New Delhi, June 23 (IANS) Former India captain Sourav Ganguly is hoping that fellow pacers will contribute more in the ongoing Test series against England and release pressure from pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah so that he can be available for all five matches of the tour.
Bumrah was India’s standout bowler and helped the side to bundle out hosts for 465 in their first innings on Day 3. He returned with the figures of 5-83 in 24.4 overs. Despite being injury-prone and also managing his workload on the tour, he bowled the second-most overs for India, Mohammed Siraj bowled the most – 27 overs – for the visiting side.Former BCCI president lauded Bumrah’s adaptability to contribute in all formats of the game for the country. However, the legendary left-handed batter pointed out a lack of support from fellow pacers including Shardul Thakur, Prasidh Krishna and Siraj.Krishna bagged three wickets while Siraj got hold of two scalps but both of them leaked more than hundred runs which reduced India’s first-innings lead to just six runs.Ganguly believes Bumrah’s presence in India’s playing XI will keep them alive in the five-Test crucial series on challenging English conditions.”Such a pleasure to watch Bumrah bowl in all formats of the game .. hope fully he will get support from the other end so that he can play 5 tests .. it will keep India in the series .. @bcci @Jaspritbumrah93,” Ganguly wrote on X.After the end of play on Sunday, Bumrah credited his belief to play for India for more than a decade despite his injury struggles due to his unorthodox action.”I always wanted to play for India. I played for India on my belief. I have played every format on my belief. I have always heard ‘no’ from people. First they said ‘you won’t be able to play’; then they said ‘you will last only six months’; then they said ‘you will last only eight months’, and just like that I have spent ten years in international cricket listening to all this. I have played the IPL for 12-13 years.”Even now people keep saying this injury will be it. Keep waiting, I will not think about that. I will keep doing my work. Every three-four months there will be headlines but, let’s see, I will play till it is in my destiny. I prepare my best, and leave the rest to god. Whatever barkat (abundance or good fortune) god has given me, I try to carry it forward, and try to take Indian cricket forward.”On Day 4, India will resume their second innings from 90/2 with captain Shubman Gill, who scored a career-best 147 in the first innings, unbeaten on 6 while opener KL Rahul is not out on 47. India are leading by 96 runs.–IANSab/bc

London, June 23 (IANS) England cricketing icons Eoin Morgan, Sir Alastair Cook, Moeen Ali and Ian Bell suit up for glory in the second season of the World Championship of Legends, scheduled from July 18 to August 2 in the UK. Representing the England Champions, these cricketing greats are set to ignite the field with experience and unmatched legacy. Joining this powerhouse line-up are stalwarts like Liam Plunkett, Ravi Bopara, Samit Patel, Chris Tremlett and more, forming a squad that perfectly blends strategic brilliance and firepower.”Leading England to World Cup glory was a defining moment in my career – but playing in WCL with legends I’ve shared the field with is a different kind of pride. We’re bringing back memories and making new ones. England Champions are here to compete, entertain and win,” Morgan said.Praveen Sharma, Owner of England Champions, added,
”We’re proud to field a team that defines English cricket’s golden era. These legends shaped an entire generation of cricket and now they’re back on home soil – where it all began. We’re here to win, and to inspire.”Stuart Cain, chief executive of Edgbaston, shared,
”Having legends like Morgan, Cook, Moeen, and Bell back at Edgbaston is special—not just for fans but for the spirit of the game. This is more than nostalgia. It’s about celebrating greatness and bringing world-class cricket back to where it belongs. We’re thrilled to be part of WCL’s journey again.”Sanctioned by the England & Wales Cricket Board, the World Championship of Legends is a premier global T20 league that merges star power with top-tier competition. Celebrating the legends of the game, WCL brings together cricketing icons and passionate fans from around the world – creating an unforgettable showcase of talent, nostalgia, and sporting excellence.Harshit Tomar, founder & CEO of the World Championship of Legends, said,
”WCL isn’t just another T20 league – it’s where stories are retold and legends relive their prime. England Champions brings together names that changed the face of English cricket. With Morgan and Cook leading the charge, this team is among the strongest and most exciting of the tournament.”–IANSbc/ab

