Author: Raghav Singh

Young goalkeeper Prince Deep Singh saved two penalties as Tamil Nadu Dragons secured a thrilling victory via a shootout against Hyderabad Toofans, kicking off their campaign with a bonus point in the Men’s Hockey India League (HIL) at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Hockey Stadium in Chennai on Saturday.

Match Summary

The two teams ended regulation time at 3-3, before the Dragons clinched a 4-2 victory in the shootout, with Prince Deep Singh making two crucial saves.

In regulation time, Uttam Singh (4’), Thomas Sorsby (9’), and Karthi Selvam (32’) scored for Accord Tamil Nadu Dragons, while Amandeep Lakra (12’, 18’) and Arthur De Sloover (37’) found the net for Hyderabad Toofans.

Fast-Paced Start

Neither team wasted time in getting into action, with a high-intensity start to the opening game of the tournament. David Harte was called into action in the fourth minute, making a sharp save before the Accord Tamil Nadu Dragons structured a quick counter-attack to earn the first penalty corner of the match. Uttam Singh (4’) converted for the Dragons, jabbing his effort in from close range to score the first goal of the tournament and give his side the lead.

The Dragons further strengthened their foothold in the game when Thomas Sorsby (9’) navigated into the circle and calmly guided his shot past the goalkeeper, doubling the lead for his side. However, Hyderabad Toofans struck back swiftly, converting their first penalty corner through Amandeep Lakra’s (12’) powerful strike, ending the first quarter with the score at 2-1.

Second Quarter Action

Toofans began the second quarter strong, capitalizing quickly from their second penalty corner. Another thunderous strike from Amandeep Lakra (18’) leveled the game. The second quarter saw both teams stretched, creating half-chances but failing to break the deadlock, leading to a 2-2 score at halftime.

Third Quarter Drama

The Dragons regained their lead within two minutes of the third quarter when Karthi Selvam (32’) scored a tap-in from close range, capping off a brilliant team goal set up by Uttam Singh. However, Hyderabad Toofans restored parity just five minutes later, with Arthur De Sloover (37’) finding the net from a tight angle.

Tamil Nadu Dragons maintained a sustained spell of pressure towards the end of the quarter, but last season’s runners-up, Hyderabad Toofans, held firm defensively, concluding the quarter at 3-3.

Decisive Final Quarter

With everything to play for in the final quarter, Toofans took the initiative early on. David Harte remained solid in goal for the Dragons, making crucial saves off penalty corners to keep the match level. Both teams pushed until the end in search of a decisive goal but eventually faced a penalty shootout to determine the winner.

In an exhilarating shootout, the Dragons emerged victorious, with Raheel Mohammed scoring the decisive penalty, securing a 4-2 win and a bonus point in their first game of the campaign.

Pakistan’s T20 World Cup Squad Announced

Pakistan’s senior national selectors have included former captain Babar Azam, pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi, and spinner Shadab Khan in a preliminary 20-player squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup. Notably, former captain and wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan has been left out.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has submitted this preliminary squad of 20 to the International Cricket Council (ICC), which will be trimmed to 15 by head coach Mike Hesson in the coming days. Sources indicate that the PCB has met the January 7 deadline for this submission, and it is Hesson’s responsibility as per his contract to finalize the squad.

While many participating nations have already announced their squads for the T20 World Cup, set to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7, all 20 teams can modify their rosters until January 31. A committee will then have the authority to approve any necessary replacements.

The tenth edition of the T20 international will take place from February 7 to March 8 in India and Sri Lanka. Pakistan will play all its matches in Sri Lanka following an arrangement made last year when the BCCI declined to send the team to Pakistan for the 2025 Champions Trophy.

Sources state that besides Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Shadab Khan, former captain and wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan will not be part of the squad. It is reported that Hesson believes Usman Khan will be a better choice as wicketkeeper, explaining Rizwan’s exclusion. Remarkably, Shaheen is expected to recover from a knee injury within the next two weeks.

Babar’s inclusion is further bolstered by his recent form; he scored two fifties for Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League (BBL), earning the selectors’ approval. Interestingly, Shaheen Shah Afridi has also been shortlisted despite his injury sustained during the BBL.

