In the T20 World Cup 2026 match against Team India, Pakistan suffered a loss by 61 runs at the R Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo. During the match, Pakistan stalwart Babar Azam yet again failed to deliver a big knock. Facing seven balls, he was dismissed on just five runs. Following the loss, former Pakistan cricketers have criticised players such as Babar, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Shadab Khan. Former all-rounder Shahid Afridi said that he would have never picked that trio in Pakistan's T20 team. "If It was in my hands, I would not pick Babar, Shadab and Shaheen again in the T20 team. They have had plenty of chances to come through for Pakistan but failed again yesterday," he said. Batting great Javed Miandad stated that Pakistani players failed to show character in a big match. "Bhai bade matches main hi players ko character dikhana padta hai, woh hamare players nahi dekha paye (In big matches, players have to show character. Unfortunately our players didn't show that character)," said the 68-year-old former cricketer. "Time's up for Shaheen, Babar, and Shadab, Pakistan's T20 squad needs new performers, not empty wins against weaker sides," Mohammad Yousuf posted on his official social media handle. Legendary Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar said that the national team's fans have made Babar a superstar, who fails to help his side win the matches. "You have made a superstar out of a player (Babar Azam) who cannot win you a game. For the last 15-20 years, there has been no investment. The sad reality of the situation is that while we fought with India on the ground at one point, today we can't even dream of beating them," he said. Currently, the "Green Shirts" have slipped to the third position in Group A. Having played three matches, the side has won two games and suffered a loss in one clash. Salman Ali Agha-led team has a net run rate (NRR) of -0.403 and four points. Pakistan's next clash is scheduled to be played against Namibia on February 18 Sinhalese Sports Club Cricket Ground in Sri Lanka. (With PTI Inputs)
16 February,2026 08:18 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentIn the T20 World Cup 2026 match against arch-rivals Pakistan, Team India emerged victorious by 61 runs at the R Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo. During the match, Team India's opening batsman Ishan Kishan played a blistering knock of 77 runs off 40 deliveries. His knock also included 10 boundaries and three maximums. Shouldering Kishan from the other end was Tilak Varma. He departed after scoring 25 runs in 24 balls, with the help of two boundaries and a maximum. Speaking about Kishan's knock, Varma said that it felt like he was batting on a different pitch. He also revealed that after getting a strong start, the duo was aiming to reach 200 instead of settling for 175 runs. "There was a bit of nervousness in this game. But at the same time, I was focusing on one ball at a time. The wicket was slightly tricky, but the way Ishan Kishan batted was terrific. It was brilliant to watch. The way he played his shots, it looked like he was batting on a different pitch. I told him to keep batting the same way, and that if a wicket fell, I would handle it at the other end and rotate the strike. To be frank, once we got the start, we were thinking of getting to 200 instead of settling at 175," he said. Coming to the match, Pakistan won the toss and elected to field first. After Abhishek was out for a duck, Ishan's 77 and Tilak Varma's 25 kept India stable, but the Men in Blue sank to 126/4, losing their set batters and all-rounder Hardik Pandya (0). However, skipper Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, and Rinku Singh finished the innings well, pacing their knocks perfectly in tough conditions. India scored 175/7, with Saim Ayub (3/25) being the top bowler for Pakistan. In the run-chase, Pakistan were reduced to 34/4 courtesy early strikes from Hardik, Jasprit Bumrah and Axar Patel. Usman Khan (44 in 34 balls, with six fours and a six) was the only one who showed up for the fight, as Team India packed Pakistan for just 114 runs in 18 overs, progressing to the Super 8 stage with their third successive win. Axar Patel (2/29 in four overs) was the pick of the bowlers for India, with Hardik (2/16 in three overs), Bumrah (2/17 in two overs), and Varun Chakaravarthy (2/17 in three overs) also being amongst the wickets. The victory also helped the "Men in Blue" to qualify for the "Super 8" stage of the T20 World Cup 2026. So far in the tournament, they have played three matches and have secured wins in as many games. Team India is enjoying the top spot in Group A with a net run rate (NRR) of +3.050 and six points. T20 World Cup 2026: Team India's upcoming fixture Suryakumar Yadav-led men will now lock horns with the Netherlands on February 18 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. (With ANI Inputs)
