NEW DELHI: Bihar rode opener Piyush Singh’s superb second-innings double century and sharp bowling spells from Suraj Kashyap and Himanshu Singh to crush Manipur by a massive 568 runs in the Plate final, sealing a triumphant return to the Ranji Trophy Elite Group on Monday. Bihar’s Ranji journey has been turbulent, with the side briefly breaking into the Elite Group in the 2022-23 season before slipping back to the Plate Group in 2024-25.Now back in the top tier, Bihar are pushing ahead with a rebuilding phase under skipper Sakibul Gani, bolstered by the promise of teenage batting prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi.

On Monday, Bihar set Manipur a daunting target of 764 after Raghuvendra Pratap Singh fell agonisingly short of a century, dismissed for his overnight score of 90, prompting the declaration of the second innings at 505 for 6.After posting 522 in the first innings and dismissing Manipur for 264, Bihar wrapped up the match by bowling out their opponents for 195 in the second essay, with spinners Suraj Kumar Kashyap (3/32) and Himanshu Singh (3/49) picking up three wickets apiece on the fifth and final day.Skipper Gani (108) and Bipin Saurabh (143), who both struck fine centuries in the first innings, laid the foundation for the emphatic victory, before Piyush Singh followed it up with an unbeaten 216 off 322 balls in the second innings as Bihar piled on the runs against a hapless Manipur.Bihar declared after just nine balls on the final day, with Raghuvendra unable to add to the team’s overnight total of 505, prompting Gani to call an early declaration and give his side a full day to dismantle Manipur.The bowlers then left Manipur reeling at 50 for 5 inside 14 overs, a collapse that deepened to 70 for 7 by the 23rd, before a gritty 102-ball 74 from teenager Pheiroijam Jotin briefly held up Bihar’s charge.The 19-year-old Jotin later added 83 runs for the eighth wicket with L. Kishan Singha, who made 30 off 76 balls, as the pair momentarily threatened to deny Bihar an outright victory.However, once pacer Akash Raj removed Kishan Singha in the 44th over, the outcome became inevitable. Jotin fell a few overs later, bringing an end to the last resistance in Manipur’s batting.Earlier this month, Bihar had also earned promotion to the Elite League in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, defeating Manipur by six wickets in the final.Brief Scores:Bihar 522 and 505 for 6 decl (Piyush Singh 216, Raghuvendra Pratap Singh 90; Pheiroijam Jotin 3/85).Manipur 264 and 195 in 56.1 overs (Pheiroijam Jotin 74; Prashant Singh 2/51, S Kashyap 3/32, H Singh 3/49).

NEW DELHI: As the country marked its 77th Republic Day, members of the sports fraternity shared messages on social media, highlighting the importance of the Constitution, unity, and national duty.International Cricket Council (ICC) chairman Jay Shah, former India captain Rohit Sharma, Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker and several other sportspersons posted Republic Day greetings on platforms such as X and Instagram.Jay Shah shared a message on Instagram, saying, “Happy Republic Day! Let us celebrate the constitution that shapes India towards a stronger and more resilient nation.”India men’s cricket team head coach Gautam Gambhir posted on X, “We have one Constitution. We should also have just one identity – INDIAN! #HappyRepublicDay.”Two-time Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker expressed her thoughts on Instagram, writing, “Proud to represent my country today and every day. Jai Hind. Happy Republic Day.”Former India opener Shikhar Dhawan also took to X to post, “Dil se Hindustani. Happy Republic Day.”India’s T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav marked the day on Instagram, stating, “77 years of a nation guided by its Constitution. Happy Republic Day.”The All India Football Federation (AIFF) shared a message on X that read, “Happy 77th Republic Day from the #IndianFootball family!”Former India cricketer Yuvraj Singh posted a message on Instagram Story, saying, “My pride for Mother India comes from knowing what our country has given me and from reminding myself every day to give something back to our great nation. May we all carry this sense of pride forward and contribute to nation-building in our own unique ways. Jai Hind. #HappyRepublicDay.”The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) also posted on X, “Here’s wishing everyone a very Happy Republic Day.”Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan highlighted the occasion on X, writing, “Happy Republic Day! Let us honour our Constitution and the sacrifices of our heroes. Proud to be an Indian. Jai Hind!”Hockey India extended its wishes on X with the message, “Rooted in tradition, driven by excellence, united as one nation. Happy Republic Day to all!”Former India cricketer Suresh Raina shared his greetings on Instagram, posting, “Happy Republic Day.”India wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant also posted on X, “Happy Republic Day to all.”Former India opener Virender Sehwag marked the day by sharing a photo of children saluting the national flag on X. He wrote, “There is an intoxication in the pride of our Tricolour. There is a thrill in the honour of our Motherland. We will unfurl this flag everywhere with dignity, for this pride is the pride of Hindustan itself. Warm wishes to everyone on the occasion of Republic Day!”

Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka Live Score, U19 World Cup 2026: TOSS: Sri Lanka U19 have won the toss and have opted to field

Teams:

Sri Lanka U19 (Playing XI): Dimantha Mahavithana, Viran Chamuditha, Senuja Wekunagoda, Vimath Dinsara(c), Kavija Gamage, Chamika Heenatigala, Dulnith Sigera, Chamarindu Nethsara(w), Sethmika Seneviratne, Rasith Nimsara, Kugathas Mathulan

Afghanistan U19 (Playing XI): Khalid Ahmadzai, Osman Sadat, Faisal Shinozada, Uzairullah Niazai, Mahboob Khan(w/c), Azizullah Miakhil, Khatir Stanikzai, Nooristani Omarzai, Roohullah Arab, Wahidullah Zadran, Abdul Aziz

Pitch report

Alan Wilkins and Jon Kent: It’s always hot here, always blue skies, but one thing’s different today – the humidity is at 54 percent, so it’s one of those days. Before I get too hot under the collar, the dimensions: 70 metres straight, 65 metres on this side and about 63 on the other, pretty decent all round. It’s an intriguing wicket – it’s played really well so far, and the strips on either side have produced big scores too. Up close, it looks extremely hard and in great condition, maybe a touch dry, but this square has consistently offered good pace and bounce and has been impressive for all formats. I feel spin could have a bigger role to play today given the quality on both sides, but with the brand-new ball early on, there should still be rewards for the quicks and it sets up as a really good contest.

Mahboob Khan, Afghanistan captain: Happy to bat first. We had good preparation and every match is important from here to make it to the semi finals. We have made 2 changes to our team.

Vimath Dinsara, Sri Lanka captain: We will bowl first because I feel the pitch is good for pacers and we have a good pace attack. Very important game for us and we want to get 2 points from this game. 2 changes for us.

NEW DELHI: India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah said he has no preference between bowling with the new or old ball, stressing that his priority is contributing to the team’s success after India clinched the five-match T20I series with two games to spare following a commanding eight-wicket victory in the third match at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium on Sunday.Chasing 154, India brushed aside an early setback to race home in just 10 overs, powered by Abhishek Sharma’s unbeaten 68 off 28 balls and Suryakumar Yadav’s 57 not out off 26.

Abhishek brought up a 14-ball fifty — the second-fastest by an Indian — as India surged to 94/2 in the powerplay. Before the batting onslaught, however, Bumrah had set the tone with a superb spell in the first innings, returning figures of 3/17 in four overs as New Zealand were restricted to 153/9 despite resistance from Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman and skipper Mitchell Santner.Explaining his approach, Bumrah spoke about adjusting to the conditions after the initial overs. “I was keeping an eye when Harshit and Hardik bowled, what is the best option over here. Obviously when I came, the ball had become a little scuffed up. So the ball usually, the white ball doesn’t swing for long. So what was my best option, how I wanted to try. So I tried to do that,” he said during the post-match presentation after receiving the Player of the Match award.Asked whether he prefers bowling with the new or old ball, Bumrah underlined his adaptability. “I’m happy as far as I’m able to contribute. So if the team wants me to bowl with the new ball I’m more than happy, if they want me to bowl in the end, I’m happy to do that. I did that in Asia Cup as well. That was a new role for me. I’ve never done that before for too long. That bowling only three overs, but as a team we have to be flexible, so I’m flexible as well.”The match also marked a personal milestone for Bumrah, who completed 10 years in international cricket.Reflecting on his journey, he said, “Oh, it feels really good. I, as a child, only dreamt to play one game and you know, 10 years playing for your country, being not an allrounder, being a pure fast bowler, you know, fighting aches and pains, assumptions, opinions. Because when people saw me, I was not supposed to play for long. People gave me six months. So this is something that I was really proud of that playing for your country for so long and hopefully the journey continues but that is something that, you know, it’s a feather in my cap and I’ll keep it with me.”

MS Dhoni may have stepped away from international cricket five years ago, but the questions around his future refuse to fade. The Chennai Super Kings icon, now 44, is preparing for what will be the 19th season of the Indian Premier League, having already begun training in Ranchi nearly two months before the expected start of IPL 2026. Dhoni has featured in six IPL seasons since his last appearance for India in 2019, and with CSK bringing in several big names, including India wicketkeeper Sanju Samson, speculation has grown that the veteran could transition into a non-playing role. Former teammate R Ashwin, however, does not see that happening.

Ashwin, who retired from IPL cricket in August 2025 after his final season with CSK, believes Dhoni could even take on a radically different batting role this year. Speaking on his YouTube channel, the off-spinner suggested that Dhoni may look to impact games early rather than finishing them late. “Dhoni looks set to play as he has already started practising. He’s looking fit. Some said he may not play in the 11, or this might be his last season. But it looks like he got motivated seeing Imran Tahir. Looking at him, it doesn’t look like he’ll bat at No.9. He looks like he’ll come out to bat at No.3 in the Powerplay and be the enforcer, the way he has begun practice,” Ashwin said. CSK endured a difficult campaign last season, finishing bottom of the table, while Dhoni himself managed 196 runs at a strike rate of 135.17 across 14 matches. Despite that, Ashwin feels the franchise has put together a formidable squad ahead of the new season. “They’ve scouted very well and boast a powerhouse of a batting lineup. Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sanju Samson, Ayush Mhatre, Dewald Brevis, Shivam Dube, Karthik Sharma, and Prashant Veer is a batting lineup, barring the inexperience in the last two, you ask how are teams going to stop this batting lineup? Even a 200 to 200 becomes really difficult for teams to stop CSK to,” Ashwin added. He also highlighted the depth and versatility within the squad, pointing to overseas reinforcements and young Indian talent as key strengths. “Even Jamie Overton is going great guns. Only the combination CSK decides to go with is to be seen. Ayush Mhatre, irrespective of what happens in the U-19 World Cup, will deliver in the IPL. CSK’s batting is a tough one to stop. If they get the combination and momentum right, that is a batting lineup that’s really going to make work very difficult for bowlers around the tournament.” With Dhoni already back in training and Ashwin hinting at an aggressive new role, the CSK captain’s future once again promises intrigue as another IPL season approaches.

MUMBAI: India’s Test vice-captain Rishabh Pant, opener Yashasvi Jaiswal and allrounder Shardul Thakur will all miss the Mumbai versus Delhi Ranji Trophy match – the last league match of the tournament – at the Mumbai Cricket Association’s BKC facility from January 29 to February 1 due to injuries and illness, TOI has learnt.Pant has been out of action due to a side strain, which he sustained before the first ODI against New Zealand in Baroda on January 11. “He has been undergoing rehab at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence for the last week to 10 days,” a source said. In his absence, Ayush Badoni has been captaining the Delhi team. Jaiswal underwent endoscopy recently after having been troubled by stomach pain. “It’s a problem which has persisted with him since he was hospitalised after Mumbai’s last game in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy in Pune, where he was afflicted by a severe bout of food poisoning,” a source informed.Thakur suffered a calf injury during the league stage of the Vijay Hazare Trophy and has been recuperating since then.“Jaiswal, Thakur and Kotian will be considered after they provide their fitness report to the Mumbai Cricket Association,” Mumbai chief selector Sanjay Patil told TOI on Sunday.With 30 points in six matches, which includes four outright wins, Mumbai qualified for the Ranji Trophy quarterfinals in style on Sunday, beating Hyderabad by nine wickets despite being severely depleted. Complimenting Mumbai’s youngsters for their fine show so far, Patil said, “We’ve chosen the best team, with a good combination of youngsters and senior players. Without the big names, our team has been performing brilliantly. I’m really happy with the performance of our youngsters.” “There are two changes in the side for the match versus Delhi. Shams Mulani (fit-again after missing the Hyderabad clash due to urine issues) replaces Atharva Ankolekar (injured), while DSuryansh Shedge has replaced Aakash Parkar. We’ve recalled Shedge because he has performed consistently well for the Mumbai Under-23 team (scored a century against Bengal in the Col CK Nayudu Trophy),” he added.Jaiswal and Thakur, who missed the last match against Hyderabad, could be back in action when Mumbai play in the Ranji Trophy quarter-finals from Feb 6-10. Off-spinning allrounder Tanush Kotian has still not recovered from his hand injury. Mumbai squad: Siddhesh Lad (captain), Musheer Khan, Sairaj Patil, Akhil Herwadkar, Hardik Tampore (WK), Suved Parkar, Sarfaraz Khan, Aakash Anand (WK), Suryansh Shedge, Shams Mulani, Tushar Deshpande, Himanshu Singh, Mohit Avasthi, Omkar Tarmale, Sylvester D’Souza.

