Sourav Ganguly & Lionel Messi (PTI)

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly has taken legal action against Uttam Saha, the president of the Argentina Fan Club of Kolkata, by filing a defamation case seeking Rs 50 crore in damages. The move follows allegations made by Saha linking Ganguly to the controversy surrounding the chaotic Yuva Bharati Stadium event during Lionel Messi’s visit to Kolkata on Saturday, December 13. The complaint, lodged at Lalbazar, states that Saha’s public remarks were baseless and caused serious damage to Ganguly’s reputation. Ganguly has termed the accusations “false, malicious, offensive and defamatory”, alleging that they were made with full knowledge of the harm they could cause to his public image.

Currently serving as the president of the Cricket Association of Bengal, Ganguly clarified in his complaint that he had no official role in organising or managing the Messi event. He maintained that his presence at the stadium was strictly as an invited guest and that he had no involvement in the planning or execution of the programme. The legal action adds a new dimension to the fallout from Messi’s much-hyped visit to Kolkata, which descended into disorder and sparked widespread criticism. Ganguly’s complaint specifically challenges claims made by Saha that he acted as a middleman in the management of the event, which was overseen by its main organiser, Satadru Dutta. “Serious allegations are being made publicly without any factual basis,” Ganguly stated in his filing. His legal representatives have since issued a notice to Saha, demanding a retraction of the statements and compensation for the alleged damage caused. Following the chaos at the venue, event organiser Satadru Dutta was detained for questioning by authorities. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee later issued a public apology on X, expressing regret over the mismanagement of the event and apologising to Lionel Messi as well as football fans in Kolkata who were unable to see the Argentine star properly. During the event at Yuva Bharati Stadium, Ganguly was present in a separate area of the venue. As the situation in the stands deteriorated, he was seen exiting the stadium, visibly disappointed by the turn of events. The Messi programme was widely criticised for poor planning and crowd control, leaving fans frustrated after paying hefty ticket prices in anticipation of a memorable experience. Instead, scenes of disorder dominated coverage, drawing national and international attention to shortcomings in the organisation of high-profile sporting events in India. The incident also revived debates around VIP culture at major sports functions. Reports and videos highlighted limited fan interaction with Messi, while officials and invited guests occupied the field area, further fuelling anger among supporters and adding to the backlash surrounding the event.

Ravichandran Ashwin (C), Ravindra Jadeja (L) and Vijay Shankar (R) (Photo by Prakash Singh/Getty Images)

Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has named his four favourites for the upcoming IPL season, notably leaving out his former franchise Chennai Super Kings. His selections come shortly after the IPL mini-auction held at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. Ashwin placed five-time champions Mumbai Indians at the top of his list. The Hardik Pandya-led side held on to their core during last month’s retention window and added further depth through trades, bringing in Sherfane Rutherford from Gujarat Titans, Mayank Markande from Kolkata Knight Riders, and Shardul Thakur from Lucknow Super Giants.

Mumbai Indians were also active at the auction, picking up Quinton de Kock for Rs 1 crore, along with Danish Malewar, Mohammed Izhar, Atharva Ankolekar, and Mayank Rawat, each for Rs 30 lakh. Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru were Ashwin’s second choice. RCB retained their key players before the auction and then added eight new names to their squad. Among their notable buys were Venkatesh Iyer for Rs 4 crore and Jacob Duffy for Rs 2 crore. RCB had claimed their maiden IPL title earlier this year. Ashwin rounded off his top four by backing Punjab Kings and Rajasthan Royals as contenders for the remaining playoff spots. Except for Rajasthan Royals, all the teams he mentioned had reached the playoffs last season. Ashwin shared his picks during an interaction on Mumbai Indians’ official Instagram handle. Rajasthan Royals, meanwhile, secured Ravi Bishnoi for Rs 7.20 crore at the auction. Prior to the auction, they had already strengthened their squad through trades, bringing in Ravindra Jadeja, Sam Curran, and Donovan Ferreira. Ashwin reserved special praise for Mumbai Indians’ acquisition of Quinton de Kock, suggesting the franchise moved decisively while others hesitated. He felt MI were attempting to recreate the balance of their IPL 2020 title-winning side, even without Ishan Kishan. “I think the Quinton de Kock buy was a good move. I think the other franchises were sleeping on their haunches, and MI snooped it up. I think MI are not sure about the Rickelton opening combination. I think MI are trying to replicate their IPL 2020 championship squad, only Ishan Kishan is not there,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel. Despite having a relatively small purse of Rs 2.75 crore, Ashwin felt Mumbai Indians made the most of their resources and significantly strengthened an already strong unit. “MI had 2.75 crore, but it was as if they had 27 crore, because they bought so many players. MI already had a winning squad before they went into the IPL auction, and now, after the auction, they look even stronger,” he added.

