Shashi Tharoor (PTI image)

NEW DELHI: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Wednesday questioned the decision to host the fourth India–South Africa T20I in Lucknow amid dense fog and severe air pollution, after the match was eventually called off due to poor visibility.Tharoor suggested the game should have been scheduled in Thiruvananthapuram, citing significantly better air quality conditions there.In a post on X, the Congress leader said cricket fans were “waiting in vain” as hazardous conditions stalled play.

“Cricket fans have been waiting in vain for the #INDVSSAODI to start in Lucknow. But thanks to dense smog, pervasive in most north Indian cities, and an AQI of 411, visibility is too poor to permit a game of cricket. They should’ve scheduled the game in Thiruvananthapuram, where AQI is about 68 right now!” he wrote.India was scheduled to play the fourth match of the five-T20I series against South Africa at the Ekana Cricket Stadium. However, the toss was repeatedly delayed as thick fog enveloped the venue, forcing umpires to conduct multiple ground inspections through the evening.Fans expressed their disappointment following the announcement of match cancellation. With visibility failing to improve even after several assessments, match officials eventually called off the game. Both teams remained in their dressing rooms for most of the evening as conditions worsened after sunset. The fifth and final match between the two countries will be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Friday.The India Meteorological Department had earlier issued an orange alert for very dense fog in several parts of Uttar Pradesh, with visibility at the stadium severely affected. Former cricketers on the broadcast had warned that delaying the start could make it even harder to complete the match, as fog typically intensifies later in winter evenings.The washout came as an added setback for India, with vice-captain Shubman Gill ruled out of the match due to a toe injury sustained during training. Sanju Samson was expected to open the innings in his absence.India continues to lead the five-match series 2–1 against South Africa.

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Australia’s Alex Carey, left, celebrates his century (AP Photo/James Elsby)

England were weighing up whether to formally approach the match referee over the use of Snickometer technology in Australia after the company supplying the system accepted responsibility for a possible operational mistake on the opening day of the third Ashes Test at the Adelaide Oval. The controversy centred on Australia wicketkeeper batter Alex Carey, who was batting on 72 when he appeared to edge the first delivery of the 63rd over from Josh Tongue. England’s fielders, led by wicketkeeper Jamie Smith, appealed immediately for a catch behind. On-field umpire Ahsan Raza turned the appeal down, prompting England to go upstairs for a review.

Replays using Real-Time Snickometer showed a distinct spike, but it appeared several frames before the ball passed the bat. Third umpire Chris Gaffaney explained during the review that the spike occurred “before the bat” and that the ball seemed to have gone “well under” the edge, concluding there was “a clear gap” and no evidence to overturn the decision. Carey went on to make the most of the let-off, adding 34 more runs on his way to a century. After the day’s play, the Australian admitted he believed he had made contact with the ball. “I thought there was a bit of a feather or some sort of noise as it went past the bat,” Carey said. “It looked strange on the replay with the sound coming early. If I’d been given out, I probably would have reviewed it, though not with full confidence. There was a nice sound as it went past.” Carey also made it clear that walking was not part of his approach. “Snicko didn’t line up, did it? That’s cricket sometimes. You need a bit of luck, and maybe it went my way today,” he added. According to ESPNcricinfo, Warren Brennan, founder of BBG Sports, the company responsible for Snickometer in Australian Tests, told The Age that an operator error was the likely cause. Brennan said the most plausible explanation was that the wrong stump microphone had been selected for audio processing and confirmed that BBG Sports accepted full responsibility for the mistake. On the field, Australia closed the opening day strongly at 326 for 8 after choosing to bat first. Carey scored 106, while Usman Khawaja contributed 82. For England, Jofra Archer was the standout bowler with figures of 3 for 23, while Brydon Carse and Will Jacks picked up two wickets each. Josh Tongue claimed one scalp.

