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Shaik Rasheed, Sarfaraz Khan emerge as frontrunners to replace Sai Sudharsan in India Test squad | Cricket News
TimesofIndia.com in Colombo: India are rocked by another injury blow as their designated No. 3 batter Sai Sudharsan is all but ruled out of the upcoming two-match series against Sri Lanka, starting August 15 in Galle.The southpaw is undergoing rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) for a niggle in his foot, but the management was optimistic about having him available before the first Test got underway. However, as things stand, it is highly unlikely that the Tamil Nadu batter will get the necessary clearances for the crucial fixtures.Shaik Rasheed or Sarfaraz Khan could be drafted in as a replacement for the batter. TimesofIndia.com has learnt that Sarfaraz has already been at the CoE for his fitness assessment for over a week, and Rasheed has also been asked to report to the Bengaluru facility on Sunday.Rasheed recently toured with the India A team for the two fixtures in Sri Lanka last month, contributing scores of 45, 63 and 20 in the three innings. The youngster has been on the selectors’ radar and was also scheduled to be part of a specialist batter camp at the CoE in the coming weeks. The camp is also set to feature players like R Smaran and Aman Mokhade.The Indian team management is reportedly worried about the lack of specialist batters and has already conveyed this need to the selectors. The selectors were keen to try out more specialist batters but could not because Devdutt Padikkal, Sai Sudharsan and Dhruv Jurel featured in the two India A fixtures. It is understood that Sarfaraz has been advised by some key figures to bat higher up the order in the domestic circuit as he remains in the selectors’ scheme of things.The Mumbai batter is a quality player of spin, has worked hard on his fitness and has had enough experience of international cricket to ease into the set-up. But as things stand, it would not be a surprise if Rasheed gets the nod, as his progress has been constantly tracked and the feedback from the coaches at the CoE has been very good for the 21-year-old. An official word from the Indian cricket board is awaited, which will clarify the replacement.
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Red Sox chase 10th straight win, aim to hand A’s 10th straight loss
Aug 7, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox pitcher Raymond Burgos (79) reacts after throwing the final out to beat the Athletics at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images The Boston Red Sox can do no wrong these days. At least that’s the way it seems.
The Red Sox will enter their Saturday matchup against the visiting Athletics on a nine-game winning streak after recording a 13-1 victory on Friday in the opening contest of a three-game series.
Boston has won 11 of its last 12 games, 27 of its past 30 and 32 of its past 37 — the best streak in franchise history. The Friday victory was the Red Sox’s 12th in their past 14 home games and improved the team’s record to 29-29 at Fenway Park.
Boston has scored 25 runs in the past two games.
“It’s absolutely amazing,” left fielder Jarren Duran told WEEI following the latest triumph. “I remember at the beginning of the season the feeling was, ‘I hope we score.’ Now it’s gotten to the point of it’s just a matter of when we score and how much are we going to score.”
Catcher Jake Rogers and reliever Raymond Burgos, two players who may not be with the Red Sox for very long, made significant contributions on Friday.
Boston acquired Rogers when it traded for Adley Rutschman because the Red Sox needed a backup catcher until Rutschman is cleared to play after missing time due to left wrist inflammation. Rogers doubled in each of his first two at-bats on Friday. He also walked once, drove in a run and scored three times.
Rutschman hasn’t played since July 18, but following the Friday game, Boston interim manager Chad Tracy said the three-time All-Star is scheduled to catch five innings for Triple-A Worcester on Saturday. Burgos was called up from Worcester on Friday to fortify a depleted bullpen after Boston played a 13-inning game against the Chicago White Sox on Thursday. He made his second major league appearance Friday night and tossed three scoreless innings to earn his first save. He retired each of the nine batters he faced.
The Athletics were limited to two hits in the defeat, which extended their losing streak to nine games. The A’s also parted ways with general manager David Forst on Friday. Forst had been with the organization for 27 seasons.
“For me, (Forst) gave me this opportunity to manage this club,” Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said. “We’ve faced our certain circumstances, challenges, together. That’s what’s tough about it. Not being able to see it through with him.
