Muhammad Waseem is a Pakistani-born cricketer who plays for the United Arab Emirates national cricket team.

Wiki/Biography

Muhammad Waseem was born on Saturday, 12 February 1994 (age 30 years; as of 2024) in Mian Channu, Punjab province of Pakistan. His zodiac sign is Aquarius. Waseem started playing cricket in 2010 when he was 16. He played tape-ball cricket before joining Sakhi Shabaz Club in 2012. In the same year, he was selected for the Rashid Latif Cricket Academy in Burewala. In 2017, while playing in Lahore, he was offered a UAE residency visa by Mudassir Ali to join Versatile Deployment Solutions as a full-time member of their cricket team. After that, he worked as a sales executive while also playing club cricket.

An early adulthood picture of Muhammad Waseem

Physical Appearance

Height (approx.): 5′ 10″

Hair Colour: Black

Eye Colour: Black

Family & Caste

He belongs to a Muslim Rajput family. ^[1]Shahraj Waseem – Instagram ^[2]Muhammad Waseem – Facebook

Parents & Siblings

Not much is known about his parents and siblings.

Muhammad Waseem’s father

Muhammad Waseem’s mother

Wife & Children

In 2022, he got married to Sana Waseem. He has a son named Shahraj Waseem.

Muhammad Waseem’s wife, Sana Waseem

Muhammad Waseem playing with his son, Shahraj Waseem

Religion

He follows Islam. ^[3]Muhammad Waseem – Facebook

Career

United Arab Emirates National Cricket Team

Muhammad Waseem became eligible to play for the UAE in April 2021 after meeting the ICC’s three-year residency rule. In October 2021, Waseem was selected to play for the UAE in the 2021 Summer T20 Bash tournament. On 5 October 2021, he made his T20I debut against Namibia at ICC Academy, Dubai. Five days later, in a match against Ireland, Waseem scored his first century in T20I cricket, making 107 not out from 62 balls.

Muhammad Waseem playing for the UAE

In November 2021, he was chosen to play for the UAE in the 2021 Namibia Tri-Nation Series One Day International (ODI) tournament. In February 2022, he was also selected for the UAE’s ODI squad for their series against Oman. On 5 February 2022, Waseem made his ODI debut against Oman at Al Amerat Cricket Ground in Muscat, Oman. In March 2023, Waseem was made captain of the UAE, replacing CP Rizwan for the final match of the 2023 United Arab Emirates Tri-Nation Series. In August 2023, Muhammad Waseem became the T20I captain for the first time in a three-match series against New Zealand.

Muhammad Waseem (right) as the captain of the three-match T20I series against New Zealand in 2023

His first full series as captain was the Nepal Tri-Nation Series, which was the UAE’s final series of the 2019–2023 ICC Cricket World Cup League 2. On 31 December 2023, he led UAE to an 11-run victory over Afghanistan in Sharjah during the T20I series. During the match, Waseem became the first player ever to hit 100 sixes in International cricket in a calendar year. On 15 March 2023, Waseem scored his first ODI century against Papua New Guinea in the Nepal series, scoring 119 runs from 76 balls, including twelve sixes.

Franchise Cricket

Abu Dhabi T10

He was a part of the Northern Warriors in the 2021 Abu Dhabi T10. On 3 February 2021, he came into the spotlight with an unbeaten 56 from 13 balls in a match against Pune Devils, leading Northern Warriors to an eight-wicket victory. He hit seven of those 13 balls for six and three more for four. With the feat, Waseem equalled Chris Gayle’s record for the Fastest T10 Fifty in 12 balls in a T10 cricket match.

Northern Warriors’ Waseem Muhammad (left) plays a shot against Team Abu Dhabi during their Abu Dhabi T10 League match

On 6 February 2021, Northern Warriors went on to become the champions of 2021 Abu Dhabi T10, defeating Delhi Bulls in the final. In the 2021–22 Abu Dhabi T10, he played for Chennai Braves. He represented the New York Strikers in the 2022 and 2023 Abu Dhabi T10. In 2022, Deccan Gladiators defeated New York Strikers by 37 runs in the final. In 2023, New York Strikers became champions of the league, defeating Deccan Gladiators by 7 wickets in the final.

Bukhatir Premier League

Under his captainship, InterGlobe Marine (IGM) won the 2021 46th Bukhatir Premier League.

Muhammad Waseem (captain of team InterGlobe Marine (IGM)) receiving the trophy after winning the 2021 46th Bukhatir Premier League

Emirates D20

He represented Fujairah in Dream 11 Emirates D20, 2020/21. Waseem finished the tournament with the most runs (534), the highest average (53.40), and the most 50-plus scores. He scored four half-centuries and an unbeaten 101 runs off 60 balls. However, his team lost to Sharjah by two wickets in the final. Under his captainship, Fujairah won the 2022 Emirates D20.

Muhammad Waseem (as the captain of Fujairah) posing with the trophy after his side won the 2022 Emirates D20

International League T20

He played for MI Emirates in the 2023 and 2024 International League T20. He won the title of Best UAE Player in both seasons.

Muhammad Waseem posing with his Blue Belt after becoming the Best UAE Player in the 2024 International League T20

On 28 January 2024, Muhammad Waseem’s impressive score of 89 (62) in the match against Abu Dhabi Knight Riders led him to become the Player of the Match. He scored a total of 321 runs from 12 matches in the ILT20 2024. In the 2024 final, MI Emirates defeated Dubai Capitals by 45 runs to win the title.