16 February,2026 08:17 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentIn the high-octane T20 World Cup 2026 match against Pakistan, Team India emerged victorious by 61 runs at the R Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo. During the match, Team India's opening batsman, Ishan Kishan, played a knock of 77 runs off just 40 deliveries, which was laced with 10 boundaries and three maximums. Reflecting on his knock, Ravi Shastri heaped praise by saying he is batting like a dream at the moment. "He's batting like a dream at the moment. Striking on that track (Colombo pitch) at close to 200 is unreal. Every batter didn't find it easy, whether it was Indian or Pakistani, because the ball was stopping and for him to strike the way he did, and what I liked was how quickly he assessed the conditions," he said. Coming to the India vs Pakistan match, Pakistan won the toss and elected to field first. After Abhishek was out for a duck, Ishan's 77 and Tilak Varma's 25 kept India stable, but the Men in Blue sank to 126/4, losing their set batters and all-rounder Hardik Pandya (0). However, skipper Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, and Rinku Singh finished the innings well, pacing their knocks perfectly in tough conditions. India scored 175/7, with Saim Ayub (3/25) being the top bowler for Pakistan. In the run-chase, Pakistan were reduced to 34/4 courtesy early strikes from Hardik, Jasprit Bumrah and Axar Patel. Usman Khan (44 in 34 balls, with six fours and a six) was the only one who showed up for the fight, as Team India packed Pakistan for just 114 runs in 18 overs, progressing to the Super 8 stage with their third successive win. Axar Patel (2/29 in four overs) was the pick of the bowlers for India, with Hardik (2/16 in three overs), Bumrah (2/17 in two overs), and Varun Chakaravarthy (2/17 in three overs) also being amongst the wickets. The victory also helped the "Men in Blue" to qualify for the "Super 8" stage of the T20 World Cup 2026. So far in the tournament, they have played three matches and have secured wins in as many games. Team India is enjoying the top spot in Group A with a net run rate (NRR) of +3.050 and six points. T20 World Cup 2026: Team India's upcoming fixture Suryakumar Yadav-led men will now lock horns with the Netherlands on February 18 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. (With ANI Inputs)
16 February,2026 08:15 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentIn the T20 World Cup 2026 match against Italy, England emerged victorious by 24 runs at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. In an attempt to chase a target of 203 runs, Italy was bowled out for 178 runs in 20 overs. Opening the innings, Justin Mosca scored 43 runs in 34 balls, with the help of seven boundaries. Fellow opening batsman Anthony Mosca departed on a one-ball duck. JJ Smith was also dismissed on a four-ball duck. Skipper Harry Manenti scored 12 runs in 11 balls, including a boundary and a maximum. Benjamin Manenti played a knock of 60 runs off just 25 deliveries, which was laced with four boundaries and six maximums. Grant Stewart accumulated 45 runs in 23 balls, and also smashed two boundaries and five maximums. Marcus Campopiano was dismissed for two runs in six balls, followed by wicketkeeper-batsman Gian-Piero Meade for a one-ball duck. Jaspreet Singh scored 12 runs after facing 10 balls, and also included a maximum. Ali Hasan was also dismissed on a four-ball duck. Crishan Kalugamage stayed unbeaten on zero runs after facing one ball. England's Jamie Overton and Sam Curran claimed three wickets each. Jofra Archer also bagged two wickets. Will Jacks and Adil Rashid registered one wicket each to their names. Liam Dawson went wicketless in the T20 World Cup 2026 match against the Italian men. Earlier, having opted to bat first, the "Three Lions" posted a total of 202 runs for the loss of seven wickets in 20 overs. Opening batsman Phil Salt garnered 28 runs in 15 balls, including two boundaries and the same number of maximums. Wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler scored three runs in four balls. Jacob Bethell scored 23 runs in 20 balls, with the help of two boundaries and a maximum. Facing 21 balls, Tom Bathon scored 30 runs, including three boundaries and a maximum. Skipper Harry Brook returned to the pavilion after scoring 14 runs in nine balls, laced with a boundary and a maximum. Sam Curran accumulated 25 runs in 19 balls, including two maximums. Jamie Overton was dismissed for 15 runs in nine balls, including a boundary and a maximum. Will Jacks and Jofra Archer stayed unbeaten. Jacks smashed 53 runs in just 22 balls, and also registered three boundaries and four maximums, whereas Archer's innings included one run in one ball. Italy's Grant Stewart and Crishan Kalugamage bagged two wickets each. JJ Smit, Ali Hasan, and Benjamin Manenti chipped in with one wicket each. Jaspreet Singh went wicketless in the T20 World Cup 2026 match against England.
