The Prime Minister of Vanuatu has ordered the cancellation of a passport issued to Indian businessman Lalit Modi, who is wanted in India on corruption charges.

The decision came just days after India confirmed that Modi had obtained citizenship from the island nation, which consists of more than 80 islands in the Pacific Ocean.

Modi, the former chief of the Indian Premier League (IPL), has been accused of rigging bids during his tenure as head of the world’s richest cricket tournament.

He has been living in the UK since 2010 and has consistently denied all allegations. Despite multiple attempts, India has been unsuccessful in its efforts to extradite him.

On Friday, India’s foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed that Modi had applied to surrender his Indian passport in London. “We are also given to understand that he has acquired citizenship of Vanuatu. We continue to pursue the case against him as required under law,” Jaiswal stated.

The news of Modi’s Vanuatu citizenship quickly made headlines in India, where he was once the glamorous face of the IPL, known for mingling with Bollywood stars and the country’s elite. However, on Monday, Vanuatu’s Prime Minister Jotham Napat announced the cancellation of his citizenship, stating that a Vanuatu passport was a “privilege” and should be granted only for “legitimate reasons.”

“None of those legitimate reasons include attempting to avoid extradition, which the recent facts brought to light clearly indicate was Mr Modi’s intention,” Napat said in a media release.

Napat explained that background checks and Interpol screenings conducted during Modi’s passport application showed no criminal convictions. However, he revealed that in the past 24 hours, he had learned that Interpol had twice rejected India’s requests to issue an alert notice against Modi due to a “lack of substantive judicial evidence.”

“Any such alert would’ve triggered an automatic rejection of Mr Modi’s citizenship application,” the statement added.

The cancellation of Modi’s passport is likely to be a relief for Indian authorities. Unlike the UK, Vanuatu does not have an extradition treaty with India, which made Modi’s new citizenship a potential obstacle in India’s pursuit of legal action.

A day before Vanuatu’s decision, Modi took to X (formerly Twitter), stating that there were no cases pending against him in any Indian court and accusing the media of spreading “fake news” about him.

Modi was instrumental in launching the IPL in 2008, turning it into a multi-billion-dollar cricket industry. The charges against him primarily relate to bid rigging in the 2010 auction of two IPL franchises, as well as unauthorized deals involving broadcasting and internet rights.

In 2013, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) banned him for life from any involvement in cricket activities.

Sophie Luff has been appointed as the captain of Somerset’s first-ever professional women’s cricket team, marking a historic moment for the club.

The 31-year-old top-order batter, who was born in Taunton but grew up in Lympsham, developed her skills playing men’s cricket for her local village team alongside her father and brother, Jack.

Rising through Somerset’s age-group system, she made her debut for Somerset Women in 2009 and has since built an impressive career.

Luff has featured in 74 List A matches for Somerset, amassing 2,330 runs at an average of 43.14, with a highest score of 138 not out.

In the T20 format, she has played 68 matches, scoring 1,675 runs at an average of 35.63. She previously captained the team between 2017 and 2022, demonstrating her leadership and consistency.

A former England Academy, Development, and Under-19 international, Luff also made her mark in domestic cricket.

She played club cricket for Bath and became a key figure for Western Storm, where she was appointed captain in 2020.

As the first player to reach 100 appearances for Storm, she accumulated over 1,760 runs in List A cricket at an average of 50.54, with a top score of 157 not out.

In T20s, she contributed over 850 runs at an average of 25.90, with a best score of 78.

Beyond Western Storm, Luff has also represented Welsh Fire, London Spirit, and Southern Brave in The Hundred, further showcasing her talent on a national stage.

Speaking about her new role as Somerset’s captain, Luff expressed her excitement and pride: “It feels like I’ve really come home this winter. I’m excited to be leading such a great group of girls, and to be able to do this at my home club and to become the first ever professional captain gives me an unbelievable sense of achievement and fills me with pride.”

Reflecting on her deep connection with the club, she added: “Somerset County Cricket Club means an awful lot to me. I used to come here when I was young and watch the likes of Marcus Trescothick, and it’s where I fell in love with the game. I’ve been involved with the club for a very long time and this group has got the opportunity to set the standards for how we want Somerset Women to play.”

With Luff at the helm, Somerset’s women’s team is set to embark on an exciting new chapter, and her leadership promises to inspire the next generation of cricketers in the region.

“This Club has a tremendous history and has had some incredible captains over the years. To have my name on that list is incredibly special and is a real privilege.”

Somerset Women head coach Trevor Griffin believes that his new skipper is the natural choice.

“Sophie has proved during the course of her career that she is a genuine leader, both on and off the field,” he said. “She has the respect of everyone in the dressing room and is a model professional. Her wealth of experience will prove invaluable alongside her outstanding understanding of the game.

“Sophie is passionate about cricket and passionate about this club. Her genuine understanding of what it means to represent Somerset means that she will lead by example every time she takes to the field.”

SCCC Director of Cricket, Andy Hurry added: “Sophie is very much a part of the DNA of women’s cricket in the region. She is an inspiration to her teammates and a role model for young cricketers across the South West. Her tenacity and will to win are second to none, and she possesses an abundance of the necessary traits required to be a successful captain and leader.”

