Pramod Thomas is a senior correspondent with Asian Media Group since 2020, bringing 19 years of journalism experience across business, politics, sports, communities, and international relations. His career spans both traditional and digital media platforms, with eight years specifically focused on digital journalism. This blend of experience positions him well to navigate the evolving media landscape and deliver content across various formats. He has worked with national and international media organisations, giving him a broad perspective on global news trends and reporting standards.
International Cricket Council (ICC) chairman Shashank Manohar is to step down when his term ends this year, the governing body said on Wednesday (27).
The ICC is set to discuss the process to elect its new chief at its board meeting on Thursday (28) with media reports saying that the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chief Colin Graves is favourite to fill the post.
"No final decision was taken regarding the election process and the subject will be discussed further at the next ICC Board meeting on Thursday," the ICC said in a statement.
"The existing Chair confirmed he was not seeking any extension to his term but would support the board to ensure a smooth transition."
The ICC president used to head the board of directors but the position largely became honorary after constitutional changes in 2014 saw the creation of the chairman's post.
But Manohar initiated further reforms in 2016 and became the first independent chairman of the governing body with no formal links to any other country's board. The position of the ICC president was also abolished then.
Prominent Indian lawyer Manohar was unanimously elected on a two-year term but resigned for personal reasons in March, 2017, only to defer his resignation a week later. He was re-elected unopposed for a second two-year term in 2018.
The new chairman is set to formally take over when the ICC's annual general meeting is held at the end of July.
The name of Sourav Ganguly, the president of the powerful Indian cricket board (BCCI), has also made the rounds with Cricket South Africa director Graeme Smith backing the former India captain to take over the reins of the ICC.
BCCI treasurer Arun Singh Dhumal told Reuters that the board had not discussed the matter yet but is open to Ganguly succeeding Manohar, provided there is consensus on it.
"BCCI has not taken any call on fielding anyone from India for the job," Dhumal said. "The election process has not started yet. Once election date is announced, we'll discuss with all cricket boards and take a call.
"Ideally there should be a consensus candidate so that there is no election as world cricket is facing a big problem because of the pandemic. To resolve it, everyone has to come together."
Sinner will face Carlos Alcaraz in a rematch of the French Open final
Djokovic admits physical struggles and injury played a role in defeat
Despite loss, Djokovic says he plans to return to Wimbledon next year
JANNIK SINNER defeated Novak Djokovic in straight sets in the Wimbledon semi-final on Friday to reach his first final at the All England Club. The world number one won 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 and will face Carlos Alcaraz in Sunday’s final.
The 23-year-old Italian will be playing his fourth consecutive Grand Slam final and will look to avenge his loss to Alcaraz in last month’s French Open final, where he missed three championship points. Between them, Sinner and Alcaraz have won the past six Grand Slam titles.
Djokovic, a seven-time Wimbledon champion, was aiming for a record 25th Grand Slam title and an eighth Wimbledon crown, which would have equalled Roger Federer’s men’s record. But the 38-year-old Serbian appeared physically restricted and struggled to match Sinner’s pace.
"It's a tournament I always watched when I was young on the television and I would have never imagined that I can play here, you know in the finals, so it was amazing," Sinner said after the win.
Jannik Sinner delivering in the big moments on Centre Court 👏
"From my side, I served very well today, I felt great on court, I was moving really well today. We saw in the third set that he was a bit injured. He's been in a very difficult situation but I tried to stay calm, to play the best tennis I can."
Sinner wore a white protective sleeve on his elbow, having injured it in a fall during his fourth-round match against Grigor Dimitrov. Djokovic had also come into the match with concerns over his fitness following a fall during his quarter-final win over Flavio Cobolli.
The top-seeded Sinner broke Djokovic early in the first set and maintained pressure with consistent groundstrokes. Djokovic dropped the first set after Sinner converted his third set point.
In the second set, Sinner quickly broke to take a 2-0 lead and extended it to 5-2. Although Djokovic saved a set point, Sinner closed out the set with only 69 minutes played. Djokovic received treatment on his left leg between sets.
