Category: Cricket

COLOMBO: Pakistan mystery spinner Usman Tariq has thrown his support behind senior stars Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 clash against Namibia, scheduled to be played at the Sinhalese Sports Club on Wednesday.

The reassurance comes in the wake of Pakistan’s disappointing defeat to India, a result that drew heavy criticism towards the team’s senior players.

Babar managed just five runs in the high-pressure clash, while Shaheen conceded 31 runs in his two overs, leaving fans and analysts questioning their form.

Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Usman Tariq highlighted the immense contributions of the experienced duo and urged patience, stressing that ups and downs are part of the sport.

He expressed confidence that the team would bounce back strongly in the upcoming fixture.

“Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi have won many matches for us. Winning and losing are part of the game. Going forward, you will see us play well,” Tariq said.

The spinner also shed light on the team’s internal review process following setbacks, noting that the focus remains on identifying mistakes and ensuring they are not repeated.

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According to him, learning from defeat is essential for consistent performance at the highest level.

“After every match, discussions revolve around what went wrong. If one match doesn’t go well, that’s part of the game,” he added.

Tariq emphasised that the squad has actively worked on correcting errors and improving execution, insisting that unresolved mistakes, not defeats, create long-term problems.

He also addressed the mental side of the game, pointing out the importance of handling pressure in crucial matches.

“Feeling pressure is normal. Controlling it is part of the job, and we have worked on that. Right now, I don’t feel the team is under pressure,” he concluded.

Pakistan currently sit third in Group A with two wins and one defeat, holding a net run rate of -0.403.

A victory against Namibia would take them to the Super Eight stage with six points and a second-place finish in their group, only behind India.

READ: New Zealand power into Super Eight after dominant win over Canada

CHENNAI: New Zealand stormed into the Super Eight stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 after a commanding eight-wicket victory over Canada at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Tuesday.

Chasing a challenging target of 174, New Zealand completed the task with remarkable ease, reaching 176-2 in just 15.1 overs, powered by a match-defining partnership between Glenn Phillips and Rachin Ravindra.

The Blackcaps made a steady start through openers Tim Seifert and Finn Allen, who added 30 runs before Canada struck back with quick wickets.

Seifert departed for six, while Allen’s brisk 21 off eight balls, featuring two fours and a six, ended soon after.

Ravindra and Phillips then took control, combining caution with aggression in a brilliant 100-run stand that put New Zealand firmly on course.

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Phillips led the charge with a scintillating unbeaten 76 off 36 deliveries, smashing four boundaries and six sixes to register his 12th T20I half-century.

Ravindra provided solid support with 59 off 39 balls, including four fours and three sixes, bringing up his fourth T20I fifty as New Zealand sealed a comprehensive win.

Earlier, Canada posted a competitive 173-4 thanks to a superb century from Yuvraj Samra.

Opting to bat first, Canada enjoyed a strong start as Samra and skipper Dilpreet Bajwa stitched together a 116-run opening partnership.

Bajwa contributed 36 off 39 deliveries before falling in the 14th over, but Samra carried on in sublime fashion, scoring a magnificent 110 off 65 balls with 11 fours before being dismissed in the final over.

READ: Benfica’s Jose Mourinho plays down Real Madrid return

Pakistan men’s cricket team is set to tour Bangladesh following the conclusion of the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, with a three-match ODI series scheduled in March.

The ODI series will be played in Dhaka on March 12, 14 and 16, marking the start of Pakistan’s white-ball assignment in Bangladesh.

The Green Shirts will return home and will tour Bangladesh again in May after the completion of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 11.

The two sides will meet for a two-match Test series in May, part of the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025–27 cycle.

The first Test is slated to take place in Dhaka from May 8 to 12, while the second Test will be held in Chattogram from May 16 to 20.

Pakistan’s visit forms part of Bangladesh’s packed home international calendar for the 2026 season.

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The Tigers are scheduled to host four Tests, 12 ODIs and nine T20Is across the year, beginning with Pakistan’s tour immediately after the T20 World Cup.

After Pakistan ODIs, the New Zealand men’s cricket team will arrive for a white-ball series starting April 17.

Later in the season, Australia are also set to tour Bangladesh for three ODIs and three T20Is, with matches scheduled around mid-June.

Bangladesh are further expected to host India for a limited-overs series in August-September 2026, featuring three ODIs and three T20Is, following a two-match Test series against the West Indies men’s cricket team under the WTC.

However, uncertainty surrounds India’s tour after recent tensions, including Bangladesh’s withdrawal from the T20 World Cup in India, where they were replaced by Scotland.

