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Formula One's new era heads into its first sprint in Shanghai this weekend, with the Chinese Grand Prix promising a very different test to Melbourne, where George Russell led home a Mercedes one-two.The Silver Arrows
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Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz were both made to work hard before reaching the fourth round of Indian Wells on Monday but defending women’s champion Mirra Andreeva crashed out and let her frustrations boil over
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Rarely do record 15-time winners Real Madrid enter a Champions League clash as underdogs but this is the situation when Manchester City visit the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday.With key attackers Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham and
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INDIAN WELLS, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 10: Aryna Sabalenka returns a shot to Naomi Osaka of Japan during Day 7 of the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 10, 2026 in
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Twenty20 was designed to favour batters, but few anticipated the bowlers’ bloodbath that unfolded across four weeks in India and Sri Lanka at the just-concluded Twenty20 World Cup. The 20-team tournament became a high-octane showcase of power-hitting, redefining the upper limits of scoring and rewriting what a “par” total looks like in this format. A staggering 780 sixes were hit in this year’s tournament, a 50.87% jump from the 517 hammered in the 2024 edition in West Indies and the United States. The 200-mark was breached a record 14 times and eventual champions India alone posted three of the four 250-plus totals in the tournament. Flat tracks across both host nations combined with fearless intent pushed the collective batting strike rate to 134, the highest in tournament history and a stark indicator of where white-ball batting is heading. As India muscled their way to a mammoth 255-5 in the final against New Zealand in Ahmedabad, former England captain Michael Vaughan took to X to say: “fantastic striking ... but let’s be honest this isn’t a fair balance between Bat & Ball.” New Zealand coach Rob Walter, however, saw little point in complaining about batting carnage if fans were enthralled. “I guess it comes down to what you view as entertainment, really,” Walter told reporters. “It seems to be the trend around the world that runs are the thing that people want to see. Of course, I believe you still want to have an even contest.” That appetite for fours and sixes was reflected off the field as well. The India-England semi-final in Mumbai shattered digital records, with ICC chairman Jay Shah noting on X a peak concurrency of 65.2 million viewers - the highest for any live event worldwide. “It is tough, the bats are very good,” Walter said. “The guys obviously practise hitting the ball far, and when the pitches give not much to the bowlers, it does make it very tough. But ultimately, if that’s the way the game’s going then the onus is obviously on the bowlers to develop their skills and develop them quickly.” India’s Jasprit Bumrah is probably the template. The seam-bowling genius, for the third time in a T20 World Cup, walked away with the best economy rate (6.21) of any player to have bowled 100-plus balls - a reminder that elite skill can still choke scoring even on highways. “Bumrah is a once-in-a-generation bowler. I can call him a national treasure,” India captain Suryakumar Yadav said of his pace spearhead. Related Story
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Tottenham Hotspur interim coach Igor Tudor has been criticised for his treatment of goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky after substituting him after 17 minutes of his side’s 5-2 loss at Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday. Tudor sprung a surprise by dropping regular keeper Guglielmo Vicario for the last-16 first leg tie and handing Czech Kinsky his first start since October. But the move backfired in spectacular fashion as Tottenham conceded three goals in the opening 15 minutes - two of them resulting from glaring errors by the young keeper. Tudor immediately sent on Vicario, the Croat standing stony-faced as a stunned Kinsky headed for the sanctuary of the dressing room. “He’s (Tudor) made decisions that he maybe thinks is going to one, keep him in a job, or two, keep Tottenham in the Premier League and performances are going to turn around,” former Leeds United, Tottenham and England keeper Paul Robinson told the BBC. “It was a very selfish decision (to substitute him) as a manager. “I think he brought Kinsky in tonight thinking that if he does well I have got an excuse to keep him in now until the end of the season. He reverted on that decision very, very early on in the game. “It’s