Browsing: debate

Irfan Pathan has defended the call to not include Sarfaraz Khan from the India A squad (Images via Getty Images) Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan weighed in on the growing debate around Sarfaraz Khanâ€s exclusion from the India A squad for the upcoming first-class matches against South Africa A, urging caution against turning cricket selection into a political or communal issue. Sarfaraz, who turned 28 on Wednesday, was not included in either of the two squads led by Rishabh Pant, despite an impressive domestic record, including a first-class average of over 100 in the last five years.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!His omission reignited discussions among fans and observers questioning whether the Mumbai batter remains in contention for Indiaâ€s second-string side.”Selectors and the coach (management) will always have a plan. Sometimes it might look wrong in the fans†eyes, but please donâ€t twist things or create narratives that arenâ€t even close to the truth,” Pathan wrote on X, seemingly in reaction to the discussion and debate that was flaring up on the internet.

Irfan Pathan on X

Congress national spokesperson Shama Mohamed fueled the debate on social media, alleging religious bias in the non-selection and questioning the stance of head coach Gautam Gambhir. “Is Sarfaraz Khan not selected because of his surname! #justasking. We know where Gautam Gambhir stands on that matter,†she wrote on X. The remarks drew sharp criticism from BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla, who described the comments as divisive. “Stop dividing India on communal lines, caste lines. Keep your dirty political communal agenda out of cricket Shama,†he said, noting that other Muslim players, Mohammad Siraj and Khaleel Ahmed, remain part of the team. Reacting to the contrasting opinions, Pathan emphasized the need to focus on the game rather than letting social media and political narratives create unnecessary tension. He highlighted how quickly wild conclusions were being drawn without context, urging fans and leaders to respect the selection process. Pathanâ€s remarks come at a time when Sarfarazâ€s international appearances have been sporadic. After making his Test debut under Rohit Sharma against England in February last year, he has scored 371 runs in six Tests at an average of 37.10, with a century and three fifties. His last outing for India was in the home series against New Zealand in November 2024, and he has since been left out of major tours, including the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, the England tour, and the home series against the West Indies.

Poll

Do you believe Sarfaraz Khan’s exclusion from the India A squad was justified?

The debate around Sarfarazâ€s exclusion from the India A team was also understood as the ‘door being shut’ for him, as emphasized by former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.

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Warriors teammates Jimmy Butler and Buddy Hield are back at it with their adored love-hate relationship.

Butler first was asked what the score would be if he and Hield played each other in a 1-on-1 game.

“1-on-1? Ah, man. Too many [points] to zero,” Butler confidently stated. “Buddy has no chance.”

Hield later was captured talking about the matchup, admitting he can’t guard the six-time NBA All-Star in a 1-on-1 battle but has a better shot during a live 5-on-5 rep.

“On a 1-on-1 setting? Yes, he could go by me,” Hield said. “5-on-5? He’s going to jump in the air [and pass it]. I’m a better 5-on-5 defender than 1-on-1 against him because he’s just trying to bully. There’s all this space.”

Butler, of course, disagreed with what Hield was saying, stating he only shoots jump shots when they play 1-on-1 together — something the two argued about in a back-and-forth exchange.

“Let’s watch the film,” Butler said. “Buddy has never beat me 1-on-1.”

“I haven’t,” Hield responded. “I will admit I haven’t.”

At least Hield is honest.

The humble response perhaps had Butler have a change of heart, as he thought maybe that day would be the day his sharpshooting teammate finally would beat him.

“Today, Buddy can beat me,” Butler said.

In just a matter of days, the frenemies will shift from going against each other to fighting alongside one another as the Warriors chase a deep playoff run during the 2025-26 season, and ultimately, a championship.

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TORONTO — Fans cheering so hard for the baseball team during a hockey game wasnâ€t the only aspect of the Toronto Maple Leafs†home opener that divided attention, that felt a tad split.

Easton Cowan, the clubâ€s top prospect by a farmland mile, geared up in full and participated in warmups Wednesday alongside all the pros with whom he currently shares a dressing room. Then the 20-year-old rushed to shower and suit up so he could watch from the press box.

