Malappuram (Kerala), Nov 3: The Kerala government has once again stirred public excitement and controversy with Sports Minister V. Abdurahiman asserting that Argentine football legend Lionel Messi will play in India next year.

According to the minister, the state has received a new email from the Argentine Football Association (AFA) confirming that the G.O.A.T player Messi and his team will visit India in March.

“Two days ago, we received an email from the AFA team confirming their visit to Kerala in March,” Abdurahiman said.

He added that the match was initially planned for November but had to be deferred due to infrastructural issues at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi.

However, this fresh claim has drawn widespread skepticism, with critics recalling the earlier unfulfilled promise of Messi’s visit.

The absence of any official agreement or confirmation from the AFA has led to questions about the government’s credibility and the procedures followed in organising what is billed as a major international sporting event.

The Opposition and sports enthusiasts have also raised concerns over why the Kochi stadium was partially dismantled for “renovation” despite the lack of a signed deal.

With no documented terms, the government is now under pressure to clarify who the sponsors are, what the contractual commitments were, and whether due diligence was observed.

Adding to the controversy, it has emerged that the sponsors involved in the initiative have alleged links to the notorious Muttil tree felling case despite the government’s previous assurances that it would not engage with tainted entities.

As anticipation mixes with disbelief, many are demanding transparency and official documentation to substantiate the minister’s claim.

For now, Messi’s supposed Kerala appearance remains more of a political talking point than a confirmed sporting event, a story that continues to keep football fans across the country guessing and critics on edge.

If the world cup winning team led by Messi lands on Kerala’s soil, the timing of the visit will add a feather to the cap of the now beleaguered Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who is caught in a few scams which the Congress-led UDF is playing up. More importantly by then Kerala will be at the peak of election campaigning fever for the Assembly polls.

New Delhi, Nov 3: Former England spinner Monty Panesar praised the Indian women’s cricket team’s first-ever World Cup win, calling it the biggest since 2011, when the men’s team won the World Cup in India after a 28-year wait.

India defeated South Africa by 52 runs to secure their first-ever ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup title at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Sunday.

“It’s absolutely brilliant to see the women win the World Cup final — probably the biggest victory in the history of Indian women’s cricket. It’s a huge moment, the biggest since 2011, when the men’s team won the World Cup in India. Congratulations to the women’s team!” Panesar told Media.

“This is a truly monumental moment for Indian women’s cricket. They can now believe they can achieve anything — that they can become number one. And they’ve certainly done just that. Congratulations once again to the Indian women’s team,” he added.

Deepti Sharma and Shafali Verma starred with both bat and ball to help India achieve a hard-fought victory after South Africa won the toss and chose to bowl.

Chasing 299, South Africa seemed well placed at one point to reach the target, but Deepti’s breakthrough caused a dramatic collapse. After she dismissed Annerie Dercksen, the Proteas crumbled from 209/5 to 246 all out.

Captain Laura Wolvaardt (101) led from the front with a splendid century, but wickets fell regularly at the other end. Deepti was the outstanding performer with the ball, finishing with excellent figures of 5/39, while Shafali Verma and Sree Charani contributed key wickets to secure a historic win for India.

The victory was special for captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who was one of five players at the tournament to be appearing at their fifth World Cup. The India skipper made her international debut at the 2009 edition of the event in Australia in a 10-wicket victory over Pakistan.

Mumbai: If things go as planned, housing societies and industrial estates might soon be required to reduce the use of freshwater and instead use treated wastewater for gardening, toilet flushing, vehicle washing, and firefighting. This could soon become the norm, thanks to a comprehensive policy — Safe Reuse and Management of Treated Wastewater, 2025 — announced by the state government.

The policy directs all Municipal Corporations and Class A Municipal Councils to adopt measures to reduce the use of freshwater for various purposes. Aiming to ease the strain on water resources as part of long-term planning, the state government said that using treated wastewater will help secure freshwater for broader environmental interests and offer social and financial benefits for all.

The policy outlines setting up wastewater treatment plants through a public-private partnership (PPP) or Hybrid Annuity Model if bulk buyers come forward. If both models prove unviable, such projects can be developed with investments from the concerned civic bodies and the state government. According to the policy, treated wastewater — once declared fit for purpose — will be made available to thermal power plants, industries, and industrial estates on priority.

It may also be supplied for agricultural and irrigation purposes or released into rivers and rivulets. Wastewater suitable for safe reuse is available in abundance; for instance, Mumbai alone generates as much as 2,632 million litres per day of sewage. The State Water Policy, 2019 mandates that at least 30% of recycled water must be reused within the next five years to reduce freshwater demand. The policy recommends using wastewater treated by secondary treatment for nonpotable purposes, while water treated through tertiary processes can be made fit for drinking.

The Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation has been directed to initiate discussions with industrial units within its areas to set up wastewater treatment plants and source treated wastewater from nearby civic bodies. Additionally, data centres will be approached to use treated wastewater for their operations. Similarly, it will be recommended for construction work, road cleaning, garden watering, public toilets, and firefighting in cities. The cost of treated wastewater will be decided in consultation with the Water Resources Regulatory Authority. The Water Resources Department has been instructed to coordinate with the Urban Development Department before supplying water from its projects to civic bodies.