CID arrests Hyderabad Cricket Association chief Jagan Mohan Rao, and four others
Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) President A. Jagan Mohan Rao was arrested on Wednesday by the Crime Investigation Department (CID) for his alleged involvement in a ticketing scandal related to the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season. Rao, along with four other senior HCA officials – Treasurer C. Srinivas Rao, CEO Sunil Kante, General Secretary Rajender Yadav, and his wife G. Kavita – was taken into custody by the Telangana CID for questioning. The arrests follow allegations of forgery, financial misappropriation, and coercive practices surrounding the distribution of complimentary match tickets. The case was initiated after a complaint was lodged by Dharam Gurava Reddy, General Secretary of the Telangana Cricket Association (TCA), on 9th June. Based on this complaint, the CID registered a case under several sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including 465 (forgery), 468 (forgery for the purpose of cheating), 471 (using forged documents as genuine), 403 (dishonest misappropriation of property), 409 (criminal breach of trust by a public servant), and 420 (cheating), read with Section 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention). It is alleged that Rao submitted a forged document to contest the HCA elections. Further accusations have emerged concerning the HCA’s attempts to pressure IPL franchise Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) into providing more complimentary tickets than stipulated. According to a tripartite agreement between SRH, the HCA, and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the HCA is entitled to 3,900 complimentary tickets, equivalent to 10% of the stadium’s capacity. However, HCA officials allegedly demanded an additional 10%, which SRH refused.
‘Modric is a legend of world football and Real Madrid, He will be remembered for many good things’: Alonso
Luka Modric’s illustrious Real Madrid career ended with a painful 4-0 thrashing by Paris St Germain in the Club World Cup semi-finals. Still, the Croatian maestro’s legacy stretches far beyond a single game, manager Xabi Alonso said. Modric, the 2018 Ballon d’Or winner and the Spanish club’s most decorated player, is set to join AC Milan after playing his last match for Real Madrid at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Wednesday. Since his arrival from Tottenham Hotspur in 2012, the 39-year-old has played 597 matches and won 28 trophies with Real, including six Champions League titles. Xabi Alonso who played alongside Modric during his playing career as a teammate in Real Madrid showered praise on the legendary footballer’s contribution to the game and said, “This is not the desired end, it’s a bitter end, but he won’t be remembered for today’s game but for other great ones. He is a legend of world football and of Real Madrid. He will be remembered for many more good things than for the 25 minutes he played today.” Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois also gave farewell to his teammate with an emotional statement, saying, “Modric always gets a standing ovation, not only from the Madridistas. He is a great player, a great teammate, and we’ll miss him.” Meanwhile, Xabi Alonso is looking forward to “starting from scratch” with Real Madrid next season after being thrown in at the deep end as coach of the Spanish giants in the Club World Cup. Alonso was given a reality check on Wednesday as Madrid were eliminated 4-0 by European champions Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-final at the MetLife Stadium. “PSG are a team which have been built over time, whereas we are practically just beginning,” Alonso said after seeing Real Madrid go two goals behind inside nine minutes. It was 3-0 before half-time, and PSG added a late fourth as they advanced to Sunday’s final against Chelsea. “We have lots of room for improvement. There are many things that we want to do better,” Alonso added. “We have to be self-critical. This will tell us things for the future that will help us to compete at a much better level than we did today.” Alonso was appointed at the end of May, taking over from Carlo Ancelotti after a successful two-and-a-half years at Bayer Leverkusen.
Indian shot putter Jasmine Kaur faces ‘provisional’ ban from NADA after failed dope test
Indian shot putter Jasmine Kaur has been provisionally suspended by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) for failing a dope test, according to the latest list of athletes placed under provisional suspension. According to PTI, the 22-year-old, who won gold at the National Games in Dehradun earlier this year with a personal best throw of 15.97 metres, tested positive for Terbutaline — a stimulant commonly found in cough syrups. The Punjab athlete had also secured second place at the Inter-University Games last year with a best effort of 14.75m. Meanwhile, wrestler Nitika, a silver medallist in the Under-20 World Championship, has been handed a four-year ban, with her period of ineligibility effective from May 28 last year. Kaur and Nitika’s suspension follows the high-profile ban of Paris Olympian, Asian Championship silver medallist, and junior world champion wrestler Reetika Hooda a couple of days ago. It is also learnt that the federation officials summoned the other wrestlers at the national training camp and cautioned them about indulging in career-threatening activities. “We have reminded them to stick to the supplements that are officially procured and are properly tested. We have also alerted them that there is zero tolerance for doping, and it could very well end their careers,” A federation official revealed on condition of anonymity while speaking to the Indian Express.