quite blatantly for self preservation by the manager because it was a decision that he thought was best for him and his team at the time, without consideration for the young goalkeeper.” Joe Hart said he was shocked by Tudor’s treatment of Kinsky. “The whole stadium is feeling sorry for him. He walks past Igor Tudor - and he doesn’t even acknowledge him. If that’s man-management, I am flabbergasted,” the former England keeper, who also had a spell at Tottenham, said. “He’s had a bad moment, a slip, and then another bad moment. But the fact he (Tudor) has taken him off, at 22, to just rip him off, how is that good for him?” Atletico coach Diego Simeone said he had never seen anything like it before and there was even sympathy from Atletico’s fans and players. “Mentally, it must be very tough for the goalkeeper. It wasn’t the best solution,” French striker Antoine Griezmann said. Support also came from former Manchester United keeper David de Gea. “No one who hasn’t been a goalkeeper can understand how difficult it is to play in this position. Keep your head up and you will go again,” the Spaniard said on X. The defeat set an unwanted record for Tottenham who suffered a sixth successive loss for the first time in the club’s history. It also raised serious questions about whether Tudor will remain in his post. He replaced Thomas Frank last month with a reputation for helping turn around clubs in trouble but he has lost all four of his games in charge and if anything relegated-threatened Tottenham’s performances have deteriorated. “I need to apologise to the fans, to everyone. It’s incredibly difficult to explain, at least for the first 20 minutes, I’ve never seen in my life, things like this. It’s very strange to explain,” Tudor said.
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INDIAN WELLS, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 10: Jannik Sinner of Italy plays a backhand against Joao Fonseca of Brazil in their fourth round match of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March
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The Qatar Stars League will resume Thursday following a short suspension since March 1 due to the ongoing regional conflict, with several crucial encounters lined up as the competition enters a decisive phase of the season.The pause had led to the postponement of two Round 17 matches – Qatar SC against Al Shamal and Al Arabi versus Al Sailiya – which have now been rescheduled for April 7. With the league returning to action, attention now shifts to Week 18, where teams will look to regain momentum and strengthen their positions in the standings.Three matches will kick off simultaneously at 9.30pm tonight. Al Sailiya will face Al Duhail at Jassim bin Hamad Stadium, Al Wakrah will meet Al Shamal at Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, while Qatar SC will take on Al Gharafa at Al Thumama Stadium.The remaining fixtures of the round will be played Friday, with Al Ahli facing Al Arabi at Al Thumama Stadium, Al Rayyan taking on Al Shahania at Ahmad bin Ali Stadium and leaders Al Sadd hosting Umm Salal at Jassim bin Hamad Stadium.Al Sadd sit at the top of the standings with 38 points, maintaining a four-point advantage over closest challengers Al Gharafa, while Al Shamal occupy third place with 31 points as they continue their impressive campaign.Among the most anticipated matches Thursday will be the clash between Al Gharafa and Qatar SC. Gharafa are determined to keep pace with leaders Al Sadd as they continue their pursuit of the title. The Cheetahs know that any slip-up at this stage could allow their rivals to widen the gap at the top.Gharafa coach Pedro Martins confirmed that his players are fully prepared for the challenge despite the unusual circumstances surrounding the recent break in the league schedule. “Facing Qatar SC is important and we must make the necessary effort to achieve victory,” Martins said ahead of the match.He added that the stability in Qatar had helped the team maintain its preparations despite the regional situation. “Despite the circumstances in the region, the stability in Qatar has allowed the players to continue following the training programmes set by the coaching staff,” he explained.Martins also noted that several players have shown improved physical condition after the brief pause in competition. “Over the last few days training has become more regular for the team as a whole. Some players were feeling fatigue after the break, but from what I have seen they are now in better physical condition than they were about 10 or 12 days ago,” he said.Qatar SC currently occupy fifth place with 24 points and remain firmly in the hunt for a top-four finish. A victory against Gharafa would not only boost their position but also strengthen their confidence heading into the final stretch of the competition.Qatar SC assistant coach Miguel Andreu acknowledged the difficulty of the challenge but expressed