Sundarban Bengal Auto FC: Unavailability of ground causes delay in preparation: Local talents impress Mehtab and Asim
MD Nijam Uddin Laskar is a successful businessman based in Baruipur, South 24 Parganas. Out of passion for football, Laskar used to make investments in building up teams for the ‘masala matches’ which used to be played around the districts. The 40-year-old businessman expresses his gratitude to former India international Mehtab Hossain for insisting on his joining the forthcoming Bengal Super League (BSL) as one of the franchise owners. So, Nizam Uddin and a couple of his friends initiated the foundation of a private limited company, Bengal Sports & Entertainment. Under the company’s banner, Sundarban Bengal Auto FC has been formed. The franchise has already registered 33 footballers. Among them, four foreigners will be recruited. One Ghanaian defender, Solomon, has already joined the team. Negotiations are on with two Brazilian and a Senegalese footballer. But Nizam revealed, “We were late in the team-building process. That is why we were getting a proper training ground, and we were even in a dilemma about selecting our home match in the BSL. We got a training ground finally near Baruipur, but that was a nine-sided ground and not up to the mark.” Chief coach Mehtab Hossain also had the same opinion as he commented, “We do not have a proper ground for training. Initiatives are underway to conduct a one-week preparatory camp on a better ground around in Kolkata before the League.” Still, he made noticeable appreciations for the local talents, already roped in for the franchise. “Around 10 local footballers have been recruited. I observed them for only a couple of days. But they are very promising. Especially, there is one boy named Sahil. He looked highly talented considering the basics of the game. If these boys are provided proper directions and are nurtured mentally, then they will grow a lot.” Return of another former India international, Asim Biswas, to the team as a mentor is also a significant incident. The 45-year-old striker, once called one of the most gifted footballers of Bengal, also had praise for the local talents, who joined the franchise. “The boys need to be nurtured properly, especially in the mental part. They look strong in the basics of the game, and it should be our advantage,” commented Asim. When asked about the team’s performance in the opening year, both Mehtab and Asim expressed the same motive, commenting, “Our aim will be to produce quality football. We cannot expect results from the boys in the opening season after short-term preparation.” Sundarban Auto Bengal FC will play their home match at Caning Stadium, which has a capacity of around 10 thousand spectators. Nizam also revealed that they have plans to develop memberships for the club through branding. “The investment in total will go nearly Rs 2.5 Crores. So, our aim is to earn sponsorships also through branding so that we can also make profits in the second season of the League,” added Nizam.
Sundarban Auto Bengal FC: Team lack quality ground for preparation: Mehtab and Asim impressed by local talents
Mohammed Nizamuddin Laskar is a successful businessman based in Baruipur, South 24 Parganas. Out of passion for football, Laskar used to make investments in building up teams for the ‘masala matches’ which used to be played around the districts. The 40-year-old businessman expresses his gratitude to former India international Mehtab Hossain for insisting on his joining the forthcoming Bengal Super League (BSL) as one of the franchise owners. So, Nizamuddin and a couple of his friends initiated the foundation of a private limited company, Bengal Sports & Entertainment. Under the company’s banner, Sundarban Auto Bengal FC has been formed. The franchise has already registered 33 footballers. Among them, four foreigners will be recruited. One Ghanaian defender, Solomon, has already joined the team. Negotiations are on with two Brazilian and a Senegalese footballer. But Nizam revealed, “We were late in the team-building process. That is why we were getting a proper training ground, and we were even in a dilemma about selecting our home match in the BSL. We got a training ground finally near Baruipur, but that was a nine-sided ground and not up to the mark.” Chief coach Mehtab Hossain also had the same opinion as he commented, “We do not have a proper ground for training. Initiatives are underway to conduct a one-week preparatory camp on a better ground around in Kolkata before the League.” Still, he made noticeable appreciations for the local talents, already roped in for the franchise. “Around 10 local footballers have been recruited. I observed them for only a couple of days. But they are very promising. Especially, there is one boy named Sahil. He looked highly talented considering the basics of the game. If these boys are provided proper directions and are nurtured mentally, then they will grow a lot.” Return of another former India international, Asim Biswas, to the team as a mentor is also a significant incident. The 45-year-old striker, once called one of the most gifted footballers of Bengal, also had praise for the local talents, who joined the franchise. “The boys need to be nurtured properly, especially in the mental part. They look strong in the basics of the game, and it should be our advantage,” commented Asim. When asked about the team’s performance in the opening year, both Mehtab and Asim expressed the same motive, commenting, “Our aim will be to produce quality football. We cannot expect results from the boys in the opening season after short-term preparation.” Sundarban Auto Bengal FC will play their home match at Caning Stadium, which has a capacity of around 10 thousand spectators. Nizam also revealed that they have plans to develop memberships for the club through branding. “The investment in total will go nearly Rs 2.5 Crores. So, our aim is to earn sponsorships also through branding so that we can also make profits in the second season of the League,” added Nizam.
