India batter Sai Sudharsan is set to join the rest of the team in Sri Lanka on Saturday, having not travelled to Colombo with the squad and support staff, according to a report. Sudharsan, whose participation in the two-match Test series starting August 15 was subject to fitness clearance, is currently at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellent (CoE) in Bengaluru recovering from an injury. According to a report in Cricbuzz, Sudharsan is set to link up with the Indian team in Colombo on Saturday.

As a result, Sudharsan is set to miss India’s three-day practice match against Sri Lanka XI, which gets underway on Friday, August 7.

“Currently undergoing rehabilitation for a minor niggle, the left-hander is understood to be on course to regaining full fitness and is expected to link up with the squad well before the first Test, which begins on August 15,” the report said.

The report added that Sudharsan has resumed batting in Bengaluru and is expected to receive the green light from the CoE’s medical staff to travel to Colombo.

Sudharshan suffered the niggle during the recent India A tour to Sri Lanka.

Meanwhile, India has included Harsh Dubey, Shivang Kumar, Tanush Kotian and Vipraj Nigam among their net bowlers ahead of the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle from August 15 onwards.

As per the BCCI, Indian batters, who have had their share of struggles against spin at home, have ramped up their preparation against the tweakers in spin-friendly Sri Lankan conditions by adding four spinners to their net bowlers line-up.

“Update: Harsh Dubey, Shivang Kumar, Tanush Kotian and Vipraj Nigam have joined the Indian squad as net bowlers to assist the team in the build-up to the first Test against Sri Lanka,” said BCCI’s statement.

India’s squad for the Test series against Sri Lanka is: Shubman Gill (Captain), KL Rahul (Vice-Captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant (WK), Sai Sudharsan*, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Suthar, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Devdutt Padikkal, Saransh Jain and Auqib Nabi.

* Subject to fitness clearance.

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Spain’s World Cup Champions Celebrate Wildly At Cibeles Square

Sophomore corner Zemaiah Vaughn showed promise last offseason. As a rookie, his length showed up during training camp, creating intrigue about his potential. Apparently, he spent the summer months building his body.

Check out what Brian Flores had to say: “Zemaiah certainly improved really since he got here. He’s got a of tools, size, length, speed; he’s really worked hard in the weight room to just kind fill out. He’s a little bit bigger this year, I would say, and that’s shown up in his play. He’s a little bit more physical at the line of scrimmage, he’s able to use his length a little bit better.”

Brian Flores, Zemaiah Vaughn, & The Chance at CB

At the risk of making a ridiculous comparison, Vaughn is somewhat reminiscent of Kevin Durant. Think a rangy athlete who is noticeably long and skinny.

Vaughn, though, plays in the NFL instead of the NBA. Basketball can be a physical sport but football is on a different level, a truth that even applies within the secondary. Packing on muscle without sacrificing speed and agility is a good thing. A tricky balance, to be sure, and yet something that all players need to work toward.

Recently, Lindsey Young of the Vikings’ website spent time digging into who the young corner is.

Some of the defender’s background to clarify his switch to being a college corner: “Vaughn played his freshman season at free safety and then was moved to corner. Though he’d never lined up there before, he leaned on his experience at quarterback — understanding coverages and route concepts — and consistently put himself in position to make plays.”

— READ MORE: Vikings Rookie Keeps Upping the Ante at Training Camp —
— READ MORE: Young Vikings Trenchman Breaks Through with Starters —

Further from Young: “He admits there was a point, though, when he struggled with the change and inquired about moving back to QB or even receiver — ‘I missed having the ball in my hands’ — but Utah Special Teams Coordinator/Cornerbacks Coach Sharrieff Shah encouraged him to stick with it. Best decision of his life he acknowledged, grinning.”

