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    Newsmakers of the Week                                                   APRIL 10, 2026    |  The Indian Eye 36

                             NEWSMAKERS OF THE WEEK

                       Selected stories about Indian diaspora from our website www.theindianeye.com

                                       R ASHWIN                                                         JOHN BOLTON

                               Player signs with                                    Former NSA seeks cut in Iran’s oil

                        San Francisco Unicorns                                            revenue after PM Modi call

                 ormer Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin has signed with the Major   ollowing a high-level telephonic conversation between Prime Minister
                 League Cricket (MLC) franchise San Francisco Unicorns for the up-   Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump, former US Nation-
            Fcoming season of the USA-based T20 league, according to ESPNcricin- Fal Security Advisor John Bolton has offered a sharp assessment of the
            fo. Ashwin, 39, expressed excitement for the tournament, which is set to kick   diplomatic exchange, particularly regarding India’s energy interests and the
            off on June 19 this year.                                           security of the Strait of Hormuz.
                                                                                    In an interview, Bolton suggested that the dialogue likely centred on In-
            “Just looking at the reception that the Asian diaspora was able to   dia’s continued reliance on Iranian energy supplies amidst the ongoing re-
                                                                                gional conflict.
            bring for that game just showed me what the potential of Ameri-         Highlighting  the  strategic  motivations  behind  New  Delhi’s  outreach,
            can cricket could very well be. It’s very exciting,” Ashwin said as   Bolton noted, “It’s pretty clear. I think that from PM Modi’s point of view,
                                                                                continuing to get oil from Iran is something he’s interested in, and two Indian
            quoted by ESPNcricinfo.                                             ships made it through the Strait of Hormuz this morning.”
                                                                                    However, the former official raised concerns over the broader geopoliti-
                Ashwin, who retired from international cricket in December 2024, is set   cal implications of these transactions. He argued that the financial flow from
            to play in a T20 league outside the Indian Premier League for the first time.   such trade directly impacts the regional military balance, stating, “But that’s
            Ashwin had also earlier signed with Big Bash League franchise Sydney Thun-  providing revenue to Iran, which enables their war machine to continue.”
            der for the 2025-26 season, but was ruled out because of a knee injury.  In light of these dynamics, Bolton indicated that the two leaders may have
                Ashwin said he was encouraged by the strong interest in cricket among   explored shifting India’s energy procurement to more stable sources. “So I’m
            youngsters and the wider community in the United States, especially among   sure they had a conversation about other alternative places to buy oil rather
            those who have settled there. He added that he wanted to personally experi-  than Iran,” he remarked.
            ence the atmosphere and see what it would be like when the team turns up for   Taking a characteristically firm stance on maritime security, Bolton ad-
            Major League Cricket.                                               vocated for a more aggressive US intervention to disrupt Iranian exports. “I
                “The fact that there is so much interest from the kids and from a lot of   think the US should blockade the Strait and prevent Iranian ships carrying
            people who have come and settled in America and showing so much interest   Iranian oil from getting in or out.”
            towards the game, I just wanted to come and experience what it is going to   This assessment follows PM Modi’s detailing of the diplomatic exchange
            look like when we turn up for the MLC,” said Ashwin.                on X, where he stated, “Received a call from President Trump and had a use-
                Johnny Grave, the MLC chief executive, said that attracting Ravichan-  ful exchange of views on the situation in West Asia. India supports de-es-
            dran Ashwin for his first major franchise league outside India reflects how   calation and restoration of peace at the earliest. Ensuring that the Strait of
            strong Major League Cricket has grown since its launch in 2023.     Hormuz remains open, secure and accessible is essential for the whole world.”
                “This will be the first time he’s played in a major global franchise compe-  The conversation occurred as President Trump signalled a potential de-es-
            tition outside of India. And for us to be the first league to attract a player of   calation, extending his deadline for potential strikes on power plants by five
            this calibre is a testament to how the league’s developed over the last three   days, citing Iran’s “chokehold on the key oil shipping route Strait of Hormuz.”
            years since it was launched back in 2023,” he said.                                                          Continued on next page... >>

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