“My ask of (the players) is that they go out and win as many games as possible from this point forward.” The Athletics will be hoping for a repeat performance when they send rookie Gage Jump (4-7, 4.59 ERA) to the mound on Saturday. The left-hander was the winning pitcher when the Athletics beat the Red Sox 4-3 on July 28 — Boston’s last loss. He tossed six scoreless innings and struck out seven in that win, which is his only career appearance against the Red Sox.
Rookie left-hander Jake Bennett (7-4, 2.90) is Boston’s scheduled starter. Bennett was the losing pitcher in that July 28 game against the Athletics, when he allowed three runs on six hits in 6 1/3 innings. That was his only career appearance against the Athletics.
Despite that setback, Bennett is 6-1 with a 2.13 ERA in his past eight starts.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Alex Eala ‘tired’ but says ankle injury not serious
Alexandra Eala of the Philippines wipes her face between points while playing Caty McNally of the United States during day six of the National Bank Open Presented by Rogers at Sobeys Stadium on August 07, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario. Matthew Stockman/Getty Images/AFP
MANILA, Philippines — Alex Eala alleviated worries about her fitness after twisting her right ankle in a gutsy win over Caty McNally in the round of 32 of the Canadian Open in Toronto on Saturday.
Eala tweaked her right ankle midway through the second set and fought through it en route to a 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 victory over McNally to reach the fourth round of the WTA 1000 hard court event.
“I kind of rolled my ankle in that second set. I hit the forehand and I landed kind of wrong. I called the physio. I don’t know what happened, because it happened so fast. But luckily there’s nothing wrong with it, and it was no serious problems,” the 25th seed Eala said in the post-match presser.
Eala, who needed a medical timeout to have her ankle checked leading 3-2, was on the verge of sweeping McNally, serving for the match up 5-4.
But McNally fought back and forced the decider before Eala dug deeper and regained her rhythm to close out the match after two hours and 39 minutes.
Caty McNally of the United States congratulates Alexandra Eala of the Philippines after their match during day six of the National Bank Open Presented by Rogers at Sobeys Stadium on August 07, 2026 in Toronto, Ontario. Matthew Stockman/Getty Images/AFP
The 21-year-old Eala admitted she’s feeling the fatigue from playing in back-to-back tournaments and coming off a title run at the WTA 500 DC Open in Washington on Tuesday, where she overcame World No. 3 Jessica Pegula in the final.
“Today was physically, it pushed me a lot. I have a lot of matches in the bag. But that goes for good and bad. I think this is also a learning process. We’re athletes. So that kind of physical is a huge part of our job,” said Eala, who opened her bid in Toronto with a three-set win over Alycia Parks on Thursday morning. “I think I have a great team who is going to help me recover, and I have high hopes for the rest of the tournament.”
“I needed to push a lot. I’m as tired as one can be at this stage. You can imagine, a lot of matches,” Eala said. “But, that’s the job. I’m ready. I’m excited for another match. I’m going to do my best to recover and start again from zero.”
The Filipino World No. 20 will be tested again on Monday against 12th seed Belinda Bencic for a spot in the quarterfinals. Bencic outlasted Taylor Townsend in a grueling match that lasted more than three hours.
Sports
Mating Call’s 2026 spring campaign begins at Morphettville
Dan Clarken and Oopy MacGillivray have spring aspirations for their mare Mating Call, who is set to kick off her campaign at Morphettville.
Clarken is looking forward to seeing Mating Call compete over six furlongs again in the Group 3 Behemoth Stakes (1200m) this Saturday.
The mare’s only previous experience at 1200m was a winning debut at Balaklava nine months ago.
After her debut, Clarken and MacGillivray took Mating Call to Melbourne for the Group 2 Thousand Guineas Prelude, where she finished sixth. She then followed this with a third in the Group 2 Edward Manifold Stakes and a fifth in the Group 1 Thousand Guineas.
“I’m really interested to see her at six furlongs,” Clarken said. “We’ve only seen her the once and that was the day she won her first start at Balaklava and the way she won was just ridiculous. She then ran really well over in Melbourne and that was her first prep. Now she’s furnished into a four-year-old mare and she look fantastic. We’re excited to see where she gets to.”
Mating Call is nominated for the Cox Plate (2000m) at Flemington in October, though Clarken believes a start in the Caulfield Cup (2400m) is unlikely.
