Sports

Karachi: Pakistani international kabaddi player Ubaidullah Rajput is facing potential disciplinary action after playing for an Indian team in a private tournament in Bahrain. On 16 December, Rajput donned the Indian jersey and was seen waving the Indian flag during the GCC Cup. Videos and photos of the incident quickly went viral, prompting the Pakistan Kabaddi Federation (PKF) to call an emergency meeting on 27 December to discuss possible action against him and other players involved. PKF ReactsPKF Secretary Rana Sarwar stated, “This was a private tournament where teams were created under names like India, Pakistan, Canada, and Iran, with players from the respective countries. Ubaidullah playing for India under these circumstances is unacceptable.” Sarwar added that 16 Pakistani playe...

The Indian squad for the T20 World Cup 2026 is expected to be announced on 20th December. The tournament will be hosted by India and Sri Lanka in February and March next year. India enters the competition as the defending champions, having defeated South Africa in the 2024 edition. With Rohit Sharma retired and Virat Kohli stepping away from T20 internationals, the team will be led by Suryakumar Yadav this time. However, for some established players, making the squad looks increasingly difficult. Here are five Indian cricketers who may miss out: 1. Ravi BishnoiRavi Bishnoi has previously been ranked the world’s number one T20 bowler. The leg-spinner has taken 61 wickets in 42 T20 internationals. Despite his impressive record, he hasn’t played for India since IPL 2025, and with Kuldee...

Dubai: The India and Sri Lanka Under-19 teams were all set to clash in the semifinal of the ACC Under-19 Asia Cup at the ICC Academy Ground in Dubai. However, continuous rain in the city has cast a shadow over this crucial fixture, creating uncertainty over the match outcome. According to tournament rules, if the match is abandoned due to rain or no result is possible, the team that topped their group stage will automatically advance to the final. In this scenario, India stands to benefit, as they finished first in Group A. India’s Dominance in Group StageThe Indian Under-19 team has showcased a commanding performance throughout the tournament. They began with a massive win over UAE, scoring 433 and defeating the hosts by 234 runs. Against arch-rivals Pakistan, India triumphed by 90 ...

Adelaide: Australian opener Travis Head has continued his sublime form by scoring a century in the second innings of the third Ashes Test against England. Playing at Adelaide Oval, Head reached his 11th Test century off 146 balls, marking his fourth consecutive century at this venue. He had previously scored hundreds against West Indies in 2022 and 2024, and against India in last year’s day-night Test. Joining Cricketing LegendsWith this feat, Head has become only the fifth batsman in Australian cricket history to score centuries in four consecutive matches at a single home ground. He joins legends such as Sir Don Bradman, Wally Hammond, Michael Clarke, and Steve Smith in this elite club. Clarke’s streak came at Adelaide between 2012 and 2014, while Smith achieved the feat at Melbourne ...

Indian spin legend Ravichandran Ashwin has reacted to the record-breaking IPL 2026 auction price for Australian all-rounder Cameron Green, questioning Chennai Super Kings’ strategy and suggesting that CSK could have exercised more patience. In a fierce bidding war during the IPL auction, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) eventually secured Green for a whopping ₹25.20 crore, making him the most expensive overseas player in IPL history. Both KKR and CSK were vying aggressively for the young all-rounder, but when the bid crossed ₹25 crore, CSK decided to back out, allowing KKR to clinch the deal. KKR’s Strategic PlaySpeaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin criticized KKR’s aggressive bidding approach. He argued that if KKR had paced their bids more strategically, like other franchises such as ...

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have signed explosive New Zealand wicketkeeper-batsman Finn Allen for IPL 2026. Known for his aggressive batting in T20 cricket, Allen previously played for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in 2021 and 2022 but did not get a chance to showcase his talent on the field. KKR acquired him in the auction at his base price of ₹2 crore. Explosive Big Bash PerformanceAllen, a top-order batter, is famous for his long sixes. In the sixth match of the Big Bash League, representing Perth Scorchers, he delivered a whirlwind performance, scoring 79 runs off just 38 balls. His innings included 3 fours and 8 towering sixes, with a remarkable feat of hitting three consecutive sixes in a single over against left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann. Allen reached his fifty in just 2...

New Delhi: December 19, 2020, remains a black day in Indian cricket history. On this day, during the Day-Night Test in Adelaide against Australia, the Indian team was all out for a mere 36 runs, marking the lowest score in the history of Test cricket. From Strong Position to Humiliating CollapseIndia had seemed in control during the first two days of the match. The bowlers had performed brilliantly in Australia’s first innings, giving India a crucial 53-run lead, and fans were hopeful of a strong outcome. However, by the second session of the third day, the tide had turned dramatically. Australian fast bowlers Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins dismantled India’s batting lineup. With Mohammed Shami retired hurt after being struck by a bouncer from Cummins, India’s innings ended with all wic...

Dubai: The Under-19 Asia Cup semifinal between India and Sri Lanka is underway today in Dubai, with the winner advancing directly to the final. The victorious team will face either Pakistan U19 or Bangladesh U19, while the losing side will see their tournament journey end. Rain Delays TossRain in Dubai has delayed the toss for the India vs Sri Lanka clash. Officials have confirmed that the toss will take place as soon as the rain stops. Both teams are ready and prepared for what promises to be a thrilling contest. Match Start TimeThe match is scheduled to begin at 10:30 AM. Both India and Sri Lanka have shown remarkable performances during the league stage and are eager to secure a place in the final. Squads India U19:Captain: Ayush MhatreOther players: Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Vih...

Lucknow: The fourth T20 match between India and South Africa at Ekana Stadium in Lucknow was called off due to dense fog, prompting the Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association (UPCA) to announce a 100% refund for all ticket holders. The match, scheduled to start at 7:00 PM on Wednesday, faced severe visibility issues due to heavy fog, and officials officially cancelled the game at 9:30 PM. In response to fans’ disappointment, UPCA immediately initiated the refund process. Easy Refund Process for Online Ticket HoldersUPCA Secretary Prem Manohar Gupta stated that fans who purchased tickets online will receive refunds through their original payment method. There is no need for ticket holders to visit any office. Detailed instructions and information regarding refunds will be sent to the regis...

New Delhi: Australian wicketkeeper-batsman Josh Inglis was bought by Lucknow Super Giants for ₹8.6 crore in the IPL 2026 auction, but his former franchise, Punjab Kings (PBKS), has expressed disappointment over his last-minute unavailability due to personal reasons. Last-Minute Notification Upsets PBKS OwnershipPBKS co-owner Ness Wadia revealed that Inglis informed the franchise only 45 minutes before the auction that he would miss most of the IPL season due to his upcoming wedding. Wadia described the timing as inappropriate, especially since Inglis had been associated with the franchise for some time. Inglis himself confirmed that his availability would be limited to only a few weeks, leading to further challenges for the team’s planning. Professional Conduct QuestionedExpressing h...