SPORTS

The World Cup schedule may see a slight tweak following revelations that Ahmedabad police have reportedly expressed their inability to provide security for the India-Pakistan game on October 15 as it coincides with the first day of the sacred Navaratri festival. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is believed to be exploring alternatives, one of them being to advance the match by a day to October 14.

However, the option, on the face of it, is easier thought than implemented. With Pakistan playing a game against Sri Lanka in Hyderabad just two days earlier, on October 12, it may not be possible for the team to play the high-voltage game 48 hours later.

Despite retiring from international cricket three years ago, MS Dhoni remains one of the richest cricketers in the world at the moment. The 2011 World Cup-winning skipper has a net worth of Rs. 1040 crore, which is only a little less than that of current Indian cricket superstar Virat Kohli (Rs. 1050 crore).

For most of his international career, Dhoni was part of the highest bracket of Indian players in the Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) contract system and was among the highest earners every season in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Additionally, Dhoni has participated in various advertisements and brand endorsements.

Ishan Kishan and Ravichandran Ashwin are in the crease as six-down India continue to dominate West Indies on Day 2 of the ongoing second Test in Port of Spain, Trinidad. India's score read 373 for 6 at Lunch. Virat Kohli was run out on his individual score of 121 -- his 29th Test ton and 76th in international cricket -- before Ravindra Jadeja fell for 61. India had resumed at the score of 288 for four on Friday. Rohit Sharma (80 off 143 balls), Yashasvi Jaiswal (57 off 74) and Kohli had struck half-centuries for the visitors after being sent into bat on Day 1.

West Indies skipper Kraigg Brathwaite won the toss and opted to field first in the second and final Test against India in at Port of Spain, Trinidad.

India will aim for a series sweep against a feeble West Indies when the second and final Test begins on Thursday. The game will mark the 100th Test between the two teams and though India skipper Rohit Sharma said that it will be a big occasion, his team will be expected to dominate the West Indies like it did in the series opener in Dominica. The West Indies will be looking to bounce back from their disappointing draw in the first Test. The pitch at the Queen’s Park Oval is expected to be a good one for batting. It is a flat surface, and there is not much grass on the wicket. This should mean that both teams will be able to score runs, and it should be an exciting Test match.

Seven-time champions India will face arch-rivals Pakistan on September 2 in Kandy as the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president Jay Shah announced the match schedule for Asia Cup 2023 on Wednesday.

The six-nation tournament will be played in Pakistan and Sri Lanka from August 30 to September 17 based on the hybrid model recently approved by the ACC.

Pakistan will play Nepal in the tournament opener on August 30 in Multan.

Team India, with 7 titles (6 ODI and 1 T20I), is the most successful team in the tournament followed by Sri Lanka with 6 titles to their name.