Category: Sports

New Delhi, March 2 (IANS) Former Sri Lanka cricketer Sanath Jayasuriya, who was the team’s head coach during their recently concluded ICC Men’s T20 World Cup campaign, said members and officials of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) will hold a meeting on Tuesday to discuss the future plans after the co-hosts failed to make it to the semifinals of the marquee event.

“There’s a meeting with Sri Lanka Cricket tomorrow. We’ll discuss the future plans there. Sri Lanka played some of their games really well. I’ll share more details when the meeting is done,” Jayasuriya told IANS on Monday.

Jayasuriya decided to step down as the team’s head coach after Sri Lanka’s close defeat to Pakistan, which marked the end of their World Cup run. While he hadn’t formally notified SLC of his decision, he mentioned that this World Cup would be his final role.

“I thought it was time to give it to someone else. That’s why about two months ago I’d said during the England series that I don’t have hopes of staying in the job for long. I’d taken this decision by then. I thought I’d be able to leave as coach on a good note in the World Cup. I wasn’t able to do that as well as I’d like, and I’m sad about that,” the veteran had said after Sri Lanka’s last T20 World Cup clash against Pakistan.

Although Jayasuriya made up his mind to step down, he did not explicitly confirm he would do so immediately. Sri Lanka has a limited-overs series against Afghanistan scheduled to start on March 13, though that series is now at risk due to hostilities in West Asia. The board might want him to stay for that tour.

“My contract runs till June. I haven’t given SLC any news officially yet. They don’t know that I am going to say this either. I will need to go and discuss with them. If they can get somebody (as his replacement), then definitely (they should do that),” he had stated.

Sri Lanka, co-hosts of the T20 World Cup alongside India, had a disappointing campaign at the tournament, although playing at home, as they struggled to find consistency in both batting and bowling.

Sri Lanka, placed in a competitive group, struggled to gain momentum after early setbacks. They had won three out of four matches in the initial T20 World Cup group stage, including a notable victory over Australia, but injuries to key players Wanindu Hasaranga and Matheesha Pathirana disrupted their progress, which led to a winless conclusion to their Super Eights campaign as they incurred losses against England, New Zealand, and Pakistan.

–IANS

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Melbourne, March 2 (IANS) Organisers of the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix said that the season-opening race will go ahead as planned on Sunday despite travel disruptions caused by the conflict in the Middle East.

Travis Auld, chief executive officer of the Australian Grand Prix Corporation, said at a press conference in Melbourne that the disruption for officials, team members and drivers is not expected to affect the first race weekend of the season, reports Xinhua.

Auld said mass flight cancellations in and out of the Middle East, amid U.S-Israel strikes against Iran, have forced some teams to adjust travel plans. He added that F1 officials have taken the lead in managing logistics to ensure drivers and team personnel arrive in Melbourne safely.

“Everyone will be here ready for the race, and for fans, they won’t notice any difference,” Auld said.

“There are some drivers already in Australia, there are some team members already in Australia, but there are a number in the UK and broadly throughout Europe that need to get here, so they’ve just had to find another way. That’s been a process for them, and I’m sure it’s been a lot of work on their behalf.”

Local media in the UK reported that up to 2,000 F1 workers had to reorganise flights from Europe to Melbourne to avoid stopovers in the Middle East, and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported on Monday that an estimated 500 staffers will be flown to Australia on three chartered flights.

F1 tyre supplier Pirelli cancelled a test scheduled at the Bahrain International Circuit on Saturday and Sunday due to safety reasons. Formula One said it is monitoring the situation in the Middle East ahead of scheduled races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia in April.

Practice sessions for the Australian Grand Prix are set to begin at Melbourne’s Albert Park Circuit on Friday, followed by qualifying on Saturday and the race on Sunday.

–IANS

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Phillaur, March 2 (IANS) The DP World PGTI NexGen Phillaur Open 2026 will be played from March 3 to 5 at the Ranjitgarh Golf Club in Phillaur. The Phillaur Open will be the second event of the 2026 DP World PGTI NexGen season.

