Lionel Messi (Image credit: PTI)

NW DELHI: Lionel Messi’s much-anticipated stop in Kolkata during the G.O.A.T. Tour of India 2025 descended into disorder on Saturday, as poor crowd management and security lapses overshadowed what was meant to be a landmark event for Indian football fans. Thousands packed the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (Salt Lake Stadium) hoping to see the Argentine great, only to leave frustrated and disappointed.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Messi’s appearance at the stadium was fleeting. Surrounded by a dense security ring and a large entourage, the World Cup winner was unable to complete his planned lap of honour as the crowd surged uncontrollably.

What was scheduled to be a nearly two-hour programme — including interactions with prominent personalities such as Shah Rukh Khan, Sourav Ganguly and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee — was cut short to under 30 minutes, prompting visible anger in the stands.As tensions rose, bottles were thrown and chairs damaged, exposing serious gaps in crowd control at one of the country’s biggest sporting venues.

Lionel Messi GOAT tour of India: What led to the chaos at Salt Lake Stadium?

Many ticket-holders, including those who paid premium prices, complained that they failed to see Messi at all — either in person or on the stadium’s big screens — despite waiting for hours. The presence of politicians and dignitaries occupying key areas further limited visibility, adding to the sense of exclusion among fans.Outside the stadium, disgruntled supporters told the media that Messi had remained on the field only briefly before being escorted away for safety reasons.The chaos stood in sharp contrast to the earlier mood in the city. Earlier in the day, Messi had virtually unveiled a 70-foot iron statue of himself at the Sree Bhumi Sporting Club in Lake Town, depicting him holding the FIFA World Cup trophy — a moment that drew widespread admiration.However, the scenes at Salt Lake Stadium ultimately cast a shadow over Kolkata’s hosting of the global icon, raising serious questions about event planning and security as Messi’s India tour moves ahead.

The 15th edition of the Big Bash League (BBL 15) will run from 14 December 2025 to 25 January 2026, featuring eight franchises, 40 league matches and a four-game playoff series across 11 iconic Australian venues. Hobart Hurricanes enter as defending champions after claiming their maiden title in the previous season, adding extra intrigue to a campaign already stacked with international stars such as Shaheen Afridi, Babar Azam, Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell and David Warner.​

BBL 2025-26: Format

Organized by Cricket Australia, BBL 15 sticks to the familiar Twenty20 template with a league phase followed by Qualifier, Knockout, Challenger and Final, mirroring recent seasons. The tournament retains eight core teams – Perth Scorchers, Sydney Sixers, Adelaide Strikers, Melbourne Renegades, Brisbane Heat, Hobart Hurricanes, Sydney Thunder and Melbourne Stars – with a total of 44 matches, including playoffs.​

Each side plays a compact round-robin slate amounting to 40 league fixtures before the top four advance to the finals. The 1st and 2nd placed teams meet in the Qualifier on 20 January, while 3rd and 4th contest the Knockout on 21 January; the Qualifier winner moves straight into the Final, and the loser gets a second chance in the Challenger on 23 January against the Knockout winner, with the champion decided in the Final on 25 January 2026.

BBL 2025-26: Fixtures

Also READ: BBL|15: Check out the full list of Pakistan and Bangladesh players playing in the Big Bash League

BBL 2025-26: Squads

Adelaide Strikers: Matthew Short (c), Alex Carey, Hassan Ali, Cameron Boyce, Jordan Buckingham, Mackenzie Harvey, Thomas Kelly, Chris Lynn, Harry Nielsen, Jamie Overton, Lloyd Pope, Alex Ross, Jason Sangha, Liam Scott, Tom Straker, Henry Thornton, Luke Wood

Brisbane Heat: Usman Khawaja (c), Colin Munro, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Tom Alsop, Xavier Bartlett, Max Bryant, Lachlan Hearne, Matt Kuhnemann, Nathan McSweeney, Michael Neser, Jimmy Peirson, Matt Renshaw, Callum Vidler, Hugh Weibgen, Jack Wildermuth, Spencer Johnson

