Palestinians call for FIFA to ban Israel’s football team amid war on Gaza | Football News

Palestinian football players, officials and fans have censured FIFA for failing to sanction and ban Israel amid its continuing war on Gaza, where more than 31,000 people, including 13,000 children, have been killed according to health officials.

The calls from Palestinians and their supporters for the sport’s world governing body to take actoin against Israel have grown in the past months, with comparisons being drawn with its instant and firm stance to ban Russia and Russian football clubs from all international football activities when Russia invaded Ukraine nearly two years ago.

Russia were strong candidates in the playoffs for the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup, but were directly eliminated by FIFA after the invasion, a decision upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

However, nearly six months into the war in Gaza, FIFA has remained tight-lipped and Israel is set to play Iceland in the first leg of their Euro 2024 qualifier. Because of the conflict, Israel’s home leg of the tie has been permitted to be played on neutral ground in Budapest, Hungary.

FIFA has acknowledged receiving Al Jazeera’s requests for comment but has failed to respond to the queries.

The fact that the game is going ahead has also drawn questions from Iceland’s coach, Age Hareide, who fears repercussions for Iceland should they refuse to partake.

“I would hesitate to play Israel because of what is going on in Gaza and because of what they have done to women, children and other innocent citizens. It shouldn’t be done, and we shouldn’t be playing this game if you ask me,” Hareide, a Norwegian, told PressTV.

“It’s very, very difficult, and it’s difficult for me to have to stop thinking about these images that we see every day.

“If we don’t play, we will be banned and risk further punishment by not playing another member nation.”

[Al Jazeera]

‘Appalled, disappointed and outraged’

Palestinian international footballer Mohammed Balah questioned FIFA’s fairness in its “humanitarian and equality campaigns” while continuing to side-step the war in Gaza.

“These campaigns are exposing FIFA’s hypocrisy,” Balah told Al Jazeera in Gaza, where he continues to seek safety amid the Israeli attacks on the enclave.

Balah has relocated on several occasions, remains malnourished and has no means to leave the war-stricken strip to join his football club in Jordan.

“FIFA swiftly banned Russia, but why is FIFA still silent [on Israel]? I wish all players and officials would support us during this genocide,” he said.

Many Palestinian players, fans and managers have been killed and injured in Israeli air raids, including Palestinian national team and Beit Hanoon Club star Rasheed Daboor, who was killed in his home.

Zwayda Youth club’s goalkeeper Basel Meshmesh also was killed in an Israeli air raid along with 58 members of his family. Most recently, celebrated forward Mohammed Barakat was killed when Israeli bombs destroyed in his house in Rafah, in Gaza’s south.

Sobhi Mabrook, manager of Palestinian football club Al-Salah, lost his brother during the war and fears for his own safety, but he did not expect world football officials to speak up for Gaza.

“I am sure they will remain silent, so all I can hope for is a swift end to this war.”

Balah said his heart aches to see players and sports staff being killed, sports facilities being destroyed and football clubs being wiped out.

“Israel destroyed my [Palestinian] club Al-Sadaqa, where I spent 20 years,” he added.

“I am appalled, disappointed and outraged. It’s so heartbreaking.”

‘The world has to look with both eyes to see the truth’

The current war began on October 7, when Hamas carried out attacks on southern Israel, killing 1,139 people. However, Palestinian footballers have long faced trouble in leaving the beseiged strip to be part of the national team.

Israel has continued to operate football clubs in the occupied West Bank and its illegal settlements, but FIFA has previously ruled against sanctioning Israel, citing “exceptional complexity and sensitivity” and “political” nature of the subject.

Six Israeli football clubs, based in the occupied territory, have continued to operate while football stadiums and sports facilities across Gaza have either been razed to the ground or used as makeshift internment camps for Palestinians detained by Israeli forces during the current war.

Like Balah, Houssam Wadi has also been unable to join the national team from Gaza.

“It is not the first time we’re being killed, oppressed and subjugated,” he said.

“We have been denied entry at [Israeli] military checkpoints several times.

“Not only that, but we are unable to travel to the occupied West Bank and play the Palestinian Super Cup. Even within our homeland, we are restricted and deprived of our rights.”

