Former India captain Mohammad Azharuddin today (9) defended Anil Kumble's decision to quit as Indian cricket team's head coach, saying the legendary leg-spinner took the right call in the interest of self respect.
Kumble had controversially quit two days after the Champions Trophy final loss against Pakistan in London in June, calling his partnership with captain Virat Kohli "untenable".
He was given an extension for the West Indies tour, but Kumble chose otherwise, marking a closure to his acrimonious episode as the head coach.
"I feel very sad for him. It is sad that something like this happened to Anil. Knowing Anil, I don't think he is that type of a person. Maybe he thought it is better to be away than losing your self-respect. I think he took the right decision," Azharuddin said.
The former skipper, who led India in three ODI World Cups - 1992, 1996 and 1999 - was speaking to reporters at the pre-launch event of 3D mobile game Azhar- the Captain, by Hyderabad based firm BigCode Games.
Azharuddin also disagrees with current head coach Ravi Shastri, who had recently said that Indian teams of past 20 years have not achieved as much as this current lot has.
"The Indian team in those days were different to the team now so it is unfair to compare. He (Shastri) was also part of the team in those days so he is also including himself. The bowlers were different, the opposition teams were different so it is difficult to compare between the two eras, he said.
Almost five years after the Andhra Pradesh High Court has quashed all charges of match-fixing against him, Azharuddin is yet to receive his pending from the BCCI.
Azharuddin's case came up for discussion today during a meeting between BCCI office-bearers and Committee of Administrators, where it decided to refer the matter to the Board's general body.
"My expectations are positive because I never think negative. The letter that I sent to the Board it has been put in the agenda of the meeting so that means they are serious about it. I am hoping this case is resolved at the earliest and we move ahead," Azharuddin said.
"I never had a problem with BCCI. Obviously when I got the ban I had to defend myself, that is the only thing other than that there is nothing against the Board," said Azharuddin, who has been banned for life by the BCCI for his involvement in match-fixing.
Two days ago, S Sreesanth's life ban was revoked by the Kerala High Court.
Asked about the case, Azharuddin said, "I think if the court order has come then they have to follow it. He has lost four years but Sreesanth will have to bring his fitness up to the required standards. He will have to put in good performances.
"According to me, Sreesanth was one of the finest fast bowlers but I think he was not handled properly. If he was handled better, he would have turned out to be a good fast bowler. If you see very few bowlers could manage to land the ball on the seam as he did, so he was very good."
"The BCCI will have to take a positive decision (on Sreesanth) if the court has given an order," he added.
Azharuddin also expressed his displeasure after he was barred from contesting the Hyderabad Cricket Association elections.
"Regarding the HCA elections, they could not stop me from contesting but they misled the lower court. The Lodha Committee recommendations clearly states that an election commissioner who has been in the same role in the past only can conduct the elections. If you don't have a person fulfilling the criteria in Hyderabad then you can call someone from outside to conduct the elections," he said.
"But they misled the lower court and did all wrong things. Like in the last meeting they said they have followed the Lodha Panel recommendations, but if they have followed it then 90 per cent of the people in the association will have to go.
"Even the HCA president will have to go because he has got a cabinet rank post in the TRS government. He is claiming that he doesn't get any salary but the fact of the matter is that it is a salaried post and it doesn't matter whether you take the salary or not. So if they have followed the Lodha recommendations as they are claiming, then they will have to first remove the president," he added.
'You shouldn’t believe anyone in politics who says they’re not ambitious about the top job because they’re basically lying,' she said. (Photo: Getty Images)
Shabana Mahmood has suggested she could one day seek to lead the Labour Party, saying politicians who deny ambition for the top job are “basically lying.”
Speaking at a fringe event during the Labour Party conference, the new home secretary said she is committed to serving Keir Starmer but stopped short of ruling out her own leadership ambitions.
“I’m very happy to serve Keir Starmer,” she said. “You shouldn’t believe anyone in politics who says they’re not ambitious about the top job because they’re basically lying,” she told The Times.
