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Elections 2026Sports / The Times of India
Shoaib Akhtar expressed intense disappointment following Pakistan's T20 World Cup defeat to England, criticizing captain Salman Ali Agha's leadership. England's victory, spearheaded by Harry Brook's century, shattered Pakistan's semi-final aspirations, leaving their tournament hopes dependent on other match outcomes.
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Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting urged India to abandon overthinking match-ups and select their best XI to revive their T20 World Cup campaign. Following a significant defeat, Ponting emphasised prioritising team balance and experience, advocating for the return of Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel to bolster bowling options.
Jammu and Kashmir captain Paras Dogra headbutted a Karnataka substitute fielder during the Ranji Trophy final, sparking heated exchanges. Despite the incident and subsequent confrontations, Jammu and Kashmir continued to dominate, building on a strong first innings performance.
India face a crucial Super 8 clash against Zimbabwe after a significant loss to South Africa. Former coach Ravi Shastri believes this setback could be the wake-up call the team needs. India must win to avoid elimination. Shastri emphasises strengthening bowling with Axar Patel's return. The team's semi-final hopes now depend on a swift and effective response to this challenge.
Why Pakistan need to start packing, and book their flights ASAP!
India face a virtual knockout phase in the T20 World Cup after a significant loss to South Africa, severely impacting their net run rate. They must now win their remaining matches convincingly against Zimbabwe and West Indies, while also hoping for favorable results in other games to secure a semi-final spot.
India's net sessions ahead of the crucial Zimbabwe game saw Rinku Singh's absence due to family reasons, while Suryakumar Yadav focused on range-hitting. Abhishek Sharma practiced bowling spin before batting, aiming to regain form. Sanju Samson's potential inclusion might see Washington Sundar sit out, with Ishan Kishan possibly moving to number three.
Following a significant loss to South Africa, Team India faces Zimbabwe in a must-win match at Chepauk, needing a strong performance to boost morale and improve their net run rate. With key batters struggling, India hope for a dominant win while acknowledging external factors and Zimbabwe's inexperience in Indian conditions.
Cricket's Hundred league faces scrutiny as the ECB warns franchises against discriminating against Pakistani players in the upcoming auction. This follows revelations of an ECB official suggesting limited interest in Pakistani talent from Indian Premier League-linked teams. Notably, Pakistani players have been absent from the IPL since 2009, and a similar pattern has emerged in other leagues with Indian ownership.
Following a significant defeat to South Africa, India faces calls for tactical adjustments. Key recommendations include diversifying the left-heavy top order, recalling all-rounder Axar Patel for control, and refining the Powerplay batting approach. Rethinking Hardik Pandya's bowling role and adopting a focused mindset are also crucial for recovery.
In the past three days, Harry Brook has not only grown a year older but also wiser. His century against Pakistan in Kandy was not just a match-winning knock, but a defining leadership moment, signalling Englands faith in a captain who is learning, maturing, and delivering when it matters most.
Shimron Hetmyer, once questioned for his commitment, has silenced critics by becoming West Indies' leading run-scorer in the T20 World Cup. Promoted to number three, he's embraced the role with a fearless approach, attributing his success to simpler thinking and team support. His explosive batting has been a major asset.
Sri Lanka's Super 8 campaign is in jeopardy as their batting faltered against England, struggling to chase a modest total on a slow track. Facing a skilled New Zealand in Colombo, they must rediscover batting conviction to avoid a swift exit, despite some individual positives.
T20 World Cup: Harry Brook press conference after England vs Pakistan
Team Indian honed their skills in Chennai ahead of their crucial Zimbabwe clash, with batting combinations dominating discussions for the T20 World Cup Super Eight contest. Rinku Singh was the notable absentee from the session, leaving the camp due to a family emergency.