The tournament offers an enhanced prize purse of INR 25 lakh this year. The event will be played over three rounds (54 holes) with the cut being applied after two rounds (36 holes). The top-36 players and ties will make the cut for the third and final round.

The tournament features a field of 90 professionals, including local names Amit Kumar and Swatanter Kumar, both hailing from Phillaur.

The first event of the 2026 DP World PGTI NexGen season was held in Faridabad last week and was won by Abhishek Kumar of Panchkula. Abhishek now leads the 2026 DP World PGTI NexGen Order of Merit.

The winner of this year’s DP World PGTI NexGen Order of Merit will earn an exemption on the main tour (DP World PGTI) for the 2027 season.

R S Gill, the presenting partner for the event, said, “It is a privilege to support the DP World PGTI NexGen Phillaur Open for the second consecutive year. After the encouraging response to last year’s event, we are proud to see this tournament begin to establish itself as a meaningful platform for young professional golfers. Hosting a national-level event in Phillaur once again reflects our commitment to nurturing talent at the grassroots and strengthening Punjab’s legacy in Indian golf.”

Jaiveer Shergill, national spokesperson of the BJP, said, “As we host this tournament for the second year in a row, our vision remains consistent and purposeful—to place Punjab firmly on the national golfing map while creating positive avenues for our youth. Sporting initiatives like this not only promote local talent but also reinforce the values of discipline, focus, and healthy competition, which are vital in steering young minds away from drug addiction and towards constructive pursuits.”

Amandeep Johl, CEO, PGTI, said, “We’re delighted to return to Phillaur, after having revived professional golf in this important golfing centre of Punjab, after a long gap, with the staging of the NexGen event last year. We thank Mr. R S Gill and the Ranjitgarh Golf Club for their support of the DP World PGTI NexGen for the second year in succession. Punjab has been the nursery for Indian golf, having produced many professional golfers of international repute. The staging of a NexGen event in the heart of Punjab will inspire and encourage more youngsters from the state to take up the sport.”

–IANS

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New Delhi, March 2 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney participated in the India-Canada CEOs’ Forum on Monday, where the former drew parallels between cricket and the two countries’ relations, stating that he was elated to see the Canadian cricket team participate in the T20 World Cup being held in India.

PM Modi held bilateral talks with Carney as the two leaders look to reset India-Canada ties strained since the 2023 diplomatic row over Khalistani separatist activities.

Speaking at the Forum, PM Modi said in his address, “Some of you must surely be watching cricket. It made all of us very happy to see Canada playing in the T20 World Cup being held in India. Just like in T20 cricket; with fast decisions, fearless strokes, and match-winning partnerships, India and Canada will shape the future together. With this resolve, I invite all of you to join India’s journey of development.”

Canada participated in their second T20 World Cup this year, having finished fourth in the group stage in their inaugural appearance in 2024.

Canada endured a difficult campaign at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, exiting at the group stage after four defeats in a demanding Group D. Drawn alongside heavyweights such as South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan, as well as the United Arab Emirates, Canada struggled to find winning momentum despite flashes of promise.

They opened with a 57-run loss to South Africa before suffering a narrow five-wicket defeat to the United Arab Emirates in a contest that went down to the final over. An eight-wicket loss to New Zealand followed, while Afghanistan sealed their campaign with an 82-run victory.

Although Canada showed fighting spirit with the bat in patches, inconsistency with both bat and ball proved costly, as they finished bottom of the group and missed out on a place in the Super Eights.

–IANS

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New Delhi, March 2 (IANS) Amidst all the attention on the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup, the idea of having specialist camps at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru has been steadily taking shape. Sources aware of the matter have told IANS that a fast-bowling camp led by former pace spearhead Zaheer Khan is going to conclude on Monday.

“The targeted pacers who have been with the India A and U19 set-ups and did well for their respective states have been undergoing a camp under the watchful eyes of Zaheer for three days and is going to conclude today. This is for helping the players who are already on the radar of national selection,” said sources.

