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DARWIN: Bangladesh’s stunning nine-wicket victory over Australia in Darwin has not only delivered a landmark moment for the team but also lifted them above India in the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 standings. Bangladesh secured their first-ever Test victory over Australia, doing so on Australian soil in a result that sent a strong message across the Test cricket world. The win also produced a significant shift in the World Test Championship points table. Australia remain at the top despite suffering their second defeat of the current cycle, holding a points percentage of 77.78. South Africa are second with 75 per cent, while New Zealand sit third on 72.22 per cent. Bangladesh have now climbed to fourth place with an impressive 66.67 per cent, moving ahead of India, who are fifth with 48.15 per cent. The result gives Bangladesh an important boost as they continue their WTC campaign and adds even greater significance to their historic success in Darwin. Sri Lanka occupy sixth position with 41.67 per cent, followed by England on 24.36 per cent. Pakistan are eighth with 22.22 per cent, while the West Indies remain ninth on 20.83 per cent. For Bangladesh, the victory represents more than just two points or a rise in the rankings. It marks their first Test triumph against Australia and could become one of the defining results of their current World Test Championship campaign. WTC Standings Details Bangladesh Position: 4th place Bangladesh Points Percentage: 66.67% (3 wins from 5 matches) India Position: 5th place India Points Percentage: 48.15% (4 wins from 9 Tests) Historic Milestone: Marked Bangladesh’s first Test win on Australian soil.

AMSTELVEEN: England produced a stunning second-half comeback to defeat India 4-2 in a thrilling Pool D encounter at the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 at the Wagener Stadium on Monday. India appeared to be in control for much of the opening half and went into the interval with a 2-1 advantage. However, England completely changed the momentum after the break, scoring three unanswered goals across the third and fourth quarters to secure a memorable victory. The result extended England’s perfect start to the tournament. They now have two wins from two matches and sit at the top of Pool D, strengthening their position as one of the teams to watch in the competition. For India, the defeat continued a long wait for a World Cup victory against England. Their last win over the English side at the global tournament came back in 1994. India had started their campaign confidently, beating Wales 3-1. Captain Harmanpreet Singh converted two penalty corners, while Sanjay added another goal from a set-piece to give his side an encouraging opening victory. England, meanwhile, began the World Cup with an impressive 4-1 victory over Pakistan before carrying that momentum into Monday’s clash. India remain second in Pool D with three points. Their next match will be a highly anticipated encounter against arch-rivals Pakistan, while England will meet Wales in their next group fixture. India’s hockey team are still searching for a second World Cup title, having last lifted the trophy in 1975. They endured a disappointing campaign in the 2023 edition on home soil, finishing ninth. Elsewhere, France and Malaysia played out an entertaining 3-3 draw in Pool B. France’s Timothée Clement scored late in the final quarter to rescue a point. In the women’s tournament, Argentina defeated Germany 3-2, while the Netherlands beat Australia 4-2.

LEEDS: Pakistan’s stand-in captain Salman Ali Agha has admitted that England exposed weaknesses across the board after Pakistan suffered a heavy defeat in the opening Test, while expressing hope that Babar Azam will return for the next match. Speaking at the post-match press conference, Salman acknowledged that Pakistan were outplayed by England and failed to maintain the consistency required at international level. “England outclassed us in every department,” Salman said, adding that the team repeatedly failed to execute its plans when it mattered most. The defeat has raised fresh questions about Pakistan’s preparations for the challenging England conditions. Salman said the team had arrived only about a week before the start of the series, leaving limited time for players to adjust to the unfamiliar conditions. “We always face tough challenges in England,” he said, stressing that adapting to local conditions requires time and experience. Pakistan’s problems were particularly visible with the bat. After being dismissed for 171 in their first innings, the visitors managed only 135 in the second, allowing England to complete a comprehensive innings victory. Salman also admitted that several senior players are struggling for form. He pointed to his own performance, as well as those of Mohammad Rizwan and Saud Shakeel, saying the lack of runs from key batters has become a major concern for the side. The captain nevertheless insisted that Pakistan have enough talent to improve. “We are going through a difficult rebuilding phase,” Salman said, describing the current team as a side being prepared with an eye on the future. He acknowledged that Pakistan’s bowling attack is relatively young and inexperienced but argued that the experience gained during difficult overseas tours could prove valuable in the long term. The captain’s comments come as Pakistan attempt to recover from a disappointing start to their three-Test series against England. The visitors will need a significant improvement in both batting and execution if they are to challenge the hosts in the remaining matches. One potential boost could come from the return of Babar Azam. Salman expressed hope that the former Pakistan captain would be fully fit and available for the next Test. Babar’s return could provide Pakistan with much-needed experience and stability in the batting order at a crucial stage of the series. Pakistan’s recent struggles have highlighted the difficulty of competing overseas, particularly when a team is undergoing transition. For Salman, however, the priority is clear: Pakistan must learn quickly and raise their standards. The stand-in captain stressed that the current level of performance is not acceptable and urged the team to improve its execution in foreign conditions. With two Tests still remaining, Pakistan have an opportunity to respond on the field. But after a one-sided opening defeat, the pressure will be firmly on the visitors to show that their rebuilding project can deliver results as well as promise.