Abhishek storms to a 32-ball century against Bengal in SMAT
Abhishek Sharma smashed a 32-ball century, playing for Punjab against Bengal in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy match in Hyderabad on Sunday. Abhishek, opening the batting with Prabhsimran Singh, got to his fifty in just 12 balls, facing a Bengal bowling attack, headlined by Mohammed Shami and Akash Deep. Punjab chose to bat, and after the 16th over, they had already set a massive target for Bengal, scoring 245 runs for the loss of two wickets. And Punjab captain Abhishek Sharma looks in devastating form as he is unbeaten 144 off 48 deliveries only, hammering eight 4s and sixteen 6s with a whooping strike rate of 300! Akashdeep Singh and Pradipta Pramanik have scalped one wicket each, while Mohammed Shami’s bowling average is miserable. He has given 43 runs in 2.4 overs so far! Abhishek, the world’s number T-20 batsman according to ICC T-20 rankings, last played for India against Australia on 8th November this year in Brisbane, and he became the fastest batsman to have reached the milestone of 1000 runs. The 25-year-old batsman from Amritsar is set to be selected in the Indian team for the five-match T-20 series against South Africa next month. Abhishek faced a lot of criticism for his flop show in Punjab’s second match against Haryana, held on 28th November. He got out for just 6 runs from five balls in the 200+ run chase and then, in the super over, was dismissed for a golden duck by Anshul Kamboj.
Rahul waits for MS Dhoni’s presence in the opening ODI to boost up team and the crowd
KL Rahul, India’s stand-in captain for the upcoming ODI series against South Africa, is waiting for MS Dhoni’s presence at the JSCA International Stadium complex at Ranchi on Sunday. Rahul, during a media conference, could not hide his excitement over the matter as he feels Dhoni’s attendance in Sunday’s opening ODI will not only cheer up the home crowd, will also inspire the Indian team. Rahul commented, “Obviously, we have all played under him. We have all been his fans, and we have also played alongside him. So he is a friend. It is a true happy feeling. Getting an opportunity like this, to know someone as big and as successful as him as an Indian cricketer we have all respected him as a human being as well.” He continued, “So if he comes to watch the match, the excitement for the crowd and for us will increase even more. So yes, we’re happy. If the crowd turns up in big numbers, we will also enjoy playing here. And hopefully, we can win the game, put in a good performance, entertain the crowd, and MS Dhoni will also feel happy that we won,” he added. Since opening in 2013, the JSCA Stadium in Ranchi has hosted six ODIs, four T20Is and three Tests. In addition, it has staged 12 IPL and CLT20 matches. Dhoni has featured in six international matches at the venue and has also attended several others as a spectator. He is expected to be present again for the first ODI, having recently hosted Indian team for dinner at his residence. Rahul said in the pre-match press conference. Rahul added that Dhoni’s presence in the stands would elevate the excitement levels for both the crowd and the players.
Rohit Sharma is on the verge of a ‘big milestone’; set to become the first batsman to hit 650 sixes in international cricket
Ahead of the ODI series against South Africa, Rohit Sharma is on the verge of a big career milestone, heading towards entering 20 thousand runs in international cricket and becoming the first batsman to hit 650 sixes. So far, he has garnered 19,902 runs in 502 matches across all formats, backed by 50 centuries and 109 fifties. Rohit, 38-year-old, is set to become only the 14th batsman in history to achieve this landmark, joining an elite list that already features Indian greats such as Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, and Rahul Dravid. He will have his first opportunity to get there when India take the field in the series opener on Sunday, 30th November at the JSCA Stadium International Complex in Ranchi. Simultaneously, the former Indian captain is also on the brink of creating another significant milestone, becoming the first batsman to smash 650 sixes in international cricket. He has so far hit 642 sixes and needs just eight more maximums to set a new benchmark. No other batsman has even crossed 600 sixes. West Indian star Chris Gayle is in second position in the list as he has hit 553 sixes from 483 matches. All eyes will be on Rohit in the upcoming ODI series, as this will be his first home assignment since February this year. He enters the series in fine form after an impressive outing against Australia, where he amassed 202 runs at an exceptional average of 101.00. His standout moment came in the third ODI, where he smashed an unbeaten 121 off 125 balls, reaffirming his status as one of India’s most reliable and explosive performers.