Wadi lamented the fact that several Gaza-based footballers cannot leave the war-torn strip but Israel is free to play international football “despite committing countless war crimes”.

For Mohammad Abed, a Palestinian Premier League fan, the reason why his homeland has “always been treated differently” is simple.

“FIFA is a racist and hypocritical body,” he said.

“The world has to look with both eyes to see the truth, not one.”

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The Indian Premier League is back: What are the main talking points? | Cricket News

The 17th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) — world cricket’s largest T20 tournament — begins on Friday, March 22, with the defending champion Chennai Super Kings hosting the Royal Challengers Bangalore.

The tournament fields 10 teams packed with many of the greatest players from around the globe.

While the prize money for this year’s IPL has not been confirmed by organisers, and if previous years are anything to go by, the IPL purse this time around is expected to be around $6m, with the winning team collecting approximately $2.4m.

1. Can Virat Kohli finally capture the one major title that has alluded him?

Virat Kohli is a player who has won just about everything there is to win in world cricket — except an IPL title.

The Indian batsman has played in all 16 IPL seasons for Royal Challengers Bangalore, agonisingly finishing tournament runners-up in 2009, 2011 and 2016. He is the all-time leading run-scorer in IPL history.

With Kohli skipping the recent home series against England for personal reasons, some believe the clock is also ticking on the 35-year-old’s IPL career — could 2024 be the iconic batsman’s final season?

This year’s event represents one of the best opportunities for Kohli to win the IPL. He is joined in the 2024 Bangalore squad by the formidable Aussie talents of Glenn Maxwell and Cameron Green, South African captain Faf du Plessis and fast-bowling Indian teammate Mohammed Siraj.

An IPL crown for Kohli would be a perfect final chapter to the career of one the greatest cricket players ever.

Royal Challengers Bangalore’s Virat Kohli tosses the ball after taking the catch of Lucknow Super Giants’ Ayush Badoni during the Indian Premier League in 2023 [Surjeet Yadav/AP Photo]

2. Will Mitchell Starc live up to that record contract?

Aussie quick Mitchell Starc made headlines last December when he obliterated the IPL auction record, becoming the most expensive player purchase of all time at $2.98m.

Starc, 34, was auctioned off to the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) as the centrepiece of their 2024 IPL season campaign. The left-arm paceman averages an impressive 23 for his bowling career in T20s with 74 wickets in 60 T20 internationals.

But the left-arm paceman last played in the IPL in 2015 and has a long, injury-riddled history with the IPL.

He missed the tournament in 2016 because of a foot fracture. In 2018, Starc signed for the Kolkata for big money – but was injured again and never played for the team. In 2022, he also pulled out, citing “[COVID-19] bubble fatigue”.

In 2024, Kolkata will be hoping that Starc can deliver them their first IPL title in 10 years. If the big Australian stays healthy, few bowlers in world cricket can statistically impact a contest more than Starc.

Australia’s Mitchell Starc bowls a delivery during the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup final match between Australia and India in 2023 [Mahesh Kumar A/AP Photo]

3. Why is the Indian election delaying the full schedule launch of IPL 2024?

The nearly two-month-long tournament will begin on Friday, March 22. Last month, organisers only announced a partial schedule for the first 21 fixtures until April 7 as the dates of India’s upcoming general election had not been announced at the time.

Issues related to the management, adequate policing and security of the tournament whilst the country goes to polls are understood to be behind the curtailed schedule announcement.

The election schedule was announced last week, with the polls running from April 19 to June 4, and IPL organisers are expected to release the dates of the remaining fixtures in the next few days.

After the election, it is expected that organisers will have to play catch-up on the IPL tournament schedule with possible three-a-day matches slated on some days.

It is anticipated the IPL will finish in late May, which places it very close to the adjacent ICC T20 World Cup that begins on 1 June in the USA and West Indies.

A police officer briefs colleagues on the eve of the first T20 cricket match between India and Australia, in Mohali, India in 2022 [Manish Swarup/AP Photo]

4. Can 42-year-old MS Dhoni defy Father Time (again) to deliver Chennai a repeat title?

No player has the Midas touch at the IPL quite like MS Dhoni.

