Category: Top News

West Indies coach Daren Sammy said Sunday his side had plans to counter Zimbabwe’s giant quick bowler Blessing Muzarabani, while admitting the 2.03m (6ft 8in) beanpole had the “X-factor”.

The West Indies will open their Super Eights campaign at Mumbai’s Wankhede stadium on Monday against tournament surprise packages Zimbabwe, who topped a group including Sri Lanka and Australia.

Muzarabani was one of the revelations of the group phase, taking nine wickets and 4-17 in the upset of Australia.

“We plan for every single player. Not only him. He’s an X-factor,” Sammy told reporters Sunday.

“You’ve got to respect the opposition. We know the threat they bring against us but we also know what we have to do in order for him not to be threatening against us.”

The Super Eights were pre-seeded before the tournament, so the top eight seeds knew in advance where they would be playing in the second phase. Only one, Australia, did not make it and were replaced by Zimbabwe.

The format, though, has come under fire after all four group winners — India, South Africa, West Indies, and Zimbabwe — were pitted against each other in the second phase.

The four group runners-up — Sri Lanka, England, Pakistan, and New Zealand — are all in the other Super Eights group.

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The format has brought accusations of a lopsided second phase of the tournament, with two of the group winners certain to miss the semi-finals.

Daren Sammy played a straight when quizzed about the fixture list by reporters, saying the format gave certainty to teams and fans.

“If you take the logistics that comes into it, trying to give the fans who travel an opportunity to plan ahead, that’s the big thing for most people,” said Sammy.

“Zimbabwe came out of the group. That means somebody did not come out. Zimbabwe did what they had to do.

“I do understand from the logistic standpoint, trying to give the fans the surety, flights, whatever.”

Sammy indicated that all-rounder Romario Shepherd, who took a hat-trick against Scotland, could return after being out for the past week.

“He practised well yesterday,” Sammy said of the right-arm seamer and power hitter, who had strapping on his right knee during training on Sunday but looked in no discomfort.

“Bowled quite well, you know, hit the ball very, very cleanly.

“The good thing for us is that everybody is available for selection.

“So I’m glad to know and happy to know that all my soldiers are ready to go out to war.”

READ: WATCH: Pakistan reach Kandy ahead of England clash

AHMEDABAD: David Miller’s brisk half-century and a commanding bowling performance powered South Africa to a big win over the defending champions India in the second Super Eight fixture of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

Set 188, India were blown away in the chase by South Africa, bowling them out for 111 in 18.5 overs.

India were off to a similar start, losing their top three batters inside four overs.

Hence, the only difference was the absence of a Miller and Brevis-like partnership, which could have carried them all the way.

As a result, India continued to lose wickets at regular intervals. The Nadir came when Corbin Bosch chipped in the wickets of skipper Suryakumar Yadav and Washington Sundar.

Yadav could manage only 18 from 2,2 while Sundar scored 11.

The slide continued, but it got a break with Shivam Dube and Hardik Pandya’s partnership of 35, which provided them with a glimmer of hope.

But Keshav Maharaj’s 14th over proved to be a final nail in the coffin, as the hosts lost three wickets. Hardik (18 from 17 balls), Rinku Singh (0), and Arshdeep Singh (1) were all caught in a similar fashion on the boundary rope by Tristan Stubbs.

The innings quickly unraveled with South Africa sealing a decisive 76-run victory.

Marco Jansen remained prolific for South Africa with his four-wicket haul, while Keshav Maharaj snared three to put his name into the wickets column.

Earlier, opting to bat first under lights here at the Narendra Modi Stadium, South Africa huffed and puffed to 183-5 in their 20 overs.

The hosts were on top as they removed South Africa’s top three in the first four overs.

With the Proteas reeling at 20-3, David Miller and Dewald Brevis joined hands and took their side out of trouble.

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The pair not only launched a steady recovery with a 97-run stand, but also put South Africa in a commanding position at 117 in 12.2 overs.

Shivam Dube provided India the much-needed breakthrough, removing Dewald Brevis for 45 from 29 balls. The right-hander hit three fours and three sixes in his enterprising knock.

