Category: Sports

Sarfaraz Khan Creates History with Fastest List A Fifty

India batter Sarfaraz Khan made headlines with an extraordinary innings, recording the fastest fifty by an Indian in List A cricket during Mumbai’s Vijay Hazare Trophy match against Punjab at the Jaipuria Vidyalaya Ground.

Record-Breaking Performance

Playing for Mumbai, Sarfaraz reached his half-century in just 15 balls, breaking the previous record of 16 deliveries set by Ajith Sheth against Chhattisgarh while representing Baroda. Coming to the crease after the dismissal of his brother Musheer Khan in the ninth over, the 28-year-old wasted no time, unleashing a barrage of runs against Punjab bowler Abhishek Sharma, scoring 30 runs in his first over. He continued his aggressive approach, hitting Harpreet Brar for 19 runs off five balls, before bringing up his landmark fifty in just 15 deliveries, shattering a record that had stood for five years.

Key Contributions

Sarfaraz, who was Mumbai’s top scorer, was eventually dismissed in the 15th over for a remarkable 62 runs off 20 balls, including seven fours and five sixes. Alongside him, Mumbai captain Shreyas Iyer played a crucial innings, contributing 45 runs off 34 balls with four fours and two sixes.

Outstanding Form

Currently in exceptional form during the Vijay Hazare Trophy, Sarfaraz is Mumbai’s leading run-scorer this season with 303 runs in six innings at an average of 75.75 and an impressive strike rate of 190.56. His performance included a brilliant 157 against Goa on December 31 and a half-century against Uttarakhand earlier in the tournament.

Sarfaraz has also had a strong run in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, amassing 329 runs in seven matches, including a century, at a remarkable strike rate of 203.08.

Match Outcome

Despite the efforts of Sarfaraz and captain Iyer, Mumbai fell just one run short of Punjab’s total of 216, being bowled out for 215 in 26.2 overs. Gurnoor Brar emerged as the standout performer for Punjab, taking four wickets to dismantle Mumbai’s batting line-up.

National shooting coach Ankush Bharadwaj has been suspended by the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI), and a show-cause notice has been issued to him following sexual assault allegations made by a 17-year-old national-level shooter, as per NRAI assistant secretary Rajiv Bhatia.

The national-level female shooter alleged that Bharadwaj sexually assaulted her at a hotel in Surajkund, Faridabad, during a national championship in December last year.

Bharadwaj has been booked by the Haryana Police following an official complaint from the victim’s family. According to the FIR filed in Faridabad, the coach is accused of sexually assaulting the national-level shooter and threatening to ruin her career.

The incident allegedly took place on December 16 while she was participating in a national-level shooting competition at the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range in Tughlakabad, South Delhi.

Police confirmed that a First Information Report (FIR) has been registered based on the complaint from the girl’s mother. Efforts are currently underway to obtain CCTV footage from the hotel and gather statements from witnesses connected to the case.

According to the complaint, a senior police officer stated that a case was registered on Tuesday at the Women’s Police Station in NIT Faridabad under Section 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and Section 351(2) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), since the athlete is a minor.

The FIR notes that after the match, the coach allegedly asked the shooter to meet him in the lobby of the Surajkund Hotel in Faridabad, where he was staying, to discuss her performance. Upon arriving, she was pressured to go to the coach’s room for a more detailed discussion. It is alleged that in the hotel room, he sexually assaulted her and threatened to ruin her career and harm her family if she revealed the incident.

Sri Lanka Cricket Board has appointed Vikram Rathour as their batting coach as they step up their preparation for the upcoming T20 World Cup, which will start on 7 February.

Rathour previously served as India’s batting coach from 2019 to 2024. Under his tenure, the team performed well in ICC tournaments, including winning the T20 World Cup in 2024. After leaving the Indian setup, Rathour joined Rajasthan Royals as batting and assistant coach.

“He has been appointed on a consultancy basis, with a primary focus on the team’s preparation for the ICC Men’s T20I World Cup 2026. A former Indian player who represented the country in Tests and One-Day Internationals, Rathour will assume duties on January 18 and will remain with the team until March 10,” Sri Lanka Cricket said in a release.