The evergreen Indian wicketkeeper-batsman has won the tournament a record five times in 2010, 2011, 2018, 2021 and 2023.

Rumours are circulating that the 2024 IPL will be his final go-around in the lucrative competition — but we have heard those rumours before. Incredibly, Dhoni has not played a single professional game since the Super Kings defeated the Gujarat Titans in the IPL 2023 final 10 months ago.

If Dhoni is to bring Chennai another title this year, he will certainly have a strong arsenal of players to do it: Ravindra Jadeja, Daryl Mitchell and Moeen Ali headline an impressively credentialed Super Kings outfit.

If Dhoni does clinch a sixth IPL title, it will add to the already remarkable legacy of a player who has experienced an unprecedented second cricketing career peak as an IPL winner, to go along with his hugely successful Indian international career that ended in 2017.

If this is indeed his career farewell, Dhoni —one of India’s all-time favourite cricketers — can expect incredible support throughout the country during the IPL.

Chennai Super Kings’ captain MS Dhoni collects the ball during the Indian Premier League cricket match between Lucknow Super Giants and Chennai Super Kings in 2023 [Surjeet Yadav/AP Photo]

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Robinho, ex-Manchester City player, must serve 9-year prison term for rape | Football News

Brazilian judges uphold Italian court’s ruling and say Robinho must serve the sentence in his home country.

Brazilian judges have ruled to uphold former AC Milan and Brazil striker Robinho’s rape conviction, adding that he must serve his nine-year prison sentence in Brazil.

The trial in Brazil’s Superior Court of Justice (STJ), the country’s top court for nonconstitutional matters, had a majority rule that Italy’s decision was valid in Brazil.

A Milan court in 2017 found Robinho and five other Brazilians guilty of gang-raping a woman in 2013 after plying her with alcohol in a discotheque.

The conviction was confirmed by an appeals court in 2020 and validated by Italy’s Supreme Court in 2022. Robinho who had played for Real Madrid and Manchester City, lives in Brazil and has always denied the charges.

Brazil does not usually extradite its citizens, so Italy requested last year that Robinho serve his prison sentence in his home country.

Robinho’s lawyer, Jose Eduardo Alckmin, told the court at the start of Wednesday’s hearing that his client wants a retrial in Brazil on the grounds of national sovereignty.

“Robinho is available for our judiciary. If an officer gets there, he will comply. He will not oppose,” the lawyer said. The first judge to vote, Francisco Falcao, said Robinho should serve his sentence in Brazil. He added that the former player cannot go unpunished and that diplomatic friction between Brazil and Italy could emerge if the sentence was not served.

“There’s no obstacle to validate the execution of his sentence. It was confirmed by a court in Milan, which is the competent authority in this case,” Falcao said. “The conviction is final. The defendant was not put on trial in absence in Italy, he had representation.”

Judge Raul Araujo, one of the two who disagreed with the majority, argued Robinho could not be jailed in Brazil for a conviction in Italy.

Judge Isabel Gallotti, one of the few women in the court, disagreed. “This foreign sentence is long, well-founded and well-reasoned,” Gallotti said.

‘We will punch her in the face’

Robinho lives in Santos, outside Sao Paulo. He relinquished his passport to Brazilian authorities in March 2023. He continues to deny any wrongdoing and insists his sexual relations with the woman at a Milan bar were consensual.

The court also ruled it would be up to authorities in Santos to decide when and how to jail Robinho.

The former footballer said in an interview with TV Record aired on Sunday that racism was to blame for his conviction in Italy.

“I played only four years in Italy and I got tired of seeing stories of racism. Unfortunately, that exists to this day. [The rape case] was in 2013, now we are in 2024. The same people who don’t do anything against it [racism] are the ones who sentenced me,” Robinho said.

Federal prosecutor Hindemburgo Chateaubriand reminded the judges during the session of some audio recordings obtained by Italian authorities in which Robinho discussed the case with friends.

“I can’t even say all he said because it would be too vulgar for this court,” Chateaubriand said.

Brazilian media published some of those recordings last year.

“We will punch her in her face. You will punch her in the face and say; ‘What did I do to you?’” Robinho tells a friend in one of the excerpts, during which he claims he did not take part in the rape.

