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Shreyas Iyer's Central Contract Omission Sparks Controversy

Shreyas Iyer’s Central Contract Omission Sparks Controversy

By March 3, 2024 0

Shreyas Iyer’s omission from the BCCI’s central contract list has sparked controversy, with many questioning the decision to exclude the talented batsman. Iyer’s recent performance in the Ranji Trophy semi-final, where he scored just 3 runs before being dismissed, has further fueled the debate.

Iyer’s absence from the central contract list has been attributed to his alleged prioritization of the Indian Premier League (IPL) over domestic red-ball cricket. Reports suggest that Iyer attended a pre-IPL camp with his IPL franchise, Kolkata Knight Riders, while claiming to have a back injury that prevented him from playing in a Ranji Trophy match for Mumbai.

However, a report by The Indian Express revealed that the National Cricket Academy (NCA) provided a contradictory fitness report on Iyer, casting doubt on the validity of his injury claim. This has led to speculation that Iyer’s exclusion from the central contract list may have been influenced by his perceived lack of commitment to domestic cricket.

Iyer’s supporters argue that he has consistently performed well for India and Mumbai, and that his decision to attend the KKR camp was solely to improve his fitness. They point out that Iyer skipped the IPL to participate in the World Cup and played through pain during the tournament.

Furthermore, they argue that players should have the freedom to train under coaches of their choice and that Iyer’s decision to work with the KKR Academy should not be held against him. They also question why Iyer was not given a break after the World Cup and was asked to play in a Ranji game ahead of the Test series against England.

The BCCI’s decision to exclude Iyer from the central contract list has sent a strong message to young cricketers that they must prioritize domestic cricket over the IPL. However, it remains to be seen whether this decision will have the desired effect or if it will simply alienate talented players who feel they are not being treated fairly.

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Ganguly: IPL Career Can Coexist with First-Class Cricket

Ganguly: IPL Career Can Coexist with First-Class Cricket

By March 3, 2024 0

IPL Career Can Coexist with First-Class Cricket, Says Sourav Ganguly

Former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly has asserted that players can successfully balance Indian Premier League (IPL) commitments with first-class cricket. This statement comes amidst the controversy surrounding the BCCI’s decision not to offer central contracts to Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan due to their non-participation in domestic cricket.

Ganguly emphasized that numerous top players, including Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and David Warner, have effectively managed both red-ball and white-ball cricket. He recalled that during his playing days, he, Rahul Dravid, and Sachin Tendulkar also played both formats.

“They can play both red-ball and white-ball. IPL career can happen along with stint in first-class cricket. They don’t clash. First-class cricket finishes and then there’s almost a month before the IPL starts. I don’t see any problem,” Ganguly told Times of India.

Ganguly cited examples of players like Mitchell Marsh, Harry Brook, and David Warner who have excelled in both Test cricket and white-ball cricket. He questioned the notion that players cannot play both formats.

“A lot of the top-quality players play Test cricket and white-ball cricket. You look at Kohli, Rohit, Bumrah, KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant. On the world stage, there’s Mitchell Marsh. He is Australia’s premier red-ball player now. Harry Brook plays red-ball cricket. David Warner played so much Test cricket but he was also one of the best white-ball players. Even in my days, Sachin, Rahul and myself played Test cricket and then played white-ball cricket. There’s no reason to say that you can play one and not the other.”

Ganguly also addressed concerns about the younger generation of players needing better guidance. He suggested that the BCCI should communicate with players like Ishan Kishan to understand their perspectives.

“For someone like Ishan Kishan, BCCI secretary Jay Shah, president Roger Binny and the selectors need to speak to him. All this while he has played Ranji and then played white-ball cricket. Has it made him a poorer player? It hasn’t,” Ganguly said.

Ganguly emphasized that most players selected for the Delhi Capitals have participated in domestic tournaments like the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy, and Ranji Trophy. He acknowledged that there may be a few exceptions who require guidance.

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BCCI's Dropping of Iyer and Kishan Sparks Debate

BCCI’s Dropping of Iyer and Kishan Sparks Debate

By March 3, 2024 0

The Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) decision to drop Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan from its central contract list has sparked a global debate. While some have criticized the board for its harsh action, others have supported its stance.

Former Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Kamran Akmal has backed the BCCI, stating that such a move was necessary to punish the players for ignoring the board’s orders. Akmal believes that by dropping Kishan and Iyer, the BCCI has demonstrated its “good management.”

“If you don’t value the cricket because of which you made it to the national team, what message is it going to give to all the youngsters?” Akmal said on his YouTube channel. “BCCI has made the right call, taking such strict action early on to control the damage.”