Schedule of Pakistan-Bangladesh series

• First ODI – March 12
• Second ODI – March 14
• Third ODI – March 16
• First Test – May 8 to 12
• Second Test – May 16 to 20

READ: Ganguly downplays excitement over India-Pakistan match

Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly shared his thoughts on the hype surrounding India-Pakistan matches nowadays, saying they’re no longer the big game for him and that they lack the same zeal.

His comments have come on the back of a lacklustre show from the Men in Green in Colombo, as they lost this marquee match by 61 runs – the biggest margin against India in T20 World Cups.

Ganguly explains how everyone has fooled themselves into believing that the current Pakistan side is the same as that of the 1980s and late 1990s, which included match-winners like Javed Miandad and Saeed Anwar, among others.

Drawing comparison with other teams against whom both the competition and results bring excitement, Ganguly said India-Australia and India-South Africa matches are grander than the ones against Pakistan because of the quality gap between all these sides.

“A big match doesn’t really exist now; big matches used to happen earlier. We make the mistake of thinking of Pakistan as the team of Javed Miandad, Saeed Anwar, but that Pakistan no longer exists,” Ganguly said in a chat with an Indian news agency.

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“So, in my view, it’s not a big match for me; the real big matches are India vs Australia, India vs South Africa, and India vs England. There’s a huge difference between the teams, so the result is expected, and the quality gap is more noticeable than the result.”

“I am actually not surprised by what I saw. I actually stopped watching after the first 15 overs and started watching Manchester United and Man City (in English Premier League).”

Meanwhile, India has qualified for the Super 8s, becoming the second team after the West Indies to advance to the next round.

On Monday, South Africa also qualified, courtesy of Afghanistan’s maiden win (over the UAE) in this edition.

READ: Accommodation crisis hits Pakistan hockey team in Australia

KANDY: Pathum Nissanka’s sublime century helped Sri Lanka crush Australia in the 30th match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026  here at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Monday.

Sri Lanka made a mockery of a stiff target, chasing down the 182 target in 18 overs, and losing only two wickets in the process.

With this loss, Australia will now hope to beat Oman if several other results go their way.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka have qualified for the Super Eight with three wins out of three games.

After losing Kusal Perera early in the piece for one, Nissanka took the responsibility and forged a 97-run stand with Kusal Mendis.

The duo made the light work of the chase, crossing the 100-run mark in 12.2 overs.

Mendis made 51 from 38, striking a six and a half dozen fours.

Despite the wicket, Australia’s bowlers could not make a comeback as Nissanka kept them at bay with his tremendous strokeplay.

The right-hander was involved in another unbeaten partnership of 69 with Pavan Rathnayake.

Eventually, he reached his century with a flurry of boundaries and finished off the match with 100 not out from 52 balls, laced with 10 fours and five sixes.

For Australia, there was nothing much in the bowling attack with Marcus Stoinis picking up two wickets.

Earlier, Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head’s brisk half-centuries powered Australia to a strong total against a depleted Sri Lanka bowling lineup.

Put into bat first, Australia were bowled out for 181 on the final ball of their innings.

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The openers came firing all cylinders in their must-win encounter, adding 104 in 8.3 overs.

The pair batted briskly against the Islanders’ bowling attack, which was without the services of Matheesa Pathirana, who suffered an injury blow in the opening overs.

Sri Lanka had already lost their ace spinner Wanindu Hasaranga, who was ruled out of the tournament due to an injury.

Nonetheless, the stand eventually ended with Head’s wicket, who went after scoring 54 off 27, striking two sixes and eight fours. Soon after, Marsh followed him as Sri Lanka made a strong comeback.

The right-hander hit two sixes and eight fours in his enterprising 54 from 27 balls.

It was Sri Lanka spinners Dushan Hemantha and Dunith Wellalage show in the middle overs, curtailing a power-packed middle-order.

The hosts eventually managed to hold Australia below 200, as there was no significant contribution from the opposition’s lower middle order.

For Sri Lanka, Dushan Hemantha starred with three wicket haul, whereas Dushmantha Chameera provided him support with two wickets.

READ: Shahid Afridi slams senior trio after loss to India

DELHI: Afghanistan spin wizard Rashid Khan on Monday made history by becoming the first bowler to take 700 T20 wickets during his team’s clash against UAE in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

Rashid, 27, reached the landmark in a unique fashion as UAE’s lower-order batter Muhammad Arfan was out hit wicket in a bid to play a reverse sweep, which he missed completely during the 15th over of the game.

Rashid had already surpassed the former West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo’s tally of 631 wickets in February 2025.

Currently, Sunil Narine and Imran Tahir are the other active cricketers who are in the list of the highest wicket takers, who are behind Rashid Khan.

