Category: Cricket

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka have won the toss and opted to bowl first against New Zealand in the must-win ICC Men’s T20 World Cup encounter here at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.

Playing XIs

Defending champions India are looking to bolster their faltering opening combination ahead of a dare-not-lose T20 World Cup clash against Zimbabwe to keep hopes of making the semi-finals alive.

Wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson is an option at the top of the order, in India’s second Super Eights clash in Chennai on Thursday.

Opener Abhishek Sharma’s batting slump — including three consecutive ducks — has dented India’s campaign.

The team suffered a 76-run defeat to South Africa in their Super Eights opener.

India now face a straightforward equation — win their remaining two matches to keep qualification for the semi-finals largely in their own hands, or risk depending on other results.

Batting coach Sitanshu Kotak acknowledged that team combinations are under discussion for the high-stakes match.

“There can be changes, yes,” Kotak told reporters. “And obviously, it goes without saying that we discuss, because there are two leftie openers, number three is left-handed.”

While Kotak downplayed the imbalance, he admitted early setbacks had forced the team to reassess.

“I personally don’t think that there is any problem there but because we lost a wicket in the first over in three games, obviously, any team would think,” he said.

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India’s top and middle order is dominated by left-handers, offering opponents a clear tactical approach.

Teams including Pakistan, the Netherlands, and South Africa have targeted the vulnerability by opening the bowling with off-spin, dismissing one of the two openers in the first over with an off-spinner.

In the loss to South Africa, Abhishek’s opening partner Ishan Kishan fell for a fourth-ball duck after skipper Aiden Markram opened the bowling with off-spin.

Sanju Samson, a right-hander who played in the tournament with Abhishek unwell, could break the left-handed grip on the top of the order.

“People ask about Sanju as right-hander up front,” said Kotak. “Or you think of playing three spinners,” he added.

Zimbabwe, led by Sikandar Raza, have emerged as one of the surprise packages of the tournament, having stunned Australia and co-hosts Sri Lanka to reach the Super Eights.

The West Indies top the Super Eights Group 1 after defeating Zimbabwe, with South Africa second. Both India and Zimbabwe head into Thursday’s clash in urgent need of a victory.

“For us, every match is a must-win from here,” said Kotak.

“If you want to go and win the World Cup, you expect to beat all the sides you play.”

Indian middle-order batter Rinku Singh has left the team to attend to his ailing father and missed training ahead of the key match. But Kotak said Rinku will rejoin the team Wednesday evening.

READ: Sahibzada Farhan climbs to career-best third in ICC T20I rankings

DUBAI: Pakistan opener Sahibzada Farhan has surged to a career-best third position in the latest ICC T20I Batting Rankings following his prolific run in the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

Farhan, currently the leading run-scorer of the tournament, has amassed 283 runs in five innings at a staggering average of 70.75.

His consistent performances at the top of the order have earned him 810 rating points, moving him up two spots in the global standings.

The right-hander now sits just five points behind England’s Phil Salt, who occupies second place with 815 points.

India’s Abhishek Sharma continues to lead the rankings with 877 points despite a relatively modest campaign in the tournament so far.

While Farhan enjoyed a significant rise, several other Pakistani batters experienced a dip in their positions.

Opener Saim Ayub has slipped three places to 34th, while former captain Babar Azam dropped one spot to 36th. Captain Salman Ali Agha is now ranked 38th after a one-place fall, and Fakhar Zaman has slid to 88th.

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In the bowlers’ list, spinner Abrar Ahmed dropped from third to fifth with 712 rating points, while Mohammad Nawaz fell three places to 12th.

Among the pacers, Mohammad Salman Mirza climbed one place to 18th, and Shaheen Shah Afridi rose four spots to 31st.

One of the biggest movers was Usman Tariq, who jumped 59 places to reach 55th.

Spinner Sufiyan Muqeem slipped 10 places to 60th, while all-rounder Shadab Khan gained 10 spots to move up to 65th.

Saim Ayub also dropped 11 places in the bowlers’ rankings to 66th, and pacer Haris Rauf fell five positions to 81st.

India’s Varun Chakaravarthy continues to lead the T20I bowlers’ rankings, followed by Afghanistan captain Rashid Khan in second. South Africa’s Corbin Bosch made a remarkable leap of 21 places to claim third spot.

In the ICC T20I all-rounders’ rankings, Zimbabwe skipper Sikandar Raza has reclaimed the top position, pushing Saim Ayub down to second. India’s Hardik Pandya remains third.

READ: ECB insists Pakistan players will not be frozen out the Hundred

Pakistani players will not be discriminated against in selection for the Hundred, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said on Tuesday, despite reports they could be overlooked due to political tensions with India.

The BBC reported last week that the four Indian-owned franchises of the eight-team competition, Manchester Super Giants, MI London, Southern Brave and Sunrisers Leeds, were not considering Pakistani players for next month’s auction.

A total of 67 Pakistan players – 63 men and four women – have submitted themselves for selection.

“The England and Wales Cricket Board and all eight of The Hundred team franchises reaffirm their commitment to ensuring The Hundred continues to be a competition that is inclusive, welcoming and open to all,” the ECB said in a statement.

“All eight teams commit to selection being based solely on cricketing performance, availability, and the needs of each team.”

Players from Pakistan have not featured in the lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL) since 2009 because of diplomatic tensions between the two countries.

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With several IPL owners now owning teams in several different countries, opportunities for Pakistani cricketers to participate in various other leagues are in danger of being reduced further.

Players will go under the hammer in London on March 11 and 12.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan had been among those to call for action from the ECB over the rumours.

“They own the league, and this should not be allowed to happen,” said Vaughan, who referenced the ECB’s stated aim of cricket becoming the most inclusive sport in England.

“The most inclusive sport in the country is not one that allows this to happen.”

READ: Newcastle complete cruise into Champions League last 16

International Test cricket will return to Darwin city for the first time in over two decades in August, Cricket Australia (CA) said on Wednesday as they unveiled the schedule for an upcoming series against Bangladesh.

Cricket Australia said the first of two Tests against Bangladesh would kick off on August 13 in the Northern Territory capital, the first such match there since July 2004, when they hosted Sri Lanka.

The second Test from August 22-26 will be played in Mackay in the eastern state of Queensland.

“We’re delighted to bring Test cricket to northern Australia and look forward to a fantastic series against Bangladesh,” Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg said.

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“It is no secret the international calendar is now crowded, and we’re fortunate to have world-class facilities available in August, ensuring we have another window for Test cricket outside summer,” he added.

The Tests will be the Australian men’s first since thrashing England 4-1 in an Ashes series that wrapped up in January.

Touted as a close contest, the Ashes was all over inside three Tests with Australia superior in all departments despite missing some key players.

After the Bangladesh series, Australia will head to South Africa in October for three Test matches against the hosts in Durban, Gqeberha and Cape Town.

Australia-Bangladesh Test series schedule:

• First Test: August 13-17, Marrara Stadium, Darwin, 10am (local)
• Second Test: August 22-26, Great Barrier Reef Arena, Mackay, 10am (local)

READ: Shaheen Afridi blames lack of ‘partnerships’ for defeat against England

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