England wicketkeeper Jamie Smith and Australia batter Steve Smith during day three of the Fifth Test in the 2025/26 Ashes Series between Australia and England at Sydney Cricket Ground on January 06, 2026 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo/Getty Images)
England wicketkeeper-batter Jamie Smith has said that missing out on the IPL 2026 could help him focus on red-ball cricket, as he prepares for the upcoming Test season at home.Smith, who went unsold in the IPL auction, said he initially wanted to be part of the league but now sees the break as useful ahead of England’s Test summer, which begins against New Zealand in June.
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“At the time, I would have definitely liked to have gone (to the IPL). It’s an ambition of mine to strengthen all sides of my game, and I see the IPL as something that can really enhance the white-ball side and does have benefits for the red-ball (game),” Smith said, as cited by“But in hindsight, yeah, it’s fantastic to come here and have a block of red-ball (cricket) behind me. I felt that towards the back end of the summer and into the winter, technically, I felt a little bit out of kilter.“It’s been nice to come here (The Oval) and work on a couple of things, and then I’ll be able to hopefully implement them, for six or seven (County Championship) games, and we’ll see where we get to if there’s any England stuff after that. But, yeah, it’s nice to have a little block to try and get things right,” Smith was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo on Wednesday.Smith had a difficult Ashes series in Australia, scoring 211 runs with one half-century in five Tests as Australia won 4-1. He was later left out of England’s white-ball squads for the tour of Sri Lanka and the Men’s T20 World Cup.Reflecting on the tour, Smith spoke about the physical and mental demands of long Test series.“Mistakes are going to happen. The India series was physically and mentally very tough. It was my first five-Test series.“Also, we were out in the field for 22 out of 25 days or something stupid, and all the Tests lasted (five days). By the end, it was just actual exhaustion: I was just knackered physically and mentally from all that had gone. From there, the learning was how to make sure that from the first to the last game, your standards are still as high as possible,” Smith said.“It was similar in Australia, to be honest. I know a few of the games didn’t last as long as people were expecting or wanting, but again, I don’t feel like my standards were down too much,” he added.
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 05: Charles Bassey #28 of the Golden State Warriors looks on against the Houston Rockets in the first quarter at Chase Center on April 05, 2026 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Eakin Howard/Getty Images)
Charles Bassey is already making an impact just days after joining the Golden State Warriors.
The Nigerian center recently signed with the Warriors to help cover injuries in the squad, and he wasted no time showing what he can do.
In just his second appearance, Bassey delivered 14 points and 12 rebounds in a win over the Sacramento Kings, immediately stepping up when the team needed it.
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Before this move, Bassey had been putting up serious numbers in the G League with Santa Cruz, averaging over 20 points, 11 rebounds, and 2 blocks per game, which earned him another NBA opportunity.
At 6’10, the 25-year-old brings energy and rebounding to the game. Warriors coach Steve Kerr has already praised his effort and athleticism, pointing to his ability to contribute in short bursts.
Bassey was drafted in 2021 and has had spells across the league, but this opportunity with the Golden State Warriors comes at the right time.
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He has already shown what he can do.
A 14-point, 12-rebound performance this early is a good statement.
The Diamond League athletics meeting in Doha has been postponed for six weeks and will now take place on June 19 due to the war in the Middle East, organisers announced Wednesday. The United States and Iran agreed on Tuesday a two-week ceasefire to the war that has killed thousands and hammered the global economy. The Diamond League organisers had previously said the opening leg of this year’s series would go ahead as planned on May 8, but have now decided to delay the event.
“In the interests of athlete and spectator safety, a decision has now been taken to postpone the meeting. Should conditions allow, it will now be held on June 19,” they said in a statement.
The competition will also be moved from the Qatar Sports Club to the Khalifa International Stadium in case of higher temperatures.
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The Khalifa stadium, which is temperature controlled, hosted the world athletics championships in 2019 and matches of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
The Diamond League is the elite one-day meeting series in track and field, a season that features 15 meets in 13 different countries across four different continents.
The first Diamond League meeting will instead be in Shanghai on May 16.
Several major sporting events in the Middle East have been postponed or cancelled because of the war the United States and Israel launched on Iran, including the Formula One grands prix in Bahrain and Jeddah, in Saudi Arabia.
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Both were scheduled for mid-April and have been cancelled.
In football, the Finalissima, which was to pit European champions Spain against Copa America winners Argentina on March 27 in Qatar, was called off.
The Qatar motorcycling Grand Prix, initially scheduled for the weekend of April 12, has been postponed to November 8, while a gymnastics World Cup event scheduled to take place in Doha in April was also cancelled.
