‘What can be more dangerous than playing in Pakistan?’: Bangladesh captain breaks silence, questions BCB for boycotting T20 World Cup 2026 in India

by Hansraj Agrawal | Jun 8, 2026 | Sports

New Delhi: Bangladesh captain Litton Das has revealed that his team wanted to take part in the T20 World Cup 2026 in India, but the country’s cricket board decided against the participation, citing security concerns.

The build-up to the World Cup was dominated by Bangladesh’s refusal to travel to India. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) said that security concerns were behind its decision. Despite repeated assurances from the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the BCB did not budge and eventually pulled out of the event. The team replaced by Scotland.

Now, months after the controversy, Das has opened up about what happened behind closed doors and said that playing in India would not have posed a problem for the players.

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‘We wanted to play’

Speaking to Prothom Alo, he said the players attended a meeting with senior BCB officials expecting a routine interaction. But they were asked for their views on participating in the World Cup.

“We went there to participate (in a meeting with top BCB officials), to have tea. Our mindset was to have tea in an AC room. We were asked what we wanted. As players, what would we want? We don’t want to fight. We would obviously want to play,” he said.

According to him, the board informed the players that India was not considered a safe destination. “They told us there was no safety in that country (India). We told them, we have played in Pakistan too. They used to stand outside the room with guns. What can be more dangerous than that? If we can play in Pakistan, why not India,” he said.

ALSO READ: Tamim Iqbal elected BCB president, vows transparency and revival of Bangladesh cricket

His account gives a glimpse into the events that led to Bangladesh’s decision to pull out of one of cricket’s biggest tournaments.

When the issue first surfaced in January, Das had avoided expressing a opinion in public. At the time, uncertainty surrounded Bangladesh’s participation, and the captain chose his words carefully.

“Are you sure we are going to play the World Cup? From my side, I am uncertain; everyone is uncertain. I think the whole of Bangladesh is uncertain at this moment. No answer. I understand what question you are going to ask. That is not safe for me. No answer,” he had said.

The rise of Litton Das

He has been one of Bangladesh cricket’s most recognisable faces over the past decade. He made his Test debut against India national cricket team in 2015 and made his T20 International debut later that year against the South Africa national cricket team.

Initially selected primarily as a specialist batter, he later took over wicketkeeping in 2017 to allow veteran cricketer Mushfiqur Rahim to concentrate on batting.

ALSO READ: WATCH- ‘ICC doesn’t run on one team’ : Jay Shah’s blunt verdict on Bangladesh’s T20 WC 2026 exclusion after record-breaking tournament

One of the defining moments of his career came in the 2018 Asia Cup Final, where he scored a memorable century against India. Although Bangladesh lost the match, Das was named Player of the Match for his performance.

In March 2020, he produced another landmark innings, scoring 176 off 143 balls against the Zimbabwe national cricket team. The knock is the highest individual ODI score by a Bangladesh batter.

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Ludhiana: Power bill backlog piles up as PSPCL grapples with staff crunch

by Hansraj Agrawal | Jun 8, 2026 | general

Household budgets across PSPCL’s Central Zone may soon come under strain with consumers expected to receive clubbed electricity bills for two to three months, following sustained delays in billing operations caused by manpower shortages and disrupted meter reading schedules.

Officials said that consumers may submit self-meter readings to facilitate bill generation. (HT photo)

With the billing cycles significantly backlogged, officials and employees fear that accumulated consumption may be issued as consolidated bills, potentially triggering a sudden financial burden for households already grappling with elevated summer electricity usage.

The disruption comes at a time when electricity demand has surged sharply due to persistent heat conditions, with households increasingly reliant on air conditioners, coolers and other cooling appliances.

PSPCL employees say that if the backlog is not cleared swiftly, consumers may be required to make substantial lump-sum payments once delayed bills are generated.