Djokovic managed to break Sinner early in the third set but was broken back immediately. Sinner went on to seal the win with his fourth match point.
Sinner, who has already won the US Open and Australian Open, will now face defending champion Carlos Alcaraz. Alcaraz beat Sinner in the French Open final last month and also won their last meeting in the Italian Open final.
"It's some good company" 😅
Since 1995, five men have made it through to the final of every Grand Slam - Jannik Sinner becomes the fifth today after booking his spot in the #Wimbledon final 💥 pic.twitter.com/yIRDqhJffg — Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 11, 2025
"It is a huge honour for me to share the court once again with Carlos," said Sinner. "We try to push ourselves to the limit, he is for sure one of the players I look up to. I love watching him, I think you all guys agree on that, what kind of talent he is but hopefully it's going to be a good match like the last one."
Alcaraz leads their head-to-head record 8-4, winning the last five matches. However, Sinner defeated him in the fourth round of Wimbledon in 2022, which remains Alcaraz’s last loss at the tournament.
Speaking after his defeat, Djokovic said the physical toll of age was affecting him more than ever.
"It wasn't really a pleasant feeling on the court," Djokovic said. "I don't want to talk, in details, about my injury and just whine about not managing to play my best. I want to congratulate Jannik for another great performance. That's it. He's in the finals. He was too strong."
Djokovic had withdrawn from the Australian Open semi-final earlier this year after one set due to a muscle tear and denied that injuries were down to bad luck.
"It's just age, the wear and tear of the body," he said. "As much as I'm taking care of it, the reality hits me right now, last year and a half, like never before, to be honest.
"It's tough for me to accept that because I feel like when I'm fresh, when I'm fit, I can still play really good tennis. I've proven that this year.
"But I guess playing best-of-five, particularly this year, has been a real struggle for me physically. The longer the tournament goes the worse the condition gets. I reach the final stages, I reached the semis of every Slam this year, but I have to play Sinner or Alcaraz.
"These guys are fit, young, sharp. I feel like I'm going into the match with the tank half empty. It's just not possible to win a match like that."
Despite the defeat, Djokovic said he plans to return to Wimbledon next year.
"I think, regardless of the fact that I haven't won a Grand Slam this year, or last year, I still feel like I continue to play my best tennis at Grand Slams," he said. "Those are the tournaments that I care about at this stage of my career the most."
He added that he did not know what more he could do in terms of preparation.
"The amount of hours that I spend on a daily basis to take care of myself, I'd like to challenge everyone who is out there on the tour to see if anybody takes care of themselves more than me," he said.
"And I, unfortunately, don't get rewarded for that right now, with injuries at the later stages of Slams. But I was rewarded for many, many years.
"I'm just trying to make, I guess, the maximum out of what I have left. Again, I just got off the court, so of course, I'm upset and disappointed, mostly not for the loss, because obviously even if I was fit, I wasn't a favourite to win against Sinner, I know that, but I think I had good chances if I was fit."
Asked to predict the outcome of Sunday’s final, Djokovic said: "I think I will give a slight edge to Carlos as a favourite because of the two titles he's won here and the way he's playing and the confidence he has right now.
"But it's just a slight advantage because Jannik is hitting the ball extremely well. I think it's going to be, again, a very close match-up like they had in Paris (where Alcaraz won in five sets)."
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Bella Thorne says Charlie Puth launched a hate train after she refused to sleep with him
Bella Thorne accuses Charlie Puth of sparking a ‘hate train’ after she turned him down.
She claims he publicly misled fans about their brief romance in 2016.
Puth had previously implied she cheated on her ex Tyler Posey with him.
Thorne is now engaged to Mark Emms; Puth married Brooke Sansone in 2024.
Actor Bella Thorne has reignited a years-old controversy with singer Charlie Puth, accusing him of turning public opinion against her in 2016 after she refused to sleep with him. The former Disney star made the claims in an Instagram comment responding to singer Jade Thirlwall’s recent remarks about never wanting to work with Puth.