Most Wickets in T20s

Rashid Khan (AFG) – 518 matches, 700 wickets

Dwayne Bravo (WI) – 582 matches, 631 wickets

Sunil Narine (WI) –  583 matches, 613 wickets

Overall, he has 191 wickets in 114 T20Is and is also closing on the record of becoming the first bowler to reach 200 wickets.

Most Wickets in T20Is 

Rashid Khan (AFG) – 114 matches, 191 wickets

TG Southee (NZ) – 126 matches, 164 wickets

IS Sodhi (NZ) – 137 matches, 162 wickets

Shakib Al Hasan (BAN) – 129 matches, 149 wickets

Mustafizur Rahman (BAN) – 126 matches, 158 wickets

Notably, Rashid has several other records to his name, as he has the most hat-tricks (4) in T20 cricket.

READ: Shahid Afridi slams senior trio after loss to India

KOLKATA: Will Jack’s record fifty helped sloppy England edge past Italy in a nervy 24-run win in the 29th fixture of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 here at the Eden Gardens on Monday.

More to follow…

Set 203, Italy were bowled out for 178 on the final ball of the innings.

Jofra Archer inflicted a poor start on Italy lost their three wickets inside four overs.

Consequently, Italy were 22-3 when skipper Ben Manenti arrived at the crease and steadied their innings with a 92-run stand alongside Justin Mosca.

The duo not only launched a recovery but also counterattacked, keeping the required run rate in control.

The promising stand eventually culminated with Ben Manenti’s wicket, who was caught after tonking Will Jacks for two sixes and a four.

Jacks had the last laugh as he was caught long on, scoring 60 off 25, hitting six maximums and four boundaries.

Despite the wicket, Italy were in the hunt with Grant Stewart providing them hope, hitting a brisk 45 from 23 with the aid of five sixes and two fours.

But his wicket in the penultimate over dashed Azurri’s hopes of sealing a memorable win.

For England, Jamie Overton took three wickets in his four overs while giving away only 18.

Earlier, England posted 202-7 in their 20 overs in a must-win Group C clash against Italy.

Most of England’s batters got good starts against the lowest-ranked team in the tournament after Harry Brook won the toss and chose to bat.

But only Jacks, who reached his fifty off 21 balls, capitalised as Italy kept chipping away with regular wickets.

Jacks took the game by the scruff of the neck after England stuttered to 105-5 in the 13th over.

He put on 54 in 25 balls with Sam Curran (25) for the sixth wicket and 35 in 16 balls with Jamie Overton (15) for the seventh.

His fourth six, which took him to his fifty, also saw England pass 200 for the first time in the tournament, with Jacks finishing 53 not out off 22 balls.

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An England win will guarantee their passage to the Super Eights along with the already-qualified West Indies from Group C.

A defeat will leave them with two wins and two losses from their four matches and reliant on the final group results this week going their way.

England named an unchanged side for the third match running and were 56-2 at the end of the six-over power play, having lost both openers.

Jos Buttler, who has failed to pass 30 in the tournament so far, continued his run of low scores with three.

Phil Salt got off to a rapid start before also falling for 28 off 15 balls with two sixes.

Both were caught attempting big hits and, when Jacob Bethell followed suit for 23, England were wobbling at 67-3 in the eighth over.

Brook took a four and a six off the first two balls of JJ Smuts’ third over.

He edged the next ball to wicketkeeper Gian-Piero Meade, trying to cut, and England were 92-4 after 11 overs.

READ: Shahid Afridi slams senior trio after loss to India

Former captain Shahid Afridi has called for bold decisions ahead of Pakistan’s last group-stage fixture against Namibia in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, stating that the trio comprising Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi and Shadab Khan should be benched.

The all-rounder made the remarks while appearing on a private channel, where he highlighted the shortcomings of the senior players following Pakistan’s crushing defeat to India.

“If I were to make the decision, I would bench Babar, I would bench Shaheen, and I would also bench Shadab,” he said.

He emphasised giving the bench players a chance to prove their potential in the upcoming fixture against Namibia.

“I would play the new boys and give the youngsters a chance. For our match against Namibia, I would back them, give them confidence, and let them play,” Afridi said.

“We have been watching the same players for so long. Whenever we expect them to deliver in big matches, especially as senior players, they don’t always perform. If the seniors are not delivering, why not give the juniors sitting outside a chance?” he concluded.

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It is worth noting that Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, and Shadab Khan underperformed in the high-voltage clash against India.

Shaheen gave 31 in his two overs, whereas Shadab Khan bowled only one over and conceded 17.