Gwalior, June 23 (IANS) The final day of the league stage in the Madhya Pradesh League 2025 concluded with Bhopal Leopards and Chambal Ghariyals joining Rewa Jaguars and Gwalior Cheetahs as the four semi-finalists. The last two matches, played at the Shrimant Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Stadium, brought the group phase to an exciting close.In the day’s first fixture, Bhopal Leopards were scheduled to face Indore Pink Panthers, but persistent rain led to the match being abandoned without a ball being bowled. As a result, both teams shared a point each. With this outcome, Bhopal Leopards moved to six points, ensuring qualification to the knockouts, while Indore Pink Panthers, with only four points from six matches, exited the tournament.The second and final game of the league stage saw the rain finally relent, and the contest between Chambal Ghariyals and Bundelkhand Bulls was played in full. Chambal Ghariyals delivered a commanding all-round performance to chase down 164 in just 13.2 overs, registering a dominant six-wicket victory and securing second place on the points table.Earlier, Bundelkhand Bulls, a side fighting for a knockout spot, were dealt an early blow when Karan Tahliyani was dismissed on the very first ball of the match by Vineet Rawat. While Abhishek Pathak (37 off 16) and Harsh Gawli (37 off 25) tried to inject momentum with an aggressive partnership, a middle-order collapse hampered their progress. Divyanshu Yadav’s steady 44 not out off 43 and Abhishek Mavi’s 28 off 19 helped them recover slightly and post a total of 163/8 in 20 overs.In response, Chambal Ghariyals came out with an ultra-aggressive mindset. Openers Apurve Dwivedi and Ankush Singh made their intentions clear right from the start, stitching a blazing 123-run partnership in just 8.5 overs. Ankush smashed 42 off 22 balls, while Apurve led the charge with a stunning 77 off just 33 balls. The top-order fireworks left very little for the middle order, who calmly completed the chase with more than six overs to spare.The result confirmed Chambal Ghariyals’ place in the semi-finals, a remarkable achievement in what is their debut season in the Madhya Pradesh League. Adding to their success, the Chambal Ghariyals Women’s team has already qualified for the final of the MP Women’s League T20 2025, giving the franchise a genuine shot at winning both titles this season.Speaking after the match, Chambal Ghariyals captain Shubham Sharma praised the team’s collective effort, “Everyone is really happy right now. Even our women’s team was here today to cheer us on. The support and energy are great, and we want to carry this momentum into the semi-finals.”Asked about planning against Bundelkhand Bulls, who came in with strong form, Sharma said, “They’ve been playing some good cricket, but we didn’t go in with any overcomplicated plans. We just kept things simple and stuck to the basics.”Reflecting on his team’s campaign so far, he added, “One of the best signs this season is that multiple players are stepping up at different times. Everyone is contributing, and that’s what’s helping us win games.”On the possibility of winning both the men’s and women’s titles, Shubham added, “It would be incredible if we could win both trophies. The girls have already made it to the final, and now we’re just one step away. If we continue playing like this, anything is possible.”With the league stage now wrapped up, all eyes turn to the semifinals, where the four best teams of the tournament will battle it out for a place in the grand finale of the MPL 2025.–IANSbc/

New Delhi, June 23 (IANS) Hockey India on Monday extended heartfelt congratulations to veteran forward Lalit Kumar Upadhyay as he announced his retirement from international hockey, bringing the curtains down on a remarkable career that spanned over a decade—from 2014 to 2025.Lalit, who hails from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, announced his decision through a heartfelt social media post shortly after India’s final match of the European leg of the FIH Pro League 2024-25 season against Belgium. Though he featured in four matches during the tour, his final appearance in the Indian jersey came against Australia on June 15.Lalit played 183 matches for India at the senior level, scoring 67 goals. Over the years, he became a trusted name in India’s forward line, known for his versatility, on-field intelligence, and calm demeanour in high-pressure situations.From making his debut at the 2014 Hockey World Cup to standing