Sports
Pakistan and India meet again at Asia Cup after handshake row
India and Pakistan clash again in the Asia Cup on Sunday, renewing one of cricket’s fiercest rivalries a week after their last match was overshadowed by a handshake row.
India won the September 14 group match by seven wickets in Dubai and afterwards refused to shake hands with their opponents, angering Pakistan.
It was the first meeting between the neighbours since a four-day armed conflict in May left more than 70 people dead.
The Pakistan Cricket Board lodged a protest with the International Cricket Council (ICC), saying that match referee Andy Pycroft had told skipper Salman Agha not to approach Indian counterpart Suryakumar Yadav for a handshake at the toss.
The PCB demanded that Pycroft be removed from their matches and threatened to withdraw from the eight-team T20I competition.
Their last group game was held up for an hour before the PCB said Pycroft had apologised, and the match, with the Zimbabwean in charge, eventually went ahead.
Pakistan beat the hosts, the United Arab Emirates, to qualify for the next stage, the Super Fours, and set up another meeting with India in Dubai.
Indian media reported that the team plans to stick to its no-handshake policy for Sunday’s clash.
India spinner Kuldeep Yadav sought to defuse the controversy.
“When you step onto the field, it’s just a batter in front of you. I have always approached it this way against Pakistan,” he said ahead of India’s last group game, against Oman on Friday.
Agha also stuck to sports.
“If we play good cricket like we have played in the last few months, I think we’ll be good against any side,” the Pakistan captain told reporters.
Simmering tensions
Because of fraught political ties, nuclear-armed neighbours India and Pakistan only meet at neutral venues during multi-team tournaments.
Tensions soared ahead of the Asia Cup after the two countries engaged in their worst conflict since 1999. The hostilities in May left more than 70 people dead in missile, drone and artillery exchanges, before a ceasefire.
The conflict was triggered by an April attack on civilians in Pahalgam in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir that New Delhi accused Pakistan of backing, a charge Islamabad denies.
India resisted calls to boycott the first Pakistan match.
A potential third India-Pakistan showdown looms if both sides qualify for the final on September 28 in Dubai.
India lifted the Asia Cup in its last, 50-over edition and are favourites to retain the crown.
India and Pakistan advanced to the next stage from Group A, while Sri Lanka and Bangladesh qualified from Group B.
Sri Lanka face Bangladesh on Saturday in the first Super Fours fixture.
Sri Lanka, unbeaten so far, look dangerous while Bangladesh carry the underdog tag under skipper Litton Das.
Along with regional bragging rights, the Asia Cup serves as build-up towards the T20 World Cup in February-March in India and Sri Lanka.
The first trophy of the season is up for grabs and it is Arsenal and Manchester City competing for the Carabao Cup final at Wembley.
The top two teams in the Premier League could well compete for all three domestic trophies and they have the chance to land the first blow in March in front of 90,000 fans.
You can follow every single moment of the game live on ESPN in what is sure to be a massive, tense affair.
Manchester City reached the final after defeating reigning champions Newcastle United 5-1 on aggregate in the semifinals.
They had previously beaten Huddersfield in the Third Round, before advancing past Swansea and and Brentford.
Arsenal meanwhile navigated past Chelsea in the semi-finals with Kai Havertz‘s 90th minute goal seeing them win 4-2 on aggregate.
They defeated Port Vale in the Third Round, before getting past Brighton and Crystal Palace on penalties in the quarterfinals.
City have won the League Cup eight times, most recently in 2021, while Arsenal have won it only twice and not since 1993.
Sports
Tom Brady shines in return to football field despite losses at Fanatics Flag Football Classic
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Even three years removed from the game, Tom Brady looks like he could drop back and sling the pigskin for an NFL team.
Brady highlighted the first-ever Fanatics Flag Football Classic on Saturday at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, and not just because he was back on a football field for the first time since he officially retired.
The 48-year-old was throwing darts.
