‘They never wanted me as secretary’; Mehta Slams TTFI After Suspension
The secretary of the Table Tennis Federation of India, Kamlesh Mehta, was suspended during the TTFI AGM. Meghna Ahlawat serves as the president and is the wife of former Haryana Deputy CM Dushyant Chautala. She and Secretary Mehta led different factions within the governing body. Both were elected in December 2022 as part of a political ‘compromise’. Recently, the two leaders clashed over the scheduling of the AGM. That meeting finally took place on Wednesday. During the session, the secretary was officially suspended. Yatin Tipnis represents the Maharashtra State Association. He was nominated as the senior joint secretary during the meeting. He will now manage the daily operations of the federation while the secretary’s post remains suspended. Previously, Kamaleh Mehta organised an Emergency Special General Meeting (SGM) in Mumbai. However, TTFI president Ahlawat expressed this SGM as unconstitutional and invalid in a letter issued on 15th January. Tipnis, while talking to PTI, stated, “The post of senior joint secretary was vacant, so I was nominated in the AGM. Now that the secretary’s post is suspended, I have been instructed to look after the day-to-day running of the TTFI affairs so that athletes are not impacted. ”. However, the allegedly former secretary has a different side of the story. According to him, he is yet to be officially notified about this decision. He expressed, “I have been hearing about the suspension. I have not got anything in writing from TTFI. I have not been able to access the official email since yesterday.” “Agenda-driven politics is being played, as they (the other faction) never wanted me as secretary in the first place,” further claimed Mehta. The Delhi High Court already issued a suspension to the TTFI, back in February 2022, asserting “a sorry state of affairs” in the national federation. However, after the fresh election, Ahlawat and Mehta were elected under the Committee of Administrators’ (CoA) supervision.
Aaron Jones To Miss World Cup Over Anti-Corruption Code
Former USA captain Aaron Jones has been provisionally suspended following multiple charges under the ICC’s anti-corruption code. The charges centre on alleged match-fixing and non-cooperation with investigators, delivering a major blow to the USA cricket programme. Following his provisional suspension, Jones is ineligible for selection. The cricketer was booked under five offences of ICC anti-corruption codes and Cricket West Indies. The allegations are associated with the Bim10 tournament during the 2023-24 season, under CWI jurisdiction. Two of the charges pertain to international matches under the ICC Code. The ICC, in an official release, confirmed that Jones’ suspension takes effect immediately. “These charges are part of a wider investigation which is likely to result in further charges being issued against other participants in due course,” the ICC issued. “Jones has been provisionally suspended from all cricket with immediate effect and has 14 days from 28 January 2026 to respond to the charges.” The ICC has accused Jones of attempting to fix or improperly influence matches. He allegedly failed to report corrupt approaches. He is also charged with refusing to cooperate with investigators. The ICC further alleges that he obstructed the investigation by concealing or tampering with information. The 31-year-old was recently part of an 18-member USA training group in Sri Lanka. The camp was part of preparations for the 2026 T20 World Cup. USA Cricket is yet to announce its final squad.
‘Everybody is a Cricket Expert’; Saikia Opens Up About Gambhir’s Dismissal
Gautam Gambhir has been the centre of much criticism and rumours of being sacked since the team’s poor performance and ODI loss against the Kiwis. However, recently in an interview, Devajit Saikia, a BCCI secretary, dismissed these rumours in a rather humorous way. In a recent interview with Sportstar, Saikia stated, “India is a country of 140 crore people, and everybody is a cricket expert. Everybody will have an opinion. It is a democratic country, and we cannot gag anybody.” He emphasised, “All the opinion makers are free to give their opinions, including the media. There is a lot of speculated news in the domain, and also various ex-cricketers, cricketers, or other people are also giving opinions. In social media, it is full of them.” “But the thing is that we have a cricket committee in the BCCI, who are ex-cricketers. They are dedicated and make all the decisions. On the other hand, for team selection, we have five selectors. They also have to qualify to get into that position. They are the people who take that also. For every decision, there can be a counter-opinion.” He added, “So, those opinions we have to address, and we have to consider. But the final decision is always taken by the cricket committee as well as the selectors.” The cricket fraternity is not on Gambhir’s side. As previously, Manoj Tiwari smashed Gambhir, stating BCCI should sack the coach if the team fails to secure a T20 World Cup 2026. The former cricket star stated, “If Gautam Gambhir fails to win the T20 World Cup 2026, then BCCI should take a big and difficult decision. BCCI secretary has said that we will pursue with Gambhir till his contract expires. But if the T20 World Cup 2026 doesn’t give a result to Gambhir, I think BCCI will take a big call and will remove him.”