Hobart Hurricanes: Nathan Ellis (c), Tim David, Ben McDermott, Riley Meredith, Billy Stanlake, Matthew Wade, Beau Webster, Jake Weatherald, Chris Jordan, Rishad Hossain, Rehan Ahmed, Mac Wright, Iain Carlisle, Nikhil Chaudhary, Fergus O’Neill, Ollie Peake

Melbourne Renegades: Will Sutherland (c), Tim Seifert, Adam Zampa, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Caleb Jewell, Jason Behrendorff, Josh Brown, Harry Dixon, Brendan Doggett, Nathan Lyon, Hassan Khan, Ollie Peake, Mohammad Rizwan, Tom Rogers

Melbourne Stars: Marcus Stoinis (c), Glenn Maxwell, Hilton Cartwright, Joe Clarke, Tom Curran, Mark Steketee, Scott Boland, Mitchell Swepson, Haris Rauf, Tom Rogers, Peter Siddle, Liam Hatcher, Hamish McKenzie

Perth Scorchers: Ashton Turner (c), Mitchell Marsh, Finn Allen, Cooper Connolly, Aaron Hardie, Sam Fanning, Nick Hobson, Ashton Agar, Jhye Richardson, Bryce Jackson, Matthew Kelly, Lance Morris, Joel Paris, David Payne, Mahli Beardman

Sydney Sixers: Moises Henriques (c), Steve Smith, Babar Azam, Sean Abbott, Joel Davies, Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Todd Murphy, Kane Richardson, Jordan Silk, Lachlan Shaw, Josh Philippe, Hayden Kerr, Sam Curran

Sydney Thunder: David Warner (c), Sam Billings, Lockie Ferguson, Daniel Sams, Chris Green, Cameron Bancroft, Wes Agar, Ollie Davies, Shadab Khan, Matthew Gilkes, Tanveer Sangha, Ryan Hadley, Sam Konstas, Nathan McAndrew, Tom Andrews, Ravichandran Ashwin, Blake Nikitaras

Also READ: From Shaheen Afridi to Sam Curran: Full list of overseas players selected in the BBL|15 draft

DEHRADUN: Nineteen years ago, during Indian Military Academy’s passing out parade, then-President APJ Abdul Kalam bent down and held the hands of a bright-eyed three-year-old boy standing beside his father. “Ye fauji ka haath hai (These are the hands of a soldier),” he told the child. On Saturday, those words came full circle on the same parade ground as a strapping young man got commissioned into the Indian Army.Lieutenant Harmanmeet Singh’s commissioning marked the continuation of a family tradition that stretches back to the early years of independent India. He is the fourth generation from his family to don the olive green, following a legacy that began with his great-grandfather, late Subedar Partap Singh, who joined the Army in 1948. He was followed by Harmanmeet’s grandfather, late Sepoy Daljeet Singh, and his grand-uncles — late Major Bhagwant Singh and Col Ujagar Singh (retd).The 22-year-old Kanpur native was awarded the Silver Medal at the Cadets Training Wing of Military College of Telecommunication Engineering under the technical entry scheme (46th course). He will serve with 6 Maratha Light Infantry, the regiment commanded by his father, Colonel Harmeet Singh.Col Harmeet graduated from IMA on Dec 9, 2000 — almost exactly 25 years before his son marched out of the gates. The Army, he said, had always been part of Harmanmeet’s world. Watching his father in uniform, Harmanmeet insisted on a miniature Army outfit with matching insignia and badges. “It was his favourite attire. Even as a three-year-old in kindergarten, he told his teacher he wanted to be a Gentleman Cadet,” Col Harmeet said.Between 2005 and 2007, Col Harmeet served as an instructor at IMA. It was during this period, in Dec 2006, that President Kalam visited as the reviewing officer for the PoP, at which he shook Harmanmeet’s tiny hand.Harmanmeet topped both Class X and Class XII. Though his father suggested he consider IIT — a path no one in the family had taken — Harmanmeet remained resolute about the Army. “He trained at the Officers Training Academy in Gaya under the technical entry scheme, spent three years at CTW at Military Headquarters of War near Indore, and reported to IMA in November,” said Col Harmeet.Harmanmeet’s mother, Harveen Reen — whom Col Harmeet calls their pillar of strength — said there could be no greater pride than seeing her husband and son serve the country together.For Lt Harmanmeet, the journey felt both inevitable and overwhelming. “I couldn’t dream of anything else after seeing my father in uniform and witnessing PoPs at IMA when he was an instructor. Today, I finally realised my dream,” he said.

