Lorenzo Musetti is through to the quarter-finals in Barcelona after a 6-3, 6-4 win over Corentin Moutet.
It’s his first time reaching this stage at the tournament since 2023.
Musetti has had a disrupted season so far. He retired at the Australian Open with a leg injury and later withdrew from the Miami Open with an arm issue.
The win over Moutet is his ninth of the year as he continues to work his way back.
May 11, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Geraldo Perdomo (2) reacts after hitting an RBI double against the Texas Rangers during the first inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images The top three batters in the Arizona Diamondbacks’ lineup — Ketel Marte, Corbin Carroll and Geraldo Perdomo — have not found the form that keyed an offensive surge the last two seasons, although manager Torey Lovullo is trying.
After producing a combined four hits and the game’s only run in the series opener against the Texas Rangers on Monday, the trio will seek an encore on Tuesday in the middle contest of a three-game series at Arlington, Texas.
Marte has hit first and second, Carroll has hit second and third, and Perdomo has hit in all three spots at the top of the order as the Diamondbacks attempt to kick-start an offense that ranks in the bottom third in scoring this season after leading the majors in runs (886) in 2024 and placing sixth (791) last season.
“We need those top three to get moving in the right direction,” Lovullo said.
They took a step in the right direction on Monday, when back-to-back doubles from Carroll and Perdomo in the first inning were all the D-backs needed in a 1-0 victory. Marte went 1-for-4, Carroll 1-for-2 with two walks and Perdomo 2-for-4 with an RBI.
Lovullo said of eking out a low-scoring win, “It’s not anything we want to keep doing. We want to bang the baseball and score a lot of runs.”
Arizona right-hander Zac Gallen (1-3, 4.70 ERA) is to oppose Rangers left-hander MacKenzie Gore (2-3, 5.18) on Tuesday.
The Diamondbacks rank 27th in on-base percentage and 24rd in OPS.
Carroll is off to the best start of the top-of-the-lineup trio, hitting .261 with five homers and 20 RBIs. Perdomo improved his average to .228, and Marte is batting .213.
“They are all doing OK, but I think they are better than just doing OK,” Lovullo said.
Texas had only four hits off Michael Soroka and three relievers on Monday after shutting out the Chicago Cubs in the final two games of a weekend series.
“The last two days were good,” Texas manager Skip Schumaker said. “(Monday) not so great. Lot of ground balls to the pull side, which falls into (the D-backs’) game plan. We chased some sliders off the plate that we were trying not to do, obviously.” Gallen is 0-2 with a 5.08 ERA in his past six starts and is looking for his first victory since April 1. He threw a season-high 100 pitches in a 4-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday in which he gave up four runs and two homers in six innings. He has struggled on the road this season, going 0-2 with a 7.13 ERA in four starts.
He has had a good success against the Rangers, going 3-1 with a 2.67 ERA in six career starts. He has no decisions and a 5.40 ERA in two starts at Globe Life Field. Jake Burger is 4-for-8 with two homers against Gallen, while slumping Corey Seager is 7-for-24 (.292) vs. Gallen.
After a strong start, Gore is 0-3 with a 6.85 ERA since April 8, when he threw five scoreless innings in a 3-0 victory over the Seattle Mariners.
The last time out, Gore held a 2-1 lead through five innings against the New York Yankees on Thursday before giving up five runs in the sixth and taking a 9-2 loss. His line looked worse than it could have, as a catchable popup that fell for a hit helped fuel the Yankees’ rally. “I think after every good or bad outing, you have to be honest,” Gore said. “There’s definitely some things we did better than the last one here. We’re going to move on. It’s frustrating right now.”
Gore is 0-2 with a 4.86 ERA in four games (three starts) against Arizona. Nolan Arenado is 4-for-12 with a homer off him, while Lourdes Gurriel Jr. is 5-for-9.
–Field Level Media
The Minnesota Vikings were only sparingly represented on the All-Pro teams following the disappointing 9-8 campaign, which was virtually over by Thanksgiving. Long snapper Andrew DePaola landed another second-team honor, while kicker Will Reichard was recognized as the league’s premier kicker.
