Category: 6. Sports

With the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) enjoying the support of major Test-playing nations like Sri Lanka and Afghanistan, there’s a high chance the Asian Cricket Council (ACC)
Annual General Meeting (AGM) scheduled for 24 and 25 July in Dhaka, Bangladesh, may not hold any legal value. The ACC meeting is expected to deliver a solution on the Asia Cup 2025 standoff.

There have been question marks over the future of the Asia Cup 2025 since the Pahalgam terror attack. Cricket fans in India have been demanding a boycott of all matches against Pakistan and it also led to the cancellation of the
India vs Pakistan match last week in the World Championship of Legends (WCL).

Asia Cup meeting to fail legal test?

Nonetheless, BCCI has communicated to ACC that the venue for the meeting
needs to be shifted away from Bangladesh due to India’s deteriorating relationship with the country. They have also postponed the ODI series to Bangladesh in August 2025 to next year.

The ACC, which is currently chaired by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) head Mohsin Naqvi, is reportedly adamant about holding the ACGM in Dhaka, but they may not have enough members attending the meeting. As per a report in Cricbuzz, the ACC constitution states that at least 10 full or Associate members (non-Test playing nations) need to be part of the AGM for a valid quorum, which may not be possible as Sri Lanka and Afghanistan are also ready to boycott the meeting.

Nepal, UAE, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Qatar are remaining full members of ACC. The Associate members include Bahrain, Bhutan, Cambodia, Tajikistan, Maldives, Japan, Iran, China, Myanmar and Indonesia.

As per Cricbuzz, Oman, Nepal, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Kuwait, UAE, Bahrain, Bhutan, Maldives, Myanmar and Indonesia may also skip the meeting.

PCB makes last-ditch effort

The report further adds that PCB’s Naqvi was in Kabul on Sunday in an attempt to persuade Afghanistan to attend the ACC meeting, but the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) has assured BCCI that they will boycott the AGM in Dhaka.

BCCI’s refusal, meanwhile, has become a major issue for the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), where one faction has even asked Aminul Islam, the BCB president, to cancel the meeting.

“Bulbul (Aminul) was requested to cancel the meeting as some of the board directors were not ready to do anything that can hurt the BCCI but the president insisted that he had given his word so cannot return back after giving his words to PCB,” a BCB source told Cricbuzz.

Venus Williams played…well, like herself. The 45-year-old living-legend of women’s tennis powered past Peyton Stearns (world No. 35) in straight sets (6-3, 6-4) during a blockbuster first-round match at the Mubadala Citi DC Open 2025 on Tuesday, 22 July.

The former world No. 1 played as though she hadn’t missed a beat, serving up an incredible nine aces in her return to tour-level singles tennis after a 16-month break from the court due in part to her long and silent battle with fibroids.

“It’s hard to describe how difficult it is to play a first match after so much time off,” Williams stated after the match.

While many wondered if she still had the magic touch that led her to seven Grand Slam titles, Williams knew deep down she had the skill set, fitness and stamina required to win the match against Stearns.

“Going into the match, I know I have the ability to win, but it’s all about actually winning,” she added. “So this is the best result, to play a good match and win.”

Her victory assuaged the doubts of pundits, fans and rivals alike, while adding an extra statistic to her long and glided resume.

Aged 45, she became the second-oldest player to win a tour-level singles match, after Martina Navratilova (aged 47) beat Catalina Castano at Wimbledon in 2004.

“There are no limits for excellence,” asserted Williams. “It’s all about what’s in your head and how much you’re able to put into it. If you put in the work mentally, physically, and emotionally, then you can have the result.”

Of course, it certainly didn’t hurt to achieve such a result in front of 7,000 supportive fans, who mostly came to see her play.

“I’m here with my friends, family, people I love, and the fans, too, who I love and they love me, so this has been just a beautiful night.”

Williams next match will be a second-round thriller against Poland’s Magdalena Frech (world No. 24) on Thursday, 24 July. If she has her way, it might just be an equally “beautiful” night in Washington D.C.

