India’s Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah and Sanju Samson (ANI Photo)

Four members of the title-winning India national cricket team — Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah — have been selected in the official Team of the Tournament for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 after India secured a record third title.Leading the Indian contingent is Player of the Tournament Samson, who enjoyed a remarkable campaign at the top of the order. The wicketkeeper-batter amassed 321 runs in just five innings. Despite not starting the tournament in India’s playing XI, Samson made an immediate impact once introduced, producing Player of the Match performances against the West Indies national cricket team and the England national cricket team.

He capped his tournament in style by smashing 89 in the final against the New Zealand national cricket team — the highest individual score in a men’s T20 World Cup final.Kishan was another key performer in India’s batting line-up. The left-hander scored 317 runs, the fourth-highest tally in the tournament, while maintaining a striking rate of 193.29. Batting at the top of the order, Kishan delivered a standout 77 against the Pakistan national cricket team before shifting to number three later in the competition. He also played crucial innings against England and New Zealand, including a half-century in the final.All-rounder Pandya earned his place for contributions with both bat and ball. He struck two fifties during the tournament, highlighted by a blistering 52 off 28 balls against the Namibia national cricket team. With the ball, Pandya claimed nine wickets, often delivering breakthroughs at key moments.Bumrah, who was named Player of the Match in the final, completed India’s representation in the XI. The pace spearhead ended the tournament as the joint-leading wicket-taker with 14 wickets from eight matches and maintained an impressive economy rate of 6.21. His best performance came in the final where he produced figures of four for 15.The team’s opening slot is occupied by Sahibzada Farhan of the Pakistan national team, who finished as the leading run-scorer in the competition with 383 runs at an average of 76.60. His tournament featured two centuries, including knocks against the Sri Lanka national cricket team and Namibia.South Africa’s Aiden Markram has been named captain of the side, which also includes England’s Will Jacks, West Indies all-rounder Jason Holder, South African pacer Lungi Ngidi, England spinner Adil Rashid and Zimbabwe quick Blessing Muzarabani.Namibia’s Shadley van Schalkwyk has been named as the 12th player in the squad.

ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Team of the Tournament:

Sahibzada Farhan, Sanju Samson (wk), Ishan Kishan, Aiden Markram (c), Hardik Pandya, Will Jacks, Jason Holder, Jasprit Bumrah, Lungi Ngidi, Adil Rashid, Blessing Muzarabani12th player: Shadley van Schalkwyk.

One of the 26 people charged in an alleged bribery and point-shaving scheme to fix NCAA Division I men’s basketball games and Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) games has pleaded guilty, United States Attorney David Metcalf announced.

Jalen Smith, a 30-year-old from Charlotte, North Carolina, entered a guilty plea before U.S. District Court Judge Nitza I. Quiñones Alejandro on Monday in connection with the scheme, as well as charges related to an unlawful possession of a firearm. 

Smith pleaded guilty to bribery in sporting contests, and aiding and abetting, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and possession of a firearm by a felon. 

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The NCAA headquarters in Indianapolis is shown on Thursday, March 12, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)

An unsealed indictment back in January noted Smith was engaged in the scheme to influence or fix NCAA and CBA men’s basketball games from at least “in or about September 2022 through at least in or about February 2025.”

Co-conspirators enlisted Smith as a “fixer,” where they would work together with others to recruit and bribe NCAA Division I men’s basketball players to underperform and ensure their team failed to cover spreads during games from the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons.

“Through various sportsbooks, Smith helped to arrange for large wagers to be placed on those games, betting against the team whose player or players they had bribed to engage in this point-shaving scheme,” the United States Attorney’s Office said in a press release.

NCAA PRESIDENT RESPONDS TO INTEGRITY CONCERNS AFTER ALLEGED POINT-SHAVING SCHEME LEADS TO DOZENS OF ARRESTS

“Smith and other fixers approached and communicated with the players, in person and through social media, text message communications, and cellular telephone calls, offering the players bribe payment, usually ranging from $10,000 to $30,000 per game.”

With today’s college athletes being paid via name, image and likeness (NIL) brand deals, Smith and other fixers “specifically targeted college players for whom the bribe payments would meaningfully supplement.”

A generic view of a basketball on a court. (Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)

It was found that more than 39 players on more than 17 different NCAA Division I men’s basketball teams were involved in the bribery and point-shaving scheme, with fixing or attempted fixing on more than 29 NCAA games. 

The fixers were making “wagers totaling millions of dollars,” with players who were involved collectively receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribe payments. 

Smith faces a maximum sentence of five years in jail, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine for the bribery in sporting contests charge, up to 20 years for each count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and a maximum 15 years for the firearms charge. 

