. "I felt pretty good right from the beginning and I had the energy and the intensity. I want to keep it that way." Elsewhere Frenchman Arthur Fils, flying high after his first ATP Masters title in Cincinnati, was brought back to earth by Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas 4-6, 7-6 (7/3), 6-1, 6-4. Tsitsipas bagged his first win over 22-year-old Fis in six encounters. "I am speechless, I don't know what to say," said Tsitsipas, a former top five player who has slumped to 53 in the world. "It's an amazing start to the tournament." With top-seeded German Alexander Zverev due to open his campaign on Tuesday, Monday night's showcourt action on Ashe saw American eighth seed Ben Shelton overcome a rocky start before booking his place in the second round with a four-set defeat of the Netherlands' Tallon Griekspoor. Shelton looked out of sorts as Griekspoor roared through the first set with three breaks of serve to win 6-1. But Shelton turned the tables to score a 1-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7/3), 6-2 victory in 2hr 35min. "Started off with a little bit of nerves tonight, but I found my rhythm," Shelton said. The final game on the Ashe court sees Naomi Osaka, whose four Grand Slam titles include two US Opens, take on Anastasia Zakharova.

Alcaraz is trying to bookend his season with Grand Slam titles after his Australian Open triumph in January made him the youngest man to complete a career Grand Slam.

US Open: Defending champion Alcaraz makes winning return to Flushing Meadows

Pakistan has taken stern steps after losing the second Test at Lord’s and conceding the three-match series against England (2-0). Pakistan dropped seven players from the squad for the third Test at Edgbaston and also released coaches Sarfaraz Ahmed and Umar Gul. This shocking overhaul came on the back of Pakistan’s 194-run loss in the second match, having been dismissed for the fourth time consecutively inside 200. &nbsp;While Pakistan sent home seven key players, including Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Agha, Ali Usman, Aamer Jamal, Awais Zafar, and Khurram Shahzad, they recalled as many, including Saim Ayub and Abdullah Fazal among several rookies. Mike Hesson and Ashley Noffke, the head coach and the bowling coach in the white-ball setup, have been asked to take over the coaching duties for the final Test. &nbsp;The five uncapped players picked for the Edgbaston Test are Arafat Minhas, Mohammad Imran Jnr, Saad Baig, Mohammad Imran Randhawa, and Razaullah.&nbsp;<h3>Pakistan Test squad for the third Test -</h3>Babar Azam (captain), Abdullah Fazal, Arafat Minhas, Azan Awais, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Muhammad Imran, Mohammad Imran Jnr, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wk), Razaullah, Saad Baig (wk), Saim Ayub, Sajid Khan, Saud Shakeel, Shan Masood and Ubaid Shah &nbsp;While regular captain Babar Azam was also under the scanner for his poor outing in his comeback Test, he retained his place as the skipper and marquee batter, with Shan Masood and Abdullah Shafique also holding onto their spots. Opener Azan Awais, who was Pakistan’s best batter in the first innings at Lord’s, has also retained his place.<h2>High-Profile Omissions</h2>Imam-ul-Haq, who suffered a left calf strain and was ruled out of the Test, is among those sent home. Salman Ali Agha, who took over the captaincy duties in Babar’s absence in the Headingley Test, has followed, while the left-arm spinner Ali Usman has been shown the door. All-rounder Khurram Shahzad, who was expensive during his run in the first two Tests, has joined them.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/imam-ul-haq-fake-injury-ink-toe-controversy-pcb-ban-1788188621019">Imam-ul-Haq accused of using ink to fake toe injury during 2025 NZ tour: Reports</a> &nbsp;However, the biggest name on the list was that of gloveman Mohammad Rizwan. Even though he was impressive behind the wickets, standing close to seamer Mohammad Abbas, his returns with the bat, and most importantly, his manner of dismissals led to his exit. Rizwan scored 7, 1, 12 and 41 in four outings. &nbsp;Meanwhile, white-ball opener Saim Ayub hasn’t played any cricket for Pakistan since the T20 World Cup exit in February. Although inconsistency hasn’t been the major factor, fitness kept the selectors sceptical about his selection.&nbsp; &nbsp;The third Test will begin on Wednesday (Sep 9).&nbsp;

Pakistan drop seven players—including Mohammad Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq—and release red-ball coaches after a crushing Lord's Test loss to England. See the updated 3rd Test squad. 

Pakistan has taken stern steps after losing the second Test at Lord’s and conceding the three-match series against England (2-0). Pakistan dropped seven players from the squad for the third Test at Edgbaston and also released coaches Sarfaraz Ahmed and Umar Gul. This shocking overhaul came on the back of Pakistan’s 194-run loss in the second match, having been dismissed for the fourth time consecutively inside 200. While Pakistan sent home seven key players, including Mohammad Rizwan, Imam-ul-Haq, Salman Agha, Ali Usman, Aamer Jamal, Awais Zafar, and Khurram Shahzad, they recalled as many, including Saim Ayub and Abdullah Fazal among several rookies. Mike Hesson and Ashley Noffke, the head coach and the bowling coach in the white-ball setup, have been asked to take over the coaching duties for the final Test. The five uncapped players picked for the Edgbaston Test are Arafat Minhas, Mohammad Imran Jnr, Saad Baig, Mohammad Imran Randhawa, and Razaullah. Pakistan Test squad for the third Test - Babar Azam (captain), Abdullah Fazal, Arafat Minhas, Azan Awais, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Muhammad Imran, Mohammad Imran Jnr, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori (wk), Razaullah, Saad Baig (wk), Saim Ayub, Sajid Khan, Saud Shakeel, Shan Masood and Ubaid Shah While regular captain Babar Azam was also under the scanner for his poor outing in his comeback Test, he retained his place as the skipper and marquee batter, with Shan Masood and Abdullah Shafique also holding onto their spots. Opener Azan Awais, who was Pakistan’s best batter in the first innings at Lord’s, has also retained his place. High-Profile Omissions Imam-ul-Haq, who suffered a left calf strain and was ruled out of the Test, is among those sent home. Salman Ali Agha, who took over the captaincy duties in Babar’s absence in the Headingley Test, has followed, while the left-arm spinner Ali Usman has been shown the door. All-rounder Khurram Shahzad, who was expensive during his run in the first two Tests, has joined them. Also read| Imam-ul-Haq accused of using ink to fake toe injury during 2025 NZ tour: Reports However, the biggest name on the list was that of gloveman Mohammad Rizwan. Even though he was impressive behind the wickets, standing close to seamer Mohammad Abbas, his returns with the bat, and most importantly, his manner of dismissals led to his exit. Rizwan scored 7, 1, 12 and 41 in four outings. Meanwhile, white-ball opener Saim Ayub hasn’t played any cricket for Pakistan since the T20 World Cup exit in February. Although inconsistency hasn’t been the major factor, fitness kept the selectors sceptical about his selection. The third Test will begin on Wednesday (Sep 9).

