Sports
India rule white ball amid geopolitical issues | The Express Tribune
General view as India players celebrate with the trophy on the podium after winning the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy. Photo: REUTERS
NEW DELHI:
India owned white-ball cricket while South Africa shed their ‘bridesmaids’ tag but the spectre of geopolitics loomed large over the game in a tumultuous 2025.
The already-soured relations between bitter rivals India and Pakistan reached a new low when the nuclear-armed neighbour engaged in a military conflict in May that nearly snowballed into a full-fledged war.
It disrupted the Indian Premier League and the bad blood was evident in the subsequent 20-overs Asia Cup tournament in the United Arab Emirates, where India refused to accept the winner’s trophy from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president Mohsin Naqvi, who also happens to be Pakistan’s interior minister.
India beat Pakistan three times during the politically charged tournament and refused to shake hands with them either at the toss or after the match. Players from both sides made provocative gestures, which invited sanctions from the governing International Cricket Council (ICC).
Earlier in March, India lifted the Champions Trophy in a perfect culmination of their unbeaten run in the 50-overs tournament. It was the first ICC tournament held in Pakistan in nearly three decades but India played all their matches in Dubai, which many saw as an advantage for them.
Similarly, Pakistan played all their matches in Sri Lanka when India hosted the 50-overs Women’s World Cup.
Harmanpreet Kaur and her teammates ended India’s agonising wait for a maiden Women’s World Cup title with Jemimah Rodrigues smashing a sensational hundred to upset defending champions Australia in the October 30 semi-final in Navi Mumbai.
South Africa also ended decades of hurt and won the World Test Championship (WTC) beating Australia in the final at Lord’s.
For a team often ridiculed for their tendency to bottle it during the knockout stages of ICC tournaments, Temba Bavuma and his men carried no past baggage. Opener Aiden Markram’s fourth-innings hundred secured their five-wicket victory, ending a long-standing jinx.
“We came in with a lot of belief and a lot of doubters,” Bavuma said after claiming the WTC mace.
“We got ourselves into the final, there were doubters as to the route we took. This win squashes that. Here’s an opportunity for us as a nation, divided as we are, to unite.”
South Africa went on to register their first test series victory in India in 25 years with a 2-0 sweep, proving their WTC success was far from a fluke.
India could not replicate their white-ball success in test cricket and appear in the throes of a tricky transition after stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma quit the format earlier this year.
In England’s case, the issue was not personnel but philosophy.
Their high-risk ‘Bazball’ approach, built around swashbuckling batting, failed to deliver in Perth and Brisbane, leaving their Ashes campaign in disarray.
Sports
Fulham to revisit USMNT’s Ricardo Pepi transfer in summer – sources
Fulham are likely to reignite their interest in United States men’s striker Ricardo Pepi in the summer transfer window after the potential move broke down this January, sources have told ESPN.
Fulham and PSV Eindhoven were close to agreeing on a fee in the region of €37 million ($43.9m) for the USMNT striker, but the deal was contingent on PSV finding a replacement, according to sources.
With the transfer deadline ticking ever closer, PSV pulled the plug on the deal as they were unable to find a suitable candidate to fill Pepi’s shoes.
The Premier League side has already recruited Oscar Bobb this window and was keen to add the young striker as well.
Pepi, 23, has been in fantastic form for PSV this season, scoring eight goals in 15 Eredivisie matches. He is seen as an ideal target to bolster Fulham’s forward options, though he is out currently with a broken forearm.
Sources say that Fulham are keen to explore another move for Pepi in the summer.
The 23-year-old began his career at FC Dallas before spells at Augsburg and Groningen before joining PSV, where he has 26 goals in 60 games, alongside 13 in 34 for the USMNT.
– Transfer deadline day: Follow the latest moves
– 10 of the best Premier League signings in January
Sports
Pakistan Shaheens announce squad for T20’s, ODI’s – SUCH TV
Pakistan Shaheens have announced their squad for the upcoming T20 and ODI series against England Lions to be played in the United Arab Emirates, with Shamil Hussain named captain for both formats.
All matches of the series will be held at the Oval Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
The three-match T20 series will begin on February 20, followed by a five-match ODI series from February 27 to March 9.
