Category: Sports

All 50 Pakistan players – 45 men and 5 women – went unsold in The Hundred draft. While Aliya Riaz, Fatima Sana, Yusra Amir, Iram Javed, and Jaweria Rauf did not find any takers amid tough competition in the women’s pool, many big names from the men’s team also went unsold. The names included the likes of Imad Wasim, Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan and Hasan Ali with fast bowler Naseem Shah being the highest-priced among them. Afghanistan spinner Noor Ahmad and New Zealand all-rounder Michael Bracewell got the best deals with Noor joining Manchester Originals while Bracewell was picked by Southern Brave. Former Australia cricketer David Warner was picked by London Spirit.

Meanwhile, in a stunning development, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has resorted to cost-cutting measures including slashing the match fees of players in domestic cricket, raising questions about the financial health of the sport’s apex body in the country.

The PCB has reduced the match fees of cricketers participating in the upcoming National T20 Championship from 100,000 rupees per match to 10,000 per match with reserve players getting 5000 per match. The tournament begins on March 14.

The reduction in match fees has caused concern among players and the board is also considering spending less on development of domestic cricket.

According to sources, the head of domestic cricket in the PCB, Abdullah Khurrum Niazi, has been “reducing facilities” for domestic players in the last few months.

“The players who were first being offered accommodation at five-star and four-star hotels are now being offered cheaper accommodation. Air travel has also been reduced for them besides fees,” a source said.

Another source said that outstanding payments from last season are yet to be cleared for players and umpires.

Additionally, the PCB is yet to implement an annual pension increase for former Test cricketers, as mandated by board policy.

The irony, according to one source, is that while match fees for players are being reduced, officials taking these decisions are getting monthly salaries in millions.

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The PCB at the same time is also paying hefty monthly salaries to national selectors and even mentors appointed with five teams for the just-concluded Champions Cup. Sports News

Even as they set the stage for the presentation ceremony, in one corner of the Dubai International Stadium turf, Rohit Sharma would stamp the winning stump. The stadium sound system played ‘Jo Jeeta Wahi Sikandar’ in the background which felt more like a metaphorical music overlay over the Indian captain’s action.

There are those in the cricket community who have attached an asterisk to India’s Champions Trophy triumph for an ‘undeniable advantage’ they enjoyed by playing all their matches at one venue.

Could the International Cricket Council (ICC) have had it any other way? Hosts Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) didn’t have a level playing field in mind during their negotiations with the ICC. They were even okay if India agreed to play all their matches in Lahore, on the most batting-friendly pitches of the tournament. Some have suggested India should have been forced to play in varied conditions in UAE, Sharjah as well as Abu Dhabi.

“Dubai’s preference was obviously with the consent of both the host and the ICC,” Subhan Ahmed, Emirates Cricket Board (ECB), COO said. “In Dubai, it is plug and play. It is very easy. Not that other venues are not available. But the capacity here is such that it can cater to 25,000 people. Other venues do not have the capacity to host big matches.”

The central theme in big-ticket tournaments is those big tickets. One understands the PCB struck an agreement with the Emirates’ board under which they took home a flat $2 million from gate receipts for India’s matches in Dubai. While the ECB refused to discuss finances, a source estimates they would have made ten times of the PCB, with India’s unbeaten run stretching to five matches lapped up by the Indian diaspora, the biggest expat base in the Emirates.

Tickets for the Dubai matches were exorbitantly priced with the lowest priced India-Pakistan match ticket worth ₹12,000. Given the appetite for cricket, the premium tickets were worth ₹3.5 lakh. Ticket rates for the India-New Zealand final were similar, with only early bird entrants handed out cheaper tickets. Except for the India-Bangladesh tie, stands were mostly packed.

“The pricing was set in consultation with both the ICC and hosts. We were reasonably confident that the people would turn up, that people would pay for it,” Ahmed said during the India-New Zealand league tie.

Soon after India qualified for the final, there were NRIs in London willing to shell out the priciest Dubai airfare, once they secured a match ticket through the resale route. Sponsored super fans took flights to add noise and colour and corporate bookings picked up speed.

