Lahore, June 25 (IANS) The Pakistan men’s cricket team is set to travel to Bangladesh next month for a three-match T20I series, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed on Wednesday.The series marks another chapter in the two sides’ growing T20 rivalry and will be hosted entirely at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka, with all matches scheduled to begin at 6 PM local time.”Pakistan men’s team will travel to Bangladesh next month to take part in a three-match bilateral T20I series, the Bangladesh Cricket Board confirmed today,” PCB said in a statement.Pakistan will arrive in Dhaka on July 16, giving them a few days to prepare before the series kicks off on Sunday, July 20 with the first T20I.The remaining two games will be played on July 22 (Tuesday) and July 24 (Thursday), respectively — all at the same venue under lights.This will be the first meeting between the two sides since their last T20I clash in Lahore, where Pakistan completed a 3-0 clean sweep against the visitors.Bangladesh will be eyeing a strong comeback on home turf, while Pakistan, under new leadership and looking to build momentum ahead of upcoming global tournaments, will aim to maintain their dominance.The series is expected to draw significant local interest, with Dhaka’s iconic stadium once again playing host to a full-house as the two Asian rivals lock horns in white-ball cricket.Earlier, Pakistan won the T20I series 3-0 series at home.Series Schedule – Pakistan tour of Bangladesh 2025July 20–1st T20I, Dhaka (6 PM local time)July 22– 2nd T20I, Dhaka (6 PM local time)July 24 – 3rd T20I, Dhaka (6 PM local time)–IANShs/

Windsor, June 25 (IANS) Former England men’s senior football manager Sir Gareth Southgate has received a knighthood at Windsor Castle for his services to football. After leading England to four major tournaments and overseeing two EURO Finals and a World Cup semifinal appearance, Southgate has been awarded a knighthood, having previously been made an OBE in 2019.The 53-year-old joined the team in 2016 after they had suffered an embarrassing defeat against Iceland in the Round of 16 at the 2016 Euros. Under his regime, England became one of the best defensive setups in the world, and although his 102-game tenure ended without a trophy, he will be remembered as one of the best managers in the country’s history, with two Euro finals appearances and one semi-final appearance in the 2018 World Cup.“It’s an amazing privilege. I have to say I am more emotional than I thought I would be, but it was an amazing experience for my whole family. The lovely thing is you get to meet amazing people who have done amazing things for the country. The prince is a huge supporter of the England team. We have been fortunate to share some amazing moments and some unfortunate ones as well,” said Southgate to Sky Sports.Southgate also reflected on his tenure as the England head coach. “Not quite where we wanted to get to in the end, but still, it was a period of consistency in English football. The journey we went on with the fans and team, working with a special group of players and staff. Of course, the games are important, but the relationships you build are really special,” he added.Southgate also has 57 caps and two goals for England as a player in a decade-long career from 1995-2004. He has also managed the England U-21 team from 2013 to 2016.He also had a lengthy club career playing for Crystal Palace (1988-95), Aston Villa (1995-2001) and Middlesbrough (2001-2006), making 503 appearances in all and scoring 26 goals.–IANSaaa/bsk/

New Delhi, June 25 (IANS) India’s new Test captain Shubman Gill is under the spotlight after his leadership in the series opener against England came under criticism from former England skipper Nasser Hussain, who said Gill “didn’t quite have the on-field aura” of his predecessors, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.“I saw someone finding his way,” Hussain said on Sky Sports. “He (Gill) didn’t quite have that on-field aura of Rohit and Kohli. I thought he followed the ball a lot and was reactive rather than proactive. When Rohit and Kohli captained, you looked down and immediately knew who was in charge. In this game, I saw two or three captains — captaincy by committee.”Gill’s first Test as skipper ended in disappointment as India slumped to a five-wicket defeat at Headingley despite a dominant start and five individual centuries across both innings. England, fueled by Ben Duckett’s electrifying 149 and composed efforts from Joe Root (53 not out) and debutant Jamie Smith (44 not out), chased down 371 in the fourth innings — their second-highest successful run chase in Test history, and the highest ever against India.While Hussain admitted that Gill’s captaincy lacked assertiveness, he also acknowledged that the 24-year-old wasn’t solely to blame. “India lost the match because of two things Gill couldn’t control — dropped catches and batting collapses,” he said, pointing to the team’s fielding woes and repeated middle-order meltdowns.In a game where India had England at 276/5 in the first innings and later at 333/4 in the second, their inability to close out dominant positions proved fatal. The visitors lost seven wickets for 41 runs in the first innings and six for 31 in the second — collapses that turned the tide despite hundreds from Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant, and Shubman Gill himself in his first innings as captain.Former England pacer Stuart Broad echoed similar sentiments, saying India had “so many opportunities to put this game to bed” but let England fight back. “Duckett was absolutely outstanding. It’s just incredible how this team keeps doing this,” Broad said.India’s bowling resources were also stretched. Jasprit Bumrah, who took a five-for in the first innings, is managing his workload and is expected to feature in only three of the five Tests due to a recent back injury.The lack of a dependable seam-bowling all-rounder in English conditions added further imbalance — a problem Hussain highlighted, saying, “In India, they have spin-bowling all-rounders like Ashwin, Jadeja, Axar. But in England, they’re still searching for someone who can bat and bowl seam.”–IANShs/bsk/

