War-torn&nbsp;Ukraine&nbsp;will join Spain and Portugal in a bid to host the 2030 World Cup, presidents from the three countries' football associations announced on Wednesday. The original proposal was made public two years ago and the Spanish football association (RFEF) said in a statement the idea was backed by UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin.

"The Royal Spanish Football Federation and the&nbsp;Portuguese Football Federation (FPF)&nbsp;have incorporated the&nbsp;Ukrainian Football Association (UAF) into the Iberian Bid to organise the 2030 World Cup," RFEF said in a statement. "With the full support of&nbsp; Aleksander Ceferin, the Iberian bid incorporates the federation chaired by&nbsp;Andriy Pavelko in order to build bridges and project a message of unity, solidarity and generosity from all of European football," it added.

Portugal hosted the 2004 European Championship while&nbsp;Ukraine&nbsp;was a joint host with Poland of Euro 2012. "The example of tenacity and resilience set by the Ukrainian people is inspiring," the FPF said. The FPF added that the joint bid "aims to contribute through the power of football to the recovery of a country undergoing reconstruction". It added that the terms of&nbsp;Ukraine's role in the bid "will be discussed and defined in due course".

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It follows the announcement last month from an Egyptian official that Egypt, Greece and Saudi Arabia are in talks to jointly host the 2030 World Cup. In August, Uruguay, Argentina, Chile and Paraguay launched their bid to host the event -- which is the centenary of the first World Cup, held in Uruguay -- with the hope of bringing the global showpiece back to its first home.

The 2026 edition has already been awarded to three countries -- Canada, Mexico and the United States. More than half of the 21 World Cup finals already staged have been in Europe but later this year Qatar will host the finals, the first time they have been played in the Middle East.

War-torn Ukraine will join Spain and Portugal in a bid to host the 2030 World Cup, presidents from the three countries' football associations announced on Wednesday.

War-torn Ukraine will join Spain and Portugal in a bid to host the 2030 World Cup, presidents from the three countries' football associations announced on Wednesday. The original proposal was made public two years ago and the Spanish football association (RFEF) said in a statement the idea was backed by UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin. "The Royal Spanish Football Federation and the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) have incorporated the Ukrainian Football Association (UAF) into the Iberian Bid to organise the 2030 World Cup," RFEF said in a statement. "With the full support of Aleksander Ceferin, the Iberian bid incorporates the federation chaired by Andriy Pavelko in order to build bridges and project a message of unity, solidarity and generosity from all of European football," it added. Portugal hosted the 2004 European Championship while Ukraine was a joint host with Poland of Euro 2012. "The example of tenacity and resilience set by the Ukrainian people is inspiring," the FPF said. The FPF added that the joint bid "aims to contribute through the power of football to the recovery of a country undergoing reconstruction". It added that the terms of Ukraine's role in the bid "will be discussed and defined in due course". ALSO READ | Hosts India announce squad for FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup 2022 It follows the announcement last month from an Egyptian official that Egypt, Greece and Saudi Arabia are in talks to jointly host the 2030 World Cup. In August, Uruguay, Argentina, Chile and Paraguay launched their bid to host the event -- which is the centenary of the first World Cup, held in Uruguay -- with the hope of bringing the global showpiece back to its first home. The 2026 edition has already been awarded to three countries -- Canada, Mexico and the United States. More than half of the 21 World Cup finals already staged have been in Europe but later this year Qatar will host the finals, the first time they have been played in the Middle East.

War-torn Ukraine to jointly bid with Spain and Portugal for hosting 2030 World Cup

Pakistan and England were involved in a thrilling seven-match T20I series, in Pakistan, which ended on Sunday evening (October 02). Being asked to bat first in Lahore, Moeen Ali-led English side posted a daunting 209 for 3 in 20 overs riding on Dawid Malan's 47-ball 78 and useful knocks from others.&nbsp;

In reply, Babar Azam-led Men in Green were expected to chase down the score at the jam-packed Gadaffi Stadium, Lahore. Babar and Md Rizwan -- the No. 1 T20I batter -- have been Pakistan's most consistent batters in recent times but the opening pair couldn't do much and got dismissed for 4 and 1, respectively. Shan Masood's 56 was the only shining aspect for Pakistan in their run-chase as they were restricted for 148 for 8 to lose by 67&nbsp;runs.&nbsp;

Thus, the series was finally won by England 4-3 after trailing 2-3 after the first five encounters. After the series, Rawalpindi Express Shoaib Akhtar has expressed concerns over Babar &amp; Co.'s middle order and is 'scared' of the team's chances in the forthcoming T20 World Cup, where he fears the one-time winners might bow out in the first round (Super 12).

"Pakistan middle-order is not good. If the openers don't perform, the middle-order collapses. This is not the way you go into the World Cup and win the World Cup. It will not work this way. Even in terms of the World Cup, I hope Pakistan don't crash out in the first round. I'm scared with this team. That is why I criticized Saqlain and others to get your middle-order, batting order in order. Somehow they're not listening," Akhtar said on his Youtube channel.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/viral-video-yusuf-pathan-mitchell-johnson-involve-in-ugly-altercation-in-legends-league-cricket-521962">Yusuf Pathan, Mitchell Johnson's ugly altercation in Legends League Cricket goes viral - Watch</a>

"But hopefully, Pakistan make a good comeback in the World Cup and in New Zealand tri-series. I like to see Pakistan doing well and it is disheartening to see them lose. But Pakistan is in a dire situation and from here things aren't going to be easy for them. Hopefully they will learn a thing or two from my videos and improve their middle order. Babar cannot perform in every game," the ex-pacer further asserted.

Pakistan's middle-order woes were exposed even in the Asia Cup 2022 edition, where they lost the final to Sri Lanka by 23 runs in pursuit of 170. They are heavily dependent on Babar-Rizwan whereas the other middle-order batters haven't impressed much in the opportunities provided to them in crunch situations.

Pakistan and England were involved in a thrilling seven-match T20I series, in Pakistan, which ended on Sunday evening (October 02). Being asked to bat first in Lahore, Moeen Ali-led English side posted a daunting 209 for 3 in 20 overs riding on Dawid Malan's 47-ball 78 and useful knocks from others.

Pakistan and England were involved in a thrilling seven-match T20I series, in Pakistan, which ended on Sunday evening (October 02). Being asked to bat first in Lahore, Moeen Ali-led English side posted a daunting 209 for 3 in 20 overs riding on Dawid Malan's 47-ball 78 and useful knocks from others. In reply, Babar Azam-led Men in Green were expected to chase down the score at the jam-packed Gadaffi Stadium, Lahore. Babar and Md Rizwan -- the No. 1 T20I batter -- have been Pakistan's most consistent batters in recent times but the opening pair couldn't do much and got dismissed for 4 and 1, respectively. Shan Masood's 56 was the only shining aspect for Pakistan in their run-chase as they were restricted for 148 for 8 to lose by 67 runs. Thus, the series was finally won by England 4-3 after trailing 2-3 after the first five encounters. After the series, Rawalpindi Express Shoaib Akhtar has expressed concerns over Babar & Co.'s middle order and is 'scared' of the team's chances in the forthcoming T20 World Cup, where he fears the one-time winners might bow out in the first round (Super 12). "Pakistan middle-order is not good. If the openers don't perform, the middle-order collapses. This is not the way you go into the World Cup and win the World Cup. It will not work this way. Even in terms of the World Cup, I hope Pakistan don't crash out in the first round. I'm scared with this team. That is why I criticized Saqlain and others to get your middle-order, batting order in order. Somehow they're not listening," Akhtar said on his Youtube channel. ALSO READ | Yusuf Pathan, Mitchell Johnson's ugly altercation in Legends League Cricket goes viral - Watch "But hopefully, Pakistan make a good comeback in the World Cup and in New Zealand tri-series. I like to see Pakistan doing well and it is disheartening to see them lose. But Pakistan is in a dire situation and from here things aren't going to be easy for them. Hopefully they will learn a thing or two from my videos and improve their middle order. Babar cannot perform in every game," the ex-pacer further asserted. Pakistan's middle-order woes were exposed even in the Asia Cup 2022 edition, where they lost the final to Sri Lanka by 23 runs in pursuit of 170. They are heavily dependent on Babar-Rizwan whereas the other middle-order batters haven't impressed much in the opportunities provided to them in crunch situations.

'I hope Pakistan don't....' - Shoaib Akhtar 'scared' of Babar Azam & Co.'s T20 World Cup chances

India's World Cup-winning captains Kapil Dev and MS Dhoni made heads turn as the legendary duo were spotted playing golf together on Friday (September 30). Dhoni, who retired from international cricket in August 2020, joined Kapil at the latter's golf tournament --&nbsp;named the Kapil Dev - Grant Thornton Invitational 2022 event in Gurugram.

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It’s a legendary reunion at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KDGT?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KDGT</a> Invitational! 
 
We are delighted to welcome MS Dhoni at our golf tournament, Kapil Dev - Grant Thornton Invitational 2022. 
 
Stay tuned for more updates! <a href="https://t.co/TbQomYEP6f">pic.twitter.com/TbQomYEP6f</a>
— Kapil Dev - Grant Thornton (@KDGT_golf) <a href="https://twitter.com/KDGT_golf/status/1575729610729586689?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 30, 2022</a></blockquote>
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ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bcci-chief-sourav-ganguly-names-star-player-who-just-missed-a-spot-in-t20-world-cup-squad-520942">BCCI chief Sourav Ganguly names star player who 'just missed' a spot in T20 World Cup squad</a>

A video has now gone viral on social media platforms where Dhoni his trying his hand at the game. Here's the clip of the wicketkeeper-batter hitting it big with a golf stick:

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MS Dhoni playing Golf. <a href="https://t.co/hpuU3tpsst">pic.twitter.com/hpuU3tpsst</a>
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) <a href="https://twitter.com/CricCrazyJohns/status/1575822498888720384?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 30, 2022</a></blockquote>
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During the US Open 2022 edition, which ended on September 11, Dhoni and Kapil were spotted enjoying the men's quarter-final clash between eventual winner Carlos Alcaraz and&nbsp;Jannik Sinner at the iconic&nbsp;Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York.&nbsp;

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Indian cricketing royalty at the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/USOpen?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#USOpen</a> 🇮🇳🏏🎾 
 
Two former Indian World Cup winning captains, <a href="https://twitter.com/msdhoni?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@msdhoni</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/therealkapildev?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@therealkapildev</a> graced the stands at Arthur Ashe yesterday as two young future Champions battled it out for 5 hours and 15 minutes 🤩<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoBigOrGoHome?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoBigOrGoHome</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SonySportsNetwork?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SonySportsNetwork</a> <a href="https://t.co/e7CCgHJOMZ">pic.twitter.com/e7CCgHJOMZ</a>
— Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) <a href="https://twitter.com/SonySportsNetwk/status/1568132268782387201?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 9, 2022</a></blockquote>
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While the 1983 World Cup-winning captain Kapil remains vocal on various aspects of the game in the modern era, Dhoni will next be seen on the 22-yard cricket strip during IPL 2023, where he will lead the Chennai Super Kings (CSK). It is expected to be his swansong tournament from the game.

India's World Cup-winning captains Kapil Dev and MS Dhoni made heads turn as the legendary duo were spotted playing golf together on Friday (September 30). Dhoni, who retired from international cricket in August 2020, joined Kapil at the latter's golf tournament -- named the Kapil Dev - Grant Thornton Invitational 2022 event in Gurugram.

India's World Cup-winning captains Kapil Dev and MS Dhoni made heads turn as the legendary duo were spotted playing golf together on Friday (September 30). Dhoni, who retired from international cricket in August 2020, joined Kapil at the latter's golf tournament -- named the Kapil Dev - Grant Thornton Invitational 2022 event in Gurugram. It’s a legendary reunion at #KDGT Invitational! We are delighted to welcome MS Dhoni at our golf tournament, Kapil Dev - Grant Thornton Invitational 2022. Stay tuned for more updates! pic.twitter.com/TbQomYEP6f — Kapil Dev - Grant Thornton (@KDGT_golf) September 30, 2022 × ALSO READ | BCCI chief Sourav Ganguly names star player who 'just missed' a spot in T20 World Cup squad A video has now gone viral on social media platforms where Dhoni his trying his hand at the game. Here's the clip of the wicketkeeper-batter hitting it big with a golf stick: MS Dhoni playing Golf. pic.twitter.com/hpuU3tpsst — Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) September 30, 2022 × During the US Open 2022 edition, which ended on September 11, Dhoni and Kapil were spotted enjoying the men's quarter-final clash between eventual winner Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner at the iconic Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York. Indian cricketing royalty at the #USOpen 🇮🇳🏏🎾 Two former Indian World Cup winning captains, @msdhoni and @therealkapildev graced the stands at Arthur Ashe yesterday as two young future Champions battled it out for 5 hours and 15 minutes 🤩#GoBigOrGoHome #SonySportsNetwork pic.twitter.com/e7CCgHJOMZ — Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) September 9, 2022 × While the 1983 World Cup-winning captain Kapil remains vocal on various aspects of the game in the modern era, Dhoni will next be seen on the 22-yard cricket strip during IPL 2023, where he will lead the Chennai Super Kings (CSK). It is expected to be his swansong tournament from the game.