Muhammad Waseem (on knees in the front row- third from left) with his team MI Emirates posing as Champions of 2024 International League T20

Pakistan Super League (PSL)

He joined the Multan Sultans team as a replacement player for the 2021 Pakistan Super League (PSL). On 24 June 2021, Multan Sultans defeated Peshawar Zalmi by 47 runs in the final to win their first title.

Muhammad Waseem (rightmost) posing with his team Multan Sultans after winning the 2021 Pakistan Super League (PSL)

Facts/Trivia

• His nickname is Babba. ^[4]Muhammad Waseem – Instagram

• He is a right-hand batter and right-arm medium-pace bowler.

• His jersey number for the UAE is #10.

• His maiden ODI century came from 61 balls and set a new UAE record for the fastest ODI century, but this record was broken the following day by Asif Khan, who scored a century in 41 balls.

• He was signed by Islamabad United for the 2024 PSL. However, he had to pull out of the league because the dates of UAE’s Cricket World Cup League 2 campaign clashed with PSL. Martin Guptill replaced him in the team.

• His favourite cricket ground is Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

Tamanpreet

Steve Bucknor is a Jamaican former international cricket umpire and football referee. One of the most experienced umpires in the history of cricket, Bucknor umpired a record 128 Tests, 179 ODIs, and five consecutive World Cups from 1992 to 2007. He was the first umpire to officiate in 100 Test matches.

Wiki/Biography

Stephen Anthony Bucknor was born on Friday, 31 May 1946 (age 78 years; as of 2024) in Montego Bay, St James, Jamaica. His zodiac sign is Gemini. He has been athletic since childhood. Raised by a single mother, Bucknor spent most of his childhood on the playfield while his mother was away at work. He attended Cornwall College in Montego Bay, Jamaica. He played a goalkeeper for Cornwall College’s football team. He also captained the team. He was part of the Cornwall College team that won the DaCosta Cup in 1963. He also represented his college in the long jump. Bucknor relocated from Jamaica to New York around 2017-18.

Physical Appearance

Height (approx.): 6′ 3″

Hair Colour: Black

Eye Colour: Black

Family

Parents & Siblings

Not much is known about Steve Bucknor’s parents and siblings.

Wife & Children

On 10 June 1989, Steve Bucknor got married to Leora Bucknor.

Steve Bucknor with his wife, Leora Bucknor

He has six children. He also has a stepdaughter. His daughter’s names are Suzanne Bucknor, Sasheeka Bucknor, Stephanie Bucknor, Andrae Stephenson, and Shari Ri Ri. Sasheeka Bucknor worked at Air Jamaica. His son Sta-Bee British (Sean) is a professional soccer player.

From left to right, Andrae Stephenson, Leora Bucknor and Shari Ri Ri

Steve Bucknor with his son Sta-Bee British

Steve Bucknor’s daughter Suzanne Bucknor receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award on her father’s behalf

Steve Bucknor’s daughter Sasheeka Bucknor

Steve Bucknor’s daughter Stephanie Bucknor

Religion

Steve Bucknor follows Christianity.

Career

After completing his formal education, he worked as a mathematics and physical education teacher at St. Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS).

Football

Steve Bucknor began his career in sports with football. As a football player, he played as a goalkeeper in Jamaican parish leagues during the 1960s. In 1964, he was the goalkeeper for Jamaica in a schoolboy international match against Brazil, which ended in a 1-1 draw. Later, he became a football coach for Cornwall College. Between 1981 and 1991, he won six DaCosta Cup titles.

Coach Steve Bucknor (wearing white Adidas T-Shirt) with 1982 Cornwall College DaCosta Cup football team

During the same time, he became a football referee. Bucknor was a referee for FIFA in a CONCACAF and World Cup qualifier match between El Salvador and the Netherlands Antilles in 1988. Bucknor quit his career in football in 1992.

Cricket

Bucknor’s first international cricket match was a One Day International (ODI) between the West Indies and India in Antigua on 18 March 1989. His first Test match was between the West Indies and India at Sabina Park, Kingston, from 28 April to 3 May 1989. He was selected to umpire the 1992 World Cup final after only four Test matches and a few one-day internationals. Bucknor also umpired in the next four World Cup finals in 1996, 1999, 2003, and 2007. In 1994, the ICC introduced a policy for Test matches where one umpire would be independent of the competing nations and would be chosen from an International Panel of Umpires. Bucknor was part of this panel from its start until the ICC changed its umpiring policy in 2002. Bucknor was one of five officials involved in the wrong decision during the 2007 World Cup final, which led to play continuing in poor light conditions. As a result, Bucknor, along with the other four officials, was suspended from the Twenty20 World Championship in South Africa. His incorrect decisions led to India’s defeat by 122 runs in the second Test in Sydney in January 2008.

After a strong protest from the Board of Control for Cricket, Bucknor was removed by the ICC from umpiring in the third Test between Australia and India in Perth. On 23 February 2009, the ICC announced that Bucknor would retire from umpiring in March 2009. The last Test match he umpired was the 3rd Test between South Africa and Australia in Cape Town from 19–23 March 2009. His last ODI match was the 4th ODI between the West Indies and England in Barbados on 29 March 2009. Bucknor umpired in a record 128 Test matches between 1989 and 2009, and he also umpired in 181 ODIs during this period.

He stood in 309 matches, and had one of the most distinctive ways of giving a batsman out!

Happy Birthday to Steve Bucknor! pic.twitter.com/bQqrJl1X6Q

— ICC (@ICC) May 30, 2017

After Retirement

After retiring from cricket, he again started serving as a coach for Cornwall College’s DaCosta Cup men’s football team.

