Cricket

Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell has lifted the lid on the internal turmoil that plagued the Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) franchise during his tenure from 2014 to 2017. In his recently released book, Maxwell reveals the power struggle between himself and then-mentor Virender Sehwag, which ultimately led to his departure from the team.Maxwell's arrival in Punjab coincided with a successful 2014 season, where he amassed 552 runs at a strike rate of over 187. However, his fortunes took a downturn in 2017, and his role within the team came under scrutiny. The appointment of Sehwag as mentor marked a shift in power dynamics, with Sehwag asserting his authority over team selection and other decisions.Maxwell's frustration grew as Sehwag's decisions often seemed illogical. In one instance, Sehwag excluded Maxwell from a WhatsApp group used for team selection. Maxwell's public criticism of Sehwag further strained their relationship, leading to a public outburst from Sehwag after a poor performance against Pune.Maxwell was removed from the main WhatsApp group and publicly criticized by Sehwag, who blamed him for the team's failures. Maxwell responded by expressing his disappointment and stating that he had lost respect for Sehwag. The rift between the two deepened, and Maxwell ultimately informed the owners that he would not continue with the team if Sehwag remained.Sehwag's tenure at Punjab lasted only one more season, while Maxwell moved on to other franchises. In his book, Maxwell reflects on the challenges he faced during his time at Punjab and the lessons he learned from the experience.

Pakistan's offspinner Sajid Khan has emerged as a thorn in England's side, not only with his on-field antics but also with his cunning tactics. Beyond his signature mustache twirls and thigh thumps, Khan has found a novel way to unsettle the English: exploiting the bilingualism of their spin bowlers.During the fourth ball of the 86th over, Khan and teammate Saud Shakeel engaged in a seemingly innocuous conversation in Urdu, unaware that the stump mic was capturing their words. However, Khan's true intentions were far from innocent."We were only doing that [speaking loudly in Urdu] to deceive the bowlers," Khan revealed. "Rehan and Shoaib understand Urdu, so to fool them, we wanted them to hear we were only looking for the single."The strategy worked to perfection. The English bowlers, assuming Pakistan was playing defensively, adjusted their field accordingly. This gave Khan the opportunity to unleash his power, launching Shoaib Bashir over midwicket for a six.Khan's deception continued in the following over, where he plundered two more sixes and a boundary off Bashir. The English bowlers, now thoroughly bamboozled, spread the field out, only to see Khan clear the rope with ease.England's spin bowler Rehan Ahmed, while acknowledging Khan's impressive innings, dismissed the claims of deception. "He didn't fool me at all, he just said it for the media," Ahmed said. "I didn't even hear him."Despite Ahmed's denial, Khan's tactics have undoubtedly played a role in Pakistan's growing lead. By exploiting the language barrier, Khan has created confusion and doubt in the minds of the English bowlers, giving Pakistan a significant advantage.

Pakistan's spinners Sajid Khan and Noman Ali wreaked havoc on England's batting lineup, leaving the visitors reeling at 24-3 on the second day of the series-deciding third Test in Rawalpindi.England, chasing a target of 345, had a disastrous start as Sajid dismissed Ben Duckett for 12, while Noman Ali removed Zak Crawley (two) and Ollie Pope (one) in quick succession. The English batsmen were unable to cope with the sharp turn and bounce generated by the Pakistani spinners on a turning pitch.As bad light ended the day's play with five overs remaining, Joe Root and Harry Brook were at the crease on five and three respectively. England still need 53 runs to avoid an innings defeat with seven wickets in hand and three days left to play.The series is tied at 1-1 after England won the first Test by an innings and 47 runs while Pakistan took the second by 152 runs, both in Multan.On a day dominated by spin, Saud Shakeel's brilliant 134 was the highlight, pulling Pakistan within touching distance of a first home Test series win since they defeated South Africa in February 2021.Shakeel anchored Pakistan's innings, lifting them from a precarious 177-7 to 344 all out. "We had an idea that this pitch will help spinners so with that in mind I prepared myself," said Shakeel, admitting it was one of his best knocks.The left-hander held Pakistan's innings together with a gritty knock spread over 322 minutes and 223 balls, hitting just five boundaries. "A hundred is a hundred and it's the best feeling and now we are in the best stage of the match."But leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed, who was the pick of the England bowlers, said his team had plenty of fight left. "I think we are still quite positive with so much batting to come so we are still very positive in the changing room come tomorrow," he said.Ahmed took 4-66 while off-spinner Shoaib Bashir finished with 3-129.Defiant ShakeelThe 29-year-old Shakeel defied England with an eighth wicket stand of 88 alongside Noman who made 45 before falling in the final over ahead of the tea break to spinner Bashir. Shakeel added another 72 for the ninth wicket with Sajid who scored an unbeaten career-best 48.Shakeel was finally caught off a miscued pull off pacer Gus Atkinson while Ahmed dismissed the last man Zahid Mahmood for nought.The visitors looked to be in control when young spinner Ahmed bagged three quick wickets to leave Pakistan teetering at the end of the first session. England were eyeing a lead after Ahmed's burst left Pakistan on 187-7 at lunch but the Shakeel-Noman stand turned those expectations into frustration.Shakeel batted with composure and reached his fourth Test hundred with a single off Rehan in a resistance-packed innings. Noman -- surviving a leg-before decision on review and a dropped catch off Root -- assisted Shakeel admirably, hitting a six and two fours as the duo helped Pakistan add 80 in the second session.Rehan sent Mohammad Rizwan (25), Salman Agha (one) and Aamer Jamal (14) back to the pavilion and threatened to derail Pakistan. England's frontline spinners Jack Leach and Bashir could not extract the same sharp turn from the pitch as rival Sajid Khan, who took 6-128 on Thursday.Pakistan resumed the day at 73-3 in search of a sizeable lead to press for a series win. But Shakeel was the only top-order batter able to build a meaningful innings after reaching double figures.