Regarding the Cox Plate nomination, Clarken stated, “You have to do these things because you just don’t know as they can come out of left field at this time of year. You have to dream, but I’m not sure 2400 metres of the Caulfield Cup would be her go. She probably gets too much up on the steel, she’s not relaxed, for that sort of trip right at the moment. I’m not saying it’s never going to happen, but right at the moment it might be a stretch too far for her.”
Mating Call recently finished second in a jump-out at Murray Bridge and had a gallop between races at Morphettville last Saturday.
“She appears to have come up really well,” Clarken commented. “She’s had a jump-out and then she had a good gallop at Morphettville just to get her away from Murray Bridge and get a few shakes and shivers out of the way. It served its purpose. Her time on the tracker was very good. After Saturday, she’ll go over the border, that’s the idea. You have to get them going to start with, this is in our backyard and a good starting point for her, and then we can work out where to go from there.”
For the upcoming Behemoth Stakes, consider checking out the betting sites offering comprehensive racing odds.
Sports
Reports: J.J. McCarthy Gains Ground

Somebody needs to fire up Chumbawamba. J.J. McCarthy gets knocked down but then gets up again. It’s an admirable trait that’s going to serve him well no matter how this thing goes.
Per the word from various onlookers, Mr. McCarthy was better at Friday’s practice. By no means does that result in him being the favorite to be the starter for Week 1. Rather, the updates function as a reminder that this thing is still going and that the competition is real.
J.J. McCarthy Better than Kyler Murray on Friday
Consider what Will Ragatz had to say.
The veteran writer’s social media update: “Vikings just wrapped another padded practice. Not a very riveting one, to be honest. Lot of special teams work early on and run game focus. I’d give the QB edge to McCarthy, who looked sharp. But there weren’t many eye-popping throws from either guy. Murray continues to get more of the reps with the starters.”

Some onlookers are going want better than just being “sharp,” but Kevin O’Connell may not being among them.
Whoever starts at quarterback needs to function as a point guard, as Kirk Cousins used to say. Be a good distributor who puts the ball into the playmakers’ hands. Doing so will lead to points getting put on the board. Do that across enough possessions and wins will follow.
For the Vikings, “sharp” is exactly what’s needed. For the Vikings, “sharp” was exactly what was missing.
However, many will think that McCarthy needs to be Hercules to overcome Kyler Murray. Quite possibly, that perspective will prove true since the veteran has accomplished a decent amount.
What’s worth remembering is simply that the competition is ongoing. We haven’t yet arrived at the preseason games and nor have the Baltimore Ravens travelled to Eagan for joint practices. Those are going to be crucial pieces of the puzzle for evaluating who is capable of elevating the team. Seeing one prove far better — sharper? — in these settings will mean a lot.

Consider another perspective. Judd Zulgad of SKOR North offers his two cents:
“J.J. McCarthy had the better day today than Kyler,” Zulgad explains. Note that the reporter does say that Murray continued to get more work even though he “had a very average day.” Zulgad is among those who thinks that Murray is going to win the competition.
As I’ve said a few times, McCarthy isn’t a static entity. Rather, he’s dynamic, getting better or worse as the days go. So, too, is Murray seeing his game change. Hopefully, both are getting better. Who is going to be better in a month, two months, and so on? In theory, the younger of the two should have more room for growth, but that’s not a locked-in outcome.

J.J. McCarthy is still only 23. Kyler Murray just arrived at his 29th birthday. The battle continues.
Sports
Alas Pilipinas ends drought vs Vietnam, keeps medal hopes alive
Eya Laure and Alas Pilipinas women during a game in the 2026 SEA V Cup Leg 2. –SAVA PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines–Alas Pilipinas Women stayed in the medal hunt in the SEA V Cup Leg 2 after ending a seven-year losing streak to defending champion Vietnam, 22-25, 25-23, 25-21, 25-22, on Saturday at Chiang Mai Stadium in Thailand.
The Philippines finally got over the hump against Vietnam, a team it had not beaten since the 2019 edition of the tournament and in previous AVC Women’s Cup tournaments.
The victory also kept alive the Filipinos’ hopes of returning to the podium after their four-straight bronze medal streak ended last week in Hanoi.
READ: Alas Pilipinas swept by Thailand in SEA V Cup Leg 2 opener
Eya Laure played her best game of the tournament so far, dazzling with 22 points from 19 kills, two blocks and an ace.