India-Pakistan Flags (AFP)

A leading Pakistani international kabaddi player, Ubaidullah Rajput, is staring at possible disciplinary action after his participation in a private tournament in Bahrain triggered a major controversy back home. The issue surfaced after images and videos of Rajput wearing an Indian jersey and waving the Indian flag during the GCC Cup on December 16 began circulating widely on social media. His appearance for a team labelled as India in the tournament immediately drew criticism and attention from officials in Pakistan.Also Watch:

Pakistan Kabaddi Federation secretary Rana Sarwar confirmed that an emergency meeting of the federation has been scheduled for December 27 to review the matter and decide on action against Rajput and several other players involved. Sarwar clarified that the event in Bahrain was a privately organised competition, where teams were named after countries such as India, Pakistan, Canada and Iran by the organisers. However, he stressed that each team was expected to comprise players from its own country. “I can confirm it was a private event with private teams formed under the names of India, Pakistan, Canada, Iran etc by the organisers. But all the teams had players of their own origin. Indian players represented the Indian private side and Ubaidullah played for them, which is unacceptable in these circumstances,” Sarwar said. He further revealed that 16 Pakistani players had travelled to Bahrain in their personal capacity without seeking approval from either the Pakistan Kabaddi Federation or the Pakistan Sports Board. “As a result, action will also be taken against these players for falsely playing under the name of the Pakistan team,” he added. Rajput, meanwhile, has issued a public apology and offered his explanation for the incident. He stated that he was invited to take part in the tournament and was selected for a private team, without initially being informed that the side would be presented as the Indian team. “I did not know until later that they had named the side as the Indian team, and I told the organisers not to use the names of India and Pakistan,” Rajput said. He also pointed out that in previous private competitions, Indian and Pakistani players have featured together in mixed teams, but never under national team identities. “I was not under the impression until I found out later that I was misrepresented as playing for the Indian team, which I can’t think of doing, especially after the conflict,” he added. The federation is now set to deliberate on the matter, with Rajput’s future participation hanging in the balance as officials weigh the circumstances surrounding his involvement in the Bahrain event.

Australia’s Mitchell Starc (AP Photo/Tertius Pickard)

Mitchell Starc delivered a blunt verdict on decision-review technology after Snicko once again became the centre of attention during the third Ashes Test in Adelaide, describing it as the “worst technology ever” following a series of controversial calls on Day 2. The debate around Snicko had already been raging since the opening day, sparked by a major moment involving Alex Carey. The Australia wicketkeeper survived a strong caught-behind appeal on 72 despite replays showing a noticeable spike. However, the sound appeared to register well before the ball reached the bat, leading third umpire Chris Gaffaney to conclude there was a “clear gap” between bat and ball. Carey went on to capitalise fully, scoring his maiden Ashes century and shaping Australia’s innings.

Questions over the technology resurfaced on Day 2, with England batter Jamie Smith finding himself at the heart of two close decisions in quick succession. In the 44th over, Pat Cummins appeared to glove Smith, with Usman Khawaja completing the catch at slip. With doubts over whether the ball had carried, on-field umpire Nitin Menon referred the decision upstairs. Despite Smith’s glove visibly moving, Snicko showed no spike, and Gaffaney ruled the ball had brushed Smith’s helmet instead, allowing him to continue. The ruling prompted an immediate and audible reaction from Starc, whose frustration was caught on the stump microphone. “Snicko needs to be sacked. It’s the worst technology ever,” Starc said. Confusion deepened just two overs later. Smith attempted a pull shot off Cummins and was caught behind by Carey, with Menon again sending the decision upstairs without a player review. This time, Snicko produced a spike a frame after the ball passed the bat, which was deemed enough evidence to overturn the on-field call and give Smith out, further fuelling questions over the system’s reliability. Carey had already admitted after Day 1 that he felt he may have edged the ball during his own reprieve, even though the technology failed to confirm it. “I thought there was a bit of a feather or some sort of noise when it passed the bat. It looked a bit funny on the replay, didn’t it, with the noise coming early?” Carey said. “If I were given out, I think I would have reviewed it — probably not confidently though. It was a nice sound as it passed the bat.” The wicketkeeper also made it clear he would not have walked, pointing to the technology’s verdict. “Snicko obviously didn’t line up, did it? That’s just the way cricket goes sometimes. You have a bit of luck, and maybe it went my way today.” BBG Sports, the company responsible for providing Snicko technology in Australian Tests, later acknowledged fault in Carey’s incident. Founder Warren Brennan explained that the error was likely due to the incorrect audio feed being used, adding another layer to a growing controversy that has overshadowed the Adelaide Test.