The report highlights that the squad features five spinners: Shadab, Mohammad Nawaz, Abrar Ahmed, Usman Tariq, and Maaz Sadaqat. Notably, spinner Sufiyan Muqeem and pacer Ahmed Danyal have been overlooked, despite their promising performances at the international level with the senior team and Pakistan Shaheen.

The PCB’s selection committee has recently been reduced to three members following Azhar Ali’s resignation from all posts. The committee now consists of Aqib Javed, Aameen Dar, and Asad, with each member holding equal rights and no designated chief selector.

Arshin Kulkarni struck his second List A century as Maharashtra ended Mumbai’s unbeaten streak in the 2025/26 Vijay Hazare Trophy Elite Group C with a commanding 128-run victory. The right-handed opener scored 114 off 114 balls, hitting 11 fours and three sixes, while sharing a 140-run opening stand with Prithvi Shaw (71 off 75) after Maharashtra elected to bat first in foggy conditions.

Mumbai faced an early setback when captain Shardul Thakur limped off after bowling just six overs. Shaw seemed poised for a century before being trapped lbw by Musheer Khan, who celebrated animatedly. Maharashtra then regrouped with captain Ruturaj Gaikwad contributing a gritty 66 off 52 balls.

Kulkarni and Gaikwad added 108 runs for the third wicket, taking advantage of sloppy Mumbai fielding that resulted in more than five dropped catches. Ramakrishna Ghosh smashed an unbeaten 64 off 27 balls, including 30 runs off Sylvester D’Souza in one over, propelling Maharashtra to 366/4.

Mumbai’s chase struggled from the start—Yashasvi Jaiswal faced nine deliveries while Musheer fell for a duck, leaving them at 4/2. Angkrish Raghuvanshi (92) and Siddhesh Lad (52) attempted a recovery with a 99-run partnership before Satyajeet Bachhav dismissed the latter lbw.

With Sarfaraz Khan absent due to leg stiffness, Mumbai’s middle order collapsed. Raghuvanshi fought valiantly before falling eight runs short of his maiden List A century. Shardul returned to bat despite mobility issues, lasting just five deliveries as Mumbai was bowled out for 238 in 42 overs.

In another match, Pukhraj Mann’s magnificent 134 off 121 balls went in vain as Chhattisgarh successfully chased down Himachal Pradesh’s 320/8 with two balls to spare in a thrilling contest. Mann came to the crease with his side struggling at 32/2 inside the sixth over, striking 11 fours and two sixes in a commendable effort.

He formed a crucial 178-run partnership with wicketkeeper Innesh Mahajan, who narrowly missed a century, scoring 95. Chhattisgarh’s collective batting effort, led by Aayush Pandey’s 78, proved decisive in the tense finish.

On the other hand, Aanjaneya Suryavanshi’s unbeaten 115 off 87 balls overshadowed Goa opener Snehal Kauthankar’s century as Uttarakhand chased down a 271-run target with 3.4 overs remaining.

Uttarakhand was reeling at 83/3 before Suryavanshi orchestrated a match-winning 191-run partnership alongside Shashwat Dangwal, who contributed a run-a-ball 70. Kauthankar’s 105 had earlier anchored Goa’s innings, but Suryavanshi’s explosive knock proved too much to overcome.

Brief scores:

• Maharashtra 366/4 in 50 overs (Arshin Kulkarni 114, Prithvi Shaw 71; Tushar Deshpande 2-83) beat Mumbai 238 all out in 42 overs (Angkrish Raghuvanshi 92, Siddhesh Lad 52; Pradeep Dadhe 3-43) by 128 runs.

• Himachal Pradesh 320/8 in 50 overs (Pukhraj Mann 134, Innesh Mahajan 95; Ravi Kiran 3-65) lost to Chhattisgarh 321/7 in 49.4 overs (Aayush Pandey 78, Amandeep Khare 72; Vaibhav Arora 2-70) by three wickets.

• Goa 270 in 50 overs (Snehal Kauthankar 105, Abhinav Tejrana 54; Jagadeesha Suchith 3-54) lost to Uttarakhand 274/3 in 46.2 overs (Aanjaneya Suryavanshi 115 not out, Shashwat Dangwal 70; Vasuki Koushik 1-28) by seven wickets.

