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When Shohei Ohtani stepped to the plate in the bottom of the ninth inning with one out and the game tied at 5 against the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday night, he wasn't just facing the pressure of the moment.

The weight of fan expectations, heightened in light of the fact that Wednesday was his bobblehead night, were also bearing down on the three-time MVP.

But Ohtani delivered, crushing a first-pitch changeup into the center field seats for a walk-off home run to keep the undefeated Dodgers' record unblemished. After the game, Ohtani, speaking through interpreter Will Ireton to Dodgers reporter Kirsten Watson, joked that a fan made certain that he knew what was at stake before he dug into the batter's box.

"You know, just looking for a really good pitch to hit," Ohtani said when asked what he saw in the at-bat. "But one of the fans was telling me, 'It's your bobblehead night, so you better get a hit.' So, I'm glad I was able to do that."

Now, that's pressure. Dodgers fans, for the second straight season, showed up hours before the game to ensure they'd get their hands on the bobblehead, which featured a miniature Ohtani holding the National League MVP trophy he won in '24, his first season with the club.

Not only did they go home with a bobblehead, they went home after having witnessed a signature moment from the man himself.

Leeds United return to action in the Premier League this weekend after the international break with a clash against Aston Villa at Elland Road on Sunday.

The Whites have lost their last two matches in the top-flight, conceding six goals in the process, and their most recent outing was a 3-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest before the break.

Whilst this shows that there needs to be improvement on the defensive side of the game, Daniel Farke also needs to find a way to get more out of his players at the top end of the pitch.

The Championship champions have only scored 11 goals in their 11 Premier League games so far this season, with several members of the squad underperforming in front of goal.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin

2.89

1

-1.89

Jayden Bogle

0.88

0

-0.88

Brenden Aaronson

1.79

1

-0.79

Joel Piroe

0.73

0

-0.73

Pascal Struijk

0.65

0

-0.65

Dan James

0.47

0

-0.47

Jack Harrison

0.41

0

-0.41

As you can see in the table above, too many of the team’s top attackers have underperformed against their xG in the top-flight, which shows that Farke does not have many reliable finishers.

With the January transfer window around five weeks away from opening for business, the Whites may already be starting to think about what they could do to improve their attack.

Why Leeds need to sign a winger in January

The West Yorkshire-based outfit need to go out and sign another wide option in the January window to bolster their options on the flank, because they have not had enough productivity in those positions this season.

As aforementioned, the Whites have only scored 11 times in 11 Premier League games, which shows that goalscoring is a clear area for improvement, and their lack of goals from wide players has been one of the causes of that particular struggle.

Noah Okafor

8

2 + 0

Brenden Aaronson

11

1 + 1

Dan James

8

0 + 0

Jack Harrison

10

0 + 0

Wilfried Gnonto

4

0 + 0

As you can see in the table above, Noah Okafor is the only winger in the squad who has scored more than one league goal for the club this season, despite December being just over a week away.

The Switzerland international, who scored goals against Wolves and Spurs, has been the only wide attacker who has carried a fairly consistent threat at the top end of the pitch.

Farke will surely be frustrated with the lack of output from the majority of his wide options, which is why the club need to go out and splash the cash on a new option in those two positions at the turn of the year.

Leeds backed to sign Premier League forward

On that very topic, a former scout has backed the Premier League strugglers to sign one of their former players when the January transfer window opens for business.

Former Tottenham scout Bryan King has suggested that a move to Elland Road could be on the cards for Manor Solomon if Spurs decide to recall him from his loan spell with Villarreal.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Speaking to MOTLeedsNews, King said: “If he (Solomon) isn’t going to stay at Villarreal, then I could certainly see him being sold in January. He definitely won’t get a game for Tottenham, there’s three or four people in front of him in his position.

“He did well at Leeds; he was a key part of their team that got promoted. I would have thought he’d be a very good option for Leeds. They haven’t exactly set the Premier League alight, and it looks as though they need more options.”

If Solomon, who has only started one LaLiga match with Villarreal, does get recalled in January, Leeds should pursue a deal to bring the forward back to West Yorkshire.

Why Leeds should sign Manor Solomon

The Whites should push to land another deal for the Israel international because he could arrive at Elland Road in the winter window as a huge upgrade on Brenden Aaronson.

As aforementioned, the USA international has produced one goal and one assist in the Premier League so far this season, as the first-choice right wing option, due to the change in formation that took away his favoured number ten role.