Ayush Mhatre achieves a historic feat; breaks Rohit Sharma’s 19-year-old record in domestic cricket
Ayush Mhatre became the youngest player to score a century in T-20s, first-class cricket, and List A cricket, surpassing Rohit Sharma’s 19-year-old record. The 18-year-old struck a dazzling 49-ball century in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy T-20 match against Vidarbha on Friday. This maiden T20 century helped Mumbai crush Vidarbha by seven wickets at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. At 18 years and 135 days, Mhatre broke Rohit’s old mark of 19 years and 339 days. His 49-ball century included eight sixes and eight fours, showcasing his impressive performance. Adding to his eventful day, Mhatre was also named captain of India’s U19 team for the upcoming Asia Cup on the same day on Friday. Mhatre also led India during a multi-format tour of Australia in September and October. The tournament will be held in Dubai from 12th to 21st December in the 50-over format. The semifinals are scheduled for December 19, with the final set for two days later, on December 21. India will open its campaign against a yet-to-be-confirmed opponent (qualifier) on December 12, before its match against Pakistan on December 14. They will play another qualifier on 16th December.
17 red cards in a Copa Bolivia match! Police use tear gas
A football match in Bolivia was rocked by extensive violence, which witnessed a whopping 17 red cards given, and the police were forced to launch tear gas to suppress the chaos that ensued. The match was a Copa Bolivia quarterfinal, held between Blooming and Real Oruro. A big scuffle broke out after Oruro’s Sebastin Zeballos and Julio Vila were involved in physical altercations with the opposition team. Coach Marcelo Robledo allegedly confronted a member of the national team’s coaching contingent as well. With the scuffle turning ugly, police officers had to step in with tear gas to control the situation. The official match score sheet revealed that seven Blooming players were sent off while Oruro lost four. Members of the coaching staff also got sent off, taking the total number of reds to 17. A number of players are facing bans, too. Curiously, Zeballos was not admonished despite being the instigator of the fracas.
FPAI ties up with Rapid Sports Fitness for the footballers’ rehabilitation program
Looking forward to the health and welfare of the current and former Indian footballers, the Football Players Association of India (FPAI) has signed an MoU with Rapid Sport Fitness (RSF), based in Bengaluru. The amalgamation has been made primarily to provide high-quality rehabilitation services to players nationwide at an affordable rate. Citing an example, FPAI president Mehrajuddin Wadoo revealed, “If an RSF charges from a footballer Rs 2000 normally, then FPAI card-holder footballers will get the same treatment at a discounted rate of around Rs 600 or Rs 700.” FPAI has more than 500 card-holding footballers across the country currently. Interestingly, the organisation is also going to make a similar amalgamation with a Kolkata-based rehabilitation centre for the Kolkata-based footballers exclusively. Mehrajuddin added, “Not only the footballers of the p/resent generation, former India internationals like Alvito D’Cunha, Mehtab Hussain, have also been given FPAI cards so that they can also avail the modern system of rehabilitation program from this rehab centre.” A couple of renowned Indian footballers like Sunil Chhetri, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Chinglensana Singh, Ashalata Devi, and Sweety Devi were present at the recently held MoU signing event. They expressed strong support for the initiative and encouraged FPAI and other stakeholders to continue introducing such essential programs for the advancement of Indian football. Significantly, RSF has also been working with the men’s senior national football team as well as the women’s national team for the last couple of years
Sheikh Hasina Sentenced to Death by Bangladesh Tribunal for 2024 Crackdown
Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal has sentenced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to death after finding her guilty of crimes against humanity for a violent crackdown on student-led protests last year that left more than 1,400 people dead. The 78-year-old, now a fugitive and residing in India, was tried in absentia. Prosecutors alleged that Hasina was the “mastermind and principal architect” of the deadly suppression of mass demonstrations between July 15 and August 5, 2024 — one of the worst periods of political violence since Bangladesh’s 1971 independence war. Courtroom Reaction Live footage from Dhaka showed cheers and applause erupting in the courtroom as the tribunal delivered the death sentence. Security was tight across the capital, with police checking commuters’ belongings and guarding access to the court. Details of the Charges According to the verdict, the tribunal found Hasina guilty of: Ordering lethal force, including the use of drones and helicopters, against protesters. Incitement and failure to take preventive or punitive measures during the killings and mass injuries. Orchestrating actions that were “widespread and systematic” and “directed against the civilian population”. The UN earlier estimated that up to 1,400 people were killed, most by gunfire from security forces, during the 2024 uprising. The interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, which took power after Hasina’s 15-year rule collapsed in August 2024, denied accusations that the trial was politically motivated. Officials said the proceedings were transparent and monitored by observers. The Foreign Ministry earlier summoned India’s envoy to Dhaka, demanding that New Delhi stop providing Hasina a platform to communicate with the media.Hasina’s son, Sajeeb Wazed, said he had expected the death sentence and claimed his mother was safe under Indian protection. He warned that her supporters would not accept the ruling quietly.The Awami League, now banned from contesting elections, is expected to mobilise large-scale protests, adding further uncertainty as Bangladesh heads toward national polls next year. In an extraordinary twist, the tribunal that sentenced Hasina today is the same court she established in 2010 to prosecute collaborators of the 1971 war. Over the years, the tribunal convicted and executed several opposition leaders — a process critics often called politically motivated.
