Former India cricketer Atul Wassan has weighed in on the ongoing standoff involving the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and the ICC, suggesting that Bangladesh should look to ease tensions with India rather than seek a relocation of its matches from India ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026. Speaking to ANI, Wassan said the appointment of Litton Das as Bangladesh captain could be used as a bridge-building opportunity between the two countries. He argued that shifting matches at such a late stage would pose serious logistical challenges for the ICC and maintained that India is capable of providing robust security for visiting teams.

“It is a logistical nightmare for the ICC. The preparations for the T20 World Cup have been going on for so long, and it is not possible to do so with the tournament so close now. I don’t think there will be any security issues in India. We have foolproof security and safety measures in place here,” Wassan said. He added, “Your captain is a Hindu, and I think Bangladesh should use the tournament as an olive branch and assuage the ongoing tensions.” On Wednesday, the ICC confirmed that the T20 World Cup 2026 would go ahead as scheduled, with Bangladesh’s matches remaining in India. The decision followed an ICC Board meeting held via video conference, which was convened after the BCB requested that its fixtures be moved to Sri Lanka citing security concerns. Wassan said Bangladesh’s position does not align with the ICC’s stance and described the request as impractical at short notice. “You cannot just wake up one day and write a letter asking for your matches to be shifted. Things don’t move in this manner,” he said. “The ICC must have told them to either get in line or get out, and I think the BCB knows it.” Despite the ICC’s ruling, BCB president Aminul Islam Bulbul reiterated on Thursday that the board remains firm on its decision not to play its World Cup matches in India. The Men’s T20 World Cup is scheduled to begin on February 7, with India and Sri Lanka serving as co-hosts.

South Africa have made changes to their T20 World Cup squad, with Ryan Rickelton and Tristan Stubbs called up to replace the injured Tony de Zorzi and Donovan Ferreira. De Zorzi, who suffered a right hamstring tear during South Africa’s India tour late last year, has not progressed as expected in his recovery and will miss both the upcoming three-match T20I series against the West Indies and the World Cup. Ferreira, meanwhile, fractured his left clavicle during the SA20 clash between Joburg Super Kings and Pretoria Capitals on January 17.

“De Zorzi has not progressed as expected in his rehabilitation from a right hamstring muscle tear sustained during the One-Day International series against India last month and will not be fit in time for the upcoming T20I series,” Cricket South Africa confirmed on X. “Due to his unavailability for the series and the need for continued rehabilitation, he will miss the T20 World Cup. Ferreira, meanwhile, sustained a fracture of his left clavicle during the SA20 encounter between Joburg Super Kings and Pretoria Capitals on 17 January. Ryan Rickelton and Tristan Stubbs have been named as their replacements in the 15-player squad,” the board added. David Miller is also a concern after suffering an adductor muscle injury on January 19 while playing for Paarl Royals in the SA20. Miller will miss the T20I series against the West Indies, with Rubin Hermann called up as his replacement, though his participation in the World Cup will depend on a fitness test ahead of the tournament. With these injury setbacks, South Africa will be hoping their replacements step up ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup.

New Delhi: Last week, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) floated a Request for Proposal (RFP) tender looking for a broadcast partner for the 2025-26 Indian Super League (ISL) season. This was the second time in six months that the AIFF had issued such a document as the first version, released in October 2025, demanded an annual minimum guarantee of Rs 37.5 crore. For a variety of reasons, that didn’t find any takers.Ever since, Indian football is in a free fall.

