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Kandy, Mar 1 (IANS) Pakistan signed off their campaign in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 with a narrow five-run win over Sri Lanka, but the victory was not enough to take them into the next stage due to an inferior Net Run Rate. The match was played at the Pallekele International Stadium in Kandy on Saturday.

Batting first, Pakistan posted a massive 212/8, led by a superb opening stand between Sahibzada Farhan and Fakhar Zaman. Farhan smashed 100 off 60 balls, becoming the first batter to score two centuries in a single T20 World Cup edition, while Fakhar added a rapid 84. Despite late wickets, Pakistan crossed the 200-run mark with ease.

In reply, Sri Lanka lost early wickets but fought back through partnerships in the middle overs. Captain Dasun Shanaka played a sensational unbeaten knock of 76, keeping Sri Lanka in the hunt till the final over. Needing 28 runs off the last six balls, Shanaka hit three sixes and a four, but Sri Lanka fell just short at 207/5.

Although Pakistan won the match, they failed to restrict Sri Lanka to 147 runs, which meant they could not overtake New Zealand on Net Run Rate and were eliminated from the tournament.

Pakistan vs Sri Lanka match in numbers

2 – After Chris Gayle of West Indies, Pak opener Sahibzada Farhan became the 2nd batter to post two hundreds in the T20 World Cups.

Ist – Sahibzada Farhan (100) became the first batter to post two hundreds in a single edition of the T20 WC. Earlier, he also scored an unbeaten 100 runs vs Namibia in Colombo.

4 – Pakistan Sahibzada Farhan (100) became the 5th batter to hit five 50-plus scores in a single T20 WC edition. M. Hayden (2007), Virat Kohli (2014 & 2021) & Babar Azam (2021) are the other three.

64/0 – Was the score of Pakistan in the Power-play (1-6). This was their 4th-highest power-play score in the T20 WCs.

383 – The number of runs scored by Sahibzada Farhan at an avg of 76.60 in the current edition, which are most runs scored by a batter in a single edition of a T20 WC. Sahibzada Farhan bettered the record of Virat Kohli of India, who scored 319 runs in the 2014 edition.

212/8 – Pakistan (212/8 ) recorded their highest innings total in the T20 WC; their previous best was 201/5 against Bangladesh in Kolkata in the 2016 edition. This is also their 2nd-highest innings total in T20Is. Behind 232/6 vs England in Nottingham in 2021.

18 – The number of sixes (18) hit by Sahibzada Farhan in this T20 WC. Farhan bettered the record of Shimron Hetmyer (17) of the West Indies.

58 – The number of runs scored by Pavan Rathnayake (58). It was his 2nd fifty in the T20 WC. Earlier, he had scored 60 vs Oman in Pallekele on Feb 12.

27 – In this match, Pakistan’s mystery spinner Usman Tariq went wicketless. In 27 innings, it happened for the first time when Usman Tariq went wicketless in a T20I.

76* – The number of runs scored by Dasun Shanaka off 31 balls with 2 fours and 8 sixes. It was his highest score in 131 matches. His previous best was 74* vs India in Dharamsala in the 2022 edition. Overall, it was his 8th 50-plus score. The 2nd vs Pakistan in 17 T20Is. During this innings, he also completed his 100 sixes.

–IANS

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Kandy, Mar 1 (IANS) Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka apologised to fans and blamed injuries and missed moments after his team crashed out of the T20 World Cup 2026, despite a fighting performance in their final Super 8 match against Pakistan at the Pallekele International Stadium in Kandy on Saturday.

Shanaka played a courageous, unbeaten knock of 76, but Sri Lanka fell short by five runs while chasing Pakistan’s imposing total of 212. Although Sri Lanka finished on 207, they could not cross the mark, while Pakistan were also eliminated due to net run-rate calculations.

Reflecting on the loss, Shanaka admitted the game slipped away at the end. He said it was ‘that close’ and felt he could have finished the match, while also crediting Shaheen Afridi for holding his nerve in the final over. Sri Lanka needed 28 runs in the last six balls, and despite Shanaka hitting three sixes and a four, Pakistan defended the total. “It was that close of a game where I could have finished it. But yeah, unfortunate. Well bowled to Shaheen,” he said in the post-match presentation.

