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ISLAMABAD: Indian Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya has triggered widespread outrage after suggesting that two Australian women cricketers &ldquo;should learn a lesson&rdquo; following their molestation in Indore, instead of condemning the attack and addressing the security lapse. The incident occurred when two members of Australia&rsquo;s women&#39;s cricket team were reportedly touched inappropriately by a man on a motorcycle while walking from their hotel to a cafe in Indore during the ICC Women&rsquo;s Cricket World Cup. Police said the suspect was later tracked down and arrested after the team&rsquo;s security filed a complaint. Rather than focusing on the crime, BJP-led Madhya Pradesh cabinet minister Vijayvargiya implied that the players were at fault for not informing local authorities before stepping out, saying they &ldquo;should be aware of their popularity.&rdquo; His victim-blaming remarks have been condemned as insensitive and regressive. The comments have drawn sharp criticism from civil society, opposition leaders, and social media users, who accused the minister of normalizing harassment and undermining women&rsquo;s safety in India. Indian singer and voice actress Chinmayi Sripaada said: &ldquo;BJP Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya basically says here that women visiting another city/country must be worried/concerned/think about their own safety when stepping out without telling anyone. So basically, it was the women&#39;s fault.&rdquo;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-3" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-3&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1982539897899770225&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2Fnew%2F&sessionId=9dfec250f7666fa98c69846d3746befae251fa32&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 1286px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div> An X user, Veena Jai,n wrote on X: &ldquo;Do you know why India is failing to attract foreign tourists despite being a beautiful country? Because of people like MP Govt minister Kailash Vijayvargiya, who is blaming Australian women cricketers only for molestation instead of apologizing. Shame 🤮.&rdquo;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-2" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-2&features=eyJ0ZndfdGltZWxpbmVfbGlzdCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOltdLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2ZvbGxvd2VyX2NvdW50X3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9iYWNrZW5kIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19yZWZzcmNfc2Vzc2lvbiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZm9zbnJfc29mdF9pbnRlcnZlbnRpb25zX2VuYWJsZWQiOnsiYnVja2V0Ijoib24iLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X21peGVkX21lZGlhXzE1ODk3Ijp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRyZWF0bWVudCIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3Nob3dfYmlyZHdhdGNoX3Bpdm90c19lbmFibGVkIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19kdXBsaWNhdGVfc2NyaWJlc190b19zZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdXNlX3Byb2ZpbGVfaW1hZ2Vfc2hhcGVfZW5hYmxlZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdmlkZW9faGxzX2R5bmFtaWNfbWFuaWZlc3RzXzE1MDgyIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRydWVfYml0cmF0ZSIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfbGVnYWN5X3RpbWVsaW5lX3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9mcm9udGVuZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9fQ%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1982631588988063987&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2Fnew%2F&sessionId=9dfec250f7666fa98c69846d3746befae251fa32&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 650px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div> Another user, Avishek Goyal, wrote: &ldquo;What can be more pathetic? No accountability, no responsibility, no decency, no morals. BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya brushing off the molestation of Australian players as just &lsquo;fan moments&rsquo; shows how this power-drunk regime sees women.&rdquo;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1982497163973403047&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2Fnew%2F&sessionId=9dfec250f7666fa98c69846d3746befae251fa32&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 726px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> User Vishnukant posted: &ldquo;Ruling party minister Kailash Vijayvargiya said the players should &lsquo;learn a lesson.&rsquo; He added that they should have informed a local person before going out. Why are BJP and media houses silent now?&rdquo;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-4" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-4&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1982540947113296204&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2Fnew%2F&sessionId=9dfec250f7666fa98c69846d3746befae251fa32&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 673px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>This is not the first time Vijayvargiya has made controversial remarks about women and morality. His repeated statements on &ldquo;cultural values&rdquo; and public behavior have often drawn condemnation, reinforcing concerns over misogynistic attitudes within sections of India&rsquo;s political leadership.

India

His victim-blaming remarks have been condemned as insensitive and regressive.

Indian minister blames Australian cricketers over Indore molestation incident

ISLAMABAD: Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu produced a decisive final-over spell to guide her side to a seven-run victory over Bangladesh in the ICC Women&rsquo;s Cricket World Cup 2025 on Monday.&nbsp;Chasing a target of 203 runs, Bangladesh appeared well placed for victory, needing just nine runs from the final over with five wickets in hand. However, Athapaththu conceded only one run and took four wickets in the final over to secure a dramatic win.&nbsp;Batting first after winning the toss, Sri Lanka were all out for 202 in 48.4 overs.&nbsp; Sri Lanka&#39;s Right-hand batter Hasini Perera anchored the innings with 85 off 99 balls, hitting 13 fours and a six. She shared a 72-run stand with captain Athapaththu, who scored 46 off 43 deliveries. For Bangladesh, leg-spinner Shorna Akter claimed three wickets, while Leg-spinner Rabeya Khatun took two.&nbsp;Bangladesh captain and wicketkeeper-batter Nigar Sultana top-scored with 77 off 98 balls, while opener Sharmin Akhter remained unbeaten on 64 off 103 deliveries. Despite their strong partnership, Bangladesh collapsed in the final over and were restricted to 195.&nbsp;The result lifted Sri Lanka to sixth place on the points table with four points, while Bangladesh was eliminated from semi-final contention, as they remain on two points from six matches, with a group match left against India on Sunday.

