T20 WC: Farooqi Out As Afghanistan Elect To Bowl First Against UAE In A Must-win Clash
United Arab Emirates: Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan has elected to field first after winning the toss against United Arab Emirates in their crucial Group D game of the 2026 Mens T20 World Cup at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Monday. The match will be played on the pitch used before for the Namibia-Netherlands clash held last week. Afghanistan, the semi-finalists in 2024 edition, are winless in the competition after losing to New Zealand and South Africa. They have an 11-3 win-loss record against the UAE. Even if Afghanistan win to keep their slim hopes of reaching Super Eights alive, New Zealand defeating Canada on Tuesday will consign them to an early exit. After winning the toss, Rashid said fast bowler Fazalhaq Farooqi is out of the playing eleven, with Ziaur Rahman Sharifi taking his place. Fresh wicket, early morning game so the wicket is going to be softer and it is going to be better to bat on in the afternoon. It is pretty hard but that's something that's gone and we learn from it. We played one of the best games of cricket. We have to make the nation proud again and play good cricket, he said. UAE skipper Muhammad Waseem said Muhammad Farooq and Mayank Kumar were replaced by Simranjeet Singh and Syed Haider in their playing eleven. We wanted to bat first as well. Boys are confident but today is a different game, different opposition and we are ready for that. The ball may do a bit in the first few overs, he said. Playing XIs UAE skipper Muhammad Waseem said Muhammad Farooq and Mayank Kumar were replaced by Simranjeet Singh and Syed Haider in their playing eleven. We wanted to bat first as well. Boys are confident but today is a different game, different opposition and we are ready for that. The ball may do a bit in the first few overs, he said. Also Read: Live Cricket Score UAE: Aryansh Sharma (wk), Muhammad Waseem (captain), Alishan Sharafu, Sohaib Khan, Syed Haider, Harshit Kaushik, Muhammad Arfan, Haider Ali, Simranjeet Singh, Junaid Siddique, and Muhammad Jawadullah Article Source: IANS
T20 World Cup: Former spinner Danish Kaneria launched a scathing critique of Pakistan following their below-par performance against India in the T20 World Cup match, saying the result exposed the sides struggles while chasing targets and suggested that the players focus more on their cricket than on off-field statements. A clinical display with the bat and the ball saw defending champions India outclass Pakistan to seal their Super 8 qualification with a 61-run triumph at the R. Premadasa Stadium on Sunday. Pakistan played very disappointing cricket. They should move beyond making statements and focus on their performance on the field. Usman Tariq had claimed that he would single-handedly lead Pakistan to victory. In contrast, one positive aspect of the Indian players is that they do not indulge in excessive talk; they let their performances on the ground speak for themselves, Kaneria told IANS. Courtesy of a whirlwind start by Ishan Kishan, India posted 175/7, the highest score in an India v Pakistan contest at the T20 World Cup in Colombo. In reply, Pakistan's top four spinners took charge to put them out of their misery, combined to score only 15 runs before Indian spinners sealed the win with two overs to spare. Pakistan knew the target was not easy to chase. Did they really believe their bowling attack was strong enough to dismiss such a deep Indian batting lineup for around 100 runs and comfortably overhaul the total? The ironic part is that India has not played in Sri Lanka for quite some time, whereas Pakistan has already played several matches there and is still in Sri Lanka. Didnt the coach understand the conditions? There seemed to be no strategy at all, it looked like a complete lack of game plan, Kaneria said. He continued, The whole world now knows that Pakistan struggles while chasing. Its a good thing they didnt choose to bat first after winning the toss; otherwise, they might have been bowled out for around 100 runs. After performing well only against associate nations, claiming that you can beat anyone sounds unrealistic. Pandya, who started the proceedings for India with the ball, dismissed Sahibzada Farhan for a four-ball duck in his first over. Meanwhile, Jasprit Bumrah got the better of Saim Ayub and Pakistan captain Salman Agha. Axar Patel then made it four wickets for India in the powerplay, removing the seasoned Babar Azam out of the equation. As a senior player, Babar Azam should have guided the team during difficult moments, the way MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli have done for India. There was no visible game plan, and the team management should have sent a clear message to stabilize the innings after early wickets that the batters needed to hold on for at least 1012 overs, Kaneria said. With the wickets continuing to tumble at one end, wicket-keeper-batter Usman Khan led the recovery for Pakistan, scoring 44 off 34 deliveries. However, just as he was looking to turn the tide in Pakistan's favour Axar Patel got one past him, and Ishan Kishan completed the stumping, which led to a quick collapse of Pakistan's batting. Usman batted well and showed some attitude, but he could not do everything alone in the end when the entire team was underperforming. Excessive talk only distracts from the game. If the team cannot play better cricket, the least they can do is avoid unnecessary statements, because performances like these disappoint the fans, the former spinner noted. Asked about Babar and Shaheen Afridi's lean patch and what the team managements approach should be after the defeat, Kaneria replied, When you play for the national team, performance is what ultimately matters. Pakistans biggest problem right now is the lack of reliable backup options. There is a lot of noise in the media about dropping Babar, but if he is removed and the replacement fails to perform, the team will likely end up bringing him back again, which only reflects instability in selection. Kaneria also noted that Shaheen has not looked at his best in recent times, with his rhythm and effectiveness appearing to dip, and there are talents in the Under-19 ranks; those bowlers need proper grooming and a structured pathway to the senior team. After Shaheen Afridi, Pakistan does not seem to have a consistent left-arm pace option at the highest level. There are promising bowlers in the Under-19 setup, but they need proper grooming and a clear pathway into the senior side. Shaheen himself has not been at his best for some time; his rhythm and effectiveness appear to be missing, said Kaneria. Selection decisions have also raised questions. Players like Fakhar Zaman, who have delivered in big matches against India, deserve clarity and consistent backing. Similarly, Usman Tariq was introduced into the bowling attack too late; he could have been used earlier, especially when Ishan Kishan was building momentum, he further said. Kaneria further said Indias batting depth continues to outclass Pakistans fragile lower order, adding that the hype around the contest was driven more by off-field controversy than on-field quality. Indias strength lies in its deep batting lineup, whereas Pakistan lacks finishing depth in the lower order. Much of the hype around this India-Pakistan contest was driven by their prior decision of boycotting the match rather than on-field quality, he said. Kaneria further said Indias batting depth continues to outclass Pakistans fragile lower order, adding that the hype around the contest was driven more by off-field controversy than on-field quality. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Even in Sri Lanka, where Pakistan enjoys strong support, the visible decline in fan presence reflects broader concerns about the direction of Pakistan cricket. If performances do not improve, it is hard to expect fans to continue taking the team seriously. Overall, it was a very disappointing display from Pakistan, Kaneria concluded. Article Source: IANS
'Pride Of Nation': Bhagwant Mann Applauds Indias Dominant T20 WC Victory Over Pakistan
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann hailed Indias emphatic 61-run victory over Pakistan in the ICC Mens T20 World Cup 2026, calling the team the pride of the nation. India yesterday defeated Pakistan by a huge margin of 61 runs in the T20 World Cup match, securing a brilliant victory. With this win, the Indian team has now won three consecutive matches, reached the top of the Group-A points table, and become the first team to qualify for the Super-8 round. Heartiest congratulations to the entire team. You all are the pride of the nation. Chak De India, Mann wrote of X. Earlier, CM Yogi Adityanath also congratulated the team, linking the victory to the auspicious occasion of Maha Shivratri. Heartfelt congratulations to the countrymen on the great victory on Maha Shivratri! Congratulations to all members of the Indian cricket team! Jai Hind! he posted on X. The high-octane clash took place during the 27th match of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 at the R. Premadasa Stadium on Sunday, where India defeated Pakistan by 61 runs to storm into the Super-8 stage. Earlier on, Union Home Minister Amit Shah led the nation in praise, posting on X, Well played #TeamIndia. Formats, places, and dates may change, but the result of #IndvsPak remains consistent. Congratulations to the entire team. BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla also lauded the comprehensive performance, highlighting the 8-1 head-to-head record against Pakistan in T20 World Cups and commending the batting and bowling units. Earlier on, Union Home Minister Amit Shah led the nation in praise, posting on X, Well played #TeamIndia. Formats, places, and dates may change, but the result of #IndvsPak remains consistent. Congratulations to the entire team. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Hardik Pandya struck in the opening over to dismiss Shahibzada Farhan, setting the tone for Pakistans collapse. The bowling attack, led by Jasprit Bumrah, Pandya and Varun Chakravarthy, bundled out Pakistan for 114 in 18 overs, sealing a comfortable and memorable victory for India. Article Source: IANS
Reddy: India have belief we can beat any team in the world
For the second consecutive match in Australia, Arundhati Reddy claimed career-best figures
Really tough: Why Australia decided to drop vice-captain
The home side began the series against India with the big call to leave out the experienced allrounder
AUS vs SL Match 30 Prediction, ICC T20 World Cup 2026: Match Preview And Expected Playing XI
AUS vs SL, Match 30, Cricket Tips :Australia have been going through a rough patch. The injuries have hurt them a lot, and then the poor form of their key players have not done well either. Just two games in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, and they are on the verge of elimination. Their defeat to Zimbabwe hurt them a lot. Now, they need to make sure that they win their next two group games. Australia will be taking on in-form Sri Lanka on Monday at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium at 7 PM IST. Travis Head had no other choice than winning. So, we can expect a better show from them. Sri Lanka also had a chance to qualify for the Super 8 with a win here. But if Australia lose, they will be out of the tournament. AUS vs SL: Match Details Date : February 16, 2026 (Monday) Time : 7:00 PM IST Venue : Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele AUS vs SL Live Streaming Details Indian fans can watch the live action of the AUS vs SL on the Star Sports Networks. Fans have another chance to watch the game on live stream on the Jio Hotstar app or website. AUS vs SL Head-to-Head in T20Is Total Matches : 26 Australia: 15 Sri Lanka : 10 No-Result : 1 AUS vs SL: Ground Pitch Report Pallekele International Stadium has a slow surface, and bowlers will dominate here. The first innings will be better to bat because early on the wicket will be a little firm. But in the second innings, the wicket will be slow, and under light, the ball will move more for the first few overs. AUS vs SL: Possible XIs Australia : Travis Head (c), Josh Inglis (wk), Matt Renshaw, Cameron Green, Tim David, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Nathan Ellis, Ben Dwarshuis, Adam Zampa, Matthew Kuhnemann Sri Lanka : Kamil Mishara, Pathum Nissanka, Pavan Rathnayake, Kusal Mendis (wk), Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka (c), Dunith Wellalage, Dushan Hemantha, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana AUS vs SL: Player to Watch Out For Probable Best Batter Being a captain, it is important for Travis Head to perform, and we all know that he is capable of winning games alone. For Sri Lanka, Kusal Mendis is scoring runs consistently and giving good starts to his team. Probable Best Bowler Nathan Ellis has been the go-to bowler for Australia. He is using his pace well and getting assistance from the wicket. For Sri Lanka, Maheesh Theekshana is the key, with his form and ability. Today Match Prediction : Australia are under pressure, and they become more dangerous in such situations. Hence, we predict Australia to win this game. AUS vs SL Match 30, ICC T20 World Cup 2026, Today AUS vs SL Match, AUS vs SL Prediction, AUS vs SL Predicted XIs, Injury Update for AUS vs SL Match Also Read: Live Cricket Score Disclaimer : The prediction or cricket tips are purely based on the understanding and research of the writer. So kindly make sure to consider the points above while making your predictions.
Where did it go wrong for Pakistan?
Pakistan coach Mike Hesson identifies the moments that cost his team against India
T20 WC: The Power-play Was Where India Took The Game Away From Pakistan, Says Tendulkar
T20 World Cup: Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar hailed India's all-round performance after the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 co-hosts thrashed Pakistan by 61 runs at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Sunday. Kishan was the standout performer, blazing 77 off 40 balls with 10 fours and three sixes, while Saim Ayubs crafty spell of 3-25 kept Pakistan firmly in the contest. Kishans pyrotechnics at the top gave India the cushion to play within themselves through the middle overs. Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav added 57 off 53 balls collectively to help India set a target of 176. The Power-play was where India took the game away from them. Ishan Kishan in the first innings, and the clinical bowling we saw in the second innings, made all the difference. We were always in the drivers seat. India rocked it tonight! Tendulkar posted on X. The demolition of Pakistan's batting started right from the first over as Hardik Pandya claimed the prized wicket of Shahibzada Farhan in the opening over with a hard length delivery. Jasprit Bumrah then came back to strike two in his opening over. After getting smoked for a six in the first delivery, Bumrah bounced back with a swearing inswinging yorker to get rid of Ayub and then removed skipper Salman Agha on the last delivery. Wicketkeeper-batter Usman Khan was the lone warrior for Pakistan with 44, stitching a partnership with Babar Azam for 21 runs and then with Shadab Khan for 39 runs. The middle order completely collapsed for Pakistan as India took the centre stage. Axar Patel got rid of Azam (5) and then Khan with a tossed-up delivery. Jasprit Bumrah then came back to strike two in his opening over. After getting smoked for a six in the first delivery, Bumrah bounced back with a swearing inswinging yorker to get rid of Ayub and then removed skipper Salman Agha on the last delivery. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Pandya, Chakravarthy, Bumrah, Kuldeep, and Axar Patel took wickets each as India won the match by 61 runs. Article Source: IANS
HM Shah Hails Team India For Thrashing Pakistan In T20 World Cup
Union Home Minister Amit Shah: Union Home Minister Amit Shah hailed Team India after it thrashed Pakistan by 61 runs in the 27th match of the T20 World Cup 2026, in Colombo. Taking to the social media platform X, Home Minister Amit Shah wrote, Well played #TeamIndia. Formats, places, and dates may change, but the result of #IndvsPak remains consistent. Congratulations to the entire team. Union Minister of State Rao Inderjit Singh said that the Indian cricket team delivered a stellar performance against Pakistan, securing a historic victory. Heartfelt congratulations to all players of Team India for this outstanding win. Your passion, discipline, and teamwork have once again brought pride to the nation. This victory is a moment of pride for every Indian, he posted on X. Reacting to the development, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said, Heartfelt congratulations to the countrymen on the great victory on Maha Shivratri! Congratulations to all members of the Indian cricket team! Jai Hind! Rajya Sabha MP from Uttarakhand and BJP leader Mahendra Bhatt said, Amazing, splendid... historic Heartiest congratulations to the fellow citizens, and especially to Team India, on the glorious victory of our Indian team's ace players over Pakistan in the thrilling match of #T20WorldCup2026. Reacting to the development, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said, Heartfelt congratulations to the countrymen on the great victory on Maha Shivratri! Congratulations to all members of the Indian cricket team! Jai Hind! Also Read: Live Cricket Score This victory is a powerful symbol of Team India's indomitable courage, discipline, hard work, and unbreakable team spirit. The players' passion on the field reflects the confidence and unity of the entire nation. Heartiest congratulations and best wishes to all players of Team India and to all fellow countrymen for this proud achievement, she said. Article Source: IANS
Ishan Kishan: 'I worked a lot on my off-side game'
The India opener scored 77 off 40 balls against Pakistan on a difficult pitch in Colombo
T20 WC: Ishan Amazingly Took The Responsibility After Being 0-1 Down, Says Suryakumar
T20 World Cup: Captain Suryakumar Yadav praised wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishans match-winning 77 after India's 61-run victory over Pakistan in a Group A clash in the ICC Mens T20 World Cup in Colombo on Sunday, saying that he took the responsibility of the innings amazingly after being 0-1 down. Kishan struck a blistering 77 off 40 balls, laced with ten fours and three sixes on a slow, spin-friendly pitch as India posted 175/7 before bowling Pakistan out for 114 to secure a 61-run victory and qualify for the Super Eights. This is for India. We played the same brand of cricket we wanted to play. The way Ishan batted, he batted the same way (he has been batting in the last few games and domestic cricket). Ishan thought something out of the box. At 0-1, someone needed to take responsibility, and he did that amazingly. There was a bit of a slump, but that is the beauty of T20 cricket. The way they (Tilak, Dube, and Rinku) batted is commendable, Yadav said in the post-match presentation ceremony. Indias victory was their eighth in nine Mens T20 World Cup meetings against Pakistan. Yadav also said the total was above par and credited his bowlers for sealing the win. Difficult to tell when batting first. As soon as we reached 175, we thought it was 15-20 runs over par. 155, it would have been a very tight game. Hardik took the new ball, taking charge. Bumrah then showed why he is the best in the world. It was great to see everyone contributing, he added. Looking ahead, the right-handed batter said the team would regroup well before their next fixture against the Netherlands in Ahmedabad, to be played on February 18. We will think about that tomorrow. We will go back, have some good time together as a team (tonight), and think about that when we reach Ahmedabad. Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha admitted his side had fallen short with both bat and ball. We went with four spinners; they had an off-day. Execution was missing in some parts. With the bat, we did not start well. If you lose 3-4 wickets in the Power-play, you are always chasing the game, he said. Looking ahead, the right-handed batter said the team would regroup well before their next fixture against the Netherlands in Ahmedabad, to be played on February 18. We will think about that tomorrow. We will go back, have some good time together as a team (tonight), and think about that when we reach Ahmedabad. Also Read: Live Cricket Score In these games, the emotions are always going to be high; we just need to deal with them. We have played enough (of these games), we have a game in a couple of days, and we have to look forward to it. We need to win that and qualify. Then it is a new tournament, he said. Article Source: IANS
T20 WC: Kishan Credits Simplicity, Off-side Game For Match-winning 77 Against Pakistan
T20 WC: India wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan said being simple in his batting approach and focusing on opening up his off-side game helped him smash a match-winning 77 in the sides 61-run win over Pakistan in a Group A clash at the R Premadasa Stadium on Sunday. Amidst the rain threat looming on the big clash, Kishan struck a blistering 77 off 40 balls laced with ten fours and three sixes on a slow, spin-friendly pitch as India posted 175/7 before bowling Pakistan out for 114 to secure a 61-run victory and qualify for the Super Eights. I think the wicket was not that easy in the beginning, but sometimes you just have to believe what you want to play, what shots are on, and you have to just focus on your strength. So I was just keeping it simple and watching the ball and playing with the field, maybe trying to make them run as much as they can, but yeah, I think it worked pretty well on my side, Kishan said in the post-match presentation ceremony. Kishan, who was named Player of the Match, highlighted the work he had put into his offside game and the importance of rotating strike on a large ground. I think I did work a lot on my offside game and it will give me the balls where I want them to bowl if I play good shots on offside. So I was just trying to hit the gaps because it's a big boundary and when it's a big ground you get a bigger gap. So I was just trying to keep it simple, like I said, trying to hit the gaps, trying to at least take two runs because the wicket was not easy. I had that in mind that we need to put a total like 160-170 runs and it will be a very good total for us, he added. Kishan further said the win carried added significance given the hype and rivalry around the India-Pakistan clashes. 100 percent. India v Pakistan is always a special game not only for us but for our country as well. So we had to win this one because it was a very important game and they had pretty good spinners in their side. We were just supposed to play the good shots and winning this against Pakistan team... it will give us a lot of confidence going ahead in the tournament and we'll try to just keep the momentum going. Kishan further said the win carried added significance given the hype and rivalry around the India-Pakistan clashes. 100 percent. India v Pakistan is always a special game not only for us but for our country as well. So we had to win this one because it was a very important game and they had pretty good spinners in their side. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Especially when we know how Jasprit Bumrah can bowl, whether he has new ball in his hand and bowling in the death. Credit goes to Hardik Pandya for keeping it on the tight areas, bowling what we planned before the game and executing his plans pretty well, he concluded. Article Source: IANS
