Former Indian cricket team captain Sourav Ganguly did not mince words when asked for his reaction on the uncertainty surrounding Mitchell Starc‘s availability for the start of IPL 2026. Delhi Capitals said at the press conference that they are waiting for a green signal from Cricket Australia. And this is what Dada said while in Delhi for a brand endorsement for Jakson, “It hurts… because when quality players don’t come in at the last minute, it shakes the balance of the team.” Starc is set to miss the opening phase of the season as Cricket Australia carefully manages his workload ahead of a packed 2026-27 calendar. The timing could not be worse as franchises build their squads and strategies around marquee overseas players.

Ganguly, speaking on the broader issue of player availability in franchise cricket, said the impact of such late withdrawals is far greater in the IPL than in international cricket.

“It hurts because I’ve always said making an Indian team is easier than making an IPL team. Because the best players are available all the time to be picked. IPL is 10 teams that players get distributed. And when quality players don’t come in at the last minute, obviously it shakes up the balance of the team.”

He hit on the depth available in international squads, that is rarely mirrored in franchise setups.

“Because the substitutes, the availability is not as strong as the one who’s not turned up… But in IPL if Mitchell Starc misses out or Pathirana misses out, the void is very hard to fill. So that’s one of the challenges.”

The former India captain, however, stopped short of criticising workload management itself, acknowledging the toll modern cricket takes on players across formats and leagues.

“Workload management is very important because players do play a lot of cricket. It’s not just the IPL… more than physical, the mental part takes over. Away from home, away from families. It’s never easy. So it’s a balance which will continue to happen.”

England cricketer Ben Duckett also pulled out of IPL 2026 as he wanted to concentrate on international cricket.

The uncertainty has not gone down well with commentators either. Harsha Bhogle called the lack of clarity around Starc’s status “frustrating”, especially in a league where franchises invest heavily in overseas stars. He argued that teams deserve firmer assurances when they commit significant portions of their salary purse to marquee players and warned that repeated episodes could push franchises towards stricter contract clauses and heavier financial deductions.

Delhi Capitals had structured their bowling attack around Starc’s pace and new-ball threat, but this forces them to rethink.

This is not the first time the IPL has had to navigate the complicated triad of international calendars, bilateral commitments and franchise expectations. With players now juggling national duty, multiple T20 leagues and personal rest windows, such situations are likely to recur. As Ganguly put it, “Injuries will happen. Players will have problems… and you have to deal with it.”

Indian men’s hockey coach Craig Fulton has promised a “tailored and detailed” plan for each one of the tricky opponents that await his team in the World Cup later this year and backed the currently faltering side to peak at the right time.

India have managed just one win this season, a penalty shootout triumph over Australia in an FIH Pro League match in Hobart. The team is drawn to play top-seeded England, traditional rivals Pakistan, and a determined Wales side in Pool D of the World Cup starting August 15 in the Netherlands and Belgium.

All group-stage matches will be held at the Wagener Hockey Stadium in Amstelveen, Netherlands.

“We’ll be working hard on our structure, our press, and our finishing – the fine margins that decide games at this level. Every opponent in this pool has different strengths, so our preparation will be tailored and detailed. The next few months are about peaking at exactly the right moment,” Fulton was quoted as saying in a Hockey India press release.

Reacting to the draw, Fulton stressed on the squad’s readiness to embrace the challenge.

“We’re excited. It’s a strong group, but that’s exactly what you want at a World Cup to be tested against the best. The mood in the camp is very positive. The players are motivated and hungry, and knowing our opponents now gives us real clarity and focus going into our preparation,” he said.

Analysing the varied tactical challenges Pool D presents, Fulton emphasised the need for adaptability and respect for each team’s unique style of play.

“England are a well-organised, physical side who are also top seed in our pool. Pakistan bring flair, unpredictability, and a rich hockey tradition – never a side to take lightly.

“Wales are making their mark on the international stage and will be full of energy and determination. We respect every opponent in this pool, but we back ourselves against all of them,” Fulton asserted.

The team will open its campaign against Wales on August 15.

Embracing the expectations of a nation that has rediscovered its lost love for hockey after consecutive Olympic medals, Fulton also had a rallying message for the supporters.

“We want to go out there and make India proud. The players know what this shirt means and what the fans expect. My message to the supporters is simple — get behind us, one game at a time,” he said.