Pakistan drop seven players—including Mohammad Rizwan and Imam-ul-Haq—and release red-ball coaches after a crushing Lord's Test loss to England. See the updated 3rd Test squad.&nbsp;

Pakistan drop 7 players, release coaches after Lord’s Test loss to England

Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football. The 2022 World Cup winner with Argentina, Messi decided to hang up his boots for the national side while continuing to play for Inter Miami in the Major League Soccer (MLS). Messi’s last appearance for Argentina came during the 2026 FIFA World Cup final in New Jersey, which they lost to Spain 1-0. Playing his sixth World Cup, Messi smashed eight goals and assisted four times in his best-ever outing at the competition. &nbsp;Touted as the greatest of his time, Messi took to his Instagram handle to announce his international retirement.&nbsp; &nbsp;“After all this time since the final, and after thinking about it a lot, I want to tell everyone that I’m retiring from the national team… &nbsp;"It was a decision that hurt and still hurts deep inside, but I understand that this is the right moment.&nbsp; &nbsp;"I swear I always gave everything, not only in these last few years when we won everything, but before that too. I always fought and gave everything for this shirt, to bring you happiness and make you feel proud to be Argentine through football,” Messi wrote. &nbsp;Following his father Jorge Messi’s death earlier in August, the Argentine superstar indicated he was calling time on his professional yet decorated career, saying he doesn’t have much left in him to deliver.&nbsp; &nbsp;"There isn’t much time left, and different chapters are coming to an end. This is one that hurts me a lot. I love, I loved, and I will always love being part of the national team. I gave everything I had, and I don’t have anything more to give.&nbsp; &nbsp;"Also, there are great young players coming through who deserve to be here.” &nbsp;Messi made his international debut in August 2005 in a friendly game against Hungary, and represented Argentina at next year’s World Cup. For 20 years, he delivered his best for the South American team, having had his share of success and failures on the way. While he realised his dream of lifting a FIFA World Cup in Qatar, alongside winning several international trophies, Messi had also endured many heartbreaks in international tournament finals over the years. But his journey, nonetheless, has been magnificent.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">🚨🇦🇷 BREAKING: Lionel Messi statement to announce retirement from professional football. “After all this time since the final, and after thinking about it a lot, I want to tell everyone that I’m retiring from the national team… &quot;It was a decision that hurt and still hurts deep… <a href="https://t.co/tUc8a4upHM">pic.twitter.com/tUc8a4upHM</a>&mdash; Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) <a href="https://x.com/FabrizioRomano/status/2094443749636030683?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 31, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

"Thank you for all the love during these 20 years. I’m going to miss hearing you from the inside. Now I’ll be one of you, always supporting from the outside, in the good times and even more in the bad ones. &nbsp;"Thank you to my family for always being there and for being with me throughout this beautiful but difficult journey. Thank you to every coach, teammate and director I had the chance to share it with. I take with me unforgettable memories and moments. &nbsp;"I leave with peace and pride, knowing that together with my teammates we gave you moments we once dreamed of. It was crazy to experience all of this with you. I love you! &nbsp;"Thank you, God, for making me Argentine. &nbsp;"¡Vamos, Argentina! &nbsp;“I wrote these words on July 21, two days after the final. Today, after what happened with my dad, I’m even more convinced of this decision than before,” he concluded.&nbsp;

Lionel Messi officially announces his retirement from international football following Argentina’s 2026 World Cup final appearance.

Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football. The 2022 World Cup winner with Argentina, Messi decided to hang up his boots for the national side while continuing to play for Inter Miami in the Major League Soccer (MLS). Messi’s last appearance for Argentina came during the 2026 FIFA World Cup final in New Jersey, which they lost to Spain 1-0. Playing his sixth World Cup, Messi smashed eight goals and assisted four times in his best-ever outing at the competition. Touted as the greatest of his time, Messi took to his Instagram handle to announce his international retirement. “After all this time since the final, and after thinking about it a lot, I want to tell everyone that I’m retiring from the national team… "It was a decision that hurt and still hurts deep inside, but I understand that this is the right moment. "I swear I always gave everything, not only in these last few years when we won everything, but before that too. I always fought and gave everything for this shirt, to bring you happiness and make you feel proud to be Argentine through football,” Messi wrote. Following his father Jorge Messi’s death earlier in August, the Argentine superstar indicated he was calling time on his professional yet decorated career, saying he doesn’t have much left in him to deliver. "There isn’t much time left, and different chapters are coming to an end. This is one that hurts me a lot. I love, I loved, and I will always love being part of the national team. I gave everything I had, and I don’t have anything more to give. "Also, there are great young players coming through who deserve to be here.” Messi made his international debut in August 2005 in a friendly game against Hungary, and represented Argentina at next year’s World Cup. For 20 years, he delivered his best for the South American team, having had his share of success and failures on the way. While he realised his dream of lifting a FIFA World Cup in Qatar, alongside winning several international trophies, Messi had also endured many heartbreaks in international tournament finals over the years. But his journey, nonetheless, has been magnificent.

Lionel Messi officially announces his retirement from international football following Argentina’s 2026 World Cup final appearance.