tall on the Olympic podium twice, Lalit’s career is a timeline of some of Indian hockey’s biggest milestones in the modern era.He was a crucial part of the squad that scripted history at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, helping India clinch a long-awaited Bronze medal, and repeated the feat at the Paris 2024 Olympics, reinforcing his reputation as a big-match player.Beyond the Olympics, Lalit was instrumental in India’s victories at the 2016 Asian Champions Trophy, 2017 Asia Cup—where he netted four goals—and multiple other podium finishes. His medal-laden career includes a bronze at the Odisha Men’s Hockey World League Final 2017, silver at the FIH Men’s Champions Trophy 2018, Bronze at the 2018 Asian Games, and gold at the 2018 Men’s Asian Champions Trophy. He was also part of the squads that finished third in the FIH Pro League 2021-22 and won gold at the Asian Games 2022 in Hangzhou.In recognition of his contributions to Indian hockey, Lalit was honoured with the Arjuna Award in 2021.Reflecting on Lalit’s contribution, Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey said, “Lalit has been one of the most graceful and dedicated forwards of his generation. Whether it was a crucial Olympic match or a league game, he always wore the Indian jersey with pride and played with heart. His journey from the narrow lanes of Varanasi to standing on the Olympic podium twice is nothing short of inspirational. We thank him for his selfless service to Indian hockey and wish him the very best for the next phase of his life.”Hockey India secretary general Bhola Nath Singh also lauded Lalit’s immense contribution and stated, “Lalit has been a true ambassador of the sport—humble off the field and fearless on it. His consistency, skill, and big-match temperament made him a pillar of the team across multiple Olympic cycles. He will be remembered not just for his goals but for the energy and positivity he brought to the team. Hockey India stands proud of his achievements and will continue to celebrate his legacy.”–IANSbc/

New Delhi, June 23 (IANS) On Olympic Day, ICC chairman Jay Shah celebrated cricket’s return to the quadrennial extravaganza and urged everyone to take a step towards a stronger, healthier India under ‘Let’s Move?’ campaign.
“Let’s Move?” is the theme of this year’s Olympic Day, the global celebration of sport and getting active that takes place on June 23 each year to commemorate the founding of the modern Olympic Games in 1894.”Cricket has always united us, and now, it’s part of the Olympic movement! On this #OlympicDay, let’s celebrate the power of sport to inspire, connect, and uplift. Invite your +1 for a walk, a run, or a game of cricket, and take a step towards a stronger, healthier India. Together, let’s keep moving forward on our journey to bring the Olympic Games home!” Shah posted on X.This year, everyone is encouraged to invite a “+1” to walk, run, dance, skip and move with them. People can simply ask a friend to join their team or workout, use specially created “Let’s Move?” digital tools, and share their moves socially @Olympics #LetsMove.”Cricket has joined the Olympic movement- a historic leap for our beloved sport! This #OlympicDay, let’s celebrate the power of sports to connect and inspire. Through the #LetsMove campaign, we invite you to pick your +1 and move – whether it’s a walk, a run, or a game of cricket. Together, we can build a healthier, more united India, because when we move together, we move better. Let’s make our dream a reality – Olympics in India!” BCCI shared on X.Cricket, which made its only appearance in the Olympics at the Paris Games in 1900, was included in the Los Angeles Olympics after an IOC meeting in Mumbai in October 2023. It joins five new sports at LA28 – baseball/softball, flag football, lacrosse (sixes) and squash.Fairgrounds in Pomona, a temporary stadium in Southern California, has been selected as the venue for cricket at the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028, which will feature six teams each in the men’s and women’s competitions.The T20 format, which is recognised as the vehicle for the growth of the game by the ICC, has also featured in other multi-sport events in recent years. The Asian Games in 2010, 2014 and 2023 featured both men’s and women’s T20 competitions while the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games staged a women’s competition.–IANSbc/

Atlanta, June 23 (IANS) Manchester City are through to the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Round of 16 with a game to spare after a resounding 6-0 win over Al Ain on Monday (IST), that also confirms Juventus’ qualification.
