Category: Sports

The Pakistan Super League (PSL) has attracted a dozen bids for the rights to two new teams in the 2026 edition, with offers coming from five continents, despite reports suggesting bidders are wary of the high base price set by the board.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has established USD 4 million as the base price for the new PSL teams, stating that interest has surged following successful roadshows in London and New York that drew numerous investors.

Although there were claims that the PCB had not received any bids due to this high asking price, sources informed Telecom Asia Sport (www.telecomasia.net) that multiple bids have indeed been submitted. “Around 12 bids were received, which is an exceptional and encouraging response to the tender issued for the sale of two new franchises of the Pakistan Super League (PSL),” a source stated.

The bidders hail from five continents, including the United States, Australia, Canada, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Pakistan, indicating the PSL’s expanding global popularity and commercial allure. A prominent businessman from the USA, Aamir Wain, has submitted a bid through a consortium and is interested in acquiring the Hyderabad team, as reported.

The next phase of the bidding process will be unveiled on December 27 after the bids are scrutinised. Some bidders are apprehensive about the price, which may exceed 5 million dollars given the current currency exchange rates.

The PCB is set to conduct an auction in Islamabad on January 8, 2026, to finalise the sale.

According to the report, the PCB’s valuation of the existing five teams revealed that Lahore Qalandars experienced the highest increase in value. Lahore will pay 2.37 million dollars for the next ten years, whereas Karachi Kings’ estimated value is 2.27 million dollars. Multan Sultans, once the most expensive franchise in 2018, have seen their new valuation reach about 3 million dollars following a fallout with the PCB.

These valuations are determined based on current dollar to Pakistan rupee conversion, which is now at 280 compared to 160 when the teams were initially sold in 2015, as noted in the report.

A bidder from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) remarked to www.telecomasia.net that the success of PSL 2026 hinges on attracting top-class players, which would in turn create substantial value for the franchises.

Durban’s Super Giants (DSG) have signed South Africa off-spinner Simon Harmer as a temporary replacement for West Indies off-spin bowling all-rounder Sunil Narine ahead of Season Four’s commencement, announced the tournament.

“Narine will arrive at Kingsmead for his maiden SA20 season after completing his commitments elsewhere,” stated the tournament. Harmer returns to Kingsmead after spending the past two seasons with Sunrisers Eastern Cape (SEC), where he contributed to their season two championship-winning squad by taking eight wickets in 11 matches.

Exceptional Form

Harmer, 36, joins DSG in exceptional form after an impressive run with the Proteas Test side. He dismantled the batting line-ups of Pakistan and India, including claiming 6-50 in the second Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi, leading South Africa to their first Test victory there in 18 years and reaching the milestone of 1,000 first-class wickets.

His remarkable spin bowling performance continued against India, where he captured 17 wickets at an average of 8.94. South Africa, the current World Test Championship winners, secured a 2-0 Test series win. His series began with figures of 4-30 and 4-21 at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, marking South Africa’s first Test victory on Indian soil since 2010.

In the second Test at ACA Stadium in Guwahati, his spells of 3-64 and 6-37 sealed a 408-run victory, resulting in South Africa’s first Test series win in India in 25 years. Harmer previously played four matches for DSG in SA20 season one before transferring to SEC, where he appeared three times in season three.

Team Background

Durban’s Super Giants, owned by the RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group (which also owns IPL team Lucknow Super Giants), is based in Durban and was formed in 2022. The team’s home ground is Kingsmead Cricket Ground, and they are coached by Lance Klusener.

Modern School Barakhamba Road achieved a remarkable feat by clinching the DC School Cup 2025 titles in both boys and girls categories. The girls triumphed over DPS RK Puram by 133 runs, while the boys secured victory against St. Thomas School by 57 runs, signaling the successful conclusion of the tournament.

Tournament Overview

A total of 16 schools participated in the boys’ category and four in the girls’ competition, spanning multiple weeks of thrilling cricket action. This initiative, spearheaded by Delhi Capitals, significantly contributed to enhancing Delhi’s cricketing ecosystem and inspiring future champions.

