Shreyas Iyer and Mohammed Shami (AP | PTI)

Mumbai: Having recovered from a serious abdominal injury, India’s ODI vice-captain Shreyas Iyer is racing against time to make a comeback into the ODI set-up when the national selection committee, led by former India pacer Ajit Agarkar, picks the team for the upcoming three-match series against New Zealand at home.The series will begin in Vadodara on January 11, with the next two matches being played in Rajkot on January 14 and Indore on January 18. It remains to be seen if Iyer is picked under the ‘subject to fitness’ clause, just like India’s Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill was for the home five-match T20I series against South Africa in December after undergoing rehabilitation for a neck injury. In fact, if Iyer makes the cut, the series could see both India’s ODI captain and vice-captain return to the fold after missing the previous series against South Africa due to injuries.

Gill, who is set to feature in the next two Vijay Hazare Trophy matches for Punjab along with India pacer Arshdeep Singh, is expected to return to the ODI fold after missing the South Africa series due to injury.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!TOI has learnt that Iyer underwent a match simulation at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (CoE) on Friday and will go through another on January 5 before obtaining a ‘Return to Play’ certificate from the medical team. The 31-year-old could turn out for Mumbai in their final Vijay Hazare Trophy match in Jaipur on January 8 before joining the Indian team in Vadodara for the first ODI.“Shreyas reported to the Centre of Excellence on December 25. Since his arrival, he has shown significant improvement in strength and conditioning and has successfully completed four high-intensity skill sessions encompassing both batting and fielding. Based on his current physical status and achievement of rehabilitation milestones, he undertook a match-simulation session on January 2 and will undertake another on January 5 before obtaining clearance for white-ball formats,” a BCCI source told TOI.

Shreyas Iyer of India looks on from the team bench before game three of the One Day International series between Australia and India at Sydney Cricket Ground on October 25, 2025 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Ayush Kumar/Getty Images)

Iyer last featured in the ODI series against Australia in October, where he suffered a severe spleen injury during the third and final match in Sydney, forcing hospitalisation. The injury ruled him out of the ODI series against South Africa at home, as well as the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy for Mumbai.In his absence, Ruturaj Gaikwad was tried at No. 4 and repaid the faith with an 83-ball 105 against South Africa in the second ODI at Raipur.

Will Pant be dropped without a chance?

The selection of India’s squad for the upcoming ODI series against a second-string New Zealand side just before the T20 World Cup would ordinarily attract limited attention. However, the ‘virtual’ selection meeting of Agarkar & Co has gained significance amid speculation that India’s Test vice-captain and wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant could be dropped despite not having played a single ODI in the last 18 months.

Bengaluru: Delhi’s captain Rishabh Pant plays a shot during the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 cricket match between Gujarat and Delhi, at BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground, in Bengaluru. (PTI Photo/Shailendra Bhojak)(PTI12_26_2025_000117B)

Pant’s form in the Vijay Hazare Trophy has been patchy, with 121 runs in four matches at an average of 30.25, including one fifty. Still, dropping him even as the second wicketkeeper could be considered harsh, given that he last played an ODI on August 7, 2024, against Sri Lanka in Colombo. For over a year, Pant has warmed the bench in ODIs, with KL Rahul the first-choice wicketkeeper for the 2025 Champions Trophy and the recent home series against South Africa.

If Pant is omitted, selectors may consider in-form Dhruv Jurel, who has scored 307 runs in three matches at an average of 153.50, including an unbeaten 160 off 101 balls against Baroda. There is also a strong case for recalling Ishan Kishan, who recently returned to India’s T20I side after topping the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy run charts with 517 runs at 57.44, including two hundreds.

Shami in line for a comeback?

With workload management in mind, Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah are likely to be rested for the New Zealand series. In their absence, veteran pacer Mohammed Shami could stage a comeback. Shami was India’s standout bowler in the last two ODI World Cups, claiming 14 wickets in four matches in 2019 and finishing as the leading wicket-taker in 2023 with 24 wickets in seven games.

India’s pacer Mohammed Shami engages in a discussion with Bengal team members during a training session at the Maharaja Bir Bikram Stadium, in Agartala, Tripura. (PTI Photo)(PTI11_04_2025_000253B)

Since returning from ankle and knee issues, Shami has impressed in domestic cricket, taking 20 wickets in four Ranji matches this season, along with strong returns in SMAT and VHT. While selector Agarkar had earlier insisted Shami was not fit, relations have improved, with selector RP Singh holding discussions with the pacer during a Ranji match in Kolkata.Devdutt Padikkal’s name may also come up for discussion after his prolific Vijay Hazare Trophy run, but with Shubman Gill returning and Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal in form, the Karnataka opener may have to wait.

NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday said accused the Madhya Pradesh government of distributing “poison” after at least 10 people died in Indore’s Bhagirathpura due to diarrhea after consuming contaminated water.In a social media post on X, the leader of opposition in Lok Sabha said that the “clean water is not a favour” and pinned the blame on “double-engine government’s” callous leadership for the incident.

