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We know how it feels to lose; now looking forward to winning a final – Harmanpreet

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3 months ago

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we-as-a-team-werent-shaken-even-once-eventhough-we-lost-three-big-matches "We, as a team, weren't shaken even once eventhough we lost three big matches" [Cricbuzz]
When Shreya Ghosal sang the national anthem in Guwahati, Harmanpreet Kaur stood still – eyes closed, lips moving in perfect sync, truly savouring each one of those first 52 seconds of a home World Cup as captain. In Colombo, a young volunteer nearly missed the chance to walk out with the teams for the national anthems since the player assigned to accompany her was unwell. Harmanpreet stepped in with a smile, put her arm around the kid’s shoulder, and walked out holding the hands of two children – one on either side.

In Navi Mumbai, ahead of the high-stakes semifinal against Australia, she then did the unprecedented. Harmanpreet’s impromptu decision to hand over her huddle to a young girl for a quick pep-talk was a tiny peek into how she leads now. It’s Harmanpreet’s first World Cup as captain, potentially her last too, and she has been unafraid to show her unguarded, expressive self.

Maybe it’s a reflection of how she’s feeling on the inside too. When India sealed their final berth, she wept happy, unrestrained tears, while tightly hugging everyone in sight. In 2017, it was her herculean effort that had carried the team past the mighty Australian side, a knock that turned her into the icon she is now. Eight years later, having stumbled more than a few times against that very opponent in the meantime, it was Jemimah Rodrigues’ epic that scripted that moment. After doing her part in setting the stage for it, Harmanpreet sat in the dugout earnestly watching the circle complete – a torch quietly passed on. In those liberal tears was a story of how far Indian women’s cricket has come since that moment of reckoning in 2017.

There’s another, clearer hint of this evolution – and Harmanpreet is savouring that too.

“I mean, there are rarely a handful of such days when there’s pressure for these small things. I think it’s good that not just cricket, but there is pressure on us for arranging tickets too,” India captain said on the eve of the final, leaving everyone in the room in splits.

The clamour for tickets was evident from all the extra security that had to be called in at the DY Patil’s box-office gates with hundreds thronging the slip road parallel to the Mumbai-Pune highway a day after India’s record chase to knock Australia out in a tough semifinal draw. The country – and certainly the players – know the energy and effort it takes, as well as the emotional upheaval involved in taking down the unanimous pre-tournament favourites.

“The semifinal was a very high-pressure game and very intense. After that, recovery was something which we all paid more attention to, because the fresher we are, mentally, [for the final] the better it will be. We’ve been working hard for so many years… so skill-wise we know we have done a lot. Now, it’s only about keeping ourselves fresh for tomorrow. Recovery is something which we all talk about, and everybody is really taking that very seriously and hopefully tomorrow we will feel fresher for the main game,” Harmanpreet shared.

It’s India’s third time in a World Cup final in 50-overs cricket, and first time in front of what is expected to be a sold-out crowd in Navi Mumbai. India aren’t new to the big stage, and they have peaked at the right moment once they hit the familiar turf where the title clash will be their fourth straight game now. However, in between was a string of three narrow losses, one apiece against all other semifinalists, that posed serious questions about the skill and ability to handle crunch moments.

“We, as a team, weren’t shaken even once eventhough we lost three big matches,” the captain said. “Even after that everyone was together and we were all saying that we still have a great opportunity to reach the final. That positive mindset has brought us here. Our team has such a positive mindset and everyone wants to do good for the country and win the World Cup,

“We definitely were talking about what we wanted to improve, but at the same time, we were all looking at the same goal. It’s a long process [journey], there will be ups and downs. Some teams win, some lose. But at the end of the day, it’s about how we reach the end. We were talking about this journey, what we have to do after this defeat, how have to improve ourselves, and along with that we have to stay together and help each other. That really showed what positive characters are there in the team.”

The team’s mental resilience through tough stretch was thoroughly tested, and has shaped the team’s mindset and approach to this final as well.