End of an Era: Lionel Messi announces retirement from international football

Pakistan opener Imam-ul-Haq was ruled out of the concluded second Test against England at Lord’s due to a calf strain. After sustaining the injury during the first innings of the series opener at Headingley, Imam batted twice in the Tests but did not bat even once during the second match. His absence hurt Pakistan as they lost the Test by 194 runs and conceded the three-match series (2-0) with one game to go. However, startling revelations have surfaced, accusing Imam of using ink to fake his toe injury during the 2025 New Zealand tour, with the PCB reportedly considering a ban.&nbsp;Former PCB selection committee chairman Mohammad Wasim also narrated an instance on the same lines after Imam did not come out to bat in the first innings at Lord’s. He said during his time with Pakistan Cricket in 2022, the team physio warned Wasim of Imam’s deliberate tactics of faking injuries to avoid playing, which he eventually discovered soon after.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/babar-azam-pcb-lords-test-boycott-imran-khan-interview-1788174409605">'No, no, no': Babar Azam dismisses alleged PCB walkout over Imran Khan interview | WATCH</a>&nbsp;A Geo News report, also carried by several publications, shed light on a hidden controversy which could potentially tarnish PCB and Imam’s reputation internationally. During Pakistan’s tour of New Zealand in March 2025, the PCB inquiry committee found Imam responsible for allegedly faking an injury midway through the series.<h2>Allegations of Ink and Misrepresentation</h2>The incident happened on March 28 when the left-handed opener suffered a blow to his right toe. While the X-ray report showed no evidence of Imam suffering any fracture or a subsequent toe injury, he continued to complain of severe pain and discolouration. Things took an interesting turn after being asked to avoid walking, Imam allegedly walked around 500 meters to attend an iftar gathering.&nbsp;The inquiry report also reportedly claimed that when the team doctor cleaned Imam’s toe with chemically treated paper, the alleged injury mark (black colour) disappeared, with the report describing it as ‘not a natural blood mark but ink or marker.’<h3>Inquiry Recommended a Full Ban</h3>The report also states that the team officials informed the inquiry committee that Imam limped while walking in front of the medical staff but walked normally when he was away from them. Although Imam denied all allegations, the PCB committee reportedly found his explanation inconsistent with the medical evidence and other findings.&nbsp;The sources close to the information concluded that there was no medical basis to declare that Imam was unfit for New Zealand ODIs, while also accusing him of 'fabricating, exaggerating or misrepresenting symptoms and misleading medical staff' and of 'deliberately attempting to make himself unavailable for the opening ODI.’&nbsp;The inquiry committee also recommended banning Imam from representing Pakistan across all formats and at all levels.

Pakistan opener Imam-ul-Haq faces a potential ban after a PCB inquiry revealed he allegedly used ink to fake a toe injury during the 2025 New Zealand tour.

Pakistan opener Imam-ul-Haq was ruled out of the concluded second Test against England at Lord’s due to a calf strain. After sustaining the injury during the first innings of the series opener at Headingley, Imam batted twice in the Tests but did not bat even once during the second match. His absence hurt Pakistan as they lost the Test by 194 runs and conceded the three-match series (2-0) with one game to go. However, startling revelations have surfaced, accusing Imam of using ink to fake his toe injury during the 2025 New Zealand tour, with the PCB reportedly considering a ban. Former PCB selection committee chairman Mohammad Wasim also narrated an instance on the same lines after Imam did not come out to bat in the first innings at Lord’s. He said during his time with Pakistan Cricket in 2022, the team physio warned Wasim of Imam’s deliberate tactics of faking injuries to avoid playing, which he eventually discovered soon after. Also read| 'No, no, no': Babar Azam dismisses alleged PCB walkout over Imran Khan interview | WATCH A Geo News report, also carried by several publications, shed light on a hidden controversy which could potentially tarnish PCB and Imam’s reputation internationally. During Pakistan’s tour of New Zealand in March 2025, the PCB inquiry committee found Imam responsible for allegedly faking an injury midway through the series. Allegations of Ink and Misrepresentation The incident happened on March 28 when the left-handed opener suffered a blow to his right toe. While the X-ray report showed no evidence of Imam suffering any fracture or a subsequent toe injury, he continued to complain of severe pain and discolouration. Things took an interesting turn after being asked to avoid walking, Imam allegedly walked around 500 meters to attend an iftar gathering. The inquiry report also reportedly claimed that when the team doctor cleaned Imam’s toe with chemically treated paper, the alleged injury mark (black colour) disappeared, with the report describing it as ‘not a natural blood mark but ink or marker.’ Inquiry Recommended a Full Ban The report also states that the team officials informed the inquiry committee that Imam limped while walking in front of the medical staff but walked normally when he was away from them. Although Imam denied all allegations, the PCB committee reportedly found his explanation inconsistent with the medical evidence and other findings. The sources close to the information concluded that there was no medical basis to declare that Imam was unfit for New Zealand ODIs, while also accusing him of 'fabricating, exaggerating or misrepresenting symptoms and misleading medical staff' and of 'deliberately attempting to make himself unavailable for the opening ODI.’ The inquiry committee also recommended banning Imam from representing Pakistan across all formats and at all levels.

Pakistan opener Imam-ul-Haq faces a potential ban after a PCB inquiry revealed he allegedly used ink to fake a toe injury during the 2025 New Zealand tour.