Accordingly, he’ll be in line for a massive payday once his rookie contract is set to expire. In fact, though he’s signed for two more seasons, he’ll be eligible for a contract extension next offseason.
In the past, kickers were afterthoughts on the payroll, but they make some serious cash nowadays. The Steelers and the Cowboys recently rewarded two of the NFL’s best with lucrative extensions.
Brandon Aubrey, who has been a real asset for the Cowboys in recent years, reset the kicker market last month, signing a four-year, $28 million contract. He snatched the NFC Pro Bowl honors from Reichard.
This week, Chris Boswell of the Pittsburgh Steelers matched Aubrey’s salary. He’s one of the very best in his own right.
ESPN wrote about the veteran, “In 2024, he was selected as first-team All-Pro after leading the NFL with 41 made field goals. He was also selected to the Pro Bowl for the second time with the Steelers, whom he has been kicking for since 2015. He has had at least a 90% success rate on field goals in seven of his 11 seasons in Pittsburgh. He also has never missed a postseason field goal attempt, going 19-for-19.”
As one of the most consistent kickers in the game, he should be at or near the top of the salary hierarchy. He is, however, 35 years old and it remains to be seen how much longer he can keep that pace. Aubrey just turned 31. That brings us to Reichard, who has that major advantage over both of those guys, as he turned 25 in January.
After years of subpar kicking performances in the Twin Cities, Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah spent a sixth-round pick in 2024 to acquire Alabama’s Reichard, the NCAA all-time leader in points, which was likely his best move.
He quickly established himself as a sure option to end drives, but an injury forced him out for four games in his rookie season. Unfortunately, his momentum disappeared for the remainder of the year. Reichard bounced back in 2025 and was arguably the best Viking throughout the season.
The sophomore drilled 33 of 35 field goal attempts, as well as all 31 extra points. His misses sparked controversy over whether he might have hit the wires or not. Only Eddy Pineiro and Nick Folk finished the season with a higher field-goal percentage (both 96.6%; 28/29). Pineiro missed four extra points, while Folk was perfect from that range, but only attempted 22 such kicks.
Early in the 2025 campaign, head coach Kevin O’Connell said about his elite kicker, “I mean, you guys saw it, to hit it [from] 62 [yards], darn near halfway up the net is something else. And I got so much confidence in Will [Reichard], it’s almost dangerous.”
In 2025, Reichard set the franchise-best 11 field goals made from over 50 yards. That mark was tied for the best in the league. He also scored the longest field goal in franchise history from 61 and he has made six of the seven longest. He’s been a true game-changer for the Vikings.
If Reichard can once again place himself as one of the league’s top placekickers in the upcoming season, he’ll make a lot of money next year. In a prime position to reset the market, the Vikings should budget for his extension in the neighborhood of $8 million per season.
His incoming raise is a good problem to have.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.
Gilas Pilipinas coach Tim Cone during a tune-up game against Macau Black Bears. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—Anticipating eligibility requirements, Gilas Pilipinas has prepared a “long list” of players being considered for the men’s basketball campaign in the 2026 Asian Games in Japan this September.
Part of that pool includes Justin Arana and Mike Phillips, national team coach Tim Cone revealed on Sunday.
“Justin’s [Arana] is on it. Mike Phillips is on it. There are all these kinds of players. We picked about 30 players,” he said after Barangay Ginebra’s win over TNT in the PBA. “There’s like 30 players on the list. So we had to make a long list because we don’t know the rules.”
Phillips has previously suited up for Gilas during the 2023 Southeast Asian Games, where the Philippines captured the gold medal.
Cone clarified, however, that inclusion in the Asian Games pool does not necessarily mean inclusion in the roster for the ongoing Fiba World Cup Asian Qualifiers.
“It’s not in terms of the Fiba window. It’s all about the Asian Games and the eligibility list,” he said. “That will have nothing to do with the Fiba window,” he added.
Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas has dealt with eligibility issues in previous tournaments, with requirements often depending on the rules set by organizers for events such as the Asian Games and SEA Games.
Last December, Gilas Pilipinas’ SEA Games roster underwent several revisions before receiving clearance.
In Aichi-Nagoya, The Philippines is looking to defend the Asian Games gold medal it won in the 2022 edition in Hangzhou.
The details surrounding the world title fight between Lewis Crocker and Liam Paro have now been confirmed.
Crocker won the vacant IBF welterweight title back in September when he dropped Paddy Donovan twice in on his way to a split decision victory in their rematch at Windsor Park in Belfast.
It was a far cry from the performance that ‘The Croc’ had put in six months prior, where Donovan had dominated the majority of the action before being controversially disqualified in the eighth round, but in the second meeting Crocker proved his quality to triumph.
A mandatory defence against Paro was then ordered, with the Australian’s promoters No Limit Boxing winning the purse bid back in February, and initially announcing that they planned for the fight to take place in April.
A hand injury to Crocker meant that couldn’t happen, and now that he appears to have recovered from that injury, the new date and location for the bout has been revealed, with the pair set to collide at the Pat Rafter Arena in Brisbane, Australia on June 24.
Crocker vs Paro 🔒 A huge world title fight is officially set for Brisbane!
🔗 Tickets on sale Tuesday 19 May.
Sign up to get first access to pre-sale tickets 🎟️ via https://t.co/wDsr6eGwoM#NoLimitBoxing#NoLimitPPVpic.twitter.com/UMnrsyotUm
— No Limit Boxing (@NoLimit_Boxing) May 12, 2026
Paro will serve a tough test for Crocker, with the Australian previously holding the IBF super-lightweight title, defeating Subriel Matias to become champion back in June 2024 before losing the belt to Richardson Hitchins six months later.
He now attempts to become a two-weight world champion when he faces Crocker, but the Belfast man will be keen to make his first defence and then look towards potential unification clashes in the 147lb division.
Farever is a game that has a surprising amount of complexity, despite being a very simple, casual MMO. There’s plenty to see and do, from optional boss fights, secret treasure chests, jumping/racing puzzles, and of course, excellent combat. As a new player, there’s so much to know that frankly, the game doesn’t really go out of its way to explain. That might change later, but right now, much of the game is cryptic.
As an example, if you press the Block Button at the right time, you’ll execute a Perfect Block and take significantly less damage. Going out of your way to learn enemy attack timings, whether in melee or ranged, is going to be to your benefit in Farever. It won’t save you from AOE damage, but it’s worth knowing about.
You can pick up a Mount in Farever, as soon as you log into the game, if you know what to do. While this might stop being free after Early Access, for the time being, you can unlock a free Mount by simply going to the shop. It’s not the only way you can get a mount, but it is the cheapest and easiest way.
Then just go to your Collection and equip it! Now you have a mount you can ride around on at high speeds, making exploration so much easier. There’s a quest that you can complete by doing this early on, as well. Otherwise, you’ll have to spend a minimum of 500 Gold, or farm certain enemies until they drop rare mounts.
Another feature that isn’t exactly explained in Farever is the Arsenal system. You’ll see an Arsenal section of your character sheet, but what it does isn’t clear unless you click on it. Doing so will pull up all the weapons in your inventory that you can actively wield, but aren’t currently wielding.
The point of this is to get access to extra skills that you might want, but perhaps that weapon isn’t strong enough to wield. Maybe you found a weapon that has an awesome buff or AOE attack, but you don’t want to use it as your main weapon. Slot it into your Arsenal, and you can use the ability it has without worries!
One of the great things about playing a Priest in Farever is that you have easy access to healing spells, but what if you want to play a Rogue, Mage, or Warrior? It’s likely you’ll have way less access to healing abilities, so what can you do in the early game, instead? As soon as you reach the first main town, you can speak to the crafting NPC (Job Welldone), and unlock the Alchemy profession.
This will give you easy access to Healing Potions and other flasks that will help keep you alive in a pinch. You can also keep food on hand as a backup, but having access to healing potions will be a serious boon when soloing content out in the world.