However, a horse racing meeting in Dubai, carrying prize money of $30.5 million and featuring the Dubai World Cup, did go ahead on March 28.
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(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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The Lions named Washington as their linebacker coach Wednesday.
Washington began his CFL coaching career with B.C. in 2008, spending six seasons as defensive backs coach before being promoted to defensive coordinator in 2014. He remained in that job until becoming the Hamilton Tiger-Cats defensive co-ordinator/defensive backs coach in 2019. Washington was let go by the Ticats during the 2024 season.
Washington played defensive back for 11 CFL seasons with the Montreal Alouettes (1997-02) and Lions (2003-07). He registered 483 tackles, 48 special-teams tackles, 17 interceptions, 12 fumble recoveries, and one sack over 156 regular-season games.
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Washington won two Grey Cups as a player (2002, 2006) and another as a coach (2011).
Buck Pierce returns for a second season as the Lions’ head coach, offensive co-ordinator and quarterback coach.
The remainder of his staff includes: Mike Benevides (defensive co-ordinator); Cory McDiarmid (special-teams co-ordinator); Kevin Bourgoin (receivers coach, pass-game co-ordinator; Paul Charbonneau (offensive-line coach, run-game co-ordinator); Kristian Matte (running backs, assistant offensive-line coach); Ryan Phillips (secondary coach, pass-game co-ordinator); Randy Melvin (defensive line coach); and Derek Oswalt ( assistant receivers coach).
Former Super Eagles head coach Johannes Bonfrere has raised concerns about the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation following Nigeria’s failure to qualify for two consecutive FIFA World Cup tournaments.
Nigeria missed out on the 2022 World Cup after losing to Ghana on the away goals rule, while their hopes for the 2026 edition ended in a penalty defeat to DR Congo. The absence from both tournaments has dealt a blow to the country’s football reputation on the global stage.
Bonfrere, who guided Nigeria to Olympic gold in 1996, said the situation is unacceptable and called on the football authorities to take urgent action. He stressed that preparations for future tournaments must begin immediately to avoid another disappointment.
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According to the Dutch coach, missing the 2026 World Cup is damaging not only for Nigeria but also for African football. He urged the federation to review what went wrong and ensure proper planning ahead of future competitions, starting with the next Africa Cup of Nations.
He noted that Nigeria has many talented players competing in top European leagues and warned that it would be a major setback if such a generation fails to appear at multiple World Cups.
Bonfrere also reminded stakeholders of Nigeria’s rich football history, describing the country as a leading force in Africa that should always be present on the world stage. He pointed out that Nigerian teams have traditionally brought excitement, colour, and strong fan support to global tournaments.
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Reflecting on past successes, he recalled how Nigeria attracted global attention at previous World Cups and the Olympic Games, with fans eager to watch the team play. He expressed concern that the absence of the Super Eagles is now being noticed worldwide.
The veteran coach concluded by urging the federation to put its house in order, insisting that there is still enough time to rebuild and prepare properly for the 2030 and 2034 World Cups. He added that decisive action now will be key to restoring Nigeria’s place among football’s top nations.
WWE is on the Road to WrestleMania, and the company recently hosted another major premium live event. Meanwhile, NXT General Manager Robert Stone sent a message to a female star following the recent edition of NXT when demands were made on X.
Last year, Mariah May signed with the Stamford-based promotion and joined the developmental brand. May, now known as Blake Monroe, was one of the names to leave All Elite Wrestling and join WWE under the new regime. Before the end of the year, she captured the NXT Women’s North American Championship and lost it in December accidentally to Thea Hail.
Thanks for the submission!
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After losing the title, Blake Monroe feuded with Jaida Parker and returned to the division for the title she wasn’t planned to drop in the first place. On the recent edition of WWE NXT, Monroe and The Vanity Project’s Jackson Drake defeated Tatum Paxley and Shiloh Hill in a mixed tag team match. The 27-year-old WWE star pinned the current NXT Women’s North American Champion for the win.
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Later, she uploaded a picture on X with a custom title and claimed in character that she’s now a two-time NXT Women’s North American Champion and demanded her side plates from the NXT General Manager. Robert Stone sent a message to Monroe and claimed she’s not a champion, stating it wasn’t a title match, which Monroe and Drake won on the show.
“YOU’RE NOT A CHAMPION,” Stone tweeted on X.
Monroe might’ve earned a title match against the champion, but the mixed tag team match was a non-title bout.