At the core of the crisis lies a deepening manpower constraint within the utility. While PSPCL has advised consumers to submit self-recorded meter readings to facilitate billing, employees say the arrangement remains difficult to implement on the ground, as both field offices and Suvidha Centres continue to operate under severe staffing shortages.

According to employees, clerical staff responsible for public dealing, billing operations, corrections, grievance redressal, and allied administrative work were already functioning with limited capacity. The situation worsened after a significant number of personnel were deputed for Special Intensive Revision (SIR) and Census duties, leaving routine operations heavily understaffed.

“Public dealing is primarily handled by clerical staff. A substantial number of employees are currently engaged in SIR and Census duties. As a result, consumers visiting offices for billing discrepancies, corrections and related services are facing delays,” an employee said.

The shortage has also strained Suvidha Centres, where consumers seek assistance for bill corrections, load adjustments, new connections and other services. Employees said the reduced workforce has intensified pressure on the remaining staff, slowing down grievance redressal and billing-related processes.

Officials acknowledged that the issue is not new. Similar disruptions were reported earlier this year when billing operations were affected due to interruptions in meter reading and staffing constraints, leading to delayed bill issuance for a section of consumers. Employees fear that if the current backlog persists, the situation could worsen further during the paddy season, when operational pressure typically intensifies.

The issue was reviewed in a meeting held on Saturday, where officials assessed the impact of manpower shortages on billing efficiency and consumer services.

Superintending engineer (SE), city west circle, Kulwinder Singh, said the matter has been taken up with the district administration. “We have written to the deputy commissioner requesting the early relief of employees deputed for SIR and Census duties. There is considerable pressure on the existing workforce, and adequate staffing is essential to ensure smooth public dealings and billing operations. The department is making all possible efforts to minimise inconvenience to consumers and expedite clearance of pending work,” he said.

Officials maintained that consumers may submit self-meter readings to facilitate bill generation. However, employees say that without adequate manpower restoration, normal billing cycles and clearance of the accumulated backlog will remain a significant challenge.

According to PSPCL officials, consumers receiving clubbed electricity bills will be required to clear the entire amount within the standard payment period, with no provision for instalments or additional time. “The existing billing rules will apply. Bills exceeding ₹5,000 must be paid through cheque,” an official said.

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Ben Stokes, Gus Atkinson face ECB Investigation after nightclub incident

by Hansraj Agrawal | Jun 8, 2026 | Sports

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has launched an investigation into captain Ben Stokes and fast bowler Gus Atkinson after an incident at a nightclub in the early hours of Monday morning, just hours after England’s 115-run victory over New Zealand in the first Test at Lord’s.

The ECB said on Monday evening that it was “investigating a breach of team protocols” and hinted that Stokes and Atkinson could miss the second Test at The Oval, which starts on June 17.

“The ECB is currently investigating a breach of team protocols following the conclusion of the first Men’s Test against New Zealand. Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson were present at a nightclub in the early hours of Monday morning when an incident took place,” the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said in a statement.

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“We are currently seeking further information, and an announcement regarding the squad for the second Test will be made in due course. The Cricket Regulator has been informed and we will provide a further update when possible,” it added.

ALSO READ: Gus Atkinson’s Lord’s magic continues with five-wicket haul as England beat New Zealand by 115 runs to take 1-0 lead in Test series

Midnight Curfew For England Players And Staff

Notably, England imposed a midnight curfew on players and support staff following their winter tour of Australia, where several off-field incidents attracted significant attention.

Harry Brook was fined and formally reprimanded after a late-night altercation involving a bouncer, while Jacob Bethell received a warning over his conduct. Ben Duckett also came under scrutiny after a fan-recorded video appeared to show him intoxicated during the team’s controversial mid-series break in Noosa.

Brook is England’s Test vice-captain, and would therefore be the obvious choice to lead England in the second Test in the event that Stokes is left out while the ECB’s investigation takes place.

