Football

Rajasthan Royals CEO's Great-Great Grandfather Invented the Penalty Kick in FootballA fascinating connection between cricket and football has emerged on social media, revealing that the great-great grandfather of Rajasthan Royals (RR) CEO Jake Lush McCrum invented the penalty kick in football.William McCrum, an Irish businessman and goalkeeper, is widely credited with introducing the concept of the penalty kick in 1890. In response to a query on Twitter, Jake Lush McCrum confirmed the veracity of this claim, stating that he had recently visited the spot where the penalty kick was first conceived.In 1890, William McCrum suggested the idea of a penalty kick to the Irish Football Association, and the first-ever penalty kick was taken under his direction. Fast forward to today, his great-great grandson Jake has become a prominent figure in another sporting phenomenon: the Indian Premier League (IPL).Jake Lush McCrum has been associated with the Rajasthan Royals since 2017 and has served as their CEO since 2021. The Royals have been making headlines ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction, having appointed former India coach Rahul Dravid as their head coach.Despite having the lowest auction purse of Rs 41 crore, RR has retained five capped players and one uncapped player. Captain Sanju Samson and opener Yashasvi Jaiswal were retained for Rs 18 crore each, while all-rounder Riyan Parag and wicket-keeper batter Dhruv Jurel were retained for Rs 14 crore each. West Indian powerhitter Shimron Hetmyer was retained for Rs 11 crore.However, RR surprisingly released franchise stalwarts Jos Buttler and Yuzvendra Chahal, as well as Ravichandran Ashwin. The Royals will enter the auction with a depleted squad but will hope to bolster their ranks with strategic acquisitions.

India and Pakistan Cricket Fans Unite to Cheer for England in Euro 2024In a heartwarming display of sportsmanship, India and Pakistan cricket fans put aside their rivalry to come together and support England in the Euro 2024 quarter-final against Switzerland.During the World Championship of Legends match between Yuvraj Singh-led India Champions and Younis Khan-led Pakistan Champions at Edgbaston Cricket Ground in Birmingham, both sets of fans were spotted cheering for England on television screens.A video of the incident, widely shared on social media, shows the two groups of supporters jointly chanting for Gareth Southgate's team and celebrating their victory in the thrilling quarter-final match.The match between England and Switzerland ended in a 1-1 draw after regulation time, forcing the game into extra time and eventually a penalty shootout. England emerged victorious with a 5-3 scoreline, securing their spot in the semi-finals.Meanwhile, in the World Championship of Legends match, Pakistan registered a comfortable 68-run victory over India.This display of unity between India and Pakistan cricket fans highlights the power of sports to transcend boundaries and bring people together. It also serves as a reminder that even in the midst of intense rivalry, there is always room for sportsmanship and camaraderie.