An NHL rookie whose rookie lap has been deferred, who made the cut, but still sees a doughnut under his games-played column.

The coach has promised to play the kid, and Cowan figures he has 20 or 30 friends and family members who will rush across the border if he is tapped for Saturdayâ€s Hockey Night in Canadaseason debut.

Should Cowanâ€s time come at the expense of tinkering with a winning lineup?

Or — a debate for later — at the expense of burning a year off the wingerâ€s entry-level contract?

“Teamâ€s first. And I love Cowan. We all do. Heâ€s going to be a good Leaf, Iâ€ll tell you that,†coach Craig Berube told reporters, between Fridayâ€s practice and a flight to Detroit for Saturdayâ€s divisional tilt against the Red Wings.

“Heâ€s going to be a good hockey player, and he is a good hockey player. But the team is the most important thing, and we gotta make decisions. And they donâ€t always please everybody.â€

Winning over Berube in September and projected as Torontoâ€s fourth-line right wing through training camp, the Maple Leafs reconsidered Cowanâ€s role — and juggled three lines — when veteran fourth-line centre Scott Laughton injured his left foot in pre-season action.

Dependable utility man Calle Järnkrok snatched Cowanâ€s spot and turned in a superb performance in Game 1, scoring a goal and receiving some first-line looks beside Auston Matthews.

Canâ€t take him out now.

Nor Bobby McMann, who also scored against Montreal and was arguably Torontoâ€s most noticeable forward.

Nor Matias Maccelli, who needs more runway, not his confidence checked.

That leaves Nick Robertson — who ripped four shots but skated a team-low 10:40 in the opener — as the lone candidate to take a seat whenever Berube and GM Brad Treliving decide itâ€s time for Cowanâ€s debut.

Robertson and Cowan split shifts at Fridayâ€s practice on Max Domiâ€s third line as the Leafs contemplate whether to play Cowan at Little Caesars Arena or wait for next weekâ€s back-to-back at home.

“Heâ€s close. Heâ€s got a great attitude. He works hard. He had a good practice today,†Berube said. “Weâ€ll see what happens tomorrow.â€

Our take: Scratching Robertson so early in the season — after an impressive camp and an off-season in which he resisted expressing his frustration and a team win — could be deflating. Particularly in Michigan, where he developed his wicked shot and still trains over the summer. Maybe wait till Monday.

That the AHL season has yet to begin gives the Leafs some leeway here. Itâ€s not as if Cowan is missing out on top-six minutes with the Marlies — yet. And then there is new pickup Sammy Blais, a pure fourth-liner who already understands Berube hockey.

When youâ€re carrying 14 forwards, you canâ€t keep â€em all happy.

“Just gonna keep taking it day by day. Keep attacking it. Keep working hard. You know, have a good mindset. Be positive,†said Cowan, finding value in The Show even if heâ€s still an understudy.

“It means a lot. I mean, you dream of it ever since you’re a kid. So, to still be here, Iâ€m very grateful for that, and not gonna take any days for granted.

“As soon as I get in, I know Iâ€ll be ready.â€

Cowan is a confident kid.

He has grown more vocal and at ease around the Leafs. Heâ€ll tell you that his complete, 200-foot game has never felt better than it did at camp. And that he tucked his phone away (not a small achievement for any twentysomething) Wednesday night at Scotiabank Arena so he could study the veterans.

“Itâ€s an NHL game, so thereâ€s not as many plays,†Cowan observed. “Itâ€s more just chip and chase and go get it and winning puck battles.â€

Camp may be over but make no mistake: Tryouts for Leafs forwards are ongoing. And theyâ€ll drag on for weeks.

“Not every day here is guaranteed,†Cowan realizes.

The Leafs won Game 1 despite some ill-advised puck management, slow decision-making, and sloppy breakouts.

And outside of their stars — Matthews, Matthew Knies, William Nylander, and John Tavares — no forward was given 16 minutes of work. (Meanwhile, He Who Shall Not Be Named clocked 22-plus on both halves of a back-to-back in Vegas.)

Berube was asked Thursday on Real Kyper & Bourne if he foresees any of his other options becoming depended upon for a regular top-six workload.

