SRINAGAR\JAMMU: J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah expressed grave concern Saturday over Eid prayers being blocked at Srinagar’s historic Jamia Mosque, terming it “regrettable” and questioning LG Manoj Sinha-led administration’s claims of “normality” in the Union territory.“Across J&K, Eid prayers were offered. But prayers were not allowed at Jamia Mosque. It exposes the administration that controls security and law and order. They repeatedly say the situation is completely normal. What kind of normalcy is it when permission is not given to offer prayers at Srinagar’s biggest mosque,” Omar said at Hazratbal shrine.He expressed hope that such decisions would be reviewed and people would be allowed to offer prayers freely. Under J&K’s UT arrangement since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, police and security fall under LG Sinha’s jurisdiction.Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, the chief cleric of Kashmir who delivers sermons at Jamia Mosque, said he was placed under house arrest and the shrine was locked. Sharing pictures on X of the locked mosque, Mirwaiz pointed out that this was the seventh year of restrictions. “A day of celebration turned to grief and denial for Muslims. It’s an irony of our times that those who lock our mosques and Eidgahs are the first to wish us Eid Mubarak,” Mirwaiz wrote.LG Sinha was among the key public figures, apart from CM Omar, who extended Eid greetings to people. “The sacred festival embodies the noble spirit of sacrifice and the joy of sharing. May Eid usher in peace, prosperity and happiness for all,” the LG posted.Mirwaiz said he was placed under house arrest on Friday, with the authorities “choking lanes and bylanes with concertina wire and disallowing movement”. Since his release in Sept 2023 after four years of house arrest following Article 370’s scrapping, Mirwaiz has faced frequent restrictions, with the police detaining him at home ahead of Friday prayers and Eid.This time, J&K Police did not comment on the curbs, only saying prayers in Srinagar were held peacefully and urging people to celebrate with responsibility.In Jammu, though, the festival was marked by fervour, traditional gaiety and special prayers for an end to the West Asia conflict.People in festive attire thronged various sites. The main congregation was held at Eidgah, where thousands offered Eid namaz. Rattan Lal Gupta, Jammu chief of CM Omar’s National Conference (NC), visited the site, emphasising the region’s tradition of communal amity.NC MLA Bashir Ahmad Veeri lamented that global conflicts have led to rising prices and hardships. “We pray that wisdom prevails, the (Iran) war ends, and people get relief from suffering. We also pray for peace and brotherhood in our country,” Veeri said.

Mumbai: Ever wanted to teach painting, music or karate to municipal school students but didn’t know where to start? Or, as a corporate, looked to contribute to public spaces, healthcare or education but found no clear entry point?Starting April 2026, the BMC hopes to change that with the launch of its flagship civic engagement platform, “Participate Mumbai.” The initiative aims to bring citizens, institutions and corporates onto a single platform to contribute to the city’s development — from volunteering time and skills to supporting projects through in-kind orporate Social Responsibility (CSR) contributions.A dedicated digital portal will allow users to browse projects, submit proposals and sign up for volunteering opportunities, without the need to make any visits to ward offices. According to a civic circular issued on March 18, “In order to ensure structured coordination, transparency, and centralised monitoring of CSR initiatives undertaken in collaboration with the BMC, it has been decided that all CSR-related proposals and volunteering engagements shall be routed through the “Participate Mumbai” platform. Accordingly, all assistant commissioners, zonal deputy municipal commissioners, and concerned heads of departments are requested to ensure that CSR proposals received from corporate entities pertaining to provision of materials, services, equipment, infrastructure support to BMC institutions, or volunteering engagements are submitted in the prescribed formats and processed through the Participate Mumbai Cell.”Officials said a preliminary assessment indicates that nearly Rs 3,000 crore in CSR funds is available in Mumbai, which the civic body hopes to tap through the initiative.“This is essentially a marketplace we are creating. Once registered, applicants who wish to contribute or offer their time by teaching a skill maybe will be given a time slot and assigned a designated officer to take the proposal forward, cutting down on multiple rounds,” said Prashant Sapkale, deputy municipal commissioner (Zone 2). With approvals in place, the platform is slated to go live in April. The BMC is also considering a ‘wall of fame’ at its headquarters to recognise companies that make significant contributions.It may be recollected that on March 15, Mumbai BJP president MLA Ameet Satam wrote to Mumbai mayor Ritu Tawde and municipal commissioner Bhushan Gagrani, urging the BMC to create a dedicated CSR dashboard or a platform on its website that would give philanthropic organisations and individuals an opportunity to contribute.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) sidelined Shubman Gill from the T20I format despite assigning him the captain for the other two formats of the game. The decision to exclude Gill from the T20 International format was considered a bold statement by the national team selection committee, headed by Ajit Agarkar.

