With the countdown to Aichi-Nagoya nearing its final stretch, India’s Asian Games campaign took a significant step forward on Monday as the country’s contingent received its formal send-off from the Indian Olympic Association (IOA). Athletes, coaches and support staff gathered in New Delhi ahead of the September 19 opening, marking the transition from preparation to competition for a team seeking to build on India’s record 107-medal haul from the 2023 Asian Games.

The send-off ceremony also featured messages from Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and IOA president PT Usha, who urged athletes to embrace the challenge and focus on delivering their best.

Sports minister urges athletes to turn pressure into performance

Addressing the contingent, Mansukh Mandaviya highlighted India’s growing pool of sporting talent and urged athletes to channel the pressure of competing at the Asian Games into performance.

He encouraged them to treat their opponents as opportunities to test themselves and convert those opportunities into achievements, while adding that he expected the contingent to raise India’s standing at the Games.

PT Usha asks athletes to embrace the occasion

Usha urged the athletes not to be overwhelmed by the scale of the Asian Games, reminding them that they had already earned their place among the best in Asia.

She asked them to draw strength from the expectations surrounding the team rather than treating them as a burden. Usha also encouraged the athletes to enjoy the competition and approach their events with courage, humility and belief in their ability.

Athletes discuss the challenge ahead

The ceremony also featured a panel discussion involving Olympic medallist Swapnil Kusale, Commonwealth Games gold medallist Asmita Dey, Commonwealth Games medallist and weightlifter Gyaneshwari Yadav, and kabaddi player Pawan Sehrawat.

India seeks to build on 107-medal haul

India’s campaign in Aichi-Nagoya will cover a wide range of disciplines as athletes take on leading sporting nations from across Asia.

The contingent enters the Games after India’s best-ever Asian Games medal tally in 2023, when the country won 107 medals in Hangzhou. The IOA and Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports will hope the current team can build on that performance when competition begins in Japan.

The send-off brought together athletes, coaches and members of the support staff, highlighting the collective effort behind India’s Asian Games campaign.

A former undisputed champion has expressed his desire to face any of the big names between 154 and 160lbs, including Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis, Vergil Ortiz Jr and Tim Tszyu.

The man in question is Jermell Charlo, who has not fought since September 2023, back when he moved up to 168lbs and lost a unanimous decision to Canelo Alvarez.

Prior to that, he became the undisputed super-welterweight king but, given his age and inactivity, is unlikely to return to action at 154lbs.

Instead, Charlo has predominantly been linked to fights at middleweight, with former world champion Tszyu representing a potential opponent following his unanimous decision victory over Errol Spence Jr in July.

According to ‘Iron Man’, though, the Australian has gone “quiet” despite his best efforts to explore the opportunity with long-term advisor Al Haymon.

Equally, Charlo has suggested that the team of Ortiz, who he is rumoured to be facing later this year, has no real intention to negotiate their showdown.

Taking to social media, the American also questioned why unified super-welterweight champion Ennis and Sebastian Fundora, who holds the WBC strap at 154lbs, have expressed no interest in facing him.

“[Tszyu] got quiet after Errol. Boots tryna build a name bullying retired fighters [Terence Crawford]. The 6ft 6in giraffe [Fundora] still figuring out what he wanna do. Vergil Ortiz and them doing all that lying just to spark some s**t. Meanwhile, I’m still right here.

“Stop talking around my name and put one of ’em in front of me. Tim. Boots. Vergil. The giraffe. LINE ’EM UP.”

The only fighter out of the aforementioned four to have an official date in the diary is Fundora, who will defend his world title against mandatory challenger Ermal Hadribeaj on October 17, while Ennis, Ortiz and Tszyu await their next fight confirmations, with Tszyu likely to remain at middleweight and Tszyu reported also considering a move up.

Fans will only be convinced any of the fights happen when Charlo books a ring return, which will likely be at a lower level given the major inactivity.

Florida State head coach Mike Norvell entered the 2026 college football season on the hot seat following back-to-back losing years in Tallahassee. 

After leading Florida State to a 13-0 regular season and an ACC championship in 2023, Florida State finished 2-10 in 2024 and 5-7 in 2025. 

Norvell holds an overall record of 38-34 at Florida State, including a 22-26 record in ACC play through six seasons. As FSU aims to meet fans and boosters’ expectations, questions surrounding Norvell’s contract and potential buyout details have emerged.