“I think we have guys capable of getting there. Not everybody can play that many minutes. Thereâ€s guys that have the motor to do it,†the coach responded.

“Watching Cowan from junior to now, heâ€s got a motor on him. Thatâ€s a ways away. But I do believe in time he can get there.â€

First, Cowan must get in the lineup — and itâ€ll come at the expense of someone more experienced.

“Iâ€m just gonna keep the pedal down,†said Cowan, trying to push those rookie-lap visions to the back of his mind. “Just keep stacking good days on good days.â€

Until that day heâ€ll never forget.

Maple Leafs projected lineup Saturday in Detroit:

Knies – Matthews – Maccelli
McMann – Tavares – Nylander
Joshua – Domi – Robertson
Lorentz – Roy – Järnkrok
Extras: Cowan, Blais

Rielly – Carlo
McCabe – Tanev
Benoit – Ekman-Larsson
Extra: Myers

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LONDON — Thomas Tuchel justified Jude Bellingham‘s omission from this England squad in part by claiming a need to identify an alternative should injury strike the Real Madrid star in the future.

Thursday’s authoritative 3-0 victory over Wales at Wembley was further evidence that he might have found not just another option but a genuine competitor for Bellingham’s No. 10 spot.

Morgan Rogers impressed in last month’s 5-0 win over Serbia to the extent that he was entrusted to continue the job. It took him, and England, just three minutes to pick up where they left off in Belgrade, smartly converting Marc Guéhi‘s cutback to open the scoring.

– When can England qualify for the 2026 World Cup?
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– 2026 World Cup: Who has qualified, and how the rest can make it

Rogers was denied an assist eight minutes later by the faintest touch from Guéhi on his cross, which Ollie Watkins converted. Later, Bukayo Saka curled in a sublime effort in the 20th minute.

For a manager who had tasked this group of players with the responsibility of proving themselves capable without the creative talents of Bellingham, Phil Foden and Jack Grealish, Tuchel was understandably delighted with the collective response.

It is the fastest England has scored three goals in a match since November 1987. And all without their all-time record goalscorer Harry Kane, responsible for 74 out of the 128 international goals across all 24 players called up this time.

“I did not feel any interruption in our flow, the workload and the way we pressed,” said Tuchel.

“The team is pushing itself and they are buying into the idea. They love the idea of going after opponents. At the moment it is very intense, very demanding but very effective.

“They do it at a high, high level. I am very delighted with the last two matches. We are absolutely on the right way. At the side, it feels like we show very good behavior like a club team. This is what we want to do, the feeling we want to create. The competition is on. The guys who play want to keep the shirt.”

There was a somewhat inevitable dip as the second half wore on, with the contest long since over, but Rogers was once again continuing to be crucial for England. Willing to drop in and help the press while dynamic enough to aid transitions or probe for openings, Rogers is a compelling choice.

“Morgan does excellent, like the whole team,” said Tuchel. “He is very humble, very physical, he has the ability to score and assist. He had a fantastic season and a well-deserved vote for the best young player of last season in the Premier League.

“That’s what he shows. We trust this team. Why not trust this team, who had such a good last camp? They showed again today that one-and-a-half training sessions are enough to adapt and be ready.”

Rogers celebrated his goal with the “Cold Palmer” celebration, an inadvertent reminder of another rival in that No. 10 position.

Morgan Rogers uses Cole Palmer’s celebration, but will he eventually take his starting role for England? (Photo by Rob Newell – CameraSport via Getty Images)

Cole Palmer is absent due to a groin problem and has conceded that Rogers first came up with the celebration Palmer has trademarked in the public consciousness when the pair played together in Manchester City’s academy.

The Chelsea playmaker will have watched somewhere as Rogers scored his first England goal, on a night where Rogers may have moved ahead of Palmer in the pecking order on the pitch too.

Of course, Bellingham’s talent is such that his return to full fitness and anything like his regular level for Real Madrid will ensure he not only earns a recall next month but probably a starting berth.

But Tuchel has pointedly referred to the excellent team spirit in camp and a benchmark of performance being set, which was emphatically underlined here to the extent that the onus is on Bellingham to respond over the next few weeks.

