Pakistan face Namibia in a crucial Group A fixture in Colombo, needing a win to boost their Super 8 qualification hopes after a heavy defeat to India.

Pakistan Gears Up for Crucial Match With Namibia Amid Batting Concerns

Pakistan face Namibia in a crucial Group A fixture in Colombo, needing a win to boost their Super 8 qualification hopes after a heavy defeat to India.

With their backs against the wall, former champions Pakistan will rely on their fragile batting to come good after the jolt against India and seal a Super 8s spot when they face struggling Namibia, in their final league fixture, in Colombo on Wednesday.
In Group A, title favourites India have already sealed their Super 8s berth after their handsome 61-run win over Pakistan the other day.
The second spot is now up for grabs, with the United States having their nose ahead of Pakistan.
Both teams have four points each but Pakistan are behind on Net Run Rate -- Pakistan have a negative NRR of -0.403, while the USA are comfortably placed at 0.788.
Pakistan's equation is simple -- win against the winless Namibia and make the cut as any slip-up could leave them relying on other permutation and combinations.
Led by Salman Ali Agha, Pakistan's campaign has suddenly entered a tense phase after what was meant to be a straightforward progression turned into a battle for survival following the defeat to India.
The spotlight will firmly be on their fragile batting -- including stalwart Babar Azam, openers Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub and their skipper Agha -- which was exposed in their defeat to India in Colombo.
Former Azam has been under pressure, especially after his seven-ball five against India, with calls for his exclusion growing louder.
After being reduced to 13 for 3 by India's pace duo of Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya, Pakistan's middle order offered no resistance -- worrying sign even against a side like Namibia.
Openers Sahibzada and Ayub, along with the middle order, will also need to show greater application.
Pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi also struggled, claiming just one wicket while conceding over 31 runs in his two overs.
The only bright spot was Ayub, who had India's top order in a spot of bother with his three-wicket haul.
Pakistan's key worry is Afridi's inconsistency; his struggle with rhythm and control was glaring when he leaked 15 runs in the crucial final over, handing India the late momentum.
Against Namibia, Afridi must strike early as removing key batters in the first six overs will let Pakistan dictate the match.
Pakistan's powerplay frailties also remain a worry -- they managed barely 40 runs while losing four wickets in the last game.
Frequent middle-order shuffles have created a muddle, putting late-order acceleration in doubt.
Namibia, though winless in three matches so far, have shown flashes of discipline and tactical awareness.
The smart tactics of their skipper Gerhard Erasmus paid dividends against India when the experienced offspinner cleverly released the ball halfway through his run-up and delivered from well behind the stumps to fox Tilak Varma during his splendid 4/20 spell.
He claimed the prized wickets of Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel, and his battle against Pakistan's struggling batters could be a key match-up.
Namibia, often thriving in the underdog role, will look to bow out with pride. If they can drag Pakistan into a low-scoring contest, nerves could once again come into play in what has become a crucial fixture for the 2009 champions.
Left-arm pacer JJ Smuts is also a constant thorn for batsmen, Namibia have the firepower to pull off an upset.
Opening batter Louren Steenkamp has delivered two encouraging knocks, including a half-century, in the previous games, while Jan Nicolaas Frylinck and Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton have added much-needed stability to Namibia's top order.
Teams (from):
Namibia: Gerhard Erasmus (c), Jan Balt, Jack Brassell, Alexander Busing-Volschenk, Jan Frylinck, Zane Green (wk), Max Heingo, Malan Kruger, Dylan Leicher, Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, Willem Myburgh, Bernard Scholtz, JJ Smit, Louren Steenkamp, Ruben Trumpelmann.
Pakistan: Salman Agha (c), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Nafay, Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan, Usman Tariq.
Match starts 3:00 p.m.

Zimbabwe advanced to the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup after their rain-hit match against Ireland was abandoned, knocking out Australia and Ireland from the tournament.

T20 World Cup: Rain washout helps Zimbabwe reach Super 8, knocks out Australia and Ireland

Zimbabwe advanced to the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup after their rain-hit match against Ireland was abandoned, knocking out Australia and Ireland from the tournament.

Zimbabwe on Tuesday entered the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup after their crucial Group B match against Ireland was washed out due to rain, a result that also eliminated former champions Australia and Ireland from the tournament.&nbsp;
Both teams were awarded one point each. The shared points took Zimbabwe to five, enough to secure a Super 8 berth. They will face India in their opening Super 8 match on February 26 in Chennai.&nbsp;
Zimbabwe became the seventh team to get a ticket to the Super 8s, completing group G1 also comprising India, South Africa and West Indies. Zimbabwe will play their final group match against co-hosts Sri Lanka on February 19.&nbsp;
With table-toppers Sri Lanka (6) having already qualified for the Super 8s, the contest held significant importance for Zimbabwe and Ireland, who had come into the game with four and two points respectively.&nbsp;
Australia were also on two points following their defeats to Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka. The former champions needed Zimbabwe to lose both their remaining matches to stay in contention, but persistent rain ended their hopes.&nbsp;
The toss at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium was initially delayed due to drizzle, with the ground remaining under covers for a considerable period. However, continuous rain and a wet outfield prevented any play, confirming Zimbabwe's progression to the Super 8 stage.

India registered a 93-run win over Namibia in the T20 World Cup as Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya starred, while Gerhard Erasmus impressed with a four-wicket haul ahead of the Pakistan showdown.