CSK’s Big Win: Rachin Ravindra’s Explosive Form Locks Him in as Ruturaj Gaikwad’s IPL 2025 Partner

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) fans, rejoice Ruturaj Gaikwad’s opening woes are officially a non-issue for IPL 2025 and beyond. While teams like Punjab Kings and Lucknow Super Giants scramble to sort their top-order puzzles, CSK’s got a gem in New Zealand’s Rachin Ravindra.

Forget Devon Conway for a sec this Kiwi sensation’s blazing run in the ICC Champions Trophy has cemented him as a cornerstone for both CSK and his national side for years to come.

Rachin Ravindra’s Hot Streak Lights Up CSK’s Future

Rachin roared back from injury in New Zealand’s second Champions Trophy clash against Bangladesh, a must-win to clinch a semifinal spot.

And boy, did he deliver smashing 112 runs for a stunning century, looking like he’d never missed a beat.

That knock sealed the deal for the Kiwis, propelling them into the knockout rounds. But his rollercoaster didn’t stop there.

In Dubai, facing India in the final group game, he fizzled out with just 6 runs. No biggie he bounced back in Lahore for the semifinal against South Africa, cracking another century and staking his claim as one of the tournament’s top scorers.

Funny twist? It’s the same ground where he got sidelined by injury last month.

With form this wild, Ravindra’s not just a one-season wonder for CSK he’s a long-term ace ready to team up with Gaikwad and set the IPL ablaze. The Yellow Army’s opener slot? Locked and loaded.

Rachin Ravindra stats at ICC Champions Trophy

CSK auction picks

Devon Conway (Rs 6.25 crore), Rahul Tripathi (Rs 3.40 crore), Rachin Ravindra (Rs 4 crore), Ravichandran Ashwin (Rs 9.75 crore), Khaleel Ahmed (Rs 4.80 crore), Noor Ahmad (Rs 10 crore), Vijay Shankar (Rs 1.20 crore), Sam Curran (Rs 2.40 crore), Shaik Rasheed (Rs 30 lakh), Anshul Kamboj (Rs 3.40 crore), Mukesh Choudhary (Rs 30 lakh), Deepak Hooda (Rs 1.70 crore), Gurjapneet Singh (Rs 2.20 crore), Nathan Ellis (Rs 2 crore), Kamlesh Nagarkoti (Rs 30 lakh), Ramakrishna Ghosh (Rs 30 lakh), Shreyas Gopal (Rs 30 lakh), Vansh Bedi (Rs 55 lakh), Andre Siddharth (Rs 30 lakh), Jamie Overton (Rs 1.5 crore)

CSK retained players list

Ruturaj Gaikwad (Rs 18 crore), Ravindra Jadeja (Rs 18 crore), Shivam Dube (Rs 12 crore), Matheesha Pathirana (Rs 13 crore), MS Dhoni (Rs 4 crore)

The cola giants are at it again, and this summer’s ad showdown is heating up fast. PepsiCo’s latest cheeky move a full-page newspaper ad touting its “any time” campaign takes a sly swing at Coca-Cola’s “half time” push for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, reigniting their legendary rivalry with a fresh dose of wit.

Coca-Cola kicked things off a month ago with its “half time” vibe, splashed across TV and digital, urging fans to grab a cold one during game breaks.

But PepsiCo flipped the script, asking why wait for a breather when every moment’s better with a Pepsi. Their ad rattles off life’s highlights first time, thirst time, day time, play time, class time, pass time, crunch time, lunch time, chill time, one more time, dinner time, winner time, down time, town time, we time, me time driving home the point that Pepsi’s for any vibe, any time.

It’s a throwback to the golden days of cola ad wars, and social media’s buzzing with nostalgia especially for Pepsi’s 1996 “Nothing Official About It” campaign.

Back then, after losing the Cricket World Cup sponsorship to Coca-Cola, Pepsi hit back with Sachin Tendulkar, Vinod Kambli, and Mohammed Azharuddin, turning a snub into a cultural flex. “For those who remember, ‘Nothing Official About It’ wasn’t just a campaign — it was a cultural moment,” PepsiCo said in a statement.

“A take from the brand that turned into an obsession amongst the audience, proving that sometimes, not trying too hard is exactly the winning move. And now, decades later, Pepsi seems to be channelling that same effortless confidence.”

The jab’s got folks talking. Rediffusion Chairman Sandeep Goyal told PTI, “Now they joust but they don’t go for knock-outs,” noting that colas aren’t the FMCG spotlight-stealers they were half a century ago.

Still, brand guru Harish Bijoor praised Pepsi’s fizz on X (@harishbijoor): “Sometimes, a competitor helps you hone your #BigIdea! This summer #CocaCola has done that favor to #Pepsi! The #Coke cricketCentric HalfTime ad begged a repartee! And Pepsi has its summer of content: #AnytimePepsi! I think this can move to be an #AlwaysPepsi even! Campaignable!” On LinkedIn, marketer Richa Arora with Lyxel&Flamingo said PepsiCo “hijacked the narrative” with lean, punchy messaging, turning Coca-Cola’s “pause” into their own “anytime” win.

With summer hitting India early—a massive market for both brands—the cola clash is bubbling over, and Pepsi’s playful poke might just steal the season’s sip.