The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced its nominees for the Men’s Player of the Month award for June 2025, with South Africa’s Aiden Markram and Kagiso Rabada alongside Sri Lanka’s Pathum Nissanka making the shortlist. The trio delivered standout performances in Test cricket, each playing important roles in their teams’ successes last month.
The Nominees:
Aiden Markram (South Africa) Markram was instrumental in South Africa’s historic ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final victory over Australia at Lord’s. After a duck in the first innings, he turned the game with his part time off spin, dismissing Steve Smith and Josh Hazlewood. But it was his batting that sealed the deal, a majestic 136 in the chase of 282, guiding South Africa to their first ICC men’s trophy in 27 years.
“After South Africa had conceded a lead of 74, they fought back with the ball… Markram stood tall, first with the ball, removing Hazlewood, and then with the willow,” recounted the ICC report.
His partnership with Temba Bavuma was crucial, with Markram assuring his skipper in the dressing room before their stand steered the Proteas to victory.
Kagiso Rabada (South Africa) Rabada’s fast bowling destroyed Australia in the WTC Final. He took nine wickets in the match, including five in the first innings. This put him ahead of South African great Allan Donald in total Test wickets (336). His early breakthroughs, like getting Usman Khawaja and Cameron Green out quickly, kept South Africa in the game, even after their poor first innings.
“Rabada’s 33.4 overs yielded merely 110 runs, while the pacer ran through the Australian batting more than once,” noted the ICC. His ability to strike on a challenging Lord’s pitch underscored his status as one of the world’s premier fast bowlers.
Pathum Nissanka (Sri Lanka) Nissanka shone in Sri Lanka’s Test series against Bangladesh, scoring back to back centuries. His career-best 187 in Galle, laden with 24 boundaries, helped Sri Lanka recover from conceding 495 runs. He followed it up with 158 in the second Test, anchoring Sri Lanka’s innings victory.
“Nissanka’s twin centuries showcased his ability to dominate quality bowling attacks and anchor the innings under pressure,” highlighted the ICC. His performances marked a strong start to Sri Lanka’s new WTC cycle.
How the Winner is Chosen
The ICC’s selection process blends expert opinion (90% weight) and fan votes (10%). A Voting Academy comprising former players, journalists, and broadcasters—like Lisa Sthalekar (Australia) and Sana Mir (Pakistan), decides the winner, with fan input via online voting. The result will be announced mid July.
Fans can vote for their pick on the ICC website, with the winner set to be revealed soon.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has appointed Sanjog Gupta, a senior figure in Indian sports broadcasting, as its new Chief Executive Officer. Gupta steps into the role vacated by Geoff Allardice, who stepped down in January after a four-year tenure.
Previously serving as CEO of Sports and Live Experiences at JioStar – one of India’s primary cricket broadcasters – Gupta brings with him a wealth of experience in media strategy and sports commercialisation.
ICC Chairman Jay Shah welcomed the appointment, noting: “Sanjog brings a deep understanding of sports strategy and commercial growth, which will prove vital to the ICC’s ambitions.”
The global search for the position reportedly attracted over 2,500 applications from across 25 countries, underlining the growing prestige of the role.
In a statement, Gupta highlighted the sport’s evolving landscape and the momentum it is currently enjoying. He also referenced the sport’s upcoming Olympic debut. “Cricket’s inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, alongside rapid advances in technology and its adoption, presents powerful opportunities to amplify the global cricket movement.”
Gupta becomes the ICC’s seventh chief executive and takes over at a pivotal moment as the governing body looks to capitalise on the game’s increasing international reach and commercial potential.
The All England Club (AELTC) wants to build 39 tennis courts on the former site of Wimbledon Park Golf Club
Land approved for the expansion of the Wimbledon tennis site is legally protected from being built on, the High Court has heard.
Campaign group Save Wimbledon Park (SWP) has taken legal action against the Greater London Authority (GLA) over its decision last year to allow the All England Club to almost triple the size of its site.
SWP said the proposal, for 38 courts and an 8,000-seat stadium on the former Wimbledon Park Golf Club in west London, was unlawful.
