Author: A Sports

KANDY: Pakistan fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi admitted that his side’s failure to stitch together a meaningful partnership cost them dearly in their two-wicket defeat to England in the Super Eight stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 on Tuesday.

In a high-intensity contest at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pakistan posted 164-9 after being put in to bat.

England, however, chased down the target in the final over despite losing eight wickets, riding on a superb century from skipper Harry Brook.

Afridi, who produced a fiery spell of 4-30 and removed the well-set Brook, was left to ponder what might have been.

The left-arm pacer believed Pakistan fell short primarily due to their inability to build momentum through the middle overs.

“I feel on a wicket like this you need a partnership and a set batter who can bat through the middle overs,” Afridi said after the match.

“But unfortunately, we lost wickets back to back, which is why we did not reach that 180-190 score.”

Pakistan’s innings never quite found stability. Several batters got starts, but none were able to convert them into a commanding stand.

The middle order, in particular, struggled to rotate strike regularly against a disciplined England attack.

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Shaheen Afridi pointed to the importance of maintaining a steady flow of singles and twos, a factor he felt England executed far better.

“If you see, when England batted, Harry Brook stayed at the crease. He was rotating the strike and building partnerships. I think we missed that opportunity,” he said.

“A partnership means you need someone at the crease who can take singles and twos. In a T20 innings, you need eight or nine runs an over consistently if you want to build partnerships.”

The surface at Pallekele was noticeably fresher compared to the one used in England’s previous outing against Sri Lanka, offering better conditions for stroke play. In hindsight, Pakistan’s total of 164 appeared slightly under par.

Shaheen Afridi also credited England leg-spinner Adil Rashid for tightening the screws during the middle phase.

“I think that middle phase, Adil Rashid bowled really well, so credit goes to him as well,” he added.

Despite Afridi’s impressive four-wicket haul, Pakistan were left to rue a missed opportunity as England sealed qualification to the semi-finals.

For Pakistan, the defeat has left their campaign hanging by a thread, with little room for further error in the tournament.

READ: T20 World Cup 2026: Pakistan’s semi-final qualification scenario explained

KANDY: Pakistan’s road to the semi-finals of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 has become increasingly narrow after a heartbreaking two-wicket defeat against England in their Super Eight fixture.

The loss has left Pakistan with just one point from two matches in Super Eight Group 2, courtesy of their washed-out encounter against New Zealand.

While their campaign now hangs in the balance, mathematical chances of qualification remain alive, albeit dependent on other results.

England, meanwhile, have already punched their ticket to the semi-finals after registering back-to-back wins, sitting comfortably on four points at the top of the group.

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For Pakistan, the equation is straightforward at first glance: they must defeat Sri Lanka in their final Super Eight fixture. A loss would officially end their campaign.

However, even victory alone may not be enough.

Pakistan currently have a net run rate (NRR) of -0.461, which could prove decisive if teams finish level on points.

Sri Lanka, placed at the bottom of the group with no points and an NRR of -2.550, still have two matches to play, against New Zealand and Pakistan, and could influence the final standings significantly.

Scenario 1

Pakistan’s simplest path to the semi-finals requires them to beat Sri Lanka and hope New Zealand lose both of their remaining matches against Sri Lanka and England.

In that case, Pakistan would finish with three points and advance to the semi-finals.

Scenario 2

If New Zealand manage to win one of their remaining two games, Pakistan would still need to defeat Sri Lanka, but with a substantial margin to improve their NRR and edge past the Black Caps in the standings.

Should New Zealand win both of their remaining fixtures, Pakistan will be eliminated regardless of their own result.

READ: Shadab Khan achieves major T20I milestone against England

KANDY: Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha opened up after a narrow loss against England in the Super Eight clash of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

Pakistan set England a challenging 165 here under lights at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.

However, England skipper Harry Brook made the target look easy with his sublime century.

The right-hander made 100 off 51 balls, striking four sixes and 10 boundaries.

Speaking after the match, Agha highlighted the shortcomings and praised Brook for his brilliance with the bat.