In another dialogue, Robinho says: “That is why I am laughing, I don’t care at all.”

Robinho rose to national fame in 2002 as an 18-year-old who led Santos to its first national title since the football great Pele’s era. He did it again two years later as he became a prolific scorer with 21 goals in 36 matches in the Brazilian league.

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British government to introduce independent football regulator | Football News

The regulator will have the power to fine clubs up to 10 percent of their turnover for non-compliance with financial regulations.

The British government is planning to establish an independent football regulator to oversee the sport and encourage financial stability via a bill introduced in the parliament.

The regulator will be independent of government and football authorities with the power to fine clubs up to 10 percent of their turnover for non-compliance with financial regulations, the government said in a press release on Tuesday.

The legislation will strengthen tests of the suitability for those running clubs and would also block “closed-shop competitions” such as the frequently proposed European Super League.

Clubs will also be obliged to consult fans over matters such as strategic direction and anything that impacts their heritage.

“For too long some clubs have been abused by unscrupulous owners who get away with financial mismanagement, which at worst can lead to complete collapse,” Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said.

“This bill is a historic moment for football fans – it will make sure their voices are front and centre, prevent a breakaway league, protect the financial sustainability of clubs, and protect the heritage of our clubs big and small.”

“Football is nothing without its fans,” Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer said.

“We are determined to put them back at the heart of the game, and ensure clubs as vital community assets continue to thrive.

“The new independent regulator of football will set the game on a sustainable footing, strengthening clubs and the entire football pyramid for generations.”

Facing a possible reduction of its powers, the Premier League – the most-watched and most lucrative domestic league in the world – said it will study the bill and work closely with the government, having previously voiced concerns about how a regulator could potentially damage the league’s ability to attract investment.

“Mindful that the future growth of the Premier League is not guaranteed,” the competition said on Monday, “we remain concerned about any unintended consequences of legislation that could weaken the competitiveness and appeal of English football.”

The government announcement comes after the Premier League last week failed to agree a new financial settlement with the English Football League (EFL), which runs the professional game in lower tiers.

The government had warned the Premier League in February that it needed to reach an agreement for a new deal or have one imposed on it.

‘Why change winning a formula?’

The EFL welcomed the bill.

“We hope (it) will be an important milestone to help us secure the long-term financial sustainability of England’s football pyramid,” chairman Rick Parry said in a news release.

“The establishment of the independent football regulator will be at the heart of this reform, and we are encouraged that the regulator will be given backstop powers to deliver financial redistributions should the game be unable to agree a deal itself.”

David Sullivan, the owner of Premier League club West Ham United, said he was opposed to the establishment of a regulator and suggested it would be expensive and inefficient.

“The Premier League is the best league in the world so why change a winning formula?” he told Sky News.

“I hope the government don’t wreck something that works. This means we will be competing with teams from leagues in Europe who give a fraction of the money Premier League clubs give to both the EFL and grassroots football.

“If over the coming seasons the Premier League ceases to be the best league in the world, it will be down to an interfering government.”

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Six-time Miami Open champ Novak Djokovic pulls out, cites scheduling issues | Tennis News

Djokovic’s announcement follows his shock defeat last week to world number 123 Luca Nardi at Indian Wells.

Top-ranked Novak Djokovic will skip the Miami Open saying, less than a week after a surprise loss at Indian Wells, that he needs to balance his “private and professional schedule”.

Djokovic’s announcement Saturday on his social media accounts follows his 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 defeat to unheralded Luca Nardi on Monday in the third round of the BNP Paribas Open.

“At this stage of my career, I’m balancing my private and professional schedule. I’m sorry that I won’t experience some of the best and most passionate fans in the world,” Djokovic wrote.

Nardi, who is ranked number 123, became the lowest-ranked player to beat Djokovic in a Grand Slam or ATP Masters 1000 level event, surpassing number 122 Kevin Anderson in 2008 in Miami.

The 20-year-old Italian got into the field as a “lucky loser”, a player who stumbled on the final hurdle in qualifying but made it into the main draw as a replacement for an injured player who pulled out before the first round.

The 36-year-old Djokovic is a six-time champion in Miami. The men’s hardcourt tournament begins on March 20.

