After travelling to Australia and the Sub-continent the ‘global-ball’ trophy returned to the founding fathers of cricket England. The United Kingdom is ready to host the 7th edition of the World Cup for the fourth time. This edition is famous for the underdog Zimbabwe upsetting the Indians and the old saying in cricket has emerged “it does not finish, until it is over.” The 7th edition of the Cricket World Cup began with the glory of the most dominating cricket team of all time, after beating Pakistan in the finals Australia started to dominate the cricket for a decade.  

In Continuation to our series “A Countdown to World Cup” today we are sharing the stories of the 1999 World Cup.

World Cup of 1999

The ICC Cricket World Cup of 1999, also known as England Cup 99, was the seventh edition of the Cricket World Cup organised by the International Cricket Council (ICC). Mostly hosted by England, selected matches were also held in Scotland, Ireland, Wales and the Netherlands. Australia won the tournament defeating Pakistan by 8 wickets in the final at Lord’s in London. This edition was held three years after the previous Cricket World Cup, deviating from the usual four-year gap.

Format

It involved 12 teams that played a total of 42 matches. In the subgroup stage, the teams were divided into two groups of six; each team played everyone else in their group once. The top three teams from each group qualified for the Super Sixes, a new concept for the 1999 World Cup; each team carried over points from games against other qualifiers in their group and then played each qualifier in a different group (i.e. each qualifier in Group A played each qualifier in Group B and vice versa). Semi-finals were played between the top four teams of the super-six.

Super Six

Semi-finals

The first semi-final was played between unpredictable Pakistan and the knockout hunter New Zealand at Old Trafford, where Pakistanis hunted the Kiwis and marched towards finals. New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat, with the help of Roger Towse 46 New Zealand reached 247 for 7 in 50 overs. In reply Pakistan achieved the target with 15 balls to spare, Saeed Anwar emerged as the hero by scoring an unbeaten 113*. Pakistan’s speedster Shoaib Akhtar was awarded man of the match for his heroic spell. 

The second semi-final of the 1999 Cricket World Cup was a One Day International (ODI) match played on 17 June 1999 at the Edgbaston Cricket Ground in Birmingham, England. It was played between South Africa and Australia. South Africa won the toss and elected to field, the match ended in a draw with a runout involving Allan Donald and Lance Klusener booking Australia’s place in the final where they will play Pakistan. Australia was promoted to the finals because of a higher net run rate in the super six. 

Finals

The final of the 1999 ICC Cricket World Cup was played on 20 June 1999 at Lord’s in London. It was the fourth time Lord’s hosted the ICC Cricket World Cup final, having previously hosted finals in 1975, 1979 and 1983. Australia won another title, defeating Pakistan in the final by 8 wickets. Shane Warne was declared man of the match. Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat. In a good bowling display, Australia bowled out Pakistan for 132 runs. Pakistan has not established significant partnerships. The choice of the bowlers was Shane Warne who took 4 wickets for 33 runs from 9 overs. In reply, Adam Gilchrist immediately attacked and scored a quick 50. Australia won the match in 20.1 overs for the loss of just two wickets. Warne won the Man of the Match award and Australia won the World Cup.

Statistics 

Top Run Scorer

Top Wicket Taker

After the successful presidency of G20, the Indian external affairs minister S. Jaishankar spoke at the 78th meeting of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. He addressed the assembly on various global issues, primarily related to the ongoing diplomatic conflict between India and Canada and the permanent seat for India in the Security Council. 

Jaishankar greeted the assembly, Namaste from Bharat! He started his speech by saying “The days are over when few of the members set the agenda to discuss and G20 is the biggest example of this.”  

A fair, just and democratic order will surely emerge if we all think about it, and for starters, that means making sure the rule-makers don’t overrule the rule-takers. Everyone must respect territorial integrity and not interfere in the internal matters of others until they are related to humanitarian issues. Mr Jaishankar was speaking at the end of a week of national speeches, where the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues to be at the centre of speeches by Western leaders. However, another issue emerged last week when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made an explosive claim that the Indian government was involved in the assassination of a Khalistan separatist leader in Canada in June this year.

