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New Delhi: Before the start of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, Pakistan stirred controversy by initially refusing to play against India. However, the team has now backed down and agreed to face India as scheduled.Rajkumar Sharma Criticizes PakistanSpeaking to ANI, Virat Kohli’s childhood coach Rajkumar Sharma called Pakistan’s earlier boycott “typical drama” from the team. He said, “This is the kind of behavior we have always seen from Pakistan. They supported Bangladesh to create a problem and force the issue. Now they realize how much they would have lost if they refused to play against India. Such actions from Pakistan are expected, and this time was no different.”ICC Takes No Action Against BangladeshThe controversy involved discussions between the ICC, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)...

New Delhi: The uncertainty surrounding the high-profile T20 World Cup 2026 clash between India and Pakistan has finally been resolved. The much-anticipated match will take place as scheduled on February 15 in Colombo. Behind the scenes, it was Sri Lanka’s President Anura Kumara Dissanayake who played a decisive role in convincing Pakistan to participate.30 Minutes That Changed the GameOn the night of Monday, February 9, a critical 30-minute phone call took place between Sri Lanka’s President Dissanayake and Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif. Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister, Wijita Herath, described the conversation as “cricket diplomacy in action.” During the call, President Dissanayake reminded Pakistan of the historic friendship between the two nations, referencing the 1996 World ...

Colombo: On February 10, 2026, all eyes will be on the Singhalese Sports Club (SSC) in Colombo, where Pakistan takes on the USA in a high-stakes T20 World Cup group-stage match. This game is not just about points—it’s a battle of pride and revenge. In the 2024 T20 World Cup, the USA stunned Pakistan by defeating them in a Super Over, and Pakistan will be eager to avenge that loss.Pakistan vs USA: Who Holds the Edge?Pakistan started the tournament on a winning note by defeating the Netherlands, though their middle order looked shaky. Faheem Ashraf’s late fighting innings saved Pakistan from a potential collapse. Meanwhile, the USA impressed in their opening match against India in Mumbai, giving the defending champions a tough fight. Although they lost, their bowlers demonstrated the abi...

New Delhi: The ICC T20 World Cup 2026 continues, and today, February 10, Pakistan faces the USA in a group-stage match in Sri Lanka. In this game, three American players could prove to be a major threat to Pakistan.Back in the 2024 T20 World Cup, the USA had stunned Pakistan by defeating them in a Super Over. Here’s a look at the three key USA players who could once again cause Pakistan trouble.Mohammed MohsinBorn in Mingora, Pakistan, Mohammed Mohsin is now a leg-spinner for the USA. He impressed with his bowling in the USA’s first match against India, conceding only 16 runs and picking up one wicket. On spin-friendly pitches like those in Sri Lanka, Mohsin could be a nightmare for his birth country, Pakistan.Saurabh NetravalkarMumbai-born fast bowler Saurabh Netravalkar has t...

New Delhi: The ICC T20 World Cup 2026 witnessed a major controversy that shook the cricketing world, involving India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and the ICC. The dispute went beyond the cricket field, touching on politics, diplomacy, and historical sensitivities. Here’s a detailed look at the situation and its impact on India.How the Controversy Began and Its OutcomeThe drama began when the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) refused to play matches in India, citing security concerns. Shortly after, Pakistan aligned with Bangladesh and threatened not to play their match against India. After weeks of tension, a tripartite meeting in Lahore resolved the issue—but India and the BCCI bore the brunt, while the opposing boards benefited.5 Reasons Why BCCI and ICC Faced a Setback1. Bangladesh’s...

New Delhi: Relations between India and Pakistan remain tense, yet discussions about cricket matches continue to make headlines. Before the start of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, Pakistan stirred controversy by initially refusing to play against India, citing support for Bangladesh. However, the team has now agreed to face India in the group-stage match on February 15 in Colombo.Michael Vaughan Advocates India-Pakistan Test SeriesFormer England captain and cricketer Michael Vaughan has expressed his desire to see a full-fledged Test series between India and Pakistan. Vaughan took to X (formerly Twitter) after Pakistan agreed to play against India, stating that such a series would be great for competition and cricket. He suggested that the United Kingdom would be a suitable venue to host a...

New Delhi: The ICC T20 World Cup 2026, which began on February 7, is underway, with Pakistan scheduled to play all its matches in Colombo, Sri Lanka. However, a video showing the hospitality extended to the Pakistan cricket team has gone viral on social media, with fans mocking the treatment the team received.Fans Take Jabs at Pakistan TeamThe viral video has left cricket fans amused, with many joking about Pakistan’s experience in Sri Lanka. The clip highlights unusual or lackluster arrangements for the team, which has become a trending topic on platforms like X (formerly Twitter).Pakistan Scrapes Through Against NetherlandsPakistan’s campaign started with a nail-biting encounter against the Netherlands. The match was closely contested, with Pakistan barely securing a three-wicket...

New Delhi: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced its annual central contracts for the 2025-26 season, awarding contracts to a total of 30 players. While stars like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have been placed in Grade B and only Shubman Gill, Ravindra Jadeja, and Jasprit Bumrah feature in Grade A, several deserving players were left out. Here’s a look at five such unlucky cricketers who missed out on a BCCI central contract.Mohammed ShamiVeteran pacer Mohammed Shami has not been awarded a central contract this time. Shami last represented India in the 2025 Champions Trophy before being dropped. Despite consistently performing in domestic cricket, he was overlooked for the 2025-26 contract list.Rajat PatidarRajat Patidar has also missed out on the central c...

New Delhi: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced the central contracts for the 2025-26 season. Only three players have been placed in Grade A this year.For the 2025-26 season, the BCCI awarded central contracts to 30 male cricketers. The A+ category has been removed this time. Grade A includes only Shubman Gill, Jasprit Bumrah, and Ravindra Jadeja. Meanwhile, Indian cricket stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have been demoted to Grade B.India’s T20 World Cup vice-captain Axar Patel has been placed in Grade C, a decision that former Indian cricketer and current commentator Akash Chopra has criticized.Akash Chopra Questions Axar Patel’s GradeChopra took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his disappointment. He wrote, “What more does Axar Patel have to...

LAHORE: Pakistan’s star batsman Babar Azam came under intense scrutiny after a disappointing performance against the Netherlands in the T20 World Cup 2026. His slow innings of 15 runs off 18 balls nearly derailed Pakistan’s chase, which was salvaged only by a late flourish from Faheem Ashraf, who scored 29 runs off 11 deliveries. Following the match, the debate over Babar’s place in the T20 side has intensified.Basit Ali Criticizes Babar in Strong TermsFormer Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali openly criticized Babar during a television show. “He may be fine in ODIs and Tests, but for T20s, he is not the right fit,” Ali said. He also questioned the team management for not ensuring Babar bats in his preferred position. “There are several players in the team—Shadab, Usman Khan, Nawaz, Faheem—w...