’83’ highlights India winning the 1983 World Cup under the leadership of Kapil Dev, played by Ranveer Singh….reports Asian Lite News
As the sports drama ’83’ is all set to release on the big screen on Thursday, former Indian cricket captain Kapil Dev recalled the feeling of lifting the World Cup in 1983, in a video shared by the makers.
In the video, Kapil recalls his experience of winning the World Cup in 1983.
He was heard saying in Hindi: “India ke liye khelna ek sapna tha and a bigger dream was to become the Captain of the National team. And I had never imagined lifting the World Cup on the balcony of Lord’s!”
The clip was captioned: “The Haryana Hurricane, @therealkapildev Sir, invites us all to experience the historic saga unfold! 2 Days To 83. #ThisIs83 83 IN CINEMAS ON 24TH DEC, 2021. Releasing in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam. Also in 3D.”
’83’ highlights India winning the 1983 World Cup under the leadership of Kapil Dev, played by Ranveer Singh.
The film is all set to release theatrically worldwide on December 23.
New captaincy policy could be a cultural Issue for India
The appointment of Rohit Sharma as the limited-overs cricket captain and Virat Kohli for Test matches is an interesting concept being finally adopted by India…writes Yajurvindra Singh
England and Australia have been able to do so quite successfully. However, their culture and way of living are quite different from the Indian way of thinking and behaviour pattern.
India has historically been a country where one respects and follows a ruler or a leader. The joint-family tradition maybe dwindling gradually, but, the head of the family is still the autocratic and authoritative head as far as religious and other functions are concerned.
New captaincy policy could be a cultural Issue for India
The famous words “we are like this only” is particularly apt for the Indians. India has thrived under great leaders in every sphere of its existence. The issues that have over centuries been created and been unsuccessful have only cropped up when a powerful leader was missing. India may be the largest democracy in the world, but one has seen progress only when it is led by a strong and vibrant leader.
Indian cricket has also gone in a similar vein as regards the captaincy. The pre-Independence and the decade after did not have an established captain. The 60s was when Nawab Mansur Ali Khan of Pataudi was given the reins that India finally had a powerful leader at the helm.
He led India for over a decade and because of it, he could establish systems, strategies as well as identify skilled players to form a constructive Indian unit. He always said that getting an Indian team together and making them focused and mentally prepared was his biggest challenge.
The variables that India faces due to diversity of religions, customs, languages, social status and innumerable other cultural differences makes an Indian cricket side a difficult side to blend together. In the last two decades, Sourav Ganguly and Mahendra Singh Dhoni, from two diverse cultural upbringings did manage to break this barrier to a certain extent.
The Zonal divide and cultural differences that had crept into Indian cricket were fortunately buried under these two powerful captains. Both of them were strong individuals who managed this transformation because they could get the support from their fellow cricketers and the management as well.
This reminds me of a famous discussion at a TCS event between the now head of the Tata Empire, N. Chandrasekaran and Rahul Dravid. Chandra, as he is popularly called, asked Dravid as to how he managed to effectively lead an Indian side with players from different parts of India and as to how he managed to communicate with them.
The astute Dravid had a ready reply and said, “Chandra, I just have to look after 11 cricketers on the field, but you have 350,000 people working at TCS and therefore, I should be asking you as how you do it.” Here were two individuals respected, proven and accomplished leaders in their field and they showed that they were still uncertain about tackling major diversity issues that still haunt India.
This brings one back to the present situation of the Indian side being led by two individuals in the two different formats of the game. In the recent past, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble did relinquish their captaincy but they did so entirely and played all the formats as players. They became the mentors and wisdom bearers of the side and ones whom colleagues could interact with freely and honestly.
Cricket played in any format is a team game. A leader or a captain has his likes and dislikes. This is inevitable in all walks of life. In India, to have two leaders will always have that element of doubt in the minds of the players. This may lead to two distinct camps of pros and cons regarding Rohit and Virat. Nearly 80 per cent of the side is players who play both the formats of the game and so the loyalty factor will come very strongly into force.
