With Liverpool stating that they have more than 26 million supporters in the USA, there is little surprise over why the Reds chose America as the destination for their pre-season tour.
This has been quite the summer for football here and Billy Hogan, CEO of Liverpool and Fenway Sports Group (FSG), insists the aim is to build on that after what has been a "super difficult year" for the club "for lots of different reasons".
Last week, FSG, which owns Liverpool, confirmed that a consortium led by Amit Bhatia, a British-Indian millionaire businessman, was in talks over a strategic minority investment in the club. Those talks have been ongoing and there is a growing belief that a deal will be done.
"Look, John Henry (the principal owner) and FSG have always said that if there was an interest in an investment that would help the football club, then they would consider it. That was said many years ago and that remains the case here," Hogan tells BBC Sport.
"At this point, I wouldn't say anything different to the statement that a consortium led, managed and represented by Amit Bhatia has come forward and expressed an interest in a minority investment."

#club

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has reportedly engaged in discussions about investing in Liverpool FC as negotiations with owners FSG progress.
Mr Bezos, believed to be the world's fourth-wealthiest person, has been contacted by a consortium headed by Amit Bhatia, the son-in-law of steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal, who stepped away from his controlling interest at Queens Park Rangers to pursue a deal for the Reds.
A spokesperson for FSG previously told the ECHO: "An investment consortium led, managed, and represented by Amit Bhatia has expressed interest in making a strategic minority investment in Liverpool Football Club."
Argentina World Cup Final red card rescinded, face potential FIFA disciplinary action
Donald Trump sparks outrage with Harry Kane World Cup comments

#World #consortium

Jeff Bezos, the Amazon founder and fourth-richest man in the world, has been “approached” by a consortium that is in talks to buy a minority stake in Liverpool, according to reports.
Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group confirmed on Tuesday that they had been approached by a consortium led by Amit Bhatia, the British-Indian millionaire and former co-owner of QPR.
Sky News reported that Bezos has held “discussions” with the group, with talks still at an early stage.
Bezos, whose fortune is reportedly worth $257bn and who owns The Washington Post, explored bids for two NFL teams last year, the Seattle Seahawks and Washington Commanders, but did not proceed with either deal.
A spokesperson for FSG said on Tuesday: “An investment consortium led, managed, and represented by Amit Bhatia has expressed interest in making a strategic minority investment in Liverpool Football Club.”

#Liverpool #consortium

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has held talks about joining the Amit Bhatia-fronted consortium that has expressed interest in buying a minority stake in Liverpool, according to reports on Wednesday.
Bezos, one of the world's richest men, could become part of the group led by British-Indian businessman Bhatia, the son-in-law of billionaire steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal.
Sky News reported Bezos' interest but said he is not certain to proceed with the potential plan.
The 62-year-old American is estimated by Forbes to be worth around £192 billion ($257 billion).
Liverpool's owners Fenway Sports Group confirmed on Tuesday Bhatia's consortium had approached them to discuss buying a minority stake in the 20-time English champions.

#interest #billion

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has held talks over potentially joining a consortium which has expressed an interest in buying a minority stake in Liverpool, according to reports.
According to Sky News, Bezos, one of the world’s richest men, could become part of a syndicate which is led by Amit Bhatia, the son-in-law of billionaire steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal.
On Tuesday, Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group confirmed that Bhatia’s group had approached them to discuss investing in the club.
A spokesperson for FSG said: “An investment consortium led, managed, and represented by Amit Bhatia has expressed interest in making a strategic minority investment in Liverpool Football Club.”
Bezos has reportedly explored previous bids for the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks and Washington Commanders, but decided against pursuing either deal.

#Liverpool

A consortium led by British-Indian millionaire Amit Bhatia, formerly a co-owner of QPR, has expressed interest in acquiring a minority stake in Liverpool Football Club.
Owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG) confirmed they had been approached regarding the potential investment.
This development coincides with Bhatia's departure from the QPR board, concluding an 18-year involvement, after agreeing to transfer his shares to majority owner Ruben Gnanalingam.
A spokesperson for FSG said: "An investment consortium led, managed, and represented by Amit Bhatia has expressed interest in making a strategic minority investment in Liverpool Football Club."
No deal has been agreed with discussions at an early stage.

