Bangladeshi shooter Robiul Islam has departed for India to compete in the Asian Shooting Championship, scheduled from February 2 to 14 in New Delhi. He is accompanied by his coach Sharmin Akter. Robiul will participate in the 10-meter air rifle event on February 6, marking his first international competition since the Olympics.

There had been uncertainty over their participation due to earlier government restrictions on sending the national cricket team to India for the T20 World Cup, citing security concerns. However, the government later granted permission for Robiul to compete, considering the individual nature of the shooting event and India’s security arrangements to be safe.

Robiul, aged 27, previously won a medal in the 10-meter air rifle event at the 13th South Asian Games held in Nepal in 2019. His participation in New Delhi represents Bangladesh’s continued presence in regional shooting competitions.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has initiated work on a new central contract for the new year, introducing several changes approved in its latest board meeting. The number of contracted players will increase from 21 to 27, and the board will continue to issue format-based contracts. The BCB’s selection panel has finalized the list, which now awaits approval from the cricket operations department before official publication in the coming days.

Unlike previous years, the BCB will not include an ‘A Plus’ category this time, as there are no players regularly active across all three formats. The contract will begin with the ‘A’ category, featuring the three format captains along with experienced players Mushfiqur Rahim and Taskin Ahmed. Regular white-ball players such as Shoriful Islam, Tanzid Tamim, Mustafizur Rahman, and Tanzim Sakib will also be placed in this group.

Other players will be distributed across ‘B’, ‘C’, and ‘D’ categories based on their performance and format involvement. The finalized list includes 27 cricketers, marking an expansion in the BCB’s central contract structure for 2026.

Brazil won the Copa America Futsal championship by defeating defending champions Argentina 2–1 in a thrilling final held early Monday, February 2, at the Oscar Harrison Stadium of the Paraguayan Olympic Committee in Luque, Paraguay. The victory marked Brazil’s 12th title in the tournament’s history, further strengthening its position as the most successful team in Copa America Futsal.

Brazil started the match aggressively, taking the lead midway through the first half when João Victor, who plays for Russian club Krasnodar, scored after beating two Argentine defenders. Argentina struggled under pressure and committed several fouls, while Brazilian goalkeeper Matheus made key saves to deny multiple chances from Matías Rosa and Kevin Arrieta. Argentina equalized two minutes before full time through Rosa’s goal, but Barcelona player Diego Henrique restored Brazil’s lead within a minute, sealing the 2–1 victory.

With this win, Brazil extended its dominance in the competition, while Argentina remains with three titles. Peru secured third place in the 15th edition of the tournament.

An independent investigation committee has submitted its report to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) regarding the sexual harassment allegation made by former Bangladesh women’s cricket team captain Jahanara Alam. The report was formally handed over to the BCB president Md. Aminul Islam on Monday, marking the official conclusion of the investigation process. The committee had completed its inquiry on January 31.

The committee was chaired by Justice Tariq-ul Hakim and included members Barrister Muhammad Mustafizur Rahman Khan, Barrister Sarwat Siraj Shukla, and BCB director Rubaba Dowla. Another member, Professor Dr. Naima Haque, could not attend the submission event as she was abroad. The report was presented in the presence of other board members.

According to BCB sources, the board will review the recommendations and observations in the report before deciding on further action. The case has drawn significant attention within the women’s cricket community, making the report’s findings particularly important.

England defeated Sri Lanka by six wickets in the rain-affected second T20 match in Pallekele, securing an unassailable 2–0 lead in the three-match series. The victory also marked England’s tenth consecutive T20 win over Sri Lanka since May 2014. Batting first after losing the toss, Sri Lanka posted 189 for five, with contributions from Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, and Pawan Rathnayake. Rain interrupted England’s chase, and the target was revised to 168 runs from 17 overs under the DLS method.

England reached the target with two balls to spare, led by Tom Banton’s unbeaten 54 off 33 balls and Harry Brook’s quickfire 36 off 12. Earlier, England lost two wickets before the rain delay but regained control after play resumed. The match result ensured England’s series win ahead of the final game, scheduled to be played at the same venue the following day.

The result extended Sri Lanka’s winless run against England in T20 internationals, highlighting the visitors’ dominance in the format over the past decade.

Pakistan has decided to boycott its scheduled T20 World Cup match against India, sparking widespread debate. Former Pakistan cricketer Mohammad Yousuf publicly supported the decision, calling it necessary despite being difficult. In a post on X, Yousuf said the government’s stance prioritizes values over commercial interests and urged an end to what he described as opportunistic influences in world cricket.