The DC School Cup, a premier inter-school T20 tournament organized by Delhi Capitals, celebrated the city’s sporting spirit while unearthing emerging talent. The event featured BCCI-qualified officials, premium venues like the Arun Jaitley Stadium and GMR ground, and professional match-day setups along with quality kits.

Girls’ Final Highlights

In the girls’ final, Modern School Barakhamba Road outperformed DPS RK Puram by 133 runs. Batting first, opener Myra Rewal scored 83 runs off 53 balls, and skipper Kashvi Kumar delivered an impressive 118 runs off 62 balls, propelling Modern to a total of 240/2. Avni Aggarwal bowled exceptionally, finishing with 1/12 as DPS managed only 107/3 despite Vaibhavi Dudeja’s commendable 75* off 63 balls.

Boys’ Final Highlights

The boys’ final witnessed Modern School Barakhamba Road defeating St. Thomas School by 57 runs. Batting first, Tanmay Chaudhary shone with a stellar 118 runs off 65 balls, while skipper Varun Sharma contributed 76 runs off 41 balls, setting a target of 215/5. Modern School then effectively restricted St. Thomas to 158/8, thanks to Grihith Gumber’s 3 wickets for 43 runs and Tanmay’s economical spell of 1/15, securing Modern’s double championship triumph.

Official Statements

On the successful conclusion of the DC School Cup 2025, Sunil Gupta, CEO of Delhi Capitals, expressed his excitement: “Heartiest congratulations to Modern School Barakhamba Road for their remarkable double triumph in both boys’ and girls’ categories of the DC School Cup 2025. Seeing hundreds of young Delhi cricketers showcase their talent coming from various schools has been truly inspiring, breathing new life into school cricket in the city.”

He added, “The sight of these budding cricketers playing their finals at the iconic Arun Jaitley Stadium – smiles beaming ear to ear – made every effort worthwhile. We look forward to even greater participation next year, particularly from more girls’ teams, as we continue to try and contribute to building Delhi’s cricketing future.”

DC School Cup 2025: Best Performers

Boys

• Player of the Match (Final): Tanmay Chaudhary – 118 off 65 balls
• Player of the Tournament: Tanmay Chaudhary – 583 runs
• Best Batter: Tanmay Chaudhary – 583 runs
• Best Bowler: Avyam Jain – 12 wickets

Girls

• Player of the Match (Final): Kashvi Kumar – 118 off 62 balls
• Player of the Tournament: Kashvi Kumar – 147 runs
• Best Batter: Vaibhavi Dudeja – 127 runs
• Best Bowler: Avni Aggarwal – 5 wickets

The Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) has announced the Tata Open golf tournament, set to take place in Jamshedpur from December 25 to 28. This four-day event will be hosted at the Beldih and Golmuri golf courses and features a prize purse of Rs 2 crore, marking the final leg of the 2025 PGTI season.

Tournament Format and Details

The tournament will showcase a field of 126 professionals, competing in a stroke-play format consisting of four rounds of 18 holes each. After two rounds, the top 50 players and ties will make the cut.

• In the first round, half of the players will play their 18 holes at Beldih Golf Club, while the other half will compete at Golmuri Golf Club.
• In the second round, the players will switch venues: those who played at Beldih will move to Golmuri and vice-versa.

For rounds three and four, the leading groups will tee off from Golmuri, playing their first nine holes there before moving to Beldih for the second nine.

Key Participants

The tournament will feature top Indian professionals, including:

• Yuvraj Sandhu (2025 PGTI Order of Merit champion)
• Veer Ahlawat (2024 PGTI Order of Merit champion)
• Shaurya Bhattacharya
• Arjun Prasad
• Manu Gandas
• Angad Cheema
• Om Prakash Chouhan (former champion)
• Ajeetesh Sandhu
• Rashid Khan
• Khalin Joshi
• Chikkarangappa

Among the prominent foreign players are:

• N. Thangaraja and Mithun Perera (former champion) from Sri Lanka
• Md Siddikur Rahman and Jamal Hossain from Bangladesh
• Stepan Danek from the Czech Republic
• Koichiro Sato from the United States
• Subash Tamang from Nepal
• Joshua Seale from Uganda

Former Tata Open champions in the field include Mukesh Kumar, Shamim Khan, and Gurki Shergill. Local professional Kurush Heerjee will lead the home challenge.