Union Home Minister Amit Shah: Union Home Minister Amit Shah led the nation in heaping praises and congratulatory messages after India defeated Pakistan by 61 runs in the 27th match of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Sunday. Ishan Kishan was the standout performer, blazing 77 off 40 balls with 10 fours and three sixes, while Saim Ayubs crafty spell of 3-25 kept Pakistan firmly in the contest. However, the Indian bowlers turned the match on their head by bowling Pakistan out for 114 in 18 overs to set up Indias comfortable win. Well played #TeamIndia. Formats, places, and dates may change, but the result of #IndvsPak remains consistent. Congratulations to the entire team, posted Home Minister Amit Shah on X. BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla congratulated Team India through a post on X, formerly Twitter, What a way to make it 8-1 in the T20 World Cups against Pakistan! Sensational batting by Ishan Kishan, and excellent bowling by Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, and Varun Chakravarthy. A complete team effort. Jai Hind! Kishans pyrotechnics at the top gave India the cushion to play within themselves through the middle overs. Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav added 57 off 53 balls collectively to help India set a target of 176. The demolition of Pakistan's batting started right from the first over as Hardik Pandya claimed the prized wicket of Shahibzada Farhan in the opening over with a hard length delivery. Jasprit Bumrah then came back to strike two in his opening over. After getting smoked for a six in the first delivery, Bumrah bounced back with a swearing inswinging yorker to get rid of Ayub and then removed skipper Salman Agha on the last delivery. Wicketkeeper-batter Usman Khan was the lone warrior for Pakistan with 44, stitching a partnership with Babar Azam for 21 runs and then with Shadab Khan for 39 runs. Union Minister of Commerce & Industry and MP, Piyush Goyal, posted, Team India dominated the field like true Dhurandhars! A brilliant performance, seamless teamwork, and a powerful finish. Congratulations to Team India on a fantastic victory over Pakistan. Proud of our champions! My best wishes for the upcoming matches at #T20WorldCup2026. Wicketkeeper-batter Usman Khan was the lone warrior for Pakistan with 44, stitching a partnership with Babar Azam for 21 runs and then with Shadab Khan for 39 runs. Also Read: Live Cricket Score For Pakistan, the collapse was another reminder of their batting frailties in high-pressure contests. Their total of 114 was their third-lowest in T20 World Cup history, behind the 82 against West Indies in 2014 and 113 against India in 2024. India, meanwhile, will take heart from Kishans fireworks, providing the platform for the win, while the bowlers executed their plans with precision. Article Source: IANS
T20 WC: Ishan Kishans 77, Bowlers Help India Thrash Pakistan By 61 Runs (2nd Ld)
T20 World Cup Group: On a tacky, spin-friendly pitch at the R. Premadasa Stadium, Ishan Kishan rose above conditions to continue his purple patch and smash a sensational 77 off 40 balls to set up Indias 61-run win over Pakistan in the Mens T20 World Cup Group A clash in Colombo and seal their place in the Super Eights stage. Kishans knock, laced with 10 fours and three sixes, proved to be decisive in a contest in which18 of the 20 overs bowled at India were spin. His audacity ensured the defending champions finished with 175/7, a total that looked 30 runs above par. Pakistans chase never recovered from the early blows inflicted by Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah to vindicate the sense that India had already done enough. Usman Khans 44 off 34 was the lone bright spot, but his effort only kept the scoreboard moving rather than altering the course of the game, as Pakistan were bowled out for 114 in 18 overs by a disciplined Indian bowling outfit executing its plans with precision. For Pakistan, the collapse was another reminder of their batting frailties in high-pressure contests. Their total of 114 was their third-lowest in T20 World Cup history, behind the 82 against West Indies in 2014 and 113 against India in 2024. The impact of Kishans innings was stark in the numbers. After Abhishek Sharma fell for a duck to Salman Aghas off-spin, the rest of Indias batting, including extras, managed just 98 off 80 balls a return which is more reflective of the sluggish pitch on offer. Kishans fireworks, however, had already tilted the balance, and once Pakistans top order imploded in the power-play, Indias comprehensive win over their arch-rivals became inevitable. Indias chase began on a nervy note as fit-again Abhishek Sharma miscued a chip to off Salman Ali Aghas off-spin and departed for a duck. Kishan, however, wasted little time in asserting himself as he dispatched Shaheen Shah Afridi over square leg for six. A streaky inside edge brought him another boundary, while Tilak Varma opened his account with an edge going past slip for four, as 15 runs came off the second over. Kishan greeted Salman with a lofted four over mid-on, before punishing a short ball from Saim Ayub over square leg for another boundary. Though a couple of deliveries stopped in the pitch, Kishan maintained his tempo by welcoming Abrar Ahmed with a towering six behind square before cutting him through cover for four. Kishan survived a close call when mid-on almost took his catch, and got a boundary before finding another boundary via a cut. Tilak, meanwhile, edged one past short third for four as India ended power-play at 52/1. When Abrar came for his second over, Kishan opened his bat face for a deft glide past short third for four, before unfurling two commanding strokes a lofted drive over the bowlers head and a blistering extra-cover hit to bring up his half-century off just 27 balls. Shadab Khans introduction did little to halt the run-flow as Kishan swept him over fine leg for four and then launched a towering six over deep mid-wicket, with the sound off the bat echoing across the ground. But after unfurling a dazzling reverse hit over backward point, Kishan was undone by a ripper from Saim Ayub, which gripped and turned sharply from leg stump, as the opener backed away far too early and could see the ball crash into the stumps. Suryakumar Yadav announced his arrival by pulling Usman Tariqs first ball through the gap between long-on and deep mid-wicket for four. Soon after, Tilak Varma produced the stroke of the evening a majestic lofted six off Mohammad Nawaz going over extra cover, before Suryakumar survived a tight lbw review off Nawaz. Indias measured approach through the middle overs was disrupted soon after the drinks break as Ayub returned to trap Varma lbw, after being beaten while attempting a sweep. One brought two for Pakistan as Hardik Pandya, promoted to accelerate, miscued a carrom ball and holed out to long-off for a golden duck. Ayub nearly had a hat-trick getting one to dip, turn, and bounce past Shivam Dubes defensive shot and missed the stumps by inches. Pakistan even wasted a review for a caught behind, as the ball had missed the edge comfortably. From there, Suryakumar and Shivam Dube hit four boundaries between themselves before the former mistimed a slog to deep mid-wicket off Tariq. Dube and Rinku Singh hit three boundaries in the final over off Shaheen before the former and Axar Patel fell on the last two balls of the innings, as 35 runs came in the last three overs. Pandya set the tone with a wicket maiden opening over, denying Sahibzada Farhan any scoring opportunities before forcing him into a mistimed pull that ballooned to mid-on and dismissed him for a four-ball duck. Jasprit Bumrah then struck twice in quick succession - first deceiving Saim Ayub with an inswinger after hitting a streaky six, and then removing Salman Agha when he chipped tamely to mid-on. At 13/3 inside two overs, Pakistans chase was already in disarray. Usman Khan briefly lifted spirits with a pair of two elegant inside-out boundaries off Axar Patel, but Babar Azams dismissal on the slog-sweep left Pakistan tottering at 34/4 in the fifth over. Usman, however, stood tall, striking four more boundaries to reach 43 off 31 balls. Yet the equation remained steep for Pakistan, with 105 runs needed from the final 10 overs. Kuldeep Yadavs miserly 10th over proved to be decisive. Having denied Usman a boundary, he forced the batter into hitting riskier strokes against Axar in the following over. Axar anticipated the charge and fired one in to have Usman stumped for 44 off 34 balls. With that, Pakistans faint hopes of acing the uphill chase evaporated. The procession continued as Kuldeep removed Mohammad Nawaz with a full toss, before Tilak Varma struck with his very first ball to have Shadab Khan hole out to long-off. At 78/7 in 12.1 overs, Pakistans chase had unravelled completely, as Indias spinners and seamers combined to leave the contest all but decided in favour of the defending champions. Varun Chakaravarthy got two wickets while Pandya, after seeing catches being dropped off his bowling twice, knocked back Usman Tariqs middle stump to ensure India hammered Pakistan in the T20 World Cup yet again. With that, Pakistans faint hopes of acing the uphill chase evaporated. The procession continued as Kuldeep removed Mohammad Nawaz with a full toss, before Tilak Varma struck with his very first ball to have Shadab Khan hole out to long-off. Also Read: Live Cricket Score India 175/7 in 20 overs (Ishan Kishan 77, Suryakumar Yadav 32; Saim Ayub 3-25, Salman Agha 1-10) beat Pakistan 114 all out in 18 overs (Usman Khan 44, Shaheen Shah Afridi 23; Hardik Pandya 2-16, Varun Chakaravarthy 2-17) by 61 runs Article Source: IANS
T20 WC: Ishan Kishans 77, Bowlers Help India Thrash Pakistan By 61 Runs (ld)
T20 World Cup: Defending champions India brushed aside Pakistan by 61 runs in their high-stakes Group A clash at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Sunday, a result that also confirmed their place in the Super Eights. Ishan Kishans blistering 77 had set the tone earlier in the evening, and Indias bowlers ensured the target of 176 was always out of reach as they dismissed Pakistan for 114 in 18 overs. Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah struck early, with Pakistans top order also undone by poor shot selection. Usman Khan offered resistance with a fluent 44, but his dismissal to Axar Patel extinguished any lingering hopes, as the rest of the bowling attack was disciplined throughout and never let go of the pressure on the batters. For Pakistan, the collapse was another reminder of their batting frailties in high-pressure contests. Their total of 114 was their third-lowest in T20 World Cup history, behind the 82 against West Indies in 2014 and 113 against India in 2024. India, meanwhile, will take heart from Kishans fireworks, providing the platform for the win, while the bowlers executed their plans with precision. Hardik Pandya set the tone with a wicket maiden opening over, denying Sahibzada Farhan any scoring opportunities before forcing him into a mistimed pull that ballooned to mid-on and dismissed him for a four-ball duck. Jasprit Bumrah then struck twice in quick succession -- first deceiving Saim Ayub with an inswinger after hitting a streaky six, and then removing Salman Agha when he chipped tamely to mid-on. At 13/3 inside two overs, Pakistans chase was already in disarray. Usman Khan briefly lifted spirits with a pair of elegant inside-out boundaries off Axar Patel, but Babar Azams dismissal on the slog-sweep left Pakistan tottering at 34/4 in the fifth over. Usman, however, stood tall, striking four more boundaries to reach 43 off 31 balls. Yet the equation remained steep for Pakistan, with 105 runs needed from the final 10 overs. Kuldeep Yadavs miserly 10th over proved to be decisive. Having denied Usman a boundary, he forced the batter into hitting riskier strokes against Axar in the following over. Axar anticipated the charge and fired one in to have Usman stumped for 44 off 34 balls. With that, Pakistans faint hopes of acing the uphill chase evaporated. The procession continued as Kuldeep removed Mohammad Nawaz with a full toss, before Tilak Varma struck with his very first ball to have Shadab Khan hole out to long-off. At 78/7 in 12.1 overs, Pakistans chase had unravelled completely, as Indias spinners and seamers combined to leave the contest all but decided in favour of the defending champions. Varun Chakaravarthy got two wickets while Pandya, after seeing catches being dropped off his bowling twice, knocked back Usman Tariqs middle stump to ensure India hammered Pakistan in the T20 World Cup yet again. With that, Pakistans faint hopes of acing the uphill chase evaporated. The procession continued as Kuldeep removed Mohammad Nawaz with a full toss, before Tilak Varma struck with his very first ball to have Shadab Khan hole out to long-off. Also Read: Live Cricket Score India 175/7 in 20 overs (Ishan Kishan 77, Suryakumar Yadav 32; Saim Ayub 3-25, Salman Agha 1-10) beat Pakistan 114 all out in 18 overs (Usman Khan 44, Shaheen Shah Afridi 23; Hardik Pandya 2-16, Varun Chakaravarthy 2-17) by 61 runs Article Source: IANS
Amelia Kerr Appointed As New Zealand Womens New All-format Skipper
ICC T20 Champions Trophy: New Zealand all-rounder Amelia Kerr has been appointed as the New Zealand womens new captain across all formats. She takes over from Sophie Devine, who stepped down after last years Womens ODI World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. The 25-year-old, who has already played 172 international games, will commence her leadership journey through the upcoming series against Zimbabwe starting later this month. Amelia has previously stood in as New Zealands captain in limited matches but now takes on the role in a full-time capacity. Growing up it was my childhood dream to represent New Zealand and to now have the opportunity to captain my country is a massive privilege. Im really excited by the growth, the talent and the dedication of this group and the potential of what we can achieve and where we can go together. One of my favourite quotes is: He aha te mea nui o te ao? He Tngata, He Tngata, He Tngata. We are people first. As a group we look out for each other, we celebrate each others success and we represent our people. Encouraging others and building belief around us so we can all be the best we can be both as people and as cricketers. I am following an exceptional group of leaders who have captained the White Ferns before me, so I dont take the responsibility lightly. I have so much love for this group and so much passion for representing Aotearoa. The captaincy doesnt change who I am. I am still the same person and will give everything I can to lead this group and hopefully bring our country success, said Amelia in a statement by New Zealand Cricket (NZC). Under her, New Zealand will embark on an important three-year period which includes defending their Womens T20 World Cup in England later this year, the ICC T20 Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka next year, and the LA Olympics and T20 World Cup in 2028. Since making her debut for New Zealand at the age of 16 in 2016, Amelia has amassed 3,757 runs and claimed 201 wickets across formats, this placing her third on the White Ferns all-time wicket-taking list and fourth among run-scorers. Her credentials were underlined during the 2024 ICC Womens T20 World Cup triumph in the UAE, where she was named Player of the Tournament. Her performances that year also earned her the ICC Womens Player of the Year award, making her the first New Zealander to win the prestigious Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Trophy. head coach Ben Sawyer said Kerr was an excellent fit for the role. Melie has been an integral member of the squad for many years and deeply understands what it means to be a White Fern and represent New Zealand. Shes an outstanding leader not only through her performances on the field, but also in the respect she has from the playing group off it. She has a sound understanding of the game and has strong leadership experience from the games she has captained the White Ferns and her time leading the Wellington Blaze over the past three years. We believe leading the White Ferns can take Melies game to the next level and know shes ready to step up and lead this team forward. Melie leading this team at this stage of her career ensures we have continuity and stability through the next cycle to 2029. Melie possesses all the qualities of a strong leader at such a young age and we are looking forward to supporting her in her development as a leader, he said. Liz Green, Head of Womens High Performance Development at NZC, said Amelias passion for the team and her people-first approach made her an ideal fit for the leadership role. Melie is hugely passionate about representing New Zealand and is a great role model for the group and fans of the White Ferns. Melie leading this team at this stage of her career ensures we have continuity and stability through the next cycle to 2029. Melie possesses all the qualities of a strong leader at such a young age and we are looking forward to supporting her in her development as a leader, he said. Also Read: Live Cricket Score New Zealands squads for the T20I and ODI series against Zimbabwe will be named on Friday. The three-match T20I series begins at Seddon Park in Hamilton on February 25. Article Source: IANS
The Science Of Winning: Indias All-round Excellence Downs Pakistan
T20 World Cup: There was speed. There was sharpness. And above all, there was discipline in their performance. When India faced Pakistan in their group clash in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup in Colombo on Sunday, it wasnt just another high-voltage encounter it was a masterclass in modern-day cricketing excellence. The Men in Blue looked like a unit that had fine-tuned every detail of its game, from lightning reflexes in the field to flawless execution under pressure as they won the match by 61 runs. The difference was visible in the smallest moments. The way the ball was collected, the swiftness of the release. The urgency between deliveries. Every movement had purpose, every action carried intent. Indias discipline in the field was phenomenal. The fielders moved like cheetahs charging at the ball, cutting angles, and releasing it in a flash. Singles were choked. Doubles became risks. Pakistans batters never truly settled. While the batters did their job and posted a competitive total, the fielders were equally impressive, if not more. In modern T20 cricket, saving 1015 runs in the field can be as decisive as scoring them. India seemed to understand that better than anyone. The Indian team today looks like a side that has mastered the use of sports science. Recovery cycles, agility drills, reaction training everything appears structured and purposeful. The credit must go to the BCCI, which has ensured that Team India receives complete support technically, professionally, and financially. From top-tier support staff to advanced analytics and conditioning programmes, the board has left no stone unturned. The results are there for everyone to see. As Pakistan began their chase, the pressure steadily mounted. Dot balls piled up. Fielders closed in. Quick releases prevented easy singles. The scoreboard pressure was relentless. In high-stakes matches like India vs Pakistan, mental strength matters as much as skills. India applied pressure in waves, and Pakistan eventually succumbed. Right now, India looks like the undisputed king of cricket. They can perhaps only lose on an off-day because when they are switched on, disciplined, and united, they are a force few teams can match. In high-stakes matches like India vs Pakistan, mental strength matters as much as skills. India applied pressure in waves, and Pakistan eventually succumbed. Also Read: Live Cricket Score And a reminder that in modern cricket, excellence is built not only with the bat and ball but with fitness, focus, and flawless fielding. Article Source: IANS
T20 WC: Kishans 77 And Bowlers Help India Thrash Pakistan By 61 Runs
T20 World Cup: After wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan's attacking 77 put India on top, bowlers made it a simple run as co-hosts India thrashed Pakistan by 61 runs in the 27th match of the T20 World Cup 2026, here at the R. Premadasa Stadium. Kishan was the standout performer, blazing 77 off 40 balls with 10 fours and three sixes, while Saim Ayubs crafty spell of 3-25 kept Pakistan firmly in the contest. Kishans pyrotechnics at the top gave India the cushion to play within themselves through the middle overs. Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav added 57 off 53 balls collectively to help India set a target of 176. The demolition of Pakistan's batting started right from the first over as Hardik Pandya claimed the prized wicket of Shahibzada Farhan in the opening over with a hard length delivery. Jasprit Bumrah then came back to strike two in his opening over. After getting smoked for a six in the first delivery, Bumrah bounced back with a swearing inswinging yorker to get rid of Ayub and then removed skipper Salman Agha on the last delivery. Wicketkeeper-batter Usman Khan was the lone warrior for Pakistan with 44, stitching a partnership with Babar Azam for 21 runs and then with Shadab Khan for 39 runs. Jasprit Bumrah then came back to strike two in his opening over. After getting smoked for a six in the first delivery, Bumrah bounced back with a swearing inswinging yorker to get rid of Ayub and then removed skipper Salman Agha on the last delivery. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Kuldeep Yadav cleaned out Mohmmad Nawaz as Tilka Varma, bowling for the first time in the tournament, got the wicket of all-rounder Shadab Khan. Article Source: IANS
