NEW DELHI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) are closing in on a decision regarding the February 15 T20 World Cup fixture between arch-rivals India and Pakistan in Colombo, TimesofIndia.com can confirm. In all likelihood, the marquee clash is all set to get a green signal. It is also learnt that Imran Khawaja and Mubashir Usmani, two ICC representatives, reached Lahore on Sunday morning for a meeting with PCB officials.TimesofIndia.com had reported on Saturday that dialogue was finally underway between the PCB and the ICC after the Pakistan government decided to boycott the T20 World Cup fixture against India in Colombo on February 15.

The PCB had invoked Force Majeure, citing government instructions not to take the field against their arch-rivals in the group stage of the multi-nation tournament. In the statement, the government did not give any further explanation or justification for doing so. In response, cricket’s global body has asked the PCB to justify how it tried to get out of the logjam as per the Terms of Participation.Pakistan chose to boycott the India fixture in solidarity with Bangladesh, who were replaced by Scotland after refusing to travel to India for World Cup matches, citing security concerns.While the Pakistan government cleared the national team to participate in the T20 World Cup, it barred them from playing India, a fixture that represents the biggest commercial draw for the ICC and its broadcast partners.The decision prompted Sri Lanka Cricket to write to the PCB, warning that the absence of the February 15 marquee clash between the arch-rivals would result in significant financial losses for SLC and damage both the organisation and the tournament’s image in the island nation, which is co-hosting the event with India.Pakistan are scheduled to play all their matches in Colombo and Pallekele, beginning with their game against the Netherlands on Saturday.Both India and Pakistan opened their tournament with a win over the USA and the Netherlands, respectively.

NEW DELHI: All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Sunday launched a broadside against Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma over a video posted by the BJP showing Sarma taking a “point-blank shot” at two individuals identified as minorities.During a rally at Telangana’s Zaheerabad, Owaisi accused the Assam chief minister of spreading hate against the Muslim community and added that the AIMIM would soon lodge a police complaint over the video.“If you think that communalism has ended, remember, no matter who comes to power, the poison of communalism persists. And the remedy, the antidote for the poison of communalism, is that you make the representatives of the Majlis successful. You see that in the country, the chief minister of Assam makes a video where he has a gun in his hand. And he fires a bullet. The bullet hits a person wearing a beard and a cap,” Owaisi said.“Tell me, he is the chief minister of Assam from the BJP. He posts a video from the BJP’s social media. Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen strongly condemns that video. And Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, God willing, will also file a complaint with the police against it, so that a case can be registered against the chief minister of Assam. They are working to spread religious hatred against Muslims,” he added.Also read | ‘I want to give you Rs 2 in alms’: Owaisi hits out at Himanta Sarma over ‘trouble Miya Muslims’ remarkThis comes after the BJP Assam unit posted a video on X showing Sarma purportedly aiming a rifle at two people, one wearing a skull cap and another with a beard. The video was deleted after receiving backlash.Earlier, Owaisi had slammed Sarma over his controversial remarks on “troubling Miya Muslims”, calling them unconstitutional and divisive.Owaisi mocked the chief minister, saying, “I want to give you Rs 2 as alms,” and accused him of reducing constitutional governance to prejudice and intimidation. In a lengthy response, Owaisi said India’s Constitution guarantees equality and non-discrimination, regardless of religion or community.“The Constitution says all are equal. No discrimination should be done, whether it is a chief minister or anyone else,” he said.Owaisi alleged that Bengali-speaking Muslims in Assam were being scapegoated for issues ranging from migration to rising prices.“If vegetable prices increase in Assam, Miya Muslims are blamed. If someone wants to vote, they are told to go to Bangladesh,” he said, adding that such rhetoric amounted to targeting a community for political gain.The AIMIM leader’s remarks came after Sarma made statements encouraging action against “Miya Muslims” in Assam.Sarma said, “Trouble the Miya Muslims by any means. If they face trouble, they will go from Assam… We are directly against the Miya Muslims. We are not hiding anything.”The comments triggered a political storm in the election-bound northeastern state, with opposition parties accusing the BJP of resorting to communal polarisation to consolidate votes.The BJP, however, has long maintained that its focus in Assam is on addressing illegal immigration and protecting indigenous rights. Bengali-speaking Muslims have frequently been labelled “illegal infiltrators” in political discourse, an issue that has remained central to Assam’s electoral politics.

Oman and Zimbabwe are set to face each other in Match No. 8 of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground in Colombo on Monday afternoon, February 9.

With both teams aiming to get their World Cup campaign up and running, a win here could provide valuable early momentum in the group stage.

Zimbabwe, led by Sikandar Raza, come into the tournament after a mixed run in the warm-up matches. They began with a defeat against Oman but managed to regroup quickly and secure a confidence-boosting win over the Netherlands. That victory helped them find some rhythm just in time for the main event, and they will be keen to carry that momentum into their opening fixture. Consistency, however, remains an area they will be looking to improve.

Oman, meanwhile, appear to be in solid shape heading into the match. They impressed in the warm-up games, registering convincing wins against Sri Lanka A and Nepal. Those performances have boosted their confidence, and they will believe they have the tools to challenge Zimbabwe. With both teams eyeing a strong start, the clash promises to be a competitive and closely fought encounter.

ZIM vs OMA, T20 World Cup 2026: Match details

• Date and Time: February 9; 3:00 pm IST / 9:30 am GMT
• Venue: Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo

ZIM vs OMA, Head-to-Head Record in T20Is

This will be the first encounter between the two teams in the shortest format of the game.

Sinhalese Sports Club Pitch Report

The Sinhalese Sports Club Ground in Colombo is known for becoming more spin-friendly as a match wears on. Early in a T20 game, the surface tends to be flat and reliable, offering good bounce that allows batters to play with freedom and confidence. The ball comes nicely onto the bat, helping stroke-players settle quickly and make the most of the powerplay, when scoring runs is relatively easier.

As the game progresses, the pitch begins to slow and show signs of use. The ball starts to grip the surface, bringing spinners into the contest. Turn increases, and occasional uneven bounce makes timing more difficult, particularly for teams batting in the latter stages. Chasing sides often find it challenging to maintain momentum, as clean stroke-making becomes harder in the second innings. Quality spinners can exploit these conditions by cleverly mixing their pace and flight, building pressure and forcing errors.

Given how the pitch changes over time, captains usually prefer to bat first after winning the toss and put runs on the board before conditions become tougher for batting.

Squads

Zimbabwe: Brian Bennett, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Dion Myers, Brendan Taylor (wk), Sikandar Raza (c), Ryan Burl, Tashinga Musekiwa, Wellington Masakadza, Brad Evans, Tinotenda Maposa, Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani, Tony Munyonga, Clive Madande, Graeme Cremer

Oman: Jatinder Singh (c), Aamir Kaleem, Hammad Mirza, Wasim Ali, Karan Sonavale, Vinayak Shukla (wk), Jiten Ramanandi, Nadeem Khan, Sufyan Mehmood, Shakeel Ahmed, Shah Faisal, Mohammad Nadeem, Jay Odedra, Ashish Odedara, Shafiq Jan

Also READ: From Mayanti Langer, Laura McGoldrick to Grace Hayden: Complete list of presenters for T20 World Cup 2026

ZIM vs OMA, T20 World Cup 2026: Today’s Match Prediction

Case 1:

• Zimbabwe wins the toss and bats first
• Zimbabwe’s powerplay score: 60-70 (6 overs)
• Zimbabwe’s total score: 170-180

Case 2:

• Oman wins the toss and bats first
• Oman’s powerplay score: 40-50 (6 overs)
• Oman’s total score: 155-165

Match result: Zimbabwe to win the contest.