Actress Bella Thorne and Charlie Puth attend the Y100's Jingle Ball 2016Getty Images
Bella Thorne calls out Charlie Puth over 2016 romance
The drama resurfaced after a fan account posted a quote from Jade Thirlwall, formerly of Little Mix, saying she would “never collaborate” with Charlie Puth. Bella Thorne commented on the post, “Yeah, I mean... he lied to the entire world about me and started a hate train. All because I wouldn’t... do the deed with him.”
Thorne and Puth were briefly linked in late 2016 following her breakup with Teen Wolf actor Tyler Posey. The pair were spotted together at Miami’s Jingle Ball that December and were photographed kissing. Puth even serenaded her on stage, but things quickly turned messy.
Bella Thorne's commentInstagram Screengrab
Puth accused Thorne of being dishonest about her breakup
Soon after their public outings, Puth posted a series of now-deleted tweets implying that Thorne had not been truthful about ending her previous relationship before seeing him. Though he didn’t name her directly, he issued an apology to Posey, stating, “She told me she was not with him anymore. This is all news to me.” In another tweet, he added, “No one should have their heart messed with like this, and I’m not going to be in the middle of it.”
These posts sparked widespread online criticism of Thorne, who at the time quickly denied the accusations. She clarified on X that she had already broken up with Posey “like over two weeks” before and was not in a relationship with Puth either. She claimed he had seen an outdated article and jumped to conclusions instead of contacting her directly.
Charlie Puth performs onstage at an interactive global eConcert liveGetty Images
Thorne later shared her side of the story on radio
Speaking on The Jenny McCarthy Show in 2017, Thorne described her split with Posey as one of the hardest breakups she’d gone through. She said Charlie had reached out via social media, and they went out a couple of times. She described him as “super talented” and said she was impressed by his talent.
Recalling the Jingle Ball appearance, Thorne explained that she accepted his invite as friends, but the fallout came after Puth saw an old article about her and Posey. “He didn’t even look at the date,” she said. “Instead of texting me and asking about it, he posted it on Twitter.”
Bella Thorne and Mark Emms attend a red carpet for the movie "Priscilla"Getty Images
Both have moved on, but tensions linger
Since the short-lived scandal, both stars have gone their separate ways. Thorne got engaged to film producer Mark Emms in 2023, sharing their relationship with fans on Instagram. Puth, meanwhile, married his longtime friend Brooke Sansone in September 2024.
Charlie Puth and Brooke Sansone attend the 10th Breakthrough Prize CeremonyGetty Images
Though neither publicly addressed the incident again until now, Thorne’s recent comment suggests that the events of 2016 left a deeper mark than previously thought. The renewed attention on Puth’s past behaviour also sheds new light on Jade Thirlwall’s remarks, with fans now speculating that more industry figures may have experienced similar run-ins.
This July, the iconic Shaw Theatre in London will host an afternoon of inspiration, culture and connection as Bollywood star and cancer survivor Manisha Koirala takes the stage for a very special event. ‘An Audience with Manisha Koirala’, taking place on Sunday 13 July from 12.30 to 4.00pm, promises to be an unforgettable afternoon celebrating not only a glittering film career but also an extraordinary story of survival and strength.
Organised by Ovacome, the UK’s ovarian cancer support charity, this one-of-a-kind event offers fans and supporters the rare chance to see Manisha in person and hear her story in her own words. Interviewed by Dr Amir Khan, NHS GP and TV personality, and Fatima Patel, Managing Editor of Asian Standard, Manisha will reflect on her journey through the highs of stardom, her battle with ovarian cancer, and the resilience that carried her forward. She will also treat the audience to an exclusive reading from her acclaimed book Healed.
The afternoon will begin with a dazzling Bollywood dance performance by Binal's Dance Academy, setting the tone for a vibrant celebration of South Asian culture. The programme will also feature a fundraising auction in aid of Ovacome, helping to raise vital funds and awareness for ovarian cancer support services.
Doors open at 12:30pm, with the main programme beginning at 1:30pm. For those opting for a VIP experience, the event includes priority seating in the front three rows, access to a private VIP lounge with refreshments, and an exclusive meet-and-greet with Manisha from 3:30 to 4:00pm.