Australia’s Alex Carey (AP Photo/James Elsby)

Australia’s dominance in the Ashes 2025–26 continued to gather momentum in the third Test at the Adelaide Oval, with the hosts tightening their grip on the contest through a commanding all-round display. Asked to bat first, Australia posted a solid first-innings total of 371, built around a standout effort from wicketkeeper Alex Carey. Walking in under pressure, Carey produced a composed and decisive knock, scoring 106 off 143 balls to lift Australia to a strong position and ensure valuable runs down the order.

Carey’s influence did not end with the bat. He was equally sharp behind the stumps during England’s reply, playing a major role in dismantling the visitors’ batting line-up. By the close of Day 2, Carey had been involved in five dismissals, underlining his impact as Australia kept England firmly in check. With that performance, Carey achieved a rare Ashes milestone, becoming only the third player in the history of the series to score a century and register five dismissals in the same Test. He now finds himself in elite company alongside Adam Gilchrist and Matt Prior. England’s first innings never quite gained momentum after Australia’s total of 371. Openers Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley fell for 29 and 9, setting the tone for a difficult batting effort. Ollie Pope managed just three, while Joe Root was dismissed for 19. Harry Brook showed resistance with a well-made 45 but could not convert it into something more substantial. At stumps on Day 2, England were 213 for the loss of several key wickets, still trailing Australia by 158 runs. Captain Ben Stokes remained unbeaten on 45, with Jofra Archer providing late support on 30 not out, as the visitors looked to salvage their innings heading into Day 3.

Jasprit Bumrah (PTI Photo)

NEW DELHI: Jasprit Bumrah‘s explosive pace and unorthodox action make him one of world cricket’s most lethal weapons — but they also place an enormous strain on his body, a reality India must manage with care, former international cricketer Robin Uthappa has warned.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Speaking on JioStar’s Cricket Live, Uthappa underlined the importance of workload management for India’s pace spearhead, describing Bumrah as both a priceless asset and a physical risk if overused. “He is an absolute match-winner, and managing his workload is crucial,” Uthappa said. “Fast bowling is probably the toughest skill in the sport, and Bumrah does it at high pace with a demanding action.”

Bumrah was rested for the recent ODI series against South Africa and earlier against Australia, decisions that reflect India’s cautious approach. His return to the T20I side, however, had immediate impact, with the 32-year-old playing a key role in India’s emphatic 101-run victory in the series opener at Cuttack.“You want to protect that, but at the same time, you want him to play enough cricket,” Uthappa added. “We’ve seen glimpses of his brilliance, and hopefully he can build consistency over the next few games heading into the World Cup.”

The series itself has had its share of disruption, with the fourth T20I abandoned without a ball bowled due to dense smog, pushing the focus to the series decider in Ahmedabad — a must-win game for South Africa if they are to level the contest.Uthappa felt the visitors have shown competitiveness despite inconsistency. “South Africa have been very competitive, but a bit hot and cold. Their bowling has been good, but their batting has let them down at times,” he said, adding that the final match promises a fierce contest as the Proteas look to finish the tour strongly.Former South African pace legend Dale Steyn echoed that view, saying his team had “exceeded expectations” on the tour. “Winning the Test series was outstanding,” Steyn said. “If India win the T20I series, they deserve it. They’ve been the better team overall.”Steyn also reserved special praise for India’s young batting talent, singling out Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill. “I love watching a classical cover drive,” he said. “Gill, when he gets going, is elegant and pleasing on the eye. Even when you’re losing, you enjoy watching someone like that bat.”

India’s captain Suryakumar Yadav, right, with BCCI VP Rajeev Shukla, centre, at Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. (PTI Photo)

NEW DELHI: The abandonment of the fourth T20I between India and South Africa without a ball being bowled has triggered serious introspection within the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), with vice-president Rajeev Shukla admitting that the board may have to take drastic steps on winter scheduling in northern India.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The match at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Stadium was officially called off on Wednesday due to “excessive fog”, but the reality was a thick blanket of smog that sharply reduced visibility and raised concerns over player safety. It marked only the second instance in international cricket history of a match being abandoned due to fog.

Speaking exclusively to Times Now, Shukla acknowledged the gravity of the situation and hinted at a major policy rethink. “BCCI will have to rethink winter scheduling and stop matches in North India,” he said, adding that air pollution can no longer be treated as a routine inconvenience. “It is an emergency and needs to be treated like one.”The contest, scheduled to begin at 7 pm, was eventually abandoned around 9:30 pm after six inspections, though it had become clear much earlier that conditions would only deteriorate as the evening progressed. Players had curtailed their warm-ups by 7:30 pm, and by 9 pm, large sections of the crowd had begun leaving the stadium.