AIFF’s deal with Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL), which had started the ISL in 2014, expired on December 8, 2025. Between AIFF Constitutional changes, court visits, lack of commercial partners and eventual intervention by the Sports Ministry, ISL has taken a massive hit to its credibility, even if it now has a start date in February 14.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The fixtures for ISL 2025-26, which have been tucked away in the draft folder for days due to home venues being in shambles, add to the challenge for any prospective broadcast bidder(s).With 91 matches to be played in the upcoming truncated season in a single leg home-and-away format, this race against time only gets trickier with each passing day. The fact that AIFF have not officially appointed an agency to oversee the broadcast bids process doesn’t bode well either.In 2021, the BCCI brought in audit, tax and financial advisory consultants KPMG to advise them on the media rights sale for the IPL. The objective was clear: earn ‘top dollar.’ It resulted in media rights for the IPL going at Rs 48,390.32 crore over five years – a 100 percent jump in value per match.AIFF, which has hardly showcased its competence in the past few months, is alone in this regard. Before FSDL stepped away, the ISL had a broadcast deal worth Rs 550 crore over two seasons with games showcased on linear TV and OTT. At first, ISL matches were broadcast on the Star Sports Network before moving to the Viacom18-owned Sports18/JioCinema.The Rs 275 crore-a-year deal was reportedly a 37.5 percent increase on what Star India, who had a majority stake in the ISL, had been paying in the first 10 years of the competition.This Rs 275 crore funded things such as match production, league marketing, revenue for the clubs and fixed payments to the federation. Despite this, FSDL posted losses of Rs 14.34 crore in FY23, Rs 46.3 crore in FY22, Rs 13.7 crore in FY21 and Rs 27 crore in FY20. The league only turned profitable when operations were scaled down, posting a net profit of Rs 45.2 crore in FY24.

AIFF have no bargaining power

Now, in this post-FSDL era, AIFF and, by extension, the ISL clubs have little room to negotiate with any potential bidders. With the ISL set to be played in multiple cities, it adds to the costs involved with only Rs 9.77 crore budgeted for Production and Transmission. In the past, it hovered around Rs 70 crores.It means the quality output of the broadcast will be lower. Instead of multi-camera setups in different parts of the ground, one can expect 3-4 cameras, similar to the I-League coverage where equipment is placed at a high vantage point, behind the goal and near the half-way line.An ISL club official, who spoke to TimesofIndia.com on the condition of anonymity, said that organising the league in multiple cities could dissuade potential bidders. He also reminded that options are limited anyway, as February-March is also the period for the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, which JioStar will broadcast.The logic is simple: higher viewership means higher sponsorship for clubs and with an inferior product, that Rs 5-6 crore piece of the puzzle is going to take a hit. All clubs are braced for another year of red in their balance sheet. Even though many will cut costs operationally and have reduced player wages, the losses are expected to be three times the normal in the absence of commercial revenue.

Time for recalibration

Like other aspects of the ISL including franchise fees and player salaries, the broadcast rights value also needs to be recalibrated for a healthier future. While this upcoming season can largely be logged as a stop-gap solution-finding exercise, the exercise towards an economically viable product needs to begin now. As ICC and BCCI have found out, mindless pricing of broadcast deals will drive away smaller players in the streaming space. And unlike sports like cricket and kabaddi – whose audience still consumes coverage on linear TV – football’s young viewership exists on OTT.Subsequently, if players stay away due to pricing, it will further dwindle AIFF’s options. Among the major broadcast players – on linear TV and digital – there are few options outside of JioStar and Sony Sports Network.

What does the current RFP say?

AIFF’s RFP for media rights of the ISL is a 39-page document that lays down the detailed eligibility framework for prospective bidders and specifies the timelines for bids to be submitted, examined and assessed.As per the schedule, the AIFF has fixed January 23 for a pre-bid meeting with interested parties, while any written queries or requests for clarification may be addressed by up to January 27.Bids must be submitted no later than 5:00 pm IST on February 1, with each submission accompanied by a security deposit of Rs. 5 lakh.Eligibility conditions require bidders to be broadcasters or internet operators with a minimum of three years’ operational experience.

In addition, bidders must have recorded a net worth of at least Rs. 10 crore in the most recent financial year (2024–25) and an average annual revenue of no less than Rs. 10 crore across the last three completed financial years — 2022–23, 2023–24 and 2024–25.In the case of consortium bids, a maximum of three entities may come together under a special purpose vehicle (SPV). One member must be designated as the ‘Lead member’ and hold at least a 51 percent equity stake in the SPV’s paid-up and subscribed share capital.Each bid will be evaluated in two components — Technical and Financial — carrying weightages of 70 percent and 30 percent respectively. The bidder securing the highest overall score will be awarded the rights for the forthcoming season.

