Sports

Former Australian batting star Damien Martyn, a member of the 1999 and 2003 World Cup-winning teams, is fighting for his life after falling seriously ill. The 54-year-old has been hospitalized in Queensland and is currently in an induced coma due to meningitis. Condition and Medical CareMartyn became unwell on Boxing Day, prompting his admission to a local hospital. Former Australian wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Gilchrist confirmed the news, assuring fans that Martyn is receiving the best possible medical care. “Amanda and the family know that many people are praying and sending their best wishes,” Gilchrist told News Corp. Former teammate Darren Lehmann also expressed support, posting on social media: “Sending lots of love and prayers to Damien Martyn. Stay strong and keep fighting, le...

Indian batsman Shreyas Iyer’s much-anticipated return to competitive cricket has hit a setback. Iyer, who was preparing to play for Mumbai in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and subsequently feature in India’s ODI series against New Zealand, will now have to wait longer for clearance from the BCCI Centre of Excellence. Return to Play DelayedInitially, plans were in place for Iyer to resume cricketing action from December 30. However, according to the Times of India, he will need at least another week in the “Return to Play” (RTP) program before getting approval to play. Injury and Physical SetbackIyer suffered a stomach injury during the ODI series against Australia, which required surgery. While he can bat without issue, the injury caused a significant loss of weight—approximately six kilog...

Pakistan, the winners of the 2009 T20 World Cup, failed to honor promised rewards for its players, a controversy that has resurfaced years later. Despite receiving cheques from the then Prime Minister, the payments bounced, leaving the victorious cricketers empty-handed. 2009 Triumph Turns SourPakistan defeated Sri Lanka to claim the 2009 T20 World Cup, a major achievement that cemented its place among the strongest teams in early T20 history. Former Pakistani spinner Saeed Ajmal, one of the standout performers of the tournament, recently shared details in a 2023 podcast. Ajmal revealed that each player was promised PKR 2.5 million by then-Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani. “We even received cheques, but they bounced,” Ajmal recalled. “I was astonished that a government cheque could ...

Sannia Ashfaq, the wife of former Pakistani cricketer Imad Wasim, has recently been in the headlines following news of their divorce. The couple, who tied the knot in a love marriage six years ago, are now embroiled in a legal and personal controversy, drawing widespread attention in Pakistan and beyond. Sannia Speaks Out on InstagramIn a heartfelt Instagram post, 37-year-old Sannia Ashfaq shared her side of the story. She accused Imad Wasim of attempting to marry another woman and leaving their three children behind. “With deep pain, I write this… my children have been kept away from their father, and my home has shattered. I am a mother of three, including a five-month-old, who has yet to see their father’s embrace,” she wrote. Sannia clarified that she shares this not out of revenge ...

The year 2025 witnessed several memorable centuries across cricket formats, marking the beginning and end of the year with spectacular performances. From patient Test innings to explosive One-Day and T20 knocks, these centuries defined key victories and remarkable moments in world cricket. Here’s a look at the players who scored the first and last centuries of the year in each format. First Test Century – Rahmat Shah (Afghanistan)Afghanistan’s Rahmat Shah opened the century account for 2025 in Test cricket. He scored a brilliant 139 runs in the second innings of the second Test against Zimbabwe at Bulawayo. His masterful innings helped Afghanistan post 363 runs, ultimately leading the team to a 72-run victory. First ODI Century – Glenn Phillips (New Zealand)New Zealand’s Glenn Philli...

Magnus Carlsen faced defeat for the second consecutive day at the FIDE World Blitz Championship, but this time his loss made headlines for dramatic reasons. In a tense moment against Armenian Grandmaster Hovhannes Martirosyan, Carlsen accidentally knocked over four chess pieces and pressed his clock before correcting them, resulting in a controversial loss. Incident on the BoardThe incident occurred on Tuesday, just a day after Carlsen had lost to Arjun Erigaisi due to misplacing his queen and running out of time. During his match against Martirosyan, Carlsen had only two seconds left on his clock when he accidentally toppled four pieces. Instead of fixing them properly, he pressed the clock, prompting Martirosyan to object and halt the game. Arbiter Chris Bird was called, and after a l...

The Indian women’s cricket team continued their dominant run by defeating Sri Lanka in the fifth T20I match by 15 runs, completing a comprehensive 5-0 series sweep. India Sets a Competitive TotalIn Thiruvananthapuram, after losing the toss, India batted first and posted a challenging 175/7 in 20 overs. The Indian innings got off to a slow start, with Shafali Verma dismissed for just 5 runs. Gunalan Kamalini and Harleen Deol contributed 12 and 13 runs respectively. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur then anchored the innings with an impressive 68 off 43 balls. Amanjot Kaur added 21, while Arundhati Reddy contributed 23 runs, taking India to a formidable total. Rasmika Sewwandi, Chamari Athapaththu, and Kavisha Dilhari took two wickets each for Sri Lanka, while Nimsha Meepage claimed one. Sri La...

In a shocking turn of events at the FIDE World Blitz Championship 2025, World Champion D. Gukesh was defeated by a 12-year-old prodigy, Sergei Slokin, who has yet to earn his Grandmaster title. Gukesh Falls to 12-Year-Old Sensation The match took place in the third round of the tournament. Despite being the overwhelming favorite, Gukesh succumbed under intense time pressure, making a crucial error that cost him the game. Gukesh, a super Grandmaster with a Blitz rating of 2628 and a classical rating above 2750, was heavily favored against Slokin, whose rating is around 2400 and holds the FIDE Master title, two levels below a Grandmaster. The rating gap between them was 228 points, highlighting the magnitude of the upset. The Critical Moment The game reached a decisive point o...

Gqeberha, South Africa: In the SA20 T20 league, Sunrisers Eastern Cape secured their second consecutive win, defeating Pretoria Capitals by a commanding 48-run margin and earning a valuable bonus point. Quinton de Kock Stars with Explosive Knock Opening batsman Quinton de Kock played a blistering innings, scoring 77 runs off 47 balls, steering Sunrisers Eastern Cape to a total of 188/6 in their allotted overs. Despite opener Jonny Bairstow falling cheaply for 5 runs, de Kock formed a strong partnership with Matthew Brink, adding 116 runs for the second wicket in just 70 balls. Brink contributed a quick 52 runs from 33 balls, hitting seven boundaries and a six, while de Kock smashed five fours and six sixes. In addition, in-form Jordan Herman chipped in with a rapid 37 off 20 balls, f...

Lagos, Nigeria: Former World Heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua was critically injured in a severe car crash in Nigeria on Monday, which claimed the lives of two of his close associates. According to eyewitness reports, the car was traveling well above the speed limit when it collided with a stationary truck on a major expressway near Lagos State’s Ogun area. Joshua Rescued and Hospitalized Lagos State Information Commissioner Benga Omotso confirmed via social media that emergency services promptly reached the scene, extracting Joshua from the wreckage. Videos shared by witnesses show the boxer in visible pain as he was assisted by rescue teams. Joshua, whose parents are Nigerian, spent part of his childhood in the country, attending school there for a brief period. Accide...