The Times of India

Rohit Sharma and Harmanpreet Kaur are set to receive the prestigious Padma Shri for their significant contributions. Sharma's leadership saw India clinch the 2024 T20 World Cup and 2025 Champions Trophy, while Kaur captained the historic Women's World Cup victory on home soil. Their achievements mark a new era for Indian cricket.

Chennai teenager RS Ambrish, a right-arm fast bowler and left-handed batsman, draws inspiration from Ben Stokes. He showcased his all-round potential with a 4/29 spell against New Zealand at the U-19 World Cup. Guided by his father, a former Railways cricketer, Ambrish prioritizes strong technique and temperament as he navigates his promising junior cricket career.

Indian teenagers Maaya Rajeswaran Revathi and Arnav Vijay Paparkar faced early exits in the Australian Open junior singles. Maaya lost to Russia's Anna Pushkareva, struggling with her second serve. Arnav was defeated by Indian-American Vihaan Reddy, despite having a stronger serve. In doubles, Arnav and Roshan Santosh also fell to the top seeds.

Carlos Alcaraz is showcasing a significantly improved serve at the Australian Open, mirroring Novak Djokovic's efficiency. Having worked on his service motion, Alcaraz reached the quarterfinals, demonstrating a smoother, more consistent delivery. He faces Alex De Minaur next, while American Learner Tien, the youngest quarterfinalist since 2015, takes on Alexander Zverev.

Novak Djokovic advances to the Australian Open quarter-finals without playing after opponent Jakub Mensik withdrew due to an abdominal injury. The young Czech star expressed sadness at missing the chance to face his idol. Djokovic, seeking to break Sinner and Alcaraz's recent Grand Slam dominance, now awaits either Lorenzo Musetti or Taylor Fritz.

Jonty Rhodes acknowledged the unavoidable collision of politics and cricket after Bangladesh's dramatic exit from the 2026 T20 World Cup. The Bangladesh Cricket Board's refusal to tour India over security concerns led to their replacement by Scotland. Rhodes, drawing on his apartheid-era experiences, highlighted how sport and politics often intertwine, despite administrators' best efforts.

The World Cricketers' Association expressed disappointment over Bangladesh's withdrawal from the T20 World Cup, calling it a sad moment and urging deep reflection. The ICC replaced Bangladesh with Scotland after the BCB's request to move matches to Sri Lanka was rejected, citing security concerns. The WCA highlighted broader trends of agreements not being honored and a lack of player consultation.

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Former India all-rounder R Ashwin has urged Team India to stay patient with Sanju Samson despite his twin failures against New Zealand. With Ishan Kishans strong knock increasing competition and Tilak Varma set to return, Ashwin warned against frequent changes, saying it could hurt team balance. He backed Samsons attacking intent, while Aakash Chopra called the next match crucial for his future.

Bangladesh has been removed from the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 after the government refused to grant clearance for the team to travel to India due to security concerns. Despite BCB's attempts to relocate matches, the ICC upheld the original fixtures, leading to Scotland's replacement.

Former Australian cricketer Jason Gillespie has criticized the ICC's decision to remove Bangladesh from the 2026 Men's T20 World Cup. He questioned the lack of consistency, drawing parallels to India being allowed to play the 2025 Champions Trophy at a neutral venue due to security concerns in Pakistan. This decision has sparked wider unease within the cricketing community.

Aryna Sabalenka reached the Australian Open quarterfinals after beating Victoria Mboko 6-1, 7-6. She dominated the match and won her 20th straight Grand Slam tiebreak, breaking Novak Djokovics Open Era record. Djokovic reacted jokingly, saying, I'm upset right now. Sabalenka, a two-time Australian Open champion, continues her strong run as other top seeds also competed for quarterfinal spots.

Cricket Scotland has accepted an invitation from the ICC to replace Bangladesh in the upcoming T20 World Cup in India. The team is preparing to travel immediately to acclimatize and compete on the global stage. This unexpected opportunity arises after Bangladesh's withdrawal due to security concerns.

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Pakistan has unveiled their 15-man squad for the ICC Mens T20 World Cup 2026, captained by Salman Agha. The 2009 champions, featuring Babar Azam and a strong pace attack led by Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah, will face co-hosts India in Group A. Their campaign begins against the Netherlands on February 7 in Colombo.