What Is Mike Norvell’s 2026 Salary?

Florida State head coach Mike Norvell takes the field ahead of the Seminoles’ matchup against No. 19 SMU, which was delayed nearly two hours. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)

Norvell signed an eight-year contract extension prior to the 2024 season valued at more than $84 million through 2031, averaging roughly $10 million annually. Following the 2024 season, Norvell agreed to a restructured arrangement that directed $4.5 million toward institutional revenue-sharing initiatives. His contract includes a scheduled $150,000 salary increase each season.

How Much Is Norvell’s Buyout After This Season?

If Florida State terminates Norvell without cause during or before the conclusion of the 2026 season, the university would owe him approximately $51 million, according to On3.com. If the decision occurs after the 2026 season, the buyout figure drops to roughly $45.6 million.

According to On3.com, Norvell is owed 85% of his remaining salary and supplemental compensation. The buyout would reportedly be paid in monthly installments of approximately $800,000 through 2031 if fired after this season. 

What Is Florida State’s Toughest Games And Remaining Schedule?

Florida State opened the 2026 season with a home win over New Mexico State before taking on SMU. 

The remaining schedule includes a non-conference road contest at Alabama on Sept. 19 and the regular-season finale against rival Florida on Nov. 27 in Tallahassee. 

Florida State’s 2026 Football Schedule:

• Aug. 29: vs. New Mexico State
• Sept. 7: vs. SMU
• Sept. 19: at Alabama
• Sept. 26: vs. Central Arkansas
• Oct. 3: vs. Virginia
• Oct. 9: at Louisville
• Oct. 17: at Miami
• Oct. 31: vs. Clemson
• Nov. 7: at Boston College
• Nov. 13: at Pitt
• Nov. 21: vs. NC State
• Nov. 27: vs. Florida

For programs wanting to leave no doubt and impress the College Football Playoff Selection Committee after the first week of the season, Miami and LSU answered the call against Power Four opponents in blowout fashion with style points to boot.

Malachi Toney eviscerated Stanford’s secondary in his sophomore debut during a scintillating 234-yard, three-touchdown performance, while Lane Kiffin’s LSU debut signaled the Tigers as an immediate threat in the SEC thanks to one of the most complete rosters in the country.

LSU will play five nationally ranked opponents this fall, compared to only one for the Hurricanes. That gives Kiffin’s group margin for error, especially after beating Clemson and grabbing a quality non-conference victory.

We’ve updated our CFP bracket projection along with every other postseason matchup after Week 1. The most significant change? Boise State sliding into the Group of Six’s top choice despite a season-opening loss at Oregon.

If the Broncos take out unbeaten Memphis in Week 2, the path is abundantly clear for Boise State to get to the playoff from the Pac-12. Memphis handled UNLV on the road in Week 0 before holding off Arkansas State over the weekend, proving Charles Huff is ahead of schedule in his first season with the Tigers.

College Football Playoff projections 

First round 

Don’t see your team? Check out Brad Crawford’s complete bowl projections for every game.

Projected College Football Playoff field breakdown

No. 1 Miami (ACC champion): My preseason No. 1 and only projected team to get through the regular season unscathed this fall, the Hurricanes looked the part in Friday night’s drubbing of Stanford. The Darian Mensah-to-Malachi Toney connection looks unstoppable, and the former Duke quarterback finished with 401 yards through the air. It’s unlikely Miami will be tested this season before a Nov. 7 showdown at Notre Dame, so the focus here is execution and avoiding an unexpected trip up in the ACC.

No. 2 Georgia (SEC champion): How’s a 60-point win to open the season for Kirby Smart and his boys? The SEC was a perfect 16-0 over the weekend, disposing of several out-manned opponents along with marquee wins for LSU and Ole Miss against Power Four competition. Georgia was perfect against Tennessee State, scoring four first-quarter touchdowns in the rout. Gunner Stockton was sharp, Nate Frazier piled up three touchdowns, and Mike Bobo did enough to get a fifth quarterback into the game.

No. 3 Ohio State (Big Ten champion): The Buckeyes played it safe against Ball State with a seismic matchup coming at Texas this weekend, and Ryan Day couldn’t have scripted a better first showing for Ohio State’s new-look offense. Play-caller Arthur Smith’s game plan was to get the football to Jeremiah Smith in the first half — eight catches for 151 yards — and get him out of there for the second. Quarterback Julian Sayin completed 21 of 25 passes for 320 yards and three touchdowns before coming out of the contest midway through the third quarter.

