New Zealand all-rounder Mitchell Santner says Mumbai Indians paid him only half of his IPL 2026 salary after injuries cut short his campaign. His comments have sparked fresh debate over player contracts and compensation in the world’s richest T20 league. Santner, one of New Zealand’s most experienced T20 players, joined Mumbai Indians for INR20 million at the 2025 IPL mega auction. The franchise retained him for the 2026 season and expected him to play a key role in its campaign. The 34-year-old played only four matches. He took five wickets and scored 26 runs before injuries forced him out of the tournament. He suffered injuries to both shoulders within a span of two weeks. His early departure sparked speculation among some fans. They claimed he exaggerated his injury to leave the IPL and prepare for New Zealand’s upcoming international assignments. Santner has strongly rejected those accusations. Santner Opens Up About Salary Cut Speaking on the Grade Cricketer Podcast, Santner revealed that Mumbai Indians paid only part of his contracted salary despite his efforts to return to the field. “Well, they gave me half my cash, so that actually hurt a little bit,” Santner said. The all-rounder explained that he joined the team shortly after the birth of his second child. He then suffered a series of setbacks that ultimately ended his season. “I got there, missed the first game, birth of my second child, got there straight off the plane, played Delhi, did [injured] my right shoulder, out for kind of week. “I came back a couple of games later, did [injured] my left and went home. So I did [injured] two shoulders in the space of kind of two weeks. So I thought I was putting my body on the line for them, but obviously not.” His remarks suggest frustration over both the payment issue and the criticism that followed his injury. Quick Recovery Fuels Debate Medical staff initially expected Santner to miss around eight weeks because of his left shoulder injury. However, he recovered much faster than anticipated. His recovery earned him a place in New Zealand’s three-match Test series against England, which begins this week. That swift return led some observers to question the severity of his injury and fuelled further speculation about his IPL exit. Santner’s comments appear aimed at ending those rumours. He insists that the injuries were genuine and points to the financial loss he suffered as evidence that leaving the tournament early offered him no benefit. The issue has attracted attention because IPL regulations generally require franchises to pay players their full contracted amount if injuries occur during the tournament. Those rules exist to protect players who suffer setbacks while representing their teams. Neither Mumbai Indians nor IPL officials have publicly responded to Santner’s remarks. As a result, questions remain about the circumstances behind the reported payment reduction. For now, Santner has shifted his focus back to international cricket. Yet his revelation has created an unexpected controversy and raised fresh questions about how IPL franchises handle injury-related payments.
PCB Confirms Australia’s Return for Three Match ODI Series
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Thursday confirmed that Australia men’s national cricket team will tour Pakistan later this month for a three-match One Day International series, continuing the growing cricket ties between the two countries. According to the PCB, the Australian squad will arrive in Islamabad on May 23 ahead of the opening ODI at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on May 30. The second and third matches will take place at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on June 2 and June 4. The board said all three ODIs will begin at 4:30pm local time, while the toss will take place at 4pm. The upcoming series marks Australia’s first ODI tour of Pakistan since March and April 2022, when the visitors played a full bilateral series across formats after a gap of nearly 24 years. Pakistan to host Australia for three-match ODI seriesDetails here ➡️ https://t.co/bPD0LgRkAF#PAKvAUS pic.twitter.com/aAsGK4xxCS— PCB Media (@TheRealPCBMedia) May 7, 2026 That historic 2022 tour included Tests, ODIs and T20Is and played a major role in restoring Pakistan’s image as a safe destination for international cricket following years of security concerns. Pakistan eye another strong home performance The latest ODI series comes months after Australia toured Pakistan for a three-match T20I series in January and February this year. Pakistan swept that series 3-0 in Lahore, giving the hosts confidence ahead of another high-profile contest. Australia also featured prominently during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 hosted in Pakistan earlier this year. The Australians defeated England cricket team by five wickets at Gaddafi Stadium on February 22 during the tournament. The match drew large crowds and highlighted Pakistan’s successful hosting of major ICC fixtures. Cricket analysts expect the ODI series to attract strong fan interest because both teams feature several experienced white-ball players and emerging talents ahead of future ICC events. Pakistan and Australia share a long ODI rivalry dating back to 1975. Australia historically dominated the format, but Pakistan has improved its home performances in recent years, especially in Lahore and Rawalpindi conditions. Busy international calendar for Pakistan The series also forms part of Pakistan’s packed international calendar as the PCB continues efforts to bring major cricket nations back for regular bilateral tours. In recent years, Pakistan has hosted teams including England cricket team, New Zealand national cricket team and South Africa national cricket team for full series across formats. Officials view these tours as crucial for strengthening Pakistan’s cricket economy, boosting tourism and maintaining momentum after the successful ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Series schedule: May 30: 1st ODI at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium June 2: 2nd ODI at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore June 4: 3rd ODI at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