Solomon, meanwhile, has one goal and one assist in LaLiga, despite playing just four matches, and delivered three assists in his one appearance in the Copa del Rey, per Sofascore.

On top of providing more quality for Villarreal than Aaronson has for Leeds in all competitions this season, the right-footed winger also outperformed the American in the Championship last season.

The former Fulham attacker, of course, spent the 2024/25 campaign on loan at Elland Road from Spurs and caught the eye with his consistent performances at the top end of the pitch.

Appearances

46

39

xG

11.43

8.15

Goals

9

10

Minutes per goal

396

261

Big chances created

9

21

Key passes per game

1.6

1.7

xA

6.05

10.30

Assists

2

12

As you can see in the table above, the Spurs loanee offered significantly more to the team at the top end of the pitch than Aaronson did in the second tier last term, with more goals from less xG and more than twice as many ‘big chances’ created.

Solomon, who was hailed by former Leeds boss Neil Redfearn for being an “unplayable” star who is “like tackling smoke” for defenders, has proven that he can excel in front of goal in a Farke team, even more so than the USA international.

The Villarreal forward also has experience in the Premier League, with Fulham and Spurs, which means that it would not be a culture shock for him to be thrown into the division in the second half of the campaign.

Raphinha repeat: 49ers keen on signing "generational" £79m star for Leeds

Leeds United are lining up a January swoop for a star who could be as exciting a signing as Raphinha once was.

ByDan Emery Nov 18, 2025

Therefore, Leeds should explore the possibility of a reunion with Solomon because he could be an ideal signing to upgrade on Aaronson on the wing in the January window.

In a video posted on social media, Tareen said the PCB wanted to surround itself with “yes-men and minions”

Danyal Rasool24-Oct-2025The Multan Sultans owner Ali Tareen has apologised to the PCB in their ongoing dispute concerning the PSL, though in a manner that could escalate rather than defuse matters. The PCB had sent Tareen a legal notice charging him with breaching a clause in their franchise agreement and demanding an apology for his recent public criticism of the league.In a nearly five-minute-long video released on his social media accounts, Tareen apologised for his comments on the PCB in a tone heavy with sarcasm, while continuing to taunt the board, claiming it wanted to be surrounded by “yes-men and minions”.”You don’t even want to work with your stakeholders,” Tareen said, while flashing the legal notice the PCB sent him. “You cannot bear any criticism from anyone. If you were even remotely competent, you would have known this is not the way to manage things.”Only a big man apologises. I apologise for wanting to make the PSL better. I apologise for raising my voice when I saw problems. It is my fault, not yours, that I was dissatisfied with your mediocre mindset. I apologise for being unhappy that you give yourselves so much credit for doing so little.”Related

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He went on to further criticise the handling of the PSL, referring to the player draft, where issues with microphones persisted through the event, and for lip-syncing rather than live singing through the opening ceremony.He concluded the video by saying, “I hope you like my apology video,” holding the legal notice up to the camera and ripping it in half.ESPNcricinfo reached out to the PCB for comment, and understands the board will consult with its legal team before determining what, if any, further action to take, or whether to accept Tareen’s “apology”. While it does technically satisfy the PCB’s legal demand for a public apology, it appears set to only escalate the feud between the two sides.ESPNcricinfo has also seen a copy of the legal notice the PCB sent to Tareen on September 12. It accuses Tareen of breaching his franchise agreement and making “false, malicious, baseless, and defamatory allegations” in the build-up to the tenth season of the PSL. In the weeks leading up to the tournament, Tareen had become increasingly trenchant in his public criticism of the PSL management for what he believed was a lack of communication, ambition or transparency from the league, while deriding them for their incompetence.While the PCB had maintained a public silence in the months since, the legal notice threatens the most severe action the board, and the league, are in a position to take: blacklisting Tareen from franchise ownership, effectively stripping Multan Sultans away from him. Most seriously, Tareen is accused of deliberately seeking to devalue the PSL brand – with each franchise set for reevaluation at the end of the year – in order to pick up ownership rights to the Sultans at a lower value.The PCB also claims other franchise owners had urged action against Tareen earlier “for deliberately attempting to sabotage the marketing campaign and value of the PSL brand.”Amid the serious legal language, there are also allegations that display the triviality to which this feud between league and franchise owner has devolved. The PCB letter mentioned a video in which Tareen was filmed speaking to the Sultans players, telling them to target the opposition batters with bouncers in exchange for financial reward if they hit the helmet. The PCB called this “reprehensible,” accusing Tareen of disregarding players’ mental health and seeking to destroy their livelihoods.Tareen claimed the video was a joke and taken down, with Multans Sultans telling ESPNcricinfo their bowlers had bowled “the fewest bouncers in the league” last season, and accusing the PCB of desperation in their attempts to malign Tareen.Some aspects of the feud also appear to boil down to personal tastes. In the letter, the PSL called their trophy reveal at the opening ceremony “creative”. The trophy was unveiled as part of a short film that depicted it as lost at sea, with a military helicopter and expert divers sent to retrieve it. Tareen sarcastically called it a “game-changer” saying that it “gave me goosebumps”.While the nature of the feud may have become petty, its consequences are potentially severe for both the league and Tareen. The PSL could, in theory, preclude Tareen from rebidding to purchase Multan Sultans, meaning he would not be a part of the PSL as owner in the upcoming season. There remain plenty of unanswered questions for the PSL, too. Two new teams are to take part in the upcoming season but the PCB has not made any public statement revealing their identity or the date of the PSL draft.