NCAA president Charlie Baker responded to the point-shaving scheme in January. 

NCAA president and former Massachusetts governor Charlie Baker is interviewed by Boston Globe Sports writer Chris Gasper at the Globe Summit 2023.  (Pat Greenhouse/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

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“Protecting competition integrity is of the utmost importance for the NCAA. We are thankful for law enforcement agencies working to detect and combat integrity issues and match manipulation in college sports,” NCAA President Charlie Baker said in a statement.

Baker said the indictments were “not entirely new information to the NCAA,” as it had conducted “integrity investigations into approximately 40 student-athletes from 20 schools over the past year.”

Fox News’ Ryan Morik contributed to this report.

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Opting for a restrained autumn initiation with Pinito paid dividends for Chris Waller, who nonetheless mulled over more daring prospects.

Godolphin’s four-year-old mare grabbed her first win serving the elite trainer in Saturday’s Group 3 Aspiration Quality (1600m) at Randwick, with her connections shunning Group 1 action in the Coolmore Classic (1500m) scheduled for next week.

“Her first-up run was excellent. We even thought about running her in a Coolmore, but she had a long time off and she was second-up, so we decided to take the easy steps,” Waller said.

Last winter’s Queensland Oaks (2200m) runner-up, Pinito wrote her own script by storming home fourth to Cinsault in the Millie Fox Stakes (1300m) on February 21 fresh, culminating in her inaugural Group victory at Randwick on Saturday.

Waller indicated the mare took time to acclimatise after joining from James Cummings yet has located form, eyeing the Epona Stakes (1900m) at Rosehill in two weeks as ideal progression.

“The Epona would be perfect,” he said.

“She showed good form in a Queensland Oaks as a three-year-old so if we can gradually get her up in distance that will be a good plus.”

Pinito ($3.40 fav), partnered by James McDonald, unleashed from the pack to collar Starphistocated ($41) on the line by half a length, Polymnia ($10) filling third a further 1-1/4 lengths back.

Confidence stemmed from her fresh run for McDonald, who prioritised perfect timing.

“Off the last run she showed an incredible turn of foot, so I knew it was going to be there,” McDonald said.

“It was just a matter of timing it right, and she did the rest.”

Visit premier racing betting markets ahead of the Aspiration Quality.

Joe Cowan: 6/10

Had a couple of shots straight at him in the first half and was beaten twice after the break, no chance with the second and almost kept the back post header out that made it 3-2.

Jenson Jones: 9/10

Had a really good game at right back and showed why he has been on the fringes of the first team lately, defended well and caused problems when he went forward. Did really well in injury time to shrug off a defender who was desperately trying to foul him and then pick out Waters at the back post for a tap in.

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Finlay Holcroft: 6/10

The home side dominated the game, leaving the two centre backs with little to do for the majority of the game but Holcroft was solid enough.

Ben Kindon: 6/10

Like his centre back partner Kindon, was not really tested although he read the game well to make blocks when needed.

Archie Lightfoot: 8/10

Had left back locked down, allowing little room for Leeds going forward and got forward whenever the opportunity arose, including making an overlapping run and then a good ball into Harrison Jones for the second of the game.

Jaydon Jones: 8/10

Was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet when he ran onto Abdullahi’s lay off to steer the ball agonisingly wide of the far post and played a lovely through ball to the overlapping Lightfoot for the second goal. Made the home side tick in the middle of the pitch.

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Harrison Jones (C): 7/10

A tidy display in midfield and got himself forward to make it 2-0 with a fine finish into the top corner.

League One Port Vale’s reward for beating Sunderland in the FA Cup is a quarter-final tie away to Chelsea, while Manchester City will host Liverpool in a heavyweight showdown.

Record 14-time winners Arsenal go to Southampton, eighth in the Championship.

Leeds United will travel to the winners of Monday’s tie between West Ham United and Brentford.

Port Vale are the lowest ranked side left in the competition. It will be the first time they have met Chelsea in a competitive fixture since 1929.

The ties will be played across the weekend of 4-5 April.

Former Fenerbahce assistant manager Önder Özen has praised Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen for his impressive defensive effort after Galatasaray’s victory in the Istanbul derby.

The 27-year-old forward joined Galatasaray after a dramatic exit from Napoli, where transfer issues made it difficult for him to secure a move away from the Italian side.

Galatasaray eventually moved quickly to sign the Nigerian striker on transfer deadline day, initially bringing him to Turkey on loan. The move proved to be a brilliant decision as Osimhen enjoyed a remarkable debut season.

The former LOSC Lille striker scored 37 goals and provided seven assists in his first campaign with the Turkish giants. His outstanding form helped Galatasaray win the league title and the domestic cup, while he also finished as the top scorer in the Turkish Süper Lig.