Adding to this Mr Jaishankar said, “the time has arrived when the UN must think about the reconciliation of the seats for permanent members of the security council, inclusion of the African Union in G20, should be an inspiration for the UNGA.” Bharat has evolved as the friend of the world from the times of the Non-Alignment Movement, our role as Vishwa Mitra describes our ability to engage with the global world which is shown in the growth of QUAD.  

The speech may rekindle rumours that the central government is considering replacing the word India in the Constitution with the word Bharat, which sparked a huge controversy earlier this month. Addressing the UN General Assembly session from the iconic green podium, S Jaishankar began his over 17-minute speech with folded hands and ‘Namaste Bharat’.

World Tourism Day is observed on 27th September every year to highlight the global significance of tourism. The day has played an important role in the rise of socioeconomic growth, cultural exchange and sustainable development through tourism, since its establishment. Tourism is one of the most beautiful things in the world, as it allows us to visit new places, experience different cultures, and create a moment to cherish lifelong. Whether it is exploring the prehistoric ruins, relaxing on the amazing beaches, meditating on the great mountains, or delving into the taste of local cuisine, tourism opens the doors of discovery and adventure. It also helps the economies to boost on the global level, it also promotes the feeling of globalisation by cultural exchange. 

Winter is around the corner and it’s time to pack your bags and move outside to experience the cold. December is the month when the beautiful merges with the cold and gives birth to a new foetus called Whoopee! These exciting places in December can turn your usual trip into a discovery that you have been missing. We have the best places to visit in December to make winter epic. These beautiful places are famous for many reasons and no one can miss the opportunity to discover the best views and enjoy exciting activities at the same time. On the day of World Tourism, we will tell you about the most exotic places to visit in the upcoming winter vacation. 

5 exotic places to visit in winters

Vienna, Austria

Vienna is a vibrant city, with a complete package of history, wonderful architecture and beautiful displays, it was called the ‘city of music’ because of its musical heritage, as many popular classical musicians like Beethoven and Mozart called Vienna home. Vienna is also said to be the ‘City of Dreams’ because the world’s first psychoanalyst, Sigmund Freud, lived there. It is one of the best places to travel and explore the authenticity of Europe. Here, you can enjoy sachertorte, apfelstrudel, wiener schnitzel, tafelspitz, gulasch. These are the dishes that make the city extra special. You have to carry warm clothes with you, light wool is the best choice. 

Kerala, India

Kerala is the southernmost state of India and a sea gateway to India from the Arabian Sea. Kerala is named as the ten paradise of the world to travel, because of its culture and traditions and diverse demographics which made the state one of the most popular tourist destinations in India. Kerala’s beaches, backwaters, lakes, mountain ranges, waterfalls, ancient ports, palaces, religious institutions and wildlife sanctuaries are major attractions for both domestic and international tourists. Kochi city ranks first in total number of international and domestic tourists in Kerala. Kerala is known for its ecotourism initiatives, with mountain climbing, trekking and bird-watching programs in the Western Ghats as its main activities.

New York City

New York is one of the most festive destinations in December, and some say it’s the best time to visit New York. Bundle up and take to the downtown streets to browse the holiday store windows or hear the famous Rockettes perform. Be ready to stop by Rockefeller Square to see the iconic Christmas tree. There’s never a dull moment in New York, even in winter. Ice skating in Central Park against the backdrop of the magnificent New York City skyline is a must-experience. Since December snowstorms are unpredictable in the Northeast, it’s a good idea to leave some extra time and flexibility in your itinerary in case your trip is delayed. 

Sydney Harbour, Australia

Sydney Harbor is a stunning place and a cruise is a great way to experience it. Here, you can enjoy a tall ship adventure by day on Sydney Harbor Tall Ships and Sydney Heritage Fleet Cruises, or jump on a paddle wheel for a Sydney Showboat cruise by night. Those who also want to explore the underwater world will love a summer snorkelling cruise with Sydney Princess Cruises. The harbour is also used as an eerie backdrop for major events, such as the electrifying Sydney New Year’s Eve fireworks display. Seafood is one of the major foods to love the taste of harbour. 