SG Pipers showcased an impressive blend of attacking flair, midfield synergy, and outstanding goalkeeping to overcome Soorma Hockey Club 3-1, maintaining their unbeaten streak and reinforcing their position at the top of the points table in the Women’s Hockey India League (HIL) 2025-26. This dominant performance was characterized by resilience and precision.

First Quarter Highlights

The match began with both teams engaged in an end-to-end clash. SG Pipers created the first clear opportunity when Argentina’s Juana Castellaro delivered a sublime pass into the circle for Priscila Jardel, whose shot narrowly missed the target. Energized by this chance, the Pipers pressed forward, keeping Soorma contained in their defensive half.

Against the run of play, Soorma was awarded a penalty corner, which Penny Squibb converted in the 12th minute to give them a 1-0 lead. However, the Pipers responded swiftly as Spain’s Lola Riera fired in an equalizer from a penalty corner in the 13th minute. Just before the quarter ended, Ishika made a brilliant run and set up captain Navneet Kaur, but the attempt didn’t result in a goal, leaving the first quarter level at 1-1.

Second Quarter Developments

The Pipers dominated the second quarter with relentless attacks, earning an early penalty corner that went unconverted. Captain Navneet Kaur then drove into the circle, where Ishika seized the ball from a Soorma defender and assisted Jyoti Singh, who scored in the 18th minute to put SG Pipers ahead.

Both teams exchanged threats, but goalkeeper Cristina Cosentino was up to the task, making a remarkable penalty-corner save in the 27th minute and subsequently denying Sonam in a one-on-one situation. This ensured the Pipers maintained their 2-1 lead at halftime.

Third Quarter Dynamics

SG Pipers entered the third quarter with offensive energy, led by Navneet Kaur, as they created two close opportunities to extend their advantage. Their cohesive midfield play and solid defense thwarted Soorma’s attempts to equalize, keeping the score at 2-1 as they approached the final quarter.

Fourth Quarter Action

To protect their slender lead, the Pipers came out aggressively in the fourth quarter, continuously testing Soorma’s defense. Although Soorma gained some midfield control and created a threatening chance through Salima Tete’s deflection, Cristina Cosentino made another pivotal save to maintain the lead.

In a strategic move, Soorma pulled their goalkeeper in the 50th minute for an extra outfield player, a gamble that backfired. Indian midfielder Sunelita Toppo capitalized on the resulting chaos, sprinting through the disorganized defense to score a brilliant goal, sealing the match at 3-1. This victory marks the Pipers’ third win in four matches, placing them firmly atop the table, while Soorma remains in search of their first win.

Sammar Gajjar played a remarkable innings, scoring 147 off 135 balls, leading Saurashtra to a 31-run victory over Railways in their Elite Group D match of the Vijay Hazare Trophy at the Alur Cricket Stadium. Gajjar’s innings included 14 fours and four sixes, helping Saurashtra set a total of 294/8 after Railways won the toss and chose to field.

In addition to Gajjar, Hetvik Kotak chipped in with 37 runs, while Prerak Mankad contributed 28. Railways’ bowling attack saw Kunal Yadav and Z.A. Khan each taking three wickets.

In their chase, Railways were bowled out for 263 in 49.1 overs. Upendra Yadav made a valiant effort, scoring 86 off 97 balls, and Ashutosh Sharma added a quick 65 off 45, hitting six fours and three sixes. For Saurashtra, Ankur Panwar and Mankad took three wickets each, with all-rounder Chirag Jani claiming two. Gajjar was awarded Player of the Match for his outstanding performance.

Axar Patel’s Maiden Century

In another match, India all-rounder Axar Patel scored his first List A century, remaining unbeaten on 130 off 111 balls, guiding Gujarat to a narrow seven-run victory over Andhra. Playing his first domestic 50-over match this season, Patel’s innings rescued Gujarat from a difficult position of 99/5. His knock featured 10 boundaries and five sixes, highlighted by a vital 142-run partnership with Vishal Jayswal, who scored 70 off 60 balls.

Parth Vats Shines for Haryana

Young all-rounder Parth Vats delivered a standout performance, taking 3-60 with the ball and then scoring an unbeaten 157 to lead Haryana to a four-wicket win over Odisha, with eight balls remaining. The 21-year-old, making his first-class debut this season, helped restrict Odisha to 305 for nine before anchoring Haryana’s successful chase of 306. His maiden List A century included 13 fours and five sixes, crucially rebuilding the innings after the team collapsed to 14/3.

