Brisbane, Aug 22: Middle-order batter Raghvi Bist hit a fighting 93 while tailender VJ Joshitha (51) produced a fine half-century to script India A’s comeback in the one-off Women’s unofficial Test as the visitors posted a competitive 299 before reducing Australia A to 158 for 5 on the second day of the game, here Friday.
India A were in a spot of bother after being reduced to 93 for 5 on the rain-truncated first day.But Bist, who was on overnight 26, first shared 64 runs with Radha Yadav (33) for the sixth wicket and then stitched a 75-run stand with Minnu Mani (28) to take India out of trouble.
Bist admirably batted with the tail and decorated her 153-ball knock with 16 boundaries before being dismissed just seven runs short of a fine century. She was cleaned up by medium pacer Maitlan Brown in the 63rd over of India’s innings.
Mani too was soon cleaned up by Brown.But Joshitha and Titas Sadhu (23) didn’t give up and shared valuable 75 runs for the ninth wicket to take India A close to the 300-run mark. Joshitha was bowled by off-spinner Lilly Mills. She found the fence seven times during her 72-ball stay.Medium pacers Georgia Prestwidge (3/37) and Brown (3/65) shared six wickets between them for Australia A.In reply, Australia A were struggling at 158 for 5 in 43 overs.Medium pacer Saima Thakor (2/21) and left-arm spinner Radha Yadav (2/40) picked up two wickets each for India A, while Sadhu (1/27) accounted for the other Australian batter.
Skipper Tahila Wilson made 49 and along with Rachel Trenaman (21) added 46 runs for the opening stand.At stumps, wicketkeeper Nicole Faltum (30 not out) and Sianna Ginger (24 not out) were at the crease.Australia A still trail India A by 141 runs with two days play still remaining.
Brief Scores:India Women’s A: 299 all out in 89.1 overs (Raghvi Bist 93, VJ Joshitha 51; Georgia Prestwidge 3/37, Maitlan Brown 3/65).Australia Women’s A: 158 for 5 in 43 overs (Tahila Wilson 49, Nicole Faltum 30 not out; Saima Thakor 2/21, Radha Yadav 2/40). (PTI)
Bist, Joshitha lead India A’s strong comeback against Australia A
Three East Bengal players join nat’l camp for CAFA Nations Cup
Bengaluru, Aug 22: The East Bengal trio of Anwar Ali, Naorem Mahesh Singh, and Jeakson Singh Thounaojam on Friday joined the national camp for the CAFA Nations Cup, taking the total strength of players at the disposal of newly-appointed head coach Khalid Jamil to 28.
The trio joined the national camp after East Bengal lost their Durand Cup semifinal match on Wednesday.
“Anwar Ali, Naorem Mahesh Singh, and Jeakson Singh Thounaojam have joined the Indian senior men’s national team squad ahead of their CAFA Nations Cup 2025 campaign today,” the All India Football Federation (AIFF) said on Friday.
Mohun Bagan Super Giant refused to release their seven players — Anirudh Thapa, Deepak Tangri, Lalengmawia Ralte, Liston Colaco, Manvir Singh, Sahal Abdul Samad, Vishal Kaith — on the ground that it was not mandatory to do that since the tournament was not being held in the FIFA international window.The Kolkata giants did not release their players despite bowing out of the Durand Cup on August 17.
Jamil had named 35 players for the national camp which began here with 22 of them on August 16. Jamshedpur FC players Manvir Singh and Albino Gomes — who were in the original 35 — as well as new addition Muhammed Uvais from Punjab FC joined the camp on Monday.
Jithin MS is the lone NorthEast United player called up for the national camp and his club has made it to the Durand Cup final to be played on Saturday.
There are four first-timers in Jamil’s current camp of 28 players — defenders Alex Saji, Sunil Benchamin, Muhammed Uvais, and forward Manvir Singh.
Placed in Group B of the CAFA Nations Cup, India face co-host Tajikistan on August 29 in Hisor, Iran on September 1 and Afghanistan on September 4. The third-place match and the final will be played on September 8 in Hisor and Tashkent (Uzbekistan), respectively. (PTI)
SAFF U17 C’ship: India eves pip B’desh
Thimpu, Aug 22: In what was billed as a clash of equals, India’s U17 women’s team delivered a composed and commanding performance to earn their second straight victory at the SAFF U17 Women’s Championship 2025 as they defeated Bangladesh 2-0 at the Changlimithang Stadium here on Friday.
Pearl Fernandes (14’) and Bonifilia Shullai (76’) were the scorers for India, who led 1-0 at halftime. The win also consolidated India’s top spot in the group. They have six points with two wins from two matches.