New Zealand Outclass India by 50 Runs in Fourth T20I
New Zealand delivered an all-round performance to beat India by 50 runs in the fourth T20I on Wednesday. Despite losing the series earlier, the Black Caps bounced back strongly in the fourth match. Batting first, New Zealand posted an imposing 215 for seven. Openers Tim Seifert and Devon Conway came out attacking from the start. Seifert struck 62 off 36 balls, while Conway made 44 off 23. The duo added 100 runs in just 8.2 overs, putting India on the back foot early. India managed a partial comeback in the final 10 overs. Arshdeep Singh and Kuldeep Yadav picked up two wickets each. However, Daryl Mitchell ensured a strong finish with a brisk 39 off 18 balls, taking the total beyond 200. During the post-match interaction, the Indian skipper said, “We purposely played six batters. We wanted to have five bowlers and challenge ourselves. We wanted to play the players who were part of the World Cup squad, otherwise we would have played other players. We have been batting well batting first.” He added,“We wanted us to see how we bat when two or three down while chasing 180-200. With heavy dew, one or two partnerships like Dube batted, one partnership could have made a difference.” India’s chase got off to the worst possible start. Abhishek Sharma was dismissed on the first ball. Wickets continued to fall, making the task tougher for the hosts. Shivam Dube provided late resistance with a sensational knock. He smashed 65 off 23 balls, hitting three fours and seven sixes. It was the third-fastest fifty by an Indian in T20Is, but it was not enough. New Zealand kept tightening the noose with disciplined bowling. India were eventually bowled out for 165, handing the visitors a convincing 50-run victory in Visakhapatnam.
Suryakumar Yadav Climbs to No.7 in T20I Rankings After Stellar Series
India captain Suryakumar Yadav received a major push in the ICC Men’s T20I batting ranking list, just a few days before the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. He successfully jumped five places to No.7 for his astonishing performance in the ongoing T20I series against New Zealand. Yadav now secure 717 rating for his pivotal contribution throughout the first three matches of the series. After a weak start, he made a comeback by scoring an unbeaten 82 off 37 balls. This innings propelled India to a comfortable chase of 209, finishing with 28 balls to spare, highlighting his skill in anchoring the innings while accelerating when necessary. Yadav maintained his excellent form in the third T20I at Guwahati, smashing a brilliant 57* off just 26 balls. His explosive innings propelled India to a 3-0 series sweep in only 10 overs. He emerged as the series’s highest run-scorer, amassing 171 runs in three matches at an astonishing average of 171 and a strike rate of 201.17. This stellar performance highlights his consistency and dominance as India heads into the T20 World Cup. Abhishek Sharma has been in sensational form. He extended his lead at the top of the T20I batting rankings to 80 points. This came after two brilliant half-centuries. In the third T20I, he scored the second-fastest fifty by an Indian. He reached the mark in just 14 balls. This followed his earlier 84-run knock in the first T20I at Nagpur. His current rating is 929 points, just two shy of his career-high of 931 from last year’s Asia Cup. In bowling, Jasprit Bumrah climbed four spots to 13th in the latest T20I rankings. He took three crucial wickets in the third match. He was named Player of the Match. India now aim for a 4-0 series sweep. They face New Zealand in the fourth T20I on Wednesday, January 28. The team will look to keep its momentum going. Key players like Abhishek Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, and Jasprit Bumrah will focus on staying in top form ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026.
