ECB to investigate England cricketers’ ‘over-drinking’ during the Ashes break!
England Cricket Board’s (ECB) Managing Director of men’s cricket, Rob Key, has revealed that the over-drinking habits of England cricketers will be investigated. Reports have come out that the cricketers were involved in too much drinking during the beach-break in the ongoing Ashes tour, where England have already been drubbed 3-0 by Australia in only 11 days. The fourth Test will start in Melbourne on Friday. The squad visited the resort town of Noosa on the Sunshine Coast north of Brisbane between the second and third Tests, a long-planned part of the itinerary designed to help players relax and unwind on the long tour. Key, who did not join the players in Noosa, said he had no problem with the break, but would not be happy if he found evidence of over-indulging. According to a report from the BBC, some members of the squad had six days of drinking! “If there are things where people are saying that our players went out and drank excessively, then of course we’ll be looking into that,” he said Tuesday in Melbourne, where the fourth Test begins Friday. “Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol for an international cricket team is not something that I’d expect to see at any stage, and it would be a fault not to look into what happened there. From everything that I’ve heard so far, they actually were pretty well behaved. Very well behaved.” He added, “We’ve got enough ways of finding out exactly what happened and everything that I’ve heard so far that they sat down, had lunch, had dinner, didn’t go out late, all of that, had the odd drink. I don’t mind that. If it goes past that, then that’s an issue as far as I’m concerned.”
Neymar undergoes surgery; hopes to return to national squad
Neymar has undergone a successful Neymar is expected to require a recovery period of around a month. His Santos contract expires at the end of the year, but he is in talks with the club over a new deal. The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain forward has not played for Brazil in over two years but hopes to be fit and feature in coach Carlo Ancelotti’s plans for Fifa World Cup 2026 Neymar is Brazil’s record goalscorer with 79 goals from 128 matches. The operation was made on his left knee to repair a damaged meniscus, his club Santos said on Monday. The 33-year-old endured a difficult season with Santos as he played through the injury to help the club avoid relegation from Brazil’s top flight. Brazil’s national team doctor performed the arthroscopic surgery, having previously operated on Neymar for a foot fracture as well as the ruptured anterior cruciate ligament he suffered against Uruguay in October 2023.
The first badminton player in history to earn 1 million US Dollar prize money in a single year!
South Korea’s An Seyoung reached a height in world badminton’s history that no badminton player has been able to achieve. She became the first-ever badminton player to take home more than USD 1 million as prize money in a single year. She clinched the BWF World Tour Finals title on Sunday, which had a reward of 240,000 US Dollar, which took her total prize money for the year to 1,003,175 US Dollar. The World Tour Finals crown was An’s 11th title of the season. An has created another magnificent statistic which shows that her Sunday’s win against Wang Zhi Yi in Hangzhou was her 74th of the season in 77 matches! According to BWF, that win percentage is the best for any player, for those who have played a minimum of 60 matches in a season in the Super Series or World Tour era. An already legendary Lin Dan’s 92.75 percent triumph, made in 2011. An Seyoung also set a new mark of clinching 11th title in a single year in 2025, equalling legendary Japanese men’s player Kento Komota’s most titles in a single year.
59 injured after fans riot at Copa Colombia final
Medellin witnessed massive violence on Wednesday night after frantic fans of the rival teams were engaged in hostility, destroying stadium infrastructure and clashing with each other, including the police officers. Medellin Mayor Federico Gutierrez said there would be consequences for those who attended Wednesday’s Copa Colombia final to “generate violence” after 59 people were injured, including seven police officers, in clashes between rival fans. Violence broke out after Atlético Nacional defeated Medellín rival Deportivo Independiente Medellín 1-0 in the second leg of the Copa Colombia final at Estadio Atanasio Girardot. William Castano told news channel Teleantioquia that officers had seized weapons, flares, and fireworks from fans during checks at the stadium. “It was necessary to apply the graduated use of force, to help prevent the occupation of the pitch by the fans, to control outbreaks of public order disturbances, and to guarantee the safety of citizens attending the event,” Castano added. Mayor Gutierrez said on social media that the majority of fans at the stadium were there to watch football, but a group of “misfits” was intent on violence. “Anyone who went to the stadium to attack, destroy, or incite fear will be held accountable under the law. We will not allow a few to damage what belongs to everyone,” he wrote. “For years, we’ve been a beacon of peaceful football in our country and throughout Latin America. What a disappointment.”