India crush Namibia by 93 runs but concerns linger before Pakistan clash

India registered a 93-run win over Namibia in the T20 World Cup as Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya starred, while Gerhard Erasmus impressed with a four-wicket haul ahead of the Pakistan showdown.

Sanju Samson disappointed again, Ishan Kishan dazzled and his mentor Hardik Pandya entertained but India's 93-run victory over Namibia in New Delhi on Thursday wasn't exactly the Box Office hit one expected ahead of a tense T20 World Cup face-off against Pakistan.
The victory felt less like an assurance and more like the calm before the cricketing tempest with Pakistan lying in wait.
The margin of victory, India's highest in a T20 World Cup, won't depict the entire picture as little-known Namibian captain Gerhard Erasmus came out as a surprise package by taking 4 for 20 in India's final total of 209 for 9, despite Kishan's smashing 24-ball-61 and Pandya's 52 off 28 balls.
In reply, the Namibian batting unit did struggle against the kind of attack that they hardly get to play, as the innings ended on 116 in 18.2 overs.
Varun Chakravarthy (3/7 in 2 overs) and Pandya (2/21 in 4 overs) shared the bulk of the spoils and India now need just one more win in their next two games to qualify for the Super Eights.
Why India's batting show, despite a 200-plus score, would be considered below par is because of the Namibian skipper.
Erasmus' eerie side-arm action created considerable discomfort for the Indian batters, including Kishan, Pandya and Tilak Varma, as he also bowled from behind the crease at times.
The 24 deliveries that Erasmus bowled was certainly an eye opener for the Indian batters as to what they can expect from the Pakistani freak Usman Tariq, who would pose even more probing questions on a tackier Premadasa track in Colombo.
When Namibia batted, they used the long handle to good effect but one always knew that it was just a matter of time before Chakravarthy and Axar Patel (2/20) come and demolish them in unison.
Earlier, Samson's three-sixes innings was akin to a short-lived Instagram reel but Kishan's batting was a gripping web series, full of drama, action and anticipation.
Kishan muscled five sixes and half a dozen boundaries for a 20-ball-50 that set the foundation for a marauding Hardik Pandya (52 off 28 balls) to take the team to a total that looked beyond the reach of this Namibian batting line-up.
However, Erasmus gave a fantastic account of himself and would certainly keep Pakistan's lethal weapon Tariq interested come Sunday.
Erasmus bowled side-arm deliveries in between the stock ball which is round arm.
As a variation, he also bowled from behind the crease to shorten the length, as a set Tilak Varma (25) couldn't reach to the pitch of the delivery.
It was a flat Kotla deck but Sanju Samson (22 off 8 balls) and skipper Suryakumar Yadav, with a run-a-ball 12, missed out on scoring big with the African side making some sort of a comeback with the ball during the middle overs.
Surya certainly got the best delivery of the innings from left arm spinner Bernard Scholtz, who got one to dip and turn as the skipper gave the charge, missed, and was duly stumped.
It was a golden opportunity for Samson to make it count.
The three sixes -- one down the ground and the other two a product of sinewy wrists -- sent the capacity crowd into raptures.
But another cute flick didn't have the wings to clear the fielder at the cow corner.
Samson's knock was full of intent but fell short in effectiveness quotient.
The difference between Kishan and Samson over the past one month has been consistency and understanding the value of a God-send second chance.
The Namibian pacers didn't stand any chance against him and the moment they erred in length, Ishan's willow came down like a sledgehammer at a tremendous bat speed and the sixes soared into the stands.
During the back-10, India's MVP Pandya took charge as his four sixes and four boundaries kept the momentum going, with Shivam Dube (23 off 16 balls) giving him good support in a 81 run stand off just 6.3 overs.

Bangladesh Cricket Board chief Aminul Islam will attend the India-Pakistan T20 World Cup match in Colombo, hoping to ease tensions with the BCCI amid recent disputes involving ICC decisions.

BCB Chief Aims to Mend Ties with BCCI at India-Pakistan T20 Clash

Bangladesh Cricket Board chief Aminul Islam will attend the India-Pakistan T20 World Cup match in Colombo, hoping to ease tensions with the BCCI amid recent disputes involving ICC decisions.

Bangladesh Cricket Board chief Aminul Islam says he will be in Colombo to watch the India-Pakistan T20 World Cup clash on Sunday where he expects to break ice with the BCCI after tense exchanges over the past few weeks.
Speaking to Bangladesh newspaper 'Pratham Alo', Islam said the invitation for the high-profile game has come from the ICC.
"The ICC has taken a decision. The major stakeholders of the ICC are these five Asian countries and for the India-Pakistan World Cup match on the 15th, they want representatives of all five Asian countries to be present at the ground together, watch the match together and talk to one another," Islam said.
India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan form the Asian block in the world body.
Asked if the meet could be an opportunity to end tensions with the BCCI, Islam said, "You can consider it as something like that."
The BCCI-BCB strife started after the Indian Board ordered the release of Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the IPL contract with Kolkata Knight Riders for unspecified "developments all around."
It was widely speculated that the move was triggered by political violence in Bangladesh in which Hindus have been targeted.
Bangladesh responded by refusing to travel to India for their World Cup matches citing security worries.
However, the ICC, led by former BCCI secretary Jay Shah, rejected their concerns, describing the threat perception as low to moderate after its own assessment.
Bangladesh were eventually replaced by Scotland in the tournament after refusing to budge from their position despite lengthy discussions with the world body.
Their omission led to the Pakistan government announcing a boycott of the game against India as an expression of solidarity with Bangladesh.
But the impasse was resolved after the BCB and the Sri Lankan government persuaded Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to withdraw the call.
Following another round of discussions, the ICC decided not to penalise BCB for its previous stance and also allotted one ICC event to Bangladesh in the 2028-2031 cycle.
Islam said the board will prepare a Memorandum of Understanding to ensure that the assurances are cast in stone.
"We will also enter into an agreement. The agreement will be line by line, an MoU-type document, so that there is no uncertainty," said Islam.
"You know that earlier when we held the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Annual General Meeting in Dhaka, a similar issue arose. There as well, we prepared a MoU-type document so that no one could ever deviate from the contract in any way.
"Similar discussions (regarding preparing the MoU) with the ICC are more or less finalised," he added.