Joe Root backed England head coach Brendon McCullum after England’s loss in the Ashes, saying he remains confident about the direction of the team. His comments came after England beat Sri Lanka in the second ODI in Colombo.Root joined Harry Brook and Ben Stokes in supporting McCullum, whose role has come under scrutiny following England’s 4-1 defeat to Australia in the Ashes series.

“I think Baz is one of the best coaches I’ve ever worked with. Obviously, we’re disappointed with the way things went out in Australia, but I still think there’s a lot more really exciting things to come from this group,” Root said after the second ODI win against Sri Lanka.Root also spoke about the impact McCullum has had on his own game. “If you look at my own personal game, the time that he’s been the coach, it’s improved tenfold.”Since McCullum became England’s Test coach in 2022, Root has scored 16 centuries in 46 Tests, underlining a strong phase in his career.“Obviously, it’s more fun when you win. But I’m still having the best time of my life. I get to turn up and do the thing that I love every day with a great group of people, some brilliant minds and some experts that you can constantly keep improving and developing under,” Root added.Root played a key role in England’s five-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the second ODI at the R. Premadasa Stadium on Saturday. Chasing 220, he scored 75 off 90 balls, hitting five fours. He also took two wickets, dismissing Asitha Fernando for 0 and Dunith Wellalage for 20.The win helped England level the three-match ODI series 1-1. The third and final ODI will be played at the same venue in Colombo on January 27.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Sunday said it was willing to play the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 in India but was bound by the decision of the Bangladesh government, which did not grant clearance for the tour.BCB director Abdur Razzak said government approval is mandatory for all overseas tours and not limited to the World Cup. Speaking to RTV, he said the board had consistently expressed its readiness to participate but had no option other than to follow official instructions.

“We have always said that we want to play, but this is the government’s decision. So we have to follow whatever the government tells us. And the decision that has been given by the government is not just for this time; whenever we have any tour, we have to get clearance from the government beforehand,” the BCB director said, as cited by the news agency ANI.BCB Media Committee chairman Amzad Hussain later confirmed that Bangladesh has been removed from the tournament and that the board has accepted the ICC’s decision without taking the matter further.He said the BCB had asked the ICC to move Bangladesh’s matches to Sri Lanka and held several rounds of discussions before the final decision.“We requested the ICC to relocate our matches to Sri Lanka. We had several meetings with them. Their representatives arrived, and high-ranking government officials were also present. Following that, a Zoom meeting was held, and the ICC board informed us of their decision not to relocate our matches and that we would have to play in India, per the existing fixtures. However, the government held a cabinet meeting the day after the ICC board meeting. A decision was made there, clearly stating that if there are no changes to the fixtures, our team cannot participate in the tournament in India. This decision was conveyed by the government,” he said.Amzad Hussain said the ICC later sought a response within 24 hours, after which Bangladesh reiterated its position.“After that, the ICC asked us to respond within 24 hours, and we politely informed them again that it is not possible for us to play according to these fixtures. Subsequently, we have accepted the ICC board’s decision. Since the ICC has stated that we cannot play or that they cannot relocate our matches to Sri Lanka, we are not playing in India. Our stance remains the same. We are not pursuing any further arbitration or other avenues in this matter,” Amzad Hussain added further.Scotland has officially replaced Bangladesh in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. The ICC announced the decision on Saturday, January 24, 2026. The tournament will begin on February 7, 2026, and will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.The withdrawal followed the Bangladesh government’s refusal to clear the national team’s travel to India. Amzad Hussain said the government cited security concerns for players, officials and media personnel.“Since we had already spoken with our government, and the government stated that playing the World Cup matches in India is not safe for us–for our players, journalists, or anyone accompanying our players, the entire contingent–we requested that the matches be relocated to Sri Lanka. However, the ICC did not respond to this request. We tried several times, even after multiple meetings, but they did not respond. There is nothing more we can do because this is a government decision. Due to security concerns, they believe that playing in India is not safe for us, and that is why this decision has been taken by the government,” the BCB Media Committee Chairman said.Tensions had increased earlier after the BCCI reportedly asked IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders to release Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman for the 2026 season, citing unspecified “developments all around”. The BCB viewed the move as a sign that safety assurances could not be guaranteed.The ICC said it held discussions with the BCB for more than three weeks, including meetings held in person and via video conference. It reviewed the concerns raised, commissioned independent security assessments, and shared security and operational plans covering central and state arrangements.According to the ICC, the assessments found no credible or verifiable security threat to the Bangladesh team, its officials or supporters in India. The ICC said changing the schedule was not appropriate and could affect the integrity of the tournament and future events.After its Wednesday meeting, the ICC Business Corporation Board asked the BCB to confirm participation within 24 hours. As no confirmation was received, the ICC followed its governance and qualification process to name a replacement.Scotland is the highest-ranked T20I team that had not originally qualified for the tournament. They are currently ranked 14th, ahead of Namibia, the United Arab Emirates, Nepal, the United States, Canada, Oman and Italy.