MS Dhoni tries his hand at golf along with Kapil Dev, video goes viral - Watch

Rights group Open Stadiums have called on FIFA to throw&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;out of the World Cup&nbsp;in Qatar in November because of the country's treatment of women. In a letter sent to FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Thursday (September 29), the organisation said&nbsp;Iranian authorities continued to refuse to allow female fans access to games inside the country despite pressure from the game's governing body.

"The&nbsp;Iranian FA is not only an accomplice of the crimes of the regime,&nbsp;it is a direct threat to the security of female fans in&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;and wherever our national team plays in the world. Football should be a safe space for us all," the letter said. "That is why, as&nbsp;Iranian football fans, it is with an extremely heavy heart that we have to raise our deepest concern about&nbsp;Iran's participation in the upcoming FIFA World Cup."

"Why would FIFA give the&nbsp;Iranian state and its representatives a global stage, while it not only refuses to respect basic human rights and dignities, but is currently torturing and killing its own people? "Where are the principles of FIFA's statues in this regard? "Therefore, we ask FIFA, based on Articles 3 and 4 of its statutes, to immediately expel&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;from the World Cup 2022 in Qatar."

The articles cited cover the issues of human rights and non-discrimination based on gender, race, religion and other matters, with breaches punishable by suspension or expulsion from the global body. Neither FIFA nor&nbsp;Iran's FA immediately responded to a Reuters request for comment. The call comes as protests continued in several cities across&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;on Thursday against the death of young woman in police custody, state and social media reported, as a human rights group said at least 83 people had been killed in nearly two weeks of demonstrations.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/iran-arrests-former-footballer-for-supporting-protests-reports-state-media-521180">Iran arrests former footballer for supporting protests, reports state media</a>

Iran&nbsp;President Ebrahim Raisi has described the unrest as the latest in a series of moves against&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;by hostile Western powers since the 1979 Islamic revolution. Open Stadiums have campaigned over the last decade for women to be allowed to attend football matches in&nbsp;Iran, but with only limited success. Under pressure from Infantino, a small group of female fans were granted access to Persepolis's home leg of the 2018 Asian Champions League final in Tehran.

But there has been minimal progress since, with female fans barred from entering&nbsp;Iran's World Cup qualifying game against Lebanon in Mashad in March, with video emerging of female supporters being pepper sprayed outside the stadium. The Carlos Queiroz-coached national team played friendly matches during the recent international break against Uruguay and Senegal in Austria, with both games played behind closed doors over security concerns.

Iran&nbsp;are due to appear at their sixth World Cup finals and have been drawn to face England, Wales and the United States in Qatar.

Rights group Open Stadiums have called on FIFA to throw Iran out of the World Cup in Qatar in November because of the country's treatment of women. In a letter sent to FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Thursday (September 29), the organisation said Iranian authorities continued to refuse to allow female fans access to games inside the country despite pressure from the game's governing body.

Rights group Open Stadiums have called on FIFA to throw Iran out of the World Cup in Qatar in November because of the country's treatment of women. In a letter sent to FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Thursday (September 29), the organisation said Iranian authorities continued to refuse to allow female fans access to games inside the country despite pressure from the game's governing body. "The Iranian FA is not only an accomplice of the crimes of the regime, it is a direct threat to the security of female fans in Iran and wherever our national team plays in the world. Football should be a safe space for us all," the letter said. "That is why, as Iranian football fans, it is with an extremely heavy heart that we have to raise our deepest concern about Iran's participation in the upcoming FIFA World Cup." "Why would FIFA give the Iranian state and its representatives a global stage, while it not only refuses to respect basic human rights and dignities, but is currently torturing and killing its own people? "Where are the principles of FIFA's statues in this regard? "Therefore, we ask FIFA, based on Articles 3 and 4 of its statutes, to immediately expel Iran from the World Cup 2022 in Qatar." The articles cited cover the issues of human rights and non-discrimination based on gender, race, religion and other matters, with breaches punishable by suspension or expulsion from the global body. Neither FIFA nor Iran's FA immediately responded to a Reuters request for comment. The call comes as protests continued in several cities across Iran on Thursday against the death of young woman in police custody, state and social media reported, as a human rights group said at least 83 people had been killed in nearly two weeks of demonstrations. ALSO READ | Iran arrests former footballer for supporting protests, reports state media Iran President Ebrahim Raisi has described the unrest as the latest in a series of moves against Iran by hostile Western powers since the 1979 Islamic revolution. Open Stadiums have campaigned over the last decade for women to be allowed to attend football matches in Iran, but with only limited success. Under pressure from Infantino, a small group of female fans were granted access to Persepolis's home leg of the 2018 Asian Champions League final in Tehran. But there has been minimal progress since, with female fans barred from entering Iran's World Cup qualifying game against Lebanon in Mashad in March, with video emerging of female supporters being pepper sprayed outside the stadium. The Carlos Queiroz-coached national team played friendly matches during the recent international break against Uruguay and Senegal in Austria, with both games played behind closed doors over security concerns. Iran are due to appear at their sixth World Cup finals and have been drawn to face England, Wales and the United States in Qatar.

Women's rights group urges FIFA to kick Iran out of Qatar World Cup

The men's T20 World Cup is set to get underway in Australia from mid-October. All the major teams are in the final stages of their preparations whereas the lowly-ranked sides will lock horns in the qualifiers, which starts on October 16, before the main draw of the showpiece event -- commencing&nbsp;a six days later.

On Friday (September 30), the International Cricket Council (ICC)&nbsp;announced the prize money for the upcoming edition of the T20 WC. The winning team is set to walk&nbsp;away with a staggering sum of INR $1.6 million whereas the runners-up will&nbsp;attain half the amount, i.e.&nbsp;$8, 00, 000.

Meanwhile, the losing semi-finalists will&nbsp;get $400,000 each from the $5.6 million total prize pool. Here's the full list:

Prize Money table

<table>
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>
			Stage
			</td>
			<td>
			Unit
			</td>
			<td>
			Per Team
			</td>
			<td>
			Total
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			Winners
			</td>
			<td>
			1
			</td>
			<td>
			$ 1,600,000
			</td>
			<td>
			$ 1,600,000
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			Runners-Up
			</td>
			<td>
			1
			</td>
			<td>
			$ 800,000
			</td>
			<td>
			$ 800,000
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			Losing Semi-finalists
			</td>
			<td>
			2
			</td>
			<td>
			$ 400,000
			</td>
			<td>
			$ 800,000
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			Super 12 Wins
			</td>
			<td>
			30
			</td>
			<td>
			$ 40,000
			</td>
			<td>
			$ 1,200,000
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			Super 12 Exit
			</td>
			<td>
			8
			</td>
			<td>
			$ 70,000
			</td>
			<td>
			$ 560,000
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			First Round Win
			</td>
			<td>
			12
			</td>
			<td>
			$ 40,000
			</td>
			<td>
			$ 480,000
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			First Round Exit
			</td>
			<td>
			4
			</td>
			<td>
			$ 40,000
			</td>
			<td>
			$ 160,000
			</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>
			Total
			</td>
			<td>
			&nbsp;
			</td>
			<td>
			&nbsp;
			</td>
			<td>
			$ 5,600,000
			</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/explained-what-is-back-stress-fracture-as-jasprit-bumrah-likely-to-be-ruled-out-of-t20-world-cup-521146">EXPLAINED! What is back stress fracture as Jasprit Bumrah likely to be ruled out of T20 World Cup</a>

Many experts and former cricketers have shared their predictions for the forthcoming ICC event. India, Australia, Pakistan, South Africa and England are one of the strongest sides but one cannot write off the other teams as the shortest format has enough ebbs and flows and, hence, any team can get the better of the other on a given day.&nbsp;

Talking about Team India's preparations, Rohit Sharma &amp; Co. have been on a winning spree in the format in the ongoing calendar year. Barring a disappointing run in Asia Cup 2022 edition, Men in Blue have done very well&nbsp;and will enter the tournament as a&nbsp;strong contender.&nbsp;

Rohit-starrer India failed to get past the Super 12 round in last year's edition, however, will be eager to go the distance this time around and win the trophy for the second time, after the 2007 edition.

The men's T20 World Cup is set to get underway in Australia from mid-October. All the major teams are in the final stages of their preparations whereas the lowly-ranked sides will lock horns in the qualifiers, which starts on October 16, before the main draw of the showpiece event -- commencing a six days later.

The men's T20 World Cup is set to get underway in Australia from mid-October. All the major teams are in the final stages of their preparations whereas the lowly-ranked sides will lock horns in the qualifiers, which starts on October 16, before the main draw of the showpiece event -- commencing a six days later. On Friday (September 30), the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced the prize money for the upcoming edition of the T20 WC. The winning team is set to walk away with a staggering sum of INR $1.6 million whereas the runners-up will attain half the amount, i.e. $8, 00, 000. Meanwhile, the losing semi-finalists will get $400,000 each from the $5.6 million total prize pool. Here's the full list: Prize Money table Stage Unit Per Team Total Winners 1 $ 1,600,000 $ 1,600,000 Runners-Up 1 $ 800,000 $ 800,000 Losing Semi-finalists 2 $ 400,000 $ 800,000 Super 12 Wins 30 $ 40,000 $ 1,200,000 Super 12 Exit 8 $ 70,000 $ 560,000 First Round Win 12 $ 40,000 $ 480,000 First Round Exit 4 $ 40,000 $ 160,000 Total $ 5,600,000 ALSO READ | EXPLAINED! What is back stress fracture as Jasprit Bumrah likely to be ruled out of T20 World Cup Many experts and former cricketers have shared their predictions for the forthcoming ICC event. India, Australia, Pakistan, South Africa and England are one of the strongest sides but one cannot write off the other teams as the shortest format has enough ebbs and flows and, hence, any team can get the better of the other on a given day. Talking about Team India's preparations, Rohit Sharma & Co. have been on a winning spree in the format in the ongoing calendar year. Barring a disappointing run in Asia Cup 2022 edition, Men in Blue have done very well and will enter the tournament as a strong contender. Rohit-starrer India failed to get past the Super 12 round in last year's edition, however, will be eager to go the distance this time around and win the trophy for the second time, after the 2007 edition.

Prize money for T20 World Cup: Full list out! Winner to walk away with a WHOPPING sum

Fans attending the World Cup in Qatar must show proof of a negative COVID-19 test regardless of their vaccination status, organisers said in a statement on Thursday.

All visitors aged six and over must present a negative result from a PCR test taken within 48 hours before their departure or from a rapid antigen test taken in the 24 hours before arriving, the Supreme Committee for Delivery &amp; Legacy said.

Results of the rapid antigen tests will only be accepted if they are from official medical centres and not self-administered. No further tests will be required in Qatar if visitors do not develop symptoms of COVID-19.

Visitors aged 18 and above will also be required to download a government-run contact tracing phone application called Ehteraz.

"A green Ehteraz status (showing the user does not have a confirmed case of COVID-19) is required to enter any public closed indoor spaces," the statement added.

Fans will have to wear masks on public transport but vaccination is not mandatory for the unprecedented influx of 1.2 million visitors expected for the Nov. 20-Dec. 18 tournament.

"Anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 while in Qatar will be required to isolate in accordance with Ministry of Public Health guidelines," the statement said.

Qatar has recorded more than 440,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 692 deaths from the virus, according to data from the Ministry of Public Health.

The country has a population of 2.8 million, of which barely 380,000 are Qatari nationals. A total of 7,487,616 vaccine doses have been administered so far, the data states.

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Fans attending the World Cup in Qatar must show proof of a negative COVID-19 test regardless of their vaccination status, organisers said in a statement on Thursday.