Awards, Honours, Achievements

• ICC’s Bronze Bails Awards for umpiring in 100 ODIs

• Order of Jamaica for outstanding contribution to sports (2007)
  

  Steve Bucknor after receiving the honour of Order of Jamaica in 2007

• Golden Bails Award for umpiring 100 Test matches

Favourites

• All-rounder Cricketer: Conrad Hunte

• Batsmen: Viv Richards, Sachin Tendulkar

• Bowler(s): Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Curtly Ambrose

• Cricket Ground: Lord’s in London

Facts/Trivia

• His nicknames are Sta-Bee and Gabby. ^[1]Sta-Bee British – Facebook ^[2]Mobay Lives Matter – Facebook

• He is the first official to serve as both, a FIFA referee and an ICC Test cricket empire.

• Bucknor used to play cricket as an all-rounder in Montego Bay. He started umpiring because he was angry with the wrong decisions made during his own games. He wanted to make sure that cricketers were given fair treatment, so he decided to become an umpire.

• He was known for his punctuality. The only time he was late was for a Test at Lord’s when he arrived at the venue at 9:05 for an 11 o’clock start.

• In 2002, Bucknor broke Dickie Bird’s record of umpiring in 66 Tests.

• In March 2005, he became the first umpire to officiate in 100 Tests.

• Steve Bucknor’s relationship with India became bad after the 2008 Sydney Test. Years later, Bucknor said that he committed two mistakes during that match. He said the first mistake allowed an Australian batsman to score a hundred, and the second, on day five, cost India the game. The batsman Bucknor was talking about was Andrew Symonds, who went on to score 162 runs. During an over by Ishant Sharma, Symonds, who was batting on 30, hit the ball with the edge of his bat, and wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni caught it. However, Steve Bucknor decided that Symonds was not out. The second mistake might refer to Rahul Dravid‘s wicket on the last day, where replays clearly showed the ball had hit his front knee roll. ^[3]The India Express ^[4]Scroll.in

• The 2008 Sydney Test was also known for the Monkeygate controversy, where Bucknor was involved in decisions regarding Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh. Singh was accused of calling Andrew Symonds a “monkey,” and he received a three-match ban following the incident. Thereafter, Indian cricket fans blamed umpires Mark Benson and Steve Bucknor for India’s defeat in the test match and burned effigies of them. ^[5]Al Jazeera

• Until December 2019, Bucknor held the record for umpiring the most Test matches, but then, Aleem Dar from Pakistan broke the record. Aleem Dar umpired in a record 144 test matches during his career.

• Steve Bucknor was called Slow Death because he took a long time to make decisions on appeals. ^[6]Mumbai Mirror

• In May 2006, Bucknor accused TV companies of altering images in a such way that made umpires look bad and key players look good.

• In 2007, Bucknor was nominated for the Umpire of the Year award, but Simon Taufel won the award.

• He got down on his knees and prayed on the pitch during his final Test, South Africa v Australia, in Cape Town on 22 March 2009, the end of his 20-year career.
  

  Steve Bucknor praying on knees during his final Test, South Africa v Australia, in Cape Town on 22 March 2009

• Eleven years after his retirement, Steve Bucknor remembered making several wrong decisions against Sachin Tendulkar in an interview. His decisions caused outrage in India. One mistake happened in Australia (at the Gabba in Brisbane in 2003) when he wrongly declared Tendulkar out lbw, even though the ball was going over the stumps. Another mistake was in a match at Eden Gardens in Kolkata in 2005 when he wrongly thought the batsman had nicked the ball for a catch behind.
  

• Apart from football and cricket, Bucknor is also into track and field events. In an interview, after retiring from cricket, he said he would participate in track meets. Talking about the same, he said,
  

  I do sprints. From childhood days I was an athlete. Running is a part of me….I do 200 metres, 400 metres, I am part of the relay quartet, 4×50 and 4×100. I also throw discus and shot.”

• In an interview, he said that he liked spending time alone and staying indoors in his free time. He said he liked to watch television and do some writing.

Tamanpreet

Angad Pratap is an Indian Air Force officer and astronaut. He made headlines in 2024 when he was selected to be a crew member on the Gaganyaan Mission, India’s first human space flight program.

Wiki/Biography

Dwivedi Angad Pratap Maitrey was born on Saturday, 17 July 1982 (age 41 years; as of 2023) in Allahabad (now Prayagraj), Uttar Pradesh. His zodiac sign is Cancer. He pursued an M.Tech from IISc Bangalore. He passed out from the National Defence Academy (NDA) in 2003. In 2024, along with their astronaut training at ISRO, Angad Pratap enrolled in the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) to pursue an MTech. ^[1]The Indian Express

Physical Appearance

Height (approx.): 5′ 7″

Hair Colour: Black

Eye Colour: Black

Family

Parents & Siblings

Not much is known about his parents and siblings.

Wife & Children

His wife is a former IAF officer.

Career

Indian Air Force

On 18 December 2004, he was commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force (IAF) in December 2004. He became a Wing Commander in December 2017 and was later promoted to Group Captain. He is also a flying instructor and a test pilot, with 2,000 hours of flying time. He has flown many different types of aircraft, such as the Su-30MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier, and An-32.

A photo of Angad Pratap taken when he was in the National Defence Academy (NDA)

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)

In 2018, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) shortlisted 30 veteran pilots to be part of the Gaganyaan mission. Scheduled for launch in 2025, the Gaganyaan mission is India’s first crewed space mission that aims to send four astronauts into a low Earth orbit for three days, and safely return them by landing in the Indian Ocean. Following a challenging selection process, only 12 pilots remained from the initial 30 candidates to become astronauts by mid-2019. Finally, four astronauts — Group Captains Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair, Angad Pratap, Ajit Krishnan, and Wing Commander Shubhanshu Shukla, were chosen for the Gaganyaan Mission. The initial space training of the crew members took place at the Institute of Aerospace Medicine (IAM) in Bengaluru. Then, they were sent to Russia for advanced space training at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center.