Tuchel made four changes to the team that beat Serbia and all of them were enforced — Reece James, Tino Livramento, Kane and Noni Madueke are injured — but the intensity and purpose in England’s play remained.

The combination overwhelmed Wales, and it could have been much worse. Watkins almost inconceivably missed from a yard out and Tuchel was right to suggest England could have been 5-0 up by halftime.

Wales improved in the second half to the extent Jordan Pickford was forced into two good saves, the first from David Brooks with his feet and the second flying to his left to repel Chris Mepham‘s header.

But they were thoroughly second best, often penned in as England pushed so far forward that their last line of defense was routinely only 40 yards or so from Wales’ goal.

Like Rogers, Elliot Anderson is excelling under Tuchel. Playing as a No. 6, he ended with 74 out of 79 completed passes and 92 touches in total, a figure only surpassed by England’s center backs Guéhi and John Stones, despite Anderson being substituted on 69 minutes. The 22-year-old anchored England’s European Championship success at Under-21 level this summer, and he continues to advance his case as a solution to England’s longstanding problem in the number six position.

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Of course, it remains to be seen whether he can dictate the tempo as effectively against elite — or even more expansive — opposition than Wales, but he is rapidly adding to the body of evidence that suggests he deserves the right to try.

These Wembley occasions can often be a little subdued and Tuchel was not shy in pointing out what he believed was a disparity between England’s performance and the noise levels inside the stadium.

“The stadium was silent. We didn’t get any energy back from the stands. We did everything to win,” he said.

“What more can you give in 20 minutes? We didn’t let them escape. If you hear just Wales fans for half an hour, it’s sad because the team deserved more support today.

“I’m 100% sure that we have fantastic support at the tournament. We will have top support in Latvia [on Tuesday]. We had excellent support in Serbia. But today we were 3-0, after 23 minutes, we had ball-win after ball-win after ball-win, and I felt like ‘why is the roof still on the stadium? What’s going [on]?’

“That’s just it, it is nothing big. It could also have helped us in the second half to regain energy and to regain rhythm. It was not like this today. No problem. We will do everything again to be infectious. There is no problem. Like I said, I really mean it. I’m sure we will get everyone going. It is on us. But today I was a little underwhelmed.”

Tuchel will hope the England fans respond. Those players currently on the periphery may need to do the same.

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Jason Mendez/Getty Images

In assessing Jade Cargill’s recent performance and injury in a triple threat main event on “WWE SmackDown,” WWE Hall of Famer Booker T recently asserted that she needed to better protect herself. He also stated that Cargill is still “fresh off” her run in All Elite Wrestling, where likely she wasn’t given a chance to learn about professional wrestling in depth. A report from Fightful Select later indicated that talents within WWE, AEW, and TNA were “baffled” by the latter remark –something Booker himself has since addressed on the “The Hall of Fame” podcast.

“I want to know who those baffled WWE, TNA and AEW wrestlers are,” Booker said. “I’m willing to talk and challenge and debate with any of those guys. I don’t look at myself above or below any of the guys that’s in the business today, guys in the past or future, none of that. I’m serious. I feel like we’re all on the same level. My thing is I respect the young guys. Say, for instance, a company like AEW, and I don’t see anybody over there that’s working in the main event, that’s been in the business two years or three years. The Young Bucks, those guys got time in. The Kenny Omegas, Edge, Christian, most of the guys over there on that roster got years of experience in this business. So when someone questions me, I’m going to look for your credentials first and foremost.

“I understand when someone who comments who’s never been in the business and they can look at two years in the business and think that’s a really, really long time. But one of my peers that’s been in the business, I think they know what two years is.”Â

In September 2023, Cargill left AEW after a 500-plus day reign as TBS Champion and making her professional wrestling debut in the company 2.5 years earlier. Later in the same month, WWE confirmed that Cargill had inked a deal with it, leading to her WWE in-ring debut at the 2024 Royal Rumble.

Booker Says He Knew ‘Very Little’ In First Two Years Of His Own Career

Bob Levey/Getty Images

Two years out from signing with WWE, Cargill is now a two-time WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion and a top star on the “WWE SmackDown” brand. She’s also competed in two WrestleManias, earning wins in both appearances. Still, in the grand scheme of things, Booker believes Cargill remains a work in progress.