When clearing dungeons in Farever, perhaps the most important thing you can do is make certain you defeat every single enemy. They aren’t hidden or out of the way or anything, but if you don’t defeat all the enemies before beating the final boss, you can’t open the chest at the end!
That’s the whole point of clearing dungeons: trying to get more powerful weapons and armor! It’s a weird design choice, though it does prevent people from just skipping all the enemy packs and running to the end. Perhaps this might change later in the game’s development cycle, but for now, take the time to defeat everything along the path.
While selling gear might be a decent way to get Gold in Farever, instead, consider using the Spark Recycler instead. The Spark Recycler is a useful machine in most towns, that lets you break down weapons and armor you find out in the world, and convert them into Sparks and other useful crafting reagents.
You then use this at the Weapon Upgrade machine in town, to increase the stats of your weapons. This can also give your weapons useful passive abilities, on top of that. It doesn’t increase their raw DPS, but it is worth doing in the late game. I’d avoid doing it early on, unless you have huge piles of resources, but don’t just drop/throw away unwanted gear. Recycle it instead!
Check out our other Farever guides and features
Edited by Jason Parker
Asuka’s departure from WWE television hit different because it came without a definitive answer. The Empress of Tomorrow lost to IYO SKY in a highly emotional match at Backlash in Tampa – a bout that was reportedly originally scheduled for WrestleMania 42 before being moved.
After losing at the PLE, Asuka indicated she was stepping away as she hugged SKY. The Kabuki Warriors member appeared emotional and waved to fans before leaving the ring.
Thanks for the submission!
On the latest edition of Monday Night RAW, Asuka and The Genius of the SKY shared a backstage segment that felt like a final scene. The former told IYO she had been looking for someone to take over her position, and SKY had become that person. They hugged, said goodbye, and The Empress of Tomorrow walked out of the arena.
Real Reason why Jacob Fatu lost at Backlash – Check Here!
Michael Cole acknowledged on commentary that her future is “up in the air.” Reports indicate this was planned time off rather than a formal retirement, but with no return date in sight, RAW’s women’s division has a noticeable gap.
Asuka has been one of the most credible and complete performers the division has seen over the past decade. Filling that role requires specific types of talent. In this article, we will look at four replacements for Asuka after she said goodbye on WWE RAW.
Jaida Parker is the most call-up-ready woman on the NXT roster right now. She has been one of the standout names in the NXT women’s division throughout 2025 and into 2026, even making an appearance in last year’s Women’s Royal Rumble.
Parker’s greatest strength is her character. She naturally excels on the microphone, and her in-ring skills have steadily improved as her profile rises.
What Asuka always brought to RAW was presence. She did not need a translator or a support system. She walked out and commanded attention. Parker has the same energy. She is 27, with size, athleticism, and the heel-or-face flexibility that WWE values on the main roster. If WWE is looking to replace a veteran with genuine star-making upside, Parker is the most obvious NXT name.
AJ Lee returned to WWE in September last year to support CM Punk in his rivalry with Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch. She later entered a feud with Lynch and defeated her at Elimination Chamber to capture the Women’s Intercontinental Championship, her first singles title in more than a decade. However, Lee eventually lost the IC Title at WrestleMania and has not appeared on WWE television since.
Asuka’s absence from RAW leaves behind a very specific role – a veteran star with charisma, unpredictability, and enough credibility to instantly strengthen the women’s division. AJ Lee fits that description naturally. She is already established with the WWE Universe and can step into major storylines without needing a reintroduction.
Since she is currently listed as a free agent on the official WWE roster page, the promotion could easily position her on RAW if the company chooses to move in that direction.
The partnership between Giulia and Kiana James on WWE SmackDown has reached a breaking point. On the May 8 episode of the blue brand, Giulia’s presence on the apron cost James a pin attempt against Tiffany Stratton in a Women’s United States Championship match. The referee was distracted by Giulia and failed to count the fall, allowing Stratton to retain the title. The two friends stared each other down after the match.