NDA surges ahead in Bihar as Mahagathbandhan trails; Nitish-Modi wave to break 2010 record
The NDA is leading in Bihar, with Nitish Kumar and PM Modi’s popularity driving the surge. They’re poised to break the 2010 record, when the NDA won 206 seats. The current trends showcase that the people have once again bestowed their trust on Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as the NDA is heading towards yet another historic victory. In the current trends, the Nitish Kumar-led NDA has secured a combined total of 196 seats, with BJP leading in 88, JDU in 79, LJP 21, HAM 4 and RLM 4 as per data from the EC at 12:52 pm. RJD leads in 31 seats, Congress leads in 4, CPI(ML) lead 5, while CPI-M 1 and VIP lead in 0 seats each, taking the total to 41, as per data from the EC at 12:52 pm. Additionally, the BSP leads in one seat, and the AIMIM in five seats. For Nitish Kumar, who has governed the state for nearly two decades, this election has been widely viewed as a test of both political endurance and public trust. Once celebrated as “Sushashan Babu” for pulling Bihar out of the shadows of what was often termed the “jungle raj,” the Chief Minister has in recent years confronted signs of voter weariness and questions over his shifting political alignments. Despite this, the current trends reflect a noticeable shift on the ground, indicating that voters are reposing faith in his governance model once again. The return of a confident, coordinated BJP-JD(U) alliance has significantly reshaped the battlefield this time. With Prime Minister Modi standing firmly beside Nitish Kumar throughout the campaign, the coalition projected a united and reinvigorated front, emphasising welfare delivery, infrastructure expansion, social schemes, and administrative stability. The mix of PM Modi’s national appeal and Bihar CM’s extensive grassroots presence has created a formidable electoral force, one that appears poised to translate its political momentum into a landslide victory in Bihar. As Bihar reached the verdict stage, the PM Modi-Nitish partnership has emerged as the defining factor of the assembly election. The ruling alliance has highlighted that Bihar’s transformation is reflected not only in electoral outcomes but also in the conduct of elections. A comparative look at past polls underscores a dramatic change: the 1985 elections saw 63 deaths and repolling in 156 booths; in 1990, 87 deaths were reported; in 1995, the elections were postponed four times due to rampant violence under Chief Election Commissioner TN Seshan; and in 2005, repolling was ordered in 660 booths. In contrast, the 2025 elections recorded zero repolling and zero violence, an outcome the NDA has hailed as a testament to improved law and order. The results reaffirmed a pattern seen over multiple elections, with Bihar giving the BJP and Narendra Modi overwhelming support in the 2014, 2019, and 2024 Lok Sabha polls, as well as in the 2020 and now 2025 Assembly elections. Bihar, India’s third most populous state and one that is nearly 89 per cent rural, has long played a critical role in shaping national politics. The NDA leadership has attributed the current mandate to the state’s strong rural support base and what it describes as Bihar’s “vote for dignity and self-respect.” The ruling bloc also accused the INDI Alliance of disrespecting the state, referencing remarks made by its leaders, including Rahul Gandhi’s criticism of Chhath Puja. The NDA positioned Prime Minister Modi’s push for Chhath Puja to be listed in UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage category as evidence of its commitment to Bihar’s cultural identity. Often targeted by the opposition as ‘paltu ram (frequent turncoat)’, Nitish Kumar has held his ground and vote bank stronger always. Nitish Kumar’s lasting popularity stems from his focus on tangible development and inclusive growth. He’s delivered on promises, improving rural infrastructure and providing direct financial assistance, earning trust across Bihar’s socio-economic spectrum. Voters remember his fulfilled commitments, valuing steady progress over grand rhetoric. Nitish Kumar’s political trajectory, spanning more than four decades, has often been cited as a study in adaptability and strategic clarity. Rising through the JP movement of the mid-1970s, he went on to contest the Harnaut Assembly seat in 1985 under the leadership of Satyendra Narain Sinha of the Janata Party and emerged as a significant voice for backward castes and secular politics. Nitish Kumar’s governance in Bihar has been marked by a focus on development and inclusivity, which has helped him maintain popularity across communities, including Muslims. His schemes and policies have driven economic growth, improved infrastructure, and enhanced living standards, resonating with voters. Nitish Kumar’s political journey is a testament to his adaptability and strategic growth. Influenced by veterans like Ram Manohar Lohia, SN Sinha, Karpuri Thakur, and VP Singh, he honed his skills in the JP movement (1974-1977) alongside Jayaprakash Narayan. This exposure earned him recognition among prominent politicians.