Harry Brooks captains knock in Kandy did more than seal Englands semi-final spot. It drew rare praise from Shaheen Shah Afridi, who called it the best innings of Brooks life. As Pakistans campaign hangs by a thread, Shaheen reflected on missed partnerships, his own comeback, and the fine margins that now separate hope from elimination.
T20 World Cup: Shaheen Shah Afridi press conference after England vs Pakistan
Harry Brook's sensational 100 off 51 balls powered England to a thrilling two-wicket victory over Pakistan. Promoted to number three, Brook's aggressive batting, including 41 runs in the Powerplay, single-handedly kept England in the hunt. His remarkable century secured England's fifth consecutive T20 World Cup semifinal berth.
A video of influencer RJ Princy Parikh with David Miller went viral after Indias loss, but she claimed she received rape threats and body-shaming abuse, prompting her to delete it from Facebook and plan a police complaint. On the field, South Africa beat India by 76 runs, bowling them out for 111. David Miller starred with 63, while Jansen and Maharaj led the bowling.
Fourteen-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi continues to shine after a stunning IPL 2025 and U-19 World Cup 2026. He received a Tata Curvv car for winning the CURVV Super Striker award and Rs 50 lakh from Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, while BCCI announced 7.50 crore for the U-19 team. Vaibhav scored 175 in the World Cup final and a 35-ball IPL century, becoming the youngest debutant and centurion.
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Pakistans semi-final hopes remain alive despite losing to England, who qualified after Harry Brooks century chase of 164. Pakistan have one point from two games and must beat Sri Lanka in their final match. They also need New Zealand to lose both games to qualify directly, or else hope to edge them on net run rate. Any other results will eliminate Pakistan from the T20 World Cup.
Harry Brooks masterful unbeaten century powered England to a decisive win, denting Pakistans semi-final hopes and sealing Englands place in the last-four. Promoted to number three, the captain absorbed early pressure before dominating the chase. Earlier, Sahibzada Farhans fluent fifty went in vain as Pakistan collapsed late to 164 for 9.
A Pakistan fans appalled reaction after Saim Ayub was dismissed for 7 by Jofra Archer went viral during the T20 World Cup match against England. Pakistan scored 164/9, with Sahibzada Farhan top-scoring with 63 and Fakhar Zaman adding 25. Liam Dawson took three wickets as England kept pressure with regular breakthroughs, while Babar Azam made a slow 25.
Tickets for the T20 World Cup semi-finals and final went on sale, but venues may change depending on Pakistan and Sri Lankas qualification. If Pakistan reach the semis or final, matches will shift to Colombo, with refunds for Kolkata and Ahmedabad ticket holders. Sri Lankas scenario could also move the first semi-final to Colombo. Fans will get refunds if their venue doesnt host the match.
Babar Azams poor T20 World Cup form continued with a slow 25 off 24 against England, sparking memes online. Pakistan made 164/9, with Sahibzada Farhan scoring 63. England bowlers kept things tight. Coach Mike Hesson said Babar was picked for stability in the middle order, not powerplay hitting, but fans still mocked his struggles in the tournament.
Long hits for Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma
India batter Rinku Singh has returned home due to a family medical emergency, as his fathers health has worsened during cancer treatment. He missed Indias training session in Chennai and there is no clarity on when he will rejoin the squad, which may force team management to consider replacements. The rest of the Indian team trained as usual ahead of their T20 World Cup matches.
World champion D Gukesh criticised Vladimir Kramniks cheating allegations, saying cheating has been made a bigger issue than it is. While firmly against unethical play, Gukesh said he does not support Kramniks approach and called for harmony in chess. The 19-year-old spoke ahead of the Prague International Chess Festival, where he hopes to regain form.
Shubham Pundir's unbeaten century and Yawer Hassan's 88 anchored Jammu & Kashmir's strong start in the Ranji Trophy final. The pair built crucial partnerships, guiding J&K to 284 for two against Karnataka on day one. Despite early setbacks and injuries, Pundir and Samad solidified their team's dominant position.