Abdul Samad, Hassan Nawaz, Moaz Sadaqat and Saad Khan have been included in the squad, along with Sameer Minhas and Arafat Minhas.
Rohail Nazir and Saad Baig will share wicketkeeping duties.
Spin bowlers Saad Masood and Sufyan Muqim are also part of the team, while the fast bowling unit includes Ali Raza, Ahmed Daniyal, Akif Javed, Muhammad Salman and Shahid Aziz.
Pakistan Shaheens will hold a seven-day training camp in Karachi from February 11 to February 17.
Former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed has been appointed mentor and manager of the Shaheens.
Ijaz Ahmed will serve as head coach, with Mansoor Amjad named fielding coach and Aizaz Cheema as bowling coach.
Sports
NHL outdoor game sees its 1st goalie fight between Vasilevskiy, Swayman
TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Lightning credited the first goalie fight in an NHL outdoor game for helping to spark their historic Stadium Series comeback win over the Boston Bruins on Sunday.
With 8:59 left in the second period and the Bruins leading 5-2, Lightning forward Brandon Hagel tried to poke the puck from under Bruins goalie Jeremy Swayman after a save. Swayman then jumped on top of Hagel next to his crease, leading to a melee between the teams while the Lightning were on a power play. Tampa Bay goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy skated from his crease to the opposite blue line during the chaos.
“I just saw Sway was swinging the blocker on [Hagel] a bit, so it was just a reflex to go to the red line and challenge him. He accepted,” Vasilevskiy said.
Swayman spotted the Tampa Bay goalie, dropped his stick and skated out to meet Vasilevskiy as the two engaged near center ice. Swayman took off his gloves and mask and signaled to Vasilevskiy to remember to remove his mask before the fists flew.
“I don’t want to hit his helmet, so I’m glad we didn’t do that,” Swayman said.
The Lightning goalie nicknamed “The Big Cat” grabbed Swayman’s collar and started throwing left hands. The Boston goalie wasn’t able to get much offense in before Vasilevskiy wrestled him to the ice.
Did Swayman know that Vasilevskiy was a lefty before their fight?
“No,” the Bruins goalie said curtly, with a laugh. “Glad we both had our first gig against each other. Really worthy opponent.”
Vasilevskiy gave him a tap on the back and then tapped the back of Swayman’s head in appreciation of the moment, grinning widely as the fans roared inside Raymond James Stadium.
“When we both fell, we just kind of said to each other nice words. It was super nice. It’s one of the biggest moments for me, because I never fought in the NHL,” Vasilevskiy said. “Big thanks to him. He was great in the net all game and great in the fight as well.”
Swayman was also appreciative.
“He wanted to win, which is good. So did I. So that’s game respecting game,” he said. “I’m fighting the biggest, toughest goalie in the league. It wouldn’t be my first choice, but glad we got the first one out of the way. Probably retire after that.”
The crowd of nearly 65,000 fans stood and cheered during the confrontation, and then again when the referee announced the goalies had both received five-minute majors for fighting. Players on both benches were on their feet, too, slapping their sticks against the boards in appreciation and respect for their netminders.
“He was throwing lefts. I was like, ‘Oh my God.’ I didn’t want to be the other guy,” Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov said. “I was so happy. I was so fired up. I think the bench felt it. Everyone in the building felt it. Ever since that fight, the game was turned. Vasy had to do it, I guess. He had to wake us up.”
The Lightning would score twice on 5-on-3 power plays over the next 5:12, cutting the Bruins’ lead to 5-4 heading into the third period. Kucherov tied the score in the third period, and the Lightning eventually won 6-5 in a shootout.
Tampa Bay’s rally from a four-goal deficit to win marked the largest comeback victory in franchise history and the largest in an NHL outdoor game.
Lightning coach Jon Cooper said he could feel the momentum starting to swing before the fight, but the goalie throwdown was an emotional high the Lightning needed at that moment.
“I was like, ‘Thank goodness something positive was going to happen to our game,'” he said. “I give Boston a lot of credit. They took it to us and we weren’t prepared for it. Vasy was pissed.”
Hagel said he felt the fight was “a big turning point in the game.”
So did Kucherov, who was also convinced that his goalie would win the fight.
“I knew he was going to beat the wheels off of Swayman right away,” Kucherov said. “We call him ‘White Tyson’ now.”
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