Amelia Kerr appointed new New Zealand captain
She succeeds Sophie Devine and her first assignment is a home series against Zimbabwe later this month
T20 WC: All The Stats From USA'S 31-run Win Against Namibia
T20 World Cup: USA kept their Super 8 hopes alive with a crucial 31-run win over Namibia in their final T20 World Cup 2026 group stage match played at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Sunday. Batting first after winning the toss, USA posted a competitive 199/4 in 20 overs, riding on half-centuries from captain Monank Patel and Sanjay Krishnamurthi. The openers, Monank and Shayan Jahangir, provided a flying start with a 68-run partnership as USA reached 65 without loss at the end of the powerplay. Monank went on to score 52 off 30 balls and also became the first USA batter to complete 1000 runs in T20Is. After a brief middle-order wobble, Milind Kumar and Sanjay added a crucial 87-run stand to shift the momentum back in USAs favour. Sanjay was the standout performer, smashing an unbeaten 68 off just 33 balls, including four boundaries and six sixes, to power USA to 199/4. In reply, Namibia began positively, reaching 57/1 at the end of the power play. Louren Steenkamp led the charge with a fluent 58 off 39 balls, while Loftie-Eaton contributed 28. However, USA struck at key moments to derail the chase. Shubham Ranjane dismissed Steenkamp in the 13th over, and captain Gerhard Erasmus fell soon after. Shadley van Schalkwyk delivered a disciplined spell, finishing with 2/30, as Namibia were restricted to 168/6 in 20 overs. Numbers game between the USA vs Namibia match 23 -Sanjay Krishnamurthy of the USA completed his 50 off just 23 balls. This was the 3rd fastest fifty scored by an Associate team batter. Netherlands' Stephan Myburgh holds the record. He completed his 50 off just 17 balls v Ireland at Sylhet in 2014. 68 - Sanjay Krishnamurthy (68) recorded his highest score in his 13th match. His previous best was 37 v India in Mumbai in the current WC. 7 - Monank Patel (52) scored his 7th fifty in his 47th match. During his innings, he also completed his 1000 runs in T20Is. He is now the first batsman from the USA to achieve this milestone. 13 - The number of wickets (13) claimed by Shadley van Schalkwyk in 4 matches at an average of 7.76. He is now the leading wicket-taker in the current T20WC. 7 - Monank Patel (52) scored his 7th fifty in his 47th match. During his innings, he also completed his 1000 runs in T20Is. He is now the first batsman from the USA to achieve this milestone. Also Read: Live Cricket Score 3 - The USA and Namibia have now played 3 T20Is. The USA won all three matches. Article Source: IANS
T20 WC: Was Kind Of A Dream To Play Against India, Hopefully Batters Complete The Chase, Says Tariq
Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara: Pakistan off-spinner Usman Tariq described playing in the ICC Mens T20 World Cup clash against India as a dream and backed his sides batters to chase down 176 in a crucial Group A clash at the R Premadasa Stadium on Sunday. India posted 175/7 in their 20 overs, with Ishan Kishan top-scoring through a blistering 77 off 40 balls. Pakistans spinners dominated the innings by bowling 18 of the 20 overs, with Saim Ayub picking 3-25 to peg India back after Kishans dismissal. Tariq, who generated a lot of eyeballs due to the pause in his deliveries and varying degrees of release points and variations, bowled tidily in the middle overs to pick 1-24, where he dismissed India captain Suryakumar Yadav. India and Pakistan game is huge. The vibes are really good, was having a great experience. It was kind of a dream, Tariq said to broadcasters in the mid-innings break. Asked about how he adapted his bowling to the slow pitch, Tariq said, Pitch was quite slow. I have been to the CPL, so have experience of it and stuff. I just kept the momentum of their bat low and we are on the safe side now. Tariq further expressed confidence over Pakistans batting unit overhauling the target. Of course, of course. The batters of our team have great momentum and the intent they have shown, shows our mind is clear and hopefully, we can chase it down, he added. Asked about how he adapted his bowling to the slow pitch, Tariq said, Pitch was quite slow. I have been to the CPL, so have experience of it and stuff. I just kept the momentum of their bat low and we are on the safe side now. Also Read: Live Cricket Score With spin already playing a decisive role in the match, the chase is expected to test Pakistans batting discipline on a surface offering grip and turn, especially with the formidable Indian bowling line-up comprising spinners Axar Patel, Varun Chakaravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav. Article Source: IANS
T20 WC: Kishan's Sensational 77 Takes India To 175/7, Ayub Picks Three For Pakistan
T20 World Cup: India finished with 175/7 in their 20 overs against Pakistan in a crucial Group A clash of the Mens T20 World Cup at the R. Premadasa Stadium on Sunday. Wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan was the standout performer, blazing 77 off 40 balls with 10 fours and three sixes, while Saim Ayubs crafty spell of 3-25 kept Pakistan firmly in the contest. Kishans pyrotechnics at the top gave India the cushion to play within themselves through the middle overs. Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav added 57 off 53 balls collectively, but their subdued approach reflected Indias assessment that the surface was not conducive to a 200-plus score, especially with Pakistan bowling 18 overs of spin. The innings was a tale of two halves: Kishans audacious strokeplay in the first 10 overs, followed by Pakistans spinners tightening the screws. The grip and turn on offer from the slow pitch suggests batting would not be straightforward, and the final overs saw India lose momentum as Pakistan chipped away with regular wickets. Whether 175 proves sufficient remains to be seen as on a surface where spin has already dictated terms, Pakistan will need to bat with discipline and intent to complete the chase against a formidable Indian spin bowling line-up. Indias chase began on a nervy note as fit-again Abhishek Sharma miscued a chip to off Salman Ali Aghas off-spin and departed for a duck. Kishan, however, wasted little time in asserting himself as he dispatched Shaheen Shah Afridi over square leg for six. A streaky inside edge brought him another boundary, while Tilak Varma opened his account with an edge going past slip for four, as 15 runs came off second over. Kishan greeted Salman with a lofted four over mid-on, before punishing a short ball from Saim Ayub over square leg for another boundary. Though a couple of deliveries stopped in the pitch, Kishan maintained his tempo by welcoming Abrar Ahmed with a towering six behind square before cutting him through cover for four. Kishan survived a close call when mid-on almost took his catch, and got a boundary before finding another boundary via a cut. Tilak, meanwhile, edged one past short third for four as India ended power-play at 52/1. When Abrar came for his second over, Kishan opened his bat face for a deft glide past short third for four, before unfurling two commanding strokes a lofted drive over the bowlers head and a blistering extra-cover hit to bring up his half-century off just 27 balls. Shadab Khans introduction did little to halt the run-flow as Kishan swept him over fine leg for four and then launched a towering six over deep mid-wicket, with the sound off the bat echoing across the ground. But after unfurling a dazzling reverse hit over backward point, Kishan was undone by a ripper from Saim Ayub which gripped and turned sharply from leg stump, as the opener backed away far too early and could see the ball crash into the stumps. Suryakumar Yadav announced his arrival by pulling Usman Tariqs first ball through the gap between long-on and deep mid-wicket for four. Soon after, Tilak Varma produced the stroke of the evening a majestic lofted six off Mohammad Nawaz going over extra cover, before Suryakumar survived a tight lbw review off Nawaz. Indias measured approach through the middle overs was disrupted soon after the drinks break as Ayub returned to trap Varma lbw, after being beaten while attempting a sweep. One brought two for Pakistan as Hardik Pandya, promoted to accelerate, miscued a carrom ball and holed out to long-off for a golden duck. Ayub nearly had a hat-trick getting one to dip, turn and bounce past Shivam Dubes defensive shot and missed the stumps by inches. Pakistan even wasted a review for a caught behind, as the ball had missed the edge comfortably. Indias measured approach through the middle overs was disrupted soon after the drinks break as Ayub returned to trap Varma lbw, after being beaten while attempting a sweep. One brought two for Pakistan as Hardik Pandya, promoted to accelerate, miscued a carrom ball and holed out to long-off for a golden duck. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Brief Scores: India 175/7 in 20 overs (Ishan Kishan 77, Suryakumar Yadav 32; Saim Ayub 3-25, Salman Agha 1-10) against Pakistan Article Source: IANS
Hemantha may 'bamboozle' Australia with his variations, says SL fielding coach
R Sridhar backs Dushan Hemantha to step in the absence of Hasaranga, who has been sidelined from the rest of the World Cup with injury
T20 WC: You Cant Control Toss, You Just Play The Game, Says Erasmus After Loss Against USA
T20 World Cup: Namibia captain Gerhard Erasmus accepted that losing the toss and failing to show enough intent in the chase proved costly as they suffered a 31-run defeat in their third match of the T20 World Cup 2026, played at the iconic MA Chidambaram Stadium on Sunday. USA posted a strong total of 199 after opting to bat first, riding on a crucial opening partnership and a late flourish from their middle order. In reply, Namibia were restricted to 168/6 in 20 overs despite a fifty by Louren Steenkamp. I thought it was a nice wicket. It turned out to be a really good scoring wicket. But we would have liked to also bat first and put some pressure on the ball. Unfortunately, it didn't go our way. I think that's the way it goes. You can't really control tosses, but you just play the game, Erasmus said after the match. He acknowledged the impact of the USAs top order, particularly the opening stand that laid the platform for a 199-run total. We know it's a contest, bat and ball, and their batters played exceptionally well at the front. We tried to do as a top plan from the previous game. Unfortunately, our plan was quite tough to handle again. But yeah, credit goes to their pair. Namibia did manage to claw their way back in the middle overs through disciplined bowling. My bowlers rolled it up in the middle period and really bowled well to get us back in the game, he noted, highlighting the effort that briefly stalled USAs momentum. The captain also had words of praise for leg-spinner Willem Myburgh, who impressed with his control. He's got great control with his leggies. Such a nice skill to have in this format of the game, I guess. All the top bowlers in the world seem to be the exponents. And I hope he goes from strength to strength because it's such a vital asset to have. Chasing 200, Namibia were well placed at the halfway stage but could not maintain the required tempo, and the captain feels that the lack of intent at the end caused problems for them. The captain also had words of praise for leg-spinner Willem Myburgh, who impressed with his control. He's got great control with his leggies. Such a nice skill to have in this format of the game, I guess. All the top bowlers in the world seem to be the exponents. And I hope he goes from strength to strength because it's such a vital asset to have. Also Read: Live Cricket Score With this loss, Namibia is out of the Super 8 contention. They will play their last match against Pakistan on 18th February at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo. Article Source: IANS
Ferreira Silva beats back Gomezs challenge to claim maiden Challenger crown
T20 WC: Sri Lanka President, PCB Chief Spotted At India-Pakistan Clash In Colombo
Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara: The high-profile ICC Mens T20 World Cup Group A encounter between India and Pakistan at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Sunday drew notable dignitaries, with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi and Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake present in the stands. Visuals came of Dissanayake and Naqvi seated together in a VVIP enclosure. Apart from Naqvi, PCB COO Salman Naseer was also spotted inside the enclosure, so as Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) President Shammi Silva. In a separate VVIP enclosure, ICC Chairman Jay Shah, tournament ambassador Rohit Sharma, IPL Chairman Arun Singh Dhumal and BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla were also spotted watching the on-field action. The sight of high-profile cricketing and political dignitaries at one of the sports most intense rivalries highlighted the significance of the fixture, which was initially in doubt due to the Pakistan government not giving permission initially. But after back channel talks and Dissanayake stepping in, so as Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and UAE boards, Pakistan agreed to make a u-turn and are now playing in the high-stakes match. Visuals came of Dissanayake and Naqvi seated together in a VVIP enclosure. Apart from Naqvi, PCB COO Salman Naseer was also spotted inside the enclosure, so as Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) President Shammi Silva. In a separate VVIP enclosure, ICC Chairman Jay Shah, tournament ambassador Rohit Sharma, IPL Chairman Arun Singh Dhumal and BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla were also spotted watching the on-field action. Also Read: Live Cricket Score India entered the match with a dominant record against Pakistan in T20 World Cups, having won seven of their eight previous meetings. Pakistans only victory came in 2021, when openers Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan scripted a famous 10-wicket win in Dubai. With dignitaries in attendance and fans filling the stands, Sundays clash reiterated that the game is more than just a normal group-stage fixture. Article Source: IANS
T20 WC: Rohit Sharma In Attendance With ICC Chair Jay Shah In Colombo
T20 World Cup: Former India captain Rohit Sharma, serving as the ICC ambassador for the Mens T20 World Cup 2026, was seen interacting with the ICC chairman Jay Shah during the Group A high-voltage clash against Pakistan at the R Premadasa Stadium on Sunday. Under his leadership, India won the 2024 T20 World Cup. Ahead of the clash, Rohit interacted with members of the Indian mens cricket team and the support staff. Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha won the toss and chose to bowl first and made an instant impact, dismissing star opener Abhishek Sharma in the first over. A reminder of some tensions between Agha and India captain Suryakumar Yadav came when there wasn't a handshake before the game, which had been confirmed just six days prior to today's game after the Pakistan government changed its mind on threatening to boycott the match. Pakistan put out the same side as the last time they played, while India (the defending champions) made two major changes to their lineup by bringing back Abhishek Sharma and Kuldeep Yadav (replacing Sanju Samson and Arshdeep Singh) for the big game today. Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha won the toss and chose to bowl first and made an instant impact, dismissing star opener Abhishek Sharma in the first over. A reminder of some tensions between Agha and India captain Suryakumar Yadav came when there wasn't a handshake before the game, which had been confirmed just six days prior to today's game after the Pakistan government changed its mind on threatening to boycott the match. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Interestingly, at the R Premadasa Stadium, all three previous World Cup matches have been won by the team batting first a statistic that could play a decisive role in shaping yet another chapter of this iconic rivalry. Article Source: IANS
England face unexpected test of nerve in Italy showdown
Banana-skin potential high with lowest-ranked side in competition raring to cause another upset
T20 WC: We Did Our Homework Really Well, Says Monank After USAs Dominant Win Against Namibia
T20 World Cup: USA captain Monank Patel said that thorough preparation and a crucial opening partnership laid the foundation for his sides commanding win over Namibia in their T20 World Cup 2026 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Sunday. USA posted a formidable 199-run total after opting to bat first and then restricted Namibia to 168/6 in 20 overs to seal a 31-run victory, their second consecutive win in the tournament. Yes, we do the homework for every team. We had done it for Namibia too. Winning the toss and batting first, we knew that the wicket was going to get better, so we wanted to make sure that we got a proper start. I thought the partnership between myself and Shayan was very crucial, Monank said after the match. The skipper led from the front with half century at the top of the order after returning to his preferred opening role. I have opened the innings most of the time, and after the first few games, I decided to open again. My role was to play freely and express myself. Today I got a chance early and capitalised, and I am happy it came in a winning cause, he added. Monank also credited youngster Sanjay for providing the late flourish that propelled the USA to the 199-run mark. Sanjay is an incredible talent in our squad. He was a bit under pressure after the last two innings, but the way he played today was great to see. He can hit the ball really far and because of him we were able to make 200 runs. The skipper led from the front with half century at the top of the order after returning to his preferred opening role. I have opened the innings most of the time, and after the first few games, I decided to open again. My role was to play freely and express myself. Today I got a chance early and capitalised, and I am happy it came in a winning cause, he added. Also Read: Live Cricket Score This is the USA's second consecutive win in the tournament, and with this, they have kept their hopes alive of reaching the Super 8 stage. However, the USA will need either India or Pakistan to lose both their remaining group stage matches by good margins. Article Source: IANS
T20 WC: All Stats From Windies Win Over Nepal In Mumbai
T20 World Cup: Nepals valiant recovery after a shaky start was ultimately not enough as the West Indies cruised to a comfortable 9-wicket win in their Group C clash of the ICC Mens T20 World Cup at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday. Chasing 134 for victory, the Caribbean side overcame Nepals spirited 133/8 in just 15.2 overs, sealing their spot in the Super Eights while eliminating Nepal from the race. Numbers game between Nepal v West Indies match: 2: Dipendra Singh Airee (58) v WI became only the 2nd Nepali batter to post a fifty in the T20 WC. Subash Khakurel was the first. He achieved this landmark v Afghanistan when he scored 56 at Chattogram in the 2014 edition. 54: Dipendra Singh Airee and Sompal Kami added 54 runs for the seventh wicket against the West Indies. In T20WC this was the 4th occasion when an Associate team batting pair added between 54 to 70 runs for the 7th wicket or below. 2: West Indies beat Nepal by 9 wickets. This was the 2nd instance when WI achieved a 9 wickets victory in the T20WC. Earlier, they also defeated USA in Bridgetown in 2024. 54: Dipendra Singh Airee and Sompal Kami added 54 runs for the seventh wicket against the West Indies. In T20WC this was the 4th occasion when an Associate team batting pair added between 54 to 70 runs for the 7th wicket or below. Also Read: Live Cricket Score 91*: Shai Hope and Shimron Hetmyer added an unbeaten 91 runs for the 2nd wicket v Nepal. In T20WCs it was the 3rd instance when a Caribbean pair added 91 or more runs for the 2nd wicket. Article Source: IANS
Cold Stare At The Toss: No Handshake As IndiaPakistan Fireworks Begin In Colombo
Premadasa International Cricket Stadium: The tension was unmistakable even before a ball was bowled. India captain Suryakumar Yadav and Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha skipped the customary handshake at the toss, setting a fiery tone for their blockbuster Group A showdown in the 2026 Mens T20 World Cup at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium on Sunday. Minutes later, Agha won the toss and chose to bowl first on a surface that appeared slightly tacky and likely to aid seamers in the early overs a call that could shape the course of the high-stakes contest. Both sides entered the marquee clash unbeaten. India lead Group A on superior net run-rate after wins over the United States in Mumbai and Namibia in New Delhi. Pakistan, based in Colombo, scraped past the Netherlands before producing a stronger display against the USA. Defending champions India recalled Abhishek Sharma and Kuldeep Yadav, replacing Sanju Samson and Arshdeep Singh. Abhishek returns after recovering from a stomach infection that sidelined him for the Namibia fixture. We were looking to bat first. Weve defended totals in the last two games and won both, so we dont want to change anything, Suryakumar said. Its an occasion, but the focus is to stay present and back our skills. Pakistan retained the same playing XI. Agha cited early help for bowlers and the venues bigger boundaries compared to SSC as key factors behind opting to field. The stance has been evident in multiple tournaments, starting from the mens Asia Cup 2025, where Indian players opted out of pre and post-match handshakes in all three encounters at the Dubai International Stadium. The same was on repeat during the 2025 Womens ODI World Cup clash in Colombo and Mens U19 Asia Cup and World Cup games. Earlier on Sunday, India A and Pakistan A also chose against shaking hands in their Womens Asia Cup Rising Stars match at the Terdthai Cricket Ground in Bangkok. The no-handshake approach has coincided with heightened political tensions between the two countries following the Pahalgam terror attack in April 2025, when 26 people were killed, and the subsequent Operation Sindoor. On the eve of the fixture, Suryakumar had hinted at the move, telling reporters in the pre-match press conference, Just wait a bit, you will know tomorrow, just have your food, sleep well tonight. Agha, asked for his view, said, What I expect, obviously, does not matter. But I feel that the game should be played the same way as it has been since the beginning of cricket. The rest is up to them and whatever they want to do. Earlier, former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar criticised Indias no-handshake policy against Pakistan, terming it silly and said it does not reflect well on a major cricketing nation. This no shaking hands is such a silly thing that India has started. Its unbecoming of a nation like ours. Either play properly within the spirit of the game or dont play at all, wrote Manjrekar on his X account. In his pitch assessment, former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja noted that rain fears had subsided. The straight boundary measures 84 metres, with square boundaries at 70 and 74 metres. Recent matches here have tilted towards bowlers, with Blessing Muzarabani and Nathan Ellis both claiming four-wicket hauls by exploiting hard lengths. History heavily favours India, who have won seven of their eight Mens T20 World Cup encounters against Pakistan. The latters only triumph came in 2021, when Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan orchestrated a commanding 10-wicket win in Dubai. Adding another tactical twist, all three previous World Cup games at this Colombo venue have been won by the side batting first making Pakistans decision to chase a bold gamble under lights. Playing XIs Adding another tactical twist, all three previous World Cup games at this Colombo venue have been won by the side batting first making Pakistans decision to chase a bold gamble under lights. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Pakistan: Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Saim Ayub, Salman Agha (capt), Babar Azam, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Tariq, Abrar Ahmed Article Source: IANS