Fans attending the World Cup in Qatar must show proof of a negative COVID-19 test regardless of their vaccination status, organisers said in a statement on Thursday. All visitors aged six and over must present a negative result from a PCR test taken within 48 hours before their departure or from a rapid antigen test taken in the 24 hours before arriving, the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy said. Results of the rapid antigen tests will only be accepted if they are from official medical centres and not self-administered. No further tests will be required in Qatar if visitors do not develop symptoms of COVID-19. Visitors aged 18 and above will also be required to download a government-run contact tracing phone application called Ehteraz. "A green Ehteraz status (showing the user does not have a confirmed case of COVID-19) is required to enter any public closed indoor spaces," the statement added. Fans will have to wear masks on public transport but vaccination is not mandatory for the unprecedented influx of 1.2 million visitors expected for the Nov. 20-Dec. 18 tournament. "Anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 while in Qatar will be required to isolate in accordance with Ministry of Public Health guidelines," the statement said. Qatar has recorded more than 440,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 692 deaths from the virus, according to data from the Ministry of Public Health. The country has a population of 2.8 million, of which barely 380,000 are Qatari nationals. A total of 7,487,616 vaccine doses have been administered so far, the data states. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

World Cup fans must show negative COVID-19 test regardless of vaccine status: Qatar

Before the start of the eighth edition of the men's T20 World Cup, in Australia, here's looking at a list of players who have won the Man-of-the-Tournament awards in the mega event

From Shahid Afridi to David Warner: Player of the Tournament winners in T20 WC history

Puerto Rico booked the last quarter-final slot at the women's basketball World Cup on Tuesday with a "fairytale" 92-73 win over South Korea, securing a knockout place for the first time. Mya Hollingshed drilled a game-high 29 points and 12 rebounds in the do-or-die clash on the final day of group matches at the 10-day tournament in Sydney.

Defeat consigned the Koreans to an early exit as 17th-ranked Puerto Rico progressed with two wins from five in Group A, quickly taking the initiative to open an 18-point lead after the first quarter. The Koreans, missing injured marquee star Park Ji-su, battled back in much tighter second and third quarters and came out on top in the fourth, but their slow start was fatal.

"Obviously very proud of our team, we have a mix of young players with veteran players," said Puerto Rico coach Jerry Batista. "So for us who have been here for a couple of years working and trying to develop Puerto Rico basketball, it is so great. "It is like a fairytale... it shows that if you work, you can achieve everything," he added.

Arella Guirantes has been a standout with her exceptional performances helping steer Puerto Rico to the play-offs in only their second World Cup, having failed to win a game at their first tournament in 2018. The ever-dangerous shooting guard finished with 18 points, five rebounds and five assists. South Korean coach Jung Sun-min said her players were tired after a gruelling tournament, but was gracious in defeat. "The better team deserved the win today," she said.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/usa-set-basketball-world-cup-record-after-crushing-south-korea-145-69-519752">USA set basketball World Cup record after crushing South Korea 145-69</a>

Puerto Rico join 10-time champions the United States, hosts Australia, China, Belgium, Canada, France and Serbia in the last eight, which tips off on Thursday. Who faces who will be determined after the last group games. The USA have already clinched top spot in Group A and will face the third- or fourth-placed team from Group B. Whoever wins between China and Belgium will advance as Pool A's second seed.&nbsp;

France, Canada and Australia all have an opportunity to win Group B or finish second to avoid the mighty Americans, depending on how they fare in their final clashes. The French face Serbia and Canada take on a winless Mali, who are in disarray after two of their players were caught on camera fighting each other in a media zone after their loss on Monday.

Footage showed&nbsp;Salimatou Kourouma throwing at least three punches at a teammate as other Mali players rushed to intervene, with governing body FIBA opening a disciplinary investigation. Australia have shaken off a rocky start against France to win three in a row and meet a Japanese team that has been a shadow of the one that took silver at their home Olympics in Tokyo.

Puerto Rico booked the last quarter-final slot at the women's basketball World Cup on Tuesday with a "fairytale" 92-73 win over South Korea, securing a knockout place for the first time.

Puerto Rico booked the last quarter-final slot at the women's basketball World Cup on Tuesday with a "fairytale" 92-73 win over South Korea, securing a knockout place for the first time. Mya Hollingshed drilled a game-high 29 points and 12 rebounds in the do-or-die clash on the final day of group matches at the 10-day tournament in Sydney. Defeat consigned the Koreans to an early exit as 17th-ranked Puerto Rico progressed with two wins from five in Group A, quickly taking the initiative to open an 18-point lead after the first quarter. The Koreans, missing injured marquee star Park Ji-su, battled back in much tighter second and third quarters and came out on top in the fourth, but their slow start was fatal. "Obviously very proud of our team, we have a mix of young players with veteran players," said Puerto Rico coach Jerry Batista. "So for us who have been here for a couple of years working and trying to develop Puerto Rico basketball, it is so great. "It is like a fairytale... it shows that if you work, you can achieve everything," he added. Arella Guirantes has been a standout with her exceptional performances helping steer Puerto Rico to the play-offs in only their second World Cup, having failed to win a game at their first tournament in 2018. The ever-dangerous shooting guard finished with 18 points, five rebounds and five assists. South Korean coach Jung Sun-min said her players were tired after a gruelling tournament, but was gracious in defeat. "The better team deserved the win today," she said. ALSO READ | USA set basketball World Cup record after crushing South Korea 145-69 Puerto Rico join 10-time champions the United States, hosts Australia, China, Belgium, Canada, France and Serbia in the last eight, which tips off on Thursday. Who faces who will be determined after the last group games. The USA have already clinched top spot in Group A and will face the third- or fourth-placed team from Group B. Whoever wins between China and Belgium will advance as Pool A's second seed. France, Canada and Australia all have an opportunity to win Group B or finish second to avoid the mighty Americans, depending on how they fare in their final clashes. The French face Serbia and Canada take on a winless Mali, who are in disarray after two of their players were caught on camera fighting each other in a media zone after their loss on Monday. Footage showed Salimatou Kourouma throwing at least three punches at a teammate as other Mali players rushed to intervene, with governing body FIBA opening a disciplinary investigation. Australia have shaken off a rocky start against France to win three in a row and meet a Japanese team that has been a shadow of the one that took silver at their home Olympics in Tokyo.

Puerto Rico make women's World Cup basketball quarters for first time with win over South Korea

India is a sport-loving country. While cricket continues to rule&nbsp;the hearts of many across the nation, many other sports have also risen in popularity in recent years. Football is rising at a rapid pace but still has miles to cover to make an impact globally. The likes of Sunil Chhetri, Indian football captain, goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu and the likes have created a strong base, but many of their young followers need to stand tall and help the country's football to make a strong impact worldwide.

Andre Villas-Boas -- football manager and Laureus ambassador -- is one of the youngest top-flight managers who won the Europa League with FC Porto at 33. The game has been associated with him over the years. Recently, he got a chance to interact with underprivileged kids during his three-day visit to India -- and spoke at length&nbsp;on the future of the game in the country during an exclusive interaction with Wion Sports' Editor Digvijay Singh Deo.&nbsp;

After conducting a masterclass for the young small children of Delhi, the former Chelsea manager Andre revealed how his meeting went with the young kids. "Emotionally, it was very very rewarding for me. Hope it was the same for them. I'm thankful for the work done by Slum Soccer for these kids in India. I'm humbled and honoured. In such difficult circumstances they live, without infrastructure, and these 30 kids are still able to enjoy themselves. Put out the best skills they have. Not only technical skills but also&nbsp;cooperation, leadership and communication are some important tools they can take&nbsp;into their future. I thank Slum Soccer once again and Laureus for the work they do. We need more and more&nbsp;to change other people's lives."

During his visit to Delhi, Andre caught up with young football fan Jatin, a goalkeeper for his local football club - Rurka Kalan. Their mutual love for football made them connect instantly and Jatin got a chance to interact with the former Chelsea manager, a moment he will not forget for quite some time.

Jatin earned the chance to meet Andre after winning a unique drawing competition, which featured hundreds of participants from around the world. The young Indian fan's design will now be engraved on the back of the 16th special edition timepiece that Swiss luxury watch manufacturer IWC Schaffhausen has launched in collaboration with Laureus Sport for Good.

“I am really excited to be in India to meet Jatin and the young people from Slum Soccer. It’s wonderful to think that the watch which Jatin helped to design will contribute to raising awareness for Laureus. It was a great honour recognising Jatin as the winner of the competition and we enjoyed talking about football during our time together.

I am also thinking of all the other young people, like Jatin, who are in Laureus programmes around the world, similar to Slum Soccer here in New Delhi, and who are benefiting from the experience. This is a brilliant and unique initiative and I would like to thank Laureus Global Partner IWC sincerely for their support," Andre said about his interaction with the young fan.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/manchester-united-report-loss-of-ps1155m-for-202122-season-518762">Manchester United report loss of £115.5m for 2021/22 season</a>

Football is certainly one of the most accessible sports to play. On being asked if he feels&nbsp;Indian football needs that push as, despite the population, India has not reached the levels it should have, Andre&nbsp;pointed out that we need to tap into the talent.

"I think you need a lot of reforms. I know a lot of Portuguese have come here for the stars league that you (India) have proposed. I spoke to them before coming and they told me to make the most of the experience. You need to create a culture. You need to get the football into schools, into kids' heads so that they idolise their heroes and try to emulate them. The Ronaldos and the Messis. But you need the infrastructure and conditions. You guys have enough technical skills, you just need to work on it."

The population of India surely indicates that there is no dearth of talent across any field. Thus, hopes for high for Indian football and the youngsters joining the game to take it to a level that it has never reached as yet.&nbsp;

India is a sport-loving country. While cricket continues to rule the hearts of many across the nation, many other sports have also risen in popularity in recent years.

India is a sport-loving country. While cricket continues to rule the hearts of many across the nation, many other sports have also risen in popularity in recent years. Football is rising at a rapid pace but still has miles to cover to make an impact globally. The likes of Sunil Chhetri, Indian football captain, goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu and the likes have created a strong base, but many of their young followers need to stand tall and help the country's football to make a strong impact worldwide. Andre Villas-Boas -- football manager and Laureus ambassador -- is one of the youngest top-flight managers who won the Europa League with FC Porto at 33. The game has been associated with him over the years. Recently, he got a chance to interact with underprivileged kids during his three-day visit to India -- and spoke at length on the future of the game in the country during an exclusive interaction with Wion Sports' Editor Digvijay Singh Deo. After conducting a masterclass for the young small children of Delhi, the former Chelsea manager Andre revealed how his meeting went with the young kids. "Emotionally, it was very very rewarding for me. Hope it was the same for them. I'm thankful for the work done by Slum Soccer for these kids in India. I'm humbled and honoured. In such difficult circumstances they live, without infrastructure, and these 30 kids are still able to enjoy themselves. Put out the best skills they have. Not only technical skills but also cooperation, leadership and communication are some important tools they can take into their future. I thank Slum Soccer once again and Laureus for the work they do. We need more and more to change other people's lives." During his visit to Delhi, Andre caught up with young football fan Jatin, a goalkeeper for his local football club - Rurka Kalan. Their mutual love for football made them connect instantly and Jatin got a chance to interact with the former Chelsea manager, a moment he will not forget for quite some time. Jatin earned the chance to meet Andre after winning a unique drawing competition, which featured hundreds of participants from around the world. The young Indian fan's design will now be engraved on the back of the 16th special edition timepiece that Swiss luxury watch manufacturer IWC Schaffhausen has launched in collaboration with Laureus Sport for Good. “I am really excited to be in India to meet Jatin and the young people from Slum Soccer. It’s wonderful to think that the watch which Jatin helped to design will contribute to raising awareness for Laureus. It was a great honour recognising Jatin as the winner of the competition and we enjoyed talking about football during our time together. I am also thinking of all the other young people, like Jatin, who are in Laureus programmes around the world, similar to Slum Soccer here in New Delhi, and who are benefiting from the experience. This is a brilliant and unique initiative and I would like to thank Laureus Global Partner IWC sincerely for their support," Andre said about his interaction with the young fan. ALSO READ | Manchester United report loss of £115.5m for 2021/22 season Football is certainly one of the most accessible sports to play. On being asked if he feels Indian football needs that push as, despite the population, India has not reached the levels it should have, Andre pointed out that we need to tap into the talent. "I think you need a lot of reforms. I know a lot of Portuguese have come here for the stars league that you (India) have proposed. I spoke to them before coming and they told me to make the most of the experience. You need to create a culture. You need to get the football into schools, into kids' heads so that they idolise their heroes and try to emulate them. The Ronaldos and the Messis. But you need the infrastructure and conditions. You guys have enough technical skills, you just need to work on it." The population of India surely indicates that there is no dearth of talent across any field. Thus, hopes for high for Indian football and the youngsters joining the game to take it to a level that it has never reached as yet.