“In a home World Cup, there’s always going to be ups and downs emotionally because it’s tough. But, keeping yourself balanced and focused is the key,” the 36-year-old said. “We are having those sessions where we have been talking about how we can be more focused and more balanced and at the same time keeping ourselves relaxed because this is the biggest stage and biggest opportunity for us: playing in home conditions and that also a final.

“The most important thing is that we have to enjoy this, because there is nothing bigger than this in your life as a cricketer and as a captain. Our focus is to enjoy this moment, and keep taking down the small targets to achieve as a team rather than thinking of the bigger target. When you take care of the small targets along the way,you’ll automatically achieve your ultimate target.”

As a result of achieving the next ultimate target the team has set its sights on, Harmanpreet is hoping to further elevate women’s cricket in India, bringing it into mainstream with “greater seriousness and viewership”.

There aren’t any celebrations pre-planned, for the captain wants the joy to unfold naturally. Like the happy tears and tightest hugs from Thursday night that currently flood the social media.

“I’m a very emotional person – I cry at everything. Maybe yesterday was the first time on television, but my teammates have seen me cry in the dressing room many times – even after wins, not just losses. I am the first person to cry. As a player, these moments are very important. To beat a team like Australia, a giant that has always done well on the world stage, it was not an easy thing to perform [and stay] mentally strong in front of them. But overcoming that hurdle was something very special to all of us. I always tell my team that you don’t need to control your emotions: if you feel like crying, cry.”

Whether the Indian dugout will see more happy tears or unbridled joy, should they cross the final frontier, is something upto the individuals who have “already visualised in our dreams many times”. But Harmanpreet was absolutely sure that there’s “no bigger motivation than a home World Cup final” for her side to produce their best cricket.

“We know pretty well how it feels to lose, but we are really looking forward to the feeling of winning a final now,” she said, confident in her team and in her own leadership. “Hopefully it’s going to be a special day for us tomorrow. We’ve worked really hard, and now it’s about getting everything right together.”

[Cricbuzz]


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Floods kill more than 100 across southern Africa as rains intensify

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5 hours ago

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2026/01/17

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Onlookers inspect damage to the bridge crossing the Ga-Selati River, just outside Phalaborwa, on January 16, 2026, following heavy rains over much of the Limpopo Province, South Africa [Aljazeera]

Torrential rains have killed more than 100 people across Southern Africa, forcing mass evacuations and rescue operations as authorities warn that more destructive weather may still be to come.

Weeks of heavy rainfall have battered South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe, overwhelming rivers and infrastructure and leaving entire communities cut off. Weather services across the region have issued further alerts, raising fears of additional flooding.

In South Africa, officials said on Friday that flooding in the northern provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga had killed at least 30 people.

Army helicopters have been deployed to rescue residents trapped on rooftops and in trees as swollen rivers swept through towns and villages. Security personnel were also evacuated from a border checkpoint with Zimbabwe after floodwaters surrounded the area.

President Cyril Ramaphosa toured affected parts of Limpopo on Thursday, saying the province had received about 400mm (16 inches) of rain in less than a week. In one district, he said, “there are 36 houses that have just been wiped away from the face of the earth.”

Limpopo Premier Phophi Ramathuba said more than 1,000 homes had been damaged across the province. “It’s so terrible,” she said.

In neighbouring Zimbabwe, the government’s disaster management agency reported at least 70 deaths since the start of the year, with more than 1,000 homes destroyed, and schools, roads and bridges collapsing under the force of the floods.

Mozambique has been the hardest hit. Its disaster management authorities said 103 people had died during an unusually severe rainy season since late last year. The figure includes deaths caused by flooding, lightning strikes, infrastructure collapse and a cholera outbreak linked to contaminated water supplies.

More than 200,000 people have been affected nationwide, with thousands of homes damaged and tens of thousands facing evacuation, according to the World Food Programme. The agency warned that flooding has submerged more than 70,000 hectares (173,000 acres) of crops, deepening food shortages for small-scale farmers in a country already struggling with poverty and repeated cyclones.