Krishnamurthi, van Schalkwyk keep USA alive
Namibia spilled chances in the field and were undone in the back-half of the chase
Namibia's Green becomes first batter to be retired out in 2026 T20 WC
It was only the second time that a batter has retired out at a men's T20 World Cup, with Namibia instigating both moves
Pakistan bowl; no handshakes between captains at toss
India made two changes, bringing in Abhishek Sharma and Kuldeep Yadav
T20 WC: Unchanged Pakistan Elect To Bowl, Abhishek, Kuldeep Return For India
Salman Ali Agha: Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha won the toss and elected to bowl first against India in a high-stakes Group A clash in the 2026 Mens T20 World Cup at the R. Premadasa Stadium on Sunday. As has been the case in India-Pakistan clashes, both captains didnt shake hands at toss time. Both sides are unbeaten so far in Group A, with India on top of the standings courtesy due to a superior net run-rate. India overcame a sluggish start against the United States of America (USA) in their opening game in Mumbai before sweeping aside Namibia in New Delhi. Pakistan, who have been stationed in Colombo, laboured past the Netherlands before producing a more assured display in beating the USA. Defending champions India have brought back fit-again Abhishek Sharma and Kuldeep Yadav in place of Sanju Samson and Arshdeep Singh for the crunch clash. Abhishek had been hospitalised in New Delhi due to stomach infection and missed the clash against Namibia due to his recovery from it. We were looking to bat first. We've seen the results here, and we've batted in the last two games and won both the games defending, so we don't want to change anything. I think it's easy to say that it's just another game, but it is an occasion. These games are always very high stakes, but at the same time, you've got to know what you want to do. That's more important. Stay in the present, back your skills, put your A game forward and be yourself. This sport teaches you a lot of things. On a given day, if you're going well, then anyone can have a good day, said India captain Suryakumar Yadav. Pakistan, meanwhile, are fielding an unchanged playing eleven. It looks a bit tacky, so we feel it will assist the bowlers for the first few overs so we want to use that. We are relaxed in our group and excited for this challenge. Bigger ground than SSC and the pitch is slower than SSC, said Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha. India have won seven of their eight Mens T20 World Cup meetings against Pakistan, whose sole victory came in 2021 when openers Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan powered them to a 10-wicket triumph in Dubai. All three matches in the World Cup at this venue have been won by the side batting first. In his pitch report, former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja said speculation over rain disrupting the game had eased with conditions holding steady. He added that theres an 84-metre straight boundary while square boundaries are at 70 and 74 metres respectively. Recent matches at the venue have favoured the bowlers, with Blessing Muzarabani and Nathan Ellis both claiming four-wicket hauls as batters struggled against deliveries banged into the pitch. Playing XIs Recent matches at the venue have favoured the bowlers, with Blessing Muzarabani and Nathan Ellis both claiming four-wicket hauls as batters struggled against deliveries banged into the pitch. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Pakistan: Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Saim Ayub, Salman Agha (captain), Babar Azam, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Tariq, and Abrar Ahmed Article Source: IANS
T20 WC: Van Schalkwyk Shines As USA Beat Namibia By 31 Runs To Keep Super 8 Hopes Alive
T20 World Cup: Shadley van Schalkwyk continued his great form and picked two crucial wickets as the USA restricted Namibia for 168/6 in 20 overs while chasing a target of 200 runs to register a dominant 31-run win in their last match of the T20 World Cup 2026 group stage played at the iconic MA Chidambaram Stadium on Sunday. This is the USA's second consecutive win in the tournament, and with this, they have kept their hopes alive of reaching the Super 8 stage. However, the USA will need either India or Pakistan to lose both their remaining group stage matches by good margins. Chasing a mammoth total to secure their first win in the ongoing tournament, Namibia started on a good note as both their openers, Jan Frylink and Louren Steenkamp, got good starts and scored at a run rate of more than ten, while keeping the required rate in check. The USA broke the pair in the fifth over when Frylink was caught and bowled by Van Schalkwyk. Frylink scored 19 runs off just 15 balls as Namibia reached 57/1 at the end of the powerplay. Despite losing his opening partner, Louren kept attacking the USA bowlers as he forged a 45-run partnership with Loftie-Eaton, who eventually got out after scoring 28 runs off 17 balls, hitting four boundaries. Louren completed his half-century in 33 balls, and as he was looking to finish things off for Namibia, USA bowler Shubham Ranjane sent him to the pavilion with a slower ball pitching outside off in the 13th over. Louren scored 58 runs off 39 balls and hit five boundaries and three sixes. The USA struck again in the 15th over by getting the wicket of captain Gerhard Erasmus, who managed to score just 6 runs off ten balls. Namibia never recovered from the back-to-back wickets as JJ Smit and wicketkeeper batter Zane Green, who retired out in the 18th over, were not able to match the required run rate, which kept increasing continuously. Van Schalkwyk was the most successful bowler for the USA as he finished with figures of 2/30, while Sourabh Netravalkar, Ali Khan and Shubham Ranjane got one wicket each. Earlier, riding on captain Monank Patel and Sanjay Krishnamurthi's half-centuries, the USA posted a mammoth total of 199/4 in 20 overs. Coming in to bat after winning the toss, the USA were off to a great start as both the openers, Monank Patel and Shayan Jahangir, looked in great touch and forged a 68-run opening partnership. The USA were 65 for no loss at the end of the powerplay. Namibia finally got the breakthrough in the seventh over when Shayan was sent to the pavilion by Willem Myburgh, who is playing his first match in the ongoing tournament. Shayan scored 22 runs off 18 balls and hit two fours and a six during his innings. Despite losing his opening partner, skipper Monank continued the attack as he completed his first fifty in the T20 World Cup 2026 in 27 balls. Monank also became the first USA batter to score 1000 runs in T20Is. With the USA at 88/1 at the end of the 10th over, Namibia made a comeback with two wickets in the next two overs, with captain Monank departing after scoring 52 runs off 30 balls, hitting three fours and three sixes, while Saiteja Mukkamalla was caught at long-on after scoring 17 runs off 18 balls. After the back-to-back blows, Milind Kumar and Sanjay stabilised the innings with a dominant 87-run partnership, which took the momentum away from the opposition. With the USA at 88/1 at the end of the 10th over, Namibia made a comeback with two wickets in the next two overs, with captain Monank departing after scoring 52 runs off 30 balls, hitting three fours and three sixes, while Saiteja Mukkamalla was caught at long-on after scoring 17 runs off 18 balls. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Brief Scores: USA 199/4 in 20 overs (Sanjay Krishnamurthi 68 not out, Monank Patel 52, Milind Kumar 28; Willem Myburgh 2-22, Gerhard Erasmus 2-27) beat Namibia 168/6 in 20 overs (Louren Steenkamp 58, JJ Smit 31; Shadley van Schalkwyk 2-30, Shubham Ranjane 1-6) by 31 runs Article Source: IANS
Australia on brink as Sri Lanka eye Super Eights spot
If Marsh is fit, a big call will need to be made on who misses out given Renshaw has impressed for Australia
T20 WC: Losses Like The One To South Africa Never Goes Out Of The Mind, Admits Rashid
T20 World Cup: Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan admitted that narrow losses such as the recent double Super Over defeat to South Africa in the Mens T20 World Cup never go out of the mind and recalled the heartbreak suffered in the 2023 ODI World Cup when Glenn Maxwells unbeaten 201 took Australia to victory in Mumbai. To be honest, it's pretty hard. It's very, very hard to lose that game where we had it in our hand a couple of times and then it just slips off your hand and it disappoints you. It doesn't go away from your mind, especially that game. Like, the game we played against Australia in 2023 World Cup in Wankhede, it never goes out of the mind, until we won against them in the 2024 (T20) World Cup and then slowly it got out of the mind, Rashid told reporters ahead of Afghanistan facing UAE in Group D clash at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Monday morning. Defeats to South Africa and New Zealand have left Afghanistan on the brink of early elimination from the mega event, after racing to semi-finals in 2024. But Rashid is still holding on to a glimmer of hope for Afghanistan to progress to the Super Eights. Its is quite disappointing. For the last one and a half years, we worked hard for this. The most important thing is what mindset we played and the effort we put in. I think that remains so important. It's going to help us not only in the upcoming games, but in the upcoming cricket we have. So there are lots of positive things we can take from those two games, but still you don't know anything can happen. The other day Zimbabwe beat Australia so we hope and let's see if we get a little bit of a chance, but more importantly, in the last two games, we have to put all the effort in, he added. Rashid further said the lack of regular matches against leading nations like South Africa and New Zealand had left them underprepared for high-pressure contests. I don't think much has gone wrong. We played good cricket and were a little unlucky. You saw the last match, we were very close, we were in the second super over. I think it shows that we put in the effort. But as a team, if you don't get a chance to play against a big team, that's what happens. If we played more T20Is against South Africa, New Zealand, we would have had an idea of where this team can beat us and where we can do better. If you play with them once a year, and that too in a World Cup event, that is such a time where you do not have the choice of making a mistake. If you play two matches in four days against New Zealand and South Africa, then your World Cup can end in four days and it happened with us. We lost both the matches in four days and are out of the World Cup mostly. So, this pressure is different. You have to be mentally and physically ready. If you make a small mistake, you're out of the competition. If you look at it, that's one thing, but more importantly, the biggest thing is to play more. But as a team, if you don't get a chance to play against a big team, that's what happens. If we played more T20Is against South Africa, New Zealand, we would have had an idea of where this team can beat us and where we can do better. If you play with them once a year, and that too in a World Cup event, that is such a time where you do not have the choice of making a mistake. Also Read: Live Cricket Score We were not expecting them to come harder at that time, but they came and got success. So nothing else and the more we play against them were going to get better, not only in the World Cup, but in bilateral series as well, he concluded. Article Source: IANS
Fit India Champion Pawan Mann: From the capital city to the peaceful landscapes of Dehradun and nearly all districts across the country, fitness enthusiasts participated in the 61st edition of Fit India Sundays on Cycle (SOC) at close to 1000 locations. The FIT India Movement was launched on August 29, 2019, by the Honourable Prime Minister to make fitness a vital part of daily life. Its goal is to promote behavioural changes and encourage a more active lifestyle. Last year, Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya introduced Fit India Sundays on Cycle to promote cycling as a fitness activity and to address key issues, including combating obesity and reducing pollution. Over the past year, the programme has reached the remotest areas of the country, transforming into a People's Movement led by the people, with the Fit India Mission of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports serving as a catalyst. This week was no exception, as thousands took to the streets to cycle across the nation. In Delhi, the popular Sunday event was relocated from the city center to Najafgarh, the hometown of legendary cricketer Virendra Sehwag, to broaden participation and attract more fitness enthusiasts. In Najafgarh, excitement was in the air as residents gathered early to experience a unique community fitness program. As 55-year-old Ratan Mittal registered for his cycle, he said, Initiatives like these motivate people of all age groups to step out together. This is not just a fitness movement, it is also a community bonding exercise. My son has come with me, I don't remember the last time we cycled together. This is a wonderful experience. Motivating people included Arjuna Award-winning kabaddi player Shakshi Punia, MMA fighter and Fit India Champion Pawan Mann, Fit India Champion Timsy Bector, and Fit India Ambassador Shivam Gahlot. Bector, who regularly visits SOCs, stated that relocating the event outside central Delhi is an excellent move to raise awareness about the importance of staying fit. Shakshi Punia added, We are delighted to be here. I didn't expect common citizens to show so much interest in a fitness event. Fitness is indeed the most important aspect of our lives and when we do that as a community we motivate each other and it becomes more enjoyable. Pawan Mann added, I think SOC is the largest community fitness movement in the world that happens every Sunday. I thank our Honourable Prime Minister for envisioning the Fit India Movement and our Union Sports Minister for thinking of SOC as a nationwide concept. Meanwhile, the nodal event of the 61st SOC occurred in Dehradun. Surrounded by the foggy hills and winter sunshine of Uttarakhand, the city hosted a lively celebration of fitness, culture, and community spirit as the 61st Fit India Sundays on Cycle took place at the historic Parade Ground on Sunday morning. Over 1000 cyclists set off against the misty hills, tall sal trees, and fresh mountain air; the Parade Ground in Doon Valley turned into a lively hub of movement, music, and enthusiasm, providing the city with a grand event that combined natural beauty with a strong message of healthy living. The event attracted a diverse group of participants, from experienced cyclists to beginners, including school students and senior citizens. As bikes moved through scenic, tree-lined routes, participants took moments to enjoy the picturesque scenery that enhances Dehraduns reputation as one of Indias most beautiful cities. I cycle often, but todays ride was special. The weather, the crowd, and the lively atmosphere made it feel like a festival celebrating fitness, shared Ankit Rawat, a local IT professional, shortly after finishing the rally. Senior dignitaries attended the event in Dehradun on Sunday, February 15, including Shri Bhagat Singh Koshyari, the Honble former Governor of Maharashtra and Former Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, along with Khajan Das, the Hon'ble Vidayak. Also present were senior officials from the Sports Authority of India and the state administration, highlighting robust institutional backing for the movement. Indian boxings emerging heavyweight talent Nupur Sheoran, along with former India womens hockey goalkeeper and coach Yogita Bali, national triple jump champion Niharika Vashisht, and skilled fencer Rishika Khajuria, brought added sporting prominence to the morning by engaging with participants and emphasizing that fitness is a lifelong commitment. Also present was Indian mountaineer Tashi Malik, a Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award winner, who stressed the significance of endurance and discipline. Olympian race walker Manish Singh Rawat, a proud representative of Uttarakhand, participated in the celebrations alongside Arjuna Award-winning basketball legend Vishesh Bhriguvanshi, whose nearly two-decade-long career continues to inspire young athletes nationwide. The presence of Fit India influencers and community role models provided additional inspiration. The event highlighted various routes to health and resilience, featuring endurance enthusiasts like Tara and Sushila from Two Fit To Quit, as well as fitness advocates including Shanky Singh, Pratibha Thapliyal, Damini Chopra, and Vikram Jadav. Shri Koshiyari, aged 83, emphasized the importance of youth maintaining fitness. Regardless of whether you're a sportsman, you should embody a sportsman spirit. We must always uphold this attitude. It should be visible in all areas, he stated. Referring to the fitness mantra from Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, he added, Our Hon'ble PM works 20 hours a day himself. It shows that if we have the determination and fitness, being fit is not impossible at all. We want every youth to remain fit. Let's use all of the seven days for cycling. Colleges and universities served as special partners for this edition of Fit India Sundays on Cycle. A multiple-time gold medallist at the World Boxing Cup and a silver medallist at the World Championships medallist, Nupur Sheoran said, I wasn't expecting so many people to turn out this morning and it is really so amazing. I was having flashbacks of my childhood when I was cycling along with the group. It was a really exciting ride! Shri Koshiyari, aged 83, emphasized the importance of youth maintaining fitness. Regardless of whether you're a sportsman, you should embody a sportsman spirit. We must always uphold this attitude. It should be visible in all areas, he stated. Referring to the fitness mantra from Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, he added, Our Hon'ble PM works 20 hours a day himself. It shows that if we have the determination and fitness, being fit is not impossible at all. We want every youth to remain fit. Let's use all of the seven days for cycling. Also Read: Live Cricket Score As the rally ended at the Parade Ground, the smiles, selfies, and shared stories showed the stronger impact of the initiative. The Dehradun edition once again demonstrated how Fit India Sundays on Cycle has grown beyond a simple weekly eventit has transformed into a peoples movement that promotes health, community spirit, and the enjoyment of movement. Article Source: IANS
Rahul, Padikkal hit tons for Karnataka; Gharami rescues Bengal
Gharami took Bengal from 89 for 3 at one stage to 249 for 5 against J&K
1st T20I: Arundhati Picks 4-22 As India Beat Australia By 21 Runs Via DLS Method
Sydney Cricket Ground: Seam-bowling all-rounder Arundhati Reddy picked her career-best figures of 4-22 as India claimed a 21-run victory over Australia via DLS method in the opening game of the multi-format series after rain curtailed play at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday. Chasing 134, India raced to 50/1 in 5.1 overs before heavy showers forced the players to go off the field. With no resumption possible, the visitors were declared winners and take a 2-0 lead in the multi-format series. Arundhatis four-fer ensured India dismissed Australia for just 133 in 18 overs. Georgia Wareham top-scored with 30 off 19 balls, while Phoebe Litchfield (26) and Ellyse Perry (20) made promising starts but failed to convert them into big scores. Australias innings faltered after a 41-run stand between Ellyse and Phoebe, before the hosts lost five wickets for 12 runs, leaving India firmly in control of the match. Renuka Singh Thakur and Sree Charani took two wickets each, while Deepti Sharma and Kranti Gaud picked a scalp apiece. Openers Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana gave India a flying start in the chase by adding 50 runs in just over five overs. Though Shafali fell to Sophie Molineuxs first ball as Australias captain for 21 off 11 balls, India remained ahead on DLS calculations when rain intervened and eventually got the win. The match marked Australias first T20I under new Sophie, who was appointed to the role in January. The hosts made several changes, omitting vice-captain Tahlia McGrath, Megan Schutt and Grace Harris, while recalling Nicola Carey, who made a run-a-ball 12. Openers Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana gave India a flying start in the chase by adding 50 runs in just over five overs. Though Shafali fell to Sophie Molineuxs first ball as Australias captain for 21 off 11 balls, India remained ahead on DLS calculations when rain intervened and eventually got the win. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Brief Scores: Australia 133 all out in 18 overs (Georgia Wareham 30, Phoebe Litchfield 26; Arundhati Reddy 4-22, Renuka Singh Thakur 2-14) lost to India 50/1 in 5.1 overs (Shafali Verma 21, Smriti Mandhana 16 not out) by 21 runs (via DLS method) Article Source: IANS