Yousuf emphasized that cricket should be guided by fairness and equality rather than selective advantages. He used hashtags referencing the ICC, BCCI, BCB, and global cricket fairness. Previously, Yousuf had also supported Bangladesh’s decision to boycott matches in India over security concerns, criticizing the ICC for ignoring legitimate safety issues and questioning its governance consistency.

Pakistan will begin its World Cup campaign on February 7 against the Netherlands, followed by matches against the United States on February 10. The now-boycotted India match had been scheduled for February 15 at Colombo’s Premadasa Stadium.

Pakistan has announced that it will not play its scheduled T20 World Cup match against India. Despite the boycott, India must still travel to Sri Lanka under ICC regulations. The match is set for February 15 at the Premadasa Stadium, and India is required to attend pre-match events, continue training, and report to the venue on match day even if the game does not take place.

According to ICC rules, if Pakistan fails to field a team, the match referee will make the final decision. In that case, India would receive two points, but only if it complies with all match-day obligations. If India also fails to appear, both teams would receive one point each. Pakistan’s decision could negatively affect its net run rate, while India’s would remain unchanged.

Neither the Board of Control for Cricket in India nor the ICC has issued any official comment on the situation. The report suggests that a tough decision may be forthcoming for Pakistan.

Bangladesh maintained their winning form in the ongoing SAFF Under-19 Women's Championship in Nepal by defeating India 2-0 in their second match on February 2, 2026. Arpita Biswas and Alpi Akter scored one goal each in the first half, securing victory for Bangladesh at Pokhara Stadium. With this win, Bangladesh now lead the points table with six points from two consecutive victories, while India remain second with three points. Bangladesh will face Nepal next on February 4.

Earlier, Bangladesh had opened the tournament with a dominant 12-0 win over Bhutan. The competition is being played in a round-robin format, with the top two teams advancing to the final scheduled for February. Despite ongoing tensions between Bangladesh and India in cricket, the two nations’ youth women’s football teams met in a sporting spirit, exchanging handshakes before kickoff.

Bangladesh’s consistent performance has strengthened their position as a strong contender for the final, with their attacking play proving decisive in both matches.

Pakistan’s government announced on February 1 that the national team will participate in the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup but will boycott its scheduled match against India. The decision was made in protest of an ICC ruling related to Bangladesh. Following the announcement, the International Cricket Council (ICC) responded with a statement urging Pakistan to reconsider its stance and to uphold the spirit of global competition.

The ICC noted that it respects national policies but emphasized that a boycott contradicts the fundamental purpose of a global sporting event, where all qualified teams are expected to compete under equal conditions. It warned that Pakistan’s decision could harm the integrity and fairness of the tournament and negatively affect fans worldwide. The ICC also stated it is awaiting formal communication from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) regarding the matter.

Expressing optimism for resolution, the ICC said its priority is to ensure the World Cup’s successful completion and encouraged the PCB to find a mutually acceptable solution that protects the interests of all stakeholders.

Barcelona defeated Elche 3-1 in a La Liga match on Saturday night, extending their lead over Real Madrid to three points. Goals from Lamine Yamal, Ferran Torres, and substitute Marcus Rashford sealed the victory for coach Hansi Flick’s side. With 18 wins and one draw from 22 matches, Barcelona remain top of the table with 55 points, while Real Madrid sit second with 51 points from one game fewer.

In the English Premier League, Liverpool returned to winning form by beating Newcastle United 4-1 at Anfield. Hugo Ekitike scored twice, while Florian Wirtz and Ibrahima Konate added one goal each. The win marked Liverpool’s first league victory of the new year after a run of four draws and one defeat in their previous five matches. Chelsea also edged West Ham 3-2 in another league fixture.

Meanwhile, Bayern Munich were held to a 2-2 draw by Hamburg in the Bundesliga. Despite goals from Harry Kane and Luis Diaz, Bayern conceded late and dropped points for the second consecutive match, leaving their title defense under pressure.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has announced a new three-team T20 tournament to be held in Mirpur from February 5 to 9, 2026, after the national team did not participate in the T20 World Cup. The teams—Dhumketu, Durbar, and Duronto—will each feature 13 players, with a total of 39 cricketers taking part. Four new faces, Jawad Abrar, Azizul Hakim Tamim, Al Fahad, and Iqbal Hossain Emon, have been included following their performances in the recently concluded Under-19 World Cup.