Standard tickets are available at £35, while a limited number of VIP tickets offer enhanced access and premium benefits. All ticket proceeds go towards supporting Ovacome’s life-changing work. Accessible seating and free carer tickets are also available – simply contact the team during booking or reach out via fundraising@ovacome.org.uk or 0207 299 6654.
For businesses and individuals looking to support the cause further, a Bronze Sponsorship Package is available for £500, which includes two VIP tickets, prominent listing in the event programme, and an opportunity to showcase your business or family support in front of a diverse and engaged audience.
The event is proudly supported by Asian Standard (Official Media Partner), Media Hive (PR Partner), and Asian Star Radio (Official Radio Media Partner).
Whether you’re a longtime fan of Manisha Koirala, a supporter of cancer awareness, or simply looking for a meaningful cultural event to attend this summer, this is an opportunity not to be missed.
To book your tickets, visit the registration page or call 0207 299 6654 between 9.30am and 5.00pm.
Venue: Shaw Theatre, 100–110 Euston Road, NW1 2AJ, London
Let’s come together to celebrate resilience, raise awareness, and be inspired by one woman’s remarkable journey.
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Playing his first Test in over four years, Archer dismissed Yashasvi Jaiswal with just his third ball. (Photo: Getty Images)
JOFRA ARCHER made an early breakthrough on his return to Test cricket at Lord’s on Friday, while India captain Shubman Gill was dismissed for a low score on the second day of the third Test.
Playing his first Test in over four years, Archer dismissed Yashasvi Jaiswal with just his third ball. Later, Gill, who had scored 585 runs in four innings in the series including three centuries, was caught behind for 16.
India finished the day on 145-3 in response to England’s first-innings total of 387, trailing by 242 runs. KL Rahul was unbeaten on 53, with Rishabh Pant not out on 19.
Archer, who had impressed at Lord’s during the 2019 50-over World Cup final and made his Test debut at the same ground that year, bowled Jaiswal with a 90 mph full-length delivery that was edged to Harry Brook at second slip.
The 30-year-old celebrated with a roar as the Lord’s crowd joined in.
'X-factor' Archer
Archer’s return comes amid England’s hopes of him playing a major role in the 2025/26 Ashes series in Australia. He bowled a tight 10-over spell on Friday, conceding just 22 runs and consistently bowling over 90 mph.
"The noise, the pure joy everyone has seeing him (Archer) back in whites, everyone's genuine excitement to see him playing Test cricket again, it created a great atmosphere," Joe Root told Sky Sports after the day’s play.
"He's X-factor," added Root, who earlier scored a century and took a new Test record with his 211th catch as an outfielder.
England captain Ben Stokes, who had suffered a groin strain while batting on Thursday, returned to bowl without any visible discomfort. He dismissed Karun Nair for 40, who edged a delivery to first slip where Root held a one-handed left catch, giving him sole possession of the record he previously shared with Rahul Dravid.
Chris Woakes, who had taken only three wickets in the series at an average of nearly 97, got Gill out for 16. The India skipper edged to wicketkeeper Jamie Smith, who was standing up to the stumps, leaving India at 107-3.
Earlier in the day, Jasprit Bumrah took 5-74 in 27 overs to help bowl England out after lunch. His performance earned him a place on the Lord’s honours board.
Bumrah delivered a key spell of 3 wickets for 1 run in seven balls, dismissing Stokes, Root, and Woakes.
"It's really special," Bumrah told the BBC. "We don't come here (to Lord's) very often, maybe every four years... Being on the honours board feels good."
However, Brydon Carse frustrated India with a 56-run innings. He shared an eighth-wicket stand of 84 with Smith, who made 51 after being dropped by Rahul in the slips when on five.
Smith had earlier made 184 not out and 88 in England’s loss to India in the second Test at Edgbaston, where the visitors won by 336 runs to level the five-match series at 1-1. Bumrah did not play that match.
Root, who resumed the day on 99, reached his century with a boundary off Bumrah. It was his 37th Test hundred, placing him fifth on the all-time list, led by Sachin Tendulkar with 51.