EXCLUSIVE | You need to get football into schools, says Andre Villas-Boas on the future of Indian football

Ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup -- to be held in Australia from October-November -- here's a look at the top five bowlers with most wickets in the mega event.

From Shakib Al Hasan to Ajantha Mendis: Top 5 wicket-takers in T20 World Cup history

The upcoming T20 World Cup will be held in Australia, from October 16-November 13. Prior to that, here's a list featuring the top-seven batters with most runs in the T20 World Cup history

From Mahela Jayawardene to AB de Villiers: Most runs in T20 World Cup history

FIFA's partners and World Cup sponsors must urge world soccer's governing body and the Qatari government to compensate migrant workers who suffered while preparing the nation for the event, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and FairSquare said on Tuesday.

Qatar has faced intense criticism from human rights groups over its treatment of migrant workers, who along with other foreigners comprise the bulk of the country's population. Qatari authorities did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters about the rights groups' report. The government of Qatar has said that its labour system is still a work in progress, but denied a 2021 Amnesty report that thousands of migrant workers were still being exploited.

Last week, a YouGov survey of more than 17,000 fans from 15 countries -- 10 of them European -- commissioned by Amnesty showed 73% of respondents would support a proposal for FIFA to compensate migrant workers, while 10% opposed it.

Minky Worden, the director of global initiatives at Human Rights Watch, said that sponsors should use their "considerable leverage" to apply pressure on FIFA and Qatar to fulfill their responsibilities to workers.

"Brands buy rights to sponsor the World Cup because they want to be associated with joy, fair competition and spectacular human achievement on the field -- not rampant wage theft and the deaths of workers who made the World Cup possible," said Worden.

The three human rights organisations said they had written to FIFA's 14 corporate partners and World Cup sponsors in July and that four of them -- AB InBev/Budweiser, Adidas, Coca-Cola, and McDonald's had indicated their support for ensuring remedy for workers.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/injured-duo-lorenzo-pellegrini-matteo-politano-leave-italy-camp-before-england-face-off-518126">Injured duo Lorenzo Pellegrini, Matteo Politano leave Italy camp before England face-off</a>

Ten other sponsors -- Visa, Hyundai-Kia, Wanda Group, Qatar Energy, Qatar Airways, Vivo, Hisense, Mengniu, Crypto and Byju's -- have not responded to written requests to discuss tournament-related abuses, the organisations said in a statement https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/09/20/fifa-world-cup-all-sponsors-should-back-remedies-workers.

In May, Amnesty and other rights groups had called on FIFA to earmark $440 million to compensate migrant workers in Qatar. FIFA said then that it was assessing Amnesty's proposition and that workers had received payments of a total $22.6 million as of December 2021, with an additional $5.7 million committed by contractors.

It added last week that a wide range of measures had been implemented in recent years to improve protection for workers in Qatar, which will host the World Cup from Nov. 20.

FIFA's partners and World Cup sponsors must urge world soccer's governing body and the Qatari government to compensate migrant workers who suffered while preparing the nation for the event, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and FairSquare said on Tuesday.

FIFA's partners and World Cup sponsors must urge world soccer's governing body and the Qatari government to compensate migrant workers who suffered while preparing the nation for the event, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and FairSquare said on Tuesday. Qatar has faced intense criticism from human rights groups over its treatment of migrant workers, who along with other foreigners comprise the bulk of the country's population. Qatari authorities did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters about the rights groups' report. The government of Qatar has said that its labour system is still a work in progress, but denied a 2021 Amnesty report that thousands of migrant workers were still being exploited. Last week, a YouGov survey of more than 17,000 fans from 15 countries -- 10 of them European -- commissioned by Amnesty showed 73% of respondents would support a proposal for FIFA to compensate migrant workers, while 10% opposed it. Minky Worden, the director of global initiatives at Human Rights Watch, said that sponsors should use their "considerable leverage" to apply pressure on FIFA and Qatar to fulfill their responsibilities to workers. "Brands buy rights to sponsor the World Cup because they want to be associated with joy, fair competition and spectacular human achievement on the field -- not rampant wage theft and the deaths of workers who made the World Cup possible," said Worden. The three human rights organisations said they had written to FIFA's 14 corporate partners and World Cup sponsors in July and that four of them -- AB InBev/Budweiser, Adidas, Coca-Cola, and McDonald's had indicated their support for ensuring remedy for workers. ALSO READ | Injured duo Lorenzo Pellegrini, Matteo Politano leave Italy camp before England face-off Ten other sponsors -- Visa, Hyundai-Kia, Wanda Group, Qatar Energy, Qatar Airways, Vivo, Hisense, Mengniu, Crypto and Byju's -- have not responded to written requests to discuss tournament-related abuses, the organisations said in a statement https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/09/20/fifa-world-cup-all-sponsors-should-back-remedies-workers. In May, Amnesty and other rights groups had called on FIFA to earmark $440 million to compensate migrant workers in Qatar. FIFA said then that it was assessing Amnesty's proposition and that workers had received payments of a total $22.6 million as of December 2021, with an additional $5.7 million committed by contractors. It added last week that a wide range of measures had been implemented in recent years to improve protection for workers in Qatar, which will host the World Cup from Nov. 20.

Rights groups turn to sponsors to press FIFA, Qatar on migrant worker compensation

From MS Dhoni to Aaron Finch: Captains to have won T20 World Cup

Virat Kohli's form remains a cause of concern and a big talking point in the Indian cricket fraternity. In the third and final T20I between India and England, Kohli started off aggressively -- keeping up with India's newly-found aggressive approach in the format -- before falling for a 6-ball 11. Thus, big knocks continue to evade Kohli and talks have started doing the rounds that Kohli can be omitted from India's T20 World Cup squad.

With the Indian selectors set to announce the T20I&nbsp;squad for the upcoming West Indies series, in the Caribbean island, reports suggest that&nbsp;Kohli might be rested for the series. Amid this, former Indian selector Sarandeep Singh feels Kohli needs to play more to regain form and made a big claim on the ex-Indian skipper.

"What are the selectors doing to understand where is his batting going wrong? He shouldn't be dropped. Everybody knows his capabilities and his potential. He can single-handedly win you World Cups," Singh told Karishma Singh of Times Now.

<section>
"Why is he being given rest then? What is this illogical way of selecting players? He plays one series then rest and then he plays another series. Make him play if he is not performing, that's the only way for him coming back to form," he added.

<section>
ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rohit-sharma-defends-virat-kohli-reponds-to-his-critics-they-dont-know-whats-going-on-inside-496254">Rohit Sharma defends Virat Kohli, responds to his critics: 'They don't know what's going on inside'</a>

After India lost the third and final T20I versus England by 17 runs, to win the series 2-1, skipper Rohit Sharma also backed Kohli to come good soon. Recently, Kapil Dev had suggested that Kohli should be dropped from the T20I line-up, to which Rohit said,&nbsp;"He is watching the game from outside and does not know what is happening inside. We have our thought process. We build our team and behind this, there is a lot of thinking. We back the boys and give them opportunities. So, these things you do not get to know from outside. So, whatever is happening outside is not important but what is happening inside is more important for us," Sharma said during a post-match press conference.

"If you talk about form then everyone goes through ups and downs. The player's quality does not get affected. So, we should keep these things in our minds. When a player is doing well for so many years, then one or two bad series does not make him a bad player. We should not overlook his past performances. We who are in the team know the importance of the player. They have got all the right to talk about it but it does not matter for us too much," he added.
</section>
</section>

Virat Kohli's form remains a cause of concern and a big talking point in the Indian cricket fraternity. In the third and final T20I between India and England, Kohli started off aggressively -- keeping up with India's newly-found aggressive approach in the format -- before falling for a 6-ball 11.

Virat Kohli's form remains a cause of concern and a big talking point in the Indian cricket fraternity. In the third and final T20I between India and England, Kohli started off aggressively -- keeping up with India's newly-found aggressive approach in the format -- before falling for a 6-ball 11. Thus, big knocks continue to evade Kohli and talks have started doing the rounds that Kohli can be omitted from India's T20 World Cup squad. With the Indian selectors set to announce the T20I squad for the upcoming West Indies series, in the Caribbean island, reports suggest that Kohli might be rested for the series. Amid this, former Indian selector Sarandeep Singh feels Kohli needs to play more to regain form and made a big claim on the ex-Indian skipper. "What are the selectors doing to understand where is his batting going wrong? He shouldn't be dropped. Everybody knows his capabilities and his potential. He can single-handedly win you World Cups," Singh told Karishma Singh of Times Now. "Why is he being given rest then? What is this illogical way of selecting players? He plays one series then rest and then he plays another series. Make him play if he is not performing, that's the only way for him coming back to form," he added. ALSO READ | Rohit Sharma defends Virat Kohli, responds to his critics: 'They don't know what's going on inside' After India lost the third and final T20I versus England by 17 runs, to win the series 2-1, skipper Rohit Sharma also backed Kohli to come good soon. Recently, Kapil Dev had suggested that Kohli should be dropped from the T20I line-up, to which Rohit said, "He is watching the game from outside and does not know what is happening inside. We have our thought process. We build our team and behind this, there is a lot of thinking. We back the boys and give them opportunities. So, these things you do not get to know from outside. So, whatever is happening outside is not important but what is happening inside is more important for us," Sharma said during a post-match press conference. "If you talk about form then everyone goes through ups and downs. The player's quality does not get affected. So, we should keep these things in our minds. When a player is doing well for so many years, then one or two bad series does not make him a bad player. We should not overlook his past performances. We who are in the team know the importance of the player. They have got all the right to talk about it but it does not matter for us too much," he added.

He can single-handedly win you World Cups: Former India selector backs under-fire Virat Kohli

The stage is set for the forthcoming Qatar World Cup, which will kick off later this year in November-December. Ahead of the showpiece event, FIFA has announced, on Friday (July 01),&nbsp;that it will introduce a new technology to improve offside calls at this year's marquee event in Qatar.

Over the years, the decision-making on offside calls have often consumed a lot of match time. While the decision can well determine the fate of the match, officials tend to take time before making a final call. Thus, in order to cut down time on making a decision regarding offside rules, FIFA has gone ahead with a unique method where it will be resorting to a limb-tracking camera system.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/lionel-messis-run-at-paris-saint-germain-to-end-argentinian-could-follow-neymar-out-of-club-report-493523">Lionel Messi's run at Paris Saint-Germain to end? Argentinian could follow Neymar out of club: Report</a>

WHAT IS IT? HOW DOES IT WORK?

FIFA revealed today&nbsp;that it is all set to launch semi-automated offside technology (SAOT), which will&nbsp;use&nbsp;several cameras to track players' movements plus a sensor in the ball and will quickly show 3D images on stadium screens at the tournament; to help spectators and viewers&nbsp;understand the referee's call.

For the unversed, it's the third successive World Cup that sees FIFA introduce new technology to help referees. In 2014, the Goal-line technology was ready for mega event in Brazil following a notorious refereeing fiasco in 2010. In the next edition, held in Russia in 2018, video review to help referees judge game-changing incidents came into effect. Talking about the new offside system, it promises to provide faster and more accurate decisions than are currently made with the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system.

Each stadium in Qatar will have a dozen cameras beneath the roof, synchronized to track 29 data points on each player's body 50 times a second. Data is processed with artificial intelligence to create a 3D offside line that is notified to the VAR officials. In addition, a&nbsp;sensor in the match ball helps to track its speed,&nbsp;acceleration and&nbsp;provides&nbsp;a precise "kick point", i.e. when the decisive pass is played to align with the offside line data, explained the FIFA innovation director Johannes Holzmller during an online discussion.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/fifa-retracts-suspension-of-pakistan-football-federation-493468">FIFA retracts suspension of Pakistan Football Federation</a>

The new high-tech was something which was always in FIFA's agenda, however, the push to get the new and unique system ready for the 2022 World Cup&nbsp;slowed down due to&nbsp;the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nonetheless, live in-game trials were conducted&nbsp;at the Arab Cup in Qatar, 2021 as well as during&nbsp;FIFA's Club World Cup, held early this year&nbsp;in the UAE.

At present, the new technology promises a lot. It remains to be seen how it helps officials and the answers will be known during the upcoming World Cup.

The stage is set for the forthcoming Qatar World Cup, which will kick off later this year in November-December. Ahead of the showpiece event, FIFA has announced, on Friday (July 01), that it will introduce a new technology to improve offside calls at this year's marquee event in Qatar.

