Adelaide was struck by tragedy as Pakistani-origin cricketer Junaid Zafar Khan collapsed and died on the pitch during a local turf cricket match amid soaring temperatures. The incident occurred over the weekend during a match between Old Concordians and Prince Alfred Old Collegians at Concordia College, Adelaide.

Death on the pitch due to extreme heat

Junaid Zafar Khan, who moved to Australia from Pakistan in 2013, was batting for Old Concordians when he suddenly collapsed. At the time, the temperature had reportedly reached 41.7 degrees Celsius. Paramedics attempted to revive him, but their efforts were unsuccessful.

His club, Old Collegians, expressed their grief in a statement:

“We are deeply saddened by the passing of a valued member of the Old Concordians’ Cricket Club, who tragically suffered a medical episode while playing on the Concordia College oval today. Despite the best efforts of paramedics, he sadly did not survive. Thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with his family, friends, and teammates during this difficult time.”

Tributes pour in for Junaid Zafar Khan

Junaid, who worked in the tech industry after moving to Adelaide, was remembered fondly by his friends and colleagues. His close friend Hasan Anjum described his passing as a “big loss.”

“It’s a huge loss, he was destined for very big things in his life,” Anjum told The Advertiser.

Heatwave triggers safety concerns in cricket

The Adelaide Turf Cricket Association (ATCA) bylaws require matches to be canceled if temperatures exceed 42°C during play. However, under special playing regulations, games can continue when temperatures are up to 40°C.

Junaid’s death has sparked a debate over heat guidelines in Australian cricket, with growing calls for a review of existing regulations to prioritize player safety.

Reliance Jio has introduced new offers on select prepaid recharge plans ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. The telecom provider is bundling a complimentary 90-day subscription to JioHotstar and a 50-day free trial of Jio AirFiber with recharge plans worth Rs. 299 and above. This move aims to enhance the cricket-watching experience, allowing users to stream IPL matches in 4K quality on mobile devices and televisions.

Jio’s unlimited benefits for prepaid users

As per the company’s announcement, existing and new Jio customers who opt for recharge plans starting from Rs. 299 will receive free access to JioHotstar for 90 days. This will enable them to enjoy 4K streaming of IPL matches, movies, anime, and more. Additionally, Jio is offering a 50-day free trial of JioFiber or Jio AirFiber, providing users with unlimited Wi-Fi, 800+ OTT channels, and over 11 OTT apps for a home entertainment experience.

Key benefits of the Rs. 299 plan:

• Unlimited voice calls
• 1.5GB of data per day
• 100 SMS per day
• Access to JioCloud, JioTV, and bundled apps

New users can also purchase a new Jio SIM with a Rs. 299 or higher plan to avail of the same benefits. Customers looking for unlimited 5G data can opt for plans offering 2GB per day or more.

Offer validity and additional recharge options

The Jio IPL offer is valid from March 17 to March 31, 2024. Customers who recharged before March 17 can still benefit by purchasing a Rs. 100 add-on pack, which provides similar features.

Jio also offers other prepaid recharge plans that include a JioHotstar subscription, such as Rs. 100, Rs. 195, and Rs. 949 recharges.

The complimentary JioHotstar subscription will be activated on March 22, the first day of the IPL 2024, and will remain valid for 90 days.

The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) has scheduled the NEET PG 2025 exam for June 15, 2025, opting for a computer-based test (CBT) in two shifts. However, this decision has triggered widespread concern and criticism among medical aspirants, doctors, and activist groups, who fear potential discrepancies in scoring and fairness.

The announcement has drawn flak over concerns regarding the normalization process, an issue that led to significant protests and legal disputes during NEET PG 2024. Many in the medical community believe that holding the exam in multiple shifts creates unfair scoring variations and increases stress among candidates.

Medical professionals and organizations demand a single-shift exam

Several doctors and medical associations have expressed strong opposition to the two-shift format, emphasizing the need for a uniform evaluation process. They argue that a single-shift exam would ensure equal difficulty levels for all candidates, preventing any potential biases in the scoring process.

A leading medical organization has officially written to the authorities, urging them to reconsider the two-shift format and conduct NEET PG 2025 in a single session to avoid discrepancies and legal complications. Some critics have also pointed out that if the government can implement One Nation, One Election, it should also be capable of conducting One Nation, One Exam to maintain consistency and fairness in national-level examinations.

FAIMA and other groups oppose two-shift format

Medical organizations have raised concerns regarding the alleged malpractices and legal battles witnessed in previous years due to the normalization process. They have stated that a single-shift NEET PG exam would help prevent unnecessary disputes and ensure transparency in the evaluation process.

Calls for transparency in the NEET PG process

Many in the medical community have also called for greater transparency in the examination process. Several professionals have suggested that NBEMS should release the question paper and correct answers post-exam to ensure accountability and eliminate any doubts regarding the fairness of the evaluation system.

With growing pressure from the medical community, aspirants are hoping for an intervention from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) and NBEMS to reconsider the decision and conduct the NEET PG 2025 exam in a single shift. However, as of now, there has been no official response from NBEMS regarding a possible change in the exam schedule.