No. 4 Notre Dame: After going the speed limit in the first half of Sunday night’s 41-13 victory over Wisconsin, the Irish outscored the Badgers 28-3 after intermission and kicked into overdrive with impressive execution on both sides of the football. They’ve found their RB1 in Aneyas Williams and Nolan James, another running back in Notre Dame’s by-committee approach, who torched the Badgers out of the backfield as a pass-catcher. DJ McKinney‘s pick six in the third quarter broke it open as the Irish passed the eye test in the opener.

No. 5 Texas (SEC runner-up): We’ll know more about the Longhorns and their CFP path after this weekend’s battle with Ohio State, but this renovated offense with new additions looked superb in the opener. Cam Coleman scored two touchdowns, Arch Manning threw for 305 yards and four scores, and Will Muschamp’s defense forced three turnovers during a 52-point beatdown of Texas State.

No. 6 Texas Tech (Big 12 champion): After a pair of first-quarter touchdown runs from J’Koby Williams and Quinten Joyner, the Red Raiders went six consecutive possessions without a touchdown against Abilene Christian. The 33-10 win was never in doubt for the heavy Big 12 favorites, but several drives stalled out, leading to field goals. Will Hammond went 26 of 33 for 298 yards, an interception and a 64-yard touchdown pass late for the Red Raiders, who may not be as dominant as they were last season. But this is a one-game sample size, and we’re not pulling hard narratives, yet.

No. 7 Indiana (Big Ten runner-up): The Hoosiers pulled away from North Texas with a 21-point fourth quarter to extend their nation-leading winning streak to 17 games under Curt Cignetti. That’s going to end against a Big Ten opponent later this fall, but Indiana will be back in the playoff if it gets to double-digit wins. It’s a new, annual expectation in Bloomington after winning a national championship.

No. 8 Oregon: See what happens when you open against a respectable opponent with two new coordinators making their highly anticipated debuts? There’s no need to panic if you’re the Ducks after narrowly escaping Boise State at home. No one on the selection committee is going to point to that one unless the conversation centers around the Broncos and their Group of Six hopes. Oregon overcame a sputtering start, delivered in the second half when it mattered and avoided Week 1’s biggest upset. All is well in Eugene.

No. 9 LSU: We’re not altering our projected playoff seed just yet for the Tigers, but if there’s any team that created value for itself in Week 1, it was LSU. It looked personal for Lane Kiffin, whose squad abused Clemson in Baton Rouge to hand Dabo Swinney his worst career loss. It was a necessary primetime statement for an LSU team facing a plethora of distractions coming into the campaign as college football’s public enemy No. 1 and a transfer-infused roster that, at least on paper, looks unstoppable. The first test was aced with precision. Ole Miss in Week 3 will provide further anecdotes.

No. 10 BYU (Big 12 runner-up): The Cougars chose not to play with their food the first time out, running off 42 first-half points during a 63-7 blitzkrieg of Utah Tech. BYU forced four turnovers, delivered 9 of 11 third-down conversions and piled up 308 yards rushing against a team that essentially amounted to a practice squad opponent. Bear Bachmeier‘s continued development at quarterback is an area to watch this fall.

No. 11 SMU (ACC runner-up): Opening the season with a key conference win at Florida State is better than most contenders can say after Week 1, considering the majority of preseason top-25 teams enjoyed glorified practices against weak competition. We’re projecting the winner of SMU-Louisville later this month to reach the ACC Championship Game against Miami this fall. The Cardinals could’ve strengthened their CFP hopes with a win over Ole Miss, but it wasn’t to be during Sunday night’s epic 41-38 tussle in Nashville.

No. 12 Boise State: The Broncos fought valiantly at Oregon during one of Week 1’s best games, showing fight and resiliency throughout. Sans a coverage breakdown midway through the fourth quarter that Dakorien Moore exploited for a go-ahead 62-yard touchdown reception, Spencer Danielson has to like what he saw from his team — clearly one of the most complete in the Group of Six. Boise State’s upcoming matchup with Memphis (2-0) provides an early glimpse at the frontrunner for the auto-bid from outside the Power Four.

A special edition celebrating the life and career of one of Britain’s greatest and most popular boxers

In boxing, there are a select special breed – few in number – whose light shines with such brilliance it enters the homes, then hearts of those who never pay to watch punches swapped. It seeps into showbiz and society. It turns champions into icons. It bathes those capable of casting the spell in a blanket of mass adulation.

