head of Afghanistan’s ICC T20 World Cup clash against New Zealand, captain Rashid Khan downplayed the significance of personal milestones, saying his focus remains on delivering for the team in challenging situations. Just four wickets short of the 700-mark in T20 cricket, Rashid also jokingly spoke about hoping to touch the 7,000-wicket milestone.

Afghanistan, who stunned the cricketing world in the previous T20 World Cup by beating heavyweights such as New Zealand and Australia to reach the semifinals, will look to recreate that magic — and possibly go a step further — when they open their campaign against New Zealand in Chennai on Sunday. Rashid currently boasts 696 wickets in 515 T20 matches at an average of 18.49, including 18 four-wicket hauls and four five-fors, making him the leading wicket-taker in the format. At just 27, time remains firmly on his side to scale even greater heights.

Addressing the milestone during the pre-match press conference, Rashid said, “I only played 9-10 years of international cricket overall and then to be someone leading wicket taker is something more than a dream for me, T20 cricket came I do not know around 2004-05, we had players playing and played a lot, but for me to achieve that (highest wickets in T20s) was something very special, but I never counted my wickets, I only knew it in the media, ok I have reached 400, 500, 600, but I really do not think about it much, I only try my best, every single day, I have to keep performing well for the team, I have to pick up wickets, I want to bowl in a tough situation where team needs and that made me focused, but what I achieved, I still sometimes thinking like 700 wickets is not something small, getting there it needs lots of time and lots of hard work, but I am blessed and I am so, so happy that reaching that milestone and hopefully we will make it to 7,000.”

Rashid also brushed aside discussions about Afghanistan shedding their underdog tag, insisting that labels mean little compared to on-field performances.

“Sometime you perform, you become number one, when you do not perform, you become number two or number three or number ten, it all depends on what you do in the middle, you get that names, what you do in the middle and for me, we are not much believing on these things, we can be like a team to upset people, things like that, I do not really trust these things, as long you are fully committed in the ground, giving 100 per cent, you will be the best team, does not matter you lose as well, but you will still – people will see you put the effort on and you had all the efforts there in the ground and I think that is more important, but the tags you get, it is just like a media stuff,” he added.

He further noted that expectations naturally rise as teams begin beating established sides, something Afghanistan has experienced after recent victories over New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, England, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

“Twelve years ago, you would not have thought that Afghanistan would reach the semi-final and even for us, just participating in the World Cup was the biggest thing, but now it is not just about participating, you have enough skills to beat the team, but as long you are very strong mentally and physically, and you put the efforts in the ground,” Rashid concluded.

Norway’s royal family faced renewed scrutiny this week as charities reviewed or cut ties with Crown Princess Mette-Marit over her past contact with late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, while critics questioned her suitability as Norway’s future queen. The Crown Princess issued a “profound apology” to Norwegians after it emerged she had exchanged messages with Epstein for three years.

“I also apologise for the situation in which I have placed the Royal House, especially the King and Queen,” she said in a palace statement.Hundreds of emails exchanged between Crown Princess Mette-Marit and Jeffrey Epstein between 2011 and 2014 were revealed in files released by the US Justice Department last week. Some messages discussed plans to meet in person and showed that the crown princess spent four days at Epstein’s Palm Beach home in Florida while he was reportedly not present.Emails sent in 2012 from “H K H Kronprinsessen” — Norwegian for “Her Royal Highness The Crown Princess”, show Mette-Marit referring to Jeffrey Epstein as “sweetheart” and “soft hearted,” as cited by CNN.In another exchange the same year, she described Epstein as “very charming,” and wrote: “Is it inappropriate for a mother to suggest two naked women carrying a surfboard for my 15-year-old sons wallpaper?”A separate 2012 conversation records Epstein saying he was on a “wife hunt,” adding: “Paris is proving interesting but I prefer scandinavians (sic).” Mette-Marit replied that Paris was “good for adultery” and that “Scandis better wife material.”The tone of the correspondence surprised many in Norway, and the messages indicate she was aware Epstein had served a jail term in 2008. In an October 2011 email, she wrote: “Googled u after last email… Agree didn’t look too good.”The palace initially issued a statement last week in which the crown princess expressed regret and acknowledged “poor judgment”, but it faced pressure to clarify the nature of her relationship with Epstein.In a further statement on Friday, the palace said she was “deeply saddened” that she had not realised earlier what kind of person Epstein was. It added that she wanted to provide a more detailed explanation but was in a “very difficult situation” and needed time to “gather herself.”