Consider one more thought from the piece: “Vaughn went on to play four years at Utah, appearing in 56 games and making 31 straight starts to finish his career. As a senior, he totaled 40 tackles, one interception, 2.0 sacks, five tackles for loss and five passes defensed. Though he of course hoped to be drafted, going unselected through the 2025 NFL Draft allowed Vaughn some flexibility on which team to sign with — and he now can’t imagine being anywhere but Minnesota.”

Right now, Chuck Demmings is hogging the optimism from the masses. Such is life for a drafted rookie with as much energy and charisma as Mr. Demmings.

Behind the scenes, though, is a young lad who has been grinding. Vaughn can’t be counted out.

People can think of the NFL as being a glamorous spot to work. In some ways, that’s true; most people would be thrilled to make a modest NFL salary of roughly $1 million. Any normal person sees that total as life-changing money that represents extraordinary wealth.

Do note, though, that becoming successful in football means boasting an unusual ability to do repetitive things to improve. Constant lifts, good nutrition, film study, feedback from coaches, and a broader commitment to growth is needed. That can be especially true for somebody looking to get onto a final roster.

Zemaiah Vaughn appears to be willing to put in the hours. As a result, the DC has taken notice, singing his praises at the podium with the corner position looking as competitive as it has ever looked since Brian Flores starting calling the Twin Cities home.

The young corner stands at 6’3″ and is listed as weighing 180 pounds. Quite possibly, the added muscle means he can put a bigger number onto the scale. Quite possibly, that added muscle will mean being capable of stealing away snaps from more well-known players.

Vaughn is 24.

Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.

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The Toronto Blue Jays are in last place in the American League East. But the reigning AL pennant winners didn’t sell at the trade deadline, and they’re showing signs of a run to get back in the playoff mix. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and the Blue Jays look to keep it going for a matinee matchup with Yordan Alvarez and the Houston Astros on Wednesday. Houston holds a slim lead over the Rangers and Mariners in its division, so every game is important for the Astros. Houston throws Hunter Brown (3-1, 3.42 ERA) against Jameson Taillon (2-6, 5.92) of Toronto. 

First pitch from Daikin Park in Houston is set for 2:10 p.m. ET. Houston is a -217 favorite on the money line (risk $217 to win $100) in the latest Blue Jays vs. Astros odds, while the over/under is 8. Before making any Blue Jays vs. Astros picks, be sure to see the Astros vs. Blue Jays predictions and betting advice from SportsLine’s proven computer model. 

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SportsLine’s model projects 1.5 total bases or more for the Blue Jays’ Guerrero and George Springer. The Astros, meanwhile, are projected to get over 1.5 total bases or more from Alvarez, Jeremy Pena and Daulton Varsho. The model projects the teams to combine for 8.4 total runs. Get the Blue Jays vs. Astros money-line pick at SportsLine.

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Teenager Erica Meg Parkinson has been named in England’s preparation squad for the Under-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland next month.

Boss Lydia Bedford has called up the North Carolina Courage midfielder, 18, as part of a 24-player squad for a warm weather training camp in Portugal next week.

They will have a final opportunity to impress when they face their hosts in a friendly on Thursday, 13 August. Three players will get trimmed for the World Cup squad, which is due to be announced on Thursday, 20 August.

Parkinson was part of Sarina Wiegman’s senior set-up for the games against Spain and Iceland in April and has also featured for the under-23 side.

She is joined in the under-20 group by Arsenal pair Sophie Harwood and Jessie Gale, as well as Eva Hendle, who joined Rangers on loan from Chelsea this week.

This is the fourth training camp over the summer, with Bedford’s side having beaten Canada and Colombia, drawn with the USA and lost to Japan so far.

It will be England’s first appearance at an Under-20 Women’s World Cup since 2018 and they have been drawn in a group featuring Brazil, Tanzania and Canada.

They will begin their campaign against Canada on Saturday, 5 September.

“We’ve had a really positive summer with some strong performances against top-quality opposition,” Bedford said. “The players have embraced every challenge and I’m really pleased with the progress we’ve made.