Blake Monroe lost at WWE Stand & Deliver 2026
Earlier this year, Izzi Dame won the NXT Women’s North American Championship from Thea Hail while she was in a feud with Tatum Paxley. Last year, Dame and The Culling turned on Paxley and cost her the NXT Women’s Championship against Jacy Jayne. The 29-year-old WWE star vowed to get revenge on her former on-screen family.
After Dame became the new champion, the title was inserted into her ongoing feud with Tatum Paxley. Later, Paxley won the title at NXT Vengeance Day and defended it against the former champion in a Steel Cage match and won. Later, she entered a feud with Blake Monroe, who stole the title in the weeks leading up to their match at Stand & Deliver.
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The biggest event of the developmental brand took place in Missouri, and Tatum Paxley defeated Blake Monroe in a title match. After the match, Monroe took an assist from The Vanity Project and pinned the champion in a mixed tag team match. It’ll be interesting to see what’s next for both stars in the coming weeks.
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Martin Bakole has lashed out over the delay in getting back inside the ring.
Bakole was last in action nearly a year ago in May 2025 when he was held to a majority decision draw against Efe Ajagba in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
That clash came three months after Bakole had stepped in on short notice to face Joseph Parker, suffering a second round stoppage loss, but prior to that the Congo heavyweight had claimed an impressive win over previously unbeaten Jared Anderson.
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It was claimed this week by fellow heavyweight contender Guido Vianello that Bakole had pulled out of a bout between the two that was planned for the Oleksandr Usyk vs. Rico Verhoeven card in Egypt next month, but now Bakole has spoken out on the matter.
Posting on social media, Bakole said promoter Ben Shalom is ‘trying to ruin his career’ despite being ‘out of contract.’
“For everybody asking what is happening with me. I am ready to fight anytime but one man is trying to ruin my career: Ben Shalom. I don’t understand why he is doing it. He has been earning money from me for years and years and has kept me tied up in a contract.
“My lawyer has confirmed that my contract with him is finished. I try to move on and he sends crazy emails to everyone blocking me from fighting and earning a living.
“He is trying to scare me saying he will sue everyone if I fight and don’t pay him. I fight to provide for my family, not for Ben Shalom. He is not my promoter. I am ready to fight but I will not pay that man another cent.”
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Shalom and Bakole have had a promotional relationship for since 2023, but it is clear there are now major issues between the two men.
Leicester City’s hopes of overturning a six-point deduction have been dashed, with an independent appeal board upholding the penalty for breaching financial rules.
The decision further complicates the Sky Bet Championship club’s battle against relegation.
The Foxes, who were relegated from the Premier League at the end of the 2022-23 and 2024-25 seasons, had challenged an independent commission’s recommendation of the sanction.
This penalty was imposed for offences committed under the EFL’s profit and sustainability rules over the three-year period leading up to 2024.
Leicester’s appeal has been rejected (Nigel French/PA) (PA Archive)
A Premier League statement confirmed the outcome: “An independent commission’s decision to recommend a six-point deduction on Leicester City Football Club this season has been upheld by an independent appeal board. The club were found by the commission to have breached the EFL’s profit and sustainability rules for the period ending season 2023/24.
“The club appealed that decision on a number of grounds, including the power of the commission to recommend the points deduction, as well as the level of sanction. These were dismissed by the appeal board.
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“The appeal board also dismissed a challenge by the Premier League, which was limited to the commission’s decision not to increase the sanction on the club as a result of its breach of the League’s rules regarding the late submission of its annual accounts.”
Currently languishing in 22nd place in the Championship table, Leicester City issued a statement on their official website.
It read: “With the matter now at an end and five games of the season remaining, everyone at the club is fully focused on the matches in front of us and on shaping the outcome of our season through our results on the pitch.”
Leicester are one point from safety in the Championship, but have played one more game than the team directly above them in the table, Portsmouth.
NEW DELHI: Like the Delhi weather over the past two days, chilly and cold on Tuesday evening to warm and hot on Wednesday afternoon, Vaishnavi Adkar also had contrast in fortunes and performance in the BJK Cup.On Tuesday, against Indonesia’s Aunchisa Chanta, she was swept aside by the left-hander’s shot-making, letting nerves dictate her debut for the national team.A day later, starting the Asia/Oceania Group 1 tie against New Zealand, she was on the money with her forehands and the errant serve had also subsided. In a contest lasting an hour and 30 minutes, she beat New Zealand’s Aishi Das 6-2, 6-4 for her first win in the national team colours.
