
AB de Villiers set for blockbuster return in World Championship of Legends
The much-anticipated WCL 2025, sanctioned by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), will showcase the talents of some of the most revered cricketers of the modern era. Alongside de Villiers, the tournament features a star-studded line-up including Yuvraj Singh, Shikhar Dhawan, Harbhajan Singh, Suresh Raina, Brett Lee, Chris Gayle, DJ Bravo, Kieron Pollard, Eoin Morgan, Moeen Ali, and Sir Alastair Cook.
De Villiers, known worldwide as "Mr. 360°" for his unorthodox strokeplay and ability to dominate bowling attacks, will lead the South Africa Champions, a side stacked with talent and experience. Joining him are Albie Morkel, Wayne Parnell, Hardus Viljoen, and Aaron Phangiso, ensuring a potent blend of power and precision that reflects South Africa's cricketing legacy.
Speaking ahead of the tournament, de Villiers expressed his excitement about donning South African colours once again: 'There's nothing like playing for South Africa. Being back with this group of legends, in front of fans who've always supported us, is truly special. WCL is a celebration of cricket's spirit — and we're here not just to participate, but to compete and ultimately to win,' he said.
The WCL offers fans a rare opportunity to witness some of their all-time favourite players back in action, reigniting rivalries and showcasing the camaraderie and competitiveness that once made these stars household names. Whether it's the explosive batting of Chris Gayle and Pollard, the swing and pace of Brett Lee, or the tactical nous of captains like Morgan and Cook, every match promises a mix of flair and fierce competition.
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First Post
42 minutes ago
- First Post
Pakistan Champions owner addresses possibility of India vs Pakistan semi-final in WCL after cancelled match: 'If we make it to the semi-final...'
After the much-touted India Champions vs Pakistan Champions match got cancelled in the WCL 2025, Pakistan Champions owner has replied to some of the burning questions. read more Following heavy criticism on social media, the highly anticipated World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 game between the India Champions and Pakistan Champions was cancelled on Sunday. Fans were upset with former Indian cricketers participating in the match against Pakistan in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack. The mdeia reports, however, have stated that several players, including Harbhajan Singh, Yusuf Pathan, Irfan Pathan, Suresh Raina, and Shikhar Dhawan, had pulled out ahead of the start of the match. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In the aftermath of the cancelled match, several questions arose regarding the status of the tournament and the Pakistan team. Addressing these concerns, Pakistan Champions owner Kamil Khan offered some clarity. WCL 2025 to proceed as planned Khan has confirmed that the T20 tournament will continue as planned and that the upcoming games will take place as per schedule. He did not turn a blind eye on the possible case of yet another clash materialising between the two teams this time in the knockout stage and made it known that it will be 'avoided'. 'All the remaining matches are taking place. The tournament is going on as per schedule, and there are no changes," GeoNews quoted Kamil Khan as saying. 'As for the semifinals and final, we're currently saying that if we make it to the semifinals, there will be four teams, and we will avoid matches between the two teams,' he said, possibly referring to the conflicting sides,' he added. Also Read | Shahid Afridi questions Indian players after cancellation of India vs Pakistan match Also, in case India and Pakistan book their places in the August 2 final, then a decision will be taken ahead of the fixture. 'If we reach the final, then the decisions regarding that will be made then," he said. In an official statement, the WTC organisers clarified that they scheduled the India vs Pakistan match only after learning the news that the Pakistan hockey team would be visiting India. The second edition of the WCL got underway last week with the opening match between Pakistan and England Champions. The inaugural season of the tournament was won by the India Champions. They defeated arch-rivals Pakistan in the final. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD


Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Sun TV board approves £100.5 million acquisition of The Hundred's Northern Superchargers