confidence in his team’s preparations. “Our match against Al Gharafa will be difficult and we have prepared for it in the appropriate manner,” Andreu said. “I have confidence in our players and our ambition is to win in order to continue our winning streak.”He emphasised the importance of each match as the league approaches its final stages. “Every match during this period is of great value to us, so we strive to deliver good performances and achieve the results we are looking for because our goal is to continue moving forward in the standings,” he added.At Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, another intriguing contest awaits as Al Wakrah host Al Shamal. Wakrah are in seventh place with 23 points and are eager to return to winning ways after recent mixed results. The Blue Wave suffered a 1-3 defeat to Al Sadd in Round 16 before playing out a 2-2 draw with Umm Salal.Head coach Vicente Moreno believes his players are ready to resume the league campaign after the brief interruption. “The team has prepared well for the match and the objective is naturally to collect the three points,” Moreno said.He also acknowledged the quality of the opposition and the challenge his side will face. “We know very well that we are playing against a strong team that has strong elements in all lines. Their position in the standings is clear proof of their strength, so overcoming them requires maintaining the highest level of focus throughout the match.”Shamal, meanwhile, have been one of the standout teams this season and currently occupy third place with 31 points from 16 matches. A victory would allow them to maintain pressure on the top two while further consolidating their position among the league’s leading contenders.Coach David Prats expects a demanding encounter. “We are expecting a tough match against a strong team which, in my opinion, is one of the best teams in the league,” Prats said. “They have top-level players with excellent abilities and are guided by a competent coaching staff. We have trained hard over the past period and are ready for the match, which we know will not be easy, like all league matches.”Meanwhile, Al Duhail will be looking to rediscover their form when they take on Al Sailiya. The former champions have endured a difficult spell, failing to win their last four matches and dropping to eighth place in the standings with 21 points. The team will be eager to secure a positive result to revive their campaign and regain momentum in the closing stages of the season.Duhail coach Djamel Belmadi emphasised the importance of the match for his side. “The match against Al Sailiya is crucial for us and we need the three points to climb the standings,” Belmadi said. “We know very well that the match will not be easy given the circumstances our opponents are facing in their fight against relegation, and they are also determined to win.”He added that the team will continue to work hard in training to deliver the performance required. “We will strive to give our best and secure the three points,” he said.Al Sailiya, for their part, enter the match determined to improve their position as they battle to avoid the relegation zone. The side currently sit in 10th place with 15 points from 16 matches, level on points with Al Ahli but ahead on goal difference and just one point above bottom side Al Shahania.Coach Mirghani Al Zain believes his players are ready for the challenge and capable of delivering a strong performance. “The team is entering the match with high morale and complete preparations,” Mirghani said. “Training sessions have gone well, characterised by great discipline and clear commitment from the players. Our main objective in this match is to achieve victory and secure the three points.”He added that he has full confidence in his squad’s ability to compete against one of the league’s strongest teams.FIXTURES Week 18 (kick-off s at 9:30pm)Thursday: Al Sailiya vs Al Duhail at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium; Al Wakrah vs Al Shamal at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium; Qatar SC vs Al Gharafa at Al Thumama StadiumFriday: Al Ahli vs Al Arabi at Al Thumama Stadium; Al Rayyan vs Al Shahania at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium; Al Sadd vs Umm Salal at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium
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Arsenal’s Kai Havertz (centre) celebrates after scoring against Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League last 16 first leg match in Leverkusen. (Reuters) Kai Havertz scored an 89th-minute penalty to snatch Arsenal a 1-1 draw away against Bayer Leverkusen in their Champions League last-16 first leg Wednesday. Arsenal, who won all eight of their games in the league phase, fell behind to a simple Leverkusen corner when Robert Andrich headed in moments after half-time. But in the dying stages, substitute Havertz stepped up to convert against his former side after Noni Madueke was brought down in the box. The Premier League leaders lacked fluency and the set-piece specialists were ineffective despite several dangerous free-kicks, but now need just to win at home next week to reach the quarter-finals for a third consecutive season. With a young side still gelling after a summer rebuild, Leverkusen have been inconsistent this campaign but showed enough to suggest they could still threaten Arsenal at the Emirates next week. Both sides were tentative in the first half, with Leverkusen wary of Arsenal’s firepower and the Gunners even more risk averse than usual with next week’s return leg at home. Arsenal had two free-kicks near the hosts’ box inside the opening four minutes, but both came to nothing. Leverkusen were dangerous on the break, particularly through teenage forward Christian Kofane. The best chance of the opening period fell to Gabriel Martinelli, who blasted against the crossbar with 19 minutes gone. Leverkusen turned up the heat after half-time and were ahead within a minute. Martin Terrier forced an excellent fingertip save from David Raya from a Grimaldo cross after Leverkusen attacked straight from kick-off. Grimaldo took the ensuing corner and found Andrich in acres of space at the far post, giving the Germany midfielder a simple header to score. After the goal, Leverkusen manager Kasper Hjulmand - who questioned the legality of the visitors’ dead-ball tactics pre-match - got involved in a fiery exchange with Arsenal’s set-piece coach Nicolas Jover. Arsenal’s first corner came on the hour mark and was greeted with a huge cheer from the 2,100-strong travelling contingent. Arsenal grew increasingly frustrated but were handed a lifeline when substitute Malik Tillman was adjudged to have fouled Madueke in the box. Havertz, who was greeted with warm applause when subbed on, nervelessly slotted the ball into the bottom corner and reacted with a muted celebration against his first professional club. Related Story
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Bangladesh’s Nahid Rana (right) celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of Pakistan’s Salman Agha during the first one-day international at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur Wednesday. (AFP) Bangladesh pace sensation Nahid Rana claimed his first five-wicket haul in one-day internationals to lead his team to a crushing eight-wicket win over Pakistan in their opening match Wednesday. Rana returned figures of 5-24 to skittle out Pakistan for 114, a total Bangladesh overhauled in 15.1 overs of the 50-over contest in Mirpur to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Opener Tanzid Hasan hammered an unbeaten 67 off 42 balls and put on a second-wicket partnership of 82 with Najmul Hossain Shanto, who made 27, in a statement win. Saif Hassan fell early for four, while Litton Das remained unbeaten on three with Tanzid. “It’s a pretty disappointing batting performance,” Pakistan coach Mike Hesson said after the game. “I don’t think there’s any shying away from that. It wasn’t just the youngsters, we were exposed against some good bowling and we went into our shell a little bit, and we have to turn things around really quickly,” he added. “The wicket was fine,” he said. “It played pretty well. Nahid Rana was exceptional. Until he came into the game, we were ticking along okay, and he changed the game. He bowled into the wicket, created some variation and bounce, which he’s allowed to do when he’s bowling at that pace. And we didn’t respond as well as we needed to. So all credit to him.” Earlier, Nahid laid the platform for victory with his outstanding spell in his seven overs to bowl out Pakistan for their lowest ODI total against Bangladesh, eclipsing the previous 161 during the 1999 World Cup. The 23-year-old Nahid ripped through Pakistan’s top order, becoming the first Bangladeshi bowler to dismiss the opposition’s top five batters in an ODI innings. Nahid removed Sahibzada Farhan (27), Shamyl Hussain (4), Maaz Sadaqat (18), Mohammad Rizwan (10) and Salman Agha (5) as Pakistan slumped to 69-5. He was ably supported by captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz, who took 3-29 with his off-spin. Senior quicks Taskin Ahmed and Mustafizur Rahman took one wicket each. Number eight Faheem Ashraf offered brief resistance with his 37 before being dismissed by Mustafizur as Pakistan were eventually bowled out in 30.4 overs. The performance marked a breakthrough in Nahid’s young ODI career since his debut in 2024. He had taken only five wickets in his first five matches before producing the five-wicket haul in his sixth appearance. Nahid is now only the second Bangladeshi bowler to take a five-wicket haul against Pakistan in ODIs after Mustafizur’s 5-75 during the 2019 World Cup. BRIEF SCORESBangladesh 115 for 2 (Tanzid 67*) beat Pakistan 114 (Faheem 37, Farhan 27, Rana 5-24, Mehidy 3-29) by eight wickets Related Story