Shanaka also took responsibility for lapses under pressure and once again apologised to supporters. “Sometimes, as players, we feel the pressure as well. It was a mistake by me. I wanted to say sorry to all the fans for disheartening them,” he said.

Calling it a tough tournament, Shanaka pointed to injuries as a major setback and apologised to supporters for disappointing them. He felt Sri Lanka could have reached the semifinals if they had a full-strength squad, especially missing two key bowlers.

“It’s been a tough campaign for us. We had a few injuries. I want to say sorry to all the fans because unfortunately, we fell down because of those injuries. Otherwise, we could have probably made it to a semifinal,” he admitted.

“Missing two key bowlers was a big loss. At times of a World Cup, you need your players to be there. It affects the strength and the mentality,” Shanaka explained.

Despite the exit, Shanaka highlighted positives for the future, praising young batters Pawan Rathnayake and Dunith Wellalage for their growth and consistency, expressing confidence that Sri Lankan cricket has a bright road ahead.

“Pawan has been very consistent and is using the crease very well. We also have Wellalage. They are growing, and hopefully they will have a bright future ahead,” Shanaka concluded.

–IANS

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New Delhi, Feb 28 (IANS) Two-time Olympic medallist shuttler PV Sindhu, who was left stranded at the Dubai Airport on Saturday en route to Birmingham in England as flight operations were suspended owing to escalating tensions between Iran and the US-Israel, is safe and hoping for things to settle down soon.

Sindhu, who is travelling to Birmingham to participate in the prestigious All-England badminton championship from March 3-8, communicated with her fans via story on her Instagram page, thanking her well-wishers for their messages.

“I am safe right now. Thanks you to everyone who has been messaging and checking in, it really means a lot,” Sindhu said in her Insta story.

“Hearing interceptions overhead and watching everything unfold in real time is hard to process. Dubai Airport is extremely chaotic, with many families stranded, all of us just hoping we get past this soon.

“Praying for calm and safety for everone affected,” said Sindhu in her post on Instagram,” said Sindhu in her post on her Instagram handle.

Sindhu’s flight was returned to Dubai Airport because of threats of attack by Iran over American and Israeli assets in the region.

Earlier, Sindhu put out a video on her Instagram story, showing a crowded airport as people wait for an update from the authorities in the United Arab Emirates on when flights will resume. The former World No.1 in women’s singles put out the Insta story on her official handle with the caption, ‘All flights suspended until further notice.’

“PV Sindhu was set to travel to the All England, but got stuck in Dubai. The Badminton Association of India (BAI) is in touch with her as well as Emirates. Other players have already reached, but Sindhu insisted on travelling today and took a morning flight. The issue is expected to be resolved soon,” BAI sources told IANS.

Meanwhile, reports said the men’s doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, however, have reached Birmingham for the event to be held at the Utilita Arena Birmingham, King Edwards Road from March 3-8.

The crisis in the Middle East has escalated after Israel and the US launched air strikes on Iran, following which Tehran has threatened to attack ships and shipping interests in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The possibility of attacks has disrupted air travel across the region to reach Europe and Africa.

Dubai Airport has already suspended all operations till further notice, while there have been Large-scale flight cancellations in flights leaving from India to Europe and Africa as they transit via Dubai and the Gulf region.

–IANS

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Kandy, Feb 28 (IANS) Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha admitted that dew, execution issues, and long-standing middle-order concerns played a key role in his team’s exit from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, even after registering a dramatic five-run win over Sri Lanka at the Pallekele International Stadium on Saturday.

Pakistan defended a huge total of 212/8 but failed to restrict Sri Lanka before 147, the margin required to overtake New Zealand on net run rate, resulting in their elimination from the tournament.

Reflecting on the match and Pakistan’s campaign, Agha said losing the toss made the task difficult on a pitch that became increasingly challenging for bowlers due to heavy dew. “I think when I lost the toss, it was always going to be challenging because of the dew. It was a very good pitch and restricting them to 148 was always going to be difficult,” Agha said in the post-match presentation.

“If I had won the toss, it could have been a different story. Dew was definitely a factor, and we couldn’t execute our plans the way we wanted to,” he added.