Brief Scores:

• Saurashtra 294/8 in 50 overs (Sammar Gajjar 147; Kunal Yadav 3-71) beat Railways 263 in 49.1 overs (Upendra Yadav 86, Ashutosh Sharma 65; Prerak Mankad 3-48, Ankur Panwar 3-49) by 31 runs.

• Gujarat 318/9 in 50 overs (Axar Patel 130, Vishal Jayswal 70; Satyanarayana Raju 4-53, Midde Anjaneyulu 2-45) beat Andhra 311/7 in 50 overs (CR Gnaneshwar 102, SD Prasad 48 not out; Ravi Bishnoi 3-64, Axar Patel 2-27) by seven runs.

• Odisha 305/9 in 50 overs (Swastik Samal 101, Govinda Poddar 77; Parth Vats 3-60, Anuj Thakral 3-68) lost to Haryana 309/6 in 48.4 overs (Parth Vats 157 not out, Anuj Thakral 59 not out) by four wickets.

The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) has announced the qualification standards for the 2026 Asian Games in Japan, aiming to enhance India’s medal tally in track and field. This early announcement allows athletes to better plan their seasons to qualify and earn medals in Aichi–Nagoya later in the year.

Sufficient Preparation Time

Former president and current AFI spokesperson, Adille Sumariwalla, highlighted that athletes have ample time to peak at the right moment and secure their places for this major international event in the 2026 season.

“The athletes have ample time at hand to peak at the right time and book tickets for the Asian Games. The AFI will select at least two eligible athletes in each event,” Sumariwalla stated. He further mentioned that the final composition of the Indian athletics contingent will be determined by the AFI selection panel.

Positive Outlook for Indian Athletics

Sumariwalla, who also serves as a vice-president of World Athletics, noted the positive performances of the core group of Indian athletes in 2025, indicating a promising season ahead.

“Indian athletics won 29 medals, including six gold, at the previous edition of the Asian Games held in China in 2022. I am confident that the overall medal tally in athletics will be better at the Asian Games in Japan,” he said.

Setting Benchmarks for Qualification

The AFI spokesperson pointed out that India’s sixth-place finish in track and field events at the last Asian Games serves as a benchmark for the upcoming edition. However, for several events, including the 200m, 400m, 800m, and high hurdles, the qualification standard is set at a fifth-place finish.

“The government, including the Sports Ministry, has been apprised of the AFI qualification marks,” Sumariwalla shared. He added that the qualification criteria for events like race walk and marathon will be decided soon by the federation.

Upcoming Domestic Calendar

The domestic athletics calendar will commence with the National Cross Country Championships on January 24. The first major track and field event of the season, the National Senior Athletics Federation Competition, is scheduled for May 22 to 25 in Bhubaneswar.

Additionally, the National Inter-State Senior Athletics Championships will be held from July 8 to 12, also in Bhubaneswar. These competitions will provide crucial platforms for athletes to secure their Asian Games qualification marks.

“It is mandatory for all athletes to compete in state meets and at least two regional competitions to be eligible for the main track and field events. Athletes who skip state meets without prior permission will not be eligible for the main competitions,” Sumariwalla emphasized.

Army’s Ajay Kumar and Karnataka’s Jonathan Gavin Antony showcased impressive performances during a thrilling day at the 68th National Shooting Championship Competitions held at Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range. Ajay clinched the gold medal in the 10m Air Pistol Men’s final, while Jonathan completed an outstanding campaign by securing a rare Sub-Youth, Youth, and Junior treble in men’s air pistol events.

10m Air Pistol Men’s Final

Ajay Kumar exhibited composure to claim the gold medal with a score of 241.1, narrowly beating Railways’ Shubham Bisla, who finished with 240.1 to take silver. Haryana’s Anmol Jain secured the bronze medal with a score of 220.0.

The finals saw Haryana’s Shiva Narwal finishing fourth with 197.2, while Navy shooters Aakash Bhardwaj and Ujjawal Malik placed fifth and sixth, scoring 177.8 and 157.3, respectively. Rahul Serawat of Rajasthan took seventh with 136.6, while Punjab’s Arjun Singh Cheema rounded out the final lineup in eighth with 115.8.

