West Indies claimed a six-run victory under the DLS method against South Africa in the third and final T20 match at Johannesburg’s Wanderers Stadium. The match was reduced to ten overs per side due to rain. Batting first after losing the toss, West Indies posted 114 for three wickets, led by Shai Hope and Shimron Hetmyer, who both scored 48 runs. South Africa were set a revised target of 125 runs but managed only 118 for six wickets.

Despite the defeat, South Africa had already secured the three-match T20 series 2–1 after winning the first two games. Quinton de Kock, who scored 28 runs in this match, was named Player of the Series, while Gudakesh Motie earned the Player of the Match award for his three wickets for 17 runs. The rain interruptions and lightning delays added further drama to the shortened contest.

The result gave West Indies a morale-boosting finish to the series, while South Africa maintained overall dominance with the series win.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has imposed new restrictions on sports journalists’ access to the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur. The decision has drawn strong protest and condemnation from two major journalist organizations, the Bangladesh Sports Press Association (BSPA) and the Bangladesh Sports Journalists Association (BSJA). Both groups issued statements on Sunday expressing concern that the new rules would disrupt their daily professional activities.

In its statement, the BSJA said the restrictions would hinder journalists’ work and limit their ability to promote cricket effectively. The association emphasized its willingness to cooperate on security matters but criticized the BCB for not consulting journalist bodies before making such a major decision. The BSPA also voiced deep concern, saying the new rules create an unfavorable environment for media professionals and urged the BCB to reconsider the decision immediately.

The BSPA further suggested that dialogue and consultation with media stakeholders could lead to a more cooperative and mutually beneficial solution.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has expressed serious concern over India’s bid to host the 2036 Olympic Games following Bangladesh’s decision to withdraw from the upcoming T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. According to a report by The Guardian, the IOC views the growing political tension between India and Bangladesh over cricket as a potential threat to the Olympic movement’s principle of political neutrality. The controversy began after Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman was allegedly unfairly excluded from the IPL, prompting the Bangladesh Cricket Board to request venue changes for its World Cup matches, which the ICC rejected.

The ICC’s decision and its perceived alignment with Indian interests have drawn scrutiny, especially given the close ties between ICC leadership and Indian cricket authorities. The IOC, which maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward political interference in sports, has reportedly warned that continued boycotts or political disputes could jeopardize India’s Olympic hosting ambitions. India’s confirmed hosting of the 2030 Commonwealth Games contrasts with the uncertainty surrounding its 2036 Olympic bid, where Qatar remains a strong competitor.

The IOC has also reminded India that visible efforts to improve relations with Bangladesh and Pakistan will be essential to sustain its Olympic aspirations.

Arsenal ended their three-match winless run in the English Premier League with a dominant 4-0 victory over Leeds United on Saturday night at Elland Road. Under coach Mikel Arteta, the London club regained momentum as goals from Martin Zubimendi, Viktor Gyökeres, and Gabriel Jesus, along with an own goal by Leeds goalkeeper Karl Darlow, sealed the comprehensive win.

From the start, Arsenal applied pressure and controlled the match, leaving Leeds with little chance to recover. The result strengthened Arsenal’s position at the top of the Premier League standings, extending their lead to seven points over second-placed Manchester City and third-placed Aston Villa.

The emphatic win not only restored Arsenal’s confidence after a difficult run but also reinforced their title credentials as the season progresses.

India concluded their five-match T20 series against New Zealand with a 46-run victory in the final match. The game, played on February 1, 2026, saw Ishan Kishan score a century and Arshdeep Singh claim five wickets, helping India secure the series 4-1. Batting first, India posted a strong total of 271 for five, with Kishan making 103, Suryakumar Yadav contributing 63, and Hardik Pandya adding 42 runs.

In reply, New Zealand’s Finn Allen led the chase with an impressive 80 but fell short of a century as his team was bowled out for 225. Arshdeep Singh’s five-wicket haul proved decisive in restricting New Zealand’s batting lineup. The result capped a dominant series performance by India, who had already clinched the series before the final match.

The win reinforced India’s strong form in T20 cricket, ending the series on a high note and demonstrating depth in both batting and bowling departments.

Bangladesh Under-19 cricket team concluded their World Cup journey with a 74-run victory against hosts Zimbabwe in Harare. After losing earlier matches to India in the group stage and England in the Super Six, Bangladesh’s hopes of advancing had already ended. In their final match, they posted 253 for 9 in 50 overs, led by captain Azizul Hakim Tamim’s 59 and Rizan Hossain’s 47. Zimbabwe were bowled out for 179 runs in 48.4 overs.

Ikbal Hossain Imon starred with the ball, taking 5 wickets for 24 runs, earning him the Player of the Match award. Al Fahad also contributed with key wickets as Zimbabwe’s chase faltered despite captain Simbarashe Mudzengere’s 70 and Shelton Mazvitorera’s 42. The win allowed Bangladesh to finish their campaign on a positive note after earlier disappointments.

The result marked a morale-boosting end for the young Tigers, who will look to build on this performance in future tournaments.

England began their T20 series against Sri Lanka with a rain-affected victory at Pallekele on January 31, 2026. The visitors won by 11 runs under the DLS method after rain stopped play when England were 125 for 4 in 15 overs while chasing a target of 134. Phil Salt contributed 46 runs, helping England secure a 1–0 lead in the three-match series led by Harry Brook.

Sri Lanka’s innings ended at 133 all out in 16.2 overs after the match was reduced to 17 overs due to rain. Kusal Mendis scored 37 runs, while the team suffered a sudden collapse after reaching 76 for 1. Sam Curran claimed his first international T20 hat-trick by dismissing Dasun Shanaka, Maheesh Theekshana, and Matheesha Pathirana in the final three balls of the 16th over.

With this win, England extended their dominance on the tour, having already secured the preceding ODI series.

Former England cricketer and analyst Mark Butcher has described the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) decision to exclude Bangladesh from the upcoming T20 World Cup as “unprecedented” and “utter chaos.” According to the report, Bangladesh had requested to play its World Cup matches in Sri Lanka due to security concerns in India. The ICC, however, rejected the request and, under pressure from India, removed Bangladesh from the global tournament.

Speaking on the Wisden Cricket Weekly podcast, Butcher criticized the ICC for allegedly changing its rules to favor India, citing the example of India’s Champions Trophy matches being relocated to Dubai instead of Pakistan. He argued that such flexibility for one team undermines fairness in world cricket.

Butcher further urged that similar standards should apply to all teams in the future. He suggested that if a team refuses to play in a country citing security reasons, it should either ensure safety and participate or withdraw, allowing another team to take its place.

The NDU Cricket League 2026 is set to begin on Saturday, January 31, at the Notre Dame University field in Dhaka. Organized annually since 2017, the tournament has become a regular sporting event for the university community. This year, four teams—English, Business Administration, CSE, and Law—will compete for the title. The final match is scheduled for February 7.

According to Sami Chishti, the league’s organizing committee co-coordinator, the tournament represents a long-standing tradition of Notre Dame University, aiming to promote healthy competition and shared enjoyment among students. The English Eagles, five-time finalists and three-time champions, will participate again in their signature sky-blue and white jerseys. Fantasy Kingdom is serving as the title sponsor for this year’s event.

Excitement is building across the campus as players complete their final training sessions, preparing for what has become one of the university’s most anticipated annual sports events.

Quinton de Kock’s explosive century powered South Africa to a seven-wicket victory over the West Indies in the second T20 match at Centurion, securing the three-match series 2–0 with one game remaining. Chasing 222, South Africa reached 225 for 3 in 17.3 overs. De Kock struck 115 off 49 balls with 10 sixes and 6 fours, while Ryan Rickelton remained unbeaten on 77 from 36 balls. Their 162-run stand for the second wicket laid the foundation for the win.

Earlier, the West Indies posted 221 for 4, driven by Shimron Hetmyer’s 75 off 42 balls and Sherfane Rutherford’s unbeaten 57 off 24. Brandon King added 49 from 30 balls. West Indies captain Shai Hope said the batting was strong but bowling in Centurion’s conditions was difficult. With this innings, De Kock surpassed Faf du Plessis to become South Africa’s highest run-scorer in recognized T20s, amassing 12,113 runs in 416 innings across 430 matches.

The third and final match of the series will be played in Johannesburg tomorrow.

