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By K.R. Nayar   Saif Ali Khan is the son of one of India’s finest cricket captains, Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi. When he was allegedly stabbed inside his high-security apartment, no one expected it to be debated as intensely as a cricket match. In fact, discussions on India’s chances in the ongoing England series and upcoming Champions Trophy in the UAE seem to have even been overshadowed by this incident. However, what happened to Saif remains as uncertain as a cricket match itself. While many questions are being raised about the incident, what the nation really wants to know is whether he was actually stabbed or merely scratched with a blade. The manner in which the alleged Bangladeshi criminal entered the apartment is as surprising as a sharply turning delivery sneaking through the bat-pad gap to hit the stumps. How this intruder outfoxed the security must have even made the wily Bangladeshi left-arm spinner, Shakib Al Hasan, jealous.  Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi ...

By K.R. Nayar  We have often heard the saying, “The sky is the limit” for those who dream and work hard. Abhinav Madhu and Puthan Veettil Nirmay, who live in the UAE but hail from the Palakkad district in Kerala, have been selected for the Kerala State Under-14 team. Though they do their schooling in UAE and train at the Dunes Cricket Academy here, they registered with the Palakkad District Cricket Association nearly three years ago with a mission to play for Kerala. They made sure to travel to Kerala to play matches, and through their consistent performances, they earned a spot in the inter-zonal team. Now, they have clinched a place in the Kerala State Under-14 team. Puthan Veettil Nirmay and Abhinav Madhu These boys, through their journey to the Kerala team, have proved that nothing is impossible. By representing their parents’ hometown, they have made their families proud as well. Their parents’ love for the game and willingness to support their children’s dreams have ...

By K.R. Nayar An alumni event is always held to evoke nostalgia. When such an event is organized spectacularly, it becomes historic, leaving an indelible mark—stronger than even the memories of student life. The All Kerala Colleges Alumni Forum (AKCAF) BNW-APL Cricket Tournament, which has been creating ripples in the UAE in the past, is set to stage its fourth edition from January 25 to February 15, 2025, at the DC Cricket Ground, Sharjah. It stands as a testament to the magnificence that can be achieved when like-minded people come together.   The enormous work this Alumni Forum has done over the years is remarkable. It has not been just about organizing a cricket tournament but also about uniting a vast community to serve the masses. Though I had heard about their contributions over the years, I truly witnessed the grandeur of their unity during the trophy unveiling and jersey distribution ceremony for the fourth edition, held at the Wyndham Dubai Deira Ballroom on January 1...

By K.R. Nayar   Sanju Samson must be the most confused Indian cricketer. He was not picked for the Champions Trophy because he did not play in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. However, when he consistently played and was selected for the 2024 T20 World Cup, he was not given a single match. Recently, he scored centuries against Bangladesh and South Africa when given a chance to play for India. Yet, he has now been overlooked for selection because he did not attend the Kerala team training camp.  If William Shakespeare was alive today, he might have coined a new version of his famous line from Hamlet—“To be or not to be”—turning it into “To play or not to play” after witnessing Samson's plight. Sanju Samson  Samson is hailed as one of the finest limited-overs cricketers, yet he gets only limited opportunities to play for India. Do the selectors believe that when someone is the best limited-overs player, he should be given only limited chances? When he scores centuries, everyone...

By K.R. Nayar The Indian cricket team’s support staff consists of various coaches, a trainer, a physiotherapist, computer analysts, and sometimes even a psychologist. Following Team India’s dressing room leaks during the Australian tour, it is high time the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) considers hiring a plumber to stop the leak. The ideal candidate should be deaf to avoid being shocked by the so-called "shocking revelations" from the dressing room, as journalists often describe them.   Gautam Gambhir  During the Australian tour, there was a significant leak from the dressing room. No one is certain who was responsible. Reports suggest that coach Gautam Gambhir suspects young batter Sarfaraz Khan of leaking information to the media.   Sarfaraz Khan Leaks from the Indian dressing room are not new. When Sourav Ganguly was captain, the leaks primarily reached newspapers in Kolkata. Similarly, when there was a fallout between Ganguly and coach Greg C...