Ilkay Gundogan (2), Claudio Echeverri, Erling Haaland, Oscar Bobb and Rayan Cherki all opened their FIFA Club World Cup 2025 accounts as hopes of knockout-stage football were extinguished for both their outplayed Emirati opponents and City’s opening-game victims, Wydad AC.Pep Guardiola’s side weren’t always at their sparkling best, but the outcome was never really in doubt from the moment Gundogan gave them an eighth-minute lead. Only the German will know for sure whether the goal was a perfectly judged chip, an attempted cross or, quite possibly, a little of both.Either way, it settled City nerves and was followed by a goal of unquestionable brilliance. Echeverri became the second Argentinian at this tournament, after Lionel Messi, to score direct from a free-kick, and his superb curling effort was every bit as impressive as at his famous countryman’s.It was a spectacular way for the teenager to notch his first City goal, and he was soon joined on the scoresheet by the club’s most prolific player.Erling Haaland had gone a close a couple of times and, when Rami Rabia was penalised for a foul on Nathan Ake in first-half stoppage time, he seized his chance, sending the keeper the wrong way with a coolly dispatched penalty.Guardiola’s side continued to dominate in a one-sided second half, and saw their advantage extended by Gundogan’s second – lofted home after a clever reverse pass from Bernardo Silva – and a smart finish from substitute Oscar Bobb.Further gloss was added to the scoreline with a minute remaining when Haaland teed up Cherki to rifle home his first goal since joining the club from Lyon.Gurdiola’s men will now turn to Orlando, where an in-form Juventus – who lead the section on goals scored – will offer City stiff resistance in the battle to finish top.–IANSbc/

Charlotte, June 23 (IANS) Ten-man Real Madrid defeated Mexico’s Pachuca 3-1 in their Group H clash at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup on Monday (IST).
Madrid entered the match at Bank of America Stadium sitting second in the group behind FC Salzburg, following a 1-1 draw against Al Hilal in their opener. The Spanish giant was without star striker Kylian Mbappe, who is recovering from gastroenteritis.Center back Raul Asencio was shown a straight red card just seven minutes into the match for fouling Venezuelan striker Salomon Rondon as the last defender outside the box, reports Xinhua.Despite being down a man, Vinicius Jr. nearly capitalised on a defensive error a few minutes later. Pachuca goalkeeper Carlos Moreno miscontrolled a soft back pass but managed to poke the ball away just before Vinicius could reach it.Pachuca then tested Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois twice, with close-range efforts from Robert Kenedy and Alan Bautista, but the Belgian made both saves.Jude Bellingham opened the scoring for Madrid in the 35th minute, collecting a pass from Fran Garcia inside the box and firing into the bottom right corner. Madrid doubled the lead just before halftime when Gonzalo Garcia set up Arda Guler, who slotted the ball into the far post.”It’s twice in two games now, the same mistake. It might have been only slight contact but he has to be a bit more intelligent. But he knows that. We are going to battle for him and win without him. And then when he returns, to win then too,” Courtois told DAZN at the break regarding Asencio’s dismissal.Federico Valverde added a third for Madrid in the 70th minute before Elias Montiel pulled one back for Pachuca ten minutes later.Al Hilal will face Pachuca in their final group match on Thursday in Nashville, while Real Madrid meets Salzburg the same day in Philadelphia.Earlier in Washington, D.C., Salzburg and Al Hilal played to a goalless draw. The win lifts Real Madrid to the top of the group with four points, ahead of Salzburg on goal difference. Al Hilal sits third with two points, while Pachuca’s Club World Cup hopes end with back-to-back defeats.–IANSbc/

Philadelphia, June 23 (IANS) A double from Kenan Yildiz – including a sensational strike – inspired Juventus to 4-1 win despite Wydad AC netting their first goal.
