Sports

Colombo: Pakistan face a do-or-die situation in the T20 World Cup 2026 as they take on Namibia in the 35th Group A match at the iconic Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC), Colombo, on Wednesday. After suffering a crushing defeat against India, Pakistan’s campaign has reached a critical stage, where a single loss could end their World Cup journey at the group stage itself. With qualification hopes hanging by a thread, captain Salman Ali Agha and his men must secure victory at all costs. Meanwhile, Namibia—already eliminated from the tournament—will look to play the role of spoiler and end Pakistan’s Super 8 dreams. Pakistan’s Qualification at Stake Pakistan currently sit third on the Group A points table, having played three matches with two wins and one defeat. A win against Namibia will ...

New Delhi: The T20 World Cup 2026, jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka, is currently underway with 20 teams competing for the prestigious title. The tournament has been divided into four groups, each containing five teams. Every team plays against the others in its group, and the top two teams from each group qualify for the Super 8 stage. A total of 55 matches will be played in the tournament, with the final scheduled for March 8. Here is the complete and updated points table showing the position of each team in all four groups. Group A Points Table | Position | Team | Matches | Won | Lost | No Result | Points | NRR || -- | - | - | | - | | | || 1 | India (Q) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | +3.050 || 2 | USA | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | +0.787 || 3 | Pakistan | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | -0.403 || 4 | ...

New Delhi: Pakistan’s campaign in the T20 World Cup 2026 has taken a dramatic turn. After starting the tournament strongly with victories over the Netherlands and the USA, the team’s momentum was shattered following a heavy defeat against arch-rivals India. India outclassed Pakistan by 61 runs, pushing the Men in Green dangerously close to elimination. Now, Pakistan’s qualification hopes depend entirely on their upcoming must-win clash against Namibia in Colombo. A defeat could end their World Cup journey even before the Super-8 stage. While Pakistan is under immense pressure to survive in the tournament, veteran all-rounder Shadab Khan appears to be thinking far ahead — all the way to the final. Shadab Khan’s Viral Video Sparks Buzz A video of Shadab Khan from Pakistan’s pract...

New Delhi: In a major development that could reshape the global T20 landscape, Australia’s premier franchise tournament, the Big Bash League (BBL), is preparing to make its entry into India. Reports suggest that Cricket Australia is exploring the possibility of hosting the opening match of the 2026-27 BBL season in Chennai, marking a historic first for the league outside Australia. If approved, the move would not only expand the BBL’s international footprint but could also pose a significant commercial and branding challenge in a market long dominated by the Indian Premier League (IPL). Cricket Australia’s Masterplan for Expansion According to sources, Cricket Australia is working aggressively on a global expansion strategy aimed at increasing the BBL’s reach and attracting intern...

New Delhi: After suffering a disappointing defeat against India, Pakistan now finds itself on the brink of elimination from the T20 World Cup 2026. With qualification hopes hanging by a thread, Pakistan faces a do-or-die encounter against Namibia on February 18 at the SSC Cricket Ground, Colombo. A loss in this crucial match could end Pakistan’s World Cup campaign prematurely. The pressure has clearly unsettled the Pakistan camp, and reports suggest that the team management is preparing for multiple changes in the playing XI in a desperate attempt to revive their tournament. Key Players Likely to Be Dropped According to a viral clip from a Pakistani sports show circulating on social media, former Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Malik was seen questioning a Pakistan-based journalist in S...

Ahmedabad: Team India will look to register a commanding victory against the Netherlands in their upcoming T20 World Cup 2026 match on Wednesday in Ahmedabad. The match holds special significance for star opener Abhishek Sharma, who is still searching for his first run in the tournament after back-to-back ducks. Abhishek, considered one of India’s most destructive batters in the shortest format over the last 18 months, has failed to make an impact so far in the ICC event being played on home soil. He was dismissed for zero in the opening match against the USA, missed the second match versus Namibia due to a stomach infection, and returned against Pakistan only to be dismissed again without opening his account. Despite Abhishek’s struggles, India’s batting has not suffered much, thank...

New Delhi, Feb 17: Following Pakistan’s crushing 61-run defeat against India in the T20 World Cup 2026, criticism of the team and its players has intensified. Former Pakistani cricketer Rashid Latif did not hold back in his assessment of Pakistan captain Salman Ali Aga. Rashid Latif’s Scathing Remarks In a video circulating on social media platform X, Latif strongly criticized Salman Ali Aga’s performance as both player and captain. He said, "Give him Shane Warne, Abdul Qadir, Muttiah Muralitharan, or Saqlain Mushtaq — he will still be beaten. Even if you put Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, or Shoaib Akhtar in charge of bowling, he will struggle." Latif’s words suggested that Aga’s handling of both bowling and batting in high-pressure situations was far from adequate, implying that ...

New Delhi, Feb 17: Former Pakistani all-rounder Shoaib Malik is once again in the social media spotlight — this time for a viral video from a live show where he attempted to flirt with a female guest, only to receive a witty and firm response. The Flirtation and the Comeback In the clip, Malik is seen trying to engage the woman playfully. At one point, he says, “No, no, it won’t happen like that. Speak nicely.” The woman quickly replies, “Why are you getting serious? This is a joke.” Malik then jokingly adds, “You’ve just met me. You won’t know when I’m serious or when I’m upset.” The woman responds with a sharp comeback, “Why even find out? You’re married, I’m married. What’s the point?” This leaves Malik laughing and the moment ends on a humorous note. Shoaib Malik’s Inter...

New Delhi, Feb 17: In a high-voltage T20 World Cup 2026 clash at the R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo on February 15, India once again showcased their dominance over Pakistan, handing them a comprehensive 61-run defeat. This marked India’s eighth T20 World Cup win over Pakistan, further cementing their supremacy in the storied rivalry. Suryakumar Yadav’s Tactical Masterstroke According to former Pakistani cricketer Basit Ali, India’s victory was shaped by Suryakumar Yadav’s strategic move of using Tilak Varma and Rinku Singh as bowlers at critical moments. Both Varma and Singh bowled one over each against Pakistan, with Tilak Varma even dismissing Shadab Khan. Basit Ali commented in a video on Instagram that this tactical decision by Yadav was the most decisive blow, stating, “Today, ...

New Delhi, Feb 16: The T20 World Cup 2026 is underway, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, featuring 20 teams competing across four groups. Each group has 5 teams, with every team playing against all other teams in their group. The top two teams from each group will advance to the Super 8 stage. The tournament will feature 55 matches in total, culminating in the final on March 8, 2026. Here is the current points table for all groups: Group A | Position | Team | Matches | Wins | Losses | No Result | Points | Net Run Rate (NRR) || 1 | India (Q) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | +3.050 || 2 | USA | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | +0.787 || 3 | Pakistan | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | -0.403 || 4 | Netherlands | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | -1.352 || 5 | Namibia (Eliminated) | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | -2.884 | Group B | Positio...