It is to be noted that the CoE has been without a full-time fast-bowling coach after Troy Cooley’s stint finished in December 2025 as he turned 60, the age of superannuation for coaches at the high-performance facility. In terms of spin bowling, the CoE has former India left-arm spinner and selector Sunil Joshi, who joined in October last year.

The BCCI had invited applications for the fast-bowling coach role on February 9 and it is understood that appointing Cooley’s replacement will take around one to two months. With regard to Harbhajan holding a camp for promising off-spinners in the country, the dates and duration of the camp are yet to be finalised, though it is understood that this may take place later this month, before IPL 2026 begins.

“Yes, Harbhajan has been approached by CoE head of cricket VVS Laxman for holding a camp for off-spinners. If all goes well, that may happen later in the month,” said another source.

The BCCI is also looking to fill other critical vacant posts like Head of Sports Science and Medicine and various coaching roles, and the process of completing the hirings will also take one-two months.

–IANS

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New Delhi, March 2 (IANS) India pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah was adjudged the ‘Impact Player of the Match’ after a decisive spell helped India maintain the West Indies to a chaseable target before Sanju Samson’s unbeaten 97 helped the defending champions secure a crucial victory in their T20 World Cup clash on Sunday at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

Bumrah returned figures of 2/36 from his four overs. While the numbers may not fully reflect his influence, the timing of his breakthroughs proved pivotal. In the 12th over of the innings, with the West Indies looking to accelerate, Bumrah struck twice, removing the dangerous Shimron Hetmyer and Roston Chase, to derail the Caribbean side’s momentum and tilt the contest firmly in India’s favour.

His ability to deliver in pressure situations once again underlined why he remains India’s go-to bowler in crunch moments. The twin strikes not only stemmed the flow of runs but also exposed the middle order, allowing India to tighten the screws in the death overs.

Presenting the medal, India’s fielding coach T Dilip lauded the team’s collective intensity while singling out Bumrah for his composure in decisive phases.

“Brilliant stuff, brilliant effort, well done. We’re a gun team and today we showed with our intent what it means to be that. That’s what the play was today. Today’s game reminds me of my favourite quote: “The strength of the team is each individual, and the strength of each individual is the team.” Today we represented that through care and belief everytime we did that. Outstanding efforts. The impact player goes to someone who owns the big moments most of the times with his calm face and deadly execution. He’s none other than Jasprit Bumrah,” he said while presenting the medal to the pacer.

Bumrah, in turn, credited his teammates for holding their nerve during the chase and ensuring India crossed the line without panic, as he said, “Thank you so much. Special mention to Dube as well, the two fours that he hit didn’t let the pressure come into our team. So yeah, special mention to him. Tilak also played a great knock, not taking away anything from him but yes, come the big day we’re off to get together and hopefully do well in Mumbai. Cheers.”

India’s batting unit had its moments of anxiety, but crucial contributions, including late boundaries that eased scoreboard pressure, ensured the target was achieved without major hiccups. Tilak’s composed knock in the middle phase also kept the innings on track after early setbacks.

With this win, India continued their strong run in the tournament, showcasing both bowling discipline and batting depth and secured their place in the semi-final, where they’ll meet England on Thursday at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

–IANS

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New Delhi, March 2 (IANS) The knockouts of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 are all set, with the first semi-final taking place at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, on Wednesday between New Zealand and South Africa.

South Africa will come in with high spirits after beating New Zealand in their group game. The Proteas beat the Kiwis by seven wickets in Ahmedabad on February 14 and will look to replicate that result. A five-wicket win over Zimbabwe in their final Super 8 game meant South Africa finished first in their group with a perfect record of 3 wins from 3 games.

New Zealand will look to take revenge against South Africa and put an end to their unbeaten streak in the tournament after finishing second in Group 1 and will look to return to the T20 World Cup final for the first time since 2021.

In 2021, New Zealand made it to the final but lost by eight wickets to Australia at the Dubai International Stadium on November 14. With a place in the final at stake, two of the tournament’s most consistent sides will battle for supremacy in what promises to be a high-stakes encounter.

The second semi-final will feature England, who topped Group 2 with a perfect record, facing India at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday, March 5. India secured their spot in the semi-finals after a thrilling win over the West Indies in their final Super 8 match, creating an exciting matchup against the defending champions.

The final is set to take place at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on March 8.

Venue, time and streaming details-

T20 World Cup 2026 South Africa vs New Zealand semifinal: Venue

Eden Gardens in Kolkata will host the second semi-final clash between South Africa vs New Zealand.

T20 World Cup 2026 South Africa vs New Zealand semifinal: Time

The South Africa vs New Zealand semifinal will begin 7:00 PM (IST) and 1:30 PM (GMT) with the toss taking place 30 minutes before the starting time on Sunday.

T20 World Cup 2026 South Africa vs New Zealand semifinal: Live Telecast

Live television coverage of the South Africa vs New Zealand ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final match will be available on the Star Sports Network.

T20 World Cup 2026 South Africa vs New Zealand semifinal: Live Streaming

The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final between South Africa and New Zealand will be streamed live on the JioHotstar app and website.

Squads:

South Africa: Aiden Markram (c), Quinton de Kock, Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Kwena Maphaka, Lungi Ngidi, Jason Smith, George Linde, Corbin Bosch, Anrich Nortje, Tristan Stubbs, Ryan Rickelton

New Zealand: Mitchell Santner (c), Finn Allen, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi, Kyle Jamieson, Cole McConchie

–IANS

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New Delhi, March 2 (IANS) South Africa and New Zealand head into the semi-finals of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 following impressive yet contrasting campaigns and gear up to face each other on Wednesday at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

South Africa are heading into the semifinals on the back of a flawless campaign, having remained unbeaten through the group stage and Super Eights. The Proteas topped their Super Eight group with commanding performances that underlined both their batting depth and bowling discipline.

A comfortable chase against Zimbabwe capped their second-round run, while a commanding victory over India underlined their title credentials. Having finished as runners-up in the previous edition, the Proteas appear determined to go one step further this time.

New Zealand, meanwhile, began strongly with convincing wins over the United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan and Canada. A key Super Eight triumph over Sri Lanka strengthened their semi-final push, although a narrow defeat to England in their final Super Eights match meant qualification depended on net run rate. Despite that setback, the BlackCaps advanced and now bring a well-balanced unit into a high-stakes clash for a place in the final.

This will be the first time South Africa and New Zealand meet in a T20 World Cup semi-final. They have competed four times in the group stage of the tournament, but never in the knockout rounds, making this upcoming match a historic first. The two heavyweights first met in a T20 World Cup match in 2007, with the Proteas emerging victorious. They faced each other three more times in subsequent tournaments, in 2009, 2014 and the current edition, with South Africa winning on all occasions.

The venue, however, might prove challenging for both teams and could give the Kiwis an upper hand, given their prior experience at Eden Gardens. New Zealand have played two T20Is at the venue previously. While they beat Bangladesh in the 2016 edition of the marquee event, the BlackCaps suffered a 73-run defeat at the hands of India during a T20I series in November 2021.

South Africa, meanwhile, do not hold any experience of playing a 20-over game at the venue, with their only game against India in October 2015 being washed out. However, players of both sides have extensive experience of playing the Indian Premier League matches at the venue, making the upcoming World Cup contest even more interesting.

South Africa vs New Zealand Head-to-Head Record in T20 World Cups:

Played: 4

South Africa won: 4

New Zealand won: 0

–IANS

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New Delhi, March 2 (IANS) Pakistan cricket authorities are expected to impose a heavy fine of five million rupees (approximately 17900 USD) on underperforming male cricketers after the team’s exit in the Super Eight round in Sri Lanka, according to a news report on Monday.

“Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has conveyed to the players that they get good amounts in central contracts and endorsement money so on poor performances they will get fines and that will be to the tune of five million Pakistan rupees,” sources told Telecom Asia Sport.

Sources reported that PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi was upset after the poor performance and some questionable decisions in the February 15 match against India, and he had decided to punish the players.

“Naqvi was in the stadium and noticed how Pakistan team wilted under pressure and made a wrong decision to bowl first at a venue where bat first was the winning formula and then captain made a lot of mistakes while players failed to handle the pressure of an India game.

“This will be an unprecedented action but Naqvi has had enough as he also saw Pakistan team crashing out from the first round of 2024 World Cup and Champions Trophy last year, so he has to punish the players. Some sources said that each player has already been fined 5 million rupees but it could not be confirmed,” sources stated further.

After their failure in the Champions Trophy last year, Pakistan cricketers were also demoted, as the PCB did not assign any players to the A category.

A-category players earn a monthly salary of 4.5 million rupees plus 2.07 million rupees from ICC revenue. B-category players receive 3 million rupees per month and 1.5525 million rupees from ICC share. C-category players are paid 1 million rupees monthly and 1.035 million rupees from ICC share. D-category players earn 750,000 rupees each month along with 517,500 rupees from ICC share.

–IANS

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New Delhi, March 2 (IANS) The Sports Journalists Federation of India (SJFI) National Convention 2026 will be held in New Delhi from March 13 to 16, marking the return of the prestigious annual gathering to the national capital after 23 years.

The National Convention, organised by the Delhi Sports Journalist Association (DSJA) will also celebrate the Golden Jubilee of SJFI, making it one of the most significant editions in its history.

SJFI is recognised and affiliated with the world body of sports journalists, the International Sports Press Association (AIPS).

The National Convention will bring together sports journalists from the North, East, West and South Zones, along with leading figures from Indian sport, administration and broadcasting. With the support of major industry stakeholders and prominent brands, the 2026 edition is set to be the largest and most impactful in the federation’s history.

Over four days, the event will combine meaningful professional dialogue with competitive sporting action and extensive networking opportunities. The programme includes a Grand Sports Conclave featuring top administrators and Olympic icons, the JK Bose Inter-Zonal T20 Cricket Tournament, the AC Bali Table Tennis Tournament, multi-dimensional family and youth engagement activities like the Modern Pythian Games, and a grand Finals and Closing Ceremony attended by distinguished dignitaries.

Abhishek Tripathi, president, DSJA, said, “The Delhi Sports Journalist Association is fully prepared for this event. When the SJFI entrusted us with hosting this National Convention, we decided to make it a landmark event. Our preparations are nearly complete. Renowned sports figures from across the country will participate in this four-day event. Sports journalists from across the country will be in Delhi from the 13th to the 16th to attend the SJFI National Convention. I thank the Sports Ministry and sports-related companies for standing shoulder to shoulder with this event. I would especially like to thank Virendra Sachdeva, Secretary of the Archery Association of India and Delhi BJP President, for his immense support in organizing this event.”

The Grand Sports Conclave will see participation from some of the most influential names in Indian sports and administration.

Saraju Chakraborty, SJFI president, said, “The Golden Jubilee National Convention in New Delhi marks a defining moment in the journey of the Sports Journalists Federation of India. For five decades, SJFI has stood for credibility, professionalism and unity in sports journalism. As we return to Delhi after 23 years, this convention will not only celebrate our legacy but also chart the roadmap for the future of our profession in a rapidly evolving media landscape. We are grateful to the Delhi Sports Journalist Association for hosting this landmark edition and look forward to meaningful discussions and collective growth.”

The event will also see participation from senior government representatives, Olympic icons, and leading stakeholders from across the Indian sports ecosystem.

Meanwhile, the Golden Jubilee edition will celebrate 50 years of SJFI’s contribution to Indian sports journalism — recognising the evolution of the profession from print to digital, broadcast and multi-platform storytelling. With participation from major brands and strong institutional backing, the SJFI National Convention 2026 is expected to be one of the most impactful editions in the federation’s history.

–IANS

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