“Started well with the bat, but couldn’t finish the way we wanted to. But some days you have to give credit to other batters. I think Harry batted brilliantly,” he said in the post-match presentation.

“Our score was a bit short. And then Brook took the game away from us. We threw everything at him,” he continued.

Pakistan captain, the leading run scorer of the tournament, Sahibzada Farha’s performance, noting that the other batters could not step up to the occasion.

“I think he’s batted very well throughout the World Cup. Other batters haven’t played the way we wanted to, but it can happen like that in World Cups, the skipper maintained.

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For Pakistan, it was returning Shaheen Afridi who impressed with the ball, picking up a four-wicket haul.

“He bowled really well today.  He’s famous for early wickets, and he did that today,” Salman Ali Agha said of Shaheen.

He concluded by saying that England played Pakistan bowling really well, particularly their nemesis, Brook, who took the game away from them.

“Whenever we play against England and lose, it’s always him [Harry Brook] have to say hats off to him and the way he batted today.”

“Very challenging, the way he batted. He can play all around the ground so it can get challenging.”

“The way Nawaz bowled the 19th over, I thought maybe, you never know. Even if there’s a 1% chance, my team will go for it,” he concluded.

READ: Brook hits ton as England qualify for T20 World Cup semis

CHENNAI: India batter Rinku Singh has returned home owing to a family emergency, casting serious doubt over his availability for the upcoming Super Eight fixture against Zimbabwe on February 26 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.

Rinku was notably absent from India’s training session at the Chepauk on Tuesday evening, while the rest of the squad went through their preparations ahead of the must-win encounter.

The left-hander has endured a difficult campaign in the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2026 so far, managing scores of 6, 1, 11* and 6 not out during the group stage.

His struggles continued in the Super Eight clash against South Africa in Ahmedabad, where he was dismissed for a two-ball duck in India’s 76-run defeat.

With the defending champions under pressure to stay alive in the tournament, Rinku’s potential absence adds another layer of concern.

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India are currently in a position where they must win both of their remaining Super Eight matches to strengthen their case for a semi-final berth.

If Rinku is ruled out for the Zimbabwe game, India have a couple of options on the bench.

Sanju Samson could come into the XI, though his inclusion would likely trigger a reshuffle in the batting order. Alternatively, Axar Patel can slot in at number eight, the position Rinku occupied in the previous outing.

Following the Zimbabwe fixture, India will conclude their Super Eight campaign against the West Indies in Kolkata on March 1.

Should they progress to the knockout stage, their semi-final is scheduled for March 5 in Mumbai. However, if they are drawn against Pakistan, the match will instead take place a day earlier in Colombo.

READ: Sialkot Stallionz owner Hamza Majeed denies bankruptcy rumours

LAHORE: Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Sialkot Stallionz owner Hamza Majeed rejected reports suggesting that OZ Developers had gone bankrupt after securing the team for Rs 1.85 billion.

Speculation surrounding the franchise intensified in recent weeks, with claims circulating that the parent company had offloaded as much as 98 per cent of its shares following the withdrawal of one of its partners soon after the PSL auction.

The controversy deepened when co-owner Mohammad Shahid, in a video statement, alleged that his Alpha Sports Group now holds a 76 per cent stake in the franchise and accused Majeed of transferring shares without prior consent or approval from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

Subsequent media reports went further, claiming that OZ Developers was facing bankruptcy and that the franchise would be taken over by CD Ventures.

Addressing the matter at a press conference in Lahore, Majeed dismissed the allegations in unequivocal terms, insisting that he had met all financial commitments to the PCB.

“By the grace of Almighty Allah, on 15th January, I submitted all my financial obligations to PCB. There is also the allegation that I am bankrupt, that I don’t have money,” Hamza Majeed said.

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Questioning the basis of the reports, he added, “Did PCB tell you that I am in default? Did any bank tell you that I am in default? PCB has submitted the bank guarantee of my first year’s franchise fee.”