Annabel Sutherland Wins Second Consecutive Belinda Clarke Award
Belinda Clark Awards: Annabel Sutherland has etched her name even deeper into Australian cricket history, becoming only the fifth woman to win consecutive Belinda Clark Awards after another commanding year in the national colours. The 24-year-old all-rounder was named Australias premier womens cricketer at a presentation at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday, polling 77 votes to edge out two-time recipient Beth Mooney by three. With scheduling clashes between the mens and womens programmes disrupting the traditional awards night, Sutherland received the honour from Belinda Clark in the SCG Members Long Bar before Australias evening training session. Sutherlands influence extended beyond the headline award. She was also named ODI Player of the Year, underscoring her impact during a demanding stretch of overseas fixtures. Mooney, meanwhile, claimed the T20I Player of the Year award after finishing level on votes with opening partner Georgia Voll, then prevailing on countback. Australia featured in only three T20Is during the voting window, all in New Zealand, where Mooney scored 166 runs at 83 with a strike rate of 167, earning player-of-the-series honours. It marked her fourth T20I award since the introduction of the award in 2019, a reflection of her sustained excellence in the games shortest format. Over the 12-month voting period, Australia contested 13 white-ball matches all away from home including 10 ODIs across the series in India and the subsequent World Cup campaign. Sutherland emerged as one of Australias most dependable performers at the ODI World Cup. She topped Australias wicket-taking charts in the 50-over format and finished second overall in the tournament with 17 scalps at 15.82. Her unbeaten 98 against England further underscored her value as a genuine all-rounder. In total, Sutherland took 27 wickets at 15.63 across formats and scored 250 runs at an average of 41.66. Her achievement places her alongside an elite group of multiple-time winners: Karen Rolton, Lisa Sthalekar, Shelley Nitschke and Meg Lanning. It's pretty special to be alongside a few of those names ... it's pretty cool and very surreal at the moment. I'm super grateful to receive the award from 'BC' (Clark), and just grateful and nice to know that I've contributed to the team's success over the last 12 months, Sutherland was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au. However, the accolade brings mixed feelings after Australias semi-final loss at the World Cup, a tournament that influenced much of Sutherlands recent preparation. It's hard to go past the way the World Cup finished, in terms of where the team sat in the result we got there. I put a lot of emphasis on that World Cup ... and over the last couple of years that was the focus in my preparation, on how was I going to contribute to wins for Australia, she added. I felt like I was able to do that with the ball throughout that tournament, and in bits with the bat too. But it's a tough one to reflect on given the way the World Cup finished up, she stated. Mooney delivered an exceptional World Cup performance, rescuing Australia with a century against Pakistan and ending as the teams top scorer. Leg-spinner Alana King also had a remarkable tournament, including a national-record 7-18 versus South Africa, which earned her third place in the Belinda Clark Award voting. I felt like I was able to do that with the ball throughout that tournament, and in bits with the bat too. But it's a tough one to reflect on given the way the World Cup finished up, she stated. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Australia did not feature in a Test match during the 2026 voting period. Article Source: IANS
Women's Rising Star Asia Cup: Vrinda, Spinners Lead India To 8-wicket Win Over Pakistan
Rising Star Asia Cup: India A brushed aside Pakistan A by eight wickets in their Group A clash of the Womens Asia Cup Rising Stars on Sunday. After bundling out Pakistan A for 93 in 18.5 overs, India A chased down the modest target in just 10.1 overs at the Terdthai Cricket Ground. Right-handed opener Vrinda Dinesh smashed 55 off 29 balls to lead India As pursuit after Saima Thakor (2-14), captain Radha Yadav (2-11) and Prema Rawat (2-16) shared six wickets between themselves to set up the foundation for the defending champions to get their first win of this competition. Minnu Mani and Jintimani Kalita also had one scalp each for India A. Their chase began shakily with Humairaa Kaazi dismissed off the first ball by Waheeda Akhtar. But Vrinda and Anushka Sharma counterattacked, as India A raced to 63-1 by the end of the powerplay. Though Anushka fell for 24 in the ninth over, Vrinda marched forward to reach her fifty off 25 balls in a knock where she hit 12 boundaries before being dismissed by left-arm spinner Momina Riasat in the ninth over. Tejal Hasabnis sealed victory for India A in style by hitting a six and four, respectively, as they completed the chase with 59 balls to spare. Previously, after opting to bat first, Pakistan were reduced to 21/4 inside five overs as Saima struck twice with the new ball. Radha tightened the squeeze after the powerplay, removing Huraina Sajjad and Shawaal Zulfiqar in successive overs to leave Pakistan reeling at 41/6. A brief stand of 25 between Gull Rukh (21) and Anosha Nasir (17) lifted the total, but the last two wickets added only 15 runs as Pakistan folded for 93. Just like how the trend has been in India-Pakistan meetings in the last 12 months, both sides chose against shaking hands yet again at toss time. A brief stand of 25 between Gull Rukh (21) and Anosha Nasir (17) lifted the total, but the last two wickets added only 15 runs as Pakistan folded for 93. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Brief Scores: Pakistan A 93 all out in 18.5 overs (Shawaal Zulfiqar 23, Gull Rukh 21; Radha Yadav 2-11, Saima Thakor 2-14) lost to India A 97/2 in 10.1 overs (Vrinda Dinesh 55, Anushka Sharma 24; Momina Riasat 1-13, Waheeda Akhtar 1-18) by eight wickets. Article Source: IANS
T20 WC: Monank, Sanjay Hit Fifties As USA Post 199/4 Against Namibia
T20 World Cup: Riding on captain Monank Patel and Sanjay Krishnamurthi's half-centuries, the USA posted a mammoth total of 199/4 in 20 overs against Namibia in their last Group A match of the T20 World Cup 2026 here at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Sunday. Coming to bat after winning the toss, the USA were off to a great start as both the openers, Monank Patel and Shayan Jahangir, looked in great touch and forged a 68-run opening partnership as the USA were 65 for no loss at the end of the powerplay. Namibia finally got the breakthrough in the seventh over when Shayan was sent to the pavilion by Willem Myburgh, who is playing his first match in the ongoing tournament. Shayan scored 22 runs off 18 balls and hit two fours and a six during his innings. Despite losing his opening partner, skipper Monank continued the attack as he completed his first fifty in the T20 World Cup 2026 in 27 balls. Monank also became the first USA batter to score 1000 runs in T20I. When the USA were 88-1 at the halfway mark, Namibia made a comeback with two wickets in the next two overs, with captain Monank departing after scoring 52 runs off 30 balls, hitting three fours and three sixes, and Saiteja Mukkamalla got caught at long on, scoring 17 runs off 18 balls. After back-to-back blows, Milind Kumar and Sanjay stabilised the innings with a dominant 87-run partnership, which took away the momentum from the opposition. Sanjay completed his fifty in just 23 balls with a six in the 17th over and remained unbeaten at 68 runs off just 33 balls. He hammered four boundaries and six sixes during his innings, while Milind got out in the last over after scoring 28 runs off just 20 balls. After back-to-back blows, Milind Kumar and Sanjay stabilised the innings with a dominant 87-run partnership, which took away the momentum from the opposition. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Brief Scores: USA 199/4 in 20 overs (Sanjay Krishnamurthi 68*, Monank Patel 52, Milind Kumar 28; Willem Myburgh 2-22, Gerhard Erasmus 2-27) against Namibia Article Source: IANS
T20 WC: One Hurdle Crossed, On To The Next Stage, Says Shai Hope As Windies Seal Super 8s Spot
T20 World Cup: West Indies captain Shai Hope described his sides progression to the Super 8s as the first major objective achieved at the ICC Mens T20 World Cup after a commanding nine-wicket victory over Nepal at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday. Chasing 134, Hope anchored the innings with an unbeaten 60 off 42 balls as the West Indies cruised to 134/1 in just 15.2 overs, maintaining their unbeaten T20I record at the venue. Reflecting on the qualification, the skipper made it clear that the job is only partially complete. Very pleasing, this is what we set out to do from the time we got here. That's the one step, one hurdle that we crossed, now on to the next stage, Hope said during the presentation ceremony after the game. The foundation for the win was laid by a disciplined bowling effort that restricted Nepal to 133/8 after they opted to bat on a damp surface. West Indies struck early through the new ball, reducing Nepal to 22/3 in the powerplay, before tightening the screws through the middle overs. Hope admitted that winning the toss played a significant role in shaping the contest, as he said, Firstly I'm glad that I actually got the opportunity to decide what I wanted to do first. Yeah, the guys put the ball in the right areas. It's something that Matthew (Forde) has been doing very well, especially at the start of the innings and putting them under pressure for the entire time. It was difficult work for them in the powerplay and then throughout the innings, just about trying to limit the flow of runs and keep picking up wickets. We didn't pick up as many wickets as we wanted in the back end, but very happy with the bowlers today. He elaborated on why the toss carried greater importance, especially considering the conditions and his recent streak of misfortune, saying, Like I said at the toss, the surface had a bit of moisture in it. I just felt that we could have exploited it a bit better rather than bowling second. It's something I've been struggling with, the last couple of series, I didn't win a toss. I don't think I've won a toss in the last six months, who knows. But yeah, it's just nice to get out there and actually decide what I wanted to do this time. While the bowlers, led by Jason Holders 4/27, ensured Nepals total remained below par despite Dipendra Singh Airees fighting half-century, Hopes composure at the top ensured there were no alarms in the chase. On his own contribution, the captain emphasised timing and impact over personal form. Yes, again, good to contribute. I wouldn't say I was running out of form, but it's nice to contribute to wins. Yes, it's crunch time now, back into the group stages and then into the Super Eights. That's where you really want to be firing as a batter. So, happy to get some runs on the board, he stated. A key figure in the bowling unit was Matthew Forde, whose probing spell in the powerplay helped set the tone. Hope was full of praise for the seamers discipline and consistency. Yeah, you must give him credit. Credit always where it's due. He's been hitting his areas, making it very difficult for batters at the top of the innings. He's not express pace, but he makes it very difficult for them. He moves the ball just enough and that's what you need, especially in this phase of the game where it doesn't really swing as much. He really exploited as much of that movement as he possibly can. Happy to see him going well and it's great to see the bowlers firing along with the batters. So, complete cricket for us this time, Hope said of Forde. A key figure in the bowling unit was Matthew Forde, whose probing spell in the powerplay helped set the tone. Hope was full of praise for the seamers discipline and consistency. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Just about continuing the brand of cricket we want to play and ensuring that we are hitting our straps. Focusing on the little details that we tend to neglect every now and again. Just about continuing the way we've been playing. We've been playing really good cricket with the last couple of games and series. We'll bring it together and hope we can carry it all the way through to the back end of the tournament. Article Source: IANS
'Cricket Balls Do Serious Damage': Stokes Vows To 'always Wear Helmet' After Facial Injury
T20 World Cup: England's Test captain Ben Stokes has vowed to always wear a helmet while playing or even doing batting practice after getting hit on the face badly by the ball at the start of the month. Stokes also questioned the tactics of the batters to not wear a helmet while facing spinners in the match. I never understood the no helmet when spin is bowling, I used to have throwdowns with no helmet, Stokes wrote in a post on X. After my accident last week and getting seriously lucky with the outcome, Ill never not wear a helmet, cricket balls do serious damage, he added. Stokes was accidentally struck by a cricket ball, resulting in damage to his cheekbone, nose, and eye, when he was watching a net session for his county side, Durham. Stokes posted a photo of his bruised face from the hospital immediately after sustaining the injury and captioned it, You should see the state of the cricket ball. England's premier all-rounder has to undergo surgery on a broken cheekbone after the incident. He informed about the surgery success through an Instagram post on February 5, showing him in a hospital bed with heavy bruising to his right eye and a small incision on his cheek. May not look like it... but the surgery was a success, he wrote in the post. England's premier all-rounder has to undergo surgery on a broken cheekbone after the incident. He informed about the surgery success through an Instagram post on February 5, showing him in a hospital bed with heavy bruising to his right eye and a small incision on his cheek. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Stokes is likely to make his next international appearance in the first Test of England's home series against New Zealand in June, though he may play for Durham in the County Championship. Article Source: IANS
India-Pak T20 Clash: BJP Expresses Confidence In Victory, Cong Slams Match With Terror State
Ladakh Lt Governor Kavinder Gupta: The much-anticipated India-Pakistan T20 World Cup encounter scheduled for Sunday evening has once again ignited sharp political reactions across party lines. While leaders from the BJP and its allies voiced confidence that India would secure a decisive victory, the Congress questioned the very staging of the match in light of cross-border terrorism allegedly backed by Pakistan. India and Pakistan are set to face off in Colombo later in the day. The atmosphere in the host city is already charged. Streets have been decked with flags, hotel lounges are abuzz with animated discussions, and crowds are expected to begin assembling outside the stadium hours before the toss. BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal expressed strong confidence in Team India's prospects. Speaking to IANS, he said: India has defeated Pakistan on the battlefield as well, and now our cricket team will tear apart Pakistan's team on the cricket field today, which will show Pakistan that India is superior in every respect -- the very best. Ladakh Lt Governor Kavinder Gupta also expressed hope that India will win this match. As far as the India-Pakistan match is concerned, with 140 crore Indians standing behind our players, India's victory is certain. Pakistan struggles against India in every field -- be it defence or other areas, he told IANS. BJP leader Ravindra Raina also conveyed optimism, linking the match to the auspicious occasion of Mahashivratri. As we all know, today India is set to face its arch-rival Pakistan on the cricket field. On this sacred occasion of Mahashivratri, we pray that the blessings of Lord Bholenath and Goddess Parvati remain with our Indian team, Raina said in a conversation with IANS. Uttar Pradesh Minister Sanjay Nishad described sports as a matter closely tied to national pride, saying that victories on the field resonate emotionally across the country. The nation's emotions are connected to the game, with players as its heroes... As for Pakistan, dogs die on the streets because they cannot decide which way to go. Similarly, some countries are unable to make decisions about running the nation or managing relations, Nishad told IANS. JD-U national spokesperson Rajeev Ranjan Prasad also anticipated a high-voltage contest. Speaking to IANS, he said, This will prove to be a thrilling match, and crores of Indian cricket fans hope that India can deliver a strong defeat to Pakistan on the cricket field and assert its dominance in the T20 World Cup. The CPI-M, meanwhile, welcomed the fixture and emphasised that sports should remain separate from political disputes. CPI(M) leader Hannan Mollah told IANS: This is a welcome development after continuous quarrel and stopping and starting all these things. At least, as I always say, sports should not be drawn into politics. Sports are a different aspect of civilisation and life. In contrast, Congress leaders strongly objected to India playing Pakistan, citing the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, which they said was carried out by The Resistance Front, a wing of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba. In the attack, 26 tourists were killed. Congress leader Rashid Alvi voiced sharp opposition to the match. No match should be played with Pakistan. How can we play a game of victory and defeat with those who come to our country and spread terrorism, who kill our people? A game - whether cricket or any other -- is played with friends. With enemies, Holi is played -- and that too, a Holi of blood, he told IANS. Senior Congress leader T.S. Singh Deo also questioned the logic behind the fixture. No match should be played with Pakistan. How can we play a game of victory and defeat with those who come to our country and spread terrorism, who kill our people? A game - whether cricket or any other -- is played with friends. With enemies, Holi is played -- and that too, a Holi of blood, he told IANS. Also Read: Live Cricket Score As the teams prepare to take the field in Colombo, the match has once again become more than just a sporting contest. Article Source: IANS
T20 WC: 'I Was Trying To Be Unpredictable, Says Holder After Match-winning 4-27 Against Nepal
Dipendra Singh Airee: After producing a decisive four-wicket spell to power West Indies into the Super Eights, Jason Holder stressed that subtle adjustments and disciplined execution made the difference in their commanding nine-wicket win over Nepal at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday. Holders 4-27 dismantled Nepals resistance and ensured their modest 133/8 never truly threatened a clinical West Indies chase, led by Shai Hopes unbeaten 60. Reflecting on the conditions in the day game, Holder said the surface demanded early precision. Yeah, I mean, it was a different game, obviously a day game. I thought the ball did a little bit more. Probably held in the surface a little bit more upfront. And it became a little bit more difficult to hit through the line of the ball. We were able to get a little bit of movement as well too which was key. And I thought our bowlers bowled a really tight line to them as well upfront, which was very, very key in terms of our execution, he said after receiving the Player of the Match award. Nepal had slumped to 22/3 in the powerplay after Holder struck with his first delivery, and the new-ball attack applied relentless pressure. He was quick, however, to spread the credit, particularly to fellow seamer Matthew Forde. Credit not only to me, but I mean, to Matthew (Forde) as well, I thought Matthew bowled an outstanding spell upfront to set the tone for us. And then we were able to adjust from there, he said. Nepal did recover through Dipendra Singh Airees fighting 58 and a late flourish from Sompal Kami, but Holder returned at the death to close out the innings with clinical accuracy. He revealed that his round-the-wicket approach and yorker execution were part of deliberate preparation. It's something I've been practising now for a little while, you know, I've just been happy that, you know, I've been comfortable enough in the game to go round the wicket at times. I try to change the angles, as you've said. I think for me, it's just trying to not be too predictable. I'm also just varying the positions at the crease and just trying to execute a few more yorkers. So for me, it's just trying to be a little bit more unpredictable and then at times, you know, understanding when I could change the angle to a particular player. That clarity in execution left Nepal with a total that proved well below par, as Hope and Shimron Hetmyer powered West Indies to 134/1 in just 15.2 overs, maintaining their unbeaten T20I record at the Wankhede. Beyond his figures, Holder also emphasised his responsibility within the bowling unit, particularly in high-pressure phases of tournament cricket. Yeah, I think one of my key roles is obviously just to help the guys as much as possible, especially when we're under pressure. For me, I just try to share as much information as possible. I don't know it all, but I mean, I have played enough cricket that I can give a few more insights as to, you know what, a few suggestions, he stated. That clarity in execution left Nepal with a total that proved well below par, as Hope and Shimron Hetmyer powered West Indies to 134/1 in just 15.2 overs, maintaining their unbeaten T20I record at the Wankhede. Beyond his figures, Holder also emphasised his responsibility within the bowling unit, particularly in high-pressure phases of tournament cricket. Also Read: Live Cricket Score You know, I think for me, it's just keeping my head above water in terms of sharing as much information as I possibly can share, hearing what you guys have said as well too. I think it's important to listen to them as well at times and not tell them everything. And then understanding, you know, when to or when not to, he added. Article Source: IANS
USA opt to bat, Netravalkar comes in for Kenjige
Andries Gous misses out again for USA as Namibia make two changes
What do Australia need to do to avoid elimination from the T20 World Cup?
Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Australia and Ireland are all in contention to qualify for the Super Eights from Group B in the T20 World Cup
India-Pak T20WCclash: From Bihar To Gujarat,excited Fans Cheer For Team India
Shri Dudheshwar Nath Temple: The blockbuster match between India and Pakistan in Colombo, in the World Cup T20 clash, has left the cricket fans of both sides excited and frenzied, with all wishing and praying for the victory of the respective teams. With the match coinciding with Mahashivratri, the cricket fans from across the country are praying for stellar show from the Men in Blue while those from rival side are also hoping that Pakistani players show their mettle in the high-stakes battle. A wave of excitement has gripped the fans and cricket lovers across the country. From Bihar to Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, and Punjab, hordes of cricket fans are praying for Team India's victory and also holding special prayers. In Patna, cricket fans performed special prayers for India's victory. A portrait saw the Men in Blue dressed as Lord Shiva, with the fans pouring their love and affection on them. In Delhi, a stream of fans described the India-Pakistan match as the epic encounter that not just the country but also the world watches with full attention. In Ghaziabad's Shri Dudheshwar Nath Temple, a stream of devotees paid obeisance to Lord Shiva and performed 'Jalabhishek;. They said that they also sought Lord Shivas blessings for Team Indias superlative show and also its decisive victory over the arch-rivals Pakistan. In Delhi, a stream of fans described the India-Pakistan match as the epic encounter that not just the country but also the world watches with full attention. Also Read: Live Cricket Score In Amritsar, Punjab, cricket coach Pramod Kumar said that he has trained player Abhishek Sharma extensively and is confident that he will perform well in today's match, that has everyone's eyes fixed on. Article Source: IANS
T20 WC: Elimination Looms Large On Afghanistan As They Seek First Win Against UAE (Preview)
ICC T20 World Cup: In sports, the manner of defeat can sometimes hurt more than the defeat itself. Afghanistan discovered this cruel truth in Ahmedabad last week when what appeared to be a comfortable chase of 188 against South Africa disintegrated in the space of a few deliveries, and they lost the game they had in their grasp via a double Super Over. Now, after thorough introspection in a four-day break, Afghanistan need a comprehensive victory in their Group D encounter against the UAE at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Monday morning to save themselves from an early exit from the 2026 Mens T20 World Cup. The two teams have met 14 times in T20Is, with Afghanistan winning 11 games and the UAE emerging victorious in three matches. They have never previously met in an ICC T20 World Cup, making Monday's encounter their first meeting in the tournament's history. In their last five encounters, Afghanistan have a 4-1 edge over the UAE, something which should soothe the Rashid Khan-led side. Having reached the semifinals in the 2024 edition of the showpiece event, Afghanistan's defeats to New Zealand and South Africa have left them requiring not just victories but a favourable constellation of results from other matches the kind of mathematical combinations that tournaments occasionally provide but are rarely fulfilled. More concerning than the results, however, has been the pattern of the losses. The South Africa match, in particular, was not one in which Afghanistan were outplayed throughout but rather they relinquished control at a critical juncture in Ahmedabad. Rahmanullah Gurbaz had looked imperious at the crease and looked set to take Afghanistan to their first victory of the competition. The target was well within reach for Afghanistan before the collapse came, and the side, who seemed destined for success, ended up being second best. The priority of Afghanistans think tank will be to iron out their batting concerns and stem the pattern of back-to-back dismissals and the insane pressure it creates. The necessity for a batter to assume responsibility for stabilising the innings when wickets fall rather than persisting with relentless aggression will also be on their mind. It represents a subtle but potentially significant shift in philosophy for a side that has built its reputation on audacious and fearless stroke-play. In this scenario, Gurbazs good form, especially when under pressure, could prove to be decisive not just in Monday's match but also for the slim hopes Afghanistan have of progressing beyond the group stage. The bowling, particularly at the back-end, has also emerged as a significant vulnerability for Afghanistan. They have conceded 72 runs in overs 17-20 of this competition at an economy rate of 12.3, among the highest in the tournament. Only Oman and Canada have been more expensive in this phase than Afghanistan. Afghanistan will desperately need veteran batting all-rounder Mohammad Nabi, to rediscover his finishing prowess, while requiring seam-bowling all-rounder Azmatullah Omarzai, their highest wicket-taker in this World Cup with four scalps, to control his economy rate. Omarzai has conceded more than 40 runs in two matches at an economy of 10.3 and was expensive in the Super Over too against the Proteas. Meanwhile, the UAE arrive with renewed confidence after securing their second-ever Mens T20 World Cup victory - a five-wicket triumph over Canada at the same venue on Friday evening. They chased down their target with two balls to spare after scoring 56 runs off the final 22 deliveries, with their death-overs batting composure being a major standout. Senior pacer Junaid Siddique's maiden five-wicket haul (5-35), the first five-for by a UAE bowler in T20 World Cups, was one of the pillars in a memorable UAE victory. But more significantly, opener Aryansh Sharma's unbeaten 74 and Sohaib Khans blistering 51 showcased that the UAE has serious batting muscle beyond big-hitters captain Muhammad Waseem and Alishan Sharafu. In T20 cricket, momentum shifts quickly. Afghanistan learned this in the harshest possible manner against South Africa. On Monday morning in New Delhi, they have an opportunity to prove they can shift it back in their favour by getting the better of the UAE or be forced to make an early exit from the tournament. When: Monday, February 16, 11:00 AM IST Where: Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi Where to watch: Star Sports Network for live TV broadcast and JioHotstar for live streaming Squads- Where to watch: Star Sports Network for live TV broadcast and JioHotstar for live streaming Also Read: Live Cricket Score UAE: Muhammad Waseem (c), Alishan Sharafu, Aryansh Sharma (wk), Dhruv Parashar, Haider Ali, Harshit Kaushik, Junaid Siddique, Mayank Kumar, Muhammad Arfan, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Haider Shah, Rohid Khan, Sohaib Khan, and Simranjeet Singh Article Source: IANS
T20 WC: Netravalkar Returns As USA Opt To Bat Against Namibia
T20 World Cup: USA have won the toss and opted to bat against Namibia in their final group stage match of the T20 World Cup 2026 here at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Sunday. The USA has made one change to the team as Saurabh Netravalkar comes back in place of Nosthush Keninge. While Dylan Leicher and Willem Myburgh come in place of Malan Kruger and Ben Shikongo in Namibia's line up. After winning the toss, USA skipper Monank Patel said, We're going to bat first. It's a very different pitch compared to the Netherlands game, so it's a red soil, and we did really well against the Netherlands batting first, so we want to continue the same momentum and make sure we put up a good score. We have one change. Saurabh comes in to play for Nosthush. I feel like it's a better pitch than what we played against the Netherlands, so I think it should be a good even bounce, and later on, coming up, we expect some more. While Namibia captain Gerald Erasmus said, Back-to-back first, but I dont think its too much of a concern on this little bit of a wicket. So yeah, Ive just got to, you know, suck it up, I guess. I think theres a bit of freshness with the grass being kept on there for a bit longer today. So hopefully that second row as well and that second part of the wicket go our way. Yeah, weve got two changes. So weve got Leicher in for Kruger, and were also playing Myburgh instead of Shikongo as hes injured. Yeah, pretty much looking for a little more all-round balance. Hes proved to be a big hitter and, you know, a great fielder and gives us that overseas option, he added. Playing XIs Yeah, weve got two changes. So weve got Leicher in for Kruger, and were also playing Myburgh instead of Shikongo as hes injured. Yeah, pretty much looking for a little more all-round balance. Hes proved to be a big hitter and, you know, a great fielder and gives us that overseas option, he added. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Namibia: Jan Frylinck, Louren Steenkamp, Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, Gerhard Erasmus (c), JJ Smit, Zane Green (wk), Dylan Leicher, Ruben Trumpelmann, Willem Myburgh, Bernard Scholtz, Max Heingo Article Source: IANS
Holder, Hope seal WI's Super Eights spot; Nepal knocked out
Holder starred with a four-wicket haul while Hope scored an unbeaten 61
T20 WC: Forde Credits Moisture, Early Reading For Windies Control After Restricting Nepal To 133
While Dipendra Singh Airee: West Indies pacer Matthew Forde said he sensed assistance in the surface from the moment he arrived at the venue, a reading that proved decisive as the Caribbean side restricted Nepal to 133/8 in their Group C fixture of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday. Forde delivered one of the most economical spells of the innings, finishing with 1/10 from his four overs, including a wicket-maiden during a crippling powerplay that left Nepal at 22/3 after six overs, the lowest powerplay total of the tournament. Reflecting on the conditions, Forde revealed that the early signs were evident even before the first ball was bowled. When I first got to the ground, there was a bit of moisture in the outfield, so I immediately said to a couple of my teammates, 'Well, I think that it's gonna do a bit more today in the pitch because there's a bit of moisture in the ground.' The hint of dampness translated into grip and subtle movement off the surface, allowing West Indies bowlers to maintain control from the outset. Forde extracted seam movement to trouble the top order and trapped Rohit Paudel lbw in a pivotal moment during the powerplay. His probing lengths and disciplined lines ensured Nepal struggled to find fluency in the early overs. The 22-year-old explained that his role within the side is clearly defined: to attack up front and exploit whatever assistance is on offer before conditions settle. Yeah, for me personally, the team lets me bowl my overs upfront, just to get them out of the way. So, yeah, if there's anything on the surface, you can guarantee that it's four up front. That strategy paid dividends as the West Indies dismantled Nepals top order. While Dipendra Singh Airee mounted a recovery with a fighting 58 and Sompal Kami provided late impetus, Nepal were forced to rebuild from a position of deep trouble. Fordes animated appeal after pinning Paudel lbw also caught attention. Asked about the exuberant celebration, he credited an English fast-bowling great for the inspiration. I was a big fan of Stuart Broad. I used to watch him a lot as a kid, so, you know, that's where I got it from. It's something that just comes naturally; I've been doing it from youth cricket. Fordes animated appeal after pinning Paudel lbw also caught attention. Asked about the exuberant celebration, he credited an English fast-bowling great for the inspiration. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Yeah, if we turned up to the ground and they asked us if we wanted to restrict Nepal for 130, I think we would take that any given day. Article Source: IANS
Winless Afghanistan fight for survival against upbeat UAE
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T20 WC: Airee's Fifty Lifts Nepal To 133/8 Despite Holder's 4-fer
Dipendra Singh Airee: Dipendra Singh Airee's gritty half-century helped Nepal recover from a disastrous start to post 133/8 against West Indies in their Group C encounter of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday. Asked to bat on a damp surface, Nepal were immediately put under pressure by the West Indies new-ball attack. Akeal Hosein struck in the opening over, getting one to skid through and bowl Kushal Bhurtel. The early breakthrough set the tone as Matthew Forde and Hosein maintained tight lines, offering little width and extracting grip off the pitch. Aasif Sheikh briefly counterattacked with a couple of boundaries but fell to Jason Holder, who claimed a wicket with his first delivery, a loose ball down the pads that was hit straight to fine leg. Forde then trapped skipper Rohit Paudel lbw, with the decision upheld on review, before Holder struck again to remove Aarif Sheikh, whose leading edge ballooned to mid-wicket. Nepal crawled to 22/3 at the end of the powerplay, the lowest six-over total of the tournament. With the top order dismantled, Airee was tasked with rebuilding. He began cautiously, struggling to find timing as the Windies bowlers varied their pace cleverly. Lokesh Bam attempted to inject momentum but edged Shamar Joseph behind after a streaky boundary, leaving Nepal at 46/5 in the 11th over. Airee finally shifted gears against the spinners. He advanced down the track to Gudakesh Motie to loft the first six of the innings over long-off, signalling Nepals intent to fight back. Gulsan Jha supported with a towering slog sweep off Hosein but perished attempting another big hit, bowled by Roston Chase as he looked to accelerate. At 68/5 after 14 overs, Nepal appeared headed for a modest total. However, the tide turned dramatically in the closing stages. Airee found a reliable partner in Sompal Kami, who played with freedom and authority. Sompal took on Holder in the 17th over, striking three boundaries to push Nepal past the 100-run mark and energise the dugout. Airee brought up a determined half-century with an audacious upper cut for six off Shamar Joseph, raising his bat to a standing ovation. The 18th over yielded 18 runs as Airee struck two sixes, including a powerful slog over mid-wicket, while Sompal rotated strike intelligently. At 68/5 after 14 overs, Nepal appeared headed for a modest total. However, the tide turned dramatically in the closing stages. Airee found a reliable partner in Sompal Kami, who played with freedom and authority. Sompal took on Holder in the 17th over, striking three boundaries to push Nepal past the 100-run mark and energise the dugout. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Brief Scores: Nepal 133/8 in 20 overs (Dipendra Singh Airee 58, Sompal Kami 26*; Jason Holder 4-27, Matthew Forde 1-10) against West Indies Article Source: IANS
VHP Spokesperson Compares Mahashivratri India-Pak T20 Clash To Ram-Ravan Battle
National Spokesperson Vinod Bansal: Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) National Spokesperson Vinod Bansal has drawn a striking analogy between Indias T20 World Cup encounter against Pakistan and the Ram-Ravan battle, highlighting the matchs symbolic significance on Mahashivratri. Bansal posted on X (loosely translated from Hindi), Pakistan has once again faced defeat!! All its hemming and hawing, threats, protests, and jihadi resistance before the ICC have gone to waste. Mian Sharif played the bully and got Bangladesh thrown out of cricket without even playing, but Team Pakistan has once again been set up to lose right in front of India. Today is Mahashivratri, and on the battlefield of Lanka -- where Lord Bholes devoted follower Shri Ram, the slayer of demons, fought -- crickets grand battle will unfold today! Will there be another Ram-Ravan war this evening between cricket lovers and sports saboteurs in our neighbouring country!! Shouldnt nefarious Pakistan beg for forgiveness from its father India even before losing this time! What do you think -- tell us he added. The tweet comes ahead of one of crickets most anticipated showdowns. After days of boycott threats by Islamabad, political signalling, and last-minute negotiations, the India-Pakistan T20 World Cup fixture has survived controversy and remains a central attraction of the tournament. The folklore surrounding India-Pakistan clashes is rich with history, tension, brilliance, and heartbreak, and this match, scheduled in Colombo, promises to add another dramatic chapter. India, led by Suryakumar Yadav, aims to continue their winning streak, while star opener Abhishek Sharma returns to the playing XI after missing the match against Namibia due to illness. Both India and Pakistan have won both of their group stage matches, making Sundays game a likely decider for the top spot in Group A. The folklore surrounding India-Pakistan clashes is rich with history, tension, brilliance, and heartbreak, and this match, scheduled in Colombo, promises to add another dramatic chapter. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Analysts suggest that the winner of this high-voltage encounter will not only gain momentum in the tournament but also claim bragging rights in one of crickets fiercest rivalries. Article Source: IANS
Mahashivratri Prayers, Havan Held For Indias Victory Ahead Of T20 World Cup Clash With Pakistan
T20 World Cup: Ahead of the high-voltage T20 World Cup match between India and Pakistan, special prayers and rituals were performed at temples across the country on the occasion of Mahashivratri, with devotees seeking divine blessings for Indias victory. In Lucknow, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad conducted a havan and pooja ahead of the much-anticipated encounter. A havan was also conducted in Patna. Speaking to IANS, BJP leader Anil Sahni said: A havan was performed at Kulharia Complex, Patna, for Indias victory in the India-Pakistan match. On the occasion of Lord Bholenaths festival, prayers were offered, wishing for Indias win. The spiritual fervour coincided with heightened cricket excitement, as fans expressed confidence in Indias dominance over Pakistan in ICC tournaments. One cricket fan said: On the holy occasion of Mahashivratri, the India-Pakistan match will go in our favour... We will win, we will achieve a decisive victory... Another fan remarked: Today is Maha Shivratri, a sacred day... India is a religious nation, and we extend hands in friendship and righteousness, while Pakistan has repeatedly tried to deceive us... In ICC tournaments, India has won seven times against them, and Pakistan has never stood strong against us... Echoing similar sentiments, a devotee said: Everything is ready. Today is Maha Shivratri, and Jalabhishek is ongoing... India has outperformed them at every stage before. Pakistan was previously hesitant and fearful... Under Operation Sindoor, we have already defeated them. The womens team and the U-19 team have also beaten them. Now, if the Indian senior team defeats them, it will be a major embarrassment for Pakistan... Another cricket enthusiast added: India has been victorious, is victorious, and will remain victorious. Pakistan has been defeated by India, is defeated, and will continue to be defeated. In Patna, young cricket fans displayed strong enthusiasm ahead of the clash. One fan said: Ishan Kishan, Abhishek Sharma, and Suryakumar Yadav are expected to play very well today. India is likely to win comfortably and cross 300 runs. In batting, Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma are currently out of form, but they are expected to perform in this match, along with Ishan Kishan. Another cricket enthusiast added: India has been victorious, is victorious, and will remain victorious. Pakistan has been defeated by India, is defeated, and will continue to be defeated. Also Read: Live Cricket Score With Mahashivratri adding a spiritual dimension to the sporting spectacle, fans across the country combined faith and cricketing passion, hoping for another memorable victory against Pakistan in the T20 World Cup. Article Source: IANS
Kapil Dev Pandey: India spinner Kuldeep Yadav's childhood coach Kapil Dev Pandey lauded his ward's bowling prowess and stated that the left-arm wrist spinner doesn't need any special advice for the much-anticipated India-Pakistan clash in the T20 World Cup, as he has enough experience under his belt. India are thinking of bringing in Kuldeep to take advantage of Pakistan's past vulnerability. The left-arm wrist spinner had a scintillating outing for India in the Asia Cup, dismantling Pakistan in the Asia Cup final with 4-30. Its a very proud moment for both me and Kuldeep. I want Kuldeep to help Team India win the World Cup with his deadly bowling. He doesnt need any special advice; he has been playing consistently since 2017. Our team is very strong and in great rhythm. The openers and the middle-order batters are all performing really well, Pandey told IANS. India skipper Suryakumar left enough hints during the pre-match presser on Saturday when asked whether Kuldeep would play against Pakistan, saying, In the Asia Cup, the pitch was similar, and it was a big ground. We have to see what combinations worked for us then. I feel similar combinations will be played here; its a good headache to have. Meanwhile, India have a great head-to-head record over Pakistan in the T20 World Cups. Till now, the two sides have played each other eight times in the T20 World Cup, with India emerging victorious on seven occasions, while Pakistan managed to win only once (in 2021). India skipper Suryakumar left enough hints during the pre-match presser on Saturday when asked whether Kuldeep would play against Pakistan, saying, In the Asia Cup, the pitch was similar, and it was a big ground. We have to see what combinations worked for us then. I feel similar combinations will be played here; its a good headache to have. Also Read: Live Cricket Score India must not take any team lightly. T20 is a format where the game can change very quickly. Our team is one of the best T20 teams, and I believe they can break records. All the players are in top form; they just need to play with patience and confidence to win, Kapil added. Article Source: IANS
Rain threatens delayed start to India-Pakistan game
The forecast has the heaviest rainfall falling in the hour before the first ball is set to be bowled
Shelton Downs Shapovalov In SF Thriller, Sets Fritz Final In Dallas