#investment #amit #owner #expressed

Fenway Sports Group have acknowledged that an investment group, spearheaded by British-Indian entrepreneur Amit Bhatia, has expressed interest in acquiring a stake in Liverpool FC.
Sources indicate the consortium is supported by the Mittal family, whose wealth was recently estimated at over £26 billion ($34.8 billion) by Forbes. No deal has been finalized, and discussions remain in preliminary phases, according to those familiar with the situation.
On Tuesday, Bhatia was announced as having stepped down from his position as co-owner of EFL Championship club Queens Park Rangers, with the London team releasing news of his exit on their official platform.
Donald Trump sparks outrage with Harry Kane World Cup comments
Argentina World Cup Final red card rescinded, face potential FIFA disciplinary action

#World #sports #Liverpool

Liverpool's owners, Fenway Sports Group (FSG), are reportedly in discussions with a consortium led by British-Indian businessman Amit Bhatia over a strategic minority investment in the Premier League champions.
The proposed deal remains at an early stage, with no agreement yet reached, but FSG has confirmed that Bhatia's group has expressed an interest in acquiring a minority stake in the club.
In a statement released to several media outlets, an FSG spokesperson said an investment consortium "led, managed and represented by Amit Bhatia has expressed interest in making a strategic minority investment in Liverpool Football Club."
The potential investment is expected to mirror the structure of FSG's previous partial sale.
In 2025, American investment firm Dynasty Equity purchased a minority stake of around three per cent in Liverpool in a deal reportedly worth approximately £150 million, valuing the club at around £4.5 billion.

#club #bhatia #consortium

A consortium led by British-Indian millionaire businessman Amit Bhatia has expressed an interest in buying a minority stake in Liverpool.
Bhatia, the son-in-law of the Indian billionaire businessman Lakshmi Mittal, was director and co-owner at QPR for 18 seasons but stepped down from the board and relinquished ownership of the club on Tuesday afternoon.
In a statement, Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG) told BBC Sport: "An investment consortium led, managed, and represented by Amit Bhatia has expressed interest in making a strategic minority investment in Liverpool Football Club."
BBC Sport understands that the deal has not yet been finalised with FSG.
If the investment was to proceed, it would follow a similar structure to deal made in 2023, when FSG sold a minority stake in the Reds to global sports investment firm Dynasty.

#Liverpool #investment #sport #sports

Few sights in women's cricket are as reassuring as Smriti Mandhana in full flow for India. The elegant left-hander was at her fluent best in India's historic Test triumph at Lord's, scoring twin half-centuries to help script a memorable victory over England.

In an interview with TOI, the 29-year-old spoke about India's landmark win at Lord's, lessons from repeated T20 World Cup disappointments, the impact of the WPL, and why she feels ready for the India captaincy if and when the opportunity comes. Excerpts...

What did it mean to be part of India's first-ever women's Test at Lord's and contribute significantly to the win?

It was amazing to be part of the first-ever women's Test at Lord's and, more importantly, to win it. Contributing to a historic victory for India was special. As kids, we all dreamt of playing Test cricket, so to do it at Lord's made it even more memorable.

Yastika Bhatia credited you for helping her through her recovery after ACL surgery. What did you tell her?

Any knee injury is extremely difficult for a player. In Yastika's case, it happened before a home World Cup, which made it even tougher. I told her how my own ACL injury in 2017 helped me grow both as a person and an athlete. Some of my best cricket came after that setback. I felt she would connect with that and stay motivated through the rehabilitation process.

Why do you think India exited the T20 World Cup early?

It's important to introspect and learn from mistakes. Unfortunately, we haven't learnt enough from our past errors and have continued to repeat them. Going forward, there needs to be a clear roadmap until the 2028 T20 World Cup on how we want to approach the format and what we need to do as a team.

There has been speculation about a captaincy transition. Are you ready to lead India if asked?

Yes, of course. I am ready.

Four seasons into the WPL, India's T20 results haven't improved significantly. Has the league delivered enough Indian talent?

I think the WPL has produced a lot of new talent and several players have made it to the national team. However, I feel they haven't always been utilised to their best ability.