Shaka Hislop has revealed he is battling an aggressive form of prostate cancer, sharing the emotional update in a deeply personal message to fans. The former Newcastle and West Ham goalkeeper detailed his 18-month medical journey, including surgery, spreading cancer and recent radiation therapy, while urging men, especially those at higher risk, to get tested early.

Hislop announces his prostate cancer diagnosis

Former Premier League favourite Hislop shocked the football world by announcing he has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer, outlining an 18-month timeline of tests, surgery, recurrence and ongoing treatment. The 56-year-old revealed the cancer was initially detected after an elevated PSA reading during routine screening, before spreading months later despite a radical prostatectomy. Hislop, now a respected pundit, disclosed that he has just completed seven-and-a-half weeks of radiation therapy and is continuing treatment.

The diagnosis marks a difficult chapter for the ex-goalkeeper, who is widely remembered for starring in Newcastle’s title-challenging sides under Kevin Keegan and for making over 100 appearances for West Ham. Hislop’s video update has sparked an outpouring of support from fans, teammates and viewers who have followed his post-playing career in broadcasting. His message stressed both the importance of early detection and the reality that prostate cancer can develop even without a family history.

Hislop’s announcement has renewed attention on the risks of prostate cancer for men over 50 and particularly for Black men, who statistically face higher mortality rates. His call for regular PSA testing challenges the inconsistent medical guidelines found across different countries. The news has also prompted wider conversations about awareness within football communities, where former players have increasingly used their platforms to highlight major health issues.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportHislop urges men to get tested early for prostate cancer

In a video released on his social media, Hislop said: “I have a story to tell. Roughly 18 months ago, I went for my annual physical and insisted on a PSA test, as I always do. This time around though my PSA was elevated.

“An MRI and biopsy quickly determined that I had a fairly aggressive prostate cancer. A year ago, almost to the day, December 6 to be exact, I had a radical prostatectomy. And I thought that was it.

“But then, six months later, my PSA was again on the rise and another scan showed that my prostate cancer had spread to my pelvic bone. I started on medication pretty soon after, and just this morning completed seven-and-a-half weeks of radiation therapy. The journey continues.”

“Doctors recommend that all men over the age of 50 get their PSA checked regularly. If you're of African descent, that age drops to 40. If you're somewhere like the UK or somewhere else where PSA tests aren't encouraged, you have got to insist.

“Having a history of cancer in the family doesn't matter. I had genetic testing done and it showed no traits in my family, yet this year would show that, without going into too much detail, even that didn't exclude everybody in my immediate family. The highest rate of prostate cancer mortality is in Caribbean men, so allow me to speak to my community, my people. Please, go get tested. Know your PSA, track – its history.

“Prostate cancer is survivable if caught early enough. There are treatments for it. Testing saves lives. It saved mine.”

Getty Images NewsProstate cancer awareness: A growing necessity

Hislop’s message resonates strongly because prostate cancer is one of the most common yet most quietly developing cancers in the world, often showing no symptoms in its early stages. Many men only seek medical attention once the cancer becomes advanced, making Hislop’s insistence on annual testing a crucial reminder about preventative health. The 99% survival rate for early-stage prostate cancer highlights why screening remains the single most impactful step men can take.

