Latest news with #VikrantGupta
Time of India
3 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
'Bengaluru Police denied permission, yet...': Senior journalist's video criticising RCB for hosting fan event goes viral
A video of senior sports journalist Vikrant Gupta criticising Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) has gone viral, following the tragic stampede at M Chinnaswamy Stadium that left 11 fans dead. In the video, Gupta holds RCB and the authorities responsible for organising the victory celebration despite being denied security clearance by the Bengaluru Police. Senior sports journalist Vikrant Gupta strongly criticised Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) after a fan event at Bengaluru's M Chinnaswamy Stadium turned into a deadly stampede. The tragedy occurred during a celebration organised by RCB to mark their maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) title win. Bengaluru Police had denied permission for open bus parade RCB had initially planned an open bus parade in Bengaluru to celebrate their first-ever IPL trophy after 18 years. However, the Karnataka government denied permission, citing an inability to provide adequate security for the event. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với sàn môi giới tin cậy IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo — mohitlaws (@mohitlaws) Despite the denial, the franchise decided to organise a pass-based event inside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. Reports said that thousands of fans arrived, leading to uncontrollable crowds. The event spiralled into a stampede, which resulted in the deaths of 11 fans. 'Who is responsible now?': Vikrant Gupta Reacting to the incident, senior journalist Vikrant Gupta released a video that went viral across social media platforms. In it, he said, 'The government had denied permission for the celebration. Why was the event held anyway? Who is responsible now for this disaster?' Live Events Gupta pointed out that RCB and the organisers should have respected the government's decision, especially in a city known for heavy fan turnout. His comments have sparked a wider debate about the lack of coordination between the franchise and state authorities. Public figures and fans join in the criticism The incident has drawn responses from cricketers, journalists, and fans alike. Many questioned how the event was allowed without a robust security plan in place. Some also criticised the rush to celebrate without assessing public safety risks. RCB's day of celebration ends in grief The event, meant to mark a historic win, has instead raised serious concerns over accountability and event planning. With calls growing for a formal inquiry, attention has now turned to both the franchise and local authorities over their roles in the tragedy.
Express Tribune
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Express Tribune
IPL to be suspended: Decision made by BCCI amid Pakistan-India crisis
Listen to article The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has suspended the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season due to the escalating security situation following cross-border hostilities between India and Pakistan. The decision comes just one day after the IPL match between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals was abandoned mid-innings at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala due to security concerns. That match was halted after floodlights failed and spectators were urgently evacuated, following false reports of missile threats and drone activity in nearby regions. According to journalist Vikrant Gupta, the BCCI has opted to suspend the tournament as several northern Indian states, including parts of Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, and Rajasthan, remain on high alert. IPL To be Suspended #BreakingNews — Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) May 9, 2025 It remains unclear whether the suspension will last for the remainder of the season or if the league could resume at a later date or be relocated. The development follows the escalating Indo-Pak crisis, with Pakistan intercepting and shooting down multiple Indian fighter jets. In related news, HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) was confirmed to move its remaining matches to UAE. While official confirmation from the BCCI is awaited, further announcements regarding rescheduling, relocation, or possible cancellation are expected in the coming days.
Express Tribune
15-03-2025
- Sport
- Express Tribune
After India's CT success, is BCCI's influence over ICC too big to ignore?
India were crowned 2025 ICC Champions Trophy winners in Dubai by defeating New Zealand. The victory reaffirmed India's dominance in white-ball cricket, following their T20 World Cup triumph last year. However, beyond the on-field success, concerns about the power India wields in the sport—particularly through the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and its financial influence—have again come into focus. The Indian market contributes an estimated 80% of the ICC's global revenue, making it the financial backbone of international cricket as per Forbes. This commercial dominance translates into significant influence over ICC decision-making, with critics arguing that the sport's governance increasingly caters to India's interests. The ICC Champions Trophy has only reinforced those concerns. Despite the tournament being officially hosted by Pakistan, India played all their matches in Dubai, never leaving their team hotel while other sides crisscrossed thousands of kilometres. The decision stemmed from political tensions between India and Pakistan, with the Indian government refusing to allow its players to travel to the host nation. It was a decision that many, including Indian sports journalist Vikrant Gupta, admitted was an advantage. While the ICC and its chairman Jay Shah, the former Secretary of the BCCI, were left with few alternatives, critics