Imam-ul-Haq accused of using ink to fake toe injury during 2025 NZ tour: Reports

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Tamim Iqbal is hopeful that India’s proposed tour will take place sometime in the 2026-2027 season. Earlier in August, Tamim claimed that India’s tour of Bangladesh, consisting of three ODIs and as many T20Is, in September could be postponed again. On Monday, Iqbal confirmed that positive talks between the two boards are underway, indicating a possible window early next year. "All I can tell you is that both the cricket boards are in discussion," Tamim said. "It is a fruitful talk, and I am hopeful this will happen." &nbsp;Meanwhile, the BCB announced a proposed series between the two neighbouring countries on January 2 this year, only for major fallout a few days later to wipe out any possibility. Soon after, the IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) released Bangladeshi seamer Mustafizur Rahman amid political unrest and reports of attacks on minorities in Bangladesh during that time.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/asian-games-2026-cricket-lack-of-5-star-hotel-facilities-japan-1788177468377">Lack of 5-star room service plagues Asian Games cricket, official says</a> &nbsp;Irked by BCCI's decision, the BCB, in accordance with the interim government at that time, decided to withdraw its team from the 2026 T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. While the ICC tried to convince Bangladesh that there was no potential threat to their travelling entourage in India, Bangladesh’s sports ministry insisted on sticking to their decision. As a result, Bangladesh forfeited the T20 World Cup, and Scotland replaced them in Group B. &nbsp;That episode, in particular, hurt the relations between the two cricketing boards, with the BCCI indicating it would not send its team to Bangladesh later this year for a scheduled white-ball series. The Indian cricket board agreed to play a three-match T20I series against Afghanistan in mid-September instead, completely crushing any chance of touring Bangladesh. &nbsp;Last month, the BCB chief flew to Bengaluru at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence (CoE) in his quest to revive the strained relationship between the two boards. Meanwhile, this India tour of Bangladesh was originally scheduled for August 2025 before being deferred to September 2026.&nbsp; &nbsp;The official announcement on the revised schedule hasn’t been made public yet.&nbsp;

BCB president Tamim Iqbal confirms positive talks with the BCCI to reschedule India’s postponed white-ball tour of Bangladesh for the 2026-27 season.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Tamim Iqbal is hopeful that India’s proposed tour will take place sometime in the 2026-2027 season. Earlier in August, Tamim claimed that India’s tour of Bangladesh, consisting of three ODIs and as many T20Is, in September could be postponed again. On Monday, Iqbal confirmed that positive talks between the two boards are underway, indicating a possible window early next year. "All I can tell you is that both the cricket boards are in discussion," Tamim said. "It is a fruitful talk, and I am hopeful this will happen." Meanwhile, the BCB announced a proposed series between the two neighbouring countries on January 2 this year, only for major fallout a few days later to wipe out any possibility. Soon after, the IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) released Bangladeshi seamer Mustafizur Rahman amid political unrest and reports of attacks on minorities in Bangladesh during that time. Also read| Lack of 5-star room service plagues Asian Games cricket, official says Irked by BCCI's decision, the BCB, in accordance with the interim government at that time, decided to withdraw its team from the 2026 T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. While the ICC tried to convince Bangladesh that there was no potential threat to their travelling entourage in India, Bangladesh’s sports ministry insisted on sticking to their decision. As a result, Bangladesh forfeited the T20 World Cup, and Scotland replaced them in Group B. That episode, in particular, hurt the relations between the two cricketing boards, with the BCCI indicating it would not send its team to Bangladesh later this year for a scheduled white-ball series. The Indian cricket board agreed to play a three-match T20I series against Afghanistan in mid-September instead, completely crushing any chance of touring Bangladesh. Last month, the BCB chief flew to Bengaluru at the BCCI's Centre of Excellence (CoE) in his quest to revive the strained relationship between the two boards. Meanwhile, this India tour of Bangladesh was originally scheduled for August 2025 before being deferred to September 2026. The official announcement on the revised schedule hasn’t been made public yet.

BCB president Tamim Iqbal confirms positive talks with the BCCI to reschedule India’s postponed white-ball tour of Bangladesh for the 2026-27 season.

'Still Hopeful': BCB chief Tamim Iqbal breaks silence on India's proposed tour of Bangladesh

Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood says the hostile South African crowd won't affect him much on the upcoming tour, including three ODIs and as many Tests. With the Aussies returning to South Africa for the first time since the sandpaper gate in 2018, Hazlewood expects the Proteas crowd to come down hard on him and the players fielding near the boundary lines. Having toured England and New Zealand, where the home fans usually love sledging the mighty Aussies, Hazlewood warned that Australian players won’t be fazed this time. &nbsp;Although Australia toured South Africa for the ODI series in 2020 and 2023, the stakes are expected to be higher this time.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/babar-azam-pcb-lords-test-boycott-imran-khan-interview-1788174409605">'No, no, no': Babar Azam dismisses alleged PCB walkout over Imran Khan interview | WATCH</a> &nbsp;Hazlewood was one of the five players who featured in the infamous Cape Town Test, where stalwarts including David Warner and Steve Smith were among those handed one-year bans. With Hazlewood and Smith likely to be picked for the Test series, starting in Durban, and Newlands hosting the third Test, the Aussie quick said tackling crowd abuse is unlikely to be part of discussions in the lead-up. &nbsp;"I don't think we'll talk about it, no," Hazlewood said at a launch of Play Cricket week on Monday. "I tend to put New Zealand and South Africa a bit in the same boat. We cop a lot in England as well, so pretty much every away game we cop it a fair bit. &nbsp;"I'm used to everything at fine leg. The guys out in the slips don't hear too much, so it's probably more the guys fielding on the boundary and different things.&nbsp; &nbsp;"It'll be fine,” he continued.<h2>Hazlewood wants to play more cricket</h2>Recently returning to Test cricket during the Bangladesh series after being out for a considerable period since suffering a right hamstring strain that ruled him out of the home Ashes, Hazlewood aims to maintain his fitness and make himself available for as many matches as possible.&nbsp; &nbsp;The 35-year-old is expected to be picked in the ODI squad for the South Africa and Zimbabwe series to be announced on Tuesday.&nbsp; &nbsp;"I think still the best way forward for me is to play as much as I can, in reason. Once you're at that intensity, which we're all at now, it's trying to maintain that," Hazlewood said. &nbsp;Meanwhile, after the three-match ODI series, Australia will also play a two-day warm-up fixture against South Africa A ahead of the first Test, which begins on October 9.&nbsp;

Josh Hazlewood insists Australia won't be fazed by hostile South African crowds as they return for their first Test series since the 2018 Cape Town controversy.

Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood says the hostile South African crowd won't affect him much on the upcoming tour, including three ODIs and as many Tests. With the Aussies returning to South Africa for the first time since the sandpaper gate in 2018, Hazlewood expects the Proteas crowd to come down hard on him and the players fielding near the boundary lines. Having toured England and New Zealand, where the home fans usually love sledging the mighty Aussies, Hazlewood warned that Australian players won’t be fazed this time. Although Australia toured South Africa for the ODI series in 2020 and 2023, the stakes are expected to be higher this time. Also read| 'No, no, no': Babar Azam dismisses alleged PCB walkout over Imran Khan interview | WATCH Hazlewood was one of the five players who featured in the infamous Cape Town Test, where stalwarts including David Warner and Steve Smith were among those handed one-year bans. With Hazlewood and Smith likely to be picked for the Test series, starting in Durban, and Newlands hosting the third Test, the Aussie quick said tackling crowd abuse is unlikely to be part of discussions in the lead-up. "I don't think we'll talk about it, no," Hazlewood said at a launch of Play Cricket week on Monday. "I tend to put New Zealand and South Africa a bit in the same boat. We cop a lot in England as well, so pretty much every away game we cop it a fair bit. "I'm used to everything at fine leg. The guys out in the slips don't hear too much, so it's probably more the guys fielding on the boundary and different things. "It'll be fine,” he continued. Hazlewood wants to play more cricket Recently returning to Test cricket during the Bangladesh series after being out for a considerable period since suffering a right hamstring strain that ruled him out of the home Ashes, Hazlewood aims to maintain his fitness and make himself available for as many matches as possible. The 35-year-old is expected to be picked in the ODI squad for the South Africa and Zimbabwe series to be announced on Tuesday. "I think still the best way forward for me is to play as much as I can, in reason. Once you're at that intensity, which we're all at now, it's trying to maintain that," Hazlewood said. Meanwhile, after the three-match ODI series, Australia will also play a two-day warm-up fixture against South Africa A ahead of the first Test, which begins on October 9.

Josh Hazlewood insists Australia won't be fazed by hostile South African crowds as they return for their first Test series since the 2018 Cape Town controversy.

Josh Hazlewood expects South Africa sledging, insists Aussies won't be fazed

The lack of five-star hotel facilities for cricket players at the upcoming 2026 Asian Games in Japan has caused a stir within the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), which has heard concerns raised by participating members. The men's and women's T20 competition will be played at Japan's newly built cricket ground in Nisshin starting September 17. However, reports of tents being used as dressing rooms, distant washroom facilities and a lack of top-class accommodation for cricketers have raised eyebrows. &nbsp;"There are some concerns with regard to the quality of accommodation being provided and also with regard to the logistics," Sri Lanka Cricket secretary Prakash Schaffter said to the reporters in Colombo. He added that the ACC executive committee has also discussed the Asian Games with a 'degree of detail' at its concluded meeting in Bangkok.&nbsp; &nbsp;Although teams like India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan have agreed to send their representatives to examine the makeshift venue and other logistical arrangements, the ACC and the organisers are hopeful the tournament will go ahead as planned.&nbsp; &nbsp;"There is a lack of available five-star rooms. Cricketers are generally provided with five-star accommodation," he said, adding that Japan’s host city did not have luxury hotels to accommodate all athletes and spectators. &nbsp;Meanwhile, reports across the Indian subcontinent claim the BCCI was unhappy with the Asian Games’ arrangements for the cricket competition as they even contemplated sending a second-string team for the tournament. &nbsp;India named a potent 15-man squad for the multi-team event, with T20I captain Shreyas Iyer leading the charge. While the squad includes almost all first-team players, including pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, 15-year-old batting prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has also made the cut.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/duleep-trophy-vaibhav-sooryavanshi-scripts-history-becomes-youngest-batter-to-achieve-this-milestone-1788158737341">Duleep Trophy: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi scripts history, becomes youngest batter to achieve THIS milestone</a> &nbsp;The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) said the ACC member boards are looking at concerns around player facilities at the Asian Games. &nbsp;"The cricket part of the Asian Games will be looked after by the Asian Cricket Council," BCB cricket operations manager Shahriar Nafees said. "The individual boards have already discussed it at the ACC forum, and they will take a collective decision on the issue."&nbsp;(With inputs from AFP)

Asian Games 2026 cricket in Japan faces major backlash over a lack of 5-star hotel facilities, tents as dressing rooms, and logistical concerns raised by ACC.

The lack of five-star hotel facilities for cricket players at the upcoming 2026 Asian Games in Japan has caused a stir within the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), which has heard concerns raised by participating members. The men's and women's T20 competition will be played at Japan's newly built cricket ground in Nisshin starting September 17. However, reports of tents being used as dressing rooms, distant washroom facilities and a lack of top-class accommodation for cricketers have raised eyebrows. "There are some concerns with regard to the quality of accommodation being provided and also with regard to the logistics," Sri Lanka Cricket secretary Prakash Schaffter said to the reporters in Colombo. He added that the ACC executive committee has also discussed the Asian Games with a 'degree of detail' at its concluded meeting in Bangkok. Although teams like India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan have agreed to send their representatives to examine the makeshift venue and other logistical arrangements, the ACC and the organisers are hopeful the tournament will go ahead as planned. "There is a lack of available five-star rooms. Cricketers are generally provided with five-star accommodation," he said, adding that Japan’s host city did not have luxury hotels to accommodate all athletes and spectators. Meanwhile, reports across the Indian subcontinent claim the BCCI was unhappy with the Asian Games’ arrangements for the cricket competition as they even contemplated sending a second-string team for the tournament. India named a potent 15-man squad for the multi-team event, with T20I captain Shreyas Iyer leading the charge. While the squad includes almost all first-team players, including pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, 15-year-old batting prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has also made the cut. Also read| Duleep Trophy: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi scripts history, becomes youngest batter to achieve THIS milestone The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) said the ACC member boards are looking at concerns around player facilities at the Asian Games. "The cricket part of the Asian Games will be looked after by the Asian Cricket Council," BCB cricket operations manager Shahriar Nafees said. "The individual boards have already discussed it at the ACC forum, and they will take a collective decision on the issue." (With inputs from AFP)

Asian Games 2026 cricket in Japan faces major backlash over a lack of 5-star hotel facilities, tents as dressing rooms, and logistical concerns raised by ACC.