Not many have been blessed with the charisma to claim a kingdom far beyond the ring’s canvas.

As we approach the one year anniversary of his death, our special edition ‘ There’s Only One Ricky Hatton’ is on sale now and celebrates the life and career of the Hitman as he became one of the country’s most loved sportsmen.

Frank Bruno, at his peak, possessed the hypnotic ability, so did Barry McGuigan. Before them, Henry Cooper had the magic. The combined flames of their fame did not burn as brightly as that of the undisputed people’s champion, Ricky Hatton.

It raged with an intensity that drew all ages and all cultures to it, with a ferocity that meant it was destined to be extinguished too quickly. The Pride of Hyde’s roots went far beyond the Greater Manchester town, spreading across the country.

To Mancunians, he was “one of us” – the Manchester City diehard talked their language, drank their beer, shared their love of fast food, listened with them to the music of Oasis. But his working class charm also seeped south, it even touched America: they “got him” too.

We take a look back at his life in the ring where Hatton was, for far too brief a time, simply untouchable, a ruthless, all-action machine who delivered body punches like a lumberjack wielding an axe.

His “seek and destroy” style merited the nickname “Hitman”. He was a 5ft 6ins bundle of controlled fury. His appearances attracted thousands in the UK, while we look back at the magical nights in Las Vegas where he was followed by an army of supporters.

He was a box office phenomenon who rewarded the faithful by seizing titles at light-welter and welterweight in sensational fashion.

We relive one of British boxing’s greatest moments when Ricky halted Kostya Tszyu in the emotionally charged setting of Manchester’s MEN Arena.

And we look back at his global super-fights. No other fighter could lure 30,000 fans to Las Vegas where Ricky faced legends Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.

Hatton – the fighter – was very, very special, and as a personality he was box-office.

When asked, during an appearance on daytime show Loose Women why he put on so much weight between contests, Ricky replied deadpan: “I have a lot on my plate.”

“I’ve got a problem with my legs,” he smirked. “I can’t walk past a chippy.”

There really only is one Ricky Hatton.

Click HERE to buy online and have it delivered directly to your door, or you can purchase it in participating supermarkets, high street retailers and independent newsagents in the UK from September 8, 2026. Online postage and packaging costs apply.

Vikings Territory Breakdown Podcast

“And. . .  here we go!”

Those fictional words from the The Joker in “The Dark Knight” are where we start this 2026 NFL season, beginning for the Vikings on September 13^th versus the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium. Will the Vikings turn the switch and beat the Packers? Or will the Packers, without two of their best players surprise some and stop Kyler Murray and the Purple and send their season on an early death spiral?

Okay, the metaphor is stretched a bit , here. We are not pitting the good and bad of human nature against itself like in the movie, but where it applies is us not knowing what will happen next and how the players will react. The Vikings come into the game with a new quarterback, a new defensive line, a new third wide receiver and a new punter, while the Packers come to the game without the services of Micah Parsons and Josh Jacobs. Anything, at this point, can happen.

The two teams split games last season (although the Vikings’ win came in their season finale when Green Bay was resting players for the playoffs), so the Vikings get a chance to beat them for real right out of the gate this season. And a win would go a long way toward starting the season off on the right path. A season that includes games the first two weeks against divisional foes (they travel to Chicago in week 2) in a division that will be very difficult and competitive this year.

We all think we know (like the Joker thought he did) what will happen. But that’s why they play the games. Speculation, prognostication and prediction all go out the window (like the detonator in the movie) when the opening kickoff arrives. Still, there is time for a little more prediction, and the fellas at the Vikings Territory Breakdown podcast—Joe Oberle, senior writer at vikingsterritory.com and purplePTSD.com, and Mark Craig, NFL and Vikings writer for the Star Tribune and startribune.com, are just the dynamic duo to do it. Tune in and check it out. 

And . . .  here we go! Skol!

Listen to Vikings Territory Breakdown Podcast here or on you favorite podcast network.

Joe Oberle is a veteran sportswriter/editor/reporter and has covered the Vikings since 2008. The author of three books, he … More about Joe Oberle

Aside from wins and losses, attendance may be the most meaningful measurement of how well a college football team is doing in a season.

Healthy ticket sales reflect a team’s on-the-field success in a given season, but they also pay the bills for a substantial share of an athletic department’s expenses.

