England is currently facing New Zealand in the Super 8 Group 2 clash at the R Premedasa Stadium, Colombo. The Three Lions have already qualified for the semi-final of the 2026 T20 World Cup. Ahead of the match, former England all-rounder Moeen Ali, alongside current spinner Adil Rashid, predicted the best combined XI.

It is a video that was shot in the middle of the 2026 T20 World Cup, as Adil Rashid is currently featuring for the Three Lions in the tournament. Moeen Ali and Rashid picked their openers in the form of former England captain Jos Buttler and reigning World Cup-winning captain Rohit Sharma. Then they picked former India captain Virat Kohli as their No.3 batter.

Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid pick five India players in clutch XI

In the middle order, they picked former India all-rounder and two-time World Cup Player of the Tournament award winner Yuvraj Singh. They chose South Africa’s explosive batter David Miller at number five, followed by England’s Test skipper and all-rounder Ben Stokes at six. They chose MS Dhoni, a multiple ICC trophy-winning captain, as the wicketkeeper-batter.

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At number eight, they picked West Indian all-rounder, Dwayne Bravo. Another West Indies international, this time Sunil Narine, was chosen as the team’s frontline spinner at No.9. Then, with two pace bowlers, picked by the English cricketers, Sri Lanka legend Lasith Malinga and star India pacer Jasprit Bumrah.

Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid’s combined clutch XI (via Beard Before Wicket podcast) – Jos Buttler, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, David Miller, Ben Stokes, MS Dhoni, Dwayne Bravo, Sunil Narine, Lasith Malinga, Jasprit Bumrah.

Adil Rashid has been brilliant for England

Adil Rashid is England’s joint highest wicket-taker so far with 11 wickets from seven games at an average of 14.80 and an economy rate of 8.19 with best figures of 3/36. He has used all his experience of bowling in India as he has varied his pace as per the conditions.

In the video, they also talked about South Africa’s strong performance in the tournament, and whether this time, Aiden Markram’s side would go on to win the T20 World Cup. As the Proteas are the only team unbeaten in the competition so far, having had a dominating win over the West Indies in their last game, and qualified for the semi-finals.

I was expecting South Africa to win- Moeen Ali

Moeen Ali said, “I think it was always going to be a tough one, especially because South Africa at the moment are playing good cricket in the form of the ball. It’s always going to be a challenge. Yeah, so one of those games. I think they’re playing so well, South Africa. I was expecting South Africa to win, to be honest. West Indies did really well to get that score.”

“Yeah, Shepherd and Holder played really, really well. Otherwise, they were gone. They were almost all out. But also, they still lost badly. So now the run rate is… No, I don’t think it makes a difference. No, I don’t think… But it’s simple now, I think, because obviously there’s a game going on right now, as we speak, I reckon.”

Also Read: Will Rinku Singh remain unavailable for T20 World Cup 2026 after his father’s demise?

Thane: Residents and motorists can expect smooth and pothole-free roads before the first spell of rain hits, as Thane district was kept on alert mode before and during the monsoon, officials said. The directives came from deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde following the recently concluded District Planning Committee meeting, where he instructed all agencies to treat pre-monsoon works as top priority.Officials present for the meeting said clear deadlines were set, including road repairs, pothole filling and asphalt patchwork, and instructions were issued that the works must be completed by the end of May.“The message is clear that any unfinished work will not be tolerated, and public inconvenience during the rains will not be excused. Departments were told to act now to prevent accidents, traffic snarls and waterlogged stretches once the monsoon arrives,” said an official.Shinde also emphasised tight coordination between the district collector’s office, municipal corporations, police and disaster management teams to ensure rapid response during heavy rainfall or emergencies. The aim is seamless action on the ground — from clearing flooded roads to managing traffic diversions — without bureaucratic delays.“Respective authorities of individual civic bodies were also asked to monitor structurally dangerous buildings, particularly those under cluster redevelopment, to prevent mishaps during intense showers. Health officials, meanwhile, were directed to stay vigilant against seasonal disease outbreaks, especially in rural belts, schools, anganwadis and primary health centres,” said officials. Beyond monsoon readiness, the administration is sharpening its focus on agriculture. Boosting farmers’ incomes through organic farming was identified as a priority, with steps ordered to ensure timely supply of organic manure, encourage pasture development and promote innovative farming practices. “The message is clear to fix the roads, plug every pothole, stay prepared for heavy rain, and ensure the district doesn’t stop and remains safe for residents through the monsoon,” said a senior bureaucrat present for the meeting.