London, June 25 (IANS) Liam Delap says he and his Chelsea teammates ‘got the job done’ by securing their place in the Club World Cup knockout stage, and the striker hopes his goal against ES Tunis will be the first of many in blue.After Tosin Adarabioyo had opened the scoring with a well-placed header in first-half stoppage time, Delap opened his account with a turn and ball role, which gave him space to slot home. Tyrique George then wrapped up the win in the final moments at the Lincoln Financial Field.Delap knew how crucial the game was to the Blues, with victory securing safe passage to the Round of 16, where Chelsea will face Benfica.”We knew we had to win tonight to get through, and we’re pleased to get the job done. It’s a really happy feeling [to score] and hopefully, it’s the first of many. I love playing football, and to play for such a good team is a great feeling,” Delap was quoted as saying by Chelsea’s website.The 22-year-old was also quick to thank Enzo Fernandez for his assist in the build-up to his maiden Chelsea goal. Liam continued, “I spoke to Enzo and he told me that when he gets the ball, I should run, and it was a great pass, and luckily it went in.”The Blues have three days to recover and then prepare for the clash with Benfica, which will be held in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Saturday. And Delap is ready to test himself against the Portuguese giants.He added, “We’ve just got to prepare over the next few days. Everyone will come out fighting, and hopefully we’ll progress.’Chelsea began their FIFA Club World Cup campaign with a 2-0 win over Major League Soccer side Los Angeles FC. However, they were handed a thumping 1-3 defeat against Brazilian side Flamengo, in a game where Nicolas Jackson was handed a straight red for his reckless challenge. They will now face Portuguese side Benfica in the Round of 16, who sealed the top spot in Group C with a 1-0 win over Bayern Munich.–IANSaaa/bsk/

Mumbai, June 25 (IANS) Former India wicketkeeper and selector Kiran More has called for patience with the current Indian Test side after its heartbreaking five-wicket loss to England in the first Test at Headingley, but was clear-eyed about where things went wrong: fielding.“We played very well for four days,” More told IANS. “I think the mistake came on the last day when England played outstanding cricket. Fielding was where we slipped. Those were simple catches — no one drops those — and that made the difference.”His assessment came after England pulled off one of the most sensational fourth-innings chases in Test history, hunting down a mammoth 371-run target on the final day to take a 1-0 lead in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. The win, powered by Ben Duckett’s sublime 149 and anchored by Joe Root’s unbeaten 53 and debutant Jamie Smith’s nerveless 44 not out, was England’s second-highest successful chase ever and the highest against India.More, while pointing out India’s bright patches across the Test, admitted the team fell short when it mattered most. “In the first two days, we were really good, and I felt we could’ve added another 100–150 runs to our total. If we had scored 450 in the first innings, things might’ve been different,” he said. “In the second innings, Rishabh and KL Rahul did well. But again, we collapsed at key moments.”India, after posting 471 in the first innings thanks to centuries from Shubman Gill (147), Rishabh Pant (134), and Yashasvi Jaiswal (101), let go of a position of dominance by losing seven wickets for just 41 runs. England’s reply, led by Duckett (62), Ollie Pope (106), and Brook (99), saw them post 465, with the last five wickets contributing 189 runs — a phase that shifted the balance.In the second innings, a 195-run stand between Pant (118) and K.L. Rahul (137) once again gave India control at 333/4. But in a now-familiar script, the team lost six wickets for just 31 runs, folding for 364 and leaving England a fourth-innings target of 371.More wasn’t critical of individuals, instead highlighting the bigger picture. “We’ve got a good, balanced team, but this team is still in transition. I think we need to give them time — a year or so — to settle, find the right combination, and grow into a strong unit,” he said. “We’ve scored over 750 runs across both innings, so the batting is there. But we can’t keep depending on Bumrah. He needs support — especially from the spinners.”Indeed, while Jasprit Bumrah bowled tirelessly, he went wicketless in the second innings. Prasidh Krishna proved expensive, and India’s fielding allowed England reprieves that proved costly, most notably Harry Brook, who was dropped multiple times en route to his 99.More called for faith in the team and a long-term vision. “We’ve seen it before — from Gavaskar, Kapil Dev, Sachin, to Kohli and Rohit. Now it’s time for new faces to step up. They need time and support,” he said. “If we keep playing like this and keep making the same mistakes, we won’t improve. But give this group time, and we’ll have a good team.”England’s successful chase, the third such instance of over 350 being chased at Headingley, added another chapter to the ground’s rich legacy. With all four innings in the match crossing 350, only the third time that has happened in Test history.–IANShs/bsk/