The split is coming, and once it happens, Giulia will have no clear direction on SmackDown. She already lost the Women’s US Championship to Stratton. A brand trade to RAW would make narrative sense. Giulia is a former NJPW and STARDOM star, part of the same lineage as Asuka. She is technically polished, bilingual in her presentation, and carries credibility that resonates with fans.
On RAW, she could immediately step into the upper card, either chasing the Women’s World Championship or filling the veteran anchor role left by Asuka. WWE already has a setup in place to make that happen.
Nikki Bella still has unfinished business, and she already knows who she wants to go after. An ankle injury on the March 27 episode of SmackDown ruled her out of WrestleMania 42, leading to Paige stepping in as Brie Bella’s partner. The Fearless One missed the biggest show of the year, watching from the sidelines.
On The Nikki & Brie Show, Bella confirmed she is targeting a return at Night of Champions in Riyadh, with a recovery window of 6 to 8 weeks. She also stated she wants to go after the Women’s World Championship, currently on RAW, and has referenced unfinished business with Liv Morgan.
A return to the Monday Night Show, positioned as a championship challenger with genuine motivation, will give her clear direction and give RAW a proven star to paper over Asuka’s absence. Bella is a Hall of Famer, a two-time Divas Champion, and still one of WWE’s most recognizable names. Timing and stakes both line up.
Get all the hottest wrestling news FIRST by clicking here
Edited by Neda Ali
Caluori was catapulted into the spotlight after scoring five tries against Sale on his full Saracens debut in October, earning an immediate call-up to Borthwick’s autumn squad and an appearance for England ‘A’ in November.
However Caluori was not involved in the Six Nations, instead featuring for England Under-20s, and admits playing full international rugby at that point may have come too soon.
On 4 July, England face South Africa in Johannesburg before playing Fiji in an ‘away’ fixture at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool a week later. They then travel to the small Argentine city of Santiago del Estero to face the Pumas on 18 July.
“Maybe the autumn or the Six Nations would have been a bit of a rush,” Caluori said.
“But I feel like I got handled well during the autumn and the Six Nations, putting me into England ‘A’ to experience that level as well as enjoying my time with the Under-20s, and going on a bit of a physical development plan was good.
“If I were to play [for England] earlier this year it would have been a rush, but now is a good time, especially experiencing this run-in with everything on the line for Saracens. It shows how [critical] every result is, and that’s similar to a Test match game.
“I’ve had some comms [with Steve Borthwick], we’ve had a chat, and I’m just focused on playing my best rugby from now until the end of the season.”
After scoring five tries in the home fixture against Sale, Caluori repeated the feat against them last month, and says he is coming to terms with being one of the most talked-about players in the league.
“I feel like the most pressure that will come on me is maybe internalised pressure,” he added.
“And I’ve dealt with that pretty well and then spoken to people to help me with it, so I can just focus on being the best team-mate and the best person on the pitch I can be.
“But I feel like I’m handling everything pretty well. I’m trying to enjoy it.”
New Delhi: Indian sport has seen this script before. A new league arrives with ambition, big money, overseas faces, big promises, a multi-city approach and the inevitable question: can it survive in a country where cricket consumes much of the oxygen?Melburnian Jeremy Loeliger has heard that question before. In fact, he has lived it.Long before he became India Basketball League (IBL) Commissioner, Loeliger watched basketball fight for relevance in Australia — a market dominated by Australian Rules Football, Rugby, Cricket, Football, established sporting giants, passionate fan bases, and limited room for another professional competition. That, he says, is precisely why India makes sense.“There are a lot of similarities between basketball, the position that basketball was in in Australia 15 years ago and the position that basketball finds itself here in India,” Loeliger told TimesofIndia.com ahead of the BUDx NBA House in Delhi, where IBL’s eight foundation cities were announced.The comparison is deliberate. In Australia, basketball had participation, but not a sustainable professional product. India, he believes, sits at a similar crossroads. “There had been passion, but no capital. And I think that’s true here in India as well.”