“With the World Cup squad announcement just around the corner, it’s an important opportunity for the players to show what they can do.”

Manchester United Women have announced the appointment of Eva Olid as their new head coach on an initial two-year deal with the option of a further year.

The move follows Marc Skinner’s departure by mutual consent earlier this week, after five years at the helm.

Olid arrives at the Women’s Super League club fresh from leading Heart of Midlothian to their historic first Scottish Women’s Premier League title triumph in May, marking a significant achievement in her coaching career.

Expressing her enthusiasm for the new role, the Spanish coach stated: “The opportunity to become head coach of Manchester United Women is a dream come true. The club has outstanding infrastructure and everything we need to achieve our ambitions. We have an excellent training facility, an academy that is already producing players capable of performing in a competitive first team and an exceptional group of support staff.”

She continued, highlighting her focus on player development: “There is already so much talent within our squad and I am excited to work with the players to support them to fulfil their immense potential. I am joining Manchester United at a really exciting time. There is a clear alignment in our shared vision for long-term success. I cannot wait to begin preparing a team that will make our incredible supporters proud.”

Manchester United hailed Olid’s arrival as the “start of an exciting new era,” aligning with the club’s stated “clear vision for long-term, sustainable growth and success.”

Skinner’s tenure saw the Red Devils finish fourth in the WSL last season and reach the Champions League quarter-finals, achievements the club acknowledged as building “important foundations.”

Matt Johnson, United’s director of women’s football, lauded Olid’s qualities: “Eva is an outstanding coach with an incredible determination to succeed. Her remarkable achievements at Heart of Midlothian showcased her ability to maximise the potential of individual players whilst also implementing an exciting style of football. We are delighted that she will now bring those qualities to Manchester United. Eva is the perfect coach to lead us into an exciting new era.”

Johnson further emphasised the alignment of Olid’s philosophy with the club’s long-term strategy: “She shares our commitment to developing exciting homegrown and young players, a tradition deeply embedded in our club’s history and culture, as well as improving established senior internationals, both of which form an integral part of our vision for long-term, sustainable success.”

Olid’s first competitive match in charge will be the WSL season opener against London City Lionesses on 4 September.

WRU chiefs have said the process to decide the framework for the final decision will begin in December and finish before the end of the 2026-27 campaign.

Daniels believes there is scope to continue with four Welsh regions, and would like the WRU to explain its rationale for removing a team in the west.

“From a club perspective, we feel that the decision, and the justification, for moving from four [clubs] to three needs more work,” Daniels added.

“I understand that there is data which has been used to come up with this decision. It hasn’t been shared. We will really call for transparency in that discussion.

“These are decisions that are going to have a long-lasting effect, not just on rugby, but on communities in west Wales. I think that needs a proper airing publicly.”

He added: “Our position is that before you can come out and make statements which have such an impact on people in Wales, I still feel there is a discussion and justification needed for the move to reduce the number of teams.

“Welsh rugby should be able to accommodate four teams, just as they do in Ireland and other countries.

“If there is data and evidence that we can’t, then let’s have the discussion about how you reduce the number of teams.

“Even then, I think we would struggle to see how that should be isolated to the west and not be a broader Welsh rugby challenge to face.”

Daniels says it is Scarlets’ duty to ensure the uncertainty surrounding them does not creep into their on-field performance.

Instead, he feels the WRU’s current stance should unite Scarlets and wants to see everyone, players, supporters and staff, fighting for their future.

President Donald Trump speaks as FIFA President Gianni Infantino listens at a reception at Trump Tower in New York, Friday, July 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

US President Donald Trump is reportedly prepared to do “everything possible” to help Gianni Infantino remain FIFA president as the football governing body’s chief faces the biggest leadership crisis of his tenure following the collapse of the controversial FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) proposal.The latest development comes as Infantino continues to battle mounting political pressure within world football after abandoning plans to sell minority stakes in FIFA competitions, including the men’s and women’s World Cups, with growing calls to remove him as FIFA president.While FIFA has denied reports of recent contact between Infantino and the White House, fresh claims suggest Trump remains firmly in the Swiss administrator’s corner.

