Connect with us
Friday,06-June-2025
Breaking News

International

Security cover in CSK reason behind my fearless unbeaten 95 v RCB: Shivam Dube

Published

on

Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) star of the 23-run victory over in-form Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), Shivam Dube, attributed his fearless knock of unbeaten 95 (46 balls) to the “security” provided by the team management during his stay with the team.

The middle-order batter had been patchy in the four matches prior to the big ‘Southern Derby’ on Tuesday. In the opening game of the season against KKR, Dube managed only three and again scored three runs against SunRisers Hyderabad in the fourth match of the season. In between, he had scores of 49 (vs LSG) and 57 (vs PBKS), respectively. And, while he was scoring, the inconsistency was not really lending solidity to the middle order.

That changed on Tuesday night, as the 28-year-old Dube simply ran out of overs to be stranded on an unbeaten 95, which helped his team to a mammoth 216/4 against RCB.

“The management (CSK) has given me security and I always back my game. The ball I feel I can hit, I am hitting that delivery. And since I am connecting well, my confidence is high. I am just trying to play my natural game,” Dube said after the victory.

Dube and Uthappa’s 165-run partnership was the cornerstone of CSK’s first win of the season, and speaking about the 73 balls the duo shared on Tuesday, Dube said, “Nothing much…I was just trying to just focus on the ball because that is my go to point while batting. We started really well, I was enjoying the partnership with you (Uthappa).

“I’m used to this wicket. So, I know if the ball is slow or turning. I was backing myself to hit the ball really well. I tried that only and was successful and then I saw how you were hitting. I tried myself and we were successful in the end also.”

Uthappa too praised Dube and mentioned that he was allowing the left-handed batter to take on the spinners and “do his magic.”

“We felt that when the spinners came on to bowl, I would just take a single and allow him to do his magic and he did that. We’ve got the first win.”

Dube further added that he is trying to “follow the basics, stay balanced and not think too much.”

“Whatever I was trying to do for a long time, I am now able to execute that now. Whatever game I was playing at the Ranji Trophy and domestic cricket, you have to up that level here. I tried to stay balanced, not think much, and back myself. I am following my basic game, rather than doing anything extra,” said Dube.

The left-hand batter mentioned that he and Uthappa went for the big shots whenever the ball was in their zone. “We weren’t talking much. The bowlers we felt we could take on, either I was going for the big hits or Uthappa. That even boosted our confidence. The ball was gripping at the start, but then, we decided to attack. The balls we felt we could hit, we went big on those deliveries. It was difficult at the start because the new ball was gripping on the surface, but we backed ourselves.”

International

UNSC asks all countries to cooperate in bringing Pahalgam terrorists, backers to justice

Published

on

United Nations, April 26: The Security Council has “condemned in the strongest terms” the Pahalgam terrorist attack and urged all countries to cooperate in bringing all those involved in the massacre, to justice.

The members of the Security Council “stressed that those responsible for these killings should be held accountable, and urged all States, in accordance with their obligations under international law and relevant Security Council resolutions, to cooperate actively with all relevant authorities in this regard”, Council President Jerome Bonnafont said in a Press statement on Friday.

A front organisation of the Pakistan-based terrorist group Laskhar-e-Tayiba has owned responsibility for the attack.

The statement issued by France’s Permanent Representative Bonnafont who is the Council president for this month, took a broad view of those involved in the massacre by including the financiers and sponsors.

“The members of the Security Council underlined the need to hold perpetrators, organisers, financiers and sponsors of this reprehensible act of terrorism accountable and bring them to justice”, the statement said.

Pakistan, which is on the Council as an elected member, went along with the other members in endorsing the statement, committing itself – at least on paper – to bringing those involved to justice.

A Press statement expresses the consensus of the Council and carries moral authority, while not being legally binding like a resolution.

The statement also shot down the attempts by some in Pakistan to give terrorist attacks a veneer of justification.

“The members of the Security Council reiterated that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed”, it said.

The Council members “reaffirmed the need for all States to combat by all means, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and other obligations under international law, including international human rights law, international refugee law and international humanitarian law, threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts”, the statement added.

Earlier, the spokesperson for Secretary-General Antonio Guterres hinted that a diplomatic effort by him may be afoot.

Asked by a reporter, if Guterres would speak to leaders of India and Pakistan, Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said that he hoped to have something to share on that later.

Reiterating the condemnation of the terrorist attacks, Dujarric said, “We again urge both the Government of India and the Government of Pakistan to exercise maximum restraint to ensure the situation does not deteriorate further.”

