The high-stakes match between India and Pakistan at the T20 World Cup is back on after the Pakistani government on Monday directed its national cricket team to play India.

The announcement ends a week-long boycott that had threatened one of the highlight events at the tournament, which is being co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.

The decision came after a phone call between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Pakistan’s government said in a statement posted on X.

The talks involved the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), the statement said, with the decision taken to protect “the spirit of cricket.”

The T20 World Cup match is scheduled for February 15 in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo.

Pakistan would have forfeited two points if they had skipped the match against India, potentially risking their chances of advancing in the tournament.

The 20-team T20 World Cup began on February 7 and ends on March 8.

Why did Pakistan boycott the match against India?

Bangladesh refused to play in India and withdrew from the tournament over concerns about the “safety and well-being” of players, amid heightened political tensions between the South Asian neighbors.

Dismissing its security concerns, the ICC replaced the Bangladesh team with Scotland.

As a protest, Pakistan refused to face India in their group match, with PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi criticizing the ICC’s “double standards” and “injustice.”

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“We are deeply moved by Pakistan’s efforts to go above and beyond in supporting Bangladesh during this period,” BCB president Mohammad Aminul Islam said in a statement. 

The ICC said on Monday that it would not impose any penalty on Bangladesh ​for ​their refusal to play in India, and announced that Bangladesh would host an event prior to the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2031.

India vs Pakistan: A marquee fixture

Pakistan’s change of heart came after intensive weekend negotiations, including visits to Lahore by ICC and BCB officials. The Pakistan government noted in its statement that the PCB was formally asked by ICC members, including Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates to end the boycott.

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An India-Pakistan clash is among cricket’s most lucrative events, generating millions of dollars in broadcast and sponsorship revenue. A cancellation would have threatened TV rights deals and ICC funding.

India captain Suryakumar Yadav said on Friday his team was ready to play as scheduled, while Pakistan captain Salman Agha said last week the team would follow government advice.

“The India game is not in our control. It was the government’s decision,” Agha said.

In September, controversy erupted after the Indian team won the Asia Cup with a victory over archrival Pakistan, but the Indian players refused to accept the trophy from Naqvi, who is also Pakistan’s interior minister.

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India’s grip over cricket globally tightened after the appointment of Jay Shah, son of Indian Home Minister Amit Shah, as chairman of the ICC.

India’s girl cricketers dream of stepping into the spotlight

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Edited by: Karl Sexton

Curler Rich Ruohonen became the latest Team USA athlete to wade into the debate on domestic politics on Tuesday, condemning immigration sweeps in his home state of Minnesota that is a hotbed for the sport.

Various American athletes at the Winter Olympics have spoken out over events back home, with skier Hunter Hess branded a “real loser” by an irritated US President Donald Trump over the weekend.

“I’d like to say I’m proud to be here to represent Team USA, and to represent our country. But we’d be remiss if we didn’t at least mention what’s going on in Minnesota,” said Ruohonen, a 54-year-old personal injury lawyer who works in Minnesota.

“What a tough time it’s been for everybody. This stuff is happening right around where we live,” he added in a statement at the end of a press conference.

Protests have been taking place around Minnesota after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents killed two US citizens as part of Trump’s push against illegal immigration.

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“I am a lawyer, as you know. We have a constitution, and it allows us freedom of speech,” Ruohonen went on.

“It protects us from unreasonable searches and seizures. And makes it that we have to have probable cause to be pulled over. What’s happening in Minnesota is wrong. There’s no shades of grey. It’s clear.”

Minnesota is a curling stronghold in the US and has produced a number of Olympic competitors including John Shuster, who skipped the men’s team to gold at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games.

Ruohonen, an alternate for the men’s team, said he was proud of the public expressions in his home.

“I really love what’s been happening there now. With people coming out, showing the love, the compassion, the integrity and respect for others that they don’t know, and helping them out,” he said.

“We love Minnesota for that… we love our country. We’re playing for the US We’re playing for each other, we’re playing for our family and our friends that sacrificed so much to get here today.”

The Olympics, he said, embody the same values as those shown by compatriots in Minnesota.

“What the Olympics means is excellence, respect, friendship. We all, I think, exemplify that. We are playing for the people of Minnesota and the people around the country who share those same values, that compassion, that love, and that respect.”

The 2025 Minnesota Vikings were strong on defense and failed on offense. So it might seem strange to suggest the team should be concentrating on defense in the 2026 draft, but there is plenty of evidence to suggest that is the case.

Defense Emerging as the Vikings’ Clear 2026 Draft Priority

Brian Flores has coached his defense to a very high level since arriving in Minnesota as the team’s defensive coordinator in 2023. The Vikings’ success on defense has largely been about a unit being stronger together rather than individual players. There are good players on the team, but no superstars. Adding some talent to this defensive roster could take it to the next level, making it the best in the league.

The draft is always a great place to do that, and with four picks across the first two days, especially when the team has a few older players. There is plenty of scope for the Vikings to strengthen if they get the first post-Kwesi Adofo-Mensah draft right.

There are also arguments for picking offensive players in the draft. Depending on the futures of Aaron Jones, TJ Hockenson, Ryan Kelly, Jordan Addison, and Jalen Nailor, the Vikings could be in the market for an RB, TE, C, or WR. I favour free agency for bolstering what is already quite a youthful offense. RB would be the main exception where a Day 2 pick would be a good option – unless Jeremiyah Love slides to 18. Day 3 can be used to bolster the depth at the offensive positions.

