Mohammad Hafeez, the former Pakistan captain, lashes out with an all-out attack on the cricket governing body of the nation. It is believed that Hafeez targets Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi through the comments.

The early exit of the Pakistan cricket team from the T20 World Cup 2026, even before qualifying for the semi-finals, attracted a lot of criticism. While former cricketers like Shoaib Akhtar showed open support to Mohsin Naqvi, who is also the interior minister of Pakistan, a few others like Mohammad Hafeez refused to hold back and issued some fiery statements against the cricket authority of the nation.

Mohammad Hafeez unleashed an all-out attack on the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)

While talking on Tapmad, the former Pakistan cricketer clearly said that Pakistan cricket badly needs a character, a character who can act like a leader who can lead cricket in the nation from the front. According to Hafeez, the current set-up of PCB is surrounded by some job seekers, with job-seekers, Pakistan will make the same mistake instead of taking progressive steps for the betterment of the game.

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“Let me put it to you like this, who’s going to go and actually want to work for Pakistan cricket now? Everyone would want to, if they’re given respect, if they’re given authority”, Mohammad Hafeez expressed.

Hafeez wants to see the ‘job-seekers’ off the board

“But if you’re running things with job-seekers, all the evidence from the past is coming out, this won’t get fixed by job-seekers… You need a character. And that character has to come from within the leadership. Leadership isn’t about taking credit, it’s about taking responsibility,” he further added.

The 45-year-old suggests that posing for photo sessions after winning a match will not work for the team’s progression. To take the team forward, someone needs to take the responsibility, who can openly take liabilities for every decision.

Someone needs to take the responsibilities, Mohammad Hafeez suggested

He observed that neither from the board nor from the players was there to take the responsibility. The acceptance is missing, Hafeez assessed. He also believed that one would put up their hand to do the job, and there would be a blame game as before.

“Those people who go around posing for pictures after a win, where are they today? Will they accept this failure? Will they come forward and say, ‘Yes, we took the decisions, and we made mistakes’? No one will do that. It’s never happened. Blame will be shifted. For me, the real issue is this: you’ll only move towards success when you accept your mistakes”, the former captain strongly mentioned the facts.

“The first step towards success is acceptance of failure —acknowledging, ‘Look, I’m making mistakes here. I’m not getting it right. I will resolve the issues I have.’ That acceptance is not there. It’s not coming from the administration, and it’s not coming from the players either,” Mohammad Hafeez concluded.

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NEW DELHI: PM Narendra Modi on Sunday spoke with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and condemned the attacks on the nation, in his first conversation with any Gulf leader since the US and Israel launched military strikes on Iran.“Spoke with President of the UAE, my brother Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Strongly condemned the attacks on the UAE and condoled the loss of lives in these attacks. India stands in solidarity with the UAE in these difficult times,” said Modi, while thanking him for taking care of the Indian community in the UAE. Modi didn’t name Iran, which has launched hundreds of projectiles at the UAE in retaliation for the US-Israel strikes that resulted in the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

External affairs minister S Jaishankar had reached out to his counterparts from all GCC countries — Kuwait, Bahrain, the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Oman — to share India’s concerns over the rapidly deteriorating security situation in the Gulf and discuss the well-being of the Indian community in the region.Modi also took stock of the West Asia situation at a Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting late Sunday after his return to Delhi. The CCS is the highest decision-making body on issues relating to national security and defence.However, with airspace closed across the region, and road travel deemed unsafe, govt advised Indian nationals in Iran and other places to exercise utmost caution and follow local security guidance.Evacuation in any case is going to be a complex affair with nearly 10 million Indian nationals spread across the Gulf. India is hoping the aerial attacks will subside in the next few days, though they intensified on Sunday with the killing of Khamenei.The Indian embassy in UAE confirmed an Indian national was injured in an Iranian strike but added the person was out of danger and receiving assistance from hospital authorities. Meanwhile, the Iranian embassy in India called upon “independent and freedom-seeking govts” around the world to strongly condemn the killing of Khamenei and to refrain from remaining silent in the face of “lawlessness and aggression”.India, however, had not expressed condolences till late evening. Russia and China were among a handful of countries that condemned the killing or offered their condolences. India has been forced into a delicate balancing act because of its close ties with both sides — the US-Israel combine and Iran — and this reflected in its Saturday call for restraint and respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states.

