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T20 World Cup: SLC invokes 2009 terror attack memory in letter to PCB after decision to boycott India match | Cricket News

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T20 World Cup: SLC invokes 2009 terror attack memory in letter to PCB after decision to boycott India match
India and Pakistan are schedule to play the match on February 15 at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo

NEW DELHI: Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) wrote a letter to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Thursday, urging it to reconsider its decision to boycott the India vs Pakistan fixture at the T20 World Cup 2026, scheduled for February 15 at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo.TimesofIndia.com is in possession of the two-page letter written by SLC, in which it reminded the PCB of Sri Lanka’s past support to Pakistan during challenging times and urged the board to reconsider its stance. The letter also highlights significant financial, logistical and reputational consequences for the co-hosts if the game does not go ahead as planned.

Suryakumar Yadav press conference: on the India vs Pakistan clash, T20I world cup preps & Washington Sundar injury

“We wish to place on record that Sri Lanka is highly anticipating the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, particularly in its capacity as a host venue for matches assigned to Sri Lanka. All commercial, operational, logistical and security-related arrangements in respect of these matches have already been finalised. This includes, inter alia, hospitality planning and the sale of match tickets,” the letter read.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!“It is pertinent to note that ticket sales for the matches scheduled to be hosted in Sri Lanka, in particular the India versus Pakistan fixture, have already been finalised and have recorded exceptionally strong demand, with tickets being sold fast, reflecting unprecedented public interest and significant commercial expectations for Sri Lanka Cricket. Any non-participation in a scheduled marquee fixture of this nature would therefore have wide-ranging implications, including substantial financial exposure for SLC and the potential loss of anticipated tourism inflows and broader economic benefits arising from heightened international interest in the tournament.The board pointed out that tickets for matches in Sri Lanka, especially the India–Pakistan fixture, have been sold amid exceptional demand, underscoring unprecedented public interest and significant commercial expectations.SLC cautioned that non-participation in a marquee fixture of this scale would have far-reaching consequences, exposing the board to major financial losses while also impacting tourism inflows and the broader economy.“The Government of Sri Lanka is attentive to the potential impact of a boycott, given the significant economic benefits expected from hosting these matches. Any change to the scheduled fixtures would therefore affect not only Sri Lanka Cricket but also the wider range of stakeholders involved in ensuring the successful conduct of the tournament.” Six Sri Lankan players were wounded in March 2009 when gunmen opened fire on their team bus as it was driving to Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore for a Test match.The incident led to international teams staying away from Pakistan for nearly a decade. That streak was broken when Sri Lanka became the first to play a Test match in Pakistan after a 10-year gap (in 2019). “In this context, we respectfully recall that Sri Lanka Cricket and the Sri Lanka National Team have, on several occasions, toured Pakistan and participated in international fixtures notwithstanding exceptionally challenging and sensitive circumstances, including serious security-related incidents. These have included, inter alia, the attack on the national team convoy, as a result of which certain Sri Lankan players and officials sustained injuries, some of whom continue to carry physical impacts from those injuries to date, while others were left with profound and lasting psychological trauma. In more recent instances, further security incidents, including bombings in the region, placed additional emotional and professional strain on team members, with some compelled to contemplate withdrawal from ongoing engagements,” SLC said in the letter.Newswire, a Sri Lankan media outlet, has reported that Sri Lanka’s tourism and hospitality sector has already felt the impact of Pakistan’s reported decision to skip the February 15 match in Colombo, with widespread hotel booking cancellations across several Colombo-based properties.“Notwithstanding the gravity of these circumstances, Sri Lanka Cricket, in close coordination with the Government of Sri Lanka, remained steadfast in its support of Pakistan and the Pakistan Cricket Board, and continued to honour its commitments to international cricket in the broader interests of the game and international solidarity, at times when several other cricketing nations were hesitant or unwilling to tour Pakistan,” the letter read.“In light of this longstanding support and cooperation, SLC respectfully expects the same spirit of reciprocity and mutual respect to prevail, particularly where the matches in question are scheduled to be played in Sri Lanka, a country that has extended every assurance with regard to security, neutrality and professionalism.“In view of the foregoing, and if any decision has indeed been taken to boycott or abstain from participating in the India vs Pakistan match scheduled for February 15, 2026, we respectfully and earnestly request the PCB to reconsider such a decision. We urge you to take into account the exceptional circumstances, the enduring relationship between our two Boards and the broader interests of the game of cricket.“We humbly request that the Pakistan team participate in all scheduled matches in Sri Lanka, including the aforesaid fixture, in the true spirit of sportsmanship and without selective abstention, for the benefit of the tournament, its stakeholders and the millions of cricket fans worldwide.“We thank the Pakistan Cricket Board and the Government of Pakistan for the highest consideration given to this matter and respectfully look forward to receiving a positive response at your earliest convenience.”