But the GLA and All England Club dispute the restrictions exist.
Lawyers for SWP told the High Court on Tuesday that Wimbledon Park – a Grade II*-listed heritage site partly designed by Lancelot “Capability” Brown – was covered by restrictions on how it could be used.
They have asked a judge to quash the original decision to approve the development and order it to be sent back to the authority for reconsideration.
PA Media
SWP campaigners gathered outside the High Court to oppose the plans
Sasha White KC, for SWP, told the court that the plans involved a “remarkably large area of land” which was the equivalent of 50 football pitches, which would see Wimbledon’s 41 tennis courts increased to 80.
He added that it was the All England Club to justify the proposal, and there was a high burden of proof.
The plans were first submitted to both Merton and Wandsworth councils – the park straddles the boroughs – in 2021, after the All England Club bought out golf club members with the intention of developing the land.
In addition to the courts and associated infrastructure, seven maintenance buildings, access points, and an area of parkland with permissive public access would be included.
Simon Wright
The site on Wimbledon Park is a Grade II* Heritage Landscape, registered park and garden
The plans also include work on Wimbledon Lake, which would involve building a boardwalk around and across it.
When Merton Council approved the plans but Wandsworth Council rejected them, the mayor of London’s office took charge.
Sir Sadiq Khan then recused himself from the process in 2023, having previously expressed public support for the development.
Planning permission was granted last year by the city’s deputy mayor for planning, who said the proposal’s benefits “clearly outweigh the harm”.
In written submissions, Mr White said the All England Club acquired the freehold for the golf course in 1993 and the leasehold in 2021.
But he said that the land was subject to a statutory trust requiring it to be kept available for public recreation use and that when the freehold was acquired, the club entered into restrictive covenants governing its use.
“The covenants maintain the openness of the golf course land; prevent development and restrict its use so as not to impair the appreciation of the general public of the extent or openness of the golf course land.”
Mr White said separate High Court proceedings were ongoing over whether a statutory trust existed.
He said that the GLA “failed properly to consider” the potential implications that the trust and covenants could have on the proposals, an error which undermined its decision and meant it should be quashed.
Mark Westmoreland Smith KC, for the GLA, said the decision was a “planning judgment properly exercised”.
And Russell Harris KC, for the All England Club, said planning officers acknowledged and had regard to the trust and covenants, but deemed they were not material.
He said the GLA could lawfully grant planning permission “even if the development is incompatible with a different, non-planning restriction on the use of the land”.
Dozens of campaigners attended Tuesday’s hearing before Mr Justice Saini, which is due to conclude on Wednesday.
A judgment is expected in writing at a later date.
The Liverpool player is believed to have been driving at high speed when he and his brother Andre Silva died last week, according to Spanish police.
Liverpool and Portugal star Diogo Jota was likely speeding when his car veered off a motorway in Spain last week, killing him and his brother, Spanish police said.
The shock deaths of Jota, 28, and Andre Silva, 25, on July 3 plunged the football world into mourning, less than two weeks after the striker had gotten married.
An ongoing investigation is examining “the marks left by one of the vehicle’s wheels … everything points to a possible excessive speed beyond the road’s speed limit”, the Civil Guard said on Tuesday.
“All the tests conducted so far indicate that the driver of the vehicle was Diogo Jota,” it added.
The force had previously said a tyre had probably blown out while the vehicle was overtaking, causing it to crash and burst into flames in the northwestern province of Zamora.
Just hours before the accident, Jota had posted a video of his June 22 wedding to partner Rute Cardoso, with whom he had three children.
The deaths sparked an outpouring of grief, particularly in the brothers’ native Portugal and at Jota’s Premier League club Liverpool.
Political leaders as well as star players from Portugal and Liverpool joined family and friends at the funeral on Saturday in the Porto suburb of Gondomar.
Following spells at Atletico Madrid, Porto and Wolverhampton Wanderers, Jota became a fan favourite at Liverpool after joining the Premier League giants in 2020.