Both Rohit and Virat have different personalities and the way they perceive leading the team. This is where a strong leader normally establishes his thought process and approach towards the game. How this will turn out in the long run for Indian cricket is a million-dollar question.
Virat Kohli’s stepping down from captaining the T20 team was to enable him to concentrate better as a leader in the One-day internationals as well as in Test matches. Being eased out of captaining the ODIs, one felt, was not in his itinerary, especially, with the World Cup coming up in 2023.
Although Kohli relishes and is the biggest promoter of Test cricket, the long-drawn format is not one with the glamorous quotient attached to it. He may gradually fade away as a leader in the eyes of the millions of Indian cricket followers and lose the aggressive and assertive nature one identifies him with.
The bio-secure bubble that has been enforced due to the Covid Omicron virus threat for teams to be confined in, may not be the ideal solution for the captaincy changes of the Indian side.
Rahul Dravid, the Indian coach, has a very tricky and important task on hand. One hopes he did finally get the correct solution and reply as to how to marry the many diverse and cultural issues that may arise from the successful Tata leader, N.Chandrasekaran.
The 34-year old Rohit, who was already appointed as T20I captain last month, on Wednesday replaced Kohli as India’s new ODI skipper…reports Asian Lite News
A day after replacing him with Rohit Sharma as India’s ODI captain, the BCCI on Thursday thanked Virat Kohli for leading the team with “grit, passion and determination” during his four year tenure.
The 34-year old Rohit, who was already appointed as T20I captain last month, on Wednesday replaced Kohli as India’s new ODI skipper.
BCCI thanks Virat Kohli
“A leader who led the side with grit, passion & determination. Thank you Captain @imVkohli!” the board tweeted along with the picture featuring Kohli’s captaincy stats in the 50-over format.
Kohli, who took over limited-overs captaincy from MS Dhoni in 2017, has been one of India’s most successful white-ball captains. In 95 ODIs, he won 65, giving him an admirable winning percentage of 70-plus. In 45 T20Is, he led India to victory 27 times.
The star batter relinquished T20 captaincy at the end of the 2021 T20 World Cup where India failed to reach the knockout stages.
Sharma has been Kohli’s longstanding deputy in white ball cricket and his first assignment as India’s limited overs captain was the recent three-match T20 series against New Zealand at home last month, which the team won 3-0.
He will now lead India in the South Africa ODI series, the squad for which is yet to be announced.
The West Indies cricket team arrived here on Thursday for three Twenty20 and three one-day internationals series. All the matches will be played in Karachi from December 13…reports Asian Lite News
This is the Caribbean team’s first visit to Pakistan since 2018. A Pakistani official said that a 26-member team had flown to Karachi on Thursday before being escorted by heavy security to the team hotel.
The series comes three months after New Zealand quit their first tour to Pakistan in 18 years shortly before the opening match was due to start following a security alert. That was followed by England’s decision to withdraw visits by their men’s and women’s teams scheduled for October.
Windies arrive in Pakistan for T20, ODI series
Pakistan endured a long spell without a visit from an international team following a terror attack on a bus carrying the Sri Lankan team in Lahore in 2009. After that Pakistan were forced to play their home international matches abroad – mostly in the United Arab Emirates – until 2015 when normal service tentatively resumed.
This West Indian squad is somewhat understrength, with regulars Evin Lewis, Shimron Hetmyer, Andre Russell and Lendl Simmons all opting out for personal reasons. Former skipper Jason Holder is being rested, while Fabian Allen and Obed McCoy are out because of injuries. Last week, captain Kieron Pollard also withdrew through a hamstring injury, leaving the Twenty20 leadership to Nicholas Pooran and ODIs to Shai Hope.