Official Statements

Amandeep Johl, CEO of PGTI, expressed gratitude to Tata Steel for their commitment to Indian golf and the revival of the Tata Open. He stated, “The return as the season finale in 2025 has added special significance to the calendar and made it one of the most eagerly awaited events of the year.”

He added, “The Tata Open 2025 brings together a stellar field of India’s leading professionals competing for a handsome prize purse at Beldih and Golmuri golf courses. The stage is set for a thrilling week of golf that promises to captivate fans on-site, as well as television and digital audiences.”

With PGTI rankings, playing cards for the next season, and pride on the line, Johl remarked that the intensity is expected to peak as players make one final push in a fitting climax to the season. He wished all players the very best and looked forward to an unforgettable Tata Open.

Women’s top seed Unnati Hooda, world junior championships silver medallist Tanvi Sharma, experienced shuttler Aakarshi Kashyap, and rising junior Rounak Chauhan recorded impressive victories to progress in the 87th Senior National Badminton Championships on Wednesday.

Match Performances

Unnati, who received a bye in the first round, overwhelmed wildcard entrant Akanksha Matte with a score of 21-8, 21-18. Meanwhile, Tanvi opened her campaign successfully, defeating Asian U-15 girls singles gold medallist Shaina Manimuthu 21-10, 21-14.

Aakarshi advanced by defeating Asian U-17 championships silver medallist Lakshya Rajesh 21-7, 21-9. Ashmita Chaliha also progressed, winning against Kavya Marvaniya with a score of 21-7, 21-11.

Notably, 16th seed Purva Barve was the only seeded player to exit, losing to M Meghana Reddy 21-19, 17-21, 18-21 in the Round of 64.

Men’s Singles Highlights

In the men’s singles, 11th-seeded Rounak Chauhan triumphed over Ranveer Singh 21-9, 21-13. Additionally, 12th-seeded D. S. Saneeth secured his spot in the next round by defeating Ankit Mondal 21-7, 21-11.

16th seed and Guwahati Masters Super 100 champion, Sanskar Saraswat, kicked off his campaign with a solid 21-11, 21-13 win against Shikhar Rallan.

Recent Achievements

Earlier this month, Unnati Hooda and Kiran George clinched the women’s and men’s singles titles, respectively, at the Odisha Masters 2025, a BWF World Tour Super 100 tournament held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Cuttack.

In the women’s singles final, top seed Hooda displayed a composed performance to defeat compatriot Isharani Baruah 21-17, 21-10 in just over half an hour. Hooda controlled the match from the start, stifling Baruah’s momentum. Despite the defeat, Baruah had a memorable week, earning a well-deserved silver medal following a series of impressive performances.

The men’s singles final featured an intense showdown, with second seed Kiran George overcoming Indonesia’s Muhamad Yusuf in a thrilling three-game battle. George took the first game 21-14, but Yusuf fought back to equalize.

Namdhari XI, Roundglass Punjab Hockey Club Academy, Sports Authority of Gujarat – Hockey Academy, and Sail Hockey Academy registered crucial wins on Day Two of the 3rd Hockey India Sub-Junior Men Academy Championship 2025 – Zone A & B at the Veer Narmad South Gujarat University Hockey Ground.

Match Highlights

The day’s action began with a Pool D fixture, where Namdhari XI clinched a narrow 2-1 victory over S.G.P.C. Hockey Academy. Captain Ganga Singh (21’) and Karanbeer Singh (22’) scored for the winners, while Sukhpreet Singh (60’) netted for S.G.P.C.

In Pool C, Roundglass Punjab Hockey Club Academy dominated with an 18-1 victory against Salute Hockey Academy. Varinder Singh (10’, 15’, 20’, 42’, 51’) and Arjandeep Singh (24’, 27’, 31’, 49’, 58’) each scored five goals, while Manveer Singh (7’, 22’, 34’, 60+) contributed four goals. Arshdeep Singh (24’, 36’), Samuel (3’), and Sanmukh Singh (25’) also found the net for Roundglass. Arun (18’) scored the lone goal for Salute Hockey Academy.

