NEW DELHI: The Board of Control for Cricket in India has imposed a life ban on a non-capped player and also announced temporary bans on four others following a sting operation last month by a local television channel.
T.P. Sudhindra, who had been shown agreeing to and then bowling deliberate no-balls at pre-determined points in a local Twenty20 game by the India TV news channel, was handed a life ban yesterday.
“Sudhindra has been debarred for life, from playing any cricket matches conducted or authorized by the ICC or BCCI, or any affiliated unit of the BCCI,” the Indian board said in a statement. “He will not be entitled to the monthly gratis, benevolent fund, benefit match or any other facility. He cannot hold any position in any cricket association affiliated to the BCCI, for life.”
Shalabh Srivastava was given a five-year ban for agreeing to spot fixing in the Indian Premier League, even though he did not go on to do so.
Three others - Mohnish Mishra, Amit Yadav and Abhinav Bali - received one-year bans for “loose talk and unsubstantiated bragging.”
All five players had been provisionally suspended on May 15 pending an investigation and their bans will run from that date.
The decision was announced by a three-member disciplinary committee headed by BCCI chief Narainswamy Srinivasan. The committee had been handed a detailed report by the ICC’s former head of its anti-corruption unit, Ravi Sawani, who investigated the allegations that came up during this year’s IPL.
The TV sting involved reporters posing as agents of a sports management firm offering players money to perform in a certain way at specific times in the match.
The channel showed Sudhindra, who plays for Deccan Chargers in the IPL, allegedly bowling a no-ball in a local T20 game in the central city of Indore in exchange for a payment of a little over $1,000.
Pictures captured by a hidden camera appeared to show Sudhindra agreeing to bowl a no-ball with his second delivery of the game. India TV then showed footage of the game in which Sudhindra bowled a no-ball by well over a foot at the pre-determined time.
Though the video does not show Sudhindra agreeing to spot fixing in the IPL, the channel did play out a telephone conversation with Srivastava of the Kings XI Punjab team agreeing to bowl a no-ball in the IPL. Srivastava, however, did not get to play in this year’s IPL.
Indian cricketer given life ban for spot fixing
Indian cricketer given life ban for spot fixing
Onana at fault twice as Man United draws 2-2 at Lyon, Tottenham held at home, Chelsea stays perfect
Andre Onana, described by Nemanja Matic as “one of the worst goalkeepers in Manchester United’s history”, was at fault for both goals as his side drew 2-2 at Lyon in a Europa League quarterfinal first leg on Thursday.
Former United midfielder Matic, now a player with Lyon, made the less than flattering comments about Onana in a pre-game press conference.
Then, in the match itself, United went 1-0 down after 25 minutes when Onana failed to stop a curling free-kick from out wide by Thiago Almada.
Leny Yoro equalized for the visiting team in first-half stoppage time, with a header after goalkeeper Lucas Perri had cleared a Bruno Fernandes free-kick.
Fernandes then sent a precise cross for substitute Joshua Zirkzee to head what seemed to be the winner in the 88th minute.
But Rayan Cherki hit back for Lyon when he pounced on the rebound after Cameroon international Onana had spilled an effort from Georges Mikautadze.
“I think this is the worst moment to concede a goal like that,” Yoro told TNT Sports. “We were winning 2-1. I think away this was a good score, but we go with a draw and we try to win the game at home.”
United remains the only side unbeaten in the competition this season.
Winning the Europa League, as United did in 2017, is rewarded with a spot in the Champions League, something the club is highly unlikely to achieve through its current 13th-place position in the Premier League.
Tottenham, also bidding to rescue a dismal Premier League campaign, hit back to salvage a 1-1 home draw against Eintracht Frankfurt.
Tottenham went 1-0 down when Frankfurt forward Hugo Ekitiké scored following a fast counterattack in the sixth minute.
The hosts then drew level with a goal from Pedro Porro in the 26th after he met a cross from James Maddison.
“I can’t ask any more of the lads,” said Tottenham coach Ange Postecoglou. “It was disappointing to concede the way we did.”
Ulrik Saltnes struck twice as Bodø/Glimt stunned Lazio 2-0 in tough conditions just inside the Arctic Circle.
Earlier, heavy snowfall in Bodø put the game in doubt between the Norwegian champion and the side that had finished top in the league phase.
In a game played on an artificial pitch, Saltnes scored early in the second half with a low shot after Ole Didrik Blomberg fed him inside the area.
The midfielder then added his second goal by lobbing the ball over Lazio goalkeeper Christos Mandas, with Alessio Romagnoli’s clearance coming after it crossed the line.
Ten-man Rangers and Athletic Bilbao shared a goalless draw in Glasgow, after the home side was reduced to 10 men in the 13th minute when defender Robin Pröpper brought down Iñaki Williams and was dismissed.
Alex Berenguer also missed a late penalty for Athletic.
All the second legs are next Thursday.
Chelsea stays perfect in Conference League
Chelsea is still cruising in the Europa Conference League after keeping its perfect record with a 3-0 win at Legia Warsaw.