Impressed by his performances, Galatasaray later completed a permanent transfer for Osimhen for a reported fee of 75 million euros, a record deal for both the club and the league.

Osimhen recently proved his importance again when he scored the only goal in Galatasaray’s 1-0 victory over Beşiktaş in the latest Istanbul derby.

Özen was particularly impressed by the striker’s defensive work during the match.

He explained that Galatasaray began the game at a calm and controlled pace, with coach Okan Buruk keeping his tactical approach steady.

Özen said several players performed well, but he singled out Osimhen for special praise because of his influence in both attack and defence.

According to the former coach, Osimhen not only threatened the opposition goal but also worked hard to disrupt Beşiktaş’s build-up play from defence to midfield.

He added that the Nigerian forward blocked passing channels and prevented Beşiktaş from developing their usual attacking flow.

Özen even described Osimhen as the most complete centre-forward in the region due to his strength, movement, and ability to contribute across the pitch.

Osimhen will now hope to continue his strong form when Galatasaray face Liverpool F.C. at RAMS Park in their next important match.

Manchester City are bidding to reach a fourth successive FA Cup final and overcame Newcastle United in the fifth round last weekend

Manchester City have been handed a home draw against Liverpool in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.

City will host Liverpool after the draw was made on Monday night ahead of the final tie of the round between West Ham United and Brentford.

Pep Guardiola’s side booked their spot in the last eight with an impressive 3-1 victory over Newcastle United in the fifth round on Saturday. City fell behind when Harvey Barnes opened the scoring at St James’ Park but Savinho levelled before half time and Omar Marmoush then struck twice to complete the turnaround.

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City, who are still competing for silverware on four fronts, have a two-legged Champions League last-16 clash with Real Madrid on the horizon while they travel to Wembley for the Carabao Cup final against Arsenal later this month.

The FA Cup tie will take place over Easter weekend, with a date yet to be confirmed. The game will be broadcast live on TV with TNT Sports and the BBC having the rights to the competition.

Kick off times for the last eight ties will also be confirmed in due course. Matches will take place on the weekend of Saturday and Sunday April 4/5.

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That weekend follows an international break and comes before a potential Champions League quarter final in midweek should City beat Real Madrid this month.

Should City progress to the last four of the FA Cup the semi-finals take place on April 25-26 with the final at Wembley Stadium on Saturday May 16. City are scheduled to visit Burnley on semi-final weekend while they are due to host Bournemouth on the final weekend. Both of those league fixtures could therefore require new dates.

City have already had one Premier League game postponed as a result of their cup run with the game against Crystal Palace on Carabao Cup final weekend being moved. A new date for that fixture has yet to be confirmed.

Manchester United youth star Kai Rooney has seen a big decision on his future confirmed which sees him follow in the footsteps of father Wayne

Manchester United youngster Kai Rooney has signed with Triple S Sports Management, the same agency dad Wayne was signed to. The global company is owned by his agent Paul Stretford with it clear the plans for Kai moving forward.

Confirming his addition, a post on Instagram read: “Delighted to announce the signing of @kairooney.10 to Triple S Sports!

“We’re excited to begin working with the Manchester United forward as he continues his journey in the game. A bright future ahead. Welcome to the team, Kai!”

The United legend had discussed his son’s future in the game and made it clear what he wants to see.

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Speaking via the BBC last year, he said: “He has great coaches at Manchester United, so I take a stand off approach. I speak to him, but for me it’s all about his mentality and his mindset, to make sure he keeps enjoying it – that’s the main thing for me.”

Rooney’s words on those coaching his son, which includes former teammate Darren Fletcher, was further proven only recently by their progression to the under-18s Premier League Cup final.

Rooney was on the score sheet in the 3-1 semi-final victory over West Ham United with the battle for silverware set for next month at Selhurst Park against Crystal Palace.

Fellow United starlet JJ Gabriel, who has trained with the first-team, was also on target with co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe in attendance at Carrington.

Michael Carrick has also been at several academy matches since taking charge but he was busy preparing the first-team for a Premier League clash against Newcastle United.

16-year-old Rooney appears to be taking everything in his stride despite the huge pressure that could be felt on his shoulders with Mum Coleen recently opening up on that.

She said to The Times: “He’s lived it from a young age. “When we used to go to matches when he was younger, he’d get a lot of people coming up saying, ‘Oh, are you Wayne Rooney’s son?’

“But he’s strong-minded, always has been. I’ve got no worries in the way he deals with it. “It’s nice that we know what to expect.

“And we can try to guide him. Obviously, it’s his life, his passion. He can decide what he wants to do. But I think it’s good we’ve got the knowledge.”