ISL to start on 14th February with the ‘single-leg’ format; Prize money fixed at Rs 5.82 crore!
The stalemate of the last six months in the Indian Super League (ISL) finally ended with the Sports Ministry, All-India Football Federation, and representatives from 14 ISL clubs meeting in New Delhi. The ISL this season will start from 14th February and will be played in single leg home and away format. Although, Goa and Bengal were two tentative names to be chosen as venues for the ISL, it is learnt that venue has not yet been finalized. It will be selected depending on where the budget can be restrained. “Due to a court dispute, there was a lot of uncertainty about the League, but today the government and AIFF, along with club representatives of all 14 clubs, have decided to start the league again,” Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya briefed the reporters on Tuesday. The club representatives were present from all 14 clubs: Mohun Bagan, East Bengal, Mohammaden FC, Inter Kashi FC, Mumbai City FC, Chennaiyin FC, SC Delhi, Bengaluru FC, NorthEast United FC, Jamshedpur FC, Odisha FC, Kerala Blasters, and FC Goa. Last week, in an official statement, the AIFF said the Emergency Committee met on 3rd January to consider and acknowledge the report submitted by the AIFF-ISL Coordination Committee. The Coordination Committee was formed on December 20, 2025, after discussions held during the AIFF Executive Committee meeting and the subsequent Annual General Meeting. Earlier, in AIFF’s emergent executive committee meeting, held virtually on Tuesday morning, it was decided that the AIFF would contribute Rs 10.3 crores, amidst the approximate budget of Rs 40 crore, to conduct the League this season. The executive committee also heard an assurance from the Federation’s top brass about finding a ‘new investor’ who could come forward with financial support from the next season. The AIFF top brass also revealed in the meeting that talks are already on with a couple of broadcasting companies, including Doordarshan. Still, the most concerning part is the production and broadcasting of the IUSL this season. The AIFF has reportedly earmarked only Rs 9.77 crore for production and transmission under the lower-cost option. In recent seasons, broadcast and transmission-related expenses reached around Rs 70 crore per season. Such a drastic reduction points to a visible dip in production quality, which could directly affect broadcaster interest and, in turn, sponsorship value. Prize money has been fixed at Rs 5.82 crore, while governance, refereeing, digital marketing and legal expenses account for the remaining outlay. There is no allocation for youth leagues or parachute payments.
Left is sometimes right for switch-hitting right-handed Kiwi batsman!
New Zealand batter Glenn Phillips said his brave switch-hitting show in a recent Super Smash match was no gimmick but a tactical option he has developed for years to counter left-arm spin. In last week’s match against Central Districts, Otago right-hander Phillips switched stance while off-spinner Dean Foxcroft was midway through his run-up, and hit the bowler for a four. It was not a four only, but a full-blooded cover-drive from a left-hand batsman. The spectators got stunned in the final over of the Otago innings when Phillips took up a left-hander’s stance even before left-arm spinner Jayden Lennox had begun his run-up and hit the bowler for a six! “I do enjoy my left-handed batting training,” Phillips, who smashed an unbeaten 90 off 48 balls in the match, said before leaving for New Zealand’s white-ball tour of India on Tuesday. He explained the reasons behind his innovation. “Obviously, I do it for multiple reasons. One of them is just to keep both hands and both sides of the brain working, but also for the opportunity to take down left-arm spin.” England’s Kevin Pietersen pioneered switch-hitting, while Australian duo David Warner and Glenn Maxwell had it in their arsenal but used it mostly to explore gaps behind or square of the wicket. “I have always been able to bat left-handed. I have been doing it since a young age. I started experimenting with left-hand batting when I was about 10 years old. I was purely a left-handed batter that time. Later on, I decided to switch to the right hand, and now I train both,” Phillips added. Phillips said he even faced pacers in the nets with a switched stance to improve his left-handed batting.
Mohammed Shami issued a SIR hearing notice in Kolkata
Indian cricketer Mohammed Shami and his brother Mohammed Kaif have been issued notices for a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) hearing in Kolkata. Shami was born in Uttar Pradesh and moved to West Bengal several years ago owing to his professional cricket commitments. He has been a long-time registered voter in the Jadavpur constituency in Kolkata. No official statement has been issued by Shami so far. Shami’s hearing date was Monday, which he could not attend as he is currently in Rajkot, where Bengal is playing its Vijay Hazare Trophy matches. According to Election Commission officials of West Bengal, a new date for his hearing will be set soon. Shami has not regained his place in the Indian team since featuring in the Champions Trophy final in March. He admitted earlier that he was going through a “difficult phase” after being left out of the home Test series against West Indies in October and the two-Test series against South Africa. Shami was also not considered for the five-Test tour of England last year, which followed a disappointing IPL season. He played nine of Sunrisers Hyderabad’s 14 matches, picking up six wickets at an average of 56.16 and an economy rate of 11.23.
Sreebhumi FC ends losing streak; Coach wants consistency in the final phase
After two consecutive defeats, Sreebhumi FC returned to a winning streak with a 3-0 triumph against Garhwal United in the IWL at Kalyani Stadium on Tuesday morning. The match was delayed for almost an hour due to heavy fog. Toijam Chanu drew first blood for the winners in the 56th minute, while Anju Kayenpoibam doubled the lead in the 79th minute, and Anju Tamang struck the third one in the 91st minute. Sreebhumi FC fielded their first foreign defender from Ghana in the match. She did not frustrate the management in her debut, although the coach Sujata Kar said, “She has just arrived. Naturally, she will take time to settle. I am expecting she will be able to deliver her best in the second phase of the League.” The club management has reportedly planned to rope in a foreign striker and midfielder for their campaign in the second phase of the League. The team’s coach, however, revealed, “We have a quality forward line. So I do not need a foreign striker. Till now, I am happy with the Ghanaian defender.” When asked about the team’s performance in the first phase, Kar asserted, “I am not much bothered about our show in the first phase. Rather, I am eying the second and final phase. We need to take off with a consistent show there to win the title.” Sreebhumi, now in fourth spot with nine points from five matches, appears determined to secure three points with a win against NITA FA in their next crucial group league match. Sreebhumi is currently fourth in the table; gaining three points would bring their total to twelve, which could move them into the top three by the end of the first phase, depending on other results. Considering the importance of the match, the team’s Technical Director, Shukla Dutta, feels, “NITA has been consistent so far in the League, and their India international, Pyari Xaxa, has scored in all of their matches so far. So, I feel, she is the key player to be noticed,” said Dutta. The coach, however, explained, “They have been consistent. Still, performance varies in every match. So, I should not be specific that NITA will be able to carry out the same performance as they did in the previous match. I will see their Tuesday’s match and then only design our plan and assess who among them can be the key player against us.” Due to the Indian women’s team’s participation in the under-20 and senior Asian Cup Women’s championship, IWL will take a two-month break and resume on 20th April. Sreebhumi FC will have to release 11 footballers for the under-20 and senior Indian women’s preparatory camp.