Meanwhile, David Miller continued on, adding another 35 runs with Tristan Stubbs.

The southpaw got out just when South Africa were eyeing a massive total. He made 63 off 35, including three sixes and seven fours.

After his wicket, South Africa lost their way, thanks to a brilliant over from Jasprit Bumrah.

But it was Tristan Stubbs’ blitz in the final over that helped the 2024 runners-up finish strong. Stubbs tonked Hardik Pandya for 20 runs to finish strong.

The right-hander remained unbeaten on 44 from 23 balls, laced with three maximums and a four.

For India, Jasprit Bumrah remained the outstanding bowler, scalping three wickets while giving away just three runs.

READ: Sehrish Ali storms into German Junior Open 2026 final

Pakistan’s rising squash talent, Sehrish Ali, has delivered an outstanding performance at the German Junior Open 2026, advancing to the U-15 final.

Competing at Sportwerk Hamburg in Hamburg, Germany, Sehrish began her knockout stage with a clinical 3–0 win over South Africa’s Julia Kozlova in the quarterfinal, taking the games 11–7, 11–5, 11–6.

She carried the same momentum into the semifinal, defeating France’s Alexandra Kotkina in another dominant 3–0 result, with scores of 11–7, 11–6, 11–7.

With back-to-back straight-game wins, Sehrish Ali has now booked her place in the final of the prestigious junior event, highlighting her growing stature on the international squash circuit.

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She will now face Egypt’s Khadija Rizq in the final later today, with the match scheduled for 4:30 PM Pakistan time.

The final will be streamed live on European Squash TV as Pakistan looks forward to another potential junior title on the global stage.

Sehrish Ali’s impressive run in Hamburg stands as a proud moment for Pakistan squash and a strong signal of the country’s emerging talent in the sport.

For the unversed, The ‘Ali Sisters’—Mehwish, Sehrish, and Mahnoor Ali—are rising Pakistani squash stars from Peshawar who are dominating international junior circuits.

Known for winning numerous gold medals at European and Asian junior events, they have significantly boosted Pakistan’s profile in women’s squash.

READ: WATCH: Pakistan reach Kandy ahead of England clash

KANDY: The Pakistan men’s cricket team arrived here on Sunday ahead of their Super Eight clash in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 against England, scheduled to be played on February 24.

The Green Shirts will undergo training tomorrow at the Pallekelle Cricket Stadium.

Pakistan’s last two Super Eights matches are scheduled in Kandy. They will play their last match against Sri Lanka on Feb 28.

The 2009 champions’ opening Super Eight fixture against New Zealand was washed out on Saturday. Both teams have been awarded one point each.

Persistent drizzle right after the toss — which Pakistan won and opted to bat — at the Premadasa Stadium did not relent, and the umpires finally called the match off at 9:05pm local time (15:35 GMT).

The abandonment of the Super Eight opening fixture has made Group 2 of the Super Eights more interesting, with each game now carrying greater importance.

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Not even a five-over match was possible by the 10:16 pm (1646 GMT) cut-off time, giving the two teams one point each.

For Pakistan to qualify for the semi-finals without relying on the Net Run Rate, they simply have to win two of their remaining games against England and Sri Lanka.

The victories will ensure Pakistan finishes on five points, virtually booking their place in the semi-finals.

Meanwhile, title-holders India, South Africa, Zimbabwe, and the West Indies are placed in Group 1.

The top two teams from each Group will qualify for the semi-finals.

READ: T20 World Cup: South Africa win toss against India

AHMEDABAD: South Africa have won the toss and opted to bat first against India in the Super Eight fixture of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 here on Sunday.

Playing XIs

India: Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (wk), Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, and Varun Chakravarthy.

South Africa: Aiden Markram (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Ryan Rickelton, Dewald Brevis, Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, and Lungi Ngidi.

Head-to-head

Both teams have met 35 times in the shorter format. India leads with 23 wins, while South Africa has 13, with one match ending in a no result.

The Men in Blue are also leading in the T20 World Cup with five wins. Meanwhile, Proteas remained successful in two matches.