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Tom Brady of the Founders FFC warms up before the Fanatics Flag Football Classic at BMO Stadium on March 21, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Michael Owens/Getty Images for OBB Media – FANATICS STUDIOS)
Brady, surrounded by current and former NFL players, as well as the U.S. national flag football squad, threw for 85 total yards on the small field with two touchdowns over his two games played in the inaugural event.
Brady’s co-captain, Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl LIX MVP Jalen Hurts, started for their Founders FFC crew, throwing for 224 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions. Brady came in after Hurts, and it was like old times as he was throwing all over the field.
BRADY, GRONK, HURTS, BURROW: FANATICS FLAG FOOTBALL CLASSIC DRAFT RESULTS
Of course, Brady couldn’t go without finding his trusty tight end, Rob Gronkowski, who secured a two-point conversion after a touchdown. Gronkowski, though, went out early in the contest due to a hamstring injury.
While Brady performed well, his squad was blown out by Team USA Football, 43-16, in that game. Brady and Founders FFC would have a chance at revenge in the championship game, but the U.S. team, which knew exactly how to take advantage with flag football rules, beat them again, 24-14.
Brady’s competitive edge was in full bloom, saying “my heart is really hurting right now,” between his losses.
Tom Brady of the Founders FFC avoids a sack by Shawn Theard Jr. #19 of the US Men’s Flag Football Team during the Fanatics Flag Football Classic at BMO Stadium on March 21, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images for for OBB Media – FANATICS STUDIOS)
But he said before the contests that he felt “great” about stepping on the field and running some plays before the big games on Saturday.
“Fortunately, as an athlete, your body is your asset over a period of time and you learn how to take care of it,” Brady said during practice this week. “Even when you retire, I felt like I still wanted to do the same things after football when I was playing. I still want to be active. I want to be outside. I want to continue to live a healthy, active lifestyle.”
For those thinking Brady could take over at quarterback for an NFL squad, he has shown no wish to walk back his retirement for the second time in his future Hall of Fame career.
Brady is a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders, which has played a large role in precluding a return. He is invested in seeing the rebuild of the team. At the same time, he has enjoyed being part of the FOX Sports broadcast team during the NFL season alongside Kevin Burkhardt.
Tom Brady of the Founders FFC warms up before the Fanatics Flag Football Classic at BMO Stadium on March 21, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Michael Owens/Getty Images for OBB Media – FANATICS STUDIOS)
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But who knows when 2028 rolls around what Brady may be doing, when flag football joins the list of the Summer Games in Los Angeles? Team USA, though, proved on Saturday just how different this style of football can be, even for current NFL stars.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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WELLINGTON: South Africa’s spinners played a decisive role as the tourists won the fourth Twenty20 international against New Zealand by 19 runs on Sunday to square the five-match series 2-2.
New Zealand were well placed to clinch the series midway through their chase in Wellington after the Proteas scored 164-5.
However, from 88-3 after 10 overs, they lost wickets in rapid succession to be all out for 145 off 18.5 overs.
It sends the series, played between weakened sides from both countries, to a decider in Christchurch on Wednesday.
The match swung in favour of South Africa when spinners Keshav Maharaj and Prenelan Subrayen turned the screws through the middle stages of the chase.
Captain Maharaj is comfortably the most experienced member of an experimental tour squad and proved hard to score from as he took 2-22 off four overs.
Subrayen, playing his first T20 international, bowled Dane Cleaver for 26 to spark New Zealand’s middle order crumble and finished with 2-13 off three overs.
Maharaj said his side played with more energy than in defeats in Hamilton and Auckland.
“It was a perfect response to two disappointing losses in a row,” he said.
“Coming into this game, you could see there was a little bit more energy and hunger.
“We are a young team, finding our way in international cricket so it takes a little bit of time.”
Opener Tim Robinson top-scored with 32 for New Zealand while Proteas paceman Gerald Coetzee took 3-31.
South Africa’s innings were dominated by 57 off 36 balls from wicketkeeper Connor Esterhuizen.
He was dismissed by a spectacular outfield catch from Katene Clarke, on his international debut, off Ben Sears’ bowling.
Paceman Sears impressed, taking 1-22 off four overs, which included conceding just two runs off the last over of the innings.
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