Messi thanks India’s football lovers in his Instagram post
Lionel Messi in an Instagram video after returning to Inter Miami, Lionel Messi shared a post expressing his desire to come to India again. He hopes to return to India again. He wrote in his post, ‘First of all, I would like to thank India for all the live they have shown over the last few days. It was a great experience for us. It was intense and short, but it was beautiful to receive all the love.” “I already knew it was coming, but to receive it in the first place was amazing. It’s crazy what they’ve done for us over the last few days. We will take all the love, and we will be back.” Messi’s tour was organised by A Satadru Dutta Initiative, with the Argentina captain accompanied by his Inter Miami teammates, Luis Suarez and Rodrigo de Paul. His tour began with an early setback as the first chapter ended in chaos and vandalism at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata, following his early exit. However, the remaining three legs proceeded smoothly, with Messi playing rondos and keepie-uppies, and also kicking footballs to fans. “Hopefully, one day, we will be able to play a game, but we will be back to visit India. Thank you very much,” Messi added.
Ahead of the third test, Pat Cummins says he is anguished, being a resident of Sydney
Australian skipper Pat Cummins says, being a resident of Sydney, he is anguished about the Bondi Beach terror attack before the forthcoming third Ashes Test at Adelaide Oval, starting Tuesday. An attack by a father and son on a Jewish celebration at Sydney’s Bondi Beach on Sunday killed 15 people, leaving dozens injured. It was the worst mass shooting attack in Australia in the last 29 years since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre. “Like most other Aussies, I was just horrified watching on,” Cummins said. “I would just put the kids to bed and flick on the news as that was coming through. My wife and I were kind of watching in disbelief. “It’s a place that’s just around the corner from where we live, and we take the kids there all the time. Cummins’ young family are eastern suburbs locals in Sydney. The pacer’s wife and two children are with him in Adelaide for this Test. “It hit home pretty hard. I really feel for the Bondi community and the Jewish community in particular. Seeing the kind of scenes over the last couple of days has been pretty powerful as well,” Cummins added. The third Test will mark the first major sporting event in Australia since the attack, with the country still in mourning. Flags will also be flown at half-mast, and the players will wear black armbands.
Messi visits Vanatara wildlife, sends ‘heartfelt’ message to India!
Argentine legend Lionel Messi visited the Vantara wildlife and rescue centre in Jamnagar on Monday before wrapping up his GOAT India Tour. Reliance Industries’ Executive Director and Vantara’s founder, Anant Ambani, hosted Messi and his Inter Miami teammates at the extensive centre. The football legends stayed at the Jamnagar facility overnight, according to an ANI report. Argentine legend, in his official farewell to his Indian fans, expressed heartfelt gratitude for the overwhelming love, respect, and admiration he received from fans across India. He thanked Indian supporters for their passion and warmth, and shared his hope to return to the country again in the future! After spending three unforgettable days across four cities, which marked Delhi as the final stop of the GOAT’s visit, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta welcomed football icons Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, and Rodrigo De Paul at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Monday afternoon. Along with CM Rekha Gupta, ICC Chairman Jay Shah and DDCA President Rohan Jaitley were also present at the event. The interaction between Lionel Messi and Shah was a warm exchange of gestures, with the ICC Chairman presenting Messi, Luis Suarez and Rodrigo de Paul with Indian cricket team jerseys, symbolising the convergence of two of India’s most beloved sports. Messi also received a special autographed cricket bat from Shah, making the moment a unique fusion of football and cricketing heritage. Messi was also seen kicking the ball towards the stands along with his Inter Miami teammates, Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul. They were also entertained by the Minerva Football Academy boys, who were felicitated for winning the Dana and Gothia Cups recently.