The Choco Mucho star came to the rescue after the Philippines blew a 19-13 lead in the fourth set, with Pham Quynh Huong delivering big hits to tie the game at 22.
Bella Belen stopped the bleeding with a clutch kill before Laure sent the Philippines to match point, 24-22, with an off-the-block hit.

Alas Pilipinas women’s Eya Laure in action in the 2026 SEA V Cup Leg 2. –SAVA PHOTO
Laure then found the perfect timing to block Tran Thi Thanh Thuy for the game winner, giving the Philippines a 1-1 record and a chance to return to the podium with a win over Indonesia on Sunday at 2 p.m.
Interestingly, Laure was a rookie when the Philippines beat Vietnam in the 2019 SEA V Cup, formerly known as ASEAN Grand Prix, in two legs in Thailand and Laguna. Current Alas seniors Jia De Guzman and Dawn Catindig were also part of that team.
Leg 1 Best Opposite Hitter Alyssa Solomon delivered 17 points, while her National University teammate Belen had 16, highlighted by three blocks. De Guzman also helped spread the offense as the Philippines snapped an eight-game losing streak to Vietnam in the SEA V Cup.
Thea Gagate also stepped up with six kill blocks to finish with 10 points, while Dell Palomata had four blocks to finish with nine points, with the team tallying 15 kill blocks.
The Filipino spikers held as many as an 18-9 lead in the third set, with Belen, Laure, Solomon and Gagate delivering the goods. But Thuy cut the deficit to three, 23-20, before Laure and Belen closed out the set to give the Philippines a 2-1 match advantage.
Thuy topscored with 25 points. Huong had 14, while Tran Thi Bich Thuy added 12 only to drop to 0-2 in the tournament before facing Leg 1 champion Thailand on Sunday.
Sports
Gianni Infantino lives to see another day after FIFA crisis meeting
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USC QB Jayden Maiava on how he can become the finished product
USC Trojans quarterback Jayden Maiava was eligible to enter the NFL Draft last year, but he wisely decided to return to school. His statistical numbers were definitely there, and he might have indeed been a mid-round pick, had he entered the 2026 draft.
However, the Honolulu, Hawaii native opted-in to the Alamo Bowl last season, for a game that almost all of his key teammates opted-out of.
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Maiava committed to play, performed very well in the postseason game, and then returned for another season with the Trojans.
Right now, he’s solidly projected to a be a day two selection, and he’s on pretty much everybody’s top ten QB list for the 2027 draft. He’s got prototypical size and throws a great deep ball, but he’s still pretty turnover prone.
Not to mention he also needs to work on improving how he works through his progressions.
At Big Ten Media Days, Maiava discussed how he can level up this season (and with that augment his draft stock)
“I think just being able to be a product of any environment,” Maiava said, to a group of reporters, from his podium at Big Ten Media Days.
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“I can’t be a product of just one environment. I got to be a product of all environments. So I think being able to adapt to the environment and just get to know the receivers at a deeper level so we can play at a high level and play fast.”
USC loses two all-world wide outs from last season, Makai Lemon and Ja’Kobi Lane, so the receiver room is rebuilding this season. Maiava will have to help bring them along.
The Polynesian UNLV transfer discussed his ambition to continue: “just building that chemistry with those guys and everything we got to do to put the offense in the best position to score points.”
He then added:
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“I mean there’s a lot of room for improvement for everybody, across the board including me…constant wanting to learn, that constant wanting to get better, having that mindset of never being satisfied, fundamentally wise, my craft, decision-making, it’s kind of the whole thing.”
USC has a long illustrious history at the quarterback position, and many of these Trojan legends come by, from time to time, to visit the facilities.
Maiava name-checked three that he’s gotten to meet and know: Sam Darnold (who now has all-time legendary meme status), Caleb Williams, and Matt Leinart. He then articulated the experience of hanging out with them.
“The cool thing about USC is a lot of different quarterbacks; they come back and visit quite often,” Maiava said from his podium in the Hilton Chicago ballroom.
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“I’ve been blessed to just cross paths with them and share a conversation with them.
“That’s really cool for me. Just the whole experience of being the quarterback at USC, it’s tough to beat. They’re legends. Love sitting down and talking to those guys.”
