Sports Bulletin For January 24: Bangladesh Officials Fearing Huge ICC Punishment To RCB Need MI's Help In IPL 2026

Sports Bulletin For January 24: From major ICC controversies and IPL venue uncertainty to MS Dhoni's early preparations and key BCCI decisions, the sports world witnessed several big developments. Meanwhile, emotional moments, squad announcements, and high-profile withdrawals also grabbed headlines across cricket and beyond.

1) We Lost The War In Cricket! Bangladesh Officials Fearing Huge ICC Punishment

There is growing concern that the ICC could take strict action against the Bangladesh Cricket Board after Bangladesh withdrew from the 2026 T20 World Cup just weeks before the tournament begins in India and Sri Lanka. The BCB cited security concerns and requested that its matches be shifted out of India, but the ICC rejected the demand, stating there was no credible threat and that last-minute changes were not feasible. Reports

suggest the ICC is unhappy with the situation, and former BCB official Syed Ashraful Haque believes sanctions could be considered.

2) RCB Need Rivals MI's Help For New IPL 2026 Home As Chinnaswamy Trouble Returns: Report

With uncertainty surrounding Royal Challengers Bengaluru's home venue for IPL 2026, the franchise has reportedly sought a No Objection Certificate from Mumbai Indians to host some matches at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. The request comes despite recent reports suggesting RCB could return to the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium this season.

3) MS Dhoni Starts Practicing For IPL 2026, Video Goes Viral

MS Dhoni has begun his preparations for the upcoming IPL season, returning to training nearly two months before the tournament. The Jharkhand State Cricket Association shared a video of the former CSK captain gearing up for a batting session, where he was also seen interacting with Saurabh Tiwary ahead of his net practice.

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4) BCCI Secretary Reveals Reason Why A+ Contract Is Getting Scraped

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia has confirmed that the A-plus category in India's central contracts is likely to be scrapped, citing that players no longer meet the criteria of playing all three formats. In the 2024-25 contract list, only Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja were in the A-plus tier, which offers an annual retainer of ₹7 crore, while the A, B and C categories provide ₹5 crore, ₹3 crore and ₹1 crore, respectively.

5) 'Well-Deserved Retirement': Virat Kohli Extends Heartfelt Wishes To Saina Nehwal

Virat Kohli sent warm wishes to Saina Nehwal after the Olympic bronze medallist announced her retirement from badminton due to persistent fitness issues. The former world No.1 revealed that her body could no longer cope with the physical demands of top-level competition following a long battle with knee problems.

6) BCCI announces India Women Squad for Australia Test, Radha Yadav named India A captain for Rising Stars Asia Cup

BCCI has announced squads for India's women's upcoming assignments, combining experience with new faces. Harmanpreet Kaur will lead the senior team, with Smriti Mandhana as vice-captain, in the one-off Test against Australia at Perth from March 6-9, 2026. Amanjot Kaur, Pratika Rawal and Vaishnavi Sharma have earned maiden Test call-ups, while Shreyanka Patil misses out due to injury.

Meanwhile, Radha Yadav will captain India A in the ACC Rising Stars Women's Asia Cup in Thailand, with young talents like Vrinda Dinesh and Anushka Sharma included. Deeya Yadav and Mamta M will be subject to fitness clearance, while Minnu Mani, Prema Rawat and Humairaa Kaazi also feature in the squad.

7) Naomi Osaka Exits Australian Open Because Of Injury

Naomi Osaka has withdrawn from the Australian Open due to an injury, though she did not reveal details about the issue or her recovery timeline. The former champion shared the update on Instagram, saying she needed to step back to focus on her body's health.

8) Irfan Pathan And Ex Pakistan Star Shoaib Malik Hug, Shake Hands After Cricket Match

Irfan Pathan and Shoaib Malik were seen sharing a friendly side-hug after an exhibition match in Saudi Arabia, highlighting a rare moment of sportsmanship between Indian and Pakistani players amid the 'no-handshake' stance in most sports. Pakistan posted 56/4 in four overs, with Malik top-scoring, while India fell short at 51/4 in the chase.