The stage is set for the forthcoming Qatar World Cup, which will kick off later this year in November-December. Ahead of the showpiece event, FIFA has announced, on Friday (July 01), that it will introduce a new technology to improve offside calls at this year's marquee event in Qatar. Over the years, the decision-making on offside calls have often consumed a lot of match time. While the decision can well determine the fate of the match, officials tend to take time before making a final call. Thus, in order to cut down time on making a decision regarding offside rules, FIFA has gone ahead with a unique method where it will be resorting to a limb-tracking camera system. ALSO READ | Lionel Messi's run at Paris Saint-Germain to end? Argentinian could follow Neymar out of club: Report WHAT IS IT? HOW DOES IT WORK? FIFA revealed today that it is all set to launch semi-automated offside technology (SAOT), which will use several cameras to track players' movements plus a sensor in the ball and will quickly show 3D images on stadium screens at the tournament; to help spectators and viewers understand the referee's call. For the unversed, it's the third successive World Cup that sees FIFA introduce new technology to help referees. In 2014, the Goal-line technology was ready for mega event in Brazil following a notorious refereeing fiasco in 2010. In the next edition, held in Russia in 2018, video review to help referees judge game-changing incidents came into effect. Talking about the new offside system, it promises to provide faster and more accurate decisions than are currently made with the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system. Each stadium in Qatar will have a dozen cameras beneath the roof, synchronized to track 29 data points on each player's body 50 times a second. Data is processed with artificial intelligence to create a 3D offside line that is notified to the VAR officials. In addition, a sensor in the match ball helps to track its speed, acceleration and provides a precise "kick point", i.e. when the decisive pass is played to align with the offside line data, explained the FIFA innovation director Johannes Holzmller during an online discussion. ALSO READ | FIFA retracts suspension of Pakistan Football Federation The new high-tech was something which was always in FIFA's agenda, however, the push to get the new and unique system ready for the 2022 World Cup slowed down due to the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nonetheless, live in-game trials were conducted at the Arab Cup in Qatar, 2021 as well as during FIFA's Club World Cup, held early this year in the UAE. At present, the new technology promises a lot. It remains to be seen how it helps officials and the answers will be known during the upcoming World Cup.

EXPLAINED: FIFA's new high technology for offside calls at 2022 Qatar World Cup

FIFA&nbsp;will allow countries to select up to 26 players for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, increasing the maximum squad size by three for the November 21-December 18 tournament.

"The number of players to be included on the final list has been increased to at least 23 and a maximum of 26,"&nbsp;FIFA&nbsp;said in a statement.&nbsp;

World football's governing body said the decision to expand squads was made "given the need to retain additional flexibility due to the unique timing" of this year's competition, which will interrupt the European club season.&nbsp;

FIFA&nbsp;also took into account the "broader context of the disruptive effects caused by the Covid-19 pandemic on squads before and during tournaments".

UEFA adopted similar changes for Euro 2020 last year, meeting a demand from coaches who feared they could lose players due to coronavirus.

National teams had named squads of 23 players at the World Cup and European Championship ever since the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea.

Prior to that only 22 players were allowed in each squad at international tournaments.

Last week football's rules body IFAB approved the permanent use of five substitutes for all top-level matches and said teams can now name 15 substitutes on a team sheet instead of 12.

"No more than 26 people (up to 15 substitutes and 11 team officials – one of these officials must be the team doctor) will be allowed to sit on the team bench" during World Cup games,&nbsp;FIFA&nbsp;said Thursday.

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FIFA will allow countries to select up to 26 players for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, increasing the maximum squad size by three for the November 21-December 18 tournament.

FIFA will allow countries to select up to 26 players for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, increasing the maximum squad size by three for the November 21-December 18 tournament. "The number of players to be included on the final list has been increased to at least 23 and a maximum of 26," FIFA said in a statement. World football's governing body said the decision to expand squads was made "given the need to retain additional flexibility due to the unique timing" of this year's competition, which will interrupt the European club season. FIFA also took into account the "broader context of the disruptive effects caused by the Covid-19 pandemic on squads before and during tournaments". UEFA adopted similar changes for Euro 2020 last year, meeting a demand from coaches who feared they could lose players due to coronavirus. National teams had named squads of 23 players at the World Cup and European Championship ever since the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea. Prior to that only 22 players were allowed in each squad at international tournaments. Last week football's rules body IFAB approved the permanent use of five substitutes for all top-level matches and said teams can now name 15 substitutes on a team sheet instead of 12. "No more than 26 people (up to 15 substitutes and 11 team officials – one of these officials must be the team doctor) will be allowed to sit on the team bench" during World Cup games, FIFA said Thursday. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

FIFA increases squads to 26 players for 2022 World Cup

Here's looking at how some of the contenders for India's T20 World Cup squad fared in the recently-concluded T20I series, at home, versus Temba Bavuma-led South Africa

How India's T20 World Cup contenders fared in South Africa T20Is

2022 FIFA World Cup: Reliving previous 5 finals before showpiece event in Qatar

FIFA&nbsp;President Gianni Infantino warned Canada, Mexico and the United States to prepare for a football "invasion" on Thursday as the host cities for the 2026 World Cup were revealed.

The first ever World Cup co-hosted by three different countries will also see a record number of teams taking part, increasing by 16 from 32 to 48 as the tournament returns to North America for the first time since the 1994 finals.

The 16 venues named on Thursday include 11 in the United States, three in Mexico and two in Canada.

All of the US games will be held in venues that are home to NFL teams, with the likes of the $5 billion SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles and the New York Giants' 82,000-seater MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford tipped to host the final.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-reporter-cannot-keep-calm-after-australia-grabs-fifa-world-cup-berth-with-win-over-peru-488434">WATCH: Reporter cannot keep calm after Australia grabs FIFA World Cup berth with win over Peru</a>

A total of 60 of the 80 games in the tournament -- including all knockout games from the quarter-finals onwards -- will take place at US venues.

Mexico City's iconic Azteca Stadium -- host of the 1970 and 1986 World Cup finals -- was included among three Mexican venues along with the cities of Monterrey and Guadalajara.

Vancouver and Toronto will stage the Canadian games in the tournament.&nbsp;

Infantino meanwhile said 2026 would eclipse the 1994 finals in the United States -- which holds the record for the highest total attendance -- in every respect.

"2026 will be much, much bigger," Infantino said. "I think this part of the world doesn’t realise what will happen in 2026.&nbsp;

"These three countries will be turned upside down and then flipped again.&nbsp;The world will be invading Canada, Mexico and the United States.&nbsp;

"They will be invaded by a big wave of joy and happiness."

Infantino said he hoped the World Cup would spur the development of football in the region further.

"In this part of the world you are leading the world in many areas. But in the number one sport in the world, soccer or football, you are not, yet," he said. "The objective must be that you are leading the world in the world’s number one sport."

A decision on which venues would host marquee matches such as the World Cup final and opening game had not yet been taken.

"We still have to discuss that, we still have to analyse that," Infantino said. "We will take a decision in due course."

However Infantino revealed that given the vast geographical spread of staging the tournament across North America,&nbsp;FIFA&nbsp;was looking at basing teams in regional "clusters" to minimise travel.

"When you’re dealing with such a large region as North America we need to care about the fans and make sure that teams are playing in clusters, that fans and teams don’t have to travel crazy distances," Infantino said.

Watch |&nbsp;One Africa: Story of Africa's first female referee to officiate the FIFA World Cup 2022

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Super Bowl pedigree&nbsp;

The list of US venues stretch from coast to coast, featuring several cities that hosted games in the 1994 World Cup finals. However no actual stadium venues from the 1994 tournament will repeat in 2026.

Other venues include the Dallas Cowboys giant AT&amp;T Stadium in Arlington and the Miami Dolphins' Hard Rock Stadium. Seven of the 11 venues named Thursday have hosted the Super Bowl.

The Kansas City Chiefs' Arrowhead Stadium -- the loudest stadium in the world according to the Guinness Book of World Records -- also made the cut.

NFL venues in Seattle, San Francisco, Atlanta, Houston, Boston and Philadelphia were also on the list.

However there was no place for Washington D.C. on the venues list. It means the 2026 tournament will be the first World Cup since the 1974 finals in the then West Germany not to feature a host's capital city.

Colin Smith,&nbsp;FIFA's chief competitions and events officer, acknowledged Washington's absence after an "incredibly competitive" bid process.

"This was a very very difficult choice," Smith said. "It's hard to imagine a World Cup coming to the US and the capital city not taking a major role."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/australia-grabs-world-cup-berth-after-dramatic-penalty-shootout-against-peru-487921">Australia grabs FIFA World Cup berth after dramatic penalty shootout against Peru</a>

Smith meanwhile said some of the NFL venues would require slight modifications to widen "pinch points" but said stadium capacity would not be affected.

"The number of fans who are going to be able to experience this World Cup will probably be double than what we've previously had," he said.&nbsp;

"World Cup 1994 holds the record for attendance -- and that's going to be blown out of the water."

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FIFA President Gianni Infantino warned Canada, Mexico and the United States to prepare for a football "invasion" on Thursday as the host cities for the 2026 World Cup were revealed.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino warned Canada, Mexico and the United States to prepare for a football "invasion" on Thursday as the host cities for the 2026 World Cup were revealed. The first ever World Cup co-hosted by three different countries will also see a record number of teams taking part, increasing by 16 from 32 to 48 as the tournament returns to North America for the first time since the 1994 finals. The 16 venues named on Thursday include 11 in the United States, three in Mexico and two in Canada. All of the US games will be held in venues that are home to NFL teams, with the likes of the $5 billion SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles and the New York Giants' 82,000-seater MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford tipped to host the final. Also read | WATCH: Reporter cannot keep calm after Australia grabs FIFA World Cup berth with win over Peru A total of 60 of the 80 games in the tournament -- including all knockout games from the quarter-finals onwards -- will take place at US venues. Mexico City's iconic Azteca Stadium -- host of the 1970 and 1986 World Cup finals -- was included among three Mexican venues along with the cities of Monterrey and Guadalajara. Vancouver and Toronto will stage the Canadian games in the tournament. Infantino meanwhile said 2026 would eclipse the 1994 finals in the United States -- which holds the record for the highest total attendance -- in every respect. "2026 will be much, much bigger," Infantino said. "I think this part of the world doesn’t realise what will happen in 2026. "These three countries will be turned upside down and then flipped again. The world will be invading Canada, Mexico and the United States. "They will be invaded by a big wave of joy and happiness." Infantino said he hoped the World Cup would spur the development of football in the region further. "In this part of the world you are leading the world in many areas. But in the number one sport in the world, soccer or football, you are not, yet," he said. "The objective must be that you are leading the world in the world’s number one sport." A decision on which venues would host marquee matches such as the World Cup final and opening game had not yet been taken. "We still have to discuss that, we still have to analyse that," Infantino said. "We will take a decision in due course." However Infantino revealed that given the vast geographical spread of staging the tournament across North America, FIFA was looking at basing teams in regional "clusters" to minimise travel. "When you’re dealing with such a large region as North America we need to care about the fans and make sure that teams are playing in clusters, that fans and teams don’t have to travel crazy distances," Infantino said. Watch | One Africa: Story of Africa's first female referee to officiate the FIFA World Cup 2022 Super Bowl pedigree The list of US venues stretch from coast to coast, featuring several cities that hosted games in the 1994 World Cup finals. However no actual stadium venues from the 1994 tournament will repeat in 2026. Other venues include the Dallas Cowboys giant AT&T Stadium in Arlington and the Miami Dolphins' Hard Rock Stadium. Seven of the 11 venues named Thursday have hosted the Super Bowl. The Kansas City Chiefs' Arrowhead Stadium -- the loudest stadium in the world according to the Guinness Book of World Records -- also made the cut. NFL venues in Seattle, San Francisco, Atlanta, Houston, Boston and Philadelphia were also on the list. However there was no place for Washington D.C. on the venues list. It means the 2026 tournament will be the first World Cup since the 1974 finals in the then West Germany not to feature a host's capital city. Colin Smith, FIFA's chief competitions and events officer, acknowledged Washington's absence after an "incredibly competitive" bid process. "This was a very very difficult choice," Smith said. "It's hard to imagine a World Cup coming to the US and the capital city not taking a major role." Also read | Australia grabs FIFA World Cup berth after dramatic penalty shootout against Peru Smith meanwhile said some of the NFL venues would require slight modifications to widen "pinch points" but said stadium capacity would not be affected. "The number of fans who are going to be able to experience this World Cup will probably be double than what we've previously had," he said. "World Cup 1994 holds the record for attendance -- and that's going to be blown out of the water." WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

FIFA announces 16 North American cities to host the 2026 World Cup

The 12-member Indian rifle squad opened their account at the ISSF World Cup Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun in Baku, Azerbaijan, with gold in the 10m air rifle women's team competition on Tuesday. The trio of Elavenil Valarivan, Ramita and Shreya Agrawal outplayed Denmark 17-5 in the gold-medal match. 
 
