Security manager at Wankhede
arrested for ‘theft’ of IPL jerseys
Mumbai, July 29: A 43-year-old security manager of the Wankhede stadium here has been arrested for allegedly stealing 261 Indian Premier League (IPL) jerseys worth Rs 6.52 lakh from the BCCI’s store, police said on Tuesday. Accused Farooque Aslam Khan, a resident of Mira Road, was arrested a few days ago and is now out on bail, an official said. On June 13, Khan allegedly stole jerseys of IPL 2025 from the official merchandise store of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) at the stadium in south Mumbai, and sold many of them online. The theft came to light during an audit of the inventory. BCCI officials approached Marine Drive Police Station with a complaint about the theft on July 17. Many of the jerseys were sold to a dealer in Haryana, the probe found. Police have recovered 50 jerseys from his possession during the investigation, the official said, adding that further probe was underway. (PTI)
Chandrakant Pandit parts ways
with KKR after two-year stint
Kolkata, July 29: IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders on Tuesday announced the departure of head coach Chandrakant Pandit, ending his two-year stint with the team following a disappointing 2025 season. Pandit, who guided KKR to their third IPL title in 2024, oversaw a sharp decline in fortunes this year with the side finishing eighth in the 2025 edition, matching their lowest ever finish in tournament history. “Mr. Chandrakant Pandit has decided to explore new opportunities and will not continue as Head Coach of Kolkata Knight Riders,” KKR said in a post shared on ‘X’. Pandit, a celebrated figure in Indian domestic cricket, was appointed KKR head coach ahead of the 2023 season. His first year in charge saw the team finish seventh, with regular skipper Shreyas Iyer missing the season due to injury. KKR bounced back in 2024 as Iyer returned to lead the side and franchise legend Gautam Gambhir rejoined the camp as mentor. Under Pandit’s stewardship, KKR not only clinched the title but also registered the highest points tally and best net run rate (NRR) in their IPL history. (PTI)
Steeplechaser Sable undergoes ACL
surgery, to miss World C’ships
New Delhi, July 29: Asian Games gold medallist 3000m steeplechaser Avinash Sable has undergone ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) surgery after suffering the injury during the Monaco Diamond League earlier this month and the Indian will be ruled out of World Athletics Championships in September. The 30-year-old Sable, the reigning Asian champion and a gold medallist in the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023, went under the knife in a Mumbai hospital. The procedure was performed under the care of well-known surgeon Dr. Dinshaw Pardiwala. An ACL surgery normally takes at least six months to heal, and it means that Sable will be ruled out of the Tokyo World Championships (September 13-21) and he will be able to come back to action only next year. (PTI)