Low-key response in Pak

In contrast, big cricket’s return to Pakistan after nearly three decades – they hosted 10 of the 15 matches – met with lukewarm response. Surprisingly, even the tournament opener where the host team took on New Zealand saw big chunks of stands vacant in the first half of the game. More people came in towards the evening, but it painted a sorry picture of ODI cricket; people habituated with the T20 format, refusing to queue up for eight hours of cricket, half of it under the baking sun.

Once Pakistan’s performances became progressively worse, the interest levels around the tournament nosedived in the host country. The New Zealand-South Africa semi-final was played to half-empty stands in Lahore. It looked anything but cricket’s marquee event on the other side of India’s border.

Those may not have been great optics for the PCB, but they won’t be overly worried. 20.6 crore viewers watched Virat Kohli’s stellar run chase against Pakistan on Indian TV. Indian viewership accounts for 90 percent of ICC revenue and PCB gets to take home 34.5 million every year.

“It was the second-most watched cricket match, outside of World Cups,” said a tailored press release from the broadcasters.

Whether the Indo-Pak rivalry was losing sheen or not, the match’s viewership was still 40 times the population of New Zealand.

Whether there is a pre-match opening ceremony or not, even if there is no all-captain’s get-together, so long as India’s Men in Blue are performing – spinning a web or swinging for sixes – public mood in India remains vibrant. Pictures of fans flashing mobile lights, scrambling for a glimpse of Rohit and Co on their return home after the win were illustrative of the lasting love for cricket in India.

Not a single journalist travelled from Australia and New Zealand to Dubai for the semi-final and the final, even as Indian media persons filled the press box.

A report from the Times in UK says The Lord’s has slashed ticket revenue estimates to the extent of 4 million pounds for June’s World Test Championship final after India failed to qualify.

The Champions Trophy 2025 was a resounding success, only because it was a big Indian party. Rohit’s team simply played to the draw and very well at that. PTI

The NBA’s all-time leader in 3-pointers made enters Thursday just two triples shy of the milestone.

When the Warriors host the Kings on Thursday (10 ET, TNT/TruTV/Max), Stephen Curry’s latest shooting milestone will be within reach — needing only two 3-pointers to become the first player in NBA history to reach 4,000 career 3-pointers made.

Curry became the all-time leader in 3-pointers made on Dec. 14, 2021, when he splashed his 2,974th career triple to break the mark previously held by Ray Allen.

It’s been 1,180 days since that night at Madison Square Garden. Curry played in 221 games and made another 1,012 3-pointers since then, putting him on the precipice of starting his own shooting club.

Curry was the first player to reach 3,000 career 3-pointers made and has since been joined by James Harden (3,117). While Damian Lillard (2,785) and former teammate Klay Thompson (2,657) are approaching 3,000 as well, Curry is alone as he nears 4,000.

The road to this milestone moment began in 2009 when the Warriors selected Curry with the seventh overall pick in the Draft. As a rookie, Curry finished 10th in 3-pointers made with 166. It would be his lowest ranking in all but two seasons in his 16-year career — and both of those were cut short due to injuries.

Curry has led the NBA in total 3-pointers made in eight of his 16 seasons, including his record 402 3-pointers in 2015-16, when he became the first unanimous Kia MVP. Curry has more seasons with 300+ 3-pointers made (five) than all other players in the NBA combined (James Harden and Thompson have the only other two).

Harden and Thompson also rank second to Curry in games with at least five and 10 3-pointers made, respectively.

Curry’s 388 games with five-plus 3-pointers made is one more than second and third place combined (387 by Harden and Damian Lillard). Meanwhile, Curry’s 26 games with 10-plus 3-pointers made is more than the next five players combined.

Curry has 14 games in his career with 11 or more 3-pointers, including one this season (Feb. 27) when he splashed a dozen 3-pointers in a road win vs. the Magic.

During that game against Orlando, Curry hit his longest shot of the season — a 51-footer from beyond half court to beat the halftime buzzer. The shot gave Curry 21 points at the half, which he followed with a 35-point second half to finish with 56 points — the fourth-highest scoring game of his career.

As the shot chart above illustrates, Curry is not afraid of taking shots from beyond half court and risking damage to his shooting percentage. Over his career, Curry has hit six backcourt shots in 113 attempts (5.3%), while still ranking fourth in career 3-point percentage (42.4%) among 161 players with at least 1,000 3-pointers made.

