Latest news with #5th
Time of India
a day ago
- Sport
- Time of India
IND vs ENG 5th Test: Gautam Gambhir clashes with Oval curator, Team India alleges unfair treatment over pitch access
London: The growing animosity between India and England, it seems, is not limited to just the players. On Tuesday, two days ahead of the crucial fifth and final Test here, India head coach Gautam Gambhir had a heated alteraction with Oval chief curator Lee Fortis, with the team management later accusing the curator of being rude and unfair. The spat between the two, caught on camera, happened during India's optional training session, with Gambhir seen pointing fingers at Fortis and saying, 'You are just a groundsman. You don't tell us what we can do.' The altercation continued for a good four-five minutes, with Gambhir's voice echoing around the Oval. 'You shouldn't have used that word. You can't talk like that,' Gambhir kept repeating to Fortis. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Officials present at the ground calmed things down. It may be noted that Fortis has been awarded the best curator by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for the last three years. India's batting coach Sitanshu Kotak claimed that Fortis had asked the Indian team management to step away from the pitch to be used for the Test and not allowed them to have a good look at the surface. 'Gautam, I and the other coaches were having a look at the pitch. He (Fortis) sent someone to inform us that we should stand away from the pitch, which was surprising. We have all played cricket and we know that the curators can get overprotective with the square. IND vs ENG: The Oval curator breaks silence on Gautam Gambhir's outburst ahead of 5th Test 'But there's nothing wrong in looking at the pitch two days before the game and we had our rubber shoes on,' Kotak said after the practice session. Gambhir lost his cool when Fortis behaved rudely with members of the support staff who were bringing the watercooling box. 'When the support staff was getting the cooling box, which is about just 10 kg, on the ground, the curator shouted at them. That's when Gautam confronted him and told him he can't talk to the support staff like that,' Kotak said. According to Kotak, the coaching staff was asked to move another 2.5 metres further away and have a look at the pitch from beyond the cordon. Interestingly, England head coach Brendon McCullum and England team's managing director Rob Key arrived in informal attire, with leather shoes on, and were seen spending a considerable amount of time on the pitch to be used for the Test. 'They (McCullum and Key) were not told anything in front of us,' Kotak claimed. Surrey county didn't want to give an official version but sources said that the groundsman was only protecting the square, which has seen an enormous volume of cricket being played this season. IND vs ENG: Gautam Gambhir loses cool during heated exchange with ground staff at The Oval ahead of 5th Test Before the Indian team management addressed the media, Fortis was asked to present his side of the story. 'You people saw what happened. It's a big game. It's okay if he is a bit tetchy. I don't know him as well. I don't know what got him animated. You have to ask him,' was Fortis's response. 'That's Fortis's opinion (about Gambhir) and everyone in this world has their opinions. Curators also need to understand that the people they are talking to are highly skilled and intelligent people. If you go to the ground now, where we trained, you won't even see the bowlers marking their runups with their spikes. We also see to it that the ground is not damaged,' Kotak said. 'If you sound a bit arrogant when you are working with very intelligent and highly skilled people, you have to know it's just a cricket pitch at the end of the day. It's not an antique that you can't touch,' he added. 'He said that we are trying to get this grass. I don't know how much grass will grow in one day. You want your ground and square to be good but it's just a cricket pitch.' Poll Who do you think is at fault in the altercation between Gautam Gambhir and Lee Fortis? Gautam Gambhir Lee Fortis Both equally Neither, it's a misunderstanding Throughout this series, the Indian team management has been seen standing on the match pitch two days before each Test. It never appeared to be a problem for the curators at those venues. 'We understand the curators are possessive. Wherever we have gone in this series, we even had conversations with curators about how they were preparing the pitch or how much grass they were planning to leave for the match. If any curator had issues divulging that detail, they would politely tell us that we will get to see (the pitch) on the morning of the match,' Kotak said. Kotak, however, said the team management didn't plan to lodge a formal complaint. On his impression of the pitch, Kotak said, 'There is grass on the wicket. There was less grass in Manchester. This is like what we got at the rest of the venues. There is some moisture. They say that normally the bounce is good. There will be some early movement.' Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
The Citizen
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
Sporting battles at Ferdinand Primary School for Mandela Day
It was a joyous and memorable day at Ferdinand Primary School in Weenen on Thursday (July 24) as the SANDF celebrated Mandela Day with the school. The SA Army, led by Brigadier General C Buyse, partnered with generous donors to donate soccer- and netball kits to the learners. The highlight was of course the many lively matches, where soldiers and learners teamed up for friendly games of soccer and netball. Teachers and community members also joined the fun, playing alongside the children in a true spirit of unity and celebration. Although Mandela Day is officially observed worldwide on July 18, the SA Army chose to celebrate the occasion about a week later due to schools being closed on the actual date. Also read: Exciting action expected at 5th annual Inkosi Yomahlalela Games As the sun beat down and dust filled the air, the children and soldiers battled it out, sharing laughter, teamwork and excitement. After the games, all the participating learners were awarded medals by the army in recognition of their enthusiasm and sportsmanship. Winning wasn't the main goal at these spirited games; instead the focus was on fun, togetherness and celebrating the legacy of Nelson Mandela. The SANDF's initiative brought smiles, encouragement and inspiration to both the learners and the broader community. Click to receive news links via WhatsApp. Or for the latest news, visit our webpage or follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Join us there!