Mumbai: A 36-year-old woman was arrested on Dec 11 by Goregaon police for allegedly blackmailing and extorting Rs 1.5 crore from a prominent city lawyer. She is in police custody and is being interrogated in connection with the extortion case. Investigators have identified four family members as co-conspirators and launched a special operation to arrest them. Police said the accused ensnared the lawyer in a honey trap, blackmailed him and threatened him for extortion. “In May 2024, he was introduced to the accused woman through a mutual friend. The accused, a resident of Jodhan-Jagatpur in Solan, Himachal Pradesh. After this introduction, they became good friends. In June 2024, he went to Geneva. During this time, the accused called him, and she was crying on the phone, so he inquired about her well-being. She said that her relatives were seriously ill and requested financial assistance of five lakh rupees. He then transferred two and a half lakh rupees to her online,” said a Goregaon police officer.The officer added that she later claimed she needed Rs 2.5 lakh for modelling work. During their conversation he had told her that he was married and had a daughter. In his complaint the lawyer said: “Despite this, she was still trying to persuade me to have a physical relationship with her. After that, she continuously demanded money from me citing various reasons. Sometimes she would say it was for shooting, and other times that she needed to go to her village, asking me to send Rs10 lakhs and Rs3 lakhs.“Another officer said the lawyer met her at the airport and gave her Rs3 lakhs and handed over another Rs10 lakhs to her sister. “In July 2024, the two of them went on a trip to Bali. There, she again demanded twenty lakh rupees from him. Since the Bali trip had been very expensive, he refused to give her the money,” said the officer. According to the FIR, the lawyer said: “Because of her continuous demands for money, I became somewhat cautious and decided to distance from her. When she realized this, she sent me some obscene photos of their physical relationship. She threatened to file a case against me for molestation and sexual assault if I didn’t meet her demands.”Police said she was blackmailing him by threatening to defame him on social media and in society. Fearing defamation, he paid another Rs 15 lakh between July 2024 and July 2025. Unwilling to endure further threats, the lawyer filed a complaint in October. The accused was arrested on Dec 11 and produced before the local court in Borivli, which remanded her to police custody. The police are currently searching for her parents and both sisters.

Kulendra Sharma at police station on Saturday

GUWAHATI: A retired junior warrant officer of the IAF has been arrested in Assam’s Tezpur on charges of spying for Pakistan, police said on Saturday. Kulendra Sharma has been booked under BNS for waging war against India, criminal conspiracy, endangering the country’s sovereignty, unity and integrity, and destroying evidence.Sonitpur district DSP (border) Haricharan Bhumij said Sharma’s phones and laptops were seized. “From our sources and the gadgets, we discovered he shared sensitive defence-related documents and information with the Pakistani intelligence agency. Identity of those with whom he shared information is being verified,” he said.Four persons were also arrested in Arunachal Pradesh on espionage charges in the state over the last few weeks. Three of them are from Kupwara district in Kashmir, while the identity of the fourth has not yet been disclosed by police.DSP Bhumij said Sharma’s electronic devices revealed that he shared crucial information related to national security “and received instructions from the other side on WhatsApp”. The seized mobiles and laptops will be sent to the forensic lab for further analysis. Police, after receiving confidential information about Sharma’s Pakistani connections, picked him up from his house in Patiachuburi locality of Tezpur.Sharma retired from IAF in 2002, and worked as a technical assistant in the department of electronics and communication engineering at Tezpur University before leaving his job three years ago.Tezpur is the headquarters of the Army’s IV Corps and has vast parts of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, including the Tawang frontier, under its operational jurisdiction. At Salonibari, just on the outskirts of Tezpur, IAF’s Sukhoi base is located.In Arunachal, Hilal Ahm-ed (26), a J&K resident, was apprehended from Aalo in West Siang district, while an unidentified individual was arrested at Miao in Changlang. Hilal, who arrived in Aalo from Papum Pare district on Nov 25 to sell clothes at a trade fair, was sending sensitive information to his handlers, police said. On Nov 22, Itanagar police arrested Nazir Ahmad Malik and Sabir Ahmed Mir, also from J&K and in touch with Pakistani handlers.

