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Steyn backs Afghanistan to win an ICC trophy in the next decade but calls for more patience

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New Delhi, Mar 1: Former South African fast bowler Dale Steyn backed Afghanistan after their performance in the ongoing Champions Trophy and believes it’s only a matter of time before they lift an ICC trophy. However, he urged Afghanistan’s players to develop more patience in their approach to sustain success in major tournaments.

Steyn’s remarks came after Afghanistan’s campaign at the Champions Trophy 2025 ended in disappointment. Despite a thrilling victory over England in Lahore, their loss to South Africa and no result due to rain against Australia on Friday night saw them likely to miss out on a knockout berth.

However, they have an outside chance if England beat South Africa by a margin of 270 runs in Saturday’s match, then by Net Run Rate (NRR) Afghanistan can qualify. If South Africa beat England, the Proteas will qualify for the semifinals as the top-ranked team from Group B.

“Back in the day, a lot of players would go play county cricket or first-class cricket to improve their skills and patience,” ESPNcricinfo quoted Steyn as saying.

“But in today’s fast-paced world, patience is in short supply. Even on social media, people struggle to watch a two-second clip. It feels like the Afghanistan players are the same when they play their cricket.”

Steyn noted that Afghanistan’s aggressive style, while thrilling to watch, sometimes works against them. “They want things to happen so quickly—every ball must be a wicket; every shot must be a six. There’s so much movement at the crease in the first over itself. While T20 cricket has helped them develop skills and earn good money, they need to balance that with playing more four-day games. ODI cricket is essentially a shortened Test match, and patience is key. If they work on that, I have no doubt they can win an ICC tournament within the next decade,” he added.

Afghanistan’s performance in the Champions Trophy showcased both their promise and their inconsistencies. Ibrahim Zadran’s majestic 177 against England was a standout, but opener Sediqullah Atal couldn’t convert his 85 against Australia into a bigger score. Their top three have yet to fire collectively, and star batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz endured a forgettable tournament, scoring just 16 runs in three innings.

Wasim Jaffer, another admirer of Afghanistan’s rise, echoed similar concerns. “They’ve played a T20 World Cup semi-final, they’ve beaten top teams, and when they beat anybody, it’s not an upset anymore,” Jaffer said. “But they struggle to start tournaments well, and in a short competition, one bad start can end your chances. Their middle order, particularly Nos. 3, 4, and 5, needs more consistency. Rahmat Shah and Hashmatullah Shahidi must take greater responsibility, while Gurbaz had an off tournament at the worst possible time.”

Crime

Two Held With ₹68 Lakh Cash Near India-Myanmar Border In Mizoram; Heroin Worth ₹78 Lakh Seized

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Aizawl: Two persons were arrested with Rs 68 lakh in cash near the India-Myanmar border in east Mizoram’s Champhai district, officials said on Thursday.

Acting on a tip-off, the Assam Rifles intercepted a vehicle at Zote village on August 11, they said.

Upon thorough checking, Rs 60 lakh in cash was recovered from two persons in the vehicle.

The duo, identified as Joseph Lalthansanga and Vanlalruati, could not state any proper reason why they were carrying such a huge amount of cash. They were subsequently handed over to the police for legal action, officials said.

In another operation, the Assam Rifles recovered 94.6 gram of heroin, worth Rs 78 lakh, from the village on Wednesday.

The drugs were handed over to the Excise and Narcotics Department, officials said.

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National

India’s AI Tech Spending Projected To Reach Rs. 92 Thousand Crore By 2028: Report

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India’s AI technology spending is projected to grow at an annualised rate of 38 per cent from 2023 to reach $10.4 billion (approximately Rs. 92 thousand crore) in 2028, a report said on Thursday.

Around 40 per cent of organisations in India have already implemented agentic AI, and close to 50 per cent are planning to use the technology within the next 12 months, IDC InfoBrief and UiPath said in a joint report.

In 2025, AI investments are focused on building the foundational infrastructure required to power transformative, high-value use cases.

According to the report, the adoption is surging, fueled by a tech-savvy workforce, expanding digital infrastructure, and government-backed initiatives.

Organisations’ spending on enterprise automation, multilingual AI models, and agentic deployments is driving this momentum further.

The benefits are already visible, as 80 per cent of Indian companies say agentic AI boosts productivity, while 73 per cent say it improves decision-making, the report said.

According to the report, agentic AI is gaining strong traction across the manufacturing, retail and wholesale, healthcare, and life sciences industries, which heavily rely on data and repetitive decision-making cycles.

“Agentic automation is rapidly redefining business operations across India. While enterprises in this region are embracing the full potential of AI agents to streamline workflows and autonomously execute complex business processes, trust and security remain barriers to widespread implementation,” said DebDeep Sengupta, Area Vice President, South Asia, UiPath.

Our agentic automation platform directly addresses these challenges, breaking down barriers to enterprise AI adoption by enhancing security and compliance, improving accuracy and reliability for agentic outcomes, Sengupta added.

About 69 per cent of Indian organisations are using agentic AI to enhance productivity, 59 per cent to drive personalised customer engagement, while 57 per cent apply it to risk and fraud detection, highlighting how agentic AI is being applied across front and back-office functions, the report highlighted.

“Becoming an AI-fueled business is no longer an option in today’s unpredictable climate. For many organisations, it’s fast becoming a strategic necessity,” said Deepika Giri, Associate Vice President, IDC Asia/Pacific.

Across the region, organisations are embracing agentic AI and agentic automation at scale, Giri added.

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Maharashtra

MUMBAI’S CRICKET MUSEUM SET TO OPEN SOON

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The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) is pleased to announce the upcoming inauguration of the MCA Sharad Pawar Cricket Museum in the second half of August 2025. Located at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, the museum is a tribute to Mumbai’s rich cricketing heritage and the legendary figures who have shaped its success.

At the museum’s entrance, visitors will be welcomed by life-size statues of Shri Sharad Pawar and cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar who remains one of Mumbai’s and India’s most iconic sporting figures. Gavaskar’s statue, in particular, stands as a symbol of excellence and dedication that will inspire aspiring young cricketers for generations to come.

The highlight of the museum is a priceless collection of rare and iconic memorabilia donated by Mumbai’s legendary cricketers. These historic items reflect the deep-rooted legacy of Mumbai cricket and its contribution to Indian and world cricket.

The museum also features a cutting-edge audio-visual experience centre, bringing to life the stories, milestones, and memorable moments of Mumbai’s cricketing journey.

“The MCA Sharad Pawar Cricket Museum is our heartfelt tribute to the stalwarts of Mumbai cricket and a testament to the visionary leadership of Shri Sharad Pawar. This museum stands as a living chronicle of Mumbai cricket’s unparalleled legacy, dedicated to preserving its rich history and inspiring future generations.

The statue of Shri Sunil Gavaskar, one of India’s greatest cricketing legends, will serve as a powerful symbol of excellence and determination. His monumental contributions to Indian and Mumbai cricket will continue to motivate young cricketers to dream big and aim high,” said MCA President Shri Ajinkya Naik.

“The MCA invites all cricket lovers and the public to visit and experience this one-of-a-kind tribute to Mumbai cricket” said Shri Abhay Hadap, Secretary MCA.

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