Mumbai: Bombay HC on Friday set aside a 2024 refusal of maternity benefits to a doctor on contract at the civic-run KEM Hospital, directing the state to take note of the rise in the number of women in the workforce and to ensure a more reasonable approach going forward. It ordered that the doctor be given her maternity benefit dues in six weeks.“Fundamentally, [Maternity Benefit Act] clearly makes no distinction between a woman employee who is appointed under a contract/agreement and/or otherwise,” said a bench of Justices Riyaz Chagla and Advait Sethna. BMC argued that the doctor’s appointment “was merely a stop-gap arrangement pending the regular selection process”. HC said such submissions “fall foul of the clear mandate” of the Act. The anaesthesiologist engaged as an assistant professor on contract petitioned HC last year to challenge the hospital’s Oct 2024 refusal to grant her maternity benefits on the grounds of their unavailability to contractual employees. HC noted the rise in the number of women entering diverse workforces. “In this scenario, it is important to ensure that a woman striving for self-sufficiency and economic independence does not have to compromise on her role as a caregiver to her child.” The state is expected to be more sensitive to deserving persons, it said. “She ought not to be made to seek orders from this court, especially since the hospital in principle agreed to process payment of her maternity benefits,” said HC after hearing the doctor’s counsel, Subit Chakrabarti, and Chaitanya Chavan for BMC and the hospital. Chakrabarti said the doctor was appointed in Jan 2022 and her contract was subsequently extended till June 2025. He said she complied with the necessary service and provided evidence of birth. An agreement in 2024 said she was entitled to “holidays/vacation as available under the service rules applicable to permanent and regular employees of the corporation”. In Oct 2024, when she sought maternity leave, it was denied. She gave birth the next month.HC said the doctor was eligible for maternity benefits, having fulfilled the Act’s Section 5(2) of 80 days of work in the 12 months immediately preceding the date of her expected delivery, which was Nov 15, 2024. It said it found merit in the claim that BMC’s stand, coupled with its conduct, “does interfere with the fundamental right of the petitioner guaranteed under Article 21 (protection of life and liberty)”.

Game-Changer for Global Finance? UAE Unveils World’s First AI-Powered Sovereign Cloud to Guard Banks and Data

In a bold leap that could redefine how modern financial systems operate, the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates (CBUAE) has announced the launch of what it calls the world’s first sovereign financial cloud services infrastructure, a secure and AI-powered digital backbone designed specifically for the nation’s financial sector. This initiative, developed in partnership with Core42 (a subsidiary of AI and technology group G42), aims to position the UAE at the forefront of secure, sovereign digital finance and bolster its reputation as a global hub for innovative financial services.The platform, known as the Sovereign Financial Cloud Services Infrastructure (SFCSI), is set apart from traditional cloud environments by its focus on data sovereignty, integrated cybersecurity and unified multi-cloud management, all underpinned by advanced artificial intelligence and real-time analytics. In practical terms, this means the UAE’s financial sector will be able to process, analyse and automate critical banking functions with unprecedented speed and regulatory control, securely within national borders.

What makes the UAE’s sovereign financial cloud revolutionary

Unlike most cloud services, which are operated by global providers and often host data far from the jurisdictions that regulate them, the SFCSI is built on a fully isolated and centralised infrastructure that ensures critical financial data remains within the UAE’s legal and security perimeter. Governments and regulators see this as key not just for privacy but for economic and strategic sovereignty in a world where data and finance increasingly intersect.This approach mirrors broader global trends toward digital sovereignty, where countries aim to protect sensitive infrastructure from foreign interference, whether from geopolitical tensions or shifting international data laws. By embedding regulatory controls and governance tools directly into the cloud platform itself, the CBUAE is seeking to reduce reliance on foreign systems and strengthen confidence in the nation’s financial resilience.Core42’s involvement is not just as a technical builder; the partnership brings integrated artificial intelligence and advanced analytics directly into the financial backbone. This allows licensed financial institutions and the CBUAE to automate operational processes intelligently, analyse real-time data for risk and performance insights, improve decision-making with predictive models and enhance customer service through automated, data-driven workflows.In a world where financial services are rapidly becoming more complex and interconnected, AI integration at the infrastructure level offers both competitive edge and stronger defences against threats like fraud, system failure or cyber-attacks. The new system also provides a single management framework for multiple cloud services, giving licensed financial institutions the flexibility to administer a range of cloud environments, including private and hybrid setups, seamlessly and securely. This capability is particularly valuable for institutions that need to balance agility and innovation with strict regulatory compliance.

