British-Indian entrepreneur Amit Bhatia to acquire 30% stake in Liver…

A consortium spearheaded by Amit Bhatia is set to acquire a thirty percent interest in Liverpool FC, with an estimated investment around one point seven billion pounds sterling. The current owners, Fenway Sports Group, will maintain their majority stake and operational oversight. This group also includes contributions from the Mittal Family Trusts and K5 Sports, alongside Eduardo Saverin's family office, marking a notable chapter in the club's financial landscape.

2026 IRE vs AFG 5th ODI Highlights: Rahmat Shah-led Afghanistan secured a 6-wicket victory against Paul Stirling-led Ireland in the 5th ODI match on August 15 at Civil Service Cricket Club, Belfast. mchezo.life

Tournament	Afghanistan tour of Ireland 2026
Team	Ireland vs Afghanistan, 5th ODI
Date	Saturday, August 15, 2026
Toss	Afghanistan won the toss and opted to bowl
Venue	Civil Service Cricket Club, Belfast
Result	Afghanistan won by 6 Wickets

2026 IRE vs AFG 5th ODI Playing 11

Afghanistan

Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Rahmat Shah(c), Ikram Alikhil(w), Azmatullah Omarzai, Nangeyalia Kharoti, AM Ghazanfar, Mohammad Saleem Safi, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi

Ireland

Andrew Balbirnie, Paul Stirling(c), Cade Carmichael, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker(w), Curtis Campher, George Dockrell, Jordan Neill, Gavin Hoey, Liam McCarthy, Jai Moondra

2026 IRE vs AFG 5th ODI Scoreboard

Team	Score
Ireland	298-7 (50 ov)
Afghanistan	302-4 (48.5 ov)

2026 IRE vs AFG 5th ODI Scorecard

Ireland Batting

Batting		R	B	M	4s	6s	SR
Andy Balbirnie	b Azmatullah Omarzai	13	19	31	2	0	68.42
Paul Stirling (c)	b Azmatullah Omarzai	20	21	35	4	0	95.23
Cade Carmichael	lbw b Ghazanfar	22	27	43	3	0	81.48
Harry Tector	c Mohammad Saleem b Nangeyalia Kharote	53	80	113	4	0	66.25
Lorcan Tucker †	c Rahmanullah Gurbaz b Ghazanfar	7	12	18	1	0	58.33
Curtis Campher	c Rahmat Shah b Mohammad Saleem	96	84	128	7	4	114.28
George Dockrell	c Rahmat Shah b Azmatullah Omarzai	31	35	41	3	0	88.57
Jordan Neill	not out	23	19	36	1	1	121.05
Gavin Hoey	not out	6	4	4	1	0	150

Afghanistan Bowling

Bowling	O	M	R	W	ECON	0s	WD	NB
Azmatullah Omarzai	10	0	74	3	7.4	29	3	0
Ziaur Rahman	10	0	53	0	5.3	36	7	1
Mohammad Saleem	10	1	62	1	6.2	27	1	0
AM Ghazanfar	8	0	34	2	4.25	24	3	0
Nangeyalia Kharote	8	0	51	1	6.37	22	1	0
Hashmatullah Shahidi	4	1	19	0	4.75	13	1	0

Afghanistan Batting

Batting		R	B	M	4s	6s	SR
Rahmanullah Gurbaz	c Dockrell b McCarthy	14	15	24	3	0	93.33
Ibrahim Zadran	c †Tucker b McCarthy	5	13	13	1	0	38.46
Sediqullah Atal	c Carmichael b McCarthy	98	112	159	7	3	87.5
Rahmat Shah (c)	not out	143	133	190	13	2	107.51
Azmatullah Omarzai	c Hoey b Moondra	24	14	29	3	1	171.42
Hashmatullah Shahidi	not out	9	6	10	1	0	150

Ireland Bowling

Bowling	O	M	R	W	ECON	0s	WD	NB
Jai Moondra	9.5	0	66	1	6.71	29	1	0
Liam McCarthy	10	1	47	3	4.7	34	0	0
Jordan Neill	6	1	30	0	5	21	1	0
Curtis Campher	7	0	46	0	6.57	18	0	0
Gavin Hoey	10	0	73	0	7.3	24	0	0
Harry Tector	6	0	35	0	5.83	13	2	0

2026 IRE vs AFG 5th ODI Highlights

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Player of the Match

Rahmat Shah | Afghanistan

The post 2026 IRE vs AFG 5th ODI Highlights | Afghanistan won by 6 Wickets appeared first on Times of Sports.

The 26-year-old Devdutt Padikkal has registered his name in India’s cricket history, smashing his maiden Test century on Independence Day during the first Test of the India tour of Sri Lanka in 2026.

The left-hander brought up his century at No. 3 after stepping into the role as a replacement for the injured Sai Sudharsan.

His century came on August 15, coinciding with India’s 600th Test match, adding another touch of significance to the achievement.

He became the second Indian to register an international century on Independence Day and, crucially, the first to do so in the Test format.

Previously, Virat Kohli was the only Indian to have achieved the feat. Devdutt Padikkala’s hundred means just two Indian batters have scored international centuries on Independence Day, with Virat Kohli having set the record in the white-ball format.

Century and counting

That feeling when you get to your Maiden Test Ton!

Updates https://t.co/M9LVyCAp8y#TeamIndia | #SLvIND pic.twitter.com/arfiTOrS5v

— BCCI (@BCCI) August 15, 2026

India produced a dominant batting display on the opening day of the Test series against Sri Lanka, scoring 288 runs for 2 in 73 overs in Galle.

Padikkal, who played his third Test match, hit his maiden Test century and remained unbeaten on 131.

Devdutt’s class and solid control have put India on top and getting a cheering from the dressing room. After Jaiswal got dismissed on a run-out due to a mix-up, Devdutt Padikkal and KL Rahul put up a 150-run partnership before KL Rahul developed a strain.

After KL Rahul retired hurt on 77 due to cramps, Shubman Gill joined Padikkal before being dismissed for 16 runs. After which Rishabh Pant joined and remained until the stumps. Play was called off at 6 PM SLST, after rain delays 17 overs of the first day’s play.

By the end of day 01, Devdutt Padikkal (131) and Rishabh Pant (27) remained unbeaten, putting India in a strong position at Galle.

The post Devdutt Padikkal answers India’s No. 3 question with maiden Test ton appeared first on Times of Sports.

Since the Eastern Command of the Indian Army took charge of the Durand Cup in 2019, during the tournament’s 129th edition, the competition has steadily expanded its reach. With Kolkata becoming its primary base after the shift from New Delhi, the Durand Cup has grown into a multi-city tournament, taking football to different parts of the eastern and northeastern regions.

Shillong, Guwahati, Imphal and, this year, Ranchi have all become part of the Durand Cup story. The response from fans across these regions has also underlined the tournament’s growing popularity.

But as the competition continues to evolve, there is another question worth asking: does the Durand Cup now need a women’s edition?

The growth of women’s football in India has been significant. The national teams have made progress across age groups, with India recently qualifying for all three AFC age-group qualifiers. Yet, compared to the men’s game, the domestic calendar for women remains limited. The Indian Women’s League remains the principal national competition, leaving players with far fewer opportunities to play competitive football through the year.

Could the Durand Cup provide another platform?

According to Major Gen D K Singh, vice-president of the Durand Cup organising committee, the idea is already being discussed.

“This year, what we did in Imphal, there was a friendly match between two women teams. And again, it was fully subscribed. The standard was very good,” Singh told RevSportz.

His own experience has also given him a close look at the potential of women’s football, particularly in the Northeast.

“We have a few women’s teams, especially in the Northeast. They are there. I was with Assam Rifles about two and a half years back, and we had a very good women’s football team. Three of them are participating in the national team. So I’m fully aware of that,” he said.

For now, a women’s Durand Cup may not happen immediately. But the organisers are considering different possibilities.

“We need to promote this, and we are thinking about it. This was just the beginning this year that there was a friendly,” Singh said.

“It may not be immediate in the next edition. But we are seriously thinking about it, either along with this or as a separate tournament, as a precursor, so that at least we make a start.”

The larger idea, Singh explained, is to give women’s footballers the same kind of competitive platform that the Durand Cup has historically provided to men’s players.

“Many of the football legends of India have been the product of Durand Cup. And we would like a similar thing to happen in women’s football also,” he said.

Singh added that if it cannot happen in the next edition, the organisers could look at the possibility in the following edition.

A Different Path for the Durand Cup

The Durand Cup has also taken a different approach when it comes to participation from ISL clubs.

In recent editions, several ISL teams have opted out, with logistical challenges among the reasons cited. Rather than making the tournament entirely dependent on top-flight clubs, the organisers have continued to bring in newer teams and local clubs.

For Singh, that fits with the original purpose of the competition.

“The aim of Durand Cup always has been since its inception to promote football. Promoting football at the apex level is one thing and nurturing new talent is the second part of it,” he said.

The Army, he explained, has traditionally focused strongly on that second objective.

“When a newcomer plays, there has to be a good balance between well-established teams, ISL teams, Indian Football League teams and local clubs which are coming in fresh,” Singh said.

The presence of established players and foreign footballers gives younger players an opportunity to test themselves against a higher level of competition.

“When a young boy plays with seasoned players, and these teams have foreign players also, so when they play with them, they get a wonderful experience,” he added.

That balance has become one of the defining features of the modern Durand Cup.

“We have to have the right balance of ISL teams, Football League teams and local clubs. And that is what we have seen through this. Some of the newcomers have really beaten the old warhorses,” Singh said.

The Durand Cup, then, is not just looking at who wins the trophy. It is also trying to create opportunities for new clubs, young players and potentially, in the near future, for women footballers.

Also Read: From Sacramento to Samaleshwari: Veer Joshi’s Unconventional Road to Indian Football

The post A Women’s Durand Cup Could Be on the Horizon, Says Major Gen D. K. Singh, Vice-President of the Organising Committee appeared first on Sports News Portal | Revsportz.