“He was due for one of those,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “One of the many things I love about Steph, he always shoots the half-court shots, he doesn’t care about his percentage. He’s had so many the last couple years that were right there and as soon as he let it go I said that’s in. I just felt it.”

Consistency is a key factor in Curry’s road to 4,000 career made 3-pointers. While all shooters go through slumps, Curry has never played three consecutive games without making at least one 3-pointer.

Curry has made at least one 3-pointer in 967 of his 1,010 career games. That 95.7% rate ranks first all-time among players that have played at least 50 games. Only 186 players in NBA history have ever played in 967 games, let alone have that many games with a 3-pointer.

Curry not only holds the record for most consecutive games with at least one 3-pointer made (268 games over five seasons from 2018-2023), he also owns the second-longest streak (157 games, 2014-2016).

All of this adds up to a shooting resume unlike any the game has ever seen. And with two more 3s, Curry will add another accolade to the list. NBA

Billionaire entrepreneur and ex-NBA player Junior Bridgeman died after suffering a medical emergency at a public event on Tuesday. He was 71.

Bridgeman played in the NBA for 12 years, from 1975 to 1987, during which he was a key player for the Milwaukee Bucks and the Los Angeles Clippers.

In response to his passing, the Milwaukee Bucks issued a statement, saying, “We are shocked and saddened by the tragic passing of Bucks legend and owner Junior Bridgeman.”

“Junior’s retired No. 2 jersey hangs in Fiserv Forum, serving as a constant remembrance of his outstanding play on the court and his impact on the Bucks’ success. His hard work and perseverance led him to become one of the nation’s top business leaders and, last September, Junior’s professional life came full circle when he returned to the Bucks family as an owner. His memory will always be an inspiration to the Bucks organization.”

Junior Bridgeman’s entrepreneurial journey –
Bridgeman began investing in Wendy’s franchises during his NBA career. Upon retiring from professional basketball, he became the owner and CEO of Bridgeman Foods, overseeing the operation of over 450 Wendy’s and Chili’s restaurants across 20 states until 2016, WDRB reported.

He also served as an independent bottler for Coca-Cola. Additionally, Bridgeman’s family acquired Ebony and Jet magazines. He was also a co-owner of the Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville.

In September 2024, Bridgeman made a significant move by purchasing a 10% stake in the Milwaukee Bucks, a deal that valued the franchise at $4 billion.

Bridgeman served as Chairman of the University of Louisville’s Board of Trustees from 2003 to 2005 and briefly returned to the board in 2016. He also held positions on several boards, including Fifth Third Bank, the Louisville Free Public Library, West End School, and the Crusade for Children Foundation. Additionally, he co-chaired the capital campaign for the African American Heritage Foundation.

Bridgeman was also a part of the original board of the Louisville Arena Authority, which played an important role in securing financing for KFC Yum! Center.

Junior Bridgeman’s net worth –
While Bridgeman earned around $350,000 a year during his NBA career, his business ventures propelled his wealth to an estimated net worth of $1.4 billion, according to Forbes. His financial success made him one of the wealthiest former athletes in the world. Hindustan Times

India captain Rohit Sharma says he is keeping all his options open when it comes to his future playing career – although he added that he cannot commit to being part of the next ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in 2027.

“It’s very hard to say that right now,” he said on the prospect of taking part in the showcase in two years’ time, “but I’m keeping all my options open. I want to see how well I’m playing.

“Right now, I’m playing really, really well, and I’m enjoying everything I’m doing with this team, and the team is enjoying my company as well, which is nice.

“I can’t really say 2027, because it’s too far, but I’m keeping all my options open.”

Having led India to victory in the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 – and been named Player of the Match in the final – Rohit had told a press conference that rumours that he was planning to retire were unfounded.

He also elaborated on what it is about the current India squad that keeps him wanting to be part of it, despite his 38th birthday approaching next month.

“As long as I’m enjoying the sport, I’m enjoying playing the game, doing what I’m doing for this team, I will continue to play,” he said.

“It is something that really makes me happy. There are a lot of things involved, there’s so much pride, and the way this team is playing, I don’t want to leave this team.