Lack of 5-star room service plagues Asian Games cricket, official says

Pakistan Test captain Babar Azam looked surprised when asked about PCB’s alleged plan to walk out following Imran Khan’s sons’ interview on day one of the concluded Lord’s Test. UK TV and digital outlet Sky Sports telecast an interview with Imran’s sons Kasim and Suleiman during lunch on the opening day of the second Test amid reports of PCB warning its players not to take the field should that go ahead. While Sky aired that interview and Pakistani players also took the field after lunch, team captain Babar denied knowledge of the recent developments and reports that the PCB had threatened to boycott the then-ongoing Test match. &nbsp;Pakistan lost the second Test by 194 runs, with returning Babar failing to produce runs with the bat. After missing out on the series opener due to a finger injury, Babar returned to the playing XI for the next match, replacing Salman Agha. The talismanic batter endured a tough time facing express pace and seam under the clouds, managing 8 and 6 across two innings, respectively.&nbsp;Also read| <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/imran-khan-s-imprisonment-pcb-warns-pakistan-players-against-public-comments-1788100232353">Imran Khan’s imprisonment: PCB warns Pakistan players against public comments</a> &nbsp;While scoring runs in English conditions remains a challenge for the right-hander, facing the country’s media is no less after he successfully dodged a question around Imran Khan’s sons’ interview. &nbsp;Speaking to Test Match Special after conceding the Test and the three-match Test series (2-0), Babar responded to questions around the controversial interview that has gripped Pakistan cricket. When asked about reports of the travelling side deciding against taking the field post-lunch on day one, Babar said, ‘No, no, no...I haven’t heard that thing.”&nbsp;WATCH VIDEO -

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Pakistan captain Babar Azam says he wasn&#39;t aware of any conversations around his team not taking to the field after lunch on day one of the second Test because of an interview that aired with the sons of Imran Khan. <a href="https://t.co/bj1SM7at0V">pic.twitter.com/bj1SM7at0V</a>&mdash; Test Match Special (@bbctms) <a href="https://x.com/bbctms/status/2094134482575982940?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 30, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Father’s Health Deteriorating: Imran’s Sons</h2>Former England captain Michael Atherton interviewed Imran Khan’s sons on SKY, where the two spoke about concerns regarding their imprisoned father’s health in Pakistan’s Adiala Jail. The latest reports suggested that the PCB chairman and Pakistan’s minister of interior affairs, Mohsin Naqvi, also requested Sky not to air that interview before the UK publication eventually telecast it. &nbsp;Amid reports of PCB threatening a walkout, Pakistan head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed countered questions around the same on the second day of the Test, saying, “I don’t know anything. I’m just focusing on the match. You’re talking about the interview? We don’t know about the interview. All are OK. We were having lunch at that time.” &nbsp;Kasim, one of Imran’s two sons, said, “They’re completely isolating him for more than 23 hours a day in a cell. So right now it’s really crucial for us that he gets proper treatment. When he was seen by them, he had an eye patch on from the eye situation. He seemed visibly stressed. And that is something that’s very hard for us to imagine because he embodies a kind of calm, assured presence every time I have seen him, even in very, very tough situations.” &nbsp;Meanwhile, the PCB has also reportedly informed the squad members not to speak on this matter in public for the remainder of the tour.&nbsp;

Babar Azam breaks his silence on reports of the PCB's alleged Lord's Test boycott following Sky Sports' interview with Imran Khan’s sons. Read his response.

Pakistan Test captain Babar Azam looked surprised when asked about PCB’s alleged plan to walk out following Imran Khan’s sons’ interview on day one of the concluded Lord’s Test. UK TV and digital outlet Sky Sports telecast an interview with Imran’s sons Kasim and Suleiman during lunch on the opening day of the second Test amid reports of PCB warning its players not to take the field should that go ahead. While Sky aired that interview and Pakistani players also took the field after lunch, team captain Babar denied knowledge of the recent developments and reports that the PCB had threatened to boycott the then-ongoing Test match. Pakistan lost the second Test by 194 runs, with returning Babar failing to produce runs with the bat. After missing out on the series opener due to a finger injury, Babar returned to the playing XI for the next match, replacing Salman Agha. The talismanic batter endured a tough time facing express pace and seam under the clouds, managing 8 and 6 across two innings, respectively. Also read| Imran Khan’s imprisonment: PCB warns Pakistan players against public comments While scoring runs in English conditions remains a challenge for the right-hander, facing the country’s media is no less after he successfully dodged a question around Imran Khan’s sons’ interview. Speaking to Test Match Special after conceding the Test and the three-match Test series (2-0), Babar responded to questions around the controversial interview that has gripped Pakistan cricket. When asked about reports of the travelling side deciding against taking the field post-lunch on day one, Babar said, ‘No, no, no...I haven’t heard that thing.” WATCH VIDEO -

Babar Azam breaks his silence on reports of the PCB's alleged Lord's Test boycott following Sky Sports' interview with Imran Khan’s sons. Read his response.

'No, no, no': Babar Azam dismisses alleged PCB walkout over Imran Khan interview | WATCH

Four-time Olympic champion Venus Williams was eliminated from the US Open 2026 women’s singles event after losing 2-6, 6-7(6) to fellow American Sofia Kenin in the first round at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Kenin took control early and won the opening set 6-2 in 32 minutes. Williams fought back in the second set after falling 2-4 behind and managed to take it to a tie-break, however, Kenin stayed composed and completed the win after Williams missed several set points.&nbsp;The loss extended Williams’ singles losing streak to 14 matches, with her last singles victory coming in Jul 2025. &nbsp;The two-time US Open champion was playing in the tournament’s main draw for the 26th time and was making her 96th Grand Slam appearance.&nbsp;Williams’ singles campaign is over, but she will remain in New York for the women’s doubles competition. She will team up with her sister Serena Williams after the pair received wildcards for the event.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/duleep-trophy-vaibhav-sooryavanshi-scripts-history-becomes-youngest-batter-to-achieve-this-milestone-1788158737341">Duleep Trophy: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi scripts history, becomes youngest batter to achieve THIS milestone</a>&nbsp;The defeat also left Williams with a 0-12 record in singles this season and was her fifth straight first-round exit at the US Open, according to the WTA.&nbsp;Kenin hit 28 winners and made 21 unforced errors, while Williams produced 13 winners and 24 unforced errors. The victory was only Kenin’s sixth main-draw win at the WTA level in 2026.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/us-open-2026-mariano-navone-stuns-novak-djokovic-in-first-round-1788156773990">US Open 2026: Mariano Navone stuns Novak Djokovic in first round</a>&nbsp;Kenin will next face No. 3 seed Jessica Pegula, who beat Elena-Gabriela Ruse 6-3, 6-2.&nbsp;&nbsp;Earlier, Novak Djokovic also suffered a surprise first-round defeat at the US Open. The 24-time Grand Slam champion was beaten 7-6(5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 by Argentina’s Mariano Navone in a marathon match at Arthur Ashe Stadium.&nbsp;With inputs from agencies

Venus Williams’ record 26th US Open singles campaign ended on Monday after the 46-year-old suffered a straight-sets defeat to fellow American Sofia Kenin.

