UEFA to boycott World Cup, FIFA tournaments over stake sale plans

Antigua and Barbuda Falcons began their Caribbean Premier League 2026 campaign with a dramatic two-wicket victory over Jamaica Kingsmen, sealing the opening match on the final delivery after a tense finish. The Falcons successfully chased down a target of 168, but what appeared to be a comfortable pursuit turned into a nail-biting contest during the final over. Jamaica Kingsmen, batting first, posted 167 runs after a competitive innings. Reeza Hendricks provided an aggressive start, scoring 42 off 25 balls, while Rovman Powell played a valuable captain’s knock of 47 from 37 deliveries. For the Falcons, Alzarri Joseph was the standout bowler, claiming three wickets and helping restrict the Kingsmen to a total that remained within reach. The Falcons looked well placed during the chase and entered the final over needing just six runs with four wickets in hand. Victory appeared almost certain, but Jamaica’s young fast bowler Hanin Shah suddenly changed the mood of the contest. Shah conceded three runs from the first two deliveries before producing a stunning response. He struck twice in successive balls, taking two wickets and putting the Falcons under unexpected pressure. With the equation reduced to two runs from the final delivery, Shah delivered another impressive ball into the blockhole, denying the batter the opportunity to play a big shot. However, the dramatic finish ultimately went against Jamaica. The Falcons managed to complete the required two runs after a misfield by Kingsmen captain Rovman Powell at long-on. The fielding error allowed the visitors to cross the line and secure a thrilling two-wicket victory on the final ball. For Shah, the ending was particularly frustrating. His brilliant final over had brought Jamaica back into contention and left the Falcons needing to find a way through under intense pressure. Despite his late heroics, the young pacer could not prevent his side from suffering defeat. The result gave Antigua and Barbuda Falcons a winning start to their CPL 2026 campaign, while Jamaica Kingsmen were left to reflect on a match that had seemingly slipped away before Shah produced a remarkable late fightback. The opening fixture provided exactly the kind of drama expected from the Caribbean Premier League, with powerful batting, timely wickets and a last-ball finish setting the tone for the tournament.

MIAMI: Inter Miami suffered a dramatic 2-1 defeat to Monterrey in the Leagues Cup on Saturday, with Lionel Messi absent as he travelled to Argentina following the death of his father, Jorge Messi. The match began with an emotional tribute to Messi’s father, who died at the age of 68. Both teams observed a minute of silence before kick-off, while Inter Miami expressed its support for their captain and his family. Despite missing their star player, Miami looked set for another positive result after Rodrigo De Paul opened the scoring in the 32nd minute. The Argentine midfielder celebrated in a particularly touching manner, removing his No. 7 shirt to reveal a No. 10 underneath as a tribute to Messi. The hosts carried their 1-0 advantage into half-time, but Monterrey quickly changed the momentum after the break. Belgian striker Hugo Cuypers equalised just two minutes into the second half, putting Miami under increasing pressure. The match appeared destined for a draw until Monterrey delivered a late blow. Uruguayan forward Diego Rossi struck in the 90th minute to complete Monterrey’s comeback and leave Inter Miami empty-handed. The defeat comes after Miami opened their Leagues Cup campaign with a convincing 4-2 victory over Atletico San Luis. The MLS champions will now look to respond when they face Leon on Wednesday. For Messi, however, football understandably took a back seat as he returned to Argentina to be with his family following his father’s death. The emotional night in Miami showed just how much the Argentine captain means to the club, both on and off the pitch.

Veteran Indian batter Ajinkya Rahane has announced his retirement from international cricket and all forms of the game, bringing an end to a distinguished career that spanned more than a decade at the highest level. The 38-year-old confirmed the decision through an emotional video message shared on social media, saying the time had come to step away from the sport that had shaped his life since childhood. Rahane represented India in all three formats between 2011 and 2023, establishing himself as one of the country’s most dependable batters. During his international career, he played 85 Test matches, 90 One-Day Internationals and 20 T20 Internationals. His final appearance for India came in a Test match against the West Indies in July 2023. The right-handed batter enjoyed considerable success in Test cricket, scoring 5,077 runs at an average of 38.46, including 12 centuries and 26 half-centuries. In the ODI format, he amassed 2,962 runs with three centuries and 24 fifties, while contributing 375 runs in T20 Internationals. Although Rahane’s batting achievements earned widespread recognition, he will be remembered most for his outstanding leadership during India’s historic Test series victory in Australia in 2020-21. The series began in disastrous fashion for India, who were dismissed for just 36 runs in Adelaide, their lowest Test total. Following the opening defeat, regular captain Virat Kohli returned home on paternity leave, leaving Rahane to take charge of a team plagued by injuries and missing several senior players. Under Rahane’s calm and composed captaincy, India staged one of the greatest comebacks in Test cricket history. He led the side to a memorable victory in Melbourne to level the series, followed by a hard-fought draw in Sydney despite several players battling injuries. The tour concluded with a remarkable win at Brisbane’s Gabba, where India successfully chased 328 on the final day to secure a famous 2-1 series triumph and end Australia’s long unbeaten run at the venue. Rahane captained India in six Test matches overall, winning four and drawing the remaining two, finishing his captaincy stint unbeaten. Speaking about his decision to retire, Rahane said timing had always been an important aspect of both his batting and his career, and he believed this was the right moment to say goodbye to professional cricket. “I’ve always relied on timing in my batting, and I’ve always understood its importance. Today, I feel the timing is right for me to move on and announce my retirement from international cricket and all formats,” he said. Reflecting on his journey, Rahane expressed gratitude for fulfilling his dream of representing India and said wearing the national cap had always been his greatest motivation. He added that he always believed in putting the team ahead of personal milestones and playing the game with honesty and commitment. The veteran batter also revealed that while his playing career has come to an end, he hopes to remain connected to cricket by mentoring and guiding young players. He said he looks forward to sharing the lessons and values the sport has taught him and giving back to the game that has given him so much. Rahane concluded his farewell by thanking the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the Mumbai Cricket Association, his teammates, coaches, family and fans for their unwavering support throughout his career. His final competitive appearance came for Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League, and his retirement leaves the franchise with the task of appointing a new captain ahead of the upcoming season.