The Star
18-07-2025
- Politics
- The Star
EU agrees 18th sanctions package against Russia
FILE PHOTO: European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas arrives at the 5th EU-Southern Neighbourhood Ministerial meeting in Brussels, Belgium, July 14, 2025. REUTERS/Yves Herman/File Photo
Japan Today
15-07-2025
- Business
- Japan Today
EU fails to approve new Russia sanctions; ball now in Slovakia's court, says EU foreign chief
FILE PHOTO: European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas arrives at the 5th EU-Southern Neighbourhood Ministerial meeting in Brussels, Belgium, July 14, 2025. REUTERS/Yves Herman/File Photo The European Union did not approve the 18th Russia sanctions package on Tuesday, the EU's foreign chief Kaja Kallas said after a meeting with EU foreign ministers in Brussels. She said she was "really sad" the sanctions did not get approved, but hopeful a deal will be reached on Wednesday, adding that the ball is in Slovakia's court. Slovakia has been blocking the EU's latest sanctions package until its concerns are addressed over a separate EU proposal to phase out imports of Russian gas by January 1, 2028. Sources told Reuters on Monday that all elements of the package had been agreed, although one member state still had a reservation about a proposed lower price cap on Russian oil. The European Commission last month proposed the 18th package of sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, aimed at Moscow's energy revenue, its banks, and its military industry. The new package proposes banning transactions with Russia's Nord Stream gas pipelines, as well as banks that engage in sanctions circumvention. It also proposes a floating price cap on Russian oil of 15% below the average market price of crude in the previous three months, EU diplomats have said. © Thomson Reuters 2025.
The Star
15-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
EU fails to approve new Russia sanctions, ball now in Slovakia's court, says EU foreign chief
FILE PHOTO: European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas arrives at the 5th EU-Southern Neighbourhood Ministerial meeting in Brussels, Belgium, July 14, 2025. REUTERS/Yves Herman/File Photo BRUSSELS (Reuters) -The European Union did not approve the 18th Russia sanctions package on Tuesday, the EU's foreign chief Kaja Kallas said after a meeting with EU foreign ministers in Brussels. She said she was "really sad" the sanctions did not get approved, but hopeful a deal will be reached on Wednesday, adding that the ball is in Slovakia's court. Slovakia has been blocking the EU's latest sanctions package until its concerns are addressed over a separate EU proposal to phase out imports of Russian gas by January 1, 2028. Sources told Reuters on Monday that all elements of the package had been agreed, although one member state still had a reservation about a proposed lower price cap on Russian oil. The European Commission last month proposed the 18th package of sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, aimed at Moscow's energy revenue, its banks, and its military industry. The new package proposes banning transactions with Russia's Nord Stream gas pipelines, as well as banks that engage in sanctions circumvention. It also proposes a floating price cap on Russian oil of 15% below the average market price of crude in the previous three months, EU diplomats have said. (Reporting by Andrew Gray, Charlotte Van Campenhout; Editing by Alison Williams and Rod Nickel)