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Luthra brothers (File photo)

NEW DELHI: Advocate Vishnu Joshi, representing a victim’s family in the Goa nightclub fire case, on Wednesday said that one of the Luthra brothers requested a Dunlop mattress during police remand.Joshi explained that the court carefully considered the brothers’ health claims before granting custody. Speaking to reporters, he said, “Today, when the Goa Police presented them in court, one accused, during their arguments, claimed he had spinal issues and other health problems. He requested that they be provided with a Dunlop mattress during their police remand. The state strongly opposed this… Their pre-medical examination showed them to be perfectly fit.”He added that the duo had attempted to evade legal proceedings since fleeing India.

“Since these people (Luthra brothers) absconded and fled the country, they have been employing tactics to somehow escape. First, they filed an anticipatory bail application on vague grounds in the Rohini Court, even though that court had no jurisdiction… But that bail application was rejected. Since then, they have been trying wherever they get a chance to obtain some kind of relaxation,” Joshi said.Joshi explained that the court carefully considered the brothers’ health claims before ordering custody. “The brothers claimed to be suffering from back pain. The court considered all submissions and directed the police to first conduct a pre-medical examination and re-examination. No medical necessity was found, following which the court, exercising its full authority, granted five days of police remand,” he said.The Luthra brothers, owners of the Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub in Arpora, were remanded to five-day police custody by the Mapusa Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) court. They were brought back to Goa from Thailand following their deportation and produced before the court after undergoing multiple medical examinations.After landing at Manohar International Airport, Mopa, under police escort around 10.45 am, the duo was taken to a primary health centre in Siolim and then to the District Hospital in Mapusa. The court directed fresh medical examinations before ordering the five-day custody to allow investigators to question them regarding alleged safety lapses at the club.The blaze broke out on December 6 around 11.45 pm during a crowded event at the nightclub, when electric firecrackers allegedly struck the wooden ceiling. The incident claimed the lives of 25 people, including tourists and staff, while several others were injured.Police said the brothers fled India hours after the incident on December 7, leaving for Thailand while rescue operations were under way. Goa Police launched a nationwide and international manhunt, issued a lookout circular and sought an Interpol Blue Notice.Following their detention by Thai authorities for illegal stay and the suspension of their passports, the brothers were deported to India on emergency travel documents. They landed at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport on Tuesday and were arrested by Goa Police, who obtained a 48-hour transit remand from a Delhi court to facilitate their return to Goa.They have been booked under several provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including culpable homicide not amounting to murder and negligence. Investigators have also arrested several others linked to the nightclub’s operations and are probing allegations that the venue was operating with expired licences and without mandatory safety clearances.

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday continued hearing matters related to Delhi’s air pollution crisis, with air quality remaining in the “severe” category in several areas of the national capital region.The court has orally observed that the measures taken by authorities so far have been a “total failure” in effectively curbing the rising levels of air pollution in the Delhi–NCR region. A Bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant remarked that any meaningful reduction in pollution would require broader and long-term planning rather than ad-hoc responses.

