No 13901, Monday 26 Jun 2023, Avtaar

Solution to 13A has been deliberately left unsolved and is to be answered only by a non-regular / novice commenter, with proper annotation. Those who have answered earlier in the week, please give others a chance.

Open for anyone to answer, if not solved by 1 PM.

ACROSS

1   Check box (6) HAMPER [DD]

5   Batting posture, for example (8) INSTANCE {IN}{STANCE}

9   A frantic appeal to hoard top-quality roofing material (8) ASBESTOS {A}{S{BEST}OS}

10 Savage review of film (6) ANIMAL<=

11 Here, refrains could be a means to clear the atmosphere (3,9) AIR FRESHENER*

13 Maiden eschews University loans (4) ?E?T (Addendum - DEBT DEBuT - See comments)

14 Preparation of begum - nan and dal (4,4) MUNG BEAN*

17 *Cancer, say ? (4,4) STAR SIGN [DD]

18 False statement to implicate nation's first family (4) LINE {LI{Na...n}E}

20 Grill in bar? (5-7) CROSS-EXAMINE [CD]

23 Case of dill stocked by fruit seller (6) PEDLAR {PE{DilL}AR}

24 Institute's popular computer-related subject, I picked (8) INITIATE {IN}{IT}{I}{ATE}

25 Probable champion starting to practise in camp (8) PROSPECT {PRO}{S{Pr...e}ECT}

26 Avtaar probes singular brown part of a flower (6) STAMEN {S}{TA{ME}N}

DOWN

2   Oriental bath put up in part of church (4) APSE {E}{SPA}<=

3   Letter from Greece inspires Bill, a B-grade lyricist (9) POETASTER {PO{ETA}STER}

4   Stop working on tax (6) RETIRE {RE}{TIRE}

5   One playing the piano diverted militants' unrest (15) INSTRUMENTALIST*

6   "Last Hurrah" - nude dance was performed before Boy George's opening (4,4) SWAN SONG {daNce}<=>{WAS*}{SON}{Ge...e}

7   Chirpy Carroll's girl about to be taken out by Victor (5) ALIVE ALI(-c+v)VE

8   Keep employee's online conversation on European channel, about India (10) CHATELAINE {CHAT}{E}{LA{I}NE}

12 The old tyres are rekindling good old days (10) YESTERYEAR {YE}{TYRES+ARE}*

15 Danseuse abducted by footballer in Argentina (9) BALLERINA [T]

16 Green growth in long, bare avenue (4,4) PINE TREE {PINE}{sTREEt}

19 Famous poet runs away - son watches (6) VIGILS {VIrGIL}{S}

21 Deals to dispose of drink on board (5)  SALES {S{ALE}S}

22 As yet, not a malignant lump (4) STYE {aS+YET}*

Reference List

Batting = IN, University = U, Singular = S, Oriental = E, On = RE, About = C, Victor = V, European = E, India = I, The old = YE, Runs = R, Son = S