Maiava threw for 3,711 yards and 24 touchdown passes, as well as 157 yards on the ground. If he can build on that, he could really be something.
This article originally appeared on Draft Wire: USC QB Jayden Maiava on how he can become the finished product
Sports
High-powered matchup pits Braves’ Chris Sale vs. Yankees’ Gerrit Cole
Jul 29, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; Atlanta Braves pitcher Chris Sale (51) delivers a pitch during the third inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images Using Chris Sale on extra rest is working well for the Atlanta Braves.
Sale will be pitching with more rest than usual Saturday when he throws for the first time since July 29 as the Braves visit the New York Yankees.
The teams will face a shorter turnaround than usual after a nearly two-hour rain delay Friday night led to the game ending shortly after midnight.
Atlanta had its season-high eight-game winning streak end when Raisel Iglesias blew the save by yielding two runs in the ninth inning before Tyler Kinley allowed the winning run in the 10th as New York prevailed 3-2.
Austin Riley hit his fifth homer since the All-Star break and Matt Olson tied Philadelphia’s Kyle Schwarber and Colorado’s Hunter Goodman for the NL lead with his 33rd homer for the Braves.
Sale (12-6, 2.08 ERA) is pitching for the first time since averaging 96.3 mph on 48 four-seam fastballs in a 1-0 win over the Mets in the second game of a July 29 doubleheader. He threw six scoreless innings, permitting two hits, walking none and striking out nine.
The 10-time All-Star made that start with five days of rest, and he has made 18 of his 20 starts with at least five days of rest.
On extended rest, Sale is 11-5 with a 1.68 ERA this season, and he heads into Saturday 4-0 with a 2.00 ERA in his past five starts. Sale racked up 20 strikeouts in the past two outings, against the Mets and the San Diego Padres, and he also tossed seven shutout innings versus the Texas Rangers in his current hot streak.
“(Extra rest) is one of the things that has kept him strong and kept his velocity where it’s at,” Braves manager Walt Weiss said earlier this week. “It’s crazy to think about, but at 37 years old, he’s producing some of the highest velocities in his entire career. I think that’s because of some of the adjustments he’s made in his throwing program this offseason and the in-season throwing program. The extra days are a factor, too.”
Sale is 7-9 with a 3.06 ERA in 23 career appearances (20 starts) against the Yankees. He last faced them on June 21, 2024, in New York, when he struck out eight and allowed a run on one hit in five innings during an 8-1 win.
Sale has rarely opposed New York ace Gerrit Cole (5-5, 3.42 ERA). Saturday will mark their third head-to-head matchup, after faceoffs on June 1, 2018, and July 17, 2022. Cole was on the Houston Astros in the first of those games, and Sale was with the Boston Red Sox for both.
In those contests, Sale went 0-2 with an 8.10 ERA, while Cole went 2-0 with a 3.21 ERA.
Cole is attempting to win three straight starts for the first time since returning from Tommy John surgery on May 22. He pitched six scoreless innings in a 3-2 win against the host Chicago White Sox on July 28, then threw 5 2/3 innings of one-run ball in a 2-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Sunday.
Cole is 3-2 with a 3.89 ERA in seven career starts against the Braves.
The Yankees will try to maintain their momentum after Ryan McMahon lofted a game-winning sacrifice fly in the 10th to end the series opener. Austin Wells hit an RBI double and Ben Rice added a game-tying single in the ninth as the Yankees won for the second time in 10 extra-inning contests this season.
“We’ve got to figure that out,” McMahon said of the Yankees’ offensive struggles. “We got to get going a little bit more.”
–Field Level Media
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Finally, medals for France in open water swimming – Sports
France have finally won medals in open water swimming at the European Swimming Championships in Paris. Marc-Antoine Olivier and Logan Fontaine finished second and third in the three-kilometre knock-out event.
Also in this bulletin: high diving in a breathtaking setting, Kasia Niewiadoma’s big move on the Tour de France, Liverpool’s offer to PSG for Barcola, Marseille looking set to make more sales, PSG’s final friendly before the UEFA Super Cup, Aston Villa’s defeat to Bayern Munich, Terence Atmane’s exit at the Montreal Masters 1000, Naomi Osaka’s comfortable win in Toronto, and Gavi dying his hair pink.
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