分类： sports

Pakistan’s cricket team secured a commanding 90-run victory against Australia in the second T20 match at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on Saturday, claiming the series win with one game remaining. The triumph marks Pakistan’s largest margin of victory over Australia in T20 history.

Captain Salman Ali Agha delivered a spectacular performance with 76 runs off just 40 balls, supported by Usman Khan’s aggressive 53 from 36 deliveries, propelling Pakistan to an imposing total of 198-5. Agha’s strategic decision to promote himself to number three proved instrumental as he dominated both spin and pace bowling with powerful sweeps and precise cover drives.

Australia’s response crumbled against Pakistan’s spin attack, with leg-spinners Abrar Ahmed (3-14) and Shadab Khan (3-26) dismantling the batting lineup. The visitors were bowled out for a meager 108 runs in just 15.4 overs, losing momentum early in the power play and never recovering.

Australian captain Mitchell Marsh, returning to the lineup after missing the first game, acknowledged Pakistan’s dominance: ‘They put us under great pressure in the power play. It was probably a 160-170 wicket. We have experienced guys who know partnerships are important, but we couldn’t execute today.’

The victory provides crucial momentum for Pakistan as they prepare for the upcoming T20 World Cup, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka beginning February 7. Australia, meanwhile, faces significant concerns about their ability to handle quality spin bowling ahead of the global tournament.

The iconic FIFA World Cup trophy has launched an extensive North American exhibition tour, marking the ceremonial countdown to the 2026 World Cup. This prestigious journey commenced in Mexico City on February 26th, initiating a 75-day pilgrimage across the continent that will showcase football’s most coveted prize to millions of fans.

Following its global inauguration in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on January 3rd, the authentic trophy will traverse Mexico through ten major destinations including cultural landmarks like Chichen Itza and metropolitan centers such as Guadalajara and Monterrey. The Mexican leg concludes on March 22nd in Mérida before the trophy crosses into the United States.

The American segment launches in Los Angeles on March 24th-25th, featuring an ambitious 21-city itinerary that encompasses all eleven host cities alongside ten additional major markets. The tour will weave through diverse regions from Las Vegas to Seattle, Chicago to Miami, with stops in cultural hubs like New Orleans and sporting hotbeds like Philadelphia.

Canada welcomes the trophy in Vancouver on April 10th-11th, with seven Canadian cities included in the cross-continental journey. The Canadian portion culminates in Toronto on May 25th-26th, after which the trophy returns to the United States for final appearances in Boston and New York/New Jersey.

The monumental tour will conclude with a triumphant return to Mexico City from June 5th-8th, immediately preceding the World Cup’s opening match. This unprecedented accessibility initiative allows fans across North America to engage directly with football history, building anticipation for the first World Cup hosted jointly by three nations.

England’s white-ball cricket captain Harry Brook has publicly confessed to providing misleading statements regarding a late-night altercation in Wellington, New Zealand, that resulted in disciplinary measures against multiple team members. The incident occurred on October 31, preceding the final ODI match against New Zealand, when Brook attempted to gain entry to a nightclub accompanied by teammates Jacob Bethell and Josh Tongue.

Following investigative reporting by the Telegraph newspaper, Brook retracted his initial claim that he was alone during the confrontation with nightclub security personnel. In an official statement released after England’s Twenty20 victory against Sri Lanka in Pallekele, Brook acknowledged his deception was intended to prevent fellow players from facing consequences for his personal decisions.

“I fully accept responsibility for my actions in Wellington and confirm that other individuals were present that evening,” Brook stated. “I deeply regret my previous inaccurate comments, which were motivated solely by my desire to protect teammates from being implicated in a situation resulting from my own poor judgment.”

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has imposed financial penalties on all involved players and issued Brook with a final warning regarding conduct violations. The regulatory body had previously concealed these disciplinary actions during the recent Ashes series against Australia, only disclosing them this month following England’s 4-1 series defeat.

In response to multiple alcohol-related incidents during tours in New Zealand and Australia, the ECB has implemented a midnight curfew for all players throughout their current subcontinental tour. Brook has offered repeated apologies to both teammates and supporters, emphasizing his commitment to learning from this challenging professional experience.

In a dramatic opening to their T20 series, England secured an 11-run victory over Sri Lanka through the DLS method in a rain-interrupted match at Pallekele on Friday. The encounter was highlighted by fast bowler Sam Curran’s extraordinary hat-trick, making him only the second Englishman to achieve this feat in T20 internationals.

The match was significantly affected by weather conditions, with Sri Lanka’s innings limited to 17 overs before they were all out for 133. England appeared to be comfortably heading toward victory when rain interrupted their chase after 15 overs, with the scoreboard reading 125-4. The Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method ultimately determined England’s winning margin.

Curran’s performance represented a remarkable turnaround after his initial two overs proved expensive, conceding 35 runs. However, the left-arm seamer staged a spectacular recovery during his final over, claiming three consecutive wickets to complete his hat-trick and finishing with figures of 3-38. This achievement places him alongside Chris Jordan, who recorded England’s only previous men’s T20 hat-trick against the United States during the 2024 T20 World Cup.