He netted 65 times for the Reds in five seasons, lifting the League Cup and FA Cup in 2021-22 and helping them win a record-equalling 20th English league title last season.
The striker also earned 49 caps for Portugal and was part of the team that won this year’s UEFA Nations League.
Younger brother Andre played in midfield for FC Penafiel in Portugal’s second tier.
Debris is pictured along the A-52 motorway at the crash site where Liverpool forward Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva died in a car crash near Cernadilla, Zamora, Spain, July 3, 2025 [Cesar Manso/AFP]
The second day of the tournament served up a series of engaging contests, with 39 tries scored over the course of the four matches – and 14 of those coming in the Western Cape derby.
Valke wing Dihan Crause scored a brace in the first fixture of the day, as the East Randers fought back from an early deficit to go to half-time with a 19-12 lead. The Leopards had the final say, though, with No 8 Tiaan Koen crashing over the tryline in the 69th minute to secure a valuable 29-29 draw for his side.
The game between Border and Suzuki Griquas was in the balance, before the boys from the Eastern Cape raced clear after the break. Griquas’ discipline cost them in the second stanza, and Border took full advantage, scoring six tries in all.
Eastern Province went toe to toe with the Sharks in a fiercely contested first half, but struggled to live with the KwaZulu-Natalians in the latter stages of the game.
Sharks fullback Zekhethelo Siyaya – who represented SA Schools in 2024 – scored a long-range try after half-time, and finished with a tally of 10 points, while replacement back Nathan Aneke grabbed a brace to boost his side to an emphatic 41-10 win.
In the final match of the day, WP – who finished last year’s tournament unbeaten – got their campaign off to an explosive start when they thrashed Boland 80-18 in the Western Cape derby.
No 8 Quintin Potgieter scored a hat-trick for Province, while flyhalf Ethan van Biljon contributed 15 points to the cause.
The FNB U18 Craven Week will continue at Hoërskool Middelburg on Wednesday, with the Limpopo Blue Bulls taking on the Griffons in the first fixture. The Obaro Golden Lions and South Western Districts, who claimed impressive wins against the Blue Bulls and Free State respectively on day one, will meet in the final clash of the day.
FNB U18 Craven Week day two results (Tuesday, 8 July): Leopards 29 (12) v Valke 29 (19) Border 36 (17) v Suzuki Griquas 17 (10) Sharks High Schools 41 (13) Eastern Province 10 (3) DHL Western Province 80 (40) Sanlam Boland 18 (6)
FNB U18 Craven Week day three fixtures results (Wednesday, 9 July): 10h00: Limpopo Blue Bulls v Griffons 11h30: DHL Western Province XV v Hollywood Foundation Pumas 13h00: Free State v Blue Bulls 14h30: Obaro Golden Lions v SWD
The Leopards and Valke drew in the opening game on day two.
Arsenal are aiming to sign attacking reinforcements with Noni Madueke, Eberechi Eze, Rodrygo and Viktor Gyokeres all transfer targets. Sky Sports News’ Lyall Thomas provides the latest…
Why are Arsenal interested in Madueke?
Arsenal have been looking for a left-winger who can also play on the right and they believe Noni Madueke fits that profile.
There are understandable concerns among fans given Madueke’s preferred side is the right which, of course, is where Bukayo Saka plays.
Madueke only played seven times on the left for Chelsea last season, compared to 33 games on the right, although Enzo Maresca used him on that side in four of their last five Premier League games.
Image: Chelsea winger Noni Madueke is wanted by Arsenal
What about Rodrygo?
Real Madrid forward Rodrygo is the other top target Arsenal have for that position. It appears unlikely they are going to sign both players, but it is unclear at this stage which deal the club are prioritising.
Rodrygo would certainly be the more exciting signing given his profile and pedigree, being a two-time Champions League winner.
Reports in Spain indicate he is valued at around £69m (€80m) which is likely to be a lot more than Chelsea demand for Madueke.
Rodrygo’s future at Real Madrid is up in the air under new boss Xabi Alonso, who has given him a limited role at the Club World Cup. The Brazil forward has not started a match since their opener against Al Hilal.
