Uncertainty Looms Over ‘The Hundreds’ Pakistani Cricketers Pick
Pakistan’s cricketers may face fresh uncertainty in global franchise leagues. Concerns are rising in England over their chances in The Hundred. Several teams in The Hundred now have Indian ownership. This has triggered speculation that Pakistani players might not be picked. There is no official ban. But selection preferences could affect their chances. Pakistani players have already been out of the IPL since 2009. A similar pattern could emerge in The Hundred. Around 63 Pakistani cricketers have registered for the draft. Big names like Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi are in the list. Four of the eight teams in the league have Indian stakeholders. These include Manchester Super Giants, MI London, Southern Brave and Sunrisers Leeds. Their ownership links have increased the debate around player selection. Reports in England say no formal rule exists against Pakistan players. ECB officials have clarified that it is only a possibility, not a policy. They also pointed to South Africa’s SA20 league, where Indian-owned teams do not feature Pakistani players. The England and Wales Cricket Board has taken a neutral stance. It has said the league is open to players from all countries. Officials stressed that inclusivity remains the official position. Player bodies have raised concerns about equal opportunity. They believe every cricketer should get fair access to leagues worldwide. However, franchises still have the final say on squad selection. More than 1,000 players from 18 countries have entered the draft. Over 50 of them are from Pakistan. The final team picks will decide whether these concerns turn into reality.
“Match by Match, Not Trophy Talk”; Oscar Bruzon Keeps East Bengal Grounded After Winning Start
East Bengal head coach Oscar Bruzon downplayed any early title talk and insisted his side will stay grounded despite a winning start. “We are not thinking about the trophy right now,” Bruzon said. “Winning a title is never easy. Expectations from fans are natural, but our focus is simple one match at a time. For now, our target is up to the FIFA break.” Ahead of the game against Sporting Club Delhi, the coach also spoke about team structure and tactical preparation. He further explained expectations from supporters are natural, but the team is currently setting short-term targets until the FIFA break. “Delhi are not an unknown team. They play possession football, pass a lot, and try to control the midfield. We have studied their recent matches and are preparing accordingly,” he added, referring to the side that has emerged in a new form from Hyderabad FC. On the defensive setup, Bruzon explained his decision to use Jeakson Singh alongside Anwar Ali in the absence of Kevin Sibile. “Jeakson is a very versatile player. He has played in multiple positions under different coaches. I am using that quality. I speak with him regularly and adjust things accordingly. He had a very good match,” he stated. Providing an injury update, Bruzon sounded cautiously optimistic. “Mohammed Rakip will be in the 18-man squad. Mahesh should be fit within the next 15 days. Kevin is expected to arrive from Spain next week. Our new foreign player Anton is training well and has no fitness issues,” he said. Providing an injury update, Bruzon sounded cautiously optimistic. “Mohammed Rakip will be in the 18-man squad. Mahesh should be fit within the next 15 days. Kevin is expected to arrive from Spain next week. Our new foreign player Anton is training well and has no fitness issues,” he said. Despite the opening win, the coach admitted there are areas to improve, especially fitness. “In the last match, several players struggled after 60–70 minutes. There were muscle tightness issues. We have discussed this in the dressing room. The final starting XI will be decided on matchday,” he noted. Echoing the coach’s mindset, Jeakson said, “The league is short and very competitive. We have started with a win, but we must stay focused. We will give our best in every match to achieve our goals.”
Racism Allegation Overshadows Real Madrid’s Win as Vinicius Complaint Triggers UEFA Probe
A racism row has erupted after Real Madrid’s Champions League fixture against Benfica in Lisbon. Vinicius Junior alleged that he was targeted with racist remarks during the match, leading Real Madrid to formally submit evidence to UEFA for review. The club confirmed it is cooperating fully with the probe and has already shared all relevant details with European football’s governing body. The flashpoint came early in the second half at the Estadio da Luz. Soon after scoring, Vinicius approached referee Francois Letexier and complained about offensive abuse. Real Madrid later suggested that the alleged remark may have come from Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni rather than the crowd. UEFA’s anti-racism protocol was immediately triggered, and the game was paused for around ten minutes. After the restart, Madrid edged the contest 1-0, but the post-match focus shifted almost entirely to the incident. UEFA has appointed an ethics and disciplinary inspector to examine the matter, with the investigation timeline yet to be confirmed. Prestianni has strongly denied the allegation, saying the situation was misunderstood. Benfica also defended their player and stated they would assist in the investigation while opposing any attempt to tarnish his image. Vinicius later reacted on social media, saying such incidents are not new to him. He stressed that he remains determined to continue the fight against racism. The episode has once again brought the issue of discrimination in European football into sharp spotlight, with the football world now awaiting UEFA’s findings.
Ashwin Phrases Indian Performance ‘Below Par’
India is set to play the Super 8 in T20 World Cup. The defending champions, now set to play against marquee teams like South Africa, the West Indies and Zimbabwe. The veteran player Ravichandan Aswin, so far impressed added that even after India’s below par performance they still managed to accelerate forward. In an recent episode of Ash ki Baat, Ashwin stated, “Surya played a very diligent knock. For the acceleration point, Dube, Hardik, and Rinku were there. They knew they could catch up on the scoring rate.” “But India weren’t extremely good today (vs Netherlands) with the bat, not extremely efficient. But it is such a solid team that even on their ordinary day, they can put you away. They were below par, not at their best. But still, with Varun Chakaravarthy bowling so well, the Netherlands could not pick him. Jasprit Bumrah got swing in the Powerplay and bowled yorkers too.” The veteran further emphasised Tilak Varma’s T20 format stating that the big shot are not always necessary in T20 Cricket. “Tilak Varma is coming back after an injury. We talk about power and strength, but sweet spot and timing are the basic essence of batting. Tilak is not a big power hitter. For him, timing and finding the sweet spot are most important. Please remember, you can play like Vaibhav (Sooryavanshi), but you can also play like Tilak, who relies on timing and picks the gaps,” Ashwin stated. Pakistan sealed their place in the Super Eights after beating Namibia on Wednesday. They advanced from Group A along with India. From Group B, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe moved to the next round. The West Indies and England qualified from Group C, while South Africa and New Zealand progressed from Group D in the 20-team tournament. Australia and New Zealand had already secured automatic qualification as co-hosts of the 2028 event. With the qualification rules in place, all teams that reached the Super Eights including New Zealand and Australia have now officially confirmed their spots for the 2028 tournament.