India face Namibia in their second T20 World Cup Group A match, but Abhishek Sharma’s hospitalisation due to a stomach infection raises concerns for the team ahead of the crucial clash against Pakistan.

India to Face Namibia with Key Player Absent: T20 World Cup Preview

India face Namibia in their second T20 World Cup Group A match, but Abhishek Sharma&rsquo;s hospitalisation due to a stomach infection raises concerns for the team ahead of the crucial clash against Pakistan.

Abhishek Sharma's stomach infection poses a bigger threat to India than their World Cup opponents Namibia.
After a stuttering batting performance on a tacky Wankhede track in the opener against the USA, the Indian batting line-up would like to go all guns blazing on a Feroz Shah Kotla track that could be called a belter for quality teams.&nbsp;
At the receiving end would Namibia, who are not expected to cause much trouble to the dominant defending champions in their second group A game of the T20 showpiece in New Delhi on Thursday.
When it comes to quality, the defending champions are light years ahead of the African team which hardly looked up to scratch against fellow Associate nation the Netherlands at this very ground. To be fair to India, the match against Namibia is more of an extended warm up tie where they would like to bat first and let the line-up get a good hit in the middle.
The gulf in quality is such that Namibia's bowling line-up could be sent on a leather-hunt every day of the week by any of the middle level Indian state teams plying their trade in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
For India, Abhishek's hospitalisation with a stomach infection and viral fever is concerning. Even if he is discharged on Wednesday, it won't be advisable to put him on the park without allowing him to sufficiently recuperate before the big game against Pakistan on Sunday, where Abhishek's presence is a crucial intimidating factor for the opposition.
The Namibia match could be a God-sent opportunity for an out-of-form Sanju Samson to get into run-scoring mode after a string of failures that saw him lose his place to Ishan Kishan, who is going through a purple patch.
"Sanju is feeling well again, understanding where he fits into the scheme of things now as an injury replacement," assistant coach Ryan Ten Doeschate said at pre-match press conference. "He's a solid guy, he's good around the group, he's training well and that's what we expect from everyone in the team."
For Namibia to stop a batting line-up like India will be an arduous task. Even more challenging for their batters will be to face Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy and Hardik Pandya in tandem.
Out of the top six, only all-rounder JJ Smit has a strike rate of 140 plus while none of the others in the top-five cross the par strike rate figure acceptable in today's day and age.
To face Chakravarthy could be a massive challenge for the Namibian team as they normally don't face operators of such high calibre. "He's actually worked on a few new deliveries which you'll sort of see rolled out in various stages," Ten Doeschate hinted that Namibia match could be a platform for beta testing.
The scheduling team of ICC, along with the broadcasters, who very rightly get to call the shots, have ensured that save the commercial cash cow game against Pakistan, the rest of the league stage matches are against teams who will even lose to an India A, B or C team in this format. A third-string India A team had dismissed Namibia for less than a 100 in a warm up tie before the tournament.
Even if Pakistan match goes haywire, India would eventually make it to Super Eight where the real test starts. Even there, grouping is such that India would face neither Australia nor South Africa if they happen to reach the semi-final.
When it comes to scheduling, choice of venues, match timings and groupings, the commercial compulsions have ensured that till the semi-final, it would be a cakewalk for Men in Blue. If they are in competition till the second last day, it will be all about a bit of luck and a lot of pluck.
For now, it is Namibia's time to get rolled over.
Teams (from):
India: Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Mohd Siraj, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakravarthy, Rinku Singh.
Namibia: Gerhard Erasmus (captain), Jan Balt, Zane Green (wk), Malan Kruger, Dylan Leicher, Lauren Steenkamp, Jan Frylinck, Jan Nicol Loftie-Eaton, William Myburgh, JJ Smit, Jack Brassel, Max Heingo, Bernard Scholtz, Ben Shikongo, Ruben Trumpelmann.
Match starts: 7pm.

South Africa defeated Afghanistan in a dramatic Group D T20 World Cup match in Ahmedabad after two Super Overs. Quinton de Kock and Ryan Rickelton starred for South Africa.

Thriller at T20 World Cup: South Africa beat Afghanistan after two Super Overs

South Africa defeated Afghanistan in a dramatic Group D T20 World Cup match in Ahmedabad after two Super Overs. Quinton de Kock and Ryan Rickelton starred for South Africa.