TL;DR:

Qatar has officially declared its interest in hosting the 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Games, marking a significant step in the Gulf state’s strategic vision to position itself as a leading hub for global sports. The announcement was made by the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) through the Qatar News Agency (QNA), confirming that the country is in “continuous dialogue” with the International Olympic Committee under the IOC’s revised bidding process. The potential bid is seen as a continuation of Qatar’s ambition to leverage sports for economic diversification, global engagement, and national prestige following the successful hosting of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Qatar’s Readiness and Infrastructure Advantage

Qatar has emphasized that it is well-prepared from an infrastructure standpoint, with nearly 95% of the venues and facilities required for hosting the Olympics already constructed. This readiness stems from over a decade of heavy investment in sports facilities and urban infrastructure tied to its successful hosting of international events. The stadiums and transport systems upgraded or built for the FIFA World Cup 2022, along with venues being prepared for the 2030 Asian Games, form a solid foundation for any future Olympic requirements. Speaking on the announcement, Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the QOC, highlighted that the existing infrastructure not only meets current international standards but also aligns with the IOC’s newer focus on sustainability and legacy use, ensuring that facilities would serve the community long after the Games. This focus reflects the IOC’s Agenda 2020 reforms, which encourage cities to utilize pre-existing infrastructure to reduce environmental and financial burdens.

A Historic First for the Middle East

If Qatar is successful in its bid, it would become the first nation in the Middle East to host the Olympics. This would be a milestone not just for Qatar but for the entire region, symbolizing the Gulf’s increasing role on the global sports stage. The 2022 World Cup, which was the first to be hosted in the Arab world, demonstrated Qatar’s capacity to manage complex, large-scale international events. Qatar’s bid is positioned as part of a broader strategy to present the region as open, capable, and ready to engage the world through sports. Hosting the Olympics would align with the nation’s Qatar National Vision 2030, a framework that emphasizes human development, economic diversification, and cultural enrichment.

International Competition for the 2036 Games

Qatar will not be alone in pursuing the 2036 Olympics. Several other countries have either confirmed or expressed interest in bidding. According to the IOC, interested nations include:

Each country is currently engaged in preliminary discussions or expressing early interest under the IOC’s new bidding framework, which replaced the traditional competitive bid process with a more flexible dialogue phase.

IOC’s Revised Bidding Process

The IOC has reformed its host city selection process to avoid the controversies and financial pitfalls that plagued past bidding cycles. Instead of cities spending millions on competitive bids, the IOC now conducts continuous dialogue with interested cities, ensuring alignment with the Olympic movement’s sustainability and cost-effectiveness goals. This approach benefits Qatar, given its already completed investments. By engaging early in the dialogue phase, Qatar enhances its positioning without incurring significant new financial commitments. The final decision on the host for 2036 is not expected for several years, but this early dialogue allows Qatar to align its proposals with IOC expectations.

Environmental and Social Legacy

Qatar’s bid is not solely focused on sports. The QOC has reiterated that the country aims to create a social, economic, and environmental legacy through the Olympics. This includes expanding community sports programs, promoting women’s sports participation, and further developing green infrastructure. Qatar has been keen on integrating sustainable practices in all its projects post-World Cup, and an Olympic bid would likely follow similar guidelines highlighting renewable energy use, water conservation, and minimizing the carbon footprint of event hosting.

Regional Sporting Aspirations

Hosting the Olympics would further bolster the Middle East’s burgeoning sports calendar. Qatar is already set to host the 2030 Asian Games, and Saudi Arabia is gaining momentum as a global sports hub, hosting high-profile boxing matches, Formula 1, and investing heavily in football via the Saudi Pro League. This growing competitive sports scene reflects the region’s ambition to diversify economically through tourism, entertainment, and sports.

Next Steps

While Qatar has entered into formal dialogue with the IOC, no official bid submission has yet been made. The nation will continue developing its proposal, with a focus on complying with the IOC’s evolving sustainability and legacy standards. The QOC has pledged transparency throughout the process, ensuring the public remains informed on developments. The final host city decision is expected to be made closer to the 2030s, but Qatar’s readiness and regional prominence position it as a leading contender. Qatar’s official talks with the IOC for the 2036 Olympics reaffirm the Gulf state’s long-term strategy of using sports as a diplomatic and developmental tool. With nearly all necessary infrastructure already in place and a proven track record in hosting world-class events, Qatar is set to make a compelling case. Whether or not it secures the bid, the move signals the Middle East’s continued ascent in the global sports hierarchy.

Family photos

Family photo

Family photo

NEW DELHI: As India gear up for a must-win fourth Test against England at Old Trafford, former cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu has weighed in with his predicted playing XI, calling for Sai Sudharsan’s return and expressing doubts over Karun Nair’s place in the side.With India trailing 1-2 in the five-match Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, the team’s selection decisions ahead of Wednesday’s Test have become a major talking point — particularly in light of Nitish Reddy’s injury and doubts over pacers Akash Deep and Arshdeep Singh.

Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!On his YouTube channel, Sidhu endorsed a lineup that included Sudharsan, dropped after a modest debut (0 and 30) in the first Test, and left out since.“Karun Nair is a promising cricketer, but his technical weakness has been exposed,” said Sidhu. “When you think of winning, I ask — what is the fault of Sai Sudharsan?”He hailed Sudharsan’s recent domestic and IPL form, saying, “You have one of the most promising players in India. He’s technically sound — low gravity, hand-eye coordination, and head over toe. Why shouldn’t he be in the team?”Sidhu’s predicted India XI:

He also showered praise on Mohammed Siraj, calling him the unsung hero of India’s pace unit: “Siraj has bowled over 900 overs since 2020. He’s played 25 out of 27 overseas games. Controlled pace in England is key — and Siraj brings that in abundance.”Meanwhile, skipper Shubman Gill backed Nair, saying: “He didn’t bat at his number in the first game. We’ve had conversations with him, and he will turn it around.”With the series on the line and India’s middle order under the scanner, the final XI remains to be seen.

Brisbane Heat spinner Matthew Kuhnemann made a winning T20 international debut in the green and gold today as Australia defeated the West Indies at Sabina Park.

 Kuhnemann was presented with Australia T20 cap No.113 by Adam Zampa prior to the toss and went on to take the new ball, bowling in the Power Play before finishing his four over spell later in the innings to return the figures of 0-33 as the Windies made 8-172.

It was Kuhnemann’s first game on what has been an extended tour, after being an unused squad member for last month’s World Test Championship final, three-Test tour of the Caribbean and the T20 series opener on Sunday.

The 28-year-old Gold Coast product has now earned international caps in all three formats after making his ODI debut in Sri Lanka in 2022 and Test debut the following year in India. All Kuhnemann’s previous nine appearances for Australia have come away from home.

Australia made 2-173 in 15.2 overs to claim their second win in the T20 series.

Kuhnemann will suit up for BBL|15 as the Heat’s No.1 spinner after Mitch Swepson’s recruitment by the Melbourne Starts earlier this year. 

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Josh Inglis and Cameron Green have smashed half-centuries to power Australia to an eight-wicket win over West Indies in their second T20 clash in Jamaica.

The hosts posted 172-8 before Inglis (78 not out from 33 balls) and Cameron Green (56no from 32) led Australia to 173-2, and victory with 28 balls to spare.

The pair put on a unbroken 131-run partnership off just 64 balls as Australia took a two-nil lead in the five-match series.

Inglis was brutal with the bat, blasting a half century from just 22 deliveries – hitting five sixes and seven fours.

An equally aggressive Green cracked four sixes and three fours after starring in a three-wicket win in game one with 51 from 26 balls.

Australia sent Glenn Maxwell out to open in the innings after dropping Jake Fraser-McGurk but he made just 12 from 10 balls.

Captain Mitch Marsh’s 21 from 17 included two sixes but when he fell, the match was in the balance at 42-2 in the sixth over.

Inglis and Green then launched an audacious attack on the West Indian bowlers, making light work of the run chase. With Inglis in full flight, Green posted his half-century from 28 deliveries.

Australia’s spinners were vital in restricting the West Indies batsmen.

Leg-spinner Adam Zampa claimed 3-29 from four overs and offspinner Glenn Maxwell 2-15 from two as they put the brakes on the hosts after a brisk start.

Opener Brandon King (51 from 36 balls) embarked on an early blitz, reaching a half century from 33 balls.

West Indies were 59-0 after seven overs but Zampa struck with the last ball of his first over, the eighth of the innings, when King skied to cover.

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On the next ball – the first of Maxwell’s spell – Shai Hope (9 from 13) departed when Marsh took a fine catch running with the flight of the ball at mid-off.

West Indies were 73-2 at the midpoint but lost Shimron Hetmyer (14 from 10) in the next over when caught on the square leg boundary to give Maxwell another wicket.

Zampa struck twice in the 14th over, dismissing Roston Chase (16 from 16) and Sherfane Rutherford (0 from 2), leaving the hosts wobbling at 5-98.

Home-town hero Andre Russell, in his last international match, then produced some farewell fireworks by cracking 36 from 15 balls featuring four sixes and two fours.

Australia made two changes from the team that won the series-opener by three wickets. Left-arm spinner Matt Kuhnemann was summoned for his T20I debut, replacing paceman Sean Abbott, while Fraser-McGurk was dropped with middle-order blaster Tim David returning from a hamstring injury.