Pratika Rawal Ruled Out Of Women's World Cup 2025, Shafali Verma Named Replacement

India's opening batter Pratika Rawal has been ruled out of the ongoing ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 following an ankle injury.

In a major blow to India, in-form opener Pratika Rawal was on Monday ruled out of the remainder of the Women's World Cup after injuring her knee and ankle during the game against Bangladesh. Shafali Verma, who last played an ODI a year ago, was named Rawal's replacement. The 25-year-old had twisted her right ankle during India's last league match at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Sunday. "Verma was named as a replacement after Rawal was ruled out after sustaining an injury to her right ankle while fielding in the league match against Bangladesh," said the ICC in a statement.

Rawal's right foot got stuck into the turf on the final ball of the 21st over as she ran in from deep midwicket to stop the ball, and collapsed immediately while grimacing in pain.

Indian players ran towards their teammate while a stretcher was also taken to the spot, but Rawal walked off the field with assistance from the support staff.

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The happenings of Pakistan cricket outsmart one’s wildest fantasies and the current controversy that the country’s cricketing landscape sees itself embroiled in is one such.

Since it has emerged that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) served a legal notice to Ali Tareen for the breach of the franchise agreement last month, the conflict between the two has played out publicly.

While Tareen, the owner of Multan Sultans, has doubled down his criticism on the social media, the board has dropped subtle hints on the path it plans to venture.

October, but the chances of a reconciliation seem bleak after he ripped the PCB’s legal notice on camera.

His act has publicly challenged PCB’s stature as the game’s governing body in the country and pushed its chief into a corner. There are many within and outside the country who are anticipating the response.

Naqvi is embroiled in a conflict with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) over the Asia Cup silverware matter.

The matter will rear its head once again next month when cricket chiefs gather for an International Cricket Council (ICC) conclave.

The BCCI will be keen to observe how Naqvi responds to the pressure publicly exerted by one of the PSL franchise owners back home and the outcome of this saga will provide a template on how far they can stretch Naqvi.

Similarly, it will also lay marker for other franchisees and stakeholders of the game within Pakistan.

It is unprecedented for an owner of a PSL team to launch searing diatribes against the PCB. And, the outcome of this stand-off will go on to lengthen the list of unprecedented developments in Pakistan cricket.

Miami Heat and Portland Trail Blazers win first games after being rocked by gambling scandal

The Miami Heat and Portland Trail Blazers both won their first games since Heat guard Terry Rozier and Portland head coach Chauncey Billups were arrested on Thursday in connection with two separate federal gambling investigations announced by the Eastern District of New York. Under the stewardship of interim coach Tiago Splitter, the Blazers defeated the Golden State Warriors 139-119 while the Heat eased to a 146-114 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies. Both franchises have endured a difficult opening week to the NBA season, finding themselves embroiled in a scandal which has rocked the world of sport. And, as players and coaches spoke to reporters before and after Friday’s games, they outlined the palpable sense of shock which surrounds the league. That shock was shared by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver who, in his first public comments on the scandal, said he had “a pit in his stomach” when he heard the news. “My initial reaction was I was deeply disturbed,” he told broadcaster Amazon Prime Video during the Boston Celtics’ game against the New York Knicks. “There’s nothing more important to the league and its fans than the integrity of the competition… It was very upsetting.” Adam Silver commented on the scandal for the first time in an interview with Amazon Prime Video. Adam Silver commented on the scandal for the first time in an interview with Amazon Prime Video. Nate Billings/AP Billups, the Portland head coach since 2021, was charged in an elaborate, mafia-linked scheme in which marks were lured to participate in rigged poker games in part with the opportunity to play alongside the NBA five-time All-Star. Attorney information for Billups was not immediately available. CNN reached out to the Trail Blazers and the Heat on Thursday. The Heat directed press inquiries to the NBA’s statement while the Trail Blazers noted that Splitter would take on interim head coaching duties. Suddenly shorn of their head coach, the Blazers were downbeat but determined on Friday. “It’s not an easy situation,” said forward Deni Avdija, per AP. “We really love Chauncey and what he’s done for this organization. I don’t know the details and I don’t really want to get into that. I’m trying to focus on the game.” Attempting to block out everything off the court and focusing on basketball seems to be a strategy filtering down from Splitter who remained guarded in his press conference after the game when asked about Billups. “We’re going to talk about basketball, just do what we do, play the way we’d like to play… I spoke in the morning (about Billups) but that’s it,” Splitter told reporters. “Life stuff happens and next step is basketball and doing our job.” “(We’re) trying to focus on the basketball part,” he added. “But these guys are human beings and we understand that, but trying to focus on basketball.” Meanwhile, Rozier was alleged to participate in a game-fixing scheme that included prop bets on his availability while a member of the Charlotte Hornets. Jim Trusty, Rozier’s attorney, strongly disputed the accusations, saying that prosecutors characterized Rozier as a subject of their investigation and not a target. The Miami Heat defeated the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday. The Miami Heat defeated the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday. Joe Murphy/NBAE/Getty Images His teammate Bam Adebayo, who added 24 points against the Grizzlies, stressed that Rozier still had the support of the Heat, saying: “(We) support him through and through. That’s our brother at the end of the day … We stand behind him.” “It felt kind of weird without him being here, actually, because he’s the first person I get to talk to in the morning. He brings that great energy to our team,” he added. “Terry is somebody who is very dear to all of us,” said Heat coach Erik Spoelstra. “He’s had a real positive impact on our locker room … We send our thoughts and our care for him as he goes through this.” Rozier was investigated by the NBA in 2023 over the same allegations for which he has now been indicted, as part of the inquiry which led to the lifetime ban of Toronto Raptors center Jontay Porter. Regarding Rozier’s case, Silver defended the league’s process which “ultimately concluded that there was insufficient evidence despite that aberrational behavior to move forward.” “He still hasn’t been convicted of anything, in fairness to Terry,” Silver added. “Obviously, it doesn’t look good, but he’s now been put on administrative leave. There’s a balance here of protecting people’s rights and investigating, and as I said, we’ve been working with the government, and they have extraordinary powers that a league office doesn’t have.”

Soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo becomes the sport’s first billionaire player, says Bloomberg

Portuguese soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has become the sport’s first ever billionaire player following a contract he signed with Al Nassr earlier this year, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

Although the former Real Madrid, Manchester United and Juventus star – now in the latter stages of his playing career – has always been one of the top earners in soccer, it’s his current stint at Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr that has catapulted him onto the exclusive list of billionaire athletes.

After moving to the Saudi Pro League in January 2023, he became the highest-paid player in the sport’s history with an annual salary of around $200 million, according to Saudi state media.

Pakistan Super League (PSL) Season 11

 

Pakistan Super League (PSL) Season 11 is set to mark a major milestone as the tournament expands to all major cities in its upcoming edition. For the first time in the league’s history, six different cities will host PSL matches.

According to PSL CEO Salman Naseer, the 2026 edition will feature games in Lahore, Karachi, Multan, Peshawar, Faisalabad, and Rawalpindi, making it the most geographically diverse season yet.

This expansion is being hailed as a landmark step for the league, reflecting the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) continued commitment to spreading top-tier cricket across the country. While Rawalpindi, Multan, Karachi, and Lahore have been regular hosts, Faisalabad and Peshawar — both passionate cricketing centers — will finally welcome PSL action after years of anticipation.

The Latest from the Bleacher Sports News Report: Top Sports Stories Today

 Here’s a comprehensive and dynamic summary styled as “The Latest from the Bleacher Sports News Report”, covering the top sports stories making headlines right now:

🏆 The Latest from the Bleacher Sports News Report: Top Sports Stories Today

1. NFL: Quarterback Controversy Heats Up in New York

The New York Jets are once again in the spotlight as the team faces mounting pressure over its quarterback situation. Following a string of underwhelming performances, head coach Robert Saleh is being pressed by fans and media alike to make a change before the mid-season stretch becomes do-or-die.

2. NBA: Season Tipping Off with High Drama and Big Expectations

The NBA season is underway with superstars like Luka Dončić, Jayson Tatum, and Nikola Jokić looking to dominate early. Meanwhile, the Golden State Warriors are under the microscope after a shaky preseason and rising tension between veterans and the new roster additions.

MLB: October Baseball Delivers Classic Postseason Drama

The MLB postseason is living up to the hype with nail-biting extra-inning games and breakout performances from unexpected heroes. The Dodgers and Braves are fighting to stay alive, while underdog teams like the Orioles are winning over neutral fans.

College Football: Upsets and Playoff Shake-Ups

Week 6 delivered some of the most surprising upsets yet, shaking up the College Football Playoff picture. Alabama’s late-game rally fell short, and Michigan remains undefeated with a dominant win, asserting themselves as top contenders.