In a T20 World Cup game for the ages, South Africa somehow managed to get past a plucky Afghanistan after two wildly oscillating Super Overs at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Wednesday.&nbsp;
Ryan Rickelton (61 off 28) and Quinton de Kock (59 off 41) put together a brilliant century stand with quickfire fifties to power South Africa to 187 for six.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (84 off 42) then singlehandedly kept Afghanistan in the run chase before some lusty hitting from the lower-order helped them tie the game in regulation time. What followed was an incredible sequence of two Super Overs with fortunes swinging either way after every ball.
In the first Super Over, Azmatullah Omarzai struck Lungi Ngidi for two fours and a six to help Afghanistan post 17 runs, but Tristan Stubbs hit two sixes off Fazalhaq Farooqi, including off the last ball, to force another Super Over.
Coming in to bat in the second Super Over, Davis Miller and Tristan Stubbs struck three sixes to notch up 23 runs, a steep target which was made to look very gettable by Rahmanullah Gurbaz. The opening batter smashed seasoned left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj for three consecutive sixes before getting out to complete a sensational finish.
In regulation time, the Afghans started aggressively in the run chase before losing the plot, but some brilliant hitting from Omarzai, Rashid and Noor Ahmad, coupled with a disastrous final over from Kagiso Rabada &mdash; in which he gave away two no balls &mdash; cost South Africa dearly.
Afghanistan made a bright start to their chase, with Gurbaz (84 off 42; 4x4s, 7x6s) smashing Ngidi for two fours in the opening over. Gurbaz continued with his attacking approach, ramping Marco Jansen over the slips for a maximum and then hitting Rabada over the third man fence.
George Linde gave away 17 runs in his opening over as Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran took the attack to the opposition to race to 50 in just four overs. But Ngidi put brakes on the scoring, scalping two wickets in the fifth over in the form of Zadran, who was cleaned up, and then accounting for Gulbadin Naib a ball later with the pacer taking a brilliant return catch.
Gurbaz, however, was in ominous form as he dispatched Linde for two sixes in the eighth over to bring up his fifty in 26 balls, lifting Afghanistan to 93 for 3 in 10 overs. Gurbaz was going great guns before twin blows in the 13th over changed the complexion of the match.
Omarzai (22 off 17) and Rashid (20 off 12) kept Afghanistan in the hunt before Noor Ahmed (15 not out off 9) struck two big sixes to bring down the equation to 13 off the last six balls. South Africa looked to have pocketed the match on the first ball of the last over by dismissing Ahmed, only for an ill-timed no ball from Rabada, and the batter punished the Proteas, clearing the bowler for a maximum.
Rabada bowled another no ball in the fourth delivery before Ahmed was run out going for the winning run as the match finished on level scores, forcing a Super Over.
Earlier, South Africa were dealt an early blow in the form of skipper Aiden Markram (5). De Kock broke the shackles in the fourth over, clearing Mujeeb ur Rahman over the fence and then followed it up with a four. Rickelton then joined the party, hitting Omarzai (3/41) for two boundaries as South Africa managed just 43 for 1 in the powerplay.
Both De Kock and Rickelton pressed the accelerator button thereafter, taking on the spin duo of Mohammad Nabi and Rashid (2/28) with some lusty hits. Ahmad was taken to task by the duo as the spinner gave away 23 runs in his first over.
The onslaught continued as De Kock brought up his fifth T20 World Cup fifty with a boundary off Mujeeb, and then Rickelton added salt to the bowler's wound with a maximum to score a quality fifty of just 23 balls.
It took some brilliance from Rashid and poor shot selection to break the dangerous-looking partnership, with both De Kock and Rickelton departing in the 13th over. Rashid first accounted for De Kock, caught at deep midwicket by Ibrahim Zadran, and then a ball later the Afghan skipper trapped Rickelton plumb in front of the wicket with a quicker delivery that skidded on after pitching.
Brief Scores: South Africa: 187 for 6 in 20 overs (Quinton de Kock 59, Ryan Rickelton 61; Azmatullah Omarzai 3/41, Rashid Khan 2/28). Afghanistan: 187 all out in 19.4 overs (Rahmanullah Gurbaz 84; Lungi Ngidi 3/26).&nbsp;

Bangladesh sports advisor Asif Nazrul said the decision to skip T20 World Cup matches in India was taken by the Cricket Board and players to protect national dignity, as the ICC decided not to impose sanctions.

Bangladesh sports advisor takes u-turn on World Cup boycott, says decision was for 'national dignity'

Bangladesh sports advisor Asif Nazrul said the decision to skip T20 World Cup matches in India was taken by the Cricket Board and players to protect national dignity, as the ICC decided not to impose sanctions.

Bangladesh's sports advisor Asif Nazrul, who had insisted that the country's refusal to play its T20 World Cup matches in India was driven by his government's security concerns, now says that the decision was taken by the Cricket Board and the players to "protect national dignity".&nbsp;
Bangladesh were replaced by Scotland after the ICC declined the country's request of shifting its share of games to Sri Lanka. However, the world body has decided against penalising the nation for its stance.&nbsp;
Nazrul took centre-stage during the failed negotiations with the ICC prior to the team's ouster and had insisted that it was the Bangladesh government's prerogative to not send the team out of security worries.&nbsp;
"There is no question of regret (not playing the World Cup). This decision was taken by the BCB and the players as they made sacrifices for the safety of the country's cricket, the safety of the people and to protect national dignity," Asif was quoted as saying by 'Cricbuzz' on Tuesday.&nbsp;
Last month, Nazrul, after talks with the Bangladesh Cricket Board and the players, had taken a hard-line position. "I think we did not get justice from ICC. Whether we will play in the World Cup or not is entirely a government decision," he had asserted on January 22.&nbsp;
In the aftermath of their ouster, Pakistan had announced a boycott of the game against India to show solidarity with Bangladesh. However, that impasse was resolved after hectic negotiations that also involved the BCB.&nbsp;
Bangladesh, while expressing gratitude towards Pakistan, asked them to show up for the match against India in the larger interest of the game. The Pakistan government eventually withdrew the boycott call.&nbsp;
"The ICC has said there will be no sanctions and that Bangladesh will be considered for hosting an international tournament. This is a brilliant achievement. I salute the Bangladesh Cricket Board," Nazrul said.&nbsp;

Pakistan opener Sahibzada Farhan has downplayed the hype around the India-Pakistan T20 World Cup clash, calling it a normal match while expressing confidence after his team’s strong start.