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“This is something that I have been looking forward to for so many years. Like getting on to the team, not just as a reserve, but as one of the playing five. So being able to get the win is really special because it means a lot. Because there is a lot of emotion behind it,” she told reporters after the win.“So it really feels very special. Especially when it’s at home, and I’ve got the crowd support and everything. It really means a lot,” she continued.The far more experienced Indian, who became the top-ranked Indian this week, made the most of World No. 1151 Das’s inconsistent show. Ironically, less than 24 hours after having her serve repeatedly put under the pump, Adkar closed out the first set with an ace. The 21-year-old had her lead cut and was broken to bring the second set to 4-4. But the Indian hit back immediately as Das’ error count went against her chances to force a decider. The change in weather and conditions did play a role, she admitted.“Yeah, when it’s cold, the ball travels a bit faster. And when it’s warm, the balls feel heavy, and it travels a bit slow. So definitely, it was more controlled today than yesterday. So I think that also really helped me a lot,” she stated.
Sahaja Yamalapalli in action (Photo by DLTA)
Vaishnavi wasn’t the only Indian to celebrate a milestone win. Sahaja Yamalapalli, too, notched her first win in India colours in the team competition. Since making her debut against China in 2024, she went through ties against New Zealand, Thailand, Korea, Slovenia, Netherlands and Thailand again only to come out second best.Having suffered a three-set defeat to Patcharin Cheapchandej in a match that resumed on Wednesday morning, Sahaja walked up to the court once again with the hope of picking her first win.It took her all of 76 minutes to dispatch Valentina Ivanov 6-1, 6-3 to not just seal her maiden ‘W’, but also assured India of an unbeatable scoreline.“Definitely I’m happy. I know my record has not been great in the BJK Cup but I also played really tough matches. So it was tough to get a W. But I’m happy to get one win under my belt.“I don’t want to look at it that way also. I want to take it one match at a time and focus on what I can do and not on my records,” she told TimesofIndia.com after the match.
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Vaishnavi adkar doing serve (Photo by DLTA)
Sahaja, who has come through the US Collegiate system, was broken to start wtih but quickly bounced back to win the next eight games in a row, including the first set along the way.Ivanov tried to mount a comeback in the second set, bringing things back to serve, and then saving three break points but couldn’t fend off a fourth.Yamalapalli sealed the deal on the first match opportunity, forcing Ivanov into an error.Rutuja Bhosale and Ankita Raina made it 3-0 to India, pocketing their second win of the day, after beating Monique Barry and Erin Routliffe 6-4, 6-2.
Gujarat Titans XI vs DC: Shubman Gill (c), Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler (wk), Washington Sundar, Glenn Phillips, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Ashok Sharma.
Straight swap as Gill replaces Kushagra. No changes otherwise for GT despite two losses in a row. Jason Holder remains on the bench.
Monday brought the first day of 2026 Masters week. Eager patrons entered the gates excited to experience Augusta National’s hallowed grounds, all while on their best behavior. That is except for one ticketless Masters fan, who was arrested after refusing to leave the property.
He hoped to find himself watching the pros at Amen Corner, but he ended up spending the day in jail.
Here’s what you need to know.
Man arrested for refusing to leave Augusta at 2026 Masters
According to a report from the Augusta Press, Matthew Stroud, a 36-year-old from Easley, Ga., arrived at Augusta National’s North Gate on Masters Monday “intoxicated.”
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Once there, Stroud allegedly walked up to Masters patrons waiting to get into Augusta and requested their tickets for Monday’s practice round. Richmond County Sheriff’s deputies first asked Stroud to leave the premises at 11 a.m. ET.
But the incident was not over. Richmond County Sheriff’s Captain Scott Gay told the Augusta Press that Stroud initially agreed to their commands and left. Sometime later, though, Stroud returned and “continued the behavior” of harassing patrons for their Masters tickets.
Officers again told Stroud to leave, but this time he refused. At that point, officers placed Stroud under arrest for criminal trespassing.
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From there, he was taken to the local Charles B. Webster Detention Center. Stroud was released on a $285 bond later in the day.
Masters ticket scheme leads to charges for Texas family
Masters tickets are one of the hottest commodities in sports, and one of the hardest to come by. Most tickets are awarded via the Masters ticket lottery, and reselling tickets is strictly prohibited by Augusta National.
But in the past, multiple people have been arrested over Masters ticket schemes.
The four relatives arrested in the incident bought mailing lists to obtain the names and addresses of people, which were used to create fake accounts for the online ticket lottery for the Masters, according to court documents. The fake accounts were entered into the lottery using email addresses belonging to the family.
“These profiteering con artists thought they had succeeded in hijacking the Augusta National’s generous ticket lottery system to satisfy their own greed,” said Bobby Christine, who then served as the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, in a statement at the time.
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