Majeed further revealed that he has provided a three-year corporate guarantee to the board, assuring his capacity to fulfil the financial requirements over the agreed period.

“On top of it, there is a three-year corporate guarantee. I have confirmed that I am capable of paying it for three years. I can do it,” he stressed.

Calling the claims damaging and unfounded, Majeed described the bankruptcy narrative as a “baseless allegation” that unfairly questioned his credibility and financial standing.

He also expressed disappointment over what he termed misinformation being circulated on social media and urged media outlets to verify facts with relevant authorities before publishing such reports.

Regarding the reported involvement of CD Ventures, Majeed confirmed that discussions are ongoing but refrained from disclosing details, citing a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) between the parties.

READ: Shadab achieves major T20I milestone against England

KANDY: Pakistan all-rounder Shadab Khan on Tuesday achieved a major landmark against England during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Super Eight fixture here at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. 

Shadab played a vital role at the back end of the innings, scoring a valuable 23 from 11 balls with the help of four boundaries to propel Pakistan’s total to 164.

In doing so, Shadab breached the 1000-run landmark, becoming the 11th player overall from Pakistan to cross the barrier.

Babar Azam is currently leading the runs chart in T20Is, accumulating 4596 runs in 145 innings. Mohammad Rizwan is in second place with 3414 runs in 93 innings.

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Interestingly, Shadab Khan also became the first Pakistani to take 100 wickets and score 1000 runs in the shorter format. He currently has 123 scalps to his name in 122 matches at an average of 23.79.

Most runs for Pakistan in men’s T20Is

Babar Azam – 4596 runs in 145 innings
Mohammad Rizwan – 3414 runs in 93 innings
Mohammad Hafeez – 2514 runs in 108 innings
Shoaib Malik – 2423 runs in 110 innings
Fakhar Zaman – 2410 runs in 109 innings
Umar Akmal – 1690 runs in 79 innings
Ahmed Shehzad – 1471 runs in 59 innings
Shahid Afridi – 1405 runs in 90 innings
Saim Ayub – 1298 runs in 64 innings
Sahibzada Farhan – 1205 runs in 44 innings
Shadab Khan – 1002 runs in 68 innings

READ: Santner ready for spin test with eye on Pakistan-England clash

KANDY: Skipper Harry Brook’s sublime century powered sloppy England to a two-wicket win over Pakistan in the Super Eight clash of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 here at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.

Set a stiff 165, England chipped away towards the target despite a stutter in the last over, losing eight wickets in the process.

With this win, England qualified for the T20 World Cup semi-final.

England were off to a shaky start as they lost three wickets inside the first five overs. Shaheen Afridi sent back Phil Salt for a duck in the first over. Soon after, Jos Buttler also fell, whose horror run continued in the tournament.

Meanwhile, Jacob Bethell fell prey to Shaheen Afridi on eight despite providing relief in the previous over.

The wicket-keeper only managed two from three balls. As a result, England were reduced to 35-3 in 4.5 overs.

With the side in early trouble, Harry Brook launched a rescue act for the ages, holding the innings together with a string of partnerships alongside the middle-order.

Despite the wickets tumbling around him, Brook made the chase look easy with elegant stroke play.

Brook shepherd the chase with measured stands alongside Tom Banton and Sam Curran, adding 23 and 45 runs respectively.

He later found crucial support from Will Jacks, the pair putting on 52 for the sixth wicket to wrest control from Pakistan.

Afridi returned to end Brook’s innings on the final ball of the 17th over, but England held their nerve.

Jacks fell for 28 to Mohammad Nawaz, who also had Jamie Overton stumped in the same over to set up a tense finish.

Needing three from the final over with two wickets in hand, Jofra Archer struck Salman Mirza for a boundary off the first ball to clinch victory.

Afridi was Pakistan’s standout bowler with 4-30, while Usman Tariq Nawaz claimed two wickets.

Earlier, Sahibzada Farhan’s gutsy half-century lifted Pakistan to a fighting total against England.