“The way we are playing at this point in time, there is so much joy, so much fun to play with all of them.” ICC-Cricket

Legendary Indian cricket team batter Sunil Gavaskar ended the debate over India enjoying any kind of ‘unfair advantage’ during their Champions Trophy 2025 campaign. India played all of their matches – including the final – in Dubai after their government decided to not send the national side to Pakistan due to political tensions. As a result, several ex-cricketers as well as current players pointed out that it was a huge advantage for Rohit Sharma and Co as they were aware of their fixtures and they did not have to travel to other venues. However, Gavaskar completely rubbished such claims after India’s win over New Zealand in the final and even namedropped the England cricket team in his explanation.

“Yes, there will be the carpers who talked about the advantage India had playing only at one venue and not having to travel between matches. However, that was decided by the ICC much before the tournament started, and any negative comment about that should have happened before the tournament’s first ball was bowled. And if ‘home advantage’ is the reason India won, then how come England, from where most of the whingers were, did not win ICC trophies till 2019 despite hosting it about half a dozen times earlier?” Gavaskar wrote in his column for Sportstar.

The legendary cricketer went on to praise skipper Rohit Sharma and pointed out that the well-balanced team was the main reason behind India’s triumph.

“India won simply because it had a well-balanced team, and at different times in the tournament, different players played a game-changing role in the team’s win. Above all, there was the captaincy of Rohit Sharma, who, in winning two ICC titles as captain, has joined the incomparable MS Dhoni in winning multiple titles as skipper of the Indian cricket team. Rohit also squashed rumours about his impending retirement, saying he has not decided to retire from the format,” he added. Sports.NDTV

Following his team’s ICC Champions Trophy win, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma, spoke to teammate Jasprit Bumrah’s wife, sports presenter Sanjana Ganesan, about the his future in the Indian cricket team and the future of the Men In Blue.

“It is very hard to say that right now. But I am keeping all my options open. I want to see how well I am playing. Right now, I am playing really, really well, and I am enjoying everything I’m doing with this team, and the team is enjoying my company as well, which is nice,” he said in the interview published by the ICC.

The 37-year-old said that he cannot really commit to being a part of 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup squad, ICC Cricket reported. When the next tournament takes place in October-November 2027, Rohit will be 40 years of age. “I can’t really say 2027, because it’s too far,” he said.

“”As long as I’m enjoying the sport, I’m enjoying playing the game, doing what I’m doing for this team, I will continue to play. It is something that really makes me happy. There are a lot of things involved, there’s so much pride, and the way this team is playing, I don’t want to leave this team. The way we are playing at this point in time, there is so much joy, so much fun to play with all of them,” he added.

Nevertheless, Rohit feels regardless of his presence in the team, the future looks solid for the next decade, atleast.

“You want to create your bench strength while you’re playing. Whenever we had the opportunity in the last four or five years, we’ve always tried to give opportunities to all these players. They’ve grabbed it. You can surely say that Indian cricket for the future is in very, very safe hands, looking at how the players are coming up, how they want to take that responsibility, how much hunger is there. The passion, the talent, all of that is there. It’s just about now going out there and doing it,” he said. Hindustan Times

Australia will play a day-night Test at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) against archrivals England in 2027 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Test cricket, Cricket Australia (CA) announced on Tuesday.

The 150th Anniversary Test will be played from March 11-15, 2027, and will be the first time the Australian team will play a Test under lights at the MCG, the scene of the first Test match in 1877 and the Centenary Test in 1977 – remarkably, both won by Australia by 45 runs.

This will follow the historic first day-night Test at the MCG earlier this year where Australia’s women completed an Ashes clean-sweep.

The match, which will come after Australia’s five-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in India 2027, is also likely to mean the late arrival of Australia and England players to the 2027 Indian Premier League, with IPL franchises told to expect that year’s tournament to run between March 14 and May 30.

“The 150th Anniversary Test at the MCG will be one of the great cricket events and playing under lights will be a fantastic way to celebrate both our game’s rich heritage and Test cricket’s modern evolution,” Todd Greenberg, CEO of CA said.

“It will also help ensure more people are able to attend and watch what will be a fantastic occasion. The Centenary Test created many iconic performances including David Hookes’ five consecutive boundaries off Tony Greig, Rick McCosker batting with a broken jaw and Derek Randall’s defiant century, and I’m sure the 150th Test will create its own lifelong memories,” he added.