Incessant rainfall brought on by Cyclone Dana has cast a shadow over the Ranji Trophy Group-C match between Bengal and Kerala, scheduled to commence at the Jadavpur University ground in Kolkata on Saturday. Both teams had settled for a point apiece in their respective matches in the previous round. While Bengal's encounter against Bihar was washed out due to a wet outfield at Kalyani, Kerala's first innings could not be completed in its rain-affected match against Karnataka at Alur.The Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB), which shifted the Kerala fixture out of Kalyani, had requested the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to postpone the duel due to the cyclone threat, but their plea was denied.Bengal, which has four points, finds itself in a quandary as four of its prominent players - Akash Deep, Mukesh Kumar, Abhimanyu Easwaran, and Abishek Porel - will be unavailable due to national duty. Seamer Ishan Porel and wicketkeeper-batter Shakir Habib Gandhi have been picked as replacements and should be hopeful of making it to the playing XI.The Bengal batting will rely on Sudip Chatterjee, Sudip Gharami, captain Anustup Majumdar, and Wriddhiman Saha. Suraj Jaiswal and Mohammed Kaif will spearhead the bowling attack, while all-rounder Shahbaz Ahmed will provide much-needed balance.Even without Sanju Samson, Kerala, which practiced indoors on Friday, will rely on its top batters Rohan Kunnumal, Sachin Baby, Baba Aparajith, Mohammed Azharuddeen, and Jalaj Saxena. Basil Thampi and spinners Aditya Sarwate and Saxena will shoulder the responsibility in the bowling department for the touring team, which has collected seven points."It's an unfortunate situation to have rains around this time. Without Bengal's stalwarts, we should be able to break through," said Kerala coach Amay Khurasiya.

Delhi's Ranji Trophy campaign has hit a roadblock after a disappointing draw against Tamil Nadu in the second round. Despite Yash Dhull's unbeaten century in the first innings and Sanat Sangwan's valiant 83 in the second, Delhi's batters struggled to make a mark.The home side will need to raise their game significantly when they face Assam at the Arun Jaitley Stadium from Saturday. Assam, too, has managed only one point from its first two rounds against Jharkhand and Chandigarh, making this a crucial opportunity for Delhi to secure full points and improve its standing in Group D.Delhi currently has four points, having taken the first-innings lead in the draw against Chhattisgarh before narrowly avoiding defeat against Tamil Nadu. Navdeep Saini is unavailable for this fixture due to his inclusion in the India-A squad for the upcoming tour of Australia.In Saini's absence, Delhi will welcome the return of pacer Harshit Rana, who was traveling as a reserve with the Indian team in the ongoing Test series against New Zealand before being released for this Ranji game. Rana has yet to play for Delhi this season.For Assam, Riyan Parag remains unavailable. The hard-hitting middle-order batter is currently at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru, with his next assignment likely to be India's four-match T20I series against South Africa starting on November 8."We are not looking at it as a setback," said Assam captain Denish Das of Parag's absence. "It is a chance for someone else to grab his opportunity. Yes, there will obviously be a gap because he is Assam's best player, but there is an opportunity for a different player."

