Images from the Asia Cup T20 match between Pakistan and Hong Kong in Sharjah on Friday
After warming up with a stunning 1-0 win over defending champions Japan, India will open their campaign in the women's Asia Cup hockey tournament against Singapore in Bangkok on Friday.
The Indian squads for the upcoming Asia Cup T20 tournament in Bangladesh and the subsequent International Cricket Council World Twenty20 championship in India are to be chosen on February 5 at Delhi by the national selection panel headed by Sandeep Patil.
Coach Branko Ivankovic insisted China's World Cup qualifying campaign was still alive despite back-to-back losses to Saudi Arabia and Australia over the last five days leaving them bottom of Asian qualifying Group C.
India would start their campaign in the Asia Cup T20 Championship by taking on hosts Bangladesh in the tournament-opener at the Sher-E-Bangla Stadium in Mirpur on February 24, according to the event schedule released on Monday. The eagerly awaited high-octane clash between India and Pakistan is slated three days later, on February 27, at the same venue. India's subsequent fixtures are slated against defending champions Sri Lanka (March 1) and a qualifier, from amongst Afghanistan, UAE, Oman and Hong Kong, on March 3.
IMAGES from the Asia Cup Super 4 match played between India and Sri Lanka in Colombo on Friday.
Indian bowlers once again put up an impressive performance by restricting Sri Lanka to a modest 138 for nine in the third round robin encounter of the Asia Cup Twenty20 cricket tournament in Dhaka on Tuesday. Opting to bowl, young guns Hardik Pandya (2/27 in 4 overs) and Jasprit Bumrah (2/26) continued their stellar show as the island nation never really got going during their innings. Senior off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin (2/26 in 4 overs) also showed brilliant control during the back-10 while veteran Ashish Nehra (1/23) once again showed why he is a class apart. Such was India's dominance that their bowlers bowled 50 dot balls out of a possible 120 deliveries, which effectively meant 8.2 overs went without any runs being scored. India's potent new ball pair of Nehra and Bumrah were on target in the Powerplay overs once again.
India have won the Asia Cup six times, Sri Lanka five, and Pakistan have won it just twice. As the 14th edition of Asia's own trophy gets underway on Saturday, Rajneesh Gupta presents the numbers on the 13 editions so far.
India's hopes of clinching a berth in next year's World Cup were dashed after a 1-2 defeat by defending champions Korea in the semi-finals of the eighth women's Asia Cup hockey tournament in Kuala Lumpur.
While Bumrah, who has a lead of 20 points over Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan, will hope to continue to hold on to his numero uno status, spinners Kuldeep Yadav (sixth) and Yuzvendra Chahal (joint-ninth) too will look to consolidate position in the top 10.
IMAGES from the Asia Cup match played between Afghanistan and Bangladesh in Sharjah on Tuesday.
India had something to cheer about after missing out on a berth in next year's World Cup as they defeated China 3-3 via the penalty shoot-out, after both the teams were locked 2-2 in regulation time, to clinch the bronze medal in the eighth women's Asia Cup hockey tournament in Kuala Lumpur on Friday.
It is a custom with Oman teams to present a gift to their opponents even in junior cricket.
Gurindervir Singh's record-breaking 10.09-second run in the 100m at the Federation Cup National Championships has ignited hopes for Indian athletes to finally break the coveted sub-10-second barrier. Experts believe that with the right training, equipment, and opportunities, an Indian sprinter could achieve this milestone in the near future.
Pakistan was the designated hosts for the tournament scheduled for September, but with the BCCI making it clear that the Indian team would not be able to travel to the neighbouring country owing to security concerns, the event has been moved to Dubai.
'In India, it is our tradition that if the team plays well, everyone is quiet, but as soon as the team plays poorly, we get on top of the coach.'
It was exactly 25 years when Mohammad Azharuddin-led India got the better of Sri Lanka in the final to win their fourth Asia Cup title, at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, on April 14, 1995.
Qualifies for India's able-bodied archery team for Asia Cup
Japan defeated China 2-1 in the second semi-final to set up a title clash with Korea.
Pakistan have agreed to play India in the T20 World Cup match in Sri Lanka after diplomatic outreach and ICC-led talks ended the boycott standoff.
The Indian cricket team will start its their Asia Cup campaign against Bangladesh on February 24 before taking on arch-rivals Pakistan in what promises to be a high-voltage encounter on February 27.
Indian archer Komalika Bari, once a rising star, is determined to revive her career and Olympic dream after facing setbacks and a drop in world rankings.
The Chinese Football Association has drawn criticism for publishing a promotional poster that warns not to underestimate Hong Kong's team of "black, white and yellow" players ahead of their World Cup qualifiers.
Electing to bat, Hong Kong folded for a paltry 116 in 37.1 overs, courtesy Usman's 3 for 19 and two-wicket hauls by Shadab Khan (2/31) and Hasan Ali (2/19).
Sourav Ganguly has weighed in on the upcoming India vs Pakistan clash in the Asia Cup 2025, stressing that while sports must continue, terrorism must be firmly dealt with.
West Indies trounced Nepal by 10 wickets in the inconsequential third and final T20 International to avoid the humiliation of a series sweep.
Teenage quadruple amputee archer Payal Nag defeated world number one Sheetal Devi to win gold at the World Archery Para Series in Bangkok, leading India to a dominant performance with seven gold medals.
The Football Association of Thailand (FAT) is seeking to move the home World Cup qualifier against Australia on Nov. 15 out of the country amid mourning for the death of King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
An inspired India battered Oman 8-0 in the opening match of the Asia Cup on Saturday.
India secured their play-off berth in the Billie Jean King Cup by finishing second following a 2-1 victory against South Korea in their last Asia-Oceania Group 1 fixture.
Abhishek Sharma and Kuldeep Yadav are in contention for the ICC men's Player of the Month award for September, while Smriti Mandhana has been shortlisted for the women's award.
With India set to face Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025, former Indian football captain Bhaichung Bhutia weighed in, stating that the decision on whether the two nations should compete against each other in sporting events must rest with the Government of India.
The Indian squad for next month's ICC World T20 Championship and the Asia Cup starting later this month, both to be held in Bangladesh, will be picked during the upcoming Irani Cup clash in Bangalore.
'But looking at our current performance, I'm confident that a medal in the World Cup is not far off.'
The win guarantees Japan a top-two finish in the standings and sees them qualify for an eighth straight World Cup.
Rajinder made his senior debut in October last year during a two-match series against Germany, where he shone bright and eight months later, he became a key member of the Indian senior team.
The International Cricket Council on Monday said it would not be imposing any penalty on the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) for refusing to play its T20 World Cup matches in India.
Manpreet Singh, the second-most capped player in Indian hockey, has found a second wind by tweaking his lifestyle and diet.
Nepal's team to train at BCCI Centre of Excellence before T20 WC qualifiers
The 2026 T20 World Cup is likely to be played from February 7 to March 8 with matches spread across at least five venues in India and two in Sri Lanka.