During the hearing, the court said, “Let us think of pragmatic and practical solution of the menace,” stressing the need for workable measures to address the pollution crisis.During the proceedings, the bench was also informed about another issue related to the MCD toll at Gurgaon, which allegedly causes traffic congestion for hours, leading to long queues of vehicles and adding to air pollution. The court directed the DMC to cooperate on the issue and consider suspension of nine toll plazas for a temporary period. It said a decision should be taken within one week and placed on record.CJI Surya Kant remarked, “we do not want income you generate, but you definately generate a lot of litigation from these tolls …we want to come out on a concrete plan for absolute no toll plaza till next year 31st January.”The court further asked the Delhi government to verify construction workers rendered idle by pollution curbs and ensure direct transfer of funds to their bank accounts, cautioning that the money should not “disappear, travel to another account”. It also asked the government to consider providing alternative work to affected workers.Responding to the court, the Delhi government said that around 7,000 construction workers have so far been verified out of nearly 2.5 lakh workers affected, and that money would be transferred into their bank accounts.With respect to various petitions highlighting the inadequacy of recent measures aimed at protecting children, such as the Delhi government’s directives to shut schools or allow them to function in a hybrid mode, the Court noted that these were merely temporary policy decisions taken to mitigate health risks.The bench refused to interfere with the Delhi government’s decision regarding school closures or hybrid operations. “The short-term measures are only to provide temporary protection to children and elderly persons. These are purely interim policy decisions. At best, they can be viewed as an extension of vacations, as schools are anyway scheduled to remain closed for 10 to 15 days during the winter,” the Court observed.The observations came as the top court reviewed the continuing impact of air pollution despite repeated directions issued over the years. A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi, has been monitoring the situation as air quality continues to pose serious health risks.The bench has also flagged lifestyle choices of the affluent as a major reason behind poor implementation of pollution-control measures. The Chief Justice observed that the well-off continue to use large diesel vehicles, generators and other polluting equipment in violation of restrictions, even as vehicular emissions choke the region. The court noted that it is the poor and working classes who are the most exposed to hazardous air and suffer the worst health consequences.The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) told the court last week that the transport sector contributes about 41 per cent of Delhi-NCR’s ambient air pollution load. Dust and construction activities account for 21 per cent, industry 19 per cent, power plants 5 per cent, residential activities 3 per cent and other sources 11 per cent. CAQM said stubble burning is a periodic factor limited to a short window each year, while other sources remain constant.

The Trump administration is significantly expanding its 2025 US travel ban, adding 20 countries, primarily from Africa, to existing restrictions. This policy, effective January 1, 2026, cites national security and public safety concerns, including vulnerabilities in screening processes. The expansion targets countries with alleged corruption and unreliable documentation, impacting both full and partial entry bans.

Image credit: Mohun Bagan’s X handle

Amid unprecedented uncertainty in Indian football, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) on Wednesday handed a triple blow to Mohun Bagan Super Giant, imposing a continental ban and fines totaling USD 100,729 (approximately INR 91 lakh) after the club withdrew from the 2025-26 AFC Champions League Two.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The AFC Disciplinary and Ethics Committee ruled that the reigning Indian Super League champions wrongfully withdrew from the competition following their refusal to travel to Iran for a group-stage match against Sepahan SC. Mohun Bagan was handed a one-season ban from AFC competitions.

