Lionel Messi’s bodyguard, Yassine Cheuko, has been banned from technical areas for the remainder of the Leagues Cup and Inter Miami fined after Cheuko intervened in a postgame confrontation with Atlas players. The disciplinary committee cited improper conduct for Cheuko entering restricted areas without credentials.
The Oval witnessed a fiery Day 2 between India and England, marked by intense on-field exchanges and 16 fallen wickets. Prasidh Krishna’s banter with Joe Root escalated, requiring umpire intervention, while KL Rahul questioned Kumar Dharmasena’s involvement. Akash Deep’s unusual send-off to Ben Duckett drew criticism from England’s batting coach, Marcus Trescothick, highlighting the day’s heightened tensions.
Glenn McGrath acknowledges Jasprit Bumrah’s unique bowling style places extra stress on his body, leading to tough workload management decisions for India. McGrath emphasizes the need for Bumrah to play as much as possible due to his match-winning ability, but also highlights the importance of an off-season to prevent injuries.
At the Oval, Mohammed Siraj led India’s pace attack. This happened in Jasprit Bumrah’s absence. Siraj’s performance brought India back into the Test. He bowled with passion and experience. His rhythm inspired fellow pacers. Siraj learned from Ben Stokes. He adjusted his length to take crucial wickets. Despite the effort, five-wicket hauls have been infrequent for Siraj.
KL Rahul has distinguished himself as India’s second-highest run-scoring opener in a Test series in England during the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. Accumulating 532 runs, he surpassed Murali Vijay and Rohit Sharma, though falling short of Sunil Gavaskar’s record of 542 runs set in 1979.
Khushbu Saroj, daughter of a gardener from Ahmedabad, overcame societal resistance and her father’s initial reluctance to earn a spot on India’s U-20 Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers team. Her journey, fueled by her mother and sisters’ support and her coach’s guidance, transformed her father’s doubts into immense pride. Khushbu’s story exemplifies perseverance and the realization of an once-impossible dream.
Mohammed Siraj’s four-wicket haul, along with Prasidh Krishna’s, helped India fight back against England on Day 2. Siraj humorously revealed asking Jasprit Bumrah who he would hug after taking five wickets, showcasing their bond. Their camaraderie, along with Akash Deep, fuels India’s pace attack. India ended the day with a lead of 52, with Yashasvi Jaiswal unbeaten on 51.
Following India Champions’ refusal to play against Pakistan Champions in the World Championships of Legends, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has banned the use of ‘Pakistan’ in private cricket leagues. This decision, made during a recent board meeting, aims to protect the nation’s reputation after the repeated rejections.
Magnus Carlsen, the world’s top-ranked grandmaster, has secured another victory, this time at the inaugural Esports Chess World Cup in Riyadh. Representing Team Liquid, Carlsen triumphed over Alireza Firouzja in the final, earning $250,000 and praising the event’s innovative format. The inclusion of chess in the Esports World Cup marks a significant step in modernizing the game.