Following a dull first half, Chelsea struck twice early in the second period and then added another goal.
Tyrique George netted the first in the 49th on a rebound, his first goal for the club, while second-half substitute Noni Madueke scored with a left-foot shot eight minutes later. It could have been three but Christopher Nkunku had his spot kick saved.
Madueke made it 3-0 from close range in the 74th.
In the other quarterfinal, first-leg games, Fiorentina won 2-1 at Celje, Real Betis beat Jagiellonia 2-0 and Rapid Vienna downed Djurgården 1-0.
All the second legs are next Thursday.
Al-Ittihad move clear at the top of SPL table after 2-0 win
- A goal at the end of each half means that the Jeddah giants recorded just their second win in five league games
JEDDAH: Al-Ittihad defeated Al-Orubah 2-0 on Thursday to move eight points clear of Al-Hilal at the top of the Saudi Pro League.
A goal at the end of each half means that the Jeddah giants recorded just their second win in five league games to put the pressure back on the defending champions Hilal, in action against Ettifaq on Friday.
It was a regulation –and very deserved –victory for the Jeddah giants who may not have been at their fluent best but were still too strong for the visitors, struggling just above the relegation zone.
After a bright start from the Tigers, Karim Benzema came close to having the ball in the net after 14 minutes but, regardless, the effort from the former Real Madrid megastar was ruled out for offside.
The opening goal came in the seventh minute of first half added time. Fabinho found Unai Hernandez with a short pass but the Spaniard was still a long way from goal. The former Barcelona player then took a touch and then fired a shot into the top corner to record his first strike since joining the club in January.
For Al-Orubah, Omar Al-Somah was a constant threat. The former Al-Ahli striker was unable to find the target, however, despite looking dangerous.
There were other concerns from the hosts however, as Benzema was withdrawn six minutes from the end after seeming to pick up an injury.
Whatever happens with the French forward, coach Laurent Blanc was able to relax, along with the home fans in Jeddah, two minutes from the end of regulation time thanks to Abdulrahman Al-Oboud.
The 29 year-old collected the ball from Moussa Diaby on the edge of the area and while his first-time shot was saved by Gaetan Coucke, the Belgian goalkeeper could not get up quickly enough to stop Al-Oboud from slotting home the rebound. It meant that the contest was over.
There were still chances for Al-Ittihad to extend their lead but in the end, all were content with a win and the chance to see how Al-Hilal perform in their next game.
Esports World Cup to feature record $70m prize pool in return to Riyadh
RIYADH: The Esports World Cup Foundation announced on Thursday a record-breaking prize pool of more than $70 million for the 2025 edition of the Esports World Cup, which returns to Riyadh from July 7 to Aug. 24.
The pot is the largest in esports history, solidifying the EWC’s reputation as the ultimate global stage for competitive gaming and a key driver of long-term industry sustainability.
The massive increase in prize money, which is up $10 million from last year’s inaugural event, is driven by the foundation’s ambition to provide life-changing opportunities for players and clubs, while fostering stable and scalable careers across the esports ecosystem, organizers said.
“The record-breaking $70+ million prize pool, along with our commitment to the Club Partner Program and our multi-year publisher agreements, is a privilege to announce and validation of our purpose to elevate the industry, by giving players, clubs, publishers and all other stakeholders the stability needed to invest for future success,” said Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation.
“While more than $70 million is an incredible, life-changing sum, it’s always aligned with a long-term vision rather than short-term impact. It’s not just to have more money at stake, but to create opportunities for everyone at every level of the ecosystem, and strengthen the industry for generations to come.”
This year’s event will feature 25 tournaments across 24 titles, including new additions such as chess, Crossfire, FATAL FURY: City of the Wolves and VALORANT.
More than 2,000 elite players and 200 top esports clubs are expected to take part in what is set to be the largest multi-title competition ever held. Tickets are now on sale at the tournament’s website.
A cornerstone of the prize distribution is the EWC Club Championship, which will allocate $27 million of the total prize pool to the top 16 performing clubs across all games. The winning club will take home $7 million.
The remainder of the fund will be split between individual Game Championships — collectively worth more than $38 million — alongside a $450,000 MVP Award pool and more than $5 million dedicated to qualifiers on the “Road to EWC.”
Last year’s event drew more than 500 million online viewers and 2.6 million in-person attendees to Riyadh’s Boulevard City, according to organizers.
Team Falcons emerged victorious in 2024’s inaugural Club Championship, amassing 5,665 points with 10 top-three finishes, including three first-place victories.
“Winning the Club Championship crown and $7 million at the inaugural Esports World Cup was a defining moment for Team Falcons,” said Mosaad Al-Dossary, CEO of the team.
“The opportunity to compete in front of our home fans, where they made the arenas shake with every great play, motivated us like never before, and it was an honor to secure the victory for them. We’ve used the momentum and winnings from last year to build on our success and we look forward to continuing that legacy this summer.”
Team Liquid, who finished second in 2024, also sees EWC 2025 as a major milestone in the industry.