In the same pool, Sports Authority of Gujarat – Hockey Academy overcame Cheema Hockey Academy with a score of 2-1. Pruthaviraj Babuji Vaghela (36’) and Mayankbhai Pankajbhai Gavli (56’) were the scorers for the winners, and Gurpreet Singh (54’) scored for Cheema Hockey Academy.

In the final match of the day, Sail Hockey Academy achieved a convincing 5-0 win against Republican Sports Club in a Pool B clash. Goals were scored by Shahid Mohmad (15+’), Kunal Kawre (34’), Milan Athokpam (43’), Suman Kindo (48’), and Bikash Swain (54’).

Earlier on the opening day, Ghumanhera Riser’s Academy, Bhai Behlo Hockey Academy, Bhagta, S.G.P.C Hockey Academy, Ashwini Sports Academy, and Roundglass Punjab Hockey Academy earned victories.

Tournament Format

The teams in this stage of the competition have been divided into four groups of four teams each. All teams will compete in a round-robin format within their respective pools. Teams will earn 3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, and 0 points for a loss. The winners of each pool will progress into the semifinals, scheduled for December 29, followed by the 3rd/4th place match and the final on December 30.

Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) have strengthened their bowling attack in the mini-auction ahead of the 2026 season, but continue to grapple with batting depth issues, particularly in the lower middle-order, said former India opener Aakash Chopra.

Batting Order Concerns

“LSG has kept Rishabh Pant at number three, but the batting order remains a question mark. Pant can play higher, and last season’s top order was exceptional—three of the top four batsmen scored over 500 runs, which is very rare. The real issue has been the lower order; at five, six, and seven, players like David Miller couldn’t consistently deliver in last season,” said Chopra on JioStar.

Bowling Strengthened

“This season, LSG have more options in bowling with (Wanindu) Hasaranga, Mohammed Shami, Avesh Khan, Mayank Yadav, along with Akash Singh, Prince Yadav, and Arjun Tendulkar. Despite these improvements, the lower-order batting remains a concern that hasn’t been fully addressed,” he added.

Praise and Concerns from Irfan Pathan

Ex-India all-rounder Irfan Pathan praised LSG’s bowling reinforcements but echoed concerns about batting depth. “Looking at Anrich Nortje and Hasaranga, LSG has very strong options, especially in the fast-bowling department, which was much needed. If the fast bowlers stay fit, they form a formidable unit.”

“Hasaranga is a big benefit – last year, there was a lack of trust from captain Rishabh Pant in Ravi Bishnoi. Hasaranga, bought for 2 crore, is a solid and cost-effective addition.”

“However, with batsmen like Ayush Badoni and Abdul Samad, LSG could have done with one more top-class batter. I was hoping for someone like Livingstone. Overall, there’s still a need for at least five more high-quality batsmen in the squad,” he said.

Scrutiny Over Josh Inglis’ Purchase

The franchise’s purchase of Australian wicketkeeper Josh Inglis for Rs 8.6 crore also drew scrutiny, considering he’s available for only four IPL games.

“If you look at the batting order for LSG, they’re very similar to SRH. Buying Josh, even if he was available for the full season at that price, doesn’t make sense because he’s not going to be in the starting line-up,” concluded former India opener Abhinav Mukund.

Karnataka accomplished the second-highest run chase in the history of List-A cricket, successfully chasing down an almost impossible target of 413 runs with fifteen balls remaining against Jharkhand in the Vijay Hazare Trophy at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Wednesday.

This remarkable achievement now ranks as the second-highest successful chase in List-A history, following South Africa’s record-setting chase of 435 runs against Australia in Johannesburg in 2006.

Historic Performance by Padikkal

Karnataka’s chase was led by Devdutt Padikkal, who scored a stunning 147 runs off 118 balls, including 10 fours and seven sixes. He controlled the innings with exceptional stroke play, even as the required run rate hovered above 8 runs per over for much of the match.

