Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

India women to play maiden pink-ball Test this year against Australia in Perth

India women to play maiden pink-ball Test this year against Australia in Perth

THE India women's team will play their maiden pink-ball Test later this year, against Australia in Perth, cricket boards of both the countries announced on Thursday (20).

Mithali Raj's team will take on Meg Lanning's squad at the WACA ground from Sept. 30 in what will be only the second day-night Test in women's cricket, following Australia's drawn 2017 match against England in Sydney.


"Taking forward our commitment towards women's cricket, I am extremely pleased to announce that Team India @BCCIwomen will play in their first-ever pink ball day-night Test later this year in Australia," Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah said in a post on Twitter.

It will also be the first Test match between the Australian and Indian women's teams in 15 years.

Cricket Australia's interim CEO, Nick Hockley, hoped the multi-format series against India would match the drama of last season's Test series between the men's teams of the countries.

"We look forward to welcoming members of the India women's team to Australia after what has been an incredibly challenging time and thank the BCCI for supporting this ground-breaking tour," Hockley said in a statement.

India were last among the frontline teams to embrace pink-ball Test when their men's team hosted Bangladesh for a day-night match in the eastern city of Kolkata in November 2019.

The women's team under Mithali Raj will play their first Test match in nearly seven years when they take on England in Bristol on June 16.

Before the start of the tour, the BCCI handed out annual contracts to 19 players on Wednesday, with teenaged opener Shafali Verma moving up to a Grade B contract from C.

Twenty20 captain Harmanpreet Kaur, deputy Smriti Mandhana and spinner Poonam Yadav are the only three with a Grade A contract and a retainer fee of five million rupees ($68,366).

Test and ODI captain Raj is among 10 players in Grade B worth three million rupees, while six players are in Grade C which is worth one million.

More For You

WPP CEO Mark Read to Exit as AI Reshapes Advertising Landscape

The challenges WPP faces extend beyond leadership changes

Getty Images

AI taking over advertising: Mark Read to step down as WPP chief

Mark Read, the chief executive of WPP, has announced he will step down later this year, as the advertising agency faces growing pressure from artificial intelligence and declining share prices. Once the largest advertising group globally, WPP is struggling to keep up with the fast-moving AI technologies that are reshaping the industry.

Read, who has been at WPP for more than 30 years and held the top job since 2018, will remain in the role until the end of 2025 while the company searches for his successor.

Keep ReadingShow less
Rooh dance tribute

Rooh: Within Her – A Dance Tribute Honouring the Soul of Womanhood

Getty images

Rooh: Silent Strength in Dance

In a world that often measures heroism through dramatic acts and monumental moments, Rooh: Within Her presents a strikingly different narrative — one that celebrates quiet resilience, enduring strength, and the understated courage found in the everyday lives of women. Set to take place on Friday, 20 June at the Midlands Arts Centre in Birmingham, this solo dance performance by acclaimed Kathak artist and choreographer Urja Desai Thakore promises an evocative and thought-provoking exploration of womanhood across time. Rooted in the classical Indian dance tradition yet deeply contemporary in its vision, the show captures the spirit of women who have shaped history in ways both visible and invisible.

The performance is an immersive journey through stories that span over two millennia, drawing inspiration from mythology, oral traditions, personal histories, and lived experiences. Rather than focusing on famous names or well-known figures, Thakore deliberately turns her attention to unsung heroines — women whose courage lies in persistence, nurturing, survival, and the ability to carry on in the face of adversity. From ancient civilisations to modern-day realities, Rooh: Within Her presents a dance tapestry woven with emotion, grace, and narrative depth.

Keep ReadingShow less
Imran Khan

Imran Khan has been held in Adiala Jail since August 2023 in several cases. (Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images

Imran Khan may secure bail on 11 June, says party leader

FORMER prime minister Imran Khan, 72, is expected to seek bail in the Al-Qadir Trust case when the Islamabad High Court (IHC) hears petitions on 11 June to suspend the sentences handed to him and his wife Bushra Bibi.

Khan has been held in Adiala Jail since August 2023 in several cases. PTI chief Gohar Ali Khan told ARY News that “June 11 is going to be an important day for both Khan and his wife,” but he gave no further reason. The IHC had earlier adjourned the matter after the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) asked for more time to prepare its arguments.

Keep ReadingShow less
Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati to Celebrate 25 Years of Monastic Life on June 11

Sadhviji, a renowned spiritual teacher and author

Parmarth Niketan

Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati to celebrate 25 years of monastic life on June 11

Parmarth Niketan will mark the 25th sanyas anniversary of Pujya Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswatiji on 11 June, honouring her quarter-century of spiritual service and dedication since she took monastic vows in 2000.

The ceremony will be held on the sacred Shri Rama Katha stage at Parmarth Niketan in Rishikesh and will feature blessings from several prominent spiritual leaders. Among those attending are Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji, Pujya Swami Ramdevji, mahamandaleshwars Rajendra Dasji, Ravindra Puriji and Harichetnanandji, as well as Pujya Sadhvi Ritambharaji, Pujya Acharya Balkrishanji, Dr Chinmaya Pandyaji and others.

Keep ReadingShow less
India’s Active Covid-19 Cases Exceed 6,000 as Infections Spike

Some states continue to report relatively low numbers

iStock

India’s active Covid-19 cases cross 6,000 mark as fresh infections rise

India’s total number of active COVID-19 cases has risen above 6,000, with health authorities reporting 358 new infections in the past 24 hours, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW). While there were no Covid related deaths during this period, the increase in cases is prompting state-level monitoring and precautionary measures.

Current case load and recoveries

As of 8:00 a.m. on June 9, 2025, India has 6,491 active Covid-19 cases. The central health ministry confirmed that 358 fresh cases were detected in the last 24 hours, with no fatalities reported in the same timeframe.

Keep ReadingShow less