Mohammed Kaif advised Tilak Varma to ignore criticism and stick to his natural anchor role in the T20 World Cup 2026. Tilak struggled with form and failed when he tried to play aggressively against South Africa. Kaif said Tilak should play like Virat Kohli and focus on batting deep, since India already has many attacking players. Tilak is expected to play in Indias key match against Zimbabwe.
India suffered a setback in the first ODI against Australia as captain Harmanpreet Kaur injured her knee while batting and did not field, with Smriti Mandhana leading instead. Harmanpreet scored 53, while Mandhana made 58, but India were restricted to 214. Australia chased it easily, winning by six wickets to lead 1-0. Beth Mooney starred with 76 as India now await Harmanpreets fitness update.
India's T20 World Cup 2026 semifinal path is challenging. A significant loss to South Africa has impacted their net run rate. India must win their upcoming matches convincingly. Dominant victories are crucial to improve their net run rate and secure a spot in the semifinals. The team faces Zimbabwe and West Indies next.
England will host the expanded ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 from June 12 to July 5, featuring 12 teams. Hosts England kick off against Sri Lanka, while India face Pakistan on June 14. This edition boasts the largest field ever, with Bangladesh, Ireland, Scotland, and the Netherlands qualifying. The schedule promises thrilling encounters, culminating in the final at Lord's.
A loss against England in Kandy will end Pakistan's hope for the semifinals | T20 World Cup
Anil Kumble sees West Indies as strong T20 World Cup contenders after their dominant win, highlighting their knockout stage readiness and explosive batting. He noted Hetmyer's crucial innings and Powell's power. Kumble also cautioned that India faces a tougher path to the semi-finals following their significant defeat to South Africa, emphasizing the need for convincing victories in upcoming matches.
Ravichandran Ashwin has advised Pakistan to promote Fakhar Zaman to the middle order for their crucial Super 8 clash against England. Ashwin believes Zaman's ability to sweep and use his feet can counter England's spinners, Adil Rashid and Liam Dawson, citing Nepal's successful strategy against Rashid.
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Sri Lanka could gain a significant home advantage in the T20 World Cup 2026 semi-finals at Colombo's R Premadasa Stadium. This is contingent on Pakistan qualifying, or if Sri Lanka reach the semi-finals and their opponent is not India. Otherwise, Kolkata will host the fixture.
Former umpire Steve Bucknor has admitted to making a mistake in a controversial LBW decision against Sachin Tendulkar during the 2003-04 Brisbane Test. Bucknor confessed that Tendulkar should not have been given out, as the ball was missing the stumps. This admission confirms long-held fan beliefs about the erroneous call.
Zimbabwe's coach anticipates a fierce Indian onslaught in Chennai, drawing parallels to their recent defeat against the West Indies. He stressed the need for his team to adapt and disrupt India's aggressive batting, particularly Suryakumar Yadav. Zimbabwe aim to learn from their previous loss and challenge the tournament favourites on a Chennai pitch offering unexpected pace and bounce.
Team India's T20 struggles have put pitch conditions under scrutiny ahead of their must-win game against Zimbabwe. Chennai's Chepauk pitch, traditionally slow, has surprisingly offered better bounce this World Cup, potentially aiding India's big-hitters against Zimbabwe's pace-off bowlers. Batting first appears to be the preferred strategy given recent night-game results.
India's team management prioritised match-ups over vice-captaincy, benching Axar Patel for Washington Sundar against South Africa in their Super 8 clash. Despite Axar's strong record, Sundar was chosen for his off-spin against left-handers. This decision, along with Sundar's batting position, has raised questions about the team's strategy as they enter the tournament's crucial stages.
India's T20 World Cup campaign faces a crisis as the much-hyped top order falters, leading to predictable collapses and growing doubts. Opposition teams have easily decoded the batting lineup, forcing management to consider significant changes. The team's batting coach acknowledges the need for a different approach, hinting at potential alterations for upcoming crucial matches.