“In Indore, it wasn’t water that was distributed, but poison—and the administration slumbered on like Kumbhakarna. There’s mourning in every home, the poor are helpless—and to top it all, arrogant statements from BJP leaders. Those whose hearths have gone cold needed consolation; the government served up hubris instead. People complained time and again about the filthy, foul-smelling water—yet why was there no action?” Rahul said.“How did sewage get mixed into the drinking water? Why wasn’t the supply shut off in time? When will action be taken against the responsible officers and leaders? These aren’t ‘freebie’ questions—they’re a demand for accountability. Clean water isn’t a favour; it’s a right to life. And for the murder of this right, the BJP’s double-engine government, its negligent administration, and its callous leadership are entirely to blame,” he added.Rahul further said Madhya Pradesh has now become the epicentre of misgovernance.“Madhya Pradesh has now become the epicentre of misgovernance—cough syrup deaths in one place, rats in government hospitals taking children’s lives in another, and now deaths from drinking sewage-laced water. And every time the poor die, Modi ji stays silent, as always,” he said.This comes after at least 10 people including a 6-month-old child died in Indore due to diarrhoea after consuming contaminated water. According to officials, the contamination occurred after sewage water from a toilet constructed at a local police check post seeped into the drinking water line.Officials have said that a leakage was found in the main drinking water supply pipeline near a police outpost in Bhagirathpura at a spot over which a toilet has been constructed. They claimed the leakage led to contamination of the water supply in the area.Additional Chief Secretary Sanjay Dubey told PTI, “We are closely examining the entire drinking water supply pipeline in Bhagirathpura to find out if there is any leakage elsewhere.”He said after inspection, clean water was supplied to households in Bhagirathpura through the pipeline on Thursday, though as a precaution, people have been advised to use the water for drinking only after boiling it.“We have also taken samples of this water and sent them for testing,” Dubey said.Drawing lessons from the water tragedy in Bhagirathpura, the senior bureaucrat informed that a standard operating procedure (SOP) will be issued for the entire state to prevent such incidents in the future.At present, 201 patients are admitted to hospitals, including 32 in intensive care units (ICUs).

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Amazon has introduced a temporary remote work policy for employees stranded in India due to H-1B visa delays, but the company’s latest memo makes clear that these workers cannot actually perform most of their job functions.US investor and Ed-Tech chairman Hany Girgis weighed in on the situation on X, saying Amazon “found a workaround for H-1B visa delays. But he claimed that the idea doesn’t actually let people work.The memo outlines strict restrictions: employees cannot code, test, troubleshoot, make strategic decisions, interact with customers, negotiate contracts, or access Amazon buildings.

All final approvals and decisions must take place outside India. In short, employees can remain on payroll but cannot perform the work itself because the job must legally stay in the United States.The memo was posted on Amazon’s internal HR portal on December 17, and it allows affected employees in India as of December 13, 2025, to work remotely until March 2, 2026. Normally, Amazon requires employees to work five days a week in the office, but this is a temporary exception.The policy comes amid other bigger challenges of H-1B visa delays, which have been worsened by additional screening requirements, including social media, digital footprint checks made compulsory under the Trump administration. Many consulates and embassies have postponed appointments by several months, leaving some employees unable to enter US. Companies including Google, Apple, and Microsoft have issued travel warnings to prevent employees from getting stranded abroad.For employees in technical roles, the restrictions severely limit their work, as most of their tasks involve coding, testing and deploying according to the Business Insider. Amazon is among the largest users of H-1B visas, with nearly 14,800 certified applications in the 2024 fiscal year, including 23 for Whole Foods.Girgis even asked why is US not still going ‘America First’ by hiring native Americans: “If the work must stay here, why doesn’t the hiring?”His comments come as MAGA bigwigs have urged the GOP government to permanently ban H1-Bs as they claim the programme unfairly steals jobs and opportunities from domestic American workers and gives them to foreign employees.

England have announced a 12-man squad for the fifth and final Test of the Ashes 2025-26 against Australia, scheduled to be played at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) from January 4 to 8. With the Ashes already decided in record time, England will be aiming to carry momentum from their morale-boosting Melbourne victory and end the tour on a positive note.

After enduring a difficult campaign that saw them concede the urn within just 11 days, England finally tasted success on Australian soil in the fourth Test at Melbourne. Led by Ben Stokes, England registered a remarkable four-wicket win in a dramatic two-day contest, snapping a winless streak in Australia that had stretched beyond 5,000 days.

Shoaib Bashir recalled to strengthen spin options

One of the biggest takeaways from the squad announcement is the return of young off-spinner Shoaib Bashir, who has been recalled as England look to bolster their spin resources for the SCG Test. Traditionally known to offer more assistance to spinners compared to other Australian venues, the Sydney surface is expected to play a key role in England’s team combination.

Bashir’s inclusion signals England’s intent to challenge Australia with spin, particularly as the match progresses into the later days. The management believes his control and ability to extract turn could be crucial against Australia’s middle order.

