NEW DELHI: Days before the Iranian naval vessel IRIS Dena was sunk off the coast of Sri Lanka in a US strike, India had allowed another Iranian ship to dock at Kochi after Tehran sought urgent assistance due to technical problems, government sources said. According to the sources, Iran approached India on February 28 requesting permission for the vessel IRIS Lavan to enter Kochi port after reporting technical issues while operating in the region.The ship was part of the contingent that had travelled to the region for the International Fleet Review, the sources said.

Emergency docking request

Government sources said the Iranian request stated that the vessel required urgent docking at Kochi to address technical issues.Approval for the docking was granted by Indian authorities on March 1.The vessel subsequently arrived and docked at Kochi on March 4, according to the sources

Crew accommodated at naval facilities

In the meantime, the ship’s 183 crew members are being accommodated at Indian naval facilities in Kochi, sources said.“Days before the IRIS Dena incident south of Sri Lanka, India was approached by Iran to take in the Iranian Ship IRIS Lavan, which was also in the region for the International Fleet Review,” government sources said.“This request was received on 28 February 2026, indicating that a docking at Kochi was urgent as the vessel had developed technical issues. Approval was accorded for the docking on 1 March. IRIS Lavan has since docked at Kochi on 4 March. In this context, its crew of 183 are currently accommodated at naval facilities in Kochi,” the sources added.The sinking of IRIS Dena on Wednesday came as the war sparked by a joint US-Israel attack on Iran continued to spread across the Middle East and beyond. Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi denounced the attack and warned Washington it would “bitterly regret” establishing such a precedent.” The US has perpetrated an atrocity at sea, 2,000 miles away from Iran’s shores. Frigate Dena, a guest of India’s Navy carrying almost 130 sailors, was struck in international waters without warning,” he posted on X. “Mark my words: The US will come to bitterly regret the precedent it has set,” Araghchi added.Sri Lanka evacuated 208 crew members of an Iranian Navy vessel on Thursday, a day after a US submarine struck and sank the Iranian frigate.

With defending champions India taking on New Zealand in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday, ticket fever has gripped cricket fans across the nation. The summit clash promises to be a historic occasion as India seeks to become the first team to successfully defend the T20 World Cup title.

IND vs NZ: Match details at a glance

The high-voltage final between India and New Zealand begins at 7:00 pm IST, with the toss scheduled for 6:30 pm IST. Gates at the Narendra Modi Stadium will open for spectators at 4:00 pm IST, allowing fans ample time to clear security and find their seats.

A spectacular pre-show featuring international superstar Ricky Martin alongside Indian artists Sukhbir and Phalguni Phatak will begin at 5:30 pm IST, adding to the festive atmosphere.

Official ticket platforms 

Tickets for the final are being sold exclusively through official channels to prevent fraud and ensure valid entry. Fans can purchase tickets via:

BookMyShow: The official ticketing partner for matches in India (website and mobile app)

ICC Official Ticket Portal: tickets.icc-cricket.com (redirects to BookMyShow)

Due to overwhelming demand following India’s thrilling seven-run victory over England in the semi-final, most ticket categories are currently showing “sold out” status. However, there remains hope for fans still seeking tickets.

Last-minute availability of tickets

According to multiple reports, a limited number of tickets will be released 24 to 36 hours before the match day. Therefore, fans are advised to:

• Regularly monitor the official BookMyShow website and app
• Check at 12:00 pm and 6:00 pm IST for any last-minute releases

Avoid unofficial resale platforms or social media sellers, as tickets purchased from unauthorized sources may be invalid or rejected at stadium gates

Ticket price categories for IND vs NZ, T20 World Cup 2026 final

Ticket prices vary significantly based on seating location within the world’s largest cricket stadium. Here is a comprehensive breakdown of ticket prices across different stands and categories:

• Block K Bay Upper 1-9: ₹1,000
• Block J Bay Upper 1-5: ₹2,000
• Block M Bay Upper 1-3: ₹2,000
• Block B Bay Lower 1-7: ₹2,500
• Block A Bay Lower 1-5: ₹3,000
• Block D Bay Lower 1: ₹3,000
• South Prem East Bay 1-4: ₹6,000
• South Prem Centre Bay 1: ₹6,000
• President Gallery L3 Bay 3, 8, 9: ₹10,000
• President Gallery Premier L3 Bay 4, 5, 6: ₹15,000
• Premier Suite 401 and 437: ₹25,000
• Premium Suites (Level 5): ₹50,000
• Presidential Suites (Level 4): ₹60,000 – ₹75,000

Additional convenience fees and taxes may apply depending on the booking platform . Most platforms allow 1-4 tickets per booking, subject to availability.

Narendra Modi Stadium: Key information

The final will be held at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium in Motera, Ahmedabad – the world’s largest cricket stadium with a seating capacity of approximately 1,30,000 spectators .

• Location: Motera, Ahmedabad, Gujarat
• Stadium Ends: Adani Pavilion End and GMDC End
• Transport Access: Motera Metro Station, BRTS connectivity and road access
• Facilities: Food courts, premium hospitality boxes, ample parking

Also READ: India vs New Zealand T20 World Cup 2026 final – Reserve day, overs rule and who lifts the trophy if it rains

Step-by-step process to book tickets

Fans hoping to secure tickets can follow this process on official platforms:

• Open the BookMyShow website or mobile app
• Search for “ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Final”
• Select the match: India vs New Zealand – March 8, 2026
• Confirm venue: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
• Click “Book Now”
• Choose preferred seating category
• Select specific seats using interactive stadium map
• Enter personal details (name, email, phone)
• Complete payment via UPI, card, or net banking
• Download E-ticket with QR code (sent via email and app)

Essential requirements

• Valid Government ID: Aadhaar, passport, or driving licence mandatory
• Digital Ticket: QR code must be clearly visible (download and save offline before arrival)
• Arrive Early: At least 3 hours before match start (gates open at 4:00 PM)

Also READ: India or New Zealand? BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia predicts the winner of T20 World Cup 2026

England coach Brendon McCullum, right, chats with England’s captain Harry Brook (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)

MUMBAI: Calling Brendon McCullum “the best coach I’ve ever had”, England’s white-ball captain Harry Brook urged the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to retain the New Zealander as the team’s all-format head coach after England’s sevenrun semifinal loss to India. McCullum’s future has come under scrutiny following England’s poor Ashes tour of Australia, where they lost 1-4.After England’s narrow defeat to India, McCullum said he would “love to carry on,” with Brook insisting the former New Zealand captain remained “125%” the right man for the job. Brook said his partnership with McCullum had flourished since he took over as white-ball captain in April last year. “Our partnership has been really good since I took over. We get on very well and the communication has been outstanding. Long may it continue,” Brook said.

“I’ve said plenty of times he’s the best coach I’ve ever had. He has an aura in the dressing room and everyone looks up to him. What he achieved as a player was unbelievable and he’s carried that into his coaching. Over the last four years he’s changed English cricket for the better.”Brook also credited the culture of resilience in the side — something he believes McCullum helped foster — as England repeatedly fought their way back into matches during the tournament. “The boys have fought their arses off and we’ve been in the game until the very last ball almost every match,” Brook said.Despite winning six of their eight games, England never quite produced a complete performance during the World Cup. In the semifinal, England mounted a strong fightback, finishing at 246/7 in reply to India’s imposing 253/7 on what Brook described as a “bowlers’ graveyard”.Fighting the disappointment of the exit, Brook said he was proud of the team’s spirit. “Disappointed but extremely proud. As a captain I couldn’t ask for much more. We’ve had an amazing campaign.”Brook also admitted he had let India off the hook by dropping Sanju Samson at mid-on when the wicketkeeper-batter was on 15. “Catchers win matches, don’t they?” Brook said. “Unfortunately it didn’t stay in my hands. He played a very good innings and arguably won them the game. It’s not ideal, but it’s happened now.”