At the onset, the India Basketball League (IBL) will feature six city-based teams.
That diagnosis matters because Indian sport is littered with leagues that have struggled to convert novelty into longevity. Even established sports with deep roots have wrestled with attendance, investment and visibility.Hockey India League and Pro Wrestling League both had a seven-year hiatus; Premier Badminton League was played for five seasons but hasn’t restarted since 2020. Premier Hockey League, Champions Tennis League and World Series Hockey are others that began with plenty of noise before shutting shop.But IBL’s pitch is different. It is not trying to out-cricket cricket.“We’re not selling eyeballs. Not to begin with. We’re selling the heart and mind,” said Loeliger.
What we want is an audience that is truly engaged and passionate about our sport, who support it, who love it for what it is
IBL Commissioner Jeremy Loeliger
“We’re selling that this is an inclusive product that’s for everyone, and that it will be entertaining from the moment that you walk in. We won’t have as big an audience as cricket for many years to come. That’s fine.“What we want is an audience that’s truly engaged and passionate about our sport, who support it, who love it for what it is. You don’t always need to play the volume game,” he continued.That may be the most revealing line about what the IBL is actually trying to build.In an era where sports leagues obsess over reach, ratings, and scale, the IBL is opting for intimacy. Passion over volume. Community over mass-market metrics.What basketball believes it has, though, is something Indian sport has perhaps under-explored: entertainment.
The eight foundation cities of IBL are Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, and Pune.
“I think sporting entertainment is lacking here in India,” said Loeliger.“Yes, there are some sports that do it well, and the IPL is a great example. It’s a great sports entertainment product, but it only plays for two or two-and-a-half months of the year. People want to be entertained 12 months of the year.”This is where basketball’s case gets interesting. Unlike cricket, where physical distance separates fans from players, basketball offers proximity. Noise. Speed. Contact. Theatre.“One of the great things about basketball is the proximity to the sport. If you go to a game, you’re sitting right there. You can literally smell the players,” explained Loeliger.“You can get a basketball or a basketballer in your lap. There’s no other sport where you can hear the coaches, the players and the referees. So, I think that’s one element that makes basketball unique.”
Each IBL team squad will comprise of 12 players featuring Indian and overseas athletes.
Based on the elevator pitch, the IBL is not just selling a sport. It is selling an experience. That helps explain some of the league’s structural choices.When the league launches in early 2027, six teams will form the inaugural competition before expansion. Each 12-player squad will feature seven Indian players and five overseas professionals, with regulations ensuring local players are not overshadowed. Players will be centrally contracted and paid by the league, with a draft system instead of the conventional franchise spending race.Unlike many other sports leagues, the organisers are not in a hurry to privatise teams, introduce flashy auctions and mix Bollywood with sport. The eight foundation cities are Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, and Pune. The six teams that will play the first season, or more, will be decided by fans. That measured approach is unusual in Indian sport, where rapid commercialisation often arrives before the sporting foundations are secure. Loeliger insists patience is intentional.
Action from the BUDx NBA House in Delhi, where IBL’s eight foundation cities were announced.
