In a striking tactical move that has sent shockwaves through the Big Bash League, a high-profile international star Mohammad Rizwan from Pakistan became the first overseas player in tournament history to be ‘retired out’ during a crucial mid-season clash. The incident occurred on January 12 at Sydney’s ENGIE Stadium during a high-stakes encounter between the Melbourne Renegades and Sydney Thunder.

Retired Out: Melbourne Renegades’ batter Mohammad Rizwan hooked after sluggish 26 (23) against Sydney Thunder

With the Renegades struggling to find momentum in the death overs, the team management made the ruthless decision to recall their anchor in favor of more explosive firepower. While the move was strategically sound according to commentators, it has sparked a massive debate across social media regarding the treatment of veteran players in the franchise era. Ultimately, the tactical gamble served as a centerpiece for one of the most talked-about matches of the BBL 15 season, highlighting the increasingly cutthroat nature of T20 cricket.

Pakistan’s star wicketkeeper-batter Rizwan saw his difficult BBL campaign reach a humiliating nadir as he was forced to leave the field “retired out” for a laboured 26 runs off 23 balls. Coming in at No. 4, Rizwan struggled to find his rhythm on a tacky surface, taking four deliveries just to open his account and later entering a scoring shell where he managed only 10 runs in 12 balls. Recognizing that the run rate was stagnating, Renegades captain Will Sutherland signaled Rizwan to return to the pavilion at the end of the 18th over to allow for a final flourish.

Here’s the video:

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The failed gamble in BBL|15: Renegades’ late-innings stutter

The decision to recall Rizwan was intended to maximize the final two overs, but the plan backfired almost instantly. The incoming captain, Sutherland, was run out for just 1 off 1 ball after a straight drive from Hassan Khan was deflected onto the stumps by bowler Daniel Sams. The Renegades, who were poised for a big total after a 62-run opening stand between Josh Brown (35) and Tim Seifert (29), managed only 16 runs in the final 12 deliveries following the retirement. They eventually finished on 170/8, a score that felt at least 15 runs short given the platform. Hassan was the only one to provide genuine impetus in the middle order, finishing with a valiant 46 off 31 balls.

Despite the tactical drama, the Thunder secured a dramatic 4-wicket victory via the DLS method in a rain-interrupted chase. The Thunder were reeling at 95/6 after a clinical spell from Gurinder Sandhu (4/42), but a revised target of 140 in 16 overs set the stage for a Chris Green masterclass. Green turned the game on its head in the 14th over, smashing Sandhu for three consecutive sixes to shift the momentum entirely. Alongside Nic Maddinson (30)*, who hit the winning run, Green finished unbeaten on 34 off just 13 balls.

Also READ: Wasim Akram predicts the semifinalists of T20 World Cup 2026

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NEW DELHI: The govt is actively considering bringing in Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) card holders to play for the tricolour to shore up the country’s medal fortunes at the forthcoming edition of the Olympics, according to its 10-year strategic plan for the Games, TOI has learnt. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Under the plan, OCI or Person of Indian Origin (PIO) athletes would be approached through their respective national sports federations (NSFs) to come and play for India. The govt has encouraged the NSFs to pursue the idea and get in touch with such athletes in their respective sports.

The proposal was mooted at a recent Sports Governance Conclave in Ahmedabad, where ministry officials gave a detailed presentation on India’s sporting ambitions for coming years and how to transform the nation into a global sporting powerhouse such as China and USA. The idea was to bring such OCI or PIO athletes to play for India as an ‘interim measure’. “Talking about ‘Play for India’, in certain sports we don’t have enough talent. In such cases, we can approach and bring in our OCI athletes to play for the country. This may not be needed in every sport but, in some sports, it may be required as an interim measure. This is possible,” union sports secretary Hari Ranjan Rao told the NSFs’ presidents and secretaries who attended the conclave.

It’s been learnt the govt has targeted sports such as football, tennis, swimming and athletics for OCI athletes. Recently, Australian-born footballer Ryan Williams of Indian descent became eligible to play for India by giving up his Australian citizenship for an Indian passport. In 2008, an order from the ministry of youth affairs and sports (MYAS) issued in Dec directed all NSFs to permit only sportspersons with a valid Indian passport to represent the country at international events. As a result, only Indian passport holders were eligible to compete for India. This regulation was later challenged by UK-based OCI card holder squash player Karm Kumar, but the Delhi high court upheld the rule in 2010. “The idea has been deliberated upon (to reverse the policy to allow OCI or PIO athletes to represent India). There are certain sports where India isn’t a force to reckon with. The govt wants to strengthen such disciplines to boost the country’s sporting ecosystem,” a source added. In the past, Indian-origin athletes such as tennis player Prakash Amritraj (nationality United States), Shikha Uberoi (USA), Sunitha Rao (USA), squash player Karm Kumar (UK) and swimmer Ankur Poseria (USA), among others, represented India as OCI card holders before the policy change kicked in.

