UAE excited to play against superstars Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah: Alishan Sharafu
UAE opener Alishan Sharafu is excited to play against the heavy-weight names like Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya. UAE will start their campaign in the Asia Cup 2025 campaign against India on 10th September. The Indian team have faced the UAE only once in the T-20I format, which was in the Asia Cup 2016. It is nearly a decade later that the rivalry resumes with Suryakumar Yadav and Muhammad Waseem as the captains of the two sides. Sharafu said ahead of the match, “I think they are all quality players. If we have to take some names, like I said, Jasprit Bumrah or someone like Hardik Pandya. These guys are match-winners and they can change the game on their own. I’m quite excited to go out there and have that experience of playing against them. Hopefully, we can give them a tough time.” UAE recently played against Pakistan and Afghanistan in the tri-series where they did not win a single game. In their final match of the tournament, they came really close to beating the Afghan side but ended up losing the match by only 4 runs. Despite the losses, Sharafu said that the team was confident in its abilities and could spring a surprise against Suryakumar Yadav’s side.
Magnificent Gurpreet steers India to third place with a victory against Oman
Gurpreet Singh Sandhu’s brilliance guided the Blue Tigers to finish at third place in the CAFA Nations Cup with an exciting 3-2 triumph over fancied Oman at Hisor Central Stadium in Hisor, Tajikistan, on Monday. India conceded the goal in the 55th minute as a center from the left was punched by Yahmadi on the run that found the far corner of the net. Despite the pressure from Oman, the Blue Tigers did not give up and offered penetrative counter-attacks also. The scorelione was leveled finally by Udanta Singh in the 80th minute. The chance was created from a long throw-in. The ball was nicely flicked behind by Danish from Bheke’s throw and Udanta dived to head the ball inside the net. The regulation time of 90 minutes and the next 30 minutes of extra-time ended 1-1 stalemate before the penalty shoot-out started. Chhangte, Rahul Bheke, and Jithin MS struck for India. Udanta missed the crucial one, but Gurpreet thwarted off Al Yahmadi’s final shot to ensure a 3-2 victory for India.
India assured of two medals after men’s and mixed teams reach final
Promising compound archer Rishabh Yadav made noteworthy contributions as India reached men’s and mixed team summit clashes and assured itself of two medals on the opening day of the World Archery Championship in Gwangju, Korea, on Saturday. Rishabh, who gathered 709 points to take the eighth spot in the qualification round, joined hands with Amman Saini and Prathamesh Fuge to help the second-ranked Indian men’s team go past Australia 232-232 (shoot-off: 30-28), the USA 234-233 and Turkey 234-232 and set up a title clash with France. The youngster combined with the seasoned V. Jyothi Surekha, the top-ranked Indian compound woman who placed third with 707 points, to enable the fourth-slotted Indian mixed team to defeat Germany 160-152, El Salvador 157-153 and Chinese Taipei 157-155 and fix a final date with the Netherlands. However, defending champion India, comprising Jyothi, Parneet Kaur and Prithika Pradeep, lost to Italy 229-233 in the second round to exit early.
Exposure trip, especially playing against Iraq developed the players’ ‘self-belief’ says Moosa
Sudeep Pakrashi: A day before India’s under-23 men’s football team’s crucial tie against host Qatar in the ongoing under-23 Asian Cup qualifiers, national coach Naushad Moosa seems to have gained the belief, saying, “Despite the fact we do not have any video footage of Qatar’s recent matches, we are prepared mentally. We need points from this match.” The blue colts have already started their campaign on a winning note, drubbing Bahrain 2-0. The emergence of a ‘new kid on the block’ like Mohammed Suhail, whose crafty goal against Bahrain has already drawn the attention of the legend in Indian football like IM Vijayan has also added the ‘self-belief’ among the other footballers. But the former Indian international and the experienced coach feels this self-belief was instilled into the footballers during the team’s exposure trip to Malaysia. “Playing against the stronger team, like Iraq, played a crucial role in generating the ‘self-belief’. We lost both the friendly matches against Iraq. But the footballers realized they al so could also fight even against a stronger team and deliver their best. The reflection was against Bahrain.” The blue colts have been deprived of three experienced footballers like Techam Abhishek Singh, Dipendu Biswas and Suhail Bhat as they were not released by Mohun Bagan Super Giants. Moosa did not seem perturbed. Rather he explained, “It is true that the team would have been stronger. But, the new boys who have been debutants with the national jersey like Mohammed Suhail’s performance have also been inspiring and looking forward to the feature these boys can asset of senior national team also. These boys might not have had chances of coming in the first eleven if the experienced MBSG footballers had joined the team. So I feel it has been a significant journey for these boys.”
