Pakistan’s batsman Gul Firuza (Photo courtesy: ICC)

Pakistan batsman Gul Firozha has been issued an official reprimand and given one demerit point after being found guilty of a Level 1 breach of the ICC Code of Conduct during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 Group A match against Australia on Tuesday.Firozha was found to have breached Article 2.2 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to the misuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment or fixtures and fittings during an international match.The incident occurred in the second over of Pakistan’s innings when Firozha, who was visibly disappointed at her dismissal, aggressively threw her bat and gloves in the direction of the team’s dugout.Since this was his first offense within a 24-month period, one demerit point was added to his disciplinary record. Firozha pleaded guilty and accepted the sanction proposed by match referee Michel Pereira of the Emirates ICC International Panel of Match Referees, avoiding the need for a formal hearing.This allegation was made by on-field umpires Sue Redfern and Vrinda Rathi, third umpire Jacqueline Williams and fourth umpire Shathira Zakir JC. Under ICC rules, Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand and a fine of up to 50 per cent of a player’s match fee along with demerit points.

Pakistan’s frustration has increased due to heavy defeat

The disciplinary setback came during a tough encounter for Pakistan, who suffered a heavy 113-run defeat to Australia, leaving them without a win in the tournament after four matches.Pakistan captain Fatima Sana admitted that her team had one of its worst performances in the competition and urged her team to reflect honestly ahead of their final group game against the Netherlands.“I think we played our worst cricket in this game and as a whole team we need to accept that. We need to go back, reflect and improve ourselves,” Sana said after the match.Despite the result, Sana highlighted some positives from the bowling unit, particularly the efforts of Nashra Sandhu and Sadia Iqbal, who took two wickets each while keeping Australia’s batting in check for a while.“I think our bowling was very good, especially the way we started. Nashra and Saadia bowled really well… we need more players to support them,” he said.With Pakistan already out of the competition, their final Group A match against the Netherlands now becomes an opportunity to restore glory and end the disappointing campaign on a positive note.

981 and 686.

The first reflects the number of days it took for Neymar Jr. to return to international football with Brazil. The second shows the number of days Lewis Hamilton endured without a Formula One win before ending his drought.

Different sports, different journeys, but united by a familiar theme – resilience in the face of setbacks.

Soon after returning in Brazil colors at the FIFA World Cup 2026, Neymar Shared a picture of himself from the match against Scotland on social media with a simple caption: “Remember who you are”. This was the same phrase Hamilton posted after ending his winning streak and claiming victory at the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix.

It seems champions speak the same language.

For most of the last decade, Neymar was expected to inherit the football throne from Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Instead, his career was defined by recurring injuries that repeatedly hampered his momentum in key moments.

Every time he looked ready to take center stage again, he was followed by another blow.

Ultimately injuries changed the direction of his career. They took him away from European football to Saudi Arabia and later back to Brazil. Over the past three years, Neymar has missed more than 100 matches in club and international football, with major tournaments and decisive moments left on the sidelines for long periods of time.

That’s why his appearance against Scotland on 24 June, The importance of Wednesday goes beyond the result.

comeback against scotland FIFA World Cup 2026

After 981 days away from the Seleção, Neymar finally returned to the national team and Brazil secured a comfortable 3–0 victory to qualify for the knockout stage of the ongoing World Cup.

It was a comeback that wasn’t guaranteed just a short time ago.

The returns also came amidst fresh investigation. A few days earlier, the Brazilian president had mocked the forward by questioning his prolonged absence due to injury concerns, describing him as a “footballer who works from home”.

Neymar’s reaction was particularly understated.

Instead of engaging in a war of words, he let his work behind the scenes take center stage. The boots were back on, the yellow shirt was back on his shoulders, and after almost three years away, Neymar was once again representing Brazil on the international stage.

It remains to be seen whether this is the beginning of a final chapter or the beginning of a continued revival. But for now, Neymar is adopting the same message that helped motivate Hamilton during the toughest period of his career:

remember who you are.

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Silencing the raucous home crowd in East China, India’s women’s 4x100m relay team delivered a tactical masterclass to clinch a spectacular gold medal on the final day of the Asian Relay Championships 2026 on Sunday.

The Indian quartet, comprising SS Sneha, Sudeshna Shivankar, Tamannaah and veteran anchor Sarbani Nanda, produced a technically impeccable performance to clock a blistering, season’s best timing of 43.85 seconds. The effort was enough to overtake regional giants China, which won silver in 44.09 seconds, and Thailand, which took bronze in a frantic photo finish in 44.11 seconds.

Coached by Reliance Foundation’s Martin Owens, the Indian squad executed their race plan to perfection. In a discipline where raw pace can easily be undone by poor baton management, it was accuracy inside the exchange zone that ultimately made the difference against the heavily favored Chinese team.