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On Sunday, the Pakistani government announced that its men’s cricket team will not take the field against arch-rivals India on February 15, without stating the reason behind the decision.“The Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan grants approval to the Pakistan Cricket Team to participate in the ICC World T20 2026; however, the Pakistan Cricket Team shall not take the field in the match scheduled on February 15 against India,” the Pakistan government said in a post on X.Also Visit: England Under-19 vs India Under-19 Final: Match Details, Teams, Date and Venue

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Bushnell’s rangefinder revolutionized the game. But 1 eternal question remains

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Voice Caddie SL3 GPS Laser Rangefinder

The all-new SL3 captures the highest essence of technology in one, state-of-the-art laser rangefinder. An active hybrid GPS laser rangefinder, the SL3 integrates a high-resolution touchscreen, dynamic and detailed green undulation data, and course layout graphics (with eagle eye overview), putt view with elevation/distance measurement, and GPS distance readings. In its scope is a bright multi-color OLED display with best-in-class optical clarity. The SL3 integrates slope compensation, pin tracer with GPS pin assist for advanced stabilization, a ultra-high-speed processor, and high propensity noise filtration. The SL3 is the only device ever to integrate a fully hybrid GPS for maximum filtering and stability, illustrative course layout and green views, and putt distance measurement into a laser rangefinder. Truly the most advanced laser rangefinder ever developed.
MAIN FUNCTIONS:• True Hybrid GPS/Laser Rangefinder• Pin Tracer™ (Increased lock on area)• GPS Pin Assist: Utilizes GPS Data to FilterBackground and hone in on the Pin• Slope Integration with Tournament Mode• Shot Distance Measurement• Putt View – Elevation / Distance• Color Touch LCD Screen• Course layout / GPS yardage view /Green Undulation / Putt View• Adjustable Dual Color OLED for Low Light Play• Optical Angle/High Clarity Lens* Course layout & Green Undulation is not available for allcourses. Currently, Course layout & Green undulation is activefor over 13,000 courses in US, 15,000 courses worldwide.(Continuously updating the data library)

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‘Sab same line chipka rahe hain’: Suryakumar Yadav shrugs off Mitchell Santner’s ‘silence the crowd’ remark | Cricket News

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'Sab same line chipka rahe hain': Suryakumar Yadav shrugs off Mitchell Santner's 'silence the crowd' remark
Suryakumar Yadav responded to comments made by Mitchell Santner about silencing the home crowd in the final

NEW DELHI: India captain Suryakumar Yadav on Saturday responded to comments made by Mitchell Santner about silencing the home crowd in the final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Ahmedabad, saying such remarks have become common before major matches.India will face New Zealand in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday.Earlier in the day, New Zealand captain Santner had said his team would look to quieten the home crowd during the final. His statement was similar to one made by Pat Cummins before the final of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 at the same venue, when Australia defeated India.“The goal is to silence the crowd. There are a lot of variables in T20 cricket, and it is fickle at times,” the 34-year-old said. “If we go out about our business the same way we can upset another big team. There’s obviously a lot of pressure on in there (on India) to win this World Cup at home.”

T20 World Cup: Mitchell Santner press conference before IND vs NZ

Responding to the remark, Suryakumar said such statements are now repeated often before major games.“Sab he same line chipka rahe hai. Kuch to naya bolo (Everyone is now saying the same thing. Come up with something new),” Suryakumar Yadav told reporters in the pre-match press conference.