Akmal added that the BCCI’s decision sends a clear message to players that they cannot play on their own terms. “Nobody is bigger than the game,” he said.

Kishan and Iyer were reportedly reluctant to play in national-level domestic tournaments, which is believed to be the reason for their exclusion. Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly, who is also a former BCCI president, has urged the board to speak to Kishan about his decision.

“All this while he has played Ranji and then played white-ball cricket. Has it made him a poorer player? It hasn’t,” Ganguly said. “All the players picked in Delhi Capitals have played Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy, and Ranji Trophy.”

Ganguly’s comments suggest that the BCCI may be willing to reconsider its decision if Kishan and Iyer show a willingness to play in domestic tournaments. However, it remains to be seen whether the players will change their stance.

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Agha Salman's Text to Virat Kohli Sparks Viral Moment at Asia Cup

Agha Salman’s Text to Virat Kohli Sparks Viral Moment at Asia Cup

By March 3, 2024 0

Pakistan cricket star Agha Salman has revealed that he sent a text message to Indian batting legend Virat Kohli after a heated on-field exchange between Kohli and former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 season. This text message later became a viral moment during the Asia Cup 2023.

In a recent interview with Islamabad United, Salman shared that he sent a direct message (DM) to Kohli after the incident, expressing his respect for the Indian star. While he declined to disclose the exact contents of the message, Salman emphasized that he holds Kohli in high regard.

“I have so much respect for Virat Kohli,” Salman said. “I don’t think there is any cricket fan in the world who doesn’t respect him. I texted him, I am not going to tell you the complete details but will just tell you the start. It started with ‘Virat Bhai’.”

Salman explained that he sent the message while watching a match with teammates Abdullah Shafique and Usama Mir. He clarified that the message contained no negative or offensive content.

“There was nothing [negative] in that message that would make people think I said something bad,” Salman said.

Unbeknownst to Salman, his text message would later become a viral moment during the Asia Cup 2023. Before Pakistan’s match against India, Kohli visited the Pakistan dressing room, where he was greeted by Salman and other players. During the interaction, Pakistan all-rounder Shadab Khan mentioned Salman’s text message to Kohli, leading to a humorous exchange between the two players.

“I mistakenly told Shadab Khan about texting Virat,” Salman said. “You have watched the video of me, Shadab and Virat standing together [during Asia Cup 2023], actually, at that time, he [Shadab] had told him [Virat] that he [I] texted him.”

“We had a bit of laughter after I told Virat that I texted you this, he then told me he may have missed the message as he receives thousands of messages every day. It was all Shadab’s doing [telling Kohli].”

Salman’s text message to Kohli and the subsequent interaction during the Asia Cup 2023 highlighted the camaraderie and mutual respect between the two players, despite their on-field rivalry.

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Gonzaga Dominates Saint Mary's, Bolsters NCAA Tournament Hopes

Gonzaga Dominates Saint Mary’s, Bolsters NCAA Tournament Hopes

By March 3, 2024 0

Gonzaga Bolsters NCAA Tournament Hopes with Victory over Saint Mary’s

MORAGA, Calif. – No. 23 Gonzaga Bulldogs secured a crucial 70-57 victory over No. 17 Saint Mary’s Gaels on Saturday night, bolstering their chances of an NCAA Tournament berth.

Graham Ike led the Bulldogs with 24 points, continuing his impressive streak of scoring at least 20 points in seven consecutive games. Ryan Nembhard contributed 20 points and 10 assists, while Ben Gregg added 12 points.

Saint Mary’s, who had won 16 straight games, struggled to contain Gonzaga’s offense. The Bulldogs shot 64% in the first half, building a 44-28 halftime lead. Aidan Mahaney led the Gaels with 16 points, while Mitchell Saxen added 13.

Gonzaga’s victory was particularly significant as they had lost to Saint Mary’s at home earlier in the season. The Bulldogs have now won eight straight games since that defeat, including three Quad 1 victories.

The win puts Gonzaga in a strong position heading into the WCC Tournament. The Bulldogs are now 24-6 overall and 14-2 in conference play. Saint Mary’s, who clinched the WCC title on Thursday, will also participate in the tournament.

Gonzaga’s streak of 24 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances was in jeopardy before this recent surge. However, their impressive run has put them in a good position to receive an at-large bid if necessary.

Saint Mary’s, on the other hand, will need to rely on their defense and ball protection to continue their success in the WCC Tournament. They will face a tough challenge in the semifinals against either Gonzaga or BYU.

