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How the Middle East crisis has affected sporting events and athletes – World

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The US and Israel’s war against Iran has led to sporting events being postponed in the region, while competitions elsewhere have been hit by travel disruption, with thousands of flights cancelled in some of the world’s busiest transit hubs.

Bahrain and Saudi F1 races set to be cancelled

Next month’s Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Formula One Grands Prix are set to be cancelled due to the Middle East conflict.

Multiple sources told Reuters an announcement, seen within the sport as just a matter of time, was expected with a March 20 deadline looming for freight that has to be transported to Bahrain for logistical reasons.

Trump says inappropriate for Iran to be at World Cup

US President Donald Trump said on March 12 that Iran’s soccer team were welcome to take part in this year’s World Cup but that he believed it was not appropriate they be there “for their own life and safety”.

Iran have qualified for the 48-team tournament to be held in the US, Canada and Mexico from June 11 and are scheduled to play two group matches in Los Angeles and one in Seattle.

Athletes’ arrivals at Paralympic games disrupted

Several athletes were unable to travel to the Milano Cortina Winter Paralympic Games due to travel disruption at several Middle Eastern airports.

Moreover, Iran are not competing at the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games, the International Paralympic Committee announced on March 6.

Tennis in UAE halted due to security alert

The ATP Challenger event in Fujairah was cancelled on March 3 due to safety concerns after a security alert halted play. The ATP Tour said a charter flight had been arranged “at no cost to players”.

Russians Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev, who participated in the Dubai Tennis Championships, were among the players who faced difficulties before travelling to California for the Indian Wells Open.

Sindhu withdraws from Badminton’s all England Open

Two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu withdrew from the All England Open after being stranded for days at the Dubai airport. She returned to India on March 3.

US withdraws from hockey world cup qualifier

The US men’s hockey team withdrew from a hockey World Cup 2026 qualifier in Ismailia, Egypt after an official advisory from the State Department urging all US citizens to leave nations within or close to conflict zones.

Asian Champions League matches postponed

Round of 16 clashes featuring Middle Eastern clubs in the Asian Champions League Elite in the first two weeks of March have been postponed.

Quarter-final clashes in the Asian Champions League Two and the Asian Challenge League, featuring clubs from the region, are also postponed, AFC, the continental soccer body, said on Wednesday.

Iranian female footballers given asylum

Australia granted humanitarian visas to five Iranian women soccer players on March 10 after they sought asylum, fearing persecution on their return home for their refusal to sing the national anthem at an Asian Cup match.

Australian police helped two more members of the Iranian women’s soccer delegation claim asylum on March 11, but one changed her mind and decided to go back to Iran.

Concerns about the players’ safety upon their return home grew after Iranian state television labelled the team “wartime traitors”.

Iraq coach calls for World Cup playoff game to be postponed

Iraq soccer coach Graham Arnold called for the team’s inter-confederation World Cup playoff in Mexico in March to be postponed amidst the travel chaos triggered by the conflict in neighbouring Iran.

The Iraqis are concerned they might not be able to get their players and staff over to Mexico for their scheduled clash with either Bolivia or Suriname in Monterrey on March 31.

Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka series postponed

The limited-overs series between Afghanistan and Sri Lanka scheduled for March in the United Arab Emirates has been postponed due to the crisis in the Middle East, the Afghanistan Cricket Board announced on March 11.

WEC postpones season opener in Qatar

The World Endurance Championship postponed its season-opening race, originally scheduled for March 28 at the Lusail circuit in Qatar.

Organisers announced new dates, with the race now set to take place between October 22 and 24.

Sports events cancelled in Iran, Soccer resumes in Qatar

All sporting events in Iran have been cancelled until further notice, including the country’s top-flight Persian Gulf Pro League. The Bahraini FA has also halted all domestic competitions.

Qatar’s top-flight football league resumed on March 12 after a nationwide suspension of sporting activity imposed amid regional security concerns, the Qatar Stars League Foundation said.

An update is awaited on the clash between Spain and Argentina set for Doha on March 27.