Varun Chakravarthy (ICC Photo)

KOLKATA: The one thing that strikes you about Varun Chakravarthy is his complete lack of facial expressions. Just by looking at him, you wouldn’t know if he has taken a wicket or gone for a six. Rather, his teammates seem to be more excited about his achievements than him. But that takes nothing away from him being an integral part of India’s T20 squad.Varun is now back at the venue where he has thrived in the past. The 34-yearold leg-break googly bowler, an important part of the Kolkata Knight Riders team in the IPL, will consider Eden Gardens his home. Of his 100 IPL wickets, 99 are for KKR, with this iconic venue contributing quite a few of those. This is not lost on the Indian team management and assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate agrees Varun could be one of their potent weapons here.

“Varun obviously had a lot of success here,” ten Doeschate said on Saturday. “I think it’s pretty standard how we’ve utilized Varun so far. He bowls one over in the powerplay. He’s our attacking option as well.”However, is Varun still as effective as he was in his early days? In the last two games against South Africa and Zimbabwe, he conceded 82 runs for his two wickets. Are the batters approaching him in a different way? Ten Doeschate is inclined to agree.

“We’re also aware that teams are now starting to play him a little bit differently. So we have some other strategies to deploy him in different facets of the game. But generally speaking he’s someone we turn to for wickets and he’s been really good at that and expect more of the same on Sunday.”The West Indies won’t take Varun lightly despite his relatively indifferent form. “Last time I checked I think he was the No. 1 bowler in T20 cricket,” West Indies coach Darren Sammy said. “We respect every opposition. We have our plans against each bowlers and vice versa, our bowlers versus their batsman. We got to play a complete game.”

Back in the familiar surroundings of the Eden Gardens, the occasion could just be the perfect setting for Varun to silence doubters. And an early wicket in his powerplay over could well give India the edge.Team firmly behind RinkuTen Doeschate said that the team is standing firmly with batter Rinku Singh, who lost his father to cancer on Friday. “It’s obviously a very sad time and he’ll continue to get the love and support from everyone,” he said.

UAE Stock Markets Closed: Regional Conflict Halts Trading on ADX and DFM

In an unprecedented economic response to escalating regional conflict, the United Arab Emirates has announced that its two major financial markets, the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) and the Dubai Financial Market (DFM), will remain closed on Monday, March 2 and Tuesday, March 3, 2026. The decision comes as the UAE reels from a series of retaliatory Iranian strikes following coordinated US and Israeli military actions against Iran, which have destabilised Gulf business sentiment and prompted sweeping security and economic precautions.The UAE Capital Markets Authority said that keeping the exchanges closed temporarily is part of its supervisory and regulatory mandate, providing authorities and market participants time to assess the impact of recent events on financial infrastructure and investor confidence. The halt affects equities, derivatives and trading in hundreds of billions of dollars in listed assets and is among the clearest signs yet of economic shockwaves from the regional crisis.

Why UAE stock markets are paused: Regional conflict among Iran–US–Israel disrupts confidence

The closures follow Iran’s retaliatory missile and drone strikes on Gulf cities and strategic targets, including airports and other infrastructure, after a joint US–Israel offensive. These attacks have not only led to safety measures such as airspace restrictions and travel advisories but also triggered widespread business disruption across the Gulf. Major airports in Dubai and Abu Dhabi have seen operations halted or altered and commercial hubs from ports to retail centres have felt the strain.

UAE Markets Shut Down: Is This Economic Capitulation to Regional War?

Financial markets are typically among the first economic indicators affected by geopolitical instability. When investors fear prolonged unrest, they often pull funds from equities and seek so-called “safe-haven” assets like gold, sovereign debt or commodities such as oil, especially when conflict threatens critical energy supply corridors like the Strait of Hormuz.

Regional market turmoil and knock-on effects in the Middle East amid Iran–US–Israel clashes

While the UAE exchanges are closed, other Gulf markets that remained open on Sunday experienced significant sell-offs as investors reacted to the turmoil:

Financial markets are serving as a barometer of risk and economic confidence and the dramatic moves across the Gulf underscore how intertwined political stability is with economic performance in the region.

