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New Zealand would not mind being the underdogs and breaking hearts in Sunday’s Twenty20 World Cup final against hosts India, captain Mitchell Santner said ahead of the contest in front of a partisan Ahmedabad crowd.New
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World number two Jannik Sinner overwhelmed Czech qualifier Dalibor Svrcina 6-1, 6-1 on Friday to launch his bid for a first Indian Wells hardcourt crown.Sinner, back in the California desert after missing last year's edition
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Asia Rugby has announced a landmark multi-year partnership with UUDS Aero, introducing the Emirates 7s Asia Rugby Clubs Cup.This first-of-its-kind initiative represents a transformative step for elite club rugby across the region.This strategic collaboration reinforces
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Al Ain Chess and Mind Games Club has been crowned champion of the Federation Cup for Institutional and Community Teams, following a strong performance and impressive technical level that confirmed their superiority over the participating
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FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Saudi Pro League - Al Fayha v Al Nassr - Al-Majma'ah Sports City Stadium, Al Majma'ah, Saudi Arabia - February 28, 2026 Al Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo during the warm up
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MORE THAN 100,000 SPECTATORS EXPECTED TO WATCH THE FINAL IN AHMEDABAD TOMORROW India’s bid to become the first team to retain the Twenty20 World Cup will collide with New Zealand’s quest for a maiden global white-ball crown when the finalists step on to the field at the world’s largest cricket stadium tomorrow. The 20-team tournament will end in an Ahmedabad amphitheatre where more than 100,000 fans will expect a gladiatorial slugfest and most will hope for a home triumph. The stands will transform into a sea of blue for Suryakumar Yadav’s men but India do not have particularly sweet memories of their rivals or the venue in recent global finals. Personnel have since changed but in New Zealand, India face opponents who got the better of them in the World Test Championship final in 2021 in England. Two years later, Australia stunned the cavernous Narendra Modi Stadium when they humbled India, previously unbeaten in the tournament, in the 50-over World Cup final. Still, it is a testament to India’s consistency that reaching finals has become almost habitual.This home campaign has not been flawless, but they are where it matters - one win from becoming the first host nation to lift a T20 World Cup. As the world’s top-ranked T20 side, they have the means to do it.Sanju Samson has reinvigorated the top order with back-to-back match-winning knocks to fire the hosts into the final. His elevation has added a valuable left-right variety at the top, and India have shown tactical flexibility to rejig their batting order whenever needed.With the ball, Jasprit Bumrah has led superbly, earning plaudits for strangling batters in the game’s most unforgiving format for bowlers. Seam-bowling all-rounder Hardik Pandya has been on point too, though the leakage of no-balls and wides from Arshdeep Singh and Shivam Dube - especially at the death - remains a concern. Frontline spinner Varun Chakravarthy has not been at his best but Axar Patel’s steady returns as a spin-bowling all-rounder have been a major plus.“There will be nerves, but then the boys and the whole support staff will be excited as well,” Suryakumar said after beating England. New Zealand’s path to the final was hardly serene either and they only reached the last four after Pakistan failed to win big against Sri Lanka. Then came a thunderclap - a nine-wicket demolition of previously unbeaten South Africa in the first semi-final that left fans and pundits rubbing their eyes in disbelief.Finn Allen, who smashed a record 33-ball hundred in that match, and Tim Seifert form arguably the most explosive opening pair in T20 cricket. Rachin Ravindra’s ability to tailor his batting to any situation and Glenn Phillips’ natural aggression make it a formidable batting lineup. Matt Henry leads a sharp pace attack and New Zealand also have plenty of variety in their spin department, which has been bolstered by the late introduction of off-spinner Cole McConchie.While there is no lack of skill and talent in their squad, New Zealand pride themselves on resilience. “It just shows that us as a team, we get up for the fight,” Allen said.“Those important fixtures, we really get up for them as a team. We’re prepared to fight tillthe end.”
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Barcelona swept to a domestic treble last season but fell agonisingly short in the Champions League, beaten in the semi-finals by Inter Milan, making it their clear priority this year. The dream of returning to the European throne for the first time since 2015 may lead Hansi Flick’s side to take their eyes off the ball in La Liga this weekend. The Spanish champions visit Athletic Bilbao today, going into the weekend with a four-point lead on rivals Real Madrid, who were visiting Celta Vigo late last night. With Alvaro Arbeloa’s side at a low ebb following Monday’s defeat against Getafe, Flick may choose to use the breathing room to gamble on heavy rotations before next week’s Champions League last 16 clash at Newcastle. The Catalan giants finished Tuesday’s Copa del Rey semi-final clash against Atletico Madrid drained, winning 3-0 but eliminated 4-3 on aggregate, adding to the pressure for Flick to give his stars a break.“Everyone was exhausted because they left everything on the pitch, they gave more than 100 percent,” said Flick. Barca changed their travel plans on Wednesday to head directly to England from Bilbao, rather than returning home first. With Newcastle in the last 16, and then either Atletico or Tottenham Hotspur in a potential quarter-final, Barcelona can see a relatively kind route towards the final four. Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde suffered injuries against Atletico and join Frenkie de Jong on the sidelines, while Robert Lewandowski may have to play in a mask after suffering a fractured eye socket.Midfielder Pedri has only recently returned from injury but Flick pushed him to play the full 90 minutes against Atletico. “I think we needed Pedri on the pitch, this is why I ask him if he can continue and I’m really happy (he’s not hurt),” admitted Flick. “It was a risk to play 90 minutes. He said after the game ‘nothing happened, I’m okay’.”Lesser-utilised players like Marc Casado, Ronald Araujo and Roony Bardghji could be handed starts, along with on-loan Manchester United winger Marcus Rashford. The England international has impressed at times this season but since Raphinha returned from injury, has fallen out of favour. One player Flick has a hard time rotating is teenager winger Lamine Yamal, who is hungry to play every minute he can. During a recent 3-0 win over Levante, the 18-year-old showed his frustration at being taken off with just a few minutes remaining and the points in the bag. Former Barca coach Ernesto Valverde’s Athletic Bilbao have had a difficult season and sit ninth in La Liga, 16 points off fourth place. However the Basque side are usually extra-motivated by the visit of one of Spain’s biggest two sides to San Mames and with Barca’s Champions League ambitions evident, can smell blood. They will be looking to make amends to their fans after a derby defeat by rivals Real Sociedad on Wednesday in the Copa del Rey semi-finals.FixturesToday: Osasuna v Mallorca (1300), Levante v Girona (1515), Atletico Madrid v Real Sociedad (1730), Athletic Bilbao v Barcelona (2000)Tomorrow: Villarreal v Elche (1300), Getafe v Real Betis (1515), Sevilla v Rayo Vallecano (1730), Valencia v Alaves (2000)Monday: Espanyol v Real Oviedo (2000)
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McLaren’s Oscar Piastri powered to the fastest time ahead of Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli in second practice for the season-opening Australian Grand Prix on Friday as drivers grappled with sweeping new engine changes.The Australian sent 125,000
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Opener Finn Allen has long been regarded as the hardest hitter of a cricket ball in New Zealand and his performance in taking his side to the T20 World Cup final showed just why.His record-breaking
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Arsenal head to Mansfield and Chelsea face Wrexham in the FA Cup fifth round, with the Premier League clubs aiming to avoid embarrassing giant-killings.Owned by Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac, Wrexham are no
