In a surprising turn of events, the IPL final between Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad will not feature any player from India’s T20 World Cup squad. Despite Rajasthan Royals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru having players like Sanju Samson, Virat Kohli, and others in the World Cup team, their early elimination paved the way for this unprecedented scenario. Photo: AFP
Category: Sports
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No to English at the Paris Olympics, say French MPs
French MPs have adopted a resolution urging organizers, athletes, trainers, and journalists to use French as much as possible during the 2024 Paris Olympics. The move aims to counter the creeping use of English in sports and the perceived loss of French language influence. The resolution, though non-binding, reflects France’s longstanding efforts to protect its language, including a 1994 law mandating French in advertising and media. However, the global dominance of English, especially in sports broadcasts, continues to challenge French linguistic purists. Photo: AFP
PSG optimistic about Champions League chances despite Dortmund defeat
Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique remained optimistic about reaching the Champions League final despite a 1-0 first-leg defeat to Borussia Dortmund. Despite hitting the posts twice and dominating possession, PSG conceded a first-half goal to Niclas Fuellkrug. Enrique acknowledged the difficulty but believes his team can overturn the deficit at home, having previously defeated Dortmund at the Parc des Princes. However, there are concerns over a potential injury to defender Lucas Hernandez, who was forced off late in the first half. Photo: Reuter
Fraser-McGurk pushing for a World Cup spot
Jake Fraser-McGurk has strengthened his case for inclusion in Australia’s T20 World Cup squad after another blistering innings in the IPL for Delhi Capitals. The 22-year-old smashed 84 runs off just 27 balls, equalling the fastest IPL fifty this season. Former captain Michael Clarke believes the selectors must consider Fraser-McGurk for the World Cup, praising his explosive batting and highlighting his suitability for Caribbean conditions. With 247 runs at a staggering strike rate of 237.50, the big-hitting batsman has made a compelling case for his T20I debut.
West Ham deal huge blow to Liverpool title hopes
West Ham’s 2-2 draw against Liverpool on Saturday effectively ended the Reds’ slim Premier League title hopes. Jarrod Bowen and Michail Antonio scored for West Ham, while Andy Robertson and an Alphonse Areola own goal were Liverpool’s goals. The result leaves Liverpool third with 75 points, one behind Manchester City who have two games in hand. Arsenal lead the table, two points ahead of Liverpool with a game in hand. PHOTO: REUTERS
BFF changes women’s league schedule after heavy criticism
Bangladesh Football Federation President Kazi Salahuddin has instructed to reschedule the UCB Women’s Football League matches in the evening following criticism over the initial scheduling during daytime heat. Earlier, concerns over floodlight costs led to plans for morning and afternoon matches. However, Salahuddin acknowledged the difficulty of playing in such heat and promised to arrange the required budget for evening matches under floodlights. Photo: BFF
Pool lies empty as Bogura swimmers train in ponds
In Bogura, aspiring swimmers from underprivileged backgrounds face a severe lack of proper training facilities despite their success at the national level. The district’s Tk 3 crore swimming pool remains non-operational, forcing them to practice in dirty ponds used for fish farming. Masud Rana, a swimming instructor who trains these athletes for free, expressed frustration over years of false promises and authorities’ negligence in addressing the issue, despite repeated media coverage. Photo: Mostafa Shabuj
‘I’ll do everything I can to be on that flight to the World Cup’
Dinesh Karthik, 38, is pushing for a spot in India’s T20 World Cup squad with his stellar form in the ongoing IPL season. The wicketkeeper-batter has scored 226 runs in 6 innings at an average of 75.33 and a strike rate of 205.45 while excelling as a finisher for RCB. Karthik, whose last India appearance was in the 2022 T20 World Cup, is keen to represent the country again and believes he is “100% ready” for the upcoming mega event in the West Indies and USA. However, he respects the decision of the team management led by Rahul Dravid, Rohit Sharma, and Ajit Agarkar. PHOTO: AFP
Verstappen adds China to his list of victories
Max Verstappen extended his lead in the Formula One championship by winning the Chinese Grand Prix from pole position. The Dutchman secured his fourth victory in five races, with McLaren’s Lando Norris taking second to deny Red Bull a one-two finish. Sergio Perez completed the podium but now trails Verstappen by 25 points. Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz finished fourth and fifth, respectively, while Mercedes’ George Russell came sixth, and Fernando Alonso took seventh with the fastest lap. Photo: AFP
Former Australia batter Slater refused bail on domestic violence charges
Former Australian cricketer Michael Slater has been denied bail and remanded in custody after being charged with multiple domestic violence offenses, including stalking and intimidation. The 54-year-old faces 19 charges related to alleged incidents on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast between December 2023 and April 2024. Slater, a renowned opening batsman and cricket commentator, has struggled with mental health issues and has been charged with similar offenses in recent years. The court has listed a committal hearing for May 31 as the investigation continues. (photo/fb)
Record crowd in KC sees Messi, Miami get win
Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami defeated Sporting Kansas City 3-2 in a thrilling match at Arrowhead Stadium, with a record-breaking crowd of 72,610 fans in attendance. Messi scored a goal and provided an assist, playing a pivotal role in Miami’s victory. The match saw a back-and-forth contest, with Sporting KC taking an early lead before Miami equalized and then scored the decisive goal in the second half. The large crowd at the NFL stadium showcased the growing popularity of soccer in the US. (photo: reuters)
Nadal returns to action in Barcelona
Rafael Nadal, a 12-time champion of the Barcelona Open, is set to make his return to competitive tennis next week after being sidelined since the Australian Open due to a hip injury. The 22-time Grand Slam winner expressed his joy at being back in Barcelona, a place that has brought him immense happiness. Nadal will face Italy’s Flavio Cobolli in the opening round, with a potential semi-final clash against the top-seeded Carlos Alcaraz on the cards. Nadal’s comeback is seen as crucial as he builds towards defending his French Open title. (photo:facebook)
FIFA World Ranking: Argentina on top, Bangladesh slipped a notch
Argentina retained the top spot in the latest FIFA World Rankings released on April 4th, while Bangladesh dropped one place to 184th. The reigning World Cup champions have been at number one for a year. Bangladesh’s slide comes after back-to-back defeats to Palestine in the World Cup Qualifiers last month, including a 0-5 away loss. Belgium moved up to 3rd, overtaking England, while Portugal climbed to 6th. The other top 10 teams are France, Brazil, Netherlands, Spain, Italy, and Croatia.(photo/ipl)
Mustafiz becomes IPL’s top wicket-taker again
Mustafizur Rahman regained the Purple Cap as the highest wicket-taker in the ongoing IPL after taking 2 wickets for Chennai Super Kings in their 7-wicket win over Kolkata Knight Riders. Mustafiz now has 9 wickets from 4 matches. Ravindra Jadeja’s 3/18 restricted KKR to 137/9, which CSK overhauled with 14 balls to spare. Ruturaj Gaikwad scored an unbeaten 67 for CSK. Despite a late cameo from Shreyas Iyer (34), KKR suffered their first loss after three wins. Tushar Deshpande also took 3 wickets for CSK. (photo/ipl)