Kushal Bhurtel’s blazing start and Dipendra Singh Airee’s unbeaten half-century powered Nepal to a morale-boosting seven-wicket victory over Scotland, ending a 12-year-long T20 World Cup winless streak in a dead-rubber Group C clash at the Wankhede Stadium on Tuesday. Nepal, who had last tasted World Cup success in 2014 against Afghanistan and the Netherlands, chased down Scotland’s 171 with 19.2 overs to spare. Airee’s rapid 50 off 23 balls, featuring three sixes and four fours, anchored the chase, while Bhurtel’s aggressive 43 laid the platform. Gulsan Jha contributed an unbeaten 24, including two towering sixes, sharing an unbroken 73-run partnership for the fourth wicket that sealed the result.

Bhurtel had a narrow escape early on when Brad Currie spilled a return catch, and the opener capitalised immediately with a massive six over long-on. Nepal’s innings started cautiously under pressure, but Aasif Sheikh (33) and Bhurtel brought momentum with multiple boundaries, including sixes over fine leg and off Mark Watt. Scottish spinners later tightened the screws, claiming Bhurtel, Aasif, and skipper Rohit Paudel (16), but Airee’s late assault and Jha’s finishing touches ensured a win with four balls remaining. Earlier, Michael Jones carried Scotland to a competitive 170/7 with a 71-run blitz, featuring eight fours and three sixes. His 80-run opening stand with George Munsey was the backbone of the innings, though the rest of the batters failed to convert starts. Munsey managed 27 off 29 balls, falling frustrated to Sundeep Jora’s diving catch at long-on. Scotland suffered further setbacks with fielding lapses, including a dropped skier by Jora off McMullen, before Sompal Kami (3/25) cleaned up Jones with a brilliant one-handed return catch, wrapping up Scotland’s innings. In the end, Nepal signed off their World Cup campaign on a high note, delighting over 19,000 fans at the Wankhede with a dominant performance.

Over 6,000 current and former students, including 30 Indians in India, have reached an out-of-court settlement with UCL (University College London) over Covid disruptions and lecturer strikes.This now paves the way for the Student Group Claim to bring legal action on behalf of about 100,000 other current and former students, including 217 Indians in India, against a further 36 British universities. These universities, which include Imperial College London, LSE, King’s College London, have all been sent pre-action claim letters. The case against UCL was the first case the group was bringing and had been due to be heard in court in March.The Student Group Claim is a class action of over 170,000 current and former domestic and international students, of which 460 are Indians in India, seeking damages of hundreds of thousands of pounds against over 100 British universities for Covid and strike-related disruption between 2018 and 2022. They have instructed Harcus Parker and Asserson to seek damages for the fact that between 2018 and 2022 they paid between £9,250 and £40,000 per year for lessons that were cancelled or moved online and had restricted access to campus facilities, including libraries and labs.The lawyers say that they should receive damages reflecting the difference between the market value of the service they paid for and the market value of the service they actually received, pointing out online degrees are far cheaper than in-person courses.Shimon Goldwater, partner at Asserson solicitors, said: “I am very pleased that our clients have been able to achieve a commercial settlement of their claims with UCL. Student Group Claim will now turn its attention to claimants who attended other universities during the pandemic.”Adam Zoubir, partner at Harcus Parker solicitors, said: “Students who were at university during Covid … received no compensation or tuition fee reductions. Instead, they have been saddled with eye-watering debt from fees and costs for an educational experience that utterly failed them.”A UCL statement said it “admitted no liability but agreed to settle so the matter could be resolved amicably and without further expense, which would have meant diverting valuable resources away from teaching, research, and supporting our students”.

