The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) recently hosted a video conference with the International Cricket Council (ICC) to discuss topics including the T20 World Cup 2026. This was held on Tuesday, and there was less than a month left for the tournament to commence. Despite the short time frame, uncertainty remains over Bangladesh’s participation at the scheduled venues.

During the meeting, the BCB once again requested that their group-stage matches be shifted from India to Sri Lanka. The board repeated that the request was made due to “security concerns.” Senior BCB officials, including president Md Aminul Islam and other top office-bearers, were part of the discussion and stood firm on their position.

The ICC, however, responded by stating that the tournament schedule has already been finalized and asked the BCB to rethink their demand. According to an official BCB press release, Bangladesh has not changed its stance and discussions with the ICC are still ongoing.

Political Tensions Add to Bangladesh’s Financial Worries

The ongoing strain in relations with India is now creating financial problems for Bangladesh cricket as well. Reports suggest the country could face another major setback due to the situation, especially off the field. Recently, it was reported that several top Bangladesh players may lose sponsorship deals because of the political climate. Indian cricket equipment brand SG has reportedly paused renewal talks with leading Bangladesh cricketers, including current captain Litton Das.

See Also: Shubman Gill gifts luxury watch to Sarfaraz Khan amid IND vs NZ 2026 ODIs

Another Indian sports brand, Sareen Sports Industries (SS), has also taken steps that affect Bangladesh. The company, which previously manufactured its products in Bangladesh, is said to have stopped sourcing goods from the country. “Their sponsorship contracts were coming up for renewal. That process has been slowed down amidst the current heightened political and cricketing tensions between India and Bangladesh,” a source told the Times of India.

“In fact, another leading Indian sports equipment manufacturing company, Sareen Sports Industries (SS) had cancelled the sponsorship contracts of four-five top Bangladesh cricketers last year, when trouble began in Bangladesh. However, things may change if the relations improve between the two countries,” another source added.

The friendship between Shubman Gill and Sarfaraz Khan has silently grown over the years in the Indian cricket setup. Their equation, mostly based on mutual trust, ease, and shared time away from the spotlight, has often been noticed by those around the team. Even when they weren't playing together that regularly, the bond between the two was intact.

That connection came to the fore once more through a recent gesture by Gill. The Indian ODI and Test captain gifted Sarfaraz a luxury item in showing his support for the teammate. The moment reflected how players stand by each other beyond matches and results.

Sarfaraz shared this moment with his followers on social media, giving a rare peek into the personal side of their relationship. The post drew attention in no time and gave the strong bond that the two cricketers share off the field.

Sarfaraz Thanks Gill After Receiving G-Shock Watch

Sarfaraz Khan revealed that Shubman Gill gifted him a premium G-Shock watch. On Tuesday, January 13, the Mumbai Indian batter posted a photo of the watch on his Instagram account. In the caption, Sarfaraz thanked the Indian captain and wrote, “Thank you Shubman Gill clean watch @gshock_in,” expressing his happiness over the thoughtful gift.

NICE GESTURE BY CAPTAIN SHUBMAN GILL 👏

- Gill gifted a watch to Sarfaraz Khan. pic.twitter.com/MthbCsosLU

— VM Strike🏏 (@mittal_van39335) January 13, 2026

See Also: “There is…”- Yuzvendra Chahal responds to claims of taking part with ex-wife Dhanashree Verma in reality show

On the cricketing side, Sarfaraz has faced setbacks recently. He was dropped from India’s home Test series against the West Indies and South Africa last year and was also left out of the Test squad for the England tour, even though he was part of the India A team.

Since his Test match debut in February 2024, Sarfaraz has played six matches, with his last game played in November 2024 against the New Zealand team at home. Although he failed to get picked for the national team, he continues to score heavily as part of the Mumbai domestic side and is in the fray for his comeback to Team India.

The Sylhet phase of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) has concluded, and the tournament now shifts to Dhaka. The Dhaka leg will begin on Thursday at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, where the final six matches of the 30-game league stage will be played.

Following the end of the Sylhet phase, three teams have already secured qualification for the playoffs, leaving just one remaining spot available. Rajshahi Warriors’ victory over Dhaka Capitals on January 12 confirmed their place, along with Chattogram Royals and Sylhet Titans, as the competition heads into its final league matches.