NEW DELHI: Former India cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin believes captain Suryakumar Yadav’s 22-ball 32 in the opening T20I against New Zealand helped take the “monkey off his back” after a prolonged lean patch. Ashwin pointed out that Suryakumar had been under scrutiny due to his form, having averaged just over 13 across his previous 21 innings, but said the Indian skipper “looked in his element” during his brief yet impactful knock that included four boundaries and a six.India extended their strong run with a convincing 48-run victory over New Zealand to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. The hosts piled up a formidable 238 for seven, driven by Abhishek Sharma’s explosive 84 off 35 balls and a finishing flourish from Rinku Singh, who remained unbeaten on 44 off 20 deliveries. In reply, New Zealand were powered by Glenn Phillips’ 78 off 39 balls and Mark Chapman’s 39 off 24, but the Indian bowling unit kept things under control to restrict the visitors to 190 for seven.

Speaking on his YouTube channel Ash ki Baat, Ashwin felt Suryakumar could easily have pushed for a half-century but instead stayed true to the team’s attacking philosophy, calling the innings a “big positive”.“It is a monkey off the back. A lot of people were talking about Suryakumar’s batting and his form and all of that. In all honesty, in T20 cricket, you don’t have to aim for consistency. What I liked was that he got those runs; he looked in good touch today. If a batter wants to look to get runs, they would have looked to get a fifty. But Surya did not do that. This team has a theme, they will look to keep scoring and hitting. He looked in his element. He looked good and this is a big positive for him.”The innings marked only the third time Suryakumar crossed the 30-run mark in his last 20 outings.Ashwin also suggested that the current combination could be India’s blueprint for the upcoming T20 World Cup, stressing that Arshdeep Singh should not be rotated, calling him a “marquee bowler who cannot be left out”.“Maybe there will surely be a conversation to bring in a bowler, seeing how (Shivam) Dube’s bowling goes. But he got three overs today. So they are backing his bowling, and I think there are conversations around him bowling. This is probably the combination,” he added.Reflecting on Kuldeep Yadav missing the first T20I after a difficult ODI series, Ashwin termed it a “break to reflect upon”.“But I am a big fan (of Kuldeep). You will have to get strong as a pack in T20 cricket and address the strengths somewhere else. If you do not have Jasprit Bumrah or someone else, then you have to address with a bit of batting depth. But in this team, you are getting runs in the powerplay, Hardik (Pandya) is scoring, you have seven bowling options. I would like to play Bumrah, Arshdeep (Singh), Varun (Chakravarthy), and Kuldeep. But if it is like today, then it is absolutely fine,” he said.In the match, New Zealand opted to field first. Alongside Abhishek and Rinku, valuable contributions from Suryakumar (32 off 22) and Hardik Pandya (25 off 16) powered India to 238 for seven. Jacob Duffy (2/27) and Kyle Jamieson (2/54) were the standout bowlers for the visitors.New Zealand slumped to 52 for three during the chase before a 79-run stand between Phillips and Chapman revived hopes. However, disciplined spells from Varun Chakravarthy (2/37) and Arshdeep Singh (1/31) ensured India sealed a comfortable win and an early advantage in the series.

