Go Unlimited with Magzter GOLD
Get unlimited access to 10,000+ magazines, newspapers and Premium stories for just
Try GOLD - Free
T20 WC row overshadows India's Olympic ambitions
Gulf Today
|January 24, 2026
India hopes next month's T20 World Cup will bolster its credentials as a global sports host--and the country’s Olympic ambitions--but preparations have been rocked by a diplomatic row with Bangladesh and accusations of political interference.
With barely two weeks until the tournament, Bangladesh have effectively been forced out after the International Cricket Council (ICC) rejected a request to move their matches from India to co-hosts Sri Lanka, citing security concerns.
“Our only demand is to play the World Cup -- but not in India,” Bangladesh Cricket Board President Aminul Islam Bulbul told reporters on Thursday, adding that without a change of venue, the team would not participate.
India is preparing to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad, seen as a stepping stone to the 2036 Olympics.
But the chaotic buildup to the T20 World Cup has cast a shadow over those ambitions, especially with cricket returning to the Olympic Games at Los Angeles 2028.
This story is from the January 24, 2026 edition of Gulf Today.
Subscribe to Magzter GOLD to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 10,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
MORE STORIES FROM Gulf Today
Gulf Today
Bomber targets wedding party in DI Khan, kills 7
A suicide bomber detonated an explosive vest among guests at a wedding ceremony in northwestern Pakistan on Friday night, killing at least seven people and wounding 25, police said on Saturday.
1 mins
January 25, 2026
Gulf Today
Employees make up 60% of Pak's workforce: Survey
Pakistan is fast transforming into a salary dependent society as the share of employees in the national workforce has surged to 60 per cent, marking a significant shift away from traditional self-employment, according to a report based on a comprehensive Gallup Pakistan survey.
1 mins
January 25, 2026
Gulf Today
Workers filed 17,000 ‘confidential complaints’ in 2025
The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization (MoHRE) reported that more than 17000 confidential complaints were submitted by employees in 2025 to uphold their rights.
1 mins
January 25, 2026
Gulf Today
Sharjah's industrial real estate market reaches Dhs9.24b in 2025
Sharjah Real Estate Registration Department (Sharjah RERD) revealed that Sharjah industrial real estate market has achieved unprecedented growth, with transaction values rising from approximately Dhs4.9 billion in 2024 to over Dhs9.24 billion in 2025, representing an 88.7 per cent increase, reflecting growing investor confidence and the attractiveness of the emirate's industrial investment environment.
3 mins
January 25, 2026
Gulf Today
Elite riders to compete in 10th Al Salam Cycling Championship's Women's Race
The Al Salam Cycling Championship will host its Women's Race on 25 January, as part of the 10th edition of the competition.
2 mins
January 25, 2026
Gulf Today
Borrowing data offers new year cheer for UK's Reeves, for now
Britain's government borrowed less than expected in December, helped by robust growth in tax receipts, according to data on Thursday that may give finance minister Rachel Reeves reasons for optimism in 2026.
1 min
January 25, 2026
Gulf Today
German investor morale rises more than expected
German investor morale rose strongly in January, the ZEW economic research institute said on Tuesday, as expectations about Germany’s economic situation improve.
1 min
January 25, 2026
Gulf Today
DEWA's virtual employee Rammas fields 1.6m questions
Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has announced that its virtual employee Rammas, powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and ChatGPT, handled over 1.6 million enquiries in Arabic and English in 2025.
1 min
January 25, 2026
Gulf Today
Pakistan's exports contract for fifth month
Pakistan's exports plummeted by 20.4 per cent in December 2025, marking the fifth consecutive monthly decline that reflects the deep-rooted economic crisis plaguing the country, according to official figures.
1 min
January 25, 2026
Gulf Today
Barcola's winner sends PSG on top despite lack of 'confidence'
AUXERRE: Coach Luis Enrique said that Paris Saint-Germain lacked confidence despite Bradley Barcola's deft chipped finish sending the champions back to the top of Ligue I with a 1-0 win away to Auxerre on Friday.
1 mins
January 25, 2026
Listen
Translate
Change font size