Category: Cricket

COLOMBO: Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza lavished praise on his side after sealing an emphatic 20-run victory over Australia in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

The result marked one of the biggest upsets of the tournament so far, as Zimbabwe outplayed the former champions in all departments to continue their impressive run.

Opting to bat first, Zimbabwe produced a confident batting effort to post a competitive 169-2.

Opener Brian Bennett anchored the innings with a steady 64 off 56 deliveries, striking seven boundaries. Meanwhile, captain Sikandar Raza added late impetus with an unbeaten 25 off just 13 balls.

For Australia, only Cameron Green and Marcus Stoinis managed to pick up wickets as Zimbabwe built a strong foundation.

Zimbabwe inflicted a poor start on Australia as they were reduced to 29-4 inside five overs.

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A fighting 77-run stand between Glenn Maxwell and Matt Renshaw briefly revived the chase, but the rising required rate kept mounting pressure.

Australia were eventually bowled out for 146.

Sikandar Raza took to X and praised his team for defeating a strong Australian side.

“This team. No words to describe what we all feeling today but we are aware what lies ahead and in sha Allah we remain committed and focused,” he wrote.

“Keep praying for us and in sha Allah we keep going,” Raza added.

Interestingly, this was only the second T20 World Cup meeting between the two sides, with Zimbabwe now holding a perfect 2-0 record after also defeating Australia in the inaugural 2007 edition.

With back-to-back wins, including their earlier victory over Oman, Zimbabwe have strengthened their chances of progressing to the next round. They are set to face Ireland and Sri Lanka in their remaining group fixtures.

Australia, meanwhile, must win both of their remaining matches against Sri Lanka and Oman to keep their Super Eight hopes alive.

READ: Driven by Dhoni, Pakistan’s X-factor tweaker Tariq targets India

Pakistan’s Usman Tariq left his cricket ambitions back home to start a salesman’s job in Dubai, before a biopic about India’s great Mahendra Singh Dhoni changed his life.

The unusual bowling action of the double-jointed spinner has created plenty of chatter in his first T20 World Cup, and now he goes into Sunday’s revived clash against India as one of Pakistan’s main weapons.

His inspiration was born in India, and Tariq admits that if he had not watched the 2016 Bollywood movie “M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story,” he might not be playing cricket today.

Based on the life of India’s World Cup-winning captain, the movie told a tale of grit, rejection, and eventual glory — and made Tariq believe it was never too late to chase his ambition.

Tariq, now 30, left Dubai and roamed around the world to mature as a mystery spinner.

Pakistan skipper Salman Agha insisted Tariq will be a special weapon when his side face their arch-rivals, after being cleared to play after an Islamabad government U-turn after initially ordering a boycott of the India match.

“Tariq is our X-factor and a key weapon,” Agha said ahead of the tournament after Pakistan had used him sparingly to protect his unique action.

Since making his international debut just three months ago, Tariq has taken 11 wickets in four T20 internationals, including a hat-trick against Zimbabwe in Rawalpindi.

He grabbed a match-defining 3-27 against USA in Colombo on his World Cup debut this week.

The 28-year-old’s bizarre bowling action was reported as illegal twice in the last two years, but was cleared by the International Cricket Council laboratory.

His action carries an element of mystery as he pauses exaggeratedly before releasing the ball in a slingshot manner.

England’s Tom Banton questioned Tariq’s action in the United Arab Emirates T20 League last year.

Australia all-rounder Cameron Green mimicked Tariq’s round-arm during the T20 series before the World Cup in Lahore, raising renewed doubts.

But India player Ravichandran Ashwin, himself a great spinner, and umpire Anil Chaudhary declared Tariq’s bowling action to be within the rules.

“I believe that it is entirely legal,” Ashwin wrote on X, by explaining several factors of the action.

Tariq is unperturbed by the doubters.

“I have two corners of my bowling arm elbow, which is rare,” Tariq told AFP.

“I have been cleared twice so I am confident that it’s legal.

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“I have struggled this far and am not worried about such baseless questions.”

After Tariq left Dubai a friend introduced him to Pakistan opener Fakhar Zaman who took him to a local coach in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, his hometown.

“Zaman brought this young and determined boy to me,” Wajahatullah Wasti, a former Pakistan player, told AFP.

“I watched him bowl with amazement as he looked very unique and I advised him to bowl a little quicker. Today he has made a name for himself.”

Tariq talked about the Dhoni biopic that changed everything.

“I had left behind thinking of making a name in cricket, but one day I watched this film and it convinced me that I can also do the same,” Tariq told AFP.

Tariq progressed by leaps and bounds.

He finished with 20 wickets in the Caribbean Premier League last year, forcing his way into the Pakistan team.

“My coach informed me about my selection in the Pakistan team while I was busy with my wedding last year and initially I thought it was a prank,” said Tariq.