The three T20Is are on December 13, 14 and 16, while the ODIs will be on Dec 18, 20 and 22.
The inaugural UAE T20 league, sanctioned by the Emirates Cricket Board, is set to feature six teams and 34 matches, taking place next year. …reports Asian Lite News
Making its first foray into cricket, Manchester United Football Club’s owner Lancer Capital on Wednesday acquired a franchise in the soon-to-be-launched UAE T20 League.
The inaugural UAE T20 league, sanctioned by the Emirates Cricket Board, is set to feature six teams and 34 matches, taking place next year.
“I am very excited to be a part of UAE T20 at its formation. UAE T20 promises to be a world-class event that will be transformative to the growth of cricket in the Emirates,” said Avram Glazer, chairman of Lancer Capital in a statement.
The development came a week after Reliance Industries, the owner of Mumbai Indians in the IPL, also announced their investment in the league through a franchise ownership.
Notaly, Lancer Capitals was also among the final shortlisted bidders for the two new IPL franchises, eventually losing out to RPSG Group and CVC Capital, the groups that acquired the Lucknow and Ahmedabad franchises respectively.
The latest investment adds to the company’s portfolio in the sporting world. Apart from Manchester United, the Glazer family also owns NFL Super Bowl champions Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
“I am very excited to welcome Mr Glazer to the UAE T20 Family,” Khalid Al Zarooni, UAE T20 League chairman, said.
“To have a partner who has invested into sports properties with a long term investment perspective is a testament to the strength of the UAE T20 League’s Business Model and its value proposition to its stakeholders and an ode to the UAE as the destination of choice for global sports events,” he added.
It is also learnt that, the owners of the Knight Riders T20 teams are “on-board” to own one of the teams in the UAE event. Capri Global, which also made a failed bid for the two new IPL franchises, Big Bash League’s Sydney Sixers, and Kiran Kumar Grandhi, a co-owner of Delhi Capitals, are believed to be among the other interested parties.
Wade is expected that Wade will continue to play for Tasmania in domestic cricket and Hobart Hurricanes in the Big Bash League (BBL)….reports Asian Lite News
Australia wicketkeeper-batter Matthew Wade has revealed that he will retire after next year’s Men’s T20 World Cup in Australia. He added that he had almost missed the Men’s T20 World Cup final against New Zealand due to the pain caused by a grade two side strain caused by the injury to his side during the pre-final practice session on Saturday.
“That’ll be my next motivation – hopefully get to that World Cup, defend the title and then I can sail off into the sunset. I certainly won’t be playing (international cricket) beyond that point. That would be my goal from here,” Wade was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au on Thursday.
It is expected that Wade will continue to play for Tasmania in domestic cricket and Hobart Hurricanes in the Big Bash League (BBL).
Wade was the hero in the second semi-final win against Pakistan, making 41 runs off 17 balls. His effort also included a hat-trick of sixes against Pakistan left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi to seal the match in his team’s favour. In the final, Wade was not required to bat as Australia chased 173 with eight wickets in hand at Dubai for their first-ever Men’s T20 World Cup title.
Talking about doubts on missing out on the final on Sunday, Wade remarked, “I was a little bit worried the night before the game, for sure. If I had have woken up and I couldn’t swing the bat, I wouldn’t have played. I was worried that if we’d batted first and I had to go as hard as I could and I tore it then, I wouldn’t be able to keep and that would hurt the team a lot.”
If the 33-year-old hadn’t played, Australia would have handed an international debut to back-up option in Josh Inglis. “But in my mind, they would have had to strap me to the bed. I was always going to go out there and play. But I wouldn’t have played if there was a chance it was going to hurt the team. I went and hit some balls before the game and bluffed my way through that. Then they made me hit a few more, but I got through it and it felt pretty fine,” concluded Wade.