India’s Pool D Match Schedule: 
August 15: India vs Wales (16:30 IST) 
August 17: India vs England (18:30 IST) 
August 19: India bs Pakistan (18:30 IST).

Casemiro has already shown that money isn’t the most important thing to him

Casemiro’s previous willingness to take a pay cut shows the focus of the Manchester United midfielder isn’t purely centred on money.

The 34-year-old is one of the most accomplished midfielders of his generation and with 19 career club trophies to his name, he’s left a lasting legacy of what he’s achieved in his 16 years as a professional footballer.

Currently in his fourth season at Old Trafford, the Brazilian is set to leave the club at the end of the season after the club opted not to trigger the one-year extension on his reported £350,000-a-week deal.

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With the club deciding to shift Casemiro’s hefty pay packet off their wage bill, despite his impressive performances, some have questioned whether the midfielder could continue his stay in Manchester on a reduced deal.

Should a deal be made on those terms, it won’t be the first time the five-time Champions League winner has sacrificed his pay for the greater good. During his tenure with Real Madrid, the club’s board reportedly attempted to get the squad to agree to a wage reduction during the Covid-19 lockdown.

According to popular Spanish TV show El Chiringuito, host Eduardo Inda claimed Real had requested a 10% cut of their wages with Sergio Ramos, Karim Benzema, Marcelo and Raphael Varane breaking the news to the rest of the team.

Inda added that every member of the squad, bar one, rejected the wage decrease, citing the salary having been lowered the year before. The sole player willing to accept the pay cut was in fact Casemiro, says the pundit.

With seven goals for the season, including two in United’s last three games, his absence will be sorely felt by the club who Casemiro said he will “carry” with him for the rest of his life. Speaking in a video that confirmed his impending exit, Casemiro explained: “It means so much, not just for me, but for all my family.

“It is so special and I will always carry this club with me for all my life. I will always be a Manchester United fan, my whole family too. In England, I am red, I am Manchester United until death. So all I want to say is: thank you for everything.”

England’s 2026 World Cup kits

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The Minnesota Vikings are probably — or at least they should be — in the market for a rookie cornerback. And the best one available, according to draft heads, next month is LSU’s Mansoor Delane. The problem? Delane ran a 4.35 forty at his Pro Day on Monday, all but disqualifying him from the Vikings’ draft spot at No. 18.

Delane’s stock is climbing, and Minnesota will need a new plan at No. 18.

Thanks to his remarkable speed, in addition to a dazzling draft profile, Delane almost certainly won’t tumble that far down the board on April 23rd.

Delane’s Combine Surge Will Affect Minnesota’s Draft Board

On to the next for the Vikings’ 1st-Round scouting.

Delane Runs 4.35 at Pro Day

Don’t look now, but Delane has the speed for a Top 10 pick; he proved that and then some Monday.

SBNation‘s Dale Altman wrote, ‘Mansoor Delane ran a blazing 4.35 40-yard dash today at the LSU Pro Day. The LSU cornerback was already considered to be the top prospect at the position for the 2026 NFL Draft. All he did by running that time was solidify himself as the top guy, and potentially another step closer to going in the top 10.”

“Delane was tremendous in 2025 with a 90.7 coverage grade. He allowed just a 40.0% completion rate against him this past season. He was a shutdown corner for the Tigers. He isn’t just a cover corner either, Delane is a more than willing participant against the run.”

CB-needy teams salivated, basically guaranteeing Delane’s status as the first cornerback off the board.

The Full Delane Scouting Report

Delane possesses the traits teams pursue: the speed to handle isolation coverage, the size to battle through contact, and the versatility to play multiple positions. This skill set makes him a strong fit for a Vikings defense seeking stability at cornerback.

His LSU film reveals even more, as he plays with palpable energy, displays confidence on the boundary, and exhibits the range to transition seamlessly between roles.

Looking toward 2026, the Vikings need a young cornerback who can develop into a long-term solution, a need they haven’t addressed through the draft in over a decade. Trae Waynes, their last successful pick, plateaued as a reliable player rather than developing into a star. Since Waynes, the pattern has been consistent — Mike Hughes, Jeff Gladney, Andrew Booth Jr. — short tenures, limited production, and ultimately, no staying power. Eleven years later, the need remains.