Gautam Gambhir and Shubman Gill (AFP Photo)

NEW DELHI: Washington Sundar’s decision to walk out to bat despite a visible injury during the first ODI against New Zealand in Vadodara has sparked debate around the Indian team management’s handling of injured players. Sundar was seen limping and struggling to walk but still came out to the middle when India needed support for KL Rahul in a tense chase of 301 runs.The spin-bowling all-rounder was risked despite his fitness concerns, and the move backfired as his injury worsened. Sundar remained unbeaten on 7 off 7 balls in the series opener, playing a supporting role as Rahul guided India to a four-wicket win. However, shortly after the match, Sundar was ruled out of the remainder of the series and was replaced by Ayush Badoni.

Sundar’s appearance at the crease raised several questions, particularly about the Gautam Gambhir-led team management’s approach to player welfare. Among those critical of the decision was former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif, who openly questioned the logic behind sending an injured player into the middle.Kaif pointed out what he described as a double standard, drawing parallels with Shubman Gill’s injury management during the South Africa Test series. He reminded the Indian team management that Gill was rested and not allowed to bat to prevent aggravation of his injury.“You will remember when Shubman Gill was injured, he did not come out to bat in that Test match, the Kolkata Test. It was a high-scoring game and people thought that even 20 or 30 runs from him could help India win, but he still did not bat. That was done to give full protection to the player so the injury would not aggravate. But the same approach was not applied with Sundar. That is why I feel it was a wrong call. KL Rahul’s running between the wickets was affected. Even though India won the match, I feel there were higher chances of aggravating the injury in yesterday’s game,” Kaif said on his YouTube channel.Kaif further explained why sending Sundar in such a situation carried unnecessary risk.“If he is injured and you need runs at a run-a-ball, you should first try someone else. When a player is injured and you send him in under pressure, the injury can worsen. He couldn’t run doubles even though the ball was going to deep point or square leg, and he was only managing singles. Although the required run rate was around a run-a-ball and the match was under control, I felt that sending an injured player was risky. What might have been a one-week or ten-day injury could stretch to 20, 25, or even 30 days,” he added.“I believe that was a wrong call. You could have sent Kuldeep, or anyone else, even Siraj or Prasidh Krishna, if you just needed to play out the run-a-ball situation. Only when it becomes absolutely unavoidable, right at the end, should you send Washington Sundar,” Kaif asserted.Sundar is part of India’s squad for the T20 World Cup 2026, which begins on February 7, making his fitness a key concern going forward.

Coinciding with the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Monday distributed scholarships worth Rs 25.25 crore to 1,709 meritorious students from economically weaker sections under the Delhi Higher and Technical Education Assistance Scheme. Addressing the scholarship distribution programme at Thyagaraj Stadium, Gupta said providing financial assistance to students was the Delhi government’s investment in their future and a step towards strengthening the city’s youth. The event was attended by Education Minister Ashish Sood, senior officials of the Education Department, vice chancellors of various universities, educationists and a large number of students, according to a statement. The chief minister said that scholarship amounts for the academic years 2023-24 and 2024-25 had been transferred directly to the bank accounts of eligible students studying in universities across Delhi. She also informed that a pending scholarship amount of Rs 19 crore from the previous government’s tenure had been released by the present government, asserting that no funds earmarked for students’ education would remain pending in future. Marking National Youth Day, Gupta urged students to draw inspiration from the thoughts and philosophy of Swami Vivekananda and to pursue their goals with dedication and discipline. She said the progress of the nation depended on the advancement of its youth and highlighted the role of young people in achieving the goal of a developed India by 2047. The chief minister also said that national development was not possible through government policies alone and required the collective responsibility and active participation of citizens. Speaking on the occasion, Sood said the government was committed to improving the education sector and ensuring that students from disadvantaged backgrounds received adequate support. He said the government’s approach was guided by the principle of Antyodaya, aimed at ensuring that benefits reached those at the lowest rung of society. He said the Narela Education City project, which had remained stalled for several years, was now being implemented. He added that the project’s budget had been increased from Rs 500 crore to Rs 1,300 crore and would include shared university campuses, auditoriums, libraries, digital libraries and ICT laboratories spread across 160 acres. The Education Minister said the objective of the government was to address challenges in the education sector through policy measures and effective implementation, adding that education would play a key role in shaping leadership for the future. Meritorious students from economically weaker sections who have passed Class XII from Delhi schools with at least 75 per cent marks and meet the prescribed income criteria are eligible for financial assistance under the Delhi Higher and Technical Education Assistance Scheme, it said. The scholarship amount is transferred directly to beneficiaries’ bank accounts through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system, it added.