Both sides came into the match with a rich history in the competition – four finals contested, two titles apiece. Yet, despite the hype, this encounter never truly lived up to the billing of a fierce rivalry. India’s disciplined performance ensured that Bangladesh were always playing catch-up.
From the outset, the Young Tigresses looked focused and alert. Their defence was rock-solid, denying Bangladesh even the faintest sniff of a goal. The central defensive pairing stayed compact, while full-backs tracked runs diligently. Whenever the line was breached, goalkeeper Munni was in the perfect position to effect saves.
With such defensive assurance, the midfielders took charge, spraying passes wide and keeping Bangladesh constantly on the turn. India’s early pressure paid off swiftly.(IANS)
Meghalaya, Chandigarh, Sikkim, shine in Subroto Cup
New Delhi, Aug 22: Meghalaya’s Nongjri Presbyterian Secondary School lit up the Subroto Cup Junior Girls (U-17) category on Friday with a stunning 12-0 demolition of Coast Guard Public School (DNH & DD), thanks to Dapni’s sensational seven-goal haul. Their commanding display stood out as the highlight of the day’s action.
Elsewhere, Kerala’s Lal Bahadur Shastri Memorial School, Thrissur, clinched a 2-0 win over Harish Pawar Higher Secondary School, Nainital, while Chhattisgarh’s Mata Rukhmani Kanya Ashram breezed past PM Shri Govt. Mahatma Gandhi Sr. Sec. School, Andrott, Lakshadweep, with a 3-0 victory. Assam’s Betkuchi High School and the Sri Lanka School Football Association, along with APS Noida and Bihar’s Upgraded High School, Bilaspur, played out goalless draws.
West Bengal’s Nandajhar Adibashi Pashili High School continued their winning form, beating PM Shri KV Senior School, Hazaribagh (Jharkhand) 2-0, while Sikkim’s PM Shri Tashi Namgyal Sr. Sec. School overpowered Delhi’s Bharti Public School 3-0. In other matches, Rudrapur’s Amenity Public School (CBSE) held Spring Field Hr. Sec. School (NCC) to a 1-1 draw, and Nagaland’s Govt. High School, Meriema, shared points with JNV Purulia, Mawphlang (NVS) after a 0-0 result.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra’s Krida Prabodhini, Pune, ran riot with a record 20-0 victory against Air Force School, Chakeri, while Chandigarh’s Govt. Model Sr. Sec. School secured a strong 5-1 win over Don Bosco International School (ISSO). (PTI)
Two changes likely in Agarkar-led men’s selection committee
New Delhi, Aug 22: Former Tamil Nadu batter S Sharath is set to move from senior to the junior selection committee of the BCCI, replacing chairman Thilak Naidu as the Board invited applications for slots that are expected to fall vacant across different panels.
The current men’s selection committee, which recently picked the squads for next month’s Asia Cup, is currently headed by former India pacer Ajit Agarkar and comprises SS Das, Subroto Banerjee, Ajay Ratra, and Sharath.
Naidu, a former Karnataka stumper, who has been at the helm for less than three years, is expected to vacate his position as the BCCI looks for one post in the junior selection panel. The other members of the panel are Krishan Mohan, Ranadeb Bose, Pathik Patel and HS Sodhi.
The BCCI on Friday invited applications to fill two vacancies in the five-member senior men’s national selection committee, as well as four positions in the women’s panel.
The eligibility criteria remained unchanged from previous years. Applicants must have played either a minimum of seven Test matches or 30 first-class games.
Alternatively, candidates with experience in at least 10 One Day Internationals (ODIs) and 20 first-class matches will also be considered.
The development comes as part of a broader reshuffle, with at least one more selector — either Banerjee or Das — likely to be replaced.
Both Banerjee and Das have also not completed their three-year terms, making their potential exit a matter of speculation within the cricketing fraternity.
What has prompted the changes in the junior selection committee before the completion of the full tenure remains unclear.
It is understood that Naidu’s performance as chairman is not up to scratch as per people in the know of things in the BCCI corridors.
Sharath, who previously served in the junior selection setup, had played a significant role in identifying young talent and is now poised to return to the fold.
“Sharath has been a fantastic junior national chairman and the 2022 batch won the Under 19 World Cup. He has one year left in his tenure and his expertise in junior cricket will be of great help,” a BCCI source told PTI on conditions of anonymity.
“During Sharath’s tenure as chairman, there was equitable distribution of tours for selectors, which changed once Naidu came into the picture,” another source said.
Meanwhile, former India spinner Pragyan Ojha, hailing from Hyderabad, is understood to be interested in a role in the junior panel.