Cricket

Athapaththu’s spell, taking four wickets for one run, hands Sri Lanka dramatic seven-run victory over Bangladesh in ICC Women’s World Cup, eliminating the Tigers from semifinal contention.

Athapaththu’s final-over heroics seal Sri Lanka’s thrilling win

ISLAMABAD: England held their nerve to beat India by four runs and secure a place in the semifinals of the ICC Women&rsquo;s Cricket World Cup 2025 on Sunday. Chasing 289, India looked set for victory for much of their innings. Smriti Mandhana scored 88, while captain Harmanpreet Kaur added 70 runs off 70 balls. England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt took 2-47 in eight overs, and left-arm spinner Linsey Smith bowled tightly, taking Mandhana&rsquo;s key wicket and helping England restrict India to 284-6 in 50 overs. India finished with 284-6 in 50 overs, its third straight loss in the tournament in front of a home crowd at Holkar Stadium. Earlier, England batted first and scored 288-8, thanks to Heather Knight&rsquo;s brilliant 109 off 91 balls. The win gives England four victories in five games, keeping them unbeaten and sending them to the semifinals alongside defending champions Australia and South Africa.&nbsp; England will face Australia on Wednesday at Holkar Stadium. India must bounce back against New Zealand on Thursday and Bangladesh on Sunday in Navi Mumbai to keep their semifinal hopes alive.

England held their nerve to defeat India by four runs at Holkar Stadium, with Heather Knight’s 109 and key wickets from Nat Sciver-Brunt and Linsey Smith helping secure a semifinal spot in the tournament

England edge India by four runs, secure Women’s World Cup semifinal

ISLAMABAD: Persistent rain forced the abandonment of the ICC Women&rsquo;s Cricket World Cup 2025 match between Pakistan and New Zealand in Colombo on Saturday, confirming South Africa&rsquo;s place in the semifinals alongside defending champions Australia. Pakistan was 92 for 5 after 25 overs when heavy rain returned for the second time, prompting officials to call off play after a three-hour delay. Earlier, New Zealand medium pacer Lea Tahuhu removed Omaima Sohail for 3, while Sidra Amin fell for 9 to a sharp catch by Eden Carson at point before the first rain break left Pakistan struggling at 52 for 3 in the 13th over. When play briefly resumed, Pakistan lost two more wickets, including captain Fatima Sana, bowled by a well-disguised Amelia Kerr googly, before rain ultimately ended the game. The washout lifted New Zealand to fifth in the standings, with two challenging fixtures remaining against India and England, while Pakistan remained winless and anchored at the bottom after five matches. It was the second consecutive no-result for both sides, as persistent bad weather continued to disrupt World Cup matches in the Sri Lankan capital.

Persistent rain washed out the Pakistan–New Zealand Women’s World Cup match in Colombo, confirming South Africa’s semifinal berth. Pakistan, at 92–5 after 25 overs, remained winless, while New Zealand stayed fifth in the standings.

Rain washes out Pakistan–New Zealand clash, South Africa advance

ISLAMABAD: South Africa continued their winning streak in the ICC Women&rsquo;s World Cup 2025, thrashing Sri Lanka by 10 wickets in a rain-hit match at R. Premadasa International on Friday.&nbsp;Due to rain, the match was reduced to 20 overs, with South Africa restricting Sri Lanka to 105-7 before comfortably chasing a revised target of 121 in 14.5 overs to consolidate their hold on second place in the points table.&nbsp;Sri Lanka, who chose to bat first, were 46-2 when rain stopped play. After the break, left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlba took 3-30 as the bowlers allowed only 59 runs in the last eight overs while taking five wickets.&nbsp;Vishmi Gunaratne&rsquo;s quick 34, which included six fours, was the only notable contribution for Sri Lanka.&nbsp;Chasing six an over, South Africa&rsquo;s openers made the task look easy. Captain Laura Wolvaardt struck an unbeaten 60 off 47 balls, while Tazmin Brits hit 55 not out off 42 balls with four fours and two sixes. Their 125-run stand came off just 89 deliveries to complete a commanding victory.&nbsp;For a team bowled out for just 69 by England in their opening game, South Africa&rsquo;s recovery has been impressive with four wins in a row.&nbsp;Sri Lanka remain winless after five matches in a campaign affected by rain and inconsistency.&nbsp;The victory took South Africa to eight points, one behind defending champions Australia on nine. England, the four-time winners, are third with seven points and a game in hand.