Agha also pointed to an off day for the spin attack and accepted that such setbacks are part of the T20 format. “Our spin has been brilliant, but today Usman had an off day. That can happen in T20 cricket,” he said.

Looking at the bigger picture, the Pakistan skipper did not shy away from addressing the team’s batting struggles across the tournament. “We couldn’t bat well throughout the tournament. It was only Sahibzada Farhan who batted exceptionally well. If someone had supported him, it could have been a different story,” Agha noted.

He added that the middle order remains a major area of concern. “The middle order has been a problem for a few years now. We need to sit down and seriously look at that department,” he said.

Agha also focused on Pakistan’s failure to finish strongly despite dominating most of the innings. “We missed quite a few runs in the last two overs. If we had scored 10–15 more runs, it could have changed the outcome,” he concluded.

–IANS

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New Delhi, Feb 28 (IANS) Fourteen years is a long time to wait for a trophy, and Delhi looked determined to end that long drought. After bowling out a formidable Railways for just 132 in the final of the Senior Women’s One-Day Trophy at the IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali, Delhi completed the chase with a ruthlessness that had defined their entire campaign — knocking off the target in under 29 overs, seven wickets in hand, 21.3 overs to spare.

By the time opener Priya Punia hit a commanding 76 off 90 balls, after Parunika Sisodia shone with a three-fer, the Senior Women’s One-Day Trophy was already theirs. “Look, we are very happy. It’s been many years since we have had this happy occasion in Delhi. Our girls have made us proud in the whole of India. The base for this was laid last year because last year we were U23 (T20) champions. Before that, we were U23 runners-up.

“So those same girls have come in the third year and made us national champions. It’s a very happy thing because the women’s cricket team will help build a great reputation and bright future outlook for DDCA,” said a beaming Ashok Sharma, DDCA Secretary, to IANS at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Saturday.

It was Delhi’s first title since 2011/12, and it arrived with a completeness that left little room for any further thoughts. When Pragya Rawat hit the winning runs alongside Punia, Delhi became only the second team in the tournament’s history, after Railways, to win the trophy more than once. Sharma said the future looks even brighter for the women’s talent pool, with the association’s investment in it paying off big time.

“In the coming time, we will see even better cricketers here. We started the preparation for the girls’ team last year through a tournament with 42 teams. It was DDCA President Rohan Jaitley’s roadmap to start the girls’ league that was a big help in this. Plus, Rohan Jaitley announced that the cash prize that BCCI will give, DDCA will also give the same amount.

“All these girls are the ones who have been performing in Delhi for the last three years, and the motivation was always there since the start. Delhi has always been in the national team in any form, be it in the form of bowlers or batters. Delhi’s representation has always been there in the BCCI tournaments. Our combined team’s performance among the boys was not so good.

“But if you look at the individual performance, two boys have come to the top of Delhi – Ayush Doseja and another opener (Sanat Sangwan). So both our boys are still at the top of the Ranji Trophy run charts. The team wins because of the combined effects, and the girls have done that. They have been good for the last three years,” he said.

He also lauded the coaching staff headed by Deepti Dhyani, assistant batting coach Gautam Vadhera, assistant bowling coach Ashish Malhotra, and assistant fielding coach Mandeep Kaur for their efforts in ensuring the trophy comes to New Delhi.

“I want to give the biggest credit to the coach. When he was in the U23, he made them champions. Today, he promoted them to winning the senior one-day trophy. I want to thank the coaching staff who have been working hard for the last three years. The result of that hard work has come out today. It is a happy atmosphere in the DDCA, as the trophy has come after so many years and the women have raised our honour.”

The celebrations, Sharma confirmed, would be fitting to honour the Soni Yadav-led side. “Of course, we will felicitate them. The President has announced it. Double prize money. We will give as much as the board will give. They have said 50 lakhs verbally, and we will give as much as we can to increase the honouring of our women’s team. I mean, what else can I say? There are no words for these girls who have raised the head of the DDCA very high with pride.”

–IANS

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Kandy, Feb 28 (IANS) Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka’s fighting knock of 76 runs was not enough as Pakistan edged past the hosts for a five-run victory in their final match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at the Pallekele International Stadium in Kandy on Saturday.

