Selectors set to include new faces in Pak squad for T20Is in Sri Lanka
Lahore, Dec 4: The Pakistan Cricket Board’s selectors are not ruling out the possibility of including some new faces in the T20 squad that will be playing three matches in Sri Lanka from January 7 to 11. This is because the PCB had issued NOC to six main players to appear in the Big Bash League in Australia which runs from December 14 to end of January before it announced the three-match series in Dambulla this week. This is the first time so many Pakistani players are taking part in the BBL including Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Muhammad Rizwan (their debut seasons in the event), Hasan Ali, Haris Rauf and Shadab Khan. With the exception of Rizwan, who has not been picked in the national T20 squad since December 2024, all the others are either playing or are set to play in the format for Pakistan team. Rizwan is hoping to use the Big Bash platform in Australia to claw his way back into the national T20 squad for next year’s World Cup. “I am confident of performing well in the Big Bash and in Australia if you are successful everyone takes notice of you,” Rizwan told the media. Cricket Australia had made it clear before permitting its teams to sign on the Pakistan players that they would be available for the entire season. Many cricket boards in the past have complained about Pakistani players who sign on to play in their leagues being called back abruptly by the PCB for some training camp or national duty. (PTI)
Kalikesh begins first full term as NRAI president
Mohali, Dec 4: Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo began his first full four-year term as president of the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) after he was elected unopposed during its general body meeting here on Thursday. Pawan Singh, a well-known administrator and technical expert of the precision sport, was elected as the new secretary general as results of the sports body’s elections were officially declared. The elections were conducted by Justice (Retd) Nirmaljit Kaur, who was the returning officer. The elections also put in place a new executive committee and a new governing body. In the two electoral contests which took place, Amit Sanghi from Telangana was elected as the senior vice president, while Kanwar Sultan Singh and Sushma Singh were elected vice-presidents in the 15-member executive committee. The four sportspersons in the executive committee are Olympic bronze medallist Gagan Narang, Kunti Malik, Zorawar Singh Sandhu and Elavenil Valarivan. (PTI)
Indian Pickleball League: Chennai qualify for playoffs with fourth win
New Delhi, Dec4: Chennai Super Warriors continued their flawless run with a Chennai Super Warriors became the first team to seal a play-off berth by beating Bengaluru Blasters 4-2 in the Indian Pickleball League here on Thursday. Chennai are leading the table with 12 points from four wins, followed by Hyderabad. Lucknow are sitting in third place with Gurgaon fourth. Bengaluru are fifth, and a winless Mumbai are placed at the bottom. (PTI)
Ralph Lauren unveils Team USA’s Olympic uniforms
New York, Dec 4: Ralph Lauren revealed Team USA’s Milan Cortina Winter Olympics looks Thursday, complete with Americana knit sweaters and plenty of vintage call-backs. The formal opening ceremony look pairs a patterned red, white and blue knit sweater with tailored cream trousers and a matching wool coat. Moving sportier, the closing ceremony outfit features a graphic puffer coat inspired by vintage ski kits over a color-blocked sweater. “We are creating something that we know has to become timeless and has to be something that people will wear forever and appreciate forever,” said David Lauren, the Chief Branding and Innovation Officer at Ralph Lauren. “So in creating jackets like this and creating things, we’re looking at the things that we most cherish. Things that are already enduring parts of the Ralph Lauren lexicon, and then we’ll build on that.” Beyond the ceremony looks, a Team USA collection, which will also be given to athletes as Olympic village wear, became available to public Thursday. The collection follows similar design themes as the opening and closing ceremony looks, with classic red, white and blue patterning on lots of knits, and includes Ralph Lauren’s versions of winter staples like bomber jackets and hockey jerseys. (AP)