Sri Lanka is currently facing Pakistan in a three-match series in the lead-up to the T20 World Cup. They will be looking to make the most of his experience as they brace to co-host the upcoming global event.

In the build-up to the marquee tournament, Sri Lanka have also appointed legendary pacer Lasith Malinga as a fast-bowling consultant for a 40-day period, effective from December 15 to January 25.

Malinga has served as a fast-bowling consultant on two official occasions but has also provided informal guidance to top bowlers over the years. For the past two years, he has been offering advice to the coaching staff led by Sanath Jayasuriya.

Sri Lanka have been drawn in Group B with Australia, Oman, Ireland, and Zimbabwe. The 2014 champions will face off against Ireland in their opening fixture on February 8 at the R Premadasa International Stadium in Colombo.

Tristan Stubbs was a notable omission from South Africa’s squad for the T20 World Cup, but ex-batter JP Duminy believes the youngster has shown strong leadership skills by taking Sunrisers Eastern Cape to the top of the SA20 standings and has backed him to do amazing things in the ongoing tournament.

Stubbs’ Performance and Leadership

Stubbs, 25, is regarded as one of the most exciting young batters in the cricketing world. He has gradually become a key player in all formats for South Africa and has proven himself as a finisher for Delhi Capitals (DC) in the Indian Premier League (IPL). However, his recent lean run in T20Is led to Jason Smith being selected over him for the T20 World Cup, set to take place in India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8. Despite this surprising omission, Stubbs has excelled as a captain for the very first time in the SA20 league, although his run tally currently stands at just 28 runs in five games.

Duminy expressed that this might be a unique opportunity for Stubbs:

“Again, I think it’s a great opportunity to shift focus. There’s no doubt there’d be disappointment for him. He’s been part of pretty much all formats for a period of time, and to miss out would be really disappointing for him. But I think the opportunity from a leadership standpoint is that it shifts focus onto other people and other teams.”

He added, “It’s great to see him in that leadership role. I think he’s got great leadership qualities, and the leadership quality that I think stands out for me, and I know he hasn’t put in major performances just yet.”

Duminy highlighted Stubbs’ potential, stating, “But he’s certainly somebody who comes to mind as leading through performance. Like, follow me, I’ll show you the way, and that’s a great leadership quality to have. I have no doubt that he’ll do some amazing stuff in this SA20.”

Looking Ahead

Duminy also felt that Stubbs would be prepared to step up if a chance to play as a replacement player comes up in next month’s mega event.

“Hopefully, if an opportunity arises, we’ve often seen in times past where injuries occur. We’ve certainly seen it as a South African team as well. Obviously, there’s some late-minute call-ups, and he certainly wants to give himself the best chance to make sure he’s ready for that, if any,” he said.

A Sports Governance Conclave is being organised at the Veer Savarkar Sports Complex to align India’s sporting ecosystem with the broader national vision of Viksit Bharat. Sports are increasingly recognised as a strategic driver of youth development, social cohesion, and global standing. The conclave comes at a time when India’s sports policy framework is undergoing a significant shift towards long-term planning, professional governance, and athlete-centric reform.

Objectives of the Conclave

Held under the evolving Khelo Bharat Niti, the conclave aims to bring all National Sports Federations (NSFs) onto a common policy and planning platform. Rather than focusing on isolated events or short-term outcomes, the meeting intends to align federations with India’s long-term sporting goals, including sustained excellence, global competitiveness, and institutional credibility.

A key focus of the conclave will be reinforcing athlete-first reforms across federations. Discussions are expected to centre on strengthening athlete development pathways, integrating sports science and medicine, and deepening grassroots systems to ensure a stronger talent pipeline. Governance reforms will also feature prominently, with emphasis on transparency, accountability, and professional management practices within federations.

Hosting International Events

The conclave will provide a forum for a collective review of India’s preparedness to host major international sporting events. With ambitions linked to the 2030 Commonwealth Games and a long-term Olympic vision, federations are expected to gain clarity on their expanded responsibilities as stakeholders in global event hosting. The meeting will also encourage NSFs to take a more proactive role in bringing international competitions to India.