AMBALA/JAMMU: Two Pakistan nationals who fled from a juvenile observation home in Jammu’s RS Pura area Monday were arrested 400km away at Ambala Cantonment railway station by Haryana STF.Mohammad Sana-Ullah, 20, of Jaatala village in Muzaffargarh district of Punjab, Pakistan, and 23-year-old Ahsan Anwar of Mohalla Rashid Park, Buchike village in Nankana Sahib district of Punjab, Pakistan, were handed over to Jammu & Kashmir Police on Tuesday evening, less than 24 hours after their escape.They had broken out of the juvenile home along with a local gangster, Karanjit Singh alias Gugga, who shot at and injured two cops with an illegal pistol. Six policemen deployed at the home, including an ASI, have been suspended for alleged dereliction of duty. They face a departmental probe. Search for Gugga is underway.“Shortly after the breakout, alert was sounded in Jammu region and messages were transmitted to neighbouring states,” said a police officer in Jammu. Ambala STF DSP Aman said they received “specific intelligence” about the three fugitives and tightened security and vigil.“After fleeing Jammu, Karanjit (Gugga) and the two Pakistanis went to his associate, Thakur, and all four of them travelled to Ambala by bus. They had also snatched a two-wheeler on the way. After reaching Ambala, they split up. Karanjit and Thakur went off elsewhere while Sana-Ullah and Anwar were nabbed at Ambala Cantonment railway station,” he added.The DSP said the Pakistani duo planned to enter Nepal via Uttar Pradesh and flee the country.The two injured policemen are in hospital. Officials sources said a fresh FIR under BNS sections 109 (attempted murder), 132 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of duty), and Arms Act had been registered against the trio.Sources said Anwar, then 16, had crossed over into India in Oct 2019 while playing ‘hide and seek’ and had been in detention since then despite facing a trial and getting a release order on June 30, 2021. Sana-Ullah was captured in 2021 after crossing over illegally.

Nepal signed off their T20 World Cup 2026 campaign in spectacular fashion on February 17, 2026, defeating Scotland by 7 wickets in a Wankhede thriller. The victory was powered by a historic, unbeaten half-century from Dipendra Singh Airee, who spearheaded a successful chase of 171 with just three balls to spare.

This triumph marks Nepal’s first-ever win in a T20 World Cup, sparking emotional celebrations among the massive crowd in Mumbai. Despite both teams already being out of Super 8 contention, the intensity on the field reflected a high-stakes final, with Nepal finally turning their potential into a tangible result.

T20 World Cup 2026: Dipendra Singh Airee’s record-breaking blitz silences Scotland

The Wankhede Stadium erupted as Dipendra Airee delivered one of the most clinical finishes in Associate cricket history, smashing an unbeaten 50 off just 23 balls. Coming in with Nepal at a precarious 87/3, Airee took full control of the chase, reaching his fifty in record-breaking time for a Nepalese batter in World Cups. His innings was a masterclass in power-hitting and composure, featuring three towering sixes and four boundaries that left the Scottish bowlers with no place to hide.

The turning point came in the 16th over, where Airee launched a ruthless assault on Michael Leask, plundering 20 runs to bring the required rate under a run-a-ball. His ability to manipulate the field under immense pressure proved why he is considered one of the most dangerous middle-order batters in the T20 format. By the time he drove the final ball of the 19th over to the boundary, he had not only secured the win but also etched his name into the annals of Nepalese sporting folklore.

Also WATCH: Sompal Kami plucks a one-handed blinder to dismiss Brandon McMullen in SCO vs NEP clash at T20 World Cup 2026

T20 World Cup 2026: Nepal’s bowling fightback sets the stage for glory

Earlier in the evening, Nepal’s bowlers showed incredible resilience to restrict a rampant Scottish side to 170/7 after they looked poised for a total well beyond 190. Scotland’s Michael Jones had threatened to take the game away with a blistering 71, but the introduction of Sompal Kami changed the complexion of the match irrevocably. Kami produced a vintage death-bowling spell, claiming 3/25, including two wickets in a single over that removed both set batters and choked the scoring rate in the final four overs.

Supporting him was the young Nandan Yadav, whose two crucial breakthroughs during the middle overs prevented Scotland from building on their strong opening stand of 80 runs. The tactical discipline shown by the Nepalese attack meant that Scotland managed only 36 runs in their final five overs, a deficiency that ultimately proved fatal. This collective effort in the field provided the perfect platform for the batters to chase down the target and secure a historic victory that will be celebrated in Kathmandu for years to come.

Here’s how fans reacted:

Dipendra singh Airee is a quality hitter. Does it again for Nepal. #nepal

— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) February 17, 2026

Nepal have shown enough to get some bilaterals with full member teams.

Their players deserve a lot more in terms of exposure and Guidance.

Deep Airee has already shown that he is a quick learner. 👏👏#T20WorldCup

— Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) February 17, 2026

Nepal have been the most entertaining team this World Cup so far! Wish they could have made it to the Super 8s – if not now believe me by the time the next T20 World Cup comes knocking, Nepal will do even better #ICCT20WorldCup2026 #NepalCricket #NepvsSco

— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) February 17, 2026

Convincing win for Nepal. Excellent batting under pressure from Dipendra. Players have made their passionate cricket fans happy with this win. Shout out to Scotland. They came into the tournament as a last minute replacement. Pushed WI , pushed England , beat Italy and lost a…

— Prasanna (@prasannalara) February 17, 2026

If I had to choose just 3 sides to watch play white ball cricket against each other, they would be Scotland, Nepal and Netherlands. Although I’m sure I’d age quickly.

— Melinda Farrell (@melindafarrell) February 17, 2026

Dipendra Singh Airee has a record 9-ball fifty in T20Is but I am sure this 23-ball fifty against Scotland would mean much more to him, taking Nepal to their first ever World Cup win

— Shubh Agarwal (@shubh_chintak) February 17, 2026

Dipendra Singh Airee with his whirlwind fifty has won a memorable World Cup game for Nepal in Mumbai.

Leask’s three wicket haul goes in vain.

— Behram Qazi 🇵🇰 🇨🇦 (@DeafMango) February 17, 2026

NEPAL WIN!!! LETS GOOOO!!! #T20WorldCup

Cardiac Kings 🫡🇳🇵

Man of the match: AIREE

— Harin Sekhon (@harinsekhonn) February 17, 2026

Airee is carrying the hopes of Nepal every time he walks out.

What a victory for Nepal! 🇳🇵

Hugely deserved. Heart, fight and belief till the very end. 👏🔥

— Janaka Nimalachandra (@JNimalachandra) February 17, 2026

History created! 🇳🇵🔥 Nepal register their first-ever win at the T20 World Cup — a night to remember for the Rhinos! 🏏✨#T20WorldCup2026 #SCOvsNEP
Scorecard: https://t.co/ZJ4hsMJaAv pic.twitter.com/vC8O5NuzU7

— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) February 17, 2026

Also READ: BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla hails Zimbabwe’s rise after Australia’s dramatic exit from T20 World Cup 2026

JAIPUR: The Rajasthan Royals are standing firm on prioritising fan safety ahead of IPL 2026 and will only proceed with hosting home matches at Sawai Mansingh Stadium (SMS) here only if the Rajasthan government provides an indemnity waiver. This formal assurance would protect the franchise from liability in the event of any untoward incident, accident or loss of life during their home games, ensuring accountability remains with the venue authorities for any pre-existing safety shortcomings beyond the Royals’ control.This demand stems directly from a comprehensive 700-page independent audit commissioned by the Royals and conducted by Tata Projects, which assessed the stadium’s condition and identified serious deficiencies.

The Rajasthan State Sports Council (RSSC) has largely dismissed most of the audit’s safety concerns, maintaining after its own review that issues are minor and fixable with routine repairs, and that the stadium is fully prepared for IPL duty.A source in the know said that in light of the tragic crowd crush outside Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium in June last year, it is entirely reasonable for the Royals to exercise extreme caution. “It’s obvious to refuse to overlook potential risks at their home venue in the wake of such a recent and devastating incident,” the source said.The BCCI has faced venue uncertainties for both the Royals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) ahead of IPL 2026. However, while defending champions RCB have now received formal clearance from the Karnataka government to host their matches at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Royals continue to be locked in a standoff over their Jaipur base.A BCCI source has underscored ongoing issues at SMS Stadium, calling it ‘significantly lagging behind all other IPL venues in terms of modern facilities, overall fan experience and essential amenities’.The source added that RSSC received a one-time dispensation to host matches in 2024 due to the absence of a functional Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA), with this extended for 2025, but this cannot become a permanent arrangement. “It’s the franchise, the state cricket body, and the IPL Governing Council that collectively organise and take responsibility for IPL matches. They need to recognise this reality,” the source added.