The 24-year-old has become known for being a right-winger at Real Madrid, but his preferred position is on the left, which would suit Arsenal’s needs.
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Would Arsenal still want Eze if they sign Gyokeres or Rodrygo?
Sky Sports News has been told Arsenal’s pursuit of Eberechi Eze, if they decide to formalise their interest, is independent of their other attacking targets. That is an exciting prospect for Arsenal fans.
Thus far, there has been no contact with Crystal Palace for Eze, who has a release clause of £60m that could rise with add-ons.
Arsenal view Eze as a No 10 who has a different profile to their captain Martin Odegaard. The England playmaker is seen as a direct option who can deliver goals from that position whereas Odegaard is a player who excels at creating for others.
Eze scored 14 goals compared to Odegaard’s six last season across all competitions.
But could Spurs win for the race for Eze?
Image: Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze
Spurs have also expressed an interest in Eze this summer, but as it stands their focus is on other targets as they pursue a deal for Mohammed Kudus at West Ham.
The release clause ensures there will be no bidding war for Eze. The key aspect of this deal will be convincing the player of the project. Sky Sports News understands Eze is open to joining Arsenal.
The 27-year-old has ambitions of playing in the Champions League which likely narrows Arsenal’s potential competition to just four other teams. There is no certainty, however, that Eze will leave Crystal Palace.
The incentive of a season in Europe with Palace, dependent on UEFA’s judgment, is a strong argument the south London club can make to try and convince their star man to stay for another season.
With two years left on his deal, though, this might be the last summer Palace can insist interested clubs pay his release clause in full.
What would these signings mean for Trossard and Martinelli?
If Arsenal were to sign Gyokeres, Eze and one of Madueke or Rodrygo then there would certainly be a lot of competition for places at the Emirates and a big outlay on arrivals.
The need for strength in depth was made clear to Mikel Arteta and Arsenal last season when injuries derailed their season, but this number of new signings would likely leave one of Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli with a very diminished role.
Oleksandr Zinchenko faces an uncertain future and according to Sky in Italy, is of interest to AC Milan as a replacement for Theo Hernandez.
It is one to keep an eye on, though it will likely be dependent on how Arsenal get on with the rest of their business. There has already been noise about their potential exits, but it is nothing concrete at this stage.
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Where do Arsenal stand with PSR?
Arsenal have plenty of room for manoeuvre in terms of the Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) this summer but if they get all of those signings over the line there may well be a desire to make some sales to balance the books a bit.
As with all clubs, Arsenal are conscious of staying in line with the financial rules.
Sky Sports to show 215 live Premier League games from next season
From next season, Sky Sports’ Premier League coverage will increase from 128 matches to at least 215 games exclusively live.
And 80 per cent of all televised Premier League games next season are on Sky Sports.
The ITA reports that athlete Imam Khataev was sanctioned with a two-year period of ineligibility after testing positive for Clomifene and its metabolites following an out-of-competition doping control on 9 April 2024.
Clomifene is prohibited under the WADA Prohibited List as S4 Hormone and Metabolic Modulators. It is prohibited at all times (in- and out-of-competition) and is classified as a specified substance. Clomifene can be used by athletes to increase testosterone levels.
The sanction was issued by the ITA on behalf of the IBA in accordance with article 8.3.3 of the IBA anti-doping rules (and equivalent provision in the World Anti-Doping Code).¹ The period of ineligibility is effective from 26 June 2025 until 25 June 2027 and the athlete’s results have been disqualified from 9 April 2024 onwards.
Parties with a right of appeal may challenge the decision before the appeals division of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in accordance with article 13.2 of the IBA anti-doping rules.
The 10th event of the LIV Golf League season gets started this week at LIV Golf Andalucia. Serving as the host course for the third consecutive season is iconic Real Club Valderrama.
RELATED: Power Rankings | Fantasy Preview | Play LIV Golf Fantasy
Here is who our experts (in alphabetical order) like this week in Andalucia.