Also WATCH: Tim Siefert and Finn Allen’s funny collision leads to Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s lucky escape during NZ vs AGF clash

Thomas Draca (Image credit: Special arrangements)

NEW DELHI: When the legendary Sachin Tendulkar retired, he left the crowd with a piece of timeless advice: “Chase your dreams, they do come true.” For Italy allrounder Thomas Draca, one long-cherished dream is now within reach — meeting his idol, Hardik Pandya, during the T20 World Cup. On the field, whether with bat or ball, Draca strives to mirror Pandya’s intensity and fearless approach to the game.But his admiration doesn’t stop at cricketing skills alone. Draca also tries to emulate Pandya’s energy and demeanor off the field, reflecting the all-rounder’s professionalism and charisma in his own conduct.

“It’s my dream to play alongside him [Hardik Pandya]. I don’t really look forward to playing against him or bowling to him, but if we qualify and I get the chance to play against him or meet him, it would be an incredible experience. He’s someone I’ve always looked up to and model my game after. I’m an all-rounder too, and I really admire the way he approaches the game — the way he engages with the public and carries himself in the media. That’s something I try to emulate now,” Draca told TimesofIndia.com in an exclusive interview.

“Matching his energy is tough — he’s always on top of his game. If I can mirror that as I progress, I think I’ll be on the right path for a good career. I’d love to chat with him, get some tips. He seems like such a nice guy and has been one of my heroes growing up. I love how he plays fearlessly, takes on the contest with both bat and ball, and that’s what I’m trying to do myself. If I can do a little of that, I’ll know I’m heading in the right direction,” he added.Italy, a nation long celebrated for its football domination, is set to make its maiden appearance on the T20 World Cup stage. The Azzurri find themselves in a challenging group alongside Scotland, West Indies, Nepal, and England.Despite the stiff competition, 25-year-old Draca remains confident about Italy’s chances of progressing to the Super Eights, eager to make a mark on the global stage; meet his idol Pandya and ask him the questions he has already noted in his travel diary.

“One thing I’d ask him is how much his watch is worth — he’s wearing a Royal Oak! (laughs) Just kidding. I’d also ask about his variations, especially in the back end of the innings. I really like his off-cutter and knuckleball, so I’d probably ask him about those,” he said.“Then, I’d just have a chat and try to pick his brain. Whether it’s for five seconds or five minutes, I don’t care — we’ll see how long the conversation goes,” Draca added with a smile.A ‘SPECIAL’ PENDANTThe 25-year-old Draca has been honing his skills under the guidance of legends Dennis Lillee and Carlos Brathwaite.Lillee has been mentoring him in the art of pace bowling, while Brathwaite, famous for hitting four successive sixes off Ben Stokes in the final over of the 2016 T20 World Cup to secure the title for West Indies, has been shaping his all-round game.

“I was fortunate to meet Carlos Brathwaite during a franchise stint. Over the past year and a half, he’s really taken me under his wing. I’ve flown to Barbados multiple times to work out with his S&C coach, Jamar. He’s invested a lot of time in my cricket. Carlos always tells me to stay calm and be myself on the pitch. Don’t worry about the pressure — just enjoy the game. That mindset has really helped me stay relaxed, focus on my plans, and perform,” Draca said.“I’ve also got Dennis Lillee as a mentor. He guided me when I was 17, helping me through rehab and teaching me discipline both on and off the field. He even gave me his World Series chain to wear during the World Cup, which is an incredible inspiration. I know I’ll be emotional the first time I put it on,” he added.“Having that chain around my neck reminds me of the belief these greats have in me. It gives me the confidence to keep things simple, bowl fast, enjoy the game, and perform for my country,” Draca said.

Dubai Cost of Living: How Much Salary Do You Need to Live Comfortably in 2026?