In Decision VVC 20251217DC21, the committee found the Kolkata-based club guilty of breaching Article 5 (Withdrawal from the Competition) of the ACL Two Competition Regulations after failing to fulfil its fixture once the group stage had begun.As part of the sanctions, the Mariners were “fined USD 50,000,” ordered to pay “USD 50,729 as compensation for damages and losses” claimed by the AFC and Sepahan SC, and “disqualified from participating in the next AFC club competition for which they would otherwise qualify, with the ban remaining effective up to and including the 2027–28 season.”The committee also ruled that Mohun Bagan would forfeit all subsidies linked to their participation in the 2025-26 ACL Two season, including participation fees, performance bonuses, and travel subsidies. Any amount already paid must be repaid within 30 days.“The compensation shall be paid to the AFC within thirty (30) days of the date that this Decision is communicated,” the order stated.Terming the decision “biased,” a Mohun Bagan official told PTI that the matter is pending at the Lausanne-based Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), and they are “hoping for a resolution.”“It’s a biased decision against our club; our matter is pending at CAS and we’re hopeful of a resolution. However, the club may pay up the fines,” he added.The ruling comes after Mohun Bagan cited player safety concerns, as six foreign players declined the trip to Iran following advisories from their governments. The club had requested a venue change and later approached CAS, but the AFC deemed it a withdrawal, triggering strict disciplinary action. The case mirrors the previous season, when Mohun Bagan similarly did not travel to Iran to face Tractor SC but had escaped sanction.AIFF fined USD 1,000 for delayed restartIn Decision VVC 20251217DC08, the AFC Disciplinary and Ethics Committee fined the All India Football Federation (AIFF) USD 1,000 for delaying the restart of the second half during India’s AFC Asian Cup 2027 final-round qualifier against Bangladesh on November 18, 2025.The committee found that AIFF representatives caused a delay of one minute and 43 seconds in commencing the second half, breaching Article 2 (Official Countdown) of the AFC Competitions Operations Manual. The AIFF was ordered to settle the fine within 30 days, under Article 11.3 of the AFC Disciplinary and Ethics Code.FC Goa fined USD 5,000 for security lapseIn another ruling (VVC 20251217DC19), the AFC fined FC Goa USD 5,000 for failing to ensure stadium safety during their ACL Two group-stage match against Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr on October 22.The committee found the club violated Article 64 (Organization of Matches) of the AFC Disciplinary and Ethics Code after a spectator invaded the area surrounding the field of play. The ruling noted that FC Goa failed to fully comply with safety regulations and did not take all precautions required to maintain law and order. The fine must be paid within 30 days of communication.Indian football faces administrative paralysisThe AFC’s disciplinary actions come at a time when Indian football is grappling with deep structural and administrative uncertainty. The domestic season remains in limbo, with no confirmation on the ISL, I-League, or I-League 2 following the expiry of the 15-year agreement between Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL) and the AIFF on December 8.The ISL usually starts in September, while the I-League was scheduled to begin on October 19. With the impasse continuing, the Union Sports Ministry, led by Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, has stepped in to hold meetings with all stakeholders to prevent a complete collapse of the domestic calendar.A proposed resolution is expected within the next week, as officials race against time amid fears that India could go without a men’s domestic league season for the first time since 1996—a scenario that would further damage the country’s standing in Asian football.

In a significant blow to the Men in Blue, India’s vice-captain Shubman Gill has been ruled out of the fourth T20I against South Africa at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium. The opener is sidelined due to a foot injury sustained ahead of the clash on Wednesday, December 17.

India’s injury concerns grow with Shubman Gill ruled out of Lucknow T20I

Gill’s exclusion adds to India’s mounting availability concerns. The vice-captain had only recently returned to the squad after recovering from a neck issue that kept him out of the preceding ODI series. This setback follows the news that all-rounder Axar Patel will miss the remainder of the series due to illness.

With the T20 World Cup approaching in February, these injuries are a concern for the team management as they look to finalize their core lineup during the remaining games against South Africa and the upcoming home series against New Zealand.

A struggling series for the Indian vice-captain

Before the injury, Gill was facing a dip in form. Tasked with finding his rhythm after a lukewarm Asia Cup campaign, the opener struggled to find his footing against the Proteas’ attack:

• Total runs: 32 runs in 3 matches
• Series average: 10.66
• Strike rate: 103.22
• Recent scores: 4 (Cuttack), 0 (Mullanpur), and 28 (Dharamshala).

Overall, 2025 has been a quiet year by Gill’s standards, with the right-hander accumulating 291 runs in 15 matches at an average of 24.25.

Also READ: IND vs SA: Hardik Pandya scripts history with unique milestone during 3rd T20I

Sanju Samson may return at the top

Gill’s absence is expected to pave the way for Sanju Samson to return to the playing XI. Samson, who last featured in a T20I during the tour of Australia, boasts an impressive record as an opener. In 2024, he was a standout performer for India in the shortest format.

Fog delays start in Lucknow

While the team news has fans buzzing, the match itself faces a weather-related hurdle. The toss at the Ekana Stadium has been delayed due to heavy fog in Lucknow. Groundstaff and officials are monitoring the visibility levels to determine when play can safely commence.

Also READ: Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav discusses his current lean patch in T20Is ahead of Lucknow clash vs South Africa