Alex Eala’s streak ends at Belinda Bencic’s hands in Canadian Open

CHICAGO: A heated Indiana Fever-Chicago Sky matchup has sparked a fresh controversy in the WNBA after Sky guard DiJonai Carrington was ejected for a Flagrant 2 foul on Sophie Cunningham and later posted “WHITE PRIVILEGE” on social media. The incident happened during Saturday’s game in Chicago when Cunningham was driving toward the basket on a fast break. Carrington chased her down and struck Cunningham high around the head and neck, sending the Fever guard to the floor. After a video review, officials upgraded the foul to a Flagrant 2, which carries an automatic ejection. Cunningham immediately confronted Carrington before teammates stepped in to separate the players. Carrington later posted the words “WHITE PRIVILEGE” on Threads while tagging the Indiana Fever, bringing a racial dimension to an already tense incident. Cunningham strongly rejected that interpretation after the game. “I think the league is taking care of that. This has nothing to do with race,” Cunningham said, pointing out that she had previously been ejected for a similar incident and accepted the punishment at the time. She also described Carrington’s foul as unnecessary and said she believed there was intent behind the contact. “I’ve never really spoken to her and have no beef with her,” Cunningham said, adding that she believed Carrington had some pent-up frustration. Despite the confrontation, the Fever guard’s coach offered a more measured assessment of the incident. Indiana coach Stephanie White agreed that the Flagrant 2 call was appropriate but said she did not believe Carrington deliberately targeted Cunningham’s neck. White previously coached Carrington during their time with the Connecticut Sun. Carrington’s own coach, Tyler Marsh, also said he initially believed the play was a legitimate attempt to make a defensive play and had not immediately considered it a Flagrant 2. He said the team would address Carrington’s social media post internally. The controversy comes as Cunningham has already attracted considerable attention away from the basketball court because of her public comments about transgender athletes in women’s sports. Her views have prompted both supporters and protesters to appear around Fever games in recent weeks. The game itself ended in a 90-86 victory for Indiana, while Carrington’s early exit dramatically changed the contest. She had scored eight points in only four minutes before being ejected. Cunningham finished with three points in 17 minutes, with all three points coming from the free throws awarded after the flagrant foul. The latest clash adds another chapter to the increasingly intense rivalry surrounding the Fever, which has attracted enormous national attention. For now, the basketball incident has moved beyond the court, with questions about the foul, Carrington’s social media post and the wider debate surrounding Cunningham continuing to generate discussion across the WNBA.

LEEDS: Pakistan’s World Test Championship campaign suffered another setback on Friday as they slipped to the bottom of the WTC 2025-27 standings after England completed a crushing innings victory in the first Test at Headingley. The defeat leaves Pakistan with just two wins from seven matches and a points percentage of 19.05, increasing the pressure on the team ahead of the remaining two Tests of the three-match series. England, meanwhile, remain seventh in the standings with a points percentage of 29.76, having won five of their 14 matches. Australia continue to dominate the WTC table. They sit top with seven wins from nine Tests, collecting 84 points at a winning percentage of 77.78. Defending champions South Africa are second with three wins from four matches and a 75% percentage. New Zealand occupy third place, followed by Bangladesh and India. Pakistan’s latest defeat exposed familiar problems with both their batting and ability to handle England’s pace attack. After being asked to bat, Pakistan were dismissed for just 171 in their first innings. England’s bowlers Ollie Robinson and Josh Tongue were particularly effective, claiming five wickets each. England then turned their advantage into a commanding position, piling up 409 runs in their first innings. Jordan Cox, Joe Root, Harry Brook and Dan Lawrence all contributed half-centuries, while Pakistan spinner Ali Usman fought back with an impressive five-wicket haul. Pakistan entered their second innings facing a massive 238-run deficit and needed a determined batting effort to save the match. Instead, their resistance lasted only 37.3 overs. Pakistan were bowled out for 135, handing England a comprehensive innings victory and leaving their opponents with a 1-0 lead in the series. Robinson was the standout performer. His eight wickets across the match earned him the Player of the Match award and helped England secure a dominant start to the series. Pakistan had entered the England tour after drawing their two-Test series against the West Indies 1-1, but their Headingley collapse has put their WTC campaign under renewed pressure. With two Tests still remaining, Pakistan will need a dramatic turnaround in batting consistency and bowling execution to keep their hopes of climbing the championship table alive.