That Test will also make it the latest in the home summer a men’s Test has been staged in Australia since the 1978-79 series against Pakistan (which ended on March 29). Indian Express

India’s latest triumph in the ICC Champions Trophy carried an air of inevitability. In Sunday’s (March 9, 2025) final, they overcame a gritty New Zealand side by four wickets with an over to spare. As fireworks lit up the Dubai sky and the 252-run target was chased down, the victory reaffirmed India’s dominance in white ball cricket. Across 24 ICC tournament matches — including the 2023 ODI World Cup, the 2024 T20 World Cup, and the Champions Trophy — Rohit Sharma’s men have secured 23 wins, an astounding 95.83% success rate. Stationed in Dubai for three weeks due to the Indian government’s refusal to allow play in Pakistan, the official host, India benefited from a fixed venue and minimal travel fatigue. However, their success was not merely circumstantial — they executed their plans with precision. Group stage wins against Bangladesh, Pakistan, and New Zealand, followed by a semifinal triumph over Australia, set the stage for the final against the Black Caps. Despite concerns about New Zealand’s history of upsetting India — most notably in the 2019 World Cup semifinal — the Men in Blue handled the challenge adeptly.

On a sluggish pitch, India’s strategy of fielding four spinners proved decisive. Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, and Kuldeep Yadav stifled New Zealand’s scoring, though Mitchell Santner’s team still managed a competitive 251 for seven. In a high-stakes final, scoreboard pressure is always a factor, but Rohit’s composed 76 set the tone, and India’s deep batting line-up ensured a comfortable finish. While India has faced setbacks in Test cricket, including losses to New Zealand at home and Australia away, their limited-overs form remains formidable. The squad’s depth is evident — Rishabh Pant was left out of the playing XI, while talents such as Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan did not even make the squad. Contributions from Shreyas Iyer, K.L. Rahul, and Hardik Pandya underscored the collective effort, while Mohammed Shami’s return offset the absence of the injured Jasprit Bumrah. Virat Kohli’s consistency and Rohit’s leadership suggest that retirement is not imminent for either stalwart, but selectors must look ahead to the 2027 ODI World Cup. Honest assessments and strategic planning will be crucial to ensuring India’s sustained dominance in the years to come. The Hindu

Team India’s unbeaten run at the ICC Champions Trophy remained uninterrupted as Rohit Sharma’s men defeated New Zealand in the final on Sunday. The thrilling contest concluded with the skipper Rohit leading the run-scoring charts for his team, helping India clinch the coveted title for the third time in the nation’s history (2 victories and 1 shared). Courtesy of the win, the team was also rewarded with a hefty cash prize of Rs 20 crore by the International Cricket Council. However, interestingly, it still remains lesser than the salary being fetched by Rishabh Pant, the most-expensive buy at IPL 2025 auction.

Champions Trophy title brings along an amount of Rs 20 crore ($2.24 million) for Rohit Sharma’s team. The subcontinent giants scripted history at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium as they defeated the Kiwis by 4 wickets. New Zealand, on the other hand, would be awarded with Rs. 9.72 crore ($1.12 million) for finishing second in the tournament.

Notably, Rishabh Pant, who didn’t feature in a single match during the course of the tournament, was bought for INR 27 crore by the Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL 2025 auction.

BCCI Hails India’s Champions Trophy Triumph
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) which is also expected to reward the Indian players for their trophy-winning run in the tournament, lauded the team’s effort in Dubai to bring the coveted title home after 12 years.

“From the very outset, the team pursued excellence, overcoming formidable challenges with a brand of cricket that was both fearless and disciplined. Their unbeaten run in an ICC tournament is a true reflection of their consistency, strategic execution, and hunger to succeed on the global stage. The final against New Zealand was the perfect culmination of this journey – an exhibition of resilience and high-pressure mastery,” the BCCI statement read.

Roger Binny, BCCI president, said, “This triumph is a landmark moment for Indian cricket, following the high of last year’s T20 World Cup success. To dominate yet another global tournament and bring home the Champions Trophy is a phenomenal achievement. The team has played with unparalleled consistency and character, and I congratulate captain Rohit Sharma, Head Coach Gautam Gambhir, and the entire squad for their historic success.” NDTV Sports