Khalid Jamil says Chhetri likely to be called up before Asian Cup qualifier in October
Chief coach of present senior national team Khalid Jamil revealed during the media conference held in Bengaluru on Monday that Sunil Chhetri who returned to senior national team breaking his international retirement, but not included in the present senior national team, is likely to be called up again before India’s all-important Asian Cup qualifier against Singapore in October. Jamil, on the day before senior national team’s departure for Hisor, Tajikistan to participate in the CAFA Nations Cup, said, “I had talks with Sunil. He assured he would be available for the senior national team’s next Asian Cup qualifying match against Singapore in October, this year.” On the challenges in CAFA Nations Cup, he said, “Yes, we have information on Tajikistan, IR Iran, and Afghanistan. They are strong sides and have done well recently. But we must focus on our own game and be mentally prepared. The key is belief and playing as a unit. There is improvement, but it will take time. Focus should also be given to juniors alongside seniors, to build a strong future.” India will face hosts Tajikistan (August 29), IR Iran (September 1), and Afghanistan (September 4) in Group B of the CAFA Nations Cup 2025, in Hisor, Tajikistan. The group winners will play the final in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, while the two second-placed teams in each group will face off in the third-place match. Jamil stressed the importance of unity and professionalism in the team. He said, “The players are professionals. Once they enter the ground, they are focussed. For me, there is no excuse. Everyone is working hard. We will play as a team, adapt with whoever is available, and give opportunities for new players to prove themselves and become stars.”
Senior national team announced; Gurpreet back after eight months
Khalid Jamil announced his first squad for the CAFA Nations Cup, opting to leave out veteran Sunil Chhetri in order to test new forwards. Meanwhile, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu makes his return to the Indian team after an eight-month absence. Sandhu last played for India in the 1-1 friendly against Malaysia in November. Marquez had preferred Vishal Kaith for recent fixtures earlier this year, including back-to-back defeats to Thailand and Hong Kong in June. Gurpreet expressed his renewed motivation via social media: ‘A familiar frame, but it feels a bit different now. The desire, the hunger to go out there every day wearing our nation’s badge has become even more intense.’ Mohun Bagan Super Giants have not released players like Anirudh Thapa, Sahal Abdul Samad, Deepak Tangri, Manvir Singh, and Liston Colaco for the tournament, citing their obligation to adhere only to the official FIFA international match calendar when releasing players. However, the final squad for the CAFA Nations Cup 2025 has an interesting mix of young and experienced players. The 23-year-old FC Goa goalkeeper Hrithik Tiwari has secured his place in the national team squad. The talented custodian had an impressive last season in the Indian Super League. Amrinder Singh is another option in the squad for the goalkeeping role. India’s defense has some predictable names, including the experienced Sandesh Jhingan, who will have the responsibility to marshal the defense against formidable opponents. His centre-back partner, Anwar Ali, is also in the squad. The East Bengal centre back recently joined the camp after the Durand Cup campaign. The versatile Rahul Bheke is another familiar name in the squad who is expected to play either as centre-back or right-back. The full-back roles will see relatively new faces. Punjab FC left-back Muhammed Uvais will don the Indian colours for the first time. Valpuia and Naorem Roshan Singh have also kept their place in the squad. Midfield is one area where India might struggle, as some senior players are not available for the tournament. Players like Nikhil Prabhu, Suresh Singh Wangjam, Danish Farooq, Jeakson Singh, and Borish Singh will be seen operating in the centre of the park. There are no surprising calls from Khalid Jamil when it comes to wide forwards. The task of creating chances on the wings will be undertaken by the likes of Ashique Kuruniyan, Udanta Singh, Naorem Mahesh Singh, Jithin MS, and Lallianzuala Chhangte. With Sunil Chhetri absent from the squad, the Number 9 role presents the biggest gap to fill. Khalid Jamil will turn to young faces, including Jamshedpur FC striker Manvir Singh, who will make his debut, to lead t lead the line in the 8-nation tournament. Irfan Yadwad, who made his first international appearance against Malaysia last year, and Vikram Partap Singh are also set to compete for the striker’s role. India faces Tajikistan, Iran and Afghanistan on 29th August, 1st and 4th September. Jamil had announced 35 players for the training camp that started on August 15at the Dravid-Padukone Centre for Sports Excellence in Bengaluru.