“But it was true so I think my wife brought luck for me.”

From a salesman in Dubai to Pakistan’s potential trump card against India, Tariq’s script is still being written.

READ: Mohammad Amir labels Abhishek Sharma “just a slogger”

COLOMBO: A disciplined bowling display led by Blessing Muzarabani and a composed half-century from Brian Bennett steered Zimbabwe to a memorable 23-run victory over Australia in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at the R. Premadasa Stadium on Friday.

The result marked one of the biggest upsets of the tournament so far, as Zimbabwe outplayed the former champions in all departments to continue their impressive run.

Opting to bat first, Zimbabwe produced a confident batting effort to post a competitive 169-2.

Opener Brian Bennett anchored the innings with a steady 64 off 56 deliveries, striking seven boundaries.

He found solid support from Tadiwanashe Marumani and Ryan Burl, who contributed 35 runs apiece, while captain Sikandar Raza added late impetus with an unbeaten 25 off just 13 balls.

For Australia, only Cameron Green and Marcus Stoinis managed to pick up wickets as Zimbabwe built a strong foundation.

Australia’s chase began on a disastrous note as Muzarabani and Brad Evans struck early, sharing four wickets to leave Australia struggling at 29-4 inside five overs.

A fighting 77-run stand between Glenn Maxwell and Matt Renshaw briefly revived the chase, but the rising required rate kept mounting pressure.

Maxwell scored 31 off 32 before being clean bowled by Ryan Burl, while Renshaw’s determined 65 off 44 ended when Muzarabani struck again, effectively sealing the contest. Australia were eventually bowled out for 146.

Muzarabani finished with four wickets, while Evans claimed three. Wellington Masakadza and Ryan Burl chipped in with one wicket each to complete a clinical bowling performance.

Interestingly, this was only the second T20 World Cup meeting between the two sides, with Zimbabwe now holding a perfect 2-0 record after also defeating Australia in the inaugural 2007 edition.

With back-to-back wins, including their earlier victory over Oman, Zimbabwe have strengthened their chances of progressing to the next round. They are set to face Ireland and Sri Lanka in their remaining group fixtures.

Australia, meanwhile, must win both of their remaining matches against Sri Lanka and Oman to keep their Super Eight hopes alive.

READ: Mohammad Amir labels Abhishek Sharma “just a slogger”

Former Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir has delivered a blunt assessment of India’s explosive opener Abhishek Sharma ahead of the much-anticipated clash between the arch-rivals in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 on Sunday.

Speaking during a local TV show, Amir offered an unfiltered critique of the left-hander’s batting approach, questioning both his technique and consistency at the highest level.

“From what I’ve seen, if I’m being completely honest, he looks like a slogger to me,” Amir said. “He tries to hit every ball. If it connects, it connects, but most of the time the chances of failure are higher.”

The former left-arm pacer pointed to the high-risk nature of Sharma’s game, highlighting fluctuating returns with the bat.

“You must have noticed that he might play eight innings and score in only one of them, while in the others he gets 10, 15, 0, 20,” he said.

“The way he swings the bat, there doesn’t seem to be much technique; it’s more like, ‘Just give me the ball, and I’ll swing.’ Technically, I haven’t found him very sound.”

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Mohammad Amir, however, acknowledged the danger Sharma poses on his day.

“When it comes off, it really comes off, and he can hurt any team,” he said, while noting that the batter still appears vulnerable against quality variations, particularly slower deliveries and subtle swing.

He added that he would consider Sharma a complete batter only when he consistently handles movement and demonstrates stronger technical control.

Despite the criticism, Sharma’s numbers in T20 internationals remain impressive.

The explosive opener has scored 1,297 runs in 39 matches at a remarkable strike rate of 194.95, including two centuries and eight half-centuries.

Against Pakistan, he has accumulated 110 runs in three games at a strike rate close to 190, registering one fifty.

However, his impact in the ongoing tournament has been limited. Sharma was dismissed for a first-ball duck against the USA and missed the Namibia fixture due to illness, leaving his availability for the Pakistan encounter uncertain.

READ: Will Abhishek Sharma be available for India-Pakistan clash?

COLOMBO: Zimbabwe have suffered a major setback in their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign after veteran wicketkeeper-batter Brendan Taylor was ruled out of the remainder of the tournament with a hamstring injury.

The development was confirmed by Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza at the toss ahead of their ongoing fixture against the Australia national cricket team in Colombo on Friday.

Taylor, 40, sustained the injury during Zimbabwe’s opening match of the tournament against Oman.

He was forced to retire hurt after scoring 31 off 30 deliveries, having earlier contributed behind the stumps with three catches.

Team management had monitored his recovery closely, hoping he would regain fitness for the latter stages, but the experienced batter has now been officially ruled out.