16 February,2026 06:52 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentIn the T20 World Cup 2026 match against Pakistan, Team India registered a stunning victory by 61 runs at the R Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo. Having put to bat first, the "Men in Blue" posted a total of 175 runs for the loss of seven wickets in 20 overs. However, in an attempt to chase the target, the "Green Shirts" were bowled out for 114 runs in 18 overs. Speaking after the loss, former Pakistan cricketer Waqar Younis said that his national team lost the match in the first innings. He also stated that the total of 175 runs was out of reach of Pakistan's batting lineup. "Pakistan lost the game in the first innings. Once India reached 175, the game was out of Pakistan's reach. The ball was spinning, and Suryakumar Yadav was smart with his bowling changes," he said. "We always knew Pakistan's batting is not great. But if India had scored 140 or 150 instead of 175, things might have been different," added Younis. The former cricketer then heaped praise on Team India players for their performances, but also expressed disappointment over Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha's decision to introduce Usman Tariq late in the match. "He (Suryakumar) gave the new ball to Hardik Pandya up front. Jasprit Bumrah was outstanding as always, attacking the stumps, swinging and seaming the ball. It was very difficult for Pakistan after that. Salman Ali Agha allowed that to happen by not introducing Usman Tariq early," he said. "Tariq was superb, taking a wicket and conceding just 24 runs. We have been talking about him for weeks. But he was held back for too long. By the time he got the ball, Ishan Kishan had already done the damage. That is where the match was lost," explained the 54-year-old former cricketer. The victory also helped the "Men in Blue" to qualify for the "Super 8" stage of the T20 World Cup 2026. So far in the tournament, they have played three matches and have secured wins in as many games. Team India is enjoying the top spot in Group A with a net run rate (NRR) of +3.050 and six points. T20 World Cup 2026: Team India's upcoming fixture Suryakumar Yadav-led men will now lock horns with the Netherlands on February 18 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. (With PTI Inputs)
16 February,2026 05:48 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentVeteran batter Steve Smith has been officially added to Australia's T20 World Cup squad ahead of a must-win encounter against Sri Lanka at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Pallekele on Monday evening. Smith took pacer Josh Hazlewood's spot in the squad, as the Aussies had delayed naming any replacement for the experienced right-armer, who was ruled out of the tournament earlier this month due to a calf injury. The 36-year-old batter hasn't played a T20I for Australia in almost two years. His most recent appearance in the shortest format coming against New Zealand in Auckland in February 2024. "The Event Technical Committee of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 has approved Steve Smith as a replacement for Josh Hazlewood in the Australia squad," the ICC said in a statement on Monday. "Smith is named as a replacement for Hazlewood, who is now officially ruled out from participating in the tournament due to a calf injury. The team’s medical staff had hoped to have him fit in time to feature in the latter parts of the tournament but were unsuccessful," it added. Smith trained with the squad in Kandy on Sunday evening after arriving in Sri Lanka in recent days as cover for opener Mitchell Marsh, who missed Australia's first two matches with a testicular injury. Moreover, Marsh also returned to training on Sunday, moving freely during running and fielding drills as he pushes to make his comeback against the tournament co-hosts at Pallekele Stadium on Monday evening. The replacement of a player requires the approval of the Event Technical Committee before the replacement player can be officially added to the squad. The Event Technical Committee of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 consists of Wasim Khan (Chair, ICC General Manager - Cricket), Gaurav Saxena (ICC General Manager – Events & Corporate Communications, IBC representative), Hemang Amin (Tournament Director, host representative) and Shaun Pollock (Independent nominee). Australia suffered a shock loss to Zimbabwe on Friday and will likely need to win both their remaining Group B matches during the group stage to progress to the Super Eights phase. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
16 February,2026 03:36 PM IST | Dubai | IANSFormer India cricketer and coach Ravi Shastri has urged Abhishek Sharma to be a little bit more patient early in his innings during the remainder of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup after the opener suffered his second consecutive failure with the bat when he was dismissed for a duck in India's emphatic victory over arch-rival Pakistan. Abhishek began his campaign with a golden duck against the USA in India’s first game. He was, however, admitted to hospital in New Delhi on Monday due to a stomach infection and was left out of the game against Namibia. On his return against Pakistan, he again fell for the duck. Ravi Shastri backs Abhishek Sharma to bounce back, urges patience amid lean patch While the No. 1 T20I batter in the world is yet to score through two innings at the tournament, Shastri suggested Abhishek should use a little bit more patience when at the crease as his scoring opportunities will open up later in his innings once he is set. "I think he's due, but he just has to give himself a little bit of time. Such things happen and you can go off the boil, but he's just got to give himself a little more time until he gets back on track. Because for him to convert those dot balls later on into boundaries and sixes, is not difficult," Shastri after India's triumph over Pakistan, as quoted by ICC. With Abhishek somewhat subdued, it has been Ishan Kishan that has filled the void. Kishan was on a roll against Pakistan. His innings was a heady mix of power and smarts, as he piled on 77 off 40 balls, with the help of three sixes and 10 fours to give India just the jumpstart they needed and posted 175/7, the highest score in an India vs Pakistan contest at the T20 World Cup in Colombo. It was Kishan's second consecutive half-century at the T20 World Cup and Shastri believes the talented 27-year-old is currently at the top of his game. "He's batting like a dream at the moment. Striking on that track (Colombo pitch) at close to 200 is unreal. Every batter didn't find it easy, whether it was Indian or Pakistani, because the ball was stopping and for him to strike the way he did, and what I liked was how quickly he assessed the conditions," Shastri added.