Farhan: India Clash Just Another Match, Pakistan Uplifted

Pakistan opener Sahibzada Farhan has downplayed the hype around the India-Pakistan T20 World Cup clash, calling it a normal match while expressing confidence after his team&rsquo;s strong start.

Pakistan batter Sahibzada Farhan has played down the hype surrounding Sunday's T20 World Cup clash against bitter foes India, calling it a "normal match" although the mindset of his team will be "different" from previous games.
Pakistan sit atop Group A with back-to-back wins over the Netherlands and the USA. Even though the victory against the Dutch team was a narrow one, Pakistan looked quite assured in their 32-run triumph over the Americans last night in which Farhan smashed a 41-ball 73 to be deservedly adjudged the player of the match.
During the post-match media briefing, the opener fielded queries on the game against India that is finally on after his government withdrew its boycott call.
"See, when you win two matches and are at the top of the table, you feel confident. The upcoming match is not such a big deal, we're not playing against them for the first time," he responded when asked about team's mindset.
"We've played before and this time we'll play with a different mindset. You've seen us...You must have seen that Shadab (Khan) is making runs, (Mohammad) Nawaz is scoring runs. So hopefully you will enjoy our game against them," he said.
"It's a normal match. We'll play like a normal match. We won't put it in our head that this is an India-Pakistan match, it is a normal match and we will play it like a normal match," he added.
The India-Pakistan tensions, which peeked after the gruesome Pahalgam terror attack in 2025, have spilled on to the cricket field as well.
The two sides played out tense games during the Asia Cup, all of them won by India, including the final.
India T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav had stated that given his team's dominance in recent years, he no longer considers the rivalry against Pakistan an evenly-matched one.
Farhan disagreed with that assessment.
"No, I think the way we played in the last Asia Cup, we didn't play one-sided. We played and fought till the end. We didn't play a one-sided match till then and hopefully this time we'll play a wonderful game," he asserted.
On whether he has any specific plans in place to tackle India pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, Farhan said, "I think when you make runs you are confident. I am also very confident and the way the last two innings have gone, I'm very confident."

Indian opener Abhishek Sharma has been hospitalised in Delhi due to a stomach infection and is doubtful for the T20 World Cup match against Namibia, though the team hopes he will recover before the Pakistan clash.

Abhishek Sharma hospitalised with stomach infection, doubtful for Namibia game

Indian opener Abhishek Sharma has been hospitalised in Delhi due to a stomach infection and is doubtful for the T20 World Cup match against Namibia, though the team hopes he will recover before the Pakistan clash.

Flamboyant Indian opener Abhishek Sharma has been hospitalised with a stomach infection, leaving him doubtful for the T20 World Cup match against Namibia in New Delhi on Thursday.&nbsp;
Sharma has been hospitalised here for the past two days.&nbsp;
"Abhishek has been admitted to a private hospital in Delhi due to stomach infection. Some tests are being done to ascertain the problem. It is still not clear whether he will be discharged today. But match against Namibia looks doubtful as of now," a BCCI source said.&nbsp;
The Indian team management is hopeful of having him on the park for the big game against Pakistan in Colombo on February 15.&nbsp;
It has been learnt that the 25-year-old attended the dinner at head coach Gautam Gambhir's place on Sunday but left much earlier than the rest of his teammates.

Sri Lanka President Anura Kumara Dissanayake thanked Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif for withdrawing the boycott, allowing the India-Pakistan T20 World Cup match in Colombo to proceed.

Sri Lanka President thanks Pakistan PM for India match boycott withdrawal

Sri Lanka President Anura Kumara Dissanayake thanked Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif for withdrawing the boycott, allowing the India-Pakistan T20 World Cup match in Colombo to proceed.

Sri Lanka's President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has thanked Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for directing the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to end the boycott of their T20 World Cup match against India in Colombo on February 15.&nbsp;
The India-Pakistan match will go ahead as scheduled after Pakistan's government decided to withdraw its boycott call following persuasion from Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, ending an impasse that cast a shadow on the ongoing tournament.&nbsp;
"Delighted that the eagerly awaited India Pakistan match at the ongoing T20 cricket World Cup in Colombo will go ahead," Dissanayake said on X platform.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Thank you Prime Minister <a href="https://twitter.com/CMShehbaz?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CMShehbaz</a> for ensuring the game we all love goes on. Delighted that the eagerly awaited India and Pakistan match at the ongoing T20 Cricket World Cup in Colombo will proceed as planned. As co-host of the tournament, Sri Lanka thanks the <a href="https://twitter.com/ICC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ICC</a> and all&hellip;
&mdash; Anura Kumara Dissanayake (@anuradisanayake) <a href="https://twitter.com/anuradisanayake/status/2020928822288490780?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 9, 2026</a></blockquote>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Dissanayake had called Sharif Monday night to convince him to play the game following the Sri Lanka Cricket letter addressed to PCB to change its decision.&nbsp;
Pakistan PM's office acknowledged Dissanayake's call in the government release which effectively ended the match boycott by his country.&nbsp;
Pakistan had earlier said they would not play the India match, which was seen as a political protest linked to Bangladesh's removal from the tournament after the world body declined its request to shift matches from India to Sri Lanka on security grounds.&nbsp;

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CricBait: IPL Diaries | Can Punjab Kings stun the Delhi Capitals in the North Indian IPL derby? Yash Chawla speaks to Vandit Malhotra, Lav Vaid &amp; Gaurav Sethi

CricBait: IPL Diaries | Pant vs Rahul: The North Indian derby

CricBait: IPL Diaries| Can Punjab Kings stun the Delhi Capitals in the North Indian IPL derby? @chawla_yash speaks to VanditMalhotra, @lav_Vaid &amp; @boredcricket

CricBait: IPL Diaries | Can Punjab Kings stun the Delhi Capitals in the North Indian IPL derby? Yash Chawla speaks to Vandit Malhotra, Lav Vaid &amp; Gaurav Sethi

Pakistan will tour Bangladesh next month for a three-match ODI series on March 11, 13, and 15 at Dhaka’s Sher-e-Bangla stadium as preparation for the 2027 ODI World Cup.

Pakistan to tour Bangladesh next month for 3-match ODI series

Pakistan will tour Bangladesh next month for a three-match ODI series on March 11, 13, and 15 at Dhaka&rsquo;s Sher-e-Bangla stadium as preparation for the 2027 ODI World Cup.

The Pakistan cricket team will tour Bangladesh next month to play a three-match One-Day International series as part of its preparations for the 2027 50-over World Cup.&nbsp;
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Friday that the matches would be played on March 11, 13 and 15 at the Shera Bangla stadium in Dhaka. Pakistan last toured Bangladesh in July 2025 for a T20 series which they lost.&nbsp;
Pakistan are also due to tour Bangladesh this year for a two-Test series which is part of the ICC World Test Championship.&nbsp;
The 2027 ODI World Cup will be jointly hosted by three African nations -- South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia in October and November.&nbsp;

Australia captain Mitchell Marsh said the team respects criticism back home after crashing out of the T20 World Cup in the group stage, with a forensic review of the campaign set to follow.

Australia captain Marsh says team respects criticism back home for T20 World Cup debacle

Australia captain Mitchell Marsh said the team respects criticism back home after crashing out of the T20 World Cup in the group stage, with a forensic review of the campaign set to follow.

Australia captain Mitchell Marsh on Friday said that his team respects the criticism back home after its exit from the T20 World Cup in the group stage after shock loss to Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka.
The former champions are set to face a "forensic review" of their disappointing T20 World Cup campaign after the injury-ravaged team prematurely crashed out of the showpiece being co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
"Yeah, we certainly respect the noise back home when things don&rsquo;t quite go to plan for us as a team. We sort of know that&rsquo;s coming, we respect it," Marsh said before Australia's final group match against minnows Oman.
"We reflect on ways to get better moving forward. But the last couple of days, obviously, a really disappointed group to not make through the Super 8s."
Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka have progressed to the Super Eights as Australia failed to get past the group stage for the first time since 2009.
Australia, the limited overs titans with six ODI and one T20I World Cup titles, were eliminated in the group stage after Tuesday's game between Zimbabwe and Ireland in Kandy was washed out, which paved the way for the much-improved African side's entry into the Super Eights from Group B along with tournament co-hosts Sri Lanka.
An injury-ravaged Australia showed glimpses of their batting prowess in the first half of their innings in the loss against Sri Lanka, but it was their shock defeat to Zimbabwe that really blew their campaign apart, forcing the administrators back home to announce a "forensic review" of their performance once the players return to the country.
The forgettable campaign was marked by injuries to key players, poor form, and baffling selection calls. The result was that the 2021 winners failed to progress beyond the group stage for the first time since 2009.
Australia were without their star pace trio of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc, but they entered the tournament as one of the favourites, but things went downhill quickly following the reverse against Zimbabwe.
The team also lost captain Mitchell Marsh, also to injury, during the tournament, disturbing its balance to a great extent. Marsh did not the team's first two matches, including An in-form Steve Smith was not picked and could only come in as cover once Hazlewood was declared ruled out just hours before their loss to Zimbabwe.
Selector Tony Dodemaide had said a full review of the performance would be done once the players are back home.
Australia are the co-hosts of the 2028 T20 World Cup along with New Zealand.

Pakistan’s government revoked national hockey captain Ammad Shakeel Butt’s two-year ban, terming the Pakistan Hockey Federation’s decision illegal and unconstitutional amid ongoing administrative turmoil.

Australia tour fiasco: Pakistan government revokes hockey captain Butt's 2-year ban

Pakistan&rsquo;s government revoked national hockey captain Ammad Shakeel Butt&rsquo;s two-year ban, terming the Pakistan Hockey Federation&rsquo;s decision illegal and unconstitutional amid ongoing administrative turmoil.

