NAGPUR: Thirty-seven-year-old Rana Pratap Bairagi, who took seven bullets from radical Islamists before he lay sprawled in blood near his ice factory in Bangladesh’s Jessore district, would regularly cough up protection money.“Rana paid 3 lakh taka as protection money in the last few months, but still he’s dead. We are sitting ducks in Bangladesh, don’t know if we will live to see tomorrow,” a relative told TOI on phone. Bairagi was a leader of minorities and would actively take up their issues, said another close relative.

Among the two persons killed in Bangladesh on Monday, Bairagi ran an ice making factory, doubled up as a journalist, but what perhaps led to his death was his affiliation to the exiled PM Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League in Jessore. He leaves behind wife, eight-year-old son, and parents who worked as govt schoolteachers. Hours after Bairagi’s murder, another Hindu man, Mani Chakraborty was lynched.Politically active, Bairagi was the go-to man for minorities in Arua village in Keshabpur upazila of Jessore district, which has over 100 Hindu homes. Things dramatically changed after then PM Sheikh Hasina’s ouster in August last year. Like Rana Pratap, several villagers regularly paid money for safety.“He was called near his factory, where assailants fired seven rounds at him, killing him on the spot. They may accuse him of writing controversial articles in the paper, but they wanted to eliminate a Hindu leader. If someone like Bairagi is killed no other from the community would dare to raise their head,” said the relative.Gangs of fundamentalists, purportedly affiliated with Jamaat-e-Islami, have been visiting Hindu homes, demanding money for protection or threatening them with death, said villagers of Arua. “They are outsiders, but turn up every month to extort. None dares to come out openly,” said the kin.TOI spoke to several villagers on phone. And they all admitted to paying ‘protection tax’ but were unsure whether the extortionists belonged to any political party. Another acquaintance of Bairagi, living a few kms away, said Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) workers have assured protection to minorities without the ‘tax’.“Despite BNP’s assurance, I don’t feel safe here and plan to apply for a visa to India. I hope the Indian govt considers it. By the time the application is processed, I can sell my land in Jessore and move to my kin in West Bengal,” said the person in his 50s.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has expressed support for Bangladesh over their decision not to travel to India for the T20 World Cup 2026 in February-March. Notably, the PCB has assured the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) that it is willing to raise the matter with the International Cricket Council (ICC) if required.

Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman was released by Kolkata Knight Riders after the BCCI asked the franchise to let him go, citing “developments all around”. KKR had signed Mustafizur for Rs 9.20 crore at the IPL auction following a bidding battle. However, the move triggered the Bangladesh Cricket Board.

Pakistan Cricket Board Signs Mustafizur Rahman After IPL Snub

Mustafizur Rahman will return to the Pakistan Super League next season. The league confirmed his participation on social media, even though the PSL draft is scheduled for January 21. This will be his first PSL appearance in eight years.

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Mustafizur last played in the PSL in 2018 for Lahore Qalandars, where he featured under the captaincy of Brendon McCullum. He played five matches that season and took four wickets.

His return to the PSL comes at a time when uncertainty surrounds Bangladesh’s participation in the upcoming T20 World Cup in India. During his time away from the PSL, Mustafizur became a regular in the Indian Premier League.

The left-arm pacer made his IPL debut with Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in their title-winning season and later played for Mumbai Indians (MI), Rajasthan Royals (RR), and Delhi Capitals (DC).

Pakistan Back Bangladesh Over World Cup Travel Stance

Pakistan have backed Bangladesh over its stance on not travelling to India for the upcoming World Cup, which is scheduled to begin on February 7.

According to journalist Saleem Khaliq, the Pakistan Cricket Board has assured Bangladesh of full support and is ready to raise the issue with the International Cricket Council if required, standing by Bangladesh during the ongoing dispute.

“In a time of crisis, Pakistan extended its support to Bangladesh, assuring full backing for its decision not to travel to India for the upcoming World Cup and even offered to take up the matter with the ICC if necessary,” Saleem Khaliq wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter).

🚨 PAKISTAN STANDS WITH BANGLADESH 🚨

– PCB has assured full support to Bangladesh for their decision not to travel to India for the WC.

