THE Australian city of Brisbane will host the 2032 summer Olympics, after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Wednesday (21) overwhelmingly approved the recommendation of its executive board.
Brisbane, where hundreds of people gathered at the river-side South Bank erupted in cheering as the defining moments of the IOC session were broadcast on a big screen, becomes the third Australian city to get the Games after Melbourne in 1956 and Sydney in 2000.
"It's a historic day not just for Brisbane and Queensland, but for the entire country," prime minister Scott Morrison said.
"Only global cities can secure the Olympic Games – so this is fitting recognition for Brisbane’s standing across our region and the world."
Queensland's state capital had been the preferred host, chosen in February, and had earned the nod of the executive board last month, essentially securing the Games.
The IOC tried to create some buzz around Wednesday's election, the first not to openly pit cities and countries against each other.
But with Brisbane the sole candidate, the procedure lacked the drama of past announcements that, after a battle for the nod over a two-year candidacy period, showed city populations nervously looking on as the IOC president opened a trademark large white envelope to name the winning host.
Brisbane got 72 of 77 eligible votes from IOC members and its selection means Australia becomes only the second country in the world, after the United States, to stage summer Olympic Games in three different cities.
"It also marks an important leap forward for Australia as we look toward major events that lock in economic growth and social benefits that will echo for years to come," Morrison said.
Several candidates had publicly expressed an interest in staging the 2032 Games including Indonesia, Hungary's capital Budapest, China, Qatar's Doha and Germany’s Ruhr valley region.
But under the new process, Brisbane had already moved ahead of all rivals back in February, the city's bid having earned repeated praise for a high percentage of existing venues, support from government and the private sector and its favourable weather.
'Unforgettable experience'
"The Olympic Games in Brisbane will be in the most diligent, grateful and enthusiastic hands," said Australian Olympic Committee chief John Coates, who is an IOC vice-president.
"And I make this commitment to the athletes of the world – we will provide you with an unforgettable experience."
Awarding the Games to Australia was a nod to Coates, one of the closest allies to IOC president Thomas Bach, who made the announcement.
Coates, who reaches an IOC age limit of 74 in 2024 and will be forced to leave the organisation, had unsuccessfully attempted to land the 1992 Games for Brisbane.
The IOC overhauled its bidding rules in 2019 to reduce costs and make the process easier for cities. There are no official candidate cities campaigning ahead of the vote as has been the case in the past.
Tokyo is hosting the postponed 2020 Olympics this week and Paris will stage the 2024 Games. Los Angeles has been awarded the 2028 summer Olympics.
Sri Lanka's Wanindu Hasaranga celebrates after taking the wicket of Bangladesh's captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz during the first one-day international (ODI) cricket match at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo on July 2, 2025. (Photo by ISHARA S. KODIKARA/AFP via Getty Images)
SRI LANKA have picked Wanindu Hasaranga in their Twenty20 squad for the Asia Cup next month though the all-rounder has been ruled out of the tour of Zimbabwe as he recovers from a hamstring injury.
Hasaranga sustained the injury during the home series against Bangladesh in July and the injury will keep him out of Sri Lanka's limited-overs tour of Zimbabwe beginning on Friday (29).
A leg-spinner who is also a handy batter down the order, Hasaranga will replace Dushan Hemantha from the squad in Zimbabwe.
Apart from Hasaranga, Sri Lanka will have strong spin options in Dunith Wellalage and Maheesh Theekshana.
Angelo Mathews, who quit test cricket earlier this year but remains available in shorter formats, did not make the cut for the 16-member Asia Cup squad led by Charith Asalanka.
Another ex-captain, Dasun Shanaka, has been picked as a seam-bowling all-rounder.
The six-time champions will begin their Group B campaign against Bangladesh in Abu Dhabi on Sept. 13.
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INDIA and England have named their squads for the upcoming Women’s World Cup, with several surprise selections and omissions, highlighting the competitive nature of the tournament.
India’s squad announcement brought disappointment for explosive opener Shafali Verma, who was left out after a poor run of form. The 21-year-old, who last played a oneday international in October 2024, has managed just one half-century in six innings for India A.
Women’s team chief selector Neetu David insisted the door remained open for Verma, saying: “She’s in the system, not like she’s not. We’ve got our eyes on her. Hope she plays a lot more and garners experience, it’ll help serve India in the 50-overs format.”
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur will lead the 15-member Indian squad as they seek their first World Cup title after reaching two previous finals. “We didn’t want to make a lot of changes, we wanted continuity,” said Kaur, who will be leading India in the World Cup for the first time.
Nat Sciver-Brunt
The selectors welcomed back medium-pace bowler Renuka Thakur after a lengthy injury lay-off, adding experience to an attack that will be crucial on home pitches. India’s campaign begins on September 30, and they will warm up with three ODI matches against Australia.
England’s squad features the return of former captain Heather Knight despite her not playing since damaging her hamstring in May. Current coach Charlotte Edwards expressed her delight at Knight’s inclusion, saying: “We are absolutely delighted to be able to select her. She’ll be a huge asset for us.”
However, experienced seamer Kate Cross has been left out as England adapt their strategy for subcontinental conditions. Edwards has included four specialist spinners – Sophie Ecclestone, Linsey Smith, Charlie Dean, and the returning Sarah Glenn – expecting plenty of turn on Indian and Sri Lankan pitches.
England enter the tournament seeking to end an eightyear drought since their last ODI World Cup triumph on home soil in 2017. They underperformed badly at last year’s T20 World Cup and will be eager to make amends. The announcements come as organisers scramble to relocate matches originally scheduled for Bengaluru in India following safety concerns at the city’s stadium.
The opening match between cohosts India and Sri Lanka will now take place in Guwahati instead of Bengaluru, after the International Cricket Council cited “unforeseen circumstances” for moving games away from Chinnaswamy Stadium. The venue change follows a tragic incident in June when 11 cricket fans died during celebrations for IPL champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru, with supporters as young as 14 crushed to death outside the stadium gates. A judicial commission subsequently deemed the ground “unsafe” to host large crowds.
The tournament faces logistical challenges beyond the Bengaluru venue change. Pakistan will play all their matches in Colombo as part of a compromise arrangement, while the final will now be held in either Mumbai or Colombo rather than the originally planned Bengaluru.
England squad: Nat Sciver-Brunt (CK), Em Arlott, Tammy Beaumont, Lauren Bell, Alice Capsey, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer, Sarah Glenn, Amy Jones (wk), Heather Knight, Emma Lamb, Linsey Smith, Danni Wyatt-Hodge.
The 13th edition of the Women’s World Cup runs till November 2, with Mumbai now joining the list of Indian venues alongside Guwahati and other cities, plus Colombo in Sri Lanka.
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India hosted the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi. (Photo credit: Getty Images)
INDIA on Wednesday said Ahmedabad would be an "ideal" venue for the 2030 Commonwealth Games, as the country seeks to strengthen its case to host the 2036 Olympics.
Ahmedabad, the main city in prime minister Narendra Modi's home state Gujarat, has a 130,000-capacity stadium, the largest cricket arena in the world, named after him.
The cabinet approved India's bid for the 2030 Games on Wednesday. India had already submitted a letter of intent to the International Olympic Committee last year for the 2036 Olympics.
India hosted the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, its capital.
"Ahmedabad is an ideal host city offering world-class stadiums, cutting-edge training facilities, and a passionate sporting culture," a cabinet statement said.
"Narendra Modi Stadium, the largest stadium in the world, has already demonstrated its capability by successfully hosting the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup Final," it added.
Nigeria and at least two other nations are reported to be interested in hosting the Games. The event faced challenges after Victoria, Australia, withdrew from hosting the 2026 edition citing costs. Glasgow has since agreed to stage a smaller version.
The host city for 2030 will be decided in November.
India has said that if it secures the bid, the Games will be held as a "full-fledged" event. This would also feature sports like kabaddi and kho kho, which India has been advocating to include in the Olympics.
India, with a population of 1.4 billion, has won only 10 Olympic gold medals in its history.
RAVICHANDRAN ASHWIN wants to become the first Indian cricketer to play in The Hundred after stepping away from international cricket and the IPL, Telegraph has reported.
The 38-year-old off-spinner, widely regarded as one of the finest bowlers of his generation, retired from Test cricket last December with 537 wickets – the seventh-highest tally in history.
On Wednesday (27), he also confirmed the end of his IPL career, where he played for five franchises and won titles with Chennai Super Kings in 2010 and 2011.
According to the report, Ashwin is now targeting opportunities in global franchise competitions, with The Hundred at the top of his list.
His participation would be historic, as no Indian male player has featured in the tournament so far, largely because the BCCI bars active Indian cricketers from playing in overseas leagues. Having retired, Ashwin is free to pursue such opportunities.
Next year’s edition of the league will be the first under new team branding, following major investments, including from Indian business groups linked to IPL ownership. Ashwin’s signing would not only boost the competition’s star power but also attract viewers in India, where interest in the league has so far been limited.
Ashwin turns 39 next month but remains in strong demand on the T20 circuit. He has taken 317 wickets in the format at an average of 26.9, in addition to 65 T20 international caps. His batting ability – which includes six Test centuries – and his reputation for tactical innovation add further value for potential franchises.
While his career has been full of achievements, Ashwin is equally known for his boldness on the field, from bowling leg-spin variations to controversially running out Jos Buttler at the non-striker’s end in 2019.
In a message on social media, Ashwin reflected on his transition: “My time as an IPL cricketer comes to a close today but my time as an explorer of the game around various leagues begins today.”
Ashwin began and ended his IPL career with his home team Chennai Super Kings and represented Rising Pune Supergiant, Delhi Capitals, Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab.
He is IPL's fifth-highest wicket-taker with 187 wickets from 221 matches with an economy rate of 7.2.
(with inputs from agencies)
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If suspended, India’s national teams and clubs would not be allowed to compete in international competitions. (Photo: Getty Images)
INDIA could face a ban from world football for the second time in three years after FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) warned the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to adopt a new constitution by October 30.
FIFA and the AFC sent a joint letter to AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey, expressing concern over the delay in finalising and adopting the constitution.
"Failure to meet this schedule will leave us with no alternative but to refer the matter to the relevant FIFA decision-making body for consideration and decision," the letter said.
"AIFF must regard this communication as binding and requiring immediate compliance in order to safeguard its rights as a member of FIFA and the AFC," it added.
The AIFF constitution has been pending in the Supreme Court since 2017.
If suspended, India’s national teams and clubs would not be allowed to compete in international competitions.
In August 2022, FIFA suspended India citing third-party interference after the Supreme Court appointed a committee of administrators to oversee the AIFF. The ban was lifted a few days later, allowing Chaubey’s election to go ahead.
Meanwhile, Indian club football is facing uncertainty. The Indian Super League (ISL) has been delayed this season due to a dispute between the AIFF and its commercial partner.
The rights agreement between AIFF and Football Sports Development Limited, which runs the ISL, ends on December 8 and has not been renewed. Without a resolution, the ISL, usually held between September and April, risks cancellation, putting thousands of players and staff at risk of losing their jobs.
Last week, players’ union FIFPRO Asia/Oceania raised the issue with FIFA.