You have led RCB to back-to-back WPL ****** les. What is your leadership philosophy?

For me, creating a positive team culture is most important. Every player should feel comfortable expressing themselves and being who they are. When people feel valued and trusted, they tend to perform better.

You've consistently delivered in major tournaments. Do big events bring out the best in you?

It's been a work in progress. Over the last couple of years, I've felt much calmer about my cricket, whether it's a big tournament or a bilateral series. That calmness has helped me focus on doing my job for the team.

As India's premier batter, do you feel burdened by expectations?

We have a lot of quality batters in this team. Whenever you pick up the bat for India, there is pressure to help your team win. But I

England v India, one-off Test, Lord's
India 285 (Mandhana 83; Ecclestone 3-68) & 341-7 dec (Bhatia 113; Ecclestone 5-118)
England 170 (Jones 52; Gaud 5-37) & 186 (Jones 54; Rana 4-42)
India won by 270 runs
Scorecard

It is officially Open Championship week and time for the 154th edition of golf’s oldest major, which is being held at Royal Birkdale for the 11th time.
But first, American pros headed over early for some links prep and went about getting on some of the U.K.’s many gems. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler had some extra time on his hands after missing the cut at the Genesis Scottish Open and took in North Berwick Golf Club, one of several great courses in East Lothian, and with son Bennett in tow.
Over in England, Akshay Bhatia and Rickie Fowler explored one of the neighboring Southport courses, where Tommy Fleetwood cut his teeth in the game at West Lancs Golf Club. Very cool of them to bring junior member George Crompton along for the ride. Imagine he won't soon forget that experience.
Jordan Spieth, the 2017 British Open champion here at Royal Birkdale the last time it hosted the Open, was out and about getting familiar with links golf and took in a round at Formby Golf Club. "Always a privilege to see one of the game's great champions enjoying our links," the club posted on its social media accounts.
But the pros weren't the only ones squeezing in some golf while overseas. Jamie Kennedy of Golf Digest had the shot of his life, a hole-in-one at the par-4 18th at North Berwick and the bartender happened to be taking a time-lapse of the sunset at the time.

Yastika Bhatia on Sunday became the first woman to score a Test century at the Home of Cricket as India closed in on a famous victory over England in the historic first-ever Women’s Test at Lord’s.

While vice-captain Smriti Mandhana was unfortunate to be caught down the leg side off Lauren Bell for 70 (130b, 9x4, 1x6), the less-fancied left-hander Yastika produced a sublime maiden Test hundred, scoring 113 off 158 ****** with 14 fours, as India declared at 341 for seven shortly before tea.

The visitors set England a daunting target of 457.

England, who had been bowled out for 170 in their first innings, ended Day Three reeling at 130 for six, still needing 327 runs with only four wickets in hand.

India’s seamers once again led the charge. Kranti Gaud (2-40), fresh from her first-innings five for 37 that made her the first woman to claim a Test five-wicket haul at Lord’s, struck twice early. She bowled Tammy Beaumont for a firstball duck in the opener’s farewell Test before removing former captain Heather Knight (13), who was caught behind by Richa Ghosh after being given a guard of honour by the Indian players following her retirement announcement on Saturday.

Gaud has figures of seven for 77 in the match. Sayali Satghare (2-19) provided excellent support, trapping Maia Bouchier (2) lbw before claiming another wicket.

Earlier, Yastika produced an innings to remember.

Resuming on her overnight 39, the 25-year-old enjoyed an early reprieve when a Lauren Bell delivery clipped her leg stump without dislodging the bails. She responded immediately by driving Bell straight down the ground for four and soon completed her second Test fifty. Batting with elegance and ****** urance, the Baroda wicketkeeper unfurled crisp cover drives, authoritative pulls and deft late cuts while using her feet confidently against the spinners.

On 91, she struck back-to-back boundaries off Issy Wong before nudging a single to deep extra cover to bring up a landmark maiden Test century.
132358985
Brief scores: India 285 & 341/ 7 decl (Y Bhatia 113, S Mandhana 70, R Ghosh 50*, S Ecclestone 5/118) vs England: 170 & 130/6 (A Jones 52, S Satghare 2/19, K Gaud 2/40)

India Women moved to the brink of a historic maiden Test victory at Lord's after a dominant third day, powered by Yastika Bhatia's record-breaking maiden century before the bowlers reduced England to 130/6 in pursuit of an improbable 457-run target.

With just four wickets separating them from scripting history at the Home of Cricket, Harmanpreet Kaur's side ended the day firmly in control despite a spirited lower-order resistance from Amy Jones and Mady Villiers.
Resuming Day 3 with a healthy first-innings lead, India continued to pile on the runs despite England enjoying a better opening session with the ball. Lauren Bell removed Smriti Mandhana (70) early before also dismissing Jemimah Rodrigues. Sophie Ecclestone then trapped Harmanpreet Kaur lbw as England briefly clawed their way back into the contest.

However, Yastika Bhatia remained unfazed. Displaying remarkable composure and elegant strokeplay, the left-hander brought up her maiden Test century to become the first-ever woman to score a Test hundred at Lord's. Her memorable knock of 113 off 158 ***** also became the highest score by an Indian woman in the third or fourth innings of a Test match.

England spinner Sophie Ecclestone fought tirelessly and completed her fourth five-wicket haul in Women's Tests, but lacked support from the other end as India continued to dominate.
Following Bhatia's departure, wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh injected fresh momentum into the innings with a brisk unbeaten 50 off 52 ***** , taking the attack to the England bowlers. With India's lead swelling beyond 450, captain Harmanpreet Kaur declared the innings at 341/7, leaving England with a mammoth 457-run target to survive or chase down.
India's bowlers wasted little time in tightening their grip on the contest.

Debutant Kranti Gaud and Sayali Satghare produced another outstanding new-ball spell, removing openers Tammy Beaumont and Maia Bouchier inside the opening four overs. Beaumont's dismissal also marked the end of her international career, while former captain Heather Knight, playing her final Test before retirement, was later dismissed by Kranti Gaud and received a touching guard of honour from the Indian team as she walked off.

England's problems deepened when Sneh Rana bowled Nat Sciver-Brunt with a beauty before Sayali breached Alice Capsey's defence, reducing the hosts to 59/5.
Just when India appeared set to wrap up the match on the third evening itself, Amy Jones and Mady Villiers mounted a determined fightback. The duo stitched together a resilient 67-run partnership, frustrating the Indian attack and briefly keeping England's hopes alive.

The stand was eventually broken in spectacular fashion as Richa Ghosh pulled off a stunning close-in catch at silly point to dismiss Villiers off Sneh Rana's bowling. Jones continued her resistance, bringing up a gritty half-century, but England still finished the day in deep trouble at 130/6, requiring another 327 runs with only four w

Vice-captain Smriti Mandhana (83, 108b, 11x4, 1x6), captain Harmanpreet Kaur (58, 121b, 7x4) and seasoned allrounder Deepti Sharma (57, 87b, 7x4) struck resolute fifties as India posted 285 before pacer Kranti Gaud's early breakthrough left England at 21 for one on an engrossing opening day of the historic first-ever women's Test at Lord's.

After opting to bat, India looked set for a much bigger total at 190 for three but suffered a collapse, losing seven wickets for 95 runs.

England dominated the final session, taking the last four wickets for just 11 runs in 42 ***** . Leftarm spinner Sophie Ecclestone (368) finished with three wickets, including the final three, as India were bowled out in 74.5 overs.

India struck back late when pacer Kranti Gaud trapped opener Tammy Beaumont (2), playing the final Test of her career, lbw with a sharp inswinger. Gaud nearly dismissed Heather Knight too, but India declined a review that balltracking later showed would have hit the stumps. Maia Bouchier was unbeaten on 17 and Knight on one at stumps.

Earlier, England made the perfect start. Lauren Bell and Lauren Filer struck inside the opening seven overs, removing Shafali Verma for a duck and Yastika Bhatia (12). Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues (35) rebuilt with a brisk 64run stand before Rodrigues dragged Issy Wong onto her stumps.

Mandhana then combined with Harmanpreet in an 89-run fourthwicket partnership that steadied India after a shaky start. The lefthander played with characteristic fluency, peppering the off-side with elegant drives and also launching Ecclestone for six. However, she fell for 83, edging Wong behind while chasing a wide delivery.

Harmanpreet, under scrutiny after India's group-stage exit at the Women's T20 World Cup, responded with a patient half-century despite battling cramps. Soon after Mandhana's dismissal, she was undone by debutant off-spinner Mady Villiers, who picked up her maiden Test wicket with a delivery that drifted and turned through the gate.

Richa Ghosh (13) failed to make an impact, but Deepti's composed knock and a 46-run stand with Sneh Rana kept India afloat before another collapse ended the innings.

Brief Scores:

India 285 (Mandhana 83, Harmanpreet 58, Sharma 57) lead England 21-1 by 264 runs.

India and England shared the honours on an engrossing opening day of the historic first-ever women's Test at Lord's, with the visitors posting 285 before reducing England to 21/1 at stumps on Friday.

After England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt won the toss and chose to field, India appeared well placed for a much bigger total thanks to impressive half-centuries from Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma. However, a late collapse ensured England regained control before the close of play.

The hosts then negotiated 11 overs in fading light but lost opener Tammy Beaumont cheaply, leaving the match finely balanced heading into Day 2.
India endured a shaky start after losing Shafali Verma and Yastika Bhatia early, but Smriti Mandhana once again showcased her class with a fluent innings of 83 off 108 **** . The left-hander was positive from the outset, driving elegantly through the covers and punishing anything overpitched. She struck 11 fours and a six while stitching together crucial partnerships that helped India recover from the early setbacks.

Jemimah Rodrigues looked comfortable during her brief stay, adding a valuable stand with Mandhana before throwing away a promising start.
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur then joined Mandhana to steady the innings with an important 89-run partnership. While Mandhana played the aggressor, Harmanpreet anchored the innings with a patient 58 off 121 deliveries, ensuring India remained in a commanding position through the afternoon session.

At 190/3, India looked set to cross the 350-run mark. But Mandhana's dismissal shifted the momentum dramatically.

England's spinners, led by Sophie Ecclestone, exploited the ageing ball brilliantly. Ecclestone extracted sharp turn and bounce to finish with 3/68, while debutant Mady Villiers made an immediate impact as India slipped from a position of strength.

With wickets falling regularly around her, Deepti Sharma produced a composed knock under pressure. The experienced all-rounder compiled a valuable 57 from 87 **** , striking seven boundaries and guiding India to a competitive 285 before becoming the last batter to fall in the 75th over.
England had only 11 overs to negotiate before stumps and suffered an early setback when Kranti Gaud dismissed Tammy Beaumont for just two. Maia Bouchier looked **** ured during her unbeaten 17, while captain Heather Knight remained unbeaten on one as England closed the day on 21/1, trailing India by 264 runs.
India: 285 all out in 74.5 overs (Smriti Mandhana 83, Harmanpreet Kaur 58, Deepti Sharma 57; Sophie Ecclestone 3/68, Issy Wong 2/41)

England: 21/1 in 11 overs (Maia Bouchier 17*, Heather Knight 1*; Kranti Gaud 1/8)

India vice-captain Smriti Mandhana said she feels proud to reach 300 international matches, with the milestone coming during the first-ever women's Test at Lord's.

The 29-year-old also became the youngest woman in cricket history to achieve the feat and is the 12th woman overall to play 300 international games.

Before the match, England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt won the toss and chose to bowl. India handed a Test debut to Shree Charani, while Yastika Bhatia returned to the playing XI. England gave debut caps to Alice Capsey and Mady Villiers.

Mandhana revealed that she only found out about the milestone the night before the match. Reflecting on her journey, she recalled playing the 2017 Women's World Cup final at Lord's and how uncertain she felt about her future after a difficult tournament.

"I actually got to know about the 300th international match last night. As a player, you don't really keep track of games across all formats. I remember playing the 2017 World Cup final here at Lord's.

"I didn't have a great World Cup then, and I didn't know if I'd get the chance to play for India again. So to come back and play my 300th international match at Lord's, I couldn't ask for a better venue."

She also spoke about leaving behind the disappointment of the T20 World Cup and focusing on the future.

"We had a chance at Lord's to qualify against Australia (in the T20 World Cup). We couldn't take that opportunity, but that's cricket. You have to keep moving on.

"Whether you get a hundred or a zero, every time you go out there, you start your innings from zero. It's the same with the team. You're going to have good days and bad days, but we'll always take it in stride and try to give our best for the country."

Mandhana said switching from T20 to red-ball cricket requires a change in mindset and returning to the basics.

"Batting for long periods definitely helps, especially since we don't play a lot of Test cricket. We did play the pink-ball Test in Perth before. Going back to Wormsley was great. I hadn't been there since 2014, so it brought back old memories.

"For me, the preparation is about adjusting after opening in T20 cricket, where you're expected to score quickly at a high strike rate. In red-ball cricket, you need to watch the ball carefully. Going back to basics is very important. The preparation was all about doing the basic things right and spending long periods at the crease."

NEW DELHI: India have handed Priya Punia her maiden Test call-up after opener Pratika Rawal was ruled out of the one-off women's Test against England at Lord's with a knee injury.

The Women's Selection Committee named Punia as Rawal's replacement after the opener failed to recover in time for the match, which begins on Friday.

Rawal suffered a cut around her right knee while playing for India A in the second One-Day match against England A in Taunton. The injury required stitches, forcing her to miss the Lord's Test.

Head coach Amol Muzumdar confirmed the news ahead of the match.

"Pratika has been ruled out of the Test match due to her injury in the India A match. She has got a cut on her knee which required some stitches. She is out for the Test match and Priya Punia has been added into the squad," said Muzumdar.
Born in Jaipur, Rajasthan, Priya Punia is a right-handed top-order batter who can also bowl right-arm medium pace. The 29-year-old has represented India in limited-overs cricket but is yet to make her Test debut.

Punia made her international debut in a T20I against New Zealand on February 6, 2019. Since then, she has represented India in both ODIs and T20Is.

Punia's selection for the one-off Test against England comes on the back of an excellent series for India A against England A.

She scored 23 in the opening match before following it up with 87 and 61 in the next two games. She finished as India A's highest run-scorer in the three-match One-Day series with 171 runs and played a key role in India's 2-1 series victory.
So far, Punia has played 12 Women's ODIs, scoring 273 runs at an average of 27.30. Her highest score is an unbeaten 75, and she has hit two half-centuries in the format.

In T20 Internationals, she has featured in three matches, scoring nine runs.
Harmanpreet Kaur (captain), Smriti Mandhana (vice-captain), Shafali Varma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (wicketkeeper), Sree Charani, Yastika Bhatia (wicketkeeper), Nandini Sharma, Harleen Deol, Renuka Thakur, Kranti Gaud, Sayali Satghare, Sneh Rana and Priya Punia.

Travelers Championship final round
-21 S Scheffler (US), V Hovland (Nor); -20 C Morikawa (US); -19 M Fitzpatrick (Eng); -18 W Clark (US), A Bhatia (US)
Selected others: -17 A Fitzpatrick (Eng); -16 R MacIntyre (Sco); -14 T Fleetwood (Eng); -13 S Lowry (Ire); -12 J Rose (Eng); -11 A Rai (Eng)
Full leaderboard
Norway's 'viking row' made an appearance on the golf course this weekend as Viktor Hovland played his way into a Monday play-off with Scottie Scheffler at the Travelers Championship.

Scottie Scheffler led for most of the day on Saturday at the Traveler’s Championship, but was overtaken by Viktor Hovland on the final hole when he missed a putt to card his second bogey of the back nine. The world no. 1 sits in solo second after shooting 3-under 67 at TPC River Highlands.
Hovland shot 6-under 64 to take a one-stroke lead over Scheffler on the 18th hole and goes into championship Sunday in the top spot, a place he’s worked hard to get back.
Patrick Cantlay jumped into the mix during the third round and finished T-3 with Akshay Bhatia. The duo sits five strokes back from Hovland entering the final round.
Golf Channel coverage begins at 2 p.m. ET. Here's a look at tee times and pairings for the final round in Cromwell, Connecticut.
Time