TimesofIndia.com in Cape Town: Tristan Stubbs was full of jokes on the eve of the fourth SA20 final against Pretoria Capitals. That is not just the fourth final of South Africa’s T20 competition, but also for the Sunrisers Eastern Cape (SEC). No team has had a more jaw-droppingly good record in franchise cricket than the SEC. They’ve now been to all four finals and won the silverware twice.With Capitals skipper Keshav Maharaj joining him for media duties, Stubbs joked he would reveal their strategy only after the final at Newlands. He also elicited a chuckle upon revealing he had far too many requests for tickets. (Alas, Newlands is sold out for the SA20 final!)

The 25-year-old was casual and calm even as his team took the longer route to their ‘usual’ place in the SA20 calendar. Having finished top of the league table, they lost to the Capitals in the first qualifier. During the second chance, they romped past Paarl Royals at the Wanderers.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!A few hours later, they were in the Western Cape, back in their usual territory — preparing for the final, the skipper posing next to the trophy and taking questions at a swanky five-star hotel.And the skipper here, Tristan Stubbs, has plenty to prove going into the final. As the only new leader in the SA20 Season 4, Stubbs had giant Aiden Markram-shaped shoes to fill. So far, he’s learnt the pressures of the job as things go along but hasn’t shied away from seeking help from seniors like Quinton de Kock when stumped.

“The most challenging has been some days you feel like you know exactly what needs to be done and then other days I’m like I have no clue what to do,” Stubbs said.“But I’ve had good senior players. We’ve pretty much bounced everything off each other, but it’s just when some days you’re so decisive and you know what you want to do and other days you get a gut feeling and some days it doesn’t rock up,” continued Stubbs who has contributed 129 runs from 11 matches this season at an average of 43 and produced a best score of an unbeaten 47.Therein lies the problem with most cricketers who take on captaincy duties – their free-flowing cricket goes for a toss. Having come into South Africa’s T20 World Cup squad as an injury replacement for Donovan Ferreira, the pressure is on Stubbs to find form.

Having been acquired by the SEC in 2022 for R9.2 million, Stubbs has been part of the franchise since the very beginning. He, alongside Marco Jansen and Jordan Hermann, have been to all finals now. Except the 2023/24 season, where Stubbs scored 301 runs at an average of 60.20 and strike rate of 168.15, the Knysna-born batter has not fulfilled his promise. Not yet at least.Stubbs, who is scoring at a disappointing strike rate of 119.44, is a shadow of the player who reached the highs of 378 runs in 14 innings in IPL 2024. The fall also cost him his place in the Proteas setup, which he regained only due to injuries.“He’s got the experience and we do know that he’s got the power game and the touch game and the complete package when he’s firing,” South Africa coach Shukri Conrad had said this week of Stubbs.“I think it’s up to us to be able to unlock all of that again. And it might just be one little switch somewhere.”Both Stubbs and SEC would be hopeful that the switch gets flicked on Sunday evening — when it all matters.

Revenge on the mind?

When the SEC and Capitals met in the first qualifier, played at Kingsmead, the Sunrisers looked to be ahead at one point before Capitals got the job done with ease. That broke the SEC’s three-match winning run over the Capitals, which stretched back to the previous season.Is revenge on his, and the team’s, mind going into the final? Stubbs smiled slightly before saying, “No no! There’s no revenge! We start nought-for-nought, We’ll plan like we do for most games,” he explained.