Pakistan ODI captain Shaheen Shah Afridi has avoided giving a long-term commitment about his leadership ahead of the 2027 ICC World Cup, saying that he remains captain “for now”. Speaking at a joint press conference with the captains of the teams participating in the National Champions Cup, Shaheen was asked whether he had received assurances that he would continue leading Pakistan until the World Cup. His response was brief. “For now, I am the captain,” he said. The left-arm fast bowler also stressed the importance of the Champions Cup in preparing Pakistan for the global tournament. He said the competition would help the national team build a wider pool of players and identify suitable replacements in case of injuries. Shaheen pointed out that injuries have frequently affected Pakistan’s World Cup campaigns. He said having additional players ready would make it easier for the team management to deal with any fitness concerns before the 2027 tournament. He added that the Champions Cup would allow players to perform in their preferred positions while competing against strong domestic opposition. According to Shaheen, the tournament will be important not only for individual players but also for assessing the overall strength and fitness of the national squad. He said the performances of players during the competition would help selectors identify those capable of contributing to Pakistan’s World Cup plans. “Our focus is on the World Cup,” Shaheen said, stressing that consistent performances and fitness would be key factors in selection. The National Champions Cup is scheduled to begin on Tuesday at Multan Cricket Stadium. Four teams will participate in the competition: Pakistan Greens, Pakistan Whites, Pakistan Blues and Pakistan Gold. Each team will face the others once during the league stage. The top two sides will qualify for the final, which is scheduled for August 18. The tournament’s trophy unveiling ceremony was held earlier, with the captains of all four teams attending the event. Shaheen Shah Afridi is leading Pakistan Gold, while Sahibzada Farhan is captaining Pakistan Blues and Saim Ayub is leading Pakistan Whites. Faheem Ashraf represented Pakistan Greens at the ceremony in place of their regular captain, Shadab Khan.

GALLE: Devdutt Padikkal marked his return to India’s Test side in spectacular fashion, scoring an unbeaten century as India finished the opening day of the first Test against Sri Lanka at 288-2 on Saturday. The left-handed batter, recalled as a late replacement for the injured Sai Sudharsan, remained unbeaten on 131 from 178 balls, striking 12 fours and a six. His composed innings put India firmly in control on a rain-affected day at the Galle International Stadium. Padikkal’s century was the first of his Test career and strengthened his case for a permanent place at No. 3. The 26-year-old had last played a Test in November 2024 but entered the match with confidence after scoring a hundred in India’s warm-up game in Colombo. He joined KL Rahul after opener Yashasvi Jaiswal was run out for 32 following a mix-up. The pair then produced a commanding 150-run partnership that shifted the momentum decisively towards India. Padikkal reached his half-century from 81 deliveries, while Rahul took 127 balls to register his 21st Test fifty. Rahul eventually retired hurt on 77 after suffering cramps but is expected to continue his innings on the second day. India captain Shubman Gill also fell for 16, attempting to clear mid-off against spinner Prabath Jayasuriya. Rishabh Pant, however, remained unbeaten alongside Padikkal on 27, leaving India with a strong platform for a big first-innings total. Sri Lanka’s fielding coach Jordon Gregory admitted his side had missed opportunities, while praising Padikkal’s discipline and temperament. Rain restricted the day to just 73 overs from the scheduled 90, prompting officials to bring Sunday’s play forward by 15 minutes. The Test is particularly significant as it marks India’s return to Sri Lanka for Test cricket after several years, with valuable World Test Championship points at stake. India have also maintained an unbeaten Test record against Sri Lanka since 2015. With Padikkal settled at the crease and Pant providing support, India will enter the second day with the clear opportunity to build a massive total and put Sri Lanka under early pressure. Still to bat: D. Jurel, R. Jadeja, M. Suthar, K. Yadav, M. Siraj, P. Krishna Fall of wickets: 47 (Jaiswal), 236 (Gill) Sri Lanka Bowling A. Fernando: 10-1-28-0 (1nb) L. Kumara: 10-1-51-0 K. Nuwantha: 21-0-98-0 (2nb) P. Jayasuriya: 24-4-77-1 D. de Silva: 4-0-15-0 S. Dinusha: 4-0-17-0 India lead the opening day at 288-2, with Padikkal unbeaten on 131.