SPORTS

Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Najam Sethi will seek a "written guarantee" from BCCI supremo Jay Shah about Indian team's participation in 2025 ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan before committing on their national team playing its ODI World Cup games in India, later this year. The 2023 World Cup will be played from October 5 and BCCI have zeroed in on Ahmedabad (for India game), Chennai, Bengaluru and Kolkata as possible venues for Babar Azam's side.

However with ACC under chairmanship of Jay Shah not confirming the proposed 'Hybrid Model' for the upcoming Asia Cup, where India played its matches in UAE and Pakistan play their games in their home country, Sethi apparently has been advised to play the hardball.

Afghanistan pacer Naveen-ul-Haq took to Instagram on Saturday (May 6) to share a cryptic post days after his ugly on-field spat with Virat Kohli during Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) vs Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) match in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023. Naveen-ul-Haq's Insta post featured himself and LSG mentor Gautam Gambhir, posing together for a picture. In the caption of his post, the LSG pacer wrote,'' Treat people the way you want to be treated. Talk to people the way you want to be talked to #With Goat." Naveen-ul-Haq didn't mention Virat Kohli's name directly but fans on social media quicky guessed that it was aimed at the Indian batting legend.

Top wrestlers such as Bajrang Punia, Sakshi Malik, Vinesh Phogat, etc. continue their protest against Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh over sexual harassment claims. Since then, several big names have responded to the entire controversy. Recently, Sourav Ganguly -- India's former captain and Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)'s ex-president -- also joined the bandwagon and reacted.

In a recent event, Ganguly was quoted as saying by the news agency PTI, "Let them fight their battle. I really don't know what's happening there, I just read in the newspapers. I realised one thing in the sports world, that you don't talk about things which you don't have complete knowledge of. I hope it gets resolved. Wrestlers bring a lot of accolades to the country & hopefully, it will be resolved."

Former India opener Virender Sehwag slammed Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir for their on-field behaviour in the IPL 2023 match between Lucknow Super Giants and Royal Challengers Bangalore played in Lucknow. Kohli and Gambhir were seen having a heated argument after the match got over that saw players from both teams trying their bit to bring things under control. Sehwag reckons that both the players, Kohli and Gambhir have been such icons in the country, and for them to get involved in such an incident not only makes very poor viewing but also sets the wrong example in front of millions of kids.

Indian Olympic Association's (IOA's) athletes commission member Om Prakash Karhana on Tuesday came out in support of the protesting wrestlers, who had accused Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexual harassment and intimidation, saying "justice should be delivered to athletes who are fighting for their rights".

The 36-year-old Karhana, a former national record holder shot putter and Asian champion, said sweeping the allegations of the wrestlers under the carpet would harm Indian sport as athletes will lose their faith in the system. "I'm not speaking on behalf of the athletes' commission, but my personal view is that if athletes have come out in the open to fight for their rights, the system in the country should take steps to deliver justice to them as soon as possible," Karhana, who retired last year, told PTI.