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Cummins, Head reject IPL group’s $10m offers to skip national duty: report

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Cummins, Head reject IPL group’s m offers to skip national duty: report


Australia’s Pat Cummins and Travis Head celebrate after winning the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 final against India at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on November 19, 2023. — ICC

Australian captain Pat Cummins and batter Travis Head have reportedly turned down lucrative offers worth millions from an Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise group to quit national duty and join franchise-based T20 leagues full-time.

The informal $10 million offer to each player aimed to entice the Australians into a global T20 network spanning India, the UAE, the USA, and the Caribbean, according to Australian media outlet The Sydney Morning Herald.

With the rapid growth of franchise cricket, IPL team owners have expanded their reach by acquiring stakes in leagues such as SA20, ILT20, Major League Cricket (MLC), Caribbean Premier League (CPL) and The Hundred.

These leagues now offer players multi-million-dollar contracts — often far exceeding what they earn from national boards.

Top Australian cricketers contracted by Cricket Australia (CA) reportedly earn around 1.5 million Australian dollars annually.

Cummins, as national captain, earns close to 3 million Australian dollars, while his IPL deal with Sunrisers Hyderabad adds another $3.7 million.

Head, who also represents the same franchise, earns about $1.2 million.

Despite the financial allure, both Cummins and Head remain committed to representing Australia across formats.

Head, in particular, has made it clear that he had no intention of leaving international cricket despite the temptations of franchise wealth.

During a recent interview, opener Travis Head explained that he decided to play in the Major League Cricket (MLC) to experience franchise cricket firsthand.

He said he wanted to understand the demands of playing consecutive tournaments such as the IPL, World Cup, and MLC, describing it as an opportunity to experience four months of continuous franchise cricket and learn how different systems operate.

“I played MLC to get a taste of what it would be like to play franchise cricket. I had IPL in a World Cup into MLC, so I wanted to see what it was like to basically play four months of franchise cricket. You want to have every option available to you, you want to experience things and understand how things operate,” Head said.

“A lot of people are making certain decisions around the world, and it was a perfect opportunity for me to understand that and see what it was like for whenever the time comes for what I may or may not do in the future. Whether I could do it, whether I liked it, whether I was good at it. I hadn’t played a lot of T20 cricket for a period of time, so it was about getting back into that,” he added.

The 31-year-old batter emphasised that while the experience was valuable, his primary focus remained on national duty.

“It was a perfect time in my life to do that, and now that time has moved past. Currently, I’m playing for Australia, and I don’t see a timeline where I can play anything else, really,” he concluded.





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President Trump honours Inter Miami, Lionel Messi at White House

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President Trump honours Inter Miami, Lionel Messi at White House


Argntinian star Lionel Messi hands US President Donald Trump during an event for Inter Miami CF, winners of the 2025 Major League Soccer Cup, in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on March 5, 2026. — AFP

Lionel Messi drew high praise from President Donald Trump as the Argentine superstar and his Inter Miami team were honoured at the White House on Thursday for winning the MLS Cup last year.

The president said: “It’s my distinct privilege to say what no American president has ever had the chance to say before: ‘Welcome to the White House, Lionel Messi.'”

Trump went on to reveal the affection his 19-year-old son Barron has for Messi.

“My son said, ‘Dad, you know who’s going to be there today?’ I said, ‘No, I got a lot of things going on today,'” Trump said. “He said ‘Messi!’ He’s a big fan of yours. He thinks you’re just a great person. And I think you got to meet a little while ago. So he’s a big soccer fan, but he’s a tremendous fan of yours. And a gentleman named Ronaldo. Cristiano is great. You’re great.”

Inter Miami´s Argentine forward Lionel Messi, Inter Miami´s managing owner Jorge Mas and US President Donald Trump pose with a 47 jersey and a signed ball during an event honoring Inter Miami CF, winners of the 2025 Major League Soccer Cup, in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on March 5, 2026. — AFP
Inter Miami´s Argentine forward Lionel Messi, Inter Miami´s managing owner Jorge Mas and US President Donald Trump pose with a 47 jersey and a signed ball during an event honoring Inter Miami CF, winners of the 2025 Major League Soccer Cup, in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on March 5, 2026. — AFP 

Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi’s longtime rival in European soccer, attended a White House event with Trump last year.

Regarding Messi’s impact on Inter Miami, Trump said: “This guy won. There was tremendous fanfare, and he won. Leo, you came in and won. It’s hard to do. … You came in and won with all that pressure.”

Wading into the area of soccer history, Trump said to Messi, “You may be better than Pele,” and he asked those in attendance, “Who’s better?”

Trump said of the Inter Miami squad: “What a group of people. We could have a lot of fun with these guys. You can imagine how they celebrate.”

The president singled out Rodrigo De Paul, an Argentine midfielder who scored the go-ahead goal in the Herons’ 3-1 win over the Vancouver Whitecaps in the MLS Cup final.

“Where the hell is Rodrigo?” Trump asked, causing De Paul to blush.

The president added: “Do you have any bad-looking players? I like the bad-looking players much better.”

Messi gave Trump a pink signed Inter Miami soccer ball, and club co-owner Jorge Mas and coach Javier Mascherano presented the president with a team jersey and a watch.

