Keely Hodgkinson headlines a 29-strong Great Britain team aiming for gold at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Poland later this month.

The Olympic champion arrives in Torun in formidable form, having smashed the women’s indoor 800m world record just four weeks ago.

While the 24-year-old is the clear favourite for the 800m title, she may also feature in the 4x400m relay squad after clocking a personal best of 51.49 seconds over the distance earlier in March.

The championships take place from 20 to 22 March, with comprehensive live coverage across the BBC.

Kerr and Asher-Smith targeting titles

Josh Kerr returns to the indoor circuit to contest the 3,000m, attempting to regain the crown he claimed in Glasgow two years ago.

The 2023 world outdoor champion adds significant experience to a team looking to build momentum ahead of the summer season.

In the sprints, Jeremiah Azu looks to defend his men’s 60m title.

British record holder Dina Asher-Smith makes her first appearance at this level since 2016, joining world 200m silver medallist Amy Hunt in the women’s 60m.

Middle distance strength in depth

Georgia Hunter Bell steps up to the 1500m alongside 2024 world indoor silver medallist Jemma Reekie.

Hunter Bell’s bronze from the previous championships is set to be upgraded following a doping ban for runner-up Diribe Welteji.

In the field events, pole vaulter Molly Caudery targets a return to the global podium following her victory in 2024.

Ben Pattison will also look to make an impact in the men’s 800m following his breakout world medal in 2023.

Selection caveats and absentees

The final composition of the British team remains fluid, with 15 athletes selected subject to their world ranking positions being confirmed by 11 March.

However, reigning world indoor 400m champion Amber Anning is a notable absentee.

The quarter-miler has opted to bypass the event to prioritize the upcoming outdoor season, which includes both the Commonwealth Games and the European Championships.

Great Britain squad

Men

Women

*Selected subject to securing the required world ranking position

Cricket fans are invited to select their Men’s T20 World Cup Team of the Tournament as the competition reaches its climax with Sunday’s final.

The best of the best

After 54 matches of high-octane action, only New Zealand and India remain in the hunt for the trophy.

Before the Black Caps and the Men in Blue meet in the showpiece event, BBC Sport wants to know who makes your standout XI from the last few weeks of cricket.

While individual brilliance often grabs the headlines, building a balanced side requires careful selection across openers, middle-order batters, and bowlers.

Explosive starts at the top

The battle for the opening spots is fierce, with power-hitting being the theme of the tournament.

New Zealand’s Finn Allen has been destructive at the top of the order, boasting a frightening strike-rate of 203.52 across his seven innings.

He is joined in the conversation by India’s Sanju Samson, who has struck at 201.73 and averages a massive 77.33.

Pakistan may have made an early exit, but Sahibzada Farhan left his mark with a tournament average of 76.60.

Other strong contenders include South Africa captain Aiden Markram and Zimbabwe’s Brian Bennett, who have both been consistent performers for their respective nations.

Middle-order muscle and all-rounders

The engine room of the side features a mix of pure ball-strikers and versatile options who contribute with both bat and ball.

England’s Will Jacks offers a dual threat, averaging 56.50 with the bat while claiming nine wickets with his off-spin.

Another standout is Kiwi sensation Rachin Ravindra, whose 11 wickets have been crucial for the finalists, alongside a respectable economy rate of 6.88.

West Indies powerhouse Sherfane Rutherford has proved elusive to dismiss, averaging 61.00 with a strike-rate approaching 180.

Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza also presents a compelling case, offering experience and all-round stability with 206 runs and five wickets.

How to finalize your XI

Voters are asked to select two openers and five players to fill the middle-order and all-rounder slots.

While there is no specific category for wicketkeepers, fans must ensure a gloveman is included within their batting choices to create a functional team.

The most-voted players will be collated into the definitive Team of the Tournament.

The final XI will be revealed during BBC Sport’s live text coverage of Sunday’s final between New Zealand and India.

Centre Juan Ignacio Brex has returned to the Italy starting line-up to face England in the Six Nations at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday.

Midfield changes for the Azzurri

Brex had missed rounds two and three of the championship due to personal reasons but immediately reclaims his place in the side.

He reunites with Tommaso Menoncello to restore a familiar midfield partnership for the hosts.

There is a family connection at half-back as Alessandro Garbisi comes in to start alongside his brother Paolo.