Despite the narrow win, Pakistan were knocked out of the tournament. After scoring 212 while batting first, Pakistan needed to restrict Sri Lanka to 147 runs to go past New Zealand on Net Run Rate. However, Sri Lanka finished on 207, falling short of the target but still ending Pakistan’s campaign.

Chasing a big total, Sri Lanka got off to a poor start when Naseem Shah, playing his first match of the tournament, dismissed opener Pathum Nissanka in the second over. Nissanka scored just three runs from seven balls.

Kamil Mishara then counterattacked by hitting Shaheen Afridi for a six and two fours. However, he was dismissed in the fourth over by Abrar Ahmed’s googly. Mishara scored 26 runs off 15 balls, hitting four fours and one six. Sri Lanka were 49 for 2 at the end of the powerplay.

Former captain Charith Asalanka added some stability with Pawan Ratnayake as the pair put on 42 runs in 28 balls. Pakistan broke the stand in the ninth over when Abrar clean bowled Asalanka, who scored 25. Abrar struck again in the 11th over by dismissing Kamindu Mendis. Sri Lanka lost another wicket in the 12th over when Mohammad Nawaz removed Janith Liyanage.

While wickets kept falling at one end, Ratnayake played an impressive innings and reached his half-century in just 32 balls with a six off Shadab Khan in the 15th over. Pakistan finally got his wicket in the 18th over when Shaheen Afridi dismissed him. Ratnayake scored 58 off 37 balls.

Shanaka, who looked in good touch throughout, completed his fifty in just 23 balls and stayed unbeaten on 76. His innings included eight sixes and two fours. Sri Lanka needed 28 runs from the final over. Shanaka hit three sixes and a four off Shaheen Afridi but could not clear the ropes on the final delivery as Sri Lanka fell short by five runs.

Earlier, Pakistan opener Sahibzada Farhan continued his fine form, scoring his second century of the tournament, while Fakhar Zaman struck 84 to help Pakistan post 212 for 8 in 20 overs.

Pakistan opened with Farhan and Fakhar, and the new pair started carefully before increasing the scoring rate from the third over. Farhan reached his half-century in 32 balls and also broke Virat Kohli’s record for the most runs in a single edition of the T20 World Cup by hitting a boundary off Dasun Shanaka in the sixth over.

Fakhar brought up his fifty in just 27 balls with a boundary off Dunith Wellalage in the 12th over. Sri Lanka finally made a breakthrough in the 16th over when Dushmantha Chameera bowled Fakhar for 84 off 42 balls, an innings that included nine fours and four sixes.

Mohammed Nafay, who replaced Babar Azam in the playing XI, was dismissed in the next over, while Shadab Khan was run out in the 18th over.

Farhan continued to score freely and reached his century in 59 balls in the 19th over, becoming the first batter to score two centuries in a single T20 World Cup edition. He was dismissed later in the same over after scoring 100 off 60 balls, hitting nine fours and five sixes.

Brief scores:

Pakistan 212/8 in 20 overs (Sahibzada Farhan 100, Fakhar Zaman 84; Dilshan Madhushanka 3-33, Dasun Shanaka 2-42) beat Sri Lanka 207/6 in 20 overs (Dasun Shanaka 76*, Pavan Rathnayake 58, Abrar Ahmed 3-23, Mohammed Nawaz 1-21) by 5 runs.

–IANS

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New Delhi, Feb 28 (IANS) Two-time Olympic medallist shuttler PV Sindhu was left stranded at the Dubai Airport on Saturday en route to Birmingham in England as flight operations were suspended owing to escalating tensions between Iran and the US-Israel. Sindhu is travelling to Birmingham to participate in the prestigious All-England badminton championship.

Sindhu, the former World No.1 in women’s singles, put out a video on her Instagram story, showing a crowded airport as people wait for an update from the authorities in the United Arab Emirates on when flights will resume.

Sindhu, India’s most successful badminton player and a former medallist at the All-England, put out the Insta story on her official handle with the caption, ‘All flights suspended until further notice.’

