NEW DELHI: Samajwadi Party leader Abu Azmi on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on actor Salman Khan over his presence at the RSS’s 100th anniversary celebrations, alleging that the Bollywood star may have attended the event under pressure. He also claimed that the actor lacks the courage to refuse to an invitation sent by the ruling establishment.Speaking to reporters, the SP MLA suggested that Khan, as a public figure, may not have had the freedom to decline an invitation associated with those in power. “I understand that Salman Khan is an actor, and he has to live with respect in the country. If people on the ruling side say something, I don’t think Salman Khan has the courage to refuse. He must have gone there under government pressure,” Azmi said, hinting at coercion behind the actor’s appearance.

Mohan Bhagwat Credits RSS Grind For BJP’s Success, Draws Line Between Sangh And Political Power

#WATCH मुंबई: अभिनेता सलमान खान RSS की 2 दिवसीय व्याख्यान श्रृंखला में ‘संघ की 100 वर्ष की यात्रा’ में शामिल हुए।

इस पर समाजवादी पार्टी नेता अबू आसिम आजमी ने कहा, “मैं समझता हूं कि सलमान खान एक अभिनेता हैं और उन्हें देश में सम्मान के साथ रहना है। अगर सत्ता पक्ष के लोग कोई बात… pic.twitter.com/27m9puWttP

— ANI_HindiNews (@AHindinews) February 11, 2026

Azmi’s remarks came after Salman Khan attended the RSS Mumbai Vyakhyanmala event on Saturday, part of a two-day lecture series titled “100 Years of Sangh Journey: New Horizons.” The actor’s presence at the event has since sparked a political debate, drawing reactions from leaders across party lines.Defending Khan, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde dismissed the controversy and urged political leaders not to politicise the issue. He said there was nothing unusual about the actor attending the programme, emphasising that Khan, as an Indian citizen, had every right to be present at such events.“Whether Salman Khan went to an RSS programme or not, why should this even be questioned? Salman Khan is an Indian citizen. He follows Indian culture — Ganpati comes to his house, and his entire family believes in these traditions. I don’t think there is anything wrong with this. In fact, it is absolutely right,” Shinde said, adding that unnecessary politics should not be made out of the matter.

Maharashtra minister Nitesh Rane also came out in support of the actor, while trading barbs on Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray.

Rane claimed, “Salman Khan is more of a Hindu than Uddhav Thackeray. He had the courage to attend the RSS program.”

Rupee opened weak on Wednesday, falling 6 paise to 90.62 against the US dollar amid ongoing geopolitical worries and steady demand for the greenback from importers.Trading at the interbank foreign exchange market began with the rupee at 90.56 per dollar. As the session progressed, the local unit weakened to 90.62, lower than its previous finish. Earlier in the morning, it had also touched a high of 90.46 against the American currency.In the previous session on Tuesday, the currency had managed to reverse its early weakness and close 10 paise stronger at 90.56.CR Forex Advisors MD Amit Pabari said in a note, “In the near term, the 90.00–90.20 zone continues to act as a strong support for the rupee. As long as this area remains intact, USD/INR could slowly move higher, with the 91.00–91.20 range emerging as the next potential upside zone in the coming sessions.”Meanwhile, the dollar index, tracking the US currency against six peers, slipped 0.14% to 96.66.Oil prices edged higher, with Brent crude futures up 0.78% at $69.34 a barrel. Given India’s dependence on imported crude, rising prices expand the import bill and typically weigh on the rupee over time, Pabari noted.Indian equities opened in positive territory. The Sensex climbed 141.21 points to 84,415.13, and the Nifty added 51.95 points to reach 25,987.10.According to exchange figures, foreign institutional investors were net buyers on Tuesday, picking up equities worth Rs 69.45 crore.

Rajpal Yadav, who is known for his memorable performances in films such as Bhool Bhulaiyaa, Hungama and Welcome, is currently going through a difficult phase in his personal life. While his on-screen journey has been marked by comic brilliance, his recent legal and financial struggles have highlighted the need to stand by artists beyond the spotlight.