However, a game’s reported attendance number doesn’t always tell the whole story of a program’s success or failure. Athletic department budgets vary, and a number that foots the bill for one school may not cut muster for another.

Washington State will never fit 60,000 fans in its 33,000-seat venue, but selling out Martin Stadium every game in a season will likely do more for the WSU athletic department than the same 33,000 weekly attendance figure would do for Washington or USC.

Consequently, the attendance tables below show each team’s attendance by total and as a percentage of capacity.

The tables display the stadium capacities for all 27 SuperWest region teams, along with a running summation of attendance totals and averages for the 2025 season, as well as weekly totals for each week of the season.

(Hawai’i is temporarily playing in TC Ching’s Athletic Complex until the New Aloha Stadium Entertainment District is completed.)

Week 0 Attendance

Week 1 Attendance

Week 1 of the regular season is finally here and teams across the NFL are putting the final touches on their roster while others are dealing with last-minute injury news before the season kicks off Wednesday with the Super Bowl rematch between the Patriots and Seahawks.

The Atlanta Falcons formally named Tua Tagovailoa as their Week 1 starting quarterback, while the Dallas Cowboys suffered a blow to their offensive line with All-Pro guard Tyler Smith set for thumb surgery. 

Down under, the Niners and Rams are preparing to play the first NFL game in Australia and one side is confirming the return of a pass rusher while the other is being more secretive about theirs.

Here is the latest news from around the league on Monday.

Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald remained noncommittal Monday about whether he will travel, let alone suit up for the team’s Week 1 opener against the San Francisco 49ers in Melbourne, Australia. 

Speaking to reporters following practice, the recently unretired veteran offered vague answers when asked if he plans to make the trip and play on Thursday.

“Feeling really good. Feeling great,” Donald said when asked about traveling to Australia. “Come up with a game plan and see what’s going on.”

Donald, who ended his retirement Aug. 30 to rejoin the Rams, continues to work through a progressive conditioning ramp-up. 

While head coach Sean McVay previously indicated the entire roster is expected to make the flight, Donald’s actual game-day snap count and active availability remain a day-to-day evaluation as kickoff approaches.

Meanwhile, Myles Garrett looked like he was trying to add more power to his tackles, so the Rams’ pass rush will still be plenty for opposing offenses to handle.

San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Raheem Morris told reporters Monday that star defensive end Nick Bosa will play in Thursday’s season-opening matchup against the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia. 

Bosa, who tore his right ACL in Week 3 of last season and dealt with knee tendinitis during training camp, returned to practice last week before making the flight with the team.

“He’s going [to play]. We are not hiding that,” Morris told reporters.

Bosa’s return provides a key boost to a San Francisco pass rush that finished last in the NFL in sacks last season. While the team may manage his snap volume as he continues building up his conditioning, his active status anchors the 49ers’ defense for the historic kickoff in Australia.

Browns’ Todd Monken Hints Taylen Green Could Be QB2

 

Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken told reporters Monday that sixth-round rookie quarterback Taylen Green could be active for Week 1 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, potentially serving as the primary game-day option behind starter Deshaun Watson. 

When asked if Green could earn the gameday active spot over Shedeur Sanders to run specialized athletic packages, Monken left the door open. 

“Could be,” Monken said. “There could be a package where we have him.” Monken added that while activating three quarterbacks on game day remains possible. Green, a sixth-round pick in April’s draft, made the Browns’ 53-man roster as QB3 after Dillon Gabriel was placed on injured reserve due to a back injury.

Monken named Watson the starting quarterback on Aug. 24 after a competition in training camp between him and Sanders.

While the Dallas Cowboys’ offense has undergone constant turnover in recent seasons, guard Tyler Smith has remained a steady anchor. 

Now, the Cowboys must survive without him after head coach Brian Schottenheimer announced Monday that Smith will be sidelined. He is expected to miss 4-to-6 weeks after undergoing thumb surgery. 

The surgery will force Smith to miss at least the first four games of the regular season while opening up a spot on the 53-man active roster.

“Tyler Smith is going to have surgery on his thumb tomorrow morning,” Schottenheimer said during his press conference. “It’s something that he’s just been dealing with.”

With Smith sidelined, offensive lineman T.J. Bass is slated to take over as the starting left guard. 

Bass joined the organization as an undrafted free agent and has made 10 career starts, including five last year. The Cowboys retained Bass this offseason after placing a second-round restricted free agent tender on him.