Messi to play in Kerala ultimately in November!
The uncertainty seems to be over. The Lionel Messi-led Argentine national team is coming to Kerala to take part in a friendly match in November this year! The friendly match is likely to take place during FIFA’s November-window, between 10th and 18th November. This visit will mark the first time an Argentine side will be playing in Kerala. The official confirmation came through the team’s social media handles earlier today. The opponents for the fixtures are yet to be announced. “The Argentine national team, led by Lionel Scaloni, will have two FIFA friendly matches in the remainder of 2025. The first, in October, from the 6th to the 14th, will be played in the United States (opponents and cities to be determined). The second, a FIFA friendly in November, from the 10th to the 18th, will be played in Luanda, Angola, and Kerala, India (opponents to be determined),” the statement read. Kerala Sports Minister V. Abdurahiman first revealed that the Argentine national team, led by Messi would be taking part in a friendly match this year. But the much-awaited trip got a big blow following disagreements between the Kerala government, event sponsors, and the Argentine Football Association (AFA). Doubts were created over whether the friendly would actually go ahead. At one point, Kerala’s Sports Minister announced that the Argentine national team’s Kerala-tour would be cancelled. Then, Reporting Broadcasting, the commercial partner of the Kerala state sports ministry, warned of legal action against the AFA. However, the situation now seems to have been resolved, and Argentina are set to play in India later this year. This will be the reigning world champions’ second visit to the country. Their first appearance came in 2011, when Lionel Messi led the side in a friendly against Venezuela at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium.
India’s under-23 national football team will travel to Malaysia without key MBSG players!
Naushad Moosa’s dreams of making history by reaching the finals have suffered a big blow, as the Indian squad, traveling to Malaysia to take part in the under-23 Asian Cup qualifiers, are likely to miss talented footballers from Mohun Bagan Super Giants! The talented youngsters of Bagan, such as Suhail Bhat, Dippendu Biswas, and Tekcham Abhishek Singh are likely to miss out. The selected footballers from NorthEast United FC are expected to join the national squad after their Durand Cup Final, which takes place on 23rd August against Diamond Harbor FC. However, AIFF are still trying to convince the ISL winner to release the players before the official FIFA window, scheduled to start on 1st September. With Mohun Bagan kicking off their ACL 2 matches on 16th September the club raised concerns over the fitness issues of players. Head Coach Naushad Moosa had to start the preparatory camp in Bangalore without the presence of 16 key footballers, who are from Punjab FC, Jamshedpur, Mohun Bagan, NorthEast United, and FC Goa. Only 10 footballers who participated in the friendly matches against Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan had reported to the camp. Moosa was forced to call upon 15 trialists to get the number to 25 for a full squad to start training. Among the absentees were FC Goa’s Ayush Chhetri, Sanatomba Singh, and Alan Saji, who joined the squad right after Goa’s AFC Champions League 2 preliminary round tie against Al Seeb on 13th August. The 16 of the initial players who were unavailable for the camp were mostly players who would have walked straight into the playing XI or the match-day squad. Despite bringing in new footballers for the selection trials the absence of such players for the preparatory camp left Moosa worried. On the positive note, players from Punjab FC and even Jamshedpur FC have joined the squad.