Coordination and Alignment

Coordination among the Government, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), and the National Sports Federations is another key objective. The IOA’s General Body Meeting, being held alongside the conclave, is expected to strengthen institutional alignment within the Olympic movement.

The choice of Ahmedabad as the host city underscores India’s growing confidence and capacity to stage large multi-sport events. Delegate visits to key sporting and event venues are planned to provide practical insights into infrastructure readiness and operational planning.

Overall, the conclave is expected to result in a shared understanding of India’s sporting roadmap, time-bound commitments to reform, enhanced hosting capability, and stronger international engagement by Indian sports federations.

Wahengbam Sudhir Meetei from Manipur has faced an unpredictable and challenging journey in Pencak Silat. Financial struggles forced him to prioritize earning a living, and a sudden injury during training nearly shattered his athletic aspirations.

Things became so challenging that he had to quit college after failing to pay his fifth-semester fees for his Bachelor of Physical Education. He then switched from the Tanding (combat) category to the Artistic category to continue playing the sport following his injury.

However, the 19-year-old has not only overcome these challenges but also carved out a niche for himself. He and Premchandra Yengkhom won the state’s first gold medal at the Khelo India Beach Games 2026 here in Ganda.

“We are a family of five, and I’m the eldest of the three brothers. My father runs a small livestock business, and I assist him by selling pigs after finishing my work as a welder, for which I’m paid Rs 500 per day. The business isn’t enough to sustain the family’s needs, and so I try and contribute my part to support them,” he said.

“I want both my younger brothers to excel in the sport; they are in school now and also train in the same academy. So when I reached the fifth semester, I dropped out of my course due to the financial problems,” added Sudhir, a product of the renowned Nawang Sports Academy in Imphal that has produced India’s only international gold medallists (Bishan and Johnson) in Ganda.

Inspired by seniors at his academy, Sudhir began practicing Pencak Silat in 2018 and quickly found success. He made a strong debut on the national stage by winning gold at the junior nationals in the 45–50 kg Tanding (combat) category, followed by another gold in the 50–55 kg division in 2021. His progress continued to rise with a silver medal at the 2022 Northeast Games, but then he faced an unfortunate setback.

A severe training mishap almost ended his career. Without proper mat flooring at the academy, Sudhir Meetei’s left foot got caught in a hole, severely injuring his toe. This incident made him reconsider his sporting path, leading him to shift from Tanding to Artistic and Performance. Over the following two years, Sudhir trained silently at the academy, determined to return stronger to the sport.

His efforts paid off when Sudhir secured the Ganda gold medal at the All India National Championships in Lucknow. He narrowly missed the podium, finishing fourth at the Asian Pencak Silat Championship in Vietnam, marking his first major international competition.

Sudhir delivered an impressive debut at the Khelo India Beach Games in Diu, helping Manipur secure its first gold medal of the 2026 edition.

“This was my first ever Khelo India Beach Games and before coming I promised my parents I will return with a gold. During the final, there were some nervous moments, as all those conversations with my parents were playing in my head. But I am happy that I won the gold,” said the Manipur youngster.

Sudhir described the experience in Diu as the toughest test of his career to date. “We normally are not used to performing on the sand. So that was a challenge, but it was a new experience and I enjoyed every bit of it. I have always heard about the Khelo India platform, but to experience it first hand was special, and returning with a gold medal makes it even more memorable,” he added.

Former England captain Kevin Pietersen has criticized the English cricket team, remarking that a team “with brain isn’t good enough to compete” against either Australia or India. His remarks followed England’s disappointing display in the 1-4 Ashes series, culminating in a loss in the fifth and final Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground by five wickets.

In the wake of this defeat, Richard Gould, Chief Executive Officer of the England and Wales Cricket Board, mentioned that a “thorough review” is underway after the team’s 4-1 loss in the Ashes.