Rao Inderjeet Singh Yadav steps in to help

Music producer Rao Inderjeet Singh Yadav, the owner of GemTunes Music, has extended financial assistance of Rs 1.11 crore to Rajpal Yadav. The gesture comes at a time when the actor is facing mounting pressure due to a long-running legal dispute.

Speaking about his decision, Rao Inderjeet Singh Yadav told IANS, “Rajpal ji has given immeasurable joy to audiences and has been an integral part of Indian cinema. This support is not about money, it is about standing with a fellow human being in his time of need. Our industry is a family, and families hold each other when it matters the most.”

The legal case behind Rajpal Yadav’s troubles

Rajpal Yadav is currently dealing with financial and legal stress linked to a cheque bounce case that dates back to around 2010. At the time, the actor and his wife had borrowed approximately Rs 5 crore from a company to fund his directorial venture Ata Pata Laapata. Following the film’s commercial failure, the couple struggled to repay the loan.Several cheques issued against the amount were dishonoured, leading to legal proceedings under the Negotiable Instruments Act. Over the years, due to accumulated interest and penalties, the outstanding amount reportedly escalated to nearly Rs 9 crore.

Court directs surrender to Tihar Jail

Despite multiple deadlines and extensions granted by the Delhi High Court, Rajpal Yadav failed to clear the dues. Recently, the court declined to grant further relief and directed the actor to surrender to Tihar Jail, where he is to serve a six-month sentence in connection with the case.

Australia will kick off their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign without one of their most destructive batters, with captain Mitchell Marsh confirming that Tim David will miss the opening group clash against Ireland on Wednesday, February 11. The decision, Marsh said, has been taken with a long-term view in mind as the team manages David’s return from a recent hamstring injury.

Mitchell Marsh hints at Tim David’s return in coming games

Despite David looking fluent and powerful in training sessions in Colombo, Australia’s think-tank has chosen caution over urgency. The reigning champions are keen to ensure their premier finisher is fully fit when the tournament reaches its decisive stages, rather than risking an early recurrence. Addressing the media on the eve of the match, Marsh made it clear that David’s absence is temporary.

“We’ll certainly see him come back into contention over the next few games,” the skipper said during his pre-match press conference, offering reassurance to fans eager to see the six-hitting star in action.

Marsh explained that while David is close to match readiness, the medical staff advised against pushing him too soon. The batter has ticked most boxes in training but is being eased back to ensure he is operating at 100 percent when Australia need him most. Notably, David has not played a competitive match since Boxing Day last year, when he suffered the hamstring strain while representing the Hobart Hurricanes in the BBL. The injury forced him to miss Australia’s T20 series in Pakistan, allowing him time to focus solely on rehabilitation.

Also READ: Ricky Ponting explains why Australia will make it to the semifinal of T20 World Cup 2026

Since joining the World Cup squad in Sri Lanka last week, the 29-year-old has impressed behind the scenes. He has batted in nearly every training session, apart from one optional hit-out, and completed several running and fielding drills. On Tuesday, David was even seen sprinting between the wickets in full kit, a sign that his recovery is progressing smoothly.

Injury concerns linger for Australia

David is not the only fitness concern troubling the Australian camp. The 2021 champions are already without two senior fast bowlers, with Pat Cummins ruled out due to a back injury and Josh Hazlewood sidelined with an Achilles issue. There was, however, a boost for the side as Marsh confirmed Nathan Ellis has fully recovered from his hamstring niggle and is available to lead the pace attack. Leg-spinner Adam Zampa has also been cleared after overcoming a minor groin problem.

Also READ: T20 World Cup 2026: Ricky Ponting lays out roadmap for Babar Azam’s return to form

Stock market today (AI image)