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US forces have reportedly struck more than 3,000 targets in the first week of Operation Epic Fury, as the conflict with Iran intensifies. “US forces have struck over 3,000 targets in the first week of Operation Epic Fury, and we are not slowing down,” the US Central Command said through a post on X.On Friday, US president Donald Trump also demanded Iran’s “unconditional surrender,” marking a significant escalation in Washington’s war objectives, even as Israeli fighter jets launched a fresh wave of airstrikes on Tehran and other parts of the country.

Trump wrote on Truth Social that there “will be no deal with Iran except UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!”Meanwhile, The Israel Defence Forces on Friday carried out fresh airstrikes on Beirut while issuing additional evacuation warnings across parts of Lebanon, intensifying its military campaign against the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah.The strikes are part of Israel’s expanding operations in Lebanon as regional tensions continue to escalate.According to the Norwegian Refugee Council, an estimated 300,000 people have fled their homes since the bombardment began, raising concerns about a growing humanitarian crisis in the country.In retaliation, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on Friday also launched another wave of drones and missiles at Israel, according to a statement reported by the Iranian state news agency Islamic Republic News Agency. Air-raid sirens sounded in Tel Aviv as the Israeli military confirmed it had detected missile launches from Iran, though there were no immediate reports of major damage.Saudi Arabia and Dubai reported intercepting retaliatory strikes on Saturday morning, as Gulf nations continued efforts to defend against incoming attacks.These developments come after a week of intense volatility triggered by a joint US-Israeli strike on Iran on February 28 that killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and several other senior officials, prompting a strong retaliatory response from Tehran.Hundreds of people have been killed in Iran since the start of the US-Israeli strikes, according to the Iranian Red Crescent Society, the country’s main humanitarian relief organisation.Among the dead are at least 175 people, including many children, who were killed in the bombing of a girls’ elementary school, the organisation said.The violence has also spread beyond Iran. In neighbouring Lebanon, more than 200 people have been killed, according to the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health.

Global oil prices surged sharply this week as the war involving Iran intensified raising fears of prolonged disruptions to energy supplies from the Middle East.The spike in prices comes a week after the United States and Israel launched major attacks on Iran, escalating tensions into a wider regional conflict. The ongoing hostilities have disrupted key energy routes and facilities, pushing oil and gas prices higher across global markets.

Oil climbs highest level since 2023

Oil prices continued their rapid climb on Friday, with US crude settling at $90.90 per barrel, up 36% from a week ago. During Friday’s session alone, US crude jumped more than 12% to over $91 per barrel, marking its highest level since late 2022. Since the start of the year, the price of US crude has risen nearly 60%.Meanwhile, Brent crude, the international benchmark, surpassed $94 per barrel, rising more than 9% to its highest level since late 2023. Analysts say the sharp rise reflects growing concerns that the Iran war could trigger a long-term energy supply crisis.

Strait of Hormuz disruption strands oil tankers

The conflict has severely disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial passage that handles a large portion of the world’s oil trade.Nearly 20 million barrels of oil per day typically move through the narrow waterway connecting the Persian Gulf to global markets. However, several tankers have been left stranded in the region amid fears of missile and drone attacks, AP reported.The conflict has also caused damage to oil and gas facilities across the Middle East, interrupting supply flows. A report from The Wall Street Journal said Kuwait had “begun cutting production at some oil fields after running out of room to store its bottled-up crude.”Energy infrastructure has been directly impacted as the conflict widens.Iran launched retaliatory strikes across the region, including a drone attack on the US Embassy in Saudi Arabia, while also hitting a major refinery in Saudi Arabia and a liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility in Qatar.The attacks halted flows of refined products and temporarily took about 20% of the world’s LNG supply offline, according to analysts.Claudio Galimberti, chief economist at Rystad Energy, said the scale of disruptions is growing. “We keep seeing news of vessels being hit or refineries or pipelines, so the list is very long.”He said that around 9 million barrels of oil per day are currently off the market as facilities shut down or producers take precautionary steps. “Right now, with all of this shut in, we are in a situation of extreme deficit,” Galimberti added.