Mumbai: In the aftermath of the fatal Mulund Metro accident, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has initiated a region-wide structural safety drive, ordering inspections of all under-construction Metro corridors across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).Officials said the move follows the Feb 14 tragedy on Metro Line 4, where a 2.5-tonne parapet segment from an elevated viaduct fell on an autorickshaw and a car in Mulund, killing one person and injuring three others.Sources said the inspections are not limited to Metro Line 4, but extend to all ongoing elevated Metro corridors in MMR, including lines currently in advanced stages of viaduct construction.Teams comprising structural experts and senior engineers have been deployed to verify installation quality, reinforcement placement, alignment stability, and curing of precast elements.As part of the review, MMRDA has already inspected nearly 20 km of the 36-km Wadala–Kasarvadavali–Gaimukh Metro Line 4 corridor.A senior official said, “Nothing untoward was found on the stretch whose inspection has been completed.”The remaining stretch, along with other ongoing metro lines, will now undergo detailed structural audits covering parapets, segment launching systems, bearings, and temporary supports used during construction.The lines that are under construction are Phase 2 of Metro 9 (Kashigaon to Subhash Chandra Bose Stadium), Metro Line 2B (D N Nagar to Diamond Garden), Line 7A (Gundavali to Domestic Terminal), Line 6 (Lokhandwala to Vikhroli), Line 5 (Thane–Bhiwandi–Kalyan), and Line 12 (Kalyan–Amandoot).The official said the lines that are already commissioned — Line 2A and 7 (Gundavali–Dahisar–Andheri West) — are not part of this exercise as their assets and systems are regularly monitored by the operational and maintenance team every three months.Officials said over 150 showcause notices had earlier been issued to the project’s general consultant, DB Hill-LBG group, over safety, compliance, and other lapses observed during periodic monitoring since 2023. MMRDA has paid a total of Rs 380 crore to the general consultant.Following the Mulund incident, the contractor linked to the consultant has been terminated, while departmental action has been initiated against concerned officials and engineers. Mulund police probing the fatal concrete parapet collapse case are looking for welder Ram Ashish and civil consultant Suresh Sai. Police Ashish allegedly cut the two interlocks between parapets and left it loose, causing it to fall.

US stocks were mixed in uneasy trading on Tuesday as companies flagged weakening consumer confidence and investors continued reassessing the impact of artificial intelligence on corporate earnings.The S&P 500 was virtually unchanged after swinging between a modest gain and a drop of nearly 1%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 28 points, or 0.1%, to 49,536.63, while the Nasdaq Composite slipped 0.1% to 22,532.05 in early trading.

Consumer-focused stocks under pressure

Shares of General Mills tumbled 6.9% after the maker of Cheerios, Nature Valley and Pillsbury products warned that customers are feeling uneasy. The company cut its forecast for an underlying measure of profit for 2026, saying declines are likely to be sharper than previously expected.Recent surveys have shown weak confidence among US households grappling with persistent inflation, a job market coming off a weak year of growth and concerns over tariffs.Genuine Parts dropped 12.3% after reporting weaker-than-expected quarterly results and saying it is “navigating a dynamic environment.” The auto and industrial replacement parts seller also announced plans to split into two publicly traded companies in early 2027, one focused on auto parts and the other on industrial parts.

Warner Bros. Discovery gains on buyout talks

Providing some support to the broader market, Warner Bros. Discovery rose about 2.8–2.9% after reopening talks with Paramount Skydance on a buyout offer, giving it a week to top a rival bid from Netflix.Paramount Skydance shares climbed 6.9%, while Netflix dipped 0.2%.

Big tech and AI concerns continue to linger

Losses in some Big Tech stocks weighed on the indexes. Alphabet fell 1.5%, while Nvidia swung between gains and losses, reflecting volatility in AI-linked stocks.Shares of Meta were flat, Nvidia slipped 0.1% at one stage and Palantir Technologies fell 0.3%.“The rut in the technology and AI stocks is continuing this morning,” said Peter Cardillo of Spartan Capital Securities, as quoted by news agency AFP.“Investors are beginning to question: How long is it going to take for this spending to mature?” he added. “When you have an excessive amount of momentum in one sector, usually this is what happens. Negative market sentiment is going to have to run its course.”Investors have grown increasingly concerned that companies are pouring excessive amounts into AI infrastructure such as data centers and chips, without immediate clarity on returns. Alphabet, for instance, has said its spending on AI and other investments could double this year to roughly $180 billion.A survey of global fund managers by Bank of America found a record percentage believe companies are “overinvesting”.Sameer Samana, head of global equities and real assets at Wells Fargo Investment Institute, said markets need Big Tech stocks to stabilize and “need to see less sell first/ask questions later behavior from investors.”Chris Larkin, managing director for trading and investing at E-Trade from Morgan Stanley, noted that while the market remains close to record highs, sharp sell-offs have made it feel more fragile.“Overall, the market is still close to records highs, but it may not feel that way to some investors because of the sharp sell-offs that seem to derail upswings almost as soon as they begin,” Larkin said.

Bond yields steady, global markets mixed

In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year US Treasury edged up to 4.05% from 4.04% late Friday.Overseas, European markets advanced, while trading in Asia was muted due to Lunar New Year holidays. Japan’s Nikkei 225 slipped 0.4%, weighed down by weak economic data and a 5.1% drop in SoftBank Group.The decline followed a strong rally after the February 8 general election cleared the way for Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s ruling party to push pro-economy policies.