Ishan Kishan's triumphant return to the Indian squad, marked by a match-winning 76 off 32 balls, highlights his unwavering belief during a two-year hiatus. His stellar domestic performance, including leading Jharkhand to a title, paved the way for this impactful comeback. With the T20 World Cup approaching, Kishan's form offers India crucial momentum and potential batting order adjustments.

Suryakumar Yadav silenced critics with a blistering unbeaten 82, his first fifty in 23 innings, showcasing a revitalized approach. He focused on new scoring zones and shut out external noise, drawing strength from his wife's advice. Crucial dropped catches also aided his return to form, easing pressure ahead of the T20 World Cup.

Bangladesh has accepted the ICC's decision to replace its national team with Scotland in the upcoming T20 World Cup. The Bangladesh Cricket Board cited government advice regarding safety concerns in India as the reason for their refusal to travel. Despite repeated efforts and alternative proposals, the ICC did not agree to relocate Bangladesh's matches.

Former India all-rounder Madan Lal backed the ICC's decision to replace Bangladesh with Scotland for the 2026 T20 World Cup, deeming it justified and timely. He suggested external influence led to Bangladesh's withdrawal, calling it a significant mistake that opens opportunities for Scotland.

Shahid Afridi criticises the ICC for its perceived double standards after Bangladesh was removed from the 2026 T20 World Cup. He contrasts this with India's security concerns being accommodated for the 2025 Champions Trophy, highlighting a lack of fairness in global cricket governance.

Virat Kohli's childhood coach, Rajkumar Sharma, supports the ICC's decision to replace Bangladesh with Scotland in the T20 World Cup 2026. This follows Bangladesh's refusal to participate as scheduled, citing security concerns that the ICC and independent assessments found unsubstantiated. The ICC's move aims to maintain tournament integrity and avoid setting problematic precedents.

Sunrisers Eastern Cape captain Tristan Stubbs, who has had a mediocre return since the highs of 2024, is keen to find form in the SA20 final against the Pretoria Capitals. Having been called up to the T20 World Cup squad as an injury replacement, Stubbs has personal and team goals to achieve at Newlands in Cape Town.

Music composer Palash Muchhal faces renewed cheating allegations from actor-producer Vidnyan Mane, a friend of Smriti Mandhana. Mane claims Muchhal was caught with another woman during pre-wedding festivities, leading to a physical confrontation with cricketers. Muchhal has denied these claims, initiating a Rs 10 crore defamation suit against Mane. Several Instagram posts featuring Mandhana have also been removed.

Ravindra Jadeja's constant encouragement proved pivotal as Saurashtra's Parth Bhut dominated Shubman Gill, taking 10 wickets in their Ranji Trophy win over Punjab. Bhut, inspired by Jadeja, credited his hero's guidance for his match-winning performance and fulfilling a childhood dream of playing alongside him.

Former India cricketer Atul Wassan slammed PCB chief Mohsin Naqvis remarks on possibly skipping the 2026 T20 World Cup, calling it foolish bravado. He said dragging politics into cricket hurts players, not administrators. Wassan felt Pakistan was backing Bangladesh for political mileage. His comments followed Naqvis criticism of the ICC after Bangladesh were replaced by Scotland for refusing to follow the tournament schedule.

Bangladesh cricket faced fresh turmoil as BCB director Ishtiaque Sadeque resigned on the same day the ICC replaced Bangladesh with Scotland for the 2026 T20 World Cup. Sadeque cited family and personal reasons, denying any internal disputes. The ICC removed Bangladesh after it refused to play in India over security concerns. Scotland were named as the replacement based on ICC rankings.

England leveled the ODI series against Sri Lanka at 1-1. Joe Root played a crucial role with a steady 75 runs. England chased down a target of 220 with five wickets in hand. The bowlers also performed well, using spin extensively. The series decider is set for Tuesday. Both teams will then play T20 internationals.

India continued their dominant run in the U-19 World Cup with a seven-wicket DLS win over New Zealand in a rain-hit match. After restricting New Zealand to 135, led by strong spells from RS Ambrish and Henil Patel, India chased a revised target of 130 with ease. Skipper Ayush Mhatre starred with a rapid 27-ball 53 as India topped Group B.