Rajshahi Warriors currently lead the table with 12 points from eight matches after recording six wins. Chattogram Royals sit second with 10 points from seven games, while Sylhet Titans are third, also on 10 points, having completed nine matches.

Also read -Yuzvendra Chahal in relationship with Disha Patani? Report drops bombshell rumours

Playoff race intensifies as BPL moves to Dhaka

Despite sitting fourth on the points table, former champions Rangpur Riders have yet to confirm their place in the playoffs. They have earned eight points from eight matches, with four wins and four losses, and remain in the hunt for the final spot.

Dhaka Capitals and Noakhali Express are also still mathematically in contention, although their chances are slim. Both teams have played eight matches and managed only two victories each, meaning their qualification hopes depend heavily on other results in the remaining fixtures.

The league stage will conclude with six matches on January 15, 16, and 17. The playoffs are set to begin on January 19, while the final will be played on January 23.

Chattogram Royals have emerged as one of the most balanced sides despite a quiet start to the season. Strong opening partnerships from Naim Sheikh and Adam Rossington have provided momentum, while the bowlers have maintained pressure. Mahedi Hasan, Tanvir Islam, and Shoriful Islam have delivered consistent performances, reflected in the team’s healthy net run rate.

Sylhet Titans continue to stay competitive despite playing more matches than most teams. Their form has been inconsistent at times, but a positive net run rate keeps them in a strong position ahead of the final league games.

Rangpur Riders entered the tournament with high expectations due to their experienced squad. However, inconsistency has prevented them from securing a qualification so far. The Dhaka phase will be crucial if they are to convert potential into results.

Dhaka Capitals have struggled throughout the season, winning only two matches. Mistakes at key moments have cost them dearly, and their negative net run rate highlights issues in both batting and bowling.

See also -Two WPL 2026 matches in Navi Mumbai to be played without spectators due to election duties

Points table summary

As the tournament shifts to Dhaka, net run rate and head-to-head results are expected to play a decisive role in determining the final playoff lineup.

The premier leg spinner of the Indian cricket team, Yuzvendra Chahal, has not admitted the rumors about his potential participation in a reality show, which he has described as speculative and factually incorrect. There was a massive discussion of Chahal’s alleged involvement in the upcoming reality show called ‘The 50.’

Several reports suggested that the leg spinner would appear on the show alongside his ex-wife, Dhanashree Varma, which generated widespread buzz among the fans, as the couple, who got married in 2020, got separated after 4 years. The reality show is poised to be a significant addition to the Indian TV landscape, which will make its debut on February 1.

See Also: Yuzvendra Chahal in relationship with Disha Patani? Report drops bombshell rumours

“There is no truth to the reports currently circulating about Yuzvendra Chahal’s participation in any reality show. These claims are speculative and incorrect. Yuzvendra is not associated with the show mentioned in recent reports, and there are no discussions or commitments of this nature. We request media platforms and social media users to refrain from spreading unverified information.” Chahal’s statement revealed.

Yuzvendra Chahal responds to claims of meeting Dhanashree Varma in a reality show

The Haryana spinner addressed the rumors by posting the statement on his Instagram story, which states that the circulating reports about the TV and his participation are false. He also clarified that he has no involvement with the show that has been mentioned in recent reports, and there are no commitments as such being made in this regard.

The 35-year-old recently featured in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2025. He picked up 121 wickets in 69 innings of the ODI format for India, while in 79 innings of the shortest format, he collected 96 wickets at an average of 25. His last international game came in August 2023 against the West Indies.

Chahal, who featured for the runners-up of IPL 2025, Punjab Kings, and bagged 16 wickets in 13 innings at an average of under 27 and an economy rate of 9.55, will return for the same franchise in the 2026 season of the tournament.

Rumors of a romance between India's premier leg-spinner, Yuzvendra Chahal, and the famous Bollywood actress, Disha Patani, are spreading rapidly on social media. This breaking news style post is providing excitement among the cricket and Bollywood fans, even though there is no official confirmation on its update.