Stock market today: Nifty50 and BSE Sensex, the main stock market benchmarks, rose in opening trade on Wednesday as global cues remained positive and optimism around the India-US trade deal continued. While Nifty was near the 26,000 mark, BSE Sensex rose over 100 points. At 9:16 AM, Nifty50 was trading at 25,983.75, up 49 points or 0.19%. BSE Sensex was at 84,403.92, up 130 points or 0.15%.Experts are of the view that the broader trend remains mildly positive in the near term, though gains may remain limited unless the benchmarks decisively move above the 26,000 level.Dr. VK Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist, Geojit Investments Limited says, “There are two trends that can sustain the ongoing mild rally in the market. One, this is a comprehensive rally with the broader market, too, participating with more enthusiasm. The appreciation in mid and small caps have brought cheer to retail portfolios and retail investors are participating eagerly in the rally. Two, sustained FII selling, which has been a major drag on the market, has stopped. FIIs have been buyers in the market in the last five out of six trading sessions. This cannot be taken as a complete reversal of the FII stance; but the sustained selling appears to be over.It is also important to note that the around 10 percent depreciation in dollar during the last one year has significantly eroded the dollar gains of foreign investors from investment in the US market. So FIIs might look for markets outside the US for gains this year and beyond. The rupee stability and hope of appreciation in the months ahead also can nudge FIIs to turn buyers in India. Apart from these factors, the improving earnings growth prospects in FY27 and the strong macro construct will provide the fundamental support to a modest rally. An unhealthy trend in the market now is the inflows into gold and silver ETFs exceeding the inflows into active equity funds. This is the time to put more money into equity than to precious metals which have turned highly volatile rather than a safe haven.”In the US stock market, the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq finished lower on Tuesday, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average recorded its third consecutive record closing high. Investors reacted to weaker-than-expected retail sales data and awaited an important labour market report that could provide clearer direction on the Federal Reserve’s interest rate outlook.Across Asia, equities hovered near record levels ahead of the release of key US employment data scheduled for Wednesday. Weak retail sales numbers in the US strengthened expectations that the Federal Reserve may move toward interest rate cuts later this year, supporting regional market sentiment.On the domestic front, foreign portfolio investors were marginal net buyers, purchasing shares worth Rs 69.45 crore on Monday, according to exchange data. Domestic institutional investors remained supportive, recording net purchases of Rs 1,174 crore during the same period.(Disclaimer: Recommendations and views on the stock market, other asset classes or personal finance management tips given by experts are their own. These opinions do not represent the views of The Times of India)

Sahibzada Farhan hits a six during T20 World Cup match against the United States in Colombo. (AP/PTI Photo)

NEW DELHI: Pakistan opener Sahibzada Farhan has set the tone for a blockbuster showdown against India, promising a fearless and attacking approach when the two arch-rivals meet in Colombo on February 15. After Pakistan called off their boycott of the high-profile fixture late Monday night, the focus has swiftly shifted to preparations for what is expected to be one of the biggest matches of the tournament.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Fresh from a fiery player-of-the-match performance against the USA, Farhan made his intentions clear at the post-match presentation. “We’ll go in with the same mindset as we did in our previous matches against India, including the Asia Cup. We’ll try to stay positive and play attacking cricket,” he said, underlining Pakistan’s aggressive outlook heading into the contest.

Farhan’s confident words came after his blistering 73 laid the foundation for Pakistan’s 32-run win over the USA. The opener revealed he felt in rhythm even before the match began. “The way we practiced yesterday, the ball was coming onto my bat really well in the nets. I had already told our batting coach Hanif Malik that I was getting a good feeling,” he said. Farhan added that he had set himself a personal goal of winning at least two to three player-of-the-match awards during the World Cup.Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha praised the team’s balanced approach, stating that while they enjoy chasing, they are equally comfortable setting a strong total. “We are comfortable chasing, but we try to bat first and put up above par, then defend. We have a flexible order,” he said.

After a narrow escape against the Netherlands in their opener, Pakistan’s clinical display against the USA boosted confidence. However, Agha admitted there is still room for improvement, especially in the powerplay bowling, as Pakistan aim to sharpen their edge ahead of the marquee India clash.

Virat Kohli of Royal Challengers Bengaluru lifts the IPL trophy alongside teammates following the team’s victory in the 2025 IPL Final match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Punjab Kings at Narendra Modi Stadium on June 03, 2025, in Ahmedabad, India. (Photo by Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images)

NEW DELHI: As Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) continue their hunt for an alternative home venue for the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) edition, the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai is off the table. It is reliably learnt that RCB have been asked by the Mumbai Indians to “exhaust other options” before considering the Navi Mumbai venue. Sources tracking developments explain it’s in the same catchment area as MI and could set a wrong precedent going forward.“If a franchise wants to establish a home base not far from the home of another franchise, it needs clearance to go ahead. It is the same catchment area. Wankhede and DY Patil are not far apart. If a franchise wants to set up a base at DY Patil, it cannot happen without approval from the one operating out of Wankhede. MI reasoned, ‘Why only DY Patil and not any other stadium in the country? There are plenty. MI is of the opninion that RCB must exhaust other options before coming to DY Patil. There are so many non-IPL centres in the country,” explained the source.

“There are established centres like Rajkot, Pune, Raipur, Vizag and Indore. The current situation is simple, if MI says yes to DY Patil then tomorrow some other team can come and express desire to host their matches at Brabourne. It kills the sanctity of home territories. And there needs to be a strong reasoning in place why RCB is not ready to play at these centres and only interested in DY Patil,” added the source.It is further understood that RCB have already had detailed conversations with the Chhattisgarh government about hosting at least two of their home matches in Raipur in the 2026 edition. With DY Patil no longer in the race, Indore has emerged as an option for the remaining five games.“There were discussions when DY Patil was in the race too, but now that it is no longer there, Indore is back in the mix,” added the source.

KSCA continues to push for RCB matches at Chinnaswamy

Since the tragic June 4 stampede, the Chinnaswamy Stadium has not hosted a major cricket match. The iconic venue is currently undergoing upgrades based on the Justice D’Cunha committee’s 17 recommendations, and KSCA has already initiated work on most of them. RCB also met Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Monday. The meeting was attended by COO Rajesh Menon, KSCA president Venkatesh Prasad, and a few other representatives.Prasad was optimistic after Monday’s meeting, but the franchise continues to explore options. With the season approaching, the decision needs to be communicated to the IPL Governing Council and the BCCI at the earliest to ensure the timely release of the season’s fixtures.

There is a venue inspection on Wednesday, and some clarity is expected after the meeting of officials.“At the Wednesday meeting, senior government, police and law officials will discuss what can be done at the government level and the instructions to be given to the KSCA. The extent of redressal of issues flagged by the Justice D’Cunha committee will have to be considered. We need the CM’s approval,” Parameshwara said.

Panaji: Fans have struggled to obtain information about their clubs’ new foreign signings this season. Many of the players have featured in relatively lesser-known leagues and some out of action for a while, before making a move to the top-tier Indian Super League (ISL). “Where do they find such foreigners,” asked one exasperated fan on social media when Kerala Blasters FC announced the signing of one of their five new foreign players. “This guy is a ghost; you can hardly find anything about him on the internet.” This is a strange season for Indian football, one riddled with uncertainties, mass exits of foreign players, and the arrival of foreigners, some of whom were playing in the fifth tier at home. Given the low budget and curtailed league this season, ISL clubs are paying monthly salaries of $1200 (approx. Rs 1.1 lakh) to foreign signings made during the January transfer window. That’s the lowest foreigners have got paid ever since the ISL kicked off in 2014 with plenty of glamour and marquee names like Alessandro Del Piero (Delhi Dynamos), Freddie Ljungberg (Mumbai City), Elano (Chennaiyin FC), Luis Garcia (Atletico de Kolkata) and Robert Pires (FC Goa). According to sources, some foreigners even offered to play for free in the hope of making a mark and securing a contract for next season. “This is an exception to a normal season,” said Kerala Blasters CEO Abhik Chatterjee. “You are restricted by financial sensibilities across the board and cannot operate on the same scale like before. We have to be competitive, and since there is relegation, clubs don’t want to leave anything to chance.” Blasters lost all six of their foreign players due to the uncertainty. With salary cuts then being introduced, the club had to count upon less glamorous signings with Kevin Yoke, Oumar Ba, Victor Bertomeu, Marlon Roos Trujillo and Matias Hernandez making the move. FC Goa and Bengaluru FC will play with just two foreigners, while NorthEast United will have three, all preferring not to add to their quota after asking players to take a pay cut. “It would be disrespectful to all those who agreed to reduce salaries in difficult times (for the club),” said Goa coach Manolo Marquez. Only Mohun Bagan, East Bengal and Inter Kashi have completed their full quota of six foreigners, quite a contrast with Odisha FC who are only left with captain Carlos Delgado, and Mohammedan Sporting Club, who are forced to field an all-Indian lineup due to their transfer ban. Brazilian defender Eduardo Kau had agreed terms with Real Kashmir FC before accepting an offer from former ISL champions Chennaiyin. They are not the only ones who have settled for foreigners from the I-League. Four other clubs – Jamshedpur FC, SC Delhi, Kerala Blasters and Inter Kashi – have found comfort with nine players who previously featured in the second division. “The new arrivals in January will be among the cheapest (foreigners) to play in ISL,” said a top official involved in the signing of players for his club. “The players understand there are financial constraints. Once this is sorted, it becomes easy to negotiate an extension (next season). There is relegation, so clubs did not want to leave their foreign quota unfulfilled since it’s cheaper to sign internationals than domestic players.” Not all domestic players. Some domestic players have zero value contracts with the clubs for this season. When these contracts were sent to the All India Football Federation (AIFF), the governing body refused to register, asking the clubs to change the value and resubmit the documents. “We converted the food and travel allowance into monetary value and turned it into a Rs 25,000 (per month) contract,” said another official.