BCCI might have taken a significant decision to find out the best possible playing combination for the format, but for Gill, it could have hurt his pride. Former India cricketer, now a cricket expert and commentator, Cheteshwar Pujara believes that Gill could be on a different level as a batter in the upcoming IPL 2026, starting on March 28.

BCCI dropped Shubman Gill from T20Is ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026

Shubman Gill last featured in the T20I for India on December 14, 2025, against South Africa in Dharamshala. As the board assigned him to the Test and ODI formats, fans were expecting to see him in the T20Is as well. Proving most of the fans wrong, BCCI went on to win the T20 World Cup 2026 without the top-order batter.

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While Gill’s batting credibility remains beyond question, it was the strike rate that was considered one of the main reasons behind his omission from the format. If he wants to make a comeback in the T20I team again, then the IPL 2026 could be the best stage for him.

T20 World Cup squad snub will definitely fire up Shubman Gill: Shubman Gill

Pujara opined that the snub must be fired up at Shubman when he walks into the ground to play the IPL 2026 with the Gujarat Titans. The former cricketer said that if the batter performed strongly, then he would surely be named in the T20I team again.

“The T20 World Cup squad snub will definitely fire up Shubman Gill. He is a quality player suited for all three formats. If he has a good IPL 2026 season, he will surely put his name in India’s T20I squad.”

“He is leading the Test squad and is also the ODI captain. He is a multi-format player. If he has a good season, he will be back in the scheme of things for the Indian team,” Cheteshwar Pujara explained, speaking on JioHotstar’s ‘Game Plan – Know Your Team’ show.

Pujara asks Gill to increase the strike rate

Pujara suggested that Gibat with a little more intent. If he can score a significant amount of runs, under pressure, maintaining a strike rate around 160, then the selectors will bring him back into the T20I squad, Pujara said.

“There will be some pressure on him because he has not been part of the India squad in the shortest format. But at the same time, it is a great opportunity for him to carry on batting the way he has.”

“He needs to try to accelerate a little more because that is something he has been working on. This IPL season is the perfect one for him to show he can bat at a strike rate of 150 to 160,” Pujara added,” he added.

Read More: “Tu karlega..”: Shubman Gill backed Abhishek Sharma after ‘three ducks’ during T20 World Cup 2026

LUCKNOW: The Times of India Sports Awards (TOISA) 2025 brought together the biggest names and defining performances under one roof, honouring a year of achievement while offering a glimpse of what lies ahead. It was an evening that moved quickly, honoured widely, and showcased where Indian sport stands today.Smriti Mandhana led the Sportsperson of the Year honours in the female category, her season marked by authority and consistency. Alongside her, shooter Samrat Rana was recognised in the male category after creating history last year by becoming the first Indian world champion in the 10m air pistol – a defining breakthrough in his career.India’s sporting excellence in 2025 panned across disciplines. Nowhere was that more evident than in the Para Sportspersons of the Year: Sheetal Devi and Sumit Antil.Sheetal Devi’s rise has been defined by historic breakthroughs and medal-winning consistency. A world champion and Paralympic medallist, she has dominated compound archery while also breaking barriers, even earning selection in an able-bodied international squad, a first for an Indian para archer.

Sheetal Devi and Sumit Antil crowned ‘Para Sportspersons of the Year’

Sumit Antil, meanwhile, continues to set the benchmark in para athletics. A multiple-time Paralympic champion and world record holder, he added to his dominance with gold at the World Para Athletics Championships, consistently staying ahead of the field.From there, the ceremony gathered pace with a glittering roll call of the creme de la creme of Indian sports. The Indian women’s cricket team swept team honours, underlining a phase of dominance, while the Board of Control for Cricket in India was named Federation of the Year.“Once again, I would like to thank The Times of India for organising these awards. It is wonderful to see so many talented individuals here. Their achievements are truly extraordinary, and it is important that they are recognised,” said Rajiv Shukla, the BCCI vice-president while receiving the award on behalf of the board.Divya Deshmukh, named Emerging Sportsperson of the Year, signalled a new generation ready for the global stage, while Leander Paes was honoured as Mentor of the Year.