What the UAE’s stock market closure means for investors

For both domestic and international investors, the temporary shutdown of ADX and DFM has several implications. Liquidity and price discovery are paused, leaving billions of dollars in listed assets in limbo. Risk premiums on Gulf assets may rise, as traders reassess exposure during periods of heightened uncertainty. Investor sentiment is likely to remain fragile until there are visible signs of de-escalation or credible diplomatic resolutions.Economists note that halting trading does not eliminate market pressure, it simply delays it and when markets do reopen, there may be sharp moves as investors recalibrate positions based on new geopolitical and economic realities. The conflict has not just shaken stock markets, energy markets have also reacted. Reports from analysts indicate that crude oil prices have surged as fears of supply disruptions increase, with the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial passage for roughly 20% of global oil exports, under theoretical threat of closure.

UAE Stock Markets Closed: What Does This Mean for Global Investors Amidst Escalating Conflict?

Higher oil prices can partially offset stock market pain in energy-exporting economies like the UAE but the overall economic impact remains complex. Other sectors, from tourism and hospitality to trade and logistics, have also felt immediate fallout: airport shutdowns have stranded travellers and corporate events and networking key to Ramadan business cycles have been postponed, compounding uncertainty.

UAE government messaging and future prospects

UAE authorities have stressed that public and economic safety remain top priorities. The temporary market closure is coupled with broad advisories across transportation, education and public services, such as airports issuing travel advisories and schools moving to remote learning, aimed at ensuring operational stability while the situation evolves. Officials have pledged to monitor conditions closely and communicate updates on any further market action. This includes potential rescheduling of reopening dates for ADX and DFM or additional measures to support investors once trading resumes.The UAE Capital Markets Authority ordered a two-day closure of the Abu Dhabi and Dubai stock markets on March 2–3, 2026, in response to escalating regional tensions. The pause follows retaliatory strikes by Iran after US and Israeli military action, which have disrupted markets, air travel and business operations across the Gulf. Gulf markets that remained open experienced sharp declines and volatility, reflecting investor risk aversion. Oil prices and safe-haven assets have climbed as geopolitical risk fuels global economic uncertainty. Authorities will continue to assess and communicate market developments as conditions evolve.

Fresh explosions rocked key Gulf cities early Sunday as Iran expanded its retaliatory campaign following US and Israeli strikes on its territory, sharply escalating tensions across the region. AFP confirmed blasts in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, Doha in Qatar and Manama in Bahrain, all countries that host US military bases.According to CNN, at least three loud explosions were heard in Dubai on Sunday morning, followed by another series of blasts minutes later.

There were no immediate reports of injuries, and it remains unclear whether any sites were directly hit by incoming fire.The fresh explosions came a day after deadly Iranian strikes targeted the Emirati capital Abu Dhabi, as well as military bases and civilian infrastructure across several Gulf states with mediator Oman the only country spared.The escalation comes after US and Israeli strikes that began Saturday battered Iran, killing its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Panic at Dubai International Airport

Passengers rushed to evacuate Dubai International Airport, one of the world’s busiest travel hubs after a reported Iranian strike overnight.Videos showed panicked passengers running along airport concourses as smoke spread through parts of the terminal. Water triggered by smoke alarms collected on the floor as people fled.The footage also captured people escaping a smoke-filled passageway from earlier overnight strikes.Airport authorities did not specify the cause of the evacuation. However, aviation sources told Reuters that an overnight Iranian attack damaged one of the terminals.Dubai Airports later said a concourse sustained “minor damage” and that emergency response teams were “immediately deployed” during Sunday’s evacuation.Eyewitnesses told CNN that ambulances rushed toward the airport following the incident. Dubai Airports confirmed that all flights in and out of the city’s two main airports have been suspended until further notice.“Passengers are advised not to travel to the airport at this time and to contact their respective airlines directly for the latest updates regarding their flights,” the Dubai Media Office said.In Dubai’s upscale Palm Jumeirah district, an explosion struck the Fairmont Hotel, leaving parts of the property in flames.