NEW DELHI: As he begins his journey into yet another Olympic cycle, has Neeraj Chopra’s celebrated tryst with foreign coaches come to an end? The new year began with an unexpected announcement for the Indian athletics community, with Chopra deciding to end his short yet fruitful partnership with Czech legend Jan Zelezny, which began in Nov 2024, and instead chose familiarity over form. Childhood coach Jaiveer Singh Chaudhary has returned to his training circle to guide him through his forthcoming season, it was announced.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Chopra’s decision indicated that he would work with an allIndian coaching setup going forward, primarily taking greater control of his playing and professional career. TOI has even learnt that Chopra will no longer look for a foreign expert — something that was felt so vital for his development and domination, till not so long ago — and that the 28-year-old Olympic and world champion’s career will henceforth be managed by Indian coaches. On Wednesday, Athletics Federation of India’s (AFI) selection committee chairman Adille Sumariwalla told TOI that Chopra will begin his season training with Chaudhary and long-time physio Ishaan Marwaha by his side.

“Chopra requested that Chaudhary be attached with him. He was his coach when he began his javelin journey. Chopra said he wasn’t looking to be coached by a foreign expert,” Sumariwalla said.Having been attached as Chopra’s physio since early 2017 when the two were managed by JSW Sports, Marwaha has even joined Chopra in his new venture Vel Sports, an athlete management firm coowned by the javelin thrower.“Chopra understands his body well. He is a champion thrower and knows the requirements of a professional athlete. Having been guided by four foreign coaches on different occasions, Chopra doesn’t feel the need to be mentored by another expert,” the AFI official added.“All I can say is neither the AFI nor Chopra are looking at engaging a foreign coach anytime soon. There are no talks around it. He will be coached by Chaudhary going forward, and the two are already busy in off-season training. Chopra will have Chaudhary and Marwaha as part of his coaching staff,” he said.

Chopra could most likely begin his season with Doha Diamond League on May 8. He is currently training at his regular base in Potchefstroom, for a 32-day off-season camp, which will run until Feb 5.A source familiar with the development said this arrangement could work until the Asian Games in Japan, scheduled from Sept 19-Oct 4 this year, and possibly until the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028 if Chopra feels comfortable with the setup.Chopra was coached by three Indian and four foreign coaches in a stellar career. Being coached by relative Chaudharyat in Panipat, he was later trained by Naseem Ahmad as a 13-year-old from 2011 in Panchkula. Later, Chopra shifted his base to NIS Patiala as a national camper under Kashinath Naik.Later he trained under Australian Garry Calvert, Germans Uwe Hohn, Klaus Bartonietz and Jan Zelenzy of Czech Republic (see graphic).A possible reason behind Chopra and Zelezny parting ways, according to a well-placed source, was that the 59-year-old, in addition to coaching the Indian, was also fulfilling his duties as national coach with the Czech Athletics Federation. While Zelezny was accompanying Chopra to training trips and international assignments, the coach was apparently under pressure from the Czech athletics body to also report for national duties and camps. “It was getting difficult to work under such an arrangement,” a source said.

Abhishek Sharma once again stole the show as India outplayed New Zealand by 48 runs in the opening T20 International on Wednesday. The 25-year-old dynamo smashed a whirlwind 84 off just 35 deliveries, while Rinku Singh provided the finishing flourish with an unbeaten 44 from 20 balls, guiding India to a formidable 238 for 7. Chasing the target, New Zealand showed glimpses of resistance. Glenn Phillips, in particular, tore into the Indian attack with 78 off 40 balls, while Mark Chapman contributed 39 off 24. The pair stitched together a 79-run partnership in seven overs, injecting hope into the Black Caps’ chase. However, the mounting scoreboard pressure and India’s incisive bowling eventually proved too much, and New Zealand fell short at 190 for 7. Varun Chakravarthy picked up two crucial wickets (2/37), supported by early breakthroughs from Arshdeep Singh and Hardik Pandya.