“The important thing I guess is not getting too far ahead of yourselves. I think that’s the key in a final.“You don’t look too far ahead. You play the current or in the moment. You never really try and put your foot off the pedal. If you’ve got a team on top, you try and, as best as you can, keep the pressure on as much as possible,” stated Stubbs.

Ganguly, Pollock-coached Capitals target maiden title

In their second SA20 final appearance, Pretoria Capitals chase their maiden success. In the 2023 season, Capitals had finished runners-up at the Wanderers. In the two seasons that followed, they didn’t even qualify for the playoffs. A much-changed squad later, with Keshav Maharaj at the helm, and a legendary combination of Sourav Ganguly and Shaun Pollock running the show from the sidelines, they’d be keen on turning the tide this time.Speaking ahead of the final, Ganguly revealed he had met Dewald Brevis and Maharaj when the South African team were in India. He continued to stay in constant touch with the unit, as much as a month before start in late December.“It’s been good in the last 40 days. So, it’s been a good relationship. It’s not about the coach, it’s about the players. I’ve always tried to help these young boys, but it’s their intensity and their want to become better that is the reason that we’ve played so well,” he said during the JioStar Press Room.

The likes of Brevis, Bryce Parsons and Sherfane Rutherford have benefitted from Ganguly and Pollock’s presence in the dugout.“Ganguly is very excited. It’s his first assignment as coach. He has been a captain who has won on many big occasions for India. Having someone of his stature in our dressing room has brought that sense of calm to the changing room. He is very positive, he is very accessible because he wants the best out of his players. He gives everyone the same equal love that everyone deserves,” said Maharaj, who is Capitals’ highest wicket-taker this season.“It’s not easy carrying drinks and doing all the other stuff. But he has made it very clear that all members of the squad have a hand in getting the team up as a unit. Fingers crossed we can go all the way, and hopefully it unlocks a lot of opportunities for him.”

SA20 final livestreaming details

*SA20 FINAL LIVE: Watch Pretoria Capitals vs Sunrisers Eastern Cape on JioStar (Star Sports on TV and JioHotstar on OTT) at 7PM IST*

NEW DELHI: Bangladesh cricket faced another turbulent moment on Saturday as a senior Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) official resigned on the same day the team was officially removed from the 2026 T20 World Cup. Ishtiaque Sadeque, a BCB director and chairman of the Game Development Committee, stepped down hours after the ICC confirmed Scotland as Bangladesh’s replacement for the tournament.

Sadeque cited personal and family reasons for his resignation. He said he could no longer give enough time to a role that demands full commitment. His exit comes at a sensitive time, with Bangladesh cricket already under heavy criticism following the World Cup controversy.“It is true that I am resigning. I believe that I am unable to dedicate the time required for such a large community like Game Development, where I am currently serving, because of my family and personal commitments. I cannot provide the effort necessary to accelerate Game Development. For this reason, I feel a personal sense of regret that I am not doing justice to this position. That is why I am resigning from here,” Ishtiaque told Cricbuzz.Sadeque was elected as a BCB director from the Dhaka Clubs category in October last year. He secured the highest number of votes in his category, which made his sudden resignation even more surprising. His timing raised questions, as it came on the same day Bangladesh lost their World Cup spot.However, Sadeque denied that his decision had anything to do with internal disputes or the ICC issue.“The claim that I am leaving because of any misunderstanding, relationship issues with anyone on this board, or due to any hurt feelings or grievances, is completely false. Everyone who was with me tried their best in their own way,” he said.He also backed his successor and said he would continue to support Bangladesh cricket from outside the board.“I believe that whoever succeeds me in Game Development will be able to take Bangladesh’s cricket forward. They have my full support. Even though I will no longer be on the board-I mean, they will have my complete support. Thank you very much,” he added.Earlier in the day, the ICC announced that Bangladesh had been replaced by Scotland for the T20 World Cup 2026. The decision followed Bangladesh’s refusal to play their scheduled matches in India. The BCB had demanded a shift to Sri Lanka, citing security concerns.The ICC said independent security reviews found no real threat in India and ruled out any schedule change. With no agreement reached after weeks of talks, the ICC chose to move ahead and bring in Scotland based on rankings.Scotland will now compete in Group C alongside England, West Indies, Italy and Nepal, starting their campaign on February 7 in Kolkata.