Opting to bat first, Pakistan managed to score 164-9 in their 20 overs.

Pakistan were jolted with an early blow in the shape of Saim Ayub and Salman Ali Agha’s dismissal.

Saim was caught at short mid-wicket in a bid to pull Jofra Archer. He only made seven. While skipper Salman fell cheaply to Liam Dawson after managing five.

As a result, the Green Shirts were pegged back with two down for 27 in 3.3 overs.

Following the hiccup, Babar Azam and Sahizada Farhan held the innings together with a 46-run stand. The pair stabilized the innings and brought the scorecard to 73 in 10.5 overs.

Jamie Overton ended the threatening stand with Babar’s wicket, who chopped on after a cautious knock of 25 from 24 with the aid of two fours.

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Meanwhile, Sahibzada Farhan continued and struck a partnership with Rusty Fakhar Zaman after chewing up a few deliveries.

Both added 49 off 30 balls for the fourth wicket partnership, bringing the total to 112 in 15.4 overs.

Farhan, who was going well, was trapped lbw after hitting a six and a four to Overton. He made 63 off 45, including two sixes and seven fours.

Following his wicket, England got hold of the Pakistan innings with a few quick wickets. As a result, they slumped to 132-5 149-8 in 18.3 overs.

Shadab Khan played a vital knock of 23 from 11 with the aid of four boundaries to take Pakistan’s score to 164.

For England, Liam Dawson picked up three wickets in his four overs.

READ: Santner ready for spin test with eye on Pakistan-England clash

KANDY: Pakistan have won the toss and opted to bat first against England in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Super Eight clash here at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.

Pakistan have made one change to their side as fast bowler Shaheen Afridi, who was left out of the XI against New Zealand, has returned, replacing all-rounder Faheem Ashraf.

Playing XIs

England: 1 Phil Salt, 2 Jos Buttler (wk), 3 Jacob Bethell, 4 Tom Banton, 5 Harry Brook (capt), 6 Sam Curran, 7 Will Jacks, 8 Liam Dawson, 9 Jamie Overton, 10 Jofra Archer, 11 Adil Rashid

Pakistan: 1 Sahibzada Farhan, 2 Saim Ayub, 3 Salman Ali Agha (capt), 4 Babar Azam, 5 Fakhar Zaman, 6 Shadab Khan, 7 Usman Khan (wk), 8 Mohammad Nawaz, 9 Shaheen Afridi, 10 Salman Mirza, 11 Usman Tariq

Head to Head 

England and Pakistan have played 31 T20Is against each other, with the Three Lions leading by 21 games, while Pakistan have won only 9.

In the T20 World Cup, England remain unbeaten against Pakistan, having won all three matches.

Matches: 31, ENG 21, PAK 9, NR: 1

READ: Pakistan-India clash confirmed as ICC unveils Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 schedule

DUBAI: The marquee clash between arch-rivals Pakistan and India has been locked in for June 14 after the International Cricket Council (ICC) revealed the complete schedule for the Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, set to be staged in England from June 12 to July 5.

The 10th edition of the tournament will feature 12 teams and 33 matches spread across seven venues, culminating in the final at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground on July 5.

Hosts England will kick off proceedings against Sri Lanka on June 12 at Edgbaston, which will also stage the high-voltage India-Pakistan encounter two days later.

Pakistan have been drawn in a challenging Group A alongside defending champions Australia, India, South Africa, Bangladesh and tournament debutants the Netherlands.

The Dutch side qualified through the global qualifier in Nepal and will begin their campaign against Bangladesh, who went unbeaten in that event.

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Group B comprises England, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, West Indies, Ireland and Scotland.

Ireland and Scotland were among the four teams, along with Bangladesh and the Netherlands, to secure their spots via the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier.

The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals, scheduled for June 30 and July 2 at The Oval. The grand finale will then be played at Lord’s, adding further prestige to the tournament climax.

Pakistan women’s team will open their campaign against India on June 14 at Edgbaston in what promises to be one of the most anticipated matches of the group stage.

