Neymar, the veteran forward for Brazil, will not participate in the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Colombia and Argentina due to a thigh injury, according to an announcement from the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF).

The 33-year-old star has not played for the national team since October 2023, when he was sidelined by a knee injury. His absence has now paved the way for a young talent, Real Madrid striker Endrick, to take his place in the squad.

Taking to Instagram, Neymar expressed his disappointment regarding the situation, saying, “The return felt so close, but unfortunately, I won’t be able to wear the most important jersey in the world at this moment.” He described the process leading up to this decision, stating, “We had extensive discussions, and everyone is aware of my desire to come back. However, we have agreed that it’s best to avoid any risks and focus on thorough recovery.”

Brazil’s national team is scheduled to face Colombia in Brasília on March 20, followed by a match against Argentina in Buenos Aires five days later. Currently sitting at fifth place in the 10-team South American qualification group, Brazil has accumulated 18 points from 12 matches, placing them seven points behind group leaders Argentina.

Neymar has recently shown glimpses of his outstanding form since returning to Santos, his original club, from Al-Hilal in January. In his seven appearances for Santos, he has scored three goals, which includes a spectacular direct strike from a corner, and he has provided three assists in the Brazilian top flight.

In addition to Neymar’s injury update, the CBF revealed two notable roster changes: Lyon goalkeeper Lucas Perri will replace Manchester City’s Ederson, while Flamengo defender Alex Sandro steps in for right-back Danilo.

Endrick, having made 13 appearances for Brazil and scoring three goals, has had a notable season at Real Madrid, where he has netted six goals in 28 outings. His inclusion in the national team marks a significant moment for the promising young attacker as Brazil continues its quest for World Cup qualification.

In a surprising development, not a single Pakistani cricketer was selected in the 2025 draft for The Hundred, raising speculation about a possible ‘soft ban’ following the involvement of the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises in the tournament.

A total of 45 Pakistani players had registered for the men’s draft, while five female cricketers were also in contention. While Pakistani women have not been selected in the past, this marks the first instance of no men’s cricketers being picked since the league’s inception.

Possible IPL influence?

Four of the eight teams in The Hundred now have partial or complete ownership by IPL franchises: Oval Invincibles (Mumbai Indians), Manchester Originals (Lucknow Super Giants). Northern Superchargers (SunRisers Hyderabad) and Southern Brave (Delhi Capitals)

This scenario mirrors the SA20 league in South Africa, where no Pakistani cricketer has participated in three seasons, fuelling concerns over potential influence from IPL franchise owners.

Scheduling conflicts with Pakistan’s international commitments

However, reports suggest that the main reason for Pakistani players’ exclusion could be their uncertain availability. Pakistan is expected to play a three-match ODI and T20I series against the West Indies from late July to mid-August, coinciding with The Hundred’s schedule. There is also speculation about additional T20Is against Afghanistan and Bangladesh before the Asia Cup in September.

Furthermore, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has previously withheld No Objection Certificates (NoCs) for players, as seen last season when pacer Shaheen Afridi pulled out of The Hundred due to personal reasons, only to later be denied an NoC by the PCB.

ECB dismisses ownership concerns

Despite the speculation, England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chair Richard Gould previously assured that Pakistani players’ participation in The Hundred would not be affected by ownership changes. “We’re aware of that in other regions, but that won’t be happening here,” Gould stated last month.

Meanwhile, no Indian male cricketers participated in the draft, consistent with the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) policy. However, Indian all-rounder Deepti Sharma will represent London Spirit in the women’s competition.

Rohit Sharma is in no need of retirement, according to South African cricket legend AB de Villiers, who believes the Indian captain could become one of the greatest ODI leaders ever.

Rumors about Rohit’s possible retirement from ODIs circulated following the Champions Trophy, but the 37-year-old quelled those speculations by guiding India to an unprecedented third title.

“Look at Rohit’s win percentage—almost 74%, which is significantly higher than any other captain historically,” de Villiers remarked on his YouTube channel. “If he continues on this path, he could cement his legacy as one of the all-time great ODI captains. Rohit has stated he’s not retiring and has asked for the rumors to cease.”

In the final against New Zealand held in Dubai, Rohit played a crucial role by scoring 76 runs off 83 balls, helping India successfully chase down a challenging target of 252, earning him the player-of-the-match honor.

“Why would he step away with such a remarkable record, both as a captain and a batsman? His performance in the final laid the groundwork for our success and showcased his leadership under pressure,” de Villiers noted.

De Villiers praised Rohit’s incredible achievements as a batsman and captain, highlighting how the Indian skipper has evolved his ODI batting style over the past three years, during which he claimed the T20 World Cup and the Champions Trophy within nine months.

“Rohit Sharma has absolutely no reason to consider retirement or to face any criticism. His statistics speak volumes. Moreover, he has successfully transformed his game,” de Villiers emphasized.

“He had a relatively low strike rate in the Powerplay as an opening batsman, but since 2022, it has surged to 115 during that phase, which is what differentiates the good from the great. It’s all about continuous improvement—you can always learn and enhance your skills,” he concluded.