argue that accommodating India's demands gave them an unfair advantage. A tournament built around one team? New Zealand, India's opponents in the final, logged over 7,000km in travel throughout the tournament. In contrast, the closest India came to boarding a flight was Kuldeep Yadav's celebration after dismissing Rachin Ravindra. Even within India's camp, opinions were divided—while Mohammed Shami admitted the fixed location "definitely" helped, head coach Gautam Gambhir dismissed such claims. The debate over India's influence in global cricket is not new. During the 2023 ODI World Cup, a last-minute switched pitch for India's semi-final against New Zealand favoured India's spinners, while their T20 World Cup semi-final in Guyana last year was scheduled at 10:30 am local time to accommodate Indian TV audiences. Even in this tournament, South Africa had to fly to Dubai for a group match on a Sunday—when Indian viewership is at its peak—only to return to Pakistan within 24 hours. West Indies legend Sir Andy Roberts did not hold back in his criticism, stating, 'India can't get everything. How can a team not travel during a tournament? It's not fair, it's not cricket.' He further accused the ICC of prioritising India's interests, remarking, 'If India says no no-balls and wides, the ICC will find a way to satisfy them.' A growing divide in the Cricketing World Beyond concerns of fairness, there is also unease over the sport's wider competitive landscape. The ICC has increased the frequency of global white-ball tournaments, ensuring an ICC event every year until 2031. While this was meant to counterbalance the financial might of franchise leagues like the Indian Premier League (IPL), these tournaments are beginning to follow a predictable pattern. The absence of written journalists from semi-finalist nations Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand at the Champions Trophy points to waning interest and apathy outside of India. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) also came under scrutiny, as no representatives attended the final to present the trophy—a move that Pakistan legend Shoaib Akhtar called "beyond understanding." The future of cricket's global balance India's depth in talent ensures they would be strong contenders regardless of where tournaments are held. But when a team enjoys home-like advantages in an event hosted by their biggest rival, the perception of fairness in international cricket is inevitably questioned. Such is the opinion of veteran sports writer Sharda Ugra. "In Cricket, they (BCCI) calls the shot on everything becuase they can," said Ugra. She talked about India's overall influence on the cricketing world, due to its huge financial contribution in ICC's overall yearly revenue. "The BCCI is like the USA of cricket," says Ugra in her criticism of its influence over ICC. While India's financial influence is undeniable, the concern remains: is the ICC prioritising the integrity of the sport, or is it simply safeguarding its biggest revenue source? Cricket remains a global game, but if one nation's commercial power dictates its future, the risk of apathy among fans and players alike may be a bigger threat than any rival team.
Express Tribune
03-03-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Cricket, critics, and the curious case of Pakistan's generosity
Pakistanis shower Vikrant Gupta with love, but is it hospitality or a deep-seated need for external validation? In a rather tedious turn of events in the past few days, the Pakistan Cricket team is out of the Champions Trophy tournament sooner than a Pakistani opener after hitting one boundary. Needless to say, the anticipation for the country to show off their hosting spirits at the return of an international tournament after 30 years lasted much longer. However, the bitter aftertaste of cricket as a fleeting escape from the country's prevailing misery lingers. Now we must be on the look out for its strange manifestation, ranging from pretentious ignorance curtailing inner turmoil and fiery reception of Indian journalist Vikrant Gupta in a country he continues to dismiss. Don't get me wrong, I find it wholesome to see the bright-eyed and bushy-tailed people of Lahore cheering for Gupta, who arrived in Pakistan on February 26, just two days after the country's crushing defeat to India. A defeat, mind you, that happened in Dubai – after the BCCI cited security concerns to justify pulling out of playing in Pakistan. In retrospect though, it was probably for the best. In months leading up to the tournament, Gupta peddled the same narrative across his digital platforms, even spreading rumors as far back as October that the ICC was considering relocating the Champions Trophy from Pakistan to Dubai, Sri Lanka, or South Africa. His overt reiteration of the stance to blame the 'cross-border terrorism' between Pakistan and India extended all through his coverage of the tournament, reinforcing doubts about Pakistan's ability as hosts and feeding into the broader geopolitical tensions surrounding cricket in the region. However, in just three days since his arrival in Pakistan, the sports critic has been met with celebratory chants from the locals of Lahore, secured a prime-time slot on a comedy talk show, and enjoyed shakarkandis (sweet potatoes) on the very streets he once deemed 'unsafe.' Even more so, Gupta has appeared to cloak his stance of security threat in Pakistan by shifting the blame on sour history between the two countries. The revered treatment of such cross-border public figures is not unprecedented. A video of spectators in Islamabad celebrating Virat Kohli's winning century against the Pakistani team during a local screening on the street recently went viral, and needless to say, I was thoroughly unsettled by the cringe. Because these celebrated athletes are the prime reason the tournament was stripped of its full significance as Pakistan's long-awaited return as a major host. If we go back a little farther, a similar scene unfolded