Based on his prior in-ring experiences, Booker argues that two years is not a long time in the wrestling industry, hence his previous remark about Cargill still being “fresh” out of AEW. “I know at two years in the business what I knew, which was very, very little,” he said

Early in his career, Booker recalled wrestling in-ring veteran Dusty Wolfe, who had several years of television experience under his belt. Though Wolfe had actually rarely emerged victorious in his own matches on television, Booker found Wolfe’s insight valuable, so much so that he personally asked Wolfe to guide him through their forthcoming bout, which Booker was slated to win.

“I learned so much in that match listening to Dusty Wolfe,” Booker said. “I appreciate Dusty Wolfe. Wherever you are out there, Dusty, I appreciate the knowledge that you gave me to actually hopefully give to some other young guy one day, which I know I did. That’s what being in the business is at that stage. If you ain’t got your ears open learning from someone like a Dusty Wolfe, you’re going to be swimming upstream. I can almost guarantee you that in Jade’s first two years, she didn’t work with anyone like Dusty Wolfe.”

If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit “The Hall of Fame” with a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.

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CALGARY — The debate over Dustin Wolfâ€s workload wonâ€t just be a coaching decision. Itâ€ll be a storyline that could very well define the Calgary Flames†season.

And it may start as early as Game 2.

Asked if heâ€d consider starting Wolf on back-to-back nights to open the season in Edmonton and Vancouver, Ryan Huska didnâ€t say no.

“That is putting me on the spot,†he said, smiling, before reverting to the easy out.Â

“Heâ€s going to start the first game, I will tell you that.â€

Well within his rights to dance around it now, heâ€ll indeed be on the spot Thursday morning when his decision will say plenty about how the Flames will move ahead with an unproven backup on their roster.

The departure of Dan Vladar in the off-season will prompt a seismic shift in teamâ€s goaltending philosophy as it pertains to scheduled starts.

Wolfâ€s ascension to the franchiseâ€s undisputed starter late last season ended a first-half approach in which Vladar shielded the rookie from the toughest starts.

Clearly the roles will be reversed now, as the capabilities of 28-year-old AHL journeyman Devin Cooley are very much unknown.

With just six NHL starts to his credit, a shaky second half in the AHL last season and an unimpressive pre-season, would it be prudent to put Cooley in against the same Vancouver team that scored on three of seven shots against him last week?

Wolf is well-rested, and the brutal schedule the Flames are facing this month requires putting your best foot forward right out of the gate.

In fact, Wolf should be tapped to start the first three games over just three-and-a-half days, as the home opener goes Saturday against the St. Louis Blues at 2 p.m. MT / 4 p.m. ET (Sportsnet, Sportsnet+).

Yes, itâ€s a compact schedule due to the Olympics, and the importance of ensuring the Flames†coveted Calder finalist isnâ€t overworked is important.

But Wolf handled workloads like these throughout his dominant runs as perennial goalie-of-the-year candidate in the WHL and AHL.

Finding the sweet spot that will limit his starts to somewhere under 65 is going to be closely monitored as the Flames†success this season will unquestionably be linked to his performance.

“I think a lot of it this year is going to be how Dustin is feeling,†said Flames senior goaltending coach, Jordan Sigalet, who hinted even Game 2â€s decision will be a gut call.

“Itâ€s probably easier to get away with playing back-to-backs early in the season, when the guys are fresh.

“You ask Dustin, heâ€d want to play all 82, but youâ€ve got to be careful. Itâ€s his second year, and heâ€s not a big guy, so thereâ€s a little more wear and tear on him.â€

Much has been made about Wolfâ€s six-foot, 166-pound frame, but it was durable enough to post a 19-8-2 record down the stretch last year when games mattered most.

When you pay for a Ferrari, you drive it.

Besides, heâ€ll likely have three weeks off in February to regenerate.

“I do feel like he can handle a heavy workload,†said Huska, who gave Wolf 53 starts last year, leading to a seven-year, $52.5-million extension for the 24-year-old Californian.