Ed Edwards, Fawaz Al Ayban & Meshari Al Bahli of Golf Saudi Collect Award
The World Golf Awards, one of the industry’s most prominent and revered accolades, has awarded Golf Saudi with a Sustainable Legacy Award, during their annual ceremony in Dubai…reports Asian Lite News
The awards which brought together market leaders from more than 40 nations across Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Latin America, North America and Oceania, was a celebration of the best courses and destinations across the golf industry.
Golf Saudi Win Sustainable Legacy Award
The World Golf Awards recognised Golf Saudi with a Sustainable Legacy Award for their efforts to inspire and encourage a nationwide culture of environmental and ecological innovation throughout all of its ongoing pioneering initiatives. This included Golf Saudi signing-up to a United Nations initiative for sporting organisations in the summer of 2021 aimed at achieving ambitious global climate change goals. Meaning that Golf Saudi is now one of the latest members of the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework, a growing community of organisations, leagues, tours and sporting tournaments committed toward the Paris Agreement’s net zero targets.
The World Golf Awards also acknowledged Golf Saudi’s Social Agenda and Mass Participation programme, both of which aim to provide Saudis with education and employment opportunities, providing certified golf specific career paths, as well as encouraging them to take up the game for the first time from a leisure perspective.
MAJED AL SOROUR, DEPUTY CHAIRMAN, SAUDI GOLF FEDERATION, CEO, GULF SAUDI: “To once again be recognised by the World Golf Awards is a huge privilege and underlines the progress, we as an organisation are making towards our Vision 2030 goals in Saudi Arabia. Just this week, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence pledged to reach zero-net emissions by 2060, as part of the Saudi Green Initiative. So, for us to already have joined the UN’s Sports for Climate Action Framework shows that we are playing an active part in sport’s contribution to global climate action. We still have much progress to make but being recognised in this manner gives us belief that our strategy to sustainability will allow us at Golf Saudi to develop a fully formed golfing ecosystem for all our citizens to benefit from in the years ahead.”
The World Golf Awards serves to celebrate and reward excellence in golf tourism, world-class courses and golf destinations. Voted for by professionals working within the golf travel and tourism industry, this accolade further solidifies Golf Saudi’s position as one of the world’s fastest growing golf markets. Golf Saudi was awarded for its commitment to providing a clear path to a low carbon future for golf. By engaging and working together with other sporting federations and organisations, Golf Saudi hopes to encourage wider engagement in terms of tackling environmental issues and to face up to the threat posed by climate change.
Chris Frost, Managing Director, World Golf Awards, said: “It’s great to see the progress of Golf Saudi and the scale of their ambition as they work towards their Vision 2030 goals. This award is in recognition of Golf Saudi’s efforts to establish themselves as a market leader in terms of sustainability and to us it’s clear that the organisation is taking noteworthy steps to meet and exceed international best practise across sport globally.”
Launched in 2014, World Golf Awards aims to improve standards within golf tourism by rewarding the leading destinations in their field. Votes for the 2021 World Golf Awards ceremony were cast by industry professionals and consumers from across the world in a range of categories, including both global and regional awards, with the ceremony itself taking place from the Park Hyatt Dubai on the evening of Thursday 28th October 2021.
The sedan is available in four well-equipped grades: LUXE, SENSORY, SPORT Black Edition, and RED SPORT…reports Asian Lite News
The 2022 INFINITI Q50 sedan adds newfound smarts next year to its strong exterior style and tailored interior, including a SPORT Black Edition grade specific to the Middle East market. Every INFINITI Q50 now includes wireless Apple CarPlay® compatibility for 2022.
The 2022 INFINITI Q50 sedan continues its award-winning formula by combining a lean, athletic stance with a crafted, connected, and comfortable interior. The sedan is available in four well-equipped grades: LUXE, SENSORY, SPORT Black Edition and RED SPORT.