New Delhi, June 25 (IANS) Two years after moving to Uttar Pradesh, ahead of the 2023/24 domestic season, left-handed batter Nitish Rana is likely to represent his home state Delhi again in the upcoming 2025/26 season.Rana had captained Delhi in domestic cricket games before making the move to Uttar Pradesh in 2023.IANS understands that Rana likely making a move back to Delhi emerged after his name was not spotted in the list of players for the auction ahead of the upcoming season of the UP T20 League. “Yes, Nitish Rana has applied for NOC and approval for it will be given in the coming days.”“With him not being a domicile player, he would look at deciding on this things season wise as a guest player. As per the norms, we also have to confirm with guest players for their availability from season to season. So they have the flexibility to move around,” said sources in the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA) to IANS on Wednesday.Rana had a forgettable time playing for Uttar Pradesh in the 2024/25 domestic season – making only 111 runs in nine games of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He made only 17 runs in two Vijay Hazare Trophy games, before being omitted from the team. The situation wasn’t that great in Ranji Trophy too – amassing 150 runs in four games, before being left out of the team.Interestingly, Rana’s likely return to the Delhi set-up comes just weeks before the second season of Delhi Premier League (DPL) takes place. Though there’s been no confirmation from the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) on Rana coming back to Delhi, there’s a school of thought which hasn’t been much optimistic about this development.“Two years back, he left Delhi when the side needed him and requests were made at that time. Now that you are not being picked for the Uttar Pradesh side, you come back to Delhi again. The thinking should be that he would have to earn his spot in Delhi team again,” said a source to IANS.Rana, who played one ODI and two T20Is for India, had a disappointing IPL 2025 season with the Rajasthan Royals, scoring only 217 runs in 11 matches, before being ruled out of the competition due to a calf injury. Notably, during last year’s Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy quarter-finals, Rana had a heated argument with Delhi captain Ayush Badoni, which required for the on field umpires’ to intervene and separate the duo.–IANSnr/

