Author: Boria Majumdar

Pakistan, sources suggest, are all set to fly to Sri Lanka on February 2 on an Air Lanka flight. The Australian team is also expected to be on the same flight. And yet, there is no formal announcement from Pakistan confirming participation in the World Cup. The intrigue continues, with no end to the posturing. This is where things go wrong for a sports body like the PCB. Its chairman has to separate his political self from his role as a cricket administrator; failing which, this is the inevitable outcome. Pakistan has no support within the echelons of the…

In this episode of Backstage with Boria Season 6, former Indian player and cricket analyst Irfan Pathan voiced his thoughts on Pakistan dilly-dallying to create unnecessary issues so close to the World Cup, Team India’s positives ahead of the tournament, points of concern, the importance of team management backing a player, and India’s all-round strength. Boria: This Indian team does look the part. Your thoughts? Irfan: No doubt about it. This is the team that is every coach’s, every selector’s, every captain’s dream. With firepower at the top, an outstanding bowler in the form of (Jasprit) Bumrah, top-of-the-order Abhishek Sharma,…

The T20 World Cup is exactly a week away, and we still do not officially know if Pakistan will be playing. This is what can only be described as irresponsible behaviour. Pakistan are welcome to withdraw if they choose to, and if they wish to continue with their posturing, they are more than entitled to do so. However, as a member of the ICC Board, they cannot hold the tournament to ransom. They ought to communicate clearly, as responsible members are expected to do. Keeping people guessing is neither good governance nor best practice. Sources tell me Pakistan will play.…

It was a lovely afternoon, and the weather was perfect for football. The East Bengal ground, in pristine condition, provided the ideal setting for the Bengal Super League semi-final. One of the organisers, Tamal Ghosal, put it well: “The comeback of Indian football has to start from the maidan, and that should be the goal going forward.” Debabrata Sarkar, Nituda to the world at large and the man instrumental in the uplift of the club’s facilities, seemed a happy soul as he ordered the famous fish fry and sandwiches for each of us present. “I am glad you all like…

Does Sanju Samson have talent? Yes. Does he merit a place in the side? Yes. Was it a tad unfair on him when India brought Shubman Gill back at the top while Samson was doing well as an opener? Yes. But now that he isn’t performing, is it fair to include Ishan Kishan, who is in stellar form, in the T20 World Cup side? Also yes. Will that be unfair on Samson? The jury is out. The Samson case is a very difficult one to deal with. You want him to get a few more opportunities and re-establish himself as…

It is no secret that I have been closely associated with Coca-Cola India, participating in numerous events with and for the brand for over a decade. Thums Up has always been my drink of choice and is part of our childhood memories in India. Collecting the Thums Up flickers, as well as the cricketers’ photos hidden under bottle caps, brings back fond memories that connect me to the brand. Buying a Thums Up bottle on Devon Avenue in Chicago, in Soho, Birmingham, or in grocery stores in downtown Melbourne was always a delight—it was a connection to India and…

I have watched and studied cricket for close to 30 years. I have seen many exceptional players, each with their own uniqueness: the obsession for excellence of Sachin Tendulkar, the intensity of Virat Kohli, the grit of Rahul Dravid, the hunger of Steve Smith. Each of these greats brings a distinct quality to the game. It is through this lens that I studied Abhishek Sharma’s playbook. What does it take to hit sixes from the very first ball? How can someone consistently score fours or sixes? What enables him to do so, and what is going on in his…

In this episode of Backstage with Boria, broadcaster and former cricketer Deep Dasgupta shares his views on whether India can defend their title at the T20 World Cup 2026, Sanju Samson’s place in the T20 line-up, Gautam Gambhir’s influence in the T20 format, how unfair the situation has been for Bangladeshi players following their exit from the T20 World Cup, and more. Boria: It will be a travesty if this Team India doesn’t do well in the World Cup. Deep: Yes, I will be disappointed. New Zealand has the best bowling attack at the moment, but India and New Zealand…

Backstage With Boria is now in its sixth season, and I am deeply appreciative of the support from Ageas Federal Life Insurance (AFLI). Having recently completed a very successful brand relaunch, it was only natural that we would want to deepen and strengthen our partnership. With this intention, we met last week in Kolkata with Jude Gomes, Managing Director and CEO, and Atul Srivastava, Chief Distribution Officer of AFLI. From the very first minute, the conversation was engaging and forward-looking. “What more can we do together? How can we support sport and make a difference? We have Sachin as our…

Over the last few days, I have seen a number of pieces suggesting that the India–Pakistan and India–Bangladesh situations are similar – that if neutral venues could be arranged for India and Pakistan, why not for Bangladesh? Some have even suggested this is an example of the ICC’s double standards. The truth, however, is very different. Those equating the Bangladesh situation with Pakistan’s manoeuvring are either ignorant of the facts or being wilfully obtuse. What happened with Bangladesh was largely triggered by a BCCI–IPL decision, itself the result of months of political turmoil across the border. Had security assessments suggested…