In the back three, Lorenzo Pani steps in at full-back to replace the injured Ange Capuozzo.

Chasing historic win

Head coach Gonzalo Quesada has kept faith with the forward pack that featured against France a fortnight ago.

Fly-half Tommaso Allan is named as one of three backs on the replacements bench.

The Azzurri have never beaten England in 32 previous Test matches but arrive in Rome with renewed belief.

Quesada’s side have already secured a victory over Scotland and pushed Ireland close earlier in this campaign.

Line-ups

Italy: Pani; Lynagh, Brex, Menoncello, Ioane; P Garbisi, A Garbisi; Fischetti, Nicotera, Ferrari, N Cannone, Zambonin, Lamaro (capt), Zuliani, L Cannone.

Replacements: Di Bartolomeo, Spagnolo, Hasa, Ruzza, Favretto, Fusco, Marin, Allan.

Sanju Samson has struck a magnificent half-century off just 26 balls to lead the charge for India in their clash against England.

The dynamic right-hander wasted little time in finding his rhythm, dispatching the English bowlers to all parts of the ground.

His rapid milestone underscored a period of dominance for the batting side as they looked to seize control of the contest.

A masterclass in power hitting

Samson displayed exquisite timing combined with raw power to bring up his fifty at a strike rate of nearly 200.

Commentators described the innings as "magnificent" as the wicketkeeper-batter manipulated the field with a wide range of shots.

The aggressive display put significant pressure on the opposition attack, forcing England to rethink their bowling plans mid-innings.

Pressure on the hosts

This knock serves as a strong statement from the Indian star as he looks to cement his place in the national setup.

England’s bowlers struggled to contain the flow of runs during the onslaught, with Samson punishing anything loose.

Fans can follow live coverage of the remainder of the match across BBC Sport platforms.

Former Cal State Bakersfield assistant coach Kevin Mays faces 11 criminal charges including pimping and drug possession following an investigation sparked by an anonymous tip.

The scandal has triggered significant upheaval within the university’s athletic department, leading to high-profile departures.

Mays, who served as a temporary assistant, has pleaded not guilty to all counts.

Departmental exodus

Rod Barnes, the men’s basketball head coach, and athletic director Kyle Conder left their positions in September as the investigation unfolded.

The university did not explicitly state the reason for their exits, ending Barnes’ 14-year tenure which included NCAA and NIT tournament appearances.

Internal turmoil began on 29 August when the veteran coach opened an anonymous email alleging criminal activity by his staff member.

“FIX IT OR THE WHOLE STAFF WILL FALL.”

Anonymous email sent to Rod Barnes

The tipster warned that this communication served as both a “first warning and a final warning”.

Serious criminal allegations

Mays is currently being held without bond and faces a severe list of 11 criminal and misdemeanor charges.

Prosecutors allege the former coach worked as a pimp across four states and trafficked a woman identified in the tipster’s email.

Further charges include possession of methamphetamine and marijuana with intent to sell, alongside possession of automatic firearms.

He has also been cited for possession of over 600 images of youth pornography and distribution of obscene matter involving a minor.

Bakersfield Police Department indicated that investigators are conducting follow-up interviews to identify potential additional victims.

University response

Jennifer Self, a spokesperson for the Big West Conference school, described the charges against Mays as “deeply concerning”.

The institution has since consulted with a local human trafficking expert to provide campus-wide awareness training.

Acting athletic director Sarah Tuohy and university president Vernon Harper confirmed a national search is underway to replace the departed leadership.

The Roadrunners finished last in their conference standings prior to this off-court crisis.

Russia is set to end its sporting exile by competing under the national flag at the upcoming Winter Paralympics, despite the ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

This watershed moment marks the first time since 2014 that the country’s athletes will participate with full national identity at the event.

Six athletes from Russia and four from close ally Belarus are scheduled to take part.

However, the build-up has been overshadowed by controversy surrounding their inclusion.

Boycotts and protests

Ukrainian athletes have confirmed they will boycott Friday’s opening ceremony in Verona in protest at the decision.

Officials from a host of European nations are also expected to shun the event.

Unlike the recent Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina where compatriots competed as neutrals, these 10 athletes will represent their nations.

They will be accompanied by national flags and potentially their anthems should they win gold medals.

Legal battles regarding participation

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) lifted its partial ban on athletes from the two nations last year.

Despite this, individual governing bodies such as the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) initially refused to lift their own sanctions.