Kruger National Park, South Africa

Kruger Park is Africa’s most exciting African safari destination. Steeped in legend and history, the iconic Kruger National Park in South Africa awaits you to explore its vast landscapes and magnificent African wildlife. Plan your Kruger National Park safaris with recommended Kruger Park safaris, from exclusive private safaris to affordable group safaris. Go on an expedition to discover the great road of Africa: elephant, lion, rhinoceros, leopard and buffalo. You will find unique wildlife on a real Kruger National Park safari in Africa. Eating options available are; milk, bread, meat, fruit, vegetables, drinks, and snacks.

As Bangladesh Cricket Board announced their Cricket World Cup squad on Tuesday, the fans and cricket enthusiasts are dissatisfied with the team for the tournament. The anger and disappointment were justified as the team ignored the experienced left-handed opener, Tamim Iqbal. Tamim, who had been in the limelight after his decision to call off his retirement, has been in and out of the team since July 2023 and was also not included in the Asia Cup 2023.

Iqbal has represented Bangladesh in three ODI World Cups before this. Except for him, Shakib al Hasan, Mahmudullah Riyad, and Mushfiqur Rahim have also represented the Men in Green in an excess of two World Cups. This makes Bangladesh the most experienced side in the 2023 CWC. Shakib made his CWC debut in 2011 and played in 2015 and 2019 editions of the tournament. Mahmudullah has also played in the 2011, 2015, and 2019 World Cups, while Rahim has been the most experienced with four World Cup appearances. Including Tamim in the side would have made the Bangladeshis confident about performing well in the Cup. 

Apart from Bangladesh, India along with England, Australia, and New Zealand also have players in their CWC ’23 squad who have represented their respective countries in more than two World Cups. For India, the chase master, Virat Kohli has appeared in three WC editions, in 2011, 2015, and 2019, and is now going to play there for the fourth time. For Australia, the test GOAT, Steven Smith made his World Cup debut in 2011 and has played for the Men in Yellow since then. The veteran spinner, Adil Rashid is the most experienced campaigner when it comes to ODI World Cups for England. While the Blackcaps have included two such athletes, Kane Williamson and Tim Southee. Both of these players have played for New Zealand in the last three editions of the tournament. 

Experience is certainly important for a team to perform, that is what players like Tamim Iqbal bring to the table. The exclusion from the squad is disappointing for the fans and may mark the end of the career of an underrated batting prodigy.

People are just crazy for daily soaps as it is the best time pass for them during the day. The shows are full of twists and turns to let people gain more interest in the plot of the serials. From Anupamaa to Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata hai, these are watched by the masses.

 
Here are 5 plot twists that you can expect from these shows this week:
 

1. Anupamaa: to leave Anuj after he kills Samar

Samar’s murder by Anuj Kapadia is the main issue of the current Anupamaa plot. Anupamaa becomes heartbroken upon learning the truth when Vanraj accuses Anuj of killing his son. She decides to remain in the Shah residence and abandons Anuj. Anuj, on the other hand, begins to feel guilty after being charged with killing Samar.
 

2. Ghum Hai Kisikey Pyaar Mein: Ishan feels sorry for his action against Savi

Savi (Bhavika Sharma) feels helpless in the forthcoming Ghum Hai Kisikey Pyaar Mein episode because she receives no support from anyone. She faces her challenges in college and discovers Ishaa’s mother is secure. Ishaan then decides to believe Kiran over her, therefore she decides to quit college and leave a mark. Savi intends to stop her studies later and go back to Ramtek. Savi is forced to remain in the college after being found innocent by the IPS officer before leaving. Ishaan (Shakti Arora) is sorry for his error.
 

 
3. Yeh Rishta kya kehlata hai?: Akshara to tie the knot with Abhimanyu?

Following his decision to rescue her and Abir’s lives, Akshara (Pranali Rathod) chooses to wed Abhimanyu (Harshad Chopda) in forthcoming episodes of Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai. She has a special proposal for him in mind. Akshara advises Abhimanyu that the foundation of their relationship should be friendship. Akshara will soon learn that she is carrying Abhinav’s child, and Abhimanyu will decide to adopt the child. 
 

