Sport
Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi & Neymar on Ballon d’Or shortlist
Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Neymar make up the three-man shortlist for the Ballon d’Or – the award given to the world footballer of the year.
It is the eighth consecutive year that Real Madrid’s Ronaldo and Barcelona’s Messi have been on the shortlist.
Mark Sampson is in contention for Fifa’s women’s football world coach of the year after guiding England to third place at the World Cup.
The winners will be announced at a gala in Zurich on 11 January.
Ronaldo has been named the world’s best footballer for the past two years, ending Messi’s four-year hold on an award regarded as the game’s most prestigious individual accolade.
The three contenders were chosen from a 23-man list that also included Wales and Real Madrid attacker Gareth Bale.
It is the first time 23-year-old Brazilian Neymar, who along with Messi has helped Barcelona to the top of La Liga, has made the final three.
All three candidates are among the 50 players to make the team of the year shortlist, while 28-year-old Messi is also nominated for the Puskas Award for the year’s best goal.
Messi has scored 48 goals so far in 2015, despite being injured for two months.
Portugal captain Ronaldo, 30, has also scored 48 times for club and country, but Real are six points adrift of Barca in La Liga.
Source: BBC
Sport
Punjab Kings clinch thrilling 5-wicket victory over Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2026
The match showcased CSK’s batting depth and Punjab’s resilience, thrilling fans with strategic running, fearless hitting, and a classic IPL finish.
In an electrifying IPL 2026 clash at Chepauk, Punjab Kings (PBKS) chased down a challenging 210-run target set by Chennai Super Kings (CSK), winning by five wickets and extending their winning streak in the tournament. This marks Punjab’s ninth successful chase of 200+ runs this season, the most by any team so far.
CSK posted 209/5, powered by Ayush Mhatre’s 73 off 43 balls and Shivam Dube’s unbeaten 45 in the final overs. Sarfaraz Khan delivered a blistering cameo of 32 off 12 balls, injecting momentum in the middle overs, while Ruturaj Gaikwad and Sanju Samson provided steady contributions at the top. Xavier Bartlett and Marco Jansen claimed key wickets but were expensive during the death overs.
Chasing 210, PBKS got off to a strong start with Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh hitting aggressively in the powerplay. Shreyas Iyer anchored the innings with a crucial fifty, pacing the chase effectively alongside Wadhera and Marcus Stoinis, who delivered under pressure in the final overs. Despite losing wickets at critical moments, including a run-out, Punjab maintained composure and crossed the finish line, needing 12 runs off the final over.
The match showcased CSK’s batting depth and Punjab’s resilience, thrilling fans with strategic running, fearless hitting, and a classic IPL finish.
Earlier, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) returned to winning ways with a 65-run victory over Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), while upcoming matches include Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians and Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan Royals.
Ariana Television Network (ATN) holds exclusive broadcasting rights in Afghanistan, airing all matches live. Fans are encouraged to follow ATN and Ariana News on social media for real-time updates, highlights, and coverage throughout the IPL 2026 season.
Sport
IPL 2026: SRH beat KKR by 65 runs to register first win
Looking ahead, Chennai Super Kings will take on Punjab Kings on Friday.
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) bounced back to winning ways as they defeated Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) by 65 runs in their IPL clash on Thursday.
Heinrich Klaasen starred with a composed 52 off 35 balls, guiding SRH to a competitive 226/8. In response, KKR struggled, losing early wickets and being bowled out for 161, slumping to their second consecutive defeat.
Left-arm pacer Jaydev Unadkat (3/21), Ehsan Malinga (2/14), and Nitish Kumar Reddy (2/17) played key roles in restricting KKR.
Earlier, on Wednesday, Lucknow Super Giants edged out Delhi Capitals by just 2 runs in a low-scoring thriller. Lucknow posted 141 before Delhi fell short despite a composed chase, highlighting the unpredictability of T20 cricket.
Looking ahead, Chennai Super Kings will take on Punjab Kings on Friday. Chennai will aim to build early momentum with their balanced squad, while Punjab will rely on their strong batting and disciplined bowling to bounce back.
The IPL continues to draw massive global audiences, and fans in Afghanistan can follow all the action live. Ariana Television Network (ATN) holds the exclusive broadcasting rights for the tournament in the country.
Matches are being aired live on Ariana Television, bringing every moment of the IPL directly to viewers. Fans are also encouraged to follow Ariana Television and Ariana News on social media for the latest updates, highlights and match coverage throughout the tournament.
Sport
Late drama as Lucknow edge Delhi Capitals in IPL thriller
A thrilling contest in the Indian Premier League on Wednesday, April 1, saw Lucknow Super Giants clinch a narrow victory over Delhi Capitals in a low-scoring encounter.
Lucknow posted a modest total of 141 after being bowled out inside 19 overs, with key contributions coming from Abdul Samad and Mitchell Marsh, who steadied the innings. Delhi’s bowlers, led by Thangarasu Natarajan and Lungi Ngidi, kept things tight and ensured the target remained within reach.
In response, Delhi appeared on course for victory but faltered under pressure in the closing stages. Despite a composed chase, they fell just short, handing Lucknow a dramatic win by the narrowest of margins of just 2 runs. The match highlighted the unpredictable nature of T20 cricket, where momentum can shift rapidly in the final overs.
Kolkata take on Hyderabad
Attention now turns to Thursday’s clash, where Kolkata Knight Riders will face Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Kolkata will be looking to build momentum early in the tournament with a balanced squad featuring both experienced campaigners and exciting young talent. Hyderabad, meanwhile, will aim to bounce back strongly, relying on their powerful batting line-up and disciplined bowling attack.
With both teams eager to secure crucial early points, fans can expect another closely fought contest.
The IPL continues to draw massive global audiences, and fans in Afghanistan can follow all the action live. Ariana Television Network (ATN) holds the exclusive broadcasting rights for the tournament in the country.
Matches are being aired live on Ariana Television, bringing every moment of the IPL directly to viewers. Fans are also encouraged to follow Ariana Television and Ariana News on social media for the latest updates, highlights and match coverage throughout the tournament.
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