– Pakistan will also speak to the ICC if needed to back Bangladesh. (Saleem Khaliq) pic.twitter.com/n8toRKlslx

— Sheri. (@CallMeSheri1_) January 7, 2026

Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup 2026 Schedule Under Review

Bangladesh are scheduled to play all four of their Group C matches in the T20 World Cup 2026 in India. They will play their first three games in Kolkata against the West Indies (February 7), Italy (February 9), and England (February 14). The final group match is against Nepal on February 17 in Mumbai.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board has raised concerns about sending the team to India due to strained diplomatic relations. As a result, the board has asked the International Cricket Council to move Bangladesh’s group-stage matches to Sri Lanka.

The ICC is now reviewing possible solutions. These include shifting the matches to Sri Lanka or asking a BCB delegation to visit India to assess security arrangements. If no agreement is reached, there is also a small chance that Bangladesh could withdraw from the tournament.

Also read: ICC KICKS Bangladesh out of T20 World Cup 2026, replacement identified

India’s captain Suryakumar Yadav and Pakistan’s captain Salman Agha (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

West Indies all-rounder Jason Holder has weighed in on the India–Pakistan rivalry following the Asia Cup 2025, calling out what he described as excessive on-field theatrics and expressing disappointment over how events unfolded. The Asia Cup once again showcased why clashes between India and Pakistan remain cricket’s most intense rivalry. While the contest has always been charged with emotion and history, the 2025 edition went beyond the 22 yards, with off-field drama capturing almost as much attention as the cricket itself.

India lifted the Asia Cup after defeating Pakistan by five wickets in the final, extending their dominance over their arch-rivals in multi-team tournaments. Yet, the post-match scenes drew widespread debate when Indian players chose not to collect the trophy from PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, amid the backdrop of the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor. Naqvi eventually took the trophy back, resulting in India returning home without the trophy despite their victory. Speaking on the Willow by Cricbuzz podcast, Holder was candid about his discomfort with the situation. “I don’t like the India–Pakistan beef. I saw India win the Asia Cup and they didn’t go to accept the trophy. It’s just too much, man,” he said. Holder then broadened the discussion, offering his perspective on how politics and ownership dynamics have influenced franchise cricket. He noted the limited opportunities for Pakistani players in T20 leagues, especially those owned by Indian stakeholders. “Certain Pakistanis can’t be involved in certain teams because they’re owned by Indian owners. It’s just sad, man,” he added. The former West Indies captain stressed the influence top cricketers wield beyond results. “If you’re inspiring a generation and inspiring the world, then we have to find a way to come together,” Holder said. While acknowledging the long political history between the two nations, he believes cricket can still be a starting point for change. “I understand how big this rivalry is off the field,” he noted. “But if change is going to happen, it can start on the cricket field. A way to soften things is by India and Pakistan coming together through sport.” Holder sees potential for sport to influence life beyond cricket. “If it’s possible at a sporting level, maybe it becomes possible in everyday life too,” he said. “Stopping the fighting and tension would be huge.” He also spoke about the cultural impact of athletes as role models: “There’s always a trickle-down effect. When people see their heroes behaving a certain way, it influences them. That’s why it’s sad to see this play out.” Despite the tensions, Holder emphasised his respect for both nations. “They’re beautiful countries with incredible people and cultures,” he said. “That’s why moments like this hurt everyone who loves cricket.” He concluded with a call to uphold the spirit of the game: “We talk about unity and growing the game. So let’s practise what we preach — bring cricket together and build healthier relationships.” India and Pakistan have not played a bilateral series for several years, making ICC and ACC events the only stages where the rivalry now unfolds. Asia Cup 2025 saw the two sides clash three times, including the final, keeping the spotlight firmly on the rivalry throughout the tournament.

HUBBALI: A BJP worker in Hubballi has alleged that she was assaulted by Keshwapur police under the Hubballi-Dharwad police commissionerate on Wednesday, in connection with a complaint filed by Congress corporator Suvarna Kallakuntla.The worker said police assaulted her and that her clothes were stripped off during the incident.“We had been with officials who were conducting Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list in the Keshwapur area on Tuesday, and Corporator Kallakuntla’s supporters had objected to it,” she said. In a video, she was seen with male and female police personnel in a bus.