Over the last year, India has looked nearly untouchable in T20s, and Abhishek has been at the heart of that dominance. Known for his aggressive, boundary-laden innings, he once again turned the Black Cap fielders into spectators, clearing the ropes eight times and hitting five fours. His fearless assault also allowed captain Suryakumar Yadav (32 off 22) to find his rhythm during a 99-run third-wicket stand, though the skipper remained short of his peak form. Abhishek needed just five balls to get his eye in against Jacob Duffy before unleashing his first six into the sight screen. Despite squandered starts from Sanju Samson (10) and Ishan Kishan (8), the young opener never looked back. His trademark bat speed, coupled with New Zealand’s lack of genuine pace, made scoring almost effortless. Even deliveries from fast bowlers Kristian Clarke and Kyle Jamieson, clocking early 130 kmph, were dispatched over the ropes with ease. Eventually, leg-spinner Ish Sodhi managed to remove Abhishek, but by then Rinku Singh was well set. The young right-hander made the most of the remaining deliveries, hammering Daryl Mitchell’s final over for 21 runs and ensuring India’s innings ended in spectacular fashion. India’s commanding total and clinical bowling performance set the tone, with Abhishek’s destructive hitting once again proving why he is India’s premier T20 weapon.

India vs New Zealand Live Score, 1st T20I: Hello and welcome to the live coverage of India vs New Zealand 1st T20I. India begin their T20I series against New Zealand with one eye firmly on the 2026 T20 World Cup, and much of the focus rests on captain Suryakumar Yadav. While his recent returns have sparked questions, Suryakumar remains unfazed. He insists the runs will arrive and that altering his natural game is not an option as the tournament draws closer.

Results have largely justified that confidence. India are widely regarded as the strongest T20I side in the world, having won 29 of their 36 matches since lifting the 2024 World Cup. Any disruption caused by top-order reshuffles earlier in the cycle has settled. Sanju Samson’s reunion with Abhishek Sharma restores a familiar opening combination, Ishan Kishan is set to bat at No.3 in the absence of the injured Tilak Varma, and Rinku Singh is expected to strengthen the lower middle order.

The first T20I in Nagpur offers India a chance to check their systems under pressure. The venue has traditionally favoured bowlers, with modest scores across 13 T20Is, and India themselves hold a 2-2 record there. It is also a ground where New Zealand inflicted one of India’s lowest moments, dismissing them for 79 in the 2016 World Cup.

New Zealand arrive with confidence of their own. They have recently enjoyed success against India across formats and will welcome back Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry and Mark Chapman from injury. Santner’s return as captain adds further stability as the visitors look to challenge India once more. Tim Robinson is set to open alongside Devon Conway, while the likes of Finn Allen, Tim Seifert, Lockie Ferguson and Adam Milne are expected later in the series.

The numbers underline the threat New Zealand pose. Matt Henry has taken more international wickets than any bowler since the start of 2023, while Jacob Duffy’s wicket tally in the current World Cup cycle places him among the leading performers. For India, Hardik Pandya’s explosive returns since his comeback and Varun Chakaravarthy’s wicket-taking form offer reassurance.

With both sides using the series as vital preparation, the opening contest in Nagpur is about more than just an early lead. It is a measure of readiness, clarity and confidence as the countdown to the World Cup gathers pace.

NEW DELHI: Royal Challengers Bengaluru women’s players Lauren Bell, Nadine de Klerk and Georgia Voll were seen taking a relaxed morning walk in Vadodara on Wednesday. The trio, accompanied by two security personnel, stepped out quietly but still caught the attention of fans in the city.The RCB players are in Vadodara for the WPL 2026 matches. Their casual outing turned into a pleasant surprise for locals.

Many fans recognised them and shared photos and short videos on social media. Watch:It offered a rare look at the players away from the cricket field, enjoying a calm moment before their busy match schedule.The sighting also brought attention back to player safety, especially after a disturbing incident involving Australian women cricketers in Indore last year. During the Women’s World Cup, two Australian players were reportedly stalked and touched inappropriately by a motorcyclist while walking to a café near their hotel. The incident caused outrage and raised serious concerns about security.Cricket Australia confirmed that the matter was immediately reported to local police. The accused, identified as Akil Khan, was arrested soon after. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) strongly condemned the incident.BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia addressed the issue and reassured players about safety in the country. “India is known for its hospitality and care. We have zero tolerance for such incidents. We appreciate the State Police (Madhya Pradesh) for their prompt action to nab the culprit. Let the law take its course to punish the culprit. We assure to revisit our safety protocols if required to further tighten the security,” he said.