JASON CROOK, SENIOR DIGITAL CONTENT MANAGER
INDIVIDUAL
Bryson DeChambeau – The Crushers have been on a tear with three straight team victories, and their captain Bryson DeChambeau has been leading by example – it’s no accident he currently resides in second place in the season-long individual standings. He broke a string of four consecutive top-five LIV Golf finishes in Dallas, but even there he made a Sunday charge with a with a 4-under 68 to finish just two strokes out of a playoff, eventually won by Patrick Reed. He also has a solid track record at Valderrama, finishing 9th last year and 2nd in 2023, so expect to see more brilliance out of DeChambeau this weekend in Spain.
TEAM
4Aces GC – The 4Aces have flown under the radar this season, but they quietly sit fourth in the season-long team standings as they enter LIV Golf Andalucia fresh off back-to-back runner-up finishes. Patrick Reed is the obvious current headliner for the 4Aces, looking for his second straight LIV Golf individual victory with an eye on a Ryder Cup captain’s pick – it also doesn’t hurt that he finished T4 at Valderrama in 2024 and T5 in 2023. But captain Dustin Johnson , Harold Varner III and Thomas Pieters have all shown some form recently that should lead to this team’s fifth podium finish of 2025, or possibly their first victory since 2023.
MIKE MCALLISTER, DIRECTOR, EDITORIAL
INDIVIDUAL
Patrick Reed – No LIV Golf player has a better average finish the last two years at Valderrama than Patrick Reed, who was T4 last year and T5 in 2023. The course sets up well for his game, and he’s obviously in form after the win in Dallas. He could join Talor Gooch as the only players to win consecutive individual LIV Golf titles.
TEAM
Crushers GC – Speaking of winning streaks … the Crushers has won three straight and now come to a course that probably owes them one. In 2023, they shared the second-round team lead but had a rare Sunday stumble and finished third. Last year, they lost in a playoff to the Fireballs. Four straight wins doesn’t seem unlikely this week.
BRYAN MULLEN, DIGITAL PRODUCER
INDIVIDUAL
Tyrrell Hatton – Tyrrell Hatton finished solo third at LIV Golf Andalucia last season and his game is primed for another high finish. The Legion XIII star was in position to win at LIV Golf Dallas two weeks ago before falling in a playoff. His major championship juices are also flowing with The Open taking place next week, and his memories of a stellar T4 finish recently at the U.S. Open are still fresh.
TEAM
Legion XIII – Jon Rahm’s team is coming off a third-place showing in Dallas and is the only team to notch points in every event this season. They enter this week No. 2 in the season-long team standings, a mere 5.34 points behind leader Crushers GC. Legion has five top-3 finishes in 2025 and two team victories.
MATT VINCENZI, SENIOR WRITER
INDIVIDUAL
Louis Oosthuizen – This season, Louis Oosthuizen ‘s three best finishes have come outside of the United States. The Stinger GC captain has always played his best golf as evidenced by his 10 DP World Tour wins and Open Championship victory. Oosthuizen may not be able to keep up with some of LIV Golf’s big hitters on tracks that favor distance over accuracy, but Valderrama will be a test of strategy and precision, which is where Oosthuizen can shine.
TEAM
Stinger GC – Stinger GC is winless this season, but I believe this could be the week they break through. Louis Oosthuizen had his best start of the season in Dallas and may now be the best LIV Golf player without a win after Patrick Reed’s victory. Dean Burmester is coming into the week confident with a medalist finish at The Open Championship qualifier and Branden Grace has quietly strung together three solid performances in a row.
All the evidence so far suggests Portuguese footballer Diogo Jota was driving when his car crashed on a Spanish motorway, and he was likely speeding, say police.
The 28-year-old Liverpool player was killed with his brother André Silva, 25, when their Lamborghini car had a suspected tyre blowout in northwestern Zamora province early last Thursday.
Spain’s Guardia Civil police force said at the time the car had apparently been overtaking on the A52 motorway near Palacios de Sanabria when it left the road and burst into flames.