They will then face South Africa (June 17), Bangladesh (June 20), Australia (June 23) and the Netherlands (June 27).

Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 Schedule

June 12: England v Sri Lanka, Edgbaston

June 13: Scotland v Ireland, Old Trafford Cricket Ground

June 13: Australia v South Africa, Old Trafford Cricket Ground

June 13: West Indies v New Zealand, Hampshire Bowl

June 14: Bangladesh v Netherlands, Edgbaston

June 14: India v Pakistan, Edgbaston

June 16: New Zealand v Sri Lanka, Hampshire Bowl

June 16: England v Ireland, Hampshire Bowl

June 17: Australia v Bangladesh, Headingley

June 17: India v Netherlands, Headingley

June 17: South Africa v Pakistan, Edgbaston

June 18: West Indies v Scotland, Headingley

June 19: New Zealand v Ireland, Hampshire Bowl

June 20: Australia v Netherlands, Hampshire Bowl

June 20: Pakistan v Bangladesh, Hampshire Bowl

June 20: England v Scotland, Headingley

June 21: West Indies v Sri Lanka, Bristol County Ground

June 21: South Africa v India, Old Trafford Cricket Ground

June 23: New Zealand v Scotland, Bristol County Ground

June 23: Sri Lanka v Ireland, Bristol County Ground

June 23: Australia v Pakistan, Headingley

June 24: England v West Indies, Lord’s

June 25: India v Bangladesh, Old Trafford

June 25: South Africa v Netherlands, Bristol

June 26: Sri Lanka v Scotland, Old Trafford

June 27: Pakistan v Netherlands, Bristol

June 27: West Indies v Ireland, Bristol

June 27: England v New Zealand, The Oval

June 28: South Africa v Bangladesh, Lord’s

June 28: Australia v India, Lord’s

June 30: TBC v TBC (Semi Final 1), The Oval

July 2: TBC v TBC (Semi Final 2), The Oval

July 5: TBC v TBC (The Final), Lord’s

READ: Kandy weather update ahead of Pakistan-England Super Eight clash

KANDY: The much-anticipated Super Eight clash between Pakistan and England in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 is expected to proceed without weather interruptions at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.

After rain washed out Pakistan’s previous fixture against New Zealand in Colombo, all eyes were on the forecast in Kandy.

However, the latest weather update offers encouraging signs, with mostly clear skies predicted around the 7:00 PM start time.

The temperature is expected to hover around 27°C, with a RealFeel of 28°C.

Humidity levels remain high at 68%, creating a sticky atmosphere, while the dew point of 20°C suggests significant moisture in the air, a factor that could influence conditions later in the evening.

Light northwest winds of 6 km/h, with occasional gusts up to 13 km/h, are unlikely to have a major impact.

Cloud cover is minimal at 14%, visibility stands at 16 kilometres, and the cloud ceiling is positioned at 9,100 metres, indicating stable conditions for play.

The AccuLumen Brightness Index points to complete darkness, consistent with typical evening conditions under lights.

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While the weather appears favourable, air quality concerns have been flagged, particularly for individuals with respiratory issues.

The clear forecast comes as a relief after Pakistan’s Super Eight opener against New Zealand was abandoned at the R Premadasa International Cricket Stadium due to persistent rain.

The match was called off more than two-and-a-half hours after captain Salman Ali Agha had won the toss and opted to bat, resulting in both teams sharing a point.

With only the top two teams from each Super Eight group progressing to the semi-finals on March 4 and 5, every fixture carries added significance.

Historically, England have dominated this rivalry in the shortest format. In 31 T20 Internationals between the sides, England have won 21, Pakistan nine, while one match was abandoned.

In T20 World Cup contests specifically, England hold a 3-0 record over Pakistan.

Squads

Pakistan: Salman Ali Agha (c), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Nafay (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan (wk) and Usman Tariq.

England: Harry Brook (c), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Josh Tongue and Luke Wood.

READ: T20 World Cup: West Indies thrash Zimbabwe in Super Eight clash