June 9 delivered a packed day of sporting developments across cricket, football and tennis. India A produced a dramatic comeback victory over Sri Lanka
A thanks to Ruturaj Gaikwad's century and Arshad Khan's match-winning hat-trick, while the BCCI announced a major squad update with Mohammed Siraj being rested for the upcoming tours of Ireland and England. Elsewhere, Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya received fitness clearance ahead of India's ODI series against Afghanistan.
International cricket also witnessed significant developments as Bangladesh posted a competitive total against Australia in the first ODI courtesy of Mosaddek Hossain's stunning comeback innings. Pakistan cricket, meanwhile, continued to face turbulence after reports suggested a major shake-up could be on the horizon following recent setbacks.
Away from cricket, England captain Ben Stokes found himself under investigation by the ECB, while FIFA was forced into controversy after Somali referee Omar Artan was denied entry into the United States ahead of the World Cup.
Here are the biggest stories from the world of sports on June 9.
1. Arshad-Gaikwad Help India A Snatch Dramatic Win Over Sri Lanka A
India A opened their Tri-Nation Series campaign in Sri Lanka with a sensational eight-run victory over Sri Lanka A after staging a remarkable comeback in Dambulla. The visitors looked in serious trouble early in the day when they slumped to 16/2, but captain Ruturaj Gaikwad produced a composed century to rescue the innings and guide India A to a competitive 277/6.
Much of the pre-match spotlight had been on teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who managed just 14 runs on his India A debut. However, Gaikwad ensured India A recovered from the early setbacks through a mature innings that combined responsibility with controlled aggression.
Sri Lanka A appeared to have the chase under control for large periods and were favourites heading into the closing stages. That was until Arshad Khan delivered one of the most memorable spells of his career. The left-arm pacer ripped through the lower order and completed a stunning over hat-trick (an LBW, a Run Out, a Caught-Out) in the 49th over, triggering a collapse that completely transformed the contest.
His heroics sealed an unlikely victory for India A and provided selectors with another reason to closely monitor the all-rounder's development. The result also gave India A the perfect start to a series that features Sri Lanka A and Afghanistan A.
2. Mohammed Siraj Rested; Prasidh Krishna Called Up For Ireland And England Tours
The BCCI confirmed a significant squad update on Tuesday after Mohammed Siraj was withdrawn from India's T20I squads for the upcoming Ireland and England tours as part of workload management. Siraj had initially been selected for both series but will now undergo a period of rest following discussions between the BCCI Medical Team and Team Management.
According to the board, the decision has been taken as a precautionary measure to ensure the fast bowler remains fresh ahead of a lengthy international calendar. Siraj has been heavily involved in cricket over the past few months, featuring in India's T20 World Cup campaign, Gujarat Titans' IPL 2026 season and the recently concluded one-off Test against Afghanistan.
Prasidh Krishna has been named as Siraj's replacement for both T20I series. The Karnataka pacer now has another opportunity to cement his place in India's white-ball plans after an impressive IPL campaign.
The move underlines India's growing emphasis on managing fast bowlers carefully, particularly with major assignments including the ODI World Cup and future ICC events looming on the horizon.
3. Rohit Sharma And Hardik Pandya Cleared For ODI Return Against Afghanistan
India received another major boost ahead of the upcoming three-match ODI series against Afghanistan after Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya were declared fit by the Sports Science team at the BCCI Centre of Excellence.
Both players had missed portions of IPL 2026 due to injury concerns. Hardik was troubled by recurring back spasms while Rohit was recovering from a hamstring niggle that restricted his availability during Mumbai Indians' campaign.
Hardik has reportedly spent the last week undergoing extensive match simulations in Bengaluru, including bowling full spells without discomfort. Fitness assessments conducted by the strength and conditioning staff indicated that all performance markers were within acceptable limits, allowing the all-rounder to return to competitive cricket.
Rohit's clearance is equally significant as India continue preparations for the ODI World Cup cycle. The former captain remains a key figure in the 50-over setup and his return will strengthen the batting unit considerably.
Their availability provides India with a near full-strength squad heading into the Afghanistan series and removes concerns surrounding two of the team's most experienced players.
4. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's India A Debut Ends Quietly
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's much-anticipated India A debut ended on a disappointing note as the 15-year-old batting sensation managed just 14 runs in the opening match of the tri-nation ODI series against Sri Lanka A. Fresh from a record-breaking IPL 2026 campaign in which he amassed 776 runs and claimed the Orange Cap for Rajasthan Royals, Sooryavanshi walked out to open the innings alongside Prabhsimran Singh amid considerable expectations.
