Sports

Former Indian cricketer and ex-Baroda Ranji captain Jacob Martin was taken into police custody in the early hours of Tuesday after allegedly crashing his luxury SUV into three parked vehicles while driving under the influence of alcohol. The incident occurred near Punit Nagar Society in the Akota area of Vadodara around 2:30 a.m. According to the Akota police, Martin lost control of his vehicle due to overspeeding and intoxication, resulting in a high-impact collision that caused significant damage to the parked cars. Fortunately, no casualties were reported in the incident. Based on complaints filed by the owners of the damaged vehicles and eyewitness accounts, the police registered a case against Martin under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for rash and negli...

New Delhi: Following Bangladesh’s withdrawal from the T20 World Cup 2026 citing security concerns, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced a major change regarding media accreditation for Bangladeshi journalists. ICC will now assess applications on an individual basis rather than through the country quota system. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has sought clarification from the ICC on the new procedure. Why the Decision Was Changed Sources within the ICC explained that changes in the tournament schedule and the absence of the Bangladesh team altered both the number of requests and the priorities for media coverage. Previously, around 80–90 journalists had applied, but under the country quota system, the maximum allowed was 40. With Bangladesh no longer participating,...

New Delhi: Scotland has been included in the T20 World Cup 2026, replacing Bangladesh in the tournament. Along with the announcement of their participation, Scotland revealed their squad, featuring 11 players who were part of the 2024 T20 World Cup team. One notable addition is 19-year-old Zainullah Ihsan, who is yet to make his international debut. Early Life and Journey to the UK Zainullah Ihsan was born in Afghanistan and came to the UK as a refugee. He was granted refugee status in 2022. Prior to moving to Glasgow, Ihsan had only played tape-ball cricket. Upon arrival, he joined GHK Cricket Club and quickly made a mark with his skills. Last year, he became eligible to play for Scotland and has represented the country at the Under-19 level. The T20 World Cup 2026 could offer him h...

New Delhi: Indian leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal has been making headlines off the cricket field following his divorce from choreographer Dhanshree Verma. Recently, Chahal had been spotted spending time with radio jockey RJ Mahavash, but reports emerged last week that both had unfollowed each other on social media, sparking speculation about a possible fallout. Chahal was also recently seen with Bigg Boss fame Shefali Bagga, adding to the buzz around his personal life. Chahal’s Instagram Post Chahal shared a quote from the Bhagavad Gita on his Instagram story:"It’s never about time, it’s always about priority. If something is a priority for you, you will make time for it." The post was widely interpreted as a subtle dig at RJ Mahavash, hinting at a strained relationship between the ...

New Delhi: Australia’s fast bowler Kane Richardson has announced his retirement from professional cricket. The 34-year-old played 25 One Day Internationals (ODIs) and 36 T20 Internationals for Australia, taking 39 wickets in ODIs and 45 in T20Is. Richardson made his international debut in 2013 and played his last match against India in Guwahati in 2023. Part of Australia’s T20 World Cup Winning Squad Richardson was a member of Australia’s squad that won the T20 World Cup in 2021, although he did not feature in any match during the UAE tournament. Speaking about his decision, Richardson said:"With the conclusion of the BBL, I want to announce my retirement from professional cricket. Since my debut in 2009, I feel I’ve given my all to the game, and this is the right time to close this ...

Bulawayo: India’s junior “run machine,” Vaibhav Suryavanshi, was in devastating form with the bat in the U19 World Cup 2026 group match against Zimbabwe. The 14-year-old blazed his way to a 50 in just 24 balls, hitting 4 fours and 6 sixes, before being dismissed for 52 off 30 balls. His explosive batting helped India reach 100 runs in just 10.2 overs. At the time of reporting, India was 101/3 in 11 overs. Early Wickets Shake India India lost their first wicket at 54 when Aaron George was dismissed for 23 runs off 16 balls, including 2 fours and 1 six. Vaibhav, along with captain Ayush Mahatre, then took control of the innings. However, the team suffered quick blows as Mahatre was out for 21 off 19 balls, caught by wicketkeeper Halbangana off Chimguro’s bowling, right after India reac...

New Delhi: A new controversy has emerged ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026 involving Bangladesh. Over 100 Bangladeshi journalists claim that their accreditation applications to cover the tournament in India have been rejected by the International Cricket Council (ICC). The move follows Bangladesh’s refusal to play in India, citing safety concerns, which led to Scotland being granted a spot in the tournament instead. While ICC has not issued an official statement on the matter, officials reportedly referenced the Bangladesh government’s own warnings, noting that India has been described as “unsafe” for travel. This reasoning was cited for rejecting the visa and accreditation applications of Bangladeshi media personnel. Bangladeshi Media Voices Concerns According to Bangladesh’s leadi...

New Delhi: Explosive West Indies opener Evin Lewis has been left out of the 15-member squad for the T20 World Cup 2026. The tournament, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, is set to begin on 7 February. Alongside Lewis, fast bowler Alzarri Joseph also missed out, though Joseph was ruled out due to injury, while Lewis was dropped from the team based on selection. Retirement Hint on Instagram Lewis appeared visibly disappointed after being excluded and hinted at retiring from international cricket via his Instagram story. He wrote:"I want to thank everyone who has supported me through my 10 years in international cricket, but I feel the time has come for me to move on… stay tuned." Even after scoring a valiant 91 in his last match against Ireland in June, Lewis was dropped from the sq...

Ranchi: Former Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who has retired from all forms of international cricket and only plays in the Indian Premier League (IPL), is gearing up for IPL 2026 with rigorous practice sessions. Ahead of the new season, Dhoni has been focusing on staying in peak form, both physically and with the bat. The 44-year-old was recently seen at the Jharkhand State Cricket Association (JSCA) Stadium in Ranchi, taking part in intense net practice. A video shared by his IPL franchise, Chennai Super Kings (CSK), shows Dhoni executing flawless shots, including defensive strokes, backfoot punches, and leg glances, with the ball consistently hitting the middle of the bat. This demonstrates that Dhoni’s reflexes remain as sharp as ever. CSK captioned the video on their Insta...

Following the exclusion of Bangladesh from the T20 World Cup 2026, all eyes are on Pakistan. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has threatened to boycott the tournament in protest. While the PCB has announced its squad, Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has clarified that the team will only travel to India if the government approves. Naqvi met Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Monday evening, and a final decision is expected by Friday or Monday. However, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has already warned Pakistan of consequences if it boycotts. Analysts say such a move could be a “suicide mission” for the financially-strapped PCB, potentially leaving it entirely dependent on external support. Here’s why a boycott could backfire, explained in five points: 1. ICC Could Impose BansIf Pakistan ...