For the second game in a row, Wydad got off to the worst possible start when Juventus scored with their very first attack in the sixth minute. A patient build-up saw Kephren Thuram thread a clever reverse pass to Yildiz. The Turkish star’s shot took a nick off Abdelmounaim Boutouil and the ball squeezed in at the near post.If he was unlucky not to get the credit for the opener, there was no doubting where the credit belonged ten minutes later when Yildiz produced an early goal of the tournament contender, FIFA reports.Good work from Andrea Cambiaso created the chance, and the Juve youngster absolutely fizzed an unstoppable effort into the top-right corner to give keeper Mehdi Benabid no chance.However, Wydad gave themselves a lifeline in the 25th minute when Thembinkosi Lorch collected Nordin Amrabat’s pass and clipped a tidy finish past Juve keeper Michele Di Gregorio.The woodwork prevented Juve skipper Andrea Cambiaso from restoring their two-goal lead from a corner in the second half, before Randal Kolo Muani turned a cross wide from a couple of feet out.But the Italians made sure of the points with more Yildiz magic when he collected a Muani pass, cut inside and tucked in a composed finish. Dusan Vlahovic then added further gloss to the scoreline in injury time when Guilherme Ferreira bundled him over and the Serbian striker converted the resulting penalty.Elsewhere, FC Salzburg missed the chance to book their place in the Round of 16 at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 as they were held to a goalless draw by Al Hilal after a stunning point-blank save from Yassine Bounou.Thomas Letsch’s side knew that a win would take them through after victory over CF Pachuca in their opening match, but neither side could break the deadlock at Audi Field in Washington D.C.–IANSbc/

Rio de Janeiro, June 23 (IANS) Veteran forward Neymar is close to extending his contract with Santos, the Brazilian Serie A club’s president Marcelo Teixeira said.
The 33-year-old’s current deal is set to expire on June 30 and local media have linked him with a possible move to Major League Soccer.But Santos has intensified efforts to retain the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star in recent days and is confident a deal will be finalised soon.”We are talking to Neymar’s representatives,” club president Teixeira told Radio Bandeirantes, reports Xinhua. “We are making great progress with our negotiations and are very close to a new agreement that would allow Neymar to stay for a new period.”Neymar, Brazil’s all-time leading scorer with 79 goals, has struggled for form and fitness since returning from a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament sustained in October 2023.He has made just 12 appearances across all competitions for Santos this year, scoring three goals and providing three assists, after rejoining his boyhood club on a six-month contract in January.Teixeira defended the attacker from criticism that his off-field behavior and celebrity lifestyle were affecting his game.”Off the pitch, he has his issues that are always very controversial,” Teixeira said. “His profile means that everything he does has worldwide repercussions. We understand that.”Teixeira added that his goal was to help Neymar recover in time to play for Brazil at next year’s World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada.”We all want to see Neymar there, and he wants to play,” he said. “He’s going through a recovery process and we want to help him through it so that he can come back better and stronger very soon.”Neymar is hoping to lead Brazil into the next World Cup as captain of his country. He already has 128 caps and 79 goals for the Selecao, but is determined to take in one more shot at global glory.–IANSbc/

Leeds, June 22 (IANS) Harry Brook agonisingly missed a century at his home venue by just one run, while Jasprit Bumrah’s magnificent five-wicket haul and KL Rahul’s elegant cover drives left the first Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy Test on an even keel at Headingley on Sunday.England’s innings ended at 465 runs on day three, leaving India with a narrow six-run lead. Fast-bowling spearhead Bumrah led the charge with an excellent 5-83 – his 14th five-wicket haul in Tests – in 24.4 overs. Bumrah, who picked his third five-wicket haul in England, has also equalled the legendary Kapil Dev for the most fifers picked by a bowler for India in away Tests (12), as his spell ensured the match will be decided through a second innings shootout.One would wonder how many more wickets Bumrah could have got as four catches were dropped off his bowling in what was a sloppy fielding performance from India. Though Prasidh Krishna and Mohammed Siraj were amongst the scalps, they weren’t at their best to curb the scoring rate.Rahul then got India’s second innings underway with great watchfulness before unleashing effortless elegance in his seven boundaries – four of which were via picture-perfect cover-drives to be unbeaten on 47 as India extended their lead to 96 runs after reaching 90/2 in 23.5 overs at the close of play on day three.With skipper Shubman Gill unbeaten on six, India will be aiming to get more runs on day four after rain forced an early end to day three’s proceedings. Brydon Carse gave England the early breakthrough when he got one to bounce and nip away while bowling from around the wicket and forced Yashasvi Jaiswal into poking at it, as the batter edged behind to Jamie Smith.While B Sai Sudharsan’s soft hands got him two early boundaries to get his Test runs tally going, Rahul was all class in his on-drive and cover-drive off Carse, before square-driving Josh Tongue and pulling Shoaib Bashir for his boundaries. Sudharsan’s plan to play late and with soft hands fetched him two more boundaries and was even dropped by Ben Duckett at gully.But three overs before stumps, Sudharsan clipped an inswinger from Ben Stokes to midwicket, who took the catch with ease, as the England skipper dismissed him for the second time in the match. Rahul and Gill ensured there were no more fall of wickets before heading off the field with the game on a knife’s edge heading into the last two days.Previously, resuming from 209/3 and 262 runs being the deficit, Brook was on the money from the word go, cutting Prasidh Krishna for four before pulling him over midwicket for six. Overnight centurion Ollie Pope added only six runs before edging behind off Prasidh, giving Rishabh Pant his 150th catch in Tests. But Brook continued to stamp his authority with his loft, steer, drive, and ramp shots.Stokes looked scratchy in his 20 off 52 balls before being caught behind off Mohammed Siraj, which prompted the England skipper to throw his bat in the air in frustration. Smith was solid in getting his boundaries off Siraj and Shardul Thakur, before his inside edge narrowly evaded Sudharsan in a tough take at forward short leg off Jadeja.Brook’s reprieve on 46 came when Pant failed to gather the ball and couldn’t take the catch on rebound, again off Jadeja, who found some help from the pitch, before lunch break arrived. The post-lunch session began with Smith taking a four and six each off Prasidh’s short balls via pulls. But in a bid to pull the pacer again, he didn’t get enough connection on the ball, as some outstanding relay work from Sudharsan and Jadeja ensured Prasidh bagged a crucial wicket.With Siraj wayward in his lengths, Brook thrashed him for back-to-back boundaries, before being given a reprieve on 83 as Jaiswal put down a catch in the gully region. Brook continued to drill boundaries, before falling one run short of a century – he had no control over the pull on a bouncer from Prasidh and once long leg completed the catch, the right-handed batter had to make a long walk back to the dressing room.With India bowling too many boundary balls, Woakes and Carse collected their runs easily, before the former brought up his 2,000 Test runs in style, with consecutive sixes on short balls from Prasidh – over mid-wicket and third man respectively. Carse then smacked Siraj for two more fours before being castled by a yorker from the pacer, as the rollicking counter-attacking partnership 55-run stand between him and Woakes came to an end.Woakes’ lovely innings was brought to an end by Bumrah, who beat him on the inside edge with a tight fuller ball and went through the gate to hit the stumps. Bumrah eventually picked his five-wicket hail with another impeccable delivery which hit Josh Tongue’s top of off-stump to ensure India took a first innings lead and then swelled it to leave the match on a knife edge.Brief Scores: India 471 and 90/2 in 23.5 overs (KL Rahul 47 not out, B Sai Sudharsan 30; Ben Stokes 1-18, Brydon Carse 1-27) lead England 465 in 100.4 overs (Ollie Pope 106, Harry Brook 99; Jasprit Bumrah 5-83, Prasidh Krishna 3-128) by 96 runs–IANSnr/