Sri Lanka will deploy elite armed forces to ensure security during the upcoming T20 World Cup, particularly for the high-profile India-Pakistan match scheduled for February 15 in Colombo. The Sri Lankan government has decided to assign elite commando units, usually responsible for protecting foreign heads of state, to safeguard all participating teams from arrival to departure. The tournament, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, will run from February 7 to March 8 with a total of 20 matches.

Sports Minister Sunil Kumara Gamage told AFP that Sri Lanka is giving top priority to organizing the tournament smoothly and will pay special attention to matches involving India and Pakistan. Police and security officials confirmed that players will remain under armed protection throughout their stay in the country.

Pakistan has not yet made a final decision on its participation in the World Cup and may boycott only the match against India, according to reports. Despite this uncertainty, Sri Lanka is proceeding with full preparations assuming Pakistan will compete.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has confirmed that the upcoming Bangladesh Cricket League (BCL) will start on February 18. The tournament will begin with the One Day International (ODI) format, designed to help national players prepare for the home ODI series against Pakistan scheduled for March. The decision was confirmed to the newspaper by a BCB source.

A BCB official, requesting anonymity, said the board is planning the BCL schedule considering the national team’s commitments. Rajshahi and Bogura have been finalized as the main venues for the competition, with Sylhet and Mirpur being considered as alternatives. The BCL will later feature a four-day format, though the start date for that phase has not yet been finalized.

The BCL’s early start aims to fill the preparation gap created by Bangladesh’s absence from the upcoming T20 World Cup, providing players with competitive match practice before the Pakistan series.

Pakistan defeated Australia by 22 runs in the opening match of their three-match T20 series, taking a 1–0 lead. Batting first, Pakistan scored 168 for eight in 20 overs, with Saim Ayub contributing 40 runs off 22 balls and Salman Agha adding 39. Adam Zampa was the pick of the Australian bowlers with four wickets for 24 runs. In reply, Australia managed 146 for eight, falling short despite a late effort from Xavier Bartlett, who remained unbeaten on 34. The second match of the series is scheduled for Saturday in Lahore.

Australia’s chase faltered early, losing Matthew Short for 5 and Travis Head for 23. Cameron Green top-scored with 36 before being dismissed by Mohammad Nawaz, leaving Australia struggling at six wickets down before reaching 100. Pakistan’s bowlers, including Abrar Ahmed and Saim Ayub, maintained control to secure the victory.

Saim Ayub was named player of the match for his all-round performance, helping Pakistan move ahead in the series before the next encounter in Lahore.

The Bangladesh women's futsal team returned home this evening after winning the inaugural SAFF Women's Futsal Championship. The team arrived in Dhaka from Thailand around 6:15 p.m., where the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) prepared a grand reception to honor their achievement. The players will be taken on an open-top bus to Hatirjheel, where the official celebration will take place.

This victory marks another milestone for Bangladesh's women footballers, who previously won the SAFF Football Championship twice in a row. In the futsal tournament, held in a round-robin format, Bangladesh defeated the Maldives 14–2 in the final match to become unbeaten champions among seven participating teams. Players such as Sabina, Krishna, and Sumaiyara are receiving widespread recognition for their performance.

BFF Vice President Fahad Karim stated that the federation planned the reception according to the players’ preferences, ensuring they are welcomed in the way they desired after their historic South Asian success.

The United States cricket team suffered a major setback ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup as star player Aaron Jones was temporarily suspended from all forms of cricket. The International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed on January 28, 2026, that Jones faces five charges related to corruption and improper conduct. Most of the allegations stem from the 2023–24 Bim10 tournament held in Barbados under Cricket West Indies (CWI), while two charges involve international matches under ICC jurisdiction.

According to CWI, Jones allegedly attempted to influence match outcomes during specific moments of the tournament and failed to report suspicious approaches to authorities. The ICC stated that the American batter faces serious accusations, including concealing information about corrupt proposals and obstructing investigations by hiding or altering evidence. The case is part of a broader inquiry that may implicate additional individuals.

Jones has until February 11, 2026, to present his defense. Until the case is resolved, he remains barred from participating in any cricket activities. The 31-year-old has played 100 international matches for the United States and is a familiar face in T20 leagues.