When a reporter asserted that the possibility that “two nuclear countries” might “go to war” was getting insufficient attention, Dujarric said, “I don’t agree with your comment. We are paying very close attention to the situation between India and Pakistan.”

Continue Reading

International

Wagah-Attari border closure leaves several families in limbo

Published

on

Islamabad, April 25: Pakistan and India’s decision to shut down the Wagah-Attari border crossing after the deadly Pahalgam terror attack has forced several citizens from both countries to cut short their visit and rush back home.

On Thursday, after both countries announced closure of border crossing and gave a deadline for citizens to leave for their respective countries, at least 28 Pakistanis nationals returned from India while 105 Indian citizens in Pakistan crossed over into India.

A Hindu family from Balochistan’s Sibi was reportedly denied entry into India after the closure of border crossing.

“We were on our way to Indore in Madhya Pradesh to attend a wedding. Seven members of our family were excited to join our relatives in India and take part in the celebrations. But upon reaching Wagah, we learned that the border had been sealed. We will spend the night at Dera Sahib in Lahore and head back home tomorrow,” said Akshay Kumar.

Meanwhile, a Sikh family from India, in Pakistan to attend a wedding, decided to leave for India immediately.

“We had come to Pakistan for a wedding. While the ceremony took place, several important rituals remained. Once we heard the border was closed, we decided to return immediately,” said Raminder Singh, an Indian national.

A Hindu family from Ghotki in Pakistan’s Sindh province, now residing in New Delhi, was visiting Pakistan for the last two months to meet their relatives. However, they are now unsure about getting permission to return to India.

“There are five of us, including my young son and daughter, uncle and aunt. We all hold Pakistani passports and were granted No Obligation to Return to India (NORI) certificate by India. But uncertainty looms now, said a family member named Indira.

“Families with cross-border ties often bear the brunt of rising tensions between the two neighbours. With tensions between Pakistan and India once again on the rise, human connections across borders are becoming the first casualty,” said Asif Memood, a Lahore-based journalist.

“The closure of the Wagah-Attari border has left many families in limbo, uncertain when they will next reunite with their loved ones,” he added.

Continue Reading

International

Murder of Hindu leader: India slams Bangladesh, says killing follows pattern of systematic persecution of Hindu minorities

Published

on

New Delhi, April 19: India on Saturday issued a sharp condemnation of the abduction and brutal killing of Bhabesh Chandra Roy, a prominent Hindu community leader in northern Bangladesh, calling it part of a “pattern of systematic persecution” of minorities under the country’s interim government.

Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal voiced India’s grave concern, stating that the incident reflects an alarming trend of targetted violence against Hindus and other minority groups in Bangladesh.

“We have noted with distress the abduction and brutal killing of Shri Bhabesh Chandra Roy, a Hindu minority leader in Bangladesh. This killing follows a pattern of systematic persecution of Hindu minorities under the interim government, even as the perpetrators of previous such events roam with impunity,” Jaiswal said in a post on social media platform X.

He added, “We condemn this incident and once again remind the interim government to live up to its responsibility of protecting all minorities, including Hindus, without inventing excuses or making distinctions.”

India has previously expressed similar concerns over rising attacks on minorities in Bangladesh, but this latest incident has drawn particular attention due to Roy’s prominence in the Hindu community.

Roy, who served as the Vice-President of the Biral unit of the Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad, was abducted from his residence in Dinajpur district on Thursday evening. According to police and family accounts, he received a phone call around 4:30 p.m., after which four unidentified men arrived on motorcycles and forcibly took him to Narabari village. He was reportedly assaulted and later found unconscious. He was rushed to a hospital in Dinajpur, where he was declared dead on arrival. His wife, Shantana Roy believes the attackers used the call to confirm his location before carrying out the abduction.

Opposition leaders in India also slammed the shocking incident in the neighbouring country.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge highlighted that religious minorities, especially Hindus, are being persecuted in Bangladesh.

“Attacks on other religious minorities are also continuing. Recently, the Chief Advisor of Bangladesh made a very condemnable and disappointing comment about the northeastern states of India. The persecution of religious minorities in Bangladesh, human rights violations, and the attempt to erase the memories of the 1971 Liberation War are efforts to weaken the relationship between India and Bangladesh. From 1971 till today, India has always wished for peace and prosperity for all the people of Bangladesh. This is in the best interest of the subcontinent,” he said.

Continue Reading

Trending