 
4. Karan and Preeta’s Maha Milan in Kundali Bhagya

Preeta (Shraddha Arya) and Karan (Shakti Anand) have their hit-and-misses but never actually meet in the forthcoming episode of Kundali Bhagya. The wait is now over since Preeta and Karan will get married at Janmashtami. During the party, Preeta enters the Luthra mansion and confronts Karan. Seeing Preeta overwhelms Karan.
 

5. Imllie: New week brings a new turn in Imlie’s love story

Agastya (Sai Ketan Rao) and Imlie (Adrija Roy) will reportedly get along better with the addition of tiny Ashu, according to a recent Imlie promo. The son of Kairi and Agastya is named Ashu. Imllie and Agastya are both ignorant of this important fact, though. Ashu will be taken to the hospital by Imlie for treatment. Little Ashu does not want to be treated, so he will flee the hospital. Agasty is run into, and he addresses him as Chachu. Agastya will view Imllie as the impoverished young woman she truly is. 

We had fun compiling this list for you, Let us know about the plot twist you found most interesting!

Health specialists around the world are now cautious about a potential health threat referred to as ‘Disease X,’ as the next global pandemic. The disease is spreading in the UK rapidly and creating an alarming situation among doctors, they warned if proper precautionary measures are not followed then it may kill around a million people like COVID-19. The experts stated that COVID-19 is just a presentation of what the world can feel in the upcoming years. The World Health Organisation (WHO) also contemplated the issue and added the disease to its priority list. The Global Organisation for Health Measures classifies ‘Disease X’ into the categories of  Nipah, Zika, COVID-19, Ebola, Lassa fever, and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), which have already scared the world. 

What is Disease X?

It is probably and likely to be caused by pathogen X. It may be associated with a zoonosis, possibly an RNA virus originating in an area where transmission is facilitated by the epidemiological triad – environmental host. These emerging/re-emerging z-pathogens can be marked with an X and represent a threat that requires intensive and continuous active monitoring and surveillance. 

How to Prevent?

Isolation and mitigation strategies include the development and implementation of consistent international guidelines for containing bioterrorism. Immediate and appropriate travel restrictions, including strict airport controls, must be implemented to prevent the spread of Pathogen X across borders. It also requires the cooperation of global leaders, scientists, epidemiologists and infectious disease experts to investigate, control and eliminate Disease X. Extensive and mass testing, surveillance and aggressive contact tracing are potentially effective tools for timely containment of outbreak situations.

UK’s Roadmap

In response to the threat of Disease X, scientists in the UK launched the development of vaccines targeting this unknown but potentially deadly pathogen. More than 200 scientists are involved in this research, which is being carried out at the Porton Down high-security laboratory complex in Wiltshire. They are also focusing on research, primarily on zoonotic pathogens, and animal viruses that can infect humans and spread rapidly around the world. Pathogens under consideration include bird flu, monkeypox, and rodent-borne hantavirus.

The Aussies have travelled to India for their last ODI series before the Cricket World Cup, starts on October 5. In the series that commenced on 22nd September, two out of the three matches were played. The hosts (India) are two nil up in the series, making the last match a dead rubber. India, who had announced two different squads for the ODIs, have a chance to clean-sweep Australia, as the key players return to the team. 

India escalated to the first spot after the Men in Blue bashed the Australian team in the first two ODIs. In the first ODI, Indian batters showed class and aggression as they chased a target of 277 with more than an over to spare. While in the second match, India batting first scored a mammoth 399 runs in their quota of 50 overs. Australia surrendered against the fiery Indian bowling unit. 

As the veterans Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma return for the third ODI, India will have to make some changes in the winning combinations. For the third one-day, Captain Rohit Sharma, star batter Virat Kohli, and Kuldeep Yadav will return to the squad. Mukesh Kumar, Tilak Varma, and Gaikwad have been excluded from the team as they will soon fly to China to play in the Asian Games, Prasidh Krishna has also been kept out. The probable eleven for the hosts will incur major changes.