Djokovic, a record 24-time Grand Slam champion, is 8-2 on the season but is yet to win a title in 2024.

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Saquon Barkley opens up about his ‘whirlwind’ Giants exit

Saquon Barkley said his final goodbyes to Giants fans on Thursday night in a lengthy post on social media. 

Hours after the running back’s introductory press conference took place in Philadelphia, where he’ll be playing with the Eagles for the next three years, Barkley expressed his gratitude to Giants fans in New York and New Jersey who “will forever hold a place in my heart.” 

Barkley signed a three-year, $37.5 million deal with the Eagles on the first day of free agency and ended his six-year run with the Giants. 

“The last three days have been a whirlwind of emotions, but I wanted to take a minute and acknowledge all the Giant fans that have supported me and my family over the last six years,” Barkley posted. 


Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley speaks during a press conference after signing with the Eagles. Kyle Ross-USA TODAY Sports

The former first-round pick and the team that drafted him were never able to come to terms on an extension and the Giants opted not to use the franchise tag on him like they had done last year, letting him hit the open market. 

“When I was drafted here I wanted my impact off the field to rival the accomplishments we had on it, and I can only hope that I came close to doing that. I’m forever grateful to the Mara and Tisch family and the wonderful people working in the Giants organization. The fans in New York and New Jersey will forever hold a place in my heart. 

“Ultimately the NFL is a business, and I hope that everyone can respect my decision.” 

Barkley amassed 7,200 all-purpose yards and was named to two Pro Bowls during his time with the Giants, but the Giants had just one winning season during his tenure in the Big Apple. 


Saquon Barkley left the Giants after this past season. Robert Sabo for NY Post

Barkley had expressed regret over the way he left and that he never gave Giants fans a proper goodbye when he signed with the Eagles earlier this week. 

“I don’t think I really handled it the right way on social media. I think I could’ve gave a proper goodbye,” he said during his introductory press conference.

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Lionel Messi sustains leg injury as Inter Miami enter CONCACAF Cup quarters | Football News

Messi and Suarez scored in Miami’s 3-1 win but the Argentinian was substituted after sustaining an injury that will force him out of Miami’s next MLS game.

Lionel Messi scored a goal and made an assist before leaving the field due to a leg injury as Inter Miami beat Nashville 3-1 in the second leg of the CONCACAF Champions Cup round-of-16 match.

Messi found his former Barcelona teammate, Luis Suarez, in stride for a goal that opened scoring in the eighth minute. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner then added a first-half goal to give Inter Miami an early 2-0 lead on Wednesday night.

The Argentinian great was substituted in the 50th minute and coach Gerardo “Tata” Martino later revealed that Messi was dealing with a mild leg injury that started bothering him during the game, so he was taken off as a precaution.

“He is overloaded in the right posterior,” Martino said through a translator. “We tried to see if he could go further along [in the game], but it was bothering him so we preferred to have him get out of the game.”

Messi had rested during Sunday’s 3-2 loss to Montreal, which is the only game he has missed this season.

Martino said Messi will likely miss the team’s Major League Soccer (MLS) match on Saturday against DC United.

“I don’t want to risk it,” Martino said.

Messi was replaced on Wednesday by Robert Taylor, who scored in the 63rd minute to give Inter Miami a 3-0 lead.

Inter Miami advanced to the CONCACAF Champions Cup quarterfinals with the win and 5-3 advantage in aggregate goals in the total-goals series.

‘No one can do what he can do’

Messi had an instant impact on the game.

He earned a free kick after a foul by Nashville’s Anibal Godoy just four minutes into the match but had his attempt blocked. The 36-year-old seized his opportunity a few minutes later, using his impressive vision to fit a pass to a streaking Suarez, who sent the ball into the bottom right corner of the net.

Messi then used a pass from Diego Gomez to score from inside the penalty area as fans started chanting his name. Taylor later got on the board with a header off an assist by Suarez.

“Lionel Messi himself was very, very sharp in the first 15 minutes,” Nashville coach Gary Smith said after the match. He was then asked his thoughts when he saw Messi trotting off the field early in the second half.