The fans have been surprised by the alleged link between Chahal, who is an Indian player and a star of the Indian Premier League, and Disha, the Bollywood actress, who is known for a cricketing movie- MS Dhoni- The Untold Story and Malang. The rumors were triggered by the social media posts and various memes, but there are no such photos or concrete evidence, with both parties remaining silent.

See Also: Watch: Dewald Brevis’ no-look six against Kagiso Rabada from SA20 2025/26 breaks internet

Bollywood and Cricket are India’s two great obsessions, which start when each of the two worlds comes together on stage and makes it a cherry on the cake moment for the fans. Disha Patani and Chahal's potential romantic story isn’t the first and won’t be the last of such a connection between the two worlds.

Yuzvendra Chahal and Disha Patani’s rumored romance breaks internet

Notably, Chahal has spoken about the rumors linking him to R Mahvash on The Great Indian Kapil Show, clarifying that he is single and the RJ is just his friend, as both of them were seen enjoying the Champions Trophy 2025 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium and on many other functions. This happened after the leg spinner’s divorce from Dhanushri Verma as they closed that chapter of their life.

🚨YUZVENDRA CHAHAL IS IN LOVE WITH DISHA PATANI🚨

Rumors of a romance between Yuzvendra Chahal and Disha Patani are spreading rapidly on social media.

This breaking news-style post is generating excitement among cricket and Bollywood fans, although there has been no official… pic.twitter.com/AvalusNvBG

— GOATam²⁴ (@TheGOATam24) January 13, 2026

In that program, Chahal revealed that he does not want to stick to the past and wishes his ex-wife happiness, which led many videos to go viral.  He also said that people often misread friends hanging out together as rumors, which were further increased by the playful teasing in that show, before the veteran denied a speculation with humor and said that he is happily single.

The Haryana spinner, who contributed decently for Punjab Kings to finish as the runners-up of the 2025 season of the Indian Premier League, will return to the tournament for the same franchise in the 2026 edition.

The West Indies will play Afghanistan in a three-match T20I series next week. All matches will be held at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. This series will be a practice for both teams ahead of the T20 World Cup, which will take place in India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 9.

Brandon King will lead the West Indies as white-ball captain. Shai Hope is not available for selection because of his commitments in the ongoing SA20 2025-26. Roston Chase, Akeal Hosein, and Sherfane Rutherford will also miss the UAE tour for the same reason.

Quentin Sampson received his first international call-up after strong performances in last year’s Caribbean Premier League (CPL) for the Guyana Amazon Warriors. He replaces Rovman Powell. Veteran players Jason Holder and Romario Shepherd have been rested as part of workload management.

Also read -Watch: Dewald Brevis’ no-look six against Kagiso Rabada from SA20 2025/26 breaks the internet

🚨BREAKING NEWS🚨
Cricket West Indies (CWI) has announced its 16-member squad for the three-match T20 International series against Afghanistan.

Read More⬇️ https://t.co/jzgvTMZaut

— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) January 12, 2026

Joseph and Lewis return to the West Indies squad

Shamar Joseph and Evin Lewis have returned to the West Indies squad after recovering from injuries. However, Alzarri Joseph has not yet regained full fitness. His progress will be monitored before any decision is made about his participation in the T20 World Cup. According to Cricket West Indies (CWI), Joseph is recovering steadily.

Sammy highlights the importance of the subcontinental series

West Indies head coach Daren Sammy said that playing a series in the subcontinent will give the team ideal practice ahead of the T20 World Cup.

“The opportunity to play competitive matches in subcontinental conditions is perfect. It helps our preparations and builds confidence ahead of a competitive T20 World Cup,” Sammy told ESPNCricinfo.

He added, “It is also a good chance to assess players who missed a lot of cricket in late 2025 and those stepping into important roles for this series.”

See also- 5 strong contenders to take over Australia’s captaincy after Alyssa Healy ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026

Series details

The series will be played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in the UAE from January 19–22. It will serve as preparation for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, starting on February 6. The final squad will be announced before the three-match T20I series against South Africa from January 27–31.

West Indies squad against Afghanistan:

Brandon King (C), Alick Athanaze, Keacy Carty, Johnson Charles, Matthew Forde, Justin Greaves, Shimron Hetmyer, Amir Jangoo, Shamar Joseph, Evin Lewis, Gudakesh Motie, Khary Pierre, Quentin Sampson, Jayden Seales, Ramon Simmonds, Shamar Springer.