BUENOS AIRES: Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez has defended his team’s FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign, saying the players represented their country “in the best possible way” despite a series of controversial incidents that overshadowed their run to the final. The Chelsea star shared an emotional message on social media after Argentina’s 1-0 extra-time defeat to Spain in Sunday’s World Cup final, insisting the team had given everything for the national jersey throughout the tournament. Fernandez’s own campaign ended on a disappointing note after he was sent off late in normal time for a second yellow card following a challenge on Spanish defender Pau Cubarsi. Reduced to 10 men, Argentina struggled to contain Spain before Ferran Torres scored the decisive winner in the 106th minute to hand La Roja the world title. The final was also marred by post-match controversy. Reports alleged that midfielder Leandro Paredes attempted to confront members of the Spanish squad during their celebrations, prompting FIFA to open an investigation into possible disciplinary breaches. Argentina’s players also drew criticism after turning their backs while Spain collected their medals and lifted the World Cup trophy. Earlier in the tournament, the team sparked political controversy by displaying a banner reading “Las Malvinas son Argentinas” following their semi-final victory over England. The slogan refers to Argentina’s long-standing claim over the Falkland Islands, a dispute that remains highly sensitive between Argentina and the United Kingdom. Despite the criticism, Fernandez chose to focus on the team’s commitment and unity rather than the controversies. “As time goes by, you realise there is something much bigger than just a result,” he wrote. “For years, this group has represented Argentina in the best possible way. Competing is not only about winning, but about giving everything for the shirt and never giving up.” The 25-year-old also thanked Argentina’s supporters for standing by the team throughout the tournament, describing wearing the national jersey as the greatest honour of his career. Fernandez, who lifted the FIFA World Cup with Argentina in Qatar in 2022, admitted that missing out on a second consecutive title was painful but vowed to continue giving his all whenever he represents his country. Although Argentina fell short in the final, Fernandez’s message sought to shift the focus from controversy to the dedication and determination shown by the squad throughout their journey to another World Cup final.

Jos Buttler has etched his name into cricket history after becoming the highest run-scorer in T20 cricket, surpassing West Indies great Kieron Pollard during a stunning innings in The Hundred. The England white-ball star achieved the remarkable milestone while representing Manchester Super Giants against Welsh Fire, producing a blistering knock filled with powerful sixes. Since innings in The Hundred are officially considered equivalent to 20-over matches for career statistical purposes, Buttler’s runs count toward T20 records. Speaking after the match, Buttler described the achievement as one of the proudest moments of his career. “To become the highest run-scorer in the history of T20 cricket is a fantastic and proud moment,” he said. “Records are made to be broken, and one day someone else will surely surpass this one.” The England batter also reflected on his recent struggles, recalling the criticism he faced following a lean run of form and an underwhelming T20 World Cup campaign. “Cricket changes very quickly,” Buttler said. “A few months ago I was searching for form, and today I’m probably playing some of my best cricket. When you’re out of form, you have two choices—you either give up or fight your way back.” Buttler’s rise to the top is even more impressive considering the number of matches he required. The 35-year-old broke Pollard’s long-standing record after playing 521 T20 matches, while the former West Indies all-rounder had amassed 14,803 runs in 746 matches. The all-time T20 run-scoring list now sees Chris Gayle in third place with 14,562 runs, followed by England’s James Vince, who has accumulated 14,449 runs. Among Pakistani players, veteran all-rounder Shoaib Malik remains the country’s leading T20 run-scorer with 13,571 runs in 557 matches, underlining his remarkable consistency across franchise and international cricket. Buttler’s latest feat reinforces his status as one of the finest white-ball batters of his generation, adding another landmark to an already glittering career and proving that determination and resilience can rewrite cricket history.

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