The former Trinidad and Tobago international has long been admired not only for his playing career but for his off-field contributions as an activist and broadcaster. His leadership within the Show Racism The Red Card campaign and his standing within ESPN FC make his message highly influential across global audiences. By speaking directly to Black and Caribbean men, Hislop underscores a demographic reality: these groups face some of the highest prostate cancer mortality rates in the world, making early detection uniquely urgent.

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Hislop contines to undergo treatement after radiation therapy

Hislop’s treatment continues following the completion of his radiation therapy, and he has vowed to keep supporters updated as he navigates the next phase of his recovery. His central aim is to use his platform to amplify awareness around PSA testing and encourage men worldwide to prioritise early screening. For now, the football community will rally around him as he continues both his medical journey and his mission to save lives through education and advocacy.

Hours after recording a home run for the Boston Red Sox in their 2-0 win over the New York Yankees on Sunday, Rafael Devers was traded from the Red Sox to the San Francisco Giants in exchange for a package featuring pitchers Kyle Harrison and Jordan Hicks.

Devers was a homegrown star for the Red Sox, signing with the team as a free agent at the age of 16 in 2013 and spending his entire MLB career with Boston from 2017 until now. Just over two years ago, Devers and the Red Sox committed to each other long term by agreeing a 10-year, $313.5 million deal in 2023.

So what changed? Here's a timeline of the dispute that led to the Red Sox trading Devers to the Giants.

February

The strain between Devers and the Red Sox began earlier this year, when Boston signed Gold Glove winning third baseman Alex Bregman in February to a three-year, $120 million deal. Devers was the team's longtime third baseman, and not interested in a position change. When the signing was initially made, Devers was adamant that he would not play first base or be the team's designated hitter.

"Third base is my position. That's what I've played," Devers said through his translator in February. "I don't know what their plans are. I know we had a conversation. I made it clear what my desires were, and yeah, whatever happens from here, I don't know."

March

Devers ultimately agreed to move to designated hitter when the season began, and Bregman took over at third base.

May

The conflict re-emerged when the Red Sox tried moving Devers to first base in May following Triston Casas's season-ending injury. He strongly objected and expressed his frustration with Red Sox general manager Craig Breslow, who notably joined the team's office after Devers signed his massive extension.

"I just feel like it's not an appropriate decision by them to ask me to play another position," Devers said in May. "It was the GM that I spoke with. I'm not sure what he has with me. He played ball and I would like to think he knows that changing positions like that isn't easy."

Following those comments, Red Sox owner John Henry made a rare flight to Kansas City to speak with Devers about the situation, which remained unresolved.

June

Though Devers has remained one of the team's best hitters, Peter Abraham ofreported that the team was bothered by Devers not stepping up to help the team when needed, and didn't feel like he lived up to the "responsibilities" of his massive contract. This led to the Red Sox deciding to trade Devers to the Giants, who will take on the rest of Devers's remaining contract.

Manchester City closed the gap on Arsenal at the top of the Premier League to just two points after they beat Sunderland 3-0 at The Etihad on Saturday.

A screamer from Ruben Dias set the Cityzens on their way before Rayan Cherki provided a genius rabona assist for Phil Foden to seal all three points with the third goal.

Despite a run of five wins in their last six matches in the Premier League, there is always room for improvement at Manchester City for Pep Guardiola, which means that they could be active in the upcoming January transfer window.

Man City scouting Bundesliga star

One thing that the Cityzens do not have in abundance is players with real speed who can run off the last line, but they are now looking at a star who could provide that.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

According to CaughtOffside, Manchester City are one of a number of clubs eyeing up a potential swoop to sign RB Leipzig star Yan Diomande in the January transfer window.

The report claims that the Premier League side have sent scouts to watch the Ivorian talent in action in the Bundesliga this season, ahead of a possible move for him next month or next summer.

It adds, though, that Spurs, Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United, and Liverpool have also been watching the 19-year-old starlet, which suggests that there could be plenty of competition for his signature.

CaughtOffside reveals that insiders believe that his value could rise as high as £87m amid interest from a host of top European clubs, whilst his contract does not expire until 2030.

Why Man City should sign Yan Diomande

The Cityzens should push to win the race for the teenage whiz’s signature because he could be Guardiola’s new Sterling, as a rapid right-footed right winger who can provide a real threat in behind.

In Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden, and Rayan Cherki, City have a collection of right-sided attackers who are at their best dropping into play to take the ball with their back to goal or on the half-turn, but they do not have a natural right winger who wants to run in behind.