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Liverpool's Injury-Hit Squad Continues to Triumph with Last-Gasp Victory

Liverpool’s Injury-Hit Squad Continues to Triumph with Last-Gasp Victory

By March 3, 2024 0

Liverpool’s relentless pursuit of victories continues despite facing a barrage of injuries and relying heavily on academy prospects. In a thrilling encounter at Nottingham Forest, Darwin Nunez emerged as the hero, scoring a dramatic header in the ninth minute of stoppage time to secure a 1-0 victory. This triumph marks Liverpool’s sixth consecutive win across all competitions and their fourth in an 11-day span, including an extra-time victory over Chelsea in the English League Cup final.

Jurgen Klopp, who will depart Liverpool at the end of the season, expressed his astonishment at the team’s recent success. “If you’d told me 12 days ago we would win all four games, I would have said no chance,” he remarked. “In the circumstances, winning the games is ridiculous.”

Manchester City, currently in second place, will aim to close the gap to Liverpool to one point when they face Manchester United in the derby on Sunday. The highly anticipated clash between Liverpool and City at Anfield on March 10 looms large on the horizon.

Despite Liverpool’s injury woes gradually easing, key players such as Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Diogo Jota, and Curtis Jones remain sidelined. Klopp opted to start 19-year-old Bobby Clark in midfield alongside Joe Gomez, who was deployed as a defender. Jayden Danns, an 18-year-old forward, made his league debut as a second-half substitute.

“What the boys have squeezed out was special,” Klopp said. “This game didn’t go easy for us. We didn’t have a great rhythm and the boys felt the intensity for the first time.”

Post-match scenes at Nottingham Forest were marred by anger among players and coaching staff, with club owner Evangelos Marinakis expressing his displeasure on the touchline. Forest’s complaints stemmed from the eight minutes of added time awarded by the referee and the fact that they were not given the ball back after Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate sustained a head injury just before the goal.

In other Premier League action, Arsenal, who trail City by a point in third, will visit last-placed Sheffield United on Monday. Chelsea’s hopes of giving Mauricio Pochettino a victory on his 52nd birthday were dashed as they were held to a 2-2 draw at Brentford. The Blues’ away contingent expressed their dissatisfaction with Pochettino, chanting the name of former manager Jose Mourinho and calling for the Argentine’s departure.

Aston Villa maintained their grip on fourth place with an 89th-minute winner at Luton, responding to Tottenham’s come-from-behind 3-1 victory over Crystal Palace. Lucas Digne’s header sealed a 3-2 win for Villa, who remain five points ahead of Tottenham but have played one game more.

Categories: Football
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Blue Jackets Stun Blackhawks, Halt Losing Streak

Blue Jackets Stun Blackhawks, Halt Losing Streak

By March 3, 2024 0

The Columbus Blue Jackets, the worst team in the Eastern Conference, stunned the Chicago Blackhawks, the worst team in the Western Conference, with a 5-2 victory on Saturday night. The win snapped the Blue Jackets’ two-game losing streak and dropped Chicago to 0-4-2 in its last six games.

Alexandre Texier opened the scoring for Columbus just 33 seconds into the game, taking advantage of a giveaway by Blackhawks defenseman Seth Jones. Boone Jenner doubled the lead with a deflection of Zach Werenski’s shot at 14:05 of the first period.

The Blackhawks finally got on the board with 2:28 left in the first on Philipp Kurashev’s goal, but the Blue Jackets responded with two more goals in the second period. Mathieu Olivier scored at 3:09, assisted by Werenski, and Cole Sillinger made it 4-1 midway through the period.

Johnny Gaudreau added an empty-netter for Columbus in the final minute of the game. Elvis Merzlikins made 26 saves for the Blue Jackets, while Arvid Soderblom stopped 26 shots for the Blackhawks.

“I don’t think there’s any pressure on us now,” said Merzlikins. “The last few games we’re playing against teams and not even looking at where they’re at in the standings, top or in the bottom.”

The Blackhawks have now lost six straight games and are 1-6-3 in their last 10 home games. They will start a three-game road trip on Monday in Colorado.

“It was a really sloppy game right from the start,” said Blackhawks coach Luke Richardson. “We played really slow. They kept coming at us. It’s a bad combination. We went down the wrong path.”

The Blue Jackets, meanwhile, will host Vegas on Monday.