The qualification round was fiercely contested, with Ujjawal Malik, Rahul Serawat, and Shiva Narwal each shooting 584. Malik topped the qualification with 584-22x, followed by Serawat at 584-17x and Narwal at 584-17x. Other finalists included Arjun Singh Cheema (583-23x), Anmol Jain (583-22x), Ajay Kumar (583-20x), Shubham Bisla (583-16x), and Aakash Bhardwaj (582-25x).

Among noted competitors, Sarabjot Singh finished 19th with 580-22x, reigning World Champion Samrat Rana was 71st with 576-20x, and defending champion Varun Tomar had a disappointing day, placing 99th with 575-16x.

Tamil Nadu Triumphs in Trap Mixed Team

In the shotgun range, Tamil Nadu defeated Madhya Pradesh 36–35 in the Senior Trap Mixed Team gold medal match. Olympian R. Prithviraj Tondaiman led the Tamil Nadu team with 19 hits, aided by Nilaa Rajaa Baalu’s 17 hits.

National Women’s Trap champion Neeru Dhanda and Arshad Hasan Khan had to settle for silver, scoring 20 and 15 hits, respectively. The bronze medal went to Rajasthan, which overcame Haryana 42–37, thanks to Vivaan Kapoor’s 25 hits and Manvi Soni’s 17.

During qualifications, Madhya Pradesh topped the standings with a score of 136, led by Neeru Dhanda (69) and Arshad Hasan Khan (67). Tamil Nadu was second with 134+2, ahead of Rajasthan at 134+1 after a shoot-off. Haryana secured the last spot in the bronze medal match by scoring 133+6, edging out Punjab and Delhi.

Jonathan Gavin Antony’s Hat-trick

In the Youth Men’s final, Jonathan secured the top position with a score of 240.0, while Punjab’s Guntajpreet Singh claimed silver with 236.0. Uttar Pradesh’s Savej Khan earned bronze with a score of 214.3. Harsh Kumar Haldkar of Madhya Pradesh finished fourth with 195.9, followed by Abhay Dhama (174.7), Aryan (152.5), and Jatin Nirwal (125.6), all representing Uttar Pradesh.

Later that day, Jonathan returned for the Junior Men’s final and once again showed his mettle, winning gold with 240.5. Haryana’s Shiva Narwal narrowly missed the title, finishing second with 240.3, while Rajasthan’s Yogesh Kumar took bronze on 218.2. Uttar Pradesh’s Abhay Dhama (198.3) and Jatin Nirwal (178.9) placed fourth and fifth, respectively. Punjab’s Guntajpreet Singh and Madhya Pradesh’s Harsh Kumar Haldkar finished sixth and seventh.

Other Results

10m Air Pistol Team Events:

• Men’s Team:

  • Navy (Ujjawal Malik, Aakash Bhardwaj, Arpit Tomar) – Gold (1743.0-70x)
  • Karnataka (Jonathan Gavin Antony, Siddharth Prakash Divate, Darren K Dawn) – Silver (1734.0-70x)
  • Uttar Pradesh (Harsh Swami, Gaurav, Chirag Sharma) – Bronze (1734.0-54x)

• Junior Men’s Team:

  • Haryana (Kapil, Priyanshu Yadav, Samrat Rana) – Gold (1733.0-60x)
  • Rajasthan (Yogesh Kumar, Pankaj Jaat, Sandeep Bishnoi) – Silver (1732.0-55x)
  • Uttar Pradesh (Himanshu Rana, Pankaj, Chirag Sharma) – Bronze (1731.0-61x)

• Youth Men’s Team:

  • Haryana (Priyanshu Yadav, Shubham Chauhan, Ankush) – Gold (1726.0-59x)
  • Punjab (Guntajpreet Singh, Armaan Singh, Dishant Thakur) – Silver (1726.0-48x)
  • Madhya Pradesh (Harsh Kumar Haldkar, Jatin, Yugpratap Singh Rathore) – Bronze (1722.0-45x)

• Sub-Youth:

  • Jonathan Gavin Antony (Karnataka) – Gold (581-23x)
  • Abhay Dhama (Uttar Pradesh) – Silver (580-18x)
  • Mohin Khan (Uttar Pradesh) – Bronze (579-16x)

• Deaf Men:

  • Abhinav Deshwal (Uttarakhand) – 576-15x
  • Chirag Rathi (Haryana) – 563-11x
  • Chetan Hanmant Sapkal (Maharashtra) – 561-11x

• Men Civilian:

  • Rahul Serawat (Rajasthan) – Gold (584-17x)
  • Jaypal Malviya (Madhya Pradesh) – Silver (582-20x)
  • Harsh Swami (Uttar Pradesh) – Bronze (582-16x)

• Junior Men Civilian:

  • Guntajpreet Singh (Punjab) – Gold (581-17x)
  • Jatin Nirwal (Uttar Pradesh) – Silver (581-14x)
  • Abhay Dhama (Uttar Pradesh) – Bronze (580-18x)

• Men’s Civilian Team:

  • Uttar Pradesh (Harsh Swami, Himanshu Rana, Naveen Singh Pannu) – Gold (1736.0-59x)
  • Madhya Pradesh (Jaypal Malviya, Harsh Kumar Haldkar, Yugpratap Singh Rathore) – Silver (1731.0-48x)
  • Rajasthan (Hemant Singh Choudhary, Abhishek Choudhary, Tanmay Kumar) – Bronze (1727.0-56x)

• Junior Men Civilian Team:

  • Uttar Pradesh (Abhay Dhama, Himanshu Rana, Pankaj) – Gold (1736.0-61x)
  • Rajasthan (Tanmay Kumar, Mayank Choudhary, Mohit Singh) – Silver (1712.0-52x)
  • Rajasthan (Ashish Singh, Alok Saini, Anshul) – Bronze (1711.0-58x)

• Master Men:

  • Babu Ram (Chandigarh) – Gold
  • Sib Kumar Ghosh (West Bengal) – Silver
  • Samaresh Jung (CISF) – Bronze

• Senior Master Men:

  • Arun Tewari (Uttar Pradesh) – Gold
  • Ajit Jayant Kharkar (Maharashtra) – Silver
  • Vijay Kumar (Tamil Nadu) – Bronze

Former India cricketer Atul Wassan has expressed his support for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) regarding its directive to the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to release Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from their Indian Premier League (IPL) squad. He called the decision correct and mentioned that actor Shah Rukh Khan was unfairly targeted amid the controversy.

Speaking on the matter, Wassan noted that the uproar surrounding the issue was premature and seemed like a knee-jerk reaction, emphasizing that such matters require time before being judged. “Look, I feel that a completely correct decision has come from the BCCI. The uproar created over the last few days was premature and suddenly became a massive issue. I believe everything should be given time,” Wassan stated.

The former India pacer criticized those targeting KKR co-owner Shah Rukh Khan, highlighting that several franchises had bid for Mustafizur during the IPL mini-auction held in December. “Targeting Shah Rukh Khan was wrong because, apart from KKR, four other franchises bid for the player. They just did not get him. At that time, there was no BCCI directive to not pick him, and the situation with Bangladesh had not deteriorated this much,” he explained.

Wassan further added that public sentiment has made the board’s decision appear justified, emphasizing that India should not support Bangladesh cricket as long as conditions remain adverse. “For an issue to suddenly become this huge, one should have shown patience. It felt like a knee-jerk reaction earlier. Now it seems justified, given the public sentiment. We will not support Bangladesh as long as the situation remains against us,” he said.

He urged stakeholders to approach the issue with maturity, pointing out that there is still time before the IPL commences.

This statement follows the BCCI’s request for Kolkata Knight Riders to release Mustafizur Rahman from their squad, a directive that the franchise eventually followed.

“Kolkata Knight Riders confirms that BCCI or IPL, as the regulator of IPL, has instructed it to release Mustafizur Rahman from the squad ahead of the upcoming Indian Premier League season. The release has been carried out following due process and consultations. BCCI will allow Kolkata Knight Riders a replacement player in line with IPL regulations, and further details will be communicated in due course,” the franchise stated.

Strong contenders Kalinga Lancers are all set to face debutants Ranchi Royals in their first match of the Men’s Hockey India League (HIL) at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Hockey Stadium in Chennai on Sunday.

Kalinga Lancers begin the new season after an intense pre-season camp, focusing on building structure, cohesion, and match readiness before the league kicks off. Although Ranchi Royals are making their debut in the Hockey India League, they boast a strong core team retained from the former franchise Gonasika.