“Everything also points to a possible excessive speed beyond the speed limit of the road [highway],” said Zamora’s local traffic police.
Police said they had studied the marks left by one of the Lamborghini’s tyres and that “all the tests carried out so far indicate that the driver of the crashed vehicle was Diogo Jota”.
The expert report is being prepared for the courts on the accident, and their investigation is understood to have been made more complex by the intensity of the fire that almost completely destroyed the car.
The accident happened 11 days after Jota had married his long-term partner Rute Cardoso in Portugal. The couple had three children.
The brothers had been heading to the Spanish port of Santander so Jota could return to Liverpool for pre-season training.
Their funeral took place in their hometown of Gondomar, near Porto at the weekend.
Tyre marks were reportedly visible about 100m (330ft) from the moment of impact.
Although there had been suggestions that the asphalt on the road was uneven where the crash took place, police told Spanish media it was not an accident “black spot” and the road should have been driveable beyond the speed limit of 120km/h (75mph).
LAUSANNE (Switzerland) – More than 250 intentional coaches received an instructional breakdown of the AI-driven technology system GeniusIQ during a three-day Coaches Clinic at the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2025.
International coaches were shown in the presentation how AI can simplify complex data, help coaches make informed decisions, and improve player development.
GeniusIQ utilizes the Dragon system – a fully automated optical tracking solution – using 12 strategically placed iPhones to capture every movement.
GeniusIQ powers a suite of coaching tools through the Performance Studio and Scouting Software. For team and opponent scouting, it identifies tendencies, spacing, and weaknesses through play-by-play tracking and filters.
Coaches can optimize performance breakdowns with metrics like player speed, spacing efficiency, defensive rotations, ball movement, and effort zones. GeniusIQ can also help with tactical mapping – allowing coaches to visualize set plays, defensive coverages, and spacing patterns with synced video and data overlays.
GeniusIQ’s platform also allows for custom views with data dashboards tailored to each coach, team or league’s specific needs.
The session at the U19 World Cup received excellent feedback, with many coaches recognizing the shift toward tech-enhanced coaching as essential to the sport’s evolution.
“
I think it is the next step for the basketball world.
Julien Vonovier – Switzerland U19 Coach
“I think for scouting, for analyzing your team, it’s the best. There are so many details. It’s crazy. I didn’t know that you could analyze all of this stuff.”
Vonovier continued: “The more and more you’re going to use it, the more and more you will learn stuff from it, and you can change the world of basketball.”
When asked what type of insights he could generate from the new technology, Vonovier said: “It can be everything, from player selection to decisions on playing time, and can be for shot takers. It can be for a lot of things – playing time, playing, strategies, tactics. I think it can help for everything.”
Coaches can optimize performance breakdowns with metrics like player speed, spacing efficiency, defensive rotations, ball movement and effort zones with the GeniusIQ Performance Studio and Scouting Software.
Coaches can optimize performance breakdowns with metrics like player speed, spacing efficiency, defensive rotations, ball movement and effort zones with the GeniusIQ Performance Studio and Scouting Software.
Coaches can optimize performance breakdowns with metrics like player speed, spacing efficiency, defensive rotations, ball movement and effort zones with the GeniusIQ Performance Studio and Scouting Software.
Miki Fuentes, who is the Assistant Coach for Basquet Girona in Spain, praised the platform for its completeness and versatility, highlighting its value across the entire basketball ecosystem.
“
This is the most complete platform.
Miki Fuentes – Basquet Girona Assistant Coach
“It’s not just a platform that can be used by the coaches but also for opposing teams and scouts. It is a platform that can be used by all the members of the basketball staff.”
“This will make daily analysis much easier. The integration of stats with game video goes beyond basic boxscore data – it dives deeper into elements like pick-and-roll actions and provides real-time insights, both during and after the game.”
In Lausanne, coaches have had a firsthand look at how AI-driven tools like GeniusIQ’s Performance Studio can elevate their game. With real-time access to tactical, physical, and technical insights, this platform is set to reshape coaching and competitive strategy in the near future.
FIBA
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