Mancini unable to return to Qatar

Al Sadd coach Roberto Mancini was not present for Friday’s Qatar Stars League match against Umm Salal as he was unable to return to Doha.



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ICC reprimands Salman Ali Agha for breaching code of conduct in Bangladesh ODI – Sport

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The International Cricket Council (ICC) said on Saturday it has officially reprimanded Salman Ali Agha for breaching Level 1 of its code of conduct during a One-Day International against Bangladesh.

“Agha was found to have breached Article 2.2 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to ‘abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment or fixtures and fittings during an international match’,” the ICC said in a statement.

It stated that one demerit point has been added to Agha’s disciplinary record, for “whom it was the first offence in a 24-month period”.

“The incident occurred in the 39th over of Pakistan’s innings when, after being run out, Agha threw his batting gloves and helmet to the ground in an inappropriate manner,” the ICC noted.

It added that Agha “admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by Neeyamur Rashid Rahul of the Emirates ICC International Panel of Match Referees, so there was no need for a formal hearing”.

On-field umpires Adrian Holdstock and Tanvir Ahmed, third umpire Kumar Dharmasena and fourth umpire Masudur Rahman Mukul levelled the charge.

Pakistan’s Maaz Sadaqat (C) successfully appeals for leg before wicket (LBW) against Bangladesh’s Litton Das during the second one-day international (ODI) cricket match between Bangladesh and Pakistan at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur on March 13, 2026. — AFP

In their second ODI in Dhaka, which was hampered by rain, Pakistan defeated Bangladesh by 128 runs via the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method.

Pakistan and Bangladesh will play the third ODI on Sunday, with the three-match series level at 1-1.

The run-out and ‘sportsman spirit’ row

Agha top-scored with 64 from 62 balls and shared a 109-run stand with Mohammad Rizwan (44).

However, Agha’s innings ended in a dramatic run-out by Bangladesh skipper Mehidy Hasan Miraz at the non-striker’s end that sparked animated reactions on the field.

Short of his crease at the non-striker’s end, Agha bent down to pick up the ball to return it to the bowler after Rizwan had driven it towards him.

However, Mehidy circled around behind Agha to collect the ball and threw down the stumps.

Salman Agha (R) speaks with Bangladesh’s captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz after his dismissal during the second one-day international (ODI) cricket match between Bangladesh and Pakistan at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur on March 13, 2026. — AFP

The dismissal immediately revived discussions about the spirit of cricket and had echoes of the 2023 Ashes controversy when Australia’s Alex Carey stumped England’s Jonny Bairstow at Lord’s.

Following the match, Agha said Miraz should have shown the sportsman spirit.

“I think sportsman spirit has to be there,” Agha told reporters after Pakistan’s 128-run win.

“What he has done is in the law. I think if he thinks it’s right, it’s right, but if you ask me my perspective, I would have done it differently.”

“I would have gone for sportsman spirit.”

Agha reacted angrily in the moment, throwing down his gloves and helmet, but later downplayed his outburst.

“I was just trying to give him the ball back. I was not looking for the run or anything like that, but he had already decided.”

“If you ask me what would I have done, I would have done things differently. But … whatever happened after that, it was in the moment.”



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ICC reprimands captain Salman Ali Agha for breaching code of conduct in Bangladesh ODI – Sport

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The International Cricket Council (ICC) said on Saturday it has officially reprimanded Salman Ali Agha for breaching Level 1 of its code of conduct during a One-Day International against Bangladesh.

“Agha was found to have breached Article 2.2 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to ‘abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment or fixtures and fittings during an international match’,” the ICC said in a statement.

It stated that one demerit point has been added to Agha’s disciplinary record, for “whom it was the first offence in a 24-month period”.

“The incident occurred in the 39th over of Pakistan’s innings when, after being run out, Agha threw his batting gloves and helmet to the ground in an inappropriate manner,” the ICC noted.

It added that Agha “admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by Neeyamur Rashid Rahul of the Emirates ICC International Panel of Match Referees, so there was no need for a formal hearing”.

On-field umpires Adrian Holdstock and Tanvir Ahmed, third umpire Kumar Dharmasena and fourth umpire Masudur Rahman Mukul levelled the charge.

