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.

A dramatic night in the Champions League saw Real Madrid, PSG and Benfica secure playoff spots despite mixed results. Benfica defeated Real Madrid 4–2 to claim the 24th position and eliminate Marseille, while Real finished ninth with 15 points to also qualify for the knockout playoffs. PSG, the defending champions, drew 1–1 at home with Newcastle, finishing tenth with 14 points and missing a direct berth in the round of 16.

Norwegian club Bodø/Glimt surprised by beating Atlético Madrid 2–1 to reach the playoffs. Arsenal topped their group after defeating Kairat Almaty, and Liverpool crushed Qarabag 6–0. The top eight teams advancing directly to the round of 16 are Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Tottenham, Barcelona, Chelsea, Sporting CP and Manchester City.

The playoff round will feature teams ranked ninth to twenty-fourth, including Real Madrid, Inter Milan, PSG, Newcastle, Juventus, Atlético Madrid, Atalanta, Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund, Olympiacos, Club Brugge, Galatasaray, Monaco, Qarabag, Bodø/Glimt and Benfica.

Senior sports journalist and author Sharada Ugra has alleged that the International Cricket Council (ICC) operates under the influence of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Speaking on The Wire’s program ‘The Interview,’ she claimed that the ICC has effectively become BCCI’s Dubai office, following its directives without question. Her remarks come amid escalating tensions involving Bangladesh, India, and the ICC ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup, as Bangladesh’s request to shift match venues over security concerns was rejected.

The controversy began when Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman was reportedly dropped from the Indian Premier League under what Ugra described as “unwritten, unofficial instructions.” She argued that the move was politically motivated, linked to strained India-Bangladesh relations and upcoming elections in Assam and West Bengal. Ugra criticized the ICC’s refusal to relocate Bangladesh’s matches to Sri Lanka, calling it double standards compared to the hybrid model allowed for India-Pakistan fixtures.

According to Ugra, India’s dominance has undermined the credibility of the World Cup and turned cricket into a political tool. She warned that ICC’s perceived bias could damage its global reputation and raise governance questions as cricket seeks inclusion in the Olympics.

Multiple major sporting events will be broadcast live today across various channels. The first T20 match between Pakistan and Australia will air at 5:00 p.m. on Sony Sports and Sony Liv. South Africa will face West Indies in the second T20 at 10:00 p.m. on Sports 18 and Jio Hotstar. In the ICC Under-19 World Cup Super Six stage, South Africa will play Sri Lanka at 1:30 p.m. on Star Sports and Jio Hotstar.

Football fans can watch several UEFA Europa League matches live at 2:00 a.m., including Stuttgart vs Young Boys, Porto vs Rangers, Aston Villa vs Salzburg, Olympique Lyon vs PAOK, Real Betis vs Feyenoord, and Lille vs Freiburg. These matches will be available on Sony Ten channels, Sony Liv, and Tapmad. Tennis coverage continues with the Australian Open semifinals airing live at 2:30 p.m. on Sony Sports 2 and 5.

The day’s lineup offers a packed schedule for cricket, football, and tennis enthusiasts, with live coverage across multiple global tournaments.

Former ICC president Ehsan Mani has criticized the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) after Bangladesh was excluded from the upcoming T20 World Cup. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) had requested to play its matches in Sri Lanka citing security concerns about traveling to India, but the ICC rejected the proposal and replaced Bangladesh with Scotland. The decision, reportedly influenced by India, has sparked widespread criticism across the cricket world, including within India itself.

In an interview with Telecom Asia, Mani said cricket has lost direction under the ICC’s current structure and called for immediate constitutional reforms to ensure independent and neutral board directors. He blamed political interference and administrative weakness for the current instability. Mani also questioned BCCI’s handling of player safety, citing Mustafizur Rahman’s exclusion from the IPL as an example, and described Bangladesh’s security concerns as legitimate.

He further argued that the ICC should follow FIFA or Olympic models, requiring host nations to guarantee visas and security for all teams or lose hosting rights.

The Bangladesh women's futsal team, winners of the inaugural SAFF Futsal Championship, are returning home from Thailand at 6:30 p.m. today. The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) has announced plans for a grand reception to honor the champions upon their arrival. The team made history by winning the first-ever SAFF Futsal Championship, defeating the Maldives 14–2 in the final round-robin match last Sunday to remain unbeaten.

Following their victory in the seven-team tournament, players Sabina, Krishna, and Sumaiya are set to receive a celebratory welcome. BFF Vice President Fahad Karim told *Amar Desh* that the federation is preparing the reception according to the players’ preferences. Previous SAFF-winning teams were honored with open-top bus parades, and a similar event may be arranged if the players request it.

The BFF previously organized receptions for the women’s team after their qualification for the Asian Cup. This time, the futsal champions will be celebrated in the same manner, marking another milestone for women’s football in Bangladesh.

New Zealand defeated India by 50 runs in the fourth T20 match of the series held in Visakhapatnam. Despite a powerful batting display from Shivam Dube, who scored 65 runs off 23 balls with seven sixes and three fours, India were bowled out for 165 runs while chasing a target of 216. Dube’s 15-ball fifty and an over yielding 28 runs off Ish Sodhi were not enough to secure victory. Rinku Singh added 39 runs and Sanju Samson contributed 24 for India.

Earlier, New Zealand’s openers Devon Conway and Tim Seifert gave their team a strong start with a 100-run partnership, scoring 44 and 62 respectively. Daryl Mitchell remained unbeaten on 39 off 18 balls, helping New Zealand post 215 for 7 in 20 overs. Arshdeep Singh and Kuldeep Yadav took two wickets each for India. Mitchell Santner claimed three wickets for 26 runs, while Jacob Duffy took two for 33.

Despite the defeat, India lead the series 3–1. Tim Seifert was named Player of the Match for his match-winning innings.

The Bangladesh government has granted permission for shooter Robiul Islam and coach Sharmin Akter to participate in the Asian Shooting Championship in New Delhi, India, from February 2 to 14, 2026. The approval was issued on Wednesday through a government order, according to National Sports Council Director (Sports) Mohammad Aminul Ehsan. The decision comes even as the government withheld permission for the national cricket team to travel to India for the T20 World Cup due to security concerns.

Officials said the shooting event will take place in an indoor and secured environment, minimizing potential security risks. Robiul is scheduled to compete in the 10-meter air rifle event on February 6, marking his first international appearance since the 2024 Paris Olympics. He has been training intensively in the South Asian Games camp ahead of the tournament.

Unlike previous years when Bangladesh sent larger shooting contingents, only Robiul and his coach will travel this time, which the report described as a clear failure of the Bangladesh Shooting Sports Federation. They are expected to depart for India on January 31.

South Africa defeated West Indies by nine wickets in the first match of their three-game T20 series. The match, held on Wednesday, saw South Africa chase down a target of 174 runs with 13 balls to spare. Aiden Markram led the hosts with an unbeaten 86 off 47 balls, featuring nine fours and three sixes. Reeza Hendricks contributed 44 runs from 28 balls, while Ryan Rickelton added 40 not out. George Linde was named Player of the Match for taking three wickets for 25 runs.

Batting first after losing the toss, West Indies posted 173 for seven in 20 overs. Despite a 39-run opening stand, they lost quick wickets and were reduced to 95 for five. Shimron Hetmyer scored 48 and Rovman Powell remained unbeaten on 29, helping their side reach a competitive total. For South Africa, Linde and Bosch shared five wickets between them.

With this victory, South Africa took a 1–0 lead in the three-match series. The second T20 is scheduled to be played in Centurion on Thursday.

Novak Djokovic reached the semifinals of the 2026 Australian Open after Italian opponent Lorenzo Musetti retired due to injury during their quarterfinal match in Melbourne. Musetti had taken a commanding two-set lead, winning 6-4 and 6-3, before suffering thigh and groin injuries that forced him to withdraw while trailing 1-3 in the third set. The Serbian star, a 24-time Grand Slam champion, advanced by walkover to his 13th semifinal appearance at the tournament.

Djokovic’s path to the last four was marked by unusual fortune. In the previous round, he progressed without playing after Czech player Jakub Mensik withdrew with stomach pain. The 38-year-old has now won a record 103 singles matches at the Australian Open, surpassing Roger Federer. Djokovic will face second seed Jannik Sinner in the semifinals, after the Italian defeated American Ben Shelton 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.

In the women’s singles, Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina and American Jessica Pegula reached the semifinals, while Poland’s Iga Swiatek was eliminated following a straight-sets loss to Rybakina.