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Vinicius Rescues Madrid with Brace, Bellingham Red-Carded in Thrilling Valencia Draw

Vinicius Rescues Madrid with Brace, Bellingham Red-Carded in Thrilling Valencia Draw

By March 3, 2024 0

Vinicius Junior’s brace rescued Real Madrid from a potential defeat, salvaging a 2-2 draw against Valencia at the Mestalla on Sunday. The hosts stunned the visitors with two goals in quick succession during the first half. Hugo Duro headed in Fran Perez’s shot, while Roman Yarermchuk capitalized on Dani Carvajal’s loose pass to score into an empty net.

Vinicius ignited Madrid’s comeback just before halftime, reducing the deficit with a close-range finish. He completed his brace in the 76th minute, heading home from close range to level the score. The match remained a thrilling affair until the final whistle, with both teams pushing for a winner.

In a dramatic climax, Jude Bellingham thought he had secured victory for Valencia with a header in the dying moments. However, the referee blew the whistle for full-time before the cross entered the box, nullifying the goal. Madrid players protested vehemently, but the decision stood. Amid the chaos, Bellingham was shown a red card for his protests.

Vinicius’ return to the Mestalla was marked by a hostile reception from the home fans. He was racially abused last season at the same stadium, and on Sunday, he faced chants of “Vinicius is stupid” and constant booing.

In response, Vinicius celebrated his first goal by raising his fist towards the Valencia fans. After his equalizer, he cupped his ears, seemingly asking for more from the jeering crowd.

Despite the adversity, Vinicius remained unfazed and played a pivotal role in Madrid’s comeback. His performance underlined his resilience and determination, proving that he is not easily deterred by hostile environments.

Madrid’s draw maintains their seven-point lead at the top of the La Liga standings. They are now nine points clear of Barcelona, who have a game in hand.

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Ash Barty Shines in Golf and Tennis, Rules Out Professional Return

Ash Barty Shines in Golf and Tennis, Rules Out Professional Return

By March 3, 2024 0

Ash Barty, the three-time Grand Slam tennis champion, showcased her diverse athletic abilities this week in New Zealand. While she narrowly missed the cut at the New Zealand Pro-Am Championship in golf, she made headlines with her impressive performance on the tennis court.

Barty, who also played cricket professionally for a brief period, displayed her exceptional hand-eye coordination and athleticism in both sports. Despite missing the cut in golf by two shots, she enjoyed a strong second round in the team event at Millbrook Resort in Queenstown.

When asked about the possibility of pursuing professional golf or returning to professional tennis, Barty unequivocally stated, “The answer is no to both.” She emphasized her love for playing tennis as a hobby and the joy she finds in spending time outdoors.

“I love playing as a hobby and it’s obviously lovely to get outside for 18, go for a walk, and enjoy it,” Barty said.

Barty’s retirement from tennis at the age of 25 after winning the 2022 Australian Open marked a remarkable end to her illustrious career. Since then, she has embraced motherhood and found time to indulge in her passion for tennis.

Her recent performance in New Zealand serves as a testament to her enduring athleticism and the joy she derives from participating in sports. While she may not be pursuing professional golf or tennis, Barty’s love for both sports remains evident.

Categories: Tennis
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India Soars to Top of World Test Championship Standings

India Soars to Top of World Test Championship Standings

By March 3, 2024 0

India has ascended to the pinnacle of the World Test Championship (WTC) standings, as per the latest update released by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Sunday. This elevation follows Australia’s triumph over New Zealand in the Wellington Test.

India’s dominance is reflected in their impressive points percentage of 64.58, propelling them to the top spot. New Zealand, the previous table-toppers, now occupy the second position with a points percentage of 60.00. Australia has slipped to third place, boasting a points percentage of 59.09.

India’s commanding position in the ongoing five-Test home series against England, where they hold an unassailable 3-1 lead, provides them with an opportunity to further cement their status at the summit of the WTC table. A victory in the fifth and final Test in Dharamsala, commencing on March 7, would solidify their dominance.

The WTC, inaugurated in 2019, is a two-year tournament that pits the world’s top Test-playing nations against each other in a league format. The top two teams at the conclusion of the league stage will qualify for the final, scheduled to be held in June 2023 at The Oval in London.

India’s rise to the top of the WTC standings is a testament to their consistent performances in Test cricket. Under the leadership of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, the team has achieved notable victories both at home and abroad. Their ability to adapt to different conditions and overcome challenges has been a key factor in their success.

As the WTC progresses, the competition is expected to intensify, with all teams vying for a place in the final. India’s position at the top of the table provides them with a significant advantage, but they will need to maintain their momentum and continue to perform at a high level to secure their place in the championship match.

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