“It needs patience, it needs partners, and it needs persistence. And it needs a balance sheet. We’ve got all of those things now,” he explained the mantra behind creating a successful product.Perhaps the boldest assumption underpinning the project is that India’s basketball audience already exists.“Everyone knows about LeBron (James). Everyone knows Victor Wembenyama is now the next big thing.”The problem, he argues, is accessibility. NBA games happen in inconvenient time zones. The stars are distant. The fandom is fragmented.“But it’s hard to tune in when the games are on and finishing at 7.30 or 8.30, 9 o’clock in the morning. So the latent demand is there, but accessibility is not.”That is the opportunity the IBL hopes to unlock: prime-time basketball featuring players from Indian neighbourhoods, not just imported stars. The bigger dream, though, lies beyond the first season. Basketball’s global ecosystem gives it an aspirational pathway few Indian sports can offer. “That’s when we’re going to find the next Yao Ming or Jeremy Lin. That’s when we’re going to find our Giannis Antetokounmpo.”It is an ambitious claim. But not entirely irrational.India already has basketball-playing youth, growing street culture, NBA familiarity and a lifestyle affinity with the sport. The missing piece has been a credible domestic platform.The High Performance Centre in Bengaluru — where 88 professional players currently train — is part of that long-term vision.Still, realism remains necessary. Infrastructure remains the league’s biggest immediate hurdle, prompting the organisers to be patient.“The biggest challenge here is infrastructure. Having venues that are appropriate for staging the kind of production that we want to give to our fans.”Suitable arenas are limited. The first edition will therefore be played in a caravan format instead of a home-and-away competition.“Infrastructure is probably the biggest challenge at the moment from a professional game day point of view. But that’s okay, we’re going to start playing in a caravan to begin with, not as a home and away format. Home and away format will follow in the years to come.”But perhaps the bigger question is not infrastructure — it is attention. In a country where every new league eventually gets measured against cricket, the IBL is making a different bet: that basketball does not need to win the numbers game immediately, only the emotional one.If Loeliger is right, India does not need to be taught to like basketball. It simply needs a league compelling enough to turn casual interest into lasting fandom.
In a major step ahead of its official launch later this year, the European T20 Premier League (ETPL) has announced former India captain and coach Rahul Dravid as the owner of its sixth franchise, Dublin Guardians.
The announcement was made during a special event in Dublin on Monday, where the league also confirmed the ownership structure of all six franchises.
With support from Cricket Ireland, Cricket Scotland and the Royal Dutch Cricket Association, the ETPL aims to become Europe’s first major multi-nation franchise T20 competition.
The ETPL finalised its franchise lineup during the Dublin event attended by franchise owners, league officials and administrators from European cricket boards.
Alongside Rahul Dravid, representatives from other franchises, including Glasgow franchise owner Vipul Agarwal and Rotterdam franchise stakeholders Jonty Rhodes and Madhukar Sri, were present.
ETPL co-founders Abhishek Bachchan, Saurav Banerjee, Priyanka Kaul and Dhiraj Malhotra also attended the launch event.
The ETPL will feature franchises from Dublin, Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Rotterdam and Amsterdam under a cross-border league model.
Organisers believe the competition can help strengthen cricket’s presence across Europe, where participation and interest in the sport have continued to grow in recent years.
The league is also expected to feature several international stars, including Mitchell Marsh, Tim David, Mitchell Santner, Liam Livingstone, Glenn Maxwell, Faf du Plessis and Heinrich Klaasen.
League officials said the tournament is expected to create a platform for young cricketers from Europe and other Associate nations to compete alongside internationally established players.
Speaking during the launch event, ETPL co-founder Abhishek Bachchan said Rahul Dravid’s association with the league was an important moment for the ETPL project. He stated that the league’s vision extended beyond creating a cricket tournament and focused on building a system that could inspire and develop emerging talent in Ireland and across Europe.
Bachchan also said the response from the global cricket community had been encouraging, adding that the involvement of figures such as Steve Waugh, Glenn Maxwell, Jonty Rhodes, Chris Gayle, Faf du Plessis, Heinrich Klaasen and Rahul Dravid reflected confidence in the league’s long-term plans.
Rahul Dravid said the larger vision behind the ETPL attracted him to the project. He explained that the league’s focus on strengthening cricket in Europe, improving grassroots structures and creating opportunities for emerging players made it an exciting initiative.
Dravid added that Dublin already had a strong interest in cricket and significant potential for future growth. He further stated that supporting young talent had always been important to him and expressed confidence that the ETPL could contribute positively to the development of the sport in Europe.