Air Quality Index (AQI) levels in Lucknow hovered above 400 — firmly in the ‘hazardous’ category — prompting visible concern. Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya was seen wearing a surgical mask during warm-ups, an image that quickly went viral and intensified scrutiny of BCCI’s scheduling choices.Shukla himself walked onto the field during one of the inspections, and his disappointed body language after speaking with match officials reflected the mood. With no reserve day available, both teams will now travel to Ahmedabad for the series decider on Friday, with India leading 2–1.The broader criticism centres on the venue selection for the South Africa tour, which spanned cities like New Chandigarh, Dharamsala and Lucknow during November and December — a period notorious for fog, cold and severe pollution in north India. Just last week, the Dharamsala T20I was played in sub-10-degree temperatures, with spinner Varun Chakravarthy admitting the conditions were “quite challenging”.

Snickometer controversy erupts in Adelaide. (ANI Photo)

The snickometer debate refused to die at the third Ashes Test as fresh flashpoints on Day 2 prompted Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc to deliver a brutal verdict on the technology, branding it “the worst technology ever” after another series of baffling decisions.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Snicko had already dominated discussion on the opening day following the controversial not-out call on Alex Carey, who went on to make his maiden Ashes century. Despite a visible spike on the audio graph during England’s caught-behind appeal, TV umpire Chris Gaffaney ruled that the noise came “before the bat” and that the ball had passed well underneath, adjudging Carey not out. England paid dearly for that decision.

The controversy deepened on Day 2 with England wicketkeeper-batter Jamie Smith at the centre of two key moments that again raised questions over the reliability of Snicko. In the 44th over, Pat Cummins induced what appeared to be a glove from Smith, with the ball ending up in Usman Khawaja’s hands at slip. Unsure whether the catch carried cleanly, Khawaja deferred to the umpires, and on-field official Nitin Menon sent it upstairs.Replays showed Smith’s glove moving as the ball passed, but Snicko failed to register any spike. The third umpire ruled that the ball had missed the glove and instead deflected off the helmet, giving Smith a reprieve. It was at this point that Starc’s frustration boiled over, with stump microphones capturing him saying, as quoted by ESPNCricinfo: “Snicko needs to be sacked. It’s the worst technology ever.”

Ironically, Snicko came into play again just two overs later — and this time worked against Smith. Attempting a pull shot off Cummins in the 46th over, Smith was caught behind by Carey. Menon sent the decision upstairs without an on-field verdict, and although the audio spike appeared a frame after the ball passed the bat, it was deemed sufficient evidence to give Smith out.The Snicko storm traces back to Day 1, when Carey himself admitted post-play that he heard “a bit of a feather or noise” when the ball passed his bat but chose not to walk, citing the unclear Snicko evidence. “Snicko obviously didn’t line up… you have a bit of luck, and maybe it went my way,” Carey said.Adding fuel to the controversy, BBG Sports founder Warren Brennan later acknowledged that an incorrect stump mic may have been selected during Carey’s review, with the company taking full responsibility for the error.

Hardik Pandya at Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. (PTI Photo)

NEW DELHI: The fourth T20I between India and South Africa in Lucknow on Wednesday was abandoned without a single ball being bowled due to “excessive fog,” a scenario that triggered widespread outrage among fans and renewed discussions on air quality and scheduling. Images of India all-rounder Hardik Pandya wearing a mask while warming up amid the dense smog went viral, highlighting the severity of the conditions. Fans at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium demanded refunds from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) as the match was finally called off at 9:25 pm after six separate inspections.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!While frustrating for spectators, such fog-induced abandonments are extremely rare in international cricket. The majority of matches are delayed or abandoned due to rain or wet outfields, making fog-caused cancellations an unusual occurrence.

Interestingly, the Lucknow T20I was not the first international match abandoned due to fog. In December 1998, the third Test between Pakistan and Zimbabwe at Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad faced a similar fate. Scheduled from December 17 to 21, the match saw no play across all five days. Thick fog enveloped the city, drastically reducing visibility and making batting, bowling, and fielding impossible.The umpires for that match, Saleem Badar from Pakistan and Doug Cowie from New Zealand, were left in a procedural bind. Cowie explained in an interview with The Dawn that the decision to abandon the match rested with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Zimbabwe Cricket, while the umpires continued inspections daily to assess the ground.

In a desperate bid to start the game, organisers even transported a super sopper from Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium to Faisalabad to prepare the field quickly in case the fog lifted, but it never did. The match was ultimately abandoned without a ball being bowled, and Zimbabwe went on to win the three-match series 1-0 — their first-ever series victory.Both the Faisalabad Test and the Lucknow T20I underscore just how rare fog-induced abandonments are in cricket. While mist, fog, or low visibility may cause delays or interruptions, matches called off entirely due to fog remain anomalies in international cricket history.