Sport
All-round Ravindra Jadeja leads Chennai into IPL final

Ravindra Jadeja starred with bat and ball as Chennai Super Kings beat holders Gujarat Titans by 15 runs on Tuesday to enter the Indian Premier League final that could be skipper M.S. Dhoni’s farewell.
Four-time winners Chennai posted 172-7, a total their bowlers defended as they bowled out Gujarat for 157 in a play-off believed to be the last home match at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium for the 41-year-old Dhoni, AFP reported.
The left-handed Jadeja returned figures of 2-18 with his spin bowling following his 22 runs, which boosted the Chennai total after Ruturaj Gaikwad’s 60 on an awkward pitch for batting.
Fireworks lit up the sky as Chennai made their 10th Indian Premier League final.
Gujarat, led by Hardik Pandya, will have another shot at making the final, which is on Sunday in Ahmedabad, when they take on the winner of the second play-off between Lucknow Super Giants and five-time champions Mumbai Indians.
The spotlight remained on Dhoni, who is India’s most decorated player, leading his country to two World Cup triumphs including the inaugural T20 crown in 2007 and has played mentor to younger heroes including Virat Kohli.
Believed to be playing his last IPL as a player, Dhoni has attracted huge crowds across venues with fans turning up in Chennai’s yellow as a tribute to the cricketing great.
His home venue was nearly packed to capacity as fans cheered every move of their hero, who raised the noise when he came into bat.
But the crowd soon fell silent as the superstar, who has been troubled with a knee injury in this season but has not explicitly said he is retiring, fell to Mohit Sharma for one off two balls.
Earlier Gaikwad registered his fourth half-century of the season as he capitalized on a reprieve on two when he was dismissed in the second over only for the delivery to be called no-ball.
He hit back with a six and four and soon converted Chennai’s modest start to a strong opening stand of 87 with New Zealand’s Devon Conway, who made 40.
Chennai wobbled after Gaikwad’s departure but Jadeja’s 16-ball cameo, which included two sixes, and one hit over the fence by England’s Moeen Ali in the final over fired Chennai to what turned out to be a winning total.
Shubman Gill attempted to drive Gujarat’s chase with his 42 but the rest of the batting faltered.
Fast bowler Deepak Chahar, who took down Gill, and the Sri Lankan duo of Maheesh Theekshana and Matheesha Pathirana also took two wickets each.
Rashid Khan attempted to pull out a rabbit in his 16-ball 30 but fell in the 19th over and Pathirana sealed the deal on the final ball.
Sport
Afghan cricket umpire Bismillah Shinwari passes away aged 41
Shinwari, aged 41, played a key role in the development of Afghan cricket, both domestically and on the international stage.

Bismillah Shinwari, one of Afghanistan’s most experienced and respected cricket umpires, has passed away after a period of illness, the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) announced.
Shinwari, aged 41, played a key role in the development of Afghan cricket, both domestically and on the international stage.
A member of the ICC International Panel of Umpires “Bismillah Jan was a great servant of Afghan cricket,” the ACB said Tuesday.
Shinwari began his umpiring career in the early 2000s and steadily rose through the ranks as Afghanistan’s presence in world cricket grew. Over the years, he became known for his professionalism, calm demeanor, and deep understanding of the game.
He officiated in 34 One Day Internationals (ODIs), 26 T20 Internationals, 31 First-Class matches, 51 List A games, and 96 domestic T20 matches—making him one of the most active and experienced umpires in the country’s cricketing history.
The ACB described Shinwari’s passing as “a great and irreparable loss” to the sport in Afghanistan, noting his contributions not just on the field, but also as a mentor to younger officials and a supporter of cricket’s growth across the country.
His legacy is deeply woven into the rise of Afghan cricket over the past two decades. (edited)
Sport
Afghanistan’s group stage opponents confirmed for CAFA Nations Cup 2025

Afghanistan’s national football team will face Tajikistan, Iran, and Malaysia in Group B of the CAFA Nations Cup 2025.
Afghanistan Football Federation (AFF) announced on Thursday that Group B matches will be hosted by Tajikistan.
Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Oman will compete in Group A of the tournament.
The tournament, featuring eight teams, will take place from August 9 to September 8, 2025, with Uzbekistan and Tajikistan serving as co-hosts.
Sport
First half of Afghanistan Futsal League Season 4 concludes with Etihad victory

In the continuation of Afghanistan Premier Futsal League, Etihad FC delivered a spectacular performance in the 45th and final match of the first half of the season on Tuesday, defeating Deyar Sanayee with an impressive score of 10–2.
The 45 first-leg matches of Afghanistan Premier Futsal League Season 4 came to an end on Tuesday with exciting and entertaining games.
The second half of the season, the return leg of these 45 matches will kick off on July 8.
Futsal fans across the country are encouraged to stay tuned and watch the matches live and exclusively on Ariana Radio & Television Network (ATN) starting July 8.
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