Before Monday, Delane was listed with 4.44 speed, which is wonderful, but then he blew the doors off his own scouting report at 4.35.

The Draft Buzz on the 6-foot, 190-pounder: “Mansoor Delane is one of the most instinctive cornerbacks to come out of college football in recent years. Delane does not just cover receivers; he anticipates them. This is a complete cornerback prospect outside of one question mark. His instincts are elite. His ball skills are elite.”

“His coverage grades in both man and zone are elite. His competitive temperament is exactly what coaches want in their secondary. The only genuine concern is whether his long speed can hold up against the burners he will face every Sunday.”

The next corner expected to be picked after Delane is Clemson’s Avieon Terrell.

TBD added, “That is a fair question, and it will determine whether Delane becomes a true lockdown corner or a very good starter who occasionally needs help over the top. Either outcome represents tremendous value. The year-over-year improvement tells a compelling story about his trajectory.”

“He went from allowing seven touchdowns in 2024 to zero in 2025 while facing significantly better competition in the SEC. That is not coincidence; that is a player who refined his technique, mastered his craft, and arrived at LSU ready to prove he belongs among the best in the country. He has the makeup of a long-term starter and the instincts to become something even more special.”

Who Can Vikings Draft Other Than Delane?

With Delane catapulting his stock to new heights, Vikings fans must focus on other prospects at No. 18. Here’s a look at the usual suspects to land in Minnesota:

• Avieon Terrell (CB) — Clemson
• Akheem Mesidor (EDGE) — Miami (FL)
• Caleb Banks (DT) — Florida
• C.J. Allen (LB) — Georgia
• Dillon Thieneman (S) — Oregon
• Emmanuel McNeil-Warren — Toledo
• Jermod McCoy (CB) — Tennessee
• Jordyn Tyson (WR) — Arizona State
• Kayden McDonald (DT) — Ohio State
• Keldric Faulk (EDGE) — Auburn
• Kenyon Sadiq (TE) — Oregon
• Makai Lemon (WR) — USC
• Peter Woods (DT) — Clemson

Mesidor and Faulk, the EDGEs, are only listed in the off chance the Vikings fulfill the Jonathan Greenard trade rumors. If so, Minnesota may need an immediate OLB replacement.

Top Delane Landing Spots

So, if Mansoor is not destined to become a Viking, well, where will he land? The safest projection is one of these franchises:

• Kansas City Chiefs (No. 9)
• Cincinnati Bengals (No. 10)
• Miami Dolphins (No. 11)
• Dallas Cowboys (No. 12)

The New Orleans Saints, too, at No. 8, could be in the mix, but most believe Kellen Moore’s team needs EDGE help more than cornerback.

Delane will turn 23 in December. If the Vikings snag a cornerback in Round 1, it will likely be Terrell from Clemson or McCoy of Tennessee.

Ipswich Town FC is facing a backlash after Reform Party leader Nigel Farage staged a photo opportunity at its Portman Road stadium.

But the club is understood to have been unaware of the full extent of the event until social media posts emerged.

No official invitation was extended by Ipswich to Mr Farage for the Monday event, it is understood.

Portman Road Events, which manages private tours of the stadium, is understood to have taken a booking on behalf of Reform for Monday afternoon. However, the Championship club only became aware of what was involved later that day when posts appeared on the party’s official account.

Reform posted “Portman Road Awaits” on X on Monday evening, and Mr Farage followed up with a post on Tuesday morning.

He shared photos of him ‘signing’ for Ipswich and one of him holding up a number 10 Ipswich shirt.

“I’ve never been too bad on the right wing,” he wrote on his official X account.

The party subsequently made a photo of Mr Farage holding the shirt the banner on their official X account.

It came after Reform held a party rally at nearby Trinity Park.

The club has declined to comment.

However, some supporters have criticised them on X, with one describing it as “PR suicide for a family club”.

Reform UK has been contacted for comment.

The Ipswich appearance came just days after Mr Farage halted his use of the website Cameo, following an investigation alleging he had filmed content supporting an alleged neo-Nazi event, repeated extremist slogans and made sexist remarks on the platform.

On Friday, Mr Farage’s page on the Cameo website, which has earned him hundreds of thousands of pounds over the past five years, said he was “unavailable”, The Independent found.

