The Special Olympics World Winter Games 2025 kicked off in spectacular style last night, and guess who took centre stage? None other than Mina Al Mazrouei. The UAE’s very own Special Olympics athlete had the honour of raising the official Special Olympics flag, cementing the UAE’s growing global presence in the world of sports for people of determination.

With 1,500 athletes from 102 countries in attendance, Al Mazrouei’s moment in the spotlight wasn’t just a personal triumph—it was a powerful statement about the UAE’s commitment to inclusion, empowerment, and sporting excellence.

On the global stage

Talal Al Hashemi, the man leading Team UAE in Turin, couldn’t hide his pride. “Since Abu Dhabi 2019, we’ve entered a new era of empowerment,” he declared. 

“Mina standing tall on that stage is proof of the dedication, training, and sheer determination of our athletes.”

And it’s not just about the flag-raising — Team UAE is here to compete. With 11 athletes set to take on six different winter sports, they’re the MENA region’s most diverse and ambitious delegation at the Games. Expect to see Emirati talent making a mark in snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, figure skating, alpine skiing, short-track speed skating, and snowboarding.

Big names are backing Team UAE

Backing this powerhouse squad? Heavyweight sponsors like Mubadala and Majid Al Futtaim, along with crucial support from the UAE Winter Sports Federation. With this kind of firepower behind them, Team UAE is sure to excel at the event.

(Source: Wam)

India’s captain Rohit Sharma has shut down speculation about his ODI future, confirming he has no plans to retire from the white ball format anytime soon.

“One more thing, I’m not going to retire from this format—just to make sure no more rumors get spread,” Rohit said, sparking laughter at the post-match press conference.

His statement came after leading India to victory in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Final, where he played a match-winning knock of 76 off 83 balls against New Zealand in Dubai on March 9.

India Snatch Another ICC Trophy

India showcased their dominance once again, restricting New Zealand to 251/7 before chasing down the target with four wickets in hand. Rohit set the foundation with a captain’s innings, while KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja finished the job, guiding India to 254/6 with an over to spare.

This victory adds to India’s recent ICC success, following their T20 World Cup triumph in 2024, where Rohit bid farewell to the shortest format.

“Enjoyment is Key to Success” – Rohit

Reflecting on India’s performance, Rohit credited the team’s depth, understanding, and enjoyment as key factors behind their continued success.

“There’s too much outside pressure and speculation, but we focus on winning and enjoying the game. That’s how we want to play our cricket,” he said.

With an ODI career spanning 273 matches since 2007, Rohit has amassed 11,168 runs, including his record-breaking 264 against Sri Lanka in 2014. He also expressed pride in India’s remarkable consistency, having reached the final of all four major ICC tournaments in recent years.

“I’m really proud to be the captain of this team. Reaching the finals of four major tournaments shows how consistent we are as a unit,” he added.

With Rohit still at the helm, India’s dominance in world cricket looks set to continue.

(Source: ICC)

After 18 days of edge-of-the-seat cricket, the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 has boiled down to this—India vs New Zealand, a winner-takes-all final under the lights in Dubai.

The two cricketing powerhouses will battle for ODI glory at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium this Sunday (1 pm local, 09:00 GMT) in a clash that promises fireworks, fierce rivalries, and unforgettable moments.

Why Dubai? The Drama Behind the Venue Choice

This year’s tournament has already delivered drama off the field, with a standoff between India and Pakistan determining the venue.

The BCCI refused to send its team to Pakistan, forcing the ICC into a last-minute compromise—India’s games (including the final) would be played in neutral Dubai while other matches were split between Pakistan and the UAE.

India’s Road to the Final: Unstoppable Force?

• India has steamrolled its way through the tournament, winning every game so far. Here’s how they booked their spot in the final:
• Beat Bangladesh (6 wickets) – Gill’s ton stole the show
• Beat Pakistan (6 wickets) – A dominant all-round performance
• Beat New Zealand (44 runs) – A statement win in the group stage
• Beat Australia (4 wickets) – Held their nerve in a tense semi-final
• New Zealand’s Route: Resilient as Ever
• The Kiwis have had a rock-solid campaign, bouncing back from a loss against India to power into the final:
• Beat Pakistan (60 runs) – A strong start in Karachi
• Beat Bangladesh (5 wickets) – Showed their clinical edge
• Lost to India (44 runs) – A rare blip, but lessons learned
• Beat South Africa (50 runs) – Dominated the semi-final

Players to Watch: Who Can Be the Game-Changer?

• Virat Kohli (India) – The king of ODI cricket is back in top form, with six centuries against New Zealand in his career. Big players shine in big matches—expect a show.
• Shubman Gill (India) – The No.1-ranked ODI batter, Gill kicked off the tournament with a ton and will be key at the top of the order.
• Varun Chakravarthy (India) – The mystery spinner rattled New Zealand with a five-wicket haul in the group stage. Can he do it again in the final?
• Kane Williamson (New Zealand) – NZ’s batting talisman, Williamson, always steps up in ICC events. His leadership and cool head will be crucial.
• Matt Henry (New Zealand) – The tournament’s leading wicket-taker, Henry was India’s nightmare in the group stage. His fitness will be a game-time decision.
• Mitchell Santner (New Zealand) – Captain. Spinner. All-rounder. Santner will be a huge factor with his left-arm spin on a sluggish Dubai track.

Key Battles That Could Decide the Final

• Gill vs Henry – NZ’s top bowler got Gill out early last time. Can he do it again and give the Blackcaps the perfect start?
• Kohli vs Santner – Kohli loves a big game, but left-arm spin has troubled him before. Can Santner get the biggest wicket of them all?
• Williamson vs Shami – Two big-game performers. If Shami can remove Williamson early, India will be in the driver’s seat.
• Ravindra vs Pandya – The rising Kiwi star takes on India’s all-rounder in a duel that could swing momentum either way.

The Pitch and Weather: What to Expect in Dubai

The Dubai surface has been slow and spin-friendly, favouring bowlers with variations. A new pitch will be used for the final, but expect another low-scoring contest where patience at the crease will be key.

As for the weather—hot, dry, and no rain in sight. Temperatures will hit 34°C at the start, cooling down to 28°C by the evening.

The Prize Money: What’s on the Line?

• Winners: Dh8.23 million ($2.24 million)
• Runners-up: Dh4.11 million ($1.12 million)
• Total prize pool: Dh24.34 million ($6.9 million)
  

India vs New Zealand: Head-to-Head Stats

• Matches Played: 119
• India Wins: 61
• New Zealand Wins: 50
• No Results: 7
• Tied Matches: 1

India has won their last six ODIs against New Zealand, but history means nothing in a final.

Team News: Will There Be Any Changes?

India 

India are unlikely to change their winning XI, with Varun Chakravarthy keeping his place after his match-winning spells. Harshit Rana remains on the bench.

The Squad: Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill (VC), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (WK), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Rishabh Pant (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Varun Chakravarthy.

New Zealand

All eyes are on Matt Henry’s injury. If he is fit, NZ will field an unchanged XI. If not, Ben Sears or Nathan Smith could step in.

The Squad: Mitchell Santner (C), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway (WK), Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Tom Latham (WK), Daryl Mitchell, Will O’Rourke, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Ben Sears, Nathan Smith, Kane Williamson, Will Young

How and where to watch: Streaming

Fans in more than 80 territories can watch via ICC.tv and free audio of all 15 matches is available via the ICC match centre globally. The fans can also check the live ball-by-ball commentary on icc-cricket.com.

In India, the JioStar network will broadcast the finals. On TV, in addition to the English feed, the network will provide coverage in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada across Star Sports and Sports18 channels.

In Pakistan, fans will be able to catch the live action via linear partners PTV and Ten Sports and digitally through the Myco and Tamasha apps. 

UAE and the entire MENA region will have the game broadcasted via CricLife MAX and CricLife MAX2, with streaming available on STARZPLAY.

UK cricket fans can enjoy the action on Sky Sports Cricket, Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Action and digitally via the SkyGO, NOW, and Sky Sports App.

On Radio

UK: BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

India: All India Radio

Pakistan: HUM 106.2FM

UAE: Talk 100.3FM and Big 106.2

Bangladesh: Radio Shadhin 92.4 and Radio Bhumi 92.8

Sri Lanka: Lakhanda Radio

On TV:

• Broadcast Details (TV and Digital):
• India: JioStar (Live streaming on Jio Hotstar, Television coverage on Star and Network 18 channels)
• Pakistan: PTV and Ten Sports, Streaming options: Myco and Tamasha app
• UAE and MENA: CricLife Max and CricLife Max2, Streaming option: STARZPLAY
• UK: Live broadcasting on Sky Sports Cricket, Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Action, Digital coverage via SkyGO, NOW and Sky Sports App
• USA and Canada: WillowTV, streaming on Willow by Cricbuzz app (Hindi coverage available)
• Caribbean: ESPNCaribbean on TV, streaming via ESPN Play Caribbean app
• Australia: PrimeVideo (coverage also available in Hindi)
• New Zealand: Sky Sport NZ, digital coverage via Now and SkyGo app.
• South Africa and sub-Saharan territories: SuperSport and SuperSport App
• Bangladesh: Nagorik TV and T Sports for linear broadcast, digital via Toffee app
• Afghanistan: ATN
• Sri Lanka: Maharaja TV (TV1 on Linear), Digital via Sirasa

Tickets: Can You Still Get In?

• Official ICC tickets – Sold out
• Resale platforms – Limited tickets available but at sky-high prices

The stage is set. The players are ready. The cricket world is watching. Will India extend their dominance, or will New Zealand pull off an upset for the ages? All eyes will be on Dubai on Sunday, March 9, for the ultimate battle for the prestigious trophy.

(Source: ICC, agencies)