Meanwhile, Babar went through another low score against arch-rivals India, managing only five from seven before getting bowled off left-arm spinner Axar Patel’s delivery.

Eventually, Pakistan lost the game by a hefty 61-run margin, putting them in a precarious position ahead of the fixture.

The loss against Namibia could prove a final nail in the coffin for the Green Shirts, as USA are ahead of them on the points table due to their superior net run rate.

READ: Smith added to Australia T20 World Cup squad

Steve Smith has been added to Australia’s T20 World Cup squad to fill the place left vacant by Josh Hazlewood and looks likely to play in their must-win match against Sri Lanka later Monday.

Smith arrived in Sri Lanka last week and is eligible for selection after the International Cricket Council approved his inclusion to complete Australia’s 15-man squad.

Sean Abbott had been called up as cover for Hazlewood, who withdrew on the eve of the tournament, but the quick bowler was never formally added to the squad, leaving one place open.

Smith answered an SOS call last week and flew to Sri Lanka after captain and regular opening batsman Mitchell Marsh was injured by a throw-down during batting practice in Colombo a week ago.

With Marsh, who missed Australia’s first two matches, still doubtful for Monday’s game in Kandy after suffering bleeding from a testicle, Smith is in line to pad up at the top of the order.

“ICC regulations stipulate any squad change must be submitted and activated at least one day prior to a match,” said Australia selector Tony Dodemaide.

“With Steve here, along with some uncertainty around Mitch and Marcus Stoinis, it made sense he is activated and available for selection in time for the match, if required.”

The in-form Smith is one of Australia’s most experienced and best players against spin.

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He was controversially omitted from the original T20 World Cup squad despite his blistering Big Bash League form as an opening batsman.

“Smitty’s obviously here, so if he gets his chance, he’ll be ready to go. He’s the ultimate professional,” Australia all-rounder Stoinis told reporters in Kandy late Sunday.

Australia are already without the injured leading pace bowlers Pat Cummins and Hazlewood.

Powerhouse batsman Tim David has only just returned from a hamstring tear suffered in December, while Stoinis injured his hand fielding in the shock defeat to Zimbabwe that left Australia on the brink of elimination.

Should Australia lose to Sri Lanka in Group B it would be their second defeat, meaning a victory by Zimbabwe over Ireland on Tuesday or against Sri Lanka on Thursday would eliminate the 2021 champions.

Stoinis said he should be fit to play in the crunch game.

“The hand’s pretty good,” Stoinis said.

“Got the scan and there’s no break there or anything like that, so it’s just a bit battered and bruised, much better than I thought, to be honest.”

READ: Ruthless India crush Pakistan in another T20 World Cup clash

DELHI: Afghanistan secured their first victory of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 with a composed five-wicket win over the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Monday at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.

Chasing 161, Afghanistan stumbled early when Rahmanullah Gurbaz fell for a second-ball duck to Junaid Siddique in the opening over.

The innings was rebuilt through a steady partnership between Ibrahim Zadran and Gulbadin Naib, who steadied the chase after the early setback.

Naib’s brief but useful 13 off 12 balls ended when he was dismissed by Muhammad Arfan, leaving Afghanistan at 40-2.

Sediqullah Atal chipped in with 16 before departing, while Zadran anchored the innings with a crucial 53 off 41 deliveries, striking six fours and a six to keep Afghanistan in control.

The chase was then guided home by Darwish Rasooli and Azmatullah Omarzai.

Rasooli made 33 off 23 balls before falling late in the innings, but Omarzai remained unbeaten on a brisk 40 from 21 deliveries, sealing victory in 19.2 overs with support from Mohammad Nabi.

Earlier, UAE endured a difficult start after being put in to bat.

Opener Aryansh Sharma was dismissed for a duck in the first over by Omarzai, while captain Muhammad Waseem followed soon after, trapped LBW by Mujeeb Ur Rahman, leaving UAE struggling at 13-2.

A solid recovery came through an 84-run stand between Alishan Sharafu and Sohaib Khan. Sharafu scored 40 before falling to Mujeeb, while Sohaib led the resistance with an impressive 68 off 48 balls, including six fours and four sixes.

However, the UAE’s middle order collapsed under pressure as Harshit Kaushik and Muhammad Arfan were dismissed for ducks, with Rashid Khan also striking at a crucial stage. UAE eventually posted 160 on the board but failed to defend it.

Omarzai starred with the ball as well, producing a match-winning spell of 4-15 in four overs. Mujeeb claimed two wickets, while Rashid added one, helping Afghanistan register a much-needed win.

READ: Ahmed Shehzad questions Babar’s T20I future