Implications for the UAE and global financial landscape

For the UAE’s banks, insurers and fintech startups, the SFCSI represents a foundational piece of digital transformation. Regulatory oversight will be more immediate and nuanced, while institutions can scale new digital products, from personalised banking apps to smart payment systems, without compromising on security or compliance.Officials from the CBUAE emphasised that the platform will serve the entire licensed financial sector, reinforcing not just operational resilience but also long-term sustainable growth as financial services evolve. The central bank’s leadership views this as a pivotal step in strengthening the nation’s competitiveness on the world stage.The UAE’s move toward a sovereign financial cloud resonates with a broader global push for digital control over critical infrastructure. Various countries are debating how to balance openness to global technology with the need to protect sensitive financial and governmental data, a tension that’s only grown more pronounced as cyber threats increase and geopolitical competition around tech intensifies. By being among the first to embed sovereign control, AI capabilities and cloud innovation at this scale, the UAE is signalling that it intends to lead in secure, regulated digital finance, not just participate in it.While this cloud platform is targeted at the financial sector, its development aligns with the UAE’s wider strategy of integrating AI and digital infrastructure across governance, public services and enterprise systems. The inclusion of AI, real-time analytics and automation at a national infrastructure level could help catalyse further technological development in related fields such as central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), national payments innovation and cross-border financial integration.

What UAE’s sovereign financial cloud platform means for everyday users and institutions

For banks and financial firms, the SFCSI offers a more efficient way to innovate and comply with regulations, potentially making services faster, more secure and easier to tailor to customer needs. For consumers and businesses, the shift could translate into:

The rollout of such an infrastructure may also attract international finance players, tech investors and startups looking to base operations in a secure, innovation-friendly jurisdiction. The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) has unveiled what it calls the world’s first sovereign financial cloud services infrastructure, developed with technology partner Core42.The Sovereign Financial Cloud Services Infrastructure (SFCSI) is designed to ensure data sovereignty, robust cybersecurity, AI integration, and unified multi-cloud management for the UAE’s financial sector. Built with advanced AI and analytics, it will enhance automation, real-time decision-making and innovation within licensed financial institutions. The move reinforces the UAE’s ambitions to be a global leader in secure, digital finance, aligning with broader global trends toward sovereign digital infrastructure.

India was closely monitoring the situation as Afghanistan and Pakistan seemed poised for a dangerous escalation, with Islamabad declaring that the two countries were in an “open war” following Pakistan’s airstrikes on “terrorist hideouts” in Afghanistan and the latter’s retaliatory action. The relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan has unravelled dramatically in the past few years. Pakistan has blamed Tehreek-i-Taliban (TTP) or Pakistan Taliban for terrorist attacks on its soil and on several occasions launched targeted strikes against TTP. According to Islamabad, Baloch insurgents also find sanctuary in Afghanistan. Kabul has mostly responded with what it calls necessary and measured military action.On this occasion though, Pakistan has directly targeted not just the terrorist infrastructure but also Afghanistan military facilities in Kabul and other cities.

India’s own ties with the Taliban have seen a stunning turnaround during this period, initially on the back of its large-scale humanitarian aid to Kabul and now the commitment to fulfil the development needs of the Afghan people, circumventing the lack of international recognition for the regime. India’s response so far to the Pakistan-Afghanistan crisis has been a manifestation of this new reality that Islamabad must contend with. India has continued to maintain that Pakistan’s cross-border adventurism resulting in civilian casualties is nothing but a ploy to deflect attention from its domestic failures. India also strongly backs Afghanistan’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence. The Taliban reciprocated to these gestures as they endorsed, much to Pakistan’s chagrin, a mention of J&K as a part of India in a joint statement issued after Afghanistan foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi’s visit to India last year in Oct.However, while an antagonistic relationship between the two countries allays fears about Pakistan’s longstanding policy of using Afghanistan for strategic depth, a major military escalation that would imperil regional stability is more than what India would bargain for. In fact, it would come at the least opportune time for India as New Delhi, after a period of relative peace, looks to resume development work in the country.Importantly, India is considering an offer from the Taliban to invest in the mining sector, something which China is already actively pursuing. India is also looking to work with Afghanistan on hydroelectric projects. For India, this is the time to reap the benefits of a strong working relationship it has built with the Taliban and a regional war, or its possible spillover effects like a humanitarian or refugee crisis, will likely stymie India’s nascent but expanding footprint in a Taliban-ruled Afghanistan.