The Cowboys are set to open their season on Sunday night when they travel to New York to take on the Giants on Sunday Night Football.

The New York Giants officially released veteran wide receiver Darius Slayton on Monday, ending his seven-year tenure with the organization. 

Selected in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL Draft, the 29-year-old was the longest-tenured player on New York’s roster before his release. Slayton had 296 catches for 4,435 receiving yards and 22 touchdowns in seven seasons in New York.

The decision clears roster space as the Giants finalize a receiving corps led by Malik Nabers, Odell Beckham Jr., Darnell Mooney, and rookie Malachi Fields ahead of their Week 1 opener against the Dallas Cowboys. 

Slayton posted a farewell message on X Monday thanking the organization, officially becoming an unrestricted free agent.

The Giants signed Slayton to a three-year, $36 million deal before last season. He was due $13 million this season.

The move creates just over $3 million in cap space for this year.

After a competitive quarterback battle, the Atlanta Falcons are naming Tua Tagovailoa as the starter for Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Head coach Kevin Stefanski made the announcement official on Monday morning.

Michael Penix Jr. is still recovering from season-ending knee surgery, though he is expected to return to the field later this year. Until he is fully cleared, Tagovailoa will take the reins as Atlanta’s starter.

With Penix’s return still unknown, Stefanski is expected to rock with Cooper Rush as the backup to start the season.

Tagovailoa is coming off an up-and-down final season in Miami. Over 14 starts with the Dolphins, he completed 67.7% of his passes for 2,660 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions, while adding 43 yards on the ground

• Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales remains optimistic running back Jonathon Brooks will suit up for Sunday’s opener against the Chicago Bears despite missing his third consecutive practice due to general soreness.
• Arizona Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur expressed optimism Monday that first-round rookie running back Jeremiyah Love would play in Sunday’s opener against the Los Angeles Chargers as he completes his recovery from a preseason high ankle sprain.
• Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua is expected to play in Thursday’s Week 1 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers in Australia after being held out during August practice sessions while recovering from a psoas injury.
• Six-time Pro Bowl safety Harrison Smith agreed to terms on a new deal with the Minnesota Vikings, officially returning to the franchise for his 15th NFL season after contemplating retirement during the offseason.
• The New York Giants agreed to a two-year, $13 million extension with veteran backup quarterback Jameis Winston, keeping him under contract through 2028.

Pakistan captain Babar Azam was not consulted about the decision to tear up his squad ahead of this week’s final Test against England, admitting the drastic cull was “news to me”.

Heavy defeats at Headingley and Lord’s were met with sweeping changes by the Pakistan Cricket Board, who reacted by sending seven players home as well as removing head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and his assistant Umar Gul from their positions.

A raft of replacements were summoned, including five with no Test experience, while white-ball coach Mike Hesson and Ashley Noffke were drafted to take charge at Edgbaston this week.

Addressing the remarkable sequence of events for the first time on the eve of the third Test, Babar admitted decisions had been taken without his knowledge but attempted to frame it as a fresh chance for those still in Birmingham.

Speaking in Urdu, he said: “It was news to me. I found out after. The PCB decided it, so they will be able to explain better.

“The PCB’s decision must have been taken after some thought process. It’s better if you ask them why. It’s an opportunity for us as a group and a team. The series is lost but we have nothing to lose. We should play freely and believe in ourselves as a team.

“It’s an opportunity for the new boys and a chance to showcase their talent. Any young player who comes in is excited, and that excitement is visible. I believe that will be visible in the match, too.

“I firmly believe you need to grab opportunities and perform in difficult conditions. That’s why we play cricket, because we have to perform and dominate in difficult conditions. We need to forget about past failures and shift focus to the future.”

Babar offered nothing further on the internal inquiry into “discipline and conduct” which was announced by the board on Tuesday, adding in English: “No, I don’t know. I have no idea about it.”

Meanwhile, former Pakistan all-rounder Wasim Akram renewed calls for “fair treatment” for his one-time captain and ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan.

The PCB reportedly considered refusing to let players take the field at Lord’s due to a dispute with Sky Sports over Michael Atherton’s interview with Khan’s sons Kasim and Sulaiman, in which they criticised their imprisoned father’s treatment and healthcare in the strongest terms.

Atherton was one of 14 former international captains who co-signed a letter to current Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif pleading for Khan to be treated humanely and with “basic human consideration”.