NEW DELHI: After a massive nationwide operation, Central Board of Direct Taxes acted against several intermediaries involved in filing income tax returns with bogus claims of deductions and exemptions under the Income Tax Act.The move followed actions in July 2025, covering 150 premises, during which more than 102 suspicious RUPPs were identified for their role in facilitating bogus donation-linked deductions. Data analytics had flagged over 2 lakh taxpayers who claimed suspicious deductions under Section 80GGC, adding up to Rs 5,500 crore routed through suspicious or non-existent RUPPs and a similar amount of bogus donations to non-genuine charitable organisations, said officials.The enforcement findings have also prompted reversals of bogus deductions by taxpayers. Around 54,000 have already corrected their filings and withdrawn ineligible claims worth approximately Rs 1,400 crore and updated their returns after CBDT nudged them to revise their returns.Most of these taxpayers claimed deductions below Rs 5 lakh and a few companies claimed very high deductions.The exercise also revealed how intermediaries had established networks of agents to file returns with incorrect claims on commission basis. An intermediary was found to be advertising guaranteed refunds in cinema halls and on social media. It was found that there was a syndicate of professionals who was operating through WhatsApp and Telegram channels to find taxpayers looking at reducing tax liability through fake donations to RUPPs or charitable organisations.Instances of misuse of CSR-linked trusts, which facilitated bogus donation receipts in exchange for cash-back, were found during the probe.“It was observed that huge amounts of bogus claims have been made on account of donation RUPPs or charitable institutions and reduced their tax obligations and have also claimed bogus refunds.Evidence gathered from enforcement actions indicated that RUPPs many of which were non-filers, non-operational at their registered addresses, and are not engaged in any political activity were being used as conduits for routing funds, hawala transactions, cross border remittances and issuing bogus receipts for donations,” an official statement said.

GCL set to kick off in Mumbai on Sunday

NEW DELHI: The Global Chess League (GCL) launched its Season 3 with an opening ceremony in Mumbai’s Royal Opera House on Saturday. The event showcased the championship trophy for this year’s competition, which will feature six teams competing across 34 matches starting December 14th.“The Global Chess League has firmly established itself as one of the premier destinations for chess, bringing elite competition to a global audience in a fresh, modern, and exciting format. The GCL has an important role in FIDE’s strategic effort to popularise the sport and make it more attractive to the broader audience. I am certain that Season 3 will continue this evolution, showcasing the world’s best players and reinforcing FIDE’s commitment to making top-level chess more engaging, inclusive, and globally accessible,” said Arkady Dvorkovich, President, FIDE.