Sri Lanka had initially built a strong foundation, reaching 76-1 within seven overs thanks to aggressive batting from Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka. However, England’s spin duo of Adil Rashid (3-19) and Liam Dawson (2-31) systematically dismantled the middle order, setting the stage for Curran’s historic final over.

England’s chase began explosively with Phil Salt aggressively targeting the Sri Lankan bowlers, particularly Maheesh Theekshana whom he struck for 6-4-4 off the first three deliveries. Captain Jos Buttler continued the momentum with four consecutive boundaries against fast bowler Eshan Malinga.

Despite Salt’s dominant 46 runs from 35 balls, Sri Lanka’s fielding performance proved substandard. The opener received two reprieves—dropped on 17 off Wanindu Hasaranga’s bowling and again on 41 when Nissanka failed to hold a catch off Matheesha Pathirana. Nissanka’s fielding difficulties continued as he dropped another chance that would have dismissed Harry Brook on 11.

Tom Banton contributed a brisk 29 from 15 balls, featuring several inventive reverse-swept boundaries, while Brook remained unbeaten on 16. The three-match series serves as crucial preparation for both teams ahead of next week’s T20 World Cup in India. The teams will meet again for the second match on Sunday, followed by the series finale on Tuesday.

In the picturesque lakeside town of Gavirate, northern Italy, Australia has established an unprecedented strategic advantage for winter sports excellence. The Australian Institute of Sport’s European Training Centre, operational for nearly 15 years, has evolved into a comprehensive preparation hub for approximately 3,000 athletes annually traveling through Europe.

The facility addresses what director Fiona de Jong describes as ‘the tyranny of distance’ – the challenging 24-hour flight from Australia to Europe that previously hindered consistent high-level competition preparation. The center features state-of-the-art training facilities including a fully equipped gymnasium, recovery areas, and recreational spaces with pool tables, creating an optimal environment for both physical preparation and mental relaxation.

Upon arrival, athletes encounter unmistakable Australian symbolism: statues of kangaroos and emus adorned with national scarves greet visitors at the entrance, while interior spaces showcase abundant imagery of Australian landscapes alongside the nation’s signature green and gold colors. The culinary experience blends Italian cuisine with home comforts, featuring beloved Australian staples like Vegemite and specially imported coffee from Melbourne roasters – a particularly notable detail in the birthplace of espresso.

Alisa Camplin, Australia’s Olympic team chef de mission and dual Winter Olympic medalist, emphasizes the center’s significance: ‘This place is a haven on the other side of the world for us as Aussies. It’s like we’ve got a home away from home, a little sanctuary where we can prepare to be excellent.’

The location selection, made years before Milan-Cortina secured the 2026 Winter Olympics, has proven remarkably fortuitous. De Jong notes they evaluated sites in Spain and France before choosing Gavirate for its ideal climate, welcoming community, and exceptional cuisine. The town’s proximity to Milan’s international airports and its lakeside location provide particular benefits for equipment-intensive sports like rowing and canoeing.

Local integration has been remarkably successful, with Gavirate’s residents enthusiastically embracing their Australian guests. The town’s ice cream shop displays signed athletic jerseys, while pizzerias showcase Australian memorabilia. Mayor Massimo Parola proudly declares Gavirate can now ‘call itself an Olympic city.’

For athletes like aerial skier Danielle Scott, competing in her fourth Olympics, the center represents ‘the best of both worlds’ – offering both high-performance training facilities and the comforting familiarity of home amidst the pressures of elite international competition.

Chinese football authorities have unleashed the most severe disciplinary measures in the sport’s history, penalizing 13 clubs and 73 individuals in a sweeping anti-corruption campaign. The landmark sanctions come following an extensive joint investigation conducted by the Ministry of Public Security and the General Administration of Sport of China.

The Chinese Football Association announced on January 29, 2026, that multiple clubs would face significant point deductions for the upcoming season, with fines reaching 1 million yuan ($143,900) for the most serious offenders. Reigning Chinese Super League champion Shanghai Port will begin their title defense with a five-point deficit, while Shanghai Shenhua and Tianjin Jinmen Tiger received the harshest penalties of ten-point deductions alongside maximum financial penalties.

In a parallel move, the CFA issued lifetime bans against 73 individuals involved in match-fixing, gambling, and bribery schemes. The banned figures include former CFA chairman Chen Xuyuan and ex-national team coach Li Tie, both currently serving lengthy prison sentences following their 2024 convictions for accepting millions in bribes. In a particularly striking case, former international player Wang Dong received a lifetime ban merely eleven days after his appointment as head coach of third-tier club Changchun Xidu.

CFA president Song Kai emphasized the organization’s “zero tolerance” stance against corruption, stating that cleaning up the sport remains paramount to China’s football revitalization project. The General Administration of Sport of China endorsed the penalties as demonstrating serious commitment to reforming league governance and promoting integrity.

Affected clubs, including Beijing Guoan and both Shanghai teams, have publicly accepted the punishments, acknowledging management failures and pledging to implement stricter oversight and moral education programs. Legal experts have concurrently called for updating China’s 1995 sports law to include more specific provisions addressing sports corruption, suggesting that stronger legal frameworks are necessary to prevent future violations.