“That doesnâ€t mean heâ€s going to play 76 games this year, but Iâ€m not afraid to go back to him.

“We have to make sure we manage his time off the ice and his rest. If heâ€s having multiple starts along the way based on our schedule, there are days he wonâ€t practice and thatâ€s something we have to do to make sure he stays sharp.â€

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Fair enough. The EBUG will get plenty of practice reps with the lads.

But how many starts Cooley gets will depend on his performance as much as how Wolf is feeling.

Meanwhile, KHL signing Ivan Prosvetov will be working with Wranglers goalie whisperer Mackenzie Skapski, adding structure to his large, athletic frame in case Cooley falters.

“The best thing for Devin to do is make sure when he gets his opportunity heâ€s competitive and gives us a chance to win all the time, and that really shows his partner, ‘Iâ€ve got your back. Iâ€m going to go in and Iâ€m going to win games for you guys,â€â€ said Huska, whose club has eight back-to-backs on the schedule this year.

“Thatâ€s what we need from Devin to allow Dustin the time heâ€s going to need this year.â€

To be fair, Cooley was an AHL all-star last season, posting a 17-6 record, 1.99 goals-against average and .937 save percentage before a January concussion derailed his season. He has the structure, size (six-foot-five) and athleticism to give Sigalet reason to believe heâ€s ready.

“You obviously wanted more out of him in camp but there was a lot of pressure on him while they battled, but we still believe in his talent,†said Sigalet of the 28-year-old backup who may need to post at least a .500 record if the Flames are going to make the playoffs.

“You look back to what he did in the first half and hope he gets back to that.â€

Some argue it would be best to get Cooley a start early (like Game 2) to calm his nerves and boost his confidence.

That could also backfire on him, and more importantly, on the team.

His best entry to the season would be Game 5 in Utah next Wednesday, which is the second half of another back-to-back that starts with Vegas in Calgary the night prior.

A solid start that night by the affable Cooley would go a long way towards easing the pressure on Wolf, and on an organization that may have its playoff fate determined by a backup.

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Pakistan skipper Fatima Sana seemingly called “tails” but the official immediately announced “heads” (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)Pakistan won the toss and opted to bowl first. Skipper Fatima Sana attributed the call to the overcast conditions (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)Pakistan skipper Fatima Sana seemingly called “tails” but the official immediately announced “heads” (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)Pakistan won the toss and opted to bowl first. Skipper Fatima Sana attributed the call to the overcast conditions (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)Pakistan skipper Fatima Sana seemingly called “tails” but the official immediately announced “heads” (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena) Videos from the sixth match of the ICC Womenâ€s World Cup 2025 featuring India and Pakistan at the R. Premadasa Stadium on Sunday have triggered a flurry of discussion on social media, but not for the absence of handshakes. The focus has shifted to the toss itself, where Pakistan captain Fatima Sana appeared to call “tails,†only for the official conducting the toss to declare “heads†as the call. This resulted in Pakistan winning the toss. Notably, the Pakistan skipper did not protest or react to the same. The decision immediately drew attention online, with fans questioning whether Pakistan had “unfairly†won the toss. There has been no official statement confirming the call, leaving the matter unsettled as discussions continued across platforms. Pakistan, after winning the toss, opted to bowl first and quickly made progress, breaking into the Indian batting line-up, picking up crucial early wickets that could influence the outcome of the match. Watch the moment that led to the toss controversy hereAfter 41 overs, India were 179 for 5, with notable contributions from Pratika Rawal (31), Smriti Mandhana (23), Harleen Deol (46), Harmanpreet Kaur (19), and Jemimah Rodrigues (32).

Pakistan won the toss and opted to bowl first. Skipper Fatima Sana attributed the call to the overcast conditions (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Speaking ahead of the toss, India captain Harmanpreet Kaur said: “We played a good series here before the WC. We’re thinking positively and are looking to do well. One unfortunate change — Amanjot isn’t playing (she’s ill), Renuka Thakur replaces her. We’ve gelled well as a team and looking forward to today’s contest.†Meanwhile, Pakistan skipper Fatima Sana outlined her teamâ€s approach: “We’re going to bowl first, looks like there could be some moisture on the wicket. One change for us — Sadaf Shamas replaces Omaima Sohail — our confidence is great, hopefully we’ll play better today. Anything under 250 could be a good chase.â€

Poll

Do you think there was a mistake in the toss result in the India vs Pakistan match?