"I don't think I've been 99 not out overnight before," said Root. "I woke up in the night and couldn't get back to sleep."
Stokes added just five runs to his overnight score of 39 before being bowled by Bumrah. The next ball, Woakes edged behind for a golden duck to stand-in wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel, who replaced the injured Pant.
Carse survived the hat-trick ball but was later bowled by Siraj, ending England’s innings. He had earlier brought up his 50 off 77 balls with a six.
(With inputs from agencies)
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Alcaraz has won 35 of his 38 matches on grass, including 20 in a row at Wimbledon since losing to Sinner in the fourth round in 2022.
Carlos Alcaraz defeated Taylor Fritz in four sets to reach his third Wimbledon final in a row.
The match was played in extreme heat, with on-court temperatures nearing 32 degrees Celsius.
Alcaraz extended his winning streak to 24 matches, the longest of his career.
He is aiming to become the fifth man in the Open era to win three straight Wimbledon titles.
CARLOS Alcaraz reached his third consecutive Wimbledon final on Friday with a 6-4, 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (8/6) win over American fifth seed Taylor Fritz.
The defending champion battled through a match lasting two hours and 49 minutes on Centre Court, where temperatures reached close to 32 degrees Celsius (90 degrees Fahrenheit). Several spectators in the stands required medical attention due to the heat, but Alcaraz maintained focus to overcome Fritz with strong returns and consistent serving.
Carlos Alcaraz is a #Wimbledon finalist for the THIRD YEAR IN A ROW 😮
The two-time defending champion defeats Taylor Fritz 6-4, 5-7, 6-3, 7-6(6) to put one hand on the Gentlemen's Singles Trophy - and Centre Court ROARS for the Spaniard 🇪🇸
“It was a really difficult match, as always when I play against Taylor. Even tougher with the conditions. It was really hot today,” Alcaraz said. “I dealt with the nerves. Playing here in a semi-final is not easy. I'm really proud with the way I stayed calm and thought clearly. I'm pleased about my level.”
The Spaniard, currently ranked world number two, has returned to form after an inconsistent start to the tournament. He is now on a 24-match winning streak, his longest career run, which began after a loss to Holger Rune in the Barcelona final in April. Since then, he has claimed titles at the French Open, Rome, Monte Carlo and Queen’s Club.
Alcaraz has won 35 of his 38 matches on grass, including 20 in a row at Wimbledon since losing to Sinner in the fourth round in 2022.
"I'm not thinking about the winning streak or the results at all,” he said. “This is my dream, stepping on these beautiful courts and playing tennis in the most beautiful tournament in the world. I just want to enjoy this moment, that I've got to a third final in a row. I will have time to think about Sunday.”
"It is one of the most exciting match-ups we have on tour at the moment" ⚡️
Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz will come up against either Jannik Sinner or Novak Djokovic in the final on Sunday - and he'll be watching intently to see who it will be 👀#Wimbledonpic.twitter.com/t7f7MmuiMH — Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 11, 2025
A win on Sunday would make Alcaraz the fifth man in the Open era to win three straight Wimbledon titles, following Bjorn Borg, Pete Sampras, Roger Federer and Djokovic. He would also become the second-youngest player in the Open era to win six men’s Grand Slam titles, after Borg reached that milestone in 1978, also aged 22.
Fritz, who was playing in his first Wimbledon semi-final, had hit 95 aces during the tournament but was unable to get past Alcaraz’s returns. The 27-year-old, a US Open runner-up last year, was broken in the first game of the match as Alcaraz took early control.
Alcaraz had his eye checked midway through the first set but held serve throughout to win it. After dominating on serve in the opener, he dropped a rare service game in the second set, allowing Fritz to level the match with the help of a double fault and two unforced errors from the Spaniard.
Alcaraz responded by breaking early in the third set with a drop shot and lob combination. He added another break later to take a two sets to one lead.
In the fourth set tie-break, Fritz led 6-4 but Alcaraz saved both set points. He then closed out the match with a series of ground-strokes to book his place in the final.