Ishan Kishan’s Explosive Century

Earlier, Jharkhand captain Ishan Kishan made headlines with a century in just 33 balls—the second fastest in Indian List-A history—propelling his team past the 400-run mark and making the run chase appear almost insurmountable.

Aggressive Batting Order

Karnataka’s batting lineup responded with equal intent and aggression. Mayank Agarwal set the tone by scoring a fluent 54 runs, while Abhinav Manohar, known for his powerful hitting, contributed a quick-fire 56 during the middle overs. Their performances helped maintain a steady run rate throughout the innings.

Debutant’s Impressive Finish

Dhruv Prabhakar capped off the innings impressively on his List-A debut with an unbeaten 40 runs, displaying maturity and composure despite his youth. His ability to find gaps and rotate the strike effectively aided Karnataka in completing the chase convincingly.

With this successful chase, Karnataka etches its name in List-A record books, now standing just behind South Africa’s 435 runs against Australia. Their feat surpasses several renowned teams, including Queensland, Karachi, and Middlesex.

After a roller coaster 2025, the Indian men’s cricket team gears up for an action-packed 2026, highlighted by a home T20 World Cup defence, numerous ODI matches, and challenging World Test Championship (WTC) assignments in overseas conditions.

### Memorable 2025 for India

The year 2025 was marked by India’s triumph in the Champions Trophy in Dubai, largely thanks to a successful four-pronged spin strategy. In T20Is, the team continued its upward trajectory with victories in bilateral series at home and abroad, including the Asia Cup, though the trophy eluded them.

### Mixed Results in Test Cricket

However, the Test team’s performance was mixed. A defeat to Australia in Sydney resulted in India losing the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series 3-1, squashing their hopes of reaching the World Test Championship final. The retirements of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Cheteshwar Pujara signified a major transition in the Test setup.

Shubman Gill stepped up as the new Test skipper and later took over as ODI captain. Following a hard-fought 2-2 draw in England, India secured a comfortable 2-0 series win against the West Indies at home. Yet, the shadows of a 3-0 series loss in New Zealand haunted them when South Africa inflicted a 2-0 defeat. India’s batting order in Tests remains unsettled, with ongoing experimentation prompting questions regarding role clarity and long-term strategy.

### Focus on T20 and ODIs in 2026

Entering 2026, the short format will take center stage, while ODIs will garner attention post-T20 World Cup. The busy schedule kicks off with New Zealand visiting for three ODIs and five T20Is, with the latter being significant due to the T20 World Cup taking place on home soil and in Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8.

### Defending Champions in T20 World Cup

India, captained by Suryakumar Yadav, will approach the tournament as defending champions. With current form and squad dynamics, India is well-positioned to retain the title they won in Barbados in June 2024 and aim to be the first hosting nation to claim the Men’s T20 World Cup. Achieving this would also make India the only team to have three titles in the T20 World Cup.

### Post-T20 World Cup Schedule

Following the T20 World Cup and the IPL 2026, the schedule resumes in June with Afghanistan’s visit for one Test (not part of the WTC cycle) and three ODIs. Shortly after, India will embark on a white-ball tour to England in July, which includes three ODIs and five T20Is.

### WTC Assignments Ahead

India’s World Test Championship duties commence in August with a two-Test series in Sri Lanka. This series represents a significant challenge for the team, as they continue to adapt to spin-friendly pitches.

### Upcoming Matches

A brief three-match T20I series against Afghanistan in the UAE is anticipated in September, with a greater likelihood than the postponed tour to Bangladesh, which is uncertain due to recent tensions in the region. Additionally, India will participate in the Asian Games T20 event in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4, where a second-string squad is expected to compete.

### Home Season and Overseas Tour

India will kick off their 2026 home season with the West Indies arriving for three ODIs and five T20Is in September and October. Following this, they will embark on an all-format tour of New Zealand in October and November, which includes two Tests, three ODIs, and five T20Is.

The year will conclude with Sri Lanka visiting India for three ODIs and three T20Is in December, as preparations ramp up for the 2027 Men’s ODI World Cup. Players and stakeholders will need to ensure optimal workload management across all formats while striving for silverware and consistent victories in bilateral series.