2022_INFINITI_Q50 infotainment
Dual, high-definition displays feature smartphone compatibility software and INFINITI InTouchTM Services. Sound travels through an available Bose® Performance Series 16-speaker audio system with Bose® Centerpoint simulated surround that delivers a rich, balanced, and nuanced sound throughout the cabin. USB-based Android Auto™ compatibility is supported by two standard USB ports in the front (one Type-A, one Type-C), and wireless Apple CarPlay® is newly standard on all grades.
2022 Q50 sedan receive leather-appointed seating surfaces inside, with available Graphite, and Stone Grey colour treatments, as well as semi-aniline leather-appointed seats, brilliantly finished in Gallery White or Graphite, both with Red stitching for the RED SPORT grade. The interior features INFINITI’s hallmark zero-gravity spinal support seats that were carefully engineered to provide a consistent level of support and minimize pressure on lower and upper back muscles, in a spacious cabin with ample front and rear headroom, generous rear knee room enhanced by the thin front seatback design, and multi-adjustable front seats.
2022_INFINITI_Q50 interior
The 2022 INFINITI Q50 LUXE includes wireless Apple CarPlay® compatibility, leather-appointed seats, 18-inch aluminium-alloy wheels, and more. The SENSORY grade ladders up with integrated navigation, ambient lighting, adaptive front lighting system and Bose® Performance Series Audio system. Replacing the SPORT grade, the SPORT Black Edition features dark chrome and black accents including the front grill, door mirror caps, rear tailgate strip, 19-inch aluminium-alloy wheels and interior elements.
At the top of the performance ladder, the 2022 Q50 RED SPORT 400 includes unique black and dark exterior accents and (19”-inch wheels) , aluminium pedals, uprated V6 engine performance with 400 horsepower, semi-aniline leather-appointed surfaces, Dynamic Digital Suspension, which constantly adjusts the shock absorber valves within a wide range of damping force to control body motion when cornering.
Every 2022 INFINITI Q50 sedan is powered by a dynamic 3.0-liter twin-turbo V-6 paired to an advanced 7-speed automatic transmission with manual shift mode and Downshift Rev Matching, combing excellent drivability with efficiency and performance.
The sedan offers a wide range of safety features including predictive forward collision warning and direct adaptive steering, Backup collision Intervention and Around View® monitor, in addition to INFINITI’s trusted intelligent brake assist, lane departure warning and prevention, blind spot warning and intervention and more.
The 2022 INFINITI Q50 is set to arrive in dealerships across the Middle East in late 2021.
This series serves as a reminder of the power of sports to change lives…reports Asian Lite News
Adidas launches the second chapter of its long-standing brand attitude Impossible Is Nothing. SEEING POSSIBILITIES IN SPORT – is about seeing possibilities on and off the field of play, perceiving the world not as it is, but as it can be – and inspiring others to do the same. Together, adidas and athletes around the world show how sport is a place of acceptance, new connections, and opportunity.
Gomis
In a landmark year for sport, Impossible Is Nothing continues adidas’ vision to inspire all to see possibilities in a better future for all, this time through the lens of sport and its potential to drive change, inspiration, and possibilities, on and off the field of play.
Through empowering photo series from the Kingdom’s inspirational athletes, adidas dimensionalises and humanises its Impossible Is Nothing brand attitude, highlighting what sport enables us to do, on and off the pitch, the court, the track, and the field.
Featuring adidas’ brand ambassadors, the series celebrates the changemakers that have made and are making history on a regional stage. More importantly, it aims to inspire others, empowering them by this collection of very human shots as a powerful demonstration of what optimism can achieve.
Farah Jefry
Farah Jefry, Adidas ambassador, and the first Saudi sportswoman to represent the brand in the Middle East and who was recently called up to Saudi Arabia’s first women’s national team, saw the possibilities of inspiring the next generation of youth to see endless possibilities; to use her platform as a stage to show how the sport is a place of acceptance.
