Blasters Secure Spanish Midfielder Hernandez as Third Foreign Signing
Kerala Blasters are not leaving any place for mistakes this season. Now they roped in Spanish midfielder Matías Hernández before Indian Super League 2025-26. The Spanish starred in Gakulam Kerala FC. He is the third foreign signing for the Blasters. This follows the arrival of Marlon Roos Trujillo and Kevin Yoke last week. Hernandez is a right-footed defensive midfielder. He replaces Dusan Lagator. Lagator left the club by mutual consent due to league uncertainty. Hernandez stands 186 cm tall. He will provide a strong aerial advantage. He can also drop back as an extra centre-back when the team loses possession. While talking about the recruit, the Kerela Blasters CEO, Abhik Chatterjee stated, “Matías is a player who brings clarity and discipline to the centre of the pitch. His profile adds strength to our midfield unit and gives us more options in how we manage different phases of the game.” Born in Salamanca, Spain, Hernández played mostly in the Spanish lower leagues. He later moved to Brunei to join DPMM FC’s second team. He became a local hero after scoring the winning goal in the Brunei FA Cup final. Last September, Hernández signed with the I-League side Gokulam Kerala. He started two matches in the IFA Shield, but the team suffered losses to Mohun Bagan and United SC. Due to delays in the I-League season, he decided to join the ISL. He is expected to debut for the Blasters on February 14 against Mohun Bagan in Kolkata.
Visa Uncertainty Puts Scotland Under Pressure Ahead of T20 World Cup
Scotland are facing early challenges ahead of the T20 World Cup, after receiving a last-minute invitation to the tournament. The team is yet to secure a sponsor, with no logo currently featuring on their jerseys, adding to their concerns. However, the biggest hurdle at the moment is the visa process, which has put the Scottish camp under pressure even before they arrive in India. Despite the uncertainty, Cricket Scotland remains optimistic that the team will reach India before the tournament begins. The presence of Pakistan-origin pacer Safyaan Sharif has resulted in additional scrutiny, as visa procedures for Pakistani nationals generally take longer. Cricket Scotland, however, has described the situation as “only a matter of time.” Scotland were included in the World Cup after Bangladesh got barred due to security concerns. While the ICC has expressed confidence in Scotland’s assessment, it acknowledged that the late inclusion has left the team with limited preparation time. Scotland are scheduled to play their first match against West Indies in Kolkata on 7th February. Speaking on the issue, Cricket Scotland chief Lindblad admitted there was some uncertainty regarding visas. He insisted that the duration, whether three days or 45, was not the main concern. Over the past 48 hours, the board’s primary focus has been completing visa applications as quickly as possible. As a precaution, visas have also been applied for two travelling reserves and three non-travelling reserves. Head coach Steve Snell said the team is hopeful the process will be completed successfully, adding that it would benefit no one if a World Cup team failed to arrive on time. Scotland will play warm-up matches against Afghanistan and Namibia in Bengaluru on 2 and 4 February. They have been placed in Group B, alongside England, Italy, and Nepal. The focus now remains on how swiftly the visa process is concluded.
Rahul Returns, Devdutt Padikkal Makes his Captaincy Debut in Ranji
Devdutt Padikkal makes his debut as captain for Karnataka of the ongoing Ranji Trophy season. The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) officially announced the replacement of Mayank Agarwal on Monday. Karnataka has bolstered their lineup for the upcoming crucial clash against Punjab with the return of veteran wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul. Amit Verma, while talking to Deccan Herald, stated, “We feel that Mayank (Agarwal) gets very involved with the team, and we believe that the responsibility of captaincy is taking a toll on his batting.” He further stated, “He is in a good place and is playing reasonably well. We expect a lot from him since he is a big-match player who scores big runs, which is not happening now. This decision was about relieving him of captaincy pressure, as he is very crucial for us at the top of the order.” Talking about Padikkal’s promotion, Verma confirmed, “We wanted to put a little more responsibility on Devdutt (Padikkal). It will be good for his growth. If we put that extra pressure and responsibility on him, it might help him develop as a captain. It could eventually help him when he plays in Indian whites as well.”
ICC Cancels Hundreds of Accreditations from Bangladesh & Explains
Over a hundred Bangladeshi journalists are now denied accreditation for the T20 World Cup 2026. ICC’s decision to fence the journalists from covering the tournament has met with severe criticism from the media. This decision of the ICC has certainly dented the already fractured relationship with Bangladesh. This step followed after Scotland was officially chosen for replacement of Bangladesh. While talking to NDTV, an ICC official confirmed the stance. He stated, “They have not been given visas or accreditation because the government kept saying it is unsafe to come to India”. A Bangladesh reporter from Aajker Patrika, while speaking to NDTV, further stated, “Such an incident has never happened in Bangladesh before. Bangladeshi journalists have covered ICC events since before the country’s first World Cup appearance in 1999, including high-profile matches like India vs Pakistan, even when played in India. Never before have all correspondents been rejected in this manner. In the history of ICC events, this is unprecedented and deeply unfortunate.” He further stated, “I would say this is extremely sad. In global sport, even journalists from non-participating countries are usually accommodated – FIFA is a clear example. This issue risks setting a damaging precedent and could also affect coverage of matches in Sri Lanka.” Bangladeshi journalists are said to have approached the Bangladesh Sports Press Association (BSPA) and the Bangladesh Sports Journalists Community (BSJC) to seek guidance before taking their next course of action.