However, a source told The Guardian “he had paused his use of the platform over security concerns”.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has put on hold the bidding process for the 2031 and 2035 Asian Cup, signalling a wider rethink of its competition calendar amid possible structural changes to global football scheduling.

The decision shifts focus away from host selection to long-term planning, as the continental body weighs the implications of aligning its marquee tournament with a revised international calendar under discussion with FIFA.

Why has AFC paused the bidding process?

The AFC said the move follows consultations with FIFA over a potential reshaping of the international match calendar, including a proposal to stage the Asian Cup in even-numbered years.

Such a shift would mark a significant departure from the current cycle and could affect scheduling, commercial planning and coordination with other global tournaments.

In a statement, the AFC said the implications of the proposed changes were “far-reaching” and warranted a broader review of its competitions structure. It added that pausing the bidding cycle would allow for “greater clarity” before finalising future host selections.

What happens to existing bids?

The halt impacts a competitive field of bidders for both editions.

For the 2031 Asian Cup, six bids had been submitted — Australia, India, Indonesia, Kuwait and South Korea, along with a joint bid from Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

The 2035 race had also drawn interest from Australia, Kuwait, South Korea and Japan.

With the process now paused, these bids remain in limbo until the AFC completes its calendar review and provides further direction.

How could the calendar change affect the tournament?

The Asian Cup has undergone multiple scheduling shifts over the decades. Initially held in even-numbered years after its inception in 1956, the tournament moved to odd-numbered years starting in 2007.

However, there have been exceptions. The most recent edition took place in January 2024 in Qatar, after China withdrew from hosting the 2023 tournament due to Covid-19-related restrictions.

A return to even-numbered years would require realignment with other international competitions and domestic leagues, making the decision a complex logistical exercise.

What lies ahead for the Asian Cup?

The next confirmed edition of the tournament will be held in Saudi Arabia in January 2027, with Qatar entering as defending champions.

The AFC’s review is expected to determine not only the timing of future tournaments but also how Asia’s premier national team competition fits into the evolving global football ecosystem.

Until then, the race to host the 2031 and 2035 editions remains on hold, with clarity likely to emerge only after FIFA finalises its broader calendar reforms.

Paul Scholes believes Max Dowman could save Arsenal‘s season after their EFL Cup defeat against Manchester City. He slammed the north London side’s performance and said that they are too dependent on set pieces.

The Gunners lost 2-0 against Manchester City in the EFL Cup final at Wembley on Sunday, March 22. Nico O’Reilly capitalized on an error from Kepa Arrizabalaga in the 60th minute to open the scoring. He then doubled City’s lead four minutes later, as they held on to their lead comfortably.

On The Good, The Bad and The Football podcast, Manchester United legend Paul Scholes slammed Arsenal’s performance. He said:

“There’s no flair about the team whatsoever, you have to say they missed [Eberechi] Eze and [Martin] Odegaard who possibly could give them something, but even when they’re available they’ve not played free-flowing football. I do think they’ve become obsessed with the set-pieces and taken their eye off the rest of the game. You don’t have to entertain to win the league but as fans you want to see more.”

“As I said, the two No. 10s were missing who are very good players but they didn’t bring Max Dowman on. He could be the person, as a 16-year-old kid, who might save their season a little bit because he can bring a bit of flair to them,” he added.

Dowman, 16, became the youngest-ever player to score a Premier League goal in Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Everton on March 14. He has impressed in his seven first-team appearances, recording one goal and one assist.

Paul Scholes claims he’s happy Arsenal lost in EFL Cup final

The former Manchester United midfielder claimed that he is happy that Manchester City beat the Gunners in the EFL Cup final. He labeled it a ‘victory for football’ due to the contrasting playing styles between the two teams. He said:

“I was actually quite happy Man City won because it’s a victory for football. If you think about the two teams and the way they play, you want the team who try to play the best football to win the game, I don’t care who it is.”

“The only way Arsenal were going to win that game was if they scored one of those early chances and then shut up shop which would have been boring, it would have been the worst game ever. They haven’t got a team to do it, they haven’t got players with flair, it sounds harsh but they’re workmanlike,” he added.

Arsenal had 37% possession in the EFL Cup final. They attempted seven shots, with three being on target, as compared to Manchester City‘s 2/10 on-target attempts.

The Gunners will next face Southampton away in the FA Cup quarter-finals after the international break on April 4.