Taking aim at the team’s performance, Pietersen offered his assistance to the board for the review “for free.” He expressed on X, “I’ll help with the thorough investigation that the ECB are going to conduct, right here, for free. Apart from Stokes, Root, Archer, Bethell & Brook WITH a brain, the team isn’t good enough to compete with Aus or India. It’s proven just on this tour with Aus missing most of their best players. All the pre-tour game chat, discipline chat, and now investigations are mere distractions. It’s very simple, as I’ve stated above.”

While England entered the Ashes with optimism, they faced defeats in the first three Tests held in Perth, Brisbane, and Adelaide, thereby losing the urn within just 11 days. Although England managed to secure a victory in the fourth Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Australia ultimately claimed a dominant 4-1 series victory with a five-wicket win in the fifth Test at the SCG, successfully chasing a target of 160 on a challenging final-day pitch.

Australia’s chase started energetically, spearheaded by Travis Head, as a 62-run opening partnership provided a solid foundation. England, however, fought back competitively, producing drama with tight bowling, missed reviews, and near misses, including a contentious caught-behind decision. Josh Tongue took out both openers before lunch, and after the break, England struck again when Will Jacks bowled out Steve Smith, leading to a swift succession of wickets that raised hopes of a comeback.

Despite some last-minute nerves, Cameron Green and Alex Carey steadied the innings with a vital 40-run partnership. Carey’s boundary in the 32nd over secured the win, completing Australia’s remarkable series triumph.

Two-time Asian Indoor champion in men’s shot put, Tajinderpal Singh Toor, will lead the 17-member Indian team at the 12th Asian Indoor Athletics Championships, scheduled from February 6 to 8 in Tianjin, China.

The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) announced the contingent, which includes promising shot putter Samardeep Singh Gill. The team will depart for the continental indoor meet on February 3.

Toor’s gold medal-winning performance at the 11th Asian Indoor meet in Tehran, Iran, was 19.72m. The 31-year-old international thrower from Punjab holds the national outdoor record of 21.77m, set in 2023 in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. Toor, a two-time Asian Games champion, also clinched the shot put title at the 10th Asian Indoor Championships in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan.

Promising long jumper Shahnawaz Khan and experienced triple jumper Praveen Chithravel will kick off their 2026 season at the Asian Indoor Championships in China.

Tejaswin Shankar (heptathlon) and Manikanta Hoblidhar (60m) are other notable names in the men’s team for next month’s event.

India’s top female sprinters, Nithya Gandhe and Abhinaya Rajarajan, will compete in the 60m dash in Tianjin. Moumita Mondal will participate in both the 60m hurdles and the women’s long jump.

In the previous edition in Iran, 13 Indian athletes—six women and seven men—competed at the Asian Indoor Athletics Championships 2024. India wrapped up the event with four medals: three gold and one silver. Top finishes were recorded by men’s shot putter Toor, women’s hurdler Jyothi Yarraji, and Harmilan Bains, while Ankita earned the only silver in the women’s 3000m race.

Indian National Athletics Team
Men: Manikanta Hoblidhar (60m), Tejas Shirse (60m hurdles), J Adrash Ram (high jump), CV Anurag and Shahnawaz Khan (long jump), Praveen Chithravel (triple jump), Samardeep Singh Gill, Tajinderpal Singh Toor (shot put), Tejaswin Shankar (heptathlon).
Women: Nithya Gandhe, Abhinaya Rajarajan (60m), Moumita Mondal and Pragyan Prasanti Sahu (60m hurdles), Pooja (high jump), Ancy Sojan and Moumita Mondal (long jump), Yogita (shot put), and KA Anamika (pentathlon).

India’s Virender Sharma and Prakash Bhatt have been selected among the 21 match officials for the upcoming ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup, set to take place across Zimbabwe and Namibia starting from January 15.

A total of 17 umpires and four match referees from the ICC International Panels will officiate the tournament, with officials representing 13 different nationalities. This was confirmed in an official statement from the ICC.

Umpiring Panel Highlights

The umpiring panel includes two officials from host nation Zimbabwe. Former international cricketer Forster Mutizwa, who has played 21 matches across formats for Zimbabwe, will officiate alongside fellow countryman Iknow Chabi.