Crown Princess’s son denies rape charges

Another controversy surrounding Norway’s royal family centres on Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s 29-year-old son, Marius Borg Høiby, who broke down in tears during his first day of testimony this week as he denied four counts of rape in an Oslo court.Høiby is not in the line of succession, having been born before Mette-Marit married Crown Prince Haakon in 2001.Ahead of the trial beginning on Tuesday, Crown Prince Haakon issued a rare statement reaffirming Høiby’s status as a private citizen, saying his stepson was “not a member of the Royal House of Norway and is therefore autonomous.”

The Washington Post’s publisher and CEO Will Lewis resigned on Saturday, just days after laying off 300 journalists. His sudden departure comes amid strong criticism from staff over his handling of the newspaper’s financial troubles and recent mass layoffs. Jeff D’Onofrio, the company’s CFO, will take over as acting publisher and CEO immediately.Lewis announced his exit in a brief note to staff, thanking owner Jeff Bezos and claiming the “difficult decisions” were needed for the Post’s future. “After two years of transformation at The Washington Post, now is the right time for me to step aside,” Lewis wrote Saturday in a brief note to staff. “I want to thank Jeff Bezos for his support and leadership throughout my tenure as CEO and Publisher. The institution could not have a better owner,” he added.Further continuing his message he added, “During my tenure, difficult decisions have been taken in order to ensure the sustainable future of The Post so it can for many years ahead publish high-quality nonpartisan news to millions of customers each day.”However, Lewis’ leadership came with controversies, according to CNN. Even during the Wednesday layoffs, his absence and subsequent appearance at a Super Bowl event in San Francisco reportedly caused anger.The Washington Post announced what it called a “significant restructuring” of its operations, including the closure of its standalone Sports desk and a reduction in its international reporting presence. According to Fox News, roughly a third of the organisation’s workforce which is nearly 300 employees were affected.Bezos broke his silence since the layoffs, stating in a statement that “The Post has an essential journalistic mission and an extraordinary opportunity.” He expressed confidence in the new leadership team of D’Onofrio, executive editor Matt Murray, and Opinion editor Adam O’Neal.Lewis’s 15-month tenure was rocky from the start. He joined in November 2023 after working at The Wall Street Journal and within Rupert Murdoch’s media empire. His reputation took hits when NPR reported his alleged involvement in covering up a phone-hacking scandal at Murdoch’s UK tabloids, which he denied. He also reportedly tried to stop NPR from publishing that story.The Washington Post Guild responded to Lewis’s departure with sharp criticism. “His legacy will be the attempted destruction of a great American journalism institution,” the union said, calling on Bezos to reverse the layoffs or sell the paper to someone willing to invest in its future.Despite attempts to improve the Post’s business side and develop new revenue streams, Lewis struggled to win over the newsroom. His decision to fire executive editor Sally Buzbee and his handling of the recent layoffs, where he was notably absent from communicating with staff, further damaged his standing with employees.

TimesofIndia.com in Mumbai: Mohammed Siraj was cooling his heels at home and had his February — a month of no cricket — planned out. First on the list was watching a Real Madrid game on February 15, which would have followed the festivities of Ramadan alongside loved ones. The well-laid plans, however, were interrupted when he got a call from India T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav.“Surya bhai called me. He said, ‘Miya bag pack kar le and come’ (pack your bags and come). I said, ‘Surya bhai, mazaak mat karo‘ (don’t joke, because this is not going to happen). He said, I’m telling you the truth—get ready. As soon as he hung up, I got a call from (Pragyan) Ojha. So suddenly, I got shocking news. No one can change what God has written. I came(and) played the match … everything was written,” an emotional Siraj told reporters after India’s T20 World Cup win over USA at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Saturday.

