No Justin Brownlee in Gilas Pilipinas’ homestand vs Jordan, Iran

Defending champion Ben Shelton continued his impressive run at the ATP Montreal Masters, defeating Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca in straight sets to book his place in the quarter-finals. The 23-year-old American, seeded 10th, produced a composed performance to win 6-3, 7-6 (7-3) on Sunday. Shelton has now reached the last eight without dropping a set and extended his winning streak in Canada to nine matches. The victory, however, was anything but routine. Strong evening winds made conditions difficult, forcing both players to adjust their games. Shelton relied on his powerful left-handed serve and aggressive baseline play while trying to keep his composure during the second-set battle. “It was tough today, not easy conditions,” Shelton said. “It all came down to grit. The tennis was not clean.” Fonseca, regarded as one of the most promising young players in men’s tennis, had opportunities to change the momentum. The Brazilian led 3-1 and 40-30 in the second set when he landed awkwardly after attempting a smash, appearing to hurt his ankle. The 18-year-old continued, but his performance became increasingly erratic. He finished with 32 unforced errors, allowing Shelton to stay in control. The American eventually sealed victory on his second of four match points when Fonseca sent a return into the net. Shelton will next face 13th-seeded Czech Jakub Mensik, who advanced by beating Botic van de Zandschulp 6-4, 7-5. Mensik overturned a second-set deficit by winning 12 of the final 14 points, including a memorable winning lob. Elsewhere, Spain’s Daniel Merida continued his remarkable hard-court breakthrough by defeating Tallon Griekspoor 6-3, 6-1 in just 69 minutes. The 63rd-ranked Spaniard had never won a tour-level hard-court match before arriving in Montreal. He has now won four consecutive matches on the surface and secured a first Masters quarter-final, guaranteeing a rise into the world’s top 50. Merida will face American 12th seed Learner Tien, who defeated Argentina’s Thiago Tirante 6-4, 6-4. “This is a dream come true,” Merida said after the victory, underlining the confidence behind his breakthrough season. With Shelton chasing another Montreal title and Merida enjoying a stunning rise, the tournament is shaping up for an exciting finish.

India captain Shubman Gill has reclaimed the No.1 position in the ICC Men’s ODI batting rankings after an outstanding run of form in the recently concluded three-match ODI series against England. The right-handed opener produced another impressive performance with the bat, scoring a total of 188 runs across the series. His consistency at the top of the order helped him climb back to the summit of the rankings, marking the third time in his international career that he has occupied the top spot among ODI batters. Gill’s return to the top was also influenced by New Zealand batter Daryl Mitchell, who missed the final two matches of his team’s ODI series against the West Indies because of injury. Mitchell’s absence prevented him from adding to his ranking points, allowing Gill to move ahead in the latest ICC update. The latest rankings also featured significant movements in both the batting and bowling charts across ODI and T20I cricket. Namibia spinner Bernard Scholtz emerged as one of the biggest gainers in the ODI bowling rankings. The experienced left-arm spinner climbed five places to seventh after delivering a series of impressive performances during Namibia’s ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2 tri-series campaign in Utrecht against Nepal and the Netherlands. His consistent wicket-taking ability played a crucial role in Namibia’s successful campaign and earned him a place among the world’s leading ODI bowlers. Meanwhile, India’s teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi continued his remarkable rise on the international stage. The youngster was named Player of the Series after a brilliant display in India’s T20I series against Zimbabwe. He scored 151 runs in just three innings while maintaining a stunning strike rate of 196.10, underlining his aggressive approach at the crease. Having played only six T20 internationals so far, Sooryavanshi made one of the biggest jumps in the latest rankings, soaring 230 places to reach 48th in the ICC Men’s T20I batting rankings. His rapid progress highlights his growing reputation as one of India’s most exciting young talents. India also enjoyed success elsewhere in the T20I batting rankings. Tilak Varma moved up two places to sixth after continuing his consistent performances in the shortest format, while Shreyas Iyer climbed seven positions to reach 24th following a productive series. The bowling rankings also witnessed notable changes. Zimbabwe fast bowler Blessing Muzarabani gained 10 places to move into 26th position after delivering impactful performances with the new ball. India leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi also registered one of the biggest improvements of the week, jumping 31 places to claim the 41st spot in the T20I bowling rankings. The latest ICC rankings reflect recent performances across international cricket, with several players making significant progress through consistent displays. While Gill’s return to the top of the ODI batting rankings remains the biggest headline, the rise of emerging talents such as Sooryavanshi and the continued progress of bowlers like Scholtz, Muzarabani and Bishnoi highlight the growing competition across all formats of the game.

MELBOURNE: Australia have made a change to their squad for the second Test against Bangladesh, dropping opener Jake Weatherald and recalling Matt Renshaw after a shock nine-wicket defeat in Darwin. Weatherald’s removal is the only change to Australia’s 13-man squad, but it could have wider implications for the team’s batting order. The 30-year-old struggled in the opening Test, scoring 23 in the first innings before being dismissed for a duck in the second. His difficult start has added to concerns over his Test credentials. Weatherald has now played six Tests and has managed 224 runs at an average of 20.36, leaving selectors with little choice but to make a change as Australia look to level the two-match series. Renshaw, meanwhile, returns to the Test setup after an absence of more than three years. The left-hander last played a Test for Australia in 2023 and has earned his recall after an impressive Sheffield Shield campaign. The Queensland batter scored 499 runs in six Sheffield Shield matches last season at an average of 49.90, including three centuries. His domestic form had already put him firmly in contention for a return to the national red-ball side, and the latest selection gives him another chance to revive his Test career. Renshaw’s return could also add experience and stability to an Australian batting line-up that was exposed by Bangladesh in Darwin. Australia were beaten by nine wickets in the first Test, suffering a result that put Bangladesh 1-0 ahead in the series. Travis Head is expected to continue opening the innings, while Renshaw is in line to partner him at the top of the order. The combination will be closely watched as Australia attempt to respond to their unexpected home defeat. Attention will also remain on Marnus Labuschagne, who is under pressure to produce a substantial score. Labuschagne managed only 32 runs across the first Test, and his place is increasingly being discussed amid competition for batting positions. Australia will need a much stronger collective performance in the second Test. Bangladesh demonstrated in Darwin that they can challenge the hosts in their own conditions, making the upcoming contest an important test of Australia’s ability to recover quickly. The second Test is scheduled to begin in Mackay on Saturday, with Australia aiming to draw the series and Bangladesh seeking another historic result. The changes ensure the second Test will carry significant pressure for Australia’s top order. Australia squad: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster