Sahibzada Farhan of Pakistan celebrates making a century during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup India & Sri Lanka 2026 match between Pakistan and Namibia at Sinhalese Sports Club on February 18, 2026 in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

TimesofIndia.com in Colombo: Sahibzada Farhan has rarely been out of the news. From making a documentary after hitting Jasprit Bumrah for three sixes during the Asia Cup, to picking Ahmad Shehzad over legends like Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara, or his gunshot celebration after scoring a fifty against India, Farhan has never shied away from expressing himself.Having gone unsold in the Pakistan Super League, he finished as the leading run scorer in domestic cricket. He’s also challenged Pakistan cricket management over the lack of opportunities at the top of the order. On Wednesday, the 29-year-old completed a remarkable full circle at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground in Colombo, becoming only the second Pakistani batter to score a century in T20 World Cup history, after his idol Ahmad Shehzad.Ahmad Shehzad was among the first to applaud Farhan’s outstanding knock. He wrote on X: “A historic century in the T20 World Cup and now the second Pakistani ever to achieve this milestone. I always believed in you and you proved your class to the world. Congratulations, champion. So happy for your achievement.”

Farhan produced a memorable hundred to steer Pakistan to a commanding 199 for 3 against Namibia. It was an uphill chase for Namibia, and the fall of wickets at regular intervals also didn’t help their case, as they skittled for 97 runs. Pakistan defeated Namibia by 102 runs and with this convincing win the Salman Ali Agha-led team cemented their place in the Super Eight.

Scratchy start

Opting to bat first, Pakistan made two changes from their heavy defeat against India, leaving out Shaheen Shah Afridi and Abrar Ahmed. Khawaja Nafay and Salman Mirza were brought in, with Afridi’s omission following a poor outing against India.The start was cautious. JJ Smit delivered an excellent opening over, keeping Saim Ayub on the back foot with movement into the batter before finishing with an outswinger. Just three runs came from it. Farhan opened his account with a boundary off Gerhard Erasmus, courtesy of a misfield at cover, but Namibia kept things tight early.Ayub showed flashes of intent against Ruben Trumpelmann with a swivel off his pads, though he rode his luck as a thick outside edge flew past a diving Zane Green. That over yielded 12 runs and allowed Pakistan some breathing space.Jack Brassell’s introduction unsettled Farhan initially with his back of a length bowling, but the opener finally broke free when a delivery flew over the keeper for four, his first authoritative stroke after 24 balls. Confidence followed quickly as Farhan struck back to back boundaries off Trumpelmann.Ayub’s stay ended in the fifth over. A harmless wide delivery tempted him into a loose poke and he edged behind for 14. Captain Salman Ali Agha then joined Farhan and immediately injected momentum with a crisp cut past the point.Pakistan reached 47 for 1 at the end of the powerplay, but the middle overs brought pressure. Spinners Willem Myburgh and Bernard Scholtz bowled with discipline, conceding little and choking strike rotation.

Finding his groove

The release came when Salman danced down the track to loft Myburgh straight for the first six of the match. Farhan followed three balls later, clearing mid wicket twice as Myburgh’s second over went for 22. Farhan was visibly struggling with cramps but refused to slow down.At the halfway stage, Pakistan were 85 for 1. Salman continued to attack, swiping Smit over fine leg and lifting Scholtz for another six. Farhan reached his fifty off 37 balls, scratchy but effective, built on perseverance rather than fluency.The 67-run stand ended when Brassell induced a mistimed loft from Salman, who departed for a brisk 38. Salman had also played a key role in helping Farhan refine his technique against short-pitched bowling.“Salman gave me valuable tips that helped improve my balance and on-side play. Now I’m scoring more freely in that area,” Farhan had told Geo Super during PSL 2025.Khawaja Nafay was sent ahead of Babar Azam and struck a boundary first ball, but his stay was brief as Erasmus removed him with a well-judged catch.Shadab Khan walked in next, and Pakistan’s intent was clear. Farhan, now in full flow despite severe cramps, accessed his fourth gear. He hammered Smit over long off, forcing a ball change, and greeted the new ball with another boundary. Brassell was then taken apart for a six and a four as Farhan closed in on history.On his knees between deliveries, Farhan finally reached his century off 57 balls, raising his arm in celebration. He became only the second Pakistani to score a T20 World Cup hundred. The knock was built on resolve, muscle and perfect timing, and was studded with eleven fours and four sixes. His fifty came off 37 balls, and he raced to the next fifty in just 20.Shadab provided the finishing touches with an unbeaten 36 off 22 balls as Pakistan posted 199 for 3, powered by a defining innings from Sahibzada Farhan.