They had reached the gold-medal round after two rounds of qualification on Monday. Denmark, represented by Anna Nielsen, Emma Koch and Rikke Maeng Ibsen, had beaten the Indian team in the last-eight stage but the Indians stepped up when it mattered most. Poland won bronze in the event.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/olympian-long-jumper-murali-sreeshankar-secures-gold-in-venizeleia-chania-2022-athletics-meet-483582">Olympian long jumper Murali Sreeshankar secures gold in Venizeleia-Chania 2022 athletics meet</a>

The Indian men`s air rifle team fell short in their bronze-medal match against Croatia, going down 10-16. Here too, the tables were turned as Rudrankksh Patil, Paarth Makhija and Dhanush Srikanth had beaten the Croats in the last-eight stage. 
 
India are fifth on the medals table, with Serbia leading the tally with two gold and a total of four medals.

The 12-member Indian rifle squad opened their account at the ISSF World Cup Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun in Baku, Azerbaijan, with gold in the 10m air rifle women's team competition on Tuesday.

The 12-member Indian rifle squad opened their account at the ISSF World Cup Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun in Baku, Azerbaijan, with gold in the 10m air rifle women's team competition on Tuesday. The trio of Elavenil Valarivan, Ramita and Shreya Agrawal outplayed Denmark 17-5 in the gold-medal match. They had reached the gold-medal round after two rounds of qualification on Monday. Denmark, represented by Anna Nielsen, Emma Koch and Rikke Maeng Ibsen, had beaten the Indian team in the last-eight stage but the Indians stepped up when it mattered most. Poland won bronze in the event. ALSO READ | Olympian long jumper Murali Sreeshankar secures gold in Venizeleia-Chania 2022 athletics meet The Indian men`s air rifle team fell short in their bronze-medal match against Croatia, going down 10-16. Here too, the tables were turned as Rudrankksh Patil, Paarth Makhija and Dhanush Srikanth had beaten the Croats in the last-eight stage. India are fifth on the medals table, with Serbia leading the tally with two gold and a total of four medals.

India get off the mark at shooting World Cup with team gold in women's 10m air rifle

Gujarat Titans (GT) created history on Sunday (May 29) as they defeated Rajasthan Royals (RR) by 7 wickets in the final of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Sunday (May 29) to win their maiden title in their debut season. Gujarat Titans chased down the target of 131 runs comfortably with 11 balls to spare to become only the second team after RR to win the elusive trophy in their debut season. RR had won their first IPL title in the inaugural edition of the tournament in 2008.

It was a lop-sided final with Gujarat Titans dominating the proceedings right from the start of the game. Skipper Hardik Pandya delivered a brilliant performance with the ball as he bagged a three-wicket haul to help GT restrict RR to a low-key total of 130/9 in 20 overs.

Opener Shubman Gill then slammed an unbeaten 45 while Pandya and David Miller played crucial knocks of 34 and 32 runs respectively to take GT over the line comfortably in the run chase. It was a comprehensive win from the Titans, who were also the most consistent teams throughout the league stage of the tournament.

Gill, who won his maiden IPL title with the Titans, was elated after the memorable triumph and compared it to a World Cup win. The former India U-19 star, who was part of the Prithvi Shaw-led India U-19 team which won the ICC U-19 World Cup in 2018, said winning an IPL trophy was equivalent to winning a World Cup.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/hardik-pandya-for-india-captaincy-sunil-gavaskar-throws-weight-behind-gt-skipper-after-ipl-2022-triumph-483410">Hardik Pandya for India captaincy? Gavaskar throws weight behind GT skipper after IPL 2022 triumph</a>

"Obviously, it (title win) means a lot. After winning the U-19 World Cup, I think winning an IPL is as big as winning a World Cup," Gill said speaking to Harsha Bhogle after the final.

"This is my fifth year and I am fortunate enough to win the IPL this time. I wanted to be there till the end, and that’s what the talk was about with the coaches, and I am glad that we came over the line. Our bowlers bowled really well to restrict them to 130. We initially thought that if we could get them under 150, it would be a good target for us to chase down, but fortunately it was even less than 150 and we did the job for the team," he added.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
: <a href="https://twitter.com/ShubmanGill?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ShubmanGill</a> hit the title-winning runs for the <a href="https://twitter.com/gujarat_titans?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@gujarat_titans</a> &amp; here's how he summed up his emotions. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TATAIPL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TATAIPL</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GTvRR?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GTvRR</a> <a href="https://t.co/VXYeCXm4W9">pic.twitter.com/VXYeCXm4W9</a>
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) <a href="https://twitter.com/IPL/status/1530982394471526402?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 29, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/complete-list-of-award-winners-from-ipl-2022-orange-cap-purple-cap-to-emerging-player-of-the-year-483407"> </a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/complete-list-of-award-winners-from-ipl-2022-orange-cap-purple-cap-to-emerging-player-of-the-year-483407">Buttler to Chahal -&nbsp;Complete list of award winners from IPL 2022&nbsp;</a>

Gill was part of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) squad last year and was released by the franchise ahead of IPL 2022. Gill had joined KKR in 2018 and spent four seasons with the franchise failing to win his maiden trophy. He was slotted in as an opener at GT and went on to play an instrumental role in their maiden title triumph this year.

Gill was consistent throughout the tournament and managed to step up when his team required. He finished the tournament with 483 runs in 16 matches at an average of over 34.50 and a strike rate of over 132. He was the second-highest run-getter for GT behind skipper Hardik this season.

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&nbsp;

Gujarat Titans (GT) created history on Sunday (May 29) as they defeated Rajasthan Royals (RR) by 7 wickets in the final of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Sunday (May 29) to win their maiden title in their debut season.

Gujarat Titans (GT) created history on Sunday (May 29) as they defeated Rajasthan Royals (RR) by 7 wickets in the final of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Sunday (May 29) to win their maiden title in their debut season. Gujarat Titans chased down the target of 131 runs comfortably with 11 balls to spare to become only the second team after RR to win the elusive trophy in their debut season. RR had won their first IPL title in the inaugural edition of the tournament in 2008. It was a lop-sided final with Gujarat Titans dominating the proceedings right from the start of the game. Skipper Hardik Pandya delivered a brilliant performance with the ball as he bagged a three-wicket haul to help GT restrict RR to a low-key total of 130/9 in 20 overs. Opener Shubman Gill then slammed an unbeaten 45 while Pandya and David Miller played crucial knocks of 34 and 32 runs respectively to take GT over the line comfortably in the run chase. It was a comprehensive win from the Titans, who were also the most consistent teams throughout the league stage of the tournament. Gill, who won his maiden IPL title with the Titans, was elated after the memorable triumph and compared it to a World Cup win. The former India U-19 star, who was part of the Prithvi Shaw-led India U-19 team which won the ICC U-19 World Cup in 2018, said winning an IPL trophy was equivalent to winning a World Cup. Also Read: Hardik Pandya for India captaincy? Gavaskar throws weight behind GT skipper after IPL 2022 triumph "Obviously, it (title win) means a lot. After winning the U-19 World Cup, I think winning an IPL is as big as winning a World Cup," Gill said speaking to Harsha Bhogle after the final. "This is my fifth year and I am fortunate enough to win the IPL this time. I wanted to be there till the end, and that’s what the talk was about with the coaches, and I am glad that we came over the line. Our bowlers bowled really well to restrict them to 130. We initially thought that if we could get them under 150, it would be a good target for us to chase down, but fortunately it was even less than 150 and we did the job for the team," he added. : @ShubmanGill hit the title-winning runs for the @gujarat_titans & here's how he summed up his emotions. #TATAIPL | #GTvRR pic.twitter.com/VXYeCXm4W9 — IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 29, 2022 × Also Read: Buttler to Chahal - Complete list of award winners from IPL 2022 Gill was part of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) squad last year and was released by the franchise ahead of IPL 2022. Gill had joined KKR in 2018 and spent four seasons with the franchise failing to win his maiden trophy. He was slotted in as an opener at GT and went on to play an instrumental role in their maiden title triumph this year. Gill was consistent throughout the tournament and managed to step up when his team required. He finished the tournament with 483 runs in 16 matches at an average of over 34.50 and a strike rate of over 132. He was the second-highest run-getter for GT behind skipper Hardik this season. ×

'As big as winning a World Cup': Shubman Gill reacts after Gujarat Titans lift IPL 2022 trophy - WATCH

Female referees will officiate matches at the men's world cup for the first time in Qatar this year and that's a huge breakthrough for gender equality. Three women referees and three women assistant referees will be a part of the world cup which will be held in Qatar from November 21 to December 18.

Qatar: Female referees to officiate at FIFA World Cup

The FIFA Referees Committee on Thursday announced the lists with the names of the selected match officials for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.36 referees, 69 assistant referees, and 24 video match officials (VMOs) have been chosen in close cooperation with the six confederations, based on their quality and the performances delivered at FIFA tournaments as well as at other international and domestic competitions in recent years. Among the selected, for the first time in the history of the FIFA World Cup, the FIFA Referees Committee has also appointed three women`s referees and three women`s assistant referees.

"We are very happy that with Stephanie Frappart from France, Salima Mukansanga from Rwanda, and Yoshimi Yamashita from Japan, as well as assistant referees Neuza Back from Brazil, Karen Diaz Medina from Mexico, and Kathryn Nesbitt from the USA, we have been able to call up female match officials for the first time in the history of a FIFA World Cup," said the chairman of the FIFA Referees Committee Pierluigi Collina."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/rights-groups-urge-fifa-to-set-aside-440mln-for-qatar-migrant-workers-480488">Rights groups urge FIFA to set aside $440mln for Qatar migrant workers</a>

This concludes a long process that began several years ago with the deployment of female referees at FIFA men`s junior and senior tournaments. In this way, we clearly emphasise that it is quality that counts for us and not gender. I would hope that in the future, the selection of elite women`s match officials for important men`s competitions will be perceived as something normal and no longer as sensational. They deserve to be at the FIFA World Cup™ because they constantly perform at a really high level, and that`s the important factor for us," concluded Pierluigi Collina.

Massimo Busacca, FIFA`s Director of Refereeing, ensures the match officials will receive all the necessary support by FIFA, as their preparation is paramount."Thanks to an innovative tracking and support programme, all the match officials can be supervised by FIFA referees` instructors even more closely and intensively than in previous years. This is a very important factor, from which we expect considerable improvements and progress in view of the FIFA World Cup 2022," explained Busacca. The selected match officials will participate in early summer in several seminars (Asuncion, Madrid and Doha), reviewing and analysing video clips of real match situations, and taking part in practical training sessions with players, which will be filmed to enable participants to receive instant feedback from the instructors.&nbsp;

The FIFA Referees Committee on Thursday announced the lists with the names of the selected match officials for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.36 referees, 69 assistant referees, and 24 video match officials (VMOs) have been chosen in close cooperation with the six confederations, based on their quality and the performances delivered at FIFA tournaments as well as at other international and domestic competitions in recent years.

The FIFA Referees Committee on Thursday announced the lists with the names of the selected match officials for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.36 referees, 69 assistant referees, and 24 video match officials (VMOs) have been chosen in close cooperation with the six confederations, based on their quality and the performances delivered at FIFA tournaments as well as at other international and domestic competitions in recent years. Among the selected, for the first time in the history of the FIFA World Cup, the FIFA Referees Committee has also appointed three women`s referees and three women`s assistant referees. "We are very happy that with Stephanie Frappart from France, Salima Mukansanga from Rwanda, and Yoshimi Yamashita from Japan, as well as assistant referees Neuza Back from Brazil, Karen Diaz Medina from Mexico, and Kathryn Nesbitt from the USA, we have been able to call up female match officials for the first time in the history of a FIFA World Cup," said the chairman of the FIFA Referees Committee Pierluigi Collina." ALSO READ | Rights groups urge FIFA to set aside $440mln for Qatar migrant workers This concludes a long process that began several years ago with the deployment of female referees at FIFA men`s junior and senior tournaments. In this way, we clearly emphasise that it is quality that counts for us and not gender. I would hope that in the future, the selection of elite women`s match officials for important men`s competitions will be perceived as something normal and no longer as sensational. They deserve to be at the FIFA World Cup™ because they constantly perform at a really high level, and that`s the important factor for us," concluded Pierluigi Collina. Massimo Busacca, FIFA`s Director of Refereeing, ensures the match officials will receive all the necessary support by FIFA, as their preparation is paramount."Thanks to an innovative tracking and support programme, all the match officials can be supervised by FIFA referees` instructors even more closely and intensively than in previous years. This is a very important factor, from which we expect considerable improvements and progress in view of the FIFA World Cup 2022," explained Busacca. The selected match officials will participate in early summer in several seminars (Asuncion, Madrid and Doha), reviewing and analysing video clips of real match situations, and taking part in practical training sessions with players, which will be filmed to enable participants to receive instant feedback from the instructors.