The playing eleven for the host will be Rohit Sharma opening the batting with Ishan Kishan, in place of Rituraj Gaikwad. Virat Kohli will be batting at number three, the position at which Iyer batted in the previous ODIs. Iyer would be in at four followed by KL Rahul. For the number six spot, the team may go with the 360 master Surya Kumar Yadav. Kishan, who can also keep wickets, will provide a left-handed batting option in the top order. Surya on the other hand, can hit the ball in all directions and is in good nick. Jadeja would provide some depth to the Indian batting as he comes in at seven and a proper. 

Choosing both Kuldeep and Ashwin would be the only option for the team, as the team will be resting Shami and Pandya. Ashwin is a handy right-handed batter and is a clever finger-spinner. While Kuldeep has been in sublime form, he may need some game time before the World Cup. The team would certainly look to include Siraj and Bumrah. 

According to records, Rajkot Wicket has always hosted high-scoring encounters. India has played only three ODIs at this venue, and the team batting first has emerged to be victorious on all three occasions. The wicket generally has something to offer for the spinners, batting collapses are rare, and anything above 300 runs is considered to be above average. There have been no instances where the opening partnership in ODIs at this venue has been less than 70, so losing the toss and bowling first may prove to be costly here. India would most likely go for clean-sweeping the mighty Australians.

Pakistan emerged as the winner of the 5th edition of the Cricket World Cup, which increased the popularity of cricket in the sub-continent and the grand event of the sport returned to the sub-continent after 9 years. The three biggest giants of Asian cricket are ready to host the 6th edition of the ODI World Cup. The edition is remembered as the founder of the biggest sporting rivalry across the globe, the mother of all battles (India vs. Pakistan) changed its template in this sixth edition. The two Asian teams were facing each other for the 2nd time, but this time a heated argument between Saeed Anwar and Venkatesh Prasad, gave birth to a new rivalry. 

In continuation to our series ‘A Countdown to World Cup’  today we are sharing the stories of the 1996 World Cup with you. 

World Cup of 1996

The 1996 Cricket World Cup was also called the Wills World Cup 1996, because of sponsorship. All Test-playing nations took part in the competition, including Zimbabwe, who became the ICC’s ninth Test status member since the last World Cup. Three fellow teams (previously one) that qualified through the 1994 ICC Trophy were the United Arab Emirates, Kenya and the Netherlands, which made their World Cup debuts in 1996. The Netherlands lost all five matches, including the loss to the United Arab Emirates, while Kenya pulled off a surprise win over West Indies in Pune. 

Format

The format of the edition was, 12 teams were divided into two groups, where each team played once against the others in a 50-over game. The top four teams in each group advanced to the quarter-finals, where the four winners advanced to the final, followed by the finals. Matches were played during both the day and evening, teams appeared in coloured attire and used the traditional ODI white ball.

Quarter Finals 

Semi-finals 

Sri Lanka unceremoniously defeated India in the first semi-final at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata in front of a crowd of 110,000. India won the toss and elected to field, having lost both their openers cheaply, Sri Lanka counter-attacked under Aravinda de Silva and overcame a heavy defeat. India started the chase promisingly but after the loss of Sachin Tendulkar, India’s batting order collapsed. After India was reduced to 120 for 8 in the 35th over, a section of the crowd started throwing fruits and plastic bottles on the pitch. The players left the field for 20 minutes to try to silence the crowd. When the players returned to play, more bottles were thrown onto the field and fires were lit in the stands. The match referee, Clive Lloyd, awarded the match to Sri Lanka, which is by default the first Test or One Day International. 

The second semi-final was played between Australia and West Indies at Mohali, Australia won the toss and elected to bat first. Australia recovered from 15/4 to post 207/8 in 50 overs. In reply, West Indians reached 165/2 in the 42nd over before losing their last eight wickets for 37 runs in 50 balls and ended up losing the game by 5 runs. 

Finals

Sri Lanka won the toss in the final and sent Australia to bat despite the team winning all five previous World Cup finals batting first. Mark Taylor (74 off 83 balls, 8 fours, 1 six) and Ricky Ponting (45 off 73 balls, 2 fours) shared 101 runs. However, after the dismissal of Ponting and Taylor, Australia slumped from 137/1 to 170/5 as Sri Lanka’s famous four-pronged spin attack took its toll. Despite the slump, Australia struggled to 241/7 from their 50 overs. Sri Lanka won the match in the 47th over with Aravinda de Silva behind his 3/42 to score an unbeaten 107 to win the man of the match award. It was the first time that the host or hosts of the tournament won the Cricket World Cup.

