Last minute World Cup 2026 broadcast rights secured for Thailand

BANGKOK: Pakistan secured a significant victory over India at an Asian Cricket Council (ACC) meeting in Bangkok, winning all three seats in the election for ACC directors in a closely fought contest. The meeting, chaired by Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, brought Pakistan- and India-backed panels into direct competition for the three director positions. According to sources, the contest remained tight, but the panel supported by Pakistan emerged victorious in all three seats. The result gives Pakistan an important voice within the regional cricket body as the ACC prepares for several major tournaments and administrative decisions. India was represented at the meeting by Rajeev Shukla. The discussions also turned towards next year’s Asia Cup, which is scheduled to be hosted by Bangladesh. Officials considered possible venues for the tournament, with Sylhet, Mirpur and Chattogram among the grounds discussed for staging matches. The final schedule and venue arrangements are expected to be settled through further consultations. The upcoming Asia Cup is likely to attract considerable attention across the cricketing region, particularly because Pakistan and India remain among the tournament’s biggest draws. Their matches traditionally generate huge interest among fans and broadcasters, making venue planning and tournament logistics especially important. The Bangkok meeting also covered financial and administrative matters. The ACC budget was approved, while preparations for the Women’s Asia Cup in Dubai were reviewed. The decisions come as Asian cricket continues to expand its commercial and competitive footprint. With major bilateral and multinational events regularly drawing millions of viewers, the ACC plays a central role in coordinating tournaments, developing the game and managing regional cricketing interests. For Pakistan, the election result represents a notable administrative gain at a time when relations between the two cricket boards remain closely watched. Securing all three director positions backed by its panel strengthens Pakistan’s representation in the ACC and could give it greater influence in future discussions. The Bangladesh-hosted Asia Cup will be one of the key items on the ACC’s calendar next year. While Sylhet, Mirpur and Chattogram have emerged as possible venues, further decisions will be required regarding match allocation, logistics and other tournament arrangements. The latest ACC meeting therefore delivered more than routine administrative decisions for Pakistan. The successful election result, coupled with discussions over the next Asia Cup and women’s tournament, placed Pakistan at the centre of several important developments shaping the future of Asian cricket.

Two more Pakistani cricketers have secured contracts for the upcoming Lanka Premier League (LPL), while Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi has withdrawn from the tournament due to personal reasons. Young Pakistani batter Khawaja Nafay has signed with Jaffna Kings ahead of the new LPL season. The promising right-handed batter has been drafted into the squad as a replacement for Afghanistan opener Ibrahim Zadran, who is unavailable for the competition. Naafay’s inclusion provides the Jaffna Kings with an exciting batting option as they prepare for the tournament. The youngster has been regarded as one of Pakistan’s emerging talents and will have the opportunity to showcase his skills in one of South Asia’s premier T20 leagues. Playing alongside experienced international cricketers is expected to provide him with valuable exposure and help accelerate his development. Meanwhile, Pakistan all-rounder Iftikhar Ahmed has also earned an LPL contract after being signed by Dambulla Sixers. He joins the franchise as the replacement for Afghanistan fast bowler Fazalhaq Farooqi. Iftikhar brings considerable experience to the Dambulla squad with his ability to contribute in multiple departments. Known for his powerful middle-order batting and useful off-spin bowling, he has represented Pakistan in all three international formats and has featured in numerous T20 leagues around the world. His versatility is expected to strengthen the team’s balance as it aims to challenge for the LPL title. The addition of Khawaja Nafay and Iftikhar Ahmed further increases Pakistan’s representation in the Lanka Premier League, highlighting the growing demand for Pakistani players in franchise cricket. Their participation also provides another platform for both players to perform against international opposition and gain valuable match experience ahead of future assignments. In a separate development, Kandy Royals have confirmed that Pakistan pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi will no longer participate in this year’s Lanka Premier League. According to tournament officials, Afridi informed the organizers that he would be unavailable because of personal reasons. As a result, the left-arm fast bowler has withdrawn from the competition before its start. Shaheen’s absence is a significant setback for Kandy Royals, who were expected to rely heavily on his pace, experience and ability to strike with the new ball. Widely regarded as one of the leading fast bowlers in international cricket, Afridi has consistently delivered match-winning performances for both Pakistan and various franchise teams around the world. The franchise has yet to announce a replacement for the star pacer, and further details regarding his withdrawal have not been disclosed. Tournament organizers have respected the player’s decision and stated only that his absence is due to personal reasons. Despite Afridi’s withdrawal, the presence of Khawaja Nafay and Iftikhar Ahmed ensures continued Pakistani representation in the Lanka Premier League. Fans will now be eager to see how the two players perform as they begin a new chapter in one of the region’s most competitive T20 tournaments.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino is facing renewed criticism after three major football confederations jointly challenged his leadership and decision-making. UEFA, CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) issued a strongly worded letter on Monday. They stressed that football is a collective institution and should not be controlled by any single individual. The latest criticism follows Infantino’s controversial proposal to allow private investment in FIFA competitions, including the World Cup. The plan was withdrawn only days after it was announced following strong opposition from several football bodies. The three confederations had previously criticised the proposal. Their latest statement indicates that tensions with FIFA’s leadership have not eased despite the withdrawal of the plan. The organisations argued that leadership in football should be based on responsibility, transparency and collective decision-making. They accused FIFA’s leadership of failing to meet those standards. The dispute could become particularly significant ahead of next year’s FIFA presidential election. Infantino is expected to seek a fourth and final term in office. The election is scheduled to take place in Rabat next March, while candidates must declare their intentions by November 18. CONCACAF President Victor Montagliani is considered a potential challenger to Infantino. Infantino had previously appeared likely to face little opposition after FIFA oversaw a successful 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada. However, the private investment controversy has changed the political landscape within world football. UEFA played a major role in forcing the proposal off the table. European football officials had warned that they could consider boycotting World Cups if the investment plan went ahead. Such a move could have seriously affected the tournament because it could have involved major football nations, including Spain, France and England. The three confederations said FIFA’s own explanation of the controversy had focused too heavily on communication problems. They argued that the issue was more serious and reflected what they described as a failure of judgment. They also questioned an emergency meeting in Morocco where senior FIFA officials expressed support for Infantino. According to the confederations, the meeting did not adequately address their concerns because only selected members of FIFA’s management leadership were involved. They argued that FIFA’s leadership should engage directly with its wider institutional structure and staff. Infantino still retains support in several parts of the football world. The Confederation of African Football has backed him, while South American football’s governing body CONMEBOL remains broadly supportive. Support for him also exists within CONCACAF and the AFC, although the confederations do not vote as unified blocs in the FIFA presidential election. The dispute comes after Infantino spent a decade at the helm of FIFA and oversaw major changes to the World Cup and the organisation’s distribution of financial resources. The three confederations acknowledged that football had experienced significant growth during the past decade. However, they stressed that these developments were achieved through cooperation between FIFA, continental confederations, national associations and thousands of people involved in the sport.