Representative image (AI)

Asian share markets rose on Tuesday, led by a strong rally in Japanese stocks as investors bet on technology and AI-led growth. At the same time, uncertainty over the independence of the US Federal Reserve lifted gold prices and pressured the dollar.Japan’s Nikkei index surged after reopening from a holiday, jumping 3.4% to record highs as a weaker yen and expectations of fiscal stimulus lifted sentiment. Gains in Japan helped push regional markets higher, with South Korean and Taiwanese stocks also touching all-time peaks, while Chinese blue-chip shares climbed to a four-year high.MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan rose 0.8% to a fresh record. In Europe, EUROSTOXX 50 futures gained 0.2%, Germany’s DAX futures added 0.1%, while FTSE futures were flat, according to Reuters. Analysts said that enthusiasm around artificial intelligence continued to support global equities. “We see global equities continuing to climb in 2026, targeting around 10% upside for the MSCI AC World by year-end,” Citi analysts said, while cautioning that high valuations leave little room for disappointment if earnings fall short.US stock futures edged lower ahead of key inflation data, with S&P 500 futures down 0.2% and Nasdaq futures off 0.3%. Markets are awaiting the December US consumer price index, with forecasts pointing to core inflation rising to 2.7%, though some expect a higher reading of 2.8%. The US earnings season also begins this week, with major banks including JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup and Bank of America due to report.Bank executives are expected to face questions over President Donald Trump’s call for a one-year cap on credit card interest rates at 10% starting January 20. Banks have warned such a move could restrict access to credit for millions of households and small businesses.

Gold shines amid uncertainty

Investors were wondering how the US Justice Department’s criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell could affect markets. Analysts fear the Fed may be pushed to keep interest rates too low for too long, increasing the risk of higher inflation later.The uncertainty weighed on the dollar, with the dollar index stuck near 98.88 after falling over 0.25% overnight. The euro edged up to $1.1665, while the dollar slipped against the Swiss franc.The dollar was steadier against the yen at 158.40, even as Japan’s currency hovered near multi-year lows. Japan’s finance minister Satsuki Katayama said she had raised concerns about the yen’s one-sided weakness with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.Gold rose as investors felt uncertain, climbing above $4,600 an ounce for the first time before falling slightly. “Gold serves as a catch-all, and a default hedge of last resort for fear and uncertainty given its reputation as a safe haven and store of value, the fact that it is non-debaseable, and is no one else’s liability,” said Christopher Louney, a gold strategist at RBC Capital Markets. Louney added that the prices could rise as high as $5,200 by the end of the year.Oil prices also climbed, reaching seven-week highs on concerns that unrest in Iran could disrupt supplies. Brent crude rose 0.5% to $64.19 a barrel, while US crude gained 0.5% to $59.81. Adding to tensions, Trump warned that any country doing business with Iran would face a 25% tariff on its trade with the United States.

New Delhi: Former Indian Navy chief Admiral Arun Prakash (retired) on Monday reportedly submitted all the necessary documents linking him to the electoral roll from last special intensive revision (SIR), paving the way for early resolution of the matter relating to the system-driven notice issued to him after all the fields in his enumeration form (EF) pertaining to linkage with the last SIR roll, were left blank.“The documents were collected by the competent field officer on Monday and the matter will be settled, perhaps by Tuesday, making the retired Admiral and his wife eligible for inclusion in the final electoral roll of Cortalim assembly constituency (AC) in Goa,” an officer aware of the proceedings told TOI on Monday. Similarly, a hearing due on Jan 16 on the notice served to Nobel laureate Amartya Sen, an elector in Bolpur AC of West Bengal, after the age of his mother, with whom he was mapped in the EF filled and submitted by his relative, was reportedly found to be less than Sen’s, is expected to sort out the anomaly. A hearing will be held at Sen’s registered address at Shanti Niketan, and the relative will have the opportunity to correctly map Sen to the SIR from the last roll, said an officer. In a clarification issued in Admiral Prakash’s case on Monday, the Cortalim ERO explained that his EF was categorised as “unmapped” after it was observed that the said EF did not contain the mandatory particulars relating to the previous SIR, including the name of the elector, EPIC number, name of the relative, name and number of the AC, part number, and serial number in the electoral roll. “In the absence of these essential identification details, the BLO application was unable to establish an automatic linkage between the submitted EF and the existing electoral roll database,” the ERO said.Underlining that the BLO application is designed to automatically map EFs only when the prescribed identification particulars are duly filled in, the Cortalim ERO said the blank fields in Prakash’s EF triggered the system to categorise his EF as “unmapped”, mandating an auto-generated notice for further verification through a hearing mechanism.“As per the standard, system-driven procedure, a hearing notice was automatically generated and issued to enable verification of the elector’s details and ensure due opportunity for confirmation of eligibility,” shared the ERO. The officer said any elector can notice blank fields in the EF and cross-check with the BLO, before signing the form. Unlike SIR Phase 1, no eligibility documents are to be submitted with EF in Phase 2; however, the fields regarding linkage to last SIR must mandatorily be filled to avoid a notice after the draft roll is published.