The toss controversy has added an unexpected layer of controversy to an already tense fixture, with both teams having to focus on handling the pitch, conditions, and pressure of one of cricketâ€s most high-profile rivalries.

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Jasprit Bumrah (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri) Former cricketer Mohammad Kaif has stirred debate around Jasprit Bumrahâ€s workload management and role in Indiaâ€s white-ball setup. Sharing his observations from the recent Asia Cup, Kaif pointed out that Bumrah, under Suryakumar Yadavâ€s captaincy, bowled a three-over spell at the start of the innings, rather than being reserved for crucial death overs.

Big Change in Indiaâ€s XI! No Jasprit Bumrah vs Oman?

He noted that while Bumrah now prefers to bowl once his body is warmed up, limiting his presence in the slog overs could hand a significant advantage to stronger opponents in the upcoming World Cup.“Bumrah under Rohit would generally bowl overs 1, 13, 17, 19. Under Surya, in Asia cup, he bowled a three-overs spell at the start. To avoid injury, Bumrah these days, prefers to bowl while his body is warmed up. 1 over of Bumrah in the remaining 14 overs is a huge relief for batters, against stronger teams at World Cup, this could hurt india,†Kaif remarked on X. Despite the concerns, selectors have shown complete faith in the pace spearhead. Jasprit Bumrah was named in Indiaâ€s 15-member squad on Thursday for the two-Test home series against West Indies beginning October 2 in Ahmedabad. Chairman of Selectors Ajit Agarkar confirmed that Bumrah is “rested, fit, and eager to play both Tests†following an extended break after the England tour.The squad also features significant changes. Devdutt Padikkal has replaced Karun Nair, with Agarkar admitting the latter did not make the most of his opportunities in England.Sai Sudharsan, meanwhile, has been backed to secure the No.3 slot after impressing with his consistency. Vice-captaincy duties fall to Ravindra Jadeja in the absence of Rishabh Pant, who is expected to return for the South Africa series in November.Notably, Abhimanyu Easwaran finds himself out of contention despite years of travelling with the squad, while Mohammed Shamiâ€s future remains uncertain amid fitness concerns.Squads:Shubman Gill (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Ravindra Jadeja (VC), Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Axar Patel, Nitish Kumar Reddy, N Jagadeesan (WK), Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav.

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FARMINGDALE, N.Y. — Even by Long Island standards, the latest figures show the cost of real estate around this Ryder Cup is skyrocketing.

The list price for four square-inches across Patrick Cantlay’s forehead? $300,000.

Of course, there is no way of knowing whether or not Cantlay’s $300,000 Ryder Cup pay bump from 2023 to 2025 is the reason he chose to arrive at Bethpage this week wearing a Team USA embroidered hat. The man himself has denied any involvement in igniting the conversation around player pay with his now infamous decision to go capless in Rome two years ago, insisting his decision was far more about fabric than substance.

“For the millionth time, the hat didn’t fit,” he said on Tuesday morning at Bethpage Black.

Still, Cantlay arrived at Bethpage with a hat and with the knowledge that his performance at this week’s Cup would now be worth $500,000, a jump of $300,000 over his paycheck from his hatless performance in 2023. Those things might not be related, but European Ryder Cup fans have already seized on the idea regardless.

The PGA of America will give American Ryder Cup players more money in two ways in 2025. First, $300,000 will be earmarked for charity for each of Team USA’s 12 players ($100,000 more than was earmarked in ’23). Second, each player will receive a new $200,000 “player stipend” that can be spent anywhere. The DP World Tour, responsible for the European Ryder Cup team, will not change its payment practices in 2025. The Tour will not give a dime to its players for their performance, and will instead cash the majority of the Cup’s tournament income into their own coffers — a revenue-generator that financial records show is vital to the continued existence of the tour.