Ahead of an SA20 match, South African cricket legend Allan Donald openly discussed that he missed Virat Kohli in the tests. Donald feels that Virat Kohli took retirement from Test cricket a little bit early. But still, the former pacer acknowledges the legacy Virat Kohli left behind in the format. 

Donald further also believes that the way Kohli will definitely feature in the World Cup. The former South Africa international, who had worked with Virat Kohli in Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), got to know closely how the batter used to train himself. So he described the Indian batting icon as a machine. 

"You know, I don't think I've ever seen hunger in a player other than Virat. I've got massive respect for him. I often talk about it in the dressing rooms and chat about being a champion trainer. There's no one that trains as hard as him. He is just a machine. I actually miss him in the Test match arena. I think he’s retired too early, but yeah, I look with no doubt we will see him in the white-ball arena in the World Cup very, very soon,” Allan Donald said to media ahead of an SA20 match. 

Read More: Record Alert: Shreyas Iyer on the brink of all-time record ahead of IND vs NZ 2nd ODI

South Africa cricket legend Allan Donald's remarks on Virat Kohli 

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"It’s going to be a heck of a tournament (T20 World Cup 2026) in India, isn’t it? South Africa picked a very strong squad. There might always be question marks about who’s not going and who should have gone and all that kind of stuff. I think India has got the best T20 wickets on the planet. It’s just so hard for any bowler, and I’ve seen it in the IPL with scores of 124 in a power play. That’s just where the skill of batting has gone."

Before taking retirement from the Whites, Kohli played 123 Test matches over a 14-year international career before retiring from the format in May 2025. In those matches he batted in 210 innings and scored 9,230 runs at an impressive average of 46.85, with a highest score of 254 not out. Kohli reached 30 Test centuries and 31 fifties, consistently anchoring the Indian batting lineup across conditions and opponents.

Since his introduction into international cricket, Dewald Brevis has made his no-look six the most famous around the world, especially in the shortest format of the game. And playing for the Pretoria Capitals, against the MI Cape Towns in the ongoing 2024/26 season of the SA20, he displayed the special shot against the country’s premier pacer, Kagiso Rabada.

The Capitals were 121 for the loss of four wickets in 16 overs when Kagiso Rabada came to bowl his last over of the spell, having already taken two wickets for 19 runs in his three overs. The first ball was flicked in deep into the stands, that backward square leg putting his head into the ground by Brevis. He threw his hand on the cut and got the top of the bounds to smash the second shot over deep backward point for the same result.

See Also: Watch: "Dekh mera duplicate..."- Virat Kohli's childhood lookalike reveals what star batter said to Rohit Sharma

On the first ball of the 19th over, it was an easy pick for Brevis, who hammered the drive high over long gone for another massive 6th before being dismissed on the very next ball for 34 runs in 19 balls with the help of one boundary and three sixes.

Dewald Brevis hits Kagiso Rabada for no-look six

Along with him, Sherfane Rutherford played a sensational knock of 53 runs in 27 balls with the help of three boundaries and five sixes at a strike rate of nearly 200, which helped the Capitals finish on 185 in their allotted 20 overs for the loss of six wickets.

Watch the video here: 

No look or just one hand. It doesn't matter to Dewald Brevis 🤷‍♂️#BetwaySA20 #PCvMICT #WelcomeToIncredible pic.twitter.com/RXLxwCadwc

— Betway SA20 (@SA20_League) January 12, 2026

At one point, Pretoria was 101 in 15 overs before they added 84 runs in the last five overs at an economy rate of over 16, which helped them to a massive score on the board in Centurion.MI Cape Town was never in the chase as they kept losing wickets at regular intervals throughout the innings.

Reza Hendricks finished with 68 runs; most of his sixes came when the game was already done and dusted for the visitors, who are now inches away from officially getting disqualified from the tournament. Meanwhile, the Capitals earned the top spot thanks to the bonus point.