Yogi Adityanath at TOISA 2025

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath bestowed the top honours at the glittering ceremony held at The Centrum in Lucknow.Yet, TOISA 2025 was as much about messaging as it was about recognition. As chief guest, Adityanath laid out a clear policy direction, emphasising the need to build sport from the grassroots up.“We are working to ensure that every district becomes a centre of sporting activity, where facilities, coaching and opportunities are accessible to all. From village-level competitions to international platforms, our aim is to create a seamless pathway for athletes,” he said.He also highlighted the state’s progress in developing sports infrastructure. “Over the past 11–12 years, a sports culture has developed in the country. Inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we have taken this forward in Uttar Pradesh since 2017,” he added.“On behalf of the Uttar Pradesh government, I once again welcome all of you. I thank The Times of India Group… for organising this wonderful platform that recognises excellence and inspires the next generation,” he concluded.Among other major winners, Amol Muzumdar was named Coach of the Year for guiding the women’s team to a historic ICC ODI World Cup title, while Subhash Rana won Para Coach of the Year.Shubman Gill and Deepti Sharma were named Cricketers of the Year, while Neeraj Chopra and Rupal Chaudhary took Track & Field honours.

Superstars at TOISA 2025

The evening also reflected on the legacy. Mithali Raj and PR Sreejesh were honoured with Lifetime Achievement awards, celebrating careers that shaped Indian sport’s global identity. The forward gaze came from Devendra Jhajharia, who spoke of a 50-medal target at the LA 2028 Paralympics; not as ambition, but as expectation.The tone, however, had been set at the very start. In his keynote, Prasad Sanyal, Group Business Head of TOI, Indiatimes, and WhatsHot, captured the essence of the evening: “More sweat, more glory – that is the journey Indian sport continues to embrace.”This was the eighth edition of TOISA, celebrating the journeys and achievements of India’s finest athletes across more than 45 sporting categories, covering performances from January 1 to December 31, 2025, a year that once again showcased Indian sport’s growing depth, consistency, and ambition.TOISA 2025 Winners List: Samrat Rana, Smriti Mandhana bag top honours; Sheetal Devi wins female Para Sportsperson of the Year

NBA Star LeBron James (Image via Getty)

LeBron James has played against some of the toughest players in basketball history. He is big, strong, and fast. But this week, “The King” met a new opponent that he did not want to fight- a sneaky alligator!LeBron was playing golf with his son, Bronny James. They were having a fun, relaxing day in the sun. Everything was going well until LeBron hit his ball near a small pond.

LeBron James nearly risks it all during golf game before spotting alligator nearby

When LeBron went to get his ball, he saw something moving in the water. It wasn’t another golfer or a bird. It was a real alligator! The alligator was sitting very still, just watching LeBron. It looked like it was waiting for him to come closer.LeBron stopped immediately. He didn’t want to get too close to the water’s edge. He knew that even though he is a superstar, an alligator is much more dangerous than a basketball player.Someone in the group started filming the moment. In the video, you can hear LeBron talking about the gator. He was being very careful.“He is sneaky,” LeBron said to his friends. “If I go down there and he goes under the water, it’s over! I am not playing with him today.”Bronny and his friends thought it was hilarious. They were laughing and joking while LeBron stayed far away from the pond. LeBron knew that the alligator had the “home court advantage.”LeBron is famous for being a very smart player on the basketball court. This moment showed that he is smart in real life, too. He didn’t try to be a hero. He didn’t try to scare the alligator away with his golf club.Instead, LeBron made a simple choice. He left the ball where it was. He decided that a cheap golf ball was not worth getting bitten by a swamp monster. He took a “penalty,” which means he just started his next shot from a safe spot further away.The Los Angeles Lakers are probably very happy that LeBron is safe. He might be the King of the basketball court, but he knows that the alligator is the King of the swamp! From now on, LeBron might stay far away from the water when he plays golf.

File photo: UK PM Keir Starmer (Picture credit: AP)

Britain has assured Cyprus that its military bases on the island will not be used for offensive action in the Iran conflict, even as London strengthens protective measures around the Republic of Cyprus amid regional tensions.As per news agency Reuters, the assurance was conveyed during a phone call between British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides, and was later disclosed by the Cypriot government on Saturday.