Chennaiyin FC Rope in Alberto Nouguera for ISL
The Marina Machans added another star to their squad for their upcoming. Chennaiyin FC recently roped in Spanish midfielder Alberto Nouguera till the end of this season. The Madrid-born player has established his stance as a performer at the highest level. He has made over 400 appearances throughout his marquee career across Spain, England, Azerbaijan, and India. He has built a proven excellence through securing major domestic honours such as the Indian Super League, the Indian Super League Cup, and the Durand Cup. While expressing his thoughts on joining Chennaiyin FC, Noguera revealed, “I’m really happy and excited as I look ahead to the new season after everything that has happened. I’ve already worked with the head coach and know many of the players, which gives me a lot of confidence heading into this new chapter. I’m looking forward to the challenge and hopeful for a strong season ahead. It won’t be easy, but despite all the issues the ISL has gone through, I’m confident that we’ll give our best and work hard to deliver good performances.” Equally adept in attacking and central midfield roles, Noguera brings creativity, calmness, and authority to the heart of midfield. Renowned for his vision, wide passing range, and intelligence on the ball, the Spaniard is set to be a pivotal figure in connecting play and controlling the tempo for Chennaiyin. Head coach Clifford Miranda said, warmly welcoming the new signee, “In Noguera, we are getting quality & consistency. His calmness & control in the middle will help give the team stability. He is someone who has been around for a long time and is very familiar with ISL. He has a very good rapport with the players, encouraging & pushing them.” Born in Madrid, Noguera came through the youth systems at Getafe and local club SS Reyes. His development earned him a move to Atlético Madrid, one of Spain’s biggest clubs. He progressed through the reserves and made his first-team debut in the 2010–11 season. The midfielder later had stints in England and Azerbaijan. He returned to Spain in 2014 and went on to play regularly across the second and third divisions. Noguera arrived in the Indian Super League in 2020. Since then, he has made over 90 appearances across five seasons for three clubs. He has scored 14 goals and provided 15 assists. Noguera’s joining came a few days after Imran Khan. Needless to say, the team is continuing to build a stronger team. The Spaniard is set to join his new teammates shortly and begin training as the Marina Machans ramp up preparations for the upcoming campaign.
Sport Fraternity Mourn After Deputy Chief Minister’s Tragic Death
The Indian sports fraternity sends its heartfelt condolences on the demise of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP chief Ajit Pawar. The public servant died in a tragic plane crash near Baramati on Wednesday. India Olympic Association (IOA) chief, PT Usha, shared on Instagram, “Shocked & saddened by the sudden passing away of Deputy CM of Maharashtra Ajit Pawar ji. His absence will be felt in sports, as he served as the President of the Maharashtra Olympic Association. My heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and supporters. Om Shanti.” The Cricket God, Sachin, took to X handle, “Very sad to learn about the untimely demise of Ajit Pawar ji. Maharashtra has lost a dedicated leader who worked for the people across the state. May God grant his soul peace. My heartfelt condolences to his family and friends. Om Shanti.” Olympic medallist boxer Vijender Singh added, “The news of the tragic plane crash in Baramati, Maharashtra, resulting in the death of Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister and National President of NCP, Ajit Pawar Ji, along with many others, is harrowing and heart-wrenching. May God give peace to the departed souls and strength to the grieving families to bear this immense sorrow. Om Shanti!” Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, popularly known as ‘Dada’, was a dominant force of Maharashtra. It is not unlikely for the players to mourn for the known figure. Mohammed Azharuddin, the former Indian Cricket captain and current Minister for Public Enterprises & Minority Welfare in Govt of Telangana, posted on X, “Deeply shaken by the news of Ajit Pawar’s plane crash. I extend my heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones. May his soul rest in eternal peace, and may his family find the strength and courage to endure this profound loss.” ‘Dada’ represented the Baramati Assembly constituency for seven consecutive terms since 1991. He was a power figure in the co-operative sector. The Chairman of the Pune District Central Cooperative Bank (PDC) for 16 years has a proven influence on sugar cooperatives and milk unions. Over the years, he has held nearly every major ministerial position in Maharashtra, including Water Resources, Power, and Rural Development, under Chief Ministers Vilasrao Deshmukh, Ashok Chavan, Prithviraj Chavan, and Uddhav Thackeray.
Pakistan’s Potential Boycott of T20 World Cup to Trigger Hefty Fine
Mohsin Naqvi’s deliberate muddling of cricket with politics might cost a hefty amount for Pakistan. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi, soliciting the backing for Bangladesh, might call for a potential boycott of the T20 World Cup or exclusively ignore matches against India. However, along with the participating boards, PCB has legally finalised its commitment to participation in the event. Forfeiting the India match would violate the PCB’s binding agreement with the ICC, triggering significant regulatory penalties. Furthermore, with $38 million in broadcast revenue at stake, the PCB would likely face massive compensation lawsuits from host broadcasters for breach of contract. The chairman and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a meeting regarding the participation in the upcoming T20 World Cup. However, Naqvi took to his social media and wrote that the final decision was to be taken on either Friday or next Monday. Naqvi wrote, “Had a productive meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Briefed him on the ICC matter, and he directed that we resolve it while keeping all options on the table. It was agreed that the final decision will be taken either on Friday or next Monday.”
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.
