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Colombia’s James Rodríguez announces retirement from international football
Bogotá [Colombia], September 16 (ANI): Colombia stalwart James Rodríguez has announced his retirement from international football, bringing the curtain down on an illustrious career with Los Cafeteros.
Rodríguez announced his decision on social media in an emotional note to fans, bringing an end to his international career with Colombia. His last appearance for the national side came during the FIFA World Cup 2026, where Colombia’s campaign ended in the Round of 16 with a defeat to Switzerland.
Posting on his X, Rodríguez wrote, as quoted by Goal.com, “The moment has come. Thank you for every match, every joy, every tear, and every dream we shared together. Representing the Colombian national team was one of the greatest honours of my life. Thank you, Colombia, and forever." macnevers-and-co.beer
Llegó el momento.
Gracias por cada partido, cada alegría, cada lágrima y cada sueño compartido.
Defender los colores de la selección Colombia fue uno de los mayores honores de mi vida.
Gracias, Colombia. Para siempre.
pic.twitter.com/AlRxMgtFeI
— James Rodríguez (@jamesdrodriguez) September 15, 2026
Rodriguez leaves behind a significant legacy in Colombian football, having announced himself on the global stage with a stunning FIFA World Cup 2014 campaign. He won the ‘Golden Boot’ after scoring six goals in Brazil and played a crucial role in helping Colombia reach the quarterfinals of the tournament.
The former Real Madrid star subsequently featured for Colombia at the 2018, 2022 and 2026 World Cups, adding to his international career and remaining an important figure for the national side across multiple generations.
Rodriguez finished his international career with 131 caps for Colombia, scoring 31 goals and providing 43 assists. Across the three World Cups following his breakthrough campaign in 2014, he scored six goals and registered four assists.
His contribution was not limited to the World Cup. Rodriguez also played a key role in Colombia’s Copa America campaigns, guiding the team to the final of the 2024 edition, where they lost to Argentina. He also helped Colombia finish as runners-up in the 2016 Copa America.
At the Copa America, Rodriguez featured in 14 matches, registering one goal and eight assists. His performances over the years established him as one of the most recognisable and influential players in Colombian football. (ANI)
(This content is sourced from a syndicated feed and is published as received. The Tribune assumes no responsibility or liability for its accuracy, completeness, or content.)
Steve Smith Drops Bombshell Retirement Hint, Aussie Says “I Don’t Even Know If I Will Be There” In Ashes 2027
For the first time amid long-standing speculations, Steve Smith has given a hint of his mindset with regard to his retirement. As he continues walking into the sunset of his career, Smith says that he isn’t sure of his participation in the Ashes 2027.
Hailed as the best Test batsman of this generation, Smith remained coy over his future as a Test cricketer, although he exuded confidence when talking about playing T20Is for the LA Olympics 2028.
England are to host Australia in a five-Test rubber in the next home summer for the 2027 Ashes series. Pat Cummins’ team has held the Ashes since regaining it in the 2017/18 home series.
During this period, Australia toured England twice – 2019 and 2023 – and returned with the urn after drawing the series by a 2-2 scoreline on each trip, though they failed to win those series outright.
Steve Smith uncertain of Ashes 2027
Smith has played four Ashes series in England between 2013 and 2023 and managed 500+ runs in two of them, including his epic haul of 774 runs in 7 innings in the 2019 Ashes.
The Ashes 2027 would present Smith, 37, a last chance to claim a Test series victory on the English soil. However, the Aussie star batsman is not looking too far ahead in the future.
“I don’t even know if I’ll be there yet [in 2027 Ashes]. I’m in kind of a series-by-series proposition, as I’ve been for a while, and that’s still a fair way away for me right now. I’d love to win one there or to have won one there, but you wait and see if that comes to fruition,” Smith said in an interview with The Telegraph.
Smith, however, has set his eyes firmly on the Olympics two years down the line in Los Angeles.
“One of the reasons why I wanted to play with Amsterdam [at the European T20 Premier League] was just to continue playing as much T20 cricket as I can,” he added.
“I still like to think I could play T20 cricket for a while. What’s next for me when I finish? I’m not sure, but yeah, hopefully a bit more time left playing.
Smith returns to the land of Sandpaper Gate
Starting October 9, Smith will be playing his first Test series in South Africa since the infamous Sandpaper Gate scandal in 2018, where he received a one-year ban from Cricket Australia. The 37-year-old says he’s moved on from that story.
“For me, it’s just another series. All that happened a long time ago, and we’ve played a lot of cricket and have been back to South Africa since then for one-dayers,” he asserted.
When is the Ashes 2027?