“PV Sindhu was set to travel to the All England, but got stuck in Dubai. The Badminton Association of India (BAI) is in touch with her as well as Emirates. Other players have already reached, but Sindhu insisted on travelling today and took a morning flight. The issue is expected to be resolved soon,” BAI sources told IANS. Sindhu won a silver medal in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro and a bronze medal in the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

Meanwhile, reports said the men’s doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, however, have reached Birmingham for the event to be held at the Utilita Arena Birmingham, King Edwards Road from March 3-8.

The crisis in the Middle East has escalated after Israel and the US launched air strikes on Iran, following which Tehran has threatened to attack ships and shipping interests in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The possibility of attacks has disrupted air travel across the region to reach Europe and Africa.

Dubai Airport has already suspended all operations till further notice, while there have been Large-scale flight cancellations in flights leaving from India to Europe and Africa as they transit via Dubai and the Gulf region.

–IANS

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Pune, Feb 28 (IANS) Felix Gill of Great Britain will take on young Italian Federico Cina in the singles final of the Maha Open ATP Challenger 75 Men’s Tennis Championship as they advanced to the title clash with commanding semifinal victories at the Mhalunge Balewadi Tennis Stadium of the Shiv Chhatrapati Kreeda Sankul in Pune.

In the singles semifinals, Felix Gill of Great Britain displayed grit and composure to overcome eighth seed Edas Butvilas of Lithuania 6-4, 7-5 in a tightly contested encounter in the prestigious tournament, which is being organised by the Maharashtra State Lawn Tennis Association (MSLTA) in association with the Department of Sports and Youth Services, Government of Maharashtra, PCMC, PMC, and PMDTA, and is sponsored by the Pune Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (PMRDA).

Gill held his nerve in crucial moments, breaking at decisive junctures in both sets to seal his place in the final. Sixth seed and former world number four junior Federico Cina of Italy was equally impressive as he outplayed Duje Ajdukovic of Croatia 7-5, 6-2 in 1 hour and 15 minutes. After edging a closely fought first set, Cina raised his intensity in the second, dictating rallies from the baseline to close out the match in straight sets. Nam.

In the doubles final, fourth-seeded Jisung Nam of Korea and Patrik Niklas-Salminen of Finland upset second-seeded Indo-Thai pair of Pruchya Isaro and Niki Kaliyanda Poonacha to capture the doubles title with a hard-fought 6-4, 6-7(1), 10-7 victory. The doubles champions received the trophy, USD 4,980, and 75 ATP ranking points, while the runner-up pair was awarded the trophy, USD 2,880, and 50 ATP ranking points.

The prizes were presented by Shravan Hardikar(IAS), MD of MMRDA, Sunder Iyer, Hon. Secretary, MSLTA, Rajiv Desai, Jt Secretary of MSLTA, and ATP Supervisor Rogerio Santos. Leena Nageshkar were present on the occasion.

Results:

Men’s singles (semifinal):

Felix Gill (Gbr) bt Edas Butvilas[8](Ltu) 6-4, 7-5 (1hour 44minutes)

Federico Cina [6](Ita) bt Duje Ajdukovic (Cro) 7-5, 6-2; (1hour 15minutes)

Doubles (final):

Jisung Nam (Kor) Patrik Niklas-Salminen [4](Fin) bt Pruchya Isaro (Tha) Niki Kaliyanda Poonacha [2](Ind)6 -4, 6-7(1), 10-7.

–IANS

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Wollongong, Feb 28 (IANS) India’s top star Diksha Dagar bounced back from a disappointing first round of 77 with 66-65 in the next two rounds to rise to tied-26th after the third round of the Ford Women’s NSW Open.

In the second round, Diksha had five birdies and no bogey, and she kept the bogey-free run in the third round with six birdies. The six included four birdies in the last five holes. She is now 5-under and well placed for a charge on the final day. Her second round 66 helped her make the cut in 53rd place, and then she moved up to T-26 after three days.

The other Indians, Hitaashee Bakshi (73-73), Pranavi Urs (74-74), and Avani Prashanth (80-72) missed the cut.

There is a packed leaderboard heading into the final round as regional qualifier Hannah Reeves is now leading the way on 12-under par.

The 17th edition of the tournament has already produced plenty of drama due to heavy rainfall on Thursday.

Once 36 holes were finally done and dusted at Wollongong Golf Club, a shotgun start for round three commenced at 14:45 local time with Ireland’s Aine Donegan holding a two-shot lead.