Scotland steps in for Bangladesh at the 2026 Men's T20 World Cup, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, after Dhaka cited security concerns for playing in India. The ICC confirmed Scotland will join Group C, with all other match details remaining unchanged. Bangladesh's refusal to travel despite security assurances led to their removal.

The ICC has confirmed that Bangladesh will not take part in the T20 World Cup after the BCB refused to play under the published schedule. Scotland have been officially named as their replacement and will compete in Group C alongside England, Italy, Nepal and West Indies. The announcement was made on Saturday, bringing clarity to weeks of uncertainty over Bangladeshs participation in the tournament.

Novak Djokovic etched his name further in tennis history at the Australian Open, achieving his 400th Grand Slam singles victory. He also matched Roger Federer's record for most Australian Open match wins. Despite a brief scare and a fall in the third set, Djokovic showcased his resilience, saving set points and ultimately clinching the win.

PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi said Pakistans participation in the T20 World Cup will depend on the governments decision after Bangladesh were replaced by Scotland. He stated that Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif will take the final call once he returns. Naqvi criticised the ICC for unfairly treating Bangladesh, questioned selective decision-making, and stressed that the PCB follows only government directives, leaving Pakistans participation uncertain.

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The ICC has replaced Bangladesh with Scotland in the 2026 T20 World Cup after the Bangladesh Cricket Board refused to travel to India. Despite extensive dialogue and a deadline, the BCB maintained its objections over security assessments, a stance the ICC deemed an unhealthy precedent. The decision was finalized after the BCB failed to confirm participation.

India are unlikely to play a bilateral series with Pakistan anytime soon. BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla says the board will follow the Indian governments guidance. I don't think it's possible to have bilateral tours in the current situation, he added. India last played Pakistan in 2012-13 and now follows a third soil policy for matches. Tensions increased after Operation Sindoor in 2025, and security concerns remain high, recalling the 2009 attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore.

Yuki Bhambri and Andre Goransson staged a comeback to defeat Santiago Gonzalez and David Pel 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-3 in the Australian Open men's doubles. Play was halted for nearly four hours due to the heat rule, after which the tenth seeds found their rhythm. They advanced to face Brazil's Luz and Matos in the round of 16.

Jannik Sinner battled severe heat and cramping at the Australian Open, struggling against Eliot Spizzirri before a heat-induced roof closure and break allowed him to recover. He ultimately secured a tough 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 victory. Meanwhile, veteran Stan Wawrinka's impressive run ended as he was defeated by Taylor Fritz.

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Bangladesh have been officially replaced by Scotland in the T20 World Cup after the ICC ruled that BCBs demands did not align with its policy. ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta informed the Board and invited Scotland, citing their strong recent performances and No.14 ranking. Scotland, seen as the most deserving associate team, will play in Group C with matches in Kolkata and Mumbai.

Former India batter Aakash Chopra questions Sanju Samson's T20I spot against New Zealand, citing repeated dismissals. Despite India's series lead, Samson's struggles, particularly his driving shots, are concerning. With Ishan Kishan in form and the T20 World Cup approaching, Samson faces mounting pressure to perform, even on his home ground.

Stan Wawrinka's illustrious Australian Open journey concluded in the third round after a challenging four-set loss to Taylor Fritz. The 40-year-old Swiss veteran, in his final career season, bowed out at John Cain Arena, marking a poignant farewell to the tournament he won in 2014. Despite a strong second-set response, Wawrinka couldn't overcome the physical demands and Fritz's resurgence.

The ICC has officially replaced Bangladesh with Scotland for the mens T20 World Cup 2026, starting February 7 in India and Sri Lanka. Scotland will play in Group C with Italy, Nepal, West Indies and England. The move follows Bangladeshs refusal to tour India over security concerns, which the ICC rejected after risk assessments found no direct threat.

Chennai Super Kings icon MS Dhoni is back in the nets, preparing for his 17th IPL season in 2026. Despite a challenging 2025 for CSK and a rare lean patch with the bat, the legendary captain, who led India to World Cup glory, is gearing up for another campaign. His enduring presence and leadership remain vital for the franchise.

Naomi Osaka withdrew from the Australian Open before her third-round match due to an undisclosed injury. She said stopping was heartbreaking but necessary to avoid further damage. Her run drew attention for a viral fashion entrance and a tense second-round win over Sorana Cirstea, which ended with a cold exchange and brief on-court disagreement over Osakas celebrations.