Nexo Dallas Open: Ben Shelton survived a major test from fellow lefty Denis Shapovalov before prevailing in a final-set tiebreak to reach the Dallas Open final. The second-seeded American defeated the defending champion 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(4). He saved 10 of the 11 break points he faced, including a crucial save with a clutch volley at 2-2 in the second set and another save at 5-5 in the third set. Shelton will face top seed Taylor Fritz in the final. Fritz halted the run of a resurgent Marin Cilic in the semi-finals of the Nexo Dallas Open on Saturday. In a match decided by fine margins, the top seed held his nerve to edge the Croatian 7-6(5), 7-6(3) in a gripping two-hour, two-minute clash, hammering 22 aces past the 37-year-old. It has been more than 44 years since the first and second seeds have played in the final of three ATP Tour events in the same week. That will change on Sunday. At the Dallas Open, Rotterdam Open and Argentina Open, the first and second seeds will clash for the trophies. It will be the first time that has happened since the week of 19 October 1981 in Melbourne, Tokyo and Vienna. The only other time on record it has happened was the week of 6 October 1980 in Barcelona, Brisbane and Tel Aviv, ATP reports. This week, four members of the Top 10 in the ATP Rankings will play for a title, with two championship clashes exclusively featuring Top-10 players. Top seed Fritz will take on second seed Shelton in the Dallas final. They have split their two previous Lexus ATP Head-to-Head series meetings, including Shelton's win in last year's Toronto semi-finals en route to his first ATP Masters 1000 title. This week, four members of the Top 10 in the ATP Rankings will play for a title, with two championship clashes exclusively featuring Top-10 players. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Top seed Francisco Cerundolo hopes his third Buenos Aires final will be the charm. The Argentine will try to claim his maiden title on home soil against second seed Luciano Darderi. Article Source: IANS
West Indies bowl against Nepal; bring in Forde for Shepherd
Romario Shepherd was out with a slight little niggle, whereas Nepal brought in Sompal Kami for Lalit Rajbasnhi
T20 WC: West Indies Opt To Bowl Against Nepal, Forde Comes In For Shepherd
T20 World Cup: West Indies won the toss and elected to bowl against Nepal in their Group C game of the ICC Mens T20 World Cup at the iconic Wankhede Stadium on Sunday. Two dominant victories over Scotland and England have propelled the West Indies to the top of the table, leaving them on the brink of a Super 8s spot. Nepal, in contrast, remain without points after a narrow four-run loss to England and a heavy 10-wicket defeat to Italy, making this fixture crucial for their hopes. After winning the toss, Windies skipper Shai Hope said, Look, a little bit of moisture in the surface, probably a little bit more damp than we expected, so try to utilise as much as we can. (How to keep the same intensity?) You just said it, we just need to do the same thing. It's important for us to ensure that we cover all our bases. We understand the threat that they can pose. So it's important that we just focus on our processes and hit all the straps that we can. Yes, one change. Shepherd out, Matthew Forde comes in. Slight little niggle, Shepherd's been struggling a little bit, but we just want to make sure precautionary measures are being put in place, and Forde can come in and do the job. So we're very happy to give him some rest today. Nepal captain Rohit Paudel, meanwhile, stated, We also wanted to bowl, but we have to take the toss out of the equation. Batting first is a difficult task, but we have to follow our process and bat as long as we can. I thought we did well in the first six overs, but we struggled in the middle overs when we wanted to stretch the partnership. Our lower middle order didn't work the way we wanted, so we want to correct that today. Yes, Sompal Kami comes in for Lalit Rajbanshi. Not much, but the wicket looks good and I think Sompal will be much more effective here. Playing XIs: Nepal captain Rohit Paudel, meanwhile, stated, We also wanted to bowl, but we have to take the toss out of the equation. Batting first is a difficult task, but we have to follow our process and bat as long as we can. I thought we did well in the first six overs, but we struggled in the middle overs when we wanted to stretch the partnership. Our lower middle order didn't work the way we wanted, so we want to correct that today. Yes, Sompal Kami comes in for Lalit Rajbanshi. Not much, but the wicket looks good and I think Sompal will be much more effective here. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Nepal: Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh (wk), Rohit Paudel (c), Dipendra Singh Airee, Aarif Sheikh, Lokesh Bam, Gulshan Jha, Sompal Kami, Karan KC, Nandan Yadav, Sandeep Lamichhane Article Source: IANS
India Vs Pakistan: Emotions High, Skies Uncertain In Colombo
ICC T20 World Cup: After all, its just a match. Not when India and Pakistan meet especially on the stage of the ICC T20 World Cup. Yet, beyond the tactical chessboard and swelling anticipation, the weather may have its own say. Forecasts suggest warm, humid conditions in Colombo, with the possibility of passing showers and afternoon thunderstorms. In a T20 group game, interruptions could have amplified consequences overs lost mean recalculated targets, aggressive batting mandates, and heightened reliance on DLS projections. This isnt a knockout, but in many ways, it feels like one. As a group-stage clash in the ICC T20 World Cup, the stakes stretch beyond two points. Momentum in a short tournament is everything. A win here can shape confidence, net run rate calculations, and the psychological edge for the remainder of the campaign. The build-up has already gripped Colombo. Flags line the streets, hotel lobbies echo with animated debates, and outside the stadium, fans are expected to gather hours before the toss. Blue and green will share the stands divided by allegiance, united by anticipation. When India take on Pakistan, form often dissolves in the heat of rivalry. In T20 cricket, margins are thinner, pressure sharper, and momentum swings swifter. A blistering powerplay. A surprise bowling change. One over that costs 20 or produces two wickets. In a format built on urgency, there is little time to recover from lapses. But rain or shine, the emotional temperature will soar. Living rooms across the subcontinent will fall silent at the first delivery. Every boundary will feel decisive. Every wicket, seismic. But rain or shine, the emotional temperature will soar. Also Read: Live Cricket Score In Colombo tonight, pride, nerves and history will walk out together for the toss. Article Source: IANS
Lockie Ferguson to miss Canada game for birth of first child
The fast bowler is expected to rejoin the squad ahead of the Super Eights
T20 WC: Ferguson Granted Parental Leave, To Miss NZ's Last Group Game
T20 World Cup: New Zealand pacer Lockie Ferguson has been granted paternal leave and will miss the team's last Group game against Canada, NZC said on Sunday. New Zealand pace-bowler Lockie Ferguson will depart the ICC Mens T20 World Cup today to return home for the birth of him and his wife's first child, NZC said in a statement. New Zealand have won two out of their three group games so far in this tournament, and will face Canada on Tuesday. Fergusons departure means he will be unavailable for the team's final Group D match against Canada. Head coach Rob Walter said the team will not replace Ferguson, as he is expected to return for the Super 8 stage, adding that the travelling reserves Ben Sears and Cole McConchie are ready to be called in the mains squad if required. Its an incredibly exciting time for Lockie and Emma and were pleased that hell be at home for such a special occasion, said Walter. At this stage, we wont be replacing Lockie in the squad as the plan would be for him to return for the Super 8 phase of the tournament. But our travelling reserves Ben Sears and Cole McConchie are ready to be called into the squad should we need them, he added. Its an incredibly exciting time for Lockie and Emma and were pleased that hell be at home for such a special occasion, said Walter. Also Read: Live Cricket Score So far, the BlackCaps have been involved in three one-sided matches, beating Afghanistan and UAE comfortably and losing to South Africa by seven wickets. They remain well-placed to reach the Super 8s, but will want to beat Canada on Tuesday in Chennai to make sure qualification remains in their hands. Article Source: IANS
Neesham wishes 2019 World Cup final had multiple Super Overs
'We were waiting to leave for the airport, and everyone was around the TV in the hotel, delaying the bus'
T20 WC: Wickets In The Power-play Are Always Key, Says NZ Skipper Santner After Defeat
T20 World Cup: New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner blamed the loss of three crucial wickets in the Power-play by his team while batting first and their inability in taking more than one wicket with the ball in the first six overs in the eased conditions as the reason for their defeat to South Africa in a crucial Group D match of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 in Ahmedabad on Saturday. Asked to bat first, New Zealand lost Tim Seifert (13), Finn Allen (31), and Rachin Ravindra (13) as they ended the Power-play with 58/3. They were 64/4 in the seventh over, and though they recovered thanks to a 74-run partnership between Mark Chapman (48) and Daryl Mitchell (32), they lost three quick wickets again to end with a modest total of 175/7 in 20 overs. At one juncture, they looked like they would go past 200, but Marco Jansen's 4-40 haul helped South Africa fight back. Wickets in the Power-play are always key. Probably a bit below par (today), but it was a little sticky too. Different grounds, so you need to adapt. We pride ourselves on that. Communication is key between batters and bowlers, said Santner after their seven-wicket defeat. Santner said his team was put under pressure by the South Africans bowlers, and they tried to find ways out of that with aggressive batting and taking wickets. However, that did not prove enough as Aiden Markram hammered anunbeaten 86 off 44 balls to help the Proteas to a comfortable win. We were put under pressure in the powerplay, so finding ways to get out of overs, still staying aggressive and taking wickets. We had a good series against India. Any time you can play India in these conditions (leading up to a World Cup), it is good prep. Came up against a good team tonight, said the spin-bowling all-rounder. New Zealand will now be playing a smaller team like Canada, which they rarely encounter in ICC events, in their next match. Santner said they will do a lot of video scouting to know more about their opponents. We were put under pressure in the powerplay, so finding ways to get out of overs, still staying aggressive and taking wickets. We had a good series against India. Any time you can play India in these conditions (leading up to a World Cup), it is good prep. Came up against a good team tonight, said the spin-bowling all-rounder. Also Read: Live Cricket Score New Zealand have to win that match, their last in Group D, to inch closer to securing a spot in the Super 8 stage. Article Source: IANS
ICC T20 World Cup: South Africa captain Aiden Markram highlighted the important role winning the toss played in his team's rousing seven-wicket victory over New Zealand in a crucial Group D match in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, as the conditions had eased out a lot when they batted in the second innings at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Saturday. While giving credit to winning the toss and eased conditions, Markram also hailed his bowlers, especially left-arm pacer Marco Jansen, who claimed a career-best 4-40 in four overs, as they restricted New Zealand to 175/7 in 20 overs after Markram won the toss and elected to bowl first. Important that we got on the right side of the toss. Ball came on nicely (in the second innings). Boys put up a strong effort (to restrict them to that score). You have to try and back the skills you are good at, said Markram in the post-match presentation. Markram then took charge as he hammered an unbeaten 86 off 44 balls, hitting eight boundaries and four sixes as he shared crucial partnerships with Quinton de Kock (20), Ryan Rickelton (21), and David Miller (24 not out) as the Proteas romped to victory with 17 balls remaining. Markram accepted that the New Zealand openers were looking very dangerous but praised Jansen, who he said goes underrated, for his fine performance. (They are) Very dangerous and intimidating, but the boys were solid with their plans tonight. (On Jansen) Very different left-arm (bowler) bowls different types of deliveries. He has been bowling well, but did not have the numbers to show for it, said Markram. Markram accepted that the New Zealand openers were looking very dangerous but praised Jansen, who he said goes underrated, for his fine performance. Also Read: Live Cricket Score This was South Africa's third successive win in Group D, and they are leading the group of death in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 with six points. New Zealand are second with four points from two wins. Article Source: IANS
IND vs PAK Match 27 Prediction, ICC T20 World Cup 2026: Match Preview And Expected Playing XI
IND vs PAK, Match 27, Cricket Tips :The wait is finally over, and the cricket world will witness the biggest cricket rivalry taking place on Sunday in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. India and Pakistan will square off at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on February 15 at 7 PM IST. More than a game, the pride is on the line for both sides. There had been a lot going on between these two nations, and the cricket is the only thing, which will give them a chance to settle the score. India have a dominant record, but Pakistan are better suited for these conditions. India need to adjust well, while Pakistan have their own spin tactics. So, we are in for a high-octane clash. IND vs PAK: Match Details Date : February 15, 2026 (Sunday) Time : 7:00 PM IST Venue : R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo IND vs PAK Live Streaming Details The high-octane clash between India and Pakistan will be televised on the Star Sports Networks. For Indian fans, the live stream option will be available on the Jio Hotstar app or website. IND vs PAK Head-to-Head in T20Is Total Matches : 16 India: 13 Pakistan : 3 No-Result : 0 IND vs PAK: Ground Pitch Report The wicket at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo has been a batting-first wicket. As seen in matches played here, the wicket is getting slower with time, and spinners will dominate here. Fast bowlers will get bounce and pace early on, and it will be challenging for the batters. The weather is another concerning factor, and in case of rain, batting second can be a good option. IND vs PAK: Possible XIs India : Abhishek Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Ishan Kishan (wk), Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Rinku Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah Pakistan : Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Agha (c), Babar Azam, Usman Khan (wk), Md. Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Faheem Ashraf, Usman Tariq, Abrar Ahmed IND vs PAK: Player to Watch Out For Probable Best Batter Ishan Kishan is in blistering form, and 20-25 balls are enough for him to change the situation with the bat. For Pakistan, Sahibzada Farhan is the leading scorer and will be a big wicket. Probable Best Bowler Usman Tariq is someone who can be a threat for India, because Indian batters have not faced him so far. Varun Chakravarthy is the no. 1 ranked T20I bowler, and in slow conditions, he will be hard to pick. Today Match Prediction : Pakistan look better than the last time they faced India in the Asia Cup 2026. But India have all the bases covered for these conditions, and we predict India to win this game. IND vs PAK Match 27, ICC T20 World Cup 2026, Today IND vs PAK Match, IND vs PAK Prediction, IND vs PAK Predicted XIs, Injury Update for IND vs PAK Match Also Read: Live Cricket Score Disclaimer : The prediction or cricket tips are purely based on the understanding and research of the writer. So kindly make sure to consider the points above while making your predictions.
T20 WC: Jansen's 4-40, Markram's 86* Help South Africa Overpower New Zealand By Seven Wickets
T20 World Cup: Skipper Aiden Markram struck an unbeaten half-century after pacer Marco Jansen had rattled New Zealand with a career-best 4-40 as South Africa romped to a seven-wicket victory in Match 24 of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Saturday. Jansen bowled brilliantly for his career-best figures and set up with victory with a three-wicket burst in the Power-play and then got the dangerman Marck Chapman (48) for a four-fer as South Africa fought back to restrict New Zealand to 175/7 in 20 overs after inserting the BlackCaps in to bat first in the Group D clash on a wicket that gave some assistance to the pacers. Markram then hammered an unbeaten 86 off 44 balls, hitting eight fours and four sixes, and shared crucial partnerships with Quinton de Kock (20), Ryan Rickelton (21), and David Miller (24 not out) as South Africa reached 178/7 in 17.1 overs as they romped to a seven-wicket win with 17 balls to spare. This is South Africa's third win in three matches, and they are perched at the top of Group D with sixpoints. New Zealand are second with four points from two wins, while the UAE are third with one win from two games. Afghanistan and Canada have lost both their matches and have yet open their account. The breezy win also boosted South Africa's Net Run Rate, while New Zealand lost some advantage in this department too. Chasing 176 for victory, Markram started in whirlwind fashion, starting with back-to-back boundaries off Matt Henry in the first over and followed it up with a six and four from the first two balls of the next over, bowled by Lockie Ferguson. Two glorious sixes and two fours by Markram in the third over, bowled by Jacob Duffy further propelled the South African innings as they posted 83/1, their joint-highest Power-play score in a men's T20 World Cup. He lost his partner Quinton de Kock (20) after they had added 62 runs for the opening partnership and raised 40 runs for the second wicket with Rickelton (21 off 14). But Markram continued his assault on the New Zealand bowling, capitalising on the conditions that had eased up a bit because of dew. Markram, who was dropped by Ferguson off his own bowling, raced to his fifty off 19 balls (6 x 4, 4 x 6) and though he slowed down a bit after losing Dewald Brevis (21 off 17), South Africa were never in trouble. David Miller (24 off 17 sealed a well-deserved victory with a six in the first ball of the 18th over. Markram struck Earlier, Jansen rattled the New Zealand top order, claiming two wickets within three balls as the BlackCaps were left struggling at 58/3 at the end of the Power-play. Jansen made the breakthrough by getting Tim Seifert to edge one behind to keeper Quinton de Kock for 13 with the score reading 33/1. He then landed two more telling blows, sending back the struggling Rachin Ravindra (13 off 8) to edge one that nipped away, and David Miller effected a sharp catch at short-third. It became 53/3 within three balls in the sixth over when Finn Allen, who had raced to 31 off 17 balls (4x4, 2x6), played uppishly in an attempt to go over the top of the in-fielders and skipper Markram grabbed a good catch. Things became worse for New Zealand when Keshav Maharaj accounted for Glenn Phillips, who inside-edged one onto his stumps through the huge bat-pad gap. New Zealand were 64/4 in the seventh over and in a precarious position. However, Mark Chapman and Daryll Mitchell repaired the innings with a 74-run partnership for the fifth wicket, scoring at a fast clip as they went at the bowling despite the pressure created by the Proteas. Chapman was looking good for a half-century but became Jansen's fourth victim of the day as he foxed the batter with a well-disguised slower one. Chapman attempted to hit him out, but could only manage to offer a catch to Ryan Rickelton. He scored 48 off 26 balls, hitting six fours and two sixes. Mitchell fell for 32 off 24 balls (2x4, 1x6) before offering a catch to Tristan Stubbs off Lungi Ngidi. New Zealand suffered another wobble when skipper Mitchell Santner departed for a 10-ball four as New Zealand slumped to 145/7 in the 17th over. James Neesham struck an unbeaten 23 off 5 balls, including two boundaries in the final over, and added a quick 30 runs for the unfinished eighth-wicket partnership with Matt Henry (9 not out off 8) as New Zealand reached a defendable total. Mitchell fell for 32 off 24 balls (2x4, 1x6) before offering a catch to Tristan Stubbs off Lungi Ngidi. New Zealand suffered another wobble when skipper Mitchell Santner departed for a 10-ball four as New Zealand slumped to 145/7 in the 17th over. Also Read: Live Cricket Score New Zealand 175/7 in 20 overs (Mark Chapman 48, Daryl Mitchell 32, Finn Allen 31, James Neesham 23 not out; Marco Jansen 4-40) lost to South Africa 178/3 in 17.1 overs (Aiden Markram 86 not out, David Miller 24 not out; James Neesham 1-15, Lockie Ferguson 1-33) by seven wickets Article Source: IANS
Jansen, Markram hand South Africa statement win
New Zealand were restricted to a below-par total before Markram put on a driving masterclass
WI vs NEP Match 25 Prediction, ICC T20 World Cup 2026: Match Preview And Expected Playing XI
WI vs NEP, Match 25, Cricket Tips :This weekend, fans will be treated to an exciting triple header in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. The first game of the day will be played in Group C between Nepal and the two-time champion, West Indies. These two teams will step on the field at Wankhede Stadium at 11 AM IST. West Indies have been on a roll, with two comprehensive wins over Scotland and England. Their last win over England saw their spinners dominating the game. They have found their bowling form back, which makes them a very strong side. Nepal were unlucky in the first game, but their last game saw Italy hammering them by ten wickets. WI vs NEP: Match Details Date : February 15, 2026 (Sunday) Time : 11:00 AM IST Venue : Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai WI vs NEP Live Streaming Details The live action of the WI vs NEP will be available live on the Star Sports Networks. Fans can also enjoy the game on the Jio Hotstar live streaming platform. WI vs NEP Head-to-Head in T20Is Total Matches : 3 West Indies: 1 Nepal : 2 No-Result : 0 WI vs NEP: Ground Pitch Report Wankhede Stadium has been a good batting wicket. But there is enough help for the bowlers. The wicket is expected to break out with time. Especially, the batting in the second innings will be tough, which is why the teams that have batted first have found success here. WI vs NEP: Possible XIs West Indies : Shai Hope (c) (wk), Shimron Hetmyer, Brandon King, Sherfane Rutherford, Rovman Powell, Brandon King, Romario Shepherd, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Gudakesh Motie, Shamar Joseph Nepal : Aasif Sheikh (wk), Kushal Bhurtel, Rohit Paudel (c), Dipendra Singh Airee, Aarif Sheikh, Lokesh Bam, Gulsan Jha, Karan KC, Sandeep Lamichhane, Nandan Yadav, Lalit Rajbanshi WI vs NEP: Player to Watch Out For Probable Best Batter Sherfane Rutherford is in the form of his life, and he will be very dangerous in this game. For South Africa, captain Rohit Kumar Paudel will be important because he has experience doing well against West Indies. Probable Best Bowler Gudakesh Motie bowled incredibly well in the previous game against England and is in good form. For Nepal, Sandeep Lamichhane can trouble the West Indian batters, who struggle against spin. Today Match Prediction : West Indies have been in good form, and their bowlers are also firing. Hence, we predict West Indies to win this game. WI vs NEP Match 25, ICC T20 World Cup 2026, Today WI vs NEP Match, WI vs NEP Prediction, WI vs NEP Predicted XIs, Injury Update for WI vs NEP Match Also Read: Live Cricket Score Disclaimer : The prediction or cricket tips are purely based on the understanding and research of the writer. So kindly make sure to consider the points above while making your predictions.