Four-time Olympic champion Venus Williams was eliminated from the US Open 2026 women’s singles event after losing 2-6, 6-7(6) to fellow American Sofia Kenin in the first round at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Kenin took control early and won the opening set 6-2 in 32 minutes. Williams fought back in the second set after falling 2-4 behind and managed to take it to a tie-break, however, Kenin stayed composed and completed the win after Williams missed several set points. The loss extended Williams’ singles losing streak to 14 matches, with her last singles victory coming in Jul 2025. The two-time US Open champion was playing in the tournament’s main draw for the 26th time and was making her 96th Grand Slam appearance. Williams’ singles campaign is over, but she will remain in New York for the women’s doubles competition. She will team up with her sister Serena Williams after the pair received wildcards for the event. Also Read - Duleep Trophy: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi scripts history, becomes youngest batter to achieve THIS milestone The defeat also left Williams with a 0-12 record in singles this season and was her fifth straight first-round exit at the US Open, according to the WTA. Kenin hit 28 winners and made 21 unforced errors, while Williams produced 13 winners and 24 unforced errors. The victory was only Kenin’s sixth main-draw win at the WTA level in 2026. Also Read - US Open 2026: Mariano Navone stuns Novak Djokovic in first round Kenin will next face No. 3 seed Jessica Pegula, who beat Elena-Gabriela Ruse 6-3, 6-2. Earlier, Novak Djokovic also suffered a surprise first-round defeat at the US Open. The 24-time Grand Slam champion was beaten 7-6(5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 by Argentina’s Mariano Navone in a marathon match at Arthur Ashe Stadium. With inputs from agencies

Venus Williams’ record 26th US Open singles campaign ended on Monday after the 46-year-old suffered a straight-sets defeat to fellow American Sofia Kenin.

US Open: Venus Williams suffers first-round exit in record 26th appearance

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has added another record to his growing list of achievements by becoming the youngest batter to score a half-century in Duleep Trophy history. The 15-year-old achieved the feat while playing for East Zone against Central Zone in the Duleep Trophy 2026 semi-final in Bengaluru. He reached his fifty from just 42 balls, completing the milestone with a six.&nbsp;Sooryavanshi went on to score a brilliant 92 off 81 balls, missing out on a century by just eight runs. His aggressive batting came at an important stage of the match and helped East Zone strengthen their position.&nbsp;At 15 years and 175 days, Sooryavanshi broke a record that had remained untouched for 57 years. Laxman Singh previously held the record after scoring a Duleep Trophy fifty at the age of 16 years and 23 days in 1969.&nbsp;Sooryavanshi has also moved ahead of Piyush Chawla, who was 16 years and 307 days old when he scored a half-century in the Duleep Trophy in 2025.<h3>Youngest batters to score a Duleep Trophy fifty</h3><ul><li>Vaibhav Sooryavanshi - 15 years, 175 days</li><li>Laxman Singh (1969) - 16 years, 23 days</li><li>Piyush Chawla (2025) - 16 years, 307 days</li></ul>Sooryavanshi’s record-breaking knock came a day after he found himself in an unexpected leadership role.&nbsp;On Day 1, East Zone captain Ishan Kishan was forced to leave the field during the morning session after being hit on his right wrist. Sooryavanshi then took over as the stand-in captain for around an hour before and after lunch, with Kishan later returning to lead the side.&nbsp;During his short stint as captain, Sooryavanshi also made an important DRS call. In the 40th over, Central Zone opener and wicketkeeper Aryan Juyal was batting on 46 when he edged a delivery from Mukesh Kumar outside the off stump. East Zone appealed for a catch behind the wicket, but the umpire did not give him out.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/us-open-2026-mariano-navone-stuns-novak-djokovic-in-first-round-1788156773990">US Open 2026: Mariano Navone stuns Novak Djokovic in first round</a>&nbsp;Sooryavanshi decided to review the decision and an UltraEdge showed a small spike as the ball passed the bat, confirming the edge and giving East Zone a key wicket.&nbsp;For Sooryavanshi, the match has already become a memorable one. After briefly leading East Zone on the opening day, he produced another major achievement by becoming the youngest player to score a Duleep Trophy fifty.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/batting-was-not-up-to-the-mark-babar-azam-on-pakistan-s-test-loss-to-england-1788146150876">'Batting was not up to the mark': Babar Azam on Pakistan’s Test loss to England</a>&nbsp;He reached the landmark in 42 balls and finished with 92 from 81 deliveries. The only disappointment for the teenager was missing out on another century by just eight runs.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi scored 92 for East Zone against Central Zone after becoming the youngest player to hit a Duleep Trophy half-century.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has added another record to his growing list of achievements by becoming the youngest batter to score a half-century in Duleep Trophy history. The 15-year-old achieved the feat while playing for East Zone against Central Zone in the Duleep Trophy 2026 semi-final in Bengaluru. He reached his fifty from just 42 balls, completing the milestone with a six. Sooryavanshi went on to score a brilliant 92 off 81 balls, missing out on a century by just eight runs. His aggressive batting came at an important stage of the match and helped East Zone strengthen their position. At 15 years and 175 days, Sooryavanshi broke a record that had remained untouched for 57 years. Laxman Singh previously held the record after scoring a Duleep Trophy fifty at the age of 16 years and 23 days in 1969. Sooryavanshi has also moved ahead of Piyush Chawla, who was 16 years and 307 days old when he scored a half-century in the Duleep Trophy in 2025. Youngest batters to score a Duleep Trophy fifty Vaibhav Sooryavanshi - 15 years, 175 days Laxman Singh (1969) - 16 years, 23 days Piyush Chawla (2025) - 16 years, 307 days Sooryavanshi’s record-breaking knock came a day after he found himself in an unexpected leadership role. On Day 1, East Zone captain Ishan Kishan was forced to leave the field during the morning session after being hit on his right wrist. Sooryavanshi then took over as the stand-in captain for around an hour before and after lunch, with Kishan later returning to lead the side. During his short stint as captain, Sooryavanshi also made an important DRS call. In the 40th over, Central Zone opener and wicketkeeper Aryan Juyal was batting on 46 when he edged a delivery from Mukesh Kumar outside the off stump. East Zone appealed for a catch behind the wicket, but the umpire did not give him out. Also Read - US Open 2026: Mariano Navone stuns Novak Djokovic in first round Sooryavanshi decided to review the decision and an UltraEdge showed a small spike as the ball passed the bat, confirming the edge and giving East Zone a key wicket. For Sooryavanshi, the match has already become a memorable one. After briefly leading East Zone on the opening day, he produced another major achievement by becoming the youngest player to score a Duleep Trophy fifty. Also Read - 'Batting was not up to the mark': Babar Azam on Pakistan’s Test loss to England He reached the landmark in 42 balls and finished with 92 from 81 deliveries. The only disappointment for the teenager was missing out on another century by just eight runs.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi scored 92 for East Zone against Central Zone after becoming the youngest player to hit a Duleep Trophy half-century.