FARAH JEFRY: “It’s an indescribable feeling to be called up to represent your home nation. This has always been a dream of mine. I want to inspire others to achieve their impossible; to inspire younger girls to see the possibilities in their own lives and their country.”
Sami Aljaber
Saudi legend and former football player Sami Al-Jaber- who recently joined the growing adidas family- has demonstrated through his stellar career that achieving the impossible takes skill, passion, and dedication. He has become a role model with the trademark humility and respect which have inspired people of all ages in the region.
SAMI AL-JABER: “adidas’ brand attitude Impossible is Nothing is key to achieving our purpose of changing lives through the power of sport. It’s a moment of pride to see the Kingdom embracing more and more opportunities in sports. Moments like these and the athletes that make them are incredibly important and inspire many more to take up sport.”
Omar Al Somah
Commenting on the growing female participation in sport across the Kingdom, Al-Jaber said: “It is important that we are celebrating our female athletes. With the support of adidas and the nation’s continuous efforts, we are together creating possibilities for the next generation of athletes; the girls who will soon take on the sport from their local pitch to the biggest tournaments like the World Cup.”
To adidas, Impossible Is Nothing is a way of seeing the world for what it can be, not as it is. It is an attitude shared by its community and its partners. With its continuous efforts across the sporting landscape, adidas aims to take a front row seat as Saudi Arabia continues to break barriers in sports with the brand continuing its pledge to cultivate local talent in the Kingdom across the sports realm.
Abu Dhabi Community Tri-Basketball Championship in search for UAE’s best ballers to represent Team Abu Dhabi T[12422]
Participants can register as individuals to join or form a team, or ready-made teams of 3 players can sign up for a shot at the big time…reports Asian Lite News
Abu Dhabi Sports Council has launched the innovative Abu Dhabi Community Tri-Basketball workshop, which will give basketball fans a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to represent the Abu Dhabi team at the Abu Dhabi Masters World 3X3 Basketballon 29-30 October.
In line with Abu Dhabi Sports Council’s mission to provide pathways for people to be part of the return of the world’s No.1 urban team sport to the UAE, the Abu Dhabi Community Tri-Basketball Championship is open to all basketball fans and players over the age of 16, across the UAE.
Abu Dhabi Community Tri-Basketball Championship in search for UAE’s best ballers to represent Team Abu Dhabi T[12421]
Participants can register as individuals to join or form a team, or ready-made teams of 3 players can sign up for a shot at the big time. Qualifiers will take place on Al Hudayriyat Island on Friday 8 October, and Friday October 15, with 24 teams in each qualifier.
The top 8 teams from each qualifier will advance to the finals on Friday 22 October, where the winning team will earn the right to represent team Abu Dhabi at the Abu Dhabi Masters World 3X3 Basketball, which welcomes the world’s best 3×3 basketball players for a two-day basketball festival at Abu Dhabi Marina Mall.
Team Abu Dhabi will have the opportunity to play at the FIBA 3×3 World Tour Final, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on December 17-18. The World Tour Final will host the top 12 teams in the FIBA World Tour standings after the final Masters event of the season in Mexico City from November 6-7. Team Abu Dhabi will be awarded 100 points if they win the Abu Dhabi Masters, which could be enough to secure a spot in Jeddah.
Abu Dhabi Community Tri-Basketball Championship in search for UAE’s best ballers to represent Team Abu Dhabi
HIS EXCELLENCY SUHAIL ABDULLAH AL ARIFI, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE EVENTS SECTOR, ABU DHABI: “It is key for us to have that interaction across the society in various sports. The hosting of major events including the return of the Abu Dhabi Masters World 3X3 Basketball is a great win for large basketball fan base in the Abu Dhabi community.”
“We are excited to cooperate with the International Basketball Federation to organise a remarkable tournament with a unique prize. The launch of the community 3×3 basketball tournament is crucial as will provide the opportunity for everyone in the community to participate for the chance to represent Abu Dhabi on a global level.” added Al Arifi.