Given these facts, it is not particularly challenging to craft a narrative around player pay and the Ryder Cup; countless golf commentators and fans have already attempted to do so during preview days at Bethpage. In their telling, American players represent the worst instincts of golf’s era of greed, and their flagrant money-grab flies in the face of the Ryder Cup’s long-held ideals of sportsmanship and goodwill. The European players, meanwhile, represent golf’s true purists, and their willingness to forego a paycheck shows not only the depth of their commitment to the Cup, but also the depth of their commitment relative totheir American counterparts, who clearly love golf and the Ryder Cup so much less as to deign asking for payment.

In another accounting of the same story, one shared by Xander Schauffele’s father Stefan at the ’23 Ryder Cup, the roles are flipped. The Americans are heroes of the modern sports era, fighting to be paid what they have rightfully earned against the greedy, shadowy corporations unwilling to share it. The Europeans, in this same telling, are not wrong for refusing pay, just naive to the ways of the world in a manner that allows for their continued exploitation.

The truth is that both sides are wrong. These arguments are not only lazy, they miss the point altogether. The boogeyman here isn’t Cantlay, the Americans or the Europeans. The boogeyman isn’t money or empowerment or equity. The solution to Ryder Cup player pay is staring us in the face, and it’s not all that hard to understand: Consistency.

If we can agree with that the Ryder Cup is a truly special event, then we can also agree that the responsibility for achieving that goal rests equally with all parties. Nobody — not the players, the caddies, the agents, the sponsors, the hospitality-goers, the fans, the governing bodies, the TV partners or anybody else — is allowed to sit out the furthest pursuit of the Ryder Cup’s ideals. The social contract is binding.

At Bethpage Black, it is hard to find the evidence of a greater good being served beyond the margins of an Excel spreadsheet. The get-in price for tickets to this year’s event, held at one of the few great golf courses in America that has shown any commitment to affordability and accessibility, was an astronomical $750, more than ten times the cost of an in-state tee time. On the corporate level, $10,000 per ticket hospitality offerings are a popular seller.

Even those who survived the get-in price should prepare to spend and spend some more. Food and soft drink is included with a ticket purchase, but alcohol is not. Beer costs at least $15 and up to $19. Inside the merchandise tent, a simple Ryder Cup t-shirt costs $82 — $82!!! — while some sweatshirts are priced at more than $150. Parking, located a 20-minute shuttle ride away from the property at Jones Beach, costs $55 per day. Hell, even those watching from home have justified concerns: NBC returns to broadcast the event after intense scrutiny in Rome over an onslaught of commercial interruptions.

Think about how outrageous these prices sound in the context of the Masters, where dirt-cheap tickets, free parking and $1.50 pimento cheese sandwiches have become a distinct piece of tournament lore, and where a below-market TV deal is signed every year in pursuit of limited commercials and stunning visuals. Augusta National still makes and charges plenty during Masters week, especially in its fabled merchandise center, but there are noticeably fewer instances of suspected player protest, and noticeably fewer gripes from the peanut gallery. Maybe the azaleas and green jackets have a tranquilizing effect, or maybe it’s just that everybody has agreed to play by the same set of rules.

The Masters is a convenient example for a golf writer supportive of pursuing goodness over profit. It is also an outlier — a tournament freed from the laws of economics and the hard financial realities of a biennial match play event. Still, it is not hard to look around the remainder of the golf world and see the examples of moneymaking enterprises with an earnest interest in doing the right thing (free children’s tickets to the Open Championship, for example, or commercial cutdowns at the U.S. Open).

The point of it all isn’t that anybody is wrong for cashing a check. The point isn’t even that cashing a check is bad. The point is that it seems awfully unfair that the standards are so inconsistent for the people who cash the checks so publicly.

Of courseit’s nice to theorize about a world where golf’s highly paid stars put down their wallets and give back to the game of golf. But any conversation around money and golf should start with a conversation around consistency.

In golf, as in real estate, location is everything. And so long as the Ryder Cup’s engines of commerce and competition run on divergent tracks, the real estate between the ropes will only grow pricier.

Jon Rahm’s first round of this week’s BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Golf Club got off to a frustrating start…