Additionally, the officiating group features seasoned professionals such as former West Indies international Deighton Butler and England’s Graham Lloyd. Lloyd continues a family legacy, following in the footsteps of his father David Lloyd, a respected former umpire and renowned broadcaster.

Match Referee Lineup

The tournament will also see four match referees appointed, which includes Dean Cosker (England), Prakash Bhatt (India), Graeme Labrooy (Sri Lanka), and Neeyamur Rahul (Bangladesh). Each of these referees brings significant international experience to the event.

Official Statements

ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta emphasized that the World Cup offers an excellent chance for umpires to display their decision-making skills and gear up for the pinnacle of cricket competitions. He stated:

“This ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup is a tremendous opportunity for rising stars in the game to shine, but it is also an invaluable reward system for up-and-coming match officials. We hope that this will be the perfect springboard for their careers as we see them progress in their officiating journeys.”

Tournament Details

The ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup will be held from January 15 to February 6, 2026. Sixteen teams will compete in 41 matches, with the final scheduled for February 6 at the Harare Sports Club.

On the opening day, India will face the United States, while Zimbabwe will take on Scotland, and Tanzania will make their historic tournament debut against the West Indies.

The matches will be played across five venues: Harare Sports Club, Takashinga Sports Club, and Queens Sports Club in Zimbabwe, as well as the Namibia Cricket Ground and HP Oval in Namibia.

The tournament format is structured into four groups of four teams each, leading into the Super Six stage, followed by the semi-finals and concluding with the final in Harare.

Match Officials for the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026

Umpires: Ahmad Shah Durrani (Afghanistan), Aidan Seaver (Ireland), Cory Black (New Zealand), Deighton Butler (West Indies), Faisal Afridi (Pakistan), Forster Mutizwa (Zimbabwe), Graham Lloyd (England), Iknow Chabi (Zimbabwe), Lubabalo Gcuma (South Africa), Masudur Mukul (Bangladesh), Nitin Bathi (Netherlands), Prageeth Rambukwella (Sri Lanka), Russell Warren (England), Shaun Haig (New Zealand), Shawn Craig (Australia), Virender Sharma (India), Zahid Bassarath (West Indies)

Referees: Dean Cosker (England), Graeme Labrooy (Sri Lanka), Neeyamur Rahul (Bangladesh), Prakash Bhatt (India)

England head coach Brendon McCullum indicated that he is open to adjusting his approach somewhat but emphasized that he is ‘not for being told what to do’ after the team’s loss in the Sydney Test.

England suffered a 4-1 defeat in the Ashes series, with only a single Test win in Melbourne. However, that win was merely a consolation, as they lost the first three Tests in Perth, Brisbane, and Adelaide, allowing the Aussies to reclaim the urn in just 11 days.

“I’m all for progress and evolution in all sports. From my point of view, I have firm beliefs in what works and some areas where you want to keep improving and some areas where you think you can evolve,” McCullum told the BBC’s Test Match Special.

“I’m not against assistance, but I also have a firm belief in how to get the best out of these players. From my point of view, I’ll look at it individually and say, ‘Right, what could I have done better?’ and ‘What could I improve on?’ Am I for being told what to do? Of course I’m not.

“But at the same time, I’m not pig-headed (enough) to think there’s not some areas that we can improve on, and once we digest what’s unfolded over the last two months and start to plot and plan a way forward, if you’re the man in the chair to do so then you do so with a similar conviction in your methods – albeit with a couple of tweaks,” he added.

After the team’s defeat in the fifth and final game of the series, the England and Wales Cricket Board’s Chief Executive Officer Richard Gould stated that a ‘thorough review’ has already been underway, adding that Ben Stokes and Co. will take lessons from this tour and will focus on regaining the Ashes in 2027.

England’s next assignment includes the white-ball tour to Sri Lanka and the T20 World Cup. Their next Test series is scheduled for June against New Zealand at home, and Gould mentioned that essential changes will be made in the upcoming months.