Police said complaints and counter-complaints were filed by both parties. “When two cops tried to arrest her, she grabbed our mobile phones and resisted. As we called some women police constables, she called other female workers of her party. She only stripped off her clothes and insisted on other women making videos on their phones,” they added.Police further said a citizen, Prashant Bommajji, filed a complaint on Sunday night alleging he was assaulted by the BJP worker and others for questioning the presence of BJP workers with the Booth Level Officer (BLO) during the SIR.Corporator Kallakuntla said the issue started with a BLO, Nandini Kulkarni, who went to conduct SIR with BJP workers.“As a BLO, she should go independently or call booth agents of all political parties. Since she was accompanying BJP workers, some citizens had objected to it. When we got the information, we rushed there and found that the BLO was accompanying BJP workers. We had complained about the BLO to the HDMC Commissioner on Saturday itself. Later, Handi assaulted citizens who had alerted us about the BLO’s wrongdoing,” she added.Police commissioner N. Shashikumar and DCPs Mahanand Nandagavi and C.R. Raveesha rushed to Keshwapur police station to review the incident. Shashikumar said he will brief the media once verification is concluded.DCP Law and Order Mahaning Nandagavi said that when cops went to arrest the woman in connection with a 307 case, she kicked and even bit cops. “She created a high drama by stripping off herself. Our woman PCs covered her with clothes. She even kicked at private parts of our personnel. She also intended to hang her sister. We have videos of all of her acts. A medico legal case is registered against her for kicking at private part of one Prashant Bommajji. She has also had nine previous cases of honeytrap, obstruction, blackmailing etc.” he added

The Pakistan Cricket Board has extended its support to the BCB and has backed its decision not to travel to India for the T20 World Cup. After the extended backing, BCB, in a fresh statement, has issued a clear warning of a walkover to the ICC if they are forced to play in India.

The Indo-Bangladesh controversies have taken a new turn with the PCB having the back of the Bangladesh Cricket Board following their revolt against the PCB’s longtime rivals, the BCCI. Mohsin Naqvi has been a constant threat to BCCI’s smooth operations and has not spared in challenging the ICC.

Bangladesh opting not to play in India would complicate the issues and would potentially strain the relationship between the two boards. The India tour to Bangladesh would also be cancelled if such situations escalate.

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BCB gets massive backing from Mohsin Naqvi’s PCB amid T20 World Cup turmoil

In their waged war against the Indian board, BCCI, and their actions, the BCB has received extensive backing from the hands of the Pakistan Cricket Board. The PCB’s issues with the BCCI have been escalating since the Champions Trophy, when they denied travelling to Pakistan despite several attempts to convince the Men in Blue to travel to the nation.

The Pakistan board then signed a deal with the BCCI, according to which they would play their matches in neutral venues and neither team would travel to each other’s territory. Now, the PCB has extended its backing to the BCB.

They have also assured the Bangladesh Cricket Board of speaking to the ICC, supporting their appeal to shift the matches to Sri Lanka.

BCB director issues ultimatum of walkover if forced to play in India

After the ICC had asked the BCB to reconsider their decision and had assured additional security to all players and the support staff who travel to India during the T20 World Cup, BCB director Asif Akbar has issued a public statement, which simply warns them of a walkover in the ICC T20 World Cup if the match venues are not altered.

“If we are forced to play in India, we will walk over. We are ready to play in Sri Lanka instead,” Asif Akbar said.

“We have already made our position clear. That option is no longer open for us. Considering the Mustafizur issue and concerns related to our players, we remain negative about playing in India. However, we are ready to play in Sri Lanka,” he added.

Asif Akbar (BCB Member) :

“If we are forced to play in India, we will walk over. We are ready to play in Sri Lanka instead.”#T20WorldCup2026 pic.twitter.com/F4lC35jRtO

— Raisul Rifat (@raisul_rifat88) January 7, 2026

BCB is still awaiting ICC’s response before a final verdict on the T20 World Cup

In a recent report from ESPNcricinfo, it was revealed that the ICC has issued an ultimatum to the BCB, saying that they either need to travel to India for the World Cup or they should be ready to risk points.

However, the BCB official statement clearly said that no such ultimatum has been issued, and they are awaiting any response from the end of the ICC before giving their final verdict on the matter.

“Since the ICC is the guardian of world cricket, we will inform our next course of action after receiving their response,” Asif added in his statement.