Defense in Round 1

Early mock drafts have focused heavily on defense in round one for Minnesota. The preferred positions have been interior defensive linemen and cornerbacks. It seems like the Vikings have been trying to draft their future at CB for years with a whole host of failed attempts. Minnesota drafted four CBs in the first round across six years between 2015 and 2020. 

None of Trae Waynes, Mike Hughes, or Jeff Gladney achieved the lasting success the team had hoped for. Neither has a host of Day 2 picks, including Mackenzie Alexander, Cam Dantzler, Andrew Booth, or Mekhi Blackmon. It’s time to look again for a CB, while safety is also a position that needs to be addressed.

Defensive tackle is a position that the Vikings have neglected in the draft in recent years. You have to go back to 2013 and Shariff Floyd for the last time Minnesota drafted a DT in the first round — no DT has been drafted before round 4 since then. It’s time for that to change. Whether it’s on Day 1 or Day 2, a young stud to pair with Jalen Redmond should be a high priority for the Vikings.

Possible Targets

If CB and DT are the positions to look at, who are the possible targets for the Vikings? Clemson’s Peter Woods has been seen as the star DT of this draft class who looked likely be out of reach for the Vikings at 18. However, his draft stock has fallen after a disappointing 2025 season. Making a path to Minnesota more likely. Next in line are Caleb Banks and Kayden McDonald — both would be solid picks for Minnesota. McDonald is my favored choice at the moment.

There are a lot of CB options like Jermod McCoy, Avieon Terrell, Mansour Delane, and Colton Hood that the Vikings could have a shot at in Round 1, and a host of other names if they wait for Day 2 to look at the position — the same can be said for DT. Which way around should be determined by who’s on the board on the day, but these are the first two positions I would be looking to address in the draft.

Proud UK Viking. Family Man. Enjoy writing about my team. Away from football an advocate for autism acceptance.

German football referee Pascal Kaiser was attacked over the weekend, his lawyer told local media on Monday.

Kaiser was admitted to the hospital due to an assault. He also posted a photo of his bruised face on Instagram.

The attack took place in front of Kaiser’s Cologne home, with three unidentified men attacking him after he had gone out for a cigarette.

Kaiser made headlines around the world after proposing to his boyfriend as part of local football club FC Cologne’s Diversity Day, which took place during the club’s Bundesliga game against Wolfsburg.

After his proposal went viral, a local Cologne bar accused Kaiser of fraud while he had worked there, accusations he denied.

Motive still unknown, says police

Now, his lawyer Moritz Lange claimed the bar had made the 27-year-old’s address known. The bar itself denies the accusations.

According to Lange, Kaiser received many threats since his proposal went viral. The German referee informed police of the threats, which then sent a police presence to patrol around Kaiser’s home.

“On Saturday evening, as (Kaiser) went for a walk, he received a message: ‘We see you and follow you. Just wait until the police are no longer there’,” lawyer Lange told German media. Not long after the message was received, Lange said, the three men appeared and attacked Kaiser.

Police said the motives for the attack remain unclear, with Germany’s security services being aware of the case and looking into possible homophobic background.

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Edited by: Dmytro Hubenko

Adrian Lee won’t settle for a basic victory when he returns to the Circle for his fifth promotional appearance. Instead, the young Singaporean-American dynamo promises total domination.

The 19-year-old martial artist faces Japanese star Shozo Isojima in a lightweight MMA clash on February 13 inside Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium. Their three-round battle will be part of ONE Fight Night 40: Buntan vs. Hemetsberger II on Prime Video.

‘The Phenom’ and Isojima enter this battle after falling to ONE welterweight submission grappling world champion Tye Ruotolo in their respective lightweight MMA battles last year.

Ahead of fight night, the Hawaii-based fighter made bold predictions about how their matchup would unfold.

“He has some accolades in his judo and his wrestling, but I believe that I’ll beat him everywhere in this game,” Adrian Lee confidently told ONE Championship.

That confidence shows zero concern about Isojima’s credentials.

The Japanese fighter brings a legitimate grappling pedigree into this high-stakes matchup, but the Prodigy Training Center athlete is dismissing any talk about his foe having an advantage there ahead of Friday’s clash.

Lee’s all-around arsenal could help him dominate Isojima, but if the latter can pounce on any opportunity throughout this fight, he could well leave the Lumpinee Stadium with one of the biggest upsets of the night.

Adrian Lee ‘itching’ to return to action in Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium

Adrian Lee revealed his excitement for his ONE Championship return in a post on his official Instagram account last month.

Lee, who goes by the username @adrianleemma on the social media application, wrote:

“About that time again, itching to get into that cage.”

The 19-year-old is currently 3-1 in his professional MMA journey. All three of his victories, against Antonio Mammarella, Nico Cornejo, and Takeharu Ogawa, were achieved via submission.

ONE Fight Night 40 will be available to active Amazon Prime Video subscribers in the United States and Canada, live in U.S. primetime, for free, this Friday.

Fight fans around the globe, meanwhile, can tune in to the card via ONE’s official YouTube channel, the ONE Super App, and watch.onefc.com. Geo-restrictions may apply.