Bhaichung reveals the point behind Khalid Jamil’s selection as chief national coach
Former India captain Bhaichung Bhutia said the All India Football Federation (AIFF) chose him because he is unlikely to make too many demands. Bhaichung, speaking to PTI after the Fidel Castro Centenary Football Cup’s exhibition match, also said he feels sorry for Jamil for taking charge of the senior national team at a difficult time. “We have got two world-class coaches (Igor Stimac and Manolo Marquez) leaving. If these two coaches could not work with the AIFF, then you bring people who will listen and will do what the federation says,” Bhutia said. When asked about coach Jamil’s ability, Bhaichung explained, “I think Jamil being a domestic coach fits into that, as he is fairly new to the team. I feel sorry for him as well, as he is taking charge of the team when it’s in a very difficult situation,” he added. Aiming AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey Bhutia said, “For Kalyan, he (Jamil) is the right guy because Indian coaches do not demand much. “At the same time, he is saying that there are financial problems, and today the AIFF has gone into such a bad situation that we don’t have money to pay the coaches as well.” Chaubey had recently admitted that club football is “going through a crisis” due to the uncertainty surrounding the Indian Super League, while attributing the situation to “some self-claimed reformers with vested interests”. Bhutia also raised concerns over the federation’s handling of administrative matters. “When the Supreme Court appointed the ad-hoc committee to run the federation for the Under-17 Women’s World Cup, the federation should have asked the SC whether we can run it, or we should have a new body. “That delay of three years clashed with the MRA rights getting over. That timing could have been tackled much more before coming to this stage. They should have gone to the SC and asked. I have been saying this to find out whether this body can continue, which they did not do purposely,” Bhutia added.
Amidst the shower of appreciations, Mohammed Siraj reveals his ‘simple plans’ on the pitch!
Michael Atherton compared Siraj to Yorkshire and England legend, the warhorse, big-grinned Darren Gough, a fiery fast bowler from his playing days. He said that Siraj can lift the whole team with his enthusiasm, which makes 35 runs not a mere formality. “Absolutely, and the type of cricketer I think that just makes other people rise as well. We had one way back in my time, Darren Gough, would make people play better just because of the way they carried on in the middle and the dressing room, actually,” Atherton told Sky. “When the going gets tough, there are some characters that just grow a bit taller. He is one, and everybody else will look at him,” Atherton said. Elaborating, he added, “He’s a bit of a leader in the field. He’s not the captain obviously, not wearing the armband. But he’s the guy they look to when it gets tough. So he makes others play better in those moments.” Siraj, who crossed the milestone of 200 wickets, also surpassed Bhubneshwar Kumar and is now behind only Jasprit Bumrah for most wickets (24) against England in England. His spell on the fourth day was a scorching one, bowling eight overs, giving away 33 runs, and getting a crucial wicket of Ollie Pope to end the first session with figures of 2 for 44 in 12 overs, though he set up the board for Prasidh to snare wickets. The hard-working bowler is the leading wicket-taker with 20 wickets at an average of 34.30 in nine innings, with best figures of 6/70. He went past Bhuvneshwar’s 19-wickets in 2014 at an average of 26.63 and best figures of 6/82. But Siraj waved away all concerns of breaking down, even as other pacers from both sides ended up knackered if not broken, and explained, “I love to play for the country. I don’t think of breaking down or anything. I try to make simple plans whenever I am in the field. I give it everything. And rest will follow,” Siraj told Sky Cricket after the fourth day. “Since childhood, why did you play…motivation is to play for India. I don’t fixate on the result. Just give 100 percent in the body. When you relax after a tough day, you ask yourself if the answer is yes, you have 100 percent, then I sleep well, concluded Siraj.