The video of the Indian quartet winning the gold medal in Shaoxing has since gone viral on social media.

The gold medal wins capped a very exciting weekend for both Tamannaah and Sneha Shanuvalli, who walked away with two medals each. Earlier in the meet, the pair, along with men’s 200m national record holders Animesh Kujur and Pranav Gurav, had won a bronze medal in the mixed 4x100m relay with a timing of 41.27 seconds.

India completed its three medal tally at the championships with a silver in the mixed 4x400m relay courtesy of Teerthesh P Shetty, MR Poovamma, Barath Sridhar and Neeru Pathak who ran 3:17.06. While individual talent highlighted the shorter sprints, the longer 4×400 meters relay proved tough. The Indian women’s 4x400m team finished just outside the podium places in fourth place (3:34.88), while the men’s team finished fifth with a timing of 3:05.33, as a dominant Vietnam team won gold medals in both categories.

‘Asian Games are the target’

With the athletics calendar building for the Asian Games in Japan later this year, the 4x100m gold serves as an important psychological blueprint.

For 35-year-old Nanda, whose international career spans more than two decades The victory is a testament to continuity and clean competition.

Strengthening her anti-doping stance, Nanda told PTI on Wednesday, “I would definitely say that staying clean is very important and it gives a lot of confidence. And you can focus on your competition.”

“We have to change the mentality of ‘we can’t do anything without drugs’ to ‘we can do without drugs’.”

Nanda admits that the punishing training regime has pushed her to the brink of despair, yet the ultimate goal is a career-defining podium finish in Japan.

“The main target this season is the Asian Games and I am hoping for the best,” she said.

With Chandigarh officially announced to host the next edition of the championships in 2027, India’s sprinters have ensured that they return home with the ultimate continental bragging rights.

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The final whistle brought mixed emotions to a packed BC Place on Wednesday night.

The Swiss were jubilant after securing top spot in Group B with a hard-earned 2-1 win, while the Canadians took the field knowing they had fallen short on the night. Yet as the initial disappointment wore off, the moment began to lose significance.

Canada reaches the knockout stage for the first time in its history FIFA World Cup.

FIFA World Cup 2026, SUI vs CAN: highlight

The hosts missed out on winning the group after second-half goals from Ruben Vargas and Johan Manzambi gave Switzerland a win in Vancouver, but Jesse Marsh’s side still finished as runners-up and will continue their tournament journey in Los Angeles.

It was not the result the home crowd had hoped for, but it was still a night that marked an important moment for Canadian football.

stressed first part

The stakes were huge in the final group-stage encounter. A draw would have been enough for Canada to top Group B, while Switzerland needed a win to overtake the hosts.

Yet the tension of the occasion dominated the football for most of the opening 45 minutes.

Chances were slim, momentum was difficult to find and neither side seemed willing to take unnecessary risks. The loudest moment of the half came not from a shot on goal but from a clash between Swiss captain Granit Xhaka and Canadian striker Syl Larin, in which both players received yellow cards after tempers flared following a quick free kick.

The statistics tell the story of an intriguing contest. Between them, both teams managed only three attempts on target before halftime.

Swiss took charge

After the restart everything changed.

Switzerland emerged with purpose and regained control almost immediately. Just one minute into the second half, 20-year-old Johan Manzambi moved into space and passed the ball to Vargas on the edge of the area. The Swiss winger took a touch to steady himself before drilling a low finish beyond the goalkeeper at the near post.

The goal stunned the home support and shifted the momentum firmly in Switzerland’s favor.

Eleven minutes later, the Swiss attacked again.

Briel Embolo, who had been a constant physical presence throughout the evening, stopped his marker inside the penalty area before laying the ball into the path of Manzambi. The youngster did the rest, firing a powerful finish into the net to double Switzerland’s advantage and put the group leaders in complete control.

At that stage, Canada seemed to lack answers.

late canadian push

But one of the hallmarks of Marsh’s team throughout this tournament has been its refusal to finish quietly.

With time running out, the Canadian coach turned to his bench in search of inspiration and got an immediate response. In the 76th minute, substitute Promise David made his announcement in spectacular fashion. Facing Nathan Saliba’s perfectly weighted pass with his first touch since entering the match, David guided a composed finish into the corner.

BC Place imploded.

The noise that followed felt less like a group-stage match and more like a knockout game. Fans rose to their feet, waving flags and pushing their team forward and chants of “Let’s Go Canada” echoed around the stadium.

Switzerland was at a standstill for a while.

Canada moved the bodies forward and looked for an equalizer that could restore top spot. However, Swiss goalkeeper Gregor Kobel made several crucial saves in the frantic finale, securing both the win and Switzerland’s place at the summit of Group B.

history is still in the making

Even in defeat, it was a reminder of how far Canadian soccer has come.