16 February,2026 02:15 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentSouth Africa captain Aiden Markram says his side has moved "a lot closer" to playing to their full potential as they outclassed New Zealand to edge nearer to the Super 8s in the T20 World Cup. South Africa were clinical with both ball and bat, first restricting New Zealand to 175 on what Markram felt was a surface capable of producing a 200-plus total, before completing the chase comfortably. "Definitely a lot closer to the fullest potential tonight. I thought pretty much all areas were really good," Markram said after the comprehensive win on Saturday night. "To keep them under what we felt was probably a 200-type pitch was a massive effort. The surface played really well and got better as the night went on," he said. Ahead of the match Markram had said that his side was not playing to its full potential. The Proteas skipper credited the bowlers for reading the conditions smartly and executing their variations with conviction. "It's not a set plan. It's very much dependent on the approach of the batters. If a guy's really teeing off and trying to take you down, you need to play with his swing a bit, and that's through change of pace," he explained. "There'll be phases where it can be tricky. It's a fine balance. But the secret tonight was the conviction behind what they did and that gut feel. We went with that and it held in the wicket in the first innings." He added that field placements were largely bowler-driven to provide flexibility in terms of pace-on and pace-off options. "It gives you wide options and straight options as well. That's what most teams are chasing, flexibility based on the type of bowler and the nature of the surface." Markram also pointed to attitude as a defining factor, particularly when New Zealand threatened with a partnership between Mark Chapman and Daryl Mitchell . "When there's a partnership building, you can't go away. It starts with the man at the top of his mark holding the ball. That attitude keeps you in the game. When you execute like we did tonight, you stand a chance to break partnerships," he noted. In the chase, South Africa benefitted from improved batting conditions under lights, with dew helping the ball come on better. "In general the new ball comes on pretty well and then in the second innings there's slightly more dew. It hasn't been heaps, but there's a little bit of an element of that and it contributes to the ball coming on better." The skipper also lauded the strong turnout at the Narendra Modi Stadium, saying the lively atmosphere added to the occasion. Close to 55,000 fans thronged the stadium to watch the action. "As players, we love playing in front of a loud crowd and that's exactly what tonight was. Great to have a big turnout and good from the boys to put in a strong performance," Markram said. On his own batting approach, he stressed the importance of leading by example in the evolving T20 format. Markram hit an unbeaten 86 to anchor the chase. "You can't preach to the boys and not do it yourself. If good wickets and positive intent marry each other, you need to take it on up front. I don't think I'll be a proper slogger. I need to do it differently but with the intent to get the team off to a flying start," he added. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
16 February,2026 11:03 AM IST | Ahmedabad | PTIInjury-hit Australia could consider bringing in veteran Steve Smith to bolster their stuttering batting as the former champions aim to keep their fate in their own hands when they face Sri Lanka in a crucial T20 World Cup Group B clash here on Monday. Australia risk an early exit after suffering a shock 23-run defeat to Zimbabwe in their previous match. They now need victories in their remaining group matches against Oman and Sri Lanka to progress to the Super Eights without relying on other results. Australia are currently third on the group table with two points from as many games. The 2021 champions, who have been marred by injuries, were bowled out for 146 following a dramatic top-order collapse against Zimbabwe. Captain Mitchell Marsh, who also opens the innings, missed Australia's second game running and remains under an injury cloud suffering from internal testicular bleeding. Smith has joined the squad as Marsh's cover, but the 36-year-old is yet to be officially added to the 15-man T20 World Cup squad. Australia can include him without replacing anyone, as they have a spare spot following the injury-enforced exit of pacer Josh Hazlewood. Smith's strong record against spin and encouraging recent form in the format could strengthen Australia's batting if included. In a positive development, pace all-rounder Marcus Stoinis has been deemed fit after copping a blow on his left hand in the previous game. However, Australia are also feeling the absence of the famed pace trio of Micthell Starc (retired), Pat Cummins (injured) and Hazlewood. While Nathan Ellis has impressed, left-arm pacer Ben Dwarshuis and seamer Xavier Bartlett have been expensive in their limited opportunities. But if there is any team that can turn things around, it's Australia. They men from