As he explained the dramatic last 24 hours, his eyes had a teary sheen. Every word came from the heart and gratitude was written all over them. The sequence of events became difficult to process, and reality struck the bowler when he finally boarded the flight to Mumbai on February 6. In a few hours he was officially joining India’s World Cup squad for a format he had been away from since 2024.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!“It was hard. First of all, in the last 24 hours, when I was sitting on the flight, it felt like a dream because I never thought I would play in the World Cup,” said Siraj.“For the past year, the planning was that all the World Cup players would get chances in T20s. But when I didn’t play in T20s, I understood that I wouldn’t be part of it this year,” he added.

When he continued to be the workhorse in Tests and the 50-over format, it seemed the T20I opportunity had passed. Management persisted with Harshit Rana and had their combination ready for the multi-nation event in India and Sri Lanka. Only after Rana’s ill-timed injury did the selectors look for a right-arm quick and make the SOS call to Siraj. There was communication with India’s Strength and Conditioning coach Adrian Le Roux regarding plans for the next few days but little did the two know back then that they would be in the same dugout within 48 hours.

“I was spending time with my family, and one day before, I got a message from Adrian asking about my plans for the next few days. I said, don’t message me right now—I’m resting because I’m playing two four-day games. I need rest, and after that we’ll see the plan,” said Siraj.Jasprit Bumrah’s illness made the selection call even sweeter as Siraj took the field for India in their tournament opener versus USA.Siraj, World Cup and Wankhede is a setting we have seen before and he was back to his usual penetrating best with the new ball when he struck twice in the opening spell. Another wicket was added in the final over—the last of the innings—allowing him to return with figures of 3/29.

India’s Mohammed Siraj, left, celebrates the wicket of United States’ Saiteja Mukkamala during the T20 World Cup cricket match between India and the United States in Mumbai, India, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)

From leading Hyderabad in the Ranji Trophy a week ago to opening the attack with Arshdeep Singh in a T20 World Cup game, it was a quick transition for the seasoned campaigner. The plans were chalked out late at night, and the experience took over when he stood on top of his mark. Hardik Pandya, fielding at mid-on, egged on the crowd, which roared with “Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Siraj” chants. The dream was now a reality for the 31-year-old.“Earlier I didn’t know I would play. I was just happy to be back in the team. But when I got the message that I was playing, I became more excited. I arrived yesterday and played the match today, so I was very excited. While I was playing the Ranji Trophy as captain, I was thinking about my role and the team’s needs. Even today, I was thinking about my bowling—how to put pressure on the opposition, where to attack, whether to bowl defensively or aggressively. All that was in my mind, and whatever I planned, it got executed,” said Siraj.

When you’re playing in the World Cup, you have to be mentally ready. I’ve been playing for India for almost 10 years now, so when you get a chance, you know how to prepare yourself

Mohammed Siraj

Emotion has always remained the keyword for Siraj, who continues to wear his heart on his sleeve. Whether it was the delicate morning at The Oval on Day 5 of the final India-England Test or the pleasant evening at the Wankhede on Saturday, the approach remained the same.“Obviously, there is emotion. As a player, playing in the World Cup is a different dream. So I just bowled the same line and length that I was bowling in the Ranji Trophy. When we were batting, I felt the new ball wasn’t that easy to hit. So my plan was to stick to the new ball, bowl wicket to wicket, and if I could get a wicket there, it would help the team a lot. That was the plan, and I executed it and got wickets as well. So I’m very happy,” said Siraj.The Cristiano Ronaldo wallpaper he applied to his cellphone on the morning of Day 5 of The Oval Test continues to inspire him. It was the instant mental switch which allowed him to make a seamless return to the T20I set-up.

Poll

How do you feel about Mohammed Siraj’s return to the T20I format after a long break?

“When you’re playing in the World Cup, you have to be mentally ready. I’ve been playing for India for almost 10 years now, so when you get a chance, you know how to prepare yourself. If a youngster gets the chance, he has to think about many things. But since I’ve been around the team, I know how to get ready in this format and how to set my mindset. Even when I slept last night, I just thought I would stick to the same weapon that has given me success so far. And I got the same success today as well,” said Siraj.‘Believe’, with a Ronaldo picture, continues to stare back at him every time he pulls the phone out. However, the footballer’s former club (Real Madrid) will have to wait a bit longer to see Siraj in the stands because the bowler is on T20 World Cup duty.