“Competing at the inaugural EWC contributed to one of the most successful competitive years in our 24-year history, securing a strong second-place finish in the EWC 2024 Club Championship,” said Steve Arhancet, co-CEO of the team.
“With our winnings, we expanded into new games like chess, strengthened our international presence in Southeast Asia and supported philanthropic initiatives. The experience, momentum and rosters we’ve built over the past year put us in the perfect position to claim the championship crown at EWC 2025. We believe this to be our year.”
The Esports World Cup will also see the return of the New Global Sport Conference on Aug. 23–24, taking place during the event’s closing weekend in Riyadh, bringing together industry leaders and visionaries to shape the future of esports and competitive entertainment.
Rahul shines as Delhi Capitals bag fourth straight win in IPL
- Delhi now sit second in the table while Bengaluru are third in the 10-team competition
BENGALURU: KL Rahul smashed an unbeaten 93 as Delhi Capitals beat Royal Challengers Bengaluru by six wickets to maintain their winning streak in the Indian Premier League on Thursday.
Rahul, 32, hit six sixes and seven fours in his scintillating 53-ball knock to help Delhi overhaul Bengaluru’s 163-7 with 13 balls to spare at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
Tristan Stubbs chipped in with 38 not out and shared 111 runs with Rahul off just 56 balls to steer Delhi to their fourth consecutive win.
Delhi now sit second in the table while Bengaluru are third in the 10-team competition.
Bengaluru bowlers picked some early wickets but ran into the in-form Rahul who batted with composure and ease.
Delhi had a wobbly start, losing openers Faf du Plessis and Jake Fraser-McGurk cheaply with just 10 runs on the board.
Captain Axar Patel tried to steady the innings but holed out to Tim David off impact sub Suyash Sharma for 15.
Stubbs said the win was “really satisfying.”
“I came in a tricky situation, but the run-rate never got out of hand,” he said.
“I did not need to do much — KL played the way he did.”
Earlier, Bengaluru were off to a flier, with openers Virat Kohli and Phil Salt taking the attack to the opposition.
The duo smashed 30 runs in the third over off Mitchell Starc before guiding Bengaluru to the fastest team 50 of the season.
The batting assault ended when Salt (37) was run-out after a mix-up and Kohli (22) lobbed a catch to Starc who dived forward to take a fine catch at long-off.
Salt hit three sixes and four fours in his 17-ball knock.
Bengaluru lost regular wickets after the twin setbacks, with Delhi left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav picking two, including the scalp of captain Rajat Patidar for 25.
David provided a late flourish with an unbeaten 20-ball 37, studded with four sixes and two fours.
Patidar conceded his team did not bat well despite showing “nice intent.”
“We were lacking in assessing the conditions and the situation. (But) the way David accelerated at the end, it was really amazing,” he said.
Saudi PIF and Formula E launch global STEM education initiative ahead of Miami E-Prix
- Initiative will roll out in schools across the US, Saudi Arabia, and the UK, offering hands-on STEM and sustainability education to students aged 8 to 18
MIAMI: Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and Formula E announced on Thursday the launch of Driving Force Presented by PIF, an educational initiative designed to empower the next generation of engineers, scientists, and sustainability leaders.
The announcement comes ahead of this weekend’s Miami E-Prix.
The initiative will roll out in schools across the US, Saudi Arabia, and the UK, offering hands-on STEM and sustainability education to students aged 8 to 18.
Combining in-person workshops with digital resources, the program aims to engage more than 50,000 students globally by the end of 2025.
The first session took place on Thursday at Keys Gate Charter School in South Florida, where up to 90 students took part in interactive workshops designed to ignite their curiosity in motorsport, engineering, and green technology.
The debut aligns with PIF’s broader mission of accelerating the development of sustainable electric mobility through its E360 partnership, which unites three high-profile electric racing series: Formula E, Extreme H, and E1 electric powerboat racing.
Alejandro Agag, founder and chairman of Formula E, Extreme H and E1, praised the initiative’s scope and ambition.
“Since introducing the PIF E360 partnership last year, Formula E and PIF continue to look for opportunities to make a positive, real-world impact,” he said.
“Driving Force Presented by PIF is an example of how PIF is not only elevating motorsports but also inspiring the next generation of talent through STEM education, which plays a crucial role in the future of sustainable mobility and green technology.”
Mohammed Al-Sayyad, head of corporate brand at PIF, echoed the sentiment.
“PIF is committed to supercharging the growth and transformation of electric motorsport, and through our partnership with E360, we are collaborating with our partners to accelerate progress, maximize impact, and deliver powerful unified programs,” he said.
“For the first time, we are bringing together Formula E, Extreme H and E1 to expand the Driving Force program and drive transformative impact by empowering youth who are the innovators of tomorrow,” he added.
The launch of Driving Force also marked the beginning of “Supercharged,” a new PIF campaign designed to amplify innovation and sustainability through the E360 platform, with a focus on driving technological advancement and positioning green innovation at the heart of future mobility solutions.