Mas said: “It’s our aspiration to continue breaking barriers and putting no limits, to making sure Major League Soccer and Inter Miami are considered among the elite in global football.”





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PCB Demands Public Apology Over ‘Fake News’ Targeting National Cricketers – SUCH TV

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PCB Demands Public Apology Over ‘Fake News’ Targeting National Cricketers – SUCH TV



LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board has demanded a public apology from a journalist over what it described as “agenda-driven fake news” targeting the character of Pakistan’s national cricketers.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the PCB strongly condemned the broadcast of unverified allegations against a Pakistan player, calling the report baseless and unacceptable.

PCB Warns of Legal Action

The cricket board said the reporter responsible for the news must issue a public apology immediately, warning that failure to do so could lead to strict legal action.

“Agenda-driven fake news targeting the character of our players is unacceptable and will not be tolerated,” the PCB said.

The board added that it would take all necessary steps to address what it termed malicious reporting if the apology is not issued promptly.

Controversy Over Report

The controversy began after a local media outlet aired a report alleging that a Pakistani cricketer had been involved in inappropriate behaviour at a hotel, claiming that staff had filed a complaint with team management.

The report also suggested that the player had violated the team’s code of conduct and was fined following a preliminary internal review.

Allegations Denied

However, the PCB dismissed the claims as false and misleading, stating that the news lacked verification.

A representative of the player, Mirza, also rejected the allegations in a social media statement and announced plans to pursue legal action against the media outlet.

He criticised the broadcast as “cheap journalism”, stressing that no media organisation should air unverified reports about national athletes.

The PCB reiterated its commitment to protecting the reputation and dignity of Pakistan’s cricketers against what it described as irresponsible reporting.



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Russell Wilson escalates feud with Sean Payton, labels Broncos coach ‘classless’

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Russell Wilson escalates feud with Sean Payton, labels Broncos coach ‘classless’


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Russell Wilson and Sean Payton spent just one NFL season together, but tension lingered after a rocky year.

And it appears the tension that built up from that tumultuous stretch continues to linger.

Wilson’s interview on the “Bussin’ With the Boys” podcast, recorded before last month’s Super Bowl between Seattle and New England, recently resurfaced. 

In the interview, Wilson doubled down on his October comment labeling Payton “classless,” saying he felt slighted by his former coach’s remarks.

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Head coach Sean Payton of the Denver Broncos talks to quarterback Russell Wilson on the sideline during an NFL preseason football game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium Aug. 11, 2023, in Glendale, Ariz. (Ryan Kang/Getty Images)

“[When] you’ve been on the same side or this and that, and I got the same amount of rings as you got, meaning Sean, right?” said Wilson, who won a Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks as Payton did coaching for the New Orleans Saints. 

“I got a lot of respect for him as a play-caller, this and that, but to take a shot, I don’t like. I don’t think it’s necessary, you know, I mean, especially when I’m not even on your own team anymore. So, for me, there’s a point in time where you have to, I’ve realized, I’ve stayed quiet for so long. There’s a there’s a time and place where I’m not.

“I know who I am as a competitor, as a warrior, as a champion, too, and, you know, I’ve beaten Sean, too. You know, like we’ve been on the same place and the same thing. And so, it’s not a matter of disrespect. Just don’t disrespect me.”

Russell Wilson and Sean Payton speak on field

Sean Payton and Russell Wilson of the Denver Broncos during an a game against the Minnesota Vikings at Empower Field at Mile High Nov. 19, 2023, in Denver, Colo. (Ryan Kang/Getty Images)

After a rocky one-year stint with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2024, Wilson joined the New York Giants last offseason. However, he was relegated to a backup role after just three games.

Rookie Jaxson Dart quickly showed promise once he had the chance to start, but his season was briefly derailed by injury. Jameis Winston — not Wilson — stepped in for Dart in a handful of games. Dart threw three touchdowns in a Week 7 matchup with the Broncos, nearly pulling off an upset in what was eventually a close loss.

After the game, Payton said Dart provided a “spark” to the Giants’ offense.

“I was talking to [Giants owner] John Mara not too long ago, and I said, ‘We were hoping that that change would have happened long after our game,'” Payton said.

Russell Wilson attempts to throw

The New York Giants’ Russell Wilson attempts to escape a sack by Dallas Cowboys defensive end James Houston (53) in the first half of a game Sept. 14, 2025, in Arlington, Texas.  (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Payton also said the Broncos would have faced less of a challenge had Wilson been under center.

“Classless … but not surprised,” Wilson responded in a social media post. “Didn’t realize you’re still bounty hunting 15+ years later though the media.”

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Despite last season’s struggles and chatter about his football future, Wilson does not appear ready to call it quits in 2026.

“I wanna play a few more years for sure,” he said. “I think, for me, I’ve always had the vision of getting to 40, at least. I think the game is different. Quarterbacks, we get hit. It’s not, you know, we get hit hard, but … there’s certain rules. I mean, back in the day when I started, bro, it was you just get [clobbered]. 

“I mean, so I feel like the game allows you to, you know, live a little longer, I guess. I feel healthy. I feel great. But I think, more than anything else is, do you love the game? Do you love studying? Do you love the passion for it all? Do you love the process? Do you love the practice? Do you love — everybody loves the winning part of it, but it’s process. There’s a journey that you got to be obsessed with. And that part I’m obsessed with.”

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