skywritg.com – Today’s Pulse & News Briefings

Jasprit Bumrah’s pinpoint yorker flattened Haris Rauf’s stumps in the Asia Cup 2025 final, followed by a viral jet celebration that electrified Dubai. This playful yet clinical act underscored India's commanding performance, restricting Pakistan to 144/9. Bumrah's memorable moment, combining a fiery delivery with a cheeky mimicry, perfectly encapsulated India's dominance and confidence in their decisive victory.

Abhishek Bachchan humorously reacted after Shoaib Akhtar mistakenly referred to cricketer Abhishek Sharma as the actor during a live show discussing the India-Pakistan Asia Cup final. Akhtar's on-air blooper left panellists in splits, prompting Bachchan's witty reply on X, stating even he couldn't get out. This viral moment blended cricket and Bollywood ahead of the highly anticipated final.

India secured their Asia Cup 2025 final berth with a dominant 41-run victory over Bangladesh in Dubai, despite Sanju Samson's mixed performance, where he dropped a catch and didn't get to bat. Suryakumar Yadav's team posted 168/6, powered by Abhishek Sharma's explosive 75, while Bangladesh faltered in their chase, managing only 127.

Following Pakistan's six-wicket defeat to India in the Asia Cup Super Four clash, captain Salman Agha acknowledged the debatable Fakhar Zaman dismissal but emphasised that the team's batting performance was the primary cause of the loss. He admitted that the team fell short of the expected score, while praising the team's bowling effort.

During the India-Pakistan Asia Cup Super Four clash in Dubai, tensions flared when Abhishek Sharma and Haris Rauf engaged in a heated exchange, prompting umpire intervention. This followed earlier verbal volleys between Indian openers and Pakistani bowlers, highlighting India's fearless approach in chasing Pakistan's total. The charged atmosphere and aggressive play underscored the intense rivalry, captivating the Dubai crowd.

Bangladesh clinched a narrow four-wicket victory against Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup Super Fours, fueled by impressive half-centuries from Saif Hassan and Towhid Hridoy. Sri Lanka posted 168/7, highlighted by Dasun Shanaka's explosive 64, but Bangladesh successfully chased it down, reaching 169/6 in 19.5 overs. Despite some late-order jitters, Bangladesh held their nerve to secure the win.

Pakistan have cancelled its pre-match press conference before their Asia Cup Super Four clash against India, marking the second consecutive time they've skipped media duties. This follows a dispute with match referee Andy Pycroft over a handshake controversy during their previous encounter. The PCB's request to remove Pycroft was rejected, leading to heightened tensions and potential ICC action against Pakistan.

India survived a spirited scare from Oman in Abu Dhabi, scraping through with a 21-run win. Sanju Samson hit a scratchy fifty, Axar Patel sparkled, but Suryakumar Yadav baffled everyone by slotting himself at No. 11 without batting. Oman’s fight was led by veteran Aamir Kaleem (64) and Hammad Mirza (51), as they pushed India closer than expected.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has responded to the ICC's concerns regarding potential PMOA violations during a recent match. The PCB defended its media manager's actions, claiming authorised access and adherence to ICC protocols, while the ICC raised objections to filming a sensitive meeting and alleged blackmail. The situation remains tense, potentially leading to further action from the ICC.

The ICC is likely to reject the PCB's demand to remove match referee Andy Pycroft, following allegations that he instructed captains not to shake hands. Sources suggest Pycroft may have been acting on instructions from the ACC. The PCB, led by chief Mohsin Naqvi, threatened to withdraw from the tournament if their demand wasn't met.

Former Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq believes Pakistan has a golden opportunity in the upcoming Asia Cup clash against India. He suggests Virat Kohli's absence makes India's batting line-up vulnerable if Pakistan's bowlers strike early. India's recent Asia Cup opener saw a dominant win against UAE, fueled by Kuldeep Yadav's spell and quickfire batting.

Ahead of the crucial Asia Cup clash against Pakistan, Arshdeep Singh's cryptic Instagram post sparked speculation about his mindset after being benched. Batting coach Sitanshu Kotak defended the team selection, emphasizing that decisions are based on conditions and team balance. As India prepares to face Pakistan, the possibility of including a second pacer looms, leaving Arshdeep's potential inclusion uncertain.

Ahead of the highly anticipated Asia Cup 2025 clash against Pakistan, India's batting coach Sitanshu Kotak confirmed Sanju Samson's readiness to bat in the middle order. While the team remains tight-lipped about the final XI, Kotak emphasized the team's focus and competitiveness. He highlighted the flexibility of the batting order and the presence of multiple finishers.

The Asia Cup 2025 began with a funny incident in Dubai as Suryakumar Yadav's toss confusion briefly overshadowed the start. After winning the toss, Suryakumar's delay in communicating the decision to UAE's captain led to a lighthearted moment. India chose to bowl first on a fresh pitch, while both teams revealed their playing XIs, ready to compete.

India began their Asia Cup 2025 campaign in Dubai. They achieved the fastest-ever chase in men’s T20I history. India chased down UAE's 58-run target in just 4.3 overs, winning by nine wickets. Kuldeep Yadav took 4 wickets for 7 runs. Abhishek Sharma scored 30 off 13 balls. Shubman Gill remained unbeaten on 20.

Afghanistan started their Asia Cup campaign strongly, defeating Hong Kong by 94 runs. Sediqullah Atal's unbeaten 73 and Azmatullah Omarzai's quickfire 53 propelled Afghanistan to 188/6. Hong Kong's chase crumbled under the pressure of Afghanistan's disciplined bowling attack, led by Fazalhaq Farooqi and Gulbadin Naib, ultimately restricting them to just 94/9.

Pakistan's women's cricket team will not attend the ICC Women's World Cup opening ceremony in India, aligning with a recent agreement between the two nations to avoid cross-border travel for ICC tournaments. Political tensions continue to impact sporting relations, as evidenced by India's previous decision to skip the Champions Trophy in Pakistan.

Arjun Tendulkar’s fiancée Saaniya Chandhok joined the Tendulkars on their family trip to Maheshwar, though Arjun was missing from the photos. Coming from a prominent business family, Saaniya is quietly managing ventures while Arjun continues building his cricket career.

Lalit Modi, the former IPL chairman, admitted to intentionally violating broadcasting regulations during the inaugural IPL match in 2008 to maximize viewership, overriding Sony's exclusive rights. Despite potential legal repercussions, Modi prioritized widespread access to ensure the tournament's success. This decision later led to contract disputes, investigations, and legal proceedings against Modi regarding alleged favoritism towards World Sports Group.

Kieron Pollard, at 38, showcased his explosive batting prowess in the Caribbean Premier League, reminding everyone of his destructive capabilities. After a slow start, he unleashed a brutal assault, smashing seven sixes in eight balls against St Kitts and Nevis Patriots.