Residents sit on a Mozambique military truck transporting them across floodwater that blocked a road in the Boane district on January 16, 2026. Mozambique has experienced weeks of heavy rains and residents of low-lying areas near the capital, Maputo, were urged to evacuate to higher ground on January 16, 2026. (Photo by Amilton Neves / AFP)
Residents sit on a Mozambique military truck transporting them across floodwater in the Boane district [Aljazeera]

The United States Famine Early Warning System said flooding was reported or expected in at least seven Southern African countries, possibly linked to the La Nina phenomenon, which often brings heavier rainfall to the region.

South Africa’s Kruger National Park has also been hit, with about 600 tourists and staff evacuated from flood-affected camps. Park authorities said no deaths or injuries had been reported, but large areas remain inaccessible after rivers burst their banks.

Southern Africa has endured a series of extreme weather events in recent years, from deadly cyclones to severe droughts, exposing the region’s vulnerability to climate-driven disasters and fragile infrastructure.

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Lanning, Litchfield and Pandey help UP Warriorz do the double over Mumbai Indians

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7 hours ago

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2026/01/17

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Meg Lanning and Phoebe Litchfield added 119 off 74 balls [BCCI]

A 119-run partnership between MegLanning and Phoebe Litchfield set up a second successive win for UP Warriorz (UPW) against Mumbai Indians (MI) as they continued their bounceback after starting the season with a hat-trick of defeats.

Put in to bat, Lanning and Litchfield hit fifties before MI managed to restrict them to 187 for 8. However, a rejigged batting line-up faltered in the chase as the defending champions succumbed to their third defeat of the season in their last game in Navi Mumbai. UPW became just the second team to do the league double over MI in the WPL, after Delhi Capitals last year, also led by Lanning.

Nicola Carey, opening the bowling with Shabnim Ismail rested, continued her great form in WPL 2026 as she cleaned up Kiran Navgire for a golden duck with an inswinging yorker that beat the batter all ends up. But Lanning ensured a good powerplay for UPW.

After Litchfield picked up her first boundary courtesy an inside edge through backward square, Lanning got going with a pick-up flick off Carey that went all the way as 12 runs came off the third over. She then swept Nat Sciver-Brunt through square leg before picking up two more boundaries off Carey.

When Hayley Matthews was introduced in the sixth over, Litchfield first drove her through cover before Lanning hit back-to-back boundaries to take UPW to 56 for 1 at the end of the powerplay.

After a quiet eighth over bowled by Amelia Kerr, Litchfield was on 18 off 16 and needing to pick up the tempo. Next over, she square drove Amanjot Kaur for four before skipping down the track to loft her over long-off.

Lanning reached her half-century off 35 balls in the next over, hammering Kerr over long-off to get there. Litchfield, who Kerr had dismissed eight times in T20s, also lofted her over her head for a boundary as the two Australians started to pick up the pace. A quiet over followed, courtesy Sciver-Brunt, which also saw Triveni Vasisht drop Litchfield, but Litchfield and Lannning both picked up a boundary each off Sanskriti Gupta.

In a two-over period of frenzy that followed, UPW racked up 34 runs but lost both their set batters. Litchfield first just beat Carey running to her left at deep midwicket as she swept Amanjot for six and then brought up a 33-ball half-century with a cover drive. When Amanjot went short, Litchfield pulled her for another boundary through midwicket. She then chipped one to cover, where she was given another life, this time by Harmanpreet Kaur. Litchfield picked up another six off long-off to make it a 20-run over before a pick-up flick found deep backward square, where Sanskriti held on this time.

Lanning didn’t want to release any pressure and took on Matthews next over, putting away a couple of short balls for back-to-back fours. She swept the spinner for another boundary before picking out deep square leg to finish on 70 off 45.

After a period of 12 balls without a boundary after Lanning’s departure, Chloe Tryon launched a six over long-off. Tryon and Harleen Deol kept the boundaries coming as they picked up 23 runs off the next two overs.

But, MI’s star overseas allrounders then dampened the finish for UPW. First, Sciver-Brunt started the 19th over with back-to-back wickets. Tryon sliced a full toss to cover, where Harmanpreet made amends by holding on to the catch before Shweta Sehrawat was caught behind first ball. She got a thin edge that popped up off G Kamalini’s gloves but she did well to grab it in the second attempt.

Deol hit another boundary before missing a legbreak from Kerr in the final over to be out stumped. Kerr then also had Sophie Ecclestone stumped and Deepti Sharma caught behind to give away only two runs in the final over and restrict UPW to 187 for 8.

MI came into the game with the second worst average for the opening partnership  and the worst run rate. On Saturday, they tried their fourth different combination of the season, with Sajeevan Sajana partnering Matthews. Matthews started well, with a three boundaries through the off side off Kranti Gaud and Shikha Pandey.

Sajana got into the action in the third over, pulling Gaud for six over midwicket before getting an outside edge for four. But, Gaud came back strong by trapping her in front to give UPW the first breakthrough.

Ecclestone then nearly had Matthews lbw, choosing not to review after the batter missed a sweep, even though it looked close. But it didn’t matter as Matthews chipped the next ball back to Ecclestone, who went on to bowl a wicket maiden.

Sciver-Brunt then got a couple of boundaries off Gaud and Harmanpreet was crafty in gliding one between backward point and short third off Ecclestone, but they only managed 38 runs in the first six, continuing their trend of slow starts.

Sciver-Brunt, who was looking in great touch, hit Pandey straight to Lanning at cover in the first over after the powerplay as MI’s job got harder. Then Deepti, who bowled a quiet first over, had Carey miscuing one down the ground and Deol took a good catch running back from mid-on.

Harmanpreet, who was struggling to get going, pulled Tryon for a six over midwicket but fell in the same over trying the same shot. Having lost half their side and needing to score at over 13 runs an over, it was effectively game over for MI.

Kerr and Amanjot tried to mount a comeback, with an 83-run stand that saw the latter hammer three sixes, but they could not keep up with the asking rate. Amanjot offered a return catch to Pandey in the penultimate over and MI ended up 22 runs short.

Brief scores:
UP Warriorz Women 187 for 8 in 20 overs (Meg Lanning 70, Phoebe Litchfield 61, Harlene Deol 25, Chloe Tryon 21; Nicola Carey 1-38, Amelia Kerr 3-28, Nat Sciver-Brunt 2-22, Hayley Maththews 1-40, Amanjot Kaur 1-38) beat Mumbai Indians Women 165 for 6 in 20 overs (Hayley Maththews 13, Sajeevan Sajana 10, Nat Sciver Brunt 15, Harmanpreet Kaur 18, Amelia Kerr 49*, Amanjot Kaur 41; Kranti Gaud 1-38, Shikha  Pandey 2-30, Sophie Ecclestone 1-33, Deepti Sharma 1-35, Chloe Tryon 1-18) by 22 runs

[Cricinfo]

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Ugandan leader to extend 40-year rule after being declared winner of contested poll

Published

8 hours ago

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2026/01/17

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Yoweri Museveni first came to power in 1986 as a rebel leader [BBC]

President Yoweri Museveni has been declared the winner of Thursday’s election extending his four decades in power by another five years.

He gained 72% of the vote, the election commission announced, against 25% for his closest challenger Bobi Wine, who has condemned what he described as “fake results”.

Wine has called on Ugandans to hold non-violent protests.

Museveni, 81, first came to power as a rebel leader in 1986 but since then has won seven elections.

The election process was marred by violence and Wine, a 43-year-old former pop star, says that at least 21 people have been killed.

The authorities have so far confirmed seven deaths.

Access to the internet has been cut in the country since Tuesday, making it hard to verify information.

The authorities say the blackout was necessary to prevent misinformation, fraud and the incitement of violence – a move condemned by the UN human rights office as “deeply worrying”.

Wine has demanded that the internet be restored.

[BBC]

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