ALSO READ: BCB finally breaks silence on ICC’s ‘play in India or forfeit points’ ultimatum for T20 World Cup 2026

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NEW DELHI/ RAJKOT: Ahead of the launch of year-long “Somnath Swabhiman Parv” by PM Narendra Modi on Jan 11, BJP on Wednesday launched a fresh attack on Congress for its govt’s opposition to the reconstruction of the revered temple and flagged letters written by Jawaharlal Nehru to accuse him of “hating” the deity.BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi said Nehru believed the temple’s reconstruction and association of Congress stalwarts like Rajendra Prasad, then President, harmed India’s global image and said the opposition party continued to follow a similar distaste for the country’s Hindu heritage.At a press conference in Delhi, Trivedi said the first PM addressed his Pakistani counterpart Liaquat Ali Khan as “my dear nawabzada” to protest false reports in that country over the temple’s construction instead of defending India’s civilisational memory.He also wrote to India’s ambassador in China to play down its significance apparently to minimise any adverse reaction from Mao Zedong, the Rajya Sabha MP said, alleging that he pursued “blind appeasement politics by repeatedly emphasising his opposition to then President Rajendra Prasad’s association with its inauguration. “Our opposition to Nehru is not personal but on principles. His letters underline how scary and dangerous his ideas were. We are not tarnishing his image. We are merely unmasking it as Congress continues to follow the same principle,” BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi said.Modi will offer prayers at the temple and pay tributes at the statue of Sardar Patel outside its precincts. He is also scheduled to attend a roadshow and Shaurya Yatra, dedicated to those who laid down their lives defending the temple from invaders, and address a large public gathering.“The year marks 1,000 years since Mahmud Ghazni’s attack on the Somnath temple in 1026 AD, while also completing 75 years of Sardar Patel’s historic resolve to rebuild the shrine. To mark this rare convergence, the festival has been planned to honour Somnath’s legacy of resilience and valour,” Gujarat minister Jitu Vaghani said. Highlighting the key attractions of the festival, the Gujarat minister said a mega drone show featuring 3,000 drones – the largest of its kind – will depict the history and grandeur of Somnath in the night sky.Prime Minister Modi’s visit on Jan 11, which marks 1,000 years of the temple’s destruction by Mahmud Ghazni, and his projection of its revival as a tribute to India’s cultural resilience coupled with Nehru’s wariness of the revered temple’s rebuilding have provided a fresh ballast to BJP’s campaign to paint Congress as indifferent if not outrightly hostile to the country’s Hindu heritage but being rather sensitive to interests of minorities, especially Muslims. Nehru wrote over 17 letters to question the need for Somnath temple’s reconstruction, including to the then president, vice president, cabinet ministers and chief ministers, and asked public broadcasters to minimise its coverage.He said Nehru prioritised “external appeasement over internal self-confidence”. “Somnath was plundered by Mahmud Ghazni and Khilji in the past, but in independent India, Pandit Nehru harboured the greatest hatred towards Lord Somnath,” he alleged.

Mumbai: Vinobha Bhave Nagar police have arrested a woman for allegedly extorting Rs 10 lakh from a 31-year-old interior designer from Kurla after he booked an escort service online. The accused, Natasha Dogra, has been booked on charges of cheating, criminal intimidation, criminal breach of trust under the BNS, and the IT Act.According to the FIR, the complainant came across an online link while browsing the internet, which further directed him to an escort website. The website displayed photographs of several women along with their names and WhatsApp numbers. The victim clicked on one of the links, a WhatsApp chat window opened. Police said a conversation allegedly began in which the woman demanded Rs 500 as an advance for a one-hour “service” priced at Rs 3,500. She sent a QR code linked to a bank account, and the complainant transferred Rs 500, followed by another Rs 600 at her request.However, she did not meet him and began citing excuses such as illness. Thereafter, she allegedly continued demanding money repeatedly on various grounds, including travel expenses, a medical emergency involving her father, hospital admission, funeral rituals after the illness and death of her mother, and property transfer expenses in her native place.She claimed she would inherit her parents’ house worth crores and return all the money. According to the victim, she also professed love to win his trust. He further said that when he expressed an inability to pay further, the woman allegedly threatened to send screenshots of their WhatsApp chats to his wife, and file a false rape case. Out of fear, he continued making payments. He finally confided in his brother, who pressed him to lodge a police complaint.Based on the victim’s complaint, police arrested Dogra from Mira Road.