Football nation Italy qualify for cricket's T20 World Cup for first time
The cricketing minnows sealed qualification for the first time ever, sneaking through the European qualifiers despite losing their final match against the Netherlands in a result that suited both teams perfectly.
Italy needed only to avoid a heavy defeat to secure their historic spot thanks to a superior net run rate and that is exactly what unfolded.
Setting a modest target of 135 for victory, they watched the Dutch cruise home in 16.2 overs, a margin narrow enough to send both teams through to the 2026 tournament.
Scotland, veterans of six previous T20 World Cup editions, were the big losers, failing to secure their spot for the 20-team tournament, losing to Jersey who chased down 134 in a last-ball victory. But Scotland also needed Italy to win.
The 2026 tournament will be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka, with five additional qualification spots still up for grabs from Africa and the Asia-East Asian Pacific regions.
Qualified teams
Sri Lanka (co-hosts)
India (co-hosts)
Afghanistan
Australia
Bangladesh
England
South Africa
United States
West Indies
Ireland
New Zealand
Pakistan
Canada
The Netherlands
Italy
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Khaleej Times
2 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
UAE Team Emirates' Pogacar 'ready to fight' for fourth Tour de France title
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Khaleej Times
3 hours ago
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Shane Lowry's two-stroke penalty at The Open sparks debate: Fair call or too harsh?
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The National
3 hours ago
- The National
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The race is heading into its punishing finale where Pogacar faces Mont Ventoux and Col de la Loze which have caused problems for him in the past. 'I'm almost confident to say the route was designed to scare me,' he said with a smile on Monday. 'But I always look at it as a race situation. I actually like all of these climbs.' The second week had started in potentially catastrophic fashion for Pogacar – who is seeking a fourth Tour crown – when the 26-year-old came crashing down on the roads of Toulouse towards the end of Stage 11. As Pogacar quickly dusted himself down and grappled with his bike chain, the rest of the peloton sportingly held back for the race leader to rejoin and maintain his second place, 29 seconds behind yellow jersey-wearing Ben Healy (Education-EasyPost). 'I'm quite OK,' said Pogacar. 'A bit beaten up but we've been through worse days. Thanks to the peloton who waited … big respect to everyone in front.' Stage honours went to Uno-X Mobility's Jonas Abrahamsen who secured his – and the team's – first Grand Tour stage despite the Norwegian breaking his collarbone weeks before the Tour. Any thoughts that Pogacar's title-bid might have been damaged by the previous day's fall were quickly dismissed on the famous summit of Hautcam as he blasted to a phenomenal stage win. Last season's triple-crown winner powered away with an 11km solo ascent that was set up to perfection by his teammates and ended with him finishing more than two minutes ahead of a deflated Vingegaard. Pogacar's lead over the two-time champion was now three minutes and 31 seconds. 'For sure, you don't know how the body reacts after the crash but it was not too bad,' said Pogacar after Stage 12. 'We did a super job. The team rode really well.' 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Double Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel – who started the day in third place – saw his tour come to an end as the Belgian was forced to call it quits for this year. 'I've been feeling off for three days,' Evenepoel said. 'Today, I woke up knowing I was empty, and on the climb, my legs just said no.' It was UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider Tim Wellens's day in the spotlight on Stage 15 with the Belgian finishing 1:28 clear of second place Victor Campenaerts (Visma-Lease a bike) after launching an attack with 44km to go. It was Wellens' first Tour victory meaning he now has a Grand Tour clean-sweep having already won two stages on both the Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a Espana. 'Not many people win at the Tour de France, so it is a very beautiful victory,' said Wellens. 'I am more happy for him than when I win,' added teammate Pogacar who had crossed the line safely in the peloton, maintaining his huge GC lead. 'Beyond happiness. Tim is one of the best teammates I've ever had. He is sacrificing a lot for me' The race resumes on Tuesday with Stage 16 but there is no let up in the challenges facing the peloton, with riders facing a 171.5km run from Montpellier that finishes with a draining climb up Mont Ventoux. And Vingegaard remains convinced all is not lost. 'I do think I can win it. Of course, it looks very hard now – it's a big gap,' insists the Dane. 'But normally my strength is in the third week. We have to attack.' And as for Pogacar? 'We're ready for a fight with everybody,' he said. 'Especially with Jonas.'