Brief Scores: Pretoria Capitals 185/6 (Sherfane Rutherford 53, Dewald Brevis 34, Kagiso Rabada 2/33) beat MI Cape Town 132/7 (Reeza Hendricks 68*, Gideon Peters 3/32) by 53 runs.

Alyssa Healy has made a surprise announcement that she will retire from all forms of cricket after Australia’s home series against India in February–March 2026.

Healy will play in the three ODIs and the one-off Test at the WACA before ending her brilliant 16-year international career. During this period, she won six T20 World Cups and two ODI World Cups with Australia.

Healy will not take part in the T20I matches, as she will also miss the T20 World Cup. Speaking on the Willow Talk podcast, Healy said, “It’s been a long time coming. The last few years have been more mentally draining than anything else. I have had a few injuries, and it has become harder to push myself the way I used to.”

Also read-Record Alert: Shreyas Iyer on the brink of all-time record ahead of IND vs NZ 2nd ODI

She added that while she still wants to compete and win, she feels that some of her competitive edge has faded with age. With Healy stepping down and the T20 World Cup approaching, Australia will now begin looking at options to replace her as captain.

Here are five players who could replace Alyssa Healy as the next Australian captain.

1. Ashleigh Gardner

Star all-rounder Ashleigh Gardner is a strong option to replace Alyssa Healy as Australia’s next captain. She currently leads the Sydney Sixers in the WBBL and the Gujarat Giants in the WPL.

Sixers coach Matthew Mott has spoken highly of her leadership and said she could “become one of the best leaders ever produced in Australian cricket.”

2. Ellyse Perry

Legendary all-rounder Ellyse Perry is another strong candidate. Although she has never captained Australia, Perry has plenty of leadership experience in the WBBL, where she has led teams in 150 matches.

3. Phoebe Litchfield

Young star Phoebe Litchfield is a long-term captaincy option for Australia. At just 22 years old, she could lead the team for many years. She is a talented batter and is seen as one of the future stars of Australian cricket.

While some may feel she is too young, it is worth noting that Meg Lanning became Australia captain in 2014 when she was not even 22.

4. Tahlia McGrath

Star all-rounder Tahlia McGrath is another option. She has been Australia’s vice-captain since 2023. However, her recent form may work against her. In the ongoing WBBL, McGrath has averaged 14 and has taken only five wickets in 10 matches.

5. Beth Mooney

Beth Mooney is another possible captaincy choice. The wicketkeeper-batter is known for performing well in big matches, especially in World Cup knockout games.

However, she has limited captaincy experience. So far, she has led teams in only 22 T20 matches in her career.

Team India got a commanding victory in the opening match of the 3-match ODI series against New Zealand (IND vs NZ ODI). India won the match by chasing a total of 300 runs. Shreyas Iyer, who made a return after a serious rib injury, played brilliantly well with the bat in the match.

He missed a half-century by only 1 run. Ahead of the India vs New Zealand 2nd ODI match, the right-handed batter is on the brink of a massive record in the format. 

To achieve the record, Iyer will have to score only 34 runs. As he has been in good form, this record is considered only an innings away from him. According to the stats, Iyer needs just 34 runs to encrypt his name into the record books, a feat that would place him among the quickest Indians to reach 3,000 runs in ODI cricket, breaking former India opener Shikhar Dhawan's record.

Read More: MS Dhoni explains why he bats late in IPL

Shreyas Iyer can become the fastest Indian to score 3,000 ODI runs

The second match of the ODI series between India and New Zealand will be played in Rajkot on January 14. Dhawan completed 3,000 ODI runs in 72 innings. Virat Kohli is in second place, having reached 3,000 runs in 75 innings, and KL Rahul, who did the same in 78 innings, holds the third spot in the record list.

If Shreyas scores 34 runs in the upcoming match, he will reach 3,000 ODI runs in 69 innings, becoming the fastest Indian player to reach 3,000 ODI runs, based on innings. Overall, legendary West Indian batter Sir Viv Richards also achieved this feat in just 69 innings.

Fastest Indian to score 3000 runs in ODI cricket

• Shikhar Dhawan - 72 innings
• Virat Kohli - 75 innings
• KL Rahul - 78 innings
• Navjot Singh Sidhu - 79 innings
• Sourav Ganguly - 82 innings