Trump reportedly remains loyal to Infantino

According to The Telegraph, Trump is willing to support Infantino despite the growing backlash against the FIFA president.The report states that Infantino was expected to hold discussions with members of Trump’s administration, including US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in an effort to stabilise his position. Both FIFA and the US State Department denied those reports.However, a senior administration official close to both Trump and Infantino told The Telegraph that the US president continues to value his relationship with the FIFA chief following the successful staging of the 2026 FIFA World Cup across the United States, Canada and Mexico.The official said:“Gianni helped us a lot to deliver the best World Cup ever. The president likes him a lot. I am sure the president will do everything possible to help him.”The source added:“I don’t think the president will change his mind on him, because he is a loyal person. Gianni really delivered the World Cup for the United States. We value that.”

FIFA denies reports of recent contact

The claims surfaced just days after reports suggested Infantino had attempted to reach Trump following the collapse of FIFA’s commercialisation proposal.According to the New York Post, the FIFA president unsuccessfully tried to contact the US president after abandoning the controversial plan.FIFA, however, strongly rejected those suggestions.A FIFA spokesperson said:“The FIFA President has not made any call to the US President, or any members of his administration, in recent days. It is pure fiction.”Trump also distanced himself from the controversy when asked directly about the proposal last week.Speaking to reporters during a Cabinet meeting at Camp David before FIFA officially withdrew the plan, Trump responded:“No, I never spoke to him.”

Relationship stretches back several years

Despite the latest denials, Trump’s relationship with Infantino has been well documented over recent years.The pair first established a rapport after meeting in 2018, when Infantino reportedly brought red and yellow football cards to the meeting, joking they “could be useful” for Trump in dealing with the media.

FILE – President Donald Trump holds up a red card during a meeting with FIFA president Gianni Infantino, center, and United States Soccer Federation president Carlos Cordeiro, left, in the Oval Office of the White House, Aug. 28, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)

Their relationship strengthened further during preparations for the 2026 World Cup.

FILE – President Donald Trump shakes hands with FIFA President Gianni Infantino as he presented with the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize during the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw at the Kennedy Center, Dec. 5, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)

At the tournament draw in December, Infantino presented Trump with the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize, awarding him a golden trophy and commemorative medal. The honour attracted widespread criticism, particularly after the United States later launched military strikes on Iran.During the World Cup itself, Trump also publicly acknowledged contacting Infantino after United States forward Folarin Balogun was sent off, asking whether the suspension could be appealed before the Americans’ Round of 16 fixture against Belgium.Reports also emerged before the current controversy that Trump had privately considered supporting Infantino for the role of United Nations secretary-general.

Attention now turns to the 2027 election

Infantino remains in office for now, but his political future has become significantly less certain than it appeared only weeks ago.All 211 FIFA member associations are scheduled to vote by secret ballot in the presidential election in March 2027, with any candidate requiring a simple majority if only two contenders stand.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino

Potential challengers are already beginning to emerge, with CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani, Paris Saint-Germain president Nasser Al-Khelaifi and FIFA General Secretary Mattias Grafström all linked with possible bids.For now, Infantino continues to receive backing from a handful of influential allies, including the reported support of Trump, but the fallout from the abandoned World Cup commercialisation plan has transformed what was once expected to be a straightforward re-election into one of the most uncertain leadership battles FIFA has faced in recent years.

In a surprising turn of events, Keyshawn Davis withdrew his option to challenge for Devin Haney’s WBO welterweight world title, despite pleading for the opportunity not long ago. Now, Shakur Stevenson has offered his thoughts on Davis’ decision to pull out.