Qatar 2022: In a first, women referees to officiate at men's FIFA World Cup

From ‘monkeygate’ scandal to World Cup winner: All you need to know about Andrew Symonds

World Rugby has confirmed Australia as host of the men`s World Cup in 2027 and the women`s in 2029 and England has been chosen to stage the 2025 women`s tournament, the governing body said on Thursday. 
The United States was confirmed as host of the men`s showpiece event in 2031 and will stage the women`s tournament two years later.

The hosts were finalised following a World Rugby Council meeting in Dublin. "This is a historic day for rugby in Australia. We are beyond thrilled to be welcoming not one, but two World Cups to our shores," Rugby Australia Chairman Hamish McLennan said.

"It`s a game-changer for rugby in this country, a once-in-a-generation opportunity to revitalise and secure the future of the sport here and see the game we all love grow and thrive for years to come." World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont said the governing body had approved three "exceptional" World Cup host nations and that the move provided unprecedented certainty and unparalleled opportunity to accelerate the growth and impact of the sport.

"It`s great for rugby, for fans and for the host nations," Beaumont added. "Today is a landmark moment for the sport, and an exciting development for fans. I would like to congratulate everyone involved in making this dream a reality as we look to deliver a truly global sport for all."

Australia and England were earlier named "preferred candidates" while the U.S. was in dialogue with World Rugby as part of a new selection model introduced last year that aims to accelerate the growth of the sport. 
Australia will stage the men`s competition for the third time after 1987 - co-hosts with New Zealand - and 2003. England hosted the women`s event in 2010 while it will be the first World Cup on American soil. 
U.S. president Joe Biden last month backed his country`s bid, pledging to promote the sport in the country and deliver the "the most successful Rugby World Cups in history".

"USA Rugby will now venture into a new era and ensure the sport`s most treasured event is a springboard for creating lasting, sustainable enthusiasm and passion for rugby from coast to coast," USA Rugby Chief Executive Ross Young said. France is hosting the 2023 men`s World Cup and New Zealand the women`s tournament, postponed in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, later this year.

World Rugby has confirmed Australia as host of the men`s World Cup in 2027 and the women`s in 2029 and England has been chosen to stage the 2025 women`s tournament, the governing body said on Thursday.

World Rugby has confirmed Australia as host of the men`s World Cup in 2027 and the women`s in 2029 and England has been chosen to stage the 2025 women`s tournament, the governing body said on Thursday. The United States was confirmed as host of the men`s showpiece event in 2031 and will stage the women`s tournament two years later. The hosts were finalised following a World Rugby Council meeting in Dublin. "This is a historic day for rugby in Australia. We are beyond thrilled to be welcoming not one, but two World Cups to our shores," Rugby Australia Chairman Hamish McLennan said. "It`s a game-changer for rugby in this country, a once-in-a-generation opportunity to revitalise and secure the future of the sport here and see the game we all love grow and thrive for years to come." World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont said the governing body had approved three "exceptional" World Cup host nations and that the move provided unprecedented certainty and unparalleled opportunity to accelerate the growth and impact of the sport. "It`s great for rugby, for fans and for the host nations," Beaumont added. "Today is a landmark moment for the sport, and an exciting development for fans. I would like to congratulate everyone involved in making this dream a reality as we look to deliver a truly global sport for all." Australia and England were earlier named "preferred candidates" while the U.S. was in dialogue with World Rugby as part of a new selection model introduced last year that aims to accelerate the growth of the sport. Australia will stage the men`s competition for the third time after 1987 - co-hosts with New Zealand - and 2003. England hosted the women`s event in 2010 while it will be the first World Cup on American soil. U.S. president Joe Biden last month backed his country`s bid, pledging to promote the sport in the country and deliver the "the most successful Rugby World Cups in history". "USA Rugby will now venture into a new era and ensure the sport`s most treasured event is a springboard for creating lasting, sustainable enthusiasm and passion for rugby from coast to coast," USA Rugby Chief Executive Ross Young said. France is hosting the 2023 men`s World Cup and New Zealand the women`s tournament, postponed in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, later this year.

World Rugby confirms Australia to host 2027 and 2029 World Cups

Mithali Raj-led India face one of the two unbeaten sides, i.e. Australia in match 18 of the ongoing ICC Women's World Cup, in New Zealand, on Saturday (March 19). With the race for the semi-finals heating up with each passing day, the two-time runners-up India have a herculean task to negate the Aussie threat, who have been demolishing oppositions so far in the eight-team tournament.&nbsp;

While India started their campaign with a spirited win over arch-rivals Pakistan, they lost the plot versus hosts New Zealand before returning to winning ways with a big win over West Indies. They had a chance to bolster their chances of reaching the semis had they won against England, however, all is far from over for the Women in Blue despite a four-wicket loss to the defending champions.&nbsp;

Talking about Australia, they edged past England in their opening game before thrashing the likes of Pakistan, New Zealand and West Indies. They will like to keep up with the winning momentum as South Africa are also unbeaten, after four games, and can end as the top-ranked side.

Here is everything you need to know about the match - date, IST, streaming details, etc.&nbsp;

When is India&nbsp;vs Australia Women's World Cup match taking place?

India&nbsp;vs Australia Women's World Cup match will take place on March 19, 2022.&nbsp;

Where is&nbsp;India&nbsp;vs Australia Women's World Cup match&nbsp;taking place?

India&nbsp;vs Australia&nbsp;Women's World Cup match&nbsp;will be held&nbsp;at Eden Park, Auckland.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-aus-prediction-who-will-win-wwc-2022-match-between-india-and-australia-463457">IND vs AUS prediction: Who will win WWC 2022 match between India and Australia?</a>

At what time is&nbsp;India&nbsp;vs Australia Women's World Cup match&nbsp;taking place?

India&nbsp;vs Australia Women's World Cup match&nbsp;will commence at 6:30 AM&nbsp;IST.

How to watch India&nbsp;vs Australia Women's World Cup match&nbsp;live on TV?

India&nbsp;vs Australia&nbsp;Women's World Cup match&nbsp;will be available on Star Sports channels - Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 HD, Star Sports 1 Hindi, Star Sports 1 Hindi HD, Star Sports 1 Tamil, Star Sports 1 Telugu, and Star Sports 1 Kannada.

How to watch India&nbsp;vs Australia Women's World Cup match&nbsp;live streaming?

India&nbsp;vs Australia Women's World Cup match&nbsp;will be available on&nbsp;the Hotstar app as well as on the&nbsp;website.

Mithali Raj-led India face one of the two unbeaten sides, i.e. Australia in match 18 of the ongoing ICC Women's World Cup, in New Zealand, on Saturday (March 19).

Mithali Raj-led India face one of the two unbeaten sides, i.e. Australia in match 18 of the ongoing ICC Women's World Cup, in New Zealand, on Saturday (March 19). With the race for the semi-finals heating up with each passing day, the two-time runners-up India have a herculean task to negate the Aussie threat, who have been demolishing oppositions so far in the eight-team tournament. While India started their campaign with a spirited win over arch-rivals Pakistan, they lost the plot versus hosts New Zealand before returning to winning ways with a big win over West Indies. They had a chance to bolster their chances of reaching the semis had they won against England, however, all is far from over for the Women in Blue despite a four-wicket loss to the defending champions. Talking about Australia, they edged past England in their opening game before thrashing the likes of Pakistan, New Zealand and West Indies. They will like to keep up with the winning momentum as South Africa are also unbeaten, after four games, and can end as the top-ranked side. Here is everything you need to know about the match - date, IST, streaming details, etc. When is India vs Australia Women's World Cup match taking place? India vs Australia Women's World Cup match will take place on March 19, 2022. Where is India vs Australia Women's World Cup match taking place? India vs Australia Women's World Cup match will be held at Eden Park, Auckland. ALSO READ | IND vs AUS prediction: Who will win WWC 2022 match between India and Australia? At what time is India vs Australia Women's World Cup match taking place? India vs Australia Women's World Cup match will commence at 6:30 AM IST. How to watch India vs Australia Women's World Cup match live on TV? India vs Australia Women's World Cup match will be available on Star Sports channels - Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 HD, Star Sports 1 Hindi, Star Sports 1 Hindi HD, Star Sports 1 Tamil, Star Sports 1 Telugu, and Star Sports 1 Kannada. How to watch India vs Australia Women's World Cup match live streaming? India vs Australia Women's World Cup match will be available on the Hotstar app as well as on the website.

IND vs AUS WWC 2022 live streaming: Where and when to watch India vs Australia match?

Indian skipper Mithali Raj on Sunday said that her side might have won the match against Pakistan but there is a lot of work that needs to be done.

Fighting knocks of Sneh Rana and Pooja Vastrakar were backed up by all-around bowling performance as India defeated Pakistan by 107 runs in the fourth game of the ongoing ICC Women's 50-over World Cup.

"I am happy we won the first game but a lot of things to work on. When you lose wickets in the middle order, it does put a lot of pressure. The top-order has to score runs in a big tournament like this. When you have allrounders like Sneh, Deepti and Pooja, we extend our batting line up," Mithali said after the game ended.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-thrash-pakistan-by-107-runs-as-mithali-raj-co-begin-womens-world-cup-2022-campaign-with-a-win-459494">India thrash Pakistan by 107 runs as Mithali Raj &amp; Co. begin Women's World Cup 2022 campaign with a win</a>

Earlier, Pooja Vastrakar (67), Smriti Mandhana (52) and Sneh Rana (53*) were the standout performers as India posted 244/7.

Vastrakar and Rana formed a 122-run stand for the seventh wicket.

In the final five overs, India scored more runs to take the total past the 240-run mark.

India will next lock horns against New Zealand in the tournament on Thursday.

Indian skipper Mithali Raj on Sunday said that her side might have won the match against Pakistan but there is a lot of work that needs to be done. Fighting knocks of Sneh Rana and Pooja Vastrakar were backed up by all-around bowling performance as India defeated Pakistan by 107 runs in the fourth game of the ongoing ICC Women's 50-over World Cup.

Indian skipper Mithali Raj on Sunday said that her side might have won the match against Pakistan but there is a lot of work that needs to be done. Fighting knocks of Sneh Rana and Pooja Vastrakar were backed up by all-around bowling performance as India defeated Pakistan by 107 runs in the fourth game of the ongoing ICC Women's 50-over World Cup. "I am happy we won the first game but a lot of things to work on. When you lose wickets in the middle order, it does put a lot of pressure. The top-order has to score runs in a big tournament like this. When you have allrounders like Sneh, Deepti and Pooja, we extend our batting line up," Mithali said after the game ended. ALSO READ: India thrash Pakistan by 107 runs as Mithali Raj & Co. begin Women's World Cup 2022 campaign with a win Earlier, Pooja Vastrakar (67), Smriti Mandhana (52) and Sneh Rana (53*) were the standout performers as India posted 244/7. Vastrakar and Rana formed a 122-run stand for the seventh wicket. In the final five overs, India scored more runs to take the total past the 240-run mark. India will next lock horns against New Zealand in the tournament on Thursday.

Happy we won against Pakistan, but lot of things to work on: India skipper Mithali Raj

Indian skipper Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant and opening batter Prithvi Shaw all took to social media to cheer for the Indian women's cricket team ahead of their World Cup campaign opener against arch-rivals Pakistan on Sunday.

They also urged fans to come out and show their support to the Women in Blue during their World Cup 2022 campaign.