Fuel prices rise for consumers

The surge in oil prices is already pushing up fuel costs for consumers and businesses. In the United States, the price of regular gasoline rose to $3.32 per gallon on Friday, up 11% from a week earlier, according to AAA. Diesel prices climbed 15% to $4.33 per gallon over the same period.Energy markets in Europe and Asia, which rely heavily on Middle Eastern supplies, have been hit even harder. According to Rystad Energy, diesel prices in Europe have doubled, while jet fuel prices in Asia have surged nearly 200% amid the supply disruptions.The conflict has also rattled financial markets. On Friday, the S&P 500 fell more than 1.3%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 453 points, or 1%. The Nasdaq Composite declined 1.6%.All three major indexes are now in negative territory for the year, with the Dow recording its worst week since April 2025 and the S&P 500 seeing its worst weekly performance since October.

‘The problem is that in oil trading…’

Earlier this week, US President Donald Trump said American military operations against Iran could last four to five weeks, but added that the United States has “the capability to go far longer.”Trump also appeared to rule out negotiations with Iran unless it agrees to major concessions saying, “There will be no deal with Iran except UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!”Al Salazar, head of macro oil and gas research at Enverus, warned that the situation may drag on. “The more news we get, the more it seems like this is going to last a really long time.”To help stabilise maritime trade, Trump announced a plan to insure losses of up to $20 billion for ships operating in the Gulf region. The initiative aims to restore confidence among shipping companies and support businesses operating in the Middle East.However, some experts say financial guarantees alone may not resolve the underlying security concerns.According to AP, Amy Jaffe, director of the Energy, Climate Justice and Sustainability Lab at New York University, said shipping companies remain worried about security threats. “The problem is that in the oil trading, oil shipping world, people are worried about counterterrorism.”“In order for the United States to create the atmosphere that undoes the current bottleneck at the Strait of Hormuz, there has to be some credible demonstration of solutions to the counter-terrorism problem,” Jaffe added.

Pakistan army chief Asim Munir meets Saudi Arabia defence minister (Picture from X)

Pakistan army chief and the country’s de facto leader Asim Munir has met Saudi Arabia’s defence minister Khalid bin Salman amid the constantly evolving situation in the Middle East. The meeting comes days after Saudi Arabia’s Aramco oil refinery was hit and after US-Israel joint strikes killed Iran’s Ali Khamenei, triggering Tehran to launch strong retaliatory military actions across the Middle East region and raising fears of a wider regional conflict.The Saudi defence minister shared details of the meeting on X while highlighting Iranian strikes on the Kingdom. Sharing a picture with Munir, he wrote, “Met with Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defense Forces, Field Marshal Asim Munir. We discussed Iranian attacks on the Kingdom and the measures needed to halt them within the framework of our Joint Strategic Defense Agreement. We stressed that such actions undermine regional security and stability and expressed hope that the Iranian side will exercise wisdom and avoid miscalculation.”The meeting can be viewed as strategically important. Months earlier, according to a Bloomberg report, Turkey had sought a defence alliance with nuclear-armed Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in a triangular form of an “Islamic Nato”, an effort aimed at reshaping security alignments in the now-disturbed Middle East and beyond.

Days ago, when Saudi Arabia’s Aramco refinery was struck by Iranian attacks, Pakistan issued strong reactions, expressing solidarity with Riyadh as well as with other Gulf countries.As tensions continue to rise, with Iran maintaining its missile and drone attacks, questions are being raised about whether Islamabad’s response will go beyond verbal condemnation, given its 2025 Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement with Riyadh.The pact, initially signed by Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in September, reportedly states that “any aggression” against one member would be treated as an attack on all, a provision similar to Article 5 of Nato, under which member states commit to collective defence.Talks on Turkey’s possible entry into the arrangement are said to be at an advanced stage, with a deal appearing likely, people familiar with the matter told Bloomberg on condition of anonymity. According to the report, the proposed expansion reflects the growing overlap in the strategic interests of Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan across South Asia, the Middle East and parts of Africa.