New Delhi, June 25 (IANS) Fresh off a blockbuster Season 2 that smashed viewership records, the Indian Street Premier League (ISPL)—India’s tennis-ball T10 cricket league, has announced Bollywood superstar Salman Khan as the new team owner for its upcoming New Delhi franchise.Season 2 drew a record-breaking 28 million+ television viewers and marked a 47 per cent growth in TV viewership over its inaugural edition, cementing ISPL’s place as India’s biggest sports and music carnival.Salman now joined ISPL’s star-studded roster of celebrity team owners, which includes Amitabh Bachchan (Majhi Mumbai), Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan (Tiigers of Kolkata), Akshay Kumar (Srinagar Ke Veer), Suriya (Chennai Singams), Hrithik Roshan (Bangalore Strikers), and Ram Charan (Falcon Risers Hyderabad).The ISPL is backed by a powerful core committee comprising Bharat Ratna Sachin Tendulkar, Asian Cricket Council member & Cabinet Minister Ashish Shelar, Minal Amol Kale, and Suraj Samat.Sachin Tendulkar, core committee member, ISPL, said, “The last two seasons of the ISPL received great support and love from fans and well-wishers from across the country. This definitely boosts the morale of the players who come from such diverse backgrounds, toiling hard to make the final cut. Going into a new season with the addition of a new team will bring in many new fans and supporters to enthuse the players even more.””Cricket is a heartbeat that echoes through every street in India and when that energy reaches the stadium, leagues like ISPL are born. I have always been passionate about the game and I’m thrilled to join ISPL as this unique league not only promotes grassroots cricket in India but also empowers talented players by providing them with a valuable platform. This is just the beginning — as Season 3 unfolds, fans will get to know more about the team and build a deeper connection,” Salman said.With the addition of a new team and talent trials being conducted across 101 cities, ISPL Season 3 is set to be an even grander spectacle—delivering more action, more dreams realised, and more reasons for fans to cheer. Player registrations for Season 3 trials have already crossed 4.2 million.Ashish Shelar, core committee member, ISPL, added, “We’ve witnessed two phenomenal seasons, with record-breaking numbers across broadcast and digital platforms. It is truly encouraging to see growing support for our vision. The addition of superstar Salman Khan to the mix is the icing on the cake, as we gear up for an even bigger and better Season 3.”Minal Amol Kale, core committee member, ISPL, added, “ISPL’s growing popularity is undeniable, with over 42 lakh registrations for season 3 & Salman Khan’s addition as team owner will undoubtedly take the league to new heights!”Suraj Samat, League Commissioner and Core Committee Member, revealed that another team from Ahmedabad will be announced shortly, featuring another major celebrity as team owner.Season 2 concluded with Majhi Mumbai lifting the trophy. The tournament spotlighted rising stars like Abhishek Dalhor, Sagar Ali, Rajat Mundhe, Ketan Mhatre, Jagannath Sarkar, and Fardeen Kazi. Among them, Dalhor’s standout performance across two seasons earned him a spot as a net bowler with the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL—underscoring ISPL’s core promise of turning street cricketers into tomorrow’s professionals.–IANSbc/

Mumbai, June 25 (IANS) The National Basketball Association (NBA) announced the launch of the second season of “Hoop Nation,” a four-part docuseries showcasing inspiring basketball stories from across India.
Building on the success of its first season, Hoop Nation season two tells the stories of Ishrat Akhter, an international wheelchair basketball player from Baramulla, Kashmir; Deepak P. Babu, a passionate fan, mentor and content creator from Alappuzha, Kerala; the Lao family, a father-daughter duo from Kolkata’s Indo-Chinese community; and Farooque Shaikh, a dedicated mentor from Mumbai’s Nagpada neighborhood.”Hoop Nation season two embodies the spirit of basketball in India – a game that unites, inspires, and drives change,” said NBA Asia Head of Strategy and NBA India Country Head Rajah Chaudhry.The second season of Hoop Nation features new-age Indian hip-hop artists driving the storytelling: Straight Outta Srinagar (SOS), the talented duo at the forefront of Kashmir’s underground music scene; ThirumaLi, a powerhouse in the Malayalam hip-hop community; EPR Iyer, a seasoned voice from Kolkata and a pioneer in the Indian hip-hop movement; and QK, a rising star from Mumbai known for her unique fusion of rapping and singing.Through their powerful, original lyrics and beats, these artists showcase the challenges and triumphs of players, fans and coaches from Alappuzha, Kashmir, Kolkata and Mumbai who have used basketball to shape their communities and inspire the next generation of athletes.The lyrical docuseries is now available on the NBA India YouTube channel along with accompanying music videos.The NBA has actively made efforts to cover and build the grassroots of basketball in India. The Hoop Nation documentary follows after the successful ACG Jr.NBA program, a nationwide 3v3 tournament for the top U-14 players across India and the largest school-based basketball program in the country, which reached more than 4,000 youth from more than 500 schools across India last year.–IANSaaa/bc