Their last meeting in the tournament came in the final of the 2024 edition, which the Men in Blue won by seven runs.

Matches: 35 India: 23, South Africa: 13, No Result: 1

READ: T20 World Cup: England sink Sri Lanka in clinical bowling display

KANDY: An all-round bowling effort helped England defend a modest target against Sri Lanka in their Super Eights encounter of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

England successfully defended a partly target of 147, skittling Sri Lanka for a mere 95 in 16.4 overs.

Jofra Archer and Will Jacks combined to pile a miserable start on Sri Lanka, leaving them five down for 34 at the end of the powerplay.

The early blows never allowed the Islanders to make a comeback in the match as skipper Dasun Shanaka resisted with 30 off 24 with the help of two sixes and a boundary.

However, there was no support from others, as Sri Lanka kept losing wickets while England bowlers turned the screws on them.

For Enlgnad, Will Jacks took three wickets while Adil Rashid, Jofra Archer and Liam Dawson shared six wickets between them.

As a result, the whole team was bundled out for a modest total

Earlier, Sri Lanka delivered a collective bowling effort to keep England to a below-par 146-9.

Opting to bat first, England never truly found momentum after an early setback. Star batter Jos Buttler struggled for fluency and was dismissed for seven off 14 deliveries, falling to Dunith Wellalage inside the powerplay.

Phil Salt attempted to anchor the innings, but wickets continued to tumble at the other end. England crawled to 68-4 at the halfway stage, unable to capitalise as Sri Lanka maintained tight lines and applied constant pressure.

Sam Curran briefly threatened to accelerate but managed just 11 before Dushmantha Chameera struck.

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Salt, who had held the innings together with a counter-attacking knock, eventually fell in the following over to Wellalage after scoring 62 off 40 balls, laced with six fours and two sixes.

With Salt’s departure, England’s innings lost its backbone. Maheesh Theekshana removed Liam Dawson for six, reducing England to 124-7 in the 18th over.

Will Jacks provided late impetus with a 21-run cameo off 14 balls, while Jamie Overton’s unbeaten 10 ensured England batted out their 20 overs.

For Sri Lanka, Wellalage was the standout performer, claiming three crucial wickets. Dilshan Madushanka and Theekshana supported him well with two scalps apiece.

READ: India outclass Bangladesh to lift ACC Women’s Asia Cup Rising Stars trophy

BANGKOK: India produced a clinical all-round performance to defeat Bangladesh by 46 runs in the final and clinch the ACC Women’s Asia Cup Rising Stars title at the Terdthai Cricket Ground on Sunday.

Defending 135, India’s bowlers dominated from the outset, bundling Bangladesh out for 88 in 19.1 overs to seal a comprehensive victory in the summit clash.

Bangladesh never quite recovered after early setbacks. Shamima Sultana provided brief resistance with a brisk 20 off 15 balls, striking three boundaries, while captain Fahima Khatun chipped in with 14 off 11 deliveries.

However, the rest of the batting unit struggled to build partnerships as wickets fell at regular intervals.

Prema Rawat led India’s bowling charge with impressive figures of 3/12 in her four overs, applying sustained pressure through the middle phase.

Sonia Mendhiya and Tanuja Kanwar claimed two wickets apiece, while Saima Thakor, Minnu Mani and Radha Yadav contributed with one wicket each to wrap up the innings.

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Earlier, India posted a competitive total after opting to bat first. Openers Nandini Kashyap and Dinesh Vrinda laid a steady foundation, guiding the side to 30 before the first breakthrough.

Vrinda departed for 19, dismissed by Fatema Jahan, while Kashyap was run out shortly after.

Minnu Mani fell for a first-ball duck, and Anushka Sharma managed just eight, leaving India needing consolidation in the middle overs.

That stability came through Tejal Hasabnis and skipper Radha Yadav, who stitched together a crucial 69-run partnership to revive the innings. Yadav struck 36 off 30 balls, including three fours and a six, before being dismissed.

Hasabnis anchored the innings with a composed unbeaten 51 off 34 deliveries, hitting three fours and two sixes, ensuring India crossed the 130-run mark, a total that ultimately proved more than sufficient.

