Sunrisers Hyderabad’s Praful Hinge (PTI Photo)

HYDERABAD: Praful Hinge, the 24-year-old Sunrisers Hyderabad pacer, became an overnight sensation after his performance against Rajasthan Royals. He set the tone with a wicket off his second ball — that of teen wonder Vaibhav Sooryavanshi — and scalped two more in the over.Despite the dream debut, he says life remains the same.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!“Yes, I planned to bowl a bouncer to dismiss Sooryavanshi. I played with him in the U-23 match once and got his wicket with a short ball. I tried it again and it worked. I didn’t know that I would take four wickets in my very first match. I came to know about the record (three wickets in first over) only after the match. However, I am not feeling my life has changed a lot after that. I am trying to stay away from social media and focus on training,” Hinge said.He also credited the team management for believing in him. “I learnt a lot from training with senior players in the team. We keep talking to them and they teach us a lot. The support from our coach and captain was clear. T20 is a batters’ game. As a bowler, whatever we do, do it with heart and enjoy the moment. That is the only advice from coach and captain,” he added.Hinge idolises Pat Cummins and was a total fanboy when he first met him at the SRH camp. “When I first met him, I told him how big a fan I was. He was very welcoming. I told him that I used to watch his bowling videos and train. He told me that he will work with him and help with bowling. That was very motivating,” he revealed. Hinge also said that he was motivated by his father Prakash — a former employee of the Maharashtra electricity department — and sister, a chartered accountant. “I wanted to do something that made my family happy. When I started I had no idea what domestic cricket was. I first played with a leather ball at the age of 13.“Since then, playing for the country was my only dream. Once I got into a two-month summer camp, I began understanding the process. I played all the age groups and made my debut for the state team just last year,” he added.He also credited Glenn McGrath and Varun Aaron for his progress. “When I was with the MRF Pace Foundation, McGrath helped me with my action. But Aaron helped me a lot too. As a fast bowler, he knows what it takes to be successful and he guided me.”(Hinge spoke on JioStar Press Room after his IPL debut)

With under fifty days to go for kick-off, the 2026 FIFA World Cup has found itself at the centre of an unexpected geopolitical storm. US President Donald Trump has publicly suggested that Iran’s presence at the tournament may be inappropriate, even hinting at safety concerns, while voices in football circles speculate about a possible replacement with Italy national football team emerging as a contender if a vacancy arises.

At the heart of the issue is Iran national football team’s refusal to play matches in the United States, where all their group fixtures are scheduled.  The team has proposed shifting games to Mexico, but FIFA has rejected the idea, citing logistical challenges. Whether Iran ultimately participates, and what happens if they don’t, is quickly becoming one of the biggest uncertainties ahead of the tournament.

Political Deadlock Deepens

Tensions escalated after failed diplomatic talks between the US and Iran in Islamabad. Iran’s sports minister, Ahmad Donyamali, took a firm stance, declaring that participation in the US was not possible under current circumstances. His remarks reflected broader political grievances, adding fuel to an already sensitive situation.

Trump responded bluntly on social media, stating that Iran’s presence might not be appropriate “for their own safety.” Despite the rhetoric, Iran has stopped short of officially withdrawing, instead pushing for a venue change in hopes that FIFA might reconsider.

Why a Mexico Switch Isn’t Feasible

Relocating Iran’s matches to Mexico appears unrealistic at this stage. The tournament draw, finalized months ago, has already set in motion extensive planning, from travel arrangements and team bases to ticket sales and logistics.

Any change would also require agreement from other group-stage teams, Belgium national football team, New Zealand national football team, and Egypt national football team, making the process even more complicated.

Additionally, concerns around playing conditions in Mexico, particularly at the iconic Estadio Azteca, have been raised due to altitude and heat. Hosting extra fixtures at short notice would also strain local infrastructure.

Knockout Complications Loom

The situation could become even more complex if Iran progresses to the knockout stages, where a potential clash with the United States could force further schedule reshuffling. Given these cascading complications, FIFA’s reluctance to alter venues was always expected.

A Delicate Balancing Act for FIFA

Selecting a replacement, if needed, would not be straightforward. FIFA would need to navigate competing interests among its member nations while maintaining diplomatic balance. Influential countries such as China and Russia are reportedly in favour of Iran’s inclusion, adding another layer of complexity.

Infantino’s close rapport with Trump has also drawn scrutiny, with some questioning whether politics could influence sporting decisions. Ultimately, FIFA faces the difficult task of managing a situation where sport and geopolitics are tightly intertwined.