The rocky journey

Farhan made his international debut in 2018. His career began in bizarre fashion, stumped without facing a ball off a Glenn Maxwell wide. In his next game against Australia, he opened with Babar Azam and scored 39 off 38 balls. He played nine matches for Pakistan, batting at multiple positions, before being pushed down the order and fading from the setup.In 2024, while captaining Pakistan A, he publicly criticised the management for unfair treatment and challenged the opening slots of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan. “I did not get proper chances as an opener. I have the right to play as an opener for Pakistan,” he said then.Despite aggregating 605 runs in the 2025 National T20 Cup – the most in a single season – Farhan initially went unsold at the PSL 2025 auction. Islamabad United later picked him in the supplementary category, and he repaid the faith by finishing as the tournament’s leading run scorer with 449 runs in 12 innings.Farhan once dreamed of becoming a fast bowler. “I started as a fast bowler in tape-ball cricket, but after a disastrous over, my coach asked me to focus on batting,” he had told Cricfrenzy during the BPL.After a long and rocky journey, the explosive opener has found his groove. Since 2025, he is the only batter in the world to score five T20 centuries. If Pakistan are to go deep in the tournament, much will depend on how Farhan bats at the top.Cricket careers rarely move in straight lines, and Farhan’s has been anything but smooth. Yet on a humid Colombo afternoon, the opener who once waited on the fringes, questioned, doubted and overlooked, answered every question the only way that truly matters in cricket – with runs.Brief Scores Pakistan: 199 for 4 in 20 overs (Sahibzada Farhan 100 not out, Salman Agha 38, Shadab Khan 36 not out; Jack Brassell 2/48)Namibia: (Louren Steenkamp 23, Alexander Busing-Volschenk 20; Shadab Khan 3/19, Usman Tariq 4/16)

NEW DELHI: The lawyer representing a 17-year-old accused in a fatal road crash in Delhi’s Dwarka has sparked controversy after appealing for sympathy for the teenager, citing “academic stress” and alleged threat calls to his family.The crash, which took place near Lal Bahadur Shastri College in Dwarka South on 3 February, left 23-year-old Sahil Dhaneshra dead.

Police say a car allegedly driven by a juvenile without a licence collided with Dhaneshra’s motorcycle, which was travelling in the opposite direction, before hitting another parked vehicle.An FIR has been registered at Dwarka South police station under Sections 281/106(1)/125(a) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). According to Delhi Police, a PCR call about the incident was received at around 11:57am. Officers who reached the scene found three vehicles damaged and the motorcyclist dead.The accused minor’s lawyer, Lal Singh Thakur, said the incident had deeply affected the teenager and his family.“The incident that happened on February 3rd is very unfortunate and painful. I am also a parent. The entire family has been severely stressed and traumatised by this until today. Especially that child, who has to take his board exams today, he isn’t able to do so properly. And he is a child with a studious background, a gold medalist. But unfortunately, an accident has had a huge impact on his life,” Thakur said.He added that the matter remains under investigation and that the defence has not admitted the boy was driving at the time of the crash.“The matter is currently at the investigation stage. Everything right now is based on speculation. We are not admitting anywhere yet that the boy was the one driving. Regarding the allegations, this is an incident of an accident, and if what you are talking about is true, then look at it this way: appreciate the boy’s conduct. This boy did not flee the scene.”“This boy is not someone who took the car and ran away. He did not do that. This family was not one that tried to cover up the case or manage it from somewhere; nothing like that. They called you to the police station, presented the child at the police station, they were kept there all night, the parents were kept there all night,” Thakur told ANI.The lawyer said the minor was later produced before the Juvenile Justice Board.“The board formed an opinion that we should send this boy away for a few days so he can undergo some improvement; we said we would cooperate, even though the boy has board exams, classes all day, and tuitions going on. But despite that, as the board ordered, we immediately complied. On the 3rd, the board sent him to what we call ‘juvenile jail’. And on the 10th, we got interim bail so that in the meantime his studies are not ruined. No doubt, the boy who left this world, it is regrettable, we cannot express in words the damage and loss the family is sustaining and feeling. But this child is also a young boy of 17 years who is under tremendous pressure, his family is under so much pressure, that besides all the media since yesterday, they are getting personal calls, threat calls. I feel there is so much pressure on the child that some mishap might happen to him. This is very unfortunate,” he said.Thakur also urged restraint in coverage of the case.“The level of this torture has increased so much that we fear the child might do something to himself. His family might do something. So many abuses, so many threats, in such foul language that I cannot show you. If I count now, there must have been around 1,400 calls to his family. These poor people are sitting with their phones switched off. I told them to attend the calls, to talk. Just now I was going to lodge their complaints. My request to you is: this is a question of a child’s future, please do not make it a media trial,” he stated.Police have not publicly commented on the defence’s claims regarding threat calls. The investigation into the crash is ongoing.

Pakistan officially secured their place in the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup 2026 by delivering a ruthless 102-run thrashing of Namibia on February 18, 2026. This victory stands as their most dominant performance of the tournament, coming at a time when their campaign was teetering on the edge after a heavy loss to India.

The “Men in Green” showcased absolute clinical precision at the Sinhalese Sports Club, outclassing the African nation in every department to claim the final remaining spot in the next round. Led by a record-shattering century from Sahibzada Farhan, Pakistan posted a formidable 199/3 before their bowling unit dismantled the opposition for a mere 97 runs. The emphatic nature of the win not only eliminated the USA from contention but also restored a massive sense of belief within the Pakistani camp.

Sahibzada Farhan’s historic century for Pakistan and Shadab Khan’s late-overs blitz ignite Colombo

The Sinhalese Sports Club witnessed a masterclass in T20 batting as Farhan became only the second Pakistan in history to score a T20 World Cup century, finishing with a magnificent, unbeaten 100 off 58 balls*. After Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat, Farhan anchored the innings with a blend of surgical precision and calculated aggression, reaching his milestone in the final over of the innings.

The early phase saw a cautious start following the loss of Saim Ayub, but Farhan found an able ally in captain Salman Ali Agha, who contributed a quick-fire 38 to steady the ship. A brief stutter occurred when Khawaja Nafay was dismissed for 5, but this only cleared the path for a devastating 81-run partnership between Farhan and Shadab Khan. Shadab was equally destructive, smashing 36 off just 22 deliveries*, including three towering sixes that shifted the momentum irrevocably in the final five overs.

Farhan was particularly savage against the Namibian seamers, plundering 22 runs in a single over from Willem Myburgh and showcasing a full array of sweeps, pulls, and drives. His hundred, punctuated by 11 boundaries and 4 sixes, was the bedrock of Pakistan’s massive total, leaving the Namibian bowlers looking completely shells-shocked as they conceded 65 runs in the death-over surge. By the time the innings closed at 199, the body language of the African side suggested the chase was already beyond their reach.

Usman Tariq and Shadab Khan orchestrate a bowling masterclass to seal Super 8 spot for Pakistan 

Defending a target of 200, the Pakistan bowlers delivered their most disciplined performance of the 2026 campaign, bundling Namibia out for just 97 runs in 17.3 overs. The chase began with a brief flicker of intent from Louren Steenkamp, but the Pakistani pace attack, bolstered by the tactical decision to bench Shaheen Afridi, quickly exerted control through Salman Mirza’s early breakthrough.

However, the true architect of the collapse was the mystery spinner Usman Tariq, whose unconventional action and deceptive ‘long pause’ left the Namibian middle order in total disarray. Tariq finished with sensational career-best figures of 4/16, consistently finding the edge or hitting the stumps as the batters struggled to read his release point. Supporting him was a rejuvenated Shadab Khan, who followed up his batting heroics with a clinical 3/19, including the prized wicket of Namibian captain Gerhard Erasmus, who was caught behind attempting a late cut.

The pressure was relentless; Pakistan’s fielders were equally sharp, effecting a crucial run-out early in the powerplay that saw Namibia slip to 40/2 and never recover. As the required rate soared past 15 runs per over, the tail stood no chance against the spin duo, with Tariq eventually wrapping up the tail in a whirlwind final spell. The 102-run victory not only confirmed Pakistan’s qualification but also ensured they finished with the highest Net Run Rate in Group A, setting them up as a formidable threat for the Super 8 matches ahead.

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Here’s how fans reacted:

A comprehensive victory for Pakistan by 102 runs against Namibia seals them the final place in the Super 8 stages of the #T20WorldCup. They came back strongly today after a disappointing performance against India. Now England, Sri Lanka and New Zealand awaits…

— Aatif Nawaz (@AatifNawaz) February 18, 2026

Sahibzada Farhan, 100!!

— Ihtisham Ul Haq (@iihtishamm) February 18, 2026

After a terrible game against India. Shadab has come back really well. But we need similar performances against top teams please🙏 #PAKvNAM #PakistanCricket

— Haroon (@hazharoon) February 18, 2026

If used properly Usman Tariq, and of course Sahibzada Farhan can take Pakistan to at least the semifinals. #PakvsNam #ICCMensT20WorldCup

— Nauman Liaqat (@naumank845) February 18, 2026

Pakistan has Qualified for Super 8

Australia couldn’t

Systems matter because they improve averages but Individuals matter more

— Shehzad Younis شہزاد یونس (@shehzadyounis) February 18, 2026

Congratulations Pakistan win by 102 runs and qualify for the Super 8. Sahibzada Farhan played a magnificent unbeaten knock his first T20I & T20 World Cup century. Usman Tariq stunned with a brilliant 4 wicket mystery bowling spell#PAKvNAM #T20WorldCup

— 🐧 (@wordsbyher_) February 18, 2026

Now the real test begins for Pakistan.

They will face the home side Sri Lanka, New Zealand, and England in the Super 8. It’s time for the seniors to deliver! pic.twitter.com/hqIMTSdyE8

— junaiz (@dhillow_) February 18, 2026

Ramiz Raja is absolutely right, Saim is a walking wicket. Pakistan needs to promote Babar top of the order with Farhan Agha. Otherwise we will struggle in Super 8.
Saim has played 65 T20 with poor average and SR. #T20WorldCup

— Faisal Ranjha (@ranjha001) February 18, 2026

Pakistan’s Super 8 group includes England, NZ and Sri Lanka.

— Haider Abbasi (@HaiderKAbbasi) February 18, 2026

🔥🏏 PAKISTAN SEAL SUPER 8 SPOT IN STYLE! 🏏🔥

Namibia blown away by 102 runs 💣

Clinical all-round performance 👑

Scorecard: https://t.co/PxzcboIS2N#T20WorldCup2026 #cricket #Pakistan #Super8 #Namibia #PAKvNAM #PAKvsNAM pic.twitter.com/J1GrHfYw4U

— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) February 18, 2026

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NEW DELHI: Unruly flyers beware, India has now decided to adopt a “no/zero tolerance policy” towards them with immediate effect to “ensure the safety of aircraft/persons/property and to maintain good order & discipline on board.” The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has come out with draft rules for handling such passengers in aircraft.The big change proposed by DGCA chief Faiz Ahmed Kidwai is that airlines will now have to establish procedures to “deal with unruly passengers while at airport or on-board the aircraft. The SOP will need to be communicated throughout the organisation and especially to all employees who are in direct contact with passengers, both on the ground and on the aircraft.”“All airlines shall establish mechanism to detect and report unruly passenger behaviour at check-in, in the lounges, at the boarding gate or any other place in the terminal building or at the airside in order to prevent such passengers from boarding. Such cases shall be reported immediately with law enforcement agency at the aerodrome,” it says.“The home ministry may provide to DGCA and to airlines, a list of individuals identified as national security threats for inclusion in the No-Fly List. Such cases will not be covered by appeal provisions as provided under (rules). Further, National Security threats list provided by Ministry of Home Affairs shall be shared with the airlines. However, this list will not be a part of published No Fly List. Separately, law enforcement agencies may take action in accordance with applicable law under their jurisdiction,” the draft says. Such people will be barred till the time the home ministry deems them to be a national security risk.The regulator has also struck a balance between ensuring passenger rights and giving powers of reporting unruly behaviour to airlines. “Unruly behaviour could be the result of an event of unsatisfactory service/condition or effect of a series of such events that build up. Airline staff should observe early signs of potential unruly behaviour. Airlines shall focus and act on these early signs, rather than dealing exclusively with escalated events. At no stage, the airline staff/crew member shall show discourteous behaviour during redressal of genuine passenger rights,” the draft says.The draft proposes that the no fly rules apply to “all passengers during the period of air travel to/from India”. This means as opposed to being applicable to Indian carriers and airports, the rules will apply to unruly passengers travelling foreign airlines as well on flights to and from India if those carriers report the matter.India no fly rules categories unruly behavior into four levels with restriction on flying for upto a lifetime.

Robodog row at AI Summit: Galgotias University apologises, blames professor’s ‘enthusiasm’ for controversy

Galgotias University issued an apology following a row over the showcase of a Chinese-made robotic dog at its booth during the AI Impact Summit expo at Bharat Mandapam. However, in its statement, the university attributed the lapse to a woman faculty member. The apology came after the university was asked to vacate its pavilion at the summit. In a press release, it expressed regret over the controversy, stating that the situation stemmed from Professor Neha Singh — who was overseeing the stall — not being aware of the product’s technical origins. Read full story

‘Himanta is Assam’s Jinnah’: Congress plays down Bhupen Borah’s exit; alleges ‘confidential leaks’

Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi hit out at Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma calling him “Assam’s Jinnah” and dismissed the exit of former state chief Bhupen Borah from the Congress to join the Bharatiya Janata Party as politically insignificant ahead of the polls. He also alleged that the move reflected Borah’s proximity to the chief minister and was aimed at diverting attention from allegations against him. Speaking in Guwahati, Gogoi said the defection would not affect Congress’s campaign, while Borah defended his decision citing humiliation within the party and said he had raised his concerns with Rahul Gandhi. Read full story

ECI announces Rajya Sabha biennial elections for 37 seats across 10 states

The Election Commission of India has announced that biennial elections to fill 37 vacant seats in the Rajya Sabha across 10 states will be held on March 16, with polling from 9am to 4pm and counting from 5pm the same day, as terms of outgoing members end in April 2026. The notification for the same will be issued on February 26, nominations close March 5, scrutiny is on March 6 and withdrawal is allowed till March 9, while states going to polls include Maharashtra, Odisha, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Assam, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Bihar, and retiring MPs this cycle include Upendra Kushwaha, Priyanka Chaturvedi, Tiruchi Siva, Saket Gokhale, Ramdas Athawale, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Sharad Pawar, Bhagwat Karad, Mamata Mohanta, Rameswar Teli, Indu Bala Goswami, K. T. S. Tulsi, N. R. Elango, Amarendra Dhari Singh and Kiran Choudhry. Read full story

‘Was anxious about her future after my death’: Former Isro employee murders wife inside Bengaluru flat

A former employee of the Indian Space Research Organisation, Nagesh Ishwar Rao, was arrested for allegedly strangling his wife Sandhya Shri to death at their apartment in the Virtuoso Apartment Complex in Bengaluru, police said, adding that preliminary investigations indicate he was undergoing treatment for depression and was in distress, and allegedly told officers he feared for his wife’s future if he died and intended to take his own life after the attack. Deputy commissioner of Police said no other major motive has emerged so far and that the couple’s daughter, who lives in the United States, has been informed. Read full story

With Super 8 spot on the line, Pakistan drop Shaheen Afridi for must-win match vs Namibia

The Pakistan men’s cricket team left out fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi from the playing XI for their must-win group match against the Namibia men’s cricket team in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup at the Sinhalese Sports Club on Wednesday. Captain Salman Ali Agha won the toss and chose to bat, making two changes after the defeat to the India men’s cricket team, with Salman Mirza and Khawaja Nafay replacing Shaheen and Abrar Ahmed. Pakistan entered the match needing a win to stay in Super 8 contention after their 61-run loss, with senior batter Babar Azam and Shaheen facing criticism for form. Read full story

NEW DELHI: Delhi Police have registered an FIR under the Arms Act after allegedly finding that a quick-commerce platform was selling illegal knives online. The complainant in the case, a constable posted at Khyala police station in west Delhi, stated that two recent murder incidents in the Khyala area were allegedly committed using knives purchased through online platforms. Following these incidents, police began scrutinising various e-commerce and quick-delivery platforms offering knives for sale.The constable placed the order on February 13 at 3.43 pm and paid Rs 710 online. The delivery address was deliberately given as the second floor of the police station. The knife was delivered at around 4.05 pm the same day on the police station premises. “During the checking of online platforms selling knives, it was found that a quick-commerce platform was selling prohibited knives online,” a police officer said. Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) Darade Sharad Bhaskar said that, as part of a verification exercise, police placed an order for a knife through the online platform, Blinkit to ascertain whether the product being sold complied with legal specifications. “The knife that was delivered was found to be ‘gararidar’ (manually opened and closed) and exceeded the maximum permitted blade length of 7.62 cm and maximum permitted blade width of 1.72 cm. The knife had a blade length of 8 cm and a width of 2.5 cm. Hence, it was an illegal arm in violation of the government notification,” the DCP said. The complainant said that upon examination, the knife was found to have a steel blade and a black metal handle equipped with a steel strip mechanism. He added that pressing the strip allowed the blade to open and close, and a button mechanism between the blade and the handle facilitated its operation. The tax invoice reportedly listed the seller as the online platform, with an address in Tihar village, west Delhi. Based on these findings, a case under Sections 25, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act was registered. During further investigation on February 15, a total of 16 knives were recovered from various dark stores and platform-linked outlets across Delhi. Police teams continued their raids the following day and recovered 32 illegal knives from a warehouse of the platform located in Farrukhnagar, Gurgaon (Haryana). So far, a total of 50 knives have been seized in connection with the case. Police said further investigation is underway to identify those responsible for the procurement, storage and sale of the prohibited weapons.A response was sought from platform.

NEW DELHI: Galgotias University on Wednesday apologised after a controversy erupted over the display of a Chinese-made robotic dog at its stall during the AI Impact Summit expo at Bharat Mandapam. In the statement however, the university blamed the woman professor for the fiasco. The university issued a press statement after it was asked to vacate its pavilion at the summit. In the statement, it expressed regret over the confusion and said it arose because Professor Neha Singh, who was managing the stall, was unaware of the product’s technical origins.

“We at Galgotias University, wish to apologise profusely for the confusion created at the recent AI Summit. One of our representatives, manning the pavilion, was ill-informed. She was not aware of the technical origins of the product and in her enthusiasm of being on camera, gave factually incorrect information even though she was not authorised to speak to the press… Understanding the organisers sentiment we have vacated the premises.”The robotic dog, showcased as “Orion”, was identified by observers as the Unitree Go2, a commercially available quadruped robot manufactured by Chinese robotics firm Unitree Robotics. The incident triggered criticism, as the summit was aimed at highlighting domestic innovation in artificial intelligence.The controversy began after the robotic dog displayed at the university’s booth was recognised as the Unitree Go2, which is available commercially in India for around Rs 2–3 lakh. Critics alleged that the robot was presented as an in-house innovation, raising concerns about the showcasing of imported technology at a national AI event.Government sources earlier said Galgotias University was asked to vacate its stall following the row. Power supply to the pavilion was also reportedly cut off after the university was directed to leave the expo.The AI Impact Summit 2026, inaugurated by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is a flagship event focused on promoting India’s advancements and capabilities in artificial intelligence.

What triggered the row?

The controversy escalated after Professor Neha Singh, while presenting the robot earlier, told DD News, “We are the first private university investing more than 350 crore rupees in artificial intelligence and we have a dedicated data science and artificial intelligence block on the campus. So Orion has been developed by the Center of Excellences and as you can see, it can take all shapes and sizes.”“It’s quite naughty also. It’s quite naughty also and it can perform small tasks of surveillance, monitoring,” she added.Her remarks led to scrutiny after observers identified the robot as the Unitree Go2, a product sold globally by Unitree Robotics.

University’s earlier clarifications

In its first clarification issued after the row broke out, the university stated that it had neither built nor claimed to have built the robotic dog, emphasising that its focus was on student learning.“Let us be clear – Galgotias has not built this robodog, neither have we claimed. But what we are building are minds that will soon design, engineer, and manufacture such technologies right here in Bharat. Innovation knows no borders. Learning should not either. We will continue to source the best technologies from across the world so our students can study them, challenge them, improve upon them—and ultimately create world-class solutions from India for the world.”In a subsequent statement, the university said concerns about “propaganda” against it were misplaced.“We at Galgotias, faculty and students, are deeply pained by the propaganda campaign against our university. We would like to clearly state that the robotic programming is part of our endeavour to make students learn AI programming and develop & deploy real world skills using globally available tools and resources, given developing AI talent is need of an hour.”Professor Neha Singh also addressed the controversy, saying, “The controversy happened because things may not have been expressed clearly. I take accountability that perhaps I did not communicate it properly, as it was done with a lot of energy and enthusiasm and very quickly, so I may not have come across as eloquently as I usually do. Also, the intent may not have been properly understood. One important point is regarding the robot dog—we cannot claim that we manufactured it. I have told everyone that we introduced it to our students to inspire them to create something better on their own. Our university contributes to building future leaders by providing cutting-edge technologies in the field of AI, and it will continue to do so.”

Rahul Gandhi describes summit as ‘disorganised PR spectacle’

The issue also drew sharp reactions from the Opposition.The Congress party said on X: “The Modi government has made a laughing stock of India globally, with regard to AI. In the ongoing AI summit, Chinese robots are being displayed as our own. The Chinese media has mocked us. This is truly embarrassing for India. What is even more shameful is the fact that Modi’s minister Ashwini Vaishnaw is indulging in the same falsehood, promoting China’s robots at the Indian summit.”“The Modi Government has caused irreparable damage to the image of the country – they have reduced AI to a joke – a field in which we could be world leaders given our data power,” it added.Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi described the summit as a “disorganised PR spectacle.” In a post on X, he said, “Instead of leveraging India’s talent and data, the AI summit is a disorganised PR spectacle – Indian data up for sale, Chinese products showcased.”

The atmosphere at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) in Colombo was electric this Wednesday, as Pakistan faced Namibia in a high-stakes Group A encounter of the T20 World Cup. In what was the 35th match of the tournament, the narrative was completely stolen by one man: Sahibzada Farhan. On a day where Pakistan needed to assert their dominance, Farhan delivered a masterclass in power-hitting, becoming only the second Pakistani in history to score a T20 World Cup century.

Pakistan elected to bat first, a decision that proved fruitful as they set a daunting target for the Namibian side. While the early loss of Saim Ayub (14) provided a momentary flicker of hope for the Namibian bowlers, it was quickly extinguished by a relentless onslaught led by Farhan.

Sahibzada Farhan hammers stunning century against Namibia in key T20 World Cup 2026 match

The highlight of the innings and perhaps Pakistan’s tournament so far came in the final over. At 19.1 overs, the tension was palpable as Farhan sat on 99. Off the next delivery, he worked a ball from Gerhard Erasmus down the ground for a single, sparking wild celebrations in the stands. This 100 off 58 deliveries was a historic milestone, marking Pakistan’s first T20 World Cup ton since Ahmed Shehzad’s famous century against Bangladesh in 2014.

Farhan’s innings was a blend of calculated aggression and pure timing. He reached his fifty in 37 balls, but it was his acceleration in the death overs that left the Namibian fielders chasing shadows. Finishing 100 not out, his knock included 11 boundaries and 4 towering sixes, operating at a strike rate of 172.41. Fans across social media have gone gaga over his performance, hailing him as the new backbone of the Pakistani top order in the post-2024 transition era.