Dhumketu will be led by T20 captain Liton Das, Durbar by Test captain Najmul Hossain Shanto, and Duronto by Akbar Ali. The BCB will spend 25 million taka on match fees and prize money for the event. Spectators will be allowed to attend and enjoy the matches from the stands.

The tournament aims to provide competitive opportunities for both senior and emerging players, offering a platform for young talents to showcase their skills in domestic T20 cricket.

Pakistan has announced it will not play its scheduled match against India in the upcoming 2026 ICC T20 World Cup, citing solidarity with Bangladesh. The decision was confirmed Sunday night through an official statement on the Pakistani government’s X account. While Pakistan will still participate in the tournament, it will skip the February 15 fixture against India. The move followed discussions between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who finalized the boycott decision.

This marks the first time a team has officially boycotted a World Cup match in support of another nation. The PCB acknowledged potential financial penalties and loss of revenue but framed the decision as a stand against India’s dominance in world cricket. The boycott follows Bangladesh’s withdrawal from the tournament after the ICC replaced it with Scotland, rejecting Bangladesh’s request to relocate matches from India to Sri Lanka over security concerns.

The ICC’s decision has drawn global criticism, with PCB Chairman Naqvi and Indian sports journalist Sharda Ugra accusing the body of double standards favoring India. Pakistan’s boycott is seen as a significant challenge to the ICC’s handling of member nations’ disputes.

Bangladesh Women’s cricket team ended their ICC Women’s T20 World Cup qualifying campaign with a commanding seven-wicket victory over the Netherlands in Upper Mulpani, Nepal. The team, led by Nigar Sultana Joty, chased down the 103-run target with 20 balls to spare, finishing unbeaten in all seven matches of the qualifiers. Joty scored an unbeaten 50 off 44 balls, while Sobhana Mostary added 33 not out. Nahida Akter was named Player of the Match for her three wickets for 10 runs.

Batting first after winning the toss, the Netherlands lost five wickets for just 23 runs under pressure from Bangladesh’s bowlers. Robin Rijke and Sania Khurana steadied the innings with a 78-run sixth-wicket stand, taking the total to 102 for six. Khurana remained unbeaten on 43, while Rijke scored 39. Bangladesh’s disciplined bowling and confident batting ensured a perfect record in the qualifiers.

With this win, Bangladesh, the Netherlands, and Ireland have secured their spots in the 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, scheduled to be held in England in June.

A wide range of international sports events are scheduled for live broadcast on February 1, 2026, including the third T20 cricket match between Pakistan and Australia at 5:00 p.m. on Sony Sports and Sony Liv. The day’s lineup also features the Women’s T20 World Cup qualifiers with Bangladesh facing the Netherlands at 9:15 a.m., and the ICC Under-19 World Cup Super Six match between India and Pakistan at 1:30 p.m. on Star Sports and Jio Hotstar.

In football, English Premier League matches include Manchester United versus Fulham at 8:00 p.m. and Tottenham Hotspur against Manchester City at 10:30 p.m. on Star Sports Select HD 1. La Liga, Serie A, and Ligue 1 fixtures will also be shown live, including Real Madrid versus Rayo Vallecano, Parma versus Juventus, and Strasbourg versus PSG. Additionally, the Australian Open tennis final will be broadcast live at 2:30 p.m. on Sony Sports 2/5.

The schedule highlights a packed day for global sports fans, offering simultaneous coverage of cricket, football, and tennis across multiple platforms.

Pakistan completed a 3-0 whitewash over Australia in the three-match T20 series, winning the final game by 111 runs. Batting first, Pakistan scored 207 for 6 in 20 overs, led by Saim’s 56 off 37 balls, Babar’s unbeaten 50 from 36 deliveries, and Shadab Khan’s quickfire 46 off 19 balls. In reply, Australia collapsed for 96 in 16.5 overs, losing wickets at regular intervals and failing to recover from early setbacks.

Marcus Stoinis top-scored for Australia with 23 runs, followed by Cameron Green with 22 and Josh Philippe with 14, while no other batter reached double figures. Spinner Mohammad Nawaz dismantled the Australian batting lineup, taking 5 wickets for 18 runs and earning the Player of the Match award. Shaheen Afridi also contributed with two wickets.

The victory sealed a comprehensive series sweep for captain Salman Ali Agha’s team, maintaining their winning momentum after securing the series in the first two matches.