Coaches’ Insights

Ahead of the season opener, head coach Jay Stacy emphasized the importance of preparation and composure.

“The group has worked hard in preparation, and the focus has been on clarity in our roles and discipline across the pitch. Opening games are about settling quickly and playing smart hockey,” stated Stacy. “Ranchi may be new to the league, but they have a solid core and quality players, so we’re expecting a tough contest. Our Indian players came in early and trained under Technical and Strategy Coach Pascal Kina, before the Australdigihunt and Belgdigihunt joined post-Christmas. The sessions in Bhubaneswar were very productive and helped us come together well as a unit.”

Attacking Strategy

The Lancers, last season’s second-highest goal scorers, aim to maintain their attacking approach this year, while also improving their defensive setup.

Reflecting on the new season, Co-Captain Arthur Van Doren expressed optimism.

“We’re very excited about the start of a new season and looking forward to giving our best,” Van Doren said. “We were one of the highest goal-scoring teams last season, and that attacking mindset is something we want to continue. At the same time, one of our big focus areas has been conceding fewer goals. We have a solid defensive line, quality forwards, and a good mix of experience and debutants in the squad.”

Consistency is Key

Echoing this sentiment, Co-Captain Sanjay also highlighted the importance of consistency and gradual progression throughout the season.

“There’s a lot of excitement within the group for the new season,” he shared. “We have prepared well, and the focus is on going match by match and delivering our best every time we step onto the field. The aim is to come together as a unit and perform consistently to achieve our objectives.”

Kalinga Lancers will play two matches in Chennai, with their second match against defending champions Bengal Tigers on Thursday, January 8.

With the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) directing Kolkata Knight Riders to release their player Mustafizur Rahman from a contract for IPL 2026, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) plans to approach the ICC regarding a change of venue for their matches during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, which India will co-host with Sri Lanka.

Bangladesh is set to play against the West Indies (February 7, 2026), Italy (February 9), and England (February 14) at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, and against Nepal (February 17) at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

Due to BCCI’s decision not to allow Mustafizur to compete in India—following concerns raised by some due to incidents involving Hindus in Bangladesh—the BCB has expressed concerns about the safety of its players while playing in India. They are therefore seeking alternate venues.

A senior BCB official mentioned to Telecom Asia Sport that they will escalate the matter to the ICC, considering the mounting tension between the two countries. “I cannot make any comment regarding the release of Mustafizur as this is their internal matter, but as far as taking part in the World Cup is concerned, it is an ICC event, and they will make the final call after taking everything into consideration,” the official stated.

The BCB intends to address the T20 World Cup venue issue with the ICC soon. Notably, Pakistan has also opted not to play in India after India’s refusal to travel for the 2025 Champions Trophy.

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed that they have instructed KKR to release Mustafizur “due to the unrest that has developed across that country.” He added, “BCCI has instructed KKR to release Bangladeshi player Mustafizur Rahman from their squad. BCCI will allow them to pick any replacement player of their choice.”

Kolkata Knight Riders, owned by Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan, later confirmed Mustafizur’s release. “Kolkata Knight Riders confirms that BCCI or IPL, as the regulator of IPL, has instructed it to release Mustafizur Rahman from the squad ahead of the upcoming Indian Premier League season. The release has been carried out following due process and consultations, upon the instruction of the Board of Control for Cricket in India. BCCI will allow Kolkata Knight Riders a replacement player in line with IPL regulations, and further details will be communicated in due course,” said the franchise in a statement.

Mustafizur, 30, was signed by Kolkata at the most recent mini-auction for 92 million rupees ($1.1 million), marking the highest price ever paid for a Bangladeshi player in the tournament. He has previously played for five IPL franchises over eight seasons, debuting in 2016 with Sunrisers Hyderabad, where he helped the team win the title and was named Emerging Player of the Tournament.

Diplomatic relations between India and Bangladesh have deteriorated following a mob-enforced regime change a few months ago, leading to violence against Hindus in Bangladesh by mobs linked to fundamentalist groups.

The BCCI has also postponed a tour by the Indian men’s team to Bangladesh planned for ODIs and T20s. Although the BCB has listed the series for September 2026 in its calendar, prospects of it proceeding appear bleak considering the current circumstances.

The BCB is expected to address this concern with the ICC in their discussions about the T20 World Cup venues.