They returned to India after a 13-month-long training. They were further evaluated and trained at the Human Space Flight Centre in Bengaluru. Their space training ended in February 2024. On 27 February 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave astronaut wings to the crew members of the Gaganyaan Mission.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi bestowing the prestigious astronaut wings on Group Captain Angad Pratap at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in Thiruvananthapuram on 27 February 2024

Tamanpreet

Reva Udhas is the daughter of popular Indian ghazal and playback singer Pankaj Udhas.

Wiki/Biography

Reva Udhas was born on 20 June. Her zodiac sign is Gemini.

Childhood picture of Reva Udhas (right) carrying her younger sister, Nayaab Udhas

She did her schooling at The Cathedral and John Connon School and St. Xavier’s College in Mumbai. She pursued her graduation from Kishinchand Chellaram College, Mumbai.

Physical Appearance

Height (approx.): 5′ 7″

Hair Colour: Black

Eye Colour: Black

Family & Ethnicity

Parents & Siblings

Reva Udhas’ father, Pankaj Udhas, hailed from a family of landlords in Gujarat, while her mother, Farida Udhas, belongs to a Parsi family. ^[1]The Indian Express Pankaj Udhas was a celebrated ghazal and playback singer. He died after a prolonged illness on 26 February 2024. Farida Udhas was an air hostess working for Air India. She has a younger sister, Nayaab Udhas, who is an event manager.

From left to right, Reva Udhas, Pankaj Udhas, Farida Udhas, and Nayaab Udhas

Husband & Children

She is unmarried.

Career

In 2017, she established a gifting solution company called Blue Charm.

Logo of Blue Charm Gifting Company

Religion

She follows Hinduism.

Nayaab Udhas with her family, offering prayers at Shree Siddhivinayak Temple

Tamanpreet

Nayaab Udhas is an Indian event organiser. She is the daughter of popular ghazal and playback singer Pankaj Udhas.

Wiki/Biography

Nayaab Udhas was born on 14 December, and she hails from Mumbai. Her zodiac sign is Sagittarius.

Childhood picture of Nayaab Udhas with her father, Pankaj Udhas

She attended Villa Theresa High School, Mumbai. She earned a bachelor’s degree in commerce from H.R. College of Commerce and Economics, Mumbai, with an additional Diploma in Advertising and Marketing. Later, she also pursued a one-year-long course in social communications media at Sophia College, Mumbai. ^[1]Nayaab Udhas – Facebook

Physical Appearance

Height (approx.): 5′ 4″

Hair Colour: Black

Eye Colour: Black

Family & Ethnicity

Parents & Siblings

Nayaab Udhas’ father, Pankaj Udhas, hailed from a family of landlords in Gujarat, while her mother, Farida Udhas, belongs to a Parsi family. ^[2]The Indian Express Pankaj Udhas was a celebrated ghazal and playback singer. He died after a prolonged illness on 26 February 2024. Farida Udhas was an air hostess working for Air India. She has an elder sister, Reva Udhas, who is an event manager.

From left to right, Reva Udhas, Pankaj Udhas, Farida Udhas, and Nayaab Udhas

Husband & Children

On 17 December 2019, she got married to Ojas Yogesh Adhiya, who is an Indian classical musician.

Wedding picture of Nayaab Udhas and Ojas Yogesh Adhiya

A picture of Nayaab Udhas and Ojas Yogesh Adhiya

Religion

She follows Hinduism.

Nayaab Udhas with her family, offering prayers at Shree Siddhivinayak Temple

Career

In March 2008, she worked as an assistant director at Yashraj Films for six months. In 2009, she started the event management company The Event Company.

Logo of The Event Company

Facts/Trivia

• She is a philanthropist who is associated with various charity organisations. She has worked towards the welfare of children suffering from Thalassemia.

• She is a skilled singer.

Tamanpreet

Renee Sen is an Indian actress. She is the adoptive daughter of popular Indian actress Sushmita Sen.

Wiki/Biography

Renee Sen was born on Monday, 6 September 1999 (age 24 years; as of 2023), and she hails from Mumbai. Her zodiac sign is Virgo. A year after she was born, she was adopted by actress Sushmita Sen.

Childhood picture of Renee Sen

She developed a passion for acting at a young age, watching her actress mother work on the film sets. She did her schooling at Singapore International School, Mumbai. Later, she majored in psychology and sociology. ^[1]The Times of India

Physical Appearance

Height (approx.): 5′ 4″

Hair Colour: Black

Eye Colour: Black

Family

Parents & Siblings

The names of Renee Sen’s biological parents are unknown. Her adoptive mother, Sushmita Sen, is an actress, model, and beauty queen, who won the Miss Universe 1994 pageant. Sushmita is a single mother. In 2010, Sushmita adopted her second daughter, Alisah.

Sushmita Sen with her daughters, Renee and Alisah

Husband & Children

She is unmarried.

Religion

She follows Hinduism.

A snip of Renee Sen’s Instagram post showing her religious beliefs

Address

Her address is 6th Floor, Beach Queen, Yari Road, Versova, Andheri West, Mumbai, India.

Career

In January 2021, Renee Sen made her acting debut with the Hindi short film Suttabaazi in which she played the role of Diya, a 19-year-old who is addicted to social media. In the film, Diya is stuck at home during the COVID-19 pandemic, dealing with online classes and her parents’ nagging. Her only relief is her new habit of smoking. Suttabaazi was screened on the Bandra Film Festival’s YouTube Channel under the ‘Quirky’ category.