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Zimbabwe are yet to announce a replacement, although a decision is expected soon with at least two group matches still to play in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

In Taylor’s absence, Tadiwanashe Marumani has taken over wicketkeeping duties against Australia, while all-rounder Tony Munyonga has been drafted into the playing XI.

Taylor’s latest setback comes months after his return to international cricket in July 2025, following a three-and-a-half-year suspension for breaching the ICC’s anti-corruption code.

Since completing his ban, he featured in two Tests, two ODIs and 14 T20Is for Zimbabwe, scoring 282 runs, including a memorable 123 against Botswana in a T20 World Cup qualifying match last year.

Zimbabwe squad

Sikandar Raza (c), Brian Bennett, Ryan Burl, Graeme Cremer, Bradley Evans, Clive Madande, Tinotenda Maposa, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Wellington Masakadza, Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Musekiwa, Blessing Muzarabani, Dion Myers, Richard Ngarava, Brendan Taylor

READ: Weather forecast for Colombo ahead of Pakistan-India clash

COLOMBO: Weather could play spoilsport in the much-anticipated Pakistan vs India clash in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, with forecasts indicating a significant chance of rain on Sunday, February 15.

The high-voltage encounter at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium is already surrounded by drama after uncertainty earlier threatened the fixture.

However, while the political and administrative hurdles were eventually cleared, attention has now shifted to Colombo’s unpredictable weather.

According to forecasts, there is around a 50 percent chance of rain and thunderstorms during the match window, with nearly 2.1mm of rainfall expected.

The conditions raise the possibility of interruptions and, in the worst-case scenario, a complete washout if the weather fails to improve.

As per tournament regulations, both sides would share one point each should the match be abandoned.

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Despite the looming weather threat, the result is unlikely to significantly impact qualification scenarios.

Both teams currently sit at the top of Group A with two wins each, India leading on net run rate.

A washout would move both sides to five points, keeping them firmly on course for a place in the Super Eight stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

Historically, India have held the upper hand in this rivalry in the shortest format.

Out of 16 T20 internationals between the two teams, India have won 13, while Pakistan have secured three victories.

In T20 World Cup meetings, India lead 6-1, with one encounter ending in no result.

READ: Will Abhishek Sharma be available for India-Pakistan clash?

COLOMBO: India’s preparations for their marquee showdown against Pakistan have been dealt a potential blow, with explosive opener Abhishek Sharma still uncertain for the high-voltage ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 encounter scheduled on February 15.

The left-handed batter is racing against time to regain full fitness after being hospitalised earlier this week due to a stomach infection.

According to Indian media reports, Sharma has recovered enough to be discharged and rejoin the squad, but lingering weakness continues to concern the team management ahead of the crucial fixture.

Sharma had already missed India’s previous match against Namibia on Thursday, a game the defending champions won comfortably by 93 runs.

Medical staff are closely monitoring his condition, and a final decision on his participation is expected after Friday’s training session in Colombo.

In a recent video update alongside pacer Arshdeep Singh, Sharma revealed the toll the illness has taken on him, sharing that he survived mostly on plain rice and lentils and lost nearly two kilograms during his recovery period.

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India are due to arrive in Colombo from Delhi later tonight as preparations intensify for one of cricket’s most anticipated rivalries against the Pakistan national cricket team.

The clash, part of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, is scheduled for Sunday and carries significant importance for both sides.

The aggressive opener has amassed 1,297 runs in 39 matches at a remarkable strike rate of 194.95, including two centuries and eight half-centuries.

Against Pakistan, he has scored 110 runs in three appearances at a strike rate of 189.65, registering one half-century.

Historically, India have dominated the rivalry in the shortest format. Out of 16 T20 internationals between the two teams, India have won 13, while Pakistan have managed three victories.

In T20 World Cup contests, India lead 6-1, with one match ending without a result.

READ: Sialkot Stallionz add domestic trio to squad for PSL 11

The Pakistan Super League (PSL) new franchise Sialkot Stallionz has expanded their squad to 19 members with the addition of three domestic players following the player auction held on February 10 in Lahore.

The outfit confirmed the signings in a statement that included the players’ details.

“Sialkot Stallions have included Mohammad Shehzad, Arshad Iqbal, and Nisar Khan in their squad,” it said.

“All three players have signed contracts worth PKR 6 million each with the franchise and will represent Sialkot Stallions in the upcoming season,” Stallionz added.

“The inclusion of these players will further strengthen the team’s batting and bowling departments. Following these new signings, Sialkot Stallions’ squad for HBL PSL now consists of 19 players.”

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Among the notable inclusions is all-rounder Mohammad Shehzad, who went unsold in the auction.

Shehzad posted on social media about his frustration at not being selected in the auction, questioning why he could not secure a place on a team.

“Hey, hope [you] all are good, 10 months before I was the Player of the Tournament in President’s Trophy,” Shahzad posted on his Instagram handle.