Also READ: Michael Clarke makes bold retirement prediction for Australian great ahead of Sydney Ashes 2025-26 Test

Matthew Potts added, Gus Atkinson ruled out

Alongside Bashir, pacer Matthew Potts has also been drafted into the squad for the series finale. Potts’ ability to maintain discipline and extract seam movement could provide England with valuable depth in the bowling attack.

However, England will miss the services of Gus Atkinson, who has been ruled out of the final Test due to a hamstring injury sustained in Melbourne. Atkinson was the only omission from the side that clinched the fourth Test, making his absence a notable setback.

Although England can no longer reclaim the Ashes, the SCG Test presents an opportunity to restore pride and confidence. A win in Sydney would not only help England finish the tour with two victories but also provide a psychological boost heading into future overseas assignments.

Key batters such as Joe Root and Harry Brook will once again be central to England’s hopes, while all-round options like Will Jacks add balance to the squad.

England squad for 5th Ashes Test

Ben Stokes (c), Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith (wk), Josh Tongue

Also READ: Usman Khawaja announces retirement from international cricket, SCG Test to be his final bow

Errol Musk, the father of Tesla CEO Elon Musk has reignited a controversy with the latest comments about the projected demographic transformation in the United States. Speaking in a recent interview, Errol Musk warned that America would ‘collapse’ if the white population becomes a minority within the next two decades, calling the shift “a very, very bad thing to happen.”Musk raised questions about the implications of the demographic change, asking, “You want to see the U.S. go down? Why? You don’t like electric cars, and you don’t like technology? What is it, you want to go back to the jungle?” Along with this, he also spoke about South Africa, claiming that the “small white population that projects the European culture” has contributed significantly to the growth and development of the Black African population. He dismissed the notion of systemic oppression in South Africa as “nonsense.”

When Elon Musk called his father ‘Evil’

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has not shared an amicable relationship with his father. In an interview with Rolling Stone a few years ago, Elon Musk characterised his father as someone who “will plan evil”.Tesla CEO Elon Musk has frequently expressed his disapproval of his father, who had ties to the apartheid regime of South Africa and has faced multiple criminal accusations. Musk described Errol as “such a terrible human being” and claimed that his father had committed “almost every crime you can possibly think of.” He added, “My dad will have a carefully thought-out plan of evil. He will plan evil. Almost every evil thing you could possibly think of, he has done. It’s so terrible, you can’t believe it.”

Past controversies around Errol Musk

In 1998, Errol Musk admitted that he killed three people insisting that it was an act of self-defence. Initially he was arrested but was later released after the charges were dropped. The incident was dded to the long list of controversies surrounding him which further fulled Elon Musk’s distrust.Elon Musk has repeatedly emphasised that his father’s words cannot be trusted. Reflecting on his attempts to mend their relationship, Musk said, “In my experience, there is nothing you can do. Nothing, nothing. I wish. I’ve tried everything. I tried threats, rewards, intellectual arguments, emotional arguments, everything to try to change my father for the better, and he, no way, it just got worse.”Tesla CEO Elon Musk had a started relationship with his father Errol Musk. The their relationship has long been a topic of public interest. The controversial statements made by Errol in the past still continue to cast a shadow over their family dynamics offering insight into the personal challenges faced by one of the world’s most influential tech entrepreneurs.

Jason Gillespie (AP Photo)

NEW DELHI: Former Australia fast-bowling great Jason Gillespie has spoken candidly about his turbulent nine-month stint as Pakistan’s Test team head coach, saying a series of decisions by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) left him feeling “completely humiliated” and ultimately forced his resignation.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Gillespie was appointed Pakistan’s red-ball coach in April 2024, with former South Africa batter Gary Kirsten taking charge of white-ball formats. But the dual-coach experiment quickly unravelled. Kirsten stepped down in October, and Gillespie followed in December after the PCB abruptly removed senior assistant Tim Nielsen without consulting him.

“I was coaching the Pakistan Test side. The PCB sacked our senior assistant coach with ZERO communication with me about it,” Gillespie wrote on X. “As head coach I found this situation completely unacceptable. There were a number of other issues which left me completely humiliated.”

Nielsen, a former Australia head coach, had been appointed as high-performance red-ball coach in August 2024 but was informed his services were no longer required ahead of Pakistan’s 2024–25 tour of South Africa. Gillespie said the decision blindsided him and became the final breaking point.Speaking to ABC Sport, Gillespie said he had entered the role aware of the challenges. “I went into the job eyes wide open. I knew Pakistan had cycled through a number of coaches in a pretty short space of time,” he said. “But the straw that broke the camel’s back was being completely and utterly blindsided by that decision.”

He added that the lack of communication extended well beyond Nielsen’s axing. “I just thought, ‘I’m not really sure if they actually want me to do this job or not’.”Gillespie also revealed how marginalised he felt in the role. “I felt I was basically hitting catches and that was about it on the morning of a game,” he said, stressing the importance of clear dialogue with selectors and administrators.After briefly serving as interim white-ball coach, Gillespie was replaced by Aaqib Javed across formats. According to ESPNCricinfo, Gillespie and the PCB are now embroiled in a financial dispute, with the former coach claiming unpaid dues, while the board argues he failed to provide the required four-month notice.