This marks the latest off-field scrutiny for Stokes, who has a well-documented history of incidents, most notably the 2017 affray charge outside a Bristol nightclub that led to his temporary suspension. He was later cleared in court but missed significant cricket time.

Atkinson, a rising star in England’s pace attack, has generally maintained a lower profile but now finds himself under the spotlight alongside his captain.

England vs New Zealand – results and schedule

First Test (Lord’s) – England won by 115 runs

Second Test (The Kia Oval) – June 17-21

Third Test (Trent Bridge) – June 25-29

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Zepto files ₹8,010 crore IPO papers as quick commerce race intensifies

by Hansraj Agrawal | Jun 8, 2026 | Business

Founded in 2020, Zepto has rapidly scaled its 10-minute delivery model across India and is preparing to join listed peers like Eternal and Swiggy in the fast-growing quick commerce space.
| Photo Credit:
Dado Ruvic

Quick commerce unicorn Zepto on Monday filed updated draft papers with markets regulator SEBI to raise Rs 8,010 crore through a fresh issue of shares as part of its proposed initial public offering (IPO).

Along with the fresh issue, there will be an offer for sale (OFS) of 11.35 crore equity shares by existing shareholders, according to the updated draft red herring prospectus (UDRHP).

According to people familiar with the matter, the overall issue size is estimated at around Rs 11,000 crore. Zepto is expected to launch the IPO in July.

Competition in quick commerce space

If the listing goes through, Zepto will join Eternal and Swiggy on the stock exchanges, competing directly with their respective quick-commerce arms, Blinkit and Instamart.

Use of IPO proceeds and business plans

The company proposes to utilise the proceeds from the fresh issue towards expansion of its dark store network across existing and new geographies, lease rentals of existing dark stores, investments in technology and cloud infrastructure, marketing and business promotion activities, inorganic growth opportunities, and general corporate purposes, draft papers showed.

Company background and regulatory filing route

Zepto, originally incorporated as Kiranakart Technologies Pvt Ltd in December 2020, was renamed Zepto Pvt Ltd in April 2025 and converted into a public limited company in December 2025.

The company filed preliminary IPO papers in December through the confidential pre-filing route, which allows firms to engage with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) for initial feedback without publicly disclosing draft documents.

This route has been increasingly opted by firms seeking higher flexibility in their IPO preparations.

Founders and rapid growth story

Founded by Stanford University dropouts Aadit Palicha and Kaivalya Vohra, the company rapidly scaled its 10-minute grocery delivery model across major Indian cities.

The public issue comes at a time when India’s quick commerce sector is witnessing rapid expansion, driven by increasing consumer adoption of ultra-fast deliveries.

Financial performance and operating metrics

For FY26, Zepto reported revenue from operations of Rs 22,624 crore and net receivables value (NRV) of Rs 24,816 crore. The company processed an average of 17.5 lakh orders per day during the year and had 1,139 stores as of March 31, 2026. Its annual transacting user base stood at nearly 48 million.

During the quarter ended March 2026, Zepto handled around 210 million orders, translating into about 23.3 lakh orders per day.

Zepto’s operating metrics indicate that the company has been able to scale up while improving efficiency.

Between the September quarter (Q2 FY26) and the March quarter (Q4 FY26), total orders rose from 134 million to 210 million, while average daily orders increased from 1.46 million to 2.33 million.

Moreover, orders per day per store improved from 1,433 to 2,140. At the same time, total cost per order declined to Rs 128 from Rs 181. The company’s adjusted EBITDA loss per order narrowed to Rs 59 from Rs 110.

IPO bankers

Eternal, which owns Zomato and quick commerce platform Blinkit, was listed in 2021, while Swiggy, which operates Instamart, made its stock market debut in November 2024.

Axis Capital, Morgan Stanley India, Goldman Sachs (India) Securities, Motilal Oswal Investment Advisors, HSBC Securities and Capital Markets (India), JM Financial and IIFL Capital Services are book-running lead managers to the issue.

Published on June 9, 2026

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