U23 scout Antonio Mango described Diomande, meanwhile, as a “crazy speedster” who has become a “weapon” in the final third by adding goals and assists to go along with his electric pace.

The Ivorian star scored a hat-trick against Frankfurt in a 6-0 win for Leipzig at the weekend, taking his tally for the season to seven goals in 15 appearances for the German side.

Diomande has scored six goals from 3.03 xG and registered two assists from two ‘big chances’ created, per Sofascore, in the Bundesliga for his club, whilst he has also completed 2.8 dribbles per game, which speaks to how direct and purposeful his play is.

Sergio Aguero (260)

Kevin De Bruyne (177)

Joe Hayes (146)

David Silva (136)

Eric Brook (145)

Raheem Sterling (86)

Erling Haaland (144)

Bernardo Silva (75)

Colin Bell (149)

Phil Foden (65)

Francis Lee (138)

Sergio Aguero (65)

Raheem Sterling (131)

Riyad Mahrez (59)

As you can see in the table above, Sterling was also a player who provided quality in the final third to go along with the pace that he used to run in behind opposition defenders.

The fact that the England international and Sergio Aguero are the only two players who feature in the top seven for both goals and assists speaks to how effective he was for Guardiola on the right wing as both a scorer and a creator.

Diomande is a talented young player who has the potential to follow in Sterling’s footsteps, because he has already shown that he can provide quality on a regular basis in the Bundesliga with Leipzig this term, with eight goal contributions so far.

Like Sterling, the 19-year-old winger is a dynamic forward who can go down the line or run in behind on his right foot, but he can also drop deep and come inside onto his weaker foot, having scored four goals with his left foot and two with his right, per Sofascore.

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This is why City should be pushing to get a deal done for the youngster when the January transfer window opens, because Diomande could provide Guardiola with a right-sided option that he has not had since Sterling left the club.

An independent inquiry committee was set up after several allegations of corruption surfaced in the last BPL

Mohammad Isam29-Nov-2025The BCB has dropped several cricketers from the BPL auction, set to take place in Dhaka on November 30, based on the findings of a corruption report into last season’s BPL. An independent inquiry committee was formed following last season’s BPL when several allegations of corruption surfaced.The board, however, didn’t announce the players’ names. These players were removed from the BPL auction based on the report, which is just an observation and hence no charges were made. Neither the BCB nor the inquiry committee announced any formal allegations against the players.After receiving the report from the three-member committee, the BCB formed an integrity unit, of which Alex Marshall was appointed independent chair.”In preparing for BPL season 12, the governing council received advice from the independent chair of the integrity unit on steps necessary to further safeguard the league. Based on that advice, a number of individuals, including some players, have not been invited to participate in this year’s tournament,” a BCB statement said on November 29.The BCB said the restriction on these cricketers only applies to the BPL. “This is a BPL-specific measure taken to ensure fairness of the investigation process and to protect the integrity of the league. It does not apply to other domestic cricket events conducted under the jurisdiction of the BCB.”

England international Ivan Toney has returned to Saudi Arabia and training with club side Al-Ahli after being arrested in London over an alleged headbutt in a nightclub. The striker was spotted being led away in handcuffs by police following a brawl in the English capital. However, he has now returned to work with the Saudi Pro League side ahead of a fixture on Friday against Damac.

Toney arrested in London nightclub

Toney found himself in the headlines for all the wrong reasons after being arrested after an alleged headbutt on a recent visit back to London. The former Brentford striker, who joined Al-Ahli in the summer of 2024, reportedly became involved in an ugly incident when a fan grabbed the England star and asked for a selfie. The alleged victim was left bloodied, with the police responding quickly and taking Toney away in handcuffs. The striker was arrested on suspicion of two counts of assault and one count of affray, as reported by .

A statement from the Metropolitan Police stated: "We were called to Wardour Street at 00:47hrs on Saturday following reports of an assault. The victim was taken to hospital and his injuries are not believed to be life-changing or life-threatening. A 29-year-old man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of two counts of assault and one count of affray. He has since been released on bail while inquiries continue."

AdvertisementTraining return for Toney

Toney is now back in the Middle East and has been pictured hard at work with his club side. Al-Ahli have shown off pictures from their training session, with Toney sporting an oxygen mask as he was put through his paces with the Saudi club. "Breath by breath… we level up," is the caption added by Al-Ahli.