A poster of the short film Suttabaazi (2021)

In the same year, she played the role of Diya in the Hindi short film Dramayama, sharing the screen with Darsheel Safary.

Renee Sen as Diya and Darsheel Safary as Romi in the short film Dramayama (2021)

She lent her voice to the ‘Mahamrityunjaya’ mantra in the biographical drama TV series Taali (2023), starring Sushmita Sen. In 2024, she played the role of Natasha in the theatrical production Hidden Agendas by Raëll Padamsee’s ACE Productions.

Poster of the play Hidden Agendas (2024) by Raëll Padamsee’s ACE Productions

Tattoo

Renee Sen has got “I AM” tattoo inked on her left wrist.

Renee Sen’s ‘I AM’ tattoo

Favourites

• Food: Sushi

• Cuisine(s): Thai, Mexican, Japanese, Indian

• Actor(s): Shah Rukh Khan, Pankaj Tripathi, Rajkummar Rao, Jaideep Ahlawat

• Actress: Priyanka Chopra

• Film Director(s): Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Meghna Gulzar

Facts/Trivia

• In 2012, Renee walked the ramp with her mother, Sushmita, and sister, Alisah, for the grand finale by designer Nishka Lulla at India Kids Fashion Week.
  

  From left to right, Renee Sen, Sushmita Sen, and Alisah Sen walking the ramp for the grand finale by designer Nishka Lulla at India Kids Fashion Week in 2012

• In an interview, Sushmita shared that when Renee turned 16, she offered to help her find her biological parents. Sushmita said,
  

  I told her we don’t know if the court has the names of her biological parents but there is information in an envelope which is only rightfully hers after she turns 18.”

  When Renee turned 18, she told Sushmita that she wasn’t interested in knowing about her biological parents.

• She has received training in classical music. A skilled singer, she often uploads her singing videos on Instagram.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Renée Sen (@reneesen47)

• She learnt Kathak from Pritam Shikhare, Nupur Shikhare‘s mother. Nupur Shikhare is Sushmita’s fitness trainer.

• In 2018, a video went viral in which Sushmita was seen teaching kickboxing to Renee for self-defence.

• During an interview in 2023, Sushmita Sen shared how becoming a mother at just the age of 24 affected her career. She recalled giving up a role in an Akshay Kumar-starrer film because Renee was hospitalized in critical condition. Talking about the same, in an interview, she said,
  

  I got a call from Bombay, My father was babysitting Renee and he said she’s been hospitalized and is very serious. I took a flight back, and said, ‘I know this is the end of my career, I’m so sorry.’ They were very nice about it, at least superficially I think. But I left and I came back to my daughter and then saw her through one week of hospitalization and then ran back to say I’m ready for the job, but the damage was done.”

Tamanpreet

Kuldeep Kumar is an Indian politician and a member of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). He made headlines on 20 February 2024 when he was declared the winner of the Chandigarh mayor election by the Supreme Court, overruling the previous result in which BJP candidate Manoj Sonkar was unfairly appointed the Mayor of Chandigarh.

Wiki/Biography

Kuldeep Kumar Dhalor ^[1]The Tribune was born on Thursday, 12 September 1985 (age 38 years; as of 2023), and he hails from Daddu Majra Colony, Chandigarh. His zodiac is Virgo. He studied till Class 12 at a Punjab School Education Board school (2005). ^[2]The official website of the Chandigarh Administration When he was young, he was associated with the RSS and the Bajrang Dal. He made a name for himself in sports as a national-level kabaddi player. He represented Chandigarh at national-level kabaddi meets on five occasions.

Physical Appearance

Height (approx.): 5′ 8″

Hair Colour: Black

Eye Colour: Black

Family

Parents & Siblings

Kuldeep Kumar’s father, Rayat Pal, moved to Chandigarh from Uttar Pradesh in the early 1990s for a clerical job with the Haryana government. He passed away in September 2021. Kuldeep has a brother with whom he runs a tent business and catering business in Dadu Majra.

Wife & Children

His wife, Mamta, is a homemaker. He has two kids, a daughter named Umang and a son named Aditya.

Kuldeep Kumar Dhalor with his wife and children

Religion/Religious Views

He follows Hinduism. ^[3]K K Dhalor – Facebook

Address

His address is House No. 2064 Daddu Majra Colony Site and Service Complex, Chandigarh.

Signature/Autograph

Mayor of Chandigarh Kuldeep Kumar’s signature

Career

Before he started his political career, he worked as a sanitation worker (Safai Karamchari) with the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation. He was associated with the BJP back in 2010. Kuldeep was a part of the BJP’s SC morcha, but he left the party to join the Congress. On 30 May 2017, Kuldeep was elected as the President and Chairman of the Residents Welfare Association Committee Daddu Majra. He received 1143 votes out of a total of 3023 votes.

Kuldeep Kumar celebrating after becoming the President and Chairman of the Residents Welfare Association Committee Daddumajra in 2017

In 2020, he was appointed as the Chairman of the Valmiki Ashram Management Committee in Dadu Majra.

Kuldeep Kumar being felicitated as the Chairman of Valmiki Ashram Management Committee in Dadu Majra in 2020

In 2021, he joined the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Kuldeep Kumar won the 2021 Chandigarh Municipal Corporation election from Ward No. 26, defeating BJP’s sitting councillor and former Mayor Rajesh Kalia. Thereafter, he was employed with the Medical Officer of Health wing of the Municipal Corporation. On 30 January 2024, Kuldeep Kumar, the AAP-Congress alliance candidate, lost the Chandigarh mayor election to BJP candidate Manoj Sonkar.