Statistics 

Top Run Scorer

Top Wicket Taker

History was created by the Indian Equestrian team as they brought the gold home for the first time in 41 years. The dressage team including Sudipti Hajela, Divyakriti Singh, Hriday Chheda and Anush Agarwalla made the nation proud on Tuesday in Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China. The horses of the Indian team had a combined score of 209.205, giving India its first gold in the sport in 41 years. At the 1982 Games in New Delhi, Raghubir Singh won gold in this event, while his last medal in dressage, a bronze, came in 1986. On the third day of the 2023 Asian Games, India bagged its third gold medal as the equestrian team secured the highest podium finish in dressage.

Netizens filled the social media with warm wishes of congratulations to the team. Sachin Tendulkar, Shivendu Adhikari, and Sanjay Kapoor are some of the celebrities who came out on X to celebrate the victory. After the medals were distributed and the National Anthem was played.

PM Modi wrote on X “It is a time of uttermost glory that after several decades, our Equestrian Dressage Team has won Gold in the Asian Games! Anush Agarwalla, Hriday Chheda, Divyakriit Singh and Sudipti Hajela have shown extreme abilities and teamwork bringing pride to India on the international stage. I extend my heartiest congratulations to the Team for this historic achievement.” 

The victory of the Indian team was particularly significant because it defeated the popular Chinese and Japanese teams. China finished second with a commendable score of 204.882, but it was not enough to match the brilliant performance of the Indian riders. The Japanese team, also considered a strong contender, faced stiff competition and ultimately missed the podium. This historic victory is a testament to the dedication, hard work and talent of the Indian equestrian team. The Team Dressage event requires a harmonious partnership between rider and horse, the key elements of which are precision, discipline and grace. Indian riders exhibited all these qualities and took their performance to the highest level.

Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is facing backlash across the world for inviting a Nazi soldier Yaroslav Hunka to Canadian Parliament and giving a standing ovation to him. Yaroslava Hunka was involved in the Jewish massacre and was part of the holocaust during the Second World War. After supporting the Khalistani terrorists this is the second unacceptable act done by the Canadian PM in the last 10 days. Yaroslava Hunka was a soldier of the 14th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (a Nazi division). The incident occurred when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the Canadian Parliament and speaker of the parliament Anthony Rota honoured the 98-year-old Ukrainian immigrant. The recognition came after a visit by Zelenskiy when he thanked Canada for its help in his country’s war against Russia. 

The actions of the Canadian parliament are facing global outrage from the leaders and diplomats from different parts of the world. Canadian opposition leader Pierre Poilievre apologised to the world and criticised Trudeau. “The Prime Minister’s personal protocol office is responsible for organising and vetting all guests and planning such state visits. We feel ashamed by this act of inhumanity,” Poilievre said. In addition, the speaker of the Canadian Parliament also apologised for firing Yaroslav Hunka, a Ukrainian veteran who allegedly fought for the Nazis during World War II. 

The Kremlin said it was “reasonable” that a Ukrainian man who served in one of Adolf Hitler’s Waffen SS units during World War II was presented as a hero in Canada’s parliament. 98-year-old Jaroslav Hunka received two applause from Canadian lawmakers during the visit of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said 

“The episode showed disrespect for historical truth. The memory of Nazi crimes must be preserved.” He added “Such disregard for memory is scandalous. Many Western countries, including Canada, have raised a young generation that does not know who fought with whom or what happened during the Second World War. Canada knows nothing about the threat of fascism,” Dmitry Peskov. 

Anthony Rota presented Yaroslav Hunka as “a Ukrainian Canadian war veteran of World War II who fought for the independence of Ukraine against the Russians.” He said, “A hero of Ukraine is a hero of Canada.”  During World War II, when Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union, some Ukrainian nationalists joined Nazi units. According to the Simon Wiesenthal Center, a Jewish human rights organisation, Jaroslav Hunka served in World War II as a member of the 14th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS.