India Clinch Tough Win From USA In T20 World Cup
India were made to work hard in their opening Group A match of the T20 World Cup. They eventually beat the USA by 29 runs at the Wankhede Stadium on Saturday. Asked to bat first, India stumbled early. The top order collapsed to 46 for 4 inside the powerplay. Abhishek Sharma was dismissed for a golden duck by Ali Khan. Shadley van Schalkwyk struck three times in the final over of the powerplay and kept the pressure on the hosts. Suryakumar Yadav held the innings together. He scored an unbeaten 84 off 49 balls. His knock lifted India to 161 for 9 on a tricky, two-paced surface. “I knew some day, it was going to come,” Suryakumar said after the match. “I was trying to hold the innings for the team.” He spoke about the mindset behind his knock. “I always felt there was a need for a batter to bat till the end,” he said. Suryakumar also read the conditions early. “It was not a 180 or 190 wicket. It was more like a 140 wicket,” he said. “I have played a lot of cricket here. I know how to bat on such wickets.” At one stage, India were in deep trouble. “From 77 for 6, one batter had to stay till the end,” he said. “I was just trying to play good shots.” Van Schalkwyk was the standout with the ball. He finished with figures of 4 for 25. USA captain Monank Patel had earlier won the toss and chose to bowl. In reply, the USA never really threatened. India’s bowlers kept things tight and restricted them to 132 for 8.
Pakistan Survive Self-Made Scare to Open World Cup Campaign with Narrow Win
Pakistan’s T20 World Cup 2026 opener followed a script only they seem capable of writing. Comfort, chaos, panic and eventual survival. Chasing 148 against the Netherlands in Colombo, Pakistan appeared to have the game wrapped up early. The top order settled the nerves and the target looked routine. Naturally, that was when things began to unravel. A cluster of wickets brought the chase to a grinding halt and suddenly a straightforward finish turned into a full-blown scare. “We have to do it the hard way,” Pakistan captan Salman Ali Agha said when asked how they had let the game that was comfortably in their reach drift away. “Credit to Faheem. We tried well, knew they’d come hard. Held things really well. 147 we’d take on this pitch.” “In the first 10 overs we batted well, then the two wickets fell and pressure came in. We need to absorb better. Conditions – Not easy to start, once we get in it gets easier. Once a batter gets set, they need to finish the game. We didn’t do that today. We want to change that,” he said. For much of the afternoon they play remakably. Nine catches were taken, highlighted by a stunning effort from Babar Azam. After restricting the Netherlands to 147, Pakistan cruised to 98 for 2 inside 11 overs and appeared headed for a comfortable finish. With Pakistan wobbling and defeat no longer unthinkable, Faheem Ashraf stepped in as the unlikely firefighter. A crucial drop gave him a lifeline, and he made sure it counted. His late hitting dragged Pakistan out of trouble and over the line, avoiding what would have been a deeply uncomfortable start to the tournament. Earlier in the day, Pakistan had actually done most things right. The bowlers kept the Netherlands to 147, while the fielding — shockingly efficient by Pakistan standards — stood out. The platform was solid. The chase should have been uneventful. But this is Pakistan, and uneventful was never really on the table. The win keeps their campaign alive and their Super 8 hopes intact. It also served as an early reminder that with Pakistan, even the simplest games come with compulsory drama.
India Claim SAFF U-19 Women’s Championship Stunning Bangladesh
India thrashed Bangladesh with 4-0 win to reclaim the SAFF U-19 Women’s Championship title in Nepal. The breakthrough came early when skipper Julan Nongmaithen found the net, latching onto a through ball from Pritika Barman and finishing with assurance. Alva Devi Senjam played a key role in the move and troubled the defence throughout the match. Soon after the hour mark, Senjam won a penalty. Elizabed Lakra stepped up and converted from the spot to make it 2-0. Bangladesh looked shaken after the goal. India then struck again through high pressing. Pearl Fernandes, one of the tournament’s top scorers, dispossessed goalkeeper Mst Yearzan Begum and slotted the ball into the net. The pressure continued until the final whistle. Late in the game, Senjam delivered a low cross into the box. Anwita Raghuraman guided it home to complete the scoring. India fielded an under-17 squad in the under-19 tournament. The decision was part of preparations for the AFC Asian Cup under new head coach Pamela Conti. Earlier, India beat Nepal 1-0 and thrashed Bhutan 8-0 in the group stage. The title win came after two years. It also served as revenge for the earlier 0-2 defeat to Bangladesh in the tournament.
Manchester United Speculated to Bid For RCB Franchise
Manchester United, the elite Premier League club might bid to buy the Indian Premier League franchise Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). According to reports United co-owner Avram Glazer has placed bid for RCB. The move comes at a crucial moment for RCB. The franchise finally lifted its maiden IPL trophy in 2025. The win ended a long wait. It also sent the brand’s valuation soaring. Reports say Avram Glazer has placed a bid worth $1.8 billion, around ₹16,300 crore. The offer was made through his investment firm, Lancer Capital. It has instantly put him among the frontrunners in the ownership race. The contest is now drawing global attention, not just interest from India. RCB’s existing owners, Diageo, through United Spirits Ltd, are believed to have explored a sale in November. This came only months after the historic title win. Several parties have shown interest since then. The list reportedly includes up to nine bidders, with Indian pharma tycoon Adar Poonawala among the prominent names. RCB’s long-awaited IPL title in 2025 triggered a strategic rethink at the ownership level. Diageo is believed to have seen the post-title phase as the ideal moment to test the market. With the trophy finally secured, RCB’s brand value has peaked. The franchise now sits at the centre of intense demand. IPL teams are no longer just sporting entities. They are high-value business assets. RCB, with its massive fan base and global appeal, ranks among the league’s most valuable properties. At this stage, Glazer’s proposal is said to be non-binding, with no deal formally sealed. Even so, his bid has reportedly made the cut. It is one of five offers that have been shortlisted. That places Glazer firmly in the next round of talks as the sale process gathers pace.
Pakistan Reconsidering India-Pakistan Match Boycott
The Pakistan Cricket Board is set to consult its government once again over the proposed boycott of the 15th February T20 World Cup match against India in Colombo. The move follows a formal request from Sri Lanka Cricket, which has asked Pakistan to reconsider its stance. The Pakistan government has cleared the national team to take part in the T20 World Cup. However, it has barred the side from playing India. The India–Pakistan clash is the most lucrative fixture for the ICC and broadcasters. Its absence would have major commercial implications. Sri Lanka Cricket has warned that scrapping the marquee match would lead to heavy financial losses. Gate receipts, hospitality revenue, and sponsorship value would all take a hit. SLC has also expressed concern that the tournament’s image in Sri Lanka would suffer, as the island nation is co-hosting the event with India. Pakistan are scheduled to play all their matches in Sri Lanka. Their campaign begins on Saturday against the Netherlands. Other games are split between Colombo and Pallekele. The PCB has acknowledged the importance of Sri Lanka’s appeal. The two countries share strong ties at both government and cricketing levels. For that reason, the request is being treated seriously and not dismissed outright. SLC has directly reached out to PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi. The Sri Lankan board has stressed that it needs Pakistan’s support at this stage. Without matches involving either India or Pakistan, Sri Lanka stands to lose significant additional income from the tournament. Naqvi has indicated that he will place the matter before the Pakistani government. Reports claiming that Pakistan has already rejected Sri Lanka’s request have been denied. The PCB chairman has been travelling and only recently returned to the country. He is expected to brief the Prime Minister on the issue. A final decision on whether to lift the boycott is likely by Monday. The matter also carries recent context. In November, the Sri Lankan government strongly backed Pakistan during a bilateral tour. Despite security concerns raised by some players, Sri Lanka ensured the team completed its white-ball in Pakistan.
