Sports Bulletin For July 2: From Manolo Marquez Stepping Down As India Coach To ACC Asking BCCI To Confirm Asia Cup Venue

Add as a preferred source on Google

Sports Bulletin For July 2: It has been a packed July 2, 2025, when it comes to the sporting world. We bring you the roundup of the top sports stories making headlines this week across cricket, football, hockey, and athletics.

From major changes in coaching roles and tournament updates to player milestones and tragic news, here's a quick overview of the developments that have captured attention on and off the field.

1) Manolo Marquez Steps Down As Indian Football Team Coach By 'Mutual Agreement'

India men's football team head coach Manolo Marquez and the All India Football Federation (AIFF) have officially ended their association through mutual consent on Wednesday.

During a meeting held in New Delhi, the AIFF Executive Committee accepted Marquez's request to step down from his role, even though he still had a year remaining on his contract with the senior national team.

2) ACC Asks BCCI To Confirm Asia Cup Venue Citing Pressure From Sponsors: Report

The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has reportedly written to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), seeking a meeting to discuss the delay in finalizing the schedule for the Asia Cup 2025. Although the BCCI is set to host the tournament, speculation continues that the event could be shifted outside India due to ongoing border tensions with Pakistan.

As per a report by Sports Tak, the ACC is under mounting pressure from sponsors and media rights holders, who are increasingly concerned about potential financial losses resulting from the uncertainty around the tournament's dates and venue. In response, the council has approached the BCCI to urgently address the matter.

3) Jasprit Bumrah Out Of IND vs ENG 2nd Test; Sundar, Nitish, Akash Deep In

Jasprit Bumrah has been rested for the IND vs ENG 2nd Test due to workload management, whereas the likes of Shardul Thakur and Sai Sudharsan have been dropped. Washington Sundar, Nitish Reddy and Akash Deep are the new faces for the ongoing Test.

4) India vs Bangladesh Tour Likely To Be Postponed: Report

In a significant update, India's upcoming white-ball series against Bangladesh is likely to be postponed due to diplomatic considerations. The tour, which includes three ODIs and three T20Is, was originally slated to begin on August 17 in Dhaka. However, recent developments suggest that the schedule might be delayed as the Indian team is still awaiting clearance from the central government.

According to a report by AFP on Wednesday, Iftikhar Rahman, chairman of the Bangladesh Cricket Board's (BCB) media committee, stated that the BCCI has informed them about a possible deferment of the series. While the BCB has acknowledged the situation, the Board of Control for Cricket in India has not yet issued an official statement regarding the matter.

5) Champions League T20 Is Back as Global Giants set to Clash in 2026 World Club Championship

In a significant boost to global franchise cricket, the once-discontinued Champions League T20 is reportedly making a comeback with a fresh identity. As per a report by The Cricketer, the tournament is expected to return in 2026 under a new name - the World Club Championship.

This reimagined version will stick to the fundamental format of the original CLT20, assembling champion teams from the leading T20 leagues around the world. Top franchises from competitions such as the IPL, Big Bash League, Pakistan Super League, SA20, and The Hundred are likely to participate, setting the stage for a high-profile battle among domestic T20 heavyweights on a global platform.

6) Ex Hockey Player Bimal Lakra Hospitalised After Suffering Head Injury

Former Indian men's hockey player Bimal Lakra, a key member of the squad that clinched silver at the 2002 Asian Games, was hospitalized in Ranchi on Tuesday following a severe head injury caused by a sudden collapse.

The 45-year-old ex-midfielder reportedly lost consciousness on Monday while working in his fields in his native village in the Simdega subdivision. He was first taken to a local hospital in Simdega and later transferred to a medical facility in Ranchi for advanced treatment.

7) Niket Dalal, India's First Visually Impaired Ironman, Dies After Tragic Fall: Report

43-year-old Niket Dalal, the first visually impaired Indian to complete the Ironman triathlon, has tragically passed away after falling from the second floor of a hotel in Samarth Nagar, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.

According to multiple media reports, a fire broke out at Dalal's residence, prompting his friends to move him to a nearby hotel around 2:30 am on June 30 for safety. However, in a heartbreaking incident, his body was discovered in the hotel's parking area around 8 am. The hotel management immediately alerted his family and rushed him to a hospital, but he was declared dead upon arrival.

8) Rishabh Pant Climbs To Career-Best Rating In Latest ICC Test Rankings

Rishabh Pant has reached a new personal milestone in the ICC Men's Test Rankings after his outstanding performance in the first Test against England. The 27-year-old wicketkeeper-batter struck two brilliant centuries-scoring 134 and 118-in the match, despite India falling short by five wickets.

As per the ICC's official website, Pant has climbed one position to take sixth place in the latest Test batters rankings. This marks his highest-ever rating, with 801 points, surpassing his previous best and coming within touching distance of his career-high ranking of fifth, which he briefly held in 2022 during a similar period.

Pant is now just 88 rating points behind top-ranked Joe Root, underscoring his growing influence in red-ball cricket.

9) UK Court Bans Trans Women From Women's Football Teams

Starting from June, transgender players have been barred from participating in women's football teams in both England and Scotland, following a new policy implemented by the Football Association-the governing body for the sport in the United Kingdom.

10) Athletes Pooja Rani, Kiran, Pankaj and Chelimi Pratyusha Get Reduced Bans

Indian athletes Pooja Rani, Kiran, Pankaj, and Chelimi Pratyusha, who were initially handed four-year suspensions for evading doping tests, have had their bans reduced to three years. The reduction came after all four accepted the charges within 20 days of being notified.

For Rani, Kiran, and Pankaj, the suspension officially began on August 13, 2024, while Chelimi Pratyusha's ban took effect from February 6, 2025.