AAP candidate Kuldeep Kumar breaking down after his defeat in the Chandigarh Mayoral Polls on 30 January 2024

According to the election result, Sonkar secured 16 votes, whereas Kuldeep got 12 out of the total 36 votes. Thereafter, AAP claimed that returning officer Anil Masih had unfairly invalidated 8 votes. AAP challenged the result first in the Punjab and Haryana High Court and then in the Supreme Court. They presented videos that they said showed the election officer tampering with votes. On 20 February 2024, the SC overruled the previous results of the Chandigarh mayoral elections and declared Kuldeep Kumar as the new mayor.

Kuldeep Kumar being greeted after the Supreme Court declared him as Mayor of Chandigarh on 20 February 2024

Apart from politics, Kuldeep runs a tent business and catering business with his brother in Dadu Majra. He also works as a property dealer in Dadu Majra.

Controversies

A Police Case

As per his affidavit for the 2021 Chandigarh Municipal Corporation elections, an FIR was registered against him at the Maloya Police Station, dated 5 April 2015 under sections 147, 148, 149, 336 of IPC and 25-54-59, 27 of Arms Act 1959. ^[4]The official website of the Chandigarh Administration

Suspension From General House Meeting of the Chandigarh MC

In 2023, 8 AAP councillors, including Kuldeep Kumar, were suspended and forcibly removed by marshals from the General House meeting of the Chandigarh MC. The action was taken against the councillors after they tried to hurt MC officers and damaged properties at the House. The AAP councillors became angry when Congress and BJP councillors asked them to apologize for terming them ‘thieves’ and ‘corrupts’ during a press conference. AAP spokesperson Malwinder Singh Kang, along with 8 other AAP councillors, had accused the BJP and Congress of making money from the Dadu Majra garbage dump during the press conference. ^[5]Hindustan Times

Car Collection

He owns a Toyota Etios. ^[6]The official website of the Chandigarh Administration

Assets & Properties

• Cash: Rs. 45,000

• Deposits in Banks: Rs. 4,825

• Motor Vehicle: Rs. 5,50,000

• Jewellery: Rs. 1,00,000

Note: The given estimates of assets do not include assets owned by his wife and dependents. ^[7]The official website of the Chandigarh Administration

Net Worth

His net worth was Rs. 2,21,842 in 2021. This does not include the net worth of his wife and dependents. ^[8]The official website of the Chandigarh Administration

Facts/Trivia

• His nickname is Tita (also spelt Teeta). ^[9]Vicky Bhatti – Facebook

• He uses the username K K Dhalor on Facebook. ^[10]K K Dhalor – Facebook

• Being a resident of Dadu Majra, he actively fights for the removal of the Dadu Majra dump. In an interview, after he was declared winner of the 2024 Chandigarh Mayoral polls by the SC, he said,
  

  I represent Dadu Majra. My house is adjoining the wall of the dumping ground. My focus would be to arrive at a solution to the issue that has plagued the area at the earliest.”

Tamanpreet

Mallika Sagar is a renowned Indian auctioneer and art connoisseur. She became the first female to conduct an Indian Premier League auction in December 2023.

Wiki/Biography

Mallika Sagar was born on Sunday, 3 August 1975 (age 48 years; as of 2023) in Mumbai. Her zodiac sign is Leo. After studying in Mumbai till Class 10, she moved to the US, where she attended a boarding school in Connecticut for Classes 11 and 12. She first became interested in auctioneering as a teenager in Mumbai after reading a book where the main character was a female auctioneer. In 1998, she earned a degree in the History of Art from Bryn Mawr College in Philadelphia. ^[1]Bryn Mawr She did a thesis on modern Indian artists. Thereafter, she worked at the art and luxury business Christie’s for two years, first in Mumbai and then in New York. At that time, Christie’s then-India representative was moving away. Therefore, Christie’s enrolled Mallika in its graduate training program to prepare her to replace the former representative. Later, she moved back to India.

Physical Appearance

Height (approx.): 5′ 4″

Hair Colour: Black

Eye Colour: Black

Family

Parents & Siblings

Her father, Virenchee Vithalbhai Sagar, was a businessman.

A picture of Virenchee Sagar, Mallika Sagar’s father

Her brother, Kunal Sagar, is also a businessman and Executive Vice Chairman at Nirlon Limited. Her brother, Rahul Sagar, is also a businessman and Executive Director at Nirlon Limited. She has an elder sister, Maneesha R. Bhat.

Mallika Sagar’s brother Rahul Sagar, Executive Director at Nirlon Limited

Mallika Sagar’s brother Kunal Sagar, Executive Director at Nirlon Limited

Husband & Children

Mallika Sagar was married to Vir Advani, the Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Blue Star Ltd. Together, they have a son. They got divorced in 2017.

A picture of Mallika Sagar’s ex-husband Vir Advani, the Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Blue Star Ltd

Mallika Sagar with her son in 2009

Relationships/Affairs

After separating from Advani, she started dating Ashish Goel, fashionista Surily Goel’s brother. ^[2]Mumbai Mirror

From left to right, Surily Goel, jewellery designer Kajal Fabiani, and Ashish Goel

Career

A few months after her graduation, Mallika joined the international art and luxury company Christie’s. In December 2000, she conducted her first auction in New York in which she sold baseball souvenirs. In 2001, at the age of 26, she became the first woman of Indian origin to become an auctioneer at Christie’s in New York City. In 2004, she left Christie’s and spent a year looking after her unwell mother. Thereafter, she started her own practice as an art consultant. In April 2011, she conducted her first art auction at Mumbai’s Pundole Art Gallery. Thereafter, she conducted various modern and contemporary art auctions.