When asked directly if she sees herself as a future leader, Mahmood replied: “If I answer that question, I’m not going to be home secretary any more.”
In the same session, she backed the introduction of digital identity cards to tackle benefit fraud and illegal work. “It’s always been a no-brainer if one of the results of having an ID card is to clamp down on the ability of people to cheat the system,” she said.
Mahmood also set out her plan to require migrants to show ten years’ residence and evidence of contribution, such as volunteering or skilled jobs, before being granted indefinite leave to remain.
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His status not only as a cinematic icon but also as a successful entrepreneur
Shah Rukh Khan’s net worth reaches approximately £1.04 billion, marking his entry into the billionaire club.
Tops the Hurun India Rich List for Bollywood stars.
Wealth primarily driven by Red Chillies Entertainment and IPL franchise ownership.
Global real estate holdings and luxury lifestyle complement his business ventures.
From actor to billionaire
Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan has officially joined the billionaire club for the first time, according to the Hurun India Rich List 2025. With a net worth of approximately £1.04 billion, Khan now holds the top spot among Bollywood actors, cementing his status not only as a cinematic icon but also as a successful entrepreneur.
Khan’s journey from modest beginnings in Delhi to international superstardom is well documented, but it is his business acumen that has pushed him into billionaire territory. Over the years, he has leveraged his fame into multiple ventures, spanning production, sports, and luxury lifestyle investments, making him a notable figure in both the entertainment and business worlds.
Red Chillies Entertainment: The backbone of wealth
A significant portion of Khan’s fortune stems from Red Chillies Entertainment, the production company he co-founded in 2002. The company has produced numerous critically acclaimed and commercially successful films while expanding into visual effects, animation, and digital media. Today, Red Chillies employs over 500 people and is considered one of India’s leading production houses.
“The company was always about creating quality cinema while embracing technology,” industry insiders say. “Khan’s vision and persistence have made it a business as well as a creative hub.”
Sports ventures and global assets
Khan’s wealth is also supplemented by his ownership of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Indian Premier League, which has become one of the league’s most successful and valuable franchises. The team’s success has provided both financial gains and a strong cultural presence.
In addition to cinema and sports, Khan owns luxury properties around the world. His Mumbai residence, Mannat, is valued at approximately £16.7 million. He also owns homes in London, Beverly Hills, Dubai, and a farmhouse in Alibaug. His luxury car collection includes a Bugatti Veyron (£1 million), Rolls-Royce Phantom (£790,000), and Bentley Continental GT (£273,000). These assets reflect his global lifestyle while complementing his business portfolio.
Bollywood’s wealth landscape
The Hurun India Rich List 2025 shows a growing trend of actors transforming their fame into substantial financial empires. Following Khan are Juhi Chawla and family (£649 million), primarily from Knight Riders Sports; Hrithik Roshan (£180 million), through his fitness brand HRX; Karan Johar (£156 million) of Dharma Productions; and Amitabh Bachchan and family (£136 million) from various investments.
A personal perspective
Despite his immense wealth, Khan remains grounded. Close collaborators note that his happiness is derived from family and the joy of creating stories that connect with people, rather than from material possessions. His rise to billionaire status underscores how creativity, perseverance, and business acumen can intersect, inspiring both aspiring actors and entrepreneurs alike.
Shah Rukh Khan’s inclusion in the billionaire club marks a landmark in his illustrious career, illustrating the evolution of a film star into a global business icon, while highlighting the potential for success beyond the silver screen.
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The government said the move is aimed at reducing the '8am scramble' when patients try to get through on the phone. (Representational image: iStock)
FROM today (October 1), all GP practices in England are required to offer online appointment bookings throughout the day.
The government said the move is aimed at reducing the “8am scramble” when patients try to get through on the phone.
Surgeries will now have to provide the service from 08:00 to 18:30, Monday to Friday. Patients will be able to request non-urgent appointments, describe symptoms, ask questions and request a call back, BBC reported.
The British Medical Association (BMA) has warned that serious health problems could be missed, creating a “potential online triage tsunami.”
