Sports

New Delhi: Ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, Pakistan has stirred another controversy by announcing it will boycott its Group Stage match against India scheduled for February 15. While Pakistan confirmed it will participate in the tournament, it has made clear it will not face India. Rajkumar Sharma Speaks OutRajkumar Sharma, Virat Kohli’s childhood coach, expressed his strong views on the matter in an interview with ANI. He said: "It is very unfortunate and a strange decision by Pakistan. Earlier, they had supported Bangladesh’s stance of not playing in India. Now they themselves are talking about backing out. This will cause huge losses for Pakistan cricket, for the public who want to see their players compete against India, and for the players themselves. I believe the Pakistan...

New Delhi: The ICC T20 World Cup 2026 is set to begin on February 7. However, controversy has emerged as Pakistan has announced it may boycott its match against India, scheduled for February 15, citing security and political reasons. If Pakistan follows through and refuses to play, the International Cricket Council (ICC) could take strict action, potentially causing serious damage to Pakistan cricket. Possible ICC ActionsSo far, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has not officially refused to play against India. However, once an official communication is received, ICC could impose penalties, including: Expulsion from the tournament Revenue-related sanctions Denial of No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for Pakistani players participating in foreign leagues like the Pakistan Super L...

New Delhi: Pakistan T20 captain Salman Agha has responded to his government’s decision to boycott the team’s scheduled T20 World Cup 2026 match against India, saying the matter is beyond the players’ control and rests with authorities. On February 1, the Pakistan government confirmed that the national team would participate in the upcoming World Cup but would not play the February 15 fixture against India. The announcement triggered widespread debate across the cricketing world, given the global significance of the rivalry. Speaking after Pakistan’s third T20 International against Australia in Lahore, Agha addressed questions on the issue. “We are going to the World Cup. It is not our decision — we cannot do anything. Whatever our government or the PCB chief asks us to do, we will fo...

New Delhi: Uncertainty surrounding Pakistan’s decision to boycott its scheduled T20 World Cup 2026 match against India has raised questions about whether the Indian team will still travel to Sri Lanka for the fixture. According to reports, India will proceed with its plans and follow ICC protocol despite the controversy. The Pakistan government recently confirmed that its team will participate in the tournament but will not take the field for the February 15 match against India. As per the current schedule, the high-profile clash is set to be played in Colombo, Sri Lanka. India to Follow ICC Protocol A report citing sources said the Suryakumar Yadav-led Indian side will travel to Sri Lanka as planned. The team is expected to conduct training sessions, attend pre-match media commit...

New Delhi: Former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed has come under attention after a photograph circulating on social media appeared to show him using a mobile phone during an ICC Under-19 World Cup 2026 match between India and Pakistan. Sarfaraz is currently serving as mentor to Pakistan’s Under-19 team. The image, widely shared online following the February 1 fixture, has sparked debate over whether ICC event regulations may have been breached. Under ICC rules, the use of communication devices is prohibited inside the designated PMOA (Player and Match Officials Area), a restricted zone reserved for players, officials, and team staff during matches. It remains unclear whether the photograph was taken inside or outside that restricted area. No official confirmation has yet been issued ...

Pallekele: England continued their impressive run ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026 by defeating Sri Lanka by six wickets via the DLS method in the second T20 International at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on February 1. The victory gave the visitors an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. With the ICC T20 World Cup set to begin on February 7 in India and Sri Lanka, England appear to be building strong momentum. Their opening World Cup fixture is scheduled against Nepal on February 8. Sri Lanka Post Competitive Total After winning the toss, England captain Harry Brook opted to bowl first. Sri Lanka responded with an aggressive batting display, posting 189 for 5 in their 20 overs. Pawan Rathnayake led the scoring with a brisk 40 off 22 balls. Pathum Nissa...

Vadodara: Delhi Capitals secured a crucial five-wicket victory over UP Warriorz in the final league match of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026, booking their place in the Eliminator and ending the playoff hopes of both UP Warriorz and defending champions Mumbai Indians. In a high-stakes encounter at Vadodara, Delhi dominated key phases of the game to chase down a modest target and keep their title campaign alive. UP Warriorz Struggle With the Bat Batting first after losing the toss, UP Warriorz endured a shaky start. Captain Meg Lanning was dismissed off the very first ball of the innings, setting the tone for a difficult outing. Delhi’s disciplined bowling attack prevented any major partnerships from developing. Deepti Sharma top-scored with 24 runs, while Simran Shaikh pr...

Dubai: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has expressed serious concern over the recent decision by the Pakistan government instructing its national team not to participate in selected matches of the T20 World Cup 2026, including the scheduled fixture against India. The development has cast a shadow over Pakistan cricket just weeks before the global tournament. In an official statement, the ICC said such a move undermines the core principles on which international sporting events are organized. While the council is still awaiting formal communication from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), it made clear that selective participation in a global competition is difficult to accept. According to the ICC, international tournaments operate on the foundation that all qualified teams com...

New Delhi: Days before the start of the T20 World Cup 2026, a decision by the Pakistan government has created uncertainty around one of cricket’s biggest rivalries. While Islamabad has cleared the national team to participate in the tournament, it has reportedly instructed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) that the team will not play its scheduled league match against India on February 15. The move has sparked concern within international cricket circles and raised a key question: what would happen if India and Pakistan both qualify for the final scheduled for March 8? India’s Possible Road to the Final India currently sits at the top of the T20 rankings and enters the tournament as one of the favorites. Placed in a group with Namibia, the Netherlands, and the United States, India ...

Bahrain, Jan 31:Indian golfer Shubhankar Sharma stayed in contention at the Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship after carding a two-under 70 in the second round to comfortably make the weekend on Saturday. Sharma, who missed the cut at last week’s Hero Dubai Desert Classic, moved to eight-under par after 36 holes and is placed tied fourth in a tightly packed leaderboard featuring 11 players at the same mark. The 28-year-old began the tournament in impressive fashion with seven birdies against a lone bogey in the opening round. In the second round, he added five birdies, including two stretches of back-to-back gains, but dropped three bogeys to settle for a steady round. However, Sharma’s compatriot Yuvraj Sandhu narrowly missed the cut. Sandhu carded rounds of 70 and 72, mounting ...