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Pallekele: Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha heaped praise on England skipper Harry Brook after his breathtaking century powered England to a two-wicket win in the Super 8 stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. Brook’s sensational 100 off 51 balls single-handedly dismantled Pakistan’s bowling attack and sealed England’s passage into the semi-finals, leaving Pakistan’s campaign hanging in the balance. “It Always Feels Like It’s Harry Brook” Reflecting on the defeat, Salman acknowledged Brook’s match-winning brilliance and even expressed hope that the England captain continues his form against New Zealand — a result that could indirectly benefit Pakistan’s qualification chances. “It always feels like it’s Harry Brook. Whenever we lose, it seems he is the one making the differe...

Pallekele: Pakistan’s campaign in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 hangs by a thread after a dramatic two-wicket defeat to England in the Super 8 stage. With just one point from two matches, the 2009 champions now find themselves dependent on other results to keep their semi-final hopes alive. Their opening Super 8 clash against New Zealand was washed out due to rain, forcing both teams to share a point. However, the subsequent loss to England — powered by a sensational century from captain Harry Brook — has left Pakistan staring at possible elimination. England have already secured their place in the semi-finals from Group 2, becoming the first team to qualify. Current Scenario: Pakistan on the Brink Pakistan now have only one point from two matches. Their fate is no longer en...

Pallekele: England booked their place in the semi-finals of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 with a thrilling two-wicket victory over Pakistan in a high-stakes Super 8 encounter. A breathtaking century from captain Harry Brook proved decisive as England chased down a target of 165 in dramatic fashion. This marks England’s fifth consecutive appearance in a T20 World Cup semi-final, underlining their dominance in the shortest format. Brook Leads from the Front Chasing 165, England’s innings got off to a disastrous start. Shaheen Afridi struck with the very first delivery, dismissing Phil Salt. He soon removed Jos Buttler and Jacob Bethell as well, reducing England to early trouble. However, Harry Brook walked in at No. 3 and single-handedly turned the tide. England raced to 53 in...

India, under Suryakumar Yadav’s captaincy, suffered their first defeat of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 at the hands of South Africa, losing by 76 runs in Ahmedabad. Despite the setback, experts insist that panic is not the solution; instead, India must focus on addressing weaknesses while trusting its current strengths. Where India FalteredThe loss stemmed from India’s inability to recover from a poor start. South Africa displayed maturity and patience, with batters like Miller, Braviss, and Stubbs executing their shots intelligently, while Indian batters struggled against slower deliveries. South Africa’s Strategic MasterySouth Africa employed tailored strategies against every Indian batter: Part-time spinners troubled the left-handed openers. Abhishek Sharma faced varied deliv...

The ICC T20 World Cup 2026 Super-8 stage sees a thrilling clash today as England take on Pakistan at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. Fans are eagerly anticipating a high-octane encounter between the two sides, who were also the finalists in the 2022 T20 World Cup. Pitch Report for England vs PakistanThe Pallekele pitch promises an interesting contest between bat and ball. Spinners are likely to find some assistance, as the track traditionally favors spin. However, the current weather conditions could provide support to fast bowlers as well. Batters can also get some help from the wicket but once set, they should be able to score freely. Historically, Pallekele has hosted 34 T20 matches. Teams batting first have won 17 times, while teams chasing have secured victory on 14...

India received a harsh reality check from South Africa in their Super-8 match of the T20 World Cup 2026. The 76-run defeat has sparked widespread debate over the team’s strategy and performance, raising critical questions that need answers before their next game against Zimbabwe. Key Questions Arising from India’s Defeat Abhishek Sharma’s StrugglesThe world’s number-one T20 batsman has failed to deliver in the tournament so far, leaving fans and experts wondering if Sanju Samson should replace him in the playing XI. Axar Patel’s ExclusionDebates have erupted over leaving Axar out, particularly against opposition teams featuring left-handed batters. Statistics show Axar has dismissed left-handed batsmen 49 times, yet he was overlooked in favor of Sundar. Overabundance of Left-H...

In the Super-8 stage of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, Pakistan face England today, 24 February, at Pallekele. This matchup evokes memories of the 2022 T20 World Cup final, which also featured these two teams. Pakistan vs England: A Crucial ClashPakistan’s first Super-8 match against New Zealand was abandoned due to rain, while England started strong with a commanding win over hosts Sri Lanka. Today’s encounter promises to be a high-stakes clash. However, if Pakistan lose, their path to the semifinals will become extremely challenging, leaving them dependent on other results. What Pakistan Must Do If They Lose to EnglandA loss to England would see the latter top Group 2 with 4 points from 2 wins, securing a semifinal spot. Pakistan would then enter a three-way race with New Zealand a...

The Super-8 stage of the T20 World Cup 2026 is underway, with 12 matches scheduled among 8 teams over 9 days. After West Indies’ dominant victory, the points table has seen significant movement. Super-8 OverviewThe tournament initially featured 20 teams, of which 12 have now been eliminated. The following eight teams have progressed to the Super-8 stage: India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, West Indies, South Africa, New Zealand, Zimbabwe, and England. Group Distribution Group 1: India, West Indies, South Africa, Zimbabwe Group 2: Pakistan, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, England Each team will play one match against every other team in their respective group. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the semifinals. Super-8 Points Table – Group 1 PositionTeamMatchesWinsLoss...

Former Indian cricketer Shikhar Dhawan has tied the knot for the second time, marrying his long-time girlfriend Sophie Shine from Ireland. The couple had dated for some time before getting married. Following the wedding, Dhawan addressed swirling rumors on social media about his relationship with his ex-wife. Addressing the Social Media SpeculationsDhawan, known affectionately as “Gabbar,” issued a statement via his official Twitter account: “I came across some posts on social media that made disappointing claims about my personal life. I have never carried the past with me, on the pitch or off it. I believe in positivity and respect my past.” He added: “This is a new chapter in my life. I am grateful for the love and blessings from my fans, friends, family, well-wishers, and the med...

Following India’s heavy defeat to South Africa in the Super-8 stage of the T20 World Cup 2026, top-order batsman Tilak Varma has come under intense criticism from cricket experts. Varma Struggles in World CupTilak Varma, who had been sidelined with an injury before the World Cup and underwent surgery, had played a key role for India in the Asia Cup. However, in the T20 World Cup, he has struggled, scoring just 107 runs in 5 matches at a strike rate of 118.88. In the crucial match against South Africa in Ahmedabad, Varma played a poor shot at a critical moment, resulting in his dismissal — a move that drew sharp criticism from former Indian captain Krishnamachari Srikkanth. Srikkanth’s Verdict on VarmaOn his YouTube channel, Srikkanth commented: “If Sanju Samson is included in the pla...