NEW DELHI: Amid growing uncertainty over Bangladesh’s participation in the 2026 T20 World Cup, star batter Najmul Hossain Shanto has made it clear that the players want to feature in the ICC showpiece, even as the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) remains firm on its refusal to play matches in India. Shanto’s comments on Tuesday came a day before the ICC Board is set to meet and take a final call on the impasse.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Speaking to the media, Shanto said there had been no formal discussion within the Cricket Welfare Association of Bangladesh (CWAB) on the issue, but stressed that the desire among players to play the World Cup is unanimous.

“There wasn’t really an opportunity to talk about it,” Shanto said. “Those of us involved with CWAB have been very busy with matches. On top of that, something happened recently which affected the players mentally. It was a very tough time.”Underlining the magnitude of the tournament, Shanto described the World Cup as an opportunity that players cannot take lightly. “As cricketers, we always want to play. And when it’s an event like the World Cup, of course we want to be there. These tournaments don’t come often,” he said. “World Cups are rare. I see it as a big opportunity for us to play good cricket.”

While reiterating that the final call lies with the board, Shanto admitted the players have been kept largely in the dark. “I don’t really know what is happening internally, so it’s difficult for me to comment. But as players, we definitely want to play,” he said, adding that if the issues are resolved, “Inshallah it will be very good for the players to take part in the World Cup.”Earlier, Bangladesh T20 captain Litton Das echoed similar concerns, saying players had not been consulted or informed about the decision to not travel to India. “No, consent was not taken,” Litton said, adding that there had been no communication from the board.Bangladesh, backed by its government, has refused to play its group-stage matches in India citing security concerns and has asked the ICC to move the games to co-hosts Sri Lanka. Talks between the ICC and BCB, including a meeting in Dhaka last weekend, have failed to break the deadlock.According to an ESPNcricinfo report, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has written to the ICC supporting Bangladesh’s stance, citing political instability in the region, and has copied all ICC Board members on the correspondence. The ICC, however, has so far insisted that the tournament be held as scheduled.With the T20 World Cup set to begin on February 7 and Bangladesh’s four group matches slated for Kolkata and Mumbai, the ICC Board’s meeting on Wednesday is expected to be decisive.

NEW DELHI: Speculation around the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 has increased after reports claimed the Pakistan Cricket Board had stopped its preparations in support of Bangladesh. However, former Pakistan cricketers have dismissed these reports, calling them unrealistic and premature.Former wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal questioned the logic behind the claims.

Speaking on the Game Plan Show, he said, “I don’t think any cricket board would do this. I don’t think one team will also refuse to play just to show solidarity with another team. It makes no sense for us to join another team who are protesting? Can we handle the issue? It’s a sensitive issue.” Akmal stressed that there has been no official communication from the PCB or the government so far. “There is no official statement given. We should only react if the PCB or the government puts an official version out in the public domain,” he added.Former batter Basit Ali shared a similar view. He said the final decision will depend on the Pakistani government, not former players or media reports. Basit also pointed out that Pakistan pulling out of the tournament would be extremely unlikely, mainly because broadcasters would not support such a move. The India–Pakistan match, he noted, is one of the biggest revenue generators in world cricket.The reports originated after Pakistan publicly supported Bangladesh’s demand to shift its World Cup matches out of India due to security concerns. According to Geo News, discussions took place between officials from Dhaka and Islamabad, with PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi involved in the talks. Sources claimed Pakistan could review its participation if Bangladesh’s concerns remain unresolved.The situation began after franchise Kolkata Knight Riders released Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from IPL 2026. Since then, talks between the ICC and the BCB have failed to reach a solution. Bangladesh has refused to play its scheduled matches in Kolkata and Mumbai and has asked for a venue or group change to allow games in Sri Lanka.While Bangladesh insists India is unsafe, the ICC’s risk assessment has found no direct threat.