Should the selector from the Central Zone be replaced, a few names are believed to be under consideration, although no final decision has been taken. (PTI)
Botafogo bow out of Copa Libertadores
Quito, Aug 22: Botafogo, the defending Copa Libertadores champion coached by Carlo Ancelotti’s son, was knocked out in the round of 16 on Thursday by Ecuador’s Liga de Quito.
Davide Ancelotti ‘s team won the first leg at home 1-0 last week, but lost 2-0 to the Ecuadorian club in the return leg. Liga de Quito will take on another Brazilian team, Sao Paulo FC, in the quarterfinals.Gabriel Villamil scored in the 7th minute and Lisandro Alzugaray converted from the spot in the 60th at Quito.The 35-year-old Ancelotti joined the Brazilian club in July for his first experience as a full-time coach. Last month, Ancelotti was contracted through 2026 after Botafogo owner John Textor fired Renato Paiva following the team’s round-of-16 elimination at the Club World Cup.The Italian coach has worked for more than a decade alongside his father in different roles at Bayern Munich, Napoli, Everton, and Real Madrid. He is also part of Ancelotti’s staff at Brazil’s national team. Quito’s high-altitude heartbreak once again proved decisive as Botafogo’s continental dream came to an abrupt halt. For Davide Ancelotti, the elimination is a sobering reminder of the ruthless nature of South American football, where pedigree alone cannot guarantee progress. (AP)
Actors Janhvi Kapoor and Sidharth Malhotra have ‘chhole bhature’
Actors Janhvi Kapoor and Sidharth Malhotra have ‘chhole bhature’
at a shop, in New Delhi, on Friday. (PTI)
Akshay flaunts gender-fluid fashion in palazzo pants
Bollywood star Akshay Kumar never shies away from experimenting with sartorial choices. And with his latest appearance at the Mumbai Airport, the ‘Kesari’ actor promoted gender-fluid fashion in palazzo pants. Isn’t it cool?
On Friday, Akshay was captured by paps before he entered the airport. He happily posed for the shutterbugs, flaunting his breezy look.
In the visuals circulating on social media, Akshay could be seen wearing a black t-shirt paired with Homme Plisse Issey Miyake pants. He elevated his casual look with tinted glasses.
Meanwhile, on the work front, Akshay will be next seen in the much-awaited Jolly LLB 3 opposite Arshad Warsi. The teaser for the third instalment was unveiled on August 12, giving a glimpse into the funny yet intense clash between both the actors. The film will be released on September 19. (ANI)
Sidharth Malhotra, Janhvi seek blessings at Gurdwara Bangla Sahib
Bollywood stars Sidharth Malhotra and Janhvi Kapoor have been on a promotional spree for their upcoming film Param Sundari.
On Friday, the actors visited iconic places in Delhi and met with their fans. From indulging in famous rajma chawal and chole bhature at Jain Chawal Wale in Connaught Place to savouring cotton candy at India Gate, Sidharth and Janhvi immersed themselves in Delhi’s culinary scene.
After treating their taste buds to Delhi Ka Khana, the actors visited Gurdwara Bangla Sahib and offered prayers.
A few days ago, Sidharth and Janhvi visited Lucknow and tried the famous chaat there.
Sanjay Kapoor and Manjot Singh also have prominent roles in the film.
The trailer for the film was unveiled recently, promising a perfect mix of romance, comedy, and action.
The Tushar Jalota directorial marks Sidharth and Janhvi’s first project together as co-stars, and their romantic chemistry in the trailer is captivating. What follows is a riot of fun and chaos when Sidharth, a Punjabi munda from Delhi, falls in love with Janhvi, a girl from Kerala. (ANI)
Raza Murad files complaint over ‘false death rumours’
Actor Raza Murad has filed an official complaint at Mumbai’s Amboli Police Station on Friday, alleging that a false social media post about his death was circulated online, leaving him ‘exhausted’ from repeatedly clarifying the rumours.
The veteran actor said the ‘rumour’ left him deeply disturbed and forced him to repeatedly clarify that he is alive.
Speaking to ANI, Raza Murad claimed that someone had shared a social media post declaring him dead. He said the post even mentioned his date of birth and a ‘fake date of death,’ along with a tribute.
‘There are some people who, for reasons I don’t understand, seem bothered by my existence. They posted about my death and even offered condolences. They wrote that I had worked for many years, but now no one is there to remember me. They even mentioned my birthday and a fake date of death in that post. This is a very serious matter,’ Murad said.
The actor added that he has been worn out by the constant need to clarify the misinformation. (ANI)