It has called for safeguards, such as allowing practices to switch off online booking if staff cannot cope with demand, and said it may consider industrial action in the form of work-to-rule.
Health ministers have decided to proceed, saying £1.1 billion of additional funding has been invested to support the change.
Care Minister Stephen Kinnock said: “We promised to tackle the 8am scramble and make it easier for patients to access their GP practice – and that's exactly what we're delivering.”
NHS England’s Dr Amanda Doyle said the step would help modernise general practice, while Jacob Lant of National Voices said online booking was “a fundamental building block of a 21st Century NHS.”
Practices must also now publish a new charter, “You and Your GP,” on their websites, setting out patient expectations and how feedback can be given.
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Legends Arena, which opened Pakistan’s first padel courts two years ago, has since been at the centre of the sport’s rapid growth in the country.
PAKISTAN will host its first international padel tournament next month, with Karachi’s Legends Arena set to stage the Asia Pacific Padel Tour (APPT) Grand Slam from October 30 to November 2.
The tournament will feature professional men’s and women’s competitions, along with men’s, women’s and mixed amateur events. The total prize fund is US$13,000, and registrations for amateur players remain open until October 20.
Legends Arena, which opened Pakistan’s first padel courts two years ago, has since been at the centre of the sport’s rapid growth in the country. Pakistan now has more than 350 courts, with Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and Faisalabad emerging as key hubs.
Jahangir Khan, chairman of Legends Arena, said the event is an opportunity for local players to measure themselves against Asia’s best. “When we started two years ago there was a lot of interest in padel but the standard wasn’t that high as everyone was just learning. But now, in two years, I can see it's a very different standard of padel here,” he said.
“Having the international tournament here at Legends Arena will be a boost to the younger generation, especially those taking up this sport very seriously. It will also give our players the opportunity to see what level they are at. I am confident that in the future, we just might have some of the top players from here as well.”
APPT CEO Carlos Carrillo said: “We are excited to come to Pakistan for the first time and bring international competition to the country. It is a pleasure to do so in collaboration with Legends Arena.”
Talal Shah Khan, CEO of Total Sports and Legends Arena, said: “Bringing the Asia Pacific Padel Tour Grand Slam to Karachi is a proud moment for all of us at Legends Arena and for Pakistan’s growing padel community.”
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Indian players celebrate after their team's comfortable win over Sri Lanka in Guwahati on Monday. (Photo: Getty Images)
INDIA began their ICC Women’s World Cup campaign with a 59-run win over Sri Lanka in the opening match in Guwahati on Tuesday.
Deepti Sharma and Amanjot Kaur scored half-centuries to help India reach 269 for eight in 47 overs after rain shortened the game.
Sri Lanka started their chase strongly, reaching 82 for one in 15 overs. Skipper Chamari Athapaththu scored 43 off 47 balls, hitting freely against anything loose.
India’s spinners then turned the game. Deepti dismissed Athapaththu with a straight delivery, leaving Sri Lanka’s middle order under pressure.
Earlier, India had slipped to 124 for six after Inoka Ranaweera struck three times in one over. The 39-year-old left-arm spinner finished with four for 46.
Sri Lanka, however, dropped several chances, allowing Deepti and Amanjot to build a 103-run stand for the seventh wicket. Ranaweera also missed a return catch off Amanjot.
Amanjot top-scored with 57 from 59 balls, hitting five fours and a six. Deepti made 53 from 53 balls, her 16th ODI fifty.
With the ball, Deepti also moved past Neetu David to become India’s second-highest wicket-taker with 143, behind Jhulan Goswami’s 255.
“We lost back to back wickets and we needed to steady the innings,” said Deepti, who was named Player of the Match. “(I’m) Happy to have done that. I’m used to batting under pressure and enjoyed the challenge today.”
Sri Lanka, returning after missing the 2022 World Cup, could not recover and their batting struggled again.
The 13th Women’s World Cup is being co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka with eight teams. The top four from the league stage will qualify for the semi-finals.
More than 23,000 spectators attended the opener. The tournament prize money is $13.88 million, a 297 per cent increase from $3.5 million in 2022.