The Triveni Continental Kings, led by Alireza Firouzja, Vidit Gujrathi, and Zhu Jiner, return as two-time champions seeking their third consecutive title.“India is the biggest country in chess right now. Playing here is very exciting, and I am looking forward to it,” said Firouzja at the pre-tournament press conference.The tournament features elite players including Alireza Firouzja, Fabiano Caruana, Hikaru Nakamura, Wesley So, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Hou Yifan, Zhu Jiner, Bibisara Assaubayeva, Alexandra Kosteniuk, and India’s Vishwanathan Anand.This season introduces a two-second increment after the 40th move.“I love having two seconds, even if it is after move forty. I grew up without increments, but it’s nice to have them anyway. Last year I played without increments and lost out on time!” noted Ganges Grandmasters’ Anand.“Increments are good because they add more good qualities to the game,” added Volodar Murzin of American Gambits.India’s chess prominence is highlighted by World Champion Gukesh D, alongside Arjun Erigaisi, R Praggnanandhaa, and Vidit Gujrathi.“I am happy that the Global Chess League is happening in India. It’s a great opportunity for all the Indian chess fans to come and watch the top players in the world. I am quite excited, looking forward to it,” said Erigaisi, who teams up with Gukesh for Alaskan Knights.The venue offers enhanced spectator experience with real-time commentary through headphones, AI-powered evaluation displays, and visual breakdowns.“World Rapid and Blitz (Championships) are for everyone. It’s a difficult year in GCL with many big games. We have the champion of the Grand Swiss, the World Cup. Having a shorter-format event before the championship is definitely good for our preparations,” said SG Pipers’ Praggnanandhaa.The tournament follows a double round-robin format over 10 days, with teams playing 10 group-stage matches before the Third-Place Playoff and Grand Finale on December 23.“Very excited to be here and to play in Mumbai. It’s a great feeling to see the league come to this city, and I hope fans come out to watch, feel the atmosphere, and experience the excitement up close,” said Mumba Masters’ Dronavalli.The season begins with an opening match between Triveni Continental Kings and Alpine SG Pipers.

KOCHI: The results of Kerala’s local body elections signal a significant shift in the state’s political landscape, with the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) emerging as the dominant force across most tiers of local governance. The UDF recorded notable gains at the expense of the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF), which struggled to defend several strongholds.The elections, widely seen as a bellwether ahead of the 2026 assembly polls, also highlight a limited but visible expansion by the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), particularly in urban centres such as Thiruvananthapuram. The UDF secured victories in four of the six corporations, reclaiming key cities from the LDF, which had dominated urban areas in 2020. Kollam, Kochi, Thrissur, and Kannur fell to the UDF, marking important inroads into long-held Left bastions.

The BJP-led NDA achieved a breakthrough by winning the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, while Kozhikode remained the LDF’s sole corporate stronghold. The UDF surge extended to municipalities, winning 54 of 86 seats and making gains in urban and semi-urban districts such as Ernakulam, Alappuzha, Malappuram, Kottayam and parts of Palakkad. The front also regained ground in Pathanamthitta and Idukki. The LDF retained control in certain traditional bastions—including parts of Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Kozhikode, and Kannur municipalities.The NDA maintained a smaller presence but registered notable wins, retaining Palakkad municipality and capturing Tripunithura.Commenting on the Thiruvananthapuram win, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “Thank you Thiruvananthapuram! The mandate the BJP-NDA got in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation is a watershed moment in Kerala’s politics. The people are certain that the development aspirations of the state can only be addressed by our Party. Our Party will work towards this vibrant city’s growth and boost ‘Ease of Living’ for the people.“Everything that happened throughout the day

NDA: 21 seatsLDF: 20 seatsUDF: 12 seatsOthers: 0 seats

Some issues were reported at a few centres, including Thiruvananthapuram, Palakkad, and Vadakara, over entry of booth agents and candidates.The results are seen as an important indicator ahead of the 2026 Kerala assembly elections, shaping the future campaigning strategies of political parties and fronts in the state.The oath-taking ceremonies for elected panchayat members and municipal councillors will be held at 10 am on December 21, while corporation councillors will take oath at 11am the same day.

The five-match series shifts to the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) Stadium in Dharamshala for the 3rd T20I, with the series level at 1-1 after South Africa’s win in the last game. This scenic, high-altitude venue is famous for fast outfields, extra bounce, and dramatic conditions, promising a different challenge than the Mullanpur track.

Historically, the ground offers an even contest between bat and ball, with average first innings scores in the T20 format often in the 137-152 range, although recent IPL games have seen scores breach 200, indicating a potential for high-scoring matches. The pitch is known to offer good carry for pacers, aiding initial seam movement, but the true bounce also favors fluent strokeplay once the batters are set.