Akram, appearing on the ‘Old Boys, New Balls’ podcast co-hosted by another former England captain, Sir Ian Botham, said: “We would like to thank all the captains that recently signed a petition for Imran.

“I feel for skipper, I miss him as a friend, I miss him as a mentor, we miss him as a leader. We haven’t seen his picture for three years.

“What we want from this government is to give him the fair treatment, like other politicians had before.

“Fingers are crossed, Inshallah the whole nation is behind him and he’ll be out (soon).”

PA

On the football pitches of Bundesliga club Wolfsburg, the Afghanistan women’s national team is training and doing exactly what is strictly forbidden in their home country: playing football.

In the first session of the day, the coaches’ main focus is helping the players get to know each other better and have fun. That’s because, as of April of this year, these young women are now officially allowed to play football as the Afghan national team.

FIFA, the world’s football federation, has amended its regulations, allowing Afghan women to once again represent their country in official international matches and FIFA competitions.

“This was a huge victory for us, a wonderful moment, and one of the moments we’re most proud of. Because once again, the women of our country have made history and brought about change,” Khalida Popal told DW. The former captain and founder of the organization Girl Power has been a pioneer for women’s football in her country.

Karimi: ‘I’m incredibly proud’

Since the Taliban took power in 2021, the players and Popal have fought for the recognition that has now become a reality.

“I’m incredibly proud that we can now officially play as a national team,” said midfielder Maryam Karimi.

For Karimi, who has been living in Portugal since fleeing Afghanistan, FIFA’s decision is more than just a formality.

“I hope that one day we’ll be able to play in Afghanistan again with this team.”

Until then, however, Afghanistan remains a national team without a home.

“We’ll probably be one of the first national teams in history that has no home and no country in which to play,” said Popal. “We’ll compete from exile and represent our country.”

Today, the players are scattered across the world. Many have traveled from England, Italy, Portugal or Germany, but some have also found refuge in Australia.

“We come from different countries and can’t play together regularly. But when I see the players, they’re incredibly united. They keep going and push each other forward,” said Karimi.

Gaining More Visibility Through Football

The 39-year-old Popal wants to use her experience to help the players and advance their athletic development. She wants the national team to be known not only for what was taken from them, but also for what it achieves on the field.

“The first goal, of course, is to build a strong team that performs well on the field,” said Popal. “Because the better we play, the better we can represent our country, and the more visible we’ll become.”

But that is precisely where the biggest challenge currently lies. In Afghanistan itself, a regular system for women’s football cannot be established at this time. As long as the Taliban are in power, women are not allowed to play sports.

So there is nowhere for young talent to be nurtured; there is no funding and no support from the country the players represent. This is because the Afghan Football Federation — unlike FIFA — does not recognize the women’s team. For the time being, therefore, the team’s future must be built outside the country.

“We have no federation and no country where talent can develop,” said Popal. That is why the team relies heavily on the Afghan diaspora. There, the team is looking for players who may never have played for a club in Afghanistan, but who could represent their parents’ country in the future.

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Popal: ‘The Taliban are erasing women from society’

To organize football camps like these, the women rely on outside support. The summer 2026 camp was made possible by an invitation from Volkswagen and Wolfsburg, but Popal and her organization still have a lot of work ahead of them. 

Giving players who have fled Afghanistan a place back in international football is one part of the challenge, but so is creating structures and a foundation on which Afghan women’s football can be built.

“It will be a team that stands up to the Taliban. Because the Taliban are erasing women from society,” said Popal.

“We will play football to stand up for the women of our country. When the players take the field, they’re also playing for those women in Afghanistan who aren’t allowed to.”

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Just like the former captain, the other young women on the team feel the same way. Midfielder Karimi wants to use football to draw more attention to her friends and all the women in her homeland.

“I can make my voice heard through the way I play football,” Karimi said. “I can make my voice heard from the field.”

Popal: “These girls are our future”

Despite a long battle for the human rights taken away from women by the Taliban, Popal keeps pushing because she wants to make sure that the women wearing the national team’s jersey today are not the last generation to do so.

“I believe that Afghanistan won’t stay this way forever. These dark days will pass. These girls will be the next coaches of the Afghan women’s national team, the next directors of football academies, the next president, or the next ministers of our country,” said Popal.

“And that is exactly why we are investing in these girls: because they are the future.”

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This article was originally published in German.

Edited by: Matt Pearson