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The 35-year-old India captain, who is the second-highest run-scorer for the team in the 2026 T20 World Cup, said leading the side in a World Cup final comes with pressure but he wants to enjoy the occasion.He added that the atmosphere in the Indian dressing room remains positive as the team prepares for the final.“It’s a special feeling and everyone is very excited. We have a very good environment in the group. We are looking forward to the big final,” he said.“As a leader, there would be pressure; I cannot deny that. Definitely, there would be added pressure, the excitement is there of playing a World Cup final, that too in India,” Suryakumar added.India became the first defending champions to reach the final of the T20 World Cup. They will look to win the title and also become the first host nation to lift the trophy when they face New Zealand on Sunday.

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‘I make no apologies’: Brendon McCullum issues defiant message after England’s semi-final loss | Cricket News

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'I make no apologies': Brendon McCullum issues defiant message after England’s semi-final loss
England’s head coach Brendon McCullum, centre, with players (PTI Photo/Swapan Mahapatra)

Following England’s exit from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, head coach Brendon McCullum has stood by his coaching philosophy, insisting the team’s white-ball setup still has the ingredients to achieve “special stuff” if their talent is nurtured correctly.England’s journey in the tournament ended in the semi-finals after a thrilling contest against India national cricket team at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday. The high-scoring clash saw England fall short by seven runs, bringing an end to a campaign that had earlier seen them advance through the Super 8 stage with a flawless record.

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The 44-year-old coach has recently been under scrutiny, with critics suggesting the environment within the team under his leadership places too much emphasis on relaxation and off-field enjoyment instead of strict high-performance standards. McCullum, however, dismissed that notion, saying the perception does not reflect how the team actually operates.“It’s never been about that. That’s a perception that is not necessarily reality. I think there’s a perception that we run a casual operation. It couldn’t be further from the truth. We run an informal operation, but the work is done, and the preparation is put in place,” McCullum said as quoted by the BBC.He explained that while the team environment may appear relaxed, it does not come at the cost of preparation or discipline.“There’s an environment that operates in a certain way, but because you are relaxed around that doesn’t mean the work is not being done. That’s just an attitude to try to allow guys to be as free as possible to implement the skills and tactics that you’re trying to achieve. Look, I make no apologies for running an informal, positive environment, but to call it a casual environment is not fair,” He added.McCullum also reserved special praise for England’s white-ball captain Harry Brook, who led the side in his first major tournament as skipper.“I’m incredibly proud of him. He’s grown immensely in the last couple of months under difficult circumstances,” McCullum said.“There’s a real identity to how Harry Brook’s England white-ball side is going to play. It’s hugely encouraging because a couple of months ago, you probably didn’t have that. He has done an amazing job,” he added.England’s semi-final against India ultimately became the highest-scoring fixture of the tournament, ending in a narrow seven-run defeat. Earlier in the competition, England had also lost to the West Indies cricket team and were pushed in challenging encounters against Scotland national cricket team, Italy national cricket team and Pakistan national cricket team.Despite the disappointment of the World Cup campaign and a recent 4-1 loss in The Ashes, McCullum is expected to continue in his position as England’s head coach.

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For Rickie Fowler, a year has made all the difference at API

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Alysa Liu mysteriously absent from World Championships roster in Prague

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Less than a month after winning Olympic gold, U.S. figure skating sensation Alysa Liu appears to have surprisingly pulled out of the World Skating Championships in Prague, Czech Republic. 

Liu is no longer listed on the event’s participants on the International Skating Union (ISU) website. Her original spot is now filled by second alternative, Sarah Everhardt. 

Fox News Digital has reached out to Liu’s representatives for comment. 

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Alysa Liu arrives to the free skate program

Alysa Liu of the United States arrives to compete during the women’s figure skating free program at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026.  (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

No reason is currently known for Liu’s sudden absence from the roster.

The change comes just days after Liu revealed on social media that she was recently “chased” to her car by a spectator. 

“So I land at the airport, & there’s a crowd waiting at the exit with cameras & things for me to sign,” she wrote in an Instagram story. “All up in my personal space. Someone chased me to my car bruh. Please do not do that to me.”

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Liu previously entered a temporary retirement shortly after her first Olympic appearance in 2022. Her father, Arthur Liu, said it was due to “trauma.”