Rare but Not Unprecedented

Withdrawals after qualification are uncommon in modern World Cups. The last notable instance dates back to the 1950 FIFA World Cup, when multiple teams, including Turkey, France, Scotland, and India, opted out.

There have been moments of protest as well. Ahead of the 1978 FIFA World Cup, several teams considered boycotting due to political concerns, though none ultimately withdrew. Dutch legend Johan Cruyff was a notable absentee.

Earlier editions saw more frequent disruptions, including withdrawals in 1938 and reduced participation in 1934, but such scenarios are rare in the modern era.

FIFA having full control over the situation

FIFA regulations provide broad discretion in such cases. Clause 6.7 of the tournament guidelines states that if a team withdraws or is excluded, FIFA can decide on a replacement at its own discretion.

This ambiguity has sparked widespread speculation. Teams like Bolivia national football team, Italy national football team, and United Arab Emirates national football team have all been mentioned as possible candidates, depending on how FIFA interprets its rules.

Bolivia may emerge as a contender after falling short in the intercontinental playoffs, while Italy could come into consideration as the highest-ranked side that didn’t qualify. Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates remain in the mix, having been one of the teams affected during Iran’s qualification pathway.

Man United are reportedly monitoring Tottenham centre-back Micky van de Ven as Spurs continue to flirt with relegation from the Premier League.

There was a time when Manchester United could knock on the door of almost any other team in England and cherry-pick the players they wanted to bring to Old Trafford.

Take Tottenham Hotspur, for example. Teddy Sheringham, Michael Carrick and Dimitar Berbatov were lured to United having shone at White Hart Lane, with the trio all heavily involved in Premier League and Champions League triumphs in the red of United. Plenty has changed since then and not just United’s status as English football’s top dogs.

The latter of the aforementioned transfers did not run smoothly, with the Bulgarian striker only signing on the dotted line late on deadline day in 2008. Manchester City’s takeover by the Abu Dhabi Group earlier in the day saw them make a move for Berbatov, with then-Spurs chairman Daniel Levy subsequently upping the fee.

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United have avoided transfer dealings with Spurs at all costs since that day, with Sergio Reguilon’s 2023 loan move to Old Trafford the only time they have done business since. United needed a left-back and Spurs wanted to ship Reguilon out – it was a deal that suited all parties.

United’s reluctance to deal with Spurs saw them avoid a move for Harry Kane in 2023 prior to his move to Bayern Munich, despite the England captain being Erik ten Hag’s preferred pick as they searched for a centre forward. Rasmus Hojlund signed instead. The Dane scored 14 league goals in the two years he spent at United before a loan move to Napoli, 48 fewer than Kane managed in that same period.

But with Levy now gone and Spurs circling the Premier League plughole, could United make a return to a club they have been so keen to avoid for so many years?

It’s claimed Micky van de Ven is being monitored by United ahead of the summer transfer window. Into his third year in the Premier League, the Dutchman has proved himself to be a top operator and Spurs’ possible relegation could see Van de Ven leave in a cut-price deal.

Strangely, earlier this season it would have been fair to claim centre-back was United’s strongest area of the pitch. However, Matthijs de Ligt looks as though he might have played his last game of the season and various other suspension and injury setbacks have left United down to the bare bones at centre half.

With the Reds potentially set to add around another 20 games to their calendar next season, signing another centre-back is by no means a bad idea and Van de Ven would be a great option if available at the right price.

At 25 he still has his best years ahead of him, meaning he fits the profile of player Ineos look for when bolstering the squad. United would likely face competition for his signature should they firm up their interest in him, with Liverpool also said to be monitoring his situation. With Champions League football almost certainly set to be on the table at Old Trafford, there’s no reason why United can’t win the race.

On the whole, United have looked to avoid transfer dealings with Spurs. With Levy gone and Spurs potentially set for the Premier League trap door, now could be the perfect time to swoop in.

Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package

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MS Dhoni (BCCI/IPL Photo)

NEW DELHI: Chennai Super Kings (CSK) fans are still waiting to see MS Dhoni play in IPL 2026, even though he has been regularly training with the team. The veteran wicketkeeper-batter, who was ruled out initially due to a calf injury, has now missed close to a month of action. While he has been seen practising both batting and keeping, he hasn’t featured in matches yet, leaving fans disappointed.There were also rumours that when Dhoni returns, he might only play as an impact substitute and avoid wicketkeeping duties. However, CSK batting coach Michael Hussey, speaking on the sidelines of the match between Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings, cleared the air, confirming that Dhoni is expected to return as a wicketkeeper, not just a specialist batter.