Will Pakistan step up?

The pact’s collective defence clause treats aggression against one as an attack on both, building on decades of military ties. However, its core provisions focus on conventional cooperation such as joint exercises, intelligence sharing and drones, without nuclear commitments.Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in a call with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, pledged “full solidarity” and support for peace efforts rather than military deployment.Experts say sending troops could draw Pakistan into a wider conflict, further straining its fragile economy and security situation.“The Saudi-Pakistan defence pact is more of a political and strategic partnership rather than a classical defence pact akin to Nato. Pakistan has publicly condemned the Iranian attack on the Saudis and expressed solidarity and nothing beyond that. Pakistan in no way will get into any kind of military involvement as it has enough on its hand both externally with Afghanistan and internally with TTP and BLA. This once again exposes the double standards which Pakistani leadership has been exhibiting from time to time,” said Major General Rajan Kochar (Retd).Experts add that Islamabad is more likely to limit its support to diplomacy, logistics or overflight rights rather than sending troops.

Microsoft has now announced that it will continue to embed Anthropic’s artificial intelligence models in its products, despite the US Department of War labelling the startup as a supply-chain risk. According to a report by CNBC, the company has now clarified that its legal team reviewed the designation and concluded Anthropic’s products, including the Claude model can remain available for customers with the exception of Department of War. “Our lawyers have studied the designation and have concluded that Anthropic products, including Claude, can remain available to our customers — other than the Department of War — through platforms such as M365, GitHub, and Microsoft’s AI Foundry,” a Microsoft spokesperson told CNBC.

Political and defense context

This announcement from Microsoft comes after US President Donald Trump directed the federal agencies to drop Anthropic’s technology, and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said that the company would be phased out of Pentagon systems within six months. This decision is followed by a round of failed negotiations between Anthropic and the Department of War over issues including mass domestic surveillance and autonomous weapons. Rival OpenAI quickly accounted that its own deal with the Pentagon intensifying competition in rhetoric defense AI sector.CNBC also confirmed that Anthropic’s models had played a role in recent U.S. airstrikes on Iran, further fueling scrutiny of the company’s defense ties.

Microsoft’s broader AI strategy

Microsoft has deep ties with Anthropic, having agreed to invest up to $5 billion in the company, while Anthropic committed to spending $30 billion on Microsoft’s Azure cloud services. This partnership sits alongside Microsoft’s larger stake in OpenAI, valued at $135 billion, with OpenAI pledging $250 billion in Azure spending.CEO Satya Nadella has emphasised “model choice” as a guiding principle, allowing customers to toggle between Anthropic and OpenAI models in Microsoft 365 Copilot. Anthropic’s Claude models are also integrated into GitHub Copilot, where they are widely used by software engineers for drafting source code.Microsoft’s decision makes it the first major company to publicly affirm support for Anthropic after the Pentagon’s designation. While some defense contractors have already instructed employees to stop using Claude models, Microsoft’s stance signals confidence in Anthropic’s technology for non-defense applications, including productivity tools and developer platforms.

Anthropic becomes first-ever American company to be designated as ‘risk to America’s national security’

Claude-maker Anthropic has been officially designated as “nation security risk” in America, becoming the first US company to get the label. In an official statement, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei said that the AI firm now has no choice but to challenge the supply chain risk designation. “Yesterday (March 4) Anthropic received a letter from the Department of War confirming that we have been designated as a supply chain risk to America’s national security,” Amodei said in the statement. “As we wrote on Friday (February 27), we do not believe this action is legally sound, and we see no choice but to challenge it in court,” he added.Anthropic CEO further stated that the language used by the Department of War in the letter (even supposing it was legally sound) matches the company’s statement on Friday “that the vast majority of our customers are unaffected by a supply chain risk designation.” “With respect to our customers, it plainly applies only to the use of Claude by customers as a direct part of contracts with the Department of War, not all use of Claude by customers who have such contracts,” he said.