Dubai remains one of the most vibrant and cosmopolitan cities in the world, attracting professionals, families and expats from across the globe. However, its cost of living, especially rent and everyday expenses, is among the highest in the Middle East. Understanding the salary needed to live comfortably is essential for anyone planning to relocate or work in Dubai.

For single individuals in the UAE: Minimum vs comfortable salaries in Dubai

For a single person living alone, the minimum salary needed to cover essential living costs such as rent, food, transport and basic leisure, typically starts at around AED 9,000–12,000 (~$2,450–$3,270) per month for a modest lifestyle. A pay of AED 5,000–7,000 (~$1,360–$1,905) might technically cover the most basic survival costs (shared accommodation, strict budget) but would leave little room for savings, social life or quality of life improvements.To live comfortably, with a private studio or small 1 BHK, moderate dining out, public transport and occasional leisure, salaries of AED 12,000–15,000 (~$3,270–$4,085) or more are recommended by local cost analysts.These figures reflect 2026 estimates and assume you live within a balanced budget and make standard lifestyle choices. Factors like apartment size and location (e.g., Downtown vs Discovery Gardens) can significantly affect monthly expenses.

For couples and families in the UAE: Significantly higher requirements in Dubai

A couple without children generally needs a combined monthly income of around AED 14,000–18,000 (~$3,810–$4,900) to just cover a modest lifestyle including rent for a one-bedroom apartment, groceries and transport.

Dubai Dream or Financial Nightmare? The Shocking Salary You ACTUALLY Need to Survive

For a family of four, expenses rise sharply. Most cost estimates suggest that a comfortable family lifestyle encompassing rent for a 2–3 bedroom, schooling costs, groceries, healthcare and transport requires at least AED 20,000–25,000+ (~$5,445–$6,810+) per month, with some qualified figures going even higher to AED 25,000–30,000+ (~$6,810–$8,170+) depending on school fees and lifestyle choices.Schooling, in particular, adds a substantial monthly outlay when children attend private or international schools, making family budgets significantly larger than for singles.

Key cost drivers: What eats your salary in Dubai

Understanding the biggest costs can help explain why Dubai salaries need to be relatively high:

Salary ranges and career implications in Dubai

Besides minimum income needs, local salary ranges provide context for what professionals might expect:

These ranges help illustrate why many single professionals target at least AED 12,000+ ($3,270+) to balance expenses and savings.

UAE’s tax-free salaries don’t mean low costs in Dubai

Dubai’s tax-free income boosts take-home pay but this advantage is balanced by high housing and lifestyle costs. As expat demand grows, housing prices and overall living expenses have trended upward, even if salaries have not risen at the same pace, creating pressure for middle-income professionals.

Can You Afford to Live in Dubai? Essential Salary Guide for Singles and Families

Living in Dubai on a tight budget is possible for singles with careful planning and modest lifestyle choices but it is not comfortable without adequate income and savings. Salaries of AED 9,000–12,000+ (~$2,450–$3,270) for individuals and AED 20,000–25,000+ (~$5,445–$6,810+) for families are the rough benchmarks for managing everyday life without constant financial stress. Choosing affordable housing, planning for education costs and budgeting transport and leisure wisely are key to making these figures work in practice.

Asian markets started the week higher, with Tokyo leading the gains after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi won a historic election victory. A strong lead from Wall Street also helped lift sentiment across the region. The sharp swings seen last week eased, as investors took comfort from hopes that Japan, the world’s fourth-largest economy, could now see greater political stability.In Japan, Nikkei was up 4.44% or 2,410 points to trade at 56,663. Hong Kong’s HSI was also trading in green at a gain of 1.5% or 406 points to reach 26,966 at 8:50 am IST. Shanghai and Shenzhen gained 1.1% and 1.9% respectively. South Korea’s Kospi added 3.9% to trade at 5,290. Results showed Takaichi’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party capturing close to a two-thirds majority in the lower house. The scale of the mandate is seen as clearing the path for heavier fiscal support measures and deep tax reductions. “We will prioritise the sustainability of fiscal policy. We will ensure necessary investments. Public and private sectors must invest. We will build a strong and resilient economy,” she said as the results rolled in. There is also lingering sensitivity around the country’s huge public debt, particularly if the government follows through with tax cuts alongside higher expenditure. In immediate trading, however, optimism dominated. At one point the Nikkei 225 jumped more than 5%, moving beyond 57,000 for the first time, while the yen gained ground. The regional strength came on the heels of a firm performance in the United States at the end of last week. The Dow pushed past the 50,000 mark for the first time, as investors assessed economic prospects and the chance that borrowing costs could be lowered. Yet uncertainty has not disappeared, particularly in technology counters, where doubts persist over the scale of spending on artificial intelligence and the timing, or certainty, of returns. Safe-haven assets also remained steady. Gold traded around $5,000 and silver near $80, after dramatic movements that had taken them from record highs of $5,595 and $121 to lows of $4,402 and $64.

US President Donald Trump has launched a scathing attack on the Super Bowl LX halftime show, calling it “absolutely terrible” and one of the worst in history.The show, headlined by Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny and featuring multiple artists, drew Trump’s sharp criticism on social media, where he said it failed to reflect American values and standards.Taking to his Truth Social platform, Trump slammed both the performance and the choice of headliner.“Nobody understands a word this guy is saying, and the dancing is disgusting, especially for young children that are watching from throughout the U.S.A., and all over the World. This ‘Show’ is just a ‘slap in the face’ to our Country, which is setting new standards and records every single day — including the Best Stock Market and 401(k)s in History!” Trump wrote.He went on to accuse the media of giving the performance undue praise.“There is nothing inspirational about this mess of a Halftime Show and watch, it will get great reviews from the Fake News Media, because they haven’t got a clue of what is going on in the REAL WORLD — And, by the way, the NFL should immediately replace its ridiculous new Kickoff Rule,” he added.The halftime show, however, was widely seen as a celebration of Latin music and culture. Bad Bunny turned the Super Bowl stage into a vibrant street-style spectacle, performing his biggest hits and becoming the first-ever halftime show headliner to sing entirely in Spanish.The performance came just a week after Bad Bunny made headlines at the Grammy Awards, where he won the coveted Album of the Year prize. During his acceptance speech, the singer delivered a pointed message against Trump’s immigration crackdown, earning loud cheers when he declared “ICE out” from the stage.Despite Trump’s harsh reaction, the show marked a historic moment for Latino representation at one of the world’s most-watched sporting events.

NEW DELHI: Police on Sunday arrested the swing operator and one of his staff members, a day after an on-duty inspector was killed and 12 others were injured when a giant ‘Tsunami’ ride snapped mid-air and crashed at the Surajkund fairgrounds in Faridabad. The accident occurred on Saturday evening during the 39th Surajkund International Crafts Mela. Around 19 people were on the ride when it suddenly tilted and collapsed to the ground. Inspector Jagdish Prasad, 58, died while attempting to rescue those trapped in the swing, officials said. He had joined the Haryana Armed Police in 1989 and was scheduled to retire in March after completing 36 years of service. His body was handed over to his family on Sunday following a post-mortem examination. “A special investigation team formed to probe the incident has arrested two accused – Mohammad Shakir, a resident of Himachal Pradesh’s Sirmour district, and the proprietor of Himachal Fun Care that operated the giant swing, and Nitesh from Meerut in Uttar Pradesh, who worked under Shakir. The role of others is being examined,” Yashpal, spokesperson for the Faridabad police told news agency PTI. The 12 injured include female Assistant Sub-Inspector Neelam, female constable Sharmila, Special Police Officer Rajesh, and civilians Harsh Prakash, Prashant, Amisha, Parvinder, Sunil, Shivani, Balbir, Anuj and Pooja. Five of them have been discharged after treatment, Yashpal said. Haryana chief minister Nayab Singh Saini directed officials on Sunday to ensure strict compliance with safety standards at the fair and other public events. “The government stands firmly with the family of Jagdish Prasad in this difficult time. Those seriously injured in the accident will receive financial assistance of Rs 1 lakh each from the state government,” Saini said. The district administration said the fair would continue on Sunday, though the area around the swing has been cordoned off pending investigation. On Saturday night, Haryana director general of police (DGP) Ajay Singhal announced a compensation of Rs 1 crore for Prasad’s family and a government job for one of his relatives. He also said the inspector would be accorded martyr status. “Inspector Jagdish Prasad made a commendable effort to rescue the injured while on duty. His death is a profound tragedy for the police department. “The department will provide financial assistance to the family as much as possible, and employment will be provided to an eligible member under the compassionate leave policy,” the DGP said. On Sunday, DGP Singhal and Faridabad Commissioner Satendra Kumar Gupta met Prasad’s family to offer condolences and later visited the hospital to inquire about the injured. Tourism Director Parth Gupta and Faridabad Deputy Commissioner Ayush Sinha also inspected the fairgrounds to review security arrangements. Officials said the accident took place barely an hour after a gate collapsed at the venue, injuring two people, including a child. Police had earlier constituted a four-member Special Investigation Team led by DCP (Crime) Mukesh Kumar. The team includes ACP (Crime) Varun Dahiya and Sub-Inspector Sanjay Kumar of Surajkund police station. The SIT has been tasked with conducting a detailed probe, determining whether there was negligence, and examining compliance with safety norms. According to a complaint filed by assistant sub-inspector Sunny, he and Inspector Prasad were on duty at the fair when they noticed several people riding the ‘Tsunami’ swing. As the ride snapped mid-air, Prasad attempted to rescue those trapped. The swing then broke from one side and fell, causing serious injuries. Prasad later died in hospital. “The death of the inspector was caused due to the deliberate endangerment of people’s lives by Himachal Fun Fair’s proprietor Mohammad Shakir and his staff, who did not maintain the safety standards,” the ASI stated in his complaint. Separately, the district administration has formed an inquiry committee headed by additional deputy commissioner-cum-Mela Administrator Satbir Singh. The panel includes DCP Maqsood Ahmed, Arvind Gupta, Head of the Mechanical Department at YMCA University, Hitesh Kumar, Executive Engineer (Mechanical), and Ashwini Gaur, Executive Engineer (Electrical).

NEW DELHI: A video of Pakistan fast bowler Haris Rauf has been making the rounds on social media, showing him enjoying a relaxed moment flying kites. The clip, which features Rauf alongside teammate Hasan Ali, comes amid his omission from Pakistan’s T20 World Cup 2026 squad, and quickly drew reactions from fans online.Rauf faced heavy trolling after the video surfaced, as many questioned his absence from the team.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) named a 15-member squad that included stars like Babar Azam but left out both Rauf and wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan.Speaking about the selection, Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson explained that Rauf had been considered but was not included due to the versatility of the chosen pace attack. “We considered Haris Rauf, Wasim Jr, and Ahmed Daniyal, but they couldn’t make it because the other three – Shaheen, Salman, and Naseem – can bowl in all three phases of the game,” Hesson said.Pakistan opened their T20 World Cup 2026 campaign with a narrow three-wicket win over the Netherlands in Colombo. Chasing 148, the Salman Agha-led side almost suffered an upset before a fielding lapse gave Faheem Ashraf a lifeline, and he guided Pakistan to victory with three balls to spare.Next up, Pakistan will face the USA on Tuesday at the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo, aiming to build on their hard-fought start in the tournament.Pakistan’s T20 World Cup 2026 squad: Salman Ali Agha (Captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Nafay (Wicketkeeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan (Wicketkeeper), Usman Tariq.