David Warner Ready to Accept Responsibility in Drink-Driving Case
Australian cricketer David Warner will “accept responsibility” over a drink-driving charge after a Sydney court hearing on Thursday, Australian media reported. The 39-year-old former opener faces a “middle-range” drink-driving charge. Court documents said police allegedly found him driving with a blood alcohol level more than twice the legal limit in Sydney in April. Read More: Australian Star David Warner Charged with Drink Driving in Sydney Police accused Warner of driving a van and stopping short of a random breath-testing site. Officers then conducted a breath test, arrested him and took him to a police station. Warner did not attend the hearing at Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court. Local media said he has not entered a formal plea. The next hearing is scheduled for June 24. Lawyer says Warner will accept accountability Defence lawyer Bobby Hill said Warner planned to accept responsibility for the incident. “I can indicate that David will be accepting responsibility for drink-driving,” Hill told reporters outside court, according to Australia’s public broadcaster ABC. “So many of us make those poor decisions. I think what’s important is accepting and being accountable for those poor decisions,” he added. Hill also highlighted the risks drivers face after consuming alcohol. “It doesn’t matter if you’re a tradesman, a doctor or one of the best opening batsmen in the world, that danger exists for every one of us,” he said. Under New South Wales law, a middle-range offence applies when a driver records a blood alcohol concentration between 0.08 and 0.149. Australia’s legal limit for most licensed drivers is 0.05. Read More: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Child Labour Row: FIR Threat Shakes IPL A conviction can lead to fines, licence suspension and mandatory alcohol education programmes. Warner remains one of Australia’s biggest cricket figures Warner retired from Test cricket in early 2024 after a career spanning more than 15 years. He also retired from One Day Internationals after Australia won the ODI World Cup in India. However, he continues to play T20 cricket worldwide. The left-handed batter scored more than 18,000 international runs across formats. He played key roles in several ICC tournament victories for Australia national cricket team. Warner currently captains Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League. His career has also faced controversy. In 2018, Cricket Australia banned him for a year after the ball-tampering scandal in South Africa. Later, officials lifted his lifetime leadership ban. That decision allowed him to captain domestic teams again. Read More: Usman Tariq lands Warwickshire deal after global T20 interest The latest case has drawn major attention across Australia because of Warner’s profile and popularity. Legal experts in Sydney said Warner’s willingness to accept responsibility could help reduce penalties if he pleads guilty later this month. Neither Warner nor Cricket Australia issued official statements after Thursday’s hearing.
Usman Tariq Hits Back with Confidence After Ashwin’s Remarks
Pakistan spinner Usman Tariq has responded firmly after India’s Ravichandran Ashwin supported Daryll Mitchell who stepped away during Tariq’s delivery in a Pakistan Super League (PSL) match, turning the moment into a wider talking point across the cricketing world. The incident took place during a PSL 2026 fixture when New Zealand batter Daryl Mitchell moved away from the crease as Tariq approached the bowling mark. The moment quickly gained attention on social media, with several current and former players weighing in on the situation. Ashwin later commented on the incident, backing the batter’s decision and stating that players have the right to disengage if they feel uncomfortable during a bowler’s run-up. His remarks drew significant attention, given his stature in international cricket. Tariq responds with confidence Usman Tariq responded to Ashwin’s comments in a brief but pointed message on social media, writing “Keep it up,” a remark that has been widely interpreted as a confident and composed reply. The response quickly went viral, with fans praising the Pakistani spinner for his calm and assured stance. Many supporters viewed the reply as a strong message reflecting Tariq’s belief in his own game and approach. pic.twitter.com/dQxSGW0MJr— Out Of Context Cricket (@GemsOfCricket) April 12, 2026 Tariq has been one of the emerging names in Pakistan cricket, gaining recognition through consistent performances in the PSL. His ability to maintain composure under pressure has been highlighted as one of his key strengths, especially in high-intensity T20 matches. Focus remains on performance Despite the attention surrounding the incident, Tariq’s performances on the field have remained the central focus. The spinner has continued to play a crucial role for his side, contributing with disciplined bowling spells and maintaining control during key phases of the game. Team officials and analysts have also pointed to his growing maturity, noting that handling high-profile moments with composure is a positive sign for any young cricketer. The PSL, known for producing competitive cricket and emerging talent, has often been a platform where players face global scrutiny. Tariq’s measured response and continued focus on his performance underline his intent to let his cricket speak louder than off-field discussions. As the tournament progresses, attention is likely to remain on Tariq, not only for his on-field contributions but also for the way he handles pressure and expectations in one of the world’s most watched T20 leagues.