“Firstly, thank goodness,” Smith said jokingly. “He’s such a huge influence on the rest of the group. Yes, they have other very good players, but there is no one that can do what he can do. … Delighted to see him go off, I honestly thought that their performance dipped, and it gave us a little bit of an incentive.”

Inter Miami are currently amid a busy month that includes seven matches — four of which have come in a 10-day span. Messi is expected to join the Argentinian national team in a pair of Copa America warm-up matches on March 22 and 26.



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Sarfaraz Khan: A Mumbai maidan cricketer’s long journey to India Test cap | Cricket

Mumbai, India – Batting for nearly 10 hours at Mumbai’s Cross Maidan, Sarfaraz Khan first stole the limelight as a schoolboy in 2009 when he rewrote the history of the famed ground in the Indian metropolis renowned for producing great batters.

The then-12-year-old recorded the highest-ever score in the Harris Shield, a tournament known as the Holy Grail of school cricket in the city.

Dressed in traditional cricket whites – loose-fitting white shirt and track pants – the strongly-built boy from Kurla, an eastern lower middle-class suburb of the bustling city, scored 439 runs and became a national sensation.

Playing for Rizvi Springfield in the Under-16 category, Sarfaraz hit 56 fours and 12 sixes in his innings as he broke Ramesh Nagdev’s 46-year-old record of 427 not out. On his way, Sarfaraz went past the score of another Ramesh – the 346 runs scored by cricket legend Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar in 1988.

Following Sarfaraz’s record-breaking achievement, local newspapers and national media were quick to wonder if he would be “the next Tendulkar”, but the prodigy slid into obscurity.

For years, Sarfaraz sweated it out on Mumbai’s maidans (grounds) as he forged an impressive career in first-class cricket awaiting a call from the national selectors.

But as seasons passed and opportunities seemingly slipped through his grasp, Sarfaraz found himself in the shadows. He watched Shubman Gill, Prithvi Shaw and Yashasvi Jaiswal – batters who came after him – take the big stage.

After spending a decade waiting for his moment, the gutsy batter finally found himself donning the Indian Test cap last month.

On February 15, 14 years since that record-breaking outing in the maidans, Sarfaraz made his Test debut against England in Rajkot, Gujarat.

Sarfaraz was given the nod by the selectors after absences and injuries finally forced their hand.

“It is a matter of pride to be selected from a population of more than 1.4 billion,” Sarfaraz said in an interview with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

Following a round of applause from his teammates as he received the cap from ex-captain Anil Kumble, Sarfaraz rushed to his father and wife to celebrate.

Realising the arduous journey to the top was finally over, Naushad, Sarfaraz’s father and coach, kissed the cap and burst into tears.

“It was Abbu’s [my father’s] dream first to play for India,” Sarfaraz said.

“Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. Things weren’t [financially] that strong at home. Then he thought he would focus on his children, and he worked hard on me … This was the proudest moment of my life.”

Naushad, the player-turned-coach, had found a new perspective at the end.

“Earlier, I used to think why aren’t my dreams becoming a reality … but after Sarfaraz received his cap for India, my thinking has changed,” he said.

“For all the children who are striving hard, I would like to tell them: Give the night’s passage its time. The sun will rise in its own time.”

Sarfaraz Khan hugs his father before his debut match in Rajkot on February 15, 2024 [Punit Paranjpe/AFP]

‘Everyone is talking about him’

On the day of his debut, Sarfaraz had to wait for four hours to score his first runs as he went out to bat at number six.

In the first innings, the 26-year-old scored a half-century and looked set for his maiden Test hundred, but was run out for 62 after a communication mix-up with Ravindra Jadeja.

In the second innings, he remained 68 not out, becoming only the fourth Indian cricketer to score twin fifties on his Test debut, as India comfortably won the match to take a 2-1 series lead.

Sarfaraz became the talk of the town.

At the very maidans where Sarfaraz’s journey began, coaches and young cricketers were in awe.

For Mohammed Akram Shaikh, who trained with Sarfaraz about a decade ago at Mumbai’s popular Azad Maidan, it was a moment of pride.

“I felt really happy watching him play,” Shaikh, who runs a cricket academy, said, pointing to the goosebumps on his hands. “I felt so proud that a kid who played here made such strides.”