Down Under had faced a similar situation during the 2023 ODI World Cup in India and ironically it was the win against Sri Lanka that turned things around for them as they went on to win nine matches, including the final to lift the trophy. "We've been there before. I said at the toss, we saw it in 2023 with a few defeats and injuries. We have a few guys here who were there in India in 2023 and we'll look to navigate this situation and use that blueprint," stand-in-skipper Travis Head said after the loss to Zimbabwe. Co-hosts Sri Lanka, on the other hand, are perched on top of the group with comfortable wins against Oman and Ireland. However, they too have suffered a setback, with star spinner Wanindu Hasaranga ruled out of the tournament due to a hamstring injury. In his absence, Sri Lanka will rely heavily on Maheesh Theekshana and left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage to exploit home conditions. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
16 February,2026 11:02 AM IST | Pallekele (Sri Lanka) | PTIIndian skipper Suryakumar Yadav did not shake hands with his Pakistan counterpart Salman Ali Agha during toss of their T20 World Cup clash in Colombo on Sunday, maintaining the status quo since the Asia Cup in Dubai last year. "The No handshake Policy will continue," a BCCI official in Colombo confirmed to PTI an hour before the game. There will also be no handshake between players and support staff of two teams after the end of the match, a norm that has been followed by Suryakumar as a mark of respect for the families of the victims killed in the Pahalgam terror attack and solidarity towards Indian Army in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor. That the status quo will be maintained was clear, when on the eve of the game, neither among Surya or Salman committed to shaking hands with the Pakistan skipper stating that he would like to "uphold" the spirit of cricket. In case of the Indian team, the emotions of the Pahalgam terror attack in April remain raw. There was a huge backlash after Suryakumar shook hands with PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi at the pre-tournament captain's press meet in Dubai. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
16 February,2026 11:02 AM IST | Colombo | PTISenior opener KL Rahul (141) and skipper Devdutt Padikkal (148 batting) slammed big hundreds and powered Karnataka to a commanding 355 for two on the opening day of their Ranji Trophy semifinal against Uttarakhand here on Sunday. Uttarakhand captain Kunal Chandela won the toss and opted to field first, but his decision did not yield the desired result for his team as Karnataka saw two of their top batters torment the opposition bowlers with their high-quality batting. Coming off his brilliant century in Karnataka's victory over Mumbai in the quarterfinals, Rahul, India's Test and ODI specialist, constructed another magnificent innings that was built on the back of a fine mix of aggression and caution. Rahul made 141 off 211 balls, decorating his 25th First-Class century with 11 fours and five sixes, the number of maximums clearly indicating that he was open to take the aerial route when presented with an opportunity. Padikkal was batting on 148 off 236 balls when the stumps were drawn on the first day's play at the Ekana Cricket Stadium. Karun Nair, the eight-time Ranji champions' other major batter, was giving Padikkal company with an unbeaten 37 at the close of play. During his stay in the middle, Padikkal struck 16 boundaries and two sixes, and he will look to continue in same fashion on the second day. The duo of Rahul and Padikkal was associated in a mammoth partnership of 278 runs, which is Karnataka's second highest stand for the second wicket since 2005-06. The highest is 284, against Maharashtra in 2009-10. This was also the second-highest second-wicket partnership of the season. Tamil Nadu's Vimal Khumar and Pradosh Ranjan Paul's 307 against Nagaland is the highest second wicket partnership of the ongoing season. Earlier, after being asked to bat, Karnataka lost Mayank Agarwal early. However, Rahul and Padikkal piled on the runs thereafter and troubled the Uttarakhand bowlers for a major part of the day. With his father-in-law and Bollywood actor Suneil Shetty in attendance, Rahul produced another fine innings, and brought up his hundred with a single off part-timer Avneesh Sudha while Karnataka's total to 221 for one in 52 overs. Karnataka, who were 133 for one at lunch, continued their dominance in the second session and progressed to 263 for one at tea with both Rahul and Padikkal looking in great touch with the bat. This was some time after Padikkal reached his century with a six over long-on off former Karnataka left-arm spinner J Suchith, the maximum taking him from 98 to 104. Even as Uttarakhand struggled for answers, the stand was finally broken when Aditya Rawat, brought back into the attack, struck with his first ball in the day's final session of play, a leading edge from Rahul bringing some relief for the beleaguered side. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
16 February,2026 08:46 AM IST | Lucknow | PTIADVERTISEMENT