Donegan got off to the perfect start, birdying the par-5 1st before the Irishwoman dropped five shots in her next 10 holes to open things up to the rest of the field.

Reeves, a winner of three regional qualifiers, took advantage on a sun-soaked day, recovering well from a bogey at the 3rd to card six birdies for a round of 66 (-5).

The scoreboard included a spectacular grandstand finish as the Australian almost holed out for an eagle three. She leads compatriot Kelsey Bennett by one shot with 18 holes remaining in New South Wales.

Thailand’s April Angurasaranee had a day to remember, posting her best round of golf, a 62 (-9), which included a hole-in-one at the 170-yard par-3 12th. Angurasaranee sits in a tie for third alongside France’s Agathe Laisne and 17-year-old amateur Soomin Oh from South Korea.

Six players round off the top-10 on eight-under par.

–IANS

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Kolkata, Feb 28 (IANS) India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate has made it clear that the defending champions will not shy away from pressure in their must-win ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Super Eight clash against the West Indies to be played at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Saturday.

“I think the important thing is to focus on ourselves, focus on what has got this group to this point, how well they’ve done,” Ten Doeschate said in the pre-match press conference in Kolkata on Saturday.

The assistant coach expected that the big players would step up in the virtual quarterfinal and handle the pressure well.

“It’s about big players standing up, experienced players standing up, and just remaining calm and staying true to the way we’ve played leading up to this match. I don’t think you ever want to mask the pressure. I think you want to go towards pressure. And that’s been the message throughout, not just the World Cup, but certainly all the bilateral series,” he said.

“All our preparation has been towards embracing pressure when it comes. We’re continually telling the guys what a privilege it is to play for your country, what a privilege it is to walk out at Eden Gardens and play for a match to stay in the tournament,” Ten Doeschate added.

India have a good record against West Indies in T20Is. The men in blue have won 19 matches out of 30 played between the teams. While the West Indies came victorious on just ten occasions.

India will be getting into the contest by registering a dominant 72-run win against Zimbabwe in their second Super 8s match played at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Thursday. They lost the first clash against South Africa and have two points from two matches.

India have played only one T20 World Cup match at Eden Gardens. In the 2016 T20 World Cup, India faced Pakistan on this ground, where the Indian team was successful in winning by six wickets. India faced the West Indies three times at Eden Gardens in T20Is in 2022 and won all the matches.

–IANS

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Fatorda/Shillong, Feb 28 (IANS) The Indian Football League (IFL), the country’s second-tier men’s professional competition, will have its first double-header on Sunday, continuing its opening weekend action as Dempo SC host Real Kashmir FC at Fatorda and Shillong Lajong meet Rajasthan United in a home match at the SSA Stadium in Shillong.

The legendary Goan club, the most successful club in the league’s history, dominated the top tier between 2005 and 2012 with a record five national titles, and will be looking to re-establish their dominance on home soil when they host Real Kashmir FC at the PJN Stadium in Fatorda, Goa.

Head coach Samir Naik emphasised their ambition, stating, “Whenever Dempo take part in any competition, we take it seriously. We want to become champions.”

After finishing sixth last season, Dempo are targeting a top-five finish to fight for promotion.

Bolstered by a confident Super Cup run where their all-Indian squad held ISL giants East Bengal and Mohun Bagan goalless, alongside the addition of key foreign signings like striker Marcus Joseph and defender Aubin Kouakou, Dempo look poised to set a strong early pace in the IFL.

Their opponents, Real Kashmir FC, arrive with their trademark resilience and physical style of play. The Snow Leopards from Srinagar, under head coach Ishfaq Ahmed, are known for their stubborn defence and lethal counter-attacks. Acknowledging the tough task ahead, Ahmed noted, “Dempo are historically a very strong side, especially at home in Fatorda. They have their philosophy; they dominate on the ground and play good football.

“The first 20 minutes in a season opener are about controlling your nerves and performing to your best ability,” he said.

Adapting to the coastal heat of Goa will be a test of endurance for the travelling side. RKFC’s Mohammad Inaam praised Dempo’s recent form, noting, “They played very good football against Mohun Bagan and East Bengal, and I think this season it will be equally tough as the last because every team is strong, but we believe we can do it,” he stated, urging fans to tune into the broadcast and support the team.

