Jerry to Rescue Wings For East Bengal
Jerry, the Odisha FC’s star winger, is now set to join the red and yellow brigade. A few days back, East Bengal’s Head of Football, Thangboi Singto, shortlisted three wingers and initiated talks with them. Now the club is allegedly moving forward to sign Jerry to address their concern on the wings, alongside their foreign striker. Jerry’s performances for Odisha FC have been impressive. The Indian winger has been one of the standout performers in recent seasons. He was once adjudged the best young winger in the country. His arrival is expected to significantly strengthen East Bengal’s wing attack. An official announcement is now only a matter of time. Jerry has maintained his form since his first season with Odisha FC, consistently delivering impactful performances. His pace, creativity, and finishing ability make him a valuable addition to the squad. Meanwhile the cloud surrounding signing foreign player is still uncertain. The squad is currently on a break until 30th January to allow the players some rest after an intense training phase.
Gun Attack in Mexico Claims 11 Lives Raises Safety Concern For FIFA World Cup
Few months before FIFA World Cup, a gun attack in one of host city claimed 11 lives during a local match,in Salamanca. According to reports, a gun attack during a football match in Mexico has left 11 people dead and 12 other remain severely injured. The incident took place in Guanajuato, a state in central Mexico. Local authorities said the attack occurred during a local match in the city of Salamanca. FIFA World cup is scheduled to kick start on 11th June this year. The mega football event will be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. However, concerns over security in Mexico have surfaced ahead of the tournament. Ten people were killed on the spot, while one person succumbed to injuries during treatment. The injured were rushed to nearby hospitals. The identity of the attackers is still unknown, and police have launched a search operation. Guanajuato is considered a key industrial region in Mexico, with several factories operating there. At the same time, it is among the most dangerous states in the country, often linked to violent crimes involving multiple criminal groups. Earlier this month, human remains were recovered near the Estadio Akron, one of the venues selected for the World Cup. Body parts were also found in areas such as Arroyo Hondo, Las Agujas, and Lomas del Refugio, where authorities recovered 456 bags containing human remains. The latest shooting during a football match has further intensified concerns over security in the host nation.
Former Pak Head Coach ‘Abused’; Takes Down Post
Jason Gillespie, ex-Pakistan head coach, faced widespread abuse for questioning the ICC, which led to deleting his post. The former Australian bowler recently took to his social media ‘X’ and sought more clarity about the criteria to be checked to change venues. However, he met with widespread hatred and an online spat for the now-deleted post. In his post, Gillespie wrote, “Has there been an explanation from the ICC why Bangladesh could not play their games outside of India? From memory, India refused to play Champions Trophy matches in Pakistan, and they were allowed to play those games outside of Pakistan. Can someone make this make sense?” Gillespie’s question, while aimed at a better understanding of the criteria used for arrangements on shifting matches, didn’t end up positively. The bowler, facing many hostile comments, later took down the post. The 50-year-old cricketer later wrote, “Because I got abused for asking a simple question, that’s why.” The apex body of cricket officially declared Scotland to be the replacement for Bangladesh, after several discussions with BCB. Later on, a detailed statement, issued by the ICC, notified, “The ICC reviewed the concerns cited by the BCB, commissioned and considered independent security assessments from internal and external experts, and shared detailed security and operational plans covering federal and state arrangements, as well as enhanced and escalating security protocols for the event. These assurances were reiterated at several stages, including during discussions involving the ICC Business Corporation (IBC) Board.” “The ICC’s assessments concluded that there was no credible or verifiable security threat to the Bangladesh national team, officials or supportersin India.”
Bangladesh’s Players Face Betrayal as Nazmul Returns
The Bangladesh Cricket Board’s duplicity towards their players through reintroducing M Nazmul Islam has created a situation marked by systemic inconsistency. After the ICC officially ‘booted’ Bangladesh from the T20 World Cup 2026 for the high-stakes boycott, the players were pledged accountability from the BCB by removing M Nazmul Islam. However, the strategic abandonment towards the players came after the latter’s reappointment as chief of its finance committee. The ignition of the crisis came after Islam tagged Tamim Iqbal as a ‘proven Indian agent’. Following the captain’s suggestion to take part in a discussion with BCCI to resolve the World Cup venue dispute. After this, Nazmul further declared Nazmul’s remarks further fractured the squad. He claimed players shouldn’t be compensated if Bangladesh withdrew from the World Cup and even suggested the board reclaim salaries following poor performances. These comments pushed the team to a breaking point. Led by Mohammad Mithun (President of the CWAB), Najmul Hossain Shanto, and Mehidy Hasan Miraz, the players officially launched a boycott of the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). Facing a threat to BPL broadcast revenue, the BCB dismissed Nazmul from his finance post and issued a show-cause notice. Relieved that the board had finally defended their dignity, the players ended their strike and returned to the field. However, their victory was short-lived. As BCB As BCB has decided to reinstate M Nazmul to his previous position. According to Bangladesh media, the response to the show-cause notice was “satisfactory’. It is surprising that the board decided to prioritise an official rather than their players. Previously they disregarded their players’ opinion on their willingness to play in the World Cup.