Midfielder Ismail Kone, who was sidelined against Qatar with a broken leg, was in the dugout to support his teammates. In the eighth minute, supporters waved signs of his number eight in a touching display of solidarity. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney was also among the participants in this match of national importance.

When matters calmed down, Switzerland finished the group stage with seven points and earned the reward of remaining in Vancouver for their last-32 tie.

Canada, meanwhile, will head south to Los Angeles.

Defeat is painful. Missing out on the top spot hurt even more.

But it’s impossible to ignore the bigger picture.

A country that had never reached the World Cup knockout stage before has now forged a new path on home soil. The dream is still alive and history has already been made for Canada.

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New Delhi: India’s all-rounder Deepti Sharma Cricket is on the verge of rewriting history as it prepares to take the field against Bangladesh in India’s fourth Group A match of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 on Thursday.The 28-year-old off-spinner is currently tied with former India fast bowler Jhulan Goswami As the leading wicket-takers in women’s international cricket, both have taken 355 wickets. A single wicket against Bangladesh will put Deepti at the top of the all-time list, surpassing Goswami.

One wicket away from history: Deepti’s record chase

Deepti has already had a great campaign in the tournament. He started with a brilliant five-wicket haul against Pakistan and laid the foundation for India’s early dominance. She then took figures of 1/26 against the Netherlands, a spell that helped her equal Jhulan’s long-standing record.However, he did not get any wickets in India’s previous match against South Africa, where the Proteas lost. Harmanpreet KaurThe team lost by six wickets. Despite that setback, Deepti remains the most reliable bowling option for India in a crucial match.His numbers across all formats underline his dominance. With 167 wickets in 147 matches, Deepti is already India’s leading wicket-taker in T20 Internationals and the leading wicket-taker globally in this format. In ODIs, she has 166 wickets in 124 matches, second only to Jhulan Goswami’s 255 wickets for India. In Tests, he has taken 22 wickets in just six matches.Behind Deepti and Jhulan on the all-time list are England’s Katherine Sciver-Brunt (335), Australia’s Ellyse Perry (332), Sophie Ecclestone (327) and South Africa’s Shabnim Ismail (318), highlighting the elite company she is set to overcome.

India’s middle order’s concerns before clash with Bangladesh

While Deepti’s milestone dominates the attention, India are heading into the match with tactical concerns. starts strong Smriti Mandhana And Shafali Verma has consistently provided India with early momentum, but the middle order has struggled to convert platforms into match-winning totals.Failure to capitalize in the middle overs has left frequent finishers Richa Ghosh and Deepti Sharma with little to do in limited time. India’s defeat to South Africa also exposed fielding shortcomings as they reduced the opposition to 25 for 2.Meanwhile, Bangladesh come with confidence after wins over Pakistan and Netherlands, based on a disciplined team performance rather than individual talent.For India, a win will seal their place in the semi-finals and set up a high-profile clash against Australia. Another upset for Bangladesh will shake up Group A.

India’s bid to host the 2036 Olympic Games entered a new phase on Wednesday when the International Olympic Committee (IOC) approved changes to its host selection process, setting a timeline under which the final host will be chosen in mid-2029.

At the 146th session of the IOC in Lausanne, Members approved the introduction of a new “Strategic Dialogue” phase between the existing Continuing Dialogue and Targeted Dialogue phases. The move aims to make the selection process more transparent, while requiring potential hosts to provide strong financial and operational assurances earlier in the bidding cycle.

For India, which formally entered the race for the 2036 Games after submitting its letter of intent in 2024This decision provides more clarity on the path forward but also adds another layer of scrutiny before the host is selected.

Under the revised process, countries currently engaged in continuing negotiations with the IOC will be evaluated next year before a short list of interested parties is drawn up in March 2027. Those selected will then move to the strategic negotiation stage, where they must submit answers to the future host questionnaire and provide key financial guarantees.

Future Host Commission President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic said the additional step was introduced following feedback from both IOC members and potential host countries.

“Potential hosts wanted more clarity. All stakeholders wanted more transparency,” he said, outlining the updated framework.

important years ahead

The strategic dialogue stage is expected to become an important checkpoint in the run-up to the 2036 Olympics. Candidate cities will be assessed on financial commitments, cost-control measures, governance structures and their ability to deliver places and infrastructure within the stipulated timelines.

The IOC will also conduct site visits before deciding which bids will advance to the final stage of the process.

India is widely considered one of the leading contenders for the 2036 Games, with Ahmedabad emerging as the centerpiece of its proposal. However, the country’s bid is expected to face stiff competition, particularly from Qatar, while Türkiye and South Africa are also exploring campaigns for the Games.

The final targeted dialogue phase will begin in 2028, with preferred hosts required to submit a full set of legal and financial guarantees before a final decision can be made by the IOC.