For Bangladesh, Fahima Khatun was the standout performer with the ball, returning figures of 4/25 in her four overs, while Fatema Jahan and Farjana Easmin picked up one wicket each.

READ: Lahore Qalandars sign THIS South African batter for PSL 11

PALLEKELE: Sri Lanka have won the toss and elected to field first against England in the Super Eight clash of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 here at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

PLAYING XIs

Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis (wk), Pavan Rathnayake, Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka (c), Dunith Wellelage, Dushan Hemantha, Maheesh Theekshana, Dilshan Madushanka, Dushmantha Chameera

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England: Phil Salt, Jos Buttler (wk), Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Harry Brook (c), Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Liam Dawson, Jamie Overton, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid

HEAD TO HEAD

England and Sri Lanka have faced each other in 14 T20 International matches. England hold a commanding advantage with 10 victories, while the Islanders have secured four wins.

Matches 14, England 10, Sri Lanka 4

In ICC Men’s T20 World Cup encounters, England have further tightened their grip on the rivalry, winning five of the six meetings between the two sides.

Matches 6, England 5, Sri Lanka 1

England are coming in this Super Eight clash with a victory over Italy in their final group stage game. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka suffered a stunning defeat against Zimbabwe in their last match.

READ: Lahore Qalandars sign THIS South African batter for PSL 11

Carlos Alcaraz was at his devastating best on Saturday as he claimed the Qatar Open title with a ruthless 6-2, 6-1 win over Arthur Fils.

The seven-time Grand Slam champion needed just over 50 minutes to see off his French opponent and claim the 26th title of his career.

Following Australian Open success earlier this month, completing his career Grand Slam at just 22 years of age, Alcaraz backed it up by storming to the title in Doha in his first tournament back since Melbourne and extending his match-winning streak to 12.

“I came this year hungry for more,” said Alcaraz. “I think after every tournament, we just have to set new goals. I’m just really happy and proud of everything I have done with my team on and off the court.”

“It’s been a really strong start to the year. It wasn’t easy… I had to be strong mentally with my team. I’m just playing great tennis, and I’m really happy about this week. This trophy means a lot to me.”

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For 40th-ranked Fils, returning gradually to action after a lengthy injury absence, the Spanish world number one was a step too far at the end of a fine week in which he recorded wins over top-10 seeds Jakub Mensik and Jiri Lehecka.

The run to his first tour-level final since Tokyo in 2024 will propel the former world number 14 up to 33 in the next ATP rankings.

“It’s been eight long months with my injury,” said Fils.

“So in a time like this, you just have to think about the last eight months when I was struggling, not playing tennis. I just want to thank my team… Today was not the day, but I think we did a hell of a job.”

READ: Neymar hints at possible retirement amid World Cup 2026 doubts

Former Brazil captain Neymar said he is considering retirement at the end of the year after being hampered by injuries, but hopes to go to the FIFA World Cup 2026 first.

The ex-Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) striker returned in January 2025 to his boyhood club Santos from Saudi club Al-Hilal.

After an injury-interrupted first season, he extended his contract until the end of 2026 but then missed the start of the Brazilian season in January after undergoing knee surgery in late December.

“I don’t know what will happen from now on, I don’t know about next year,” the striker told Brazilian online channel Caze.

“It may be that when December comes, I’ll want to retire. I’m living year to year now.”

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He made his return as a second-half replacement in a Sao Paulo championship match on February 16, 11 days after his 34th birthday.

“Obviously, I wanted to come back to help my team in the best way possible, but I ended up holding back a little so I could come back 100 per cent,” he said.

Neymar is the all-time leading scorer for Brazil, with 79 goals, two more than Pele, but has not played for the national team since October 2023, when he suffered a serious knee injury against Uruguay.

Carlo Ancelotti has not called up Neymar since taking over as Brazil coach last May.

“This year is a very important year, not only for Santos, but also for the Brazilian national team, as it’s a World Cup year, and for me too,” Neymar said. “So it’s a huge challenge.”

READ: La Liga leaders Real Madrid stung by late Osasuna winner