Mumbai, June 25 (IANS) After waiting in the wings for his opportunity, Bhupinder Singh eventually made his way into the Rugby Premier League as a replacement player after Sumit Roy from Hyderabad Heroes picked up an injury.His patience, hard work and determination paid off on Tuesday evening, when he registered his first try of the tournament to help the table-toppers register a 17-0 win against Chennai Bulls.This was Hyderabad Heroes’ seventh win in eight matches, helping them confirm their spot in the playoffs. Reflecting on his first try at the RPL, Bhupinder shared, “I am very happy to register my first try. World champions are playing against me and I am happy to beat them. I will continue to do my best in the team and leave no stone unturned, even when I am playing for India. I will always do my best and give it my all.”Bhupinder has always been a sportsperson at heart. With his focus on athletics, he joined the army through the sports quota before being introduced to rugby in 2021, because of his speed and agility.“I have played in the army and the services team. I have played twice in the 15s Army India team. I went to Qatar to play in Division 2. In 2024, I got a chance to play in the first division in Sri Lanka. I will continue to prove myself and play with all my heart. I will show what I can do on the ground”, he mentioned.Having made his way into the RPL, the 24-year-old had to overcome the setback of not being selected in the initial draft of Indian players. Looking back on that, he said, “It was difficult. I was in the list, but there were players who were better than me. I was in extras, but I was ready. I was working hard day and night in practice. I believed that I would get a chance someday, and I will show my 100%.”Sharing his experience of entering into the Hyderabad Heroes setup, Bhupinder said, “When I came here for the first time, I felt strange. Everyone is a world-class player. I didn’t know how to play with them. When the warm-up and training started, I started to understand them. I understood their abilities, I understood what they were teaching and today I am playing in front of you.”RPL is the first-ever franchise-based rugby league in the world, bringing some of the best rugby sevens players to India. Elaborating on his experience and how the league is providing a platform for rugby in India, Bhupinder added, “The league has done very well for our players to help them level up. We are also feeling very proud that players who have participated in the Olympics have come here. It feels very good to play with them.”“The best thing for me is that all the Indian, national and state players are getting a chance to play here. They are getting a very good experience with the world players. In rugby, players have a lot of quickness and energy. We also have that, but they have the next level. By practicing with them, we are improving our speed, tackle, defence and attack. We are also learning how to move, where to take the ball and from where. This is what we get to learn”, he concluded.–IANSbc/

New Delhi, June 25 (IANS) Former England and Liverpool midfielder Adam Lallana has announced his retirement from football.
The 37-year-old took to social media to announce hisdecision and took the time to acknowledge his spells at Liverpool, Southampton and Brighton and Hove Albion.”As I call time on my playing career, I do so with an overwhelming sense of gratitude and pride. I could not be more appreciative of the opportunities I’ve been given and the support I’ve received along the way. You owe so much to so many on a journey like this — it’s impossible to name everyone, but to all those, please know how grateful I am. I couldn’t have done it without you.”Southampton… the place where it all started, and fittingly where it ends. It’s the club I ultimately owe everything to.” Liverpool… the chance to represent one of the greatest clubs in the world and win some of the biggest prizes in the game.”Brighton… home to some of the happiest years of my life, at a club deeply connected to its community and run in such a smart, modern way.”And England… every single cap meant the world to me. Representing my country was the greatest honour,” posted Lallana on his social media.The Englishman spent six years at Anfield after being signed from Southampton during the summer of 2014.His maiden campaign with the Reds came under Brendan Rodgers and included 41 appearances and six goals, though Lallana’s impact grew further following the appointment of Jurgen Klopp as manager in October 2015.After Liverpool were runners-up in both the League Cup and Europa League during Klopp’s first campaign in charge, Lallana was pivotal to the regaining of Champions League qualification in 2016-17, contributing eight goals and seven assists in the league.Injury misfortunes would prevent the No. 20 from featuring and shining so regularly in the seasons that followed, when the Reds climbed to the heights of successive European Cup final appearances in 2018 and 2019.A first-half introduction in the defeat by Real Madrid in Kyiv the first time, Lallana was then on the bench a year later as he and his teammates lifted the trophy courtesy of a 2-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur.The 2019-20 campaign was his memorable swansong for Liverpool. It began with a UEFA Super Cup victory, included a FIFA Club World Cup triumph and ended with a Premier League winner’s medal.When that season – prolonged due to the Covid-19 pandemic – concluded, he bid farewell to Anfield, with 178 Liverpool appearances and 22 goals tp his name/He moved back to the south coast and joined Brighton & Hove Albion, for whom he would go on to make 104 appearances and score four times before departing in 2024.Lallana then returned to Southampton for what would prove to be his final season as a professional player.Lallana was also capped on 34 occasions at senior level by England, scoring three times.–IANSaaa/bc