Pakistan’s Maaz Sadaqat (C) successfully appeals for leg before wicket (LBW) against Bangladesh’s Litton Das during the second one-day international (ODI) cricket match between Bangladesh and Pakistan at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur on March 13, 2026. — AFP

In their second ODI in Dhaka, which was hampered by rain, Pakistan defeated Bangladesh by 128 runs via the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method.

Pakistan and Bangladesh will play the third ODI on Sunday, with the three-match series level at 1-1.

The run-out and ‘sportsman spirit’ row

Agha top-scored with 64 from 62 balls and shared a 109-run stand with Mohammad Rizwan (44).

However, Agha’s innings ended in a dramatic run-out by Bangladesh skipper Mehidy Hasan Miraz at the non-striker’s end that sparked animated reactions on the field.

Short of his crease at the non-striker’s end, Agha bent down to pick up the ball to return it to the bowler after Rizwan had driven it towards him.

However, Mehidy circled around behind Agha to collect the ball and threw down the stumps.

Salman Agha (R) speaks with Bangladesh’s captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz after his dismissal during the second one-day international (ODI) cricket match between Bangladesh and Pakistan at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur on March 13, 2026. — AFP

The dismissal immediately revived discussions about the spirit of cricket and had echoes of the 2023 Ashes controversy when Australia’s Alex Carey stumped England’s Jonny Bairstow at Lord’s.

Following the match, Agha said Miraz should have shown the sportsman spirit.

“I think sportsman spirit has to be there,” Agha told reporters after Pakistan’s 128-run win.

“What he has done is in the law. I think if he thinks it’s right, it’s right, but if you ask me my perspective, I would have done it differently.”

“I would have gone for sportsman spirit.”

Agha reacted angrily in the moment, throwing down his gloves and helmet, but later downplayed his outburst.

“I was just trying to give him the ball back. I was not looking for the run or anything like that, but he had already decided.”

“If you ask me what would I have done, I would have done things differently. But … whatever happened after that, it was in the moment.”



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Bangladesh’s Mehidy ignites ‘sportsman spirit’ row after controversial run-out during second ODI – Sport

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Pakistan batter Salman Ali Agha said Mehidy Hasan Miraz should have shown the sportsman spirit after the Bangladesh captain ended his innings with a controversial run-out in Friday’s One-Day International in Dhaka.

Short of his crease at the non-striker’s end, Agha bent down to pick up the ball to return it to the bowler after his teammate Mohammad Rizwan had driven it towards him.

Pakistan’s Maaz Sadaqat (C) successfully appeals for leg before wicket (LBW) against Bangladesh’s Litton Das during the second one-day international (ODI) cricket match between Bangladesh and Pakistan at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur on March 13, 2026.

However, Mehidy circled around behind Agha to collect the ball and threw down the stumps.

The dismissal immediately revived discussions about the spirit of cricket and had echoes of the 2023 Ashes controversy when Australia’s Alex Carey stumped England’s Jonny Bairstow at Lord’s.

“I think sportsman spirit has to be there,” Agha told reporters after Pakistan’s 128-run win.

Bangladesh’s Rishad Hossain (L) is clean bowled as Bangladesh’s wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan looks on during the second one-day international (ODI) cricket match between Bangladesh and Pakistan at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur on March 13, 2026.

“What he has done is in the law. I think if he thinks it’s right, it’s right, but if you ask me my perspective, I would have done differently.

“I would have gone for sportsman spirit.” Agha reacted angrily in the moment, throwing down his gloves and helmet, but later downplayed his outburst.

“I was just trying to give him the ball back. I was not looking for the run or anything like that, but he had already decided.”

“If you ask me what would I have done, I would have done things differently. But … whatever happened after that, it was in the moment.”

Pakistan’s Haris Rauf (L) celebrates with teammates after the dismissal of Bangladesh’s Towhid Hridoy during the second one-day international (ODI) cricket match between Bangladesh and Pakistan at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur on March 13, 2026.

Pakistan and Bangladesh will play the third ODI on Sunday, with the three-match series level at 1-1.



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