Hosting will be decided in 2029

According to the timeline presented at the IOC session, the Future Host Commission will submit its recommendations after the completion of the targeted negotiation process. The IOC Executive Board will then identify preferred hosts, whose names will be put forward for election at the IOC Session in mid-2029.

This is what the decision effectively means India’s Olympic ambitions The decision will be taken over the next three years before a final decision is made.

The host selection process was halted last year after IOC President Kirsty Coventry called for wider consultation with member states and potential hosts. The inclusion of a strategic dialogue stage is intended to address those concerns, while also ensuring that only bids with strong financial backing and realistic delivery plans advance to the final stage.

For India, the approval of the new structure marks the beginning of what could be the most important step towards hosting the Olympic Games for the first time.

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England’s Ben Stokes (Mike Egerton/PA via AP)

New Delhi: England captain Ben Stokes has admitted that he apologized to his teammates after returning for the series-deciding third Test. new zealand cricket team. Stokes and fast bowler Gus Atkinson missed the second Test after being investigated for breaking the team’s midnight curfew following England’s victory in the opening match. Although they were cleared of any violent conduct, both received written warnings for violating team rules.Speaking ahead of the third Test at Trent Bridge, Stokes said it was his first task to address the team after rejoining the team.“As a captain it was one of the first things I had to do,” Stokes told reporters.The England captain admitted that the nightclub controversy affected more than just him. He said that it became an important moment for many young players making their Test debut during the second match.He said, “It affected Joe, it affected the team, it affected people outside the playing environment. There’s no doubt it affected the players who were making their debuts. It should have been all about them, but unfortunately circumstances beyond their control took precedence over their big day of making their debut for England in Test cricket.”In Stokes’ absence, England, led by Joe Root, lost the second Test by 253 runs and New Zealand leveled the series 1–1.Stokes said leadership means admitting mistakes and apologizing when needed.“It would be foolish and naive of me not to acknowledge that and not pay attention to it. That’s all well and good when everything is going well and going well, but you also need to take responsibility for things. If you are the one who needs to take that responsibility, then you need to be big enough and man enough to take it on your shoulders, look everyone in the eye and apologize. That’s what I did,” he said.The 34-year-old player also dismissed reports of differences with England coach Brendon McCullum.“You don’t plan to do something like this together in a professional environment. In the early stages, Brendan and I were talking pretty much every day.“Maybe in the future we can look back on this and move forward, it has made us stronger. This rift, this growing apart, we have certainly not fallen apart.”With the series tied at 1–1, Stokes said that both he and Atkinson were now solely focused on helping England win the final Test.“The main thing about me coming back, Gus coming back is that we focus on the main objective, which is cricket this week.“The series is tied 1-1, we have one game left and the importance of the outcome of this game is something we need to focus on,” he concluded.

India captain Harmanpreet Kaur’s struggles with the bat in the Women’s T20 World Cup have once again made headlines and former teammate Shikha Pandey believes the skipper’s solution may be simpler than it seems.

Ahead of India’s win against Bangladesh, Shikha urged Harmanpreet to stop worrying about wickets falling around her and return to the aggressive style that has defined her career.

After this India is finding itself under pressure Their defeat to South Africa in ManchesterQuestions are being raised on the form of many senior batsmen. Harmanpreet’s strike rate in the middle overs has emerged as a particular concern, with the captain often appearing torn between rebuilding the innings and accelerating the scoring.

Speaking on JioStar’s game plan, Shikha said the India captain is at his best when he trusts his instincts rather than trying to carry the burden of the innings.

“Harman should stop thinking about fallen wickets and not try to rebuild,” Shikha said. “When Harmanpreet Kaur is on song, she is a completely different player.”

The former India fast bowler said that once Harmanpreet settles down at the crease, few players in women’s cricket are able to match her range against spin bowling.

“Once she gets settled, we will see those straight drives and those shots at deep mid-wicket. She is excellent against the spinners, so if she gets settled, it will be great for India,” he added.

Should India reshuffle the batting order?

Shikha also suggested that India might consider a slight reshuffle in the batting order to help their captain. He proposed to promote Harmanpreet to number 4, while demoting Jemimah Rodrigues one place.

Jemimah’s recent form was also included in the discussion regarding India’s batting. Former India batsman Veda Krishnamurthy supported the youngster to remain at No. 3, arguing that clarity of role is often as important as technique.

“For Jemima, I would still like to see her bat at number three. Just give her a role because it makes it a lot easier to prepare that way,” Veda said.

As India has entered the decisive phase of the tournament, Harmanpreet’s form remains the center of their hopes. The captain has rescued India from tough situations time and again over the years, but for that to happen again, Shikha believes that she will first have to free herself from the responsibility of constantly rebuilding and rediscover the fearless batsman who has won countless matches for India.

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