Category: Sports

With this selfless act, Suryakumar Yadav has once again shown why he is admired not just as a cricketer, but as a role model and leader beyond the boundary ropes.

Following India’s thrilling victory over Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025 final, captain Suryakumar Yadav made an emotional and patriotic gesture that has won hearts across the nation. Speaking at the post-match press conference, the Indian skipper announced that he would be donating his match fees from all games of the tournament to the Indian Army.

“I personally want to give my match fees of all the games which I played in this tournament to the Indian Army,” Suryakumar said, his voice filled with emotion.

India won the final by five wickets, successfully chasing Pakistan’s target of 147 in 19.4 overs, with standout performances from Tilak Varma (69) and Shivam Dube (33). Earlier, Kuldeep Yadav’s four-wicket haul had helped restrict Pakistan to 146 in 19.1 overs.

While the victory was sweet for Indian fans, it was Suryakumar Yadav’s post-match dedication that became the moment of the evening. His announcement was met with applause from the press room and later celebrated widely on social media. Many users praised the Indian captain not only for leading the team with poise and grit throughout the tournament but also for using his platform to honor the armed forces.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/sports/i-personally-want-suryakumar-yadav-dedicates-his-tournament-earnings-to-indian-army-after-indias-win-at-asia-cup-2025-video

Nepal captain Rohit Paudel dedicated the team’s historic victory over West Indies to the martyrs of the Gen Z protest.

The entire cricket world stood up and lauded Nepal as the Asian minnows secured a generational victory over West Indies, a Test playing nation, in a T20 international on Saturday. It was the first-ever victory for Nepal against a full-member of the International Cricket Council (ICC). After securing a result that will go down as a landmark moment in cricket history books, Nepal skipper Rohit Paudel dedicated the result to the martyrs of his country who lost their lives in the recent Gen Z protests that shook the entire Nepal and even sent shockwaves in the neighbouring countries.

With their bowlers striking blows at regular intervals against a West Indies side which was without some of its big guns, Nepal surged to a historic 19-run victory. As a result, Nepal took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, with the second T20I scheduled for September 29.

After the game, Nepal skipper Rohit Paudel praised the all-round show by his team that helped them secure a memorable triumph over West Indies.

“It’s feeling great, a long wait to beat a Test-playing country, that too it has come in a series we have hosted in the UAE. 150-160 was par here, looking at the previous series here, teams were winning after scoring 150-160. 80-90 per cent, we have matched our skills, the spinners were great today, as well as the experienced Karan and Sompal,” said Paudel at the post-match presentation ceremony.

“Want to dedicate this award to the martyrs back home who participated in the protest. The last month has not been great for us, so if we can give a little bit of happiness to the people of Nepal, I think that would be great. It’s just the beginning, a lot more to come,” the 23-year-old added, dedicating the result to those who lost lives in the country’s Gen Z protests against the government.

In a match played at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, the West Indies won the toss and elected to field first against the Associate Member team. They restricted Nepal to a modest score of 148/8, which the side from the Himalayas compiled riding on vital contributions by their middle order.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/nepal-script-history-with-victory-over-west-indies-send-blunt-gen-z-protests-message-9357398

While opener Abhishek Sharma has done bulk of the scoring, the other batters have struggled for rhythm and consistency.

Sunil Gavaskar has backed the Indian batters to come out good against Pakistan in the Asia Cup final on Sunday. While opener Abhishek Sharma has done bulk of the scoring, the other batters have struggled for rhythm and consistency. Speaking to India Today ahead of the final, the former India captain, however, backed the likes of Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson and Hardik Pandya to step up, adding that big runs could come from any of them.

“There are several key players who can make a difference. Suryakumar Yadav is due for runs, as are Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson, and Hardik Pandya. Shubman Gill has batted well but hasn’t yet delivered the big scores we’ve come to expect from him recently. There’s plenty of batting firepower left, so there’s no need to be overly concerned,” said the batting great.

Gavaskar also backed Abhishek to push for a century in the final, having missed out on the milestone a couple of times already.

“Abhishek Sharma, in particular, won’t let opportunities slip by. He’s been in good form with three half-centuries and, despite an unfortunate run-out that cost him a potential century, he’s likely to aim for another big innings-possibly even a three-figure score,” he added.

After a relatively quiet group stage, Abhishek has struck 74 (vs Pakistan), 75 (vs Bangladesh) and 61 (vs Sri Lanka), playing his brand of belligerent cricket.

Ahead of the final, India’s bowling coach Morne Morkel expressed its excitement over the “edge of the seat” battle between Abhishek and Pakistan’s Shaheen Afridi. It was Abhishek who won the battle when the two teams met in the Super Four.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/asia-cup-2025/sunil-gavaskars-serious-warning-to-pakistan-ahead-of-india-clash-in-asia-cup-2025-final-9355194

The two arch-rivals will face off for the third time in the tournament, having already met once in the group stage and again in the Super Fours.

Having pulled off a thrilling win over Bangladesh, Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha said such victories make him believe it is a “special team” and added his side has the quality to beat anyone, including India, in the Asia Cup final. Pakistan’s bowlers rose to the occasion, defending a modest 135 with all their might to carve out an 11-run win in the Super 4s clash here on Thursday and book a maiden Asia Cup title showdown with arch-rivals India.

“If you win these kind of games, then we must be a special team. Everyone played really well. There is some improvement needed in batting. But we will work on that,” Agha said at the presentation.

The two arch-rivals will face off for the third time in the tournament, having already met once in the group stage and again in the Super Fours.

“Very excited. We know what we need to do, and we are a good enough team to beat anyone, and we will come on Sunday and try to beat them,” the skipper added.

Agha made special mention of Shaheen Shah Afridi, who bagged the Player-of-the-Match award for his all-round show.

“Shaheen is a special player. He does what the team needs of him. Very happy for him. We were 15 runs short. The way we bowled up front, we will create pressure. We bowled well with the new ball. More often than not you will win games if you bowl like this,” he said.

“We have been fielding well… We have been having extra sessions. Mike Hesson said if you can’t field, you won’t be in the team.” Afridi had earlier smashed a 13-ball 19 to help Pakistan post a fighting score before returning with figures of 3/17.

“Early on, as a team, we need breakthroughs and I go for that. In a small total, you need early breakthroughs and we planned that. Three overs in the powerplay – that is the difference,” Afridi said.

On his batting, he added: “After early wickets, team decided (to let me go) and take on bowlers. Those sixes turned momentum to our end.” Looking ahead to the final against India, Afridi said: “We are ready.”

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/asia-cup-2025/pakistan-captain-salman-agha-sends-blunt-message-to-india-after-setting-up-asia-cup-final-clash-9345876

Haris Rauf has been fined 30 per cent of his match fees for his provocative gestures during the Asia Cup 2025 Super Four match against India.

Pakistan cricket team fast bowler Haris Rauf has been fined 30 per cent of his match fees for his provocative gestures during the Asia Cup 2025 Super Four match against India on September 21, reported news agency PTI citing sources. Haris made the controversial ‘6-0’ gesture towards Indian fans and also mimicked a plane falling from the air. BCCI lodged a complaint with the International Cricket Council (ICC) over the gestures and the decision was taken after an official hearing which was presided over by match referee Richie Richardson. On the other hand, Sahibzada Farhan was let off with a warning for his ‘gunshot’ celebration during that match.

“Match referee Richie Richardson had completed his hearing on Friday afternoon at the team hotel. Haris Rauf has been fined 30 percent of his match fees for aggressive behaviour and Farhan has been let off with a warning,” a tournament source told PTI on conditions of anonymity.

Earlier, both Rauf and Farhan pleaded not guilty during the ICC hearing.

Both the players appeared before Richardson in person even though the responses given to the ICC were in writing. They were accompanied by team manager Naveed Akram Cheema.

According to tournament sources, Farhan claimed that his ‘gunshot celebration’ was a “traditional way of celebrating in his ethnic Pakhtun tribe” in Pakistan.

Farhan also reportedly mentioned that Virat Kohli has celebrated in a similar way.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had also filed a complaint against India skipper Suryakumar Yadav after he dedicated the win in the group stage to the families of the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/asia-cup-2025/icc-punishes-haris-rauf-with-fine-after-provocative-gesture-reprimands-sahibzada-farhan-9349977

India and Pakistan will meet in the Asia Cup 2025 final for the first time ever. Pakistan qualified for the final with an 11-run victory over Bangladesh in their last Super 4 clash.

India and Pakistan are set to lock horns in the final of the Asia Cup for the first time ever in the 41-year-long history of the tournament. Pakistan sealed their berth in the Asia Cup 2025 final with an 11-run victory over Bangladesh in their last Super 4 fixture on Thursday, September 25 at Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

Fast bowler Shaheen Afridi (3/17) and Haris Rauf (3/33) helped their team defend a low total of 135/8 as they restricted Bangladesh to 124/9. As a result, they set their third meeting with India in the ongoing edition of the continental event on Sunday, September 28. In cricketing history, India and Pakistan have met in the final five times in a multinational tournament involving more than three teams.

Out of those five finals, Pakistan managed to get the better of India thrice. The first time two teams locked horns in a tournament final was in 1985 during the final of the World Championship of Cricket, where India emerged victorious by eight wickets. On the other hand, their last meeting in a final came during the Champions Trophy 2017, when Pakistan stunned India with a 180-run victory. Here’s a recap of all five India vs Pakistan finals in multi-national tournaments (more than 3 teams involved):

World Championship of Cricket final, 1984

Batting first, Pakistan scored 176/9 riding on captain Javed Miandad’s innings of 48 (92). For India, Kapil Dev (3/23) and Laxman Sivaramakrishnan (3/35) emerged as the top wicket takers. Later, Ravi Shastri (63*) and Kris Srikkanth (67 off 77) helped India chase down the target in 47.1 overs, helping India win by eight wickets.

Austral-Asia Cup final, 1986

The last time these teams met was in March in the Champions League last 16, when Atletico were eliminated after Julian Alvarez’s controversially disallowed shoot-out penalty.

Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone famously hates to deviate from the here and now but when his team host Real Madrid on Saturday in a La Liga derby clash it is difficult not to look both forwards and backwards. The last time these teams met was in March in the Champions League last 16, when Atletico were eliminated after Julian Alvarez’s controversially disallowed shoot-out penalty. The Rojiblancos seethed for weeks about the incident, with Alvarez ruled to have double-kicked the ball, and their season rapidly flew off the rails. Perhaps they have never fully recovered since.

Atletico arrive at the Madrid derby, six games into the season, already trailing their league-leading opponents by nine points.

If they fall to a defeat by Xabi Alonso’s Los Blancos, who boast a 100 percent record thus far, a title challenge already looks unlikely.

Atletico spent big in the summer, signing Alex Baena, David Hancko and Thiago Almada among others, for a total of more than 175 million euros ($204 million).

“We want to recover in the best way we can,” said Simeone after his team came from behind to beat Rayo Vallecano 3-2 in a thrilling clash on Wednesday.

“We will have a really hard, difficult game against a side that has been winning all their games and who have a tonne of very good players in their squad.”

Simeone this week became the coach who has spent the longest time in charge of a La Liga club, having arrived in December 2011.

Helping Atletico to reach two Champions League finals — both lost against Real Madrid in 2014 and 2016 — as well as winning two La Liga titles, Simeone has taken the club to their very best moments.

Unfortunately over the past few seasons, since they won La Liga in 2021, the team have fallen from their peak.

“The team needs to evolve to the height the club has,” admitted Simeone in August.

Rivals Real Madrid are looking for evolution too, with Alonso arriving in the summer to replace Carlo Ancelotti.

The Spaniard can match Vanderlei Luxemburgo’s record of seven straight league wins at the start of a season set in 2005 if Los Blancos emerge on top this weekend.

The main force behind Madrid’s excellent results is superstar striker Kylian Mbappe, who leads the scoring charts with seven. The France international ended last season in rich form and has continued that into the new campaign.

Atletico, by contrast, lacked finesse in front of goal until Alvarez netted the first hat-trick of his career against Rayo to climb to four league goals.

“Julian is the best player that we have. We need to look after him, so he stays many years here at Atletico,” said Simeone.

“He has to help us and we have to help him, so he gets even better than he currently is. Each time he scores he makes the difference, he helps us so much.”

Second-placed Barcelona host Real Sociedad on Sunday at the Olympic stadium, hoping Real Madrid drop points so they can close the two-point gap to the top.

Player to watch: Georges Mikautadze

The Georgian striker is starting to find his footing at Villarreal following his move at the end of the summer transfer window.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/football/diego-simeones-atletico-face-early-real-reckoning-in-madrid-derby-9346381

CHICAGO Cubs third baseman Matt Shaw has come under fire for missing a game to go to Charlie Kirk’s memorial.

Shaw drew criticism from fans and broadcasters for missing the game.

Shaw was absent for a 1-0 loss to Cincinnati on Sunday that has turned out to be crucial for the team’s playoff seeding.

“I don’t want to talk about any of the politics of it, but the thought of leaving your team in the middle of a race for any reason other than a family emergency, really strikes me as weird,” opposing broadcaster Gary Cohen said.

The third baseman said he was invited to the memorial by Kirk’s wife and that he was given permission to attend the event.

He said that Kirk’s widow, Erika, texted him and asked him to go.

Shaw further said hat he was “not concerned at all” about any backlash.

He said that Kirk lived in the same apartment complex as him in Arizona and that they connected through their faith.

“Whatever backlash comes is OK,” Shaw said.

“I feel strongly in my faith that was meant to be.

“I felt as though it was something that was really important for me to do.”

Kirk was a native of the Chicago are and would text Shaw after Cubs games.

He posed with Shaw for a picture on the Cubs’ dugout in August.

The game that Shaw missed was part of a five-game skid that the Cubs are currently on.

While Chicago already clinched a spot in the postseason, they are at risk of dropping in the seeding.

As things currently stand, the Cubs have home field advantage for the Wild Card round.

However, the Cubs now hold just a 1.5-game advantage over the San Diego Padres for the top Wild Card spot.

Source : https://www.the-sun.com/sport/15244918/mlb-rookie-matt-shaw-chicago-cubs-charlie-kirk-memorial/

Abhishek Sharma’s scintillating 75 was beautifully complemented by Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy as India comfortably hammered Bangladesh to enter the Asia Cup final.

Abhishek Sharma’s scintillating 75 was beautifully complemented by Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy as India comfortably hammered Bangladesh by 41 runs to enter the Asia Cup final in Dubai on Wednesday. Despite a mediocre batting show that limited India to 168 for six in their second Super 4 match, Bangladesh’s batting never had the wherewithal to chase down a gettable total and were bowled out for 127 in 19.3 overs. Thursday’s Super 4s game between Bangladesh and Pakistan is a ‘virtual semi-final’ and will decide India’s opponent in the summit clash. If Bangladesh’s batting show is any indicator, a third mouth-watering India versus Pakistan contest for the biggest continental prize is very much on the cards.

Opener Saif Hassan (69 off 51 balls) did his bit with some lusty hitting but most of the other batters failed to even reach double digits. Having said that, Saif was lucky to get as many as five reprieves.

Kuldeep Yadav’s (3/18 in 4 overs) craft was too much for them to decode while Varun Chakravarthy (2/29 in 4 overs) also got his share of wickets on a day when Axar Patel (1/37 in 4 overs) was blasted for four sixes.

Jasprit Bumrah (2/18 in 4 overs) also had a good day in office. While some of the other Bangladeshi batters didn’t measure up, right-handed Saif muscled the likes of Axar and Chakravarthy for five huge sixes to keep his team interested but had no support at the other end.

Earlier, Abhishek Sharma blended power with copious amount of grace to smash a 37-ball-75 before indiscreet cricket from the other batters restricted India to a par 168 for six. Abhishek, who is in the middle of a dream phase, hit six fours and five huge sixes in his sizzling effort.

He looked good for a century but a fantastic one handed stop and quick action throw from Rishad Hossan stationed at short third-man sent him back to the dugout.

At the other end, Indian batters played some poor strokes– whether it was Shubman Gill, Tilak Varma or skipper Suryakumar Yadav, who was caught brilliantly down the leg-side by stand-in captain and keeper Jaker Ali.

Team management’s inability to fit Sanju Samson was apparent as he couldn’t be fitted into the top seven.

Having scored 96 in first 10, India managed only 72 in next 10 overs with Axar Patel (10 off 15 balls), promoted ahead of Samson, looking out of place.

For Bangladesh, pacer Tanzim Hasan Sakib (1/29 in 4 overs) looked quicker than what the speedometer displayed and Mustafizur Rahaman (1/33 in 4 overs) as usual used his change of pace deliveries to good effect.

But leg-spinner Rishad Hossain (2/27 in 3 overs) should be given a lot of credit for giving the ball air and getting the prized scalps of Gill and Shivam Dube, usually a fine player of wrist spinners, bringing Bangladesh back in the game after a poor Powerplay.

When India started batting, the first three overs of the Powerplay was uneventful but in the fourth over, Gill and Abhishek took 21 runs off left-arm spinner Nasum Ahmed with a six each in their kitty.

Bangladesh’s most experienced T20 bowler Mustafizur was greeted by Abhishek with a six over long-on that landed near the Indian dugout and bounced into the middle tier.

The over ended with innings 50 completed and Abhishek’s third six — a slashed six over backward point.

India were cruising at 72 for no loss in the powerplay with last three overs costing 56 runs.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/asia-cup-2025/abhishek-sharma-spinners-shine-as-india-storm-into-asia-cup-2025-final-9338532

Pakistan duo of Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan courted plenty of criticism for their on-field gestures during the Asia Cup Super 4 match against India.

The India vs Pakistan Super 4 contest in the Asia Cup 2025 last Sunday turned out to be a battle that wasn’t just limited to the bat and the ball on the cricket field. The gestures by the Pakistan duo of Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan drew plenty of reactions on social media, with several pundits and fans criticising the pair over the immature actions. On the eve of Pakistan’s final Super 4 match of the Asia Cup, against Bangladesh, the team’s pacer Shaheen Afridi was asked about the gestures from Rauf and Farhan on the field.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Shaheen admitted that on-field celebrations really shouldn’t be the focus of the team as they are out their to play cricket.

“Look, our job is to play cricket. Honestly, everyone has the right to express the way they want to,” Shaheen said when asked about the criticism that Haris and Sahibzada have received for their acts against India.

Shaheen looked to downplay the uproar that Pakistan’s on-field behaviour caused, saying “Everyone has their own thoughts”.

“Everyone has their own respect. Everyone thinks the way they think. But our job is to play cricket. And we have come to win the tri-nation Series. We have come to win the Asia Cup. And we, God willing, as a team, are doing our best,” he further said.

Pakistan have already suffered two consecutive defeats against India in the ongoing Asia Cup. The two teams can potentially square off again in the final of the tournament, on September 28. While none of the finalists has been confirmed yet, Shaheen expressed confidence on his team’s ability to finally defeat India if the two teams meet in the title-decider on the coming Sunday.

“They have not reached the final yet. We will see when they reach the final. We have come here to win the final and win the Asia Cup. We are ready for any team that comes. We will defeat them,” he said.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/asia-cup-2025/shaheen-afridi-breaks-silence-on-haris-raufs-provocative-gestures-against-india-9334398

Afghanistan has not played an official women’s competitive game since 2018.

The Afghanistan national women’s soccer team of refugee players has its first official games next month at a four-team tournament in Dubai, FIFA said Wednesday. The FIFA-supported team — which cannot yet officially represent Afghanistan in World Cup qualifying — will face the host United Arab Emirates, Chad and Libya in the Oct. 23-29 event. Afghanistan has not played an official women’s competitive game since 2018, and the return to power of the Taliban regime in 2021 shut down women’s sport. The Afghan soccer federation has obligations under FIFA statutes to avoid discrimination though has not been suspended from international soccer.

The tournament “reinforces FIFA’s efforts to promote and protect the right of all women and girls to play the sport, pursue their footballing dreams and thrive through the game,” the soccer body said.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/football/afghanistan-womens-soccer-team-of-refugees-to-play-first-official-games-at-fifa-backed-event-9335320

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar was extremely critical of the antics shown by the PCB in the ongoing Asia Cup 2025.

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar was extremely critical of the antics shown by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in the ongoing Asia Cup 2025. It all started after the Indian team, led by captain Suryakumar Yadav, decided to skip the customary handshake with the Pakistan players. India’s stance left Pakistan scratching the wall, with the PCB lodging an official complaint to the International Cricket Council (ICC) seeking the removal of match referee Andy Pycroft. In its official mail, the board alleged that Pycroft failed to uphold the spirit of cricket.

While their request was rejected by the global body, the PCB maintained their stance, and even threatened to pull out of their must-win game against the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which was eventually delayed by an hour.

Gavaskar said he didn’t understand the logic behind the PCB’s demand, since handshakes are not mandatory in the lawbook.

“The PCB complaining about it was hard to understand, as there is nothing in the rule books that says handshakes are mandatory. There are many previous instances in different sports where opponents who have clashed have not shaken hands after their match has ended. The ICC quite rightly ignored the protest, if indeed there was one made as per media reports,” Gavaskar wrote in his column for Sportstar.

Gavaskar also suggested that the PCB should be questioned for skipping the mandatory press conference.

“What needs to be looked at is the avoiding of the mandatory media meet on the eve of the match by the Pakistani contingent. They did not have to send the captain, players or the coach. Anyone among the large support staff could have met the media. That did not happen, and it will be interesting to see if any action is taken for avoiding what is mandatory,” he added.

Gavaskar also lashed out at the PCB for causing a delay to their clash against the UAE, saying that no one has the right to hold the game to ransom.

“The other thing that left a sour taste in the mouth is holding up the game and starting it one hour late. If the PCB had any issues to discuss with and about the match referee Andy Pycroft, then it had two full days after their loss to India and before the game against the UAE in which to do so. By keeping everybody in suspense and not even turning up at the ground until almost the toss time, they held the game to ransom,” he wrote.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/asia-cup-2025/sunil-gavaskar-demands-action-after-pakistans-media-act-needs-to-be-looked-at-9329520

Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar minced no words and harshly criticised head coach Mike Hesson for the team’s struggle in the ongoing Asia Cup.

Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar minced no words and harshly criticised head coach Mike Hesson for the team’s struggle in the ongoing Asia Cup. Pakistan faced a big six-wicket defeat against India in the Super Four match against India on Sunday in Dubai. Asked to bat first, Pakistan posted a total of 171/5 in 20 overs with Sahibzada Farhan hitting 58 off 45 balls. Later, India chased down the target with seven balls to spare, courtesy of Abhishek Sharma (74) and Shubman Gill’s (47) 105-run partnership.

After the game, Akhtar slammed Hesson’s strategy and even question the inclusion of captain Salman Ali Agha in the Playing XI.

“The coach should be asked the questions – where are his brains? It is just senseless coaching and senseless selection of the team. It is beyond me – it feels like I am the one who is a fraud, who doesn’t understand a thing after playing 15 years of cricket,” said Akhtar on Tapmad.