Russia and Belarus subsequently won an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) against the FIS ruling.

Consequently, the athletes received bipartite commission invitations, effectively acting as wildcard entries for the Games.

Shifting stances on neutrality

The IPC stated that the original ban from the 2022 Beijing Games was not solely due to the invasion itself.

Instead, the committee argued that Paralympic sport was being utilised to promote the military campaign at that time.

Officials have suggested there is currently less evidence of sport being used for such propaganda.

This marks a significant divergence from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which has maintained that Russian athletes must compete as neutrals.

Oleksandr Usyk faces the prospect of losing his IBF and WBA heavyweight titles after confirming a crossover bout against kickboxing star Rico Verhoeven.

The Ukrainian unified champion has agreed to defend his WBC strap against Verhoeven at the Pyramids of Giza on 23 May.

However, his decision to pursue a voluntary defence rather than facing mandatory challengers has placed his other world championship belts in jeopardy.

The 39-year-old has already relinquished his WBO crown, with Fabio Wardley elevated to full champion in October.

Pressure mounts on IBF status

Promoter Kalle Sauerland is actively lobbying for the IBF title to be declared vacant so Derek Chisora can challenge for the gold.

The British veteran positioned himself for a title shot by defeating Otto Wallin in an eliminator last February.

Chisora is scheduled to face Deontay Wilder on 4 April, a bout Sauerland believes deserves world title status if the current champion is stripped.

“Oleksandr Usyk has not had one single mandatory defence of the IBF in his reign as heavyweight champion.”

Promoter Kalle Sauerland

Sauerland told Sky Sports: “Given Chisora’s position at the very top of the heavyweight rankings right now, and Wilder’s position as well, it would be an amazing addition for them to be able to fight for the belt.”

“We will be speaking to the IBF to see whether there is something that can resolve the situation and we will be lobbying for such a move.”

Sanctioning bodies seek clarity

Murky waters also surround the WBA title, with contender Murat Gassiev currently seeking clarity on the governing body’s stance regarding the Verhoeven exhibition.

While the WBC has sanctioned the bout in Egypt as a voluntary defence, the other organisations have yet to confirm if their belts will be on the line.

Despite the political maneuvering, Sauerland acknowledged that the former undisputed cruiserweight king deserves a lucrative payday similar to those enjoyed by Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.

“The sport is the sport… but at the same time I totally understand that boxing is also a business and the fight with Verhoeven is a fight that will attract a lot of eyeballs,” Sauerland added.

“You could almost say he deserves a payday along those lines as well. But it doesn’t affect that boxing goes on.”

Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao are set to face off in a professional rematch at the Las Vegas Sphere in September 2026, over a decade after their record-breaking first encounter.

A ‘Fight of the Century’ sequel

The boxing icons will meet in a fully sanctioned professional bout rather than an exhibition. The event is scheduled to take place at the state-of-the-art Las Vegas Sphere, marking a significant upgrade from their 2015 clash at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Pacquiao will be aiming to become the first fighter to defeat his American rival. The Filipino legend lost via unanimous decision in their original contest, which was billed as the ‘Fight of the Century’.

Netflix driving ‘nostalgia’ push

Despite the combined age of the combatants reaching 96 by the scheduled fight night, streaming giant Netflix has pushed to broadcast the event. DAZN News journalist Chris Oliver suggests the commercial appeal of nostalgia is the primary factor behind the deal.

It’s the rematch nobody asked for, but we’re getting it anyway.

Oliver added: “If they were both past their best in 2015, why would there be much interest in a 2026 rematch? Well, nothing sells like nostalgia and Netflix knows that all too well.”

Lucrative history and recent form

The original welterweight title fight remains the most financially successful contest in boxing history. It generated more than $600m (£475m) in overall revenue, including a record 4.6 million pay-per-view buys.

The undefeated American has not fought professionally since stopping UFC star Conor McGregor inside 10 rounds in August 2017. Conversely, the eight-division world champion returned to the ring recently to secure a draw with Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight title.

Tune-up fights expected

Both men are reportedly scheduled to return to the ring for exhibition bouts in April to build anticipation. Mayweather is expected to face Mike Tyson, while Pacquiao has announced he will take on former junior welterweight titlist Ruslan Provodnikov.

These exhibitions are intended to accelerate the promotional machine as Netflix prepares for the sequel in September.