Davis claimed the WBO lightweight world title when he knocked out Denys Berinchyk last February, but he lost the belt on the scales as his first defence – against Edwin De Los Santos – was cancelled in the summer.

Instead, ‘The Businessman’ moved up to super-lightweight and debuted with an impressive stoppage of Jamaine Ortiz back in January, before a comfortable decision victory in a rematch with Nahir Albright in May.

Yet, after just two outings at 140lbs, Davis once again revealed his intentions to move up in weight, targeting a shot at Haney’s WBO welterweight crown and being mandated to take on the Californian in his first contest at 147lbs.

Following the end of their 30-day negotiation period, the bout went to purse bids and Top Rank won the rights to stage the event, with Davis set to net over $2 million for his world title bid.

However, shortly after the live-streamed purse bids, the WBO received an email confirming Davis’ withdrawal from the fight, reportedly due to the belief that he was being underpaid.

Although, speaking on the Cigar Talk YouTube channel, four-division world champion and good friend of Davis’, Stevenson, outlined why he believes the Norfolk-born champion’s move is unlikely to purely be down to money.

“At the end of the day, his decision is his decision. I believe that, if he has made that decision, there must be a lot more to it. 

“Nah, I am not buying that [it was solely about the money]. I think that there has got to be more to the story. I have dealt with these people before, they know how to make things look a certain way, I have been in his shoes before.”

Haney is understood to be hoping to proceed with the touted October 3 fight date, with a potential unification against IBF welterweight world champion, Liam Paro, now appearing to be a possible option.

Work is underway on a £13 million project in Wythenshawe, UK, which will unite the Wythenshawe Park Hub and Wythenshawe Sports Ground Hub as a single integrated destination.

Delivered by Alliance Leisure for Manchester City Council, the project will create an active environment where modern sports facilities, healthcare provision, community spaces and active travel infrastructure work together, reflecting the growing trend towards integrating leisure and health to support preventative wellbeing.

The Wythenshawe Park Hub is at the centre of the wider park masterplan. The single-storey facility will include a reception area, café, flexible community spaces, changing facilities, a cycle hub and workshop, as well as GP and health provision delivered in partnership with Northern Moor Medical Practice and Manchester Health and Care Commissioning, bringing primary healthcare into the heart of the park.

The wider scheme also includes improved connectivity across the park, with relocated athletics and baseball facilities, enhanced parking and access, all of which will help create a vibrant multi-sport destination that supports year-round participation.

The existing pavilion at Wythenshawe Sports Ground will be refurbished to provide a new reception, café, community rooms and Football Foundation-compliant changing facilities, while providing a permanent home for the weightlifting club relocating from Wythenshawe Park.

Together, the two hubs have been designed to operate as a single destination where healthcare, sport, community services and active travel are brought together to encourage people to be more active, more often.

Councillor Shazia Butt, executive member for culture, leisure and libraries at Manchester City Council, said: “This investment is about much more than new buildings. It is about creating a connected neighbourhood hub where sport, health, education and community services come together to help people live healthier, more active lives.

“By improving access to physical activity and wellbeing support, creating new jobs, skills and volunteering opportunities and providing a home for local clubs and community groups, the work will deliver lasting benefits for residents of all ages and backgrounds.

“The project will help tackle health inequalities, support the growth of grassroots sport, create opportunities for women, girls and disabled people to get active, and strengthen civic pride across Wythenshawe. Importantly, it will also provide a sustainable legacy for the city, generating long-term social, health, economic and environmental benefits while supporting Manchester’s ambitions for healthier communities and a greener future.”

James Foley, regional director at Alliance Leisure, said: “Across the country, we’re seeing increasing recognition that the places we create have a profound impact on people’s health and wellbeing. Projects like this one in Wythenshawe demonstrate how place-based investment in community infrastructure can bring together sport, health and local services to make active lifestyles part of everyday life.”

Construction is expected to be completed in autumn 2027.