As a schoolboy, Sarfaraz often tested himself against bowlers much older than him and by the age of 17, he was playing in the Ranji Trophy, India’s first-class championship, for Mumbai.

He would go on to represent India at the 2014 and 2016 ICC Under-19 World Cups and make his debut in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

But he had to endure a 10-year wait before his first Test call-up – playing 46 matches in first-class cricket with an impressive average of 70.

“Sarfaraz had to wait for a long time but he got his chance at the right time because now everyone is talking about him,” Shaikh said.

The magic of maidans

Sarfaraz is the latest success story to emerge out of Mumbai’s iconic maidans, which have produced some of India’s best batters such as the legendary Tendulkar, current Test captain Rohit Sharma, former skipper Sunil Gavaskar, and batting great Vijay Merchant.

The maidans are the home of cricket in Mumbai.

It is on the red soil of those dusty fields that dreams take root and aspirations soar, as young boys hone their skills from early morning to evening, often under the scorching sun.

Known as the nursery of cricket, these maidans often have uneven outfields filled with stones and rocks. The fields are not the best maintained, with rubbish scattered around the periphery.

The Azad Maidan is home to 22 pitches. All those pitches, except one, overlap each other, posing a challenge for players to dodge the ball from adjacent pitches.

The surfaces test players with a variety of conditions, and for the batsmen, scoring a 100 is the benchmark.

“Anybody who can play here can play anywhere in the world because the wickets here are quite challenging,” Shaikh said. “The surface is uneven, so the ball bounces a lot.

“Both the bowlers and batsmen face a test here and even while fielding it can be difficult because sometimes the ball can hit your face.”

Izaan Shaikh, a youngster from Goa, had the opportunity to train with Sarfaraz at the ground last year.

Izaan, who trains at the Macho Cricket Academy run by Sarfaraz’s family, said Sarfaraz would often share tips with young players.

“Sarfu bhai [brother Sarfaraz] is a very hard-working person. His story inspires me,” 20-year-old wicketkeeper-batter, who is coached by Sarfaraz’s brother Moin, told Al Jazeera.

“He has shown that when you put in effort, you get a happy ending after all.”

Cricket matches take place parallel to each other with outfields and fielders merging between the pitches at Cross Maidan Garden, Mumbai, India [File: Andrew Boyers/Reuters]

‘Unbelievable commitment’

Fitness issues, a failed move from Mumbai to the Uttar Pradesh team in domestic cricket and injuries set Sarfaraz back for some time before delivering strong performances in the past four domestic seasons.

Deepak Lotlikar, ground in charge of the Karnataka Sporting Association at Cross Maidan, has witnessed Sarfaraz’s struggle from up close.

“I have seen Sarfaraz play since his childhood,” Lotlikar said. “He was a little naughty as a child and goofy too. But he was very passionate about cricket. His commitment was unbelievable.”

Lotlikar was at the maidan with Sarfaraz’s brother Moin when his selection for India was announced.

“I broke the news to Moin and he was so emotional at that time,” Lotlikar said with moist eyes. “He rested his head on my shoulder and burst into tears – all of us at the maidan did.”

Sarfaraz went on to play the fourth and fifth Tests and lifted the series winners’ trophy last week. It remains to be seen whether his 200 runs in three innings will keep him in the Test side once the likes of Virat Kohli and KL Rahul return, but Sarfaraz has done enough to inspire young cricketers at Cross Maidan.

For 10-year-old Mudassar Shaikh, Sarfaraz is already a hero.

“I hope I can be like Sarfaraz one day,” he said with a smile.

Sarfaraz Khan (left) lifts the series winners’ trophy with Dhruv Jurel after India won the fifth Test against England [Adnan Abidi/Reuters]



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India’s Rishabh Pant set to resume cricket career at IPL 2024 | Cricket News

Pant has been cleared to play competitive cricket for the first time since he sustained multiple injuries in a car crash on December 30, 2022.

India’s wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant is fit to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL) starting this month after being seriously hurt in a car crash in 2022, the country’s cricket board has said.

After an extensive 14-month rehab and recovery process, Pant “has now been declared fit as a wicket-keeper batter” for the Twenty20 tournament, the Board of Control for Cricket in India said in a statement posted on X.