Wins by 10 wickets in a rain-shortened Women’s World Cup match in Colombo, restricting them to 105-7 before chasing a revised 121-run target in 14.5 overs.


 South Africa crush Sri Lanka to extend dominant World Cup run

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan were denied a famous win over England after their ICC Women&rsquo;s World Cup 2025 match was washed out due to heavy rain in Colombo on Wednesday.&nbsp;Pakistan, still looking for their first win of the tournament, had bowled brilliantly to restrict four-time champions England to 133-9 in a 31-over game.&nbsp;Chasing a revised target of 113, Pakistan made a strong start, reaching 34-0 in 6.4 overs before rain returned and ended the match.&nbsp;Captain Fatima Sana led the attack superbly, taking 4-27. She bowled brilliantly, removing key batters Heather Knight and Nat Sciver-Brunt, while also dismissing Amy Jones and Tammy Beaumont.&nbsp;Pakistan right-arm medium-fast Diana Baig struck first by bowling Beaumont and the spinners then controlled the middle overs, keeping England under pressure.&nbsp;Play was first stopped with England struggling at 79-7 after 25 overs. When the game resumed, England right-handed batwomen Charlie Dean and Emily Arlott added 47 runs for the eighth wicket, helping England reach a modest total.It was the third rain-hit match in Colombo this World Cup, after Australia-Sri Lanka and Sri Lanka-New Zealand games were also washed out earlier in the week.&nbsp;Pakistan stays rooted to the bottom of the table, while England remains on top.

Pakistan’s brilliant bowling display, led by Fatima Sana’s 4-27, put England on the back foot, but heavy rain washed out their World Cup clash in Colombo.

Rain saves England after Pakistan’s superb bowling in World Cup clash

NEW DELHI: South Africa&#39;s lower order once again came to the rescue after a top order collapse, edging out Bangladesh by three wickets in a nail-biting finish in the Women&#39;s World Cup in Visakhapatnam on Monday.&nbsp;Chasing 233, the Proteas were on the ropes at 78-5, but their tail refused to throw in the towel, showing the same grit that saw them turn the tables on India in their previous outing.&nbsp;A gutsy 85-run stand for the sixth wicket between Marizanne Kapp, who made 56, and Chloe Tryon, 62, steadied the ship and gave the chase a fresh lease of life.&nbsp;Both batters brought up their half-centuries but their dismissals reopened the door for Bangladesh, who sniffed an upset.&nbsp;Then, Nadine de Klerk, South Africa&#39;s player for a crisis walked in and saw her side over the line.&nbsp;Her unbeaten 37 off 29 deliveries guided her side home with three balls to spare.&nbsp;When Tryon was run out by a direct hit from Ritu Moni, South Africa still needed 35 off 31 balls with three wickets in hand. De Klerk survived a few anxious moments, including a dropped chance on 26 and made Bangladesh pay dearly.&nbsp;With eight needed off the last over, she slashed the first ball from Nahida Akter through the covers for four, then sealed the deal in style, pulling the third ball for a six.&nbsp;The Proteas, who began the campaign in tatters after being bundled out for 69 in a 10-wicket drubbing by England, have now stitched together three wins on the trot to climb to third in the points table and suddenly, a semi-final berth looks well within reach.&nbsp;For Bangladesh, it was a tale of missed chances. A sharper fielding effort could well have tilted the scales their way.&nbsp;After a sluggish start which saw them reach 73-2 at the halfway stage, Bangladesh did well to post 232-6 in their 50 overs, thanks in main to a sparkling 51 not out from Shorna Akter.&nbsp;Coming off just 35 deliveries, it was the fastest fifty of the tournament so far and included three fours and three sixes.

South Africa won a close ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 match against Bangladesh by three wickets, with Nadine de Klerk’s unbeaten 37 guiding them to victory in the final over.


