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www.newsindiatimes.com – that’s all you need to know . i i i . – t ’ a l y n t k Cricket-India Seek Boost In Sri Lanka To Revive WTC Hopes Cricket- Tanzid Scores Ton As Bangladesh Take 88-Run Lead Over Australia I ndia arrived in Sri Lanka with theirWorld Test Cham- pionship campaign at a crossroads and the impor- tance of a resounding victory in the two-test series is not lost on the tourists heading into the series opener at Galle on Saturday. India could once bank on home dominance to offset difficult overseas assignments but that safety net has frayed. Home debacles against New Zealand and South Africa have left India fifth in theWTC standings, behind Ban- gladesh, and their urgency is sharpened by what follows — a trip to New Zealand in November and a home series against Australia early next year. “Our goal is to stay in contention for a berth in the World Test Championship final,” India captain Shubman Gill told reporters on Friday. “We need to win six or seven tests for that. So we want to make a beginning here.” On their last Sri Lanka test tour nine years ago, India swept the three-match series and Gill will expect similar dominance as they try to climb into the top two in the WTC standings. The absence of injured pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah has left India with a depleted pace attack led by Moham- med Siraj, who is likely to share the new-ball duty with Prasidh Krishna. “Gurnoor Brar is excellent as he can extract bounce with old ball at a good pace but Prasidh Krishna is bowl- ing well of late as we have seen in the warm-up match. So it’s a tough call,” Gill said of his pace options. Pace is likely to play a secondary role though at Galle, which has traditionally been a spinner’s paradise. India are considering fielding three spinners, which could see Manav Suthar joining Kuldeep Yadav and all- rounder Ravindra Jadeja in that department. Sri Lanka, too, know the margins are narrowing in the WTC race. Sitting sixth, just below India, they need home advantage to turn into points to remain in contention for the top two. Sri Lanka have recalled Niroshan Dickwella for the opener, three years after the stumper-batter last played a test match, after Kusal Mendis was ruled out with a hamstring injury.. - Reuters O pener Tanzid Hasan scored his maiden century in his second test as Bangladesh reached 286 for three at tea on day two of the series-opener against Australia in Darwin on Friday, August 14, taking a first-innings lead of 88 runs. • Lefthander Tanzid became Bangla- desh’s first century-maker in Australia in the nation’s third test “Down Under” with 101 in 197 balls before slogging spinner Nathan Lyon to be caught by Mitchell Starc running in from long-off. • Captain and number four Najmul Hossain Shanto was 79 not out at the tea- break, with Mushfiqur Rahim on 26 on a sweltering afternoon at Marrara Oval. • Paceman Josh Hazlewood took Australia’s sole wicket in the first session, denying number three Mominul Haque (49) a half-century by having him caught behind. • Bangladesh resumed on 96 for one in the morning, having bowled Australia out for 198 on day one after home captain Pat Cummins won the toss and elected to bat. • Bangladesh are playing their first test series in Australia in 23 years. The second and final test is in Mackay, Queensland from August 22. - Reuters Table Tennis-India Suspends National Federation’s Recognition, Asks IOA To Run Sport I ndia’s sports ministry suspended recognition of the Table Tennis Federation of India (TTFI) onWednes- day (August 12) over governance failures, throwing the sport into turmoil five weeks before the country’s paddlers are due to compete at the Asian Games. The ministry cited numerous governance deficien- cies in its five-page order, including the appointment of officials without following proper procedures, failure to conduct elections, and transparency concerns around selection criteria. Adding to the federation’s woes, the ministry high- lighted “continuing differences” between TTFI president Meghna Ahlawat and secretary general Kamlesh Mehta, saying their discord had affected decision-making and risked harming athletes’ interests. The suspension strips TTFI of financial assistance from the government and other benefits tied to its status as a recognized national sports federation. The decision comes at an awkward time with India’s table tennis team set to compete at the Asian Games in Japan from September 19 to October 4. Seeking to limit any disruption for the players, the ministry has asked the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to establish temporary administrative arrangements. “This ministry has decided to request the Indian Olympic Association (IOA)… to take appropriate steps, in consultation with the International Table Tennis Fed- eration (ITTF), for constituting an appropriate interim mechanism,” the Indian sports ministry order said. The move includes asking an ad hoc committee to gov- ern the sport “till such time a duly compliant governance structure is restored in TTFI,” the ministry added. The suspension follows a show-cause notice issued to TTFI on June 30. Although the federation responded on July 7, the ministry said its explanation failed to ad- equately address the concerns raised. Reuters has contacted ITTF for comment. TURBULENT PERIOD FOR INDIAN TABLE TENNIS The suspension caps a turbulent period for Indian table tennis. In June, India’s top paddler Manika Batra threatened legal action against TTFI, alleging the federation violated its own constitution during selection after initially nam- ing her only as a reserve for the Asian Games. However, she later backed down, citing “mental ex- haustion.” Earlier this year, TTFI suspended Mehta over alleged financial irregularities, a decision later set aside by the Delhi High Court. India have won three bronze medals in table tennis at the Asian Games. Manika and veteran Sharath Kamal won the mixed doubles bronze in Jakarta in 2018 while the men’s team also finished third. Sutirtha Mukherjee and Ayhika Mukherjee secured India’s last Asian Games table tennis medal with bronze in the women’s doubles at Hangzhou in 2023. - Reuters PHOTO:SCREENSHOT FROM ITTF.COM PHOTO:ACTION IMAGESVIA REUTERS/PAUL CHILDS/FILE PHOTO Cricket – International Test Match Series – Fifth Test – England v India – Kia Oval, London, Britain – July 31, 2025 India’s Shubman Gill in action. By Amlan Chakraborty News India Times (August 15, 2026 - August 21, 2026) August 21, 2026 26 Sports