The 26-year-old plays for Delhi Capitals in the franchise tournament and is expected to take up wicketkeeping and batting duties when the 2024 season gets under way on March 22.

Delhi Capitals play their opening game against Punjab Kings a day later.

Pant suffered multiple injuries in a car crash near the town of Roorkee in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand on December 30, 2022. He suffered injuries on his head, back and leg, but managed to exit the car before it caught fire.

His last cricket outing came during India’s Test match against Bangladesh between December 22 and 25, 2022.

A successful return to cricket may pave the way for his inclusion in India’s squad for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2024 in the Caribbean and the United States.



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Palestine footballer Barakat killed in Israel’s attack on Gaza | Israel War on Gaza News

Mohammed Barakat, who played for Ahly Gaza and Palestine, died when his house in Khan Younis was bombed by Israeli forces.

Palestinian footballer Mohammed Barakat has been killed after Israeli forces bombed his house in Khan Younis amid the ongoing war in Gaza.

The Barakat family’s home was hit by Israeli bombs early on Monday, the first day of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

Barakat, Gaza’s first centurion of goals and one of its top scorers, represented the national team and the Ahly Gaza football club in the local league.

The 39-year-old scored 114 goals and was known as “the legend of Khan Younis” during his long association with the Khan Younis Youth Club, which he captained. Barakat also played for several clubs in the occupied West Bank and Jordan, including Al-Wehdat.

The forward’s death was termed a “huge loss for Palestinian football” by Khalid Abu-Habel, a local club footballer.

“I played against him,” Abu-Habel, a defender for Khadamat al-Maghazi, told Al Jazeera hours after the legendary striker’s death was confirmed.

“He was quick and clever. A top, top goal-scorer. Off the pitch, he was kind and friendly. A beloved friend of all.”

Abu-Habel, who is also a doctor and works at the al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza, said Gaza’s football community has “lost a lot” during the continuing war.

“How many should we lose more? The sports community in Gaza is simply collapsing.”

In the first month of the war that began on October 7, Khalil Jadallah, a Palestinian football commentator and analyst, put together a starting XI of Palestinian players who have died due to Israeli violence.

“It is difficult to know exactly how many have died during this war because of the sheer amount of death,” Jadallah told Al Jazeera five months ago.

“I am too angry. He is a football icon. Sport in Gaza has lost a lot during the war.”

Among the confirmed dead are athletes and administrators from a wide range of sports, including basketball player for Al-Breij, Bassim al-Nabahin, 27; footballer Rashid Dabbour, 28, who played for Al-Ahli Beit Hanoon; and Ahmad Awad, 21, who represented Palestine’s national football team for dwarfism.

The Palestinian sporting community in the occupied West Bank has also been affected as tensions have spiked there. Nineteen-year-old Markaz Balata midfielder Mohammed Maree Sawafta was killed by Palestinian Authority (PA) security forces during a protest in his hometown of Tubas, near Nablus, on October 27.

Perhaps the biggest loss has been that of Hani Al-Masdar, one of Palestine’s greatest-ever footballers and a manager of the Olympic team, who was killed in January. Al-Masdar was hit by shrapnel from a missile that landed near his home in the central part of the Gaza Strip.

‘A constant feeling of anxiety’

When the Palestinian national team participated in the AFC Asian Cup 2023 in Qatar in January and February, the players cut a visibly emotional figure when they recorded a historic win over Hong Kong in the group stage and qualified for the second round.

In an interview with Al Jazeera during the tournament, Palestine forward Mahmoud Wadi opened up about the struggles of putting on his best performance on the field while the war rages at home.

Wadi explained how players, especially those from Gaza, spend their days and nights anxiously waiting for news from home.

“One morning, my brother disappeared. No one in my family knew anything due to a communication blackout. I felt very anxious during those 10 hours until I heard from him.

“This is our situation: A constant feeling of anxiety and unimaginable conditions. It’s indescribable not knowing where your loved ones are, feeling helpless and unable to do anything. All you can do is pray. Every second of our lives is a test.”

Abubaker Abed contributed to reporting from Deir al-Balah, Gaza.

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