T20 WC: All The Stats From Englands Five-wicket Win Over Scotland
T20 World Cup: Tom Banton's unbeaten 63 and Jacob Bethell's 32 helped England edge out Scotland by five wickets with 10 balls to spare in the 23rd match of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 at the Eden Gardens. This was also England's first victory against a European side in T20 World Cup history. After a spirited late-order contribution from Oliver Davidson, Scotland managed to reach 150 runs. Scotland's innings then fell apart as they lost wickets at regular intervals, eventually being bowled out for 152 runs in 19.4 overs. Adil Rashid finished with excellent figures of 3 wickets for 36 runs as Jofra chipped in with two for 24. England had a rocky start to the chase with both Phil Salt and Jos Buttler getting out within the first couple of overs (2 and 3, respectively). Scotland's opening bowlers (Brad Currie and Richie McMullen) were exceptional through the first 6 overs, getting England behind. But Banton and Jacob Bethell then put them on course to victory with their fine knocks. Numbers game Scotland v England match: 17: England batters failed to hit a boundary in the first four overs. This was the 17th instance when no boundary was hit in the first four overs of an innings in the T20WC. 3: England became the third full member side to fail to hit a boundary in the first four overs against an Associate team (Scotland) in the T20WC. Pakistan and South Africa are the other two. Pakistan achieved this dubious distinction vs Canada, while South Africa vs the Netherlands, both at New York in 2024. 4: Number of half-centuries scored by Tom Banton ( 63* ) in the T20Is. It was his first in the T20WC. 3: England became the third full member side to fail to hit a boundary in the first four overs against an Associate team (Scotland) in the T20WC. Pakistan and South Africa are the other two. Pakistan achieved this dubious distinction vs Canada, while South Africa vs the Netherlands, both at New York in 2024. Also Read: Live Cricket Score 1: In 6 matches of the T20WC, it was England's first victory against the European teams. Earlier, they lost 3 matches and abandoned 2. Article Source: IANS
Suryakumar on handshake: 'Wait for 24 hours, game more important'
We have come here to play cricket, we'll play good cricket. We will take the call [on handshake] later, he said with a smile
T20 WC: I Especially Hope He Plays Well Tomorrow, Says Abhisheks Father, Rajkumar Sharma
Sardar Sardar Bhupinder Singh: Beaming with pride and emotions, Abhishek Sharmas father expressed his joy at being present for the IndiaPakistan clash, extending heartfelt wishes to team India ahead of their clash against arch-rivals Pakistan in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 at R. Premadas Stadium in Colombo on Sunday. Earlier, India skipper Suryakumar Yadav confirmed that opener Abhishek Sharma, who missed the second match of the T20 World Cup 2026 against Namibia, is fit to play and will feature against the arch-rivals in the crucial Group A clash. Abhishek was admitted to a private hospital in New Delhi on Monday due to a stomach infection, which he picked up during the clash against the USA at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. In Abhishek's absence, Sanju Samson opened against Namibia at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, scoring a brisk 22 off eight balls, and could reprise the role if I feel very happy to be here in Colombo to watch the IndiaPakistan match. Its going to be a very good game. We send our best wishes to the Indian team we hope they play well and perform strongly. They are a very good team, and of course, we want India to win. The atmosphere here is wonderful. Since the World Cup is being held in India, people are celebrating, and there is a lot of happiness among the fans, Rajkumar Sharma told IANS. Everyone is congratulating the team, and India is playing very well. I just hope they continue to perform well, and I especially hope Abhishek plays well. Our prayers are always with him. May he continue to play like this for India and help the country win. These are our heartfelt wishes for him, he said. India and Pakistan have been placed in the same group in the opening stages of the past five editions of the T20 World Cup and the previous two 50-over World Cup competitions. Till now, the two sides have played each other eight times in the T20 World Cup, with India emerging victorious on seven occasions, while Pakistan managed to win only once (in 2021). Everyone is congratulating the team, and India is playing very well. I just hope they continue to perform well, and I especially hope Abhishek plays well. Our prayers are always with him. May he continue to play like this for India and help the country win. These are our heartfelt wishes for him, he said. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Abhishek had rattled the Pakistanis with his aggressive batting in the recent Asia Cup as he went hammer and tongs at their bowling. He will be very crucial for India, making a good start on Sunday. Article Source: IANS
ATP Challenger | Gomez toughs it out against Kasnikowski
Poonacha & Isaro get the better of Sasikumar and Clarke for the doubles title
Brook Relieved After Englands Five-Wicket Win, Hails Archer and Banton
England captain Harry Brook expressed relief after his side secured two crucial points with a five-wicket win over Scotland at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Saturday, praising Jofra Archers sharp spell, Tom Bantons match-winning knock at No. 4, and the middle-orders composure in steadying the chase after an early wobble. Tom Banton's unbeaten 63 and Jacob Bethell's 32 helped England edge out Scotland by five wickets with 10 balls to spare. I'm just glad that we got over the line tonight. We were over the moon with that. They batted really well against our spinners again in that first couple of spells and were ahead of us at one point, but we managed to drag things back really well, said Brook after the match. Englands bowlers managed to reduce Scotland to 152/9 after facing some early aggression. Jofra Archer returned to his best form with (2-14), hitting tough lengths that unsettled the batters. Archer got rid of George Munsey early in the inning and then came back to get rid of Brandon McMullen with sharp bouncers. Praising Archer, Brook said, Yeah, he was slamming the length beautifully today. He got his lines and lengths perfect and bowled with gas again and with good skills. So it's nice to see him back in the park and doing really well. England had a rocky start to the chase with both Phil Salt and Jos Buttler getting out within the first couple of overs (2 and 3, respectively). Scotland's opening bowlers (Brad Currie and Richie McMullen) were exceptional through the first 6 overs, getting England behind. The momentum shifted a bit when Jacob Bethell and Tom Banton put together a 66-run third-wicket partnership. Bethell (32) fell, and before long, Harry Brook was back in the dugout after scoring just 4 runs. Banton then went on to dominate the run chase. He got to 50 runs in only 33 balls and was well supported by Sam Curran. The two added 46 runs off 33 balls for the 5th wicket and swung the match in England's favour. England had a rocky start to the chase with both Phil Salt and Jos Buttler getting out within the first couple of overs (2 and 3, respectively). Scotland's opening bowlers (Brad Currie and Richie McMullen) were exceptional through the first 6 overs, getting England behind. Also Read: Live Cricket Score On Bantons inning, Brook said, Yeah, he was awesome, and that's why he slid in nicely at that number 4 role and looked to take down spinners like he did today, and it came off, and he deserves all of that, and he's played really nicely. I've always had confidence in our middle order. We knew it was going to be a decent wicket; it wasn't really going to change. And then with this outfield as well, we knew that we didn't really need to take too many unnecessary risks and just hit in the gaps, and then when you get the ball to hit for six, try to hit for six. Bants (Banton) played it beautifully today, and Sam's (Curran) little cameo as well was awesome. Article Source: IANS
Brook relieved as England do enough to get campaign back on track
Captain glad to get over line after being pushed by Scotland in nervy Kolkata clash
T20 WC: We Were 20-30 Runs Short Today, Says Scotland Skipper Berrington After Defeat To England
T20 World Cup: Scotland captain Richie Berrington admitted his side were 2030 runs short after their five-wicket defeat to England in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup at the Eden Gardens on Saturday. Tom Banton's unbeaten 63 and Jacob Bethell's 32 helped England edge out Scotland by five wickets with 10 balls to spare Berrington conceded that while the surface at Eden Gardens was good for batting and his team showed belief with both bat and ball, the lack of sustained partnerships and slightly off execution in the middle overs ultimately proved costly. Yeah, I thought that it was a really good wicket to bat on. I felt that we didn't get too many partnerships in our innings. Myself and Brucy were batting well, but probably needed just one of us to bat deep. We were 20-30 runs short today, Berrington said after the match. Earlier, England opted to bowl on a juicy surface, and Jofra Archer had an instant effect in the second over of his spell, taking two early wickets in the powerplay -- George Munsey (4) and Brandon McMullen (0). Michael Jones and Richie Berrington provided stability to the innings during the Power-play. Jones looked confident until he was dismissed by Sam Curran in the sixth over for 33 runs. Berrington and Tom Bruce had a great partnership for Scotland, putting on 71 runs from just 41 balls for the fourth wicket. Bruce was out against the run of play for 24 runs off 18 balls, whilst Berrington fell for 49 runs off 32 balls, just short of his half-century. After a spirited late-order contribution from Oliver Davidson, Scotland managed to reach 150 runs. Scotland's innings then fell apart as they lost wickets at regular intervals, eventually being bowled out for 152 runs in 19.4 overs. Adil Rashid finished with excellent figures of 3 wickets for 36 runs as Jofra chipped in with two for 24. I think we knew that spin was going to be key in that middle phase today. England have got some world-class spinners on its side. Our execution was slightly off today. We still felt that we have batters who can play better in those situations. Unfortunately, we didn't quite click enough today. We now move on to Mumbai, which has different conditions. I think having that partnership in the middle was really crucial for us, but it wasn't quite long enough. After a spirited late-order contribution from Oliver Davidson, Scotland managed to reach 150 runs. Scotland's innings then fell apart as they lost wickets at regular intervals, eventually being bowled out for 152 runs in 19.4 overs. Adil Rashid finished with excellent figures of 3 wickets for 36 runs as Jofra chipped in with two for 24. Also Read: Live Cricket Score I think we had that belief to execute our best skills and defend the score. We showed that, but it definitely hurts. We know that if we can execute our best skills, we can put anyone under pressure. Well, that can happen to anyone. Some days are not yours. I thought he came back well later on. It's just one of those things that didn't come off well today for us. Article Source: IANS
Wasim, Waqar lead appeals for Imran Khan to receive medical care
Reports have emerged that the former Pakistan captain and Prime Minister has lost most of the vision in his right eye
T20 WC: West Indies Vs Nepal, USA Vs Namibia - Match Previews
ICC T20 World Cup: West Indies would look to seal their top spot in Group C and register a hat-trick of wins when they face minnows Nepal at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Sunday. The crucial match will start at 11:00 AM. On the other hand, Nepal would be hoping to end their quest for the first World Cup win and make a comeback after back-to-back losses in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026. West Indies started their tournament on a high note with a 35-run win against Scotland. The 2016 champions continued the momentum in their next match, when they beat two-time champions England by 30 runs. The Nepal cricket team posed a great challenge to England in their opening match before falling short narrowly by just 4 runs. However, Rohit Poudel's team went off the track in the next match against Italy, where they suffered a crushing 10-wicket loss. Now they will be hoping to put their campaign back on the rails against the West Indies. Squads: Nepal: Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh(wk), Rohit Paudel(c), Dipendra Singh Airee, Aarif Sheikh, Lokesh Bam, Gulsan Jha, Karan KC, Nandan Yadav, Sandeep Lamichhane, Lalit Rajbanshi, Sompal Kami, Sundeep Jora, Sher Malla, Basir Ahamad West Indies: Brandon King, Shai Hope(wk/c), Shimron Hetmyer, Roston Chase, Sherfane Rutherford, Rovman Powell, Jason Holder, Romario Shepherd, Akeal Hosein, Gudakesh Motie, Shamar Joseph, Johnson Charles, Matthew Forde, Jayden Seales, Quentin Sampson Head-to-head record between Nepal and the West Indies Total matches played: 3 Nepal won: 2 West Indies won: 1 Performance of both teams in their last 5 matches Nepal: W, W, W, L, L West Indies :L, L, W, W, W 26th Match: USA vs Namibia, MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai 3:00 PM The United States of America (USA) would like to end their campaign with a win and give them an outside chance to grab the Super 8 spot when they face Namibia in their last group stage match of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Sunday. Namibia will look to register their first win in the ongoing tournament after suffering two losses at the start. Namibia first went down to the Netherlands, who registered a seven-wicket win, and then the defending champions handed them their second defeat in Group A. The USA started their campaign against India, where their bowlers stunned the defending champions at the start, reducing them to 77/6. But Suryakumar Yadav hammered an unbeaten 84, and the Indian bowlers then struggled against the US batters and won by 29 runs. In the second match, Pakistan beat them easily by 32 runs. Monank Patel's team then made a comeback in the third match and registered their biggest win in the tournament by beating the opposition with a margin of 93 runs. Squads: Namibia: Louren Steenkamp, Jan Frylinck, Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, Gerhard Erasmus (c), JJ Smit, Zane Green (wk), Malan Kruger, Ruben Trumpelmann, Bernard Scholtz, Ben Shikongo, Max Heingo, Dylan Leicher, Jack Brassell, Jan Balt, Willem Myburgh USA: Monank Patel (wk/c), Shayan Jahangir, Saiteja Mukkamalla, Sanjay Krishnamurthi, Shubham Ranjane, Milind Kumar, Harmeet Singh, Mohammad Mohsin, Shadley van Schalkwyk, Nosthush Kenjige, Ali Khan, Shehan Jayasuriya, Ehsan Adil, Saurabh Netravalkar, Andries Gous Namibia vs USA Head-to-Head record: Total matches played: 2 Namibia won: 0 USA Won: 2 Performance of both teams in their last 5 matches USA Won: 2 Also Read: Live Cricket Score USA : W, W, L, L, W Article Source: IANS
India vs Pakistan is finally here. Over to cricket now
There isn't much riding on this game from the tournament's perspective, but try telling that to the fans from either country
Gujarat Titans Reach Over 5,100 Children As Third Edition Of Junior Titans Concludes In Ahmedabad
Colonel Arvinder Singh: IPL 2022 champions Gujarat Titans concluded the third edition of its Junior Titans programme in Ahmedabad on Saturday, with participation from over 5,100 children representing more than 100 government and private schools from five cities. The initiative reached cities like Surendranagar, Morbi, Amreli, Anand and Ahmedabad, with an aim to encourage physical activity among children under 14 through non-competitive sessions and interactive games. Colonel Arvinder Singh, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Gujarat Titans, said the programme's success was measured not in numbers but in its ability to motivate children to embrace sports. The success of any program lies in the eyes of the children who participate in this program. I can tell you, today we're going to end in a couple of hours, we will finish with the last edition of the Junior Titans of the year. Sometime back, somebody was asking me, how do you measure success in this? This is not about measuring success. This is about motivating children and creating something for them where they can say that, yes, I participated in this. I do want to play sport, not just necessarily cricket. So that is how we at Gujarat Titans look at it, Singh told IANS in a virtual interaction. He also said the franchise's credibility helped attract participation, particularly in smaller cities where children had fewer opportunities to engage with professional sporting organisations. Being Gujarat Titans brings a lot of credibility and that's why children listen to us, and want to align with us. That's understandable, but by so doing, we are just trying to reach out to children and motivate them to play sport and that's what we are doing, he added. With the philosophy of 'Let's Sport Out!' and focus on building confidence and teamwork through sports, Singh further stated the franchise maintained identical standards of organising the event across all cities, regardless of their size or infrastructure. From an organizational perspective, there is no difference in an event which is being conducted in, let's say, Vadodara to what happens in, let's say, Morbi. No difference whatsoever. The event is curated exactly the same way as it would happen in a tier-one city vis-a-vis a tier-three city or a tier-two city. No difference whatsoever and we are very clear on that. The major difference comes in because in these tier-one cities, the children get an opportunity to know more about certain things as compared to the smaller cities. It's because the smaller cities, they don't expect an IPL franchise to be around there in the smaller cities and are creating something specifically for students from that city without any ulterior kind of motives, he added. He signed off by saying the response in smaller cities was particularly encouraging as children there had less access to quality sporting facilities compared to their counterparts in larger urban centres. The major difference comes in because in these tier-one cities, the children get an opportunity to know more about certain things as compared to the smaller cities. It's because the smaller cities, they don't expect an IPL franchise to be around there in the smaller cities and are creating something specifically for students from that city without any ulterior kind of motives, he added. Also Read: Live Cricket Score When we go and do exactly the same event, what is happening today in Ahmedabad was happening last week in Anand, exactly the same, no difference whatsoever and so that's how we look at it. Article Source: IANS
Pakistan 'Always Ready' For India Despite Late Green Light: Salman Agha
Pakistan skipper Salman Agha said Saturday his team had been always ready to face India on Sunday at the T20 World Cup, despite only being given the green light a few days ago. The biggest and most lucrative clash in world cricket has sold out the 35,000-capacity R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo with hundreds of millions more expected to watch on television. The game was only confirmed as going ahead late on Monday night after the Islamabad government made a U-turn on its an order to boycott the blockbuster Group A game. This is a very big game and the magnitude is huge, Agha said ahead of the team's practice at the stadium on Saturday. We were always ready for the game, whatever be the decision. Pakistan had a scrappy last over three-wicket win in their first match against the Netherlands before beating the United States by 32 runs. India have also won both their matches so far. We are in good momentum and I hope that being in Colombo since the start will help us in terms of conditions, said Agha. But he warned: We have to play good cricket to win the match. The hugely-anticipated match could be hit by bad weather, with rain forecast for Sunday evening. Agha believed spin would dominate, calling Tariq Usman his trump card against India's powerful batting line-up. Tariq has been bowling well and I am sure the mystery element will make him our trump card, Agha said, brushing aside doubts over the legality of Tariq's unique sling-arm action and the exaggerated pause in his delivery stride. He has been cleared twice so there are no worries. Agha hoped the players would shake hands, unlike during their three Asia Cup matches in Dubai last year. The game should be played in the true spirit of the game, said Agha. It has been the norm in cricket for years but whatever way they want, we will only know tomorrow. The winner will be guaranteed of thier berth in the next Super Eights round. India have a oubt over explosive opener Abhishek Sharma, who has been suffering with a stomach biug. Also Read: Live Cricket Score I hope he plays tomorrow. I hope he's recovering well, said Agha. We want to play against the best, good luck to him.
Williams: Erasmus has been practising round-arm, low-release delivery for two years
Erasmus was an underused bowler in the early years of his T20 career but since 2018, he has been bowling more and more
Gujarat Titans To Have Next Preparation Camp For IPL 2026 From February 16, Confirms COO
The Indian Premier League: The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 champions Gujarat Titans (GT) will hold their next preparation camp for the 2026 season from February 16, the franchises chief operating officer Colonel Arvinder Singh said on Saturday. The initiative reached cities like Surendranagar, Morbi, Amreli, Anand and Ahmedabad, with an aim to encourage physical activity among children under 14 through non-competitive sessions and interactive games. Colonel Arvinder Singh, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Gujarat Titans, said the programme's success was measured not in numbers but in its ability to motivate children to embrace sports. The success of any program lies in the eyes of the children who participate in this program. I can tell you, today we're going to end in a couple of hours, we will finish with the last edition of the Junior Titans of the year. Sometime back, somebody was asking me, how do you measure success in this? This is not about measuring success. This is about motivating children and creating something for them where they can say that, yes, I participated in this. I do want to play sport, not just necessarily cricket. So that is how we at Gujarat Titans look at it, Singh told IANS in a virtual interaction. He also said the franchise's credibility helped attract participation, particularly in smaller cities where children had fewer opportunities to engage with professional sporting organisations. Being Gujarat Titans brings a lot of credibility and that's why children listen to us, and want to align with us. That's understandable, but by so doing, we are just trying to reach out to children and motivate them to play sport and that's what we are doing, he added. With the philosophy of 'Let's Sport Out!' and focus on building confidence and teamwork through sports, Singh further stated the franchise maintained identical standards of organising the event across all cities, regardless of their size or infrastructure. From an organizational perspective, there is no difference in an event which is being conducted in, let's say, Vadodara to what happens in, let's say, Morbi. No difference whatsoever. The event is curated exactly the same way as it would happen in a tier-one city vis-a-vis a tier-three city or a tier-two city. No difference whatsoever and we are very clear on that. The major difference comes in because in these tier-one cities, the children get an opportunity to know more about certain things as compared to the smaller cities. It's because the smaller cities, they don't expect an IPL franchise to be around there in the smaller cities and are creating something specifically for students from that city without any ulterior kind of motives, he added. He signed off by saying the response in smaller cities was particularly encouraging as children there had less access to quality sporting facilities compared to their counterparts in larger urban centres. The major difference comes in because in these tier-one cities, the children get an opportunity to know more about certain things as compared to the smaller cities. It's because the smaller cities, they don't expect an IPL franchise to be around there in the smaller cities and are creating something specifically for students from that city without any ulterior kind of motives, he added. Also Read: Live Cricket Score When we go and do exactly the same event, what is happening today in Ahmedabad was happening last week in Anand, exactly the same, no difference whatsoever and so that's how we look at it. Article Source: IANS