during Javed Akhtar's visit to Pakistan in 2023. Despite his openly critical remarks about Pakistan at a literary festival in Lahore, he was met with overwhelming admiration, poetic tributes, and a hero's welcome. The irony was hard to miss – while he took the stage to denounce Pakistan, his audience hung on to his every word, applauding a guest who had no qualms about reinforcing divisive narratives. Meanwhile, the persistent idealization of Bollywood stars, regardless of their anti-Muslim rhetoric, reinforces the deep-seated cultural amnesia that prioritizes celebrity worship over self-respect. This strange rite of passage really does make one wonder: What is it about the validation from unapologetic critics of our ideologies that appeases us so much? Is it self-sabotage, desperation for approval, or an enduring hope that warmth can thaw hostility? As much as Pakistanis take pride in our hospitality culture, the videos churning out of Gupta's fan meets in Lahore leave a sour taste in mouth. Because despite our optimistic assumptions, he has never shied away from an opportunity to degrade our team, pulling out all stops to justify the Indian team for choosing to opt out of traveling to Pakistan. The counterpart of Gupta wouldn't be extended the same warmth in India. We saw it in 2023 Cricket World Cup, when Zainab Abbas was practically bullied out of the country following backlash over alleged old anti-Hindu social media posts. I neither seek nor expect the same treatment for Gupta in Pakistan; however, his warm reception here offers a stark contrast to the bigotry in the neighbouring country, where hostility often overshadows any notion of sportsmanship or goodwill. We have long bend over backwards to win over others by our gracious, often extravagant displays of hospitality. However, this benevolent attitude of Pakistanis feed into the theory of post-colonial hangover, where seeking validation from more powerful forces comes like a second nature. In the context of India, the subconscious desire to be acknowledged by those perceived more influential often comes off desperate and self-deprecating. In an attempt to be simpler, these gestures could also be translated to us overcompensating for negative stereotypes associated with the country. While Vikrant Gupta enjoys a hero's welcome, it's worth asking – do all voices in Pakistan receive the same level of warmth? Loving someone else's star is obviously easier; there is nothing to lose there. But owning your own clan, regardless of their shortcomings takes a different kind of courage that we as a nation severely lack. In fact, even our hospitality is selectively reserved for outsiders, as evident in the treatment of fellow countrymen of different faiths, who continue to face systemic discrimination and violence. The treatment of Hindus, Christians, and other marginalized groups expose the deep cracks in our image of tolerance – cracks we desperately try to mend with the fragile glue of performative inclusivity and selective generosity. This is not a hate piece. Nor is it written to drive people away from enjoying the cricket season. However, at the end of the day, these stars are mere caricatures of public admiration and while it is not a crime to celebrate artists from across the border and beyond, it is important to recognize the gaps in our self-esteem when it comes to extending unwarranted adulation to those who wouldn't waste a breath to shun the 'enemy country' such as ours to score points within theirs.
Express Tribune
27-02-2025
- Sport
- Express Tribune
Vikrant Gupta hopes for revival of Pakistan-India cricket ties in exclusive interview
Listen to article Veteran Indian journalist Vikrant Gupta expressed hope for the revival of cricketing ties between India and Pakistan, stating that an Indian team tour to Pakistan should happen someday, despite historical challenges. Gupta who is on a three day visit to Pakistan, while talking exclusively to The Express Tribune, expressed his admiration for the hospitality in Lahore, describing his stay as an "amazing experience" but mentioned that he had not had a single moment to himself during his third day in the city. When asked about the possibility of the Indian team visiting Pakistan in the future, he expressed hope that it would happen someday. He acknowledged the historical challenges, noting that cricket had often been caught in the crossfire of strained relations between the two nations. He recalled the 1978 series when India last toured Pakistan after a gap of 16-17 years, highlighting the start-stop nature of Indo-Pak cricketing ties. 'I believe it is not up to me, you, or even the cricket boards to decide. When relations between India and Pakistan normalise, and trust is rebuilt, cricket will undoubtedly be the first bridge between the two countries," he stated. Discussing Pakistan's performance in the Champions Trophy and their early exit, the journalist shared that he had anticipated struggles for the team, particularly after seeing their tri-series games where New Zealand defeated them twice. He expressed doubt about Pakistan's chances of winning the tournament, suggesting that only luck could have helped them make it to the semifinals. Comparing Pakistan to cricketing giants like India, Australia, New Zealand, and England, he felt that while those teams had mastered the one-day format, Pakistan seemed to be "caught up in the primitive zone." He observed that Pakistan, traditionally known for its bravery on the field, appeared to be timid this time. He speculated that insecurity in the dressing room, a lack of preparation, or an ineffective team combination could be reasons behind the team's struggles. Finally, when asked about India's advantage in the Champions Trophy, he agreed that India benefits from playing all their matches in Dubai, where they don't need to travel, unlike other teams. However, he believed that if India were to play in Pakistan, the local conditions would better suit them, making it feel like their second home.