The Pakistan government on Friday revoked national hockey team skipper Ammad Shakeel Butt's two-year ban imposed by the national federation (PHF), terming the step as "illegal and unconstitutional".
Just before resigning from his position as Pakistan Hockey Federation president on Thursday, Tariq Bugti banned Butt for two years for his criticism of the PHF following the skipper's outburst against the mismanagement during the recent Australia tour.
But patron-in-chief, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif-appointed interim president of the PHF Muhuydin Ahmed Wani reversed the decision, stating it was an "illegal and unconstitutional step" by Bugti.
Bugti had resigned on Thursday in the wake of a huge fall out after the national side's return from Australia, where they faced logistical nightmares and had to stay in Airbnb residences despite the state-run Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) releasing 10 million rupees to the PHF for five-star hotel accomodation of the team during its FIH Pro League matches in Canberra.
A senior official of the Inter-Provincial Coordination Ministry (which looks after all sports related issues) confirmed that Prime Minister Sharif had immediately accepted Bugti's resignation and appointed Wani as ad-hoc president of PHF and Brig Musratullah as Director-General.
Wani is a senior bureaucrat and was secretary of the ministry. "Both will manage hockey affairs on ad-hoc basis and try to repair the damage done," he said.
Soon after the team returned home in early hours of Wednesday, Butt and some other senior players told the waiting media at the airport that they can't work any further with the current management of PHF and the team management.
Butt disclosed how the players were fed lies, threatened to avoid speaking to the media about their problems in Australia, following which Bugti banned Butt for two years from international and domestic hockey for bringing Pakistan hockey into disrepute.
Butt had lambasted the PHF, stating that players were forced "to clean the kitchen and wash dishes" before going out to compete during the tour in which the side lost all its matches of the FIH Pro League against the home team and Germany.
This was after they spent hours on the road after the hotel earmarked for them declined them entry for lack of an advance payment by the PHF, despite the body getting the requisite funds from the PSB.
Butt had also alleged that a majority of the players were yet to get their daily allowances from the PSB and PHF for the last one year.
But Bugti shifted the blame for the fiasco on PSB, insisting that that the Board handled all the arrangements for the tour and was "responsible for whatever happened there".
Pakistan have so far lost all eight of its matches in the FIH Pro League to Netherlands, Argentina, Australia and Germany and are placed last in the nine-team competition.
Pakistan have to travel to Egypt after four months to take part in the final qualifying tournament for the World Cup.

South Africa defeated UAE by six wickets in a low-scoring Group D match in New Delhi, powered by quickfire knocks from Ryan Rickelton and Dewald Brevis while chasing 123.

T20 World Cup: South Africa beat UAE by six wickets

South Africa defeated UAE by six wickets in a low-scoring Group D match in New Delhi, powered by quickfire knocks from Ryan Rickelton and Dewald Brevis while chasing 123.

Dewald Brevis warmed up nicely with some monstrous sixes as South Africa hardly broke sweat during a walk-in-the-park six-wicket victory over United Arab Emirates in their final group league fixture of the T20 World Cup in New Delhi on Wednesday.
Chasing a target of 123, the Proteas romped home in 13.1 overs with Aiden Markram smashing 28 off 11 balls to set the stage for young Brevis who also helped himself to a 36 off 25 balls.
Ryan Rickleton hit some lusty sixes to get 30 off 16 balls in an all-round effort.
With the big Super Eights match against India coming up on Sunday, South Africa needed Brevis to fire, and he did have a good session out there in the middle.
The pull off a bouncer sent down by wrong-footed left-arm seamer Muhammad Jawadullah was a treat for the eyes. Brevis quickly went onto the backfoot and pulled it from above eyeline into the top tier of the square leg stand.
When left-arm spinner Haider Ali tossed one outside the off-stump, Brevis thumped it over extra cover into the Hill B of the Feroz Shah Kotla stands.
The two shots were indicators that Brevis was in prime form. He then picked up a slower one from Mohammed Arfan to dispatch it into the cow corner as South Africa finished proceedings in a jiffy.
Earlier, young Alishan Sharafu led a charmed life with double reprieves but Anrich Nortje, playing his first match of the tournament, bowled quick and straight to restrict UAE to 122 for 6 in stipulated 20 overs.
With Lungi Ngidi and Marco Jansen rested before the India game in Ahmedabad on Sunday, Nortje (2/28 in 4 overs) and Corbin Bosch (3/12 in 4 overs) bowled short and quick consistently as the UAE batting unit never really looked in control of the situation.
While Sharafu managed a 38-ball 45 with five fours and a six, he was lucky due to the 'butter-fingered' Proteas fielders, who dropped two catches.
With conditions overcast and floodlights being put on, Aiden Markram was spot on in opting to bowl and unleash his pace battery on the minnows by making use of the underlying moisture.
Although skipper Muhammad Waseem (22 off 12 balls) and Aryansh Sharma moved a bit from the line of quick deliveries and got a few boundaries in the process using the pace, it was left-arm spinner George Linde, who got the first breakthrough.
Waseem went to sweep a much fuller delivery and was left plumb in-front.
Once the powerplay got over, UAE batters, save Sharafu's attacking strokes, could never come to terms with the pace and bounce on offer.
Sohaib Khan, who had back-to-back half-centuries against Canada and Afghanistan, had no clue when Bosch let one fly and all he could do was nick it to Quinton de Kock behind the stumps.
How UAE wilted could be gauged from the fact that they hit 10 boundaries in all, in which Sharafu and Waseem hit nine cumulatively.
Just when the UAE innings ended, steady drizzle forced the ground staff to cover the centre square.
Brief Scores: UAE: 122 for 6 in 20 overs (Alishan Sharafu 45; Anrich Nortje 2/28, Corbin Bosch 3/12). South Africa: 123 for 4 in 12.3 overs (Aiden Markram 28, Ryan Rickelton 30, Dewald Brevis 36).&nbsp;

Jammu and Kashmir made history by defeating Bengal by six wickets to reach their maiden Ranji Trophy final, powered by key performances from Vanshaj Sharma, Abdul Samad, and Auqib Nabi’s nine wickets.