Missiles over Doha, drone damage in Bahrain

In Qatar, missiles were intercepted over the capital Doha on Saturday.In Bahrain, officials said a drone strike damaged Bahrain International Airport. The interior ministry confirmed the attack caused “material damage without loss of life,” adding that authorities were securing the site.Videos geolocated showed a large fire at a residential high-rise building in Manama.

Regional airspace shut down

A wide corridor of Middle Eastern airspace was closed over the weekend as tensions soared.Airlines suspended flights across the region on Saturday, including to and from Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Flight-tracking maps showed large stretches of airspace nearly empty, with multiple airports temporarily shutting operations.International carriers also announced cancellations and disruptions to Middle East routes. The strikes mark a dramatic expansion of the conflict, directly hitting major Gulf travel hubs long viewed as stable and secure gateways in a volatile region.

Drone strike hits Kuwait International Airport

A drone strike hit Kuwait International Airport (KWI) on February 28, 2026, damaging Terminal 1 (T1) and injuring several employees, according to Kuwait’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).Kuwaiti civil aviation officials said the drone caused limited material damage to Terminal 1 and resulted in minor injuries to airport workers. Authorities immediately activated emergency procedures following the strike.Officials said the situation was brought under control, with response teams deployed to assess the damage and ensure safety at the airport.

South Africa suffered a major blow ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026 knockouts as their opener Ryan Rickelton suffered a nasty head injury during their last Super 8 clash on Sunday (March 1) at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.

Ryan Rickelton hit on helmet by Brad Evans before T20 World Cup 2026 knockouts

The incident unfolded in the fourth over of South Africa’s chase in Delhi. Brad Evans bowled a fast short ball to Ryan Rickelton. The ball came up sharply towards the batter’s head. The 29-year-old tried to play a pull shot, but he missed the ball completely.

The ball hit him hard on the front of his helmet, right on the badge area. He has not taken any run on that ball. After getting hit, Rickelton looked shocked and a little confused for a moment. He stood still and looked uncomfortable.

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The team physio quickly ran onto the field to check if he was okay. Rickelton removed his helmet and started rubbing his head. A small bruise was seen on the South Africa opener’s forehead where the impact happened. It was a serious blow, so everyone looked concerned in the Proteas camp as they are chasing their maiden T20 World Cup 2026.

Hopefully Rickelton won’t show any concussion symptoms this week, otherwise he won’t be able to play the semi final pic.twitter.com/Qd15yj28nX

— Werner (@Werries_) March 1, 2026

Following the shocker, David Miller even started getting ready, but after a few minutes, Rickelton’s condition looked better. After around five minutes of checking and rest, he put his helmet back on. He signaled that he was fine and ready to continue batting.

Ryan Burl shows brilliant effort to remove Ryan Rickelton

However, following the fiery incident, the opener could face only a couple of overs against Zimbabwe. Brad Evans bowled another short ball to Rickelton, and this time, he got success. Rickelton tried to play a pull shot. But the ball did not come onto the bat nicely.

It slowed down a little after pitching and did not bounce properly, making the batter play his shot a bit too early. He was through his swing before the ball properly reached him. The ball hit the toe-end of his bat; as a result, he did not get good power or control.

The ball went high towards the long-on area. Fielder Ryan Burl first ran forward, thinking the ball would fall short. But he instantly realized the ball was going over his head and then displayed superb athletic effort. He then turned around and ran back fast.

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It was a tough adjustment, yet he kept his eyes on the ball and took a stunning catch, removing Rickelton for 31 runs off 22 balls. Presently, South Africa needs 41 runs in 49 balls to beat Zimbabwe in the Super 8 game in Delhi.

South Africa dominate Zimbabwe in World Cup clashes

Notably, South Africa has had the upper hand over Zimbabwe in World Cup history. In ODI and T20 World Cups combined, they have met four times in completed matches, and South Africa has won three of those games.

Zimbabwe’s only World Cup win over South Africa came in the 1999 ODI World Cup at Chelmsford. That victory helped Australia reach the final after their dramatic tied semifinal against South Africa at Edgbaston. That was one of Zimbabwe’s biggest World Cup moments to date.