South Africa are set to face Afghanistan in the 13th match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, with both teams approaching the contest with very different starts to their campaigns. While South Africa began their tournament on a high, Afghanistan will be eager to bounce back after an early setback. With crucial points at stake, both sides know the importance of delivering a strong performance to keep their World Cup ambitions on track.

The Proteas looked in fine touch in their opening game against Canada, registering a commanding 57-run victory. Their batting lineup fired in unison to post a total of 213/4, which proved far too much for the opposition. That all-round display gave South Africa a perfect start and underlined their depth and balance. Led by Aiden Markram, they will be keen to carry that momentum forward, especially with challenging fixtures against Afghanistan and New Zealand coming up in quick succession.

Afghanistan, on the other hand, suffered a five-wicket defeat in their first match against New Zealand, but the result did not tell the full story. Their batters showed admirable intent and confidence, putting up a competitive performance on the day. The bowling attack, however, struggled to maintain control at key moments and will be looking to tighten things up in this clash. Despite the loss, Afghanistan can take heart from the positive mindset they displayed, and they will aim to channel that belief into a stronger, more complete showing against South Africa.

SA vs AFG, T20 World Cup 2026: Match details

• Date and Time: February 11; 11:00 am IST / 5:30 am GMT
• Venue: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad

SA vs AFG, Head-to-Head Record in T20Is

Matches played: 03 | South Africa won: 03  | Afghanistan won: 0

Narendra Modi Stadium Pitch Report

The Narendra Modi Stadium has earned a reputation for hosting high-scoring matches, with conditions that largely suit batters. The pitch usually offers good pace and bounce, allowing the ball to come cleanly onto the bat and encouraging fluent stroke-play. This gives batters the confidence to play their shots freely, making the powerplay a crucial phase for teams looking to set a strong platform and post big totals.

That said, fast bowlers are not completely out of the game early on. With a fresh surface and the new ball, there is often some movement and carry on offer, rewarding bowlers who maintain discipline and vary their pace wisely. As the match progresses, however, the pitch tends to slow down, bringing spinners into the picture. The ball begins to grip more, making timing slightly more difficult, particularly through the middle overs.

Squads

South Africa: Quinton de Kock (wk), Aiden Markram (c), Ryan Rickelton, Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Jason Smith, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi, Corbin Bosch, George Linde, Tristan Stubbs, Kwena Maphaka

Afghanistan: Rashid Khan (c), Noor Ahmad, Abdullah Ahmadzai, Sediqullah Atal, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Naveen Ul Haq, Mohammad Ishaq, Shahidullah Kamal, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Darwish Rasooli, Ibrahim Zadran

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

SA vs AFG, T20 World Cup 2026: Today’s Match Prediction

Case 1:

• South Africa wins the toss and bats first
• South Africa’s powerplay score: 50-60 (6 overs)
• South Africa’s total score: 170-180

Case 2:

• Afghanistan wins the toss and bats first
• Afghanistan’s powerplay score: 40-50 (6 overs)
• Afghanistan’s total score: 150-160

Match result: South Africa to win the contest.

Also READ: ICC confirms whether Pakistan will play against India in T20 World Cup 2026