He emphasized his domestic performance over the past year, noting that he was also outstanding performer in the Hong Kong Super Sixes.

“I’m the second highest wicket taker in the tournament of Hong Kong Super Sixes and was part of Emerging Asia Cup winning team, [but] unfortunately I did not get opportunity to play,”

“Now I’m unsold in PSL auction. I can’t fit in 100 players? Really?,” he questioned.

For the unversed, PSL 11 will kick off on March 26 across five cities of Pakistan.

Sialkot Stallionz Squad for PSL 11

Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Ahmed Daniyal, Saad Masood, Steve Smith, Jahanzaib Sultan, Sahibzada Farhan, Ashton Turner, Peter Siddle, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lachlan Shaw, Delano Potgieter, Josh Phillippe, Shan Masood, Momin Qamar, Mohammad Shahzad, Muhammad Awais Zafar, Arshad Iqbal, and Nisar Khan

READ: T20 World Cup: India seal big win ahead of Pakistan showdown

DELHI: Hardik Pandya’s all-round skills came to the fore against Namibia, powering India to a 93-run victory ahead of the Pakistan clash in the 18th match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 here at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Thursday.

Set a daunting 210, Namibia were skittled for 116 in 18.2 overs.

Namibia’s openers started positively with 33 runs in the first 3.4 overs. Jan Frylinck struck three fours and a six in his 22 from 15 balls.

Despite the wicket, the visitors kept batting briskly as Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton and Louren Steenkamp put on 34 run stand on the second wicket, bringing the score to 67 in 7.1 overs.

Steenkamp top-scored with 29 from 20 balls, hitting two fours.

After his wicket, skipper Gerhard Erasmus came to the crease and struck two sixes before getting caught. He made 18 from 11 balls.

His wicket sparked a collapse as India never allowed Namibia to recover. Consequently, they slumped to 94-6 to all-out from 86-2 in 18.2 overs.

Earlier, Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya’s rapid half-centuries propelled India to a massive total.

Asked to bat first, India racked up  209-9 in their 20 overs.

Sanju Samson, who was brought into the side as ill Abhishek Sharma’s replacement, started briskly with a flurry of boundaries.

The right-hander hit three sixes in his 22 from eight before getting caught in the second over.

After his wicket, Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma stabilized the innings with a 79-run partnership on 39 balls.

Ishan, who struck five sixes and six fours in his 61 from 24, played the core aggressor role while Varma played the second fiddle.

The duo brought the team’s score to 104 from 25 in 7.1 overs.

Namibia’s spin bowlers made an impressive comeback in the middle overs, wicket-quick wickets to dent the hosts’ proceedings.

For India, Varun Chakravarthy took three wickets, while Hardik Pandya also chipped in with the ball, taking two wickets.

India will face Pakistan in the high-voltage clash on Sunday, February 15.

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As a result, India were 124-4 in 11.5 overs with all-rounders Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube at the crease.

The pair stitched a vital 81-run partnership off 39 balls, putting their side in a commanding position.

Pandya scored a brisk 52 from 28, including four maximums and four boundaries.

Nambia did well in the final two overs as India lost five wickets in the span of eight balls.

For Namibia, Gerhard Erasmus stood out with four wickets to his name in his quota of four overs.

READ: T20 World Cup: Shanaka record-breaking fifty sinks Oman

Dasun Shanaka hammered the fastest half-century by a Sri Lankan in T20Is as the co-hosts thrashed Oman by 105 runs at the T20 World Cup on Thursday in Pallekele for their second win in Group B.

Sri Lanka piled up 225-5, the highest total of the tournament, before restricting an outclassed Oman to 120-9.

The 43-year-old Mohammad Nadeem waged a lone battle for Oman, compiling an unbeaten 53 to become the oldest player to score a fifty in T20 World Cups.

Having promoted himself up the order and under pressure to deliver, Sri Lanka skipper Shanaka smashed a 19-ball half-century.

It has been a bruising few months for the out-of-form Shanaka since reclaiming the captaincy late last year.

But on a batting-friendly pitch he smacked the Oman bowlers to all corners of the park, peppering the stands with five sixes and two fours.

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Before that, Pavan Rathnayake and Kusal Mendis laid the foundation as the pair each posted fluent half-centuries, stitching together a 94-run stand for the third wicket.

Once the platform was set, Kamindu Mendis applied the finishing touches.

Fresh from his match-turning cameo in the win over Ireland, the left-hander scored an unbeaten 19 off just seven deliveries, striking one four and two sixes.

Oman were never really in the game as they fell to a second defeat at the tournament.

Sri Lanka spinner Maheesh Theekshana shared the new ball with Dushmantha Chameera, and they accounted for two wickets apiece.

READ: PSL 11: Rawalpindi secure Jake Fraser-McGurk as direct signing