“For the last 5-6 matches, we have been saying to pick a certain team, but no. What was Hussain Talat going to do in such a pressure game? What is Mohammad Nawaz’s utility? What is the captain’s utility?” he added.

Talking about the match, Gill and Abhishek put 105 runs together for the first wicket. While Abhishek scored a 74-run knock from 39 balls, Gill added 47 runs from 28 to India’s total.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/asia-cup-2025/shoaib-akhtar-tears-into-senseless-pakistan-coach-mike-hesson-feels-like-i-am-the-fraud-9320911

Amidst a high-octane India-Pakistan clash, Abhishek Sharma and Haris Rauf were involved in a heated exchange.

India opener Abhishek Sharma was involved in a heated altercation with Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf as tensions rose during their Asia Cup 2025 Super Four clash on Sunday. Rauf and Abhishek were involved in a war of words throughout the fifth over of India’s run chase, which ultimately led to umpire Gazi Sohel requiring to intervene as the two went face to face. Even Shubman Gill got involved, saying something to Rauf after slamming a boundary on the final ball of the fifth over. Earlier, Gill was also in the thick of an on-field squabble with Pakistan pacer Shaheen Afridi.

Abhishek and Haris had already exchanged words during the over, but tensions reached fever pitch after the final ball of the over.

As Gill smashed a classy jab through mid-wicket for four on the final ball, Abhishek Sharma appeared to say something to Haris Rauf. Haris didn’t seem too pleased at Abhishek’s gesture, pointing a figure at the Indian opener, as the argument heated up.

On-field umpire Gazi Sohel had to intervene, while Shubman Gill could also be seen saying something to Haris after hitting the boundary.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/asia-cup-2025/india-star-abhishek-sharma-clashes-with-pakistan-pacer-haris-rauf-in-heated-spat-as-tensions-flare-watch-9318705

Fakhar Zaman was given out controversially during the Asia Cup Super Four match between India and Pakistan.

Veteran Pakistan batter Fakhar Zaman was left fuming after being dismissed for 15 runs off nine balls against India in their Asia Cup 2025 Super Four match. Fakhar was given out caught behind, despite doubts surrounding the legality of the catch taken by India wicket-keeper Sanju Samson. The third umpire had a long check to confirm whether the ball had hit the ground or not before being taken by Samson, and ultimately ruled Fakhar out. This left Fakhar in disbelief and shock, and he appeared to be making a verbal gesture to someone while leaving the pitch.

Legendary former Pakistan pacer Waqar Younis echoed Fakhar’s sentiment, expressing his uncertainty over whether it was a clean catch.

“I’m not sure whether the ball carried to Samson. I would want to see another replay,” Waqar said.

Fakhar could barely believe he had been given out, and was evidently angry at the decision, even appearing to say something to someone while walking off. It is unclear who exactly Fakhar was gesturing to.

Visuals showed Fakhar expressing his disapproval of the decision to head coach Mike Hesson before even walking back into the dressing room.

Fakhar had been promoted up the order to open the batting given the indifferent form of regular opener Saim Ayub. Fakhar appeared to justify the decision, hitting a couple of boundaries with authority.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/asia-cup-2025/controversy-strikes-india-pakistan-game-once-again-as-fakhar-zaman-left-completely-livid-over-dismissal-9318113

Caitlin Clark might be on the sidelines during the Fever’s playoff run, but that is not stopping her getting into it with the referees.

Clark, 23, said the WNBA fined her $200 over a comment that she made on Instagram which was seemingly directed at the referees during Indiana’s 77-60 win over the Dream in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series.

The Fever’s official account posted photos of the team’s bench celebrating their victory with the caption “the bench was ROCKIN’ tonight.”

Caitlin Clark might be on the sidelines during the Fever’s playoff run, but that is not stopping her getting into it with the referees.

Clark, 23, said the WNBA fined her $200 over a comment that she made on Instagram which was seemingly directed at the referees during Indiana’s 77-60 win over the Dream in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series.

The Fever’s official account posted photos of the team’s bench celebrating their victory with the caption “the bench was ROCKIN’ tonight.”

“Got fined $200 for this lol,” Clark wrote. “BENCH MOB WILL BE EVEN MORE ROWDY TOMORROW LETS GOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

Fever teammate Sophie Cunningham also poked fun at Clark’s penalty.

Clark posted two replies under the photos, saying “Refs couldn’t stop us” and “Elite bench mob” referring to the two-time All-Star and her teammates on the sidelines.

The 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year then took to X once she learned of the fine, where she ultimately laughed it off.

“That’s gonna really break the bank for her,” Cunningham posted on X in reference to the amount of Clark’s fine. “Starting a GoFundMe now!”

Both Clark and Cunningham have been ruled out for the season, with the Iowa alum being sidelined with a groin injury since July.

After attempting to make a comeback through August, Clark was ultimately ruled out for the year on Sept. 4.

“I had hoped to share a better update, but I will not be returning to play this season,” Clark wrote on X following the news. “I spent hours in the gym every day with the singular goal of getting back out there, disappointed isn’t a big enough word to describe how I am feeling. I want to thank everyone who had my back through all the uncertainty. This has been incredibly frustrating, but even in the bad, there is good.

Source : https://nypost.com/2025/09/20/sports/caitlin-clark-mocks-200-fine-over-social-media-posts-targeting-referees/

Former Chennai Super Kings and Delhi batter Mithun Manhas is set to be named the new BCCI president, multiple reports have confirmed.

First ever from Jammu and Kashmir to play in the Indian Premier League, Mithun Manhas is set to take a big leap forward in Indian cricket by becoming the new Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president. As per a report, Manhas has emerged as the top candidate for the post in the recent meeting in the BCCI. He was previously the convener of the North Zone for Duleep Trophy and he has also worked as a support staff member in the IPL franchise Gujarat Titans. At present, Manhas works as the administrator of the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA).

Manhas never got the opportunity to make his India debut but was a known figure in First Class Cricket. He also played for three IPL franchises – Delhi Daredevils, Pune Warriors and Chennai Super Kings – over the course of his career. His First Class career saw him score 9,714 runs over 157 matches.

As per a report in the Indian Express, Manhas is is the front-runner for the post vacataed by Roger Binny. The report also claims that Karnataka veteran Bhatt is the top candidate for the treasurer’s post while Prabhtej Singh Bhatia from Chhattisgarh Cricket Sangh is likely to get the joint secretary’s post.

However, former India spinner Harbhajan Singh, who has been nominated as Punjab Cricket Association’s representative for the AGM, was not a part of Saturday’s meeting.

It was not immediately clear as to whether former India skipper Sourav Ganguly, who is representing Cricket Association of Bengal in the AGM, attended the meeting in the national capital.

Former India stumper Kiran More too could be in the fray for one of the posts as the ruling BJP is quite keen to have sportspersons in key slots, even though the political party rarely involves itself actively in the affairs of a sports body.

At present, the BCCI is looking to appoint a successor to president Roger Binny and a new IPL chairman as incumbent Arun Dhumal is likely to go for a mandatory cool-off period after completing a cumulative period of six years.

Meanwhile, it has been decided that Pragyan Ojha will replace S Sharath in the national senior men’s selection committee headed by Ajit Agarkar.

Sharath will replace VS Thilak Naidu as the junior selection committee chairman.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/mithun-manhas-former-csk-batter-set-to-be-named-bcci-president-report-9314704

Once a cricket-loving teenager from a small village, Sachin Yadav now competes with the world’s best. After making a statement with a fourth-place finish at the Tokyo World Championships, the 25-year-old is being tipped for Olympic success in Los Angeles. His former coaches highlight what makes him special and why he draws comparisons to Pakistan’s Olympic champion, Arshad Nadeem.

At the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, a name not many outside Indian athletics had marked as a contender shook up the javelin world. Sachin Yadav, just 25, finished fourth — ahead of reigning champion Neeraj Chopra, Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem of Pakistan, and world leader Julian Weber of Germany — three of the pre-event favourites.

It was the kind of performance that forces a sport to sit up and take notice. And for those watching closely, it was not entirely out of the blue. Observers had long pointed to his tall frame and whiplash release, often likening him to Arshad Nadeem. Those comparisons only sharpened in Tokyo, where Sachin stood shoulder to shoulder with the best — and looked entirely at home.

Training under reputed coach Naval Singh in New Delhi, Sachin, 25, crossed his personal best not once but three times at the World Championships, proving he was not overawed by the occasion in his maiden world final. On a humid Tokyo day where several big names faltered, he opened with a statement throw of 86.27m and went past 85m on three occasions. In the end, he missed a historic medal by just 40 centimetres, finishing behind American Curtis Thompson.

What has stood out is his consistency, separating him from the growing assembly line of Neeraj Chopra-inspired throwers across India. Nine of his 10 throws over 80m have come since the start of the 2024 season.

A strong frame. Broad shoulders. Natural athleticism. And now, potential meeting performance.

Sachin’s journey began far from the spotlight, in a small village in Uttar Pradesh. Like many teenagers in the region, cricket was his first love. He bowled fast, and on dusty village pitches, his rhythm was hard to miss. One afternoon, during a casual match, a neighbour — athlete Sandeep Yadav — spotted something others hadn’t.

Sandeep urged Sachin to try javelin. It was an unusual switch for a teenager who had never trained seriously in athletics, but under Sandeep’s guidance, Sachin took his first steps into a discipline that would soon redefine his life. What started as curiosity quickly turned into results. The arm that once delivered cricket balls began hurling javelins over remarkable distances.

MENTORS WHO SAW A SPARK
By the time he was 21, Sachin was throwing respectably but lacked the refinement and exposure needed to climb higher. It was then he reached out to Michael Musselmann, a coach from Peru who had become an unlikely lifeline for Indian javelin through his Facebook page.

“Sachin is a real talent. I first heard about him in 2019. He approached me and asked if I could coach him a little bit. He was throwing 75 then. It was difficult to coach him virtually. But, at 21, he didn’t take it very seriously. And then Samarjeet, who is a friend of mine, took care of him for two years and this is when he really made the jump,” Musselmann recalls in an exclusive chat with IndiaToday.in.

Musselmann’s page had already become something of a hub — a space where aspiring throwers could seek advice, technical feedback, or even financial support. Sachin was one of many who leaned on him, but few with the same natural gifts.

In 2022, Sachin came under the wing of Samarjeet Singh, who was already building a reputation after working with Kishore Jena, Asia Games 2022 silver medallist. For Samarjeet, Sachin was raw but brimming with capacity.

“I am very happy for him. He trained with me for two years, going from 74m to 81m. He stayed at my place for two years. He was very dedicated,” Samarjeet says.

The work was hands-on and intensive. Samarjeet began with the basics: correcting coordination issues, stabilising Sachin’s body through the throw, and building his diet and strength.

“At the start, he had a bit of an issue with his coordination. But, he is getting better at that now. When he came to me first, he had issues with falling over a bit too much. We worked on his block leg extensively. We got good results. When he was staying at my place, he was focusing on his diet and upper body. We worked on the block leg. He was not distracted at all. He is firmly focused on his goal,” he explains.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/athletics/story/world-athletics-championships-michael-musselmann-on-sachin-yadav-neeraj-chopra-arshdad-nadeem-2790148-2025-09-19

Arshdeep bowled four overs for India against Oman on Friday and picked up 1 wicket for 37 runs.

Arshdeep Singh entered his name in the history books on Friday, September 19, by becoming the fastest pacer in the world to take 100 wickets in T20Is. The 26-year-old left-arm pacer from Punjab broke Rizwan Butt’s record. Butt picked up his 100th T20I wicket for Bahrain in his 66th match.

Arshdeep opened his wicket account for India against Oman on the first ball of the 20th over. Rinku Singh completed Vinayak Shukla’s catch to help Arshdeep break the record.

The overall record of being the fastest bowler in the world to take 100 wickets in T20Is is in the name of Rashid Khan. Rashid picked up his 100th T20I wicket in the 53rd match.

The wicket of Vinayak also helped Arshdeep become the first Indian bowler in the world to take 100 wickets in T20Is.

Source : https://www.news18.com/cricket/arshdeep-singh-becomes-fastest-pacer-in-the-world-to-take-100-wickets-in-t20is-ws-l-9584446.html

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) are set to face the wrath of the ICC over a video they posted of match referee Andy Pycroft’s interaction with a key member of the Pakistan team. Earlier, the Men in Green had called for Pycroft’s removal, which was rejected.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) are set to come hard at the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) after they posted a video on social media of Andy Pycroft talking to the Pakistan team before their game against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Wednesday (September 17) at the Dubai International Stadium in the 2025 Asia Cup 2025.
It has emerged that the ICC’s CEO, Sanjog Gupt, has written an email to the PCB over repeated violations before the game. The world cricket governing body has stated that they are reviewing the action over the incident. The issue has emerged in the Players and Match Officials Area (PMOA), with Pakistan accused of unauthorised filming inside and also allowing access to unauthorised individuals.
It has further emerged that Pakistan were told not to take media manager Naeem Gilani into the match referee’s room. However, they did not listen to the request and threatened to boycott the game if he was not allowed.

PCB’s statement before the match claiming Pycroft apologised to them has also been objected to by ICC. The world cricket governing body has stated that he ‘merely conveyed regret about a miscommunication.’

Defending champion Neeraj Chopra crashed out of the World Championships’ men’s javelin throw final after the fifth round with a best of effort 84.03m that left him eighth overall in Tokyo

Defending champion Neeraj Chopra endured a nightmarish outing at the World Championships’ men’s javelin throw finals to end a disappointing eighth, outperformed by debutant compatriot Sachin Yadav who logged a personal best performance to finish a creditable fourth in Tokyo on Thursday. On a day when no thrower managed to cross 90m, Chopra was ousted after the fifth and penultimate round with a best effort of 84.03m that left him eighth overall.

The 27-year-old fouled the fifth attempt to exit the competition at the same venue where he won a history-making Olympic gold back in 2021.

Only the top six athletes compete in the sixth and final round and it was surprisingly Yadav who ended up being India’s representative.

His best throw of 86.27m, which came in the very first attempt, was a personal best performance and he bested not just Chopra but also German star Julian Weber (86.11m), and Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem (82.75m) among others.

The gold went Keshorn Walcott (88.16m) of Trinidad and Tobago, followed Grenada’s Anderson Peters (87.38m) and Curtis Thompson (86.67m).

Nadeem, a silver-medallist in the previous edition, was among the first set of throwers to exit in the fourth round.

Chopra, a two-time Olympic medallist, began with 83.65m which put him at fifth place and improved upon it with 84.03m before fouling his third throw.

He dropped to eighth after the second round and remained there at the halfway stage.

His fourth throw measured 82.86m, which meant that he had to better 85.54m and Kenya’s Julius Yego in his fifth throw to remain in competition.

But Chopra fouled his fifth attempt to end the day in disappointment.

After releasing his spear, he fell down sideways and crossed the curved line to see the red flag from the official. He removed his waist belt and buried his face in it for a while before regaining composure.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/athletics/neeraj-chopra-fails-to-defend-world-championship-title-finishes-8th-arshad-nadeem-10th-9301065

Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan Highlights, Asia Cup 2025: With the defeat, Afghanistan crashed out of the tournament, allowing Bangladesh to join Sri Lanka in the Super Four stage from Group B.

Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan, Asia Cup 2025 Highlights Kusal Mendis slammed an unbeaten 74 as Sri Lanka beat Afghanistan by six wickets in their pool match in Abu Dhabi. With the defeat, Afghanistan crashed out of the tournament, allowing Bangladesh to join Sri Lanka in the Super Four stage from Group B. Chasing 170, Sri Lanka needed to score just 101 to qualify, which they did in the 13th over. Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, following Thursday’s result, joined India and Pakistan in the Super Four stage, which gets underway on Saturday. Earlier, Mohammad Nabi slammed a 22-ball 60 to steer Afghanistan to 169/8 in their must-win match. Struggling at 137/7 after 19 overs, Nabi went berserk in the final over as he slammed Dunith Wellalage for five sixes.

Asia Cup 2025 : Thanks for tuning in!

The Asia Cup Super Four lineup is now complete. Sri Lanka march on undefeated. India will be in action tomorrow against Oman in the final game before the Super Four stage. They also have the chance to enter the next phase as undefeated. Do join us tomorrow for the live coverage of that game. That’s it from us!

Asia Cup 2025 : Afghanistan are eliminated!

The World Athletics Championship saw a fascinating contest in the men’s javelin qualification round. After struggling for months to reach his peak, Neeraj got the job done in just one throw. Arshad Nadeem, the Olympic champion, nearly got knocked out in the first round.

It was a tale of the first and the last throw in the men’s javelin qualification on September 17, as defending champion Neeraj Chopra and Olympic champion Arshad Nadeem booked their places in the final of the World Athletics Championships. But between those two throws – the first from Neeraj and the last from Nadeem – there was plenty of drama that kept the crowd on their feet in Tokyo.

Twelve athletes qualified for the final out of a 37-member field. Seven – Anderson Peters, Julian Weber, Julius Yego, Dawid Wegner, Arshad Nadeem, Neeraj Chopra and Curtis Thompson – achieved direct qualification. The seven, seemingly gifted with strength from the gods, breached the automatic qualification mark of 84.50 metres, while the remaining five had to fight their nerves in a tense qualification round in hot and humid Tokyo.

Amid the palpable tension of the men’s 200m heats, where the competition was fierce, the Tokyo crowd gave a rousing reception to reigning world champion Neeraj Chopra.

One and Done: Neeraj Chopra

Asia Cup 2025 was witness to huge drama on Wednesday, as at one point it looked like Pakistan might pull out of the continental event

Asia Cup 2025 was witness to huge drama on Wednesday, as at one point it looked like Pakistan might pull out of the continental event. This was because they did not leave their hotel at the scheduled time for the game against the UAE. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had been threatening a boycott after Indian players, led by Suryakumar Yadav, did not shake hands with the Pakistan side on September 14, leaving them in an embarrassing situation. The PCB was unhappy with the role of match referee Andy Pycroft, alleging him to be biased. The PCB even complained to the International Cricket Council (ICC), seeking the removal of Pycroft from the Asia Cup.

However, the ICC gave a six-point rebuttal to the PCB, maintaining that the Board’s complaints were baseless. In fact, Pycroft was the match referee for the Pakistan vs. UAE Asia Cup 2025 match.

PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi, who is also the Asian Cricket Council Chief, explained the decision behind the team not pulling out.

“As you all know, there has been a crisis going on since September 14. We had objections about the role of the match referee. Just a short while ago, the match referee had a conversation with the team coach, captain, and manager. He said that the incident (no handshakes) should not have happened. We had also requested the ICC earlier to set up an inquiry into the code violation during the match,” Naqvi told reporters on Wednesday.

“We believe that politics and sports can’t go together. This is sport, and let it remain a sport. Cricket should be separate from all this. I requested Sethi Saab and Rameez Raja Saab. If we had to go for a boycott, which was a very big decision, the prime minister, government officials, and many other people were also involved, and we got their full support. We were monitoring the issue.”

The ICC, in its letter to the PCB, said: “The ICC’s investigation was conducted on the basis of the information provided in the report lodged by the PCB. We took the report at face value and note that no supporting documentation or evidence was provided with it.

“The PCB had every opportunity to submit statements from its team members alongside the initial report but chose not to do so.” The world body said that there was “no case to answer” on the part of the match referee.

“The actions that the match referee took, following clear directions from the ACC (Asian Cricket Council) Venue Manager, were consistent with how a match referee would deal with such an issue, communicated as it was with no time for him to do anything else (minutes before the toss).”

The ICC was clear that Pycroft was committed to “preserving the sanctity of the toss and avoiding any potential embarrassment that might have arisen.”

“The Match Referee was not at fault in any of this. It is not the role of the Match Referee to regulate team or tournament-specific protocols which have been agreed upon outside of the area of play; that is a matter for the tournament organizers and relevant team managers,” the ICC added.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/asia-cup-2025/pcb-chief-mohsin-naqvi-explains-why-pakistan-did-not-pull-out-of-asia-cup-despite-icc-rejecting-its-demands-9296887

THE Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles faced off in a Super Bowl rematch on Sunday, and the Eagles once again won the matchup.

However, this time the game was much closer, with the Eagles just edging out the win 20-17.

There were some big swings in the game, including a massive error from Travis Kelce and some deep balls from both Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts.

On top of that, the Eagles went to work with the Tush Push once again, with many fans calling for the play to be banned.

Should the NFL stop the Eagles from running the Tush Push? Did Kelce cost the Chiefs a win?

Those questions and more were answered on the latest episode of The U.S. SunSport’s Football Xs and Os.

KELCE’S TIP DRILL

After Suryakumar Yadav’s no-handshake following the India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 Group A game, reactions have been coming in thick and fast. However, former Pakistan player Mohammad Yousuf did the unthinkable

After Suryakumar Yadav’s no-handshake following the India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 Group A game, reactions have been coming in thick and fast. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and its players were miffed by what Yadav did, but none stooped to the level of former Pakistan player Mohammad Yousuf. The batting great, with over 17,000 international runs, repeatedly called Suryakumar Yadav a “pig” during a discussion about the handshake row on a Pakistani TV channel. Even the anchor was shocked and kept correcting him, but Yousuf continued to abuse Suryakumar Yadav.

“India are unable to get out of their filmy world. India should be ashamed of the way they are trying to win—using umpires, torturing (Pakistan) through the match referee. It is a high note,” said Yousuf on Samaa TV. He then began referring to Suryakumar as a “pig.”

Social media users fumed over the comment made by Yousuf, who played 288 ODIs, 90 Tests, and 3 T20Is for Pakistan between 1998 and 2010.

Meanwhile, the International Cricket Council (ICC) is expected to reject the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) demand for the removal of match referee Andy Pycroft following the India-Pakistan Asia Cup clash in Dubai, ICC sources have revealed.

The PCB had lodged a complaint against Pycroft, accusing him of violating the ICC Code of Conduct and the MCC laws relating to the spirit of cricket. The complaint came after Team India refused to shake hands with Pakistan players following their match at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

The flashpoint occurred when no handshakes were exchanged either before or after the game—a decision that left the Pakistan camp upset. According to Suryakumar Yadav, India’s T20I captain, the team had taken this decision in consultation with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Indian government, opting to forgo the customary gesture of goodwill.

However, ICC sources have indicated that the PCB’s request will be denied.

“The Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) request to remove Andy Pycroft (India-Pakistan match referee) is set to be officially rejected. If the ICC accepts their demand, it will set a wrong precedent. PCB will be informed by the ICC. Expect no official statement,” an ICC source told ANI.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/asia-cup-2025/pakistan-cricket-stoops-to-pathetic-low-mohammad-yousuf-targets-suryakumar-yadav-with-pig-jibe-after-handshake-row-9286913

PCB had written a letter to the ICC holding match referee Andy Pycroft responsible for the no-handshake fiasco in the Asia Cup Group A match against India.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) is reportedly expected to reject the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) demand to remove Andy Pycroft from the panel of match referees for the ongoing Asia Cup 2025. PCB had earlier written a letter to the apex body holding the 69-year-old responsible for the no-handshake fiasco that sparked fresh tensions between the two arch-rivals.

Indian players’ refusal to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts after their Asia Cup win on Sunday at the Dubai International Stadium snowballed into quite a controversy. Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav justified the act, saying that it was meant to show solidarity with the families of the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack, which had occurred earlier this year, where 26 civilians were gunned down by terrorists.

PCB was left fuming at India’s act. Firstly, Pakistan team manager Naved Cheema filed a complaint with the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), headed by Mohsin Naqvi, who is also the PCB chief, alleging that it was Pycroft who initiated the no-handshake storm at the toss. Later, PCB sought ICC’s intervention, threatening to pull out of the tournament if their demand to remove Pycroft from the panel of referees was not met. “The PCB has lodged a complaint with the ICC regarding violations by the Match Referee of the ICC Code of Conduct and the MCC Laws pertaining to the Spirit of Cricket. The PCB has demanded an immediate removal of the Match Referee from the Asia Cup,” Naqvi said on ‘X’.

Although the ICC has yet to issue an official response, Cricbuzz reported that the governing body is unlikely to heed PCB’s demand as it found no sufficient grounds to act on it. In fact, the report added that the ICC saw a minimal role in the entire handshake fiasco.

“The dominant view within the ICC is that Pycroft had only a minimal role in the handshake episode, and that all he may have done was convey a message to the Pakistan captain to avoid the public embarrassment of one captain refusing to shake hands with the other at the toss. The general view is that it would set a wrong precedent to change a match official at the demand of one member when, prima facie, he had no serious role in the controversy that arose after Indian players refused to shake hands with their Pakistan counterparts following an Asia Cup league fixture on Sunday (September 14) night at the Dubai International Stadium,” the report read.

What has ICC got to do with it? Someone from ACC got in touch with Pyrcroft

A separate report in the Times of India revealed that Pycroft is speculated to have followed instructions from someone in the ACC and urged the two captains not to shake hands at the toss.

“What has ICC got to do with it? The role ends when the officials are appointed. Someone from the ACC had a chat with Pycroft before the game and what happened at the toss was a result of the chat. About time PCB chief finds out what happened at the toss was a result of the chat. About time PCB chief finds out what that chat was, who did it and why. Instead of pointing fingers at ICC to further fuel fire,” a source tracking the developments told TOI.

It is yet to be seen what PCB does next, having threatened to pull out of the tournament if their demands are not met. “All this talk and posting on social media is good for the optics and narrative back home, but it makes very little sense. If they had a problem with India not shaking hands, even that’s mandatory,” added the source.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/icc-to-shut-door-on-pcb-s-andy-pycroft-plea-amid-pakistans-asia-cup-boycott-threat-referee-acted-on-accs-message-101757958436557.html

Mondo Duplantis completed a hat-trick of World Championships medals, reaffirming his peerless status in men’s pole vault. And he did it in breathtaking fashion — breaking the world record for the 14th time, and for a staggering fourth time this year, by soaring over 6.30m in Tokyo on Monday, 15 September.

A generational athlete in the company of Usain Bolt, Simone Biles and Michael Phelps, Duplantis once again turned sport into theatre, delivering a spectacle that only he and the pole vault fraternity can conjure.

It seemed as though Duplantis was determined not to leave Tokyo — the city where he first claimed Olympic gold in 2021 — without yet another world record. He roused the crowd, transformed rivals into cheerleaders, and produced moments of magic that will live long in memory.

The atmosphere was in stark contrast to when he won the gold in the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 when there were only limited fans due to Covid-19 pandemic.

He cleared 6.30m with his third and final attempt, ending Day 3 of the championships on a rousing, almost cinematic note.

The quality of the 12-man field was unprecedented: seven athletes cleared 5.90m — a first in World Championships history. Yet, the battle for gold quickly distilled into a two-man showdown: Duplantis versus Emmanouil Karalis.

Karalis, the Greek star, was magnificent in his own right. He cleared the 6m mark, attempted 6.10m — which would have been a personal best — and then, inspired by Duplantis, raised the bar to 6.20m. He was unable to conquer the improbable, though, and settled for silver at 6m, having run out of attempts after misses at 6.10m and 6.15m.

Duplantis, having already secured gold, turned his sights to history. On the eve of the event, he had promised to chase the world record and better his 6.29m mark set just last month in Budapest.

He came agonisingly close on his first try, his fingertips clipping the bar on the way down. His second attempt missed by a whisker too. With five minutes on the clock for his third, the National Stadium was brimming with tension.

SILVER MEDALIST TURNS CHEERLEADER

In one of the evening’s most touching moments, Karalis — rival and friend — sat beside Duplantis, holding a fan to help him cool down. Moments later, Karalis was leading the cheers, orchestrating the crowd as Duplantis prepared for his final run-up. It was sport at its purest: competition, camaraderie, and shared theatre.

And then it happened. Duplantis ran hard, soared, and cleared 6.30m — his fourth world record of the year. The stadium erupted.

He sprinted straight into Karalis’s arms, embracing the man who had cheered him on in the moment of truth. In the stands, his father wept with joy. On the track, Duplantis sealed the moment with a passionate kiss to his girlfriend.

“It’s better than I could have imagined. To give you guys this world record is amazing. The crowd was so loud. Thank you so much. I’m just so happy,” Duplantis said, beaming.

Tokyo has already provided track and field fans with unforgettable moments — Melissa Jefferson-Wooden stunning a star-studded field to win 100m gold, Noah Lyles finally losing his crown in the 100m to Jamaica in front of Usain Bolt, and a photo-finish marathon.

But on Monday night, Duplantis’s love story with Tokyo may just have eclipsed them all.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/athletics/story/world-athletics-championships-mondo-duplantis-pole-vault-world-record-2787812-2025-09-15

Anandkumar Velkumar made history by clinching India’s first-ever World Championship title in the senior men’s 1000m speed skating event in China. Krish Sharma also secured gold in the junior 1000m sprint, marking a memorable day for Indian speed skating.

India scripted a historic moment in global skating as Anandkumar Velkumar clinched the country’s first-ever gold at the Speed Skating World Championships in China. The 22-year-old speedster powered to victory in the senior men’s 1000 m sprint with a timing of 1:24.924, becoming India’s first world champion in the sport.

The triumph came just a day after Velkumar had secured a historic bronze in the 500m sprint at the same championships in Beidaihe, clocking 43.072s to claim India’s first senior Worlds medal. Adding to the historic evening, Krish Sharma claimed the junior 1000 m sprint gold, completing a remarkable double for India at the championships.

Earlier this year, he had also made his mark at the World Games in Chengdu, earning a bronze in the 1000m sprint, India’s first medal in roller sports at the Games. Velkumar’s meteoric rise has been defined by a series of landmark achievements that have steadily put India on the global skating map.

In 2021, he won silver in the 15 km elimination at the Junior World Championships, signalling his potential at the international stage. Two years later, he helped India win bronze in the 3000m team relay at the Asian Games in Hangzhou.

His World Games bronze in Chengdu in 2025 marked India’s first medal in roller sports at that prestigious event. Just days later, he added two more feathers to his cap with a bronze in the 500m sprint and a gold in the 1000m sprint at the World Championships, becoming India’s first-ever World Champion in speed skating.

Velkumar’s consistency and world-beating performances have shattered barriers in a sport traditionally dominated by European, Latin American, and East Asian athletes. His victories are already being hailed as revolutionary, signalling a turning point for Indian roller sports.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/athletics/story/india-speed-skating-golds-anandkumar-velkumar-krish-sharma-world-championships-2787831-2025-09-15

Amid PCB’s demand to remove match referee Andy Pycroft, a report has claimed that he was following instructions from a member at the Asian Cricket Council, whose chief is Mohsin Naqvi, the Pakistan board chairman.

The India vs Pakistan ‘no handshake’ row has snowballed into a big controversy, with the Pakistan Cricket Board demanding the removal of the match referee Andy Pycroft, over what transpired in the Asia Cup 2025 match on Sunday. Team India’s decision to not shake hands with the members of the Pakistan team remained intact from the toss to the end of the contest. At the start of the match, Pycroft informed the Pakistan skipper, Salman Ali Agha, that he should avoid approaching Suryakumar for a handshake. However, such an ‘unsportsmanlike’ request from the match referee infuriated the Pakistan Cricket Board.

PCB even threatened to boycott its upcoming match against the UAE, informing the International Cricket Council (ICC) that it wants Pycroft removed immediately. However, a report in the Times of India has claimed that the match referee was following instructions from the Asian Cricket Council, whose chief is Mohsin Naqvi (also the PCB chairman), before the match.

“What has ICC got to do with it? Their role ends when the officials are appointed. Someone from the ACC had a chat with Pycroft before the game, and what happened at the toss was a result of that chat. It’s about time the PCB chief finds out what that chat was, who did it, and why-instead of pointing fingers at the ICC to further fuel the fire,” a source tracking developments told the news outlet.

In its official protest on the matter, Pakistan also labelled India’s decision not to shake hands with Pakistan players as ‘non-sporting’. However, no rule in the book of MCC’s laws states that shaking hands with the opponent team is mandatory for players. It isn’t considered anything more than a goodwill gesture.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/asia-cup-2025/big-twist-in-no-handshake-row-asian-body-headed-by-pak-cricket-chief-gave-message-says-report-9284320

Legendary footballer Lionel Messi has sent his signed Argentina 2022 FIFA World Cup jersey for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 75th birthday on September 17.

Legendary footballer Lionel Messi has sent his signed Argentina 2022 FIFA World Cup jersey for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 75th birthday on September 17. Messi is scheduled to tour India later this year from December 13-15. As per his tour’s itinerary, the striker will first land in football-crazy Kolkata on December 13 before heading to Mumbai the next day. The Argentine great will conclude his visit in New Delhi on December 15, where he is likely to meet PM Modi. “Messi has sent a signed jersey for PM Modi’s 75th birthday. When he comes to India, we will try to arrange his meeting with the PM. He has wished well for the Indian fans, and he is happy to come to New Delhi and Mumbai for the first time and meet his fans there,” Satadru Dutta, the sports entrepreneur and promoter of Messi’s tour, told IANS on Monday.

“He will come to India on December 13, first in Kolkata and then head to Mumbai on December 14 before leaving for New Delhi on December 15. He will have events in Salt Lake Stadium, Wankhede Stadium and Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium,” he added.

According to the Argentine Football Association (AFA), the world champions will are scheduled to play a friendly in November in Kerala. If things go as planned, Messi is likely to lead that side for a friendly match during the FIFA international match window, the Kerala Sports Minister V. Abdurahiman had confirmed.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/football/lionel-messi-sends-signed-world-cup-jersey-for-pm-narendra-modis-75th-birthday-9282053

Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir expressed his solidarity with the families of the Pahalgam terrorist attack victims

After India’s thumping 7-wicket win over Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025 on Sunday, head coach Gautam Gambhir expressed his solidarity with the families of the Pahalgam terrorist attack victims. Speaking with the broadcasters, the Indian head coach also thanked the Indian armed forces for successfully executing Operation Sindoor.

“As a team, we wanted to show solidarity to victims of the Pahalgam attack. Thanks to our soldiers for Operation Sindoor,” Gambhir said.

Gambhir’s statement came after skipper Suryakumar Yadav dedicated India’s Asia Cup win against Pakistan to the Indian Armed Forces. Speaking at the post-match presentation, Suryakumar said the Indian cricket team stands in solidarity with the victims of the unfortunate terrorist attack that happened earlier this year, in April.

“Just wanted to say something. Perfect occasion, taking the time out, we stand by the victims of the families of the Pahalgam terror attack. We express our solidarity. Want to dedicate the win to all our armed forces who showed a lot of bravery. Hope they continue to inspire us all and we give them more reasons on the ground whenever we get an opportunity to make them smile,” the Indian captain said.

India Beat Pakistan By 7 Wickets

Earlier, Sahibzada Farhan scored a valiant 40 off 44 balls, but the rest of the Pakistani batters cut a sorry figure on a docile track. Shaheen Afridi hit a 16-ball 33 not out towards the end to take Pakistan past 125. Spinners Kuldeep Yadav (3/18) and Axar Patel (2/18) helped India restrict Pakistan to 127 for nine after Salman Agha opted to bat first.

In reply, India completed the chase in 15.5 overs with skipper Suryakumar Yadav (47 not out off 37 balls), Abhishek Sharma (31 off 13) and Tilak Varma (31 off 31) making significant contributions.

Source : https://www.news18.com/cricket/this-ones-for-pahalgam-victims-gautam-gambhir-breaks-silence-dedicates-indias-asia-cup-win-over-pakistan-to-soldiers-ws-l-9571946.html

Indian cricket team skipper Suryakumar Yadav dedicated their win over Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025 to the Indian armed forces and also said that they stand by the victims of the families of the Pahalgam terror attack.

Indian cricket team captain Suryakumar Yadav dedicated the team’s win over Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025 to the Indian armed forces and said that they also stand by the families of the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack. India were extremely dominant, as the Suryakumar-led side registered a comprehensive seven-wicket win over Pakistan in the Group A encounter.

“Perfect occasion, taking the time out – we stand by the families of the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack. We express our solidarity. Want to dedicate the win to all our armed forces who showed a lot of bravery. Hope they continue to inspire us all, and we give them more reasons on the ground whenever we get an opportunity to make them smile,” said the India captain at the post-match presentation.

There was a lot of chatter surrounding the India-Pakistan match due to the rising political tension between the two nations. Things escalated after the terror attack in Pahalgam, where 26 tourists were killed in April. In May, India retaliated with Operation Sindoor, targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan, which led to a tense military standoff that eventually de-escalated following Pakistan’s request for a ceasefire.

Yadav added that the match was “just another game” for the team.

“Great feeling and a perfect return gift to India. Human tendency that it keeps running in your mind when you think about it (his earlier line about the win being a return gift). You definitely want to win it, and when you win it, you have it ready. One box that I always wanted to tick – stay there and bat till the end,” Yadav said.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/asia-cup-2025/suryakumar-yadav-dedicates-indias-asia-cup-win-vs-pakistan-to-armed-forces-stand-by-families-of-pahalgam-victims-9277117

Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka Asia Cup: Sri Lanka registered an excellent victory over Bangladesh in their opening Asia Cup 2025 match.

Sri Lanka have sealed a six-wicket victory over Bangladesh in their crucial Asia Cup 2025 clash, in Abu Dhabi. Sri Lanka pacers Nuwan Thushara and Dushmantha Chameera and spinner Wanindu Hasaranga bowled brilliantly, as Bangladesh managed 139/5 in 20 overs. Thushara and Chameera bowled wicket maidens to start their spells, helping Sri Lanka become only the second-ever T20I team to bowl two maidens to start an innings. Bangladesh were tottering at 53/5 at one stage, before a record 86-run sixth-wicket stand between Shamim Hossain (42*) and Jaker Ali (41*) rescued them. In response, Pathum Nissanka slammed a half-century and Kamil Mishara took advantage of a dropped to chance to guide Sri Lanka to victory with 5.2 overs to spare. As a result, Sri Lanka clinch victory in their opening Group B match of the Asia Cup.

Asia Cup 2025: Tickets for the highly anticipated India vs Pakistan clash remain unsold, contrary to expectations. In an unprecedentedly slow uptake, seats are still available in nearly half the stands of the 25,000-capacity Dubai International Cricket Stadium for Sunday’s game.

Despite the historic hype surrounding India-Pakistan cricket encounters, tickets for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025 group-stage clash in Dubai remain unsold more than ten days after going on sale. The match, scheduled for September 14 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, was expected to sell out rapidly, especially given the precedent of the Champions Trophy 2023 at the same venue, which saw all tickets snapped up in under four minutes. Yet, as of Thursday evening, tickets were still up for grabs.

Ticktes in nearly 50 percent of the stands at the Dubai stadium remained available as of 9 pm IST on Thursday. Prices for those available started from USD 99, with premium seats costing USD 4,534 (Rs 4 lakh approximatley).

Ticket sales began on 29 August through the official partner, Platinumlist. With the base price for group-stage matches of the Asia Cup set at USD 13, lower-priced stands were sold out for the India-Pakistan clash. A special package, which included seven matches with the marquee fixture, was also offered for approximately AED 14,000.

An Emirates Cricket Board (ECB) official expressed surprise at the tepid response, noting that tickets for the previous India-Pakistan Champions Trophy meeting in February had sold out in under four minutes. Another ECB official maintained that “bookings were encouraging” and dismissed concerns about slow sales. Yet, the reality of unsold seats more than 10 days after sales opened marks a stark departure from previous high-profile fixtures.

BOYCOTT CALLS PLAYING A ROLE?

India’s D Gukesh’s struggles at the FIDE Grand Swiss continued on Thursday. The Indian Grandmaster lost his third match in a row, sparking major concerns in the chess community.

World champion D Gukesh fell to his third loss in a row at the FIDE Grand Swiss tournament on Thursday, September 11. The Indian Grandmaster lost to 16-year-old Turkish GM Ediz Gurel in the seventh round of the tournament. Having lost to USA’s Abhimanyu Mishra and Nikolas Theodorou of Greece, Gukesh was not able to make the most of his rest day at the tournament. The 19-year-old blundered a bishop in the endgame to extend his losing streak.

Sanjay Manjrekar has highlighted the cruel fate faced by Kuldeep Yadav with a tongue-in-cheek statement.

Kuldeep Yadav delivered a sensational bowling performance – picking up four wickets, including three in one over – as India thrashed United Arab Emirates (UAE) in their opening Asia Cup 2025 clash. Following the match, former India cricketer and reputed expert Sanjay Manjrekar lamented the cruel fate of Kuldeep when it comes to Indian cricket. Manjrekar credited Kuldeep for delivering despite often being dropped for long spells, and joked that Kuldeep may get dropped again after a stellar performance against UAE.

“Now that Kuldeep Yadav has taken three wickets in one over, he will not play the next game, because that’s how India treats him,” joked Manjrekar, speaking on Sony Sports.

“When he plays well, he gets dropped. He got four wickets, so there’s no way he’s going to play the next match,” Manjrekar added.

“I’m kidding, but this is what Kuldeep Yadav’s career is all about. In between getting dropped, he does some real magic. When you look at his numbers, be it Tests or ODIs or T20Is, they are incredible. But he is one of the dispensable players in the Indian side, but that’s his fate,” Manjrekar said.

Manjrekar’s words are backed up by Kuldeep’s statistics. Despite making his debut in 2017, Kuldeep has played only 13 Tests and 41 T20Is till date.

For much of his career, Kuldeep has had to compete against the likes of Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal, Varun Chakravarthy and Ravi Bishnoi for limited spinner spots in the Indian teams across formats.

Despite his scattered appearances, Kuldeep boasts an average of under 27 in ODIs, only 22.16 in Tests and a sensational 13.39 in T20Is.

On Wednesday, Kuldeep was the pick of the Indian bowlers as they bundled out UAE for just 57.

Coming in to bowl after the powerplay, Kuldeep took three wickets in the ninth over of the UAE innings, triggering their sudden collapse. In that over, UAE went from 48/2 to 50/5.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/asia-cup-2025/he-wont-play-the-next-game-sanjay-manjrekars-joke-exposes-team-indias-mistreatment-of-kuldeep-yadav-9254464

Competing in her first international tournament since the Paris Olympics, Nikhat Zareen endured a scrappy women’s 51kg round of 16 contest to secure a unanimous decision against Japan’s Yuna Nishinaka.

Two-time world champion Nikhat Zareen survived a gritty contest, while debutant Minakshi impressed on her maiden appearance as both Indian boxers advanced into the quarterfinals of the World Boxing Championships on Tuesday. Competing in her first international tournament since the Paris Olympics, Nikhat endured a scrappy women’s 51kg round of 16 contest to secure a unanimous decision against Japan’s Yuna Nishinaka. Minakshi, who received a first-round bye, began her campaign with a commanding 5-0 win against China’s Wang Qiuping in the 48kg event, which is a non-Olympic category.

Indian men’s challenge, however, continued to falter. Lakshya Chahar (80kg) became the seventh male pugilist to exit the competition, losing his round-of-16 bout 0-3 to France’s Yojerlin Cesar.

This followed Monday’s triple blow when Sumit Kundu (75kg), Sachin Siwach (60kg) and Asian Games bronze medallist Narender Berwal (90 kg) all bowed out in the pre-quarterfinals.

Nikhat survives Nishinaka scare

Though the scoreline suggested a comfortable win, the 21-year-old Japanese provided stiff resistance to the seasoned Indian.

Nishinaka troubled Nikhat with constant clinching and was docked two points for excessive holding.

Both boxers started aggressively, surging forward with intent. Nikhat landed a couple of early hooks, but the round was fragmented by repeated tangles, and the Japanese fighter edged it 3-2 on the cards.

In the second, Nikhat adjusted, landing cleaner shots while Nishinaka continued to tie her up by hooking her arm around the Indian’s neck. The 29-year-old responded with sharper counters, taking the round 4-1.

The pattern continued in the final three minutes, with the referee penalising Nishinaka again for persistent clinching. Nikhat did just enough to hold her advantage, grinding out the victory to stay on course for a third World championships medal.

“Not a very good bout though I won by unanimous decision. But I am really happy to enter in the quarterfinal,” Nikhat said after the win.

“I am feeling good. It has been a year since I participated in an international comp. This is my first tournament since Pars Olympics,” added the boxer, who had been sidelined by injury since her second-round exit in Paris last August.

Nikhat now faces her toughest challenge yet in the quarterfinals against two-time Olympic silver medallist and 2022 world light flyweight champion Turkey’s Buse Naz Cakiroglu.

Minakshi opens campaign with solid win

Minakshi took her time to settle. Pressed hard by China’s Wang, who kept rushing forward and cutting off her space, the Indian struggled to find answers. But she managed to sneak in a few clean blows to edge the round 3-2.

Minakshi, who had defeated former world champion Nitu Ganghas at the Nationals earlier this year, showed her class in the second round. Using her reach to full effect, the lanky boxer switched to long-range boxing, landing crisp, accurate shots while defending smartly and countering with precision.

By the final round, she had fully adjusted to Wang’s aggression. Moving well and picking her punches at range, Minakshi dominated the exchanges and swept the last two rounds across all cards to secure a unanimous decision win.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/boxing/nikhat-zareen-enters-world-boxing-championships-quarter-finals-4-male-boxers-exit-9247299

Afghanistan vs Hong Kong Highlights, Asia Cup 2025: Azmatullah Omarzai, who plays for Punjab Kings in the IPL, smashed the fastest fifty in Afghanistan’s T20I history.

Afghanistan defeated Hong Kong by a massive margin of 94 runs in the opening match of the Asia Cup 2025. Afghanistan’s first innings total of 188/6 proved too daunting for Hong Kong, who managed only 94/9. Afghanistan bounced back from a difficult start to post a big score, guided by opener Sediqullah Atal’s unbeaten 73 and all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai’s 20-ball half-century. In fact, Omarzai’s fifty became the fastest by an Afghan in T20I history. It is a positive start for Afghanistan to Group B, which also includes Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. The top two teams will progress to the Super Four.

Afghanistan vs Hong Kong : Thank you!

Thank you for tuning in to the live coverage of the Afghanistan vs Hong Kong clash. The Asia Cup 2025 is up and running, and a big win for one of the dark horses of the tournament. Afghanistan will have bigger tests coming up, but they can be proud of the way they bounced back today after a difficult start.

Join us tomorrow on NDTV Sports as Suryakumar Yadav-led India begin their campaign against UAE. Until then, goodbye!

Asia Cup 2025 : Azmatullah Omarzai, the star man

What a game for Azmatullah Omarzai. Not only did he smash a 20-ball half-century — the fastest 50 by an Afghanistan batter in T20Is — but also took a wicket and inflicted a run-out. One of the star all-rounders in the Asia Cup 2025.

Asia Cup 2025 : AFGHANISTAN WIN!

Afghanistan beat Hong Kong by 94 runs! A comprehensive bowling performance, to cap off a superb batting charge. Sediqullah Atal and Azmatullah Omarzai stand out with the bat, and an all-round classy bowling show.

For Hong Kong, a heavy defeat to start, but some positives to take.

Afghanistan vs Hong Kong : OUT!

Fazalhaq Farooqi strikes! Second wicket of the match for the pacer, who has come back to bowl the last over of the innings. Soft dismissal, caught and bowled. Chipped back by Ehsan Khan towards Farooqi, who takes a sharp low catch.

Afghanistan vs Hong Kong : OUT!

GONE! Gulbadin Naib will get his second wicket of the match. Yasim Murtaza went too early with his shot, the slower ball catches him on the body in front of the stumps. Umpire gives out. Murtaza goes for a DRS review, but hawkeye shows three reds.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/asia-cup-2025/afghanistan-vs-hong-kong-live-score-asia-cup-2025-afg-vs-hkg-live-updates-mens-1st-match-group-b-scorecard-abu-dhabi-9245408

India marked their debut appearance in the CAFA Nations Cup with a third-place finish, defeating higher-ranked Oman 3-2 on penalties for their first-ever victory against the West Asian side.

India marked their debut appearance in the CAFA Nations Cup with a third-place finish, defeating higher-ranked Oman 3-2 on penalties for their first-ever victory against the West Asian side on Monday. The match went into shootout after the proceedings ended 1-1 post extra time at the Hisor Central Stadium. After Udanta Singh Kumam’s 80th-minute goal cancelled out Jameel Al Yahmadi’s 55th-minute opener, the 30 minutes of extra time did not yield any result. Oman defender Ali Al Busaidi was sent off in the 96th minute. Lallianzuala Chhangte, Rahul Bheke, and Jithin MS scored for India in the penalties, while Anwar Ali’s spot-kick was saved and Udanta missed. Meanwhile, Thani Al Rushaidi, Muhsen Al Ghassani were the only two players to score their spot kicks for Oman.

Harib Al Saadi and Ahmed Al Kaabi missed theirs, and Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, in dramatic fashion, produced a save off the last kick of the game from Jameel Al Yahmadi.

While Oman enjoyed majority of possession, both sides shared nearly equal number of chances.

India began on the front foot, launching counter attacks through Vikram Partap Singh and Lallianzuala Chhangte on the wings.

The Blue Tigers’ real chance came in the 16th minute, when a Muhammed Uvais long throw was headed on towards Anwar by Nikhil Prabhu. The defender’s powerful header was saved by Oman goalkeeper Ibrahim Al Mukhaini.

Oman, however, began to grow into the game, and Sandhu was soon called into the action in the 25th minute, when Issam Al Sabhi’s shot from outside the box was palmed away by India’s custodian.

Minutes later, Nasser Al Rawahi was slipped through between the Indian defensive lines, and only had Sandhu to beat.

However, his angular shot rolled wide of the goal.

India had a good chance to take the lead just before half-time, when Chhangte found Irfan Yadwad with a low cut-back, but the latter scuffed his shot, which went wide.

Oman started off on the front foot in the second half, and scored within 10 minutes of the restart, when Abdullah Fawaz flicked the ball from inside the box with the outside of his boot towards Al Yahmadi, who tapped it in at the far post.

An even contest ensued after the goal, as India looked for a way back into the match.

Blue Tigers head coach Khalid Jamil, with a little over 10 minutes of regulation time left, introduced Udanta and Suresh Singh Wangjam into the fray, and the substitutions immediately made an impact.

Rahul Bheke’s 80th-minute long throw was flicked on towards the far post by the head of Danish Farooq, as Udanta rushed in to produce an instinctive header that bounced into the net.

There was a relatively long wait after the goal, as the video assistant referee checked for infringements in the box, but the goal was finally allowed.

Udanta created another opportunity in injury time, playing substitute Manvir Singh (jr) through with an aerial poke, but it was dealt with by the Oman defence as the match went into extra time.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/football/india-finish-third-in-cafa-nations-cup-after-beating-oman-on-penalties-9239700

Donald Trump was in attendance at the US Open final on Sunday where he was met with boos as he appeared on the big screens, but the president appeared distinctly underwhelmed by Carlos Alcaraz’s victory over Jannik Sinner

Donald Trump caused chaos at the US Open final on Sunday – and couldn’t bring himself to even clap after seeing Carlos Alcaraz triumph. The former president was spotted at Flushing Meadows, continuing his recent trend of attending major sporting events, including UFC, NASCAR and American football matches.

Trump was notably a prominent attendee at the final of the FIFA Club World Cup during the summer, even positioning himself front and centre during the trophy ceremony at MetLife Stadium. While he appeared to enjoy the football event, he looked decidedly unimpressed as Alcaraz celebrated his win over Jannik Sinner at the US Open final.

Trump caused the final to be delayed by 30 minutes after deciding to appear, with many fans subsequently unable to get into their seats on time. The US President didn’t join in the pre-match applause for Alcaraz, as he took on premier rival Jannik Sinner. Then, with tennis’ new big two in the heat of battle, Trump left his seat, just 90 minutes in – before some fans had even arrived due to the chaos outside.

He was back watching on as Alcaraz claimed victory however, but looked decidedly unimpressed as Alcaraz celebrated and applause from pretty much everyone in attendance met the Spaniard – Trump simply unable to bring himself to clap.

Body language expert Judi James said: “Trump’s reaction to a very excited and celebratory Alcaraz seems out of step with the rest of the crowd.”

She added: “As everyone is clapping and cheering Trump appears to hike his pants from the belt and perform a wry, closed lip, ironic-looking smile and pull at his jacket rather than clap.”

Before the match, Alcaraz, who went on to win, expressed his excitement about playing in front of Trump, stating that his presence was ‘great for tennis’.

Alcaraz said: “For me, playing in front of him… to be honest, I will try not to think about it. I don’t want myself to be nervous because of it. But I think attending the tennis match, it’s great for tennis to have the president into the final.”

He may not have felt that if he’d seen the moment where Trump was caught on camera with his eyes shut at one point, looking like he was catching up on sleep.

Source : https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/tennis/donald-trump-us-open-final-35866549

Verstappen set the fastest lap in F1 history with 1:18.792, taking pole for the Italian Grand Prix and surpassing Lewis Hamilton’s 2020 record.

Max Verstappen reminded the world of his brilliance on Saturday at Monza, setting the fastest lap in F1 history to snatch pole position for the Italian Grand Prix.

The Red Bull champion produced a blistering final effort of 1:18.792, averaging 264.681kph, to edge McLaren rival Lando Norris by just 0.077 seconds.

In doing so, Verstappen eclipsed the previous record of 1:18.887, set by Lewis Hamilton in 2020, also at the famed Temple of Speed.

“Yes guys! That’s unbelievable. A really good job. It worked out. It’s all good,” Verstappen exclaimed over team radio after his record-breaking run.

The result marked the 45th pole of Verstappen’s career, his fifth of the season, and his first since Silverstone in July.

Chasing Victory After a Drought

Despite his dominance in qualifying, Verstappen has struggled to convert poles into wins this year. He has not stood atop the podium since the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix in May, with McLaren’s Norris increasingly emerging as the man to beat, thanks to superior tyre management.

“I think that final lap was pretty decent,” Verstappen told reporters. “To get pole here for us is big. It’s not always been a good track for us—last year was quite a disaster.”

Norris, whose 1:18.869 also beat Hamilton’s old benchmark, looked poised for pole before Verstappen’s late surge. The McLaren has consistently shown more strength in race trim, something Verstappen is well aware of.

“I don’t sit here and think it’s going to be easy to be in front of McLaren. The whole season has shown that,” he admitted.

Source: https://www.news18.com/sports/max-verstappen-scripts-f1-history-at-monza-breaks-all-time-record-to-register-fastest-lap-ever-ws-l-9554682.html

There will be two players defending U.S. Open titles this weekend.

Jannik Sinner joined fellow World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in advancing to a second consecutive U.S. Open final Friday night, after the Italian defeated No. 25 seed Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 inside Arthur Ashe Stadium.

The 24-year-old has reached the title match in every Grand Slam this year.

“Amazing season. Obviously, Grand Slams are the most important tournaments we have throughout the year,” Sinner said in his on-court interview. “Finding myself again in a another final, here especially, the last one of the season, with an amazing crowd. It doesn’t matter when you play. It doesn’t get any better.”

Topping the brackets at the Australian Open and Wimbledon, Sinner’s only loss came against his next opponent, Carlos Alcaraz, in an epic Roland Garros final. The two will meet for a third straight time at a major men’s singles final this year, and Alcaraz will look to deny Sinner a fifth Grand Slam title when they square off on Ashe on Sunday night.

There aren’t many men on the tour who own a winning record against Sinner, but Auger-Aliassime had won two of their previous three meetings.

The two victories, however, dated back to 2022. Sinner destroyed the Canadian in straight sets in their last meeting — a 6-0, 6-2 win in the quarterfinals of the ATP Masters 1000 Cincinnati last month — but Auger-Aliassime didn’t go as easily this time around.

“I played much better,” Auger-Aliassime said in comparing the two most recent matches. “I served much better.”

Sinner made quick work of the first set, taking the first three games before finishing it in just 43 minutes.

The second set, however, saw a tremendous effort from Auger-Aliassime to knot the match at one set apiece.

Blasting 11 winners against a mere four unforced errors, Auger-Aliassime began pounding the ball against Sinner and riding the encouragement from the crowd.

Sinner registered just three winners against 11 unforced errors in the second set.

It was just the second set Sinner has lost in this tournament.

After calling over the physician between the second and third sets, Sinner proved to be just fine and set himself up to take the match in the fourth. He saved two break points to hold in the second game for 1-1 before saving three in the fourth for 2-2.

Source : https://nypost.com/2025/09/05/sports/jannik-sinner-rolls-into-us-open-final-to-face-carlos-alcaraz

Indian cricket is currently abuzz with a five-year-old video of Irfan Pathan where he can be seen talking about his exit from the national side under MS Dhoni’s captaincy. While in the first part of the video, Pathan talks about his interaction with Dhoni regarding his position and performance in the team, in the latter part he goes on to say: “I don’t have a habit of setting up hookah in someone’s room or talking unnecessarily. Everyone knows. Sometimes, it’s better not to speak. A cricketer’s job is to perform on the field, and that’s what I focused on.”

Social media users connected the ‘hookah’ part of the quote with MS Dhoni, and from there, the video started getting widely shared. Pathan last played international cricket in 2012, despite picking up a five-wicket haul in what turned out to be his final ODI. While the exact reasons behind Irfan’s exile from the Indian team are only known to the selectors and team management, then-skipper MS Dhoni has also been blamed for the poor handling of the all-rounder’s situation.

Now, Yuvraj Singh’s father, Yograj Singh, has spoken about the subject. He claimed that not only Pathan, even Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag, Harbhajan Singh have spoken about how they were treated under Dhoni’s captaincy.

“It is not only about Irfan Pathan. You see Gautam Gambhir speaking about it. Virender Sehwag openly said it as well. Harbhajan Singh spoke about how he was put out of the team like a fly. You should arrange a jury on why he did what he did. MS Dhoni doesn’t want to answer. One who doesn’t want to answer has a guilty conscience,” Yograj said while speaking to InsideSport.

The former all-rounder went on to target Dhoni, Kapil Dev, and Bishan Singh Bedi. He said they did not treat players well. Yograj has in the past criticised Dhoni and Kapil. He had even revealed that he once pointed a gun at Kapil’s head over his ouster from the team.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/yograj-singh-blasts-ms-dhoni-kapil-dev-amid-irfan-pathan-hookah-row-they-treated-people-like-s-9218318

India’s tennis star Yuki Bhambri’s dream run in the US Open 2025 ended on Friday (IST) as he crashed out of the Grand Slam along with with his partner Michael Venus of New Zealand.

India’s tennis star Yuki Bhambri’s dream run in the US Open 2025 ended on Friday (IST) as he crashed out of the Grand Slam along with his partner Michael Venus of New Zealand. The duo lost its men’s doubles semi-final match to the British pair of Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski 7-6 (7-2), 6-7 (5-7), 4-6 in a tightly contested battle at Louis Armstrong Stadium. The first set was a perfect nail-biter, with neither team giving up. Bhambri and Venus broke their opponents in the 8th game, taking a 5-3 lead. They almost had the set in their pocket and just needed to hold their serve. However, Salisbury and Skupski bounced back, breaking the India-New Zealand pair and then holding their serve to tie it at 5-5. The set eventually went to a tie-breaker. Bhambri and Venus were simply the better side there, winning 7-2.

The second set saw a much better showing from Bhambri and Venus as they broke their opponents in the very first game to take an early advantage. While the duo continued to hold their serve, they came very close to breaking their opponents in the fifth game but missed by a whisker. A turnaround took place in the 6th game when Bhambri and Venus were broken by Salisbury and Skupski, and the scores were leveled at 3-3.

Bhambri and Venus nearly lost the second set when they were about to be broken in the 10th game, but they managed to seal the game and stay alive in the set. The second set also went into a tie-breaker, but unlike the last one, this was a tightly contested affair, with Salisbury and Skupski winning it 7-5.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/us-open-2025/indias-yuki-bhambri-and-partner-michael-venus-of-new-zealand-crash-out-in-us-open-semifinals-9219797

In a postgame interview with Apple TV following Inter Miami’s Leagues Cup semifinal victory over Orlando City on August 27, Messi stated, “I don’t know if there will be friendlies or more games after that.”

Ahead of the World Cup qualifying match in Buenos Aires on Thursday night, Lionel Messi broke down in tears in what may be his final home game. He then scored to give Argentina a 1-0 lead over Venezuela. In the days preceding the game, Messi himself had already recognised the importance of the match. “Being the final game in the qualifying round, it will hold great significance for me. In a postgame interview with Apple TV following Inter Miami’s Leagues Cup semifinal victory over Orlando City on August 27, he stated, “I don’t know if there will be friendlies or more games after that.”

The goal was scored in the 39th minute. Instead of shooting after breaking into the Venezuelan penalty area, Julian Alvarez squared the ball across the goal’s face. Alvarez set up Messi, who calmly tapped home with his renowned left foot after spotting his captain at his side. As if it were a final, the crowd erupted, chanting his name, waving flags, and celebrating.

Has Messi played his last match for Argentina?

Argentina had already secured a spot at the 2026 World Cup, which the United States, Canada, and Mexico would co-host. However, the match against Venezuela was about more than just qualifying. It had to do with Argentina saying goodbye to their captain at home. Before the match, CONMEBOL posted a picture of Messi with the words, “The last dance is coming.”

Lionel Scaloni, the national coach, acknowledged that the event was emotional for everyone involved, not just the captain. “Yes, since this is our final qualifying match, Leo has stated that it will be an emotional, unique, and pleasant match. I will love it more than anyone else. Since he genuinely deserves it, it has been a pleasure to be able to coach him. Let’s hope that stadiumgoers will feel the same way,”

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/sports/watch-lionel-messi-in-tears-ahead-of-argentina-vs-venezuela-match-in-what-could-be-his-final-appearance-on-home-soil

Irfan Pathan broke his silence after an old clip of him went viral on social media, with many suggesting that it was a dig at MS Dhoni. The video was from five years ago, and Pathan was not pleased with it resurfacing.

Irfan Pathan broke his silence on the controversy surrounding a comment he made in an interaction five years ago over his exclusion from Tema India. Referring to his axing, Pathan claimed he did not have to ask MS Dhoni too many times about the incident, while dropping a cryptic statement about not being someone who he did not have the habit of setting up ‘Hookahs’ for people.
While Pathan did not directly name Dhoni, many fans claimed that it was a remark on the ex-Indian captain under whose leadership the star all-rounder lost his place in the team. The old video quickly went viral on social media, which stirred a big storm.
Pathan spoke about the controversy for the first time after the clip went viral and expressed he was suprised at an old clip resurfacing. The 2007 T20 World Cup-winning captain further stated that his statement was twisted and taken out of context while accusing a PR lobby at being in play.

“Half decade old video surfacing NOW with a twisted context to the Statement. Fan war? PR lobby?,” wrote Pathan on X.

THE US Open will be bigger, better, bolder and more luxurious come 2027 – thanks to $800million grounds transformation.

A “reimagination” of the Arthur Ashe Stadium is underway and will be ready in two years, without causing interruption to the tennis action at the 2025 and 2026 tournaments.

The 23,859-capacity stadium – the biggest permanent tennis arena in the world – is undergoing “top-to-bottom modernisation” with specific focus on hospitality improvements.

The United States Tennis Association claim that “zero public funding or taxpayer dollars” are being used for this ambitious project.

As part of the stadium plans, which will not increase the overall capacity, there will be:

• A brand-new “visually striking” grand entrance.
• A 40 per cent increase to the promenade-level concourse, adding more open space for fans, with additional escalators and elevators to all levels.
• Completely modernised concourses with retail experiences and a greater selection of food and beverage spaces – and access to more toilets.
• A new open-air terrace atop the promenade.
• An increase of courtside-level bowl seats from 3,000 to 5,000.
• New club and restaurant areas, with enhanced dining options and premium hospitality spaces.

Unlike at Wimbledon, top-paying VIPs at Flushing Meadows have to wine-and-dine guests outside of the Arthur Ashe Stadium, a short walk away.But new in-stadium luxury suites will offer an in-house sommelier, all-inclusive carving stations and plated dining service.

Full-tournament packages in the new Courtside Club will start at $48,000 for the full series of 27 sessions and are on sale now for 2027.

Bunker Suites, which can be accessed via an exclusive tunnel, will deliver prime baseline seating and a private indoor lounge.

Elsewhere, $250m of the overall $800m investment will go towards a new “state-of-the-art” player performance centre, which will be built on top of the car parking lot adjacent to the premier court.

The two-storey facility will have an indoor and outdoor performance and relaxation spaces to help players “maximise their on-court performance”.

There will be expanded fitness and warmup areas, featuring turf, track and US Open court surfaces for training.

The blueprints include “redesigned and expansive locker rooms and lounges, providing players a spa-like experience”.

If anyone simply wants to relax and chill out between matches then there will be a “new, dedicated cafe accessible only by players”.

The project’s lead architect ROSSETTI, who were behind the original construction of Arthur Ashe Stadium, created player performance facilities for the Los Angeles Lakers, Green Bay Packers, Miami Dolphins and Jacksonville Jaguars.

The USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center has hosted the US Open Championships, the final Slam of the year, since 1978.

Tennis bosses estimate it generates more than $1.2billion in annual economic impact to New York City during a three-week period.

Lew Sherr, CEO and Executive Director, USTA, said: “The US Open is the pinnacle of sports and entertainment, with the greatest athletes and fans in all of sport.

“This reimagination of Arthur Ashe Stadium and construction of a state-of-the-art Player Performance centre will enhance the experience for everyone that comes on site to the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

“This project enables us to maintain the greatest stage in tennis – Arthur Ashe Stadium – which was constructed more than 25 years ago, and modernise it in a way that will set it up for the next 25 years.

Source : https://www.the-sun.com/sport/15107311/us-open-renovation-arthur-ashe/

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) invited bids from entities for acquiring the national team lead sponsor rights.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) invited bids from entities for acquiring the national team lead sponsor rights on Tuesday. The board announced the release of an Invitation for Expression of Interest (IEOI), which provides the detailed terms and conditions governing the submission and evaluation of bids. The last date to purchase IEOI documents is September 12, while the deadline for submission of bid documents is set on September 16. Last month, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed to IANS that the board’s association with fantasy sports company Dream11 has ended after the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill 2025 was passed in both Parliament, and deliberations over finding a new lead sponsor are on.

Dream11 had signed a three-year deal worth Rs 358 crore in July 2023 to replace edtech company Byju’s as the lead sponsor of the Indian cricket team.

The BCCI said that the IEOI will be made available on receipt of payment of a non-refundable fee of Rs 5 lakh plus any applicable Goods and Services Tax.

“Bidders are to email the details of payment made for the purchase of the IEOI to sponsorship@bcci.tv, as per the procedure laid down in ANNEXURE A. It is clarified that the IEOI documents shall be shared only upon the confirmation of payment of the non-refundable IEOI fee.

“Any bidder wishing to submit a bid is required to purchase the IEOI. However, only those satisfying the eligibility requirements set out in the IEOI and subject to the other terms and conditions set out therein, shall be eligible to bid. It is clarified that merely purchasing the IEOI does not entitle any person to bid,” it said in a release.

BCCI also said it reserves the right to cancel or amend the IEOI process at any stage in any manner without providing any reason.

The bidder must note the following requirements and restrictions pertaining to eligibility with respect to the IEOI.

A bid may only be submitted either by: (i) the person/entity which has purchased a copy of this IEOI upon payment of the IEOI fee; or (ii) any person/entity which is in the same Group as such person/entity. The IEOI fee paid by the bidder (whether successful or unsuccessful) shall not be refunded or adjusted against any other payment obligation of the bidder in any circumstances.

As per the financial eligibility laid out by the BCCI, the average turnover of each bidder for the last three years must be at least Rs 3,00,00,00,000 (Indian Rupees Three Hundred Crore only) as per the last three audited accounts; or the average net worth of each bidder for the last three years must be at least Rs 3,00,00,00,000 (Indian Rupees Three Hundred Crore only) as per the last three audited accounts.

Under the ‘Fit and Proper Person’ criteria, the bidder (i) not having been convicted by a court of a criminal offence or offences involving moral turpitude, economic offence or fraud; (ii) not having any conflict of interest as per the BCCI Conflict of Interest Rules; (iii) absence of conviction for any offence punishable with imprisonment for 2 (two) years or more in any jurisdiction; (iv) absence of categorisation as a wilful defaulter by the Reserve Bank of India; and/or (v) a person having integrity and reputation will be deemed a ‘Fit and Proper Person’ to submit a bid.

Under the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, the bidder, including any of its group companies, who is engaged in online money gaming, betting or gambling services or similar services in India or anywhere in the world; provides any online money gaming, betting or gambling services or similar services to any person in India; and has any investment or ownership interest in any person engaged in betting or gambling services in India is not permitted to submit a bid.

Bidder, including any of its Group companies, should not be directly or indirectly engaged in the business of crypto trading or crypto exchange or crypto token or any business of similar nature.

Bidders are prohibited from submitting bids through surrogate brands. Surrogate branding refers to any attempt to indirectly submit a bid on behalf of a different entity or Person through the use of a different entity or person. This includes, but is not limited to, the use of different names, brands, identity or logos.

A bidder operating or engaged in multiple brand/product categories, one of which falls under either the blocked brand categories or prohibited brand categories, shall not be permitted to submit a bid in respect of such blocked brand categories or prohibited brand categories.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/alcohol-pornography-bccis-strict-rules-for-choosing-title-sponsor-9202398

Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic motored into the quarter-finals of the US Open on Sunday as reigning women’s champion Aryna Sabalenka kept her title defence firmly on track.

Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic motored into the quarter-finals of the US Open on Sunday as reigning women’s champion Aryna Sabalenka kept her title defence firmly on track. Spanish second seed Alcaraz and tennis icon Djokovic — who are on course to meet in the semi-finals — both recorded straight-sets wins on the Arthur Ashe Stadium main court. Five-time Grand Slam champion Alcaraz overpowered France’s Arthur Rinderknech 7-6 (7/3), 6-3, 6-4 and has not dropped a set to date at the championships.

“I think my style of tennis suits pretty well the energy here in New York,” the 22-year-old said.

“The energy is special playing the day session, playing the night session. It doesn’t matter, people are always there. I love it and I think that’s why I play my best tennis here,” he added.

Alcaraz will face Czech 20th seed Jiri Lehecka in the quarter-finals on Tuesday.

Lehecka reached the last eight of a Grand Slam for only the second time after battling past veteran Frenchman Adrian Mannarino, winning 7-6 (7/4), 6-4, 2-6, 6-2.

Djokovic, 38, continued his latest bid for a record 25th Grand Slam singles title with a brisk 6-3, 6-3, 6-2 defeat of unseeded German Jan-Lennard Struff.

“It definitely helps if you serve well. I think I had a great serving performance last round and also tonight,” said Djokovic. “That helps make it easier on the court.”

Djokovic faces a quarter-final on Tuesday against fourth seed Taylor Fritz, the lone American man left in the draw.

Fritz sprinted into the last eight with a brisk 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 defeat of the Czech Republic’s Tomas Machac in 1hr 38min.

Fritz is carrying hopes of first US men’s Grand Slam champion since Andy Roddick in 2003 following the exits of fellow seeds Ben Shelton, Tommy Paul and Frances Tiafoe.

But Fritz will head into his quarter-final against Djokovic with history stacked against him. Djokovic has won all 10 of their past meetings, including a 2023 quarter-final win at the US Open.

“I think the first, almost like seven or eight times I played him, I probably just wasn’t a good enough player to really have that much of a chance,” said Fritz.

“I think only the last couple times we’ve played I think I’ve been this just better player that can, you know, I’d say compete and have chances.”

Sabalenka balance

In the women’s draw, Sabalenka never looked troubled in a 6-1, 6-4 defeat of Moldova-born Spaniard Cristina Bucsa, ranked 95th in the world.

Sabalenka has now reached the quarter-finals or better at 12 straight Grand Slam tournaments, a consistency she attributes to striking a balance in her life on and off the court.

“I’m super proud, I think that’s an incredible achievement,” Sabalenka said.

“I think for me the key was balancing on and off-the-court life. I think I’ve done a great job on balancing really hard work and also great recovery and some fun time outside of tennis court. I think that’s been the key.”

Sabalenka faces a quarter-final against either ninth seed Elena Rybakina or the Czech Republic’s Marketa Vondrousova, who were playing later Sunday.

In other women’s draw action on Sunday, the Czech Republic’s unseeded former French Open and Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova conjured a remarkable escape to oust Taylor Townsend, saving an incredible eight match points before digging out a 1-6, 7-6 (15/13), 6-3 victory.

Krejcikova fought off a match point on her own serve at 5-4 down in the second set, and then somehow survived seven match points in an enthralling tie-breaker to move on.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/us-open-2025/carlos-alcaraz-novak-djokovic-stroll-into-us-open-quarter-finals-as-aryna-sabalenka-cruises-9193749

BWF World Championships 2025 Semi-Final Highlights: Star Indian shuttlers Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty had to settle for a men’s doubles bronze after losing their semi-final.

BWF World Championships 2025 Semi-Final Highlights: Star Indian shuttlers Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty had to settle for a men’s doubles bronze after losing their BWF World Championships semi-final on Sunday (IST). The Asian Games champions went down 19-21, 21-18, 12-21 against the Chinese pair of Chen Bo Yang and Liu Yi. The Indian pair looked second-best after struggling against the flick serves throughout the tie. Chen and Liu, who were trailing 5-11 at the interval, turned the tide on the Indians to claim the opener 21-19. Satwik and Chirag, however, responded to take the second game 21-18. However, it was one-way traffic in the decider and Chen and Liu wrapped up the final game 21-12

BWF World Championships : Satwik-Chirag bow out with bronze!

Chen and Liu are through to the final! A dominant performance from the Chinese pair in the decider. They take the game 21-12 and will now take on South Korea’s Kim and Seo in the men’s doubles final tomorrow. Satwik and Chirag sign off with a bronze. That’s a huge achievement considering their recent form. They will be on the podium tomorrow after the Korea vs China final.

Thanks for tuning in!

BWF World Championships : 9-point lead for China!

Chen and Liu lead 18-9 in the final game! They are three points away from a place in the final. They’ve been the dominant pair throughout this tie.

BWF World Championships : Is it too late?

Offered a broader role but still decided to quit. Rahul Dravid’s exit as Rajasthan Royals’ head coach has more than what meets the eye.

Offered a broader role but still decided to quit. Rahul Dravid’s exit as Rajasthan Royals’ head coach has more than what meets the eye given that the IPL franchise is dealing with precarious leadership choices that may not have had the former India captain’s “approval”. The 52-year-old had rejoined the franchise only last year on a multi-year contract but has decided to quit the team which he also represented as a player from 2011 to 2013. He went on to serve as a Director and mentor in the following two years.

The press release issued by RR on Saturday categorically states: “As part of the franchise structural review Rahul had been offered a broader position at the franchise, but has chosen not to take this.” What it doesn’t state is that Dravid was actually being offered an elevation that would limit his role in strategic decisions as far as the main team was concerned.

“If you have ever worked with any IPL team, just know one thing. Whenever a head coach is offered a broader role, it is like a punishment promotion. It means you have no role in actual team building process,” a noted Indian coach, who has worked in support staff of a couple of IPL teams, told PTI.

With long time skipper Sanju Samson already staring at the exit door, Royals might have to take a few tricky calls about a new full-time captain after a disastrous 2025 season that saw them finish ninth on the table.

Riyan Parag, the biggest sporting name to have emerged from the state of Assam, captained Royals last season in Samson’s absence due to fitness issues and is believed to be the top contender for full-time leadership.

But given that the team has a significantly more decorated player in Yashasvi Jaiswal in the same line-up, was Dravid actually on same page with the Royals management with regards to ascension of Riyan as the leader? Not to be forgotten is another Test player Dhruv Jurel, who was supposed to lead Central Zone in the Duleep Trophy quarter-final before being forced to pull out due to illness.

Despite the nightmarish run this year, it is hard to believe that the Royals management wanted to get rid of a T20 World Cup-winning coach just after one season during which they also missed Samson.

Dravid, being the quintessential man of few words when it comes to anything remotely controversial, is expected to maintain a dignified silence.

But those who have been tracking Royals closely since last season feel that a lot of decisions that were being taken by the franchise think-tank might not have aligned with Dravid’s plans for the side.

Samson’s exit must have also rattled ‘The Wall’ who has always considered the dashing Kerala batter as his protege.

And adding to this is the insistence on promoting Riyan despite a Jaiswal or Jurel.

The only year when Riyan had some significant impact in the IPL was 2024 when he scored 573 runs at a strike-rate of nearly 150 with four half-centuries.

In 2025, where he captained the side in a number of games, his strike-rate improved to 166 plus but he managed only 393 runs.

His captaincy in Samson’s absence wasn’t particularly eye-catching either.

Jaiswal too is untested on the leadership front but decisively ahead of the Assam man when it comes to being an accomplished player.

Even if one factors in that Jaiswal is an opener and Riyan a middle-order batter, it would be hard to comprehend that Dravid would give his nod to the latter.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/rajasthan-royals-think-tank-might-not-have-aligned-with-rahul-dravids-plans-reports-huge-claim-9187347

Carlos Alcaraz surged into the fourth round of the US Open on Friday as Novak Djokovic and defending women’s champion Aryna Sabalenka aimed to keep their title bids on track.

Carlos Alcaraz surged into the fourth round of the US Open on Friday as Novak Djokovic and defending women’s champion Aryna Sabalenka aimed to keep their title bids on track. Spanish second seed Alcaraz breezed past Italian 32nd seed Luciano Darderi in emphatic fashion, winning 6-2, 6-4, 6-0 on the Arthur Ashe Stadium. Alcaraz’s one hour 44-minute victory sends the 2022 US Open champion into a meeting on Sunday against France’s Arthur Rinderknech, who defeated compatriot Benjamin Bonzi 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 6-2. Alcaraz is aiming to finish the season on a high after winning the French Open in June before losing in the final of Wimbledon last month. The five-time Grand Slam singles champion opened Friday’s play on the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center’s main court, and admitted he had been nervous about his early 11.30am local time start.

“I’m not an early morning person so it’s difficult for me to wake up in the morning,” Alcaraz said. “One of the good things today though I woke up early, did the warm up and felt good.

“Starting at 11:30 my first goal is to start well with a good energy and rhythm. I played great tennis, good performance so I’m proud of that.

Alcaraz needed a medical timeout while leading 5-4 in the second set for treatment on his right knee, but later said he had no injury concerns.

“I just asked the physio to have a look at it because I wanted to be feeling good physically for that last set,” he said. “I’m not worried about it.”

Later Friday, the 38-year-old Djokovic will aim to move closer to a possible semi-final showdown with Alcaraz when he takes on Britain’s Cameron Norrie in the evening session.

The seventh-seeded Serbian legend is chasing a record 25th Grand Slam singles title in New York, where he has won four times before.

Other men’s seeds in action on Friday include sixth seed Ben Shelton, who faces France’s Adrian Mannarino, and American 17th seed Frances Tiafoe, who takes on Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff.

In another early game, Czech 20th seed Jiri Lehecka sailed into the next round with a 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 defeat of Belgium’s Raphael Collignon.

In the women’s draw meanwhile, world number one Sabalenka faces Canada’s 31st seed Leylah Fernandez in a night game on the Louis Armstrong Stadium.

Sabalenka is aiming to become the first woman to successfully defend the US Open since Serena Williams won a hat-trick of titles in 2012, 2013 and 2014.

Fernandez reached the final of the US Open in 2021, where she was beaten by Britain’s Emma Raducanu — the only player in history ever to win a Grand Slam singles title after emerging through qualifying.

Source: https://sports.ndtv.com/us-open-2025/carlos-alcaraz-romps-into-us-open-4th-round-elena-rybakina-advances-9184080

Gurpreet Singh Sandhu stood tall under the bar with a series of stunning saves, including a spot-kick, as India, under new coach Khalid Jamil, beat higher-ranked Tajikistan 2-1 in their opening match of the CAFA Nations Cup.

Gurpreet Singh Sandhu stood tall under the bar with a series of stunning saves, including a spot-kick, as India, under new coach Khalid Jamil, beat higher-ranked Tajikistan 2-1 in their opening match of the CAFA Nations Cup football tournament on Friday. World No. 133 India scored through defenders Anwar Ali (5th) and Sandesh Jhingan (13th) and then doggedly defended against the 106th ranked hosts for the remaining 75 minutes. Jamil, in his first match as India head coach, couldn’t have asked for a better result and credit should go to skipper Gurpreet, who returned to the starting XI after being sidelined under former coach Manolo Marquez.

“Indian fans had waited for this result for a long time. I know we defended deep at times but we are still rusty but we need to build on this win. We need to show more character against Iran,” Jhingan said in a snap interview.

Lack of quality in the attacking third is still a big problem but on Friday, centre backs Anwar and Jhingan took it upon themselves to end India’s scoring draught that had stretched to three international games within the first 15 minutes.

The shape that the team kept in both attack and defence had signature Jamil written all over it. The lateral backs — Rahul Bheke and Muhammed Uvais Moyikkal initially went on overlap although after a couple goals, they strangely went into a defensive mould.

Anwar, perhaps Indian football team’s most priceless possession at the moment, had his name on the scoresheet in the fifth minute when he headed in from a goalmouth melee following a long throw-in from Uvais from the left flank.

The Tajik defender, who tried to effect a goalline save saw his kick rebound inside his own goal after hitting another player. The referee, however, awarded the goal to Anwar.

The lead was doubled in the 13th minute when Anwar, after failing to control the ball with his first touch, went towards wide right and sent a left-footed swerving cross which was powerfully headed by Bheke. Goalkeeper Muhriddin Hasanov barely parried it and Jhingan lurking close by stabbed it home.

However, leading 2-0, Jamil’s men suddenly tried to close shop and this gave the home team, buoyed by vociferous local support, a chance to claw back into the game.

Suddenly Bheke and Uvais weren’t as busy down the flanks as they were in the first 15 minutes. The hard-press game did give Tajiks a look in and finally they pulled one back in the 23rd minute.

It was Sheriddin Boboev, who freed Shahrom Samiev, who beat Jhingan with power and speed and then placed it to the left of surging Gurpreet to make it 1-2.

India’s central midfield was virtually non-existent during the period both Suresh Singh Wangjam and Lallianzuala Chhangte not making any impact.

The start of the second half was even more ominous for the Indians as Gurpreet was kept busy with some stinging goal bound attempts that he managed to keep away.

The Indian head coach made three changes in the second half — East Bengal’s Naorem Mahesh Singh as an attacking wing half, Nikhil Prabhu as a defensive screen and Danish Farooq to complement him.

Source: https://sports.ndtv.com/football/cafa-nations-cup-gurpreet-singh-sandhu-defenders-earn-india-victory-over-tajikistan-9183999

In the last few months, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma retired from the Test format. The last week saw the retirement of Cheteshwar Pujara from Tests too

In the last few months, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma retired from the Test format. The last week saw the retirement of Cheteshwar Pujara from Tests too. It’s fair to say that the transition of Indian cricket in the longest format is here. A young team led by Shubman Gill has shown that they are ready to take on the world after drawing the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. 1983 World Cup winner Krishnamachari Srikkanth said there was a communication gap between the BCCI and the cricketers. He added that the BCCI should have spoken to Pujara to give him a better send-off.

“If you play 100 Tests for your country, you must be a terrific cricketer. So you should be given a good send-off. I am convinced there was a big communication gap when Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma retired. They should have spoken to them, but instead, this is not a good look for the game and Indian cricket,” Srikkanth said on his YouTube channel, as quoted by HT.

“Virat Kohli’s retirement happened just like that. Virat Kohli deserved a better send-off. He still had two years of Test cricket left in him. But because we drew in England, such talks about him got shut off. However, India will find it difficult to get a cricketer like Virat Kohli for some time.

“Similarly with Pujara, though it’s been a while since he played for India, they should have spoken to him also about his retirement plans. Of course, the player also has to cooperate and realize when their time is up. Had that happened, Pujara would have gotten a better send-off. But it’s a matter of cooperation between the player, selectors, and the BCCI.”

Having bid adieu to his stellar Test career as a content man, Indian Test batting great Cheteshwar Pujara wouldn’t mind a coaching stint or a role at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in the next stage of his cricketing journey. Speaking to PTI days after announcing his retirement from all forms of cricket, Pujara not only gave a sneak peek into his future plans but also stressed the importance of old-school Test match batting.

He also reflected on his glorious 103-Test career, which yielded over 7,000 runs, his series-winning performances in Australia, and the contributions of his father and late mother.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/bcci-blasted-for-communication-gap-during-virat-kohli-rohit-sharma-by-india-great-similarly-with-cheteshwar-pujara-9176322

Neeraj Chopra etched his name in the history book during the 2025 Zurich Diamond League final. Although the 27-year-old was far from his best, he still finished second. The Indian star extended a four-year-old streak and broke a 21st century world record.

Neeraj Chopra etched his name in the history books despite not being able to win the second Diamond League title of his career in Zurich on Thursday (August 28) at the Stadion Letzigrund in Switzerland. The 27-year-old secured a second-place finish behind Julian Webber, who produced a performance for the ages.
Webber crossed the 90m mark twice in his first two throws, with both efforts being his personal best of 91.37m and 91.51m. The Tokyo Olympics gold medalist started with 84.35m before throwing 82m. Neeraj made a foul throw on his third, fourth, and fifth throws.
Going into the sixth throw, Neeraj was third but ended up ensuring a second-place with an 85.01m throw, narrowly going past Trinidad’s Keshorn Walcott’s 84.95 effort

Pulwama is hosting the Royal Premier League, and hundreds of spectators turned up for the first match of the tournament.

Pulwama, once synonymous with unrest and violence, is now witnessing a remarkable shift. For the first time in history, the district is hosting the Royal Premier League, a cricket tournament being played under floodlights at night, marking a new chapter of hope, peace, and progress for the region. Hundreds of spectators gathered to witness the action, turning the venue into a vibrant celebration of sportsmanship and unity. It was a landmark moment for a district that was once in the headlines for tragic incidents, including the Pulwama terror attack of February 14, 2019, which claimed the lives of at least 40 CRPF soldiers.

PDP MLA Waheed Para, expressed his optimism for the future of Kashmir’s youth.

“For the first time, a day-night cricket match is being played and people have come in large numbers to watch it,” he told ANI.

“This is the beginning of new hope for the youth of Kashmir, as after years of unrest, they have finally got this opportunity. We will ensure that such tournaments are organised in all the districts,” he added.

The Royal Premier League features 12 teams from across Jammu and Kashmir. The first match was played between Royal Goodwill and Sultan Springs Baramulla.

The tournament has become more than just a sporting event it has emerged as a symbol of transformation. Pulwama, once known for frequent encounters, is now embracing cricket as a way to bring people together, inspire the youth, and pave the way for a brighter future, as they are choosing sports over violence.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/beginning-of-new-hope-for-the-youth-of-kashmir-pdp-mla-waheed-para-on-first-ever-royal-premier-league-in-pulwama-9160258

The impact of the passing of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025 in the Indian Parliament is being strongly felt by the Indian sports industry

The impact of the passing of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025 in the Indian Parliament is being strongly felt by the Indian sports industry. Both Houses of Parliament cleared the bill to ban all forms of games played with money and to promote e-sports and online social gaming. Days after the bill was passed, fantasy sports platform Dream11 decided to withdraw as the lead sponsor of the Indian cricket team, sources told NDTV. If the BCCI is unable to secure a new sponsor before the Asia Cup, which starts on September 9, the Indian team will play the tournament without a lead sponsor.

But it’s not only the cricket board that’s affected—even top Indian players are at risk of losing major endorsement deals. The extent of losses will vary from player to player.

Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, and the Pandya brothers—Hardik and Krunal—were contracted to Dream11. India Test captain Shubman Gill, along with Mohammed Siraj, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Rinku Singh, and Sourav Ganguly, endorsed My11 Circle. Virat Kohli promoted MPL, while MS Dhoni endorsed WinZO.

Not all players are paid the same endorsement fees. According to a report by Cricbuzz, “Kohli’s contract was estimated at around INR 10–12 crore annually, while Rohit Sharma and Dhoni were believed to be in the INR 6–7 crore bracket. For younger or lesser-known players, the figures hover around INR 1 crore. Collectively, Indian cricketers are likely to lose between INR 150–200 crore a year from these terminated contracts, as the latest law bans ‘advertising and promotion of money games across all forms of media.’”

While for some, gaming platforms make up only a small portion of their endorsement portfolios, for many, the losses will be significant. Take Mohammed Siraj, for example, who endorsed three brands—one of which was My11 Circle. That translates to a 33% drop in his endorsement income. The same is true for Washington Sundar.

Source: https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/rs-150-200-crore-loss-virat-kohli-and-co-set-for-mega-blow-as-dream11-others-exit-scene-9163336

Sachin Tendulkar, hailed as the greatest batter, enjoyed a prolific 20-year career, amassing 34,347 runs. Among his memorable innings, Tendulkar highlighted his 2008 Test century against England in Chennai.

Sachin Tendulkar is considered the greatest batter of all time. He has played 664 matches across all formats in a career spanning 20 years. He has scored 34,347 runs alongwith 100 centuries, the most by any batter in the history of the game across all formats. He has played some memorable innings throughout his career. Some of his most memorable knocks include the two centuries he scored vs Australia in 1998 at Sharjah, which is often referred to as ‘Desert Storm’; and the 98 against Pakistan in the 2003 World Cup. However, none of these are Tendulkar’s favourite innings.
In a fan interaction session title ‘Ask Sachin’ on Reddit, Sachin Tendulkar said that his century in the Test match vs England at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai in 2008 has been the most meaningful innings that he has played.
“There are many, but the most meaningful was against England in Chennai in 2008,” the legendary India batter added.

India needed 387 runs to win the Test match against England in Chennai in 2008. Sachin Tendulkar starred for them slamming 103 from 196 balls, as India chased down the target.

Sachin Tendulkar reacted to Joe Root becoming the second-highest run-scorer in Tests and potentially having a chance at breaking his stunning record.

Legendary Indian cricket team batter Sachin Tendulkar reacted to Joe Root becoming the second-highest run-scorer in Tests and potentially having a chance at breaking his stunning record. Tendulkar holds the world record with an impressive 15,921 runs from 200 Tests. However, with 13,543 runs, Root is just 2378 away from achieving the unbelievable milestone. During an Ask Me AnyThing (AMA) session on Reddit, Sachin was asked – ‘What was your first impression of Joe Root? Also, he has now crossed 13,000 Test runs and is second only to you, and he played his 1st match against you’. The legendary batter was gracious in his reply as he went on to praise the veteran England cricket team star.

“To have gone past 13000 runs is a remarkable achievement, and he’s still going strong. When I saw him for the first time in Nagpur in 2012 during his debut Test, I told my teammates that they were watching the future captain of England. What impressed me most was the way he was able to assess the wicket and how he rotated the strike. I knew at that very moment that he would be a big player,” Sachin replied.

Earlier, Cheteshwar Pujara’s retirement evoked admiration from legendary batter and ‘Master Blaster’ Sachin Tendulkar, who penned a special note to congratulate the “pillar of the team” for the contributions he made throughout his remarkable 15-year-long career.

Pujara, an old-fashioned batter who prioritised red-ball cricket, made his debut in October 2010. He represented India in 103 Tests and five ODIs before being axed from the setup in the last two years.

“Pujara, it was always reassuring to see you walk out at No.3. You brought calm, courage, and a deep love for Test cricket every time you played. Your solid technique, patience, and composure under pressure have been a pillar for the team,” Sachin wrote on X.

Among his several exploits, during which Pujara thrived on grinding down attacks and then feasting on them, the 2018-19 Border-Gavaskar Trophy remains one of the prime highlights of his career. In his 1258-ball marathon, Pujara conjured 521 runs at 74.42, the most in the series.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/sachin-tendulkar-breaks-silence-on-joe-root-nearing-his-world-record-hes-still-9157190

The photojournalist, whose act caused a 7-minute delay in Daniil Medvedev’s US Open 2025 first-round match, has broken his silence on what happened on the court.

US Open winner in 2021, Daniil Medvedev was eliminated in the first round of the same Grand Slam this year after a drama-filled 5-setter on Monday. Medvedev wasn’t his own self, especially after an incident involving Selcuk Acar, a freelance journalist and photojournalist. Medvedev’s opponent, Benjamin Bonz,i missed the first serve, but the match was paused as Acar was entering the court in between attempts, leaving Medvedev fuming. The incident prompted chair umpire Greg Allensworth give Bonzi another first serve, which at that point, was for match point against Medvedev.

The Russian lost his cool at Allensworth, causing about a 7-minute delay. The decision also became a turning point in the game as Medvedev went on to lose the match. The photojournalist, however, said that he is innocent.

“This incident has already turned into a lynching, and although I’m innocent, I’ve suffered greatly,” Acar told the Daily Mail. “If there’s a camera there, if it’s monitored, it will show that I returned to the official twice and didn’t enter.”

The photojournalist even claimed that a security official told him, “The match is stopped,” before he decided to enter the court. “I’m not a photojournalist that can [make] such a mistake,” he asserted.

“The photographer had been instructed to stay in place by US Open security,” the organisers said in a statement, per The New York Post, countering Acar’s statement.

Yet, the United States Tennis Association has revoked Acar’s credential for the tournament.

“The photographer disregarded these instructions and improperly entered the court between serves on match point. The Chair Umpire also instructed the photographer to immediately sit down, and these instructions were also disregarded. The photographer’s credential was revoked for the 2025 US Open,” the statement further said.

“He wants to go home guys,” Medvedev could be heard saying on the court when the incident took place. “He doesn’t like to be here. He gets paid by the match, not by the hour.”

“I was not upset with the photographer. I was upset with the decision,” Medvedev said. “The delay from the photographer was probably four seconds and a half. I’m not sure it’s enough for a (first) serve.”

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/us-open-2025/us-open-photojournalist-who-was-blasted-by-daniil-medvedev-during-1st-round-exit-breaks-silence-9159456

Reigns, making use of the moment, sent out a message to both his Clash in Paris opponent, Bronson Reed, and his former ally, Paul Heyman. Reigns will not only fight for pride, but to reclaim his stolen sneakers and assert his dominance once again.

Roman Reigns kicked off the go-home edition of WWE Raw in Birmingham, England, with the crowd giving a grand welcome to the Tribal Chief. The fans erupted into a passionate chant of “Roman, Roman Reigns, Roman, Roman Reigns” as soon as Reigns stepped into the ring. The chant, which continued for nearly 30 seconds, reminding the world exactly who commands the WWE stage.

Reigns, making use of the moment, sent out a message to both his Clash in Paris opponent, Bronson Reed, and his former ally, Paul Heyman. Heyman and Reed interfered Reign’s speech with the Special Counsel, making a desperate attempt to sway the crowd, trying to start a chant of “Bronson, Bronson Reed.” But the Birmingham faithful doubled down on their support for Reigns with louder chants of his name.

Reigns and Heyman, once an iconic duo during the Bloodline era, found themselves on opposite ends once again. But even in their separation, it was clear that the crowd hadn’t forgotten Reigns’ dominance and neither had Heyman.

During his promo, Reigns touched on several names, including WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. However, even the mention of Rhodes stirred the crowd into a wave of boos. Reigns paused, amused, before simply muttering, “Interesting,” then continued with his remarks.

Reigns and Rhodes have a history of their own — two WrestleMania main events with split outcomes. Rhodes may currently hold the WWE Championship, but on this night, it was Reigns who held the crowd in the palm of his hand.

Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/sports/watch-crowd-sings-roman-reigns-name-during-wwe-raw-go-home-show-before-clash-in-paris

Manchester United’s 4-1 win over Bournemouth in the Premier League Summer Series last month was notable because Rasmus Hojlund sought out UK journalists post-match to state – firmly – his intention to remain at Old Trafford.

Hojlund did not know it at the time, but that game in Chicago could well end up being the final one he starts for United.

With a £74m move from RB Leipzig frontman Benjamin Sesko pending – and finally completed on 9 August – Hojlund featured for 18 minutes in the final tour game against Everton.

After that, he was an unused substitute against Fiorentina at Old Trafford and has not been involved in either of United’s two Premier League games so far.

It is anticipated Serie A champions Napoli will renew their push for the Denmark forward this week as a replacement for the injured Romelu Lukaku, who is set to miss four months with a thigh issue.

What United boss Ruben Amorim did not know as he spoke after the Bournemouth match was the problems his side would have scoring goals in open play.

Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Fulham, after an opening 1-0 defeat by Arsenal, means United’s only strike so far this season is an own goal by Rodrigo Muniz.

They have played four games since that night in Chicago and scored four times – a penalty, two own goals and a single effort from open play, in Mason Mount’s well-worked effort against Everton.

United might lament their inability to leave Craven Cottage with three points but that is chiefly centred around another penalty, which Bruno Fernandes sent high over the bar.

As Fulham boss Marco Silva pointedly remarked: “In the second half, their best chances were set-pieces, nothing more.”

It is probably not what Amorim would have expected after a summer outlay of £200m on Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Sesko.

It is fair to put forward some mitigation on United’s behalf.

Sesko has had two weeks’ worth of training sessions with his new team-mates, who themselves are getting their heads around a different style of play.

The 22-year-old came off the bench for 37 minutes at Craven Cottage – to add to the 25 he got against Arsenal – and, as Amorim pointed out, his introduction came when United were “not in their best moment”.

According to the Portuguese, they began defending a lead rather than continuing to play.

Cunha came close to a sensational first-half goal when he controlled Altay Bayindir’s 70-yard pass with a magnificent left-footed touch as the ball dropped over his shoulder, before striking an effort on goal with his right foot, which Bernd Leno did well to keep out.

The Brazilian also hit a post after being set up by Mount and has made such an eye-catching start to his United career, it feels like a question of time before he does find the net.

Mbeumo too worked hard and, had it not been for the exceptional pace of USA international Antonee Robinson, would have been bearing down on the Fulham goal in the latter stages of the game.

Yet United’s attack feels at present like a group of talented players trying to get used to each other rather than a coherent unit.

Their xG against Arsenal was 1.52, against Fulham it was 1.62. They have had a combined 32 shots in those games yet their only goal came off the back of Fulham frontman Muniz.

As you would expect, Amorim rejects the notion a goalscoring problem that led to United netting just 44 league goals last season – their worst return since the 1973-74 relegation campaign – has not been solved. Since last season, the transfer money has been focused on the attack.

“I forget about last season,” he said. “Like I said, we were more concerned about holding on to the result.

“We are going to score goals because we are creating so many chances. That is the important thing.”

Amorim has spoken often about the benefits of not having a European campaign to plan for this season.

It means in the three-week gaps between the two upcoming international breaks, the only midweek fixtures will be in the EFL Cup, if United progress.

However, time does not stand still.

United need to find a way of winning games while Sesko is getting up to speed with the Premier League and as Cunha and Mbeumo get used to him – and each other.

After finishing last season in 15th, they are presently 16th after two games, with a visit from newly promoted Burnley to come on Saturday.

Victory – ideally with direct contributions from the newcomers who scored 58 goals at club level last season – would quell some of the growing chatter.

Amorim is convinced improvements have been made, but they are yet to deliver tangible change.

Defending US Open champion Jannik Sinner faces a two-front battle in New York — fitness concerns and the relentless Carlos Alcaraz. With their rivalry heating up, Sinner’s title defence could hinge on his recovery as much as his tennis.

Over the past year, men’s tennis has largely revolved around Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. The two rising stars have split every Grand Slam since early 2024, trading titles and the No.1 ranking in a rivalry many compare to the Federer–Nadal era, blending skill, intensity, and generational change.

The rivalry stats tell their own story. Each of the last five encounters between Sinner and Alcaraz has come in a final, underlining just how consistently the two have separated themselves from the pack. Alcaraz leads 6-1 in their previous seven matches, holding a clear edge on hard courts at 6-2, while Sinner has reigned supreme on grass, winning both their Wimbledon title clashes in 2022 and 2025.

But as the 2025 US Open begins, Sinner’s greatest opponent isn’t just Alcaraz. It’s his own body.

The defending champion arrives in New York battling fitness concerns after a summer marked by interruptions. He was forced to retire from the Cincinnati final against Alcaraz just five games in due to illness, skipped the mixed doubles event at Flushing Meadows, and still carries the after-effects of an elbow injury first sustained at Wimbledon. Though he overcame that setback to defeat Alcaraz in the SW19 final, Sinner admits he’s far from peak condition.

“Physically I feel good. I have recovered mostly, not 100% yet, but we are aiming to be there in a couple of days,” Sinner said before his opening match against Czech player Vit Kopriva. “It’s the last Grand Slam of the season, so the motivation is very high.”

Tough path for the defending champion

Novak Djokovic said he wished he was younger after delivering a masterclass in Grand Slam tenacity to American teenager Learner Tien, battling past him 6-1, 7-6(3), 6-2 in the US Open first round on Sunday to launch his latest quest for a record 25th major title.

Novak Djokovic dug deep into his vast reservoir of Grand Slam experience to tame American teenager Learner Tien and book his place in the second round of the US Open on Sunday. The Serbian great, chasing a record-extending 25th major crown, battled through physical discomfort before emerging a 6-1, 7-6(3), 6-2 winner under the lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Playing his first singles match since reaching the Wimbledon semi-finals last month, the 38-year-old traded the iconic whites for a sleek all-black outfit as he secured his 80th victory at Flushing Meadows. The triumph also ensured another entry into the record books—Djokovic became the first player in the Open Era to win 75 consecutive opening-round matches at Grand Slams, with 55 of those victories coming in straight sets.

The clash itself was a tale of contrasts. “It was quite a strange match, to be honest,” Djokovic admitted. “The first set lasted just over 20 minutes, while the second went on for 1 hour and 20 minutes—completely opposite sets. The key was holding my nerves in the second set and clinching the tiebreak. After that, I started feeling better and finished the match in good fashion.”

The Serbian admitted to struggling physically at times, even taking a medical timeout for a blister on his right foot, but said there were positives to build on as he began his 20th US Open campaign.

For Djokovic, the occasion was as much about reflection as it was about survival. Facing a rival literally half his age, he acknowledged the realities of competing at the highest level past his athletic prime. “This is my 20th US Open. My opponent today is 19 years old—he’s literally half my age, which is incredible. At this stage of my career, it’s really about learning how to preserve energy for what matters. The body doesn’t recover as fast as it used to, so I dedicate as much time as I can to physical recovery while balancing it with mental freshness, motivation, and sharpness on the court.”

In a candid moment, Djokovic admitted: “At times I wish I was younger, but I can only be grateful for the amazing career I’ve had here in New York and worldwide. Hopefully, I can keep it going—I still want to compete, and I hope you’re enjoying my tennis.”

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/tennis/story/novak-djokovic-us-open-2nd-round-reaction-learner-tien-2776203-2025-08-25

Aryna Sabalenka launched the defence of her US Open crown with a battling victory on Sunday as American men’s hopes Taylor Fritz and Blake Shelton advanced safely.

Aryna Sabalenka launched the defence of her US Open crown with a battling victory on Sunday as American men’s hopes Taylor Fritz and Blake Shelton advanced safely. World number one Sabalenka, who is bidding to become the first woman to win back-to-back US Open titles since Serena Williams completed a hat-trick of wins in 2014, was made to work hard en route to a 7-5, 6-1 victory over Switzerland’s Rebeka Masarova. Masarova, ranked 108th in the world, pushed Sabalenka out of her comfort zone with a gutsy performance on the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center’s main Arthur Ashe Stadium showcourt.

“Happy to get this win and happy to be in the second round. I feel like I didn’t start my best in the first games, but then I found my rhythm,” said Sabalenka, who will face unseeded Russian Polina Kudermetova in the second round.

In other early action on Sunday, Kudermetova’s sister Veronika was on the wrong end of one of the few early upsets, losing in three sets to Indonesian qualifier Janice Tjen.

Kudermetova, the 24th seed, was bundled out after a composed performance from the 23-year-old Tjen, the first Indonesian to play in the main draw of a Grand Slam singles event for 21 years.

Tjen won 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, and will now face Britain’s former US Open champion Emma Raducanu in the second round.

“It means a lot,” Tjen said of her victory. “I feel proud to be able to do this for my country.”

Raducanu, who made history at Flushing Meadows in 2021 by becoming the first qualifier ever to win a Grand Slam title, clinched her first US Open match win since that memorable triumph with a 6-1, 6-2 drubbing of Japan’s Ena Shibahara.

“I wanted to win a match here really bad,” said Raducanu.

“It’s been four years, and it’s a very special tournament for me.”

Denmark’s 14th-seeded Clara Tauson was the highest-ranked player to fall in early action, tumbling out in three sets to Alexandra Eala of the Philippines, who won a nail-biting tussle 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (13/11).

Fritz, Shelton ease through

While Sabalenka was the highest-ranked women’s player in action on Sunday, the men’s tournament saw American fourth and sixth seeds Fritz and Shelton ease into the second round.

Fourth seed Fritz, last year’s beaten finalist and a semi-finalist at Wimbledon last month, sailed through with a 7-5, 6-2, 6-3 defeat of unseeded compatriot Emilio Nava.

Shelton progressed with a similarly comfortable 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 defeat of Peruvian qualifier Ignacio Buse.

Shelton and Fritz are spearheading US hopes of a first Grand Slam men’s singles win since Andy Roddick’s victory at the 2003 US Open.

Shelton though insists he is not looking beyond the second round, where he will face either Pablo Carreno Busta or Pablo Llamas Ruiz.

“As soon as you start looking ahead, you stumble over your own feet. So just one game at a time,” he said.

Later Sunday, Novak Djokovic launches his quest for a record 25th Grand Slam singles title in an evening match against Learner Tien.

The 38-year-old Serbian seventh seed has not played since his defeat in the semi-finals at Wimbledon last month, and has cut back his schedule as he focuses on Grand Slam events.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/us-open-2025/aryna-sabalenka-into-us-open-second-round-as-taylor-fritz-blake-shelton-advance-9152552

Cheteshwar Pujara announced his retirement from competitive cricket, having scored 7195 runs in 103 Tests with 19 centuries at a healthy average of 43 plus.

He hasn’t played Test cricket for the past two years and Cheteshwar Pujara understands more than anyone else that time is right for him to bid adieu without any regrets. Pujara, 37, announced his retirement from competitive cricket on Sunday, having scored 7195 runs in 103 Tests with 19 centuries at a healthy average of 43 plus. “There are no regrets. I am very fortunate to have played for the Indian team for such a long time, not many players got that opportunity so I am very thankful to my family and people who have supported me,” Pujara told reporters in a media conference in his hometown.

He has already started his work as a broadcaster during the recent Test series in England and indicated that he has found his calling in commentary.

“I am really happy that I am calling this off but at the same time I will stay attached to the game. As a cricketer, I would like to stay associated to the cricket, doing commentary and I have started doing media work as well.

I am not going to play cricket but I will be watching the Indian team and commenting in it. The honour will continue,” he added.

He made his Test debut in 2010 but it was after Rahul Dravid’s retirement in 2012 that he made No.3 spot his own for the next decade.

He had two memorable tours of Australia but 2018-19 series, where he scored 521 runs with three hundreds, facing as many as 1258 deliveries will always be his lasting legacy.

“There have been many great moments on the field but if i have to single out one Test series on the Australian soil in 2018 was one of the best achievements of my cricketing career and one of the best memories for the India team as well,” he said.

“It was one of the best series I have been a part of.” Pujara, who literally forced his way into the Indian team in 2019 against Australia had scored a 72 in a run-chase in the second innings in Bengaluru. He remembered how he was overawed when he first entered the Indian dressing room.

“I made my debut for the Indian team in 2010, that was one of the proudest moment of my cricketing journey. When I made my debut in 2010 under Mahi bhai, it was a dream come moment for me because there were some great players in the team.

“Players like Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, I am still trying to recollect those names.. whom I have grown up watching so it was one of the proudest moments of my cricketing career.” On a deeply personal note, he remembered his mother Reena Pujara, who passed away in 2005, after battling cancer when he was 17.

“…she always used to tell my father that don’t worry about your son eventually he will play for the Indian team and her words come true and I am sure she will be very proud of the achievements I have made in my cricketing journey.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/no-regrets-cheteshwar-pujara-sends-powerful-message-after-announcing-retirement-9151028

A report has claimed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is all set to introduce the ‘rugby-centric’ Bronco Test for the Indian cricket team.

Following a report that claimed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is all set to introduce the ‘rugby-centric’ Bronco Test for the Indian cricket team, former international spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has questioned the move. Notably, the new test is reportedly set to be brought into effect to maintain a high level of fitness among the Indian cricket team players. The test involves multiple shuttle runs of 20 metres, 40 metres and 60 metres. Ashwin claimed that a change in training could lead to players getting injured.

The report was carried out in The Indian Express, which also claimed that the suggestion was made by Indian cricket team’s new strength and conditioning coach Adrian le Roux who wants the pacer to clock more running miles. The report added that India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir also agreed to Roux’s suggestion.

“I have always asked the trainers. When the trainers change, the testing mechanism changes. The training schemes change. When this happens, players go through a lot of difficulty. As a player, if you keep changing training schemes, it is virtually very difficult for the players. In many cases, it could also lead to injuries. I am not denying that, it has led to injuries,” said Ashwin in a video on his YouTube channel.

“From 2017 to 2019, I was searching for my training scheme. I have endured this. Soham Desai knows all about this,” he added.

Focusing more on the role of a trainer, Ashwin said that the transition between the old and new ones should be smooth.

“I just want to raise some questions. As a player, the problem is one of continuity. I would really like some continuity. It is important to give that. I would just want that whenever a new trainer comes in, he should work with the outgoing trainer for six months to one year to give the handover,” said Ashwin.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/problem-is-gautam-gambhir-bcci-served-blunt-message-over-report-of-introducing-bronco-test-9146698

Defending champions NorthEast United FC dished out a dominant performance to thrash debutants Diamond Harbour FC 6-1 in the grand finale of the 134th Durand Cup.

Defending champions NorthEast United FC dished out a dominant performance to thrash debutants Diamond Harbour FC 6-1 in the grand finale of the 134th Durand Cup, clinching their second successive title in style. On a night of relentless attacking football at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, the Highlanders had six different scorers – Asheer Akhtar (30th), Parthib Gogoi (45+1st), Thoi Singh (50th), Jairo (81st), Andy (85th) and Alaaeddine Ajaraie (90+3rd). Diamond Harbour pulled one back in the 68th minute when Jobby Justin’s header deflected in off Luka Majcen.

The final began at a brisk pace, with both sides cautious in possession. But it was the defending champions who struck first. A clever cut-back from Samte in the 28th minute found Parthib, whose effort was parried away by Mirshad. From the resulting corner came the breakthrough.

Andy’s delivery was poorly dealt with by the Diamond Harbour defence, and though Mirshad produced a fine initial stop from Mayakkannan’s strike, the loose ball fell to centre-back Asheer Akhtar, who swept it home to give the champions a 1-0 lead in the 30th minute.

Chema Nunez squandered a gilt-edged chance to double the advantage in the 39th minute, dragging his shot wide after Ajaraie’s clever build-up play. Diamond Harbour nearly punished that lapse when Kortazar had a free header in the 43rd minute, but the opportunity went begging.

Right on the stroke of half-time, NorthEast delivered a hammer blow. Parthib Gogoi found himself in space and curled a composed right-foot finish beyond Mirshad to make it 2-0.

The Highlanders went into the interval with a firm grip on proceedings, boasting eight shots (six on target) to Diamond Harbour’s four (just one on target).

Any hopes of a comeback were snuffed out within five minutes of the restart. Ajaraie surged past the backline to collect Nunez’s lofted pass and squared unselfishly for Thoi Singh, who tapped home to extend the lead to 3-0 in the 50th minute.

Gurmeet then kept out a thunderous effort from Liansanga in the 63rd minute, preserving his clean sheet for five more minutes.

In the 68th minute, Jobby Justin’s header from a Robilal Mandi corner took a heavy deflection off Majcen’s body, wrong-footing Gurmeet and pulling one back for Diamond Harbour.

The debutants briefly threatened, with Jobby and Paul both squandering chances in quick succession, but NorthEast quickly reasserted control.

In the 81st minute, substitute Jairo pounced on a punched clearance by Mirshad, rifling home a thunderous strike from the edge of the box to restore the three-goal cushion at 4-1.

Ajaraie, who was a constant menace, turned provider again in the 85th minute. His low cross from the left was met by a sliding finish from Andy, making it 5-1 and marking Ajaraie’s third assist of the night.

The Moroccan forward then put the icing on the cake. In stoppage time, his curling strike from distance rattled the post, but he was quickest to the rebound, drawing a foul from Sairuatkima inside the box.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/football/northeast-united-thrash-diamond-harbour-6-1-to-retain-durand-cup-title-9146951

The development came after ‘The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill’ was passed by both houses of parliament on Thursday

Just 16 days before the start of the Asia Cup in the UAE, fantasy sports platform Dream11 reportedly retracted its commitment as the lead jersey sponsor for the Indian cricket team. The development came after ‘The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill’ was passed by both houses of parliament on Thursday. The bill banned online fantasy sports and gambling platforms.

According to a report in NDTV, Dream11 is “not willing to continue its deal” with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). However, both have yet to make an official announcement.

The secretary of the national governing body, Devajit Saiki, said the BCCI will adhere to the country’s laws. “If it’s not permissible, we’ll not do anything. The BCCI will follow every policy of the country that is framed by the central government,” he said.

The report further said that BCCI will likely invite new bids for the jersey sponsorship rights ahead of the Asia Cup. If the Indian board fails to bag a deal before the tournament, which begins on September 9, India might play without a lead jersey sponsor in the Asia Cup.

Sources also told the channel that the new jerseys for the Asia Cup, featuring Dream11, had already been printed but were unlikely to be used in the tournament.

Dream11, which was announced as India’s lead jersey sponsor in July 2023 for a three-year contract, and had signed a deal worth ₹358 crore, has now joined an unenviable list of the team’s past sponsors, who have been hit by financial or legal trouble. Sahara, the sponsor between 2001 and 2013, ran into SEBI trouble over regulatory violations. Star India replaced them as the lead sponsor between 2014 and 2017, but they faced a Competition Commission probe. Oppo, which entered the scene in 2017, pulled out in 2020, citing financial strain. Byju’s stepped in the same year, yet its stint ended acrimoniously, with the BCCI dragging the edtech major to court over unpaid dues.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/dream11-exits-as-team-indias-lead-jersey-sponsor-bcci-set-to-invite-fresh-bids-ahead-of-asia-cup-101755997511168.html

Sunil Gavaskar, immortalised as a life-size statue, was unveiled at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium on Saturday.

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar was immortalised on Saturday. A life-size statue was unveiled on Saturday evening at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The statue was unveiled as the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) inaugurated the Sharad Pawar Cricket Museum. At the grand entrance, visitors can spot the life-size statues of Gavaskar and Sharad Pawar. The Little Master Gavaskar is inarguably one of the greatest batters to come out of India, and hence a statue is a testament to his legacy.

It must be mentioned that a grand statue of Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar was unveiled in 2023 during the ODI World Cup. Speaking of Gavaskar, the former India captain was a part of India’s iconic 1983 World Cup triumph.

Gavaskar then also led India to a famous victory in the 1985 World Championship of Cricket after the side defeated arch-rival Pakistan in the summit clash.

Speaking about the special occasion, Gavaskar, in an official statement, said, “I must say I’ve always considered myself a student of cricket history. In our playing days, there were no videos – only books and magazines. We learned from reading, from autobiographies, and from the written word.”

“That’s why seeing this museum makes me genuinely happy. MCA has done a wonderful job, not just for Mumbai cricket but for Indian cricket as a whole. Young players who visit will find inspiration in the stories and history preserved here,” he added.

Gavaskar, who made his Test debut in 1971, is regarded as one of the greatest opening batters of all time. His game was modelled on pitch-perfect defence. He could stay at the crease for hours without dropping a sweat. Back in the day, he batted against the likes of the famous West Indies pace quartet, taking on Andy Roberts, Michael Holding, and more.

Gavaskar was also involved in mouth-watering battles with the likes of Richie Benaud, Richard Hadlee, Imran Khan and Ian Botham. The Little Master played 125 Tests and 108 ODIs for India, scoring more than 13,000 across both formats of the game.

The right-handed batter was also the first player in the sport’s history to score 10,000 runs in Tests. He achieved the feat against Pakistan in 1987 in Ahmedabad.

‘Future generations can connect’

Gavaskar also stated that the Sharad Pawar Museum at the Wankhede Stadium will help the future generation to connect with and learn from the sport’s glorious past.

Recently, former India captain Dilip Vengsarkar donated his jersey from the iconic 1976 Lord’s Test against England. As reported by Mid-Day, Rohit Sharma also donated his bat and jersey from the 2023 ODI World Cup.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/sunil-gavaskar-immortalised-little-masters-life-size-statue-unveiled-at-mumbais-wankhede-stadium-101755966080046.html

For decades, fitness influencers and athletes swore by “clean eating” and intense workouts as the ultimate path to weight loss and peak performance. But Serena Williams’s revelation signals a potential cultural shift – are we moving into an era where science, and not sweat alone, drives results?

Former tennis champion Serena Williams revealed that after becoming a mother, even her years of intense training couldn’t help her return to the body she once had and eventually resorted to taking GLP-1 drugs.

“I had been the ultimate super-athlete, always in competition and being super-healthy my entire life, but I just could never get back to where I needed to be,” Williams told Vogue magazine. After giving birth to her second daughter in 2023, she turned to a new option – GLP-1 medication.

“My whole life is being in the gym, working out, running, training, HIIT training, dancing, every single thing you can think of. I would always get to a certain point on the scale, but I could never get below that. That’s when I decided that it was time to try something different and got on the GLP-1 with Ro,” she added.

WHAT ARE GLP-1 DRUGS?

14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi became the talk of the town with his heroics in IPL 2025.

14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi became the talk of the town with his heroics in IPL 2025. Bought by Rajasthan Royals for Rs 1.10 crore during the mega auctions, the Bihar-based cricketer played seven matches and scored an impressive 252 runs. This tally also includes a fiery century off just 35 balls, registering the fastest ton by an Indian in the IPL. Not only in IPL, Suryavanshi has also impressed with his powerful batting performances. Recently, former India wicketkeeper Ambati Rayudu praised the young batter and backed him to play for the senior men’s Indian team.

Rayudu spoke highly about Suryavanshi’s aggressive batting style and stated that the IPL prodigy should be given proper guidance.

“His bat speed is extraordinary. Jo uska whip aata hai… I hope nobody changes that. He should get better. Someone like Lara… maybe go and talk to him. He also had a similar type of bat lift. So he can learn about how to control the bat speed when you are defending and when you are playing with a soft hand. So if he learns that, then he will be an extraordinary talent,” said Rayudu on Shubhankar Mishra’s podcast.

“He only has to focus on one thing, and that is he should not listen to many people. Don’t listen to people; just back your talent. And for coaches also, it is important that usko zyada gyaan mat do. Leave him,” he added.

Rayudu further stated that Suryavanshi will prosper under the guidance of Rajasthan Royals head coach Rahul Dravid.

“He’s extraordinary talent. Agar sambhal ke usko sahi guide karenge… He is lucky that Rahul (Dravid) bhai is with him. Rahul Bhai will take care of him,” said Rayudu.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/usko-zyada-gyaan-mat-do-ex-india-star-impressed-with-14-year-old-vaibhav-suryavanshis-heroics-9131833

Their suspensions will remain in place until investigations into their alleged offences are completed, says Sport Singapore.

All the basketball players who are under investigation for allegedly fixing matches in Singapore’s K. Star National Basketball League Division 1 competition have been suspended from official basketball activities with immediate effect.

Their suspensions will remain in place until investigations into their alleged offences are completed, Sport Singapore (SportSG) said on Thursday (Aug 21).

Responding to queries from CNA, SportSG said that it was aware of the investigations and was “working closely with the Basketball Association of Singapore (BAS) to extend full cooperation to the authorities”. This included “providing all necessary support to assist the investigations”, it added.

“Match-fixing undermines the integrity of sport and goes against the fundamental values of fair play,” SportSG said. “We do not condone such behaviour and take these matters very seriously.”

The Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) announced on Tuesday that it had arrested nine people for their suspected involvement in fixing matches in the K. Star National Basketball League Division 1 competition.

The individuals – eight Singaporeans and one permanent resident, aged between 19 and 35 – included players from teams participating in the 2025 season of the league.

BAS, which organises the league, said in a separate statement on Wednesday that the remaining games in the season would continue as scheduled, with the competition running from Jul 14 to Aug 30.

“As we do not have concrete evidence that the BAS NBL Division 1 is compromised, and in fairness to the players and teams who have trained hard for this competition, BAS will let the ongoing tournament continue as per schedule,” it said.

“Any officials or players under arrest or who have been arrested will be immediately suspended from all league activities.”

The competition features 10 teams: Adroit, SBA, Tagawa, Chong Ghee, Eng Tat Hornets, SG Basketball, Siglap Basketball Club, Xin Hua, Tung San and Tong Whye.

One of the allegedly fixed games took place on Aug 1, when Tagawa beat Tong Whye 66-43.

In a post in the Tong Whye Basketball Facebook group on Wednesday, the Tong Whye Physical Association said it had not received “sufficient details” to comment further but stressed that it enforces a strict zero-tolerance policy against any form of match-fixing.

“If any team official or player affiliated with Tong Whye Physical Association is found to be involved, we will take firm and immediate disciplinary action,” it said, adding that the club is committed to cooperating fully with the authorities and encouraged anyone with information to come forward.

An official from a club in the league told CNA he was shocked by the news but suggested it was the work of “a few black sheep”.

“When people go to the stadium and watch a team play, they have every right to see a good competition rather than a fixed game,” he said, adding that the scandal would inevitably affect the league’s reputation.

Source : https://www.channelnewsasia.com/sport/basketball-league-match-fixing-allegations-players-under-investigation-suspended-5305851

The post from Yuzvendra Chahal comes after Dhanashree Verma’s first-ever interview after their divorce went viral on internet.

Months after her divorce with Indian cricketer Yuzvendra Chahal, Dhanashree Verma broke silence on the entire matter. Notably, the couple had tied the knot in December 2020, while they officially parted ways in March this year. From reacting to the accusations of faking her marriage to revealing her emotions over the separation, Dhanashree spoke it all in her first-ever interview since the divorce. As the interview went viral on internet, Chahal has come up with a cryptic post, with many fans guessing that it is a reply to Dhanashree.

“There is a reason why we say ‘personal life’. It has to be private. And look, a coin has two sides. Taali ek haath se to bajti nahi (You can’t clap with one hand). Just because I am not speaking it doesn’t give anyone the power to take advantage of that. It is not correct. I think it should not happen with anybody,” said Dhanashree while speaking to Humans of Bombay.

Dhanashree added that while she has her side of the story and could share it in the future, she is currently focused on her career.

“If you want to achieve great things, you don’t have to address it again and again. I do have a lot to speak about it, I have my side of my story, do I want to delve into that? No. Do I wish to delve into that? Maybe, in the future,” she added.

Chahal on Wednesday posted a series of pictures from his outing. However, it was the caption that grabbed attention.

“Million feelings, zero words,” wrote Chahal while sharing his photos. Fans feel that it was directed towards Dhanashree post her latest interview.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/million-yuzvendra-chahal-posts-fans-connect-it-to-dhanashree-vermas-divorce-statement-9126495 

Ex-India batter Ambati Rayudu has made a staggering claim on the T20 World Cup 2024 final catch taken by Suryakumar Yadav.

More than a year after Team India’s triumphant moment at the T20 World Cup 2024 final against South Africa, the country’s ex-batter, Ambati Rayudu, has made a staggering revelation. The catch by Surya to dismiss South Africa’s David Miller proved to be the turning point in the game. The catch also triggered a huge controversy, as replays showed that the boundary rope, where the ball was hit, was pushed back a little bit. Rayudu, who was one of the commentators for the match, has revealed what really happened before the catch was taken.

During the ‘Unfiltered Podcast’, Rayudu revealed that the world feed team had put a chair and a screen at the same spot to help the broadcasters. When the chair was placed, the boundary rope was pushed back a little bit by the team. However, even after the chair and screen were taken off, the rope was not moved to its original place.

“There were world feed commentators. During the break, what usually happens is they put a chair there and a screen in order to help the broadcasters see what is happening. That is why they pushed the rope backwards a little bit. But, they left it like that (even after taking the screen and the chair away). That is how the boundary became a little bigger for us. We (the commentators) could see it from above. It was god’s plan,” said Rayudu during the chat on the podcast.

When asked if it was a six, Suryakumar said: “I don’t know if it was a six (in natural circumstances) or not. If the rope had been placed at its normal position, maybe Surya would’ve run from inside.”

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/rope-was-pushed-by-ambati-rayudus-big-revelation-on-surykumar-yadavs-t20-wc-final-catch-9112595

After a poor Test series in Australia in 2024/25, Virat Kohli decided to call time on his career in the format.

Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has opened up on the backlash that he has faced for criticising Virat Kohli’s batting. After a poor Test series in Australia in 2024/25, Kohli decided to call time on his career in the format. His sudden retirement came in May, just before India announced the squad for England Test series. Kohli could manage to score only 190 runs across 9 innings despite a century in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The poor outing added to his troubles in Test cricket as the player was already going through a noticeable dip in form.

What made it all even poorer was the fact that the mode of Kohli’s dismissals were similar in majority of the innings. He would end up losing his wicket by edging the ball to slips or the wicketkeeper, more often than not. While speaking on The Lallantop’s show Guest in the Newsroom, Pathan pointed out that the poor form of Kohli continued for a long time.

“If you look at my social media, there was Virat Kohli’s slump in 2019-20. At that time, it was said that it was the time of COVID, and he wasn’t getting inspiration. I thought that when a player of big stature undergoes their first slump, then they should be backed. If you look at my social media, I backed him a lot. One, he deserved it, and won a lot of matches. If the slump continues for five years, then it’s not right,” Pathan said.

“Eventually, the team has to be at the top. Team is No. 1; we play for the team, we play to win games. If a batsman gets out in a similar manner, the opposition team plans accordingly. They won’t go to plan B. They will get you out using plan A. If you’re a champion player, then you’ve to take them from plan A to plan B. The problem with Virat in Test cricket was that he was getting out similarly every now and then. That doesn’t mean he’s a bad player; he’s a champion player, but it’s happening. You’ve to explain what you are seeing in detail,” he added.

Source: https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/irfan-pathan-opens-up-on-backlash-over-virat-kohli-criticism-if-slump-continues-for-5-years-9093605

Arjun Tendulkar made the entire social media go crazy after the news of his engagement with Saaniya Chandok went viral.

Arjun Tendulkar made the entire social media go crazy after the news of his engagement with Saaniya Chandok went viral. Son of the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, Arjun is a part of Mumbai Indians squad in the IPL, where he made his debut in 2023. On the other hand, Saaniya is the granddaughter of prominent Mumbai entrepreneur Ravi Ghai. The Ghai family is famous for its services in hospitality and food industries. They are the owners of the InterContinental hotel and Brooklyn Creamery.

What is Arjun Tendulkar’s net worth?

The greatness and the rich influence of Sachin is not new for the fans but it also worth noting that Arjun also has a net-worth of crores.

Being a part of Mumbai Indians since 2021, Arjun has accumulated Rs 1 crore 40 lakh from his contract. In 2021, he was picked by the five-time champions for Rs 20 lakh. In 2023, he was bought by MI for Rs 30 lakh.

Apart from IPL, Arjun plays for Goa in domestic cricket. The pacer represents Goa in the Ranji Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy, and Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament. Through domestic cricket, Arjun earns around Rs 10 lakh annually. In total, Arjun’s net worth is around 22 crore, as per a report by News18.

Arjun also enjoys the rich lifestyle, given to him by his family. He resides in the Mumbai mansion with his family, owned by Sachin, which was bought in 2007 for Rs 39 crore.

Notably, Arjun is a left-arm pacer, who could also add valuable contributions with the bat. The bowler plays for Goa in domestic cricket. In 17 First-Class games, he has picked 37 wickets while also scoring 532 runs.

Arjun has played 24 T20s, scalping 27 wickets and scoring 119 runs. He has featured in 18 one-dayers (List A), picking 25 wickets and scoring 102 runs.

Source:  https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/how-much-does-arjun-tendulkar-earn-cricket-and-other-income-sources-explained-9100785

Jacob Bethell will create history when he makes his captaincy debut against Ireland in September. The RCB star has played 13 T20Is since his debut in September 2024. He is capped in all three formats.

The England Cricket Board (ECB) on Friday (August 15) appointed Jacob Bethell as the T20I captain for the three-match series against Ireland. An all-format player since his debut, Bethell will lead the team in place of Harry Brook. The England white-ball captain will take a break after the South Africa series. Bethell will create history and break England’s 136-year-old record when he makes his captaincy debut against Ireland. He will lead the two-time T20 World Champions in three T20Is to be played on September 17, 19 and 21 in Dublin.

“Jacob Bethell has impressed with his leadership qualities ever since he has been with the England squads. The series against Ireland will provide him with the ­opportunity to further develop those skills on the international stage,” England’s chief selector, Luke Wright, said.

The sudden retirement of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma from the Indian Test team shook the entire world.

The sudden retirement of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma from the Indian Test team shook the entire world. The two stalwarts of Indian cricket abruptly called time on their respective Test careers in May 2025, days before the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy against England. There are many theories and reports which stated that poor outings in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia may have prompted the two to hang their boots but now, former India cricketer Karsan Ghavri has given a whole new prospective to this row.

Ghavri stated that both Rohit and Kohli wanted to continue playing for India in the longest format but due to the “internal politics” in the BCCI, forced them to walk out.

“He [Kohli] should have definitely continued playing for India easily, probably for another couple of years. But something really forced him to retire. And unfortunately, when he retired, he was not even given a farewell by the BCCI,” said Ghavri on the Vickey Lalwani Show.

“Such players, such a great player who has done such great service to BCCI, India cricket and Indian fans, should be given a grand and fabulous farewell,” he added.

He further held the selection panel responsible for the “premature” retirement of Rohit and Virat from Test cricket.

“It’s due to internal politics within the BCCI, which is hard to understand. And I think this is the reason he retired prematurely. Even Rohit Sharma retired prematurely. They were asked to go out,” said Ghavri.

“It’s not like they wanted to leave. They wanted to continue. But the selectors and BCCI had different ideas. It was a matter of some kind of petty politics,” he added.

Apart from this, there are reports stating that the duo may also retire from ODIs soon, ending their dream of playing the World Cup in 2027.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/virat-kohli-rohit-sharma-retired-from-tests-due-to-internal-politics-ex-india-stars-huge-claim-9095937

Event on December 15 being planned around Messi’s visit; Gill’s availability hinges on India’s T20I schedule against South Africa

India Test captain Shubman Gill has earlier acknowledged being a fan of Neymar. His fondness for the star Brazilian footballer aside, Gill is also an admirer of Lionel Messi. If things go according to plan, Gill, fresh from his four centuries in the 2-2 series draw in England, will have his moment with Messi at the Kotla on December 15.

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan and former India cricket captain Virat Kohli are also likely to be present on the occasion at the Kotla.

“Efforts are being made for Gill’s availability as well for the Kotla event,” a source privy to the developments told The Telegraph on Thursday. “We’re quite hopeful of Shah Rukh and Kohli’s presence, though. The plan is to make it a moment with Messi for the three of them.”

It remains to be seen whether Gill’s presence at the Kotla materialises as India play the home T20Is against South Africa during that period. A T20I is scheduled in Dharamsala on December 14, the date Messi is expected to be at the Wankhede.

As for Messi’s programmes lined up at Eden Gardens on December 13, the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB)’s apex body gave its verbal approval on Thursday.

“We’ll now discuss the hosting fee with the organisers before placing the matter before the Army,” CAB president Snehasish Ganguly said.

It was learnt that the organisers are also keeping the Salt Lake Stadium open as an alternative, though the Eden is the first-choice venue.

Source: https://www.telegraphindia.com/sports/shubman-gill-shah-rukh-khan-virat-kohli-may-share-stage-with-lionel-messi-at-kotla-prnt/cid/2118102#goog_rewarded

Indian Super League team FC Goa is set to face superstar ‘s Al Naser of Saudi Arabia in Group D of the AFC Champions League 2, the continent’s second tier club competition, beginning September 16.

Al Naser is captained by Ronaldo, the Portuguese five-time Ballon d’Or winner, but failed to qualify for AFC Champions League Elite after finishing third in the Saudi Pro League.

They are now clubbed in Group D of ACL 2, alongside FC Goa, Al Zawraa SC of Iraq and FC Istiklol of Tajikistan. The draw for the tournament was conducted at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Friday.

FC Goa are the winners of the Super Cup 2025 and semifinalists in the ISL 2024-25. The tournament will be played in home and away format. However, it is not certain yet ifRonaldo will play in India in FC Goa’s home match.

In 2023, Mumbai City FC was clubbed along Neymar Junior’s Al Hilal, also of Saudi Arabia, but the Brazilian superstar did not play his club’s away match at DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai as he suffered an injury before the fixture.

FC Goa secured the group stage qualification after beating Al Seeb Club of Oman 2-1 in the play-off match in Margao on Wednesday. This will be the team’s second continental appearance after having represented India in the 2021 AFC Champions League (ACL), then the continent’s top tier club competition.

Meanwhile, Mohun Bagan Super Giant, the ISL 2024-25 Shield Winners, will play in Group C alongside Sepahan SC of Iran, Al Hussein SC of Jordan and Ahal FC of Turkmenistan.

This will be Mohun Bagan SG’s eighth appearance in Asia’s second-tier club competition, which was earlier called AFC Cup.

Thirty-two teams, 16 each in the West and the East Zone, have been divided into eight groups of four each. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the Round of 16.

The group stage will run from September 16 to December 24. The Round of 16 will take place between February 10-19, 2026. The quarter-finals and semi-finals are set for March 3-12 and April 7-15, respectively, with the final scheduled for May 16, 2026.

Meanwhile, Lionel Messi’s much-anticipated visit to India has received its final seal of approval with the Argentine superstar set to kick off his three-city tour in Kolkata on December 12, promoter of the event Satadru Dutta said on Friday.

Source : https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/sports/cristiano-ronaldo-in-india-after-lionel-messi-portuguese-football-superstar-might-play-against-fc-goa-in-afc-champions-league-2/articleshow/123320951.cms?from=mdr

As per the report, the ED suspects that Raina has alleged links to the app through certain endorsements, and now the officials are expected to understand that during the questioning.

Former Indian cricketer Suresh Raina has found himself in hot water after being summoned by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with illegal betting platforms. Raina is expected to appear before the ED officials at its Delhi headquarters on Wednesday morning.

According to an Indian Express report, a source said Raina has been asked to depose before the agency on August 13 in an illegal betting case linked to an app named 1xBet. “Once he deposes, ED is expected to record his statements under the PMLA,”

As per the report, the ED suspects that Raina has alleged links to the app through certain endorsements, and now the officials are expected to understand that during the questioning.

ED official on betting platform

Despite both Sai Sudharsan and Karun Nair struggling at no. 3, the player was ignored by the team management during the recently-concluded five match Test series against England.

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly has backed batter Abhimanyu Easwaran to make his Test debut sooner rather than later. The Bengal captain has continued to play the role of a benchwarmer since getting his first call-up in the national side in 2021-22. Despite both Sai Sudharsan and Karun Nair struggling at no. 3, Easwaran was ignored by the team management during the recently-concluded five match Test series against England. Speaking at an event in Kolkata, the former Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) President Ganguly feels Easwaran can solidify his position at no. 3 once he gets his much-awaited debut in the whites.

“He has age on his side. I still believe he will get his chance,” said Gaunguly, as quoted by the Times of India.

“I feel batters like Yashasvi (Jaiswal), KL Rahul, (Shubman) Gill, (Rishabh) Pant, (Ravindra) Jadeja have all got runs. It’s only the No. 3 slot that looked a bit fragile. Maybe Easwaran will be tried out there,” he added.

Since Easwaran’s maiden call-up, a total of 15 players have gone on to make their debuts but not him.

His father Ranganathan Easwaran recently lashed out over the repeated omissions that his son is facing. Abhimanyu Easwaran has played 103 first-class matches scoring 7841 runs at an average of 48.70.

“Gautam Gambhir, when he spoke to my son, he assured him see you you’re doing the right kind of things you’ll get your turn you’ll get a long run. ‘I’m not the one who will push you out after one or two matches. I’ll give you a long rope.’ That’s what my son communicated to me. The entire coaching team assured him that he’ll get his due, he’ll get his long run. That’s the best I can say. My son is waiting for 4 years, He’s put in 23 years of hard work,” Ranganathan said in an interview on Vickey Lalwani’s YouTube channel.

Source: https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/sourav-ganguly-breaks-silence-after-india-stars-father-goes-on-selection-rant-9068258

Asia Cup: The Ajit Agarkar-led BCCI selection committee is likely to select the squad for the Asia Cup on August 19 or 20.

The Asia Cup will be the Indian cricket team’s next big assignment after a memorable England Tour. According to a report by news agency PTI, the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee is likely to select the squad for the Asia Cup on August 19 or 20 depending on when the Centre of Excellence’s (CoE) Sports Science team sends the medical bulletin of all players, including that of skipper Suryakumar Yadav, who has already started batting at the nets in Bengaluru..

The report further said the BCCI selection committee won’t be too keen to tinker with the set-up as Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Suryakumar, Tilak Varma, and Hardik Pandya form a solid top five.

“Abhishek Sharma is world’s No. 1 T20 batter in last ICC rankings. Sanju Samson has been fantastic last season with both bat and gloves. So it will certainly be a tough call but Shubman in current form (although in Tests) can’t be ignored. He had a good IPL also. Problem for selectors is, there are too many performers at the top of the order,” a BCCI source privy to developments told PTI.

With so many players in top-order, it would be very difficult to find a slot for Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sai Sudharsan.

Even KL Rahul, who is now the first choice keeper in ODIs, is unlikely to be considered as he doesn’t bat in the middle-order.

Second keeper’s slot

While Samson is all but certain to be the first keeper, the choice for the second keeper’s slot will be between Jitesh Sharma and Dhruv Jurel. While Jurel was a part of the last T20 series, Jitesh had been impressive for RCB during their IPL winning campaign. He has also revelled in the role of a finisher.

Reddy unlikely to be fit in time

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/indias-squad-for-asia-cup-three-big-stars-to-be-snubbed-by-bcci-says-report-yashasvi-jaiswal-and-9065593

MS Dhoni is reportedly available to provide evidence between October 20 and December 10 as per a petition.

MS Dhoni is set to record his statement after Madras High Court ordered a trial in a Rs 100 crore defamation case filed by the former India captain against two prominent media channels and a journalist for dragging his name in the 2013 IPL betting scandal.

Justice CV Karthikeyan has appointed an advocate commissioner who will record the evidence on behalf of Dhoni. The two-time world cup winning captain will not appear in person for the examination as his presence could lead to chaos on account of him being a celebrity.

Indian cricket runs on narratives and currently it is about whether Kohli and Rohit, with a cumulative 83 ODI hundreds and 25,000-plus runs, can last till the October 2027 ODI World Cup.

It’s that time of the year when speculation is rife about the impending ODI future of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, but if one goes by the decision makers in the Indian cricket board, there is no tearing hurry to take an immediate call on the two maestros.

With the Bangladesh series scheduled in August being called off, India’s next ODI assignment will be an away series from October 19-25 against Australia.

Indian cricket runs on narratives and currently it is about whether Kohli and Rohit, with a cumulative 83 ODI hundreds and 25,000-plus runs, can last till the October 2027 ODI World Cup when they would be 39 and 40-year old respectively.

“Obviously, if they (Rohit and Kohli) have something in mind, they would tell the BCCI brass like they did before the England Test tour. But from an Indian team’s perspective, the next big assignment is the T20 World Cup in February and preparations before that. The immediate focus will be on sending the best team for the Asia Cup T20 tournament, hoping all players are fit and available,” a BCCI source privy to the developments told on conditions of anonymity.

The BCCI never believes in taking decisions in haste and would always gauge the mood and public perceptions before taking a call, which is sensitive in nature considering the massive fan following of the two players.

The last tournament that they played was the Champions Trophy in Dubai where Kohli scored a hundred in a successful chase against Pakistan at the group league stage while Rohit starred with a sublime half-century in the chase during the final.

However, both have not played competitive cricket since the conclusion of the Indian Premier League.

Kohli, who is now a resident of London, had recently posted an Instagram story after an indoor nets session, which is an indicator that he has started training.

Rohit, who was also in the UK on a break post IPL, is recently back in Mumbai and would certainly be expected to start training in a few days.

While there are some media reports about BCCI offering the duo a farewell game at Sydney on October 25, the BCCI source in the know of things said that as of now, no such discussions have taken place.

As far as playing the Vijay Hazare Trophy is concerned, the source said that the national One-Day Championship starts on December 24, 2025 and even before that, there is another three-match ODI series at home against South Africa starting November 30.

“Even if they play Vijay Hazare, before that there would already be six ODIs that will be played. In between the Australia ODIs and the South Africa ODIs, there is an India A series against South Africa A where three List A games (50 overs) will be held at Rajkot on November 13, 16 and 19 respectively.

“Now, will the duo want to play those three A games, or possibly two, before the South Africa series is the question. Even more important is whether Ajit Agarkar and his colleagues would want that,” he said.

Source : https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/cricket/with-t20-wc-next-priority-bcci-not-in-hurry-to-take-call-on-kohli-rohit-future-3674538

A new report has claimed that Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma may retire from ODIs after the Australia series.

With Indian cricketing action still a month away after the epic England tour, the rumour mill has started buzzing, keeping fans on tenterhooks – and the latest chatter concerns the immediate future of India’s, and arguably cricket’s, two greatest white-ball players: Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.

Both have already called time on their Test and T20I careers, with their sole focus now on the ODI World Cup scheduled in Africa in 2027. While many believe the two greats will be eyeing the quadrennial event as the perfect career swansong, a report in Dainik Jagran speculates that things may not be as straightforward.

According to the national daily, the Australia series could be the last time we see Kohli and Rohit feature in ODIs for India, and they may announce their retirement after the series. The report, citing a BCCI source, further adds that if both players indeed have the 2027 World Cup in mind, they will need to play the Vijay Hazare Trophy – India’s premier domestic one-day tournament – in December this year.

This would be similar to how Indian players were asked to participate in the Ranji Trophy ahead of selection for India’s tour of England earlier this year.

The rationale behind potentially moving on from Rohit and Kohli in the ODI format is India’s growing depth of young talent in the white-ball setup. The BCCI management and selectors, the report claims, are keeping the 2027 World Cup selection cycle in mind.

While both Rohit and Kohli turned out for their respective sides in the Ranji Trophy after a poor Border-Gavaskar Trophy, they had announced their retirements from the longer format in May, before the squad for the England tour was announced. They also took their T20I retirements together, soon after India clinched the 2024 T20 World Cup in Barbados.

India’s next ODI assignment is the away white-ball tour of Australia, starting October 19. The matches will be played in Perth, Adelaide and Sydney.

Source : https://www.news18.com/cricket/virat-kohli-rohit-sharma-to-retire-from-odis-after-australia-series-ws-l-9495952.html

Eddie Howe says it is “clear” that he “can’t involve” Alexander Isak at Newcastle United as things stand.

Newcastle rejected a £110m bid from Liverpool last week after the striker wanted to explore his options.

Isak missed Newcastle’s pre-season tour of Asia with a “minor thigh injury”, but the 25-year-old went on to train alone at former club Real Sociedad.

Howe previously warned no player could expect to act “poorly and train with group as normal”.

Howe has not closed the door on Isak one day representing Newcastle again – but the head coach stressed on Friday that the situation “had to be right for that to happen”.

“We’ve had discussions and it’s clear at the moment that we can’t involve him with the group,” he said after Newcastle’s 2-2 draw in a friendly against Espanyol. “I don’t know how long that will be for, but that’s the latest.”

Howe confirmed Isak, who has no current fitness issues, had not been disciplined.

But the Sweden international has been instructed to train at a later time to the rest of his team-mates in Newcastle.

“I’d want Alex to be playing today,” Howe added just eight days before the season opener at Aston Villa. “I’d want him training tomorrow. We would love the player to be with us.

“Let me make that absolutely clear. There’s no part of me that doesn’t want that outcome, but I don’t see the current situation changing for Aston Villa.”

Turbulent summer for Newcastle

A lot can change in two and a half months.

Isak was among those players celebrating in a jubilant huddle as the Champions League anthem played out at St James’ 76 days ago.

Newcastle had just secured their place at Europe’s top table and it felt like the club had real momentum going into the summer.

However, this has proved a frustrating window for Newcastle, who have missed out on Benjamin Sesko, Hugo Ekitike, Joao Pedro and James Trafford.

Then there is the Isak situation.

It fell to William Osula to play up front on Friday and Anthony Gordon, who is a winger by trade, is set to follow suit against Atletico Madrid on Saturday.

Yet Isak’s absence, and a lack of signings, has not completely soured the mood on Tyneside.

Saturday’s friendly is a sell-out and, despite this game against Espanyol taking place less than 24 hours beforehand, there were still 30,782 fans present.

They already have an eye on what is to come.

“Is this the way to Barcelona?” supporters in the Gallowgate chanted. “Bayern Munich? Lazio? Roma? The Champions League awaits for me.”

Ramsdale catches eye on debut

Newcastle clearly require further reinforcements to cope with the rigours of Europe, but a couple of new arrivals did still impress on Friday night.

Goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, who joined on loan from Southampton, made his debut for the club while youngster Seung-soo Park played his first game at St James’ following his move from Suwon Samsung Bluewings.

One of Ramsdale’s first tasks of the night was to pick the ball out of the net after Edu Exposito put Espanyol in front with a long-range strike in the 17th minute.

But Newcastle responded.

Just a few minutes later, Lewis Miley’s scooped cross to the back post was met by the head of Matt Targett.

Espanyol had a chance to retake the lead after Targett brought down striker Roberto Fernandez inside the box just before half-time.

However, Ramsdale guessed right and kept out Espanyol captain Javier Puado’s spot-kick to loud cheers before Jacob Murphy put Newcastle in front after the break.

Ramsdale went on to make a fine save to deny former Blackburn Rovers winger Tyrhys Dolan late on.

But there was still time for Kike Garcia to score an equaliser as Newcastle’s wait for a pre-season win goes on.

Source : https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c7vl7223dyjo

Haider Ali was arrested by Greater Manchester Police at the Beckenham ground where Pakistan Shaheens was playing against MCSAC on August 3.

Pakistan cricket slumped to a new low with a young player, Haider Ali, who was on a tour of the United Kingdom with the country’s ‘A’ team — Pakistan Shaheen, was arrested by the Greater Manchester Police with sources confirming it was over a complaint by a girl, alleging rape. Haider Ali has been provisionally suspended by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), said a report. Haider was arrested by Greater Manchester Police at the Beckenham ground where Pakistan Shaheens was playing against MCSAC on August 3, reports Telecom Asia Sports. “It’s apparently a rape case against a girl of Pakistani origin,” a source was quoted as saying in the report.

The sources confirmed that the Greater Manchester Police had seized Haider’s passport but released him on bail.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said it will cooperate with the investigations and will give support to Haider to fight the case. In the meantime, the PCB has suspended Haider Ali till his name is cleared.

“We were told about this case and investigation. We have suspended Haider until the investigation is completed and will conduct our own inquiry in the UK,” a PCB spokesman told www.telecomasia.net.

“Haider was in tears after he was arrested from the ground and pleaded not guilty during the investigation,” said sources.

Pakistan Shaheens were on a tour of the UK from July 17 to August 6 and played two three-day games, which were both drawn, a three-match One-day series that they won 2-1.

Most of the players, except captain Saud Shakeel and Haider, returned from the UK on Wednesday. Shakeel stayed back in Dubai for personal reasons.

The 24-year-old Haider is a talented player who played two ODIs and 35 Twenty20 internationals for Pakistan, the last in the Asian Games two years ago. He played the Under-19 World Cup for Pakistan in 2020 in South Africa, from where India’s Yashasvi Jaiswal also emerged.

Haider was also suspended by the PCB for breaching Covid restrictions during the 2021 Pakistan Super League in Abu Dhabi, and as a punishment withdrawn from the team to England and the West Indies in 2021.

Sources said Haider was in the good books of newly recruited Pakistan white-ball head coach Mike Hesson, who was about to include him in the Pakistan team for the T20 tri-series in Sharjah later this month.

Source :  https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/pakistan-cricketer-haider-ali-arrested-in-uk-over-rape-allegations-later-released-on-bail-report-9042367

Abhimanyu Easwaran was “pissed off” after being denied a chance in the Oval Test vs England, but told father Ranganathan he won’t give up on his cricket dream.

When Abhimanyu Easwaran was overlooked for the series opener in Leeds this June against England—despite impressing in the two India A games preceding the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy—his chances of breaking into the XI looked bleak. As the series progressed, the rising chatter among experts advocating for his inclusion gradually died down. But Easwaran believed his long wait might finally end at The Oval.

A spate of injuries had suddenly hit the Indian camp. Following the draw in Manchester, the fourth Test, India had a real chance to avoid a series defeat in London, prompting the team management to explore different combinations for the playing XI.

But much to his bitter frustration, Easwaran was denied again. It left him “pissed off,” his father Ranganathan Parameshwaran Easwaran revealed in a conversation with Vickey Lalwani on his YouTube channel. But only for a short while.

Disclosing details of their telephonic chat after the final Test snub, Ranganathan said his son quickly shifted focus to the upcoming Duleep Trophy, refusing to let the setback derail his long-term dream.

“My son will fly to Bengaluru to prepare for the Duleep Trophy. He’ll spend 10-12 days there, return to Dehradun for a few days, and then head back. He was disturbed after not being picked for the fifth Test—he was expecting that call. I told him, ‘Son, you have lived your dream.’ He replied, ‘I understand. I’ve lived my dream for 23 years, and not getting picked for one or two matches won’t shatter that.'”

Pressed further about the call, Ranganathan added: “He was pissed off because he wasn’t picked. When I called him, he said, ‘Dad, I still haven’t found a place.’”

Easwaran discloses Gambhir chat

Ranganathan also revealed that despite the heartbreak in England of not getting selected, what has kept his son motivated has been his chat with head coach Gautam Gambhir, who has assured him of an opportunity in the Indian team and that he would get a longer rope when he makes his debut and won’t be judged instantly based on 1-2 games.

Source : https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/gautam-gambhir-told-abhimanyu-easwaran-wont-push-you-pissed-off-india-player-emotional-call-dad-england-snub-revealed-101754591114065.html

Kerala Government’s commercial partner- the Reporter Broadcasting Company has threatened legal action against Argentine Football Association if Lionel Messi-led Argentina don’t visit India after reportedly spending ₹130 crore. In a disappointment news for the football fanatics in India, recent reports claim Messi will not be visiting Kerala due to the Argentinian team’s scheduling.

Kerala Government’s commercial partner- the Reporter Broadcasting Company has threatened legal action against Argentine Football Association if Lionel Messi-led Argentina don’t visit India after reportedly spending ₹130 crore. In a disappointment news for the football fanatics in India, recent reports claim Messi will not be visiting Kerala due to the Argentinian team’s scheduling.

Earlier the State Government had confidently stated that reigning football world champions, led by Messi, will make an appearance in Kerala, with the timeline likely to be between October and November 2025. With the sport and the Argentinian legend garnering a massive fan following in India, their dream of watching the veteran play live has been visibly crushed.

With the company reportedly confirming that they have paid ₹130 crore to AFA on June 6 according to the agreement in December 2024, Anto Augustine said it was unacceptable to have the match in September 2026. He said, as quoted by Onmanorama:

“As per the agreement, we had sent the full amount and they (AFA) also acknowledged it. But after five days, we received an email asking whether we are okay with having the match in September 2026

Source: https://www.freepressjournal.in/sports/130-cr-messed-up-lionel-messi-not-to-play-in-kerala-this-year-visit-postponed-to-2026-reports

Mohammed Siraj did the star turn for India vs England in the highly contested Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy

Mohammed Siraj did the star turn for India vs England in the highly contested Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. The pacer bowled tirelessly to scalp 23 wickets and became the top wicket-taker. More importantly, Siraj was crucial in moping up the tail of England batting on the final day of the fifth Test to ensure that India win the match by 6 runs and draw the series. After the terrific show, Hyderabad MP and AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi had a pure Hyderabadi response to India’s big Test win against England at The Oval and pacer Mohammed Siraj’s five-wicket haul.

Congratulating the fellow Hyderabadi, Mr Owaisi posted on X, “Always a winner @mdsirajofficial! As we say in Hyderabadi, poora khol diye Pasha!” The phrase loosely means that the pacer was at the top of his game.

Now, Siraj has responded to the praise. He wrote on X: “Thank you so much sir Always cheering for me.”

Former England all-rounder Moeen Ali feels India pacer Mohammed Siraj’s big heart and his steadfast refusal to back down in the face of adversity sets him apart from the rest and makes him a difficult proposition for any batter.

With 23 scalps to his name, Siraj emerged as the highest wicket-taker in the just-concluded Test tour of England, playing a key role in India holding the hosts to a 2-2 draw in an intensely fought five-match series.

“Siraj has been outstanding in the England series. The energy, aggression, and consistency he brings with the ball is world-class. He’s matured into a genuine match-winner for India, and it’s always a challenge for batsmen facing him,” said Moeen in a release from GFS Developments.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/england-vs-india-2025/mohammed-siraj-responds-to-asaduddin-owaisis-poora-khol-diye-pasha-compliment-after-england-heroics-9034060

Barcelona has opened a disciplinary proceeding against Marc-Andre ter Stegen saying the goalkeeper refused to sign a medical report about his back injury.

Barcelona has opened a disciplinary proceeding against Marc-Andre ter Stegen saying the goalkeeper refused to sign a medical report about his back injury, according to a person with knowledge of the proceeding. The person who spoke to the The Associated Press on Tuesday did not want to be named because they were not authorized to speak about it publicly. The club needed Ter Stegen to sign the report so it could be sent to the Spanish league in order to clear some salary-cap space and more easily register other players without breaching financial fair play rules.

But the club and the goalkeeper are at odds about the recovery time for the surgery that took place last week to deal with recurring lower back ailments.

Ter Stegen said ahead of the surgery that the recovery time would be about three months. The club did not give an official timetable for the recovery process, saying only that the operation was “successful” and that “his recovery will determine when he can return.”

Depending on the length of the recovery process, Barcelona could clear a percentage of Ter Stegen’s salary from its cap, making more room to add other players to the squad.

The club signed Espanyol goalkeeper Joan García in June. Its other goalkeepers are veteran Wojciech Szczęsny and Iñaki Peña.

The league has to evaluate the report before approving the official time of recovery.

Ter Stegen, one of the team’s captains, did not immediately speak publicly after Barcelona said it opened the disciplinary proceeding. He and the club had been expected to meet to discuss the situation in the coming days.

The 33-year-old German goalkeeper missed nearly all of last season because of a tendon rupture in his knee, and in 2023 he missed about two months because of another back operation. Peña and the 35-year-old Szczęsny started in place of Ter Stegen during his knee injury.

Source : https://sports.ndtv.com/football/barcelona-opens-disciplinary-proceeding-against-marc-andre-ter-stegen-reason-9023992

The Indian cricket team created history at the Oval with a six-run victory. The Shubman Gill-led team achieved an unprecedented feat to hit an all-time high while achieving a feat no team has done for 123 years.

The Indian cricket team’s victory at the Oval will not just go down as one of the greatest victories by the Asian giants in Test cricket history, but also saw them shatter the record books as they sealed a win over England by a narrow margin of just six runs.
After an exciting series which saw both teams play some fine cricket, the 2025 Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy got the ending it deserved as the fifth Test, like the first four games, went into the final day. Chasing 374, England needed 35 runs at the start of play while India were four wickets away.
Mohammed Siraj completed a five-wicket haul while taking three wickets on Day

5 while Prasidh Krishna took four wickets in the fourth innings.

India defended just 35 runs on the final day of the 5th Test match at Oval. Shubman Gill and Mohammed Siraj broke down India’s plan coming into Day 5 and how they bowled an incredible set of 53 deliveries to demolish England.

India scripted an incredible comeback win at the Oval on Monday, August 4. Defending just 35 runs on the final day of the 5th Test match, India made life hell for the English batters, picked up 4 wickets to not only win the Test but also level the series.

India bowled a total of 53 balls on the final day of the 5th Test and picked up 4 wickets to script a sensational comeback win. Shubman Gill’s side was down and out even till the Tea break of Day 4. Harry Brook and Joe Root had hit twin hundreds and had taken the game out of India’s hands.

However, late on Day 4, India had scripted a mini-comeback, owing to a terrific spell of bowling from Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna. Despite the mega comeback which saw the departure of Jacob Bethell and Joe Root, India were still left with much to do.

The Indian team, knowing well that the odds were stacked against them, turned up with great attitude on Day 5. India captain Shubman Gill and Prasidh Krishna came to the press conference. Both of them argued that India were the favourites to win today.

The conditions, and the quality of the fast bowling, were so good from the Indian side that they did not even opt for the new ball despite completing the quota of 80 overs. Shubman explained the decision and said that India knew that England batters were under tremendous pressure.

“We did have the option of the second new ball. But the way Siraj and Prasidh were bowling, we did not need it. They had to score boundaries to win the match, and we knew that they were under pressure. It was just a game of one ball, we were always the favourites to win today,” Shubman said at the press conference.

Shubman Gill’s India Make England Panic

Shubman Gill spoke about turning up with the correct attitude every single day. Gill said that one thing he learnt from this series was to never give up and keep fighting in every single session.

“When you have bowlers like Siraj and Prasidh, captaincy seems easy. They were making the ball talk. Yes, there was a bit of pressure on us but they were really bowling well. We were confident. We wanted them to feel the pressure throughout the 35 runs they scored,” Shubman said at the end of the match.

“He (Siraj) is a captain’s dream, every ball, every spell he bowled he came all out and gave it everything for the team. Both teams coming into Day 5 not knowing who would win shows how passionate both teams were and how hard everyone has played,” he added.

Source : https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/cricket/story/india-vs-england-oval-test-series-shubman-gill-mohammed-siraj-2766205-2025-08-04

Harry Brook’s stunning century in the final Test vs India shifted the momentum, despite an early chance missed by Mohammed Siraj. Brook scored 111 runs off 98 balls, marking his 10th Test century and second of the series.

India is currently taking on England in a crucial must-win encounter in the final Test of the five-match series at the iconic Kennigton Oval in London. England needed 374 runs to win the match and seal the series, and for that they need to pull off the highest successful run chase in the history of the venue. India were bowling pretty well, until Harry Brook came into the crease and took the game away with his scintillating century. However, he could have departed early, had Mohammed Siraj not made a costly mistake off Prasidh Krishna’s bowling.
When Harry Brook skied a ball from Prasidh Krishna when he was on 19. The ball went straight to Mohammed Siraj at deep fine leg. He caught the ball, but his feet touched the rope and it was a six. At the stroke of lunch on Day 4, Siraj ran up to Krishna and then apologized to him for making a pretty costly mistake.