The FIFA World Cup 2026 draw is here - this is how it will work

Pots, quadrants, confederation constraints, group position grids... the 2026 World Cup finals draw on Friday is not going to be a straightforward affair.

Nissanka powers Gulf Giants to winning start

Gulf Giants began their ILT20 campaign with a statement win over the MI Emirates in Dubai as they chased down the target of 164 in just 14.4 overs with six wickets to spare. Pathum Nissanka (81 off 42) led the charge while Azmatullah Omarzai (39* off 16) played a blinder of a cameo to comfortably seal the win for the Giants. Earlier, T20 veteran Kieron Pollard scored 50 off 33 deliveries to take MI Emirates to 163 for 6, which was eventually well

Sri Lanka Cricket donates Rs. 300 million to ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund’

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has donated Rs. 300 million to the government’s ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund to aid ongoing relief and reconstruction efforts following Cyclone Ditwah.

Serena Williams says no comeback, despite filing paperwork

Serena Williams has filed the necessary paperwork for a return to tennis - but then said she is ’’not coming back’’ to the sport.

IOC president calls for end to 'finger-pointing' in doping fight

International Olympic Committee president Kirsty Coventry and her World Anti-Doping Agency counterpart on Tuesday called for unity in the fight against performance-enhancing drugs following a fracture with the United States.

Fifa set to use VAR for corners at World Cup

Fifa is set to press ahead with plans to have VAR checks on the awarding of corner kicks at the 2026 World Cup despite domestic leagues rejecting the idea for the wider game.

Ex-England player arrested on suspicion of attempted rape

A former England and Premier League footballer has been arrested on suspicion of attempted rape.

Salah a top professional after being dropped - Slot

Liverpool manager Arne Slot described forward Mohamed Salah as a ’’top professional’’ for his response to being dropped.

Former England batter Robin Smith dies aged 62

Nicknamed ’Judge’, Smith played 62 Tests between 1988 and 1996, scoring 4,236 runs at an average 43.67, including nine centuries.

Dambulla to Host Sri Lanka–Pakistan T20 Clash in January

Sri Lanka will host a three-match T20 series against Pakistan in January, the cricket board announced on Tuesday.

IPL 2026 Auction: 3 Sri Lankans among top INR 2 Crore picks

Matheesha Pathirana, Maheesh Theekshana, and Wanindu Hasaranga are among 46 players entering the 2026 IPL auction at the maximum base price of INR 2 crore. The long list of 1,355 registered cricketers was shared with franchises on Monday following the November 30 registration deadline.

Ireland name squad for ICC Men’s Under-19 World Cup

Olly Riley will lead the squad as Reuben Wilson is set to make his third appearance in the marquee event.

LPL 2026 gets new July–August dates

Sri Lanka Cricket has confirmed that the sixth edition of the Lanka Premier League will be played from 8 July to 8 August 2026. The revised dates follow the postponement of the tournament, which was initially scheduled for December 2025.

Verstappen Qatar win takes title fight to final race

Lando Norris, Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri will contest a final-race championship showdown in Abu Dhabi after Red Bull’s Verstappen won a gripping Qatar Grand Prix.

NOCSL yet to start Election Process

The current four-year term of the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NOCSL) is officially scheduled to end on December 28, 2025.

Pakistan rout Sri Lanka to win T20I tri-series

Mohammad Nawaz and Shaheen Shah Afridi starred with the ball as Pakistan won the T20I tri-series with a thumping six-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the final on Saturday.

Sri Lanka, Pakistan to Observe Minute’s Silence Before Tri-Series Final

Sri Lanka and Pakistan will observe a minute of silence before today’s Tri-Nation Series final in honor of those who have lost their lives due to the ongoing extreme weather conditions in Sri Lanka.

Tri-Series Final: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka Tonight at Rawalpindi

The stage is set for an exciting finale as Pakistan and Sri Lanka clash in the T20I Tri-Series 2025 final at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium tonight, Saturday, November 29, with the match scheduled to start at 6:30 PM IST.

Sri Lanka Stars to Feature in Saudi Arabia’s New Women’s World T20 Challenge

Sri Lanka’s T20 star Chamari Athapaththu will headline her country’s squad in the inaugural Women’s World T20 Challenge in Saudi Arabia. The league will feature top players from over 35 nations, marking the first professional women’s cricket event in the kingdom.

India–Sri Lanka Women’s T20I Clash Set for Dec 21–30

India will host Sri Lanka for a five-match women’s T20I series from December 21 to 30, with the first two games to be played in Visakhapatnam before the remaining fixtures will be played in Thiruvananthapuram.

Sri Lanka cricket team donates Pakistan series earnings to flood victims

Sri Lanka’s national cricket team has decided to donate all tour money and match fees from the Pakistan series to assist those affected by the recent devastating floods and landslides across the country, Head Coach Sanath Jayasuriya said.

Newcastle to complain about how fans were treated

Newcastle United are to launch a complaint following the ’’unacceptable treatment’’ of their supporters by French police after their side’s defeat against Marseille at the Stade Velodrome.

'I'm past being angry' - Liverpool in worst run for 71 years

With seven consecutive wins under their belt at the start of the campaign, Liverpool seemed in prime position to put up a robust Premier League title defence and go deep in the Champions League.

Are 'immense' Arsenal most formidable team in Europe?

Mikel Arteta says Bayern Munich are the ’’best team in Europe’’ but, after comprehensively beating them to maintain their 100% record in the Champions League, was this the night Arsenal announced themselves as serious contenders?

Shanaka Named Dubai Capitals Captain for ILT20 Season 4

Dubai Capitals have named Sri Lankan all-rounder Dasun Shanaka as captain for ILT20 2025–26. Fresh off a title win, he brings strong T20 form and leadership experience, with coach Hemang Badani backing him ahead of their December 2 opener.

Colombo’s historic SSC Ground to light up for 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup

The iconic Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) Ground in Colombo is set to undergo a major transformation ahead of the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, with the installation of floodlights and related upgrades now underway. The enhancements come as part of Sri Lanka’s preparations to co-host the tournament with India from 7 February to 8 March 2026.

Pathum Nissanka becomes Sri Lanka’s highest run scorer in T20Is

Pathum Nissanka has officially climbed to the top of Sri Lanka’s T20I batting records, becoming the nation’s highest run scorer in the format. His rise from a promising young opener in 2021 to the leading figure of Sri Lanka’s T20 batting unit in 2025 reflects a steady, disciplined and impactful journey.

Sri Lanka weighs captaincy shake-up with Asalanka’s T20I role in doubt

Sri Lanka’s T20I setup is bracing for a potential leadership overhaul just weeks before hosting the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, with captain Charith Asalanka’s role now officially under scrutiny.

Procedures for the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Draw revealed

Find out more about the pots and the procedures which will govern the Final Draw on 5 December 2025.

South Africa thrash India by 408 runs to clinch Test series 2-0

Spinner Simon Harmer took six wickets as South Africa romped to victory by 408 runs in the second Test for their first series win in India in 25 years on Wednesday.