With both sides eager to set the tone in a fiercely competitive campaign, Sunday’s clash promises to be an early indicator of intent. Hosts Dempo SC will be keen to make a strong first impression upon their return to the national stage in front of their home supporters, while Real Kashmir FC will look to draw on their trademark grit and experience in what is expected to be a closely-fought contest.

Lajong FC hope to ride on home support

In the evening fixture, Shillong Lajong FC step onto the pitch, backed by their passionate home crowd. The Meghalaya-based club remain firmly committed to promoting local talent over massive spending. Head coach Viru Thapa said, “Our fans are our 12th man. They will motivate us to play our best. The fan support of Shillong is our pride, and it is evident with our Durand Cup results.”

Standing in their way are Rajasthan United FC, who arrive in Shillong with a revamped squad and a point to prove. The Jaipur-based outfit, led by interim head coach Vikas Rawat, has bolstered their ranks with key foreign signings during the break. They will aim to dictate the tempo and play a controlled, possession-heavy game to silence the raucous home support and secure valuable points on the road. Rajasthan’s head coach said, “Football is always challenging. It doesn’t matter if you are playing at home or away. We are planning to get promotion to ISL; that’s our only aim this season.”

Their skipper, Bhabindra Malla Thakuri, echoed the coach’s confidence ahead of their away encounter, “We are motivated to get three points in the away game. We have been together more than three times. Now it is our time to deliver.”

With the stakes high right from the opening weekend, both sides will be eager to lay down an early marker. Hosts Shillong Lajong will be desperate to capitalise on their home advantage and vocal support, while Rajasthan United will look to navigate what is expected to be a highly competitive and intense encounter.

–IANS

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New Delhi, Feb 28 (IANS) Mithun Manhas, the BCCI President who had served on the Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) sub-committee, admitted that he simply went numb and found it hard to describe the feeling of seeing the side win its first-ever Ranji Trophy title via a first innings lead over Karnataka at the KSCA Ground.

On a sunny Saturday afternoon, the inevitable was confirmed when the final ended in a draw and Jammu & Kashmir were declared as winners of the Ranji Trophy, making it a red-letter day in their cricketing history. The taste of victory felt very sweet and fulfilling for the Paras Dogra-led side after they missed out on the semifinals last year, after giving a one-run lead to Kerala in the quarterfinals.

While players and support staff broke into bhangra when dhol beats took centre stage, and even carried Manhas on their shoulders, the man himself was still trying to process the emotions of seeing a long-standing dream turning into reality.

“Well, it’s hard to describe. To be honest, I was numb for a while. So, I didn’t know what to say or what to do. So, I just was there for some time, and then everything — like the picture got cleared, and players running in and this is a dream for every cricketer in J&K. Back home, I think, they will be ecstatic over this feat,” Manhas told IANS in an exclusive conversation from Hubbali.

For much of its cricketing existence, Jammu & Kashmir was easy to overlook. A region defined in the modern world due to its conflicts and mountains, it had reached the Ranji quarterfinals just three times since 2010 — in 2014, 2020, and last season, when the heartbreak of a one-run first-innings defeat to Kerala had left many wondering if they would ever have a crack at winning the trophy.

But Saturday answered that question emphatically, thanks to J&K posting 584 in their first innings — their highest score of the season – without Shubham Khajuria and Vanshaj Sharma, who were ruled out on the eve of the final. Last-minute replacement Qamran Iqbal, along with Sahil Lotra and Shubham Pundir, chose the biggest stage of their careers to score memorable centuries.

The tireless Auqib Nabi, who became Player of the Tournament via 60 scalps, tore through Karnataka’s celebrated batting line-up with 5-54. Captain Dogra, only the second man after Mumbai’s Wasim Jaffer to cross 10,000 Ranji Trophy runs, hit a crucial fifty and finally got to lift the trophy after over two decades of toil in the domestic circuit.

“I think the real game changer happened when BCCI took over the reins, and a sub-committee was formed. I think for anybody to do well, it’s not possible without the support, and we found a leader in Jay (Shah) bhai, who supported us all throughout all these four years, and a lot of credit goes to him for this great set of things.