“She became really unhappy,” Arthur Liu told USA Today about why she retired. “She avoided the ice rink at all costs. She’s traumatized. She was just traumatized. She was suffering from PTSD, and she wouldn’t go near the ice rink.”

Before her appearance in the 2022 Beijing Games, she and her father were the alleged targets of a spying operation by the Chinese government. Liu called the experience “a little bit freaky and exciting.”

Alysa Liu holds American flag after medal skate

Gold medalist Alysa Liu of Team United States poses for a photo during the medal ceremony for the Women’s Single Skating on day thirteen of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at Milano Ice Skating Arena on Feb. 19, 2026 in Milan, Italy.  (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

“You know what I mean? It’s so … unbelievable. You know what I mean like, that’s crazy,” she previously told Fox News Digital at a roundtable interview at the USOPC Media Summit in October.

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“Like, imagine finding that out at such a young age, I mean, like In a weird way, I was like, ‘Am I like in some prank show?’ Like, is this world real. Like, I must be some movie character. But, I mean, it was like it made sense to me, you know, from like everything my dad did back in his activist days.”

Arthur Liu told The Associated Press in 2022, “They are probably just trying to intimidate us, to … in a way threaten us not to say anything, to cause trouble to them and say anything political or related to human rights violations in China. … I had concerns about her safety. The U.S. government did a good job protecting her.”

Liu made her return to the sport just two years later in 2024. By March 2025, she was already making history for Team USA, becoming the first American to the World Figure Skating Championships in 19 years. Then in February, she made history as the first American to win Olympic gold in a women’s individual figure skating competition since 2002, and the first American woman to medal at all in the event since 2006. 

The historic win was followed by a massive surge in popularity.

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Alysa Liu

Alysa Liu of Team United States performs in the Women’s Single Skating routine during a Figure Skating Exhibition Gala on day fifteen of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at Milano Ice Skating Arena on Feb. 21, 2026 in Milan, Italy.  (Maja Hitij/Getty Images)

Prior to the Olympics, she had less than 300,000 followers on Instagram. Just a week after the Olympics ended, she climbed past 5 million. Now, at the time of publication, she has more than 7.4 million. 

However, it appears that many of her new fans now won’t get to see her compete in Prague. 

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

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Alysa Liu vs Eileen Gu: How two Chinese-American stars wound up on opposite sides of an Olympic proxy war

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NFL analyst labels Romeo Doubs trade to $8,600,000,000 team as “worst kept secrets in free agency”

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The San Francisco 49ers are reportedly looking to strengthen the wide receiver position this offseason. The 49ers have been linked with a few names as free agency looms.

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs, who is set to become a free agent in the coming days, has been linked to the 49ers. NFL analyst Josh Taylor reported the links in an X post on Friday, saying he’d be “stunned” if the 49ers, worth $8.6 billion per Forbes, don’t sign Doubs.

“Romeo Doubs to the 49ers is one of the worst kept secrets in free agency right now,” Taylor wrote on X. “I’d be stunned if he doesn’t go there.”

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The Packers selected Doubs with the 132nd pick in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL draft. Over the past four seasons with the Packers, he has racked up 2,424 yards and 21 touchdowns on 202 catches.

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The 25-year-old wide receiver is one of three players in Packers history to rack up at least 40 catches, 400 yards and three touchdowns in each of his first three seasons.

Also Read: 49ers Free Agency Rumors: NFL insider urges Kyle Shanahan to sign Super Bowl-winning WR amid Brandon Aiyuk uncertainty

Also Read: Romeo Doubs’ free agency landing spots: 5 teams that should target Packers WR for 2026 NFL season

Steelers reportedly eyeing Packers wide receiver amid 49ers rumors

The 49ers are set to part ways with wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk and are also expected to let Jauan Jennings walk into free agency. Romeo Doubs’ potential addition to San Francisco’s wide receiver room makes sense amid the slated departures.

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However, the 49ers aren’t the only team linked with the Packers WR as NFL insider Mark Kaboly reported that Doubs is top of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ shopping list in free agency.

“It’s hard to say right now, but you’d have to put Doubs at the top of that list, in my opinion,” Kaboly said.

Veteran NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers reportedly called to inquire about Doubs’ trade availability in August after joining the Steelers.