Mallika Sagar conducting an art action at the Pundole Art Gallery, Mumbai

In 2011, she became a director of Manisha Trading And Investments Private Limited. On 22 August 2016, she became a designated partner at Fulmala Enterprises LLP. Apart from that, she also holds a directorship in the companies Fudavis Trading Private Limited and Garware Technical Fibres Limited. Sagar’s first time as a sports auctioneer was in 2021 when she became the first woman to auction for the Pro Kabaddi League..

A picture of Mallika Sagar conducting the Pro Kabaddi League Season 10 auction

In February 2023, she served as the auctioneer for the Women’s Premier League (WPL).

Mallika Sagar conducting the Women’s IPL 2023 Auction

On 19 December 2023, she made headlines for becoming the first female to conduct an auction in the history of IPL. She conducted the Indian Premier League’s (IPL) 2024 auction in Dubai, which featured 333 players competing for 77 available slots.

Mallika Sagar during the Indian Premier League’s (IPL) 2024 auction

Facts/Trivia

• Once Mallika shared that she struggled to get financial aid as an international student in her first year. She then transferred to Bryn Mawr College, where she received nearly a full scholarship.

• After her marriage to Vir Advani, she came to be known as Mallika Sagar Advani. ^[3]Mumbai Mirror

• After his divorce from Mallika, Advani started dating Ria Talati, architect Noshir Talati’s daughter.

• Mallika became the auctioneer for the 2024 IPL because the previous auctioneer Hugh Edmeades had health issues. He collapsed during an auction because of “postural hypotension.”

• In an interview, she said that Edmeades was the one who introduced her to auctioneering in Indian sports. Hugh had approached her to be his backup for the IPL 2021 auction.

• During the 2024 IPL auction, there was confusion when Punjab Kings mixed up two players with the same name from different cities. They tried to tell Sagar they didn’t want the player they got, but she had already finalized the sale with her gavel. Sagar said the auction rules had to be followed.

• During the 2024 IPL auction, she made another mistake by calling Gujarat Titans as Gujarat Giants. The Gujarat Giants are a kabaddi team in the Pro Kabaddi League.

• She has worked for various charities and NGOs to raise money through auctions with no commercial interest.

Tamanpreet

Anshuman Gaekwad (1952-2024)) was a former Indian cricketer who played 40 Test matches and 15 One Day Internationals. He also served as the national coach for India two times. He is the son of Dattajirao Gaekwad, India’s tenth Test captain. He died on 31 July 2024 in London.

Wiki/Biography

Anshuman Dattajirao Gaekwad was born on Tuesday, 23 September 1952 (age 71 years; at the time of death) in Bombay (now Mumbai), India. His zodiac sign is Libra. Anshuman did his primary schooling at the Convent of Jesus and Mary and then attended Maharani Chimnabai High School, Vadodara. Growing up, he would accompany his father, Dattajirao Gaekwad, to practice sessions at Moti Bagh ground, where coaching camps by veterans like Vijay Hazare, Jayasinghrao Ghorpade, and Dattajirao used to run all year round. He pursued a course in commerce at The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda. He made his way into university cricket in 1969.

Physical Appearance

Height (approx.): 5′ 11″

Hair Colour: Grey

Eye Colour: Black

Family & Ethnicity

Anshuman Gaekwad belonged to a Marathi family. ^[1]Guts Amidst Bloodbath – Google Books

Parents & Siblings

His father, Dattajirao Gaekwad (deceased), was also a cricketer, who played 11 Tests for India between 1952 and 1961. He died in Vadodara due to age-related ailments on 13 February 2024. His mother’s name is Ushadevi. He has three sisters, Geeta, Sunetra, and Nandini. He was the eldest of the four siblings.

Anshuman Gaekwad with his parents

Wife & Children

After a five-year-long courtship, Anshuman Gaekwad got married to Jyoti Gaekwad. He has two sons, Aniruddha Gaekwad and Shatrunjay Gaekwad. Shatrunjay is also a cricketer who represents Baroda in the Ranji Trophy.

From left to right, Jyoti Gaekwad, Anshuman Gaekwad, Shatrunjay Gaekwad’s wife, Shatrunjay Gaekwad

Anshuman Gaekwad with his sons, Aniruddha Gaekwad (leftmost) and Shatrunjay Gaekwad (rightmost)

Signature/Autograph

Anshuman Gaekwad’s signature

Career

As a Cricketer

Domestic

Within a year of playing university cricket, he was selected to play as a bowler to represent Baroda in the 1969-70 season. He played for Baroda in the domestic circuit and had over 12,000 first-class runs to his name, including 34 centuries.

International

On 1 January 1975, Gaekwad made his Test debut against West Indies at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. He scored 36 runs in his debut Test match. Gaekwad was badly hit on his ear by Michael Holding during a match against the West Indies in Jamaica in 1975-76, a near-death experience for him. Gaekwad was batting at 81 when Holding’s bouncer had punctured his eardrum. He was rushed to the hospital and spent 48 hours in the ICU. Although he went through various surgeries, the injury led to a lifelong hearing problem. On 7 June 1975, he made his ODI debut against England at Lord’s, London. He played in the 1975 and 1979 Cricket World Cup.