Tamil Nadu, buoyed by its impressive start to the Ranji Trophy campaign, will face Chhattisgarh in a crucial third-round match (Elite Group D) at the Sri Ramakrishna College Ground on Saturday.After crushing Saurashtra by an innings in the season opener, TN came within two wickets of another innings victory against Delhi. Only fading light and some questionable time-wasting tactics by the Delhi lower-order prevented N. Jagadeesan's men from securing seven points.The southern side has established Coimbatore as its fortress, winning its last four encounters at this venue by an innings. It will aim to extend this successful run against Chhattisgarh.However, the home team will face some forced changes due to the departure of Washington Sundar (India), B. Sai Sudharsan, and B. Indrajith (both India-A) for national duties. The management must find an opening partner for skipper Jagadeesan, while all-rounder Vijay Shankar and M. Boopathi Vaishna Kumar could slot into the middle-order.With the pitch expected to favor spinners, TN may consider resting one of its pacers and playing an extra tweaker. "We are extremely proud of the brand of cricket we played. Even in the last match, we bowled nearly 190 overs over two days and maintaining the same energy was a task, but everyone did it," said Jagadeesan.Chhattisgarh, on the other hand, will be eager to earn some points after managing just two so far. The Amandeep Khare-led side has the depth in its lineup to challenge the hosts. Most of the batters have runs under their belt, and the outfit boasts a decent spin attack led by Ajay Mandal.In the previous game against Saurashtra, Khare slammed a brilliant double-century while Sanjeet Desai scored a ton. However, the in-form TN bowlers in their backyard will pose a sterner test, and how the visitor's batters tackle them could determine the course of the contest.

India A Dominates Emerging Teams Asia Cup, Secures Semifinal BerthIndia A has emerged as a formidable force in the ongoing T20 Emerging Teams Asia Cup, securing an all-win record in their Group B league engagements. The team's impressive run began with a thrilling 7-run victory over Pakistan A, followed by a dominant 7-wicket triumph against UAE. In their final group match, India A showcased their batting prowess with a comprehensive 6-wicket victory over Oman.In the crucial semifinal clash against Afghanistan, India A continued their winning streak. Lucknow Super Giants youngster Ayush Badoni played a pivotal role, smashing a blistering 51 off just 27 balls. His explosive innings propelled India A to a comfortable 141-run target in a mere 15.2 overs.India A's success in the tournament is a testament to their depth and versatility. The team has displayed a balanced performance, with both their batting and bowling units contributing to their victories. Their ability to adapt to different conditions and strategies has been a key factor in their dominance.Meanwhile, in the first semifinal, Sri Lanka emerged victorious over Pakistan, securing a seven-wicket victory. The Sri Lankan team will now face India A in the highly anticipated final of the Emerging Asia Cup.

New Zealand's dominance over India continued in the second Test in Pune, as they extended their lead to a commanding 301 runs on the back of a brilliant batting performance led by captain Tom Latham.Mitchell Santner, who had wreaked havoc with the ball in the first innings, claiming seven wickets, continued his impressive form with the bat. He scored a crucial 45, providing stability to the New Zealand innings.Latham, however, was the star of the show. He played a captain's knock, anchoring the innings with a composed 86. His innings was characterized by patience and determination, as he weathered the Indian bowling attack and guided his team to a position of strength.Tom Blundell, who remained unbeaten on 30, provided valuable support to Latham. The duo shared a crucial 65-run partnership, further consolidating New Zealand's lead.India's bowlers, led by Washington Sundar, fought back in the second innings, claiming four wickets. However, the damage had already been done, as New Zealand's batsmen had built a substantial lead.With just one day remaining in the Test, India faces an uphill task to salvage a draw. New Zealand, on the other hand, is on the cusp of a historic series win in India.

Khar Gymkhana Revokes Jemimah Rodrigues' Membership Amidst Prayer Meeting ControversyIn a recent development, Khar Gymkhana has revoked the membership of Indian cricketer Jemimah Rodrigues following allegations of inappropriate activities linked to prayer meetings held at the club. The decision was made during the club's Annual General Meeting (AGM) after several members raised concerns about the misuse of membership privileges by Jemimah's father, Ivan Rodrigues.Ivan Rodrigues, in a statement, clarified that the prayer meetings were conducted in accordance with the procedures of Khar Gymkhana and were not related to conversions, as certain reports suggested. He emphasized that the gatherings were open to all and that they respected the club's stance when asked to discontinue the meetings.However, the club's decision to revoke Jemimah's membership has sparked controversy. Ivan Rodrigues expressed dismay over the misleading information circulating in the media and reiterated his family's commitment to respecting the rules and practices of Khar Gymkhana.The allegations against Ivan Rodrigues stem from complaints by members who claimed that he had used the club's facilities for religious gatherings without proper authorization. The club's management investigated the matter and found that the prayer meetings had indeed been held without the necessary permissions.The revocation of Jemimah's membership has raised questions about the club's policies and the role of religion in public spaces. Some members have expressed support for the club's decision, arguing that it is necessary to maintain the integrity of the club's rules and regulations. Others have criticized the decision, claiming that it is discriminatory and infringes on the freedom of religion.The controversy has also brought attention to the issue of religious gatherings in public spaces. While many people believe that religious activities should be allowed in public places, others argue that they should be confined to designated religious institutions. The Khar Gymkhana incident has sparked a debate about the balance between religious freedom and the rights of others.