Duleep Trophy: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi scripts history, becomes youngest batter to achieve THIS milestone

Argentina’s Mariano Navone pulled off one of the biggest upsets in recent tennis history as he defeated 24-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic in the first round of the US Open on Sunday. Navone beat the Serbian great 7-6(5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 in a four-hour and 36-minute battle at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The result ended Djokovic’s impressive record of getting past the first round at a Grand Slam, which had stood since the 2006 Australian Open, according to the ATP website.&nbsp;Djokovic managed to win the third set and looked in control at times, but the 39-year-old struggled physically as the match went on. He appeared to have problems with his movement and was seen vomiting on court several times during the contest.&nbsp;After dropping the fourth set, Djokovic had chances to fight back, but Navone stayed calm and took control of the deciding set. The Argentine produced a strong performance to secure the biggest victory of his career.&nbsp;Navone had entered the match with a poor record on hard courts, having won only 12 of his previous 41 tour-level matches on the surface, however, he kept his composure in the crucial moments. On match point, he chased down a drop volley and sent the ball into the open court to seal the victory. He then shared a warm moment with Djokovic at the net.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/deepti-sharma-becomes-all-time-leading-wicket-taker-in-women-s-t20is-1788151167260">Deepti Sharma becomes all-time leading wicket-taker in Women’s T20Is</a>&nbsp;Djokovic, a 101-time ATP title winner, also took time to sign autographs for fans before leaving Arthur Ashe Stadium.&nbsp;The loss ended Djokovic’s hopes of winning a record 25th Grand Slam title at this year’s US Open. His early exit comes after World No. 1 Jannik Sinner withdrew from the tournament because of injury, while defending champion Carlos Alcaraz returned to action following a lengthy break.&nbsp;Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/batting-was-not-up-to-the-mark-babar-azam-on-pakistan-s-test-loss-to-england-1788146150876">'Batting was not up to the mark': Babar Azam on Pakistan’s Test loss to England</a>&nbsp;Meanwhile, Daniil Medvedev began his US Open campaign with a comfortable 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 win over Hugo Gaston in two hours and 14 minutes.&nbsp;Medvedev has now reached the second round at the US Open for the eighth time in his career. He will next face either American wildcard Sebastian Gorzny or Raphael Collignon.

The 39-year-old Serb was knocked out by Navone in a hard-fought five-set encounter that exposed his physical struggles.

Argentina’s Mariano Navone pulled off one of the biggest upsets in recent tennis history as he defeated 24-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic in the first round of the US Open on Sunday. Navone beat the Serbian great 7-6(5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 in a four-hour and 36-minute battle at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The result ended Djokovic’s impressive record of getting past the first round at a Grand Slam, which had stood since the 2006 Australian Open, according to the ATP website. Djokovic managed to win the third set and looked in control at times, but the 39-year-old struggled physically as the match went on. He appeared to have problems with his movement and was seen vomiting on court several times during the contest. After dropping the fourth set, Djokovic had chances to fight back, but Navone stayed calm and took control of the deciding set. The Argentine produced a strong performance to secure the biggest victory of his career. Navone had entered the match with a poor record on hard courts, having won only 12 of his previous 41 tour-level matches on the surface, however, he kept his composure in the crucial moments. On match point, he chased down a drop volley and sent the ball into the open court to seal the victory. He then shared a warm moment with Djokovic at the net. Also Read - Deepti Sharma becomes all-time leading wicket-taker in Women’s T20Is Djokovic, a 101-time ATP title winner, also took time to sign autographs for fans before leaving Arthur Ashe Stadium. The loss ended Djokovic’s hopes of winning a record 25th Grand Slam title at this year’s US Open. His early exit comes after World No. 1 Jannik Sinner withdrew from the tournament because of injury, while defending champion Carlos Alcaraz returned to action following a lengthy break. Also Read - 'Batting was not up to the mark': Babar Azam on Pakistan’s Test loss to England Meanwhile, Daniil Medvedev began his US Open campaign with a comfortable 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 win over Hugo Gaston in two hours and 14 minutes. Medvedev has now reached the second round at the US Open for the eighth time in his career. He will next face either American wildcard Sebastian Gorzny or Raphael Collignon.

The 39-year-old Serb was knocked out by Navone in a hard-fought five-set encounter that exposed his physical struggles.

US Open 2026: Mariano Navone stuns Novak Djokovic in first round

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