Here’s how fans reacted:

Sahibzada Farhan’s ton takes Pakistan to 199 #cricket #PAKvNAM #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/yd9r9Npd4e

— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) February 18, 2026

🚨DOCUMENTARY COMING SOON🚨
100 FOR SAHIBZADA FARHAN
2nd Pakistani after Ahmed Shehzad pic.twitter.com/vM3hp8u0H7

— CricFlix (@PRAVIN0070) February 18, 2026

PAKISTANIS TO SCORE 100 IN T20 WORLD CUPS:

– Ahmed Shehzad – 2014
– Sahibzada Farhan – 2026

– Sahibzada Farhan now shares the elite record with his idol Ahmed Shehzad. 🇵🇰🔥 pic.twitter.com/sehPZ2pWMs

— Muhammad asif (@asif38689) February 18, 2026

Outstanding knock by Sahibzada Farhan! 💯🔥
Congratulations champion! 🇵🇰 So so happy for your achievement.♥️#sahibzadafarhan #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/fs2YbOs7sM

— Syed Farhan Naqvi (@SyedFarhanNaqve) February 18, 2026

🚨 HUNDRED FOR SAHIBZADA FARHAN IN THE MUST WIN GAME FOR PAKISTAN 🚨

– Only batter to score more than 200 runs in this tournament 🤯 pic.twitter.com/Kun3p1iP9F

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) February 18, 2026

Pakistani batters to score T20I centuries outside Pakistan:

• Babar Azam vs SA, Centurion, 2021
• Ahmed Shehzad vs BAN, Mirpur, 2014
• Hasan Nawaz vs NZ, Auckland, 2025
• Sahibzada Farhan vs NAM, Colombo, 2026* pic.twitter.com/tCeRDJ3g6V

— Abdul Rehman Yaseen (@Aryaseen5911) February 18, 2026

Mr. Consistent for Pakistan Sahibzada Farhan! 🔥

What an incredible knock — 100 off just 57 balls in a high-pressure game!
Pure class, composure, and fearless cricket from the young man.

199 on the board… Super 8, here we come! 🇵🇰💚
Come on Pakistan, finish it now!#PAKvsNAM… pic.twitter.com/I4o6MiimqF

— Mushtaq Ahmed (@Mushtaqq_) February 18, 2026

Sahibzada Farhan leads the way for Pakistan with a Brilliant Hundred against Namibia 💪
Congratulations Pakistan Team 💚 💚 💚 💚 💚 #PAKVSNAM
It is one of the @MarriottBonvoy Milestones of the #T20WorldCup 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
📝: https://t.co/r6WS7hq0cc… pic.twitter.com/55WTiFSBVp

— TAHIRMKHAN (@Huseeb59) February 18, 2026

HUNDRED FOR SAHIBZADA FARHAN!!! 🔥

100* off 57 balls, including 11 fours and 4 sixes. He is carrying Pakistan’s batting single-handedly on the big stage! 👏 pic.twitter.com/YQHEssqjb9

— Mir Za⁵⁶ (@Mirza143146) February 18, 2026

SAHIBZADA FARHAN IN T20 WORLD CUP SO FAR 🔥

47 (31) vs ND
73 (41) vs USA
0 (4) vs IND
100* (58) vs NAM

LEADING RUN-SCORER OF THE TOURNAMENT SO FAR 🇵🇰 pic.twitter.com/21nvj7IIxe

— Arsalan 🏏 (@CricWithArsal) February 18, 2026

Also WATCH: Sahibzada Farhan’s bat slips and goes airborne in bizarre on-field moment during PAK vs NAM clash

Pakistan posts formidable total after clinical batting display

Pakistan’s total of 199/3 was built on the back of steady partnerships and a late-inning surge that saw them collect 68 runs in the final five overs. Following the departure of captain Salman Agha (38 off 23), who fell to Jack Brassell after a steadying 67-run stand, and a brief cameo from Khawaja Nafay, the stage was set for a grand finish.

Shadab Khan played the perfect foil to Farhan in the closing stages, contributing a brisk 36* off 22 balls. The duo’s unbeaten 81-run partnership for the fourth wicket effectively batted Namibia out of the contest before the second innings even began. Namibia’s bowling unit struggled in the first innings; while Jack Brassell managed two wickets, he was expensive, conceding 48 runs in his four overs.

Pakistan look poised to secure two crucial points. For Namibia, the task of chasing nearly 10 runs per over against a balanced Pakistani attack remains a monumental challenge in this T20 World Cup campaign.

Also READ: T20 World Cup 2026: Here’s why Shaheen Afridi and Abrar Ahmed are not playing today’s PAK vs NAM match