De Klerk steers South Africa to last over win against Bangladesh

ISLAMABAD: Alyssa Healy&rsquo;s sensational 142 propelled Australia to a thrilling three-wicket victory over India in their ICC Women&rsquo;s Cricket World Cup 2025 clash at ACA&ndash;VDCA Cricket Stadium on Sunday.&nbsp;Australia held their nerve, reaching 331-7 with just one over to spare. Australia right-hand batswomen Healy&rsquo;s blistering innings of 142 off 107 balls was complemented by unbeaten contributions from Ellyse Perry (47 ) runs and Ashleigh Gardner valuable (45), ensuring Australia completed a nail-biting chase.&nbsp;India had struck early blows, with Sree Charani taking (3-41) and Deepti Sharma and Amanjot Kaur picking up two wickets each. Perry&rsquo;s calm innings, coming after her return from a brief injury layoff, proved crucial in steadying the chase. Earlier, Smriti Mandhana&rsquo;s 80 runs off 66 balls provided a great start for India after Australia won the toss and opted to bowl.&nbsp;Mandhana hit nine fours and three sixes. She put on 155 runs for the first wicket with Pratika Rawal, who scored 75 off 96 ,But India lost its last six wickets for 36 runs, and its dismissal with seven balls left proved costly.&nbsp;Mandhana also became the youngest and fastest player to reach 5,000 ODI runs in 112 innings. Australia&rsquo;s bowlers responded in style, with Annabel Sutherland claiming a spectacular five-wicket haul (5-40) and Sophie Molineux adding (3-75), keeping India&rsquo;s middle and lower order in check.&nbsp;The victory moves Australia to the top of the points table with seven points from four matches, while India slip to third with four points after back-to-back defeats.&nbsp;Seven-time champion Australia is currently unbeaten in 12 Cricket World Cup games stretching back to the previous edition in 2022. It next plays Bangladesh on Thursday, at the same Visakhapatnam venue.

Australia chased down 331 to beat India by three wickets in the Women’s World Cup 2025, led by Alyssa Healy’s 142. Annabel Sutherland took 5-40 as Australia topped the table.

Australia pull off record chase to beat India in Women's World Cup 2025

ISLAMABAD: A brilliant century from captain Nat Sciver-Brunt powered England to a commanding 89-run victory over Sri Lanka in their ICC Women&rsquo;s Cricket World Cup 2025 clash at the R. Premadasa Stadium on Saturday.&nbsp;Opting to bowl first, Sri Lanka&rsquo;s decision proved costly as England posted a formidable 253 for 9 in their allotted 50 overs.&nbsp;Sciver-Brunt led from the front with a superb 117 off 117 balls, studded with nine fours and two sixes. Tammy Beaumont (32) and Heather Knight (29) provided valuable support in building England&rsquo;s total.&nbsp;For Sri Lanka, Inoka Ranaweera stood out with impressive figures of 3 for 33, while Sugandika Kumari and Udeshika Prabodhani chipped in with two wickets apiece.&nbsp;In reply, Sri Lanka&rsquo;s chase never gained momentum as they were bowled out for 164 in 45.4 overs. Hasini Perera (35) and Harshitha Samarawickrama (33) offered brief resistance, but England&rsquo;s disciplined bowling attack proved too strong. Sophie Ecclestone was exceptional, claiming 4 for 17 in her 10 overs, while Charlie Dean and Sciver-Brunt picked up two wickets each.&nbsp;The emphatic win lifted England to the top of the World Cup standings with six points from three matches, moving past Australia. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, remained in seventh place with just one point from their three outings.

England posted 253/9 as Nat Sciver-Brunt smashed 117 (117), while Sri Lanka managed just 164 in reply. Sophie Ecclestone starred with 4/17, sealing England’s 89-run win and top spot in the standings.

England crush Sri Lanka by 89 runs in Women’s World Cup

ISLAMABAD: A stunning century from Beth Mooney turned the game around for Australia, guiding them to a 107-run win over Pakistan in the ICC Women&rsquo;s World Cup 2025 at the R. Premadasa Stadium on Wednesday.&nbsp;After winning the toss, Pakistan chose to field first and bowled impressively early, reducing Australia to 115 for eight, But Mooney stood firm, scoring 109 off 114 balls with 11 fours, while Alana King remained unbeaten on 51 off 49.&nbsp; Their 106-run stand for the ninth wicket lifted Australia to 221 for nine in 50 overs.&nbsp;Pakistan&rsquo;s slow left-armer Nashra Sandhu was the pick of the bowlers with 3 for 37, while Rameen Shamim and Fatima Sana claimed two wickets each.&nbsp; Chasing 222, Pakistan&rsquo;s batting faltered once again as they were all out for 114 in 36.3 overs. Sidra Amin top-scored with 35 off 52 balls, while Rameen Shamim and Fatima Sana made brief contributions.&nbsp;Kim Garth led Australia&rsquo;s attack with 3 for 14. Megan Schutt and Annabel Sutherland took two wickets each, while Ashleigh Gardner, Alana King, and Georgia Wareham claimed one apiece.&nbsp;The victory lifted Australia to the top of the standings with five points from three matches, while Pakistan stayed at the bottom after their third straight defeat.

Beth Mooney’s century and Alana King’s fifty powered Australia to a 107-run win over Pakistan, who were bowled out for 114, suffering their third straight defeat in the Women’s World Cup.

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