A picture of Anshuman Gaekwad in action for India during the 1979 Cricket World Cup

He scored his maiden Test century against West Indies during the 1978-79 cricket season. His career highlights include scoring a double-century in the second Test of Pakistan in the India Test series at Jalandhar on 29 September 1983. Pakistan had set the target of 337 runs in the first innings. India had a rocky start as it lost early wickets. However, Gaekwad stood his ground and scored 201 off 436 balls, batting for 671 minutes. It was one of the slowest double-century in First-Class cricket. Although the match resulted in a draw, Gaekwad made a name for himself. After that, he gained a reputation for his patience and ability to focus in tough situations.

An old picture of Anshuman Gaekwad

On 31 December 1984, he played his last Test match against England at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. He played 40 Tests for India in which he scored 1985 runs at 30.07. Sunil Gavaskar, who was Gaekwad’s opening partner in 29 of his 40 Tests. Gaekwad played his last ODI against West Indies at Nehru Stadium, Gauhati on 23 December 1987. He played 15 ODIs in which he scored 269 runs at 20.69.

As a National Coach, Selector, and Administrator

Following his retirement from international cricket, Gaekwad served as a national selector between 1992 and 1996 during which he had to convince the legendary cricketer Kapil Dev to retire in 1994. From October 1997 to September 1999, he served as the Indian national cricket coach. He succeeded Madan Lal at a time when India was going through a terrible period in international cricket. During his two-year stint as coach, he worked well with the ODI format side but an unsuccessful tour in Australia in 1999 and India’s poor performance in the 1999 World Cup led to the end of his tenure.

A picture of Anshuman Gaekwad from his coaching days

In 2000, Gaekwad was once again appointed as the national team coach, but this time he only held the position for a few months. After Kapil Dev stepped down, Gaekwad took over the role, and then John Wright replaced him later. In 2018, BCCI approached him to be on the interview panel to select the women’s coach. In 2019, the Supreme Court-appointed Committee of Administrators (CoA) decided that Kapil Dev, Anshuman Gaekwad, and Shantha Rangaswamy would comprise the three-member committee to pick India’s next head coach.

The Cricket Advisory Committee consisted of Kapil Dev (centre), Shanta Rangaswamy (right) and Anshuman Gaekwad.

In 2022, he became the President of the Indian Cricketers’ Association (ICA). He was part of the Cricket Advisory Committee (CAC) and was also a former BCCI Apex Council member.

After retirement

After retiring from cricket, Anshuman Gaekwad worked at the Gujarat State Fertilizers and Chemicals Limited in Vadodara and took early retirement in 2000. In 2004, he became the executive director at ProCricket in the US.

Awards

In June 2018, he received the C. K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award from BCCI, the highest honour conferred by BCCI on a former player. He was recognised as one of the best coaches in Indian history and was awarded a sum of Rs. 25 lakhs.

Death

Anshuman passed away at the age of 71 years on 31 July 2024 at King’s College Hospital in London, United Kingdom, due to blood cancer.

Facts/Trivia

• His nickname was Anshu.

• He was also referred to as Charlie by his fellow cricketers and friends, a name given to him by a bar girl on a tour to New Zealand. Fellow cricketer Dilip Vengsarkar narrated the incident in an interview and said,
  

  We were sitting in a bar. Everyone was ordering a drink. And the bar girl asked him: ‘What can I serve you, Charlie?’ I asked her why Charlie and she said he was wearing specs. That’s how he was nicknamed Charlie.”

• He earned the nickname “The Great Wall” for his defensive approach against the likes of intimidating West Indies bowlers, who were the best in the business during his era.

• Anshuman Gaekwad had family ties to the royal family of Baroda. His paternal grandfather was one of the brothers of Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III and served in the Baroda state army. After the death of Sayajirao in 1939, his grandson Pratapsinhrao Gaekwad became the Maharaja. Anshuman Gaekwad’s father, Dattajirao Gaekwad, was invited to live at Laxmi Vilas Palace in Baroda at the age of 11 to be a companion to Prince Fatehsinghrao Gaekwad. Later, Dattajirao also served as the Deputy Comptroller for the state of Baroda.

• As a kid, he developed a passion for cricket by watching his father, Dattajirao Gaekwad, play the sport. His love for the sport also came from his mother’s side of the family. Aunshu’s maternal grandfather, Wyankatrao Narsimharao Ghorpade, was the captain of the Baroda team when the side won its first Ranji Trophy in 1942-43.

• Anshuman had a fear of fast bowling during his childhood. It was Jayasinghrao Ghorpade, fondly called Mamasaheb, who helped Anshuman overcome this fear.

• The Convent of Jesus and Mary was about 10 km away from Anshuman’s home. To make the commute easier, he was arranged to travel with the younger sisters of Maharaja Fatehsinhrao who also attended the same school. A servant would pick Aunshu up on a bicycle, take him to the palace, and then he would ride in a car. However, he would return home by bicycle only. This routine lasted for about three years, but because Aunshu was so exhausted by the time he got home around 6:30 pm, Dattaji decided to move him to a closer school.

• He was a right-hand batter and right-arm off-break bowler.

• Gaekwad loved going to Mahabalipuram and relaxing at Fisherman’s Cove when he was in Chennai.

• In May 2023, he released his auto-biography ‘Guts Amidst Bloodbath’ in the presence of Sunil Gavaskar.
  

  Anshuman Gaekwad during the launch of his autobiography Guts Amidst Bloodbath (2023)

• In the same year, Anshuman Gaekwad was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), a type of blood cancer. He had been undergoing chemotherapy at a private hospital in Vadodara since then.

• He loved to eat spicy food.

• In July 2024, it was reported that Gaekwad was battling blood cancer at a hospital in London. Cricketers Kapil Dev and Sandeep Patil made an emotional appeal to the BCCI to provide financial assistance for his treatment. The BCCI later released Rs. 1 crore to Gaekwad.

Tamanpreet