The teenager looked positive early, striking three crisp boundaries, including an eye-catching drive through the covers off Chamika Karunaratne. However, he was unable to convert the promising start into a substantial innings. Attempting to take on pacer Mohammed Shiraz, Sooryavanshi miscued a lofted shot and was caught brilliantly by Sri Lanka A captain Sahan Arachchige at mid-off.
5. Mosaddek Hossain's Dream Return Lifts Bangladesh To Competitive Total Against Australia
Bangladesh's first ODI against Australia belonged to Mosaddek Hossain, whose remarkable comeback after four years away from the format powered the hosts to 284/8.
The all-rounder produced a superb unbeaten 86 off just 70 balls and was the backbone of Bangladesh's innings. While Australia's fielding left much to be desired, with multiple dropped catches allowing him several reprieves, Mosaddek still had to make the most of those opportunities and did so emphatically.
His innings featured seven boundaries and three sixes and included crucial partnerships with Towhid Hridoy and Taskin Ahmed. Earlier, Najmul Hossain Shanto contributed a fluent 67 while Tanzid Hasan added an attacking half-century to provide Bangladesh with a strong platform.
Australia's bowling effort was led by Nathan Ellis, who picked up three wickets and repeatedly broke promising partnerships. However, sloppy fielding, poor catching and missed opportunities allowed Bangladesh to post what many considered an above-par total.
6. ICC Hands Demerit Points To Lord's And Gaddafi Stadium Pitches
The ICC has rated the pitches used for the England-New Zealand Test at Lord's and the Pakistan-Australia ODI at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium as "unsatisfactory", handing both venues one demerit point.
Match referee Andy Pycroft expressed concerns over the Lord's surface, highlighting excessive seam movement and inconsistent bounce throughout the match. Sixteen wickets fell on the opening day and another seventeen on Day Two, creating what officials described as an imbalance between bat and ball.
England eventually won the match by 115 runs but the nature of the pitch drew criticism from both teams and observers. The ICC's assessment reflects concerns about maintaining a fair contest between bat and ball in Test cricket.
Meanwhile, Graeme La Brooy criticised the Gaddafi Stadium pitch used during Pakistan's ODI against Australia, describing it as too slow and low for modern one-day cricket. Batters struggled to score freely, reducing the quality of the contest and prompting intervention from the ICC's pitch monitoring process.
7. Ben Stokes Faces Investigation As England Captaincy Future Comes Under Spotlight
England Test captain Ben Stokes is facing uncertainty after an alleged breach of team protocols resulted in an ECB investigation. Reports indicate that Stokes and fast bowler Gus Atkinson were involved in an incident at a nightclub following England's victory over New Zealand at Lord's.
The matter has now been referred to the independent Cricket Regulator, raising questions about possible disciplinary action ahead of England's next Test against New Zealand. According to reports, the situation is serious enough for Stokes to reportedly consider his future as England captain.
Should Stokes be unavailable, vice-captain Harry Brook is expected to emerge as the leading candidate to take charge of the Test side. Brook has already captained England's white-ball teams and remains highly regarded within the setup despite previous off-field incidents.
The development comes at an awkward time for England, who currently lead the Test series and are attempting to build momentum ahead of a packed international schedule. The ECB is expected to conclude its investigation in the coming days.
8. FIFA World Cup Hit By Visa Controversy As Somali Referee Denied Entry To USA
FIFA has been drawn into an unexpected controversy after Somali referee Omar Artan was denied entry into the United States despite being selected to officiate at the FIFA World Cup.
US Customs and Border Protection confirmed that Artan underwent additional inspection upon arriving in Miami before being deemed inadmissible because of unspecified vetting concerns. FIFA later acknowledged that Artan would not be permitted to train or officiate at the tournament.
The decision has reignited debate around immigration procedures and the challenges facing international sporting events hosted in countries with strict entry regulations.
FIFA stressed that visa decisions ultimately rest with host governments and that the governing body has no authority over immigration processes.
9. French Open Champion Alexander Zverev Faces Mixed Reception Despite Historic Triumph
Alexander Zverev finally secured his maiden Grand Slam title at the French Open but the reaction in France was far more subdued than typically seen for a men's singles champion.
While Zverev defeated Flavio Cobolli in a thrilling five-set final to capture the title, much of the post-tournament discussion centred around previous domestic violence allegations involving the German player. French sports daily L'Equipe devoted only limited front-page space to the triumph and instead published an editorial discussing the controversy surrounding his past legal cases.
Zverev has consistently denied wrongdoing. One investigation by the ATP concluded there was insufficient evidence, while a separate legal case in Germany was resolved through an out-of-court settlement without any admission of guilt.