Jammu and Kashmir Reaches Ranji Trophy Semifinal: A Historic Achievement

Jammu and Kashmir made history by defeating Bengal by six wickets to reach their maiden Ranji Trophy final, powered by key performances from Vanshaj Sharma, Abdul Samad, and Auqib Nabi&rsquo;s nine wickets.

Sixty seven years after their maiden appearance, Jammu and Kashmir stormed into the Ranji Trophy finals for the first time on Wednesday, upstaging two-time former champions Bengal by six wickets in the semifinals in Kalyani (West Bengal) to add another historic chapter to a fairytale season so far.
Auqib Nabi's stunning nine-wicket match haul and their IPL star Abdul Samad's fearless strokeplay ensured that the side once labelled "perennial underachievers" now stands one step away from the title.
Chasing a modest 126 at the Bengal Cricket Academy ground, J&amp;K rode on Samad's unbeaten 30 off 27 balls (3x6, 1x4) and rookie Vanshaj Sharma's composed 43 not out off 83 balls (4x4) as the pair stitched an unbroken 55-run stand for the fourth wicket to seal history on the fourth and penultimate day of the semifinal.
In a heartwarming gesture, Samad, who had done the bulk of the damage, allowed the 22-year-old Vanshaj to finish it in style and the youngster launched Mukesh Kumar over long-on for six to spark wild celebrations in the visiting camp.
 From strugglers to history-makers
Jammu and Kashmir had played 334 Ranji matches before this season, winning only 45. It took them 44 years to register their first victory, against Services in 1982-83. Knockout appearances were rare.
A breakthrough came in 2013-14 when they edged Goa on net run rate to reach the quarterfinals, and in 2015-16 they stunned Mumbai at the Wankhede Stadium under state icon Parveez Rasool. But consistency eluded them for decades as this season, under coach Ajay Sharma and captain Paras Dogra, they transformed belief into results.
After an opening loss to Mumbai, they bounced back with innings wins over Rajasthan and key victories against Delhi and Hyderabad to enter the knockouts. A dramatic 56-run win over Madhya Pradesh in the quarterfinal, powered by Nabi&rsquo;s 12/110, brought them to the semifinals for the first time.
 Bengal's big names, bigger letdown
With four India internationals in Mohammed Shami, Akash Deep, Mukesh Kumar and Shahbaz Ahmed, and India A star batter Abhimanyu Easwran along with home advantage to boot, this was Bengal's game to lose.
They did exactly that after folding for 99 in 25.1 overs on day three that set Jammu and Kashmir a paltry 126 to win.
Resuming at 43/2 on the penultimate day, J&amp;K lost an early wicket but Bengal failed to sustain pressure despite Akash Deep's relentless 15-over morning spell (3/46) and Shami's probing 1/24 from 24 overs.
There were anxious moments when Shubham Pundir was cleaned up and Dogra edged behind &mdash; a low diving catch by Abishek Porel off Akash Deep eventually upheld after review.
But Bengal looked fatigued and short of ideas once Samad counterattacked. The IPL batter, retained by Lucknow Super Giants, turned the tide in a single over against Akash Deep that fetched 18 runs.
He did not spare Shahbaz either, dancing down the track to deposit him over mid-wicket and then through covers as J&amp;K crossed the 100-run mark. From there, shoulders dropped in the Bengal camp.
The introduction of part-time options and a visible dip in intensity underlined a campaign that promised much but fizzled when it mattered most.
 Nabi's season for the ages
The foundations of Jammu and Kashmir's win, however, were laid by Nabi.
"Last time we missed it in the quarters but we did all the hard work and we deserved it," said Nabi after winning the man-of-the-match.
The 29-year-old pacer followed his 12-wicket match haul in the quarterfinal against Madhya Pradesh with another devastating effort, finishing with nine wickets in the match, including a five-for in the first innings, to take his season's tally to 55 wickets at an average of under 13.
Nabi had also contributed with the bat playing a decisive knock at No.9. J&amp;K had posted 302 in their first innings, reducing the deficit to 26, thanks to Dogra's gritty 58 (112 balls), Samad's counterattacking 82 (85 balls) and a crucial late surge from Nabi (42 off 54) and Yudhvir Singh (33) in a 64-run last-wicket stand.
 Dogra's milestone
For 41-year-old captain Paras Dogra, it was a week of personal and collective milestones.
In a career spanning 24 years across Himachal Pradesh, Pondicherry and now J&amp;K, Dogra also became only the second batter after Wasim Jaffer to score 10,000 Ranji Trophy runs.
Introduced to the game by his father Kultar, Dogra's journey has been one of endurance and quiet steel.
"It's a big achievement, never thought about it. I enjoyed the journey full of ups and downs. The game makes you a strong human being," Dogra said.
His resolute half-century in a 143-run partnership with Samad in the first innings set the tone for the side's resilience.
&nbsp;
Brief scores: Bengal: 328 and 99 in 25.1 overs. Jammu and Kashmir: 302 and 126 for 4 in 34.4 overs (Vanshaj Sharma 43 not out, Abdul Samad 30 not out).&nbsp;

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