IND vs SA, 3rd T20I: Dharamshala Weather Forecast

The match on Sunday, December 14, 2025, is expected to be played in cold conditions with temperatures ranging between a maximum of 14°C and a minimum of 9°C during the evening. While the high-altitude weather is volatile, current forecasts predict generally clear skies with a low chance of rain (some sources suggest a slight possibility of light drizzle).The cool, crisp December air at this altitude (approx. 1,300–1,450 meters) is ideal for spectators but challenging for player’s grip. The main weather-related concern remains the dew factor rather than rain interruptions, ensuring a full match is likely.

IND vs SA, 3rd T20I: Dew Factor

The significant altitude of the HPCA Stadium, combined with the typical cool December evening, causes a heavy build-up of dew after sunset. This dew is expected to be a major game-changer, causing the ball to get wet, slick, and difficult to grip for bowlers in the second innings. The wet ball skids on the notoriously quick outfield, further aiding the chasing side by making it easier to hit through the line and concede boundaries. This effect neutralizes the threat of both spinners and pacers late in the game, amplifying the advantage for the team batting second, a characteristic seen in high-altitude night games here.

Also READ: GOAT India tour 2025: When Virat Kohli, Sachin Tendulkar and MS Dhoni picked between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo

IND vs SA, 3rd T20I: Toss Prediction

Captains will likely choose to bowl first upon winning the toss for these key reasons:

• Dew Advantage: The significant evening dew makes bowling in the second innings extremely difficult, substantially boosting the chances of the team batting second.
• HPCA History: Although T20I wins are slightly balanced, the consistent presence of heavy dew strongly suggests the chasing team is highly favored in night games at this venue.
• Pacer’s Early Benefit: Bowling first allows the pace attack to exploit the extra bounce and potential seam/swing offered by the pitch with the hard, dry new ball before the dew settles.
• Batting Comfort: The high-altitude pitch provides true bounce and a fast outfield which is ideal for stroke-making, especially when the ball is wet and skidding on later in the match.

Also READ: David Willey drops a truth bomb on why veteran overseas players are shifting from IPL to PSL

Mumbai: To encourage cleanliness and increase participation of citizens in maintaining cleanliness in the city, the BMC will conduct a cleanliness competition named ‘Swachhata Manthan’ from Jan 1, 2026 to December 2026 in various categories such as a BMC ward, residential complex, commercial establishment, hospital, school, restaurant, gardens, roads/streets and market area among others with a total prize money of over Rs 4 crore. Celebrities and citizens will also be encouraged to adopt an area, while housing societies will be encouraged to adopt surrounding areas and maintain cleanliness there. In the clean residential complex category, the first prize will be Rs 15 lakh, the second prize is Rs 10 lakh and third being Rs 5 lakh.The clean commercial establishment category will have the same prize money.The categories in the competition also include clean slum area, clean community toilets, clean roads/streets, clean gardens and open spaces. Winners in each category will receive cash prizes and certificates. According to the civic body, celebrities and citizens will be encouraged to adopt an area or housing societies to adopt surrounding areas and maintain cleanliness there, through this competition. Chief Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde have appealed to citizens and private establishments to participate in large numbers in this competition.For the special category of adopting surrounding areas for cleanliness, the first prize will be Rs 15 lakh, second Rs 10 lakh, third Rs 5 lakh. The evaluation of the entire competition will be carried out through a third-party agency. A grand prize distribution ceremony will be organized in December 2026 in the presence of the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister. Renowned film actor Akshay Kumar has expressed his willingness to voluntarily participate in all the initiatives.According to a civic release, celebrities from the field of films, sports and other fields, besides other citizens, should adopt an area and encourage others to participate in this competition and help maintain cleanliness. Similarly, housing societies should adopt surrounding areas and maintain cleanliness there. The application procedure for the competition, various categories for the competition, details of prizes and other details will be announced soon. Civic officials pointed out that the parameters for the competition will be set and evaluation of the competition will be carried out by BMC with the help of third party consultancy firms.