The 2027 Ashes will kick off on June 18 at Trent Bridge in Nottingham, with matches to be followed at Lord’s in London, Edgbaston in Birmingham, and The Rose Bowl in Southampton, and conclude at Kennington Oval in London.
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“Fake news”: Pak national selector Aaqib Javed dismisses reports of resignation
Lahore [Pakistan], September 16 (ANI): Pakistan national selector Aaqib Javed on Tuesday dismissed reports of his impending resignation or removal from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) as “fake news", amid growing speculation of a major shake-up in the board’s cricket administration.
The comments came a day after multiple outlets, citing internal sources, reported that PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi was considering sweeping changes to arrest Pakistan’s recent decline.
The reported measures included potentially removing Aaqib from his role as senior selector and replacing Wahab Riaz as mentor of the women’s team after the Asian Games in Japan.
“No resignation, it’s fake news," Aaqib wrote in a text-based correspondence with Dawn.
Pakistan’s horror run in the longest format continues, they earlier this month suffered a 3-0 series defeat against England, with the hosts winning the third Test at Edgbaston by eight wickets.
The victory completed England’s 3-0 series sweep, following wins at Headingley and Lord’s.
Following Pakistan’s defeat in the second Test at Lord’s, the PCB sent seven players home and replaced head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul. Selection panel member Misbahul Haq subsequently resigned, while Aaqib had earlier made it clear that he had no intention of stepping down from his role.
Following the series, Pakistan’s Test skipper Babar Azam’s dip in form has seen him turn to domestic cricket after seven years.
The batter is set to represent Oil & Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) as a guest player in the ongoing President’s Trophy Grade 1 first-class tournament. (ANI)
(This content is sourced from a syndicated feed and is published as received. The Tribune assumes no responsibility or liability for its accuracy, completeness, or content.)
WATCH: Star player closes in on Rohit Sharma’s MASSIVE record, smashes 30 runs in one over in T20I game
England vs Sri Lanka 2026 1st T20: England captain Harry Brook continued his sublime run of form in T20I cricket, smashing his second T20I century as captain – 114 not out off 49 balls with 10 fours and six sixes to set up his side huge 119-run win over Sri Lanka in the first T20I of three-match series at Rose Bowl in Southampton on Tuesday. Brook carried on his tremendous run of form from the T20I series against England with successive scores of 79 not out, 95 not out and now 114.
The England skipper is now once century behind former India captain Rohit Sharma and Pakistan’s Babar Azam to equal the record of most centuries by a captain (Test playing nations) in T20I cricket. Rohit had notched up three centuries in 62 innings as captain while Babar has 3 in 78 innings while Brook in comparison has a couple in 23 innings.
Brook went on to smash 30 runs in Sri Lankan left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage’s second over – fifth of the innings – en route to his 42-ball century. The England skipper his 3 sixes and 3 fours in the over.
WATCH Harry Brook smash 30 runs in Dunith Wellalage’s over HERE…
Harry Brook takes 30 off the 5th over pic.twitter.com/Rd3gdTWGze
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) September 15, 2026
Brook, with two T20I centuries and 10 Test tons and three in ODI cricket is now the second Englishman after Buttler to have multiple centuries across all international formats. Wicketkeeper Buttler has two centuries each in Tests and T20Is and 11 tons in ODIs.
The other batters to have multiple centuries across all international formats are: Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul (India), Babar Azam (Pakistan), Chris Gayle (West Indies), Brendon McCullum and Martin Guptill (New Zealand) and Quinton de Kock (South Africa).
Brook’s shift to No. 3 after an indifferent run in this year’s T20 World Cup 2026 continues to pay dividends. In eight matches and innings in T20Is at number three, he has smashed 476 runs at an average of 95.20 and a strike rate of 200.84, with two centuries and fifties each.
In 69 T20Is for England, Brook has scored 1,646 runs in 60 innings at an average of 36.57 and a strike rate of 164.10, with two centuries and eight fifties.
Meanwhile, England batted first and century from Brook and Jos Buttler’s 80 in 44 balls, with eight fours and three sixes, took them to 254 for 4 in 20 overs. Sri Lanka, in reply, were skittled out for just 135 runs in 19 overs, with Sonny Baker (3/12 in four overs), Jamie Overton (2/20) and Liam Dawson (2/23) being the top bowlers for England.
“I thought we had an amazing night tonight. Communication once again was outstanding. If we’re being ultra-critical, we could probably get a few more runs here and there, take earlier wickets, but I thought the performance tonight was near perfect, and the communication once again from the changing room out onto the field was very good,” Brook said in the post-match press presentation.