Flight delayed; Messi’s meeting with PM Narendra Modi cancelled
The much-awaited meeting between Argentine legend Lionel Messi and Prime Minister Argentine superstar Lionel Messi will not be meeting India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his New Delhi stop as part of the GOAT India Tour on Monday. Messi, who is in India on a three-day tour, had a chaotic experience at the Salt Lake Stadium during his first stop in Kolkata, but it has been smooth sailing since, in Hyderabad and Mumbai, respectively. Argentine captain’s arrival in New Delhi has been delayed after his flight was deferred due to inclement weather. In the national capital, Messi was scheduled to meet Modi and a 21-minute protocol was prepared for the same, one that was cancelled late on the day before the meeting. Modi will be travelling to Oman, Ethiopia and Jordan on a four-day visit, discussing bilateral ties between India and the three nations. “Today, I am embarking on a three-nation visit to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the Sultanate of Oman, three nations with which India shares both age-old civilization ties, as well as extensive contemporary bilateral relations,” the Prime Minister said in a statement before leaving India. Meanwhile, Messi is likely to meet cricketer Virat Kohli, Home Minister Amit Shah, Chief of Defense Staff, General Anil Chauhan and the Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, among others, during his New Delhi visit. His trip will conclude with a felicitation event at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, where he will conduct a coaching clinic, followed by a meet-and-greet with young players from Minerva Academy, who won three European youth trophies earlier this year.
Vaibhav Suryavanshi breaks Youth ODI world record! Strikes a blistering 56-ball century in the Under-19 Asia Cup
Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s authoritative batting form continues in other formats of the game as he smashed a blazing 56-ball century in India’s Under-19 Asia Cup opener against the United Arab Emirates at the ICC Academy in Dubai on Friday. Opening the batting after the UAE chose to field, Suryavanshi went on his usual prowess, powering the ball to all parts of the park. The dashing opener stormed to his century in only 56 balls on the back of a feast of boundaries. Suryavanshi then broke another world record, hitting his 13th six as he approached the 150-run mark, the most sixes ever hit by a batsman in a Youth ODI innings. He surpassed the previous record of 12 sixes, held by Michael Hill for Australia U-19 against Namibia U-19 in 2008. The 14-year-old from Samastipur, Bihar, also became the first batter in history to amass over 50 Youth ODI sixes in their career as he waltzed past his 150 in only 84 balls. Suryavanshi recently broke several records in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, India’s domestic T20 tournament. Recording his maiden SMAT ton in only 17th T-20 innings, Suryavanshi became the first teenager in the world to record three T-20 centuries during his young career. Only his U-19 teammate Ayush Mhatre, who struck two successive centuries in the ongoing SMAT edition, and France’s Gustav Mackeon have recorded two T-20 centuries before turning 20.
Two Indian-origin cricketers included in the Australia Under-19 World Cup squad
Two Indian-origin players — Aryan Sharma and John James — have been selected in Australia’s 15-member squad for the men’s Under-19 World Cup, scheduled to be held in Namibia and Zimbabwe from January 15 to February 6. Aryan, an all-rounder who is an effective batsman and a slow left-arm spinner, and James, a right-arm medium pace all-rounder, were both part of the squad that played against India in the youth Tests and one-day internationals in September. Besides cricketers of Indian heritage, the squad features two players of Sri Lankan (Naden Cooray and Nitesh Samuel) and one of Chinese Origin (Alex Lee Young). Australia enters the tournament as defending champions, with Oliver Peake as captain. “We’re delighted to announce a strong and well-balanced squad for the ICC Under-19 World Cup. Our focus has been on selecting a group with complementary skill sets that provide the best chance of success in the tournament,” head coach Tim Nielsen said in a release. “The players named have impressed with their performances during the U19 series against India in September and at the recent National U19 Championship in Perth. “It’s an exciting group; some have already experienced senior training environments, while others are progressing rapidly through our pathway.” Australia is placed in Group A alongside Ireland, Japan, and Sri Lanka. The team will reach Namibia in early January and play warm-up matches from January 9–14. “The World Cup is a fantastic opportunity for these young cricketers to showcase their talent and test themselves against the best in the world,” Nielsen said.