“When the sub-committee was formed, it was fantastic because I belong to Jammu & Kashmir and I know what J&K cricket is all about when I was appointed/elected. This was something I always wanted to do, and I wanted to be part of it. Then we had a very able administrator in Brigadier Anil Gupta ji, who had an administrative experience of 35 years, and that set the ball rolling.

“Then the CAC was formed, and the selectors were put in place. It was the first time the selectors got contracts there. Otherwise, before that, nobody was answerable. You’d be surprised to know that in this day and age, the selectors would get nearly 1,50,000 and 75,000 for junior selectors. So everything that they wanted was answered because contracts were signed, and we started preparing in April.

“We went to all the districts, and the teams used to go out hunting for talent, and that’s how this set the ball rolling. Then there were infrastructure problems, and there were other issues. But so again, gradually we started picking up,” elaborated Manhas.

What unfolded on the field on Saturday was the product of a transformation that had begun in 2021 and was driven by people like Manhas, who knew J&K cricket not as an outsider’s project but as something deeply personal.

“I think the most important thing was to get the right coaches in place and get them to support what they wanted. This is the first time I’ve seen the selectors and coaches get whatever they wanted. It wasn’t that the selectors got something and the coaches were on a different page, but we all got on one page, and everything was well thought out.

“Even the planning that went behind this involved all the teams. Like, teams from different states started coming in, not just for the practice purpose. So it was the process throughout with all the age group teams. We started going out playing a lot of cricket. We started practising with the SG balls that were used in the national tournaments.

“Then we managed to give them a couple of turf balls, so that they get a feel and we got used to playing with those balls, and we started playing well. That was the best thing because the bowlers knew how to operate the ball, and they became comfortable, and so there wasn’t a moment when we were not planning or thinking about winning the Ranji trophy and how to get to the next level,” added Manhas.

There were naysayers aplenty, but Manhas stated that fighting every day was worth it to see the tagline of ‘Jammu and Kashmir – Ranji Trophy Champions’ become a reality. “We faced a lot of flak for not picking up any eight each from Jammu and Kashmir. But that’s the challenge we took on. There was a lot of propaganda against us as a sub-committee.

“But thanks to Jay bhai for this, as we were in constant touch with him. The way he supported us from the vision he had for J&K, I think it all paid off. I think he’ll be a happy man today, even though he’s ICC chair. But he just called me, and he was congratulating me.

“We all went from BCCI to the groundsmen in J&K, and we even sat with the ground people. You’d be surprised to know that there are no permanent groundsmen. The people who work at the ground level are not even permanent. So there were problems everywhere. But things turned slowly, and the process started working.

“It was like every day was a fight, and I’m sure every player in the team has this feeling too, starting from the U15 team to the men’s team winning the Ranji Trophy. I feel very happy and a bit emotional as well, as it took a lot of effort to be here. Hopefully, we will see a lot more from J&K.”

Jammu and Kashmir is now the 19th different team to win the Ranji Trophy, which speaks volumes about the game’s map expanding in the country. Saturday just redrew it more dramatically than previous instances. Plans to expand cricket facilities in Jammu and Kashmir, along with the prospect of hosting international matches in Jammu and Srinagar, will be a development to keep a close eye on.

But the bigger impact of this seismic win in Indian cricket will be felt when young boys and girls take up the sport in large numbers and view the victorious Ranji Trophy team as their role models.

For now, Manhas, who has watched this team grow over the last five years, winning the Ranji Trophy is only the beginning of what he believes J&K can offer to Indian cricket for a long time to come.

“I think the first ones are always special, and history has been created. It has happened after a span of 67 years. It took a long time to come. But I’m sure there’ll be many more occasions, not just in the Ranji Trophy, but also where they’ll get the titles in other formats.

“I think with the support of all the people back home, with everybody glued to their TV sets today, they have become the role models. You’ll see a lot more kids taking up the game because of them. I’m sure it’s not just about playing for the country. They have to think big, and that’s what I feel.

“It’s about winning games for the country, becoming an athlete, scoring 10,000 runs, taking those 500 wickets. They’re going to admire it. It’s just the start, and I’m sure there’s a lot more J&K can offer to Indian cricket,” he added.

–IANS

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