U-19 Bangladesh Stun U-17 India in SAFF Under-19 Women’s Championship
Bangladesh stunned the Indian Tigresses by a 2-0 margin in the SAFF Under-19 Women’s Championship 2026. Aprita Biswas scored the first goal of Bengal Tigers in the 29th minute of the match. While Alpi Akter sealed the second net before half-time. The five-time champion, Bangladesh, has sealed their spot in the finals with two consecutive wins. They defeated Bhutan with a thrashing 12-0 margin during the opening group stage match. In the U-19 tournament, India travelled with a U-17 squad to Pokhara. Needless to say, India is treating this as a preparatory stage for the AFC U-17 Asian Cup, scheduled later this year. The Indian squad kicked off their campaign with a 1-0 win against host Nepal. They have to secure a win in their last group match against Bhutan to progress in the tournament, which is scheduled on 4th February.
Josh Hazlewood To Miss the Part of the T20 World Cup
Josh Hazlewood, the Australian fast bowler to miss out on the early matches of the T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka. The national selector, Tony Dodemaide, recently stated, bowler will continue his rehabilitation after an injury in Sydney. However, the trio of Nathan Ellis, Tim David, and Glenn Maxwell has reached Colombo. Dodemaide stated, “Nathan, Tim, and Glenn have arrived in Colombo, and we look forward to meeting up with them when we arrive from Pakistan.” “We felt with Josh it was more practical and beneficial for him to continue his rehabilitation at home in a familiar environment before travelling to Sri Lanka.” Hazlewood has been ruled out of the 2025-26 Ashes series because of a persistent Achilles injury. The problem developed while he was recovering from an earlier hamstring strain. Dodemaide did not provide a timeline for when Hazlewood will return for the tournament. Australia’s preliminary matches conclude on 20th February, with Oman, Sri Lanka, and Zimbabwe as their other group opponents. Last week, experienced pacer Pat Cummins was ruled out of the tournament due to a persistent back injury and has been replaced in the 15-man squad by Ben Dwarshuis. Dodemaide added that Abbott is included as a backup for Ellis. “With Nathan also completing his return to play, we decided to bring Sean with us as fast bowling cover should anything come up at short notice,” he said “Sean is an accomplished and versatile international player who has experienced numerous World Cup campaigns. It made sense for him to stay with the group following the Pakistan tour.” Australia is set to play four preparatory matches in Colombo and Pallekele before their campaign begins against Ireland on 11th February. While the bowler is forced to be sidelined during the early part of the tournament, Sea Abbott is flying with the team as a travelling reserve.
Tilak Varma To Play Against USA For Preparatory Match
Tilak Varma, the ace batter, is set to appear for India A in one of the warm-up fixtures before the T20 World Cup. Previously, on Monday, BCCI confirmed Tilak’s participation in the senior squad for the marquee tournament. The India A are schedule to play against the USA and Namibia for the preparation matches held in Navi Mumbai and Bengaluru on Monday and Friday, respectively. Batting all-rounder Ayush Badoni has been named captain of the India A team. Tilak is expected to play in one match before joining the senior squad. The 23-year-old is currently recovering at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru (COE) after undergoing lower abdominal surgery in Rajkot earlier this month. Tilak was initially set to join India’s squad for the final two T20Is against New Zealand. However, he was rested to manage his workload ahead of the World Cup. He has now been included in the warm-up fixtures after taking part in a simulation match at the CoE last Friday. The India A squad features several capped internationals, including Riyan Parag, Ravi Bishnoi, Khaleel Ahmed, and Mayank Yadav, along with Naman Dhir, Ashutosh Sharma, Priyansh Arya, Gurjapneet Singh, Vipraj Nigam, Manav Suthar, and Ashok Sharma.
“ICC should come in and take some action”; Gavaskar Slams Pakistan’s World Cup Boycott Threat
Sunil Gavaskar has slammed the Pakistan Cricket Board and its players over their threat to boycott the T20 World Cup clash against India. India Pakistan match is set to take place on 15th February. However, the Pakistan government recently announced the team will skip the India game while playing the rest of the tournament. The legendary opener believes Pakistan will eventually back down. Gavaskar, while talking to India Today, stated, “I think in the next four or five days, when reactions start pouring in from across the world and even from their former players. There is a possibility that Pakistan will change their stance.” He noted that international pressure and criticism from former players would likely force a shift. He even joked about the tendency of their players to return from retirement as a sign of their unpredictability. “So something like that might happen before the 15th,” he added. If Pakistan sticks to the boycott, India will receive a walkover win. Gavaskar insists the ICC must act firmly against such a move. “If you withdraw at the last moment, on the eve of the tournament, then yes, I think certainly the ICC should come in and take some action,” he stated. He argued that the timing of the decision is the biggest issue for the sport. The World Cup begins on 7th February, with India facing the USA. The group also features Namibia and the Netherlands. Gavaskar wants the ICC to set a strong precedent. “It should be something that ensures no other team in the future also considers doing that,” he concluded.