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel The board of Sun TV Network has approved the acquisition of a 100% equity stake in Northern Superchargers , a franchise in The Hundred, a professional cricket league operated by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).Valued at £100.5 million, the deal marks the Chennai-based broadcaster's entry into the UK sports market. The board approved the acquisition at its meeting on July 18. Once completed, Northern Superchargers will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Sun TV.'We are enhancing our global footprint in sports and are investing in a club that is part of The Hundred, a limited-overs cricket league promoted by the England and Wales Cricket Board, the equivalent of the BCCI in the UK,' said R. Ravi, Company Secretary and Compliance Officer, in a regulatory filing. 'The foreign entity we are acquiring, Northern Superchargers Limited, is already profitable, and we believe that with growing global interest, The Hundred is poised for greater financial success.'Incorporated in May 2019 and based in London, Northern Superchargers reported a turnover of £1.89 million in FY24. The franchise is one of eight teams in The Hundred, a 100-ball cricket competition introduced by the ECB in TV currently owns two cricket franchises Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League and Sunrisers Eastern Cape in South Africa's SA20 League. The company said the acquisition is part of its broader strategy to expand its presence in international investment will be made under the Reserve Bank of India's automatic route for overseas acquisitions and will be executed through authorised banking channels. The transaction is expected to close by December 31, the sale of stakes in all eight franchises of The Hundred, the ECB and several participating counties have attracted prominent investors from India, the US, and Silicon addition to Sun TV, other major investments in The Hundred include Reliance , which acquired 49% of Oval Invincibles for £60 million; GMR Group, which bought 49% of Southern Brave for £48 million; and RPSG Group, which secured a 70% stake in Manchester Originals.A Silicon Valley consortium comprising Times Internet Vice Chairman Satyan Gajwani, Palo Alto Networks CEO Nikesh Arora, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, and Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen acquired 49% of London Spirit for £145 Hundred is a professional 100-ball cricket competition launched by the ECB in 2021. The format is designed to make it more fast-paced and accessible to a wider audience, especially younger viewers and families.


Indian Express
an hour ago
- Indian Express
‘Be a good ambassador, not an embarrassment to your country': Shahid Afridi after India-Pakistan WCL match cancellation
Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi took a jibe at former Indian cricketers after many of them decided to opt out of the India vs Pakistan Champions match, which eventually resulted in the cancellation of the marquee clash between the two arch-rivals at the second edition of the World Championship of Legends. The India vs Pakistan Champions match was slated to be held at Edgbaston on Sunday and was cancelled by the organisers after several India Champions stars called for a boycott of their opening contest in the tournament. Former India opener Shikhar Dhawan announced his decision not to feature in the match in Birmingham late on Saturday through social media, owing to the geopolitical conflicts that have arisen post the Pahalgam terror attacks in April this year. India stars Harbhajan Singh, Suresh Raina, Irfan Pathan, and Yusuf Pathan had also pulled out of the Pakistan match. 'We are here to play cricket and I've always said that cricket should be kept away from politics; it should move forward. A player should be a good ambassador, not a source of embarrassment for their country. We've come here to play cricket. If India didn't want to play against Pakistan, they should've refused before coming here. But now you've arrived, even held practice sessions and then suddenly changed everything in a single day,' said Afridi while speaking to the media. The former Pakistan all-rounder said, had he known about this outcome, he would have avoided being at the venue altogether. 'If I had known the match was being stopped because of me, I wouldn't have even gone to the ground. But cricket should go on. What is Shahid Afridi in front of cricket? Nothing,' he said. 'The game comes first. As a sport, cricket is the biggest thing. Bringing politics into it or an Indian cricketer saying he won't play against Pakistan — then don't play, just sit out. But sports is bigger, cricket is bigger, and it's bigger than Shahid Afridi too,' he added. Kamil Khan, the owner of Pakistan Champions, has confirmed that the WCL will continue according to the roster decided, with no changes. 'All the remaining matches are taking place. The tournament is proceeding as scheduled, with no changes. As for the semifinals and final, we're currently saying that if we make it to the semifinals, there will be four teams and we will avoid matches between the two teams,' Kamil said.