Cricket Ireland chairman Brian MacNeice described the launch as a significant moment for Irish and European cricket. He said the ETPL had the potential to increase the game’s popularity, expand participation and create stronger pathways for players in the region.
|
Franchise |
Owners / Partners |
|
Dublin Guardians |
Rahul Dravid |
|
Irish Wolves |
Glenn Maxwell and Rohan Lund |
|
Edinburgh Castle Rockers |
Kyle Mills, Nathan McCullum and Rachel Wiseman |
|
Glasgow Cosmic |
Vipul Agarwal and Chris Gayle |
|
Amsterdam Flames |
Steve Waugh, Jamie Dwyer and Tim Thomas |
|
Rotterdam Dockers |
Jonty Rhodes, Faf du Plessis, Glashin and Sameer Shah (Managing Partner: Madhukar Sri) |
After an instant classic on Saturday where Daniel Dubois became a two-time world champion against Fabio Wardley, one of the key talking points is whether the fight should have been stopper sooner, and now promoter Frank Warren has shared his honest thoughts on the matter.
Dubois was sent to the canvas twice by WBO ruler Wardley within the first three rounds, but those two knockdown-containing rounds were arguably the only two that were won by the reigning champion and after round eight, the contest became more unsavoury.
Having emptied the tank looking for the big finish, a damaged Wardley looked extremely vulnerable in the latter part of the fight and the writing appeared to be on the wall, with the bloodied Ipswich fan-favourite inevitably on the verge of a brutal knockout.
Yet, somehow, Wardley remained on his feet and went out on his shield, despite the doctors twice being told to assess his injuries, with referee Howard Foster eventually intervening in round 11 and bringing the fight to a close, rather than lead trainer Ben Davison.
Davison has since received criticism for not saving his fighter from unnecessary punishment and whilst admitting that Wardley’s comebacks against Justis Huni and Joseph Parker must be considered, Warren told talkSPORT Boxing that he believes the bout should’ve been stopped earlier.
“I have got to be honest with you and I will speak the truth on it – I think that it did [go on too long]. But, I know what the full process behind him was, because of the fact of what he did from behind in fights both with Huni and Parker and how he pulled it out of the bag.
“It was the 10th round wasn’t it, against Parker? He pulled it out and knocked him over and as you could see, he was trying to throw that [same] punch, but he didn’t take the punishment in the Parker or Huni fight, as he did against Daniel and Daniel is a phenomenal puncher. He is a big puncher as a heavyweight.
“Having said that, you know, Ben and the team are seasoned trainers and cornerman. They feel that they know what they’re doing, but me, I would have pulled my man out.”
Despite being battered and bruised, it has been confirmed that Wardley suffered no major injuries in the fight. After being examined and told that a hospital visit was not required, the 31-year-old attended a private hospital as a precaution and got the all-clear, suffering no concussion, breaks or fractures.
HarrisX Poll Found 52% of Registered Voters Support the CLARITY Act
Weekend Open Thread: Marianne Dress
Upbit adds B3 Korean won pair as Base token gains Korea access
NCP car park operator enters administration putting 340 UK sites at risk of closure
Coffee Break: Travel Steam Iron
What to Know Before Buying a Curling Wand or Curling Iron
Auto Enthusiast Carves Functional Two-Stroke Engine from Solid Metal
What to expect when you’re expecting a budget
Politics Home Article | Starmer Enters The Danger Zone
Ignore market noise, India’s long-term story intact, say D-Street bulls Ramesh Damani and Sunil Singhania
GM Agrees To Pay $12.75 Million To Settle California Lawsuit Over Misuse Of Customers’ Driving Data
BlackRock CEO Larry Fink Discusses a New Asset Class
Sarah Paulson Called Out For Met Gala ‘Hypocrisy’
NBA playoff winners and losers: Austin Reaves is not loving Lakers vs. Thunder matchup, but Chet Holmgren is
Bold and Beautiful Early Spoilers May 11-15: Steffy Revolted & Liam Overjoyed!
Robinhood says Wall Street is building onchain
General Hospital: Ric & Ava Bombshell – Ric’s Massive Secret Exposed!
Simon Cowell Says He Was ‘Horrible’ To Susan Boyle During BGT Audition
Apple and Samsung are dominating smartphone sales so thoroughly that only one other company makes the top 10
The Best Work Pants for Women in 2026
You must be logged in to post a comment Login