The Women's 50-over World Cup begins as New Zealand take on the West Indies on March 4 before all eight teams play each other once to decide the top four, with the winner crowned in Christchurch on April 3.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/the-day-hardik-starts-bowling-hell-pip-iyer-for-the-all-rounders-slot-for-t20-world-cup-aakash-chopra-458204">The day Hardik starts bowling, he'll pip Iyer for the all-rounder's slot for T20 World Cup: Aakash Chopra</a>

Virat Kohli on Instagram wrote: "No better time to cheer for the #WomenInBlue and show the strength of #HamaraBlueBandhan than this, 'cause it's time for the ICC Women's World Cup 2022! So set your alarms for 6.30 AM on Mar 6, 2022 &amp; watch #PAKvIND on @starsportsindia &amp; Disney+Hotstar | ICC #CWC22."

Rohit Sharma posted the Star Sports campaign video #HamaraBlueBandhan on his Instagram Reels.

Rishabh Pant posted: "The #WomenInBlue are on a mission at the ICC Women`s World Cup 2022. Join me to show your support for #HamaraBlueBandhan. Let's go. #TeamIndia."

Prithvi Shaw posted: "ICC Women's World Cup 2022 is here! I'm ready to show the strength of #HamaraBlueBandhan and cheer for #WomenInBlue as they take on #Pak in ICC #CWC22! Are you ready too?"

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/icc-t20i-rankings-shreyas-iyer-achieves-huge-jump-after-sl-series-virat-kohli-rohit-sharma-out-of-top-10-458106">ICC T20I Rankings: Shreyas Iyer achieves huge jump after SL series; Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma out of top 10</a>

The 12th edition of the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup and the third one, after 1982 and 2000, to be held in New Zealand will be played from March 4 to April 3 in six different cities - Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Hamilton, Tauranga and Wellington.

Eight teams - Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa and West Indies - will lock horns in a 31-match tournament with the final in Christchurch on April 3.

Indian skipper Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant and opening batter Prithvi Shaw all took to social media to cheer for the Indian women's cricket team ahead of their World Cup campaign opener against arch-rivals Pakistan on Sunday.

Indian skipper Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant and opening batter Prithvi Shaw all took to social media to cheer for the Indian women's cricket team ahead of their World Cup campaign opener against arch-rivals Pakistan on Sunday. They also urged fans to come out and show their support to the Women in Blue during their World Cup 2022 campaign. The Women's 50-over World Cup begins as New Zealand take on the West Indies on March 4 before all eight teams play each other once to decide the top four, with the winner crowned in Christchurch on April 3. ALSO READ: The day Hardik starts bowling, he'll pip Iyer for the all-rounder's slot for T20 World Cup: Aakash Chopra Virat Kohli on Instagram wrote: "No better time to cheer for the #WomenInBlue and show the strength of #HamaraBlueBandhan than this, 'cause it's time for the ICC Women's World Cup 2022! So set your alarms for 6.30 AM on Mar 6, 2022 & watch #PAKvIND on @starsportsindia & Disney+Hotstar | ICC #CWC22." Rohit Sharma posted the Star Sports campaign video #HamaraBlueBandhan on his Instagram Reels. Rishabh Pant posted: "The #WomenInBlue are on a mission at the ICC Women`s World Cup 2022. Join me to show your support for #HamaraBlueBandhan. Let's go. #TeamIndia." Prithvi Shaw posted: "ICC Women's World Cup 2022 is here! I'm ready to show the strength of #HamaraBlueBandhan and cheer for #WomenInBlue as they take on #Pak in ICC #CWC22! Are you ready too?" ALSO READ: ICC T20I Rankings: Shreyas Iyer achieves huge jump after SL series; Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma out of top 10 The 12th edition of the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup and the third one, after 1982 and 2000, to be held in New Zealand will be played from March 4 to April 3 in six different cities - Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Hamilton, Tauranga and Wellington. Eight teams - Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa and West Indies - will lock horns in a 31-match tournament with the final in Christchurch on April 3.

Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma cheer for Team India ahead of Women's ODI World Cup

Amelia Kerr's 68-run knock was followed up by a dominant bowling performance as New Zealand defeated India by 63 runs in a rain-curtailed fourth ODI of the five-match series here at the John Davies Oval, Queenstown on Tuesday.

With this win, New Zealand has gained a 4-0 lead in the five-match series. The final ODI will now be played on Thursday.

The fourth ODI was curtailed to 20-overs per side after rain played spoilsport.

Chasing 192, India got off to the worst start possible as the side lost Shafali Verma (0), Yastika Bhatia (0) and Pooja Vastrakar (4) in quick succession and they were reduced to 12/3 in the third over.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-nz-richa-ghosh-slams-fastest-fifty-by-an-indian-in-womens-odis-455287">Ind vs NZ: Richa Ghosh slams fastest fifty by an Indian in women's ODIs</a>

Soon after, Smriti Mandhana (13) was sent back to the pavilion by Hayley Jensen and India was in a spot of bother at 19/4 in the fifth over.

Richa Ghosh and Mithali Raj then got together at the crease and the duo revived the Indian innings. Ghosh brought up her fifty off just 26 balls and as a result, she registered the fastest fifty by an Indian batter in Women's ODIs.

However, the 18-year-old departed after playing a knock of 52 in the 13th over and India was reduced to 96/5. India was not able to recover from this blow, and in the end, New Zealand registered a comfortable win.

Earlier, Amelia Kerr played a knock of 68 runs from 33 balls with the help of 11 fours and 1 six as New Zealand posted 191/5 against India.

Suzie Bates and Sophie Devine also played useful innings of 41 and 32 as the White Ferns posted a score of more than the 190-run mark.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-skipper-mithali-raj-expresses-concerns-about-teams-bowling-ahead-of-odi-world-cup-455355">India skipper Mithali Raj expresses concerns about team's bowling ahead of ODI World Cup</a>

Amy Satterthwaite also chipped in with a knock of 32 runs from 16 balls. For India, Renuka Singh returned with two wickets.

Brief Scores: New Zealand 191/5 (Amelia Kerr 68, Suzie Bates 41; Renuka Singh 2-33); India 128 all out (Richa Ghosh 52, Mithali Raj 30; Hayley Jensen 3-32).

Amelia Kerr's 68-run knock was followed up by a dominant bowling performance as New Zealand defeated India by 63 runs in a rain-curtailed fourth ODI of the five-match series here at the John Davies Oval, Queenstown on Tuesday.

Amelia Kerr's 68-run knock was followed up by a dominant bowling performance as New Zealand defeated India by 63 runs in a rain-curtailed fourth ODI of the five-match series here at the John Davies Oval, Queenstown on Tuesday. With this win, New Zealand has gained a 4-0 lead in the five-match series. The final ODI will now be played on Thursday. The fourth ODI was curtailed to 20-overs per side after rain played spoilsport. Chasing 192, India got off to the worst start possible as the side lost Shafali Verma (0), Yastika Bhatia (0) and Pooja Vastrakar (4) in quick succession and they were reduced to 12/3 in the third over. ALSO READ: Ind vs NZ: Richa Ghosh slams fastest fifty by an Indian in women's ODIs Soon after, Smriti Mandhana (13) was sent back to the pavilion by Hayley Jensen and India was in a spot of bother at 19/4 in the fifth over. Richa Ghosh and Mithali Raj then got together at the crease and the duo revived the Indian innings. Ghosh brought up her fifty off just 26 balls and as a result, she registered the fastest fifty by an Indian batter in Women's ODIs. However, the 18-year-old departed after playing a knock of 52 in the 13th over and India was reduced to 96/5. India was not able to recover from this blow, and in the end, New Zealand registered a comfortable win. Earlier, Amelia Kerr played a knock of 68 runs from 33 balls with the help of 11 fours and 1 six as New Zealand posted 191/5 against India. Suzie Bates and Sophie Devine also played useful innings of 41 and 32 as the White Ferns posted a score of more than the 190-run mark. ALSO READ: India skipper Mithali Raj expresses concerns about team's bowling ahead of ODI World Cup Amy Satterthwaite also chipped in with a knock of 32 runs from 16 balls. For India, Renuka Singh returned with two wickets. Brief Scores: New Zealand 191/5 (Amelia Kerr 68, Suzie Bates 41; Renuka Singh 2-33); India 128 all out (Richa Ghosh 52, Mithali Raj 30; Hayley Jensen 3-32).

Amelia Kerr, Hayley Jensen star as New Zealand crush India by 63 runs, take 4-0 lead

India skipper Mithali Raj expressed disappointment after her side was beaten by New Zealand in the fourth ODI of the five-match series here at the John Davies Oval, Queenstown on Tuesday.

Amelia Kerr's 68-run knock was followed up by a dominant bowling performance as New Zealand defeated India by 63 runs. The fourth ODI was curtailed to 20-overs per side due to rain.

"We have definitely been trying few compositions with our spin and seam attack. But to be honest the bowling is a bit of concern before the World Cup. We want all our main bowlers to get their rhythm," said Mithali after the game.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/senior-player-wants-ajit-agarkar-to-replace-paras-mhambrey-as-bowling-coach-of-indian-team-report-455316">Senior player wants Ajit Agarkar to replace Paras Mhambrey as bowling coach of Indian team - Report</a>

"We are adapting to the conditions but there are spells where the bowlers have bowled well but we are not consistent and it is something that we are looking to improve. I was just looking at the shots and the way she (Richa) went about her batting, she is very talented and the future for India," she added.

Chasing 192, India got off to the worst start possible as the side lost Shafali Verma (0), Yastika Bhatia (0) and Pooja Vastrakar (4) in quick succession and they were reduced to 12/3 in the third over.

Soon after, Smriti Mandhana (13) was sent back to the pavilion by Hayley Jensen and India were in a spot of bother at 19/4 in the fifth over.

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-nz-richa-ghosh-slams-fastest-fifty-by-an-indian-in-womens-odis-455287">Ind vs NZ: Richa Ghosh slams fastest fifty by an Indian in women's ODIs</a>

Richa Ghosh and Mithali Raj then got together at the crease and revived the Indian innings. Ghosh brought up her fifty off just 26 balls and as a result, she registered the fastest fifty by an Indian batter in Women's ODIs.

However, the 18-year-old departed after playing a knock of 52 in the 13th over and India was reduced to 96/5. India was not able to recover from this blow, and in the end, New Zealand registered a comfortable win.

With this win, New Zealand has gained a 4-0 lead in the five-match series. The final ODI will now be played on Thursday.

India skipper Mithali Raj expressed disappointment after her side was beaten by New Zealand in the fourth ODI of the five-match series here at the John Davies Oval, Queenstown on Tuesday.

India skipper Mithali Raj expressed disappointment after her side was beaten by New Zealand in the fourth ODI of the five-match series here at the John Davies Oval, Queenstown on Tuesday. Amelia Kerr's 68-run knock was followed up by a dominant bowling performance as New Zealand defeated India by 63 runs. The fourth ODI was curtailed to 20-overs per side due to rain. "We have definitely been trying few compositions with our spin and seam attack. But to be honest the bowling is a bit of concern before the World Cup. We want all our main bowlers to get their rhythm," said Mithali after the game. ALSO READ: Senior player wants Ajit Agarkar to replace Paras Mhambrey as bowling coach of Indian team - Report "We are adapting to the conditions but there are spells where the bowlers have bowled well but we are not consistent and it is something that we are looking to improve. I was just looking at the shots and the way she (Richa) went about her batting, she is very talented and the future for India," she added. Chasing 192, India got off to the worst start possible as the side lost Shafali Verma (0), Yastika Bhatia (0) and Pooja Vastrakar (4) in quick succession and they were reduced to 12/3 in the third over. Soon after, Smriti Mandhana (13) was sent back to the pavilion by Hayley Jensen and India were in a spot of bother at 19/4 in the fifth over. ALSO READ: Ind vs NZ: Richa Ghosh slams fastest fifty by an Indian in women's ODIs Richa Ghosh and Mithali Raj then got together at the crease and revived the Indian innings. Ghosh brought up her fifty off just 26 balls and as a result, she registered the fastest fifty by an Indian batter in Women's ODIs. However, the 18-year-old departed after playing a knock of 52 in the 13th over and India was reduced to 96/5. India was not able to recover from this blow, and in the end, New Zealand registered a comfortable win. With this win, New Zealand has gained a 4-0 lead in the five-match series. The final ODI will now be played on Thursday.

India skipper Mithali Raj expresses concerns about team's bowling ahead of ODI World Cup

Former Indian wicketkeeper-batter opines on Ranji Trophy's resumption, Rishabh Pant's captaincy and keeping skills, Virat Kohli's indifferent form and Mithali Raj & Co.'s chances in upcoming Women's ODI World Cup.

EXCLUSIVE | Former player opines on Rishabh Pant, Virat Kohli's form, names India women's X-factor for ODI World Cup

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