Australia’s Beau Webster suffers injury scare ahead of Ashes

**Australia’s Beau Webster Suffers Injury Scare Ahead of Ashes**

*By Gaurav Tripathi | October 4, 2025, 09:50 AM*

Australian all-rounder Beau Webster has been ruled out of Tasmania’s opening match in the Sheffield Shield season against Queensland after suffering an ankle injury. Fortunately, the injury is not considered serious. Webster will be reassessed ahead of Tasmania’s One-Day Cup match against Queensland on Thursday and before the second round of the Shield tournament.

**Looking Ahead to the Ashes**

Webster is expected to be part of Australia’s squad for the upcoming home Ashes series, starting November 21. He had initially planned to play all four of Tasmania’s Sheffield Shield matches before the Ashes kick off.

Despite a strong start to his Test career—including four half-centuries in seven matches under tough batting conditions—Webster’s spot in the Test eleven could be under pressure. The likely return of Cameron Green to unrestricted bowling duties may alter team dynamics and spark selection debates.

**Team Dynamics and Player Aspirations**

Before the season began, Webster spoke candidly to ESPNcricinfo about his hopes to play alongside Cameron Green. He said, “If you’re scoring runs in the top six batters for Australia, then if you can bowl it’s a bonus.” Webster expressed his desire for both players to contribute with bat and ball to help Australia secure victories.

**Strong Domestic Season Start**

Webster’s domestic season has started on a high note. In two One-Day Cup matches, he took five wickets and also scored an impressive 81 runs off 95 balls in the second match against Victoria. These performances underline his importance to Tasmania and highlight his potential impact for Australia—despite the current injury setback.

The coming weeks will be crucial as Webster works on his recovery and aims to be fully fit for the key fixtures ahead. Cricket fans will be watching closely as he vies to maintain his place ahead of the prestigious Ashes series.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/sports/beau-webster-misses-sheffield-shield-opener-with-ankle-injury/story

Mohsin Naqvi to receive honor amid Asia Cup trophy row

**Mohsin Naqvi to Receive Honor Amid Asia Cup Trophy Row**
*By Gaurav Tripathi | Oct 04, 2025, 10:32 AM*

Mohsin Naqvi, President of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and chief of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), is set to be honored with the Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Excellence Gold Medal, according to a report by The President. This prestigious award acknowledges Naqvi’s principled stance during the controversial Asia Cup final trophy handover, where he retained the trophy after Indian players refused to accept it.

### Award Justification: Restoring National Pride

Advocate Ghulam Abbas Jamal, announcing the decision on behalf of the Sindh and Karachi Basketball Associations, emphasized that Naqvi’s actions had “restored national pride” amid heightened political and sporting tensions between Pakistan and India. The move to honor Naqvi has garnered widespread support across Pakistan’s political and sports communities.

Organizers view this award not only as a gesture of respect but also as a symbolic message affirming national dignity.

### Upcoming Award Ceremony

A formal ceremony to present the award is being planned in Karachi, with PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari expected to attend as the chief guest. The exact date will be finalized once Bhutto confirms his availability.

To oversee the event, a special committee has been formed, led by Sindh Basketball Association Chairman Khalid Jameel Shamsi, with Director Sports Commissioner Karachi Ghulam Muhammad Khan acting as secretary.

### Naqvi’s Response to the Trophy Controversy

Following the incident, Mohsin Naqvi retained the Asia Cup trophy and took to social media to state that the Indian team was “welcome” to collect it from the ACC headquarters if they wished.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Naqvi asserted, “I did nothing wrong, and I did not—and will not—apologize to BCCI,” responding to reports that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) took offense at his actions.

### Context of the Asia Cup Final Controversy

The Asia Cup final was overshadowed by political tensions, with India enforcing a strict “no handshake” policy with Pakistani players. Despite winning the match, the Indian team refused to accept the trophy from Naqvi, igniting a diplomatic stir.

The BCCI has raised the matter at the ACC’s annual meeting and is expected to escalate the issue further at the upcoming International Cricket Council (ICC) session scheduled for November.

This development highlights the ongoing complex relationship between cricket and politics in the region, drawing attention to how sporting events often reflect broader diplomatic challenges.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/sports/mohsin-naqvi-to-receive-top-national-honor-for-this-reason/story