分类： sports

In a spectacular display of power-hitting, India secured an emphatic series victory against New Zealand, triumphing by eight wickets in the third Twenty20 international on Sunday. The match, held in Guwahati, witnessed one of the most dominant performances in T20 cricket history as India chased down New Zealand’s total of 153-9 with a staggering 10 overs to spare.

Young opener Abhishek Sharma delivered a career-defining performance, blasting an unbeaten 68 runs from just 20 deliveries. His explosive innings featured a remarkable half-century reached in only 14 balls, including four massive sixes that demoralized the New Zealand bowling attack. Sharma found perfect synergy with captain Suryakumar Yadav, who contributed 57 not out from 26 balls, as the pair orchestrated a devastating 102-run partnership in just 40 deliveries.

The victory was set up by India’s bowling unit, which saw the triumphant return of pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah. The premier fast bowler made an immediate impact with figures of 3-17 from his four overs, effectively restricting New Zealand to a below-par score despite Glenn Phillips’ battling 48 off 40 balls and Mark Chapman’s contribution of 32 runs.

With this comprehensive win, India established an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series, having previously claimed victory in Nagpur by 48 runs and in Raipur by seven wickets. The teams now look ahead to the fourth T20 encounter scheduled for Wednesday in Visakhapatnam, where India will aim to extend their dominance while New Zealand seeks to salvage pride in the concluding matches.

The Pakistan Cricket Board has officially revealed its 15-player roster for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, introducing six newcomers to mega-event cricket while retaining experienced campaigners. The announcement came during a Sunday morning press conference at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium featuring PCB Director of High Performance Aqib Javed, T20I captain Salman Ali Agha, and white-ball head coach Michael Hesson.

Pakistan finds itself positioned in Group A for the tournament’s initial phase, commencing their campaign against the Netherlands on February 7th in Colombo. The 20-team competition will see each nation play four group stage matches between February 7th and March 8th, progressing through Super Eight and Knockout stages.

The selection blend combines fresh talent with seasoned professionals. Captain Salman Ali Agha leads a group of six players receiving their first major tournament call-ups: Faheem Ashraf, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Sahibzada Farhan, and Usman Tariq. This infusion of new blood complements nine veterans with previous World Cup experience including star batter Babar Azam, pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi, and all-rounder Shadab Khan.

Preparation begins immediately with a three-match T20I series against Australia scheduled for January 29th, 31st, and February 1st at Gaddafi Stadium, serving as crucial match practice before the global tournament. The selection strategy appears to balance explosive batting potential with versatile bowling options, particularly emphasizing all-round capabilities across the squad.

Complete Squad: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan (wk), Usman Tariq.

The international cricket community faces a significant governance crisis following Bangladesh’s withdrawal from next month’s Twenty20 World Cup. The World Cricketers’ Association (WCA) has characterized this development as profoundly damaging to the sport’s integrity and global unity.

Bangladesh’s exclusion from the 20-team tournament emerged after their national team refused to tour India amid escalating political tensions between the Asian neighbors. Scotland has been named as their replacement in the championship set to commence on February 7. The International Cricket Council (ICC) rejected Bangladesh’s appeal to relocate their matches to tournament co-host Sri Lanka, citing logistical impracticality given the tournament’s imminent start.

WCA Chief Executive Tom Moffat issued a strongly worded statement emphasizing the gravity of the situation. ‘The withdrawal of Bangladesh from cricket’s premier international T20 event represents a sad moment for our sport, the players, and their supporters,’ Moffat declared. ‘This development necessitates profound reflection and decisive action from cricket’s leadership.’

The absence of Bangladesh highlights broader geopolitical tensions affecting South Asian cricket. The ICC has previously mediated similar conflicts, notably brokering neutral venue arrangements for India-Pakistan matches when political relations deteriorate. Pakistan’s participation in the upcoming tournament remains uncertain according to PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi, who indicated final approval awaits the prime minister’s return.

Moffat further expressed concern about systematic issues within cricket’s operational framework, noting increasing instances of agreements being dishonored and inadequate consultation with players and their representatives. ‘These unresolved issues threaten to undermine trust, unity, and ultimately the long-term health of the game we cherish,’ he warned, calling for collaborative efforts among governing bodies, leagues, and players to strengthen cricket’s global foundation.

In a breathtaking display of human endurance and concentration, American free solo climber Alex Honnold has conquered Taipei 101, one of the world’s tallest skyscrapers, employing no ropes, harnesses, or safety equipment. The daring ascent of the 508-meter (1,667-foot) tower in Taiwan’s capital was completed in a record-breaking one hour and thirty-one minutes.

The climb, initially postponed from Saturday due to adverse weather conditions, was broadcast live with a strategic delay by Netflix. Honnold’s methodical progression up the bamboo-inspired glass and steel facade captivated a global audience. Upon reaching the summit, the climber succinctly celebrated his vertigo-inducing achievement with the exclamation, ‘Sick.’

This remarkable feat more than halved the previous record set by French climber Alain Robert—nicknamed ‘Spiderman’—who scaled the then-world’s tallest building using safety ropes and a harness in four hours in 2004.

The climb was not without its distractions. As Honnold approached the 89th floor, enthusiastic fans waved and cheered from behind the windows, creating an unexpected challenge. Undeterred, he continued his climb, a moment captured on video and shared widely on social media.

Taiwan’s Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim publicly congratulated Honnold on X, humorously admitting the climb made her ‘feel sick, too, barely able to watch.’ Honnold was greeted at the top by his wife, who had expressed concerns about the challenging wind and heat conditions during his ascent.

Honnold, who gained global fame as the first person to free solo El Capitan in Yosemite National Park—a feat documented in the Academy Award-winning film ‘Free Solo’—has once again redefined the limits of his extreme sport.

ADELAIDE, Australia — Australian cyclist Jay Vine secured a remarkable victory at the Tour Down Under on Sunday, overcoming an extraordinary mid-race collision with a kangaroo that forced three riders to abandon the competition. The incident occurred during the final 169.8-kilometer stage through Adelaide’s hills, marking a dramatic conclusion to the opening event of the 2026 World Tour.

With approximately 96 kilometers remaining, two large kangaroos unexpectedly bounded onto the road during a high-speed section. Vine was knocked from his bicycle upon impact, while riders Menno Huising, Lucas Stevenson, and Alberto Dainese were compelled to withdraw due to injuries sustained in the collision. The kangaroo involved also suffered injuries.

Despite entering the final stage with a substantial 1-minute, 3-second lead on general classification, Vine faced significant challenges beyond the wildlife encounter. His UAE Team Emirates squad had been reduced to just three members following Saturday’s fourth stage, where defending champion Jhonatan Narvaez and another teammate crashed out. The team was further diminished when Juan Sebastian Molano withdrew due to fatigue before Sunday’s stage.

Demonracing exceptional resilience, Vine immediately remounted after the kangaroo incident, changing bicycles twice before rejoining the peloton with 92 kilometers remaining. He maintained a strategic position near the front throughout the remainder of the stage, ultimately preserving his overall lead.

The Australian champion finished 1:03 ahead of Switzerland’s Mauro Schmid (Team Jayco Alula), with Australian Harry Sweeny (EF Education-Easypost) trailing by an additional nine seconds. Britain’s Matthew Brennan (Team Visma) claimed the stage victory in a sprint finish ahead of New Zealand’s Finn Fisher-Black (Bora Hansgrohe) and Denmark’s Tobias Lund Andresen (Decathlon).

Vine, who secured his second Tour Down Under victory in three years, humorously remarked on the incident: ‘Everyone asks me what’s the most dangerous thing in Australia and I always tell them it’s kangaroos. They wait and they hide in the bushes until you can’t stop and they jump out in front of you. Point proven today.’

The champion described the mechanics of the collision: ‘Two of them blasted through the peloton when we were doing probably 50 kph (30 mph) and one of them stopped and went left, right, left right, left right and I ended up hitting its backside.’

Reflecting on his team’s challenging week, Vine noted: ‘This year we started off really positive and we just had more and more bad luck as the race went on. Today was never going to be easy and I’ve been saying all week it’s not over until it’s over. But it’s proven to be not over till it’s over in this race for us.’

The stage featured eight laps of a circuit incorporating a slow, steep climb to the finish in Stirling township, with two breakaways occurring during the race, the final one being reeled in with just one kilometer remaining.

In a breathtaking display of human endurance and skill, renowned American rock climber Alex Honnold successfully scaled Taipei 101, one of the world’s tallest skyscrapers, without ropes or protective equipment on Sunday. The daring ascent of the 508-meter (1,667-foot) tower captivated spectators and raised questions about the ethics of broadcasting high-risk athletic endeavors.

Honnold, celebrated for his unprecedented free solo climb of Yosemite’s El Capitan, commenced his vertical journey using the building’s horizontal metal beams as handholds. Clad in a distinctive red short-sleeve shirt, the climber periodically paused during his ascent to acknowledge the cheering crowd below, creating dramatic moments during the live broadcast on Netflix, which employed a 10-second delay for safety considerations.

The architectural complexity of Taipei 101 presented unique challenges, particularly the middle section comprising 64 floors known as ‘bamboo boxes’—the building’s signature feature. This segment required navigating eight distinct phases, each featuring eight floors of steep, overhanging climbing followed by balcony areas where Honnold took strategic rests.

While French climber Alain Robert previously ascended the building during its 2004 inauguration using safety equipment, Honnold’s achievement marks the first completely unprotected climb of the Taipei landmark. The event, originally scheduled for Saturday, was postponed due to adverse weather conditions, adding another layer of anticipation to the already dramatic feat.