Toney plays a 'different game' in Saudi Arabia

Toney has previously talked about how difficult it has been to adjust to playing football in the intense heat in Saudi Arabia following his move and has insisted he has no interest in criticism of his decision to head to the Middle East. He told : "Those that know me, know that I do what I want to do. If there is something I want to go for, to try, then I will do it. If people want to talk, they can talk. It doesn't hurt me, doesn't bother me, I just concentrate on myself. I do what makes me happy.

"The weather played a massive part. Somebody should go and try to play in a sauna and see if they can cope. You have to play a different game with different tactics and it is something you adapt to. There are different blocks of 20 minutes where it is intense and then it has to slow down and pick up again."

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AFPToney not giving up on World Cup dream

Toney finished last season behind only Cristiano Ronaldo on the list of top scorers in the Saudi Pro League and has bagged five in eight games so far in 2025-26. There has been talk he could still sneak his way into Thomas Tuchel's squad for World Cup 2026 even though his last appearance for the Three Lions came against Senegal in a friendly in June. Yet Toney has insisted he hasn't given up hope of an international recall and told in September: "I have to concentrate on myself and give myself the best chance possible, and who knows? If I am selected, I will do my best for my country but if not, I’ll be cheering the boys on."

"I don’t expect to have a conversation with him [Thomas Tuchel]. I am sure he has other things to be concentrating on. My job is to do well. It is what it is. If you are good enough, you are good enough; it doesn’t matter where you are playing in the world. As long as you are doing the right things and scoring goals, then you give yourself a chance."

Losers of two straight and three of their last five, the San Diego Padres are losing ground in the National League Wild Card race. But with the 2025 MLB trade deadline approaching, they could reportedly be looking to trade their ace.

According to ESPN's Buster Olney, starting pitcher Dylan Cease has emerged as a "surprise name" in the starting pitcher market. Olney added that the New York Mets, the Chicago Cubs, and AL East teams are among those who have discussed acquiring the 29-year-old.

"Perception of other teams is that the Padres are intent on making a push for the playoffs," Olney wrote on X (formerly Twitter). "And would use Cease to help fill other roster needs."

After spending his first five seasons with the Chicago White Sox, Cease was traded to the Padres ahead of the 2024 campaign. He made a strong debut in San Diego, posting a 14-11 record with 224 strikeouts, a 3.47 ERA and a no-hitter in his first year. This season, however, he has struggled, going a measly 3-10 with a 4.64 ERA.

The 2025 MLB trade deadline is next Thursday, July 31, at 6:00 p.m. EST.

ESPNcricinfo has learned that USA, Namibia and Netherlands are the other teams in the India-Pakistan group

Nagraj Gollapudi24-Nov-2025India and Pakistan will play each other in the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup on February 15 in Colombo as per the tournament schedule that will be unveiled by the ICC in Mumbai on Tuesday.The marquee contest – the first time the two teams are meeting since three heated contests at the 2025 Asia Cup – will be played at the R Premadasa Stadium and is India’s third group match. ESPNcricinfo has learned India and Pakistan have been grouped along with USA, Netherlands and Namibia.India play their first group match against USA in Mumbai on February 7, the opening day of the T20 World Cup. They then take on Namibia in Delhi on February 12, followed by Pakistan, and their final group game is against the Netherlands in Ahmedabad on February 18. There will be three matches a day during the group stage of the tournament.The 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup from February 7 to March 8 is being co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, with Pakistan playing all their games in Colombo or Kandy. The format is the same as the previous tournament in 2024 in the USA and West Indies, where the 20 teams were divided into five groups of four. The top two teams from each of the four groups progress to a Super Eight phase, where they will be further divided into two groups of four each. The top two teams in each of the two Super Eights groups will qualify for the semi-finals, which will be followed by the final.Related

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If India progress from the group stage, their three Super Eight matches will be in Ahmedabad, Chennai and Kolkata. If they make the final four, their semi-final will be in Mumbai. It is understood the ICC has shortlisted Colombo or Kolkata as the other semi-final venue depending on whether Sri Lanka and Pakistan qualify. The final will be played in Ahmedabad, unless Pakistan qualify in which case it is likely to be in Colombo.Apart from hosts India and Sri Lanka, the other 18 teams participating in the T20 World Cup are Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, South Africa, United